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The Hollows #4
Crazy Love You
In the New York Times bestselling Hollows series by Lisa Unger, falling in love should be a dream but sometimes it’s a living nightmare in this “haunting, compulsive tale that will have you under its spell long after you’ve closed the book” (Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author).
Darkness has a way of finding Ian when he is with Priss. Even when they were kids, playing in the woods of their small upstate New York town, he could feel it. Still, Priss was his best friend, his salvation from the bullies who teased him mercilessly and from his family’s deadly secrets.
Now that they’ve both escaped to New York City, Ian is no longer the tortured victim. He is a talented and successful graphic novelist, and Priss…Priss is still trouble. The booze, the drugs, the sex—Ian is growing tired of late nights together trying to forget the past. Especially now that he’s met sweet, beautiful Megan, whose love makes him want to change for the better. But Priss doesn’t like change. Change makes her angry. And when Priss is angry, terrible things begin to happen…
Darkness has a way of finding Ian when he is with Priss. Even when they were kids, playing in the woods of their small upstate New York town, he could feel it. Still, Priss was his best friend, his salvation from the bullies who teased him mercilessly and from his family’s deadly secrets.
Now that they’ve both escaped to New York City, Ian is no longer the tortured victim. He is a talented and successful graphic novelist, and Priss…Priss is still trouble. The booze, the drugs, the sex—Ian is growing tired of late nights together trying to forget the past. Especially now that he’s met sweet, beautiful Megan, whose love makes him want to change for the better. But Priss doesn’t like change. Change makes her angry. And when Priss is angry, terrible things begin to happen…
338 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2015
652 people are currently reading
8639 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Unger
51 books10.8k followersLisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including her upcoming release SERVED HIM RIGHT (March, 2026). With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 832 reviews
March 17, 2015
I quite enjoyed this book and certainly had no difficulty in finishing it but it somehow missed the mark for me. I am usually a fan of the supernatural but in this particular book I felt I wanted something more solid and real. As a result I felt cheated by the ending and felt the author could have made Priss much more dangerous and scary if she had taken the character into a different direction. I did enjoy the way the author leads the reader in circles all through the book. It is hard to be sure who is insane and what is real for much of the time. So still a good book if not as good as Lisa Unger"s others.
February 23, 2015
The first two-thirds of CRAZY LOVE YOU is a five-star book, the best kind, the kind that is unputdownable.
Ian writes and illustrates graphic novels (a fancy term for "comic books"). As an adult, he's in better shape, but he grew up as an overweight sissy. His mother is confined to a mental hospital because of a horrible crime she committed when Ian was a child, a crime that almost involved him. For these reasons, he grows up with anger management problems and still has them even now.
Priss (isn't that name a synonym for "sissy"?) is the child he meets in the woods behind his home. But so what, I thought. I was bored enough that I decided to quit if the story didn't redeem itself by page 50. On page 49 I caught on and realized I shouldn't have been bored. Here's what you need to know right up front so the book is as unputdownable for you as it was for me. (I reread the first 49 pages.)
Priss is not what she appears to be; she is a mystery throughout this book. And then so is Ian. Is he crazy? Is he good or dangerous? Is Priss dangerous? Or is she not even real?
So why, then, does this book get just an average rating? Because the last third degenerates to the supernatural and becomes just plain silly. If the entire book had been written like this last third, the rating would have been zero. It's too easy to solve mysteries by blaming them on supernatural silliness.
Ian writes and illustrates graphic novels (a fancy term for "comic books"). As an adult, he's in better shape, but he grew up as an overweight sissy. His mother is confined to a mental hospital because of a horrible crime she committed when Ian was a child, a crime that almost involved him. For these reasons, he grows up with anger management problems and still has them even now.
Priss (isn't that name a synonym for "sissy"?) is the child he meets in the woods behind his home. But so what, I thought. I was bored enough that I decided to quit if the story didn't redeem itself by page 50. On page 49 I caught on and realized I shouldn't have been bored. Here's what you need to know right up front so the book is as unputdownable for you as it was for me. (I reread the first 49 pages.)
Priss is not what she appears to be; she is a mystery throughout this book. And then so is Ian. Is he crazy? Is he good or dangerous? Is Priss dangerous? Or is she not even real?
So why, then, does this book get just an average rating? Because the last third degenerates to the supernatural and becomes just plain silly. If the entire book had been written like this last third, the rating would have been zero. It's too easy to solve mysteries by blaming them on supernatural silliness.
January 27, 2015
Crazy Love You by Lisa Unger is a 2015 Touchstone publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, Lisa Unger really knows how to weave a twisted tale doesn't she? I'm still coming out of my book coma after finishing this one.
Ian Paine is doing pretty well for himself. He is a graphic novelist, making an above average salary, rents a loft in New York and could have his work optioned for the big screen To put the cherry on the cake, he has met the love of his life, Megan.
But, Ian has a few unresolved issues from his childhood that threaten his current state of contentment. For starters there is Priss, his childhood friend, his avenger and a prominent character in his graphic novels. The problem is Ian is growing up emotionally, finally, and Priss is none too happy to find that Ian has outgrown her, especially after all she has done for him.
For Ian was that kid in school who was easily bullied. An only child, overweight, sheltered, and whose mother was mentally ill.
“Ah gym class. Remember it? Institutionally sanctioned torture for society's misfits. God help you in America if you are not thin and fit, attractive, athletic, and coordinated, driven to win at any cost. God help you if you are broken or sad, or even just cerebral, or artistic, or just want to be left alone. You will be told in a million ways- directly, subliminally, - just how deficient you are. But nowhere will that message be delivered with more naked brutality than in a middle school gymnasium.”
Such was Ian's tortured life in “The Hallows” while growing up. He is still man child in many ways until he meets Meagan. Meagan makes him want to be a better man, to grow up, to be the kind of guy she deserves.
“ Love is like an anesthetic, isn't it? It dulls all the pain, pushes back your worries, quiets your inner demons. Your ten feet tall and bulletproof.”
But, it seems that Ian still can't pull everything together for Meagan. He still indulges in drugs and drink, and there is that every pressing problem with Priss, who is getting more and more aggressive as Ian becomes more deeply involved with Meagan.
So, you think you have if figured out, then you don't, then you do, then you don't. Trust me, you won't figure it out.
Flashbacks provide insight into Ian's dark and morose background, his frequent violent outburst, his relationship with his parents, details about “The Hallows”, and how through the years anytime he found himself in a bind, Priss was always there to rescue him.
Is Priss real? A figment of his imagination? An hallucination? The product of an unstable mind? Does the insanity run in the family? A dual personality? Just a character in his novels?
I really like this book because of it's imaginative storyline and how it kept me guessing and thinking about the characters. It was pitch perfect pacing, with taut, heart stopping suspense, leading the reader to a pat conclusion, only to rank the rug out from under you time and time again.
This novel is relentless. Suspenseful, atmospheric, dark, psychological, but through all the fog and haze of what is real and what isn't, there is one thing that stands out to me. Love. Yes, love. If not for that powerful emotion the conclusion of this book would have much different.
You will think about this book long after you finish it. Even as I write this review certain details are still running through my mind making me appreciate the story even more.
4.5 rounded to 5
Wow, Lisa Unger really knows how to weave a twisted tale doesn't she? I'm still coming out of my book coma after finishing this one.
Ian Paine is doing pretty well for himself. He is a graphic novelist, making an above average salary, rents a loft in New York and could have his work optioned for the big screen To put the cherry on the cake, he has met the love of his life, Megan.
But, Ian has a few unresolved issues from his childhood that threaten his current state of contentment. For starters there is Priss, his childhood friend, his avenger and a prominent character in his graphic novels. The problem is Ian is growing up emotionally, finally, and Priss is none too happy to find that Ian has outgrown her, especially after all she has done for him.
For Ian was that kid in school who was easily bullied. An only child, overweight, sheltered, and whose mother was mentally ill.
“Ah gym class. Remember it? Institutionally sanctioned torture for society's misfits. God help you in America if you are not thin and fit, attractive, athletic, and coordinated, driven to win at any cost. God help you if you are broken or sad, or even just cerebral, or artistic, or just want to be left alone. You will be told in a million ways- directly, subliminally, - just how deficient you are. But nowhere will that message be delivered with more naked brutality than in a middle school gymnasium.”
Such was Ian's tortured life in “The Hallows” while growing up. He is still man child in many ways until he meets Meagan. Meagan makes him want to be a better man, to grow up, to be the kind of guy she deserves.
“ Love is like an anesthetic, isn't it? It dulls all the pain, pushes back your worries, quiets your inner demons. Your ten feet tall and bulletproof.”
But, it seems that Ian still can't pull everything together for Meagan. He still indulges in drugs and drink, and there is that every pressing problem with Priss, who is getting more and more aggressive as Ian becomes more deeply involved with Meagan.
So, you think you have if figured out, then you don't, then you do, then you don't. Trust me, you won't figure it out.
Flashbacks provide insight into Ian's dark and morose background, his frequent violent outburst, his relationship with his parents, details about “The Hallows”, and how through the years anytime he found himself in a bind, Priss was always there to rescue him.
Is Priss real? A figment of his imagination? An hallucination? The product of an unstable mind? Does the insanity run in the family? A dual personality? Just a character in his novels?
I really like this book because of it's imaginative storyline and how it kept me guessing and thinking about the characters. It was pitch perfect pacing, with taut, heart stopping suspense, leading the reader to a pat conclusion, only to rank the rug out from under you time and time again.
This novel is relentless. Suspenseful, atmospheric, dark, psychological, but through all the fog and haze of what is real and what isn't, there is one thing that stands out to me. Love. Yes, love. If not for that powerful emotion the conclusion of this book would have much different.
You will think about this book long after you finish it. Even as I write this review certain details are still running through my mind making me appreciate the story even more.
4.5 rounded to 5
December 6, 2022
I’ve read several others by Lisa Unger and really enjoyed them so I was excited to pick this one up. The book was ok, one that won’t really stick with me and based on my own expectations I was disappointed. The twists weren’t super twisty but they were dark. I didn’t really love where the ending went and I thought there were some pretty big plot holes. The main character was pretty difficult to like and it was hard to get invested in what did or didn’t happen to him. I didn’t really buy the romance or really any of the motivations of the characters. The historical tie in was interesting but even that ended up disappointing me with how it ended.
November 21, 2014
At a time in Ian’s life when he was drowning in anger and sorrow he met Priss, a young girl his own age who always seemed to be running freely around the woods.
Priss was always there when he needed someone to talk to, someone to look after him.
He was weak, she was strong. She wouldn’t let anyone hurt him. Ian's life had been full of drugs and run-ins with the law but now that he had grown up, changed, he had come to the realisation that Priss was what was messing him up. He had fallen in love with Megan and “wanted” Priss out of his life but he “needed” her in it. Would Priss let him go so easily? Would she be happy to release her hold on him or will his relationship put Megan in grave danger?
Crazy Love You is my first Lisa Unger novel and I could not put this book down. It is an addictive psychological thriller. It will have you on the edge of your seat. I felt the full gambit of emotions, sorrow, empathy, heart racing and anxiety. Just when I thought I had it all figured out I read on to find I had it all wrong.
A love story that is dark enough to be addictive but not give you nightmares. It will have you double guessing the whole way through.
Crazy Love You is highly recommended. I will definitely be reading more Lisa Unger novels.
Thank you to netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Priss was always there when he needed someone to talk to, someone to look after him.
He was weak, she was strong. She wouldn’t let anyone hurt him. Ian's life had been full of drugs and run-ins with the law but now that he had grown up, changed, he had come to the realisation that Priss was what was messing him up. He had fallen in love with Megan and “wanted” Priss out of his life but he “needed” her in it. Would Priss let him go so easily? Would she be happy to release her hold on him or will his relationship put Megan in grave danger?
Crazy Love You is my first Lisa Unger novel and I could not put this book down. It is an addictive psychological thriller. It will have you on the edge of your seat. I felt the full gambit of emotions, sorrow, empathy, heart racing and anxiety. Just when I thought I had it all figured out I read on to find I had it all wrong.
A love story that is dark enough to be addictive but not give you nightmares. It will have you double guessing the whole way through.
Crazy Love You is highly recommended. I will definitely be reading more Lisa Unger novels.
Thank you to netgalley for my copy to read and review.
May 26, 2020
In The Hollows it was not enough to atone for your own sins. The land demanded more.
That rating is for how good I thought this book was, rather than how much I liked it. It's an odd thing to be so gripped by something that I wasn't entirely enjoying; but this book is a measure of contradictions, so it's at least fitting.
Dark and almost suffocating, Crazy Love You is another entry in this series told in the first person, and we spend almost all of our time in the head of our protagonist. And believe me when I say that even in a series dealing with murder, revenge, and plenty of dark and twisty plotlines, this book stands out. And if In The Blood (Book 3 in the Hollows series) was a sudden lack of supernatural to a series that was previously tinged with it, Crazy Love You certainly makes up for that.
In the end though, I think I'm going to enjoy this book much more when I've had some distance from it. I'm actually impressed by how well Lisa Unger managed to bring the mood of reading this book so much in line with the subject matter; enjoyable or not, it's one hell of an accomplishment.
That rating is for how good I thought this book was, rather than how much I liked it. It's an odd thing to be so gripped by something that I wasn't entirely enjoying; but this book is a measure of contradictions, so it's at least fitting.
Dark and almost suffocating, Crazy Love You is another entry in this series told in the first person, and we spend almost all of our time in the head of our protagonist. And believe me when I say that even in a series dealing with murder, revenge, and plenty of dark and twisty plotlines, this book stands out. And if In The Blood (Book 3 in the Hollows series) was a sudden lack of supernatural to a series that was previously tinged with it, Crazy Love You certainly makes up for that.
In the end though, I think I'm going to enjoy this book much more when I've had some distance from it. I'm actually impressed by how well Lisa Unger managed to bring the mood of reading this book so much in line with the subject matter; enjoyable or not, it's one hell of an accomplishment.
October 6, 2019
Well, I certainly won’t be enjoying any adventure walks in the woods anytime soon! Good grief! This one was super mind bending and terrifyingly good!
February 26, 2015
The first half of this book was everything that I love about Lisa Unger's novels. I don't ever remember being disappointed in anything that she has ever written but the ending of this book was really disappointing. Although I wasn't happy with it it's not going to stop me from reading her next novel.
February 15, 2015
As a fan of Lisa Unger's, I was eagerly awaiting this new 'psychological thriller' and rushed out to purchase it on it's publication date.
Unfortunately, I was bitterly disappointed. If it wasn't for how much I enjoyed her previous books, I would have stopped reading when I worked out the twist - very early on. I would
not classify this as a psychological thriller, with such strong supernatural themes- and would not recommend anyone who has not read Lisa Unger's other fantastic books to start with this one.
Unfortunately, I was bitterly disappointed. If it wasn't for how much I enjoyed her previous books, I would have stopped reading when I worked out the twist - very early on. I would
not classify this as a psychological thriller, with such strong supernatural themes- and would not recommend anyone who has not read Lisa Unger's other fantastic books to start with this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2015
Ian Paine is a successful author of graphic comic novels. Life is good, he is wealthy, lives in a cool apartment in New York and has met Megan, the girl of his dreams. But life wasn't always so good for Ian. As a child he was the weird fat boy who everyone shunned and bullied. With a troubled family life and no friends, he spent a lot of time on his own, out in the woods around his home. One day he met a young girl Priss, who played with him and became his friend. She was always there when he looked for her in the woods, eventually following him to art school and New York, where she has become a beautiful, seductive woman. However, there is a dark side to Priss who leads Ian into wild behaviour, drinking and taking drugs. Whenever someone hurts Ian, something bad happens to them and Ian is beginning to believe Priss is involved. But is Priss real or a figment of Ian's imagination from his popular "Fatboy and Priss" graphic novels?
This is a rollercoaster of a thriller, addictive and forever leading you on to discover the truth about Priss. The story is fast paced, slipping effortlessly between the real events in Ian's life to the fiction he is creating in his graphic novel. But what is real and what is imagined? The suspense and tension build relentlessly as Ian slides down the slippery slope towards madness and despair and risks losing Megan and everything he has worked for. An excellent psychological thriller. Highly recommended!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book to review.
This is a rollercoaster of a thriller, addictive and forever leading you on to discover the truth about Priss. The story is fast paced, slipping effortlessly between the real events in Ian's life to the fiction he is creating in his graphic novel. But what is real and what is imagined? The suspense and tension build relentlessly as Ian slides down the slippery slope towards madness and despair and risks losing Megan and everything he has worked for. An excellent psychological thriller. Highly recommended!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book to review.
August 15, 2015
Crazy Love You – It Gets Under Your Skin
Lisa Unger returns with Crazy Love You which is without doubt a well written psychological thriller that takes you on an interesting journey while questioning your own sanity. The way Unger has written Crazy Love You it gets under your skin, you just devour the pages to see whether you were correct that is pulsating from beginning to end. To me this is a slight departure from her previous work but it is a fantastic detour such a taut thriller that keeps you on edge throughout.
Ian and Priss have been friends since childhood, they have always been there for each other, through the highs and lows of life nothing can seem to separate them. They have their special place in the woods outside of the small town of The Hollows but they seem to encourage each other. One thing that people agree on is that when Priss is around she is a bad influence on Ian, and bad things happen, which she does and Ian covers for her.
As an adult Ian and Priss have escaped to New York, Ian is a respectable graphic novelist of the Fatboy and Priss stories, and has a cult following. Priss lives in a squat and bums around New York causing chaos wherever she goes.
Ian enjoys using illegal and legal highs whenever he can but when he falls in love with Megan and starts dating her, Priss is none too pleased. Priss sets out to destroy the relationship between Ian and Megan who she wants to herself and not share with anyone. Priss has always been the centre of Ian’s life and she is going to fight to remain there, she does not care how much pain others have to endure for her to remain in control of Ian’s life and destiny.
Throughout the book you consistently question yourself about Ian and Priss the rather blurred lines and it is a wonderful sleight of hand by Unger keeps you guessing at least all the way through and even then you have to question yourself. You really hope that there can be an accommodation for both women in Ian’s life but whether that is possible depends if Ian can confront his past, so that he may face his future.
The way this psychological thriller is written it will keep you riveted throughout the story, at times you will be shocked and others you can see things coming but like a rabbit in the headlights carry on reading. This really is a cracking read, a compulsive tale which has you rooting for Ian and Megan hoping that Priss can be contained. Lisa Unger draws you in gives you a great thrill ride, that leaves you breathless at the end.
Lisa Unger returns with Crazy Love You which is without doubt a well written psychological thriller that takes you on an interesting journey while questioning your own sanity. The way Unger has written Crazy Love You it gets under your skin, you just devour the pages to see whether you were correct that is pulsating from beginning to end. To me this is a slight departure from her previous work but it is a fantastic detour such a taut thriller that keeps you on edge throughout.
Ian and Priss have been friends since childhood, they have always been there for each other, through the highs and lows of life nothing can seem to separate them. They have their special place in the woods outside of the small town of The Hollows but they seem to encourage each other. One thing that people agree on is that when Priss is around she is a bad influence on Ian, and bad things happen, which she does and Ian covers for her.
As an adult Ian and Priss have escaped to New York, Ian is a respectable graphic novelist of the Fatboy and Priss stories, and has a cult following. Priss lives in a squat and bums around New York causing chaos wherever she goes.
Ian enjoys using illegal and legal highs whenever he can but when he falls in love with Megan and starts dating her, Priss is none too pleased. Priss sets out to destroy the relationship between Ian and Megan who she wants to herself and not share with anyone. Priss has always been the centre of Ian’s life and she is going to fight to remain there, she does not care how much pain others have to endure for her to remain in control of Ian’s life and destiny.
Throughout the book you consistently question yourself about Ian and Priss the rather blurred lines and it is a wonderful sleight of hand by Unger keeps you guessing at least all the way through and even then you have to question yourself. You really hope that there can be an accommodation for both women in Ian’s life but whether that is possible depends if Ian can confront his past, so that he may face his future.
The way this psychological thriller is written it will keep you riveted throughout the story, at times you will be shocked and others you can see things coming but like a rabbit in the headlights carry on reading. This really is a cracking read, a compulsive tale which has you rooting for Ian and Megan hoping that Priss can be contained. Lisa Unger draws you in gives you a great thrill ride, that leaves you breathless at the end.
February 26, 2015
This book has left me befuddled. Was the protagonist really mentally ill? Was there a curse on the family through the generations? Were there supernatural happenings? I feel like I've lost touch with reality with this book. Maybe someone with an interest in comic books would like this, or understand this, more than I did.
July 15, 2016
Young Ian lives with his family in a small town in Upstate New York and he is called Fatboy by his schoolmates. He is bullied and tormented and his only solace is to run to the woods where he can feel safe. It is there he meets Priss and they become best friends. She sets out to get revenge on the boys that are tormenting Ian. She is his protector and he worships her.
Fast forward to present day Manhattan, NY. Ian has lost weight and has become a very handsome, self confident man. He is a successful graphic artist who has become wealthy by writing the Fatboy and Priss series. When he meets Megan he falls instantly in love with her but Priss is having none of that. Dark disastrous forces take over and Ian is again consumed with Priss’ powers over him. Unwillingly, he is pulled into a mysterious web of terror.
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; will you rest upon my little bed?" said the spider to the fly. "There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin and if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in." "O no, no," said the little fly, for I've often heard it said, they NEVER, NEVER WAKE again, who sleep upon YOUR bed."
(The second verse of The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt)
Ian begins spiraling down and is consumed with Priss’ engulfing strength. Here, the sexual scenes are sensuous and horrifying. Ian pulls away but cannot let go and he tries to cope with alcohol and drugs and begins to question his sanity. After all, his mentally ill mother is in a sanitarium and then there is the question of his baby sister mysteriously dying. Megan begins to doubt their relationship and the reader begins to ask the question ,”Is Priss real or a spirit entity?” Is she the devil incarnate or a figment of Ian’s imagination?
The story was odd but very captivating. I carried my iPhone with me to listen to the audiobook. It went with me to the car, the laundry room, the kitchen and everywhere else that I could listen to a few minutes of this surprisingly good suspense story. I’ve really liked the several other Lisa Unger novels I've read and I plan to read a few more in the future. She always writes an entertaining tale and she never disappoints!
Fast forward to present day Manhattan, NY. Ian has lost weight and has become a very handsome, self confident man. He is a successful graphic artist who has become wealthy by writing the Fatboy and Priss series. When he meets Megan he falls instantly in love with her but Priss is having none of that. Dark disastrous forces take over and Ian is again consumed with Priss’ powers over him. Unwillingly, he is pulled into a mysterious web of terror.
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; will you rest upon my little bed?" said the spider to the fly. "There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin and if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in." "O no, no," said the little fly, for I've often heard it said, they NEVER, NEVER WAKE again, who sleep upon YOUR bed."
(The second verse of The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt)
Ian begins spiraling down and is consumed with Priss’ engulfing strength. Here, the sexual scenes are sensuous and horrifying. Ian pulls away but cannot let go and he tries to cope with alcohol and drugs and begins to question his sanity. After all, his mentally ill mother is in a sanitarium and then there is the question of his baby sister mysteriously dying. Megan begins to doubt their relationship and the reader begins to ask the question ,”Is Priss real or a spirit entity?” Is she the devil incarnate or a figment of Ian’s imagination?
The story was odd but very captivating. I carried my iPhone with me to listen to the audiobook. It went with me to the car, the laundry room, the kitchen and everywhere else that I could listen to a few minutes of this surprisingly good suspense story. I’ve really liked the several other Lisa Unger novels I've read and I plan to read a few more in the future. She always writes an entertaining tale and she never disappoints!
March 27, 2016
Ian is a troubled man who does not have good role models to look up to. According to him,his dad is masculine and frowns upon weak guys like him who has no backbone. While he feels that he should toughen up, everyone else feels justified in their abnormal ways. Adding insult to his injury, his mother is deceased and the only one that he feels connected with is Prissy. Prissy is a reckless girl who he should stay away from, her erratic behavior gets him in more trouble than usual. Whenever he is with her, he feels unsafe but she is therapeutic to him,as they mix anger and love together. The people around him doubt her existence but he is certain that she is more alive than ever. Lurking around in the graveyard, she is the best at pushing his buttons but he secretly disdains the thought of leaving her.
Megan the good girl who he dates is not too fond of Prissy. Ian refuses to talk about her, stating their relationship is toxic, but he sees her behind Megan back. Megan is the ideal girl that everyone wants to bring home, she is sweet and trustworthy, the complete opposite of Prissy. Taking things to the next level, Megan wants to marry him and start a family. Ian does not know if that is a good idea, especially since her father is apprehensive about them taking things to the next level. Prissy thinks Ian relationship with Megan is a big joke but Ian is adamant that their relationship is solid.
A fire leaves many questioning who started it? Ian is going to have to convince a lot of people of his innocence but he is not going to make Prissy a suspect. Megan and Ian relationship is tested in this twisted, disturbing but unforgettable novel about how far you go to protect the ones you love.
Lisa Unger has done it again, she has once again blew my mind about how she develop thrillers! From the first page, to the last, this was full of twists and turns. Absolutely love the writing style, rich character development and how you did not see where the story was going. Ian was such a likeable character, he was sympathetic to Megan but I believe his heart was with Prissy.
As another reviewer asked, If you have not discovered Lisa Unger, what are you waiting for?
Megan the good girl who he dates is not too fond of Prissy. Ian refuses to talk about her, stating their relationship is toxic, but he sees her behind Megan back. Megan is the ideal girl that everyone wants to bring home, she is sweet and trustworthy, the complete opposite of Prissy. Taking things to the next level, Megan wants to marry him and start a family. Ian does not know if that is a good idea, especially since her father is apprehensive about them taking things to the next level. Prissy thinks Ian relationship with Megan is a big joke but Ian is adamant that their relationship is solid.
A fire leaves many questioning who started it? Ian is going to have to convince a lot of people of his innocence but he is not going to make Prissy a suspect. Megan and Ian relationship is tested in this twisted, disturbing but unforgettable novel about how far you go to protect the ones you love.
Lisa Unger has done it again, she has once again blew my mind about how she develop thrillers! From the first page, to the last, this was full of twists and turns. Absolutely love the writing style, rich character development and how you did not see where the story was going. Ian was such a likeable character, he was sympathetic to Megan but I believe his heart was with Prissy.
As another reviewer asked, If you have not discovered Lisa Unger, what are you waiting for?
Read
December 30, 2020A twisted tale about a graphic artist with a lot of unresolved childhood issues, Crazy Love You explores, through a fog of haze and desperation, the things that are real and the things that aren't. With pitch-perfect pacing, a dark psychological heart, and deeply moving flashbacks, I couldn't put it down.
November 3, 2020
Dünyada başka kimsenin okumadığı kitapları okumakta üstüme yok. Ben sizin için kendimi feda edip okudum. Sırf siz bu işkenceyi çekmeyin diye. Normalde Martı yayınları sevdiğim bir yayınevi. Evet çevirileri çok pro değil ama anlaşılır en azından. Ama bu kitabı almayın, okumayın. Konusu saçma. Giriş gelişme sonuç saçma. O kadar içimi sıktı ki on gün sürdü ya. Böyle de olmaz. Acil daha iyi bir kitaba geçmem lazım.
May 25, 2025
This is book 4 in The Hollows series, which thus far I have enjoyed. I liked this one too-it certainly kept my interest, but it was a bit weird. It feels as though the series is getting stranger. This one is about Ian, who grew up in the Hollows, who is a successful graphic artist/writer, with a drug problem, a ton of baggage, and not knowing reality from fiction. He has a childhood friend that he is forever tied to, and also a girlfriend. He is a wishy washy sort of character, who has a love-hate relationship with the mysterious Hollows. This book keeps the reader guessing, for sure.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
January 24, 2015
My View:
This book will have you twisted inside out trying to work out what is real and what is not.
A great psychological drama with characters that you will empathise with, sympathise with and be very wary of. As you read on and become involved in this drama you will start to doubt who is real …art is reflecting life a little too consistently mirroring chapters in Ian’s graphics books (or is it the other way round?) and this will have your head in a spin. This is a love story with delusions, hauntings, drug dependency and psychosis.
This is a fast moving intense and very emotional psychological thriller – Ms Unger is at her best her as she delves into the psyche of her characters and shares with you their very dysfunctional lives that are teetering on the verge of meltdown. At the heart of this narrative are the basic human needs of being loved and wanted and listened too; we are all motivated by love and fear and this book has massive helping of each ingredient.
The character Ian Paine (such an appropriate name considering Ian’s lot in life) writes and illustrates graphic novels for a living. I love the way the author uses the script and literal illustrations in Ian’s graphic novel, Fatboy and Priss to provide an alternative voice, an alternative reality in this novel. Trouble is we don’t quite know whose voice it is and its voice becomes more real as Ian’s hold on reality slips.
Ms Unger exposes so many social issues in this novel; post natal/partum depression, child abuse, drug dependency, psychosis and addictions of all varieties. It is an eye opening experience reading this book, delving into worlds that blur and constantly redefine themselves. It is hard to know what reality is, which events/voices are the hallucinations and I like that this book plays with the perception of reality. Drug induced psychosis is a very real problem for so many people, especially young people and I am glad this novel highlights this issue.
This is a fascinating read and one that I think is enhanced by reading Ms Unger’s short story series based in the town of Hollows where Ian grew up and the dramas started. This is a great psychological thriller from the master of the genre.
This book will have you twisted inside out trying to work out what is real and what is not.
A great psychological drama with characters that you will empathise with, sympathise with and be very wary of. As you read on and become involved in this drama you will start to doubt who is real …art is reflecting life a little too consistently mirroring chapters in Ian’s graphics books (or is it the other way round?) and this will have your head in a spin. This is a love story with delusions, hauntings, drug dependency and psychosis.
This is a fast moving intense and very emotional psychological thriller – Ms Unger is at her best her as she delves into the psyche of her characters and shares with you their very dysfunctional lives that are teetering on the verge of meltdown. At the heart of this narrative are the basic human needs of being loved and wanted and listened too; we are all motivated by love and fear and this book has massive helping of each ingredient.
The character Ian Paine (such an appropriate name considering Ian’s lot in life) writes and illustrates graphic novels for a living. I love the way the author uses the script and literal illustrations in Ian’s graphic novel, Fatboy and Priss to provide an alternative voice, an alternative reality in this novel. Trouble is we don’t quite know whose voice it is and its voice becomes more real as Ian’s hold on reality slips.
Ms Unger exposes so many social issues in this novel; post natal/partum depression, child abuse, drug dependency, psychosis and addictions of all varieties. It is an eye opening experience reading this book, delving into worlds that blur and constantly redefine themselves. It is hard to know what reality is, which events/voices are the hallucinations and I like that this book plays with the perception of reality. Drug induced psychosis is a very real problem for so many people, especially young people and I am glad this novel highlights this issue.
This is a fascinating read and one that I think is enhanced by reading Ms Unger’s short story series based in the town of Hollows where Ian grew up and the dramas started. This is a great psychological thriller from the master of the genre.
November 9, 2015
I wish I could say this was a love story and stop there, but it's much, much more.
Ian meets Priss as a young child ... right after his mother kills his baby sister. Ian has always been a lonely child and when his mother is committed to an asylum, things become worse. He is teased and tormented at school, day after day.... until Priss makes them pay for hurting her new friend.
Ian soon learns that when Priss is unhappy ... terrible things happen.
When Ian meets Megan, Priss is not happy ...not happy at all.
This was such a disturbing book for me to read. It has all the great elements ... a great story, well-written, a deep dark mystery to get lost in. It's also a story of revenge. Maybe it's a ghost story ... and maybe it isn't. Ian and Priss and Megan are all so perfectly fleshed out. They come to life with this author's descriptions.
It is Ian's voice who tells the story ... it is stated in the book ..I believe that you believe. That just about sums it up.
I have read several Lisa Unger books .. this is my favorite.
Strongly recommend this one to anyone who likes psychological elements with their reading.
Mesmerizing Psychological Mystery
5 Stars hands down!
Ian meets Priss as a young child ... right after his mother kills his baby sister. Ian has always been a lonely child and when his mother is committed to an asylum, things become worse. He is teased and tormented at school, day after day.... until Priss makes them pay for hurting her new friend.
Ian soon learns that when Priss is unhappy ... terrible things happen.
When Ian meets Megan, Priss is not happy ...not happy at all.
This was such a disturbing book for me to read. It has all the great elements ... a great story, well-written, a deep dark mystery to get lost in. It's also a story of revenge. Maybe it's a ghost story ... and maybe it isn't. Ian and Priss and Megan are all so perfectly fleshed out. They come to life with this author's descriptions.
It is Ian's voice who tells the story ... it is stated in the book ..I believe that you believe. That just about sums it up.
I have read several Lisa Unger books .. this is my favorite.
Strongly recommend this one to anyone who likes psychological elements with their reading.
Mesmerizing Psychological Mystery
5 Stars hands down!
January 30, 2015
It’s a case of life imitating art for Ian Paine. Or wait, should that be art imitating life?
Ian’s a successful graphic novelist with a series, Fatboy and Priss which is loosely based on his own life. Chubby as a child, 10 year old Ian was friendless until he met Priss. They became friends and Priss saw Ian through some rough times, including family tragedies.
Twenty years later Ian is a world away from his childhood home in The Hollows. His success has set him up in a trendy New York loft where he happily spends most of his time drunk or stoned and engaged in a casual on-again / off-again destructive relationship with Priss; the latter having the knack of appearing when Ian's at his most vulnerable.
Until one day he sees Megan. Megan’s sweet and earnest and Ian can’t help but fall in love with her. Despite knowing they'll incur Priss’s jealous rage.
Crazy Love You is another book which is hard to discuss at length without giving too much away.
Unger cleverly spins this tale so we don’t exactly know what’s happening. I’ve mentioned in recent reviews of Fleur Smithwick’s How To Make A Friend and SK Tremayne’s The Ice Twins, that there are some similarities between these three novels. And it’s bizarre I seem to find myself reading books with a similar undercurrent or theme.
Read the full review in my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5-4 stars
Ian’s a successful graphic novelist with a series, Fatboy and Priss which is loosely based on his own life. Chubby as a child, 10 year old Ian was friendless until he met Priss. They became friends and Priss saw Ian through some rough times, including family tragedies.
Twenty years later Ian is a world away from his childhood home in The Hollows. His success has set him up in a trendy New York loft where he happily spends most of his time drunk or stoned and engaged in a casual on-again / off-again destructive relationship with Priss; the latter having the knack of appearing when Ian's at his most vulnerable.
Until one day he sees Megan. Megan’s sweet and earnest and Ian can’t help but fall in love with her. Despite knowing they'll incur Priss’s jealous rage.
Crazy Love You is another book which is hard to discuss at length without giving too much away.
Unger cleverly spins this tale so we don’t exactly know what’s happening. I’ve mentioned in recent reviews of Fleur Smithwick’s How To Make A Friend and SK Tremayne’s The Ice Twins, that there are some similarities between these three novels. And it’s bizarre I seem to find myself reading books with a similar undercurrent or theme.
Read the full review in my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5-4 stars
January 28, 2015
This is a book that will make your stomach turn flips as you read it. Unger kept me from trusting that anything would be okay in this book. Quite a journey.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
November 12, 2015
I'm having a hard time rating this book, to be honest. I was thinking about rounding up from 3.5 to 4 stars but I'm feeling less than enthusiastic about the ending.
It is worth mentioning that there was an interesting focus on inner vs outer demons that captured and held my attention throughout the book.
It is worth mentioning that there was an interesting focus on inner vs outer demons that captured and held my attention throughout the book.
March 26, 2025
This is great book by Lisa Unger. I always enjoy her books and this is no exception.
It follows a man and his life with his “imaginary friend”….or is she imaginary? Does the imaginary friend do all the bad things that happen…someone else or the main male character? These questions will all be answered through a twisty tale. Enjoy
Reread 3/23/25. Still a 4 star rating
It follows a man and his life with his “imaginary friend”….or is she imaginary? Does the imaginary friend do all the bad things that happen…someone else or the main male character? These questions will all be answered through a twisty tale. Enjoy
Reread 3/23/25. Still a 4 star rating
January 26, 2016
Wow, was it fun, fun, fun to catch up with Lisa Unger’s Fatboy and Priss, in this much awaited psychological thriller, CRAZY LOVE YOU--which I devoured in one day!
THE WHISPERS: If you have read the other titles leading up to the main attraction with teasers, introduced in the novellas--the writer, creator, and illustrator, Ian Paine. He is now a successful graphic novelist, with a famous comic series featuring characters: Fatboy and Priss.
In his popular series, Fatboy is fat, a nerd, and a loser. Priss is smoking hot, a sexy red head and a favorite among all the teenage and adolescent boys. The fans are unaware, Ian was Fatboy, and Priss was his only childhood friend and salvation. Two souls, with a tragic childhood, lost in the small town called, The Hollows outside of New York.
Fatboy had a difficult childhood bullied at school his entire life. It is only when he left the town, worked out, lost weight, new clothes, apartment, new haircut, identity, did he become a successful novelists living in New York, a changed man. (with unhealthy addictions).
Priss was always there for him, when no one else was. However, now that he is successful and independent, does he still need Priss? She is always there tempting him and pulling him in. Is she a real person, or just an imaginary friend he created when he was younger?
Ian meets a new gal (a nanny) at the park named Megan. Megan is the nice girl, who comes from a good family, unlike his own dysfunctional one. He wants this life so bad; however, Priss continues to draw him into her world.
As the relationship between Megan and Ian grows and becomes more serious, Priss is threatened, making Ian feel more insecure and pulls him back to the Hollows, a place where he never wants to find himself again. After he has worked too hard to escape the whispers, the voices, his childhood, the memories, and the negativity of this small town.
With flashbacks from Ian’s childhood years to the present, we learn of more destruction. From his mom with mental illness, a dead sister, a dad which is emotionally removed, and a grandmother which used food for comfort. What about Priss, her role?
Now, Megan is in danger and Ian may lose everything with self-destructive behavior, unless he confronts his past to find the real reason behind his relationship with Priss and The Hollows. What does Priss really want and is he strong enough to face the future, and have a normal relationship with Megan and a future family.
As Ian’s present and personal life, collides with his fantasy characters –readers will be glued to the pages to learn the final fate of these two partners in crime. You will learn of the horror of Priss' childhood and why these two were bound emotionally, to one another.
A fast-paced suspense psychological thriller, leaving you guessing reality versus fiction, and good versus evil.
CRAZY LOVE YOU can be read as a standalone; however, would recommend reading the novellas in order to get a good ideas of the craziness of The Hollows. All are 4-5 star thrillers and Lisa Unger has some creative imagination!
The Whispers is an e-novella in three-parts, spanning 30 years in the life of Eloise Montgomery, who discovers her amazing gift in the wake of tragedy. Its tendrils reach back to FRAGILE, the novel in which Eloise first appeared, and ahead to CRAZY LOVE YOU.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jeremy Bobb, with a perfectly matched voice for Ian for an outstanding performance. This is definitely one you will not want to put down.
JDCMustReadBooks
The Whispers #1
The Burning Girl #2
The Three Sisters #3
THE WHISPERS: If you have read the other titles leading up to the main attraction with teasers, introduced in the novellas--the writer, creator, and illustrator, Ian Paine. He is now a successful graphic novelist, with a famous comic series featuring characters: Fatboy and Priss.
In his popular series, Fatboy is fat, a nerd, and a loser. Priss is smoking hot, a sexy red head and a favorite among all the teenage and adolescent boys. The fans are unaware, Ian was Fatboy, and Priss was his only childhood friend and salvation. Two souls, with a tragic childhood, lost in the small town called, The Hollows outside of New York.
Fatboy had a difficult childhood bullied at school his entire life. It is only when he left the town, worked out, lost weight, new clothes, apartment, new haircut, identity, did he become a successful novelists living in New York, a changed man. (with unhealthy addictions).
Priss was always there for him, when no one else was. However, now that he is successful and independent, does he still need Priss? She is always there tempting him and pulling him in. Is she a real person, or just an imaginary friend he created when he was younger?
Ian meets a new gal (a nanny) at the park named Megan. Megan is the nice girl, who comes from a good family, unlike his own dysfunctional one. He wants this life so bad; however, Priss continues to draw him into her world.
As the relationship between Megan and Ian grows and becomes more serious, Priss is threatened, making Ian feel more insecure and pulls him back to the Hollows, a place where he never wants to find himself again. After he has worked too hard to escape the whispers, the voices, his childhood, the memories, and the negativity of this small town.
With flashbacks from Ian’s childhood years to the present, we learn of more destruction. From his mom with mental illness, a dead sister, a dad which is emotionally removed, and a grandmother which used food for comfort. What about Priss, her role?
Now, Megan is in danger and Ian may lose everything with self-destructive behavior, unless he confronts his past to find the real reason behind his relationship with Priss and The Hollows. What does Priss really want and is he strong enough to face the future, and have a normal relationship with Megan and a future family.
As Ian’s present and personal life, collides with his fantasy characters –readers will be glued to the pages to learn the final fate of these two partners in crime. You will learn of the horror of Priss' childhood and why these two were bound emotionally, to one another.
A fast-paced suspense psychological thriller, leaving you guessing reality versus fiction, and good versus evil.
CRAZY LOVE YOU can be read as a standalone; however, would recommend reading the novellas in order to get a good ideas of the craziness of The Hollows. All are 4-5 star thrillers and Lisa Unger has some creative imagination!
The Whispers is an e-novella in three-parts, spanning 30 years in the life of Eloise Montgomery, who discovers her amazing gift in the wake of tragedy. Its tendrils reach back to FRAGILE, the novel in which Eloise first appeared, and ahead to CRAZY LOVE YOU.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jeremy Bobb, with a perfectly matched voice for Ian for an outstanding performance. This is definitely one you will not want to put down.
JDCMustReadBooks
The Whispers #1
The Burning Girl #2
The Three Sisters #3
January 26, 2015
I know a lot of people really like Lisa Unger’s books. I’m partial to the odd psychological thriller myself. I read In the Blood last year and thought it had some clever, creepy moments. So I thought I’d try her latest book, Crazy Love You to see what kind of twisted journey I could be transported on. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. While the book’s plot moves at a breakneck speed, I guessed the twist early on and I kept reading, hoping to be surprised by a blind turn or a subtle piece of evidence I’d missed. But it didn’t happen. Not even the ‘but it was all a dream’ ending. There was no punch, no tricks, no nothing. I think I would have enjoyed this book more had I not guessed the twist, but I think there were so many hints that it’s pretty hard not to work things out.
Crazy Love You has a very interesting plot though. It’s told from the first person perspective of Ian, a successful graphic novel artist and author living in a really cool loft in New York City. His life is pretty sweet, he’s found a great girl in Megan and people love his Fatboy and Priss stories. Ian has a sad past though – his little sister died as a baby and his mother lives in a psychiatric institution in The Hollows (a familiar setting in Unger’s books). Ian was also teased for his weight as a child/teenager, but he always had his friend Priss. She was his strength, but she had a nasty habit of getting him into trouble. Ian’s starting to work out that Priss is a bad influence on his life, but Priss doesn’t want to let their relationship end. What’s great is how Ian’s life is mirrored in his Fatboy and Priss novels. I loved reading how the next story would develop even more than Ian’s real life, because it had that element of fantasy and positive spin to it.
As for the characters, I started off sympathising with Ian. As the novel progressed, I lost my patience with him. He’s essentially weak and although there are other factors at play, he’s increasingly unlikeable. I didn’t feel that Megan deserved him – she was a good girl, rather innocent but I wondered how their connection could stay so strong. Was it her need to save Ian, redeem him? I felt she brought much more to the relationship than he did. And as for Priss – she’s a firebrand. Determined, she won’t let anybody stand in her way – which is exactly what Ian needed to balance the weak parts of his personality. Even though she wreaks havoc in the story, I wish she’d done something with the ending. I felt it was a bit of a cop-out, a letdown. I like thrillers to have some form of sense, rather than relying on unproven subjects to ‘explain’ why things happened that way. (I’m not going to spoil the ending here).
The story of Crazy Love You is good, but the ending just didn’t do it for me. Other readers may not see the twist or be happy for the ending to be slightly ambiguous/implausible, but I’m afraid I couldn’t forgive that. I would like to read a Fatboy and Priss novel though!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the eARC. My review is honest and unbiased.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Crazy Love You has a very interesting plot though. It’s told from the first person perspective of Ian, a successful graphic novel artist and author living in a really cool loft in New York City. His life is pretty sweet, he’s found a great girl in Megan and people love his Fatboy and Priss stories. Ian has a sad past though – his little sister died as a baby and his mother lives in a psychiatric institution in The Hollows (a familiar setting in Unger’s books). Ian was also teased for his weight as a child/teenager, but he always had his friend Priss. She was his strength, but she had a nasty habit of getting him into trouble. Ian’s starting to work out that Priss is a bad influence on his life, but Priss doesn’t want to let their relationship end. What’s great is how Ian’s life is mirrored in his Fatboy and Priss novels. I loved reading how the next story would develop even more than Ian’s real life, because it had that element of fantasy and positive spin to it.
As for the characters, I started off sympathising with Ian. As the novel progressed, I lost my patience with him. He’s essentially weak and although there are other factors at play, he’s increasingly unlikeable. I didn’t feel that Megan deserved him – she was a good girl, rather innocent but I wondered how their connection could stay so strong. Was it her need to save Ian, redeem him? I felt she brought much more to the relationship than he did. And as for Priss – she’s a firebrand. Determined, she won’t let anybody stand in her way – which is exactly what Ian needed to balance the weak parts of his personality. Even though she wreaks havoc in the story, I wish she’d done something with the ending. I felt it was a bit of a cop-out, a letdown. I like thrillers to have some form of sense, rather than relying on unproven subjects to ‘explain’ why things happened that way. (I’m not going to spoil the ending here).
The story of Crazy Love You is good, but the ending just didn’t do it for me. Other readers may not see the twist or be happy for the ending to be slightly ambiguous/implausible, but I’m afraid I couldn’t forgive that. I would like to read a Fatboy and Priss novel though!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the eARC. My review is honest and unbiased.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
February 10, 2015
Ian Paine had a painful childhood growing up in the Hollows, a small rural town in Upstate New York. He found solace with his friend Priss and his love of comic books. Bullied and accused of crimes he did not commit he sought escape to New York City. He becomes a successful graphic novelist and through it all Priss remains his friend and confidant. Priss has a whirlwind personality filled with booze, drugs and sex. She is very protective of Ian, and their relationship is quite toxic. Ian is growing weary and is ready for something more when he meets and falls for Megan. For the first time in forever, his life is falling into place perfectly, but Priss is not happy and the tale that unfolds sends their lives spiraling out of control.
Unger weaved such an incredible tale from Ian’s childhood to his wildly successful Fatboy graphic novels. I love how she kept me as the reader on edge as I tried to discern fact and fiction. A subtle paranormal thread and side characters took me further down the rabbit hole. Ian while not entirely likable is a character the reader comes to care for even as we question everything. Megan is sweet, and their romance is sprinkled throughout the book. The focus if Crazy Love You, is on Ian and his relationship with Priss. It was brilliantly done.
The synopsis of Crazy Love You is vague, and I make it a point never to reveal more. I think that with this book in particular the joy is in the discovery. I went into this with nothing more than the synopsis and loved how Unger allowed the tale to unfold, weaving the past into the present and connecting the dots. The characters are fleshed out, the story is vivid and the tension and danger increase as the story progresses.
If psychological thrillers and unreliable narrators are your thing, Crazy Love You will knock your socks off. I cannot wait to explore more of Lisa Unger's work.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Unger weaved such an incredible tale from Ian’s childhood to his wildly successful Fatboy graphic novels. I love how she kept me as the reader on edge as I tried to discern fact and fiction. A subtle paranormal thread and side characters took me further down the rabbit hole. Ian while not entirely likable is a character the reader comes to care for even as we question everything. Megan is sweet, and their romance is sprinkled throughout the book. The focus if Crazy Love You, is on Ian and his relationship with Priss. It was brilliantly done.
The synopsis of Crazy Love You is vague, and I make it a point never to reveal more. I think that with this book in particular the joy is in the discovery. I went into this with nothing more than the synopsis and loved how Unger allowed the tale to unfold, weaving the past into the present and connecting the dots. The characters are fleshed out, the story is vivid and the tension and danger increase as the story progresses.
If psychological thrillers and unreliable narrators are your thing, Crazy Love You will knock your socks off. I cannot wait to explore more of Lisa Unger's work.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
March 19, 2015
Wow. This was a really good read, one that left me conflicted but in a good way. I found that, even though protagonist Ian has a horrible childhood, I found it hard to muster up sympathy for Ian the man. I wanted him to smarten up, man up and move on. However, he's a broken spirit and his journey is a difficult one. I felt I'd figured out the riddle of Priss early on, but the author weaves in so much suspense you are happy to go along for the ride. Will Ian confront his demons? Will he be able to leave the specter of Priss behind and have a healthy life with Megan? Ms. Unger keeps the reader guessing right until the end, and even afterwards. I'm not entirely convinced Ian has vanquished his ghosts. I'm not sure he ever will. And that sense of wonderful foreboding is what makes this story shine.
May 17, 2015
I was a little bored with this one from start to finish. Solid writing but I didn't care for the story. I was underwhelmed after giving five stars to her last book, In the Blood.
February 26, 2015
4.5 Crazy good !! Lisa Ungers best yet.
March 25, 2015
My Review: After reading a blurb on this book I was eager to read it. It sounded like a juicy, edge-of-your-seat suspenseful read. Bring it on, Unger!
The story is ultimately about Ian and his rocky relationship with his childhood friend Priss, the only positive thing to come out of his horrible childhood. The story is told via flashbacks to Ian's youth where the reader gets to witness the shocking events that shaped his life and strengthened his bond with Priss, who eagerly became his avenging angel as he tried to survive childhood bullies and a very dysfunctional family life. Priss is a complex, ambiguous and rather nasty character even though she professes to love Ian.
As I was reading I wasn't sure if I could trust Ian as the narrator. I believe Unger wrote it this way to increase the suspense for the reader and for the majority of the book I liked that 'not knowing' element. It added to the suspense and learning more about Priss is what kept me going -- Was Priss a real person or something his mind imagined in order to get through the horrible childhood he had?
Sadly, by the time I was three-quarters of the way through the book I was getting tired of reading about similar circumstances and conversations that seemed to get replayed over and over regarding the triangle of Ian, Priss and Megan, Ian's girlfriend. I was getting a little irritated trying to figure out if Priss was real or just in Ian's imagination. (Note: there's still one situation involving Ian and Priss that makes me scratch my head because it just didn't seem physically plausible in the end).
It was also at this point in the book that it took on a very different feel and I didn't like it. Typically you'd think that I'd enjoy the path that the book took but not in this instance. It led up to a very unsatisfying and weak ending. After following all of Ian's issues it was frustrating that the ending wasn't strong. It was ambiguous and the truth about Priss felt like a last minute cop-out to me.
I will say though that I felt the characters were well drawn out. I may not have liked them all but they did have a troubled, chaotic authenticity to them. From Priss and her self-involvement and anger, to Ian and his self-loathing issues to Megan who wanted to fix and take care of Ian no matter his issues, they were quite vividly described.
I've given this book a 3 star rating because, while I didn't like the ending, the book did keep my interest most of the time and the premise was quite intriguing. Unfortunately that's as high of a rating as I can give due to the lackluster ending and the repetitive situations and conversations that made the plot seem to not have enough meat on it to sustain a whole book.
My Rating: 3/5 stars
**This book review can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I share hundreds of book reviews and my favourite recipes. **
The story is ultimately about Ian and his rocky relationship with his childhood friend Priss, the only positive thing to come out of his horrible childhood. The story is told via flashbacks to Ian's youth where the reader gets to witness the shocking events that shaped his life and strengthened his bond with Priss, who eagerly became his avenging angel as he tried to survive childhood bullies and a very dysfunctional family life. Priss is a complex, ambiguous and rather nasty character even though she professes to love Ian.
As I was reading I wasn't sure if I could trust Ian as the narrator. I believe Unger wrote it this way to increase the suspense for the reader and for the majority of the book I liked that 'not knowing' element. It added to the suspense and learning more about Priss is what kept me going -- Was Priss a real person or something his mind imagined in order to get through the horrible childhood he had?
Sadly, by the time I was three-quarters of the way through the book I was getting tired of reading about similar circumstances and conversations that seemed to get replayed over and over regarding the triangle of Ian, Priss and Megan, Ian's girlfriend. I was getting a little irritated trying to figure out if Priss was real or just in Ian's imagination. (Note: there's still one situation involving Ian and Priss that makes me scratch my head because it just didn't seem physically plausible in the end).
It was also at this point in the book that it took on a very different feel and I didn't like it. Typically you'd think that I'd enjoy the path that the book took but not in this instance. It led up to a very unsatisfying and weak ending. After following all of Ian's issues it was frustrating that the ending wasn't strong. It was ambiguous and the truth about Priss felt like a last minute cop-out to me.
I will say though that I felt the characters were well drawn out. I may not have liked them all but they did have a troubled, chaotic authenticity to them. From Priss and her self-involvement and anger, to Ian and his self-loathing issues to Megan who wanted to fix and take care of Ian no matter his issues, they were quite vividly described.
I've given this book a 3 star rating because, while I didn't like the ending, the book did keep my interest most of the time and the premise was quite intriguing. Unfortunately that's as high of a rating as I can give due to the lackluster ending and the repetitive situations and conversations that made the plot seem to not have enough meat on it to sustain a whole book.
My Rating: 3/5 stars
**This book review can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I share hundreds of book reviews and my favourite recipes. **
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