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Shymers #1
Shymers
In a distant future, Olive Mensing is raised in the solitude of the forest by her parents, away from Society. For a time she is happy and content, trusting in everything her parents tell her, and thinking she has the rest of her life ahead of her. But not long after her father’s mysterious death, Olive and her mother are torn from their home and thrown into the very place Olive was raised to fear. There she will discover the brutal truths her parents had tried to keep from her - a Society divided by two classes (Shymers and Futures) based on how many days people have to live, and a government that locks people away for rebellious behaviors.
Although everything seems backwards and hopeless in this new world, Olive makes a few new friends and develops her first crush on a handsome boy. But even then, things aren’t as easy as they should be. She finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of hatred, sadness and lies that spins out of control, forcing her to choose between what her heart wants and what she knows is right.
Although everything seems backwards and hopeless in this new world, Olive makes a few new friends and develops her first crush on a handsome boy. But even then, things aren’t as easy as they should be. She finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of hatred, sadness and lies that spins out of control, forcing her to choose between what her heart wants and what she knows is right.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2012
2 people are currently reading
1406 people want to read
About the author
Jen Naumann
9 books186 followersJen Naumann grew up in southern Minnesota as an addict of such flicks as Indiana Jones and The Goonies until she discovered John Hughes, and spent her high school days locked away writing love stories with a sci-fi twist. Married to a farmer in southern Minnesota, she tries to follow the madness of her four active children while balancing an imagination that never shuts down.
As the author of CHEATING DEATH, SHYMERS, AND PARANORMAL KEEPERS, she writes stories with strong female leads who have a good sense of humor and tend to fall in love despite their better judgment. Also writing steamy adult romance under pen name Jennifer Ann (http://www.goodreads.com/authorjennif...). For more on Jen visit her website www.JenNaumann.net.
As the author of CHEATING DEATH, SHYMERS, AND PARANORMAL KEEPERS, she writes stories with strong female leads who have a good sense of humor and tend to fall in love despite their better judgment. Also writing steamy adult romance under pen name Jennifer Ann (http://www.goodreads.com/authorjennif...). For more on Jen visit her website www.JenNaumann.net.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 22, 2015
There are going to be spoilers, but this book was awful so who the hell cares.
Ahh, insta-love. You know, I thought the thing I hated most in YA was the love triangle, but I think insta-love might be worse. Especially when it takes form of disgustingly gushy teenagers. Great, you've known each other for a month, but is that really enough time to declare your love for each other? Of course it is, when the main character is supposed to be flawed but has beautiful skin and hair and almost blends in with the perfect people in society! And let's not forget it's perfect when the boy is dark and mysterious and comes off as a total asshole only to turn around and profess his love for the flawless (and I mean generic) main character! Guys, it's bad. Real bad. The only thing worse was having the chapters alternate and having to listen to Harrison's perfectly white teeth and Olive's...I don't even know. My favorite part of the book was when they were separated and were introduced to more characters, if only for a goddamn break from them. Oh but just kidding, because all they talked about was how desperately they needed to find each other.
And can we talk about that for a minute? Olive is taken from the life she knows, thrown into a society where she should trust absolutely no one, but has no problem bonding with this douche and a couple other girls in a month? She has no problem telling people all her secrets and her plans, asks them to do outrageously dangerous things to join her...and everyone just goes along with it! These people are stupid. There's no other explanation.
I almost don't even want to talk about the rest of the plot, because it's a joke. It's a blatant rip off of gee, I dunno, every other dystopia YA novel written in the last five years. The government sucks! We need to rebel! Here's an insanely dumb plot twist that you didn't see coming because it made absolutely no sense and wasn't necessary whatsoever! So much is left unexplained. There were so many pivotal moments in the story that, had it been expanded upon instead of being rushed through, it might have actually kept me interested. Instead, I cared so little about this book that I had to look up the names of the main characters.
This book made me exhausted and angry and I'm only giving it more than one star as a pat on the back to myself for making it through the entire thing.
Ahh, insta-love. You know, I thought the thing I hated most in YA was the love triangle, but I think insta-love might be worse. Especially when it takes form of disgustingly gushy teenagers. Great, you've known each other for a month, but is that really enough time to declare your love for each other? Of course it is, when the main character is supposed to be flawed but has beautiful skin and hair and almost blends in with the perfect people in society! And let's not forget it's perfect when the boy is dark and mysterious and comes off as a total asshole only to turn around and profess his love for the flawless (and I mean generic) main character! Guys, it's bad. Real bad. The only thing worse was having the chapters alternate and having to listen to Harrison's perfectly white teeth and Olive's...I don't even know. My favorite part of the book was when they were separated and were introduced to more characters, if only for a goddamn break from them. Oh but just kidding, because all they talked about was how desperately they needed to find each other.
And can we talk about that for a minute? Olive is taken from the life she knows, thrown into a society where she should trust absolutely no one, but has no problem bonding with this douche and a couple other girls in a month? She has no problem telling people all her secrets and her plans, asks them to do outrageously dangerous things to join her...and everyone just goes along with it! These people are stupid. There's no other explanation.
I almost don't even want to talk about the rest of the plot, because it's a joke. It's a blatant rip off of gee, I dunno, every other dystopia YA novel written in the last five years. The government sucks! We need to rebel! Here's an insanely dumb plot twist that you didn't see coming because it made absolutely no sense and wasn't necessary whatsoever! So much is left unexplained. There were so many pivotal moments in the story that, had it been expanded upon instead of being rushed through, it might have actually kept me interested. Instead, I cared so little about this book that I had to look up the names of the main characters.
This book made me exhausted and angry and I'm only giving it more than one star as a pat on the back to myself for making it through the entire thing.
November 19, 2012
I love Harrison! I love Olive! I love Harrison and Olive together. I love this book! This book had me on the edge of my seat. It made me feel every emotion there is. I was sad, I was scared, I started to fall in love and finally I was crying. This book is an emotional thrilling story that will stay in your heart even days after you finish it.
November 26, 2012
Amazing!!! Jen does it again, bringing us another story we could not put down from the minute we started to read it. It’s scary to think of living in a world that separates it’s people by the ones who know when they are going to die (the Shymers) and the ones that don’t (the Futures). Please, it’s scary to be a person that knows when there date of death (D.O.D) is. Harrison by far is our favorite character. Our hearts break for him. We just want to rip him right out of the book and safe him. Olive is a strong character that must face a lot of obstacles. There’s something about her strength that we truly enjoyed. When certain secretes are revealed we couldn’t help but feel anger and sadness for Olive. Although, the subject matter in this book could lead you to believe it’s all full of gloom and doom, it is not. There are many precious moments with Olive and her friends. It’s also cute to see how both Olive and Harrison discover things that are part of our everyday life (like a phone) with childlike wonder. The booming romance between Olive and Harrison will surely make your heart melt, and make you fall head over heels in love with Harrison. This is beautiful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and also maybe shed a couple of tears. We can’t wait for the next installment. Trust us when we say if you are into dystopia or not this is a must read.
January 9, 2013
*MAD MAD MAD!
UGH! What do I say, I started to read the book, and didn't get into it on the first try, I picked it up again three weeks later, thinking to myself I owe this to Jen to get through this book. FFWD 4 days later (yes! 4 days!!) I loved the book, but I didn't want it to end!! This story has SO many twists and turns. Wonderful vivid descriptions and action put me right into Society and into the forest. I have read all of Jen's books and by far this is the best one! They each keep getting better. And I will add a disclaimer, Jen is one of my very best friends IRL, and I am glad I am living in a world that allows me to have love and admiration, and that gives my dear friend Jen the opportunity to share her wonderfully CREATIVE mind with us! Thanks for the GREAT read!
*MAD MAD MAD = I didn't want the book to end!!!
UGH! What do I say, I started to read the book, and didn't get into it on the first try, I picked it up again three weeks later, thinking to myself I owe this to Jen to get through this book. FFWD 4 days later (yes! 4 days!!) I loved the book, but I didn't want it to end!! This story has SO many twists and turns. Wonderful vivid descriptions and action put me right into Society and into the forest. I have read all of Jen's books and by far this is the best one! They each keep getting better. And I will add a disclaimer, Jen is one of my very best friends IRL, and I am glad I am living in a world that allows me to have love and admiration, and that gives my dear friend Jen the opportunity to share her wonderfully CREATIVE mind with us! Thanks for the GREAT read!
*MAD MAD MAD = I didn't want the book to end!!!
November 26, 2012
I won this book through Goodreads giveaway and I am so grateful I won. Jen Naumann has a way of capturing the reader at the very beginning and holding throughout the book. The mystery behind Olive's life, family, and past is what kept me turning page after page. The dystopian storyline is not overwhelming. It's very believable. Descriptions of places and people really make you feel like you can see it. I would love to see this one turned into a movie script. It is worthy of it. I'm so happy Harrison gets a chance to feel what real love is and I was so excited when they got to meet the Rebels.
For anyone who had read The Hunger Games or Divergent series books, this is equally as enjoyable.
For anyone who had read The Hunger Games or Divergent series books, this is equally as enjoyable.
February 1, 2017
I won this through a Goodreads giveaway. I liked both of the main characters a lot, and I really enjoyed the story for the most part. I disliked the fact that in the end there were still so many questions left to be answered. Almost none of the questions that were brought up were given an answer by the end of the book, and I feel like they were all things that the reader deserved to have answered! Hopefully there will be a sequel so that all of these questions can be answered, especially since the ending was left so open.
December 21, 2012
Really enjoyed reading this book. Loved the passion between Olive and Harrison. Can't wait for the next book. I hope it isn't too far away!!!!!!!!!!!
February 20, 2013
I really loved this book. It is a fresh take on dystopian YA. Olive makes you care about her. She is a very believable and likable character. I am looking forward to reading the next book!
January 14, 2013
I truly enjoyed reading Shymers. Fascinating dystopian world with plot twists and plenty of adventure. I am looking forward to the sequel.
December 30, 2012
I got 65 pages in and I couldn't deal with another special snowflake.
June 17, 2013
It's hard to find a unique dystopian read these days, but I glad to say that it's not entirely impossible. At first, I was wary of this book. It sounded pretty good, but the idea was a little overused. It's starts off that way too. Parents take girl away from horrible society and live in the forest. Dad dies. Soldiers come take over and girl gets taken back to horrible society. Girl meets hot guy. Sparks start flying.
I fell for that story line so many times.
Except, it's not like that this time. It might seem like it, but there's more to the story than I previously thought.
Shymers ended up surprising me. There was just so much happening, so many questions that needed answering, so much drama everywhere. I was hooked, intrigued, and fascinated. I'd underestimated Jen Naumann's storytelling capacity. Her writing was mesmerizing and sucked me in no matter what. The idea itself is borderline cliche, but I had absolutely no problem with that. This is probably one of the few books, that I've encountered, that uses these cliched ideas to its advantage. It worked wonderfully.
The world building.
People lived in a society where one's DOD (Date of Death) is known. If they lived to be older than a certain age, then they were marked as a Future. They got the best out of life. But if they were destined to die before that age, then they were branded a Shymer. They didn't get as many privileges as the Futures did.
Outside of society were the Free Lands where the rebels lived (this included Olive and her extended family).
Of course, the illusion of the perfect society is soon destroyed once Olive is reintroduced. (She is such a troublemaker)
Rebellions start to build. People get hurt. It's the usual thing
It takes a while before the real stuff starts to happen though. When it does, the book gets really hard to put down. This is where the plot twists make their entrance.
Where they predictable? I'd say 50-50. But that 50 I didn't expect... yeah... whoa.
Jen does a great job building up the suspense to the climax. It's intense, nail-biting intense. Not everything was uncovered in the first few chapters.
The Romance and the Characters.
Shymers is split up into two POV's, Olive's and Harrison's (though Olive's POV is the only one in first person). Olive is, at first, very naive. She lived her whole life isolated from the real world so, when she was taken back to society, she was reduced to a mumbling fool. She learned quickly though, and soon enough she could decided right from wrong. I admired her perseverance and the fact that she never cowered to the Futures like everyone else did. Except she was very willy-nilly sometimes. Her choices were not always thought out and the consequences were not always so believable.
Harrison, on the other hand, was more complicated. He had a difficult past, but he was a quick healer. He took an instant liking to Olive (even if he didn't know yet). At times, he acted like an overprotective brother and treated Olive like a delicate china doll. Which was why I was slow to warm up to him, but I eventually did.
The romance between Olive and Harrison... well, it was the only thing in the entire book that I was actually disappointed with. There wasn't any passion in it. It felt like 'insta-love'. She saw him. He saw her. BAM! Instant connection. Their love relationship doesn't start until the last quarter of the book, but it still felt way too sweet for me. That was a huge letdown. Fortunately, the book doesn't revolve solely on the romance. The rest makes up for it. Completely.
Overall
I loved Shymers. Once I got through the beginning, the pacing turned lightning quick and I was done before I even knew it. The bad side? Cliffhanger! Yes, you read that right. There's a cliffhanger at the end. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not-that-bad and 10 being how-can-the-author-be-so-cruel, I would give this a solid 7. That's on the upper half of the scale. It deserves a
It was getting so good and now I'm left itching for the next one. Authors don't play fair anymore!
But other than that and the romance, Shymers earned its spot on my favorites list. Cliche or not, it's a story I'm glad I didn't miss out on.
Completely recommend it!
I fell for that story line so many times.
Except, it's not like that this time. It might seem like it, but there's more to the story than I previously thought.
Shymers ended up surprising me. There was just so much happening, so many questions that needed answering, so much drama everywhere. I was hooked, intrigued, and fascinated. I'd underestimated Jen Naumann's storytelling capacity. Her writing was mesmerizing and sucked me in no matter what. The idea itself is borderline cliche, but I had absolutely no problem with that. This is probably one of the few books, that I've encountered, that uses these cliched ideas to its advantage. It worked wonderfully.
The world building.
People lived in a society where one's DOD (Date of Death) is known. If they lived to be older than a certain age, then they were marked as a Future. They got the best out of life. But if they were destined to die before that age, then they were branded a Shymer. They didn't get as many privileges as the Futures did.
Outside of society were the Free Lands where the rebels lived (this included Olive and her extended family).
Of course, the illusion of the perfect society is soon destroyed once Olive is reintroduced. (She is such a troublemaker)
Rebellions start to build. People get hurt. It's the usual thing
It takes a while before the real stuff starts to happen though. When it does, the book gets really hard to put down. This is where the plot twists make their entrance.
Where they predictable? I'd say 50-50. But that 50 I didn't expect... yeah... whoa.
Jen does a great job building up the suspense to the climax. It's intense, nail-biting intense. Not everything was uncovered in the first few chapters.
The Romance and the Characters.
Shymers is split up into two POV's, Olive's and Harrison's (though Olive's POV is the only one in first person). Olive is, at first, very naive. She lived her whole life isolated from the real world so, when she was taken back to society, she was reduced to a mumbling fool. She learned quickly though, and soon enough she could decided right from wrong. I admired her perseverance and the fact that she never cowered to the Futures like everyone else did. Except she was very willy-nilly sometimes. Her choices were not always thought out and the consequences were not always so believable.
Harrison, on the other hand, was more complicated. He had a difficult past, but he was a quick healer. He took an instant liking to Olive (even if he didn't know yet). At times, he acted like an overprotective brother and treated Olive like a delicate china doll. Which was why I was slow to warm up to him, but I eventually did.
The romance between Olive and Harrison... well, it was the only thing in the entire book that I was actually disappointed with. There wasn't any passion in it. It felt like 'insta-love'. She saw him. He saw her. BAM! Instant connection. Their love relationship doesn't start until the last quarter of the book, but it still felt way too sweet for me. That was a huge letdown. Fortunately, the book doesn't revolve solely on the romance. The rest makes up for it. Completely.
Overall
I loved Shymers. Once I got through the beginning, the pacing turned lightning quick and I was done before I even knew it. The bad side? Cliffhanger! Yes, you read that right. There's a cliffhanger at the end. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not-that-bad and 10 being how-can-the-author-be-so-cruel, I would give this a solid 7. That's on the upper half of the scale. It deserves a
It was getting so good and now I'm left itching for the next one. Authors don't play fair anymore!
But other than that and the romance, Shymers earned its spot on my favorites list. Cliche or not, it's a story I'm glad I didn't miss out on.
Completely recommend it!
June 1, 2020
NOTE: THE BOOK ITSELF IS GOOD, BUT IT HAS THREE STARS. I WILL EXPAND ON THAT NEAR THE END OF THE REVIEW. SHYMERS IS AVAILABLE ON THE KOBO STORE FOR FIVE DOLLARS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CHEAP READ.
Olive Mensing is an ordinary sixteen year old, living in an extraordinary world. Society is divided into two classes in the world Olive is taken to after a series of unfortunate events. After her family, living in the forest, is torn apart, Olive is sent to live in an orphanage with other Shymers-people who know the day they will die. And that day will be before their eighteenth birthday. At Olive's school, most kids are futures-kids who live their lives knowing they will be at least eighteen years old. When the futures turn eighteen, they will find out when they die. That day could be at any age. Twenty-five, Forty, Eighty, any age. And Olive has no idea how many days she has left.
Likes:
Characters and their development: A very emotional book, and all because of the characters. Olive and Bree are the best of best friends, and their relationship reminded of me and my best friend. Olive is a no-nonsense, hardcore hero who isn't afraid to go if there is something wrong. She isn't about to sit there and look pretty and then just die. She lives for a lot, even though she doesn't know how long she has to live. It's complicated, but in a nutshell, Olive herself is an awesome character, and I stand up for her.
Action/Suspense: Loved those two things, there is enough action to keep the novel interesting, but not too much to make it a thriller. It is paced very well, and I admire the way the author crafted the story to take that approach. The book's concept is interesting...knowing the DAY you will die, or your friends or family will die. Those types of things change the way people live, and the way people make their decisions. And, as we all know, decisions are very important things. So yeah, these types of things are deeper than they seem.
Dislikes:
World Building: It wasn't vivid enough for me. I need enough description to know what it's saying, but not down to the last detail. I need an imagination, and this book is kind of controlling in places. Nonetheless, it was a good book. World building and Olive's living place, Society in general is just mapped out poorly.
The Ending (NO spoilers): That gets it's own catergory, unfortunately. This book is highly worth reading, but don't get worked up over the ending. It either should have had a sequel, or been a bit longer. Five pages, that's all I would ask. Whatever, I'm just warning you (I'm not going to spoil it) but the ending is cheesy, like she just stopped writing.
Written Very Poorly: The book just has a lot of grammatical errors, and there are at least two dozen spelling mistakes that I SAW. Not how many I looked for, there must have been twenty-five or so spelling mistakes that I picked up randomly. The book is written terribly, but I mean, I guess I still like it.
IT GETS THREE STARS BECAUSE WORLD BUILDING AND THE WRITING WERE TOO MUCH FOR ME. IT GETS 6.5/10, I FOUND IT WORTH READING, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO HAS READ IT. FIVE BUCKS WAS A GOOD PRICE TO PAY, AS I DON'T THINK THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK. BUT BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAP, I WON'T COMPLAIN.
As always, thank you for reading my review.
Olive Mensing is an ordinary sixteen year old, living in an extraordinary world. Society is divided into two classes in the world Olive is taken to after a series of unfortunate events. After her family, living in the forest, is torn apart, Olive is sent to live in an orphanage with other Shymers-people who know the day they will die. And that day will be before their eighteenth birthday. At Olive's school, most kids are futures-kids who live their lives knowing they will be at least eighteen years old. When the futures turn eighteen, they will find out when they die. That day could be at any age. Twenty-five, Forty, Eighty, any age. And Olive has no idea how many days she has left.
Likes:
Characters and their development: A very emotional book, and all because of the characters. Olive and Bree are the best of best friends, and their relationship reminded of me and my best friend. Olive is a no-nonsense, hardcore hero who isn't afraid to go if there is something wrong. She isn't about to sit there and look pretty and then just die. She lives for a lot, even though she doesn't know how long she has to live. It's complicated, but in a nutshell, Olive herself is an awesome character, and I stand up for her.
Action/Suspense: Loved those two things, there is enough action to keep the novel interesting, but not too much to make it a thriller. It is paced very well, and I admire the way the author crafted the story to take that approach. The book's concept is interesting...knowing the DAY you will die, or your friends or family will die. Those types of things change the way people live, and the way people make their decisions. And, as we all know, decisions are very important things. So yeah, these types of things are deeper than they seem.
Dislikes:
World Building: It wasn't vivid enough for me. I need enough description to know what it's saying, but not down to the last detail. I need an imagination, and this book is kind of controlling in places. Nonetheless, it was a good book. World building and Olive's living place, Society in general is just mapped out poorly.
The Ending (NO spoilers): That gets it's own catergory, unfortunately. This book is highly worth reading, but don't get worked up over the ending. It either should have had a sequel, or been a bit longer. Five pages, that's all I would ask. Whatever, I'm just warning you (I'm not going to spoil it) but the ending is cheesy, like she just stopped writing.
Written Very Poorly: The book just has a lot of grammatical errors, and there are at least two dozen spelling mistakes that I SAW. Not how many I looked for, there must have been twenty-five or so spelling mistakes that I picked up randomly. The book is written terribly, but I mean, I guess I still like it.
IT GETS THREE STARS BECAUSE WORLD BUILDING AND THE WRITING WERE TOO MUCH FOR ME. IT GETS 6.5/10, I FOUND IT WORTH READING, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO HAS READ IT. FIVE BUCKS WAS A GOOD PRICE TO PAY, AS I DON'T THINK THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK. BUT BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAP, I WON'T COMPLAIN.
As always, thank you for reading my review.
January 4, 2013
My Review: *I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.* I have lots to say about this one, so to make this review coherent, I'm going to make some lists:
What I loved about Shymers:
1. The book cover! It's gorgeous!
2. The world-building. I've read a lot of dystopian novels where the world-building didn't quite cut it. In those books, I had no idea what was going on half the time, because I didn't understand the world. I didn't have that problem with this book at all! It was perfectly explained and introduced in a way that made sense and didn't slow down the story. I also loved that there was enough description to make a movie in my mind, but also enough space for me to make my own pictures.
3. The concept. There are a lot of similarities between dystopian novels, and this one had its similarities with others, but it wasn't like reading a copy of another book. It was familiar, but new at the same time.
4. The main character. I loved Olive! She was a fantastic MC, and a great protagonist. She was very well-written, she was relatable and real, and I wanted her to succeed. She's a character I wouldn't get tired of reading about.
What I didn't particularly love about Shymers:
1. The beginning of the love story part of the book. It wasn't insta-love, per se, but I felt like it started out a bit too fast to be realistic. As the story progressed it didn't bug me any more, but the beginning of it didn't quite cut it for me.
2. Our love-interest. He didn't seem quite authentic next to Olive, and I would have liked to see more of his character, not just him in love with Olive. He had a very interesting back story, and I would have liked to see more of it come out in his character. Also, when he and Olive were falling in love, he didn't quite talk like a guy would. (I wouldn't have picked up on it though, if that hadn't been a topic at the Teen Writer's Conference I went to last June.)
3. Too many plot turns. I love plot turns as much as the next person, and I liked the ones this story had, but I think they were too close together. It was almost overwhelming. I think if they were dragged out a bit more, or spread out into the next novel, it wouldn't have been so overwhelming to read about. But all these plot turns do have an upside! I'm SUPER interested to see what the next book holds!
Overall, the things I loved more than outweigh the things I didn't love. The main character was fantastic, the plot was exciting, the world was awesomely spread out; other than the bumpy start to the love story, I must admit that this was a fantastic read. I can't wait for book two!
I highly recommend this to all you dystopian fans out there!
Originally posted on my blog, Amanda's Writings.
What I loved about Shymers:
1. The book cover! It's gorgeous!
2. The world-building. I've read a lot of dystopian novels where the world-building didn't quite cut it. In those books, I had no idea what was going on half the time, because I didn't understand the world. I didn't have that problem with this book at all! It was perfectly explained and introduced in a way that made sense and didn't slow down the story. I also loved that there was enough description to make a movie in my mind, but also enough space for me to make my own pictures.
3. The concept. There are a lot of similarities between dystopian novels, and this one had its similarities with others, but it wasn't like reading a copy of another book. It was familiar, but new at the same time.
4. The main character. I loved Olive! She was a fantastic MC, and a great protagonist. She was very well-written, she was relatable and real, and I wanted her to succeed. She's a character I wouldn't get tired of reading about.
What I didn't particularly love about Shymers:
1. The beginning of the love story part of the book. It wasn't insta-love, per se, but I felt like it started out a bit too fast to be realistic. As the story progressed it didn't bug me any more, but the beginning of it didn't quite cut it for me.
2. Our love-interest. He didn't seem quite authentic next to Olive, and I would have liked to see more of his character, not just him in love with Olive. He had a very interesting back story, and I would have liked to see more of it come out in his character. Also, when he and Olive were falling in love, he didn't quite talk like a guy would. (I wouldn't have picked up on it though, if that hadn't been a topic at the Teen Writer's Conference I went to last June.)
3. Too many plot turns. I love plot turns as much as the next person, and I liked the ones this story had, but I think they were too close together. It was almost overwhelming. I think if they were dragged out a bit more, or spread out into the next novel, it wouldn't have been so overwhelming to read about. But all these plot turns do have an upside! I'm SUPER interested to see what the next book holds!
Overall, the things I loved more than outweigh the things I didn't love. The main character was fantastic, the plot was exciting, the world was awesomely spread out; other than the bumpy start to the love story, I must admit that this was a fantastic read. I can't wait for book two!
I highly recommend this to all you dystopian fans out there!
Originally posted on my blog, Amanda's Writings.
January 14, 2014
My Review is originally posted @ Bittersweet Enchantment
I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing this book truly was. To be totally honest, I was not sure what to expect from this book since it is a self-published novel. I found myself somewhat apprehensive to begin reading it. On a whim I decided to pick it up and give it a try. I figured I'd read a few pages and see if I liked it. Little did I know I would finish the entire book THAT day. YES, it was THAT good GREAT!
The story-line was unlike any other Dystopian novel I've read. The world building was remarkably unique and richly developed. The idea of being classed into groups by how long you're going to live is not only insightful but really makes this story unlike any other. I was fully engrossed by Olive and Harrisons dual POV's. Without going into to much detail about what really happens in the book I must say one of the best parts was when Olive finally sees who she really is and the power she holds leading her to question everything the government has said. The romance between both Olive and Harrison was both beautiful and raw. Thier journey to do what's right and rebel against the government may be the hardest thing they've ever done.
I highly recommend Shymers if you're a fan of Dystopian novels. Without a doubt one of my favorite Dystopian reads on 2013.
I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing this book truly was. To be totally honest, I was not sure what to expect from this book since it is a self-published novel. I found myself somewhat apprehensive to begin reading it. On a whim I decided to pick it up and give it a try. I figured I'd read a few pages and see if I liked it. Little did I know I would finish the entire book THAT day. YES, it was THAT good GREAT!
The story-line was unlike any other Dystopian novel I've read. The world building was remarkably unique and richly developed. The idea of being classed into groups by how long you're going to live is not only insightful but really makes this story unlike any other. I was fully engrossed by Olive and Harrisons dual POV's. Without going into to much detail about what really happens in the book I must say one of the best parts was when Olive finally sees who she really is and the power she holds leading her to question everything the government has said. The romance between both Olive and Harrison was both beautiful and raw. Thier journey to do what's right and rebel against the government may be the hardest thing they've ever done.
I highly recommend Shymers if you're a fan of Dystopian novels. Without a doubt one of my favorite Dystopian reads on 2013.
February 9, 2013
I really loved this book, but it ended with way to many open ended questions, nothing was really answered and just about every darn secret was not revealed. I am an avid reader and I understand authors leaving opened ended questions in series' to keep us coming back for the next book, but Mrs. Jen Naumann took that a little to far for my taste.
Especially when the sequel isn't even thought of yet. Her blog stated that there will be a sequel but she has not started it as of now and there are a couple books she is writing before the sequel Mrs. Naumann announced. (I hope those books are just as awesome) just all me generation x where we have no patience and the instant gratification way of thinking.
Other than that this book was fantastic. Well written story line and well developed characters that are very easy to emotionality get involved with. Even the secondary characters were very engaging. I loved how it was a very real possible future with a small amount of magical aspects, nothing overthr top! I read it all in one sitting and I kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. No boring down time fluff parts. It was the perfect amount of action, suspense, romance, and description all rolled together.
This new author I perseve willbe a bestseller one day!!!
Especially when the sequel isn't even thought of yet. Her blog stated that there will be a sequel but she has not started it as of now and there are a couple books she is writing before the sequel Mrs. Naumann announced. (I hope those books are just as awesome) just all me generation x where we have no patience and the instant gratification way of thinking.
Other than that this book was fantastic. Well written story line and well developed characters that are very easy to emotionality get involved with. Even the secondary characters were very engaging. I loved how it was a very real possible future with a small amount of magical aspects, nothing overthr top! I read it all in one sitting and I kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. No boring down time fluff parts. It was the perfect amount of action, suspense, romance, and description all rolled together.
This new author I perseve willbe a bestseller one day!!!
January 28, 2013
I won this book in a giveaway, which was awesome. I have to say that it sucked me in right from the very beginning. The characters were believable, and I could identify with their emotions. I also loved the suspense of the book and all the buildup to the resolution.
What I did not like was that there was no resolution. Unless I ended up with a copy that was missing the final pages, this book left me with the same disappointed and searching feeling that I experienced when I discovered there was no Season Two of Dirty Sexy Money. So many questions were left unanswered. Maybe if this were a different kind of book that would be okay. But in a futuristic, science-fiction novel, the reader should not be expected to try to figure out the ending.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and the author's writing. I just think that she owes us a sequel and some answers. The ending, or lack thereof, took this book from 4 stars to 3 for me.
What I did not like was that there was no resolution. Unless I ended up with a copy that was missing the final pages, this book left me with the same disappointed and searching feeling that I experienced when I discovered there was no Season Two of Dirty Sexy Money. So many questions were left unanswered. Maybe if this were a different kind of book that would be okay. But in a futuristic, science-fiction novel, the reader should not be expected to try to figure out the ending.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and the author's writing. I just think that she owes us a sequel and some answers. The ending, or lack thereof, took this book from 4 stars to 3 for me.
November 4, 2013
while the book was good an I enjoyed the plot, the narrative left something to be desired. the prose was clumsy and the separate narrations of Harrison and Olive were confusing and did not flow well with one another. I had a difficult time piecing together the dual timelines in a way that made the story fluid. the end of the book felt like intermission, not the end of a story. I realize that there is a sequel but the plot left off in a sort of "find out what happens after this commercial break" kind of way rather than a conclusive (or even exciting cliff hanger) way. the diologue felt natural and most of the motives felt believable but overall, it was hard to lose myself and become enthralled with the story.
January 18, 2013
I'm not going to lie it took me a while to get into this book but only because I had things going on in my life. Ha I got you there. That's how this book got me. Every time you thought something was going to happen it took a turn or a twist leaving my heart beating fast. I love the relationship between Olive and Harrison. The only thing I did not like is the ending, but that's only because I'm an impatient person and already want to know what's going to happen. Please hurry up Jen Naumann and write the second book. Until then I will be sitting here with Harrison in my heart.
Read
August 11, 2013I'm not going to rate this because I didn't finish it. This wasn't because of any fault with the book per se, but rather because I've read too many books like it lately and I've had enough. There is a great sci-fi concept here, but the world-building is very narrative/telling, almost rushed, with the main plotline seeming to centre on a teen romance, which really isn't my thing. I'd love to see one of these dystopian novels where teens behave like teens - no 16 year old thinks "Oh there's no point getting in a relationship if we can't marry and have kids"!
December 17, 2012
This book was interesting at first... But eventually it got ridiculous with not wanting to explain ANYTHING. I mean, it's one thing to be suspenseful and another to be annoying about it - the main character kept discovering new things and the response was always "I'll explain later". And then the book just ends?? That's not how you do a cliffhanger. That's how you get me to not want to read any more of your books.
November 24, 2014
Abandoned about 50 pages in. Ugh, this book is terrible! I had a bad feeling when Olive, The main character, said all she wanted in the world was to fall in love. I kept going, hoping it would get better, but the plot and the world building are just ridiculous.
Want to read
September 3, 2016Check out the book trailer! http://youtu.be/ssVB2GNK9PQ
December 25, 2012
Great book but HATED the cliffhanger ending ... How can someone end a book MID-thought, seriously & can't find out if there is going to be a sequel or is Jen leaving us hanging!
November 24, 2012
I thought it was a great book full of romance and life threatning situations. The only thing I didn't like was all the gramatical errors.
January 20, 2013
Very different kind of book but in a good way. I am waiting for book two and hopefully get some answers.
June 23, 2013
Had a hard time getting into it.
June 17, 2013
interesting. waiting for book 2
June 2, 2014
i loved the dystopian future in this book! it was really good and very well written! the sequel, i havent heard about, but im dying yo read it. this series definitely goes on the top charts
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