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Unfortunates
Seventeen-year-old Vanessa is about to get a new life—whether she wants one or not. With a best friend keeping a crazy big secret from her and her parents rubbing their perfect high school love story in her rocky relationship's face, she doesn't have any more cares to give. So when Adam, a ghost who calls himself an Unfortunate, tells her she is his Match - the one who can help him earn his second chance at life by committing random acts of kindness – she nearly blows a fuse.
No, scratch that. It shot straight off. I mean, why help a ghost who may just be in her head? What was in it for her?
After the denial and resistance pass, Vanessa begins to realize not all of arrangement is against her favor. There is something rather cute about Adam and maybe, just maybe, if he is telling the truth and she brings him back to life, he could be her new date to prom.
But can her selfish ways live up to his expectations?
No, scratch that. It shot straight off. I mean, why help a ghost who may just be in her head? What was in it for her?
After the denial and resistance pass, Vanessa begins to realize not all of arrangement is against her favor. There is something rather cute about Adam and maybe, just maybe, if he is telling the truth and she brings him back to life, he could be her new date to prom.
But can her selfish ways live up to his expectations?
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2014
59 people want to read
About the author
Lillian Graves
3 books10 followersThe first story I ever wrote was Sonic the Hedgehog fan-fiction at the tender age of eight.
As a tomboy, I spent hours watching boys play video games during play dates. To include myself in their world of buttons and power-ups, I'd ask incessant questions about the characters, worlds, and storyline. I got the bright idea to bring a notebook when their answers became so intricate with rules and plotholes.
This caught the attention of my future partner in crime, B.W., who tore his eyes from the TV and asked me why I had a notebook. When I told him my plans to document and fill in the missing pieces to the storylines, he asked me if he could illustrate them.
Of course I said yes.
The next day, I tore the perforated sides off our first scan-copied story and stapled the top corner. Then I knocked on all the doors in my neighborhood asking if I could sit down and read it to them.
It didn't take long before my neighbors started asking for sequel copies right off the press. We sold so well, we started charging snacks during our readings.
At this point, I was a renowned businesswoman on the playground. I'd walk laps with B.W., plotting Sonic's adventures for the next month's edition. But all the fun came to a screeching halt when B.W. moved three states away. I vowed never to write another Sonic word without him and I didn't.
I turned to poetry, as every teenage writer does. Don't worry, I was awful at it. Then I turned to essays and reviews, where I formed the opinions on social issues I stand behind today. But it wasn't until college when I took everyone's advice and wrote my first novel.
Now, seven novels later, I've decided to start peddling the block again and publish my debut novel, FIGURE 8. As a proud supporter of gender equality and the LGBTQ community, I am proud to share my work, even if I don't get cookies and milk with every read. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
As a tomboy, I spent hours watching boys play video games during play dates. To include myself in their world of buttons and power-ups, I'd ask incessant questions about the characters, worlds, and storyline. I got the bright idea to bring a notebook when their answers became so intricate with rules and plotholes.
This caught the attention of my future partner in crime, B.W., who tore his eyes from the TV and asked me why I had a notebook. When I told him my plans to document and fill in the missing pieces to the storylines, he asked me if he could illustrate them.
Of course I said yes.
The next day, I tore the perforated sides off our first scan-copied story and stapled the top corner. Then I knocked on all the doors in my neighborhood asking if I could sit down and read it to them.
It didn't take long before my neighbors started asking for sequel copies right off the press. We sold so well, we started charging snacks during our readings.
At this point, I was a renowned businesswoman on the playground. I'd walk laps with B.W., plotting Sonic's adventures for the next month's edition. But all the fun came to a screeching halt when B.W. moved three states away. I vowed never to write another Sonic word without him and I didn't.
I turned to poetry, as every teenage writer does. Don't worry, I was awful at it. Then I turned to essays and reviews, where I formed the opinions on social issues I stand behind today. But it wasn't until college when I took everyone's advice and wrote my first novel.
Now, seven novels later, I've decided to start peddling the block again and publish my debut novel, FIGURE 8. As a proud supporter of gender equality and the LGBTQ community, I am proud to share my work, even if I don't get cookies and milk with every read. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 28, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Lillian Graves.)
“Because you’re my match,” Adam said. “You’re the only one who can hear me, see me, smell me, and feel me. Some people can do some of those, but not all four. In return, I can touch everything you touch.”
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, we just didn’t get along ☹.
I didn’t really like Vanessa, if anything she irritated me a bit. I found her to be very hypocritical, and rude, and when Adam told her that she held other people to a higher standard than herself, he really wasn’t wrong!
“You’re f*cking unbelievable.”
“And you’re a sore loser!” I shouted back so it echoed. “So what if I’m seeing other people? It’s not like you rocked my world.”
The storyline in this wasn’t bad, but I just felt like there were way too many coincidences and inconsistencies, and this was really off-putting. I found it quite ridiculous that even though having an ‘unfortunate’ was supposed to be rare, that by the end of the book it seemed like everybody and their auntie all had one! I mean what are the chances that not only does Vanessa have this rare ‘unfortunate’ ghost following her around, but that everybody else in her life has one too? I just don’t buy it.
“No, you don’t understand.” She looked around to make sure we were alone. “We aren’t supposed to discuss our Unfortunates. Any of them could be watching.”
My hands flapped so hard at my sides, I was sure I would life off the bed.
“You have one too?”
The romance was in the form of a love-triangle, and not even an interesting one. The worst thing of all was that Vanessa thought it okay to string two boys along, yet when someone else did it, she called them names and told them how awful they were!
“No, I’m sorry. Someone has to say it. It’s okay for you to jump between two guys in the present, but someone’s past elicits your judgement?”
Anyway, I’m not going to say anything else about this book, because I’ve probably been too mean already, which wasn’t my intention, but let’s just say that I didn’t enjoy it.
4 out of 10
“Because you’re my match,” Adam said. “You’re the only one who can hear me, see me, smell me, and feel me. Some people can do some of those, but not all four. In return, I can touch everything you touch.”
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, we just didn’t get along ☹.
I didn’t really like Vanessa, if anything she irritated me a bit. I found her to be very hypocritical, and rude, and when Adam told her that she held other people to a higher standard than herself, he really wasn’t wrong!
“You’re f*cking unbelievable.”
“And you’re a sore loser!” I shouted back so it echoed. “So what if I’m seeing other people? It’s not like you rocked my world.”
The storyline in this wasn’t bad, but I just felt like there were way too many coincidences and inconsistencies, and this was really off-putting. I found it quite ridiculous that even though having an ‘unfortunate’ was supposed to be rare, that by the end of the book it seemed like everybody and their auntie all had one! I mean what are the chances that not only does Vanessa have this rare ‘unfortunate’ ghost following her around, but that everybody else in her life has one too? I just don’t buy it.
“No, you don’t understand.” She looked around to make sure we were alone. “We aren’t supposed to discuss our Unfortunates. Any of them could be watching.”
My hands flapped so hard at my sides, I was sure I would life off the bed.
“You have one too?”
The romance was in the form of a love-triangle, and not even an interesting one. The worst thing of all was that Vanessa thought it okay to string two boys along, yet when someone else did it, she called them names and told them how awful they were!
“No, I’m sorry. Someone has to say it. It’s okay for you to jump between two guys in the present, but someone’s past elicits your judgement?”
Anyway, I’m not going to say anything else about this book, because I’ve probably been too mean already, which wasn’t my intention, but let’s just say that I didn’t enjoy it.
4 out of 10
March 2, 2015
*Many thanks to the author, Lillian Graves, for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Okay, so, I can appreciatesorta why others liked this book: It’s a fresh concept, certainly creative, fast paced with an abundance of surprising twists and turns. And the writing style is kinda quirky.
It really didn’t work for me though. Like, not at all.
Me while reading:
Because, well, it was just fantastically nonsensical.
Overly complicated and poorly executed, this story had more holes in it than my skin has pores. Seriously.
Riddled through with inconsistencies, inaccuracies and contradictions, it jumped from coinkidink to coinkidink (all way too convenient and absurdly far-fetched) offering very little in the way of description or explanation… so much just didn’t add up. No solid foundation; no framework.
Made my head hurt!
Also, although the writing style wasn't bad, it was pretty confusing (most especially the dialogue): Some mighty strange phrasing and a certain sort of vagueness. Often, I had to read through passages a few times to extract some sense from em.
Then there’s Nessa…
Oh, Nessa.
Sure, she was meant to be a flawed character (and I’ll give her kudos for avoiding the Mary-Sue mould), but a line was crossed. Big time.
She was awful. Just. AWFUL.
I found it so incredibly hard being in her head. Becoming that much more difficult the further in I read. There was nothing -quite literally nothing appealing about her and her thought processes utterly baffled me.
Didn’t take to any of the other characters either. They all felt either woefully underdeveloped and meh or as vexing as Nessa.
Uck! I had so many issues with this book but... *sigh* I’ll hold off on a rant and keep it simple:
Sadly, this was not an enjoyable read for me. I won’t be continuing the series.
Okay, so, I can appreciate
It really didn’t work for me though. Like, not at all.
Me while reading:
Because, well, it was just fantastically nonsensical.
Overly complicated and poorly executed, this story had more holes in it than my skin has pores. Seriously.
Riddled through with inconsistencies, inaccuracies and contradictions, it jumped from coinkidink to coinkidink (all way too convenient and absurdly far-fetched) offering very little in the way of description or explanation… so much just didn’t add up. No solid foundation; no framework.
Made my head hurt!
Also, although the writing style wasn't bad, it was pretty confusing (most especially the dialogue): Some mighty strange phrasing and a certain sort of vagueness. Often, I had to read through passages a few times to extract some sense from em.
Then there’s Nessa…
Oh, Nessa.
Sure, she was meant to be a flawed character (and I’ll give her kudos for avoiding the Mary-Sue mould), but a line was crossed. Big time.
She was awful. Just. AWFUL.
I found it so incredibly hard being in her head. Becoming that much more difficult the further in I read. There was nothing -quite literally nothing appealing about her and her thought processes utterly baffled me.
Didn’t take to any of the other characters either. They all felt either woefully underdeveloped and meh or as vexing as Nessa.
Uck! I had so many issues with this book but... *sigh* I’ll hold off on a rant and keep it simple:
Sadly, this was not an enjoyable read for me. I won’t be continuing the series.
March 8, 2016
EDIT: 03/08/16
This book came into my TBR list through the power of GoodReads. I don't remember what group it was that was having an Read to Review event, but this was the book that I had to read for an honest review. So, here it goes.
This book was basically about a high school girl that finds out that her best friend has a secret, a secret that apparently isn't as uncommon as we were made to believe. To keep this blog mostly spoiler free, the secret that Vanessa's best friend has is one that almost every single person in the world has. Eventually, Vanessa ends up having a secret of her own, in the form of Adam, a boy who needs her help to come back from the dead. He isn't really a Ghost, per se, and it's not like he has an unsolved murder that will help him cross over.
Not everyone becomes an Unfortunate, which is what Adam is. Unfortunates are born when they die of an unfortunate event. You find out how Adam died in the book, and it is heartbreaking to hear it. In order for Vanessa to help Adam cross over, she needs to perform one selfless act of kindness, not just being kind to get something out of it. There is no exact number of acts that she needs to perform in order to change Adam back, to give him a second chance at being alive again, so she just has to continue to do what she needs to if she wants to help him.
The problem is: does she really want to?
It was very difficult for me to get through this book, mostly because of the main character of Vanessa. She was an extremely selfish girl, and it made sense that she would have to learn how to be kind without expecting anything in return in order for her to save Adam. There are different levels for each Unfortunate, and each level deals with a different task and emotion. The first level, the one that Adam falls in, is the lowest level and has the most shallow of the Unfortunates. I believe that if Vanessa were to ever become an Unfortunate, she would fall in this same category.
I also feel like Adam could be a little selfish as well, but much less than Vanessa could be. His time being an Unfortunate, and waiting until he was able to be seen with Vanessa changed him enough that he wasn't as selfish as he was when he died. He tries so hard to get Vanessa to understand how to help him, to even get to know her, and yet it seems like it's so difficult to get through to her. I could only imagine having to deal with her attitude.
There is a happy ending to this, and Vanessa does have a little character development to make her a little bit more bearable, but I feel like the story was rushed and needed some more editing. I probably wouldn't read it again, but for those who like reading about ghosts and happy endings, then you should give this book a try.
OP:
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
There were moments in the book where I felt like things jumped around. That was what really threw me off the most, unfortunately. Other than that, I really liked the concept of the story line and felt like there was a lot of potential for this to be an amazing book. There were just too many coincidences and it just didn't seem to make sense to have Vanessa's secret not just apply to her. Vanessa is extremely selfish, which I'm sure was the point of this book and why she had to do what she ended up having to do in this book, but I would have loved to see her figure out that she needed to change her ways a lot more than just what she was doing at that moment. I will look forward to the sequel as I'm curious as to what the author has in store for these characters.
This book came into my TBR list through the power of GoodReads. I don't remember what group it was that was having an Read to Review event, but this was the book that I had to read for an honest review. So, here it goes.
This book was basically about a high school girl that finds out that her best friend has a secret, a secret that apparently isn't as uncommon as we were made to believe. To keep this blog mostly spoiler free, the secret that Vanessa's best friend has is one that almost every single person in the world has. Eventually, Vanessa ends up having a secret of her own, in the form of Adam, a boy who needs her help to come back from the dead. He isn't really a Ghost, per se, and it's not like he has an unsolved murder that will help him cross over.
Not everyone becomes an Unfortunate, which is what Adam is. Unfortunates are born when they die of an unfortunate event. You find out how Adam died in the book, and it is heartbreaking to hear it. In order for Vanessa to help Adam cross over, she needs to perform one selfless act of kindness, not just being kind to get something out of it. There is no exact number of acts that she needs to perform in order to change Adam back, to give him a second chance at being alive again, so she just has to continue to do what she needs to if she wants to help him.
The problem is: does she really want to?
It was very difficult for me to get through this book, mostly because of the main character of Vanessa. She was an extremely selfish girl, and it made sense that she would have to learn how to be kind without expecting anything in return in order for her to save Adam. There are different levels for each Unfortunate, and each level deals with a different task and emotion. The first level, the one that Adam falls in, is the lowest level and has the most shallow of the Unfortunates. I believe that if Vanessa were to ever become an Unfortunate, she would fall in this same category.
I also feel like Adam could be a little selfish as well, but much less than Vanessa could be. His time being an Unfortunate, and waiting until he was able to be seen with Vanessa changed him enough that he wasn't as selfish as he was when he died. He tries so hard to get Vanessa to understand how to help him, to even get to know her, and yet it seems like it's so difficult to get through to her. I could only imagine having to deal with her attitude.
There is a happy ending to this, and Vanessa does have a little character development to make her a little bit more bearable, but I feel like the story was rushed and needed some more editing. I probably wouldn't read it again, but for those who like reading about ghosts and happy endings, then you should give this book a try.
OP:
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
There were moments in the book where I felt like things jumped around. That was what really threw me off the most, unfortunately. Other than that, I really liked the concept of the story line and felt like there was a lot of potential for this to be an amazing book. There were just too many coincidences and it just didn't seem to make sense to have Vanessa's secret not just apply to her. Vanessa is extremely selfish, which I'm sure was the point of this book and why she had to do what she ended up having to do in this book, but I would have loved to see her figure out that she needed to change her ways a lot more than just what she was doing at that moment. I will look forward to the sequel as I'm curious as to what the author has in store for these characters.
February 28, 2015
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 2.5
I can't say I liked the main character. She annoyed me quite a bit, as she was rude, always wanted her own way, and was a hypocrite.
I didn't love any of the other characters either, but the only one I disliked more than Vanessa was Marie's dad.
The storyline in this was interesting, but the pacing killed it for me. It felt like I'd been reading the book for days, as the story was really dragged out.
Overall, Not a very enjoyable read for me unfortunately.
Actual rating - 2.5
I can't say I liked the main character. She annoyed me quite a bit, as she was rude, always wanted her own way, and was a hypocrite.
I didn't love any of the other characters either, but the only one I disliked more than Vanessa was Marie's dad.
The storyline in this was interesting, but the pacing killed it for me. It felt like I'd been reading the book for days, as the story was really dragged out.
Overall, Not a very enjoyable read for me unfortunately.
February 26, 2015
I received this book free in exchange for a honest review.
So here we are.
I really enjoyed the book and no I'm not just saying that I mean ever since I received this book I couldn't put it down, even through migraines I read. I can honestly say I loved it. There's not just one thing I loved about the book it was the whole thing.
The characters were introduced sporadically and as they did you started to get to know and emphasise with them, the descriptions of the characters were detailed and I appreciated that but I also appreciated that the author allowed us readers to form their own opinions and feelings towards the characters throughout the story, I loved how reading about them you could actually feel them develop and grow right in front of them.
The story is amazing, unusual and intriguing, it kept me turning the pages and wanting to read more and discover more, as the book went on it had twists and turns, it wasn't predictable and that was exciting to me as a reader as usually when I read a book I can predict the route it will take, this didn't do this. It made me laugh out loud, it made me teary and it made me feel the emotions of the characters too. The scenes where the main character was frustrated was so well written it even made me feel frustrated for her which just shows the authors talent in their writing.
I have read nothing this good in a long while and I'm so glad that I was picked to review it, I would definitely be happy to read other work the author has written, especially the sequel that I was given a sneak peak into. All in all I can honestly say it was a great book that I for one minute do not regret a single second of.
So here we are.
I really enjoyed the book and no I'm not just saying that I mean ever since I received this book I couldn't put it down, even through migraines I read. I can honestly say I loved it. There's not just one thing I loved about the book it was the whole thing.
The characters were introduced sporadically and as they did you started to get to know and emphasise with them, the descriptions of the characters were detailed and I appreciated that but I also appreciated that the author allowed us readers to form their own opinions and feelings towards the characters throughout the story, I loved how reading about them you could actually feel them develop and grow right in front of them.
The story is amazing, unusual and intriguing, it kept me turning the pages and wanting to read more and discover more, as the book went on it had twists and turns, it wasn't predictable and that was exciting to me as a reader as usually when I read a book I can predict the route it will take, this didn't do this. It made me laugh out loud, it made me teary and it made me feel the emotions of the characters too. The scenes where the main character was frustrated was so well written it even made me feel frustrated for her which just shows the authors talent in their writing.
I have read nothing this good in a long while and I'm so glad that I was picked to review it, I would definitely be happy to read other work the author has written, especially the sequel that I was given a sneak peak into. All in all I can honestly say it was a great book that I for one minute do not regret a single second of.
March 1, 2015
Thanks to YA Buddy Readers' Corner and the author for allowing me to read this book.
What can I say? At first the book was interesting and I hung on to every word. But as it progressed I became confused and agitated at the whole Unfortunates concept. I didn't like Adam and I felt a bit sorry for Vanessa's boyfriend Eric. She was a bit too dramatic for my taste. Then everyone started getting Unfortunates and I just got bored at the silliness of it all. The book has a good plot but I just feel like it wasn't executed properly.
What can I say? At first the book was interesting and I hung on to every word. But as it progressed I became confused and agitated at the whole Unfortunates concept. I didn't like Adam and I felt a bit sorry for Vanessa's boyfriend Eric. She was a bit too dramatic for my taste. Then everyone started getting Unfortunates and I just got bored at the silliness of it all. The book has a good plot but I just feel like it wasn't executed properly.
March 1, 2015
The Rating Breakdown
Enjoyment: 2 I got pretty frustrated with it.
Writing Style: 3 A few quirky lines. A few confusing lines.
Plot: 1 Other than milling around and talking about concepts? Not much.
World & Concepts: 1 Confusing, underdeveloped, inconsistent.
Characters: 2 Nessa was well developed but not very likable. The rest... were ‘the rest’.
Finish: 5 No typos. Great cover.
Strengths: Made me smile in a few places.
Weakness: No real plot and concepts are inconsistent.
To rant or not to rant...
I could write a hefty developmental report for this book. Instead I’ll try and keep this as short as possible.
It started to get confusing pretty early on, and from 50% onwards I was wondering where the main plot was hiding. The story seemed to be a wordy explanation of the different ghosts, called Unfortunates, with Vanessa’s love life thrown in-between. If you can take it on face value you might love it, but if you’re like me and can’t ignore inconsistencies and things that just don’t make any sense then you probably won’t do well with it.
I found Vanessa (Nessa) intriguing. She’s mouthy and enjoys playing the kid-card against her parents, but she also has an altruistic side. There was something very real about her. Then again, she tends to act like a hypocritical bully which makes her difficult to like at times, as realistic as she might seem. At least she was interesting to follow but it’s always better when you can root for the characters.
I liked Nessa’s parents the most. The mum reminded me a little of my own and the dad seemed loving and not afraid to call Nessa out when she’s being rude (shame he wasn’t around more often). It’s great to see an older couple still affectionate too.
That’s it for the characters. I’ve already forgotten the rest. As for the plot, nothing much happens other than milling around and learning about Unfortunates. A lot of coincidental events occur and Nessa went about her daily life. This wasn’t necessarily dull, but if you asked me where will the character be ten pages later, it could have been absolutely anywhere. Probably at school, though. Or trying to shake off Eric, the boyfriend of three years that she’s fed up of.
As for the concepts, I loved the idea of human Matches being linked to ghostly Unfortunates. That’s what drew me in, and it’s kinda what spat me back out.
Once you get into the details, it makes absolutely no sense. We have Ones, Twos, and Threes, and despite the amount the book went on about them, I had no idea what these terms meant until another reader took a stab at explaining it to me afterwards. There are also bizarre and illogical tasks that needed to take place for...reasons. Kindness acts are also some type of currency, but how you spend and receive isn’t something that’s defined or shown.
It is almost like the author didn’t have a clear mechanism figured out before writing it. Even the characters seemed confused. “I don’t think anyone understands it,” Nessa says at one point. What hope does a reader have if even the characters have no idea?
The writing style was a little difficult too. Sometimes it was creative, other times it felt odd. Occasionally I had to reread sections to work out why the characters had mood swings, but for the most part, there’s an original spark. Some lines from the first part made me smile as well. I had high hopes to start with because the writing is quite strong.
Part of me thinks ‘Good writer, wrong story’. I’d be interested to see some of Lillian Graves’ future novels. Some writers take a few books before they really nail the whole writing thing. It’s not as easy as it looks...
Source: Author (Thank you and sorry I couldn’t be more positive!)
Blog:ScookieReviews
Enjoyment: 2 I got pretty frustrated with it.
Writing Style: 3 A few quirky lines. A few confusing lines.
Plot: 1 Other than milling around and talking about concepts? Not much.
World & Concepts: 1 Confusing, underdeveloped, inconsistent.
Characters: 2 Nessa was well developed but not very likable. The rest... were ‘the rest’.
Finish: 5 No typos. Great cover.
Strengths: Made me smile in a few places.
Weakness: No real plot and concepts are inconsistent.
To rant or not to rant...
I could write a hefty developmental report for this book. Instead I’ll try and keep this as short as possible.
It started to get confusing pretty early on, and from 50% onwards I was wondering where the main plot was hiding. The story seemed to be a wordy explanation of the different ghosts, called Unfortunates, with Vanessa’s love life thrown in-between. If you can take it on face value you might love it, but if you’re like me and can’t ignore inconsistencies and things that just don’t make any sense then you probably won’t do well with it.
I found Vanessa (Nessa) intriguing. She’s mouthy and enjoys playing the kid-card against her parents, but she also has an altruistic side. There was something very real about her. Then again, she tends to act like a hypocritical bully which makes her difficult to like at times, as realistic as she might seem. At least she was interesting to follow but it’s always better when you can root for the characters.
I liked Nessa’s parents the most. The mum reminded me a little of my own and the dad seemed loving and not afraid to call Nessa out when she’s being rude (shame he wasn’t around more often). It’s great to see an older couple still affectionate too.
That’s it for the characters. I’ve already forgotten the rest. As for the plot, nothing much happens other than milling around and learning about Unfortunates. A lot of coincidental events occur and Nessa went about her daily life. This wasn’t necessarily dull, but if you asked me where will the character be ten pages later, it could have been absolutely anywhere. Probably at school, though. Or trying to shake off Eric, the boyfriend of three years that she’s fed up of.
As for the concepts, I loved the idea of human Matches being linked to ghostly Unfortunates. That’s what drew me in, and it’s kinda what spat me back out.
Once you get into the details, it makes absolutely no sense. We have Ones, Twos, and Threes, and despite the amount the book went on about them, I had no idea what these terms meant until another reader took a stab at explaining it to me afterwards. There are also bizarre and illogical tasks that needed to take place for...reasons. Kindness acts are also some type of currency, but how you spend and receive isn’t something that’s defined or shown.
It is almost like the author didn’t have a clear mechanism figured out before writing it. Even the characters seemed confused. “I don’t think anyone understands it,” Nessa says at one point. What hope does a reader have if even the characters have no idea?
The writing style was a little difficult too. Sometimes it was creative, other times it felt odd. Occasionally I had to reread sections to work out why the characters had mood swings, but for the most part, there’s an original spark. Some lines from the first part made me smile as well. I had high hopes to start with because the writing is quite strong.
Part of me thinks ‘Good writer, wrong story’. I’d be interested to see some of Lillian Graves’ future novels. Some writers take a few books before they really nail the whole writing thing. It’s not as easy as it looks...
Source: Author (Thank you and sorry I couldn’t be more positive!)
Blog:ScookieReviews
March 9, 2015
While I did enjoy reading this book at times I did find it a bit difficult to read due to the complexity. It’s not that it was a complicated story line there just seemed to be lots of things going on at the same time. Overall however I found the characters enjoyable to read about and the subject of the book very interesting.
The main characters are Vanessa and Adam; they are two teenagers very different who come together in an unexpected way. Vanessa seems to be the perfect teenager, pretty with a good family and a perfect boyfriend however all is not what it seems. Her boyfriend and her have had a falling out and her family life is in chaos with her parents arguing and tension between mother and daughter. Then she sees a boy who only she can see; invisible to the rest of the world Adam is an unfortunate looking for his match. Vanessa is that match and when paired with an unfortunate she has a lot to learn about what the rest of the world is oblivious to. I thought that Vanessa was a good main character however I wasn’t very sure about how she was portrayed in certain situations in this book. Adam on the other hand is like every other male character that I can’t help but love even if he was a bit misunderstood.
The secondary characters I felt most noteworthy were Eric, Marie and Jeremy. Eric is Vanessa’s ex-boyfriend, the relationship between him and her is a bit rocky and it does sometimes cause issues between her and Adam in their new relationship. Marie is almost like a tutor for Vanessa helping her out with getting used to the new world she is surrounded by. Jeremy is the, I feel tool for Vanessa in this book in that his main use is to be a tool for her to seem caring.
The pacing is good allowing the relationship between the two main characters to be the drive of the book and allowing it to cause tension keeping the readers guessing what the outcome is going to be until the very last minute.
The storyline was good however I think the simultaneous things that were happening in Vanessa’s life could cause some confusion as it did for me. I liked the new almost supernatural creatures that were introduced in this book and enjoyed the depth of their alternate society that was offered to us in this book.
3.5 a good book but ultimately I was a bit confused.
The main characters are Vanessa and Adam; they are two teenagers very different who come together in an unexpected way. Vanessa seems to be the perfect teenager, pretty with a good family and a perfect boyfriend however all is not what it seems. Her boyfriend and her have had a falling out and her family life is in chaos with her parents arguing and tension between mother and daughter. Then she sees a boy who only she can see; invisible to the rest of the world Adam is an unfortunate looking for his match. Vanessa is that match and when paired with an unfortunate she has a lot to learn about what the rest of the world is oblivious to. I thought that Vanessa was a good main character however I wasn’t very sure about how she was portrayed in certain situations in this book. Adam on the other hand is like every other male character that I can’t help but love even if he was a bit misunderstood.
The secondary characters I felt most noteworthy were Eric, Marie and Jeremy. Eric is Vanessa’s ex-boyfriend, the relationship between him and her is a bit rocky and it does sometimes cause issues between her and Adam in their new relationship. Marie is almost like a tutor for Vanessa helping her out with getting used to the new world she is surrounded by. Jeremy is the, I feel tool for Vanessa in this book in that his main use is to be a tool for her to seem caring.
The pacing is good allowing the relationship between the two main characters to be the drive of the book and allowing it to cause tension keeping the readers guessing what the outcome is going to be until the very last minute.
The storyline was good however I think the simultaneous things that were happening in Vanessa’s life could cause some confusion as it did for me. I liked the new almost supernatural creatures that were introduced in this book and enjoyed the depth of their alternate society that was offered to us in this book.
3.5 a good book but ultimately I was a bit confused.
March 4, 2015
(Thanks to Lillian Graves and YA Buddy Reader's Corner for the chance to read this book for an honest review)
The premise of the book definitely intrigued me. It's a great story idea.
Unfortunately, the main character Vanessa really stopped me from enjoying this book. She's hypocritical, sort of self-centered and rude. I also hated how she kept asking Marie about Unfortunates, and asking why she didn't tell her. Though Marie kept telling her she had to ask Adam or find out on her own.
The writing, though confusing at times, was good. I think the author had a good idea, but it wasn't executed properly.
This book may have not worked for me this time around, but I think I'll give this author another chance and a read her next book when it comes out.
The premise of the book definitely intrigued me. It's a great story idea.
Unfortunately, the main character Vanessa really stopped me from enjoying this book. She's hypocritical, sort of self-centered and rude. I also hated how she kept asking Marie about Unfortunates, and asking why she didn't tell her. Though Marie kept telling her she had to ask Adam or find out on her own.
The writing, though confusing at times, was good. I think the author had a good idea, but it wasn't executed properly.
This book may have not worked for me this time around, but I think I'll give this author another chance and a read her next book when it comes out.
March 14, 2015
Okay, so. I feel like the main story line had so much potential it just wasn't executed right. A lot of the way through the story I was just confused.
I didn't really like Vanessa either sometimes I did but at others she was just too childish.
I got so excited about this book and really wanted to like it. I just didn't.
I didn't really like Vanessa either sometimes I did but at others she was just too childish.
I got so excited about this book and really wanted to like it. I just didn't.
December 13, 2014
Every time in the past that I've picked up a book like Unfortunates, I've been burned. Hollow characters, formulaic stories, unoriginal concepts--I could go on. So when I say that Unfortunates was a treat, I mean it.
It's not easy to categorize a story like this, and that's a theme you'll find is common. Nothing is easy for the heroine, Nessa. Nothing is so simple as fate, even fate itself. Author Lillian Graves deftly weaves a tale full of complex, captivating characters. Really, that's what it's all about--the characters drive everything, none more so than Nessa. Her character is deep and flawed, which makes for a frustrating but ultimately more rewarding experience.
The world of Unfortunates is firmly in the realm of the paranormal, but in a delightful new way. It's clear that it was well thought out, and well laid out, too. It would have been easy to dump everything out in massive doses of exposition, but you're given the right information at the right times, pulling you further and further into the world. I don't want to give too much away, but if you're an astronomy buff like myself, you'll love the possibilities Graves has imagined.
Best of all, this felt like a complete story. Though a sequel is promised, Unfortunates had a satisfying conclusion, and stands well on its own. Still, I feel there's lots more in store for this series. I eagerly await more.
It's not easy to categorize a story like this, and that's a theme you'll find is common. Nothing is easy for the heroine, Nessa. Nothing is so simple as fate, even fate itself. Author Lillian Graves deftly weaves a tale full of complex, captivating characters. Really, that's what it's all about--the characters drive everything, none more so than Nessa. Her character is deep and flawed, which makes for a frustrating but ultimately more rewarding experience.
The world of Unfortunates is firmly in the realm of the paranormal, but in a delightful new way. It's clear that it was well thought out, and well laid out, too. It would have been easy to dump everything out in massive doses of exposition, but you're given the right information at the right times, pulling you further and further into the world. I don't want to give too much away, but if you're an astronomy buff like myself, you'll love the possibilities Graves has imagined.
Best of all, this felt like a complete story. Though a sequel is promised, Unfortunates had a satisfying conclusion, and stands well on its own. Still, I feel there's lots more in store for this series. I eagerly await more.
March 15, 2015
I received a copy of Unfortunates on a Read To Review basis courtesy of the author.
Unfortunates has a really interesting premise, that some people don't get to pass on after death, but kind of stick around in the in-between as Unfortunates. Unable to contact the living world, they have to find their Match, the living human who can help them through enough acts of kindness for them to achieve a second chance at life. I liked the way Vanessa had to overcome her selfish ways in order to save her Unfortunate, Adam. And she starts off as pretty selfish, so it's quite a journey!
I did feel that the attitudes of some of the supporting cast were unpleasant. Vanessa's parents are kind of racist, Marie's parents are homophobic, her boyfriend Eric is emotionally manipulative and the principal at their school apparently thinks it's okay for an autistic kid to be addressed as 'retard'. I get that love triangles are a thing, but Vanessa's refusal to cut all ties with Eric made me lose confidence in her, and her parent's attitude left me feeling very cats-bum-mouth during the scenes Vanessa had with them.
In the end, it was the premise that saved Unfortunates for me. It was a really interesting concept and one I've not seen done before.
Unfortunates has a really interesting premise, that some people don't get to pass on after death, but kind of stick around in the in-between as Unfortunates. Unable to contact the living world, they have to find their Match, the living human who can help them through enough acts of kindness for them to achieve a second chance at life. I liked the way Vanessa had to overcome her selfish ways in order to save her Unfortunate, Adam. And she starts off as pretty selfish, so it's quite a journey!
I did feel that the attitudes of some of the supporting cast were unpleasant. Vanessa's parents are kind of racist, Marie's parents are homophobic, her boyfriend Eric is emotionally manipulative and the principal at their school apparently thinks it's okay for an autistic kid to be addressed as 'retard'. I get that love triangles are a thing, but Vanessa's refusal to cut all ties with Eric made me lose confidence in her, and her parent's attitude left me feeling very cats-bum-mouth during the scenes Vanessa had with them.
In the end, it was the premise that saved Unfortunates for me. It was a really interesting concept and one I've not seen done before.
November 29, 2014
Certainly a page grabber from the start. The opening scene doesn’t let you start off slow, instead it throws you into a mid-scene crisis we can all relate to and builds from there. There’s love, but obstacles (good and bad) that anyone who's been in an interracial relationship would understand. This book puts real life situations everyone has experienced at one time or another and decides to put a twist on it. It’s paranormal love with puzzles and mystery.
Once I started, I wanted to finish. While the story has a beginning, middle and end, it’ll make you think, “what would I do?” because we’ve all seen love and it’s challenges but this throws out all rules we know, creating a challenge on steroids.
“Unfortunate” is a book definitely worth reading. Overall the book opened with a great mid-action scene that sets the stage of what’s to come, leading to a developed, character driven and wonderful story.
Well done.
Once I started, I wanted to finish. While the story has a beginning, middle and end, it’ll make you think, “what would I do?” because we’ve all seen love and it’s challenges but this throws out all rules we know, creating a challenge on steroids.
“Unfortunate” is a book definitely worth reading. Overall the book opened with a great mid-action scene that sets the stage of what’s to come, leading to a developed, character driven and wonderful story.
Well done.
March 3, 2015
I like this book but I felt like there wasn't much action in it. It was slow but there was good things about it to like how it just hooked you in and didn't let go of you.
January 25, 2015
I received this book for an honest review. There was a lot about this book that I liked and a lot I didnt. I'll start with what I enjoyed.
The premise of Unfortunates is really different. The unfortunate world is interesting, multifaceted, and complete with so many opportunities for further stories. The whole world that Graves created left we wanting to know more and more. I also thought that the tension of being in a mixed relationship was handled well. A lot of what Nessa's mother said to her about Adam is what my mother said to me! It was life like and very honest.
Unfortunately, I felt like the story lacked a lot. I wanted more. I'm a huge fan of description and I can honestly tell you that the only two characters I can describe on a basic level are Adam and Lena. I have no idea what Vanessa or her family look like. I have no idea even what her room looks like. I found the sparse detail made the story boring. I wanted to be interested; I loved the premise! I just needed more to it. I also found that the dialogue driven action was often confusing. The scene when Karmun is saved by Ollie and Vanessa-- I had no idea WHY everyone was suddenly so angry. I had no idea when Ollie and Sophie vanished in thin air and Karmun and Dave started dropping out of the sky that this was because Vanessa had gotten them saved. There was just so much movement through dialogue that I had a hard time keeping track of WHO was talking and WHAT they were talking about.
For me, I found that I just wanted so much more. Though I do have to say that the "roll it back" thing was awful. I understand it was Nessa's thing, but also saying "roll it back" and rolling with her arms was just so annoying to read over and over again. It threw me out of the story to the point that I almost stopped reading. I also thought Nessa was a bit overly dramatic. Her mood swings were crazy! But I have also not been 18 for a while, so perhaps I just don't recall being that dramatic all the time.
Again, I loved the world created, I just felt like the writing could have been more detailed, clear, and less dialogue driven.
The premise of Unfortunates is really different. The unfortunate world is interesting, multifaceted, and complete with so many opportunities for further stories. The whole world that Graves created left we wanting to know more and more. I also thought that the tension of being in a mixed relationship was handled well. A lot of what Nessa's mother said to her about Adam is what my mother said to me! It was life like and very honest.
Unfortunately, I felt like the story lacked a lot. I wanted more. I'm a huge fan of description and I can honestly tell you that the only two characters I can describe on a basic level are Adam and Lena. I have no idea what Vanessa or her family look like. I have no idea even what her room looks like. I found the sparse detail made the story boring. I wanted to be interested; I loved the premise! I just needed more to it. I also found that the dialogue driven action was often confusing. The scene when Karmun is saved by Ollie and Vanessa-- I had no idea WHY everyone was suddenly so angry. I had no idea when Ollie and Sophie vanished in thin air and Karmun and Dave started dropping out of the sky that this was because Vanessa had gotten them saved. There was just so much movement through dialogue that I had a hard time keeping track of WHO was talking and WHAT they were talking about.
For me, I found that I just wanted so much more. Though I do have to say that the "roll it back" thing was awful. I understand it was Nessa's thing, but also saying "roll it back" and rolling with her arms was just so annoying to read over and over again. It threw me out of the story to the point that I almost stopped reading. I also thought Nessa was a bit overly dramatic. Her mood swings were crazy! But I have also not been 18 for a while, so perhaps I just don't recall being that dramatic all the time.
Again, I loved the world created, I just felt like the writing could have been more detailed, clear, and less dialogue driven.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2015
Riveting from the first page, I got immersed in the world of the Unfortunates and got quite frustrated with the main character in the novel who keeps getting in the way of herself and whose motivations don't seem to be consistent throughout the book.
While the strengths of the story were the actions and the dialogue and the multifaceted workings of the fictional world that kept it moving, what it lacked were physical descriptions of the characters and environment. For example, the main male character Adam was seen as someone wearing all white and walking through cars in the first chapter. Because his skin glows white as well, what made him appear as someone not white? These details I was able to overlook only because of the cast of strong secondary characters that kept me reading despite protesting the main character's thoughts or actions at times.
This book was overall a fascinating introduction into the four levels of Unfortunates that roam land and varying degrees of space in search of their Matches. Because of the lesson that each level has to learn in order to give the Unfortunate a second chance at life, it can be mind-boggling to keep things for each level straight as we go through the story.
Furthermore, bringing an Unfortunate back to life involves a complex set of tests. At the end of the story, what stood out strongest for me were the lessons in two of the levels and the brightness points that each Unfortunate earns after their Match does something to get their Unfortunate closer to life. I have no clear recollection of the other two lessons needed to be learned by the remaining levels.
Given the complexity of the backstory and world creation involved in the book, Graves did a good job and I would still recommend this read to those interested in what is definitely a stand-alone original in this genre.
While the strengths of the story were the actions and the dialogue and the multifaceted workings of the fictional world that kept it moving, what it lacked were physical descriptions of the characters and environment. For example, the main male character Adam was seen as someone wearing all white and walking through cars in the first chapter. Because his skin glows white as well, what made him appear as someone not white? These details I was able to overlook only because of the cast of strong secondary characters that kept me reading despite protesting the main character's thoughts or actions at times.
This book was overall a fascinating introduction into the four levels of Unfortunates that roam land and varying degrees of space in search of their Matches. Because of the lesson that each level has to learn in order to give the Unfortunate a second chance at life, it can be mind-boggling to keep things for each level straight as we go through the story.
Furthermore, bringing an Unfortunate back to life involves a complex set of tests. At the end of the story, what stood out strongest for me were the lessons in two of the levels and the brightness points that each Unfortunate earns after their Match does something to get their Unfortunate closer to life. I have no clear recollection of the other two lessons needed to be learned by the remaining levels.
Given the complexity of the backstory and world creation involved in the book, Graves did a good job and I would still recommend this read to those interested in what is definitely a stand-alone original in this genre.
March 21, 2015
I was set to like the book because I did love the premise: Girl finds ghost of dead man following her because she is his only chance at getting his life back. So, to get things straight: Unfortunates are people who died before their time. If they find their Match – who happens to be alive – then that person can help them get a second chance at life and, yeah, supposedly the two are fated to fall in love.
First, the writing style was really hard to get through. The author changed thoughts and conversations so fast, I kept getting lost. Second, I really couldn’t stand the main character Nessa. I found her way too self-involved and not someone I could connect with. For a main character, there didn’t seem to be enough depth for her personality to even make sense. Third, there was a lot of political-hit-the-reader-over-the-head going on. Personally, I think the story premise could have stood on its own, but added to it was the rights/respect for the mentally disabled, issues with interracial relationships, and a lesbian relationship that bothered me because the character who was now ‘stuck’ with her unfortunate because she was informed by the girl they were fated to fall in love. Uh…She seemed quite happily in love with her boyfriend. But suddenly because an unfortunate tells her she’s it for her, then suddenly she’s a lesbian? That soured things fast for me (and that was toward the beginning of the book). And fourth…the supernatural things suddenly Nessa and others could undertake were completely unbelievable. In any book, the subject matter needs to be believable within the universe of the book. This was not.
Reviewed by a-nony-mouse for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
**Copy provided for review**
First, the writing style was really hard to get through. The author changed thoughts and conversations so fast, I kept getting lost. Second, I really couldn’t stand the main character Nessa. I found her way too self-involved and not someone I could connect with. For a main character, there didn’t seem to be enough depth for her personality to even make sense. Third, there was a lot of political-hit-the-reader-over-the-head going on. Personally, I think the story premise could have stood on its own, but added to it was the rights/respect for the mentally disabled, issues with interracial relationships, and a lesbian relationship that bothered me because the character who was now ‘stuck’ with her unfortunate because she was informed by the girl they were fated to fall in love. Uh…She seemed quite happily in love with her boyfriend. But suddenly because an unfortunate tells her she’s it for her, then suddenly she’s a lesbian? That soured things fast for me (and that was toward the beginning of the book). And fourth…the supernatural things suddenly Nessa and others could undertake were completely unbelievable. In any book, the subject matter needs to be believable within the universe of the book. This was not.
Reviewed by a-nony-mouse for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
**Copy provided for review**
December 21, 2014
I was given a copy of Unfortunates in return for an honest review. I found this an exciting and interesting story focused on the main character, Vanessa, and the challenges she faces to overcome a selfish attitude, and so rescue her 'Match', Adam, from his paranormal captivity. It is a very creative tale with original themes, and a range of characters that are likely to appeal to Ms Graves' audience.
There was much I liked about the book - Nessa's relationship with the autistic Jeremy is moving and very well portrayed, and Ms Graves touches on racism and same sex relationships which I presume will be explored further in later episodes.
The presentation of the mood swings, attitude changes, and aggression of the main character was on occasion a little baffling to me, and I found the dialogue difficult to follow sometimes. There were also a few verb tense and other grammatical errors that took away from the pleasure of reading what was an otherwise enjoyable book. I do think Ms Graves fans will forgive these occasional lapses and might not even notice them as they become engrossed in this unique paranormal adventure.
There was much I liked about the book - Nessa's relationship with the autistic Jeremy is moving and very well portrayed, and Ms Graves touches on racism and same sex relationships which I presume will be explored further in later episodes.
The presentation of the mood swings, attitude changes, and aggression of the main character was on occasion a little baffling to me, and I found the dialogue difficult to follow sometimes. There were also a few verb tense and other grammatical errors that took away from the pleasure of reading what was an otherwise enjoyable book. I do think Ms Graves fans will forgive these occasional lapses and might not even notice them as they become engrossed in this unique paranormal adventure.
January 15, 2015
Lillian has a way of writing things so that they are referenced later - nothing you read doesn't hold merit. You find as you work your way through the book, you learn pieces and parts of the world and its rules at the right times, so it never feels like an info dump. Vanessa and Adam's relationship is more realistic and while both are difficult, selfish individuals they grow to appreciate what they can teach each other and they learn the beginnings of a very useful skill - good communication.
I really appreciated and admired the range of characters featured in this novel and that they all showed growth. While Jeremy could be frustrating at times, I think his autism was handled with grace and you could tell Lillian did her research. He's frustrating, cute, funny - you feel an entire range of emotions throughout the book. I also was pleasantly surprised to find even Joe and Claire's relationship to have depth, despite being tertiary characters this novel.
A pleasant surprise, I look forward to the sequel.
I really appreciated and admired the range of characters featured in this novel and that they all showed growth. While Jeremy could be frustrating at times, I think his autism was handled with grace and you could tell Lillian did her research. He's frustrating, cute, funny - you feel an entire range of emotions throughout the book. I also was pleasantly surprised to find even Joe and Claire's relationship to have depth, despite being tertiary characters this novel.
A pleasant surprise, I look forward to the sequel.
December 15, 2014
The world that Graves creates in this novel is really engaging. I found myself, like the narrator Vanessa, getting drawn in more and more as the book progressed. Unfortunates does a wonderful job of revealing that mystery slowly without sacrificing the pace of the story. I started out not really connecting with Vanessa, who begins the novel as pretty selfish, but her character grows and actually turns a corner later on.
I also felt like the relationship between Adam and Vanessa didn't feel awkward or forced, and their exploration of each other's cultures was handled really well. They both feel like real characters, and the issues they face are real too. Graves does a good job of exploring these issues while keeping Unfortunates a story about characters. The book never feels preachy, which is a tough trick to pull off.
All things considered, Unfortunates is a good read with a world that's both entertaining and interesting.
I also felt like the relationship between Adam and Vanessa didn't feel awkward or forced, and their exploration of each other's cultures was handled really well. They both feel like real characters, and the issues they face are real too. Graves does a good job of exploring these issues while keeping Unfortunates a story about characters. The book never feels preachy, which is a tough trick to pull off.
All things considered, Unfortunates is a good read with a world that's both entertaining and interesting.
January 20, 2015
Do you like stories that are told in a whole new way? Then you will like Unfortunates. I like this book a lot. Vanessa is a high school girl that gets taken into a different world and learns all bout what an Unfortunate is and what it all has to do with her. Vanessa is my favorite character in this book because she and I both watch the Law and Order reruns and will watch them over and over again. My favorite is Special Victims Unit. I felt for this character Vanessa through this book and her love triangle. I understood what she was going through and felt like I was in this world with her. I am now a fan of Lillian Graves and can’t wait to read the next book in the series! *This was book was given to by the author in exchange for an honest review*
January 21, 2015
Excellent from the start: How long does a YA book have to grip the reader? A page? A minute? This one starts brilliantly with a big issue and a big question. Better still, the two are unrelated. Well, they become related as we read, but the reveal is tantalising… This is a wonderfully imaginative paranormal world. Interesting and realistically flawed characters. Wholesome ideals… The adventure and intrigue builds steadily from that excellent opening and unfolds to become a terrific story. Top marks for the idea of Unfortunates – who they are and how they connect to their chosen ones, their shades of brightness and ultimate goal. This is storytelling at its finest.
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