What do you think?
Rate this book
I Am Her Revenge
She can be anyone you want her to be.
Vivian was raised with one purpose in to exact revenge on behalf of her mother. Manipulative and cruel, Mother has deprived Vivian not only of a childhood, but of an original identity. With an endless arsenal of enticing personalities at her disposal, Vivian is a veritable weapon of deception.
And she can destroy anyone.
When it’s time to strike, she enrolls in a boarding school on the English moors, where she will zero in on her sweet and innocent Ben, the son of the man who broke Mother’s heart twenty years ago.
Anyone…except for the woman who created her.
With every secret she uncovers, Vivian comes one step closer to learning who she really is. But the more she learns about herself, the more dangerous this cat and mouse game becomes. Because Mother will stop at nothing to make sure the truth dies with her.
Vivian was raised with one purpose in to exact revenge on behalf of her mother. Manipulative and cruel, Mother has deprived Vivian not only of a childhood, but of an original identity. With an endless arsenal of enticing personalities at her disposal, Vivian is a veritable weapon of deception.
And she can destroy anyone.
When it’s time to strike, she enrolls in a boarding school on the English moors, where she will zero in on her sweet and innocent Ben, the son of the man who broke Mother’s heart twenty years ago.
Anyone…except for the woman who created her.
With every secret she uncovers, Vivian comes one step closer to learning who she really is. But the more she learns about herself, the more dangerous this cat and mouse game becomes. Because Mother will stop at nothing to make sure the truth dies with her.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2015
17 people are currently reading
5728 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Moore
8 books44 followersMeredith Moore graduated from Harvard University with a degree in History, focusing on early modern England and France. She lives in Houston, Texas, where she loves pumpkin spice lattes, 19th century British literature, and road trips. I Am Her Revenge is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
June 2, 2015
This entire book is a gigantic hysterical farce.
A good basis for revenge:
This...? Not so much.
There was a show on TV, called Revenge. It's about a woman who dedicates her life to getting, well, revenge on someone who wronged her father. More specifically, they framed her father for murder, which led to him dying in prison. That, my friends, is a noble purpose to which to devote a life's mission. This book's "noble purpose" is anything but. The main character has been trained, ninja-like, her entire life to avenging her mother. The great wrong done to her mother that warranted such dedication, such revenge?
Like fucking seriously. Maybe the intent of this book is to portray how literally crazy they both are. Maybe if it was well-written I would have been convinced, as it was, I could hardly keep myself from laughing at how hysterically bad it was. Every single element was awful, from the awful basis for revenge---I mean, god help us if all heartbroken women lived that way. You get your heart broken, you eat a couple of pints of Ben & Jerry's, you get a makeover, you get a rebound boyfriend, you move on with your life. That's what normal people do.
You don't raise a daughter in complete isolation, you don't instill the idea of hatred for the guy who broke your heart into her. You don't mentally fuck with her and train her to get revenge on him through seducing his son. Said daughter is like 16 years old, for fuck's sakes, and she's spent her entire life knowing this is her purpose.
Her methods of seduction is absolutely laughable and pitiful. Her method acting feels like she learned it from a soap opera.
She knows she needs to befriend the girls at school. Then she completely forgets about that and starts being a huge gigantic bitch who alienates everyone, including the girl who is friends with The Target.
A good basis for revenge:
This...? Not so much.
There was a show on TV, called Revenge. It's about a woman who dedicates her life to getting, well, revenge on someone who wronged her father. More specifically, they framed her father for murder, which led to him dying in prison. That, my friends, is a noble purpose to which to devote a life's mission. This book's "noble purpose" is anything but. The main character has been trained, ninja-like, her entire life to avenging her mother. The great wrong done to her mother that warranted such dedication, such revenge?
“Ben’s father, William Collingsworth, broke Mother’s heart. He was her first love, and he used her. He drew her into his world when they were teenagers and then just pushed her out of it when he found some other girl. Mother went back to New York, to the city. She was heartbroken and desperate, so she tried to lose herself in the crowds, in whatever made her feel less alone. When she got pregnant from some worthless one-night stand, I was the only thing she had.God help us all. But isn't dedicating your only daughter's life to revenge over a breakup a little extreme? The book itself asks that question.
I step back from him. “She deserves her revenge. He broke her heart, so now she’ll break his.”
He bites the inside of his lip as if he wants to say something, but decides not to, taking a deep breath. Instead, he asks, “But why couldn’t she have been happy? Why couldn’t she have found a job, raised you, lived a normal life?”No, really. Tell me what I don't understand. And honestly, there's no good reason except for the fact that both mother and daughter are stupid batshit crazy bitches. I honestly have no idea who the hell thought the concept behind this book was a good idea.
I stare at him, at his furrowed brow and piercing brown eyes. He doesn’t understand at all.
Like fucking seriously. Maybe the intent of this book is to portray how literally crazy they both are. Maybe if it was well-written I would have been convinced, as it was, I could hardly keep myself from laughing at how hysterically bad it was. Every single element was awful, from the awful basis for revenge---I mean, god help us if all heartbroken women lived that way. You get your heart broken, you eat a couple of pints of Ben & Jerry's, you get a makeover, you get a rebound boyfriend, you move on with your life. That's what normal people do.
You don't raise a daughter in complete isolation, you don't instill the idea of hatred for the guy who broke your heart into her. You don't mentally fuck with her and train her to get revenge on him through seducing his son. Said daughter is like 16 years old, for fuck's sakes, and she's spent her entire life knowing this is her purpose.
Like a Siren from the Greek myths Mother made me read, I will seduce Ben to my side. I will make him fall in love with me, and then I’ll wrap him around my finger and snap his heart in two, until he is broken completely. And his father will know my mother’s wrath.You don't practically kidnap a little boy---and raise him in even MORE isolation than your daughter, not even giving him a name (which, by the way, is the saddest, most pathetic attempt at a Heathcliff I've ever read).
Boy, or so Mother called him, was the son of the man who always helped Mother. Helper, as I named him in my head, had been attached to Mother since as long as I could remember. I used to think he was my father, actually, but when I called him that, Mother laughed her winter chill laugh and declared me an idiot.And with the inclusion of Heathcliff-wannabe along with the boy she is intent on seducing...you guessed it. We have ourselves a motherfucking love triangle. Not to mention she fails miserably at her goal and starts having FEELINGS for the boy she is supposed to seduce the first time he kisses her.
Boy and his father lived in the guesthouse in our backyard. Boy was three years older than me but never went to school. I taught him how to read and write as I learned it, but we had to do it secretly. Mother had forbidden it. Boy was her servant, was made to cook meals and take care of the house and the yard.
I can’t remember what I was thinking when we kissed. Or even if I was thinking anything at all. I know I started kissing him because I was supposed to, but then . . .I can't reiterate it enough, this book is so awful, and the main character is hysterically bad. Her selling point: looking like a sk8er girl.
I’m traveling down a dangerous road, I tell myself, stepping out of the shower and twisting my hair up in a towel. I can’t give my heart to a boy who will most certainly break it. Not again.
I wear the uniform I was required to buy, but I know it looks nothing like anyone else’s. I shortened the red and black plaid skirt and ripped the hem, making it jagged and frayed. I paired it with black tights and sparkly gold ballet flats, to soften the edginess of the skirt. My white shirtsleeves are rolled up to my elbows to show off arms cluttered with bangles: gold and red and black. I’ve bared my throat, having unbuttoned my shirt until you can see just a hint of cleavage, though there’s not much there to show. The pale skin of my neck and the vulnerable cut of my collarbones will be the focal points. I painted on a thin dash of black eyeliner, making my deep blue eyes pop. I skipped the blush and added dark red lipstick to contrast with my pale skin.Oh, honey, Avril Lavigne did it 15 years ago. You're just old news now. Hot Topic stores are everywhere.
My hair, though, my best feature, I’ve left alone. It hangs long and black down to the middle of my back, a thick mass of glossy hair that tempts you to run your fingers through it.
I am irresistible.
Her methods of seduction is absolutely laughable and pitiful. Her method acting feels like she learned it from a soap opera.
I bite my lip, as if his words have affected me. “I don’t think so,” I say, letting my voice become breathless, uncertain.And her methods of being a pretend student, of getting to know Ben, of being a student at a school, is so fucking dumb. Listen, I may not have devoted my life to revenge, but I think I know a few things or two about infiltration. Number one, you don't draw attention to yourself in a bad way, you stand out, but not too much. It's all about subtlety. The main character is as subtle as a slap to the face. There is a selling point, of course, there has to be a way of getting noticed, but the main character does it all wrong. She can't decide what she wants to be.
I snap my eyes to his. “What are they?” I ask, breathless and feminine, as if I don’t know.
I look up, feigning confusion. As if he has plucked me out of the world I was immersed in and pulled me back into this one. “Sorry?”
I widen my eyes as if I’m surprised, then widen them even more as if hurt. “Is that what they’re calling me?”
She knows she needs to befriend the girls at school. Then she completely forgets about that and starts being a huge gigantic bitch who alienates everyone, including the girl who is friends with The Target.
“Sure she was,” I say casually. “I’ve heard the stories about you. Where else would she have learned to be such a slut?”There is no methodology and no common sense to the way she goes about her mission. She wants to be a seductress, a Siren, a courtesan wannabe. All I see a a pathetic little wannabe sk8er girl. See you l8er.
April 13, 2017
I sincerely mean this when I tell you that nothing made sense.
• The mother was such an awesome tutor on how to be 'captivating' but she herself lost a man to another woman. And in the process, lost her own mind.
• Our main girl was oh-super-alluring (according to her & her psycho mother), she was convinced she got the boy because she 'seduced' him and he looked interested.
I got news for you lovely, if you 'seduced' him and walked away and he never seeked you out once in the two weeks that followed, you're doing it WRONG. Add in the fact that you were all in a boarding school and your dorm was right across from his and you got one monumental failure, dear.
• The most useless love triangle and that from someone who actually likes love triangle/square/quadruple etc, you name it, I like it. I still couldn't stand this.
It was tragic really: these kids were raised by 'parents', and I use that word very loosely, who belonged more in a hospital ward than the real world. Even in this fictional one.
Like I said "nothing made sense".
And no sense in me trying to finish this either but since I read 81% of this thing, I'm marking it as read.
• The mother was such an awesome tutor on how to be 'captivating' but she herself lost a man to another woman. And in the process, lost her own mind.
• Our main girl was oh-super-alluring (according to her & her psycho mother), she was convinced she got the boy because she 'seduced' him and he looked interested.
I got news for you lovely, if you 'seduced' him and walked away and he never seeked you out once in the two weeks that followed, you're doing it WRONG. Add in the fact that you were all in a boarding school and your dorm was right across from his and you got one monumental failure, dear.
• The most useless love triangle and that from someone who actually likes love triangle/square/quadruple etc, you name it, I like it. I still couldn't stand this.
It was tragic really: these kids were raised by 'parents', and I use that word very loosely, who belonged more in a hospital ward than the real world. Even in this fictional one.
Like I said "nothing made sense".
And no sense in me trying to finish this either but since I read 81% of this thing, I'm marking it as read.
January 20, 2019
3.5 out of 5 stars
I have significantly different thoughts reading this a few years later than I did when this book first came out, so a revised review is in order!! Coming soon!!!
October 11, 2018
3.5/5 Stars!
Spoilers will be included.
This was my first book that I've read for #spookathon, and it became a great first read for October because I was looking for something that included mystery, thriller, haunting, adventures and things to uncover.
Some time ago last year a good friend of mine gave this book to me knowing that I would like this, and at that time I had never even heard of it before, so this year I remembered that I had this book and it's indeed very suitable for October and in the end it indeed was. Thus, I have no regrets reading 'I Am Her Revenge' no matter how odd and messed up of a book this was.
Raised in near isolation by a merciless, manipulative and a calculating woman called 'The Mother' for the sole purpose of wreaking revenge, seventeen-year-old Vivian Foster has become an avatar, a blank who can slip into any role she needs to manipulate people. Now she’s enrolled in a posh boarding school on the Yorkshire moors, where she must carry out her mother’s prime command: to enthrall and destroy the son of the man who broke her mother’s heart. Since childhood Vivi's mother has thaught her how to grab men's attention, hot to be seductive and most importantly not to love anyone in her like, ever! (Very strange, I know).
Her quest quickly gets complicated when she settles in the boarding school, though, as she forms unexpected attachments to her classmates and, worse yet, her intended victim. Meanwhile, her only childhood friend Arthur and first love suddenly appears with designs to stop her plans, and her mother’s demands become increasingly violent and dangerous. Soon Vivian realizes her mother’s motives are darker than a broken heart, so in a desperate bid to save herself, she starts to uncover her mother’s secrets, beginning with her own identity.
Vivian the protagonist of this book seemed a bit dull to me and annoying, because she thinks she's the best looking girl in the school and thinks so highly of herself, but it was very interesting seeing her adapting many personalities throughout the entire book.
At the end of the book Vivian of course ends up with a guy because this is a YA book, however I didn't think it was necessary for her to end up with someome, she could easily survive being on her own after all that happened in this book.
Ben (who has been Vivi's target to destroy literally and figuratively) was the character I liked the most, he understood her and became attached to her through their backstories.
While on the other hand there was Arthur, who was Vivi's first love and childhood best friend; he was not an interesting character. He kept telling Vivi that he'll protect her from everything and everyone but I didn't see him in much action.
The book had caught my attention from the first page and didn't let me to put it down until I was finished. The romantic elements were unsatisfying, as Vivian shares more chemistry with her mark/target than her ''supposed'' soulmate. But as Vivian begins to show her weakness and flashbacks reveal her mother’s savage preparation; descriptions of Vivian’s abuse inflicted are visceral, gradually has drawn me into the mother’s terrifying shadow and making Vivian’s blind obedience believable. As the story continued it added up more steam and built to a more gripping narrative, where secrets were laid bare, puzzles pieces being put together and solutions were neatly arranged.
One of the many things I liked about reading this book (despite being very intriguing) is having it be very different from anything I have read before. I tend to compare books a lot when I read them, so it was nice to read this book with an open mind and uncomparable to other books. If I'm being completley honest, I would say that this book is loosely based on 'The Great Expectations' and 'Rapunzel'.
Spoilers will be included.
This was my first book that I've read for #spookathon, and it became a great first read for October because I was looking for something that included mystery, thriller, haunting, adventures and things to uncover.
Some time ago last year a good friend of mine gave this book to me knowing that I would like this, and at that time I had never even heard of it before, so this year I remembered that I had this book and it's indeed very suitable for October and in the end it indeed was. Thus, I have no regrets reading 'I Am Her Revenge' no matter how odd and messed up of a book this was.
Raised in near isolation by a merciless, manipulative and a calculating woman called 'The Mother' for the sole purpose of wreaking revenge, seventeen-year-old Vivian Foster has become an avatar, a blank who can slip into any role she needs to manipulate people. Now she’s enrolled in a posh boarding school on the Yorkshire moors, where she must carry out her mother’s prime command: to enthrall and destroy the son of the man who broke her mother’s heart. Since childhood Vivi's mother has thaught her how to grab men's attention, hot to be seductive and most importantly not to love anyone in her like, ever! (Very strange, I know).
Her quest quickly gets complicated when she settles in the boarding school, though, as she forms unexpected attachments to her classmates and, worse yet, her intended victim. Meanwhile, her only childhood friend Arthur and first love suddenly appears with designs to stop her plans, and her mother’s demands become increasingly violent and dangerous. Soon Vivian realizes her mother’s motives are darker than a broken heart, so in a desperate bid to save herself, she starts to uncover her mother’s secrets, beginning with her own identity.
Vivian the protagonist of this book seemed a bit dull to me and annoying, because she thinks she's the best looking girl in the school and thinks so highly of herself, but it was very interesting seeing her adapting many personalities throughout the entire book.
At the end of the book Vivian of course ends up with a guy because this is a YA book, however I didn't think it was necessary for her to end up with someome, she could easily survive being on her own after all that happened in this book.
Ben (who has been Vivi's target to destroy literally and figuratively) was the character I liked the most, he understood her and became attached to her through their backstories.
While on the other hand there was Arthur, who was Vivi's first love and childhood best friend; he was not an interesting character. He kept telling Vivi that he'll protect her from everything and everyone but I didn't see him in much action.
The book had caught my attention from the first page and didn't let me to put it down until I was finished. The romantic elements were unsatisfying, as Vivian shares more chemistry with her mark/target than her ''supposed'' soulmate. But as Vivian begins to show her weakness and flashbacks reveal her mother’s savage preparation; descriptions of Vivian’s abuse inflicted are visceral, gradually has drawn me into the mother’s terrifying shadow and making Vivian’s blind obedience believable. As the story continued it added up more steam and built to a more gripping narrative, where secrets were laid bare, puzzles pieces being put together and solutions were neatly arranged.
One of the many things I liked about reading this book (despite being very intriguing) is having it be very different from anything I have read before. I tend to compare books a lot when I read them, so it was nice to read this book with an open mind and uncomparable to other books. If I'm being completley honest, I would say that this book is loosely based on 'The Great Expectations' and 'Rapunzel'.
June 3, 2015
To see review with gif click here.
Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own Ms. Havisham that would belong to Charles Dickens (well, technically the public domain now since he’s been dead for a very, very, long time). I merely used her to illustrate my hatred for this book. Too bad for her, I’m not a huge fan of hers. I probably can’t write her correctly either since I’m not from the 19th century and try to steer clear of Dickens except at Christmas when I’m forced to see Tiny Tim survive Christmas five billion times each year. Which is why I prefer the Blackadder version of the Christmas story where Ebenezer Blackadder tells him to stuff it.
here’s only one reason I’m writing this.
Because she ruined my REVENGE!!!
All those years stuck in a smelly wedding dress and for WHAT….
My Estella actually did something, but this chick….well, she gives all the Estella’s a bad name.
I need someone to box that Pip boy’s ears again I swear.
Oh yes, where am I. This retelling of the book that my story was based off of, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (who totally got things wrong by the way), got things even more wrong than Dickens did.
Is such a thing possible?
Well, it is. While Dickens at least made us seem realistic and had Estella be the tart that she truly is, NOT so much with Ms. Moore’s novel.
Instead, she’s more concerned with how my daughter dresses.
Guess what Ms. Moore…no one cares how anyone is dressed except for MY wedding dress. I’ve read said dress over forty years. Still it smells and is all yellow and disgusting, but it was THE dress of the century. And it’s enough to scar young readers as well. Or at least be extremely careful when picking out their dress at David’s Bridal,because who knows how long you’ll be wearing said dress.
And they especially don’t want to dress like a trollop whose fashion icon is Enoby from My Immortal. Don’t believe me. Let’s compare their outfit:
I am Her Revenge:
My Immortal:
Hmm, both are dressed eerily similar (and horrible).
Now, let’s talk about what made Estella such the perfect revenge in the Dickens book:
1) She was Soulless and Calculating
Vivian is not like my Estella. All she cares about is her lipstick. If it doesn’t involve lipstick, her planning is zip to none.
Rather, than listening to her mother she seems to have paid more attention to Tina Fey movies that were made in the mid 2000’s since she keeps talking about queen bees. I actually had to watch said movie to know what she was talking about, such frivolous things.
What is a queen bee I ask? In my day we never used such a foolish term.
2) She Didn’t Give a Rat’s Ass About Pip:
Sorry, for my language. That’s the editor of the post. She thinks that my language was too mild and indirect, but regardless it gets the point across. Estella felt very little for Pip. I trained her to soulless. In this rendition of the story, Vivian wants to make out with Pip with very little thought.
And she’s suppose to be getting my revenge.
If she was in the Victorian era I’d order someone to flog her.
3) Estella knew how to make a decent cup of tea. I doubt that Vivian even knows that the Queen’s drink is tea.
This book takes place in my beloved Britain, Yorkshire to be frank-a little droll, but still a part of the queen’s land. But other than an occasional mention of tosser or bloody, there is absolutely no indication that these characters are in England. They act completely uncivilized like those bloody colonists.
See I used bloody that automatically makes me British.
That and I am from England, unlike the editor/blogger who is completely butchering my speech.
4) Estella Was a Mysterious Character Who Wasn’t Forthcoming in Her Emotions
We all know what Vivian was a sad YA character who’s motives get skewed because of a boy. That never happened with Estella especially in the original ending BEFORE it was rewritten to suite the masses (i’m not a member of the masses).
Unfortunately, I could not keep up with such drivel after awhile. Such reading becomes drivel after awhile. And one must do something else when they’ve been wearing a wedding gown and haunting a ruin since their house burned down all those years ago. I’m really hoping eventually I’ll get bumped up to being one of those Christmas ghosts. More exposure, but alas all those roles are book solid (thanks Dickens, not).
Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own Ms. Havisham that would belong to Charles Dickens (well, technically the public domain now since he’s been dead for a very, very, long time). I merely used her to illustrate my hatred for this book. Too bad for her, I’m not a huge fan of hers. I probably can’t write her correctly either since I’m not from the 19th century and try to steer clear of Dickens except at Christmas when I’m forced to see Tiny Tim survive Christmas five billion times each year. Which is why I prefer the Blackadder version of the Christmas story where Ebenezer Blackadder tells him to stuff it.
here’s only one reason I’m writing this.
Because she ruined my REVENGE!!!
All those years stuck in a smelly wedding dress and for WHAT….
My Estella actually did something, but this chick….well, she gives all the Estella’s a bad name.
I need someone to box that Pip boy’s ears again I swear.
Oh yes, where am I. This retelling of the book that my story was based off of, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (who totally got things wrong by the way), got things even more wrong than Dickens did.
Is such a thing possible?
Well, it is. While Dickens at least made us seem realistic and had Estella be the tart that she truly is, NOT so much with Ms. Moore’s novel.
Instead, she’s more concerned with how my daughter dresses.
Guess what Ms. Moore…no one cares how anyone is dressed except for MY wedding dress. I’ve read said dress over forty years. Still it smells and is all yellow and disgusting, but it was THE dress of the century. And it’s enough to scar young readers as well. Or at least be extremely careful when picking out their dress at David’s Bridal,because who knows how long you’ll be wearing said dress.
And they especially don’t want to dress like a trollop whose fashion icon is Enoby from My Immortal. Don’t believe me. Let’s compare their outfit:
I am Her Revenge:
I wear the uniform I was required to buy, but I know it looks nothing like anyone else’s. I shortened the red and black plaid skirt and ripped the hem, making it jagged and frayed. I paired it with black tights and sparkly gold ballet flats, to soften teh edginess of the skirt. My white skirtsleeves are rolled up to my elbows to show off arms cluttered with bangles: gold and red and black. I’ve bared my throat, having unbuttoned my shirt until you can see just a hint of cleavage, though there’s not much to show. The pale skin of my neck and the vulnerable cut of my collarbones will be the focal points. I painted on a thin dash of black eyeliner making my deep blue eyes pop. I skipped the blush and added dark red lipstick to contrast with my pale skin.
(Moore 3)
My Immortal:
Hi my name is Ebony Dark’ness Dementia Raven Way and I have long ebony black hair (that’s how I got my name) with purple streaks and red tips that reaches my mid-back and icy blue eyes like limpid tears and a lot of people tell me I look like Amy Lee (AN:if u don’t know who she is get da hell out of here!). I”m not related to Gerald Way but wish I was because he’s a major fucking hottie. I’m a vampier but my teeth are straight and white. I have pale white skin. I’m also a witch, and I go to a magic school called Hogwarts in England where I’m a seventh year (I’m seventeen). I’m a goth (in case you couldn’t tell) and I wear mostly black. I love HOt Topic and I buy all my clothes there. For example today I was wearing a black corset with matching lace around it and black leather miniskirt, pink fishnets and black combat boots. I was wearing black lipstick, black eyeliner, and red eye shadow. I was walking outside Hogwarts. It was snowing and raining so there was no sun, which I was ver happy about.
Source: My Immortal Fanfiction.net
Hmm, both are dressed eerily similar (and horrible).
Now, let’s talk about what made Estella such the perfect revenge in the Dickens book:
1) She was Soulless and Calculating
Vivian is not like my Estella. All she cares about is her lipstick. If it doesn’t involve lipstick, her planning is zip to none.
Rather, than listening to her mother she seems to have paid more attention to Tina Fey movies that were made in the mid 2000’s since she keeps talking about queen bees. I actually had to watch said movie to know what she was talking about, such frivolous things.
What is a queen bee I ask? In my day we never used such a foolish term.
2) She Didn’t Give a Rat’s Ass About Pip:
Sorry, for my language. That’s the editor of the post. She thinks that my language was too mild and indirect, but regardless it gets the point across. Estella felt very little for Pip. I trained her to soulless. In this rendition of the story, Vivian wants to make out with Pip with very little thought.
And she’s suppose to be getting my revenge.
If she was in the Victorian era I’d order someone to flog her.
3) Estella knew how to make a decent cup of tea. I doubt that Vivian even knows that the Queen’s drink is tea.
This book takes place in my beloved Britain, Yorkshire to be frank-a little droll, but still a part of the queen’s land. But other than an occasional mention of tosser or bloody, there is absolutely no indication that these characters are in England. They act completely uncivilized like those bloody colonists.
See I used bloody that automatically makes me British.
That and I am from England, unlike the editor/blogger who is completely butchering my speech.
4) Estella Was a Mysterious Character Who Wasn’t Forthcoming in Her Emotions
We all know what Vivian was a sad YA character who’s motives get skewed because of a boy. That never happened with Estella especially in the original ending BEFORE it was rewritten to suite the masses (i’m not a member of the masses).
Unfortunately, I could not keep up with such drivel after awhile. Such reading becomes drivel after awhile. And one must do something else when they’ve been wearing a wedding gown and haunting a ruin since their house burned down all those years ago. I’m really hoping eventually I’ll get bumped up to being one of those Christmas ghosts. More exposure, but alas all those roles are book solid (thanks Dickens, not).
March 28, 2016
*This review contains spoilers*
I am irresistible.
And everyone notices it.
Oh boy, this book is such a disappointment. I was hoping I am her revenge will break the line of disappointing reads for me, but this book only made me more bitter.
The story revolves around a young girl Vivian, who's on a mission to revenge her mother for something terrible that was done to her. And so, she prepared her whole life for the sole purpose of revenge. Intriguing? It was till the moment I learned about the reason behind revenge.So I begin at the beginning. “Ben’s father, William Collingsworth, broke Mother’s heart. He was her first love, and he used her. He drew her into his world when they were teenagers and then just pushed her out of it when he found some other girl. Mother went back to New York, to the city. She was heartbroken and desperate, so she tried to lose herself in the crowds, in whatever made her feel less alone. When she got pregnant from some worthless one-night stand, I was the only thing she had. Her father had died when she was little, and then her mother died in a car accident, leaving her the house upstate but almost nothing else.”
WHAT THE FUCK?“Don’t you see how twisted she is?” he continues, his voice wavering somewhere between desperation and amusement. “How insane?”
I step back from him. “She deserves her revenge. He broke her heart, so now she’ll break his.”
Really? You are trying to sell us this shit? The MC is stupid, her mother is an evil bitch. So, your lover used you, deceived you and dumped you, why would you dedicate yours and your daughter's life to revenge? Mother is totally crazed, I don't understand why no one stopped her earlier and locked her in a loony bin. Deeper in to the book we'll learn that she actually killed people, and that raising her daughter (who is not her daughter but a child she abducted) to seduce the son of your ex is not the biggest sin of hers. And then there's love triangle between the daughter her victim and some semblance of Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. To sum up this all and I was done with this book for life. Read about half of the book, the rest just skipped. It's just, I have the impression that the author wanted to mix together different genres and stories, so it would be some kind of Great Expectations modern retelling, but in the end it turned out to be something as psychologically unstable as the Mother in this book. The MC Vivian is stupid, she has no brains of her own, and she's overly dramatic for her own sake.I wear the uniform I was required to buy, but I know it looks nothing like anyone else’s... I’m not pretty. My eyes are too wide and my mouth too small. But I’ve learned ways to soften these traits and become something even better than pretty: fascinating. I am someone who earns double glances, someone whose eyes trap you, someone otherworldly. Once Mother had figured out how to alter my uniform to match that captivating quality, she pronounced me perfect.
Hmm, get over yourself girl, you are repelling. The love triangle is just terrible. She has feeling for Helper/Arthur/Boy (the one who resembles Heathcliff). Then she became to have feelings for Ben (the victim), but she wants them both, but she's cold, she can't love, she tells herself and blah, blah, blah it continues till the end when she decides to have Heathcliff. She's a fucking drama queen. I do not believe in her revenge or her capability of delivering this revenge. I know everyone remembers famous tv-show Revenge, MC was convincing and I totally believed in her revenge. In this case, not so much.
The ending was like something from B class movie: confessions fly with bullets, characters trying to be deep and pretend that all this drama around makes sense, and everything lands in a shapeless pile before audience and we're siting in front of this mess and thinking: "What the fuck was this shit about?" Honestly, I have no idea.
April 13, 2015
What if you were raised for the sole purpose of being a weapon of revenge?
(Yall know I had to whip out the Emily Thorne memes for this!)
I think I was hoping to really love this book, but then I got worried I wouldnt like it at all, but fortunately it fell closer to love. More like I strongly like it. I love a good revenge story. I was really excited about this! Everything about Vivian was so calculated, as she had been taught. I kept wondering how or when she would break. I mean, she had too, right? Being away from mother, her first time REALLY being around others her age, and alone. In a different country. And there was so much at stake. Could she carry out the revenge for her mother?
I hit a point where I was worried a love triangle was coming, but I quickly realized there was no question, no triangle. But it was Ben who she sought out.
And Arthur... well I feel like I didnt really get to know him well, and though I like him, it leaves me leaning toward Ben. For a minute, I questioned who she would end up with.
I actually questioned a lot of things in this book, which I enjoy, but I managed to guess most of them. Except for one. There was one twist that I didn't not see coming. The signs were there, but I think I thought it meant something else. I didnt think it would lead to what it did! So that was a nice surprise.
I liked how Vivian turned out in the end. I also enjoyed that little final showdown, where all was revealed for exactly what it was. I really hope this stays a stand alone and doesnt become a series or duology
This was definitely different than other YA books I have read. I would like to see more from Meredith Moore!
(Yall know I had to whip out the Emily Thorne memes for this!)
I think I was hoping to really love this book, but then I got worried I wouldnt like it at all, but fortunately it fell closer to love. More like I strongly like it. I love a good revenge story. I was really excited about this! Everything about Vivian was so calculated, as she had been taught. I kept wondering how or when she would break. I mean, she had too, right? Being away from mother, her first time REALLY being around others her age, and alone. In a different country. And there was so much at stake. Could she carry out the revenge for her mother?
I hit a point where I was worried a love triangle was coming, but I quickly realized there was no question, no triangle. But it was Ben who she sought out.
And Arthur... well I feel like I didnt really get to know him well, and though I like him, it leaves me leaning toward Ben. For a minute, I questioned who she would end up with.
I actually questioned a lot of things in this book, which I enjoy, but I managed to guess most of them. Except for one. There was one twist that I didn't not see coming. The signs were there, but I think I thought it meant something else. I didnt think it would lead to what it did! So that was a nice surprise.
I liked how Vivian turned out in the end. I also enjoyed that little final showdown, where all was revealed for exactly what it was. I really hope this stays a stand alone and doesnt become a series or duology
This was definitely different than other YA books I have read. I would like to see more from Meredith Moore!
February 3, 2015
A fast, explosive read, and I loved every moment of it! Five glorious stars!
July 9, 2019
Here's my 2014 review posted in 2019. Enjoy.
To put this softly, I Am Her Revenge was an underwhelming read. With a title as such, and a synopsis equally as tantalising, you tend to expect a lot. Throw in the fact that we’re playing with two tropes that leave a whole lot of room to freestyle—revenge and isolated English boarding schools—and it means that expectations are up there when it comes to the execution. I won’t lie, this book was a ride of emotions (but if I was to average it, I was mostly amused). I put off finishing the book for weeks, mostly because I had a hellava lot to say. The thing is, I didn’t hate it. It plays with archetypal 19th century classics, something I’m terribly fond of, and I just see so many parallels within this thing. I ended up edging beyond my disdain and just moving into the territory of being masochistically beguiled (something I never knew possible).
I Am Her Revenge is a 21st Century attempt at appropriating two archetypal works of the 19th Century: Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations. The former touches home for me. The latter, I can barely stand. Personal distaste for Dickins—he’s just not for me. Before I digress, let’s do our parallels. We have a secluded boarding school in England. It is separated from the grasps of modern day, a “universe of its own” (as Wuthering would have it), being hidden away in the moors. Madigan exists in its very own bubble, hidden away form civilisation. There’s tick one for Romanticism, and a touch of Gothicism in there. We then have the whole Great Expectations aspect (Pip x Estella arc), where Vivian is pitted against Ben, her revenge-ee. True to Expectations, our Estella, Vivian, is instilled from birth to be the catalyst of Ben’s downfall. She is cold, a figure incapable of love and affection (a characteristic attributed to mental torment—think electric shock therapy—inflicted by her very own dearest Mother). Like Estella, Vivian is an automaton—cold, uncaring. And lastly, let’s not forget the biggest Wuthering parallel of all time—your Heathcliff, Cathy and Linton triangle of all triangles of love. Arthur, the boarding school’s caretaker turns out to be Vivian's long lost Heathcliff companion (although I’d even say I see Boo Radley parallels but maybe that’s just the name), who suffers a life just as hard under his father (the figure that replacing Hindley Earnshaw). In this aspect we also have the Heathcliff x Cathy great tragic tale of love (except you know, you can’t be too sombre and desolate in YA, god forbid you take away hope for the kids). Both characters are raised together. Our “Heathcliff” is much less educated in comparison. He is seen to be savage, wild, tumultuous. He resides in the moors, outcasted by the majority. They have “chemistry”, the have “history”, the have this unwritten “passion” (by that I mean the author insists on these points, as my interpretation sees little to no passion resonating from the characters). This leaves room for Ben to become Linton. Oh Edgar Linton. There’s talk from her crazy ass Mother of an elopement between Vivian and Ben, much like when Cathy’s brother insists on her marriage to Linton. Point is, if you like a couple of “classic” parallels, then this will tickle your fancy. But don’t expect palpable emotions.
If this had been written as a contemporary alone there would have been one less cause for complaint. You see, I Am Her Revenge decides to overcomplicate things with its technological aspect, which in my opinion was rather redundant. Early on these “avatars” are thrown nonchalantly into the text, being described as virtual friends for those who cannot connect to such an extent with those surrounding them; they’re technological “best friends” (being the cynical gal that I am, I object to the believability of technology being man’s best friend without side effects). Weird as it may be to say, the technology felt at odds with the plot. Sure, out of nowhere it abruptly plays a central part to the story and it can be used to anchor the audience back to their 21st century context, what with all the 19th century lit we’re playing with but the truth is, perhaps I Am Her Revenge would have executed its storyline better had it simply concentrated on its parallels. The avatars were distracting and insignificant, bar the one chance they got to become a deus ex machina. Their inclusion only further’s the audience’s confusion, and they did little for attempted “atmosphere”.
Aside from that, all the contemporary and theoretical aspects are well written. Run ins with the law, dialogues, the things that draw their roots from reality are without fault. However, the actual plot itself requires you to leave logic at the door and completely and utterly suspend your disbelief. With that in mind, the technicalities of reality thrown into the mix in an attempt to reach out to the audience procure no such results. Because you can justify all the shit you want with talk of the law and whatnot but you cannot do what this book’s plot begs of you to do—that is, to completely remove yourself from the right and wrong, ethics and morals, that lay the basis for the society you’re attempting to emulate. (you see I’m a fan of moral ambiguity BUT in order to do that, I want it to be CONTRASTED with a society that FOLLOWS morals). I Am Her Revenge tries too hard to be a contemporary gothic novel, without severing ties to the 19th century. And that is the heart of this conflict. The archetypal tropes of 19th century gothicism do not relate to our current society. We’re no longer a readership that can blindly excuse evil without facets beyond the conventional I was wrong. We can’t have a character who is hellbent on hell hath no fury revenge shenanigans when it’s not even her personal mission for retribution. We can’t have a character who blindly follows orders without questions of ethicality, especially when she has the pleasure of being exposed to society. We can’t have an insane (which I’ve pondered for a while, because I refuse to throw around such words without care, but I’ve concluded that her Mother is insane, with a touch of sociopathy) Mother with a wild illogical penchant for vengeance and a child who is unwilling to question, not even in the slightest wonder, what the hell is wrong with this empty quest. I Am Her Revenge concludes with one too many “twists” for such the short amount of pages left, quite reminiscent of what you’d get with ol’ school gothicism. Thing is, curveballs like such no longer amount of entertainment, especially if they’re poorly executed.
With all the gothic parallels I’ve laid out above, you’d think that the world building was on point. Unfortunately, you’ve got to bring your brains to this one, as we’re expected to work for atmosphere ourselves. If you recognise the parallels, than you get the minimal world building (otherwise good luck kids, you’re on your own). Because other than what is meant to be assumed, the gothic atmosphere is non-existent. The isolated setting becomes wasted potential.
In terms of character development, there’s pretty much nil. We barely scratch the surface with the main cast of characters. For a revenge tale, you want the emotion to vary. You want palpable anger, confusion, hesitance, passion. You want something to justify a private citizen’s defiance of the law in order to pursue what is deemed “justice”. When you cross borders of what binds society together, there’s a lot of potential to explore, especially with the greyer side of life. These characters feel no remorse, but nor are they passionate for this pursuit. Secondary characters are only there to progress the plot. They appear out of convenience, and to fill voids in what is an underdeveloped desire for revenge.
The writing itself is nothing overly exciting. It’s not what I would deem lyrical, but it’s very much enjoyable. There’s no sass, no memorable dialogue or banter. But it’s not underdone which is something that kept me flipping the pages (you guys get when I say underdone, right?) This is first person POV, in the head of Vivian as she initiates her Mother’s “calculated” plans. That may have hindered the bid for believability as we are stuck in a mindset that, for some odd reason, makes no attempt to question the ethicality of the situation. Maybe she’s been over-conditioned? Maybe she’s completely dense? But I suppose I just wanted one or two wavering thoughts, especially at the odd requests.
For a standalone, the plot wraps up neat and tidy. Although, it can be argued that revenge-plots should never be overdone (like that Revenge show which just completely went off the rails). I Am Her Revenge finishes what it starts. There won’t be cause for a riot.
On a whole, if you like your common sense and double meanings, you could do with skipping this one. I Am Her Revenge requires patience and humour (as you will most likely need it to scoff at all the lack of plausibility and common sense). As a parallel with 19th Century literature, this book is on the verge of an interesting hybrid of traditional tropes in a contemporary setting, but unfortunately the execution did not pay off.
---original from 2014---
Why is there this new wave of forgoing character depth? There's nothing to hold onto. In revenge-plots, you want motivation, you want palpable pain, suffering, you want facades that crack and crumble. None of that here.
What they don’t tell you is this is a essentially a homage to Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations, except don’t set great expectations because reality will never reach such heights.
To put this softly, I Am Her Revenge was an underwhelming read. With a title as such, and a synopsis equally as tantalising, you tend to expect a lot. Throw in the fact that we’re playing with two tropes that leave a whole lot of room to freestyle—revenge and isolated English boarding schools—and it means that expectations are up there when it comes to the execution. I won’t lie, this book was a ride of emotions (but if I was to average it, I was mostly amused). I put off finishing the book for weeks, mostly because I had a hellava lot to say. The thing is, I didn’t hate it. It plays with archetypal 19th century classics, something I’m terribly fond of, and I just see so many parallels within this thing. I ended up edging beyond my disdain and just moving into the territory of being masochistically beguiled (something I never knew possible).
I Am Her Revenge is a 21st Century attempt at appropriating two archetypal works of the 19th Century: Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations. The former touches home for me. The latter, I can barely stand. Personal distaste for Dickins—he’s just not for me. Before I digress, let’s do our parallels. We have a secluded boarding school in England. It is separated from the grasps of modern day, a “universe of its own” (as Wuthering would have it), being hidden away in the moors. Madigan exists in its very own bubble, hidden away form civilisation. There’s tick one for Romanticism, and a touch of Gothicism in there. We then have the whole Great Expectations aspect (Pip x Estella arc), where Vivian is pitted against Ben, her revenge-ee. True to Expectations, our Estella, Vivian, is instilled from birth to be the catalyst of Ben’s downfall. She is cold, a figure incapable of love and affection (a characteristic attributed to mental torment—think electric shock therapy—inflicted by her very own dearest Mother). Like Estella, Vivian is an automaton—cold, uncaring. And lastly, let’s not forget the biggest Wuthering parallel of all time—your Heathcliff, Cathy and Linton triangle of all triangles of love. Arthur, the boarding school’s caretaker turns out to be Vivian's long lost Heathcliff companion (although I’d even say I see Boo Radley parallels but maybe that’s just the name), who suffers a life just as hard under his father (the figure that replacing Hindley Earnshaw). In this aspect we also have the Heathcliff x Cathy great tragic tale of love (except you know, you can’t be too sombre and desolate in YA, god forbid you take away hope for the kids). Both characters are raised together. Our “Heathcliff” is much less educated in comparison. He is seen to be savage, wild, tumultuous. He resides in the moors, outcasted by the majority. They have “chemistry”, the have “history”, the have this unwritten “passion” (by that I mean the author insists on these points, as my interpretation sees little to no passion resonating from the characters). This leaves room for Ben to become Linton. Oh Edgar Linton. There’s talk from her crazy ass Mother of an elopement between Vivian and Ben, much like when Cathy’s brother insists on her marriage to Linton. Point is, if you like a couple of “classic” parallels, then this will tickle your fancy. But don’t expect palpable emotions.
If this had been written as a contemporary alone there would have been one less cause for complaint. You see, I Am Her Revenge decides to overcomplicate things with its technological aspect, which in my opinion was rather redundant. Early on these “avatars” are thrown nonchalantly into the text, being described as virtual friends for those who cannot connect to such an extent with those surrounding them; they’re technological “best friends” (being the cynical gal that I am, I object to the believability of technology being man’s best friend without side effects). Weird as it may be to say, the technology felt at odds with the plot. Sure, out of nowhere it abruptly plays a central part to the story and it can be used to anchor the audience back to their 21st century context, what with all the 19th century lit we’re playing with but the truth is, perhaps I Am Her Revenge would have executed its storyline better had it simply concentrated on its parallels. The avatars were distracting and insignificant, bar the one chance they got to become a deus ex machina. Their inclusion only further’s the audience’s confusion, and they did little for attempted “atmosphere”.
Aside from that, all the contemporary and theoretical aspects are well written. Run ins with the law, dialogues, the things that draw their roots from reality are without fault. However, the actual plot itself requires you to leave logic at the door and completely and utterly suspend your disbelief. With that in mind, the technicalities of reality thrown into the mix in an attempt to reach out to the audience procure no such results. Because you can justify all the shit you want with talk of the law and whatnot but you cannot do what this book’s plot begs of you to do—that is, to completely remove yourself from the right and wrong, ethics and morals, that lay the basis for the society you’re attempting to emulate. (you see I’m a fan of moral ambiguity BUT in order to do that, I want it to be CONTRASTED with a society that FOLLOWS morals). I Am Her Revenge tries too hard to be a contemporary gothic novel, without severing ties to the 19th century. And that is the heart of this conflict. The archetypal tropes of 19th century gothicism do not relate to our current society. We’re no longer a readership that can blindly excuse evil without facets beyond the conventional I was wrong. We can’t have a character who is hellbent on hell hath no fury revenge shenanigans when it’s not even her personal mission for retribution. We can’t have a character who blindly follows orders without questions of ethicality, especially when she has the pleasure of being exposed to society. We can’t have an insane (which I’ve pondered for a while, because I refuse to throw around such words without care, but I’ve concluded that her Mother is insane, with a touch of sociopathy) Mother with a wild illogical penchant for vengeance and a child who is unwilling to question, not even in the slightest wonder, what the hell is wrong with this empty quest. I Am Her Revenge concludes with one too many “twists” for such the short amount of pages left, quite reminiscent of what you’d get with ol’ school gothicism. Thing is, curveballs like such no longer amount of entertainment, especially if they’re poorly executed.
With all the gothic parallels I’ve laid out above, you’d think that the world building was on point. Unfortunately, you’ve got to bring your brains to this one, as we’re expected to work for atmosphere ourselves. If you recognise the parallels, than you get the minimal world building (otherwise good luck kids, you’re on your own). Because other than what is meant to be assumed, the gothic atmosphere is non-existent. The isolated setting becomes wasted potential.
In terms of character development, there’s pretty much nil. We barely scratch the surface with the main cast of characters. For a revenge tale, you want the emotion to vary. You want palpable anger, confusion, hesitance, passion. You want something to justify a private citizen’s defiance of the law in order to pursue what is deemed “justice”. When you cross borders of what binds society together, there’s a lot of potential to explore, especially with the greyer side of life. These characters feel no remorse, but nor are they passionate for this pursuit. Secondary characters are only there to progress the plot. They appear out of convenience, and to fill voids in what is an underdeveloped desire for revenge.
The writing itself is nothing overly exciting. It’s not what I would deem lyrical, but it’s very much enjoyable. There’s no sass, no memorable dialogue or banter. But it’s not underdone which is something that kept me flipping the pages (you guys get when I say underdone, right?) This is first person POV, in the head of Vivian as she initiates her Mother’s “calculated” plans. That may have hindered the bid for believability as we are stuck in a mindset that, for some odd reason, makes no attempt to question the ethicality of the situation. Maybe she’s been over-conditioned? Maybe she’s completely dense? But I suppose I just wanted one or two wavering thoughts, especially at the odd requests.
For a standalone, the plot wraps up neat and tidy. Although, it can be argued that revenge-plots should never be overdone (like that Revenge show which just completely went off the rails). I Am Her Revenge finishes what it starts. There won’t be cause for a riot.
On a whole, if you like your common sense and double meanings, you could do with skipping this one. I Am Her Revenge requires patience and humour (as you will most likely need it to scoff at all the lack of plausibility and common sense). As a parallel with 19th Century literature, this book is on the verge of an interesting hybrid of traditional tropes in a contemporary setting, but unfortunately the execution did not pay off.
---original from 2014---
1.5 stars for trying. Review To Come. Great 19th century parallels. Lack of plausibility.
Why is there this new wave of forgoing character depth? There's nothing to hold onto. In revenge-plots, you want motivation, you want palpable pain, suffering, you want facades that crack and crumble. None of that here.
May 16, 2015
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more reviews!
For having Vivian, our main kick-ass lead, actually talk about Romeo and Juliet, I now can comprehend that this was the author's point—a retelling in which readers will craze, rave and relate to 100%, even if we're not chosen to get revenge for our own mothers. *_* It's about Vivian's actuality and how she can be copied as an ordinary teenage girl who is stuck in the wrong situation at the wrong moment and time.
After reading, my mind is possibly blown away. No, scratch that possibility, it's a real thing, and I can tell you that this only happens to me in certain situations and times. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, Meredith Moore has written this book for me, as it feels like. Everything about it was enduring, stunning, and I just didn't want to let go of the plot, suspense and characters. I know who I'll be dreaming about tonight! *whispers Ben and Vivian's name*
That's my "kind" of character, I tell you. I'll get into a more drastic informed, truly SPECIFIC note later, but that quote just made me giggle and feel like I'm a four year old all over again since this RARELY happens in modern society. No one's aware of anyone unless they're the pure, perfect definition of hot. Vivian surely wasn't perfect, and her character unquestionably notes that to readers. *winks* Again, let me continue with the summary before I actually begin a rant on the stupidity of modern society and technology. ANYWAYS...!
Revenge is the key concept and subject in this novel, as you can already tell. Look at the title, the Goodreads synopsis, it's a big thing. And had vengeance not played such a huge role in the plot, the story would've been corrupted. This vengeance is what Vivian has been trained to do for her entire life. Her mother raised her to not love, to not make friends, nada. And now, as she gains the chance, it's time for her to do her thing. Her mother sends her to an English boarding school where her target is, and she needs him to fall in love with her, pronto. It's Ben, and he's the son of a mega-millionaire, also known as the man who broke Vivian's mother's heart. BUT TIME IS TICKING, AND OF COURSE... SECRETS WILL BE DISCOVERED.
Where do we go from here? Revenge, friendship, trust, drugs... there's so many topics that Moore focused on throughout the novel, and it's the true mixture of being a teen. Of course, not every teen (perhaps only the rare few) have to literally go with the flow in this kind of situation and worry about people watching you from afar, but it's like a guide to what things can become when you don't know your history. Vivian's mother hadn't even told Viv her name, and kept switching things around as they moved through towns, struggling to keep the mission planned the way it's supposed to be planned. Time was a huge factor into "Mother's" dream plan, and it seemed like literal nonsense, but manipulation can go a far way.
Readers are most definitely able to witness the struggles of Vivian trying to be herself, and find herself at least, as she was always a slave for the largest period of her life. This caused her to be clueless, and it made her feel superior at first, but after things got discovered, she shattered into pieces. Thankfully, there are characters there for her who patched her back up, like Arthur, Ben and Claire. (I'll get to them later, I promise!)
It basically took me a day to read this book, and because of my demand to study, IT TOOK ME TWO DEVOURING SITTINGS. I honestly could've went straight with this for the longest period of time and I wouldn't get a headache or get bored because IT WAS AMAZING. Honestly, there are only rare situations where I feel like I'm able to fly, panic and fangirl to the maximum without splurging my brains out of weirdness. Okay, I'm already weird, so scratch that last part out. But, all I can say is that Moore is a phenomenal author—she writes like she's Vivian, and this is her story. It had just a bit of everything, and she honestly knows what she's doing here. And especially to readers.
Where else can I go with this? I'm still speechless, since I have a million things to say and then you'd all get bored of my insightful rambling for ages. But next off, to the characters, this is the part that you've been waiting for from this whole review. Everything is a 6/5 stars, but the characters were an aspect that we really need to go in depth with, since they're a cast fit for a movie. PERFECT PEOPLE WITH IMPERFECT ATTRIBUTES. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.
And I also love myself a bad boy and girl. Playing hard to get? That's my kind of thing, and it's truly adorable to read that playing back and forth with Viv and Ben. They both were so similar in many ways, but the fact that it was all an act (at least, it seemed to be) killed me. To be honest, I saw a love triangle evolving, and Arthur the gardener was part of it. WOOPS, I MEAN "BOY." I didn't like him so much compared to dreamy BEN, but he was that kind of guy best friend that every chick needs in order to survive high school and beyond. Get what I'm saying?
Then we have: Vivian. Like I mentioned before, she's kick-ass. She's not the type of chick who just has that luck to get by things and not get caught. As her stupid-butt mother told her, she has to work for what she gets, and then she'll eventually get it. That's like the basic motto of this whole book, and eventually she realized it, but in the wrong ways that her mother actually meant in the beginning. She was superbly intelligent and didn't even need drugs to get in her way of her plan. It actually turned out waaay better than what we all planned it to be.
I'm almost done, I swear. THAT ENDING KILLED ME, THOUGH. Did I see that coming? Absolutelyfuckingdooplynot. Do I like what happened? Absoluetlyfuckingdooplyyes. YES. It was a perfect standalone ending, with suspense into wondering what happened later, but our questions were answered and there was a tweak of romance and emphasis after everything. I guess that the title and cover make SO MUCH MORE SENSE after thinking about it afterwards.
Think about a perfect novel—simply one of the best you've ever read. If this one comes to mind, then you're actually on the right track, my wonderful friends! I Am Her Revenge was unlike anything else I've read in a LONG time, and it's the pure definition of a me-read. Thrills, mystery, suspense, friendship and a tweak of romance equals all of this, plus a million other fantastic aspects that you'll have to see for yourself once you DEVOUR this!
For having Vivian, our main kick-ass lead, actually talk about Romeo and Juliet, I now can comprehend that this was the author's point—a retelling in which readers will craze, rave and relate to 100%, even if we're not chosen to get revenge for our own mothers. *_* It's about Vivian's actuality and how she can be copied as an ordinary teenage girl who is stuck in the wrong situation at the wrong moment and time.
After reading, my mind is possibly blown away. No, scratch that possibility, it's a real thing, and I can tell you that this only happens to me in certain situations and times. THIS IS NOT A DRILL, Meredith Moore has written this book for me, as it feels like. Everything about it was enduring, stunning, and I just didn't want to let go of the plot, suspense and characters. I know who I'll be dreaming about tonight! *whispers Ben and Vivian's name*
"I am irresistible. And everyone notices it. As I pass the eyes over the crowd, a slow smirk on my lips, the buzzing starts. Kids turn to each other and ask who I am." (Hardcover, page 4)
That's my "kind" of character, I tell you. I'll get into a more drastic informed, truly SPECIFIC note later, but that quote just made me giggle and feel like I'm a four year old all over again since this RARELY happens in modern society. No one's aware of anyone unless they're the pure, perfect definition of hot. Vivian surely wasn't perfect, and her character unquestionably notes that to readers. *winks* Again, let me continue with the summary before I actually begin a rant on the stupidity of modern society and technology. ANYWAYS...!
Revenge is the key concept and subject in this novel, as you can already tell. Look at the title, the Goodreads synopsis, it's a big thing. And had vengeance not played such a huge role in the plot, the story would've been corrupted. This vengeance is what Vivian has been trained to do for her entire life. Her mother raised her to not love, to not make friends, nada. And now, as she gains the chance, it's time for her to do her thing. Her mother sends her to an English boarding school where her target is, and she needs him to fall in love with her, pronto. It's Ben, and he's the son of a mega-millionaire, also known as the man who broke Vivian's mother's heart. BUT TIME IS TICKING, AND OF COURSE... SECRETS WILL BE DISCOVERED.
Where do we go from here? Revenge, friendship, trust, drugs... there's so many topics that Moore focused on throughout the novel, and it's the true mixture of being a teen. Of course, not every teen (perhaps only the rare few) have to literally go with the flow in this kind of situation and worry about people watching you from afar, but it's like a guide to what things can become when you don't know your history. Vivian's mother hadn't even told Viv her name, and kept switching things around as they moved through towns, struggling to keep the mission planned the way it's supposed to be planned. Time was a huge factor into "Mother's" dream plan, and it seemed like literal nonsense, but manipulation can go a far way.
"If I learned how to manipulate those desires, I could make any boy my slave. And I must never become a victim of love. Love dismantles you. I'll never let it break me apart. Not again, at least." (Hardcover, page 51)
Readers are most definitely able to witness the struggles of Vivian trying to be herself, and find herself at least, as she was always a slave for the largest period of her life. This caused her to be clueless, and it made her feel superior at first, but after things got discovered, she shattered into pieces. Thankfully, there are characters there for her who patched her back up, like Arthur, Ben and Claire. (I'll get to them later, I promise!)
It basically took me a day to read this book, and because of my demand to study, IT TOOK ME TWO DEVOURING SITTINGS. I honestly could've went straight with this for the longest period of time and I wouldn't get a headache or get bored because IT WAS AMAZING. Honestly, there are only rare situations where I feel like I'm able to fly, panic and fangirl to the maximum without splurging my brains out of weirdness. Okay, I'm already weird, so scratch that last part out. But, all I can say is that Moore is a phenomenal author—she writes like she's Vivian, and this is her story. It had just a bit of everything, and she honestly knows what she's doing here. And especially to readers.
Where else can I go with this? I'm still speechless, since I have a million things to say and then you'd all get bored of my insightful rambling for ages. But next off, to the characters, this is the part that you've been waiting for from this whole review. Everything is a 6/5 stars, but the characters were an aspect that we really need to go in depth with, since they're a cast fit for a movie. PERFECT PEOPLE WITH IMPERFECT ATTRIBUTES. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.
And I also love myself a bad boy and girl. Playing hard to get? That's my kind of thing, and it's truly adorable to read that playing back and forth with Viv and Ben. They both were so similar in many ways, but the fact that it was all an act (at least, it seemed to be) killed me. To be honest, I saw a love triangle evolving, and Arthur the gardener was part of it. WOOPS, I MEAN "BOY." I didn't like him so much compared to dreamy BEN, but he was that kind of guy best friend that every chick needs in order to survive high school and beyond. Get what I'm saying?
Then we have: Vivian. Like I mentioned before, she's kick-ass. She's not the type of chick who just has that luck to get by things and not get caught. As her stupid-butt mother told her, she has to work for what she gets, and then she'll eventually get it. That's like the basic motto of this whole book, and eventually she realized it, but in the wrong ways that her mother actually meant in the beginning. She was superbly intelligent and didn't even need drugs to get in her way of her plan. It actually turned out waaay better than what we all planned it to be.
I'm almost done, I swear. THAT ENDING KILLED ME, THOUGH. Did I see that coming? Absolutelyfuckingdooplynot. Do I like what happened? Absoluetlyfuckingdooplyyes. YES. It was a perfect standalone ending, with suspense into wondering what happened later, but our questions were answered and there was a tweak of romance and emphasis after everything. I guess that the title and cover make SO MUCH MORE SENSE after thinking about it afterwards.
Think about a perfect novel—simply one of the best you've ever read. If this one comes to mind, then you're actually on the right track, my wonderful friends! I Am Her Revenge was unlike anything else I've read in a LONG time, and it's the pure definition of a me-read. Thrills, mystery, suspense, friendship and a tweak of romance equals all of this, plus a million other fantastic aspects that you'll have to see for yourself once you DEVOUR this!
March 23, 2015
3.5 stars
Vivian was raised by her mother to become whoever she wants her to be. She’s a tool, she’s a weapon. And when her time comes to do the task that she was raised to do, she’ll do it because she owes her mother.
I’m not entirely sure what I think of this book if I’m being totally honest with you all.
Here’s the thing.
I spent most of this book thinking WTF … how is she this mad about this. Okay… I can’t do this spoiler free, I just can’t. So beware.
ALL that said, I did find the characters intriguing. We don’t get to know many of them on more than a superficial level, and that totally actually works for this story. Vivian however is so interesting… her cold and calculating demeanor… her determination to exact the revenge her mother deserves… it’s all so damn interesting and Moore gives this story a bit of a gothic feel to it and it completely works.
While this wasn’t a total homerun for me, I definitely found that I really loved some aspects of it. I’m definitely going to be looking for more from Moore in the future!
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Vivian was raised by her mother to become whoever she wants her to be. She’s a tool, she’s a weapon. And when her time comes to do the task that she was raised to do, she’ll do it because she owes her mother.
I’m not entirely sure what I think of this book if I’m being totally honest with you all.
Here’s the thing.
I spent most of this book thinking WTF … how is she this mad about this. Okay… I can’t do this spoiler free, I just can’t. So beware.
ALL that said, I did find the characters intriguing. We don’t get to know many of them on more than a superficial level, and that totally actually works for this story. Vivian however is so interesting… her cold and calculating demeanor… her determination to exact the revenge her mother deserves… it’s all so damn interesting and Moore gives this story a bit of a gothic feel to it and it completely works.
While this wasn’t a total homerun for me, I definitely found that I really loved some aspects of it. I’m definitely going to be looking for more from Moore in the future!
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
June 30, 2015
When I read this book's synopsis, I really liked it. I was excited to read it.
However this book was a complete disappointment. Perhaps I had alot of expectations from it? I waited for its release then hunted for its epub in so many sites but I couldn't find it. Finally when I did....oh, this book was so upsetting :/
The story is about a girl named Vivian, who has arrived at Madigan University in England on a mission to take her mother's revenge. She has been trained all her life to be prepared for this revenge. Interesting, huh? Now you maybe wondering the reason behind this revenge....
Ben’s father, William Collingsworth, broke Mother’s heart. He was her first love, and he used her. He drew her into his world when they were teenagers and then just pushed her out of it when he found some other girl. Mother went back to New York, to the city. She was heartbroken and desperate, so she tried to lose herself in the crowds, in whatever made her feel less alone.
*rolls eyes*
LIKE SERIOUSLY?! That's ton of a shit!
This is the reason for revenge?
I mean, around the world hundreds of girls get their heartbroken but, c'mon they don't train their daughter to seek revenge from the son of the guy who broke their heart!! AND torture them if they love something/someone or try to befriend someone!
I thought there will be a very fascinating reason behind mother's revenge when I read the synopsis...
The Mother(her name was not mentioned until towards the end) was an evil bitch. She was so messed up after she was ditched by a guy that she became a killer, murderer and a kidnapper. Now they were not even in a long relationship so how can she become such a maniac after a heartbreak? MOVE ON, BITCH!! Man, she did a lot of stuff to teach her daughter not to fall in love. For instance she slit off kittens' throats…
Vivian, the main character is no less bitch. Not an impressive character. Her no proper personality was shown. She was quite proud and mean. Whenever she was bullied she came with helluva dirty retort.. She was utterly destroyed by the Mother
Ben, the target. Viv was supposed to make him fall in love with her and then she'd destroy his life. She used drugs to make him an addict(Errr). She was successful in her plan though she started caring for Ben.
There was a love triangle which totally sucked. Throughout the book she is with Ben and never thinks about Arthur(her childhood friend with whom she fell in love) when she's with him. The latter appears so less.
Soon Viv uncovered her mother's secrets and blah blah the book ends. It was a happy ending, okay?
Actually this whole book sucked.
The characters were poorly developed and the storyline was not also properly presented. Had there been a rational reason for revenge then I guess the book would have been amazing.
However this book was a complete disappointment. Perhaps I had alot of expectations from it? I waited for its release then hunted for its epub in so many sites but I couldn't find it. Finally when I did....oh, this book was so upsetting :/
The story is about a girl named Vivian, who has arrived at Madigan University in England on a mission to take her mother's revenge. She has been trained all her life to be prepared for this revenge. Interesting, huh? Now you maybe wondering the reason behind this revenge....
Ben’s father, William Collingsworth, broke Mother’s heart. He was her first love, and he used her. He drew her into his world when they were teenagers and then just pushed her out of it when he found some other girl. Mother went back to New York, to the city. She was heartbroken and desperate, so she tried to lose herself in the crowds, in whatever made her feel less alone.
*rolls eyes*
LIKE SERIOUSLY?! That's ton of a shit!
This is the reason for revenge?
I mean, around the world hundreds of girls get their heartbroken but, c'mon they don't train their daughter to seek revenge from the son of the guy who broke their heart!! AND torture them if they love something/someone or try to befriend someone!
I thought there will be a very fascinating reason behind mother's revenge when I read the synopsis...
The Mother(her name was not mentioned until towards the end) was an evil bitch. She was so messed up after she was ditched by a guy that she became a killer, murderer and a kidnapper. Now they were not even in a long relationship so how can she become such a maniac after a heartbreak? MOVE ON, BITCH!! Man, she did a lot of stuff to teach her daughter not to fall in love. For instance she slit off kittens' throats…
Vivian, the main character is no less bitch. Not an impressive character. Her no proper personality was shown. She was quite proud and mean. Whenever she was bullied she came with helluva dirty retort.. She was utterly destroyed by the Mother
Ben, the target. Viv was supposed to make him fall in love with her and then she'd destroy his life. She used drugs to make him an addict(Errr). She was successful in her plan though she started caring for Ben.
There was a love triangle which totally sucked. Throughout the book she is with Ben and never thinks about Arthur(her childhood friend with whom she fell in love) when she's with him. The latter appears so less.
Soon Viv uncovered her mother's secrets and blah blah the book ends. It was a happy ending, okay?
Actually this whole book sucked.
The characters were poorly developed and the storyline was not also properly presented. Had there been a rational reason for revenge then I guess the book would have been amazing.
June 20, 2015
This book is amazing. It's a lot like Carrie Ryan's Daughter of Deep Silence, in terms of theme and character, but this one ! I love how atmospheric this book is. The Yorkshire moors are haunting and beautiful and a character all their own. The characters themselves are also really interested. I LOVED Vivian; she's the kind of narrator I really enjoy reading about. Also, poor Ben. I think it's easy for us as readers to not connect with him because we're privy to information he's not, but I really felt for him. Also, I really liked Arthur, and all the scenes with him and Viv were SO full of tension.
If you've read other reviews of this book, you'll see everyone talking about how this ties so closely to great pieces of literature. That really worked for me. I'd go so far to say this is almost a re-imagining of Great Expectations. Vivian is so very much Estella and "Mother" is Miss Havisham. Beyond that, the relationship between Arthur and Vivian is very Wuthering Heights-esque, with Arthur standing in as Heathcliff (but a nicer version). And then so many names coming from Arthurian legends and wow, basically, my inner lit nerd was very happy.
Moral of the story: I Am Her Revenge is a fast-paced, twisted thriller that will leave you reeling by the end. There are flawed characters, a great setting, and beautiful writing, and I was definitely NOT disappointed with this book, one of my most anticipated 2015 debuts.
If you've read other reviews of this book, you'll see everyone talking about how this ties so closely to great pieces of literature. That really worked for me. I'd go so far to say this is almost a re-imagining of Great Expectations. Vivian is so very much Estella and "Mother" is Miss Havisham. Beyond that, the relationship between Arthur and Vivian is very Wuthering Heights-esque, with Arthur standing in as Heathcliff (but a nicer version). And then so many names coming from Arthurian legends and wow, basically, my inner lit nerd was very happy.
Moral of the story: I Am Her Revenge is a fast-paced, twisted thriller that will leave you reeling by the end. There are flawed characters, a great setting, and beautiful writing, and I was definitely NOT disappointed with this book, one of my most anticipated 2015 debuts.
September 4, 2014
Vivian has trained her entire life for one mission: exacting revenge on the man who ruined her mother's life. Her mark? The man's son, an unsuspecting boarding school golden boy. The game? Make him fall in love with her, then ruin his life. The problem? The real world is nothing like the cold, calculating environment in which she was raised, and when boy from her past, her one weakness, reappears, complications arise. Emotions and reality are much messier than Vivian anticipated, but disappointing Mother is not an option. I Am Her Revenge is a high-stakes thriller led by a compelling, complicated protagonist readers will both fear and root for.
May 9, 2016
I made it about 1/2 way through when I realized that I wanted this heroine out of this book, and in a better one. Don't get me wrong- the writing was gorgeous. BUT the heroine was just too well-written to be placed in this book. The setting was non-existent, secondary characters poorly-developed, and storyline misplaced.
I will definitely be reading another book by this author- perhaps this genre just isn't for me.
I will definitely be reading another book by this author- perhaps this genre just isn't for me.
April 6, 2015
I Am Her Revenge was one of my most anticipated April reads, so you can imagine my excitement when I finally got my hands on it. To say that I was ecstatic is a bit of understatement, I may or may not have been jumping up and down. I love me a good revenge story and I couldn't wait to dive into Vivian's world.
Vivian Foster is a bit of a chameleon, she can be anything that she needs to be in order to get what she wants. Which I admit, sounds kind of awesome. I would love to be able to change my personality to suit the task at hand. However, this isn't something that Vivian learned herself because she wanted to. This is something that her Mother taught her, in order to get the ultimate revenge. You see, Mother had her heart broken 20 years ago and she's out to ruin that man's heart...by having her daughter break his son's heart. Eye for an eye, right? But everything isn't as simple as Mother says, and Vivian will uncover some things that will make her question everything she's even been told.
While I'd liked to say that I liked Vivian from the start, that really isn't the case. But with this kind of plot, I was expecting it. Mother has made her into a shell of a human, she has controlled every aspect of Vivian's life and pushed it into her head that you can't let anyone close, or worst of all, fall in love. So as you can imagine, it's hard to get to know the person underneath Mother's teachings. But like the summary says, with every secret Vivian uncovers, we get to see a little more of HER, and I actually liked that Vivian.
Ben, on the other hand, I liked from the start. From the moment we meet him, we see that he's popular, but he isn't like the others in the popular crowd. He's caring and sweet, and seemingly an easy target to Vivian.
I really liked the fact that the whole revenge aspect was so well planned, it really made the story flow really well and it kept me interested and guessing. I didn't expect the whole mystery aspect in this book though, but I loved it. I didn't put the puzzle pieces together and I didn't see it coming, so when everything was revealed, I got that shock factor, which was great.
Overall, I Am Her Revenge is an intriguing read that will give you so much more than a revenge story.
Vivian Foster is a bit of a chameleon, she can be anything that she needs to be in order to get what she wants. Which I admit, sounds kind of awesome. I would love to be able to change my personality to suit the task at hand. However, this isn't something that Vivian learned herself because she wanted to. This is something that her Mother taught her, in order to get the ultimate revenge. You see, Mother had her heart broken 20 years ago and she's out to ruin that man's heart...by having her daughter break his son's heart. Eye for an eye, right? But everything isn't as simple as Mother says, and Vivian will uncover some things that will make her question everything she's even been told.
While I'd liked to say that I liked Vivian from the start, that really isn't the case. But with this kind of plot, I was expecting it. Mother has made her into a shell of a human, she has controlled every aspect of Vivian's life and pushed it into her head that you can't let anyone close, or worst of all, fall in love. So as you can imagine, it's hard to get to know the person underneath Mother's teachings. But like the summary says, with every secret Vivian uncovers, we get to see a little more of HER, and I actually liked that Vivian.
Ben, on the other hand, I liked from the start. From the moment we meet him, we see that he's popular, but he isn't like the others in the popular crowd. He's caring and sweet, and seemingly an easy target to Vivian.
I really liked the fact that the whole revenge aspect was so well planned, it really made the story flow really well and it kept me interested and guessing. I didn't expect the whole mystery aspect in this book though, but I loved it. I didn't put the puzzle pieces together and I didn't see it coming, so when everything was revealed, I got that shock factor, which was great.
Overall, I Am Her Revenge is an intriguing read that will give you so much more than a revenge story.
June 2, 2015
This novel had me hooked from the first page -- the moors of England -- what a great setting, and a unique, strong heroine -- the mysterious Vivian who has been raised to be a weapon for the awful, horrible, monstrous Mother. The plot moved along at a steady clip, suspenseful and ultimately very satisfying. I especially loved Moore's treatment of her teenage characters -- they were flawed but not one-note, even the "mean" girl had believable motivation for her meanness. The love triangle that ensues is also refreshingly unique. I enjoyed this novel from start to finish, and would highly recommend for young adult readers (of any age!) who can't resist an edge-of-your seat thriller.
Want to read
August 13, 2014I need a good revenge story. PLEASE BE GOOD. PLEASE BE GOOD. PLEASE BE GOOD.
December 29, 2014
Fabulously twisted. This has the creepiness and the effective storytelling of a Faulkner book. Pre-order this one now.
January 24, 2015
great story, but I wasn't happy at all with the ending. full review to come!
June 13, 2016
Finished this one pretty quickly. But I absolutely loved it! For the the last 70 pages I got lifetime (channel) movie vibes.
August 10, 2016
That ending. God that ending.
The ending just left me so disorientated - with no idea where I am. Not quite a cliffhanger but it left me wanting more. So much more.
Man this book was gold.
It was an easy read. I found it easy to get into - and before I knew it, I was absorbed in it. It may be contemporary, but it's not cliche to any extent the way all other contemporary books are.
It is the furthest away from cliche I could ever hope for.
It gave me an insight to the life of a girl who grew up so completely and utterly different to the norm. Her thoughts and her actions.
It's not something I can find elsewhere. Though I wish I could.
Having just read my pre-reading review, I see how this book turned out so differently than I expected. I expected the book to convey the essence of true anger – true rage. But what I actually got was a story about a tortured soul – and the only word with which I can describe the main emotion is confusion. I said in my pre-reading review that I wasn’t going to cry but yell but I got the opposite. It didn’t provoke rage in me. It provoked tears. (I didn’t let them out though because I was reading during free time in class. I had to physically slam the book shut to contain my emotions.)
It turned out differently than I expected. It turned out better than I expected.
In every way.
Oct 19, 2015
PRE-READING REVIEW: Apr 29, 2015
Never has a book landed straight onto my Want-To-Read shelf the moment I saw the blurb.
The blurb made my blood boil. The idea of parents controlling and jeopardising their children has never failed to anger me. Man, I'm not going to cry reading this - I'm going to yell.
There are books with 10/10 blurbs that didn't land on my Want-To-Read shelf that quickly. I normally rate the blurb, and slip it into my endless to-read list which I won't get through in a lifetime. But this is different. Every instinct had me clicking the green Want-To-Read button before I knew it. I want to read this book. I have faith in it. It better not disappoint me.
The ending just left me so disorientated - with no idea where I am. Not quite a cliffhanger but it left me wanting more. So much more.
Man this book was gold.
It was an easy read. I found it easy to get into - and before I knew it, I was absorbed in it. It may be contemporary, but it's not cliche to any extent the way all other contemporary books are.
It is the furthest away from cliche I could ever hope for.
It gave me an insight to the life of a girl who grew up so completely and utterly different to the norm. Her thoughts and her actions.
It's not something I can find elsewhere. Though I wish I could.
Having just read my pre-reading review, I see how this book turned out so differently than I expected. I expected the book to convey the essence of true anger – true rage. But what I actually got was a story about a tortured soul – and the only word with which I can describe the main emotion is confusion. I said in my pre-reading review that I wasn’t going to cry but yell but I got the opposite. It didn’t provoke rage in me. It provoked tears. (I didn’t let them out though because I was reading during free time in class. I had to physically slam the book shut to contain my emotions.)
It turned out differently than I expected. It turned out better than I expected.
In every way.
Oct 19, 2015
PRE-READING REVIEW: Apr 29, 2015
Never has a book landed straight onto my Want-To-Read shelf the moment I saw the blurb.
The blurb made my blood boil. The idea of parents controlling and jeopardising their children has never failed to anger me. Man, I'm not going to cry reading this - I'm going to yell.
There are books with 10/10 blurbs that didn't land on my Want-To-Read shelf that quickly. I normally rate the blurb, and slip it into my endless to-read list which I won't get through in a lifetime. But this is different. Every instinct had me clicking the green Want-To-Read button before I knew it. I want to read this book. I have faith in it. It better not disappoint me.
Read
June 2, 2015DNF at 43%
Guys, just take a minute or two to imagine how the world would be if every boy or girl had a mother like this?
Bent on exacting revenge on a man who broke her heart when she was a teen.
Just imagine....
Terrible right?!
Well of course. Anyone whose anyone; that has loved, has suffered at the hands of heartbreak.
Fine, some move on, some learn lessons, some become bastards, and even cruel bitches.
BUT!
For someone to spend their entire life hung up on this, even going to the extremes lengths to involve their child is just damn sad, and laughable.
How can you, how could anyone be so damn selfish. You raise your child to exact revenge on a guy, all because he broke your poor beating heart? Like what, over a decade ago?!
It's as simple as that? A heartbreak?! Flippin' really?!
I don't know about y'all but that's the dumbest shit I've probably ever heard, and I for one have heard a lot of dumb shit!
That's the best revenge of all: happiness. Nothing drives people crazier than seeing someone having a good fucking laugh. - Chuck Palahniuk
Not one hung up on the heart ache suffered more than a decade ago.
GET OVER IT!
MOVE ON!!!!
GET. A. LIFE.
Wise words, if I do say so myself.
Guys, just take a minute or two to imagine how the world would be if every boy or girl had a mother like this?
Bent on exacting revenge on a man who broke her heart when she was a teen.
Just imagine....
Terrible right?!
Well of course. Anyone whose anyone; that has loved, has suffered at the hands of heartbreak.
Fine, some move on, some learn lessons, some become bastards, and even cruel bitches.
BUT!
For someone to spend their entire life hung up on this, even going to the extremes lengths to involve their child is just damn sad, and laughable.
How can you, how could anyone be so damn selfish. You raise your child to exact revenge on a guy, all because he broke your poor beating heart? Like what, over a decade ago?!
It's as simple as that? A heartbreak?! Flippin' really?!
I don't know about y'all but that's the dumbest shit I've probably ever heard, and I for one have heard a lot of dumb shit!
That's the best revenge of all: happiness. Nothing drives people crazier than seeing someone having a good fucking laugh. - Chuck Palahniuk
Not one hung up on the heart ache suffered more than a decade ago.
GET OVER IT!
MOVE ON!!!!
GET. A. LIFE.
Wise words, if I do say so myself.
January 7, 2016
I haven't -consumed- a book like I did this one, in a really long time. Once I started reading, I could not stop, much to my chagrin at 3am when I finished this book.
As the daughter of a crazy mother, I could relate a little too well to this story. The masterful manipulations and lies Vivian Foster buys into and feels obligated to obey are incredible. Her awakening to her situation is accurate and real. The fear of what to do when she doesn't want to obey is palpable. Each of these characters is so well-written and dynamic! I adored the ending, which is something that I almost always find fault with. It's too bad I can't write about it, because the way the conclusion pans out is not perfectly tidy, but realistic (though the events are far-fetched) and right. Meredith Moore is an astonishingly good author and is extremely talented! What an amazing, fast-paced, thrilling debut!
As the daughter of a crazy mother, I could relate a little too well to this story. The masterful manipulations and lies Vivian Foster buys into and feels obligated to obey are incredible. Her awakening to her situation is accurate and real. The fear of what to do when she doesn't want to obey is palpable. Each of these characters is so well-written and dynamic! I adored the ending, which is something that I almost always find fault with. It's too bad I can't write about it, because the way the conclusion pans out is not perfectly tidy, but realistic (though the events are far-fetched) and right. Meredith Moore is an astonishingly good author and is extremely talented! What an amazing, fast-paced, thrilling debut!
July 20, 2016
Super fast and easy to read. I also realized the connection to Estella in Great Expectations fairly early on. I found it pretty realistic how people acted in the book for the most part. I know that Vivian is seriously emotionally damaged but I wanted her to just realize what her mother was doing earlier.
But overall I really enjoyed this book mostly because of the guilty teen drama and romance.
But overall I really enjoyed this book mostly because of the guilty teen drama and romance.
August 15, 2015
Another stellar example of bad parenting in YA fiction. Vivian's mom is just ruthless. I think if she ever had kids with Billy Dent (from I Hunt Killers), the world would be doomed.
Vivian was just clueless. I didn't really like her. I actually rooted against her, as I didn't want her plan against Ben to succeed. The twist at the end didn't make up for the rest of the book, I'm sorry to say.
Vivian was just clueless. I didn't really like her. I actually rooted against her, as I didn't want her plan against Ben to succeed. The twist at the end didn't make up for the rest of the book, I'm sorry to say.
Want to read
May 30, 2022Dnf'ed
I really enjoyed Fiona, but this one (sighs)...
I only got to about page 60 and was already tired of drugs this and drugs that. It really wasn't at all what I had expected. Also, the fact that the mother is seeking revenge because some high school ex, dumped her back in school, is quite ridiculous. I mean girl you are too old to still be upset over that, I mean really, it's embarrassing.
I really enjoyed Fiona, but this one (sighs)...
I only got to about page 60 and was already tired of drugs this and drugs that. It really wasn't at all what I had expected. Also, the fact that the mother is seeking revenge because some high school ex, dumped her back in school, is quite ridiculous. I mean girl you are too old to still be upset over that, I mean really, it's embarrassing.
June 24, 2018
Addictive.
June 2, 2015
I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore is a fantastical book bordering on unrealistic. It begins with the heroine Vivian making the grand entrance into a boarding school in Yorkshire. We gradually find out the sole purpose she goes to that school a month into her senior year is solely to entice another student, Ben Collingsworth. Extremely weird and creepy. Worse, it’s her mother Morgana who’s behind all the elaborate plots. Ages ago, Ben’s father broke Morgana’s heart, and she’s bent on revenge: I have a daughter, and you have a son; it’s a match made in heaven. She plants Vivian into the school through questionable means and expects her daily and weekly report on the seduction plan. As Vivian goes through the plan, she discovers Ben is a nice person and does not deserve ruin. The rest are spoilers.
The book’s setting is in England, but I can’t help but think it’s an alternate universe entirely. That’s the only reason the whole irrational revenge plot can progress. Moreover, children and even young adults play with Avatars called Ava that can talk with them and be their “friends.” This phenomenon is probably what kids would do before social media, but Moore published this book in 2015, so it must be another universe in which kids don’t have Facebook or Instagram or Twitter to feed their ego and have fake friends. While I applaud Moore’s effort to create a world suitable to her story, it’s just too unrealistic to be believable.
Vivian is a narcissistic person. She thinks she can charm anyone and with her charisma and “skills” and is quite proud of her looks.
“I am irresistible,” she actually says somewhere.
She callously hurts or flatters teachers and students, whichever suits her agenda. In many instances, she excuses herself as a product of her mother’s upbringing. She also believes her mother “deserves her revenge. He broke her heart, so now she’ll break his.” Vivian is either extremely naive and stupid or severely brainwashed. Hilariously, the author is not willing to let such a vapid person go without a redeeming quality. Vivian can somehow draw with amazing talent. So yes, the only thing she can’t do is looking carefully at her mother’s revenge plan and seeing the obvious ludicrousness of it all.
Vivian’s mother Morgana is also the craziest person in the book. She treats Vivian with unspeakable cruelty and treachery just for her “revenge.” For example, when Vivian takes home several homeless kittens, her mother slits their throats and makes Vivian watch the whole process just to teach her a lesson on not loving anything in the world. I couldn’t understand Morgana and her silly obsession with revenge: your boyfriend falls in love with someone else. What a tool! But you don’t spend the rest of your life plotting his downfall and implicate your daughter and another innocent young man into your game. But of course, the author discovers the improbability of ending the story with such a revenge plan (not all of us can be Alexandre Dumas), and she thankfully concocts a slapdash but plausible theory that explains Morgana’s action. In short, Morgana is one seriously dotty but vivid character.
Yet another inexplicable and bizarre duo in the book is the Helper and the Boy. There’s no given reason for them to stick with Morgana and do her dirty works. She has somehow wound the Helper around her little finger, so that probably explains why he’s willing to dance to her pipe. But the Boy? The Boy has no name because his father the Helper never named him. So it’s up to our heroine to name him Arthur, in keeping with the Arthurian theme going on in the book. And he can write poetry. What is life.
I Am Her Revenge is an incredibly strange and laughable book. It’s plot is fundamentally flawed, and its pacing is probably a main reason many readers DNF. It’s like a creaky elevator that inches to the top floor and then before you know it, the cable breaks and whoosh, whoosh, BAM, the end. If you’re looking for an amusing read and isn’t too fazed by stupidity, you can try it. Forewarned is forearmed.
The book’s setting is in England, but I can’t help but think it’s an alternate universe entirely. That’s the only reason the whole irrational revenge plot can progress. Moreover, children and even young adults play with Avatars called Ava that can talk with them and be their “friends.” This phenomenon is probably what kids would do before social media, but Moore published this book in 2015, so it must be another universe in which kids don’t have Facebook or Instagram or Twitter to feed their ego and have fake friends. While I applaud Moore’s effort to create a world suitable to her story, it’s just too unrealistic to be believable.
Vivian is a narcissistic person. She thinks she can charm anyone and with her charisma and “skills” and is quite proud of her looks.
“I am irresistible,” she actually says somewhere.
She callously hurts or flatters teachers and students, whichever suits her agenda. In many instances, she excuses herself as a product of her mother’s upbringing. She also believes her mother “deserves her revenge. He broke her heart, so now she’ll break his.” Vivian is either extremely naive and stupid or severely brainwashed. Hilariously, the author is not willing to let such a vapid person go without a redeeming quality. Vivian can somehow draw with amazing talent. So yes, the only thing she can’t do is looking carefully at her mother’s revenge plan and seeing the obvious ludicrousness of it all.
Vivian’s mother Morgana is also the craziest person in the book. She treats Vivian with unspeakable cruelty and treachery just for her “revenge.” For example, when Vivian takes home several homeless kittens, her mother slits their throats and makes Vivian watch the whole process just to teach her a lesson on not loving anything in the world. I couldn’t understand Morgana and her silly obsession with revenge: your boyfriend falls in love with someone else. What a tool! But you don’t spend the rest of your life plotting his downfall and implicate your daughter and another innocent young man into your game. But of course, the author discovers the improbability of ending the story with such a revenge plan (not all of us can be Alexandre Dumas), and she thankfully concocts a slapdash but plausible theory that explains Morgana’s action. In short, Morgana is one seriously dotty but vivid character.
Yet another inexplicable and bizarre duo in the book is the Helper and the Boy. There’s no given reason for them to stick with Morgana and do her dirty works. She has somehow wound the Helper around her little finger, so that probably explains why he’s willing to dance to her pipe. But the Boy? The Boy has no name because his father the Helper never named him. So it’s up to our heroine to name him Arthur, in keeping with the Arthurian theme going on in the book. And he can write poetry. What is life.
I Am Her Revenge is an incredibly strange and laughable book. It’s plot is fundamentally flawed, and its pacing is probably a main reason many readers DNF. It’s like a creaky elevator that inches to the top floor and then before you know it, the cable breaks and whoosh, whoosh, BAM, the end. If you’re looking for an amusing read and isn’t too fazed by stupidity, you can try it. Forewarned is forearmed.
October 18, 2015
I thought long and hard about this book. It was against the points that yes, I very much indeed enjoyed this. I enjoyed it a lot. I thought about the characters, the plot, the overall story, and I finally decided that logic put aside I LOVE THIS BOOK. I read for diversity, not for the same story with the same build, but for new unique reads that cross my path from time to time.
In my perspective, I saw Vivian as a doll. She is controlled and manipulated to look, see, and think about the world in a different view. Reading from a point of view of someone who is clearly manipulated and molded into something that she may be not was interesting. I saw her point of view on everything she did and just how messed up in the head her "mother" really is. Though, "messed up" is taken to another level in this one. I love how Vivian can change herself in a way where she can get what she wants. And what she wants is what she is going to get. She is a built machine with different personalities and different mindsets. In my not-so-eloquent words, she was a total badass.
Vivian. Good and bad? How does it feel like to read characters who are villains, but love it? I'm not always the "hero" type of person as I do love evil and darkness equally as much as I love light. After her mother got her heart broken, she sends her daughter to avenge her (or do her dirty work). I was actually very impressed, given the fact that her plan was SO PERFECT (Credit to the author for such an amazing job)! Who has such a well planned out plan that actually works out the way they were expecting it to? It was such a spot on plan that wasn't predictable or overused.
I Am Her Revenge is a mind game and a mind mystery. There were times when I thought I knew exactly what was happening, but later on felt as if I was clueless after actually finding out the truth. It played with my mind a bit. I saw love and I saw growth, but (without spoiling anything) who knows? All the feelings that it made me feel may be part of the game. You know those small little details that actually play a big part in the whole idea? Yeah.
The writing style was wonderful to read. It was an atmosphere where I could sit for hours on end and read this book. If you've been around for a while, you would know that I don't really connect that well with contemporary. But, this book passed my expectations.
Maybe it was the heartbreak? The sadness? All of it combined that left me in this place where there is a possibility that it would be hard to find another book that was so different from the other books that I normally read that I will never forget about it. Plus, the name choices were very new (beautiful names make me very happy).
Then I say, "THIS IS SO GOOD, GO GET IT NOW!"
Am I crazy? Naw.
In my perspective, I saw Vivian as a doll. She is controlled and manipulated to look, see, and think about the world in a different view. Reading from a point of view of someone who is clearly manipulated and molded into something that she may be not was interesting. I saw her point of view on everything she did and just how messed up in the head her "mother" really is. Though, "messed up" is taken to another level in this one. I love how Vivian can change herself in a way where she can get what she wants. And what she wants is what she is going to get. She is a built machine with different personalities and different mindsets. In my not-so-eloquent words, she was a total badass.
Vivian. Good and bad? How does it feel like to read characters who are villains, but love it? I'm not always the "hero" type of person as I do love evil and darkness equally as much as I love light. After her mother got her heart broken, she sends her daughter to avenge her (or do her dirty work). I was actually very impressed, given the fact that her plan was SO PERFECT (Credit to the author for such an amazing job)! Who has such a well planned out plan that actually works out the way they were expecting it to? It was such a spot on plan that wasn't predictable or overused.
I Am Her Revenge is a mind game and a mind mystery. There were times when I thought I knew exactly what was happening, but later on felt as if I was clueless after actually finding out the truth. It played with my mind a bit. I saw love and I saw growth, but (without spoiling anything) who knows? All the feelings that it made me feel may be part of the game. You know those small little details that actually play a big part in the whole idea? Yeah.
The writing style was wonderful to read. It was an atmosphere where I could sit for hours on end and read this book. If you've been around for a while, you would know that I don't really connect that well with contemporary. But, this book passed my expectations.
Maybe it was the heartbreak? The sadness? All of it combined that left me in this place where there is a possibility that it would be hard to find another book that was so different from the other books that I normally read that I will never forget about it. Plus, the name choices were very new (beautiful names make me very happy).
Then I say, "THIS IS SO GOOD, GO GET IT NOW!"
Am I crazy? Naw.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews