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The True Story of Atticus and Hazel
It only took a second.
Overwhelming chemistry isn't something anyone ever prepares you for. It's not like your mama sits you down and warns you one day you might stumble upon someone impossible to resist, someone who sets your soul on fire. Combustible, explosive attraction is just the tip of the iceberg for Atticus Kelly and Hazel Stone. One touch between them can set them on fire, one word from their lips can send them careening, one look can cripple them to their knees. They are an inferno and they're approaching the end of their wick.
Burning too fast, way too fast.
Except there's nothing to temper the fever.
And the ramifications may be more than they can afford.
Everyone knows when it goes up in flames, there's no saving the kindling.
The decision only took a second. Just a second.
"Hazel, what happened?"
Overwhelming chemistry isn't something anyone ever prepares you for. It's not like your mama sits you down and warns you one day you might stumble upon someone impossible to resist, someone who sets your soul on fire. Combustible, explosive attraction is just the tip of the iceberg for Atticus Kelly and Hazel Stone. One touch between them can set them on fire, one word from their lips can send them careening, one look can cripple them to their knees. They are an inferno and they're approaching the end of their wick.
Burning too fast, way too fast.
Except there's nothing to temper the fever.
And the ramifications may be more than they can afford.
Everyone knows when it goes up in flames, there's no saving the kindling.
The decision only took a second. Just a second.
"Hazel, what happened?"
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2016
22 people are currently reading
761 people want to read
About the author
Fisher Amelie
16 books3,569 followersFisher Amelie resides in the South with her kick ace husband slash soul mate. She earned her first 'mama' patch in 2009. She also lives with her Weim, 'Jonah', and her Beta, 'Whale'. All these living creatures keep the belly of her life full, sometimes to the point of gluttony, but she doesn't mind all that much because life isn't worth living if it isn't entertaining, right?
Fisher grew up writing. She secretly hid notebooks and notebooks of dribble in a large Tupperware storage container in her closet as a kid. She didn't put two and two together until after college where it suddenly dawned on her, "Hey, I like writing". She's a bit dense. "No, I'm not." "Yes, you are. Put down that Oreo, your butt can't take any more." "You're rude." "Yeah, yeah." Anyway, she likes to write and has finally beaten her self-esteem into submission enough to allow herself to be scrutinized under the 'other readers' microscope. "No! No! Not a cover slip! Last time it gave me a ra...." (mumbling)
Rescue Fisher from her metaphorical specimen slide at www.fisheramelie.com
Fisher grew up writing. She secretly hid notebooks and notebooks of dribble in a large Tupperware storage container in her closet as a kid. She didn't put two and two together until after college where it suddenly dawned on her, "Hey, I like writing". She's a bit dense. "No, I'm not." "Yes, you are. Put down that Oreo, your butt can't take any more." "You're rude." "Yeah, yeah." Anyway, she likes to write and has finally beaten her self-esteem into submission enough to allow herself to be scrutinized under the 'other readers' microscope. "No! No! Not a cover slip! Last time it gave me a ra...." (mumbling)
Rescue Fisher from her metaphorical specimen slide at www.fisheramelie.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 20, 2016
4 STARS
”We met at the bar.”
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This is the third solid read that Fisher Amelie has delivered this year and to my surprise this one is sad. I like a bit of a warning when death plays a part in a book. Silly me had Juniper and Jupiter confused and assumed at a certain point in the story that this was the heroine from the previous book’s parents story. Farfetched thinking since double checking that heroine’s name and she was Jupiter not Juniper.
[image error]
Nevertheless, Atticus Kelly and Hazel Stone’s love story hurt like hell. So I’m here to warn you get the tissue box out prior to beginning. Since this story isn’t a light read like her prior two releases this year.
”How can we have a future with a past this bloody?”
Atticus is an amazing hero who falls hard in one night for a girl he met at a bar named Hazel. They are both driven in their arts as Hazel is a painter and Atticus is a music producer. These two share instant attraction and it was all feeling like fate until the heroine runs after an amazing night together.
This is one love at first sight/night has Atticus searching high and low for Hazel who doesn’t want to be caught even if he’s the most amazing guy she’s ever met.
When circumstances change for Hazel later on in the story she seeks out Atticus. A reader may think they can settle into a relationship with these two but outside forces like a meddling singer and our heroine’s insecurities separate this couple once again. To be honest, even though Hazel was a runner and tried my patience, she was a likable heroine and what happens to these two next is HEARTBREAKING.
The message of the story was beautiful as it is one of forgiveness. I loved Atticus’ family and hope that the author revisits the Kelly’s sometime in the further. The story ends on a happy and hopeful note.
”Everyone needs help sometimes, Hazel. You’re strong, yes, but sometimes you need support. Everyone needs support, and I think he’s the only person who can do it for you.”
[image error]
"All is forgiven. All of it."
”We met at the bar.”
[image error]
This is the third solid read that Fisher Amelie has delivered this year and to my surprise this one is sad. I like a bit of a warning when death plays a part in a book. Silly me had Juniper and Jupiter confused and assumed at a certain point in the story that this was the heroine from the previous book’s parents story. Farfetched thinking since double checking that heroine’s name and she was Jupiter not Juniper.
[image error]
Nevertheless, Atticus Kelly and Hazel Stone’s love story hurt like hell. So I’m here to warn you get the tissue box out prior to beginning. Since this story isn’t a light read like her prior two releases this year.
”How can we have a future with a past this bloody?”
Atticus is an amazing hero who falls hard in one night for a girl he met at a bar named Hazel. They are both driven in their arts as Hazel is a painter and Atticus is a music producer. These two share instant attraction and it was all feeling like fate until the heroine runs after an amazing night together.
This is one love at first sight/night has Atticus searching high and low for Hazel who doesn’t want to be caught even if he’s the most amazing guy she’s ever met.
When circumstances change for Hazel later on in the story she seeks out Atticus. A reader may think they can settle into a relationship with these two but outside forces like a meddling singer and our heroine’s insecurities separate this couple once again. To be honest, even though Hazel was a runner and tried my patience, she was a likable heroine and what happens to these two next is HEARTBREAKING.
The message of the story was beautiful as it is one of forgiveness. I loved Atticus’ family and hope that the author revisits the Kelly’s sometime in the further. The story ends on a happy and hopeful note.
”Everyone needs help sometimes, Hazel. You’re strong, yes, but sometimes you need support. Everyone needs support, and I think he’s the only person who can do it for you.”
[image error]
"All is forgiven. All of it."
November 15, 2016
4.5/5 stars
Initial thoughts:
This is my first book by Fisher Amelie and I had no idea what to expect. The main characters are Hazel (a 20 year old artist) and Atticus (a 26 year old musician and music producer).
Usually I can tell right away if I am going to love a book. But in this case I was not 100% connecting with the story in the beginning. But then something happened that I was not expecting and I started enjoying the book more. And then more things happened that I wasn't expecting ... and by the end I was really blown away by this book. It made me feel. I stayed up till 12:45am to finish the book (which I rarely do) because I needed to see how the book ended.
Review:
The True Story of Atticus and Hazel is a standalone contemporary romance. I would probably categorize it as New Adult.
The main narrator is 20 year old Hazel. Hazel is a student. But she is also an artist/painter. She has a job painting murals around the town.
The other main character is Atticus. He is a 26 year old musician and music producer. He has a large family with a lot of brothers, nieces and nephews.
Atticus and Hazel meet at a bar and have an instant connection/attraction. Even though I found both characters to be very interesting I didn't love the beginning. I just didn't really connect to the story. I don't love when characters look at each other and are immediately in insta-love.
It's very rare that I don't know right away that I am going to love a story. But this one took me a bit to get into it. At around 21% something happened that I was not expecting. And from that point on I could NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
I really liked Hazel and her best friend Etta. I loved that Hazel was a painter. This was a very important part of the story. And I was fascinated by everything that she painted. I loved that her murals had hidden aspects to them.
About half way through the book Atticus starts to narrate as well. I thought this was a good choice.
I liked Atticus, even though his family was very over-bearing. But I liked his job and enjoyed reading about it.
Both characters made choices that I found a bit difficult to understand. But I was fascinated by what was happening. The last part of the book was very strong. I really was not sure what was going to happen. And some of it was gut-wrenching. But it was powerful and moving.
Overall, this book made me feel. It started off a bit slow for me. Too much attraction. Too much too fast. But by the end I was blown away by this story. It made me sad. It made me teary. This is a very emotional story that made me feel so many emotions.
Initial thoughts:
This is my first book by Fisher Amelie and I had no idea what to expect. The main characters are Hazel (a 20 year old artist) and Atticus (a 26 year old musician and music producer).
Usually I can tell right away if I am going to love a book. But in this case I was not 100% connecting with the story in the beginning. But then something happened that I was not expecting and I started enjoying the book more. And then more things happened that I wasn't expecting ... and by the end I was really blown away by this book. It made me feel. I stayed up till 12:45am to finish the book (which I rarely do) because I needed to see how the book ended.
Review:
The True Story of Atticus and Hazel is a standalone contemporary romance. I would probably categorize it as New Adult.
The main narrator is 20 year old Hazel. Hazel is a student. But she is also an artist/painter. She has a job painting murals around the town.
The other main character is Atticus. He is a 26 year old musician and music producer. He has a large family with a lot of brothers, nieces and nephews.
Atticus and Hazel meet at a bar and have an instant connection/attraction. Even though I found both characters to be very interesting I didn't love the beginning. I just didn't really connect to the story. I don't love when characters look at each other and are immediately in insta-love.
It's very rare that I don't know right away that I am going to love a story. But this one took me a bit to get into it. At around 21% something happened that I was not expecting. And from that point on I could NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.
I really liked Hazel and her best friend Etta. I loved that Hazel was a painter. This was a very important part of the story. And I was fascinated by everything that she painted. I loved that her murals had hidden aspects to them.
About half way through the book Atticus starts to narrate as well. I thought this was a good choice.
I liked Atticus, even though his family was very over-bearing. But I liked his job and enjoyed reading about it.
Both characters made choices that I found a bit difficult to understand. But I was fascinated by what was happening. The last part of the book was very strong. I really was not sure what was going to happen. And some of it was gut-wrenching. But it was powerful and moving.
Overall, this book made me feel. It started off a bit slow for me. Too much attraction. Too much too fast. But by the end I was blown away by this story. It made me sad. It made me teary. This is a very emotional story that made me feel so many emotions.
top-tbr
October 31, 2016NOW LIVE - AMAZON
-----------------
EXCERPT
I looked over at my equally beautiful friend. She was holding Simon’s hand, and I felt so happy for her. I looked down at Atticus’s hands as they swung at his sides. I found myself wanting one of his to take one of mine. My eyes followed up his arms, his shoulders, the side of his neck, over his tattoo of Juniper’s name, and settled on his face. I wonder, I thought, if we could ever be as we were, if it we could ever be simple, if he could ever love me. I wondered many more things as we followed the sinking path toward the open iron gates below, toward the stalactites and the stalagmites, reaching toward each other, desperate to connect, just like Atticus and me. They had much time to wait, though. I could only hope that wasn’t the case for Atticus and me. I didn’t know if I wanted to wait anymore. I was tired. Tired of suffering without him, tired of the weight of how I felt for him, tired of dragging it around with me, heavy, and begging to be lifted.
The sun had disappeared as we nestled deeper and deeper into the recesses of God’s earth and we found each other in the dull light of the scattered lanterns in a part of the caverns where the ceilings were barely eight feet high. Etta and Simon had gone ahead about a hundred yards where the cavern lifted a hundred feet into the air, studying the nature surrounding them more quickly than Atticus and I could absorb it.
We came upon a stalactite and a stalagmite separated by mere inches. They too looked tired to me. We circled them twice, each of us on opposite sides. Atticus bent his head to peer at me through the gap. I leaned forward and smiled at him but the smile quickly fell.
“So close yet so far,” I told him quietly, my whisper betraying me and echoing against the cavern walls. It bounced off our ears over and over.
“At least another thousand years,” his answer repeated.
“Such a long time to wait,” I said.
“They’ll get there,” he said.
“Will they, though?” I asked him.
Atticus’s eyes softened and he stood upright. He followed the base of the stalagmite around until he was standing about a yard away from me. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans, his T-shirt straining against his shoulders and biceps.
“You know something, Hazel?” he asked me.
“What’s that, Atticus?”
“When they meet, those two points, when they finally come together after the wars, the battles, the wrong that has surrounded them in the ripples of their existence, after the longing, the misery, the torture of seeing each other as their future complete, that moment, that second, that instant will be their most vindicating time. It will be quiet; it will be unassuming. No one who sees it will be aware of their perfect collision, but it will be an explosion amongst themselves, for only them to know, for only them to feel. It will be proof they can weather anything, absolutely anything that comes their way. Even if it meant the end of the earth, Hazel Stone, it would not mean the end of the world. They are perpetual. They are forever.”
My heart pounded. He took a step closer to me. Another. Another. Until the chasm between us matched theirs.
“I have missed you more than you could possibly comprehend, Atticus.”
His eyes filled with something, an emotion. “I think I could,” he revealed.
Tears spilled over my cheeks. “But I don’t deserve you.”
He shook his head back and forth slowly; the backs of his fingers found my cheeks and dragged across. I turned my head into his skin, desperate to feel him for as long as possible. “No, I don’t deserve you.”
I shook my head in disagreement, tears coming stronger. “But I pushed you away.”
“You were trying to protect yourself, protect Juniper. I don’t blame you for any of it, Haze. It was what it was and it made us who we are.”
I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. “Can you forgive me, still?”
“Only if you forgive me?”
“Of course. Of course I do. You know I do.”
He placed my face in the palms of his hands. “All is forgiven. All of it. All, Hazel.” He took a deep breath.
“Do you still hate my face?” I asked him.
His head lolled softly side to side. His thumbs started at my forehead and dragged down the sides of my face. “No, Hazel, I no longer see my pain there. I only see my future happiness, our future hope.”
I let out a groan of emotion, unable to hear that without a physical reaction. “I feel guilty admitting this—”
“Don’t. Juniper wouldn’t want that for us, Haze.”
I nodded. “I don’t feel the despair anymore. I feel calm now. I feel the memory without the searing pain. I think— no, I know it’s because of you.”
Atticus brought me into him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, and I wrapped mine around his neck.
“You’re my best friend, Hazel,” he whispered to me.
“You’re mine, Atticus, my favorite friend, my forever friend."
----------------
PLAYLIST
Dream Cast:
Colton Haynes as Atticus Kelly
Maia Mitchell as Hazel Stone
Amandla Stenberg as Etta Bello
Michael B Jordan as Simon
Wentworth Miller as Cillian Kelly
Jesse Rutherford as Aidan Kelly
Ansel Egort as Malachi Kelly
Jeremy Irvine as Brendan Kelly
Douglas Booth as Liam Kelly
James Franco as Tim
-------------------
More Purchasing Links
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eQJSNY
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2fiSj93
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2eoSjQ1
iBooks: http://apple.co/2e28gKM
-----------------
EXCERPT
I looked over at my equally beautiful friend. She was holding Simon’s hand, and I felt so happy for her. I looked down at Atticus’s hands as they swung at his sides. I found myself wanting one of his to take one of mine. My eyes followed up his arms, his shoulders, the side of his neck, over his tattoo of Juniper’s name, and settled on his face. I wonder, I thought, if we could ever be as we were, if it we could ever be simple, if he could ever love me. I wondered many more things as we followed the sinking path toward the open iron gates below, toward the stalactites and the stalagmites, reaching toward each other, desperate to connect, just like Atticus and me. They had much time to wait, though. I could only hope that wasn’t the case for Atticus and me. I didn’t know if I wanted to wait anymore. I was tired. Tired of suffering without him, tired of the weight of how I felt for him, tired of dragging it around with me, heavy, and begging to be lifted.
The sun had disappeared as we nestled deeper and deeper into the recesses of God’s earth and we found each other in the dull light of the scattered lanterns in a part of the caverns where the ceilings were barely eight feet high. Etta and Simon had gone ahead about a hundred yards where the cavern lifted a hundred feet into the air, studying the nature surrounding them more quickly than Atticus and I could absorb it.
We came upon a stalactite and a stalagmite separated by mere inches. They too looked tired to me. We circled them twice, each of us on opposite sides. Atticus bent his head to peer at me through the gap. I leaned forward and smiled at him but the smile quickly fell.
“So close yet so far,” I told him quietly, my whisper betraying me and echoing against the cavern walls. It bounced off our ears over and over.
“At least another thousand years,” his answer repeated.
“Such a long time to wait,” I said.
“They’ll get there,” he said.
“Will they, though?” I asked him.
Atticus’s eyes softened and he stood upright. He followed the base of the stalagmite around until he was standing about a yard away from me. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans, his T-shirt straining against his shoulders and biceps.
“You know something, Hazel?” he asked me.
“What’s that, Atticus?”
“When they meet, those two points, when they finally come together after the wars, the battles, the wrong that has surrounded them in the ripples of their existence, after the longing, the misery, the torture of seeing each other as their future complete, that moment, that second, that instant will be their most vindicating time. It will be quiet; it will be unassuming. No one who sees it will be aware of their perfect collision, but it will be an explosion amongst themselves, for only them to know, for only them to feel. It will be proof they can weather anything, absolutely anything that comes their way. Even if it meant the end of the earth, Hazel Stone, it would not mean the end of the world. They are perpetual. They are forever.”
My heart pounded. He took a step closer to me. Another. Another. Until the chasm between us matched theirs.
“I have missed you more than you could possibly comprehend, Atticus.”
His eyes filled with something, an emotion. “I think I could,” he revealed.
Tears spilled over my cheeks. “But I don’t deserve you.”
He shook his head back and forth slowly; the backs of his fingers found my cheeks and dragged across. I turned my head into his skin, desperate to feel him for as long as possible. “No, I don’t deserve you.”
I shook my head in disagreement, tears coming stronger. “But I pushed you away.”
“You were trying to protect yourself, protect Juniper. I don’t blame you for any of it, Haze. It was what it was and it made us who we are.”
I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. “Can you forgive me, still?”
“Only if you forgive me?”
“Of course. Of course I do. You know I do.”
He placed my face in the palms of his hands. “All is forgiven. All of it. All, Hazel.” He took a deep breath.
“Do you still hate my face?” I asked him.
His head lolled softly side to side. His thumbs started at my forehead and dragged down the sides of my face. “No, Hazel, I no longer see my pain there. I only see my future happiness, our future hope.”
I let out a groan of emotion, unable to hear that without a physical reaction. “I feel guilty admitting this—”
“Don’t. Juniper wouldn’t want that for us, Haze.”
I nodded. “I don’t feel the despair anymore. I feel calm now. I feel the memory without the searing pain. I think— no, I know it’s because of you.”
Atticus brought me into him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, and I wrapped mine around his neck.
“You’re my best friend, Hazel,” he whispered to me.
“You’re mine, Atticus, my favorite friend, my forever friend."
----------------
PLAYLIST
Dream Cast:
Colton Haynes as Atticus Kelly
Maia Mitchell as Hazel Stone
Amandla Stenberg as Etta Bello
Michael B Jordan as Simon
Wentworth Miller as Cillian Kelly
Jesse Rutherford as Aidan Kelly
Ansel Egort as Malachi Kelly
Jeremy Irvine as Brendan Kelly
Douglas Booth as Liam Kelly
James Franco as Tim
-------------------
More Purchasing Links
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2eQJSNY
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2fiSj93
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2eoSjQ1
iBooks: http://apple.co/2e28gKM
December 15, 2016
I had very mixed feelings while reading Atticus and Hazel's journey and debated with myself on how to rate.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and appreciated this couple's journey. There were some lighthearted moments, but there were great heartaches as well, that quickly turned this into a somber read for me. I was shattered and on the verge of a total melt down, sobbing ugly tears seeing what this couple endured. (Especially after reading the author's notes on how this story came about). Gut wrenching and emotional best describes their story. I liked how they met, their instant connection and the chemistry they shared. However, that being said, I found myself frustrated with Hazel's immature behavior. I think had her character been portrayed a bit more rational during the first half of the story, this would easily be rated a 5 star read for me. Regardless of my feelings towards the heroine, I found Atticus to be adorable and sincere.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and appreciated this couple's journey. There were some lighthearted moments, but there were great heartaches as well, that quickly turned this into a somber read for me. I was shattered and on the verge of a total melt down, sobbing ugly tears seeing what this couple endured. (Especially after reading the author's notes on how this story came about). Gut wrenching and emotional best describes their story. I liked how they met, their instant connection and the chemistry they shared. However, that being said, I found myself frustrated with Hazel's immature behavior. I think had her character been portrayed a bit more rational during the first half of the story, this would easily be rated a 5 star read for me. Regardless of my feelings towards the heroine, I found Atticus to be adorable and sincere.
November 1, 2016
How Many Stars Can I Give? Stars
No words. I have no words after reading this book. I didn't want to go to work because the characters needed me. I needed them. I was so worried about them when I wasn't reading them.
I don't do spoilers...so prepare for a pretty vague, but enthusiastic review.
Hazel is an artist in Dallas. An artist who IS Dallas. Has given Dallas soul. Her art is bold and telling and has hidden nuggets of herself plastered on the sides of buildings.
To see what she sees you have to look at the reflection in her eyes.
Atticus is a music producer, plays numerous instruments and writes melodies and lyrics.
Oh no....you're a musician.
Hazel thought she knew musicians. She knew she didn't want to have anything to do with them. But she didn't know Atticus. Tattooed, beautiful Atticus who speaks from the heart. Always. Sees deeply. Connects.
Just hair begging to be touched, just a pair of haunting eyes, just provocative lips, just a beautiful face, just two talented hands.
Hazel and Atticus recognize what they are missing in each other. But completing that puzzle would be too easy. Fisher Amelie is going to let us off that easy. Oh Hell No. She has created two thinking characters. They stay in their heads and their hearts. And break yours in process.
There is another character in The True Story. That third character is Dallas. You will feel the downtown, the neighborhoods, the spirit of the city. I live in Dallas and have been to so many of the places Fisher has described. But now I need to go back because I feel like I didn't appreciate them because I didn't see them as Hazel and Atticus did.
Stars shone bright and sweet in the sky, peppered between tall buildings built at a time when it meant something to build and moon hung soft and magical, throwing her light on us in a beautiful greeting, telling us she was vigilant she was there for us.
Fisher Amelie can flat out write. We knew that from her first 7 books if I am counting correctly. In The True Story, she takes the connection of Harper and Callum, the passion of Fury, and kicks the emotion up to a 27 on a scale of 1-10. Her words flow and paint and make magic on the page.
I saw her face and I thought protect. I touched her skin and i thought mine. I kissed her lips and thought want.
"I won't care. Ever. Never again."
"Think that now"..."Think it now and i will hold you until you no longer think it anymore."
I was totally trashed by this book. Fisher took to me places I didn't want to go with these characters.
She made me... (in no particular order)
..giddy
..smile
..panic
..hope
..shredded
..anxiety filled
...freaking devastated
..want more.
No, he argued, this isn't attraction, Hazel. This is gravitation.
Just go One Click. I can't tell you how much I want everyone to read this book. I need someone to talk to about it. I need process time. Read fast..cause we need to talk.
No words. I have no words after reading this book. I didn't want to go to work because the characters needed me. I needed them. I was so worried about them when I wasn't reading them.
I don't do spoilers...so prepare for a pretty vague, but enthusiastic review.
Hazel is an artist in Dallas. An artist who IS Dallas. Has given Dallas soul. Her art is bold and telling and has hidden nuggets of herself plastered on the sides of buildings.
To see what she sees you have to look at the reflection in her eyes.
Atticus is a music producer, plays numerous instruments and writes melodies and lyrics.
Oh no....you're a musician.
Hazel thought she knew musicians. She knew she didn't want to have anything to do with them. But she didn't know Atticus. Tattooed, beautiful Atticus who speaks from the heart. Always. Sees deeply. Connects.
Just hair begging to be touched, just a pair of haunting eyes, just provocative lips, just a beautiful face, just two talented hands.
Hazel and Atticus recognize what they are missing in each other. But completing that puzzle would be too easy. Fisher Amelie is going to let us off that easy. Oh Hell No. She has created two thinking characters. They stay in their heads and their hearts. And break yours in process.
There is another character in The True Story. That third character is Dallas. You will feel the downtown, the neighborhoods, the spirit of the city. I live in Dallas and have been to so many of the places Fisher has described. But now I need to go back because I feel like I didn't appreciate them because I didn't see them as Hazel and Atticus did.
Stars shone bright and sweet in the sky, peppered between tall buildings built at a time when it meant something to build and moon hung soft and magical, throwing her light on us in a beautiful greeting, telling us she was vigilant she was there for us.
Fisher Amelie can flat out write. We knew that from her first 7 books if I am counting correctly. In The True Story, she takes the connection of Harper and Callum, the passion of Fury, and kicks the emotion up to a 27 on a scale of 1-10. Her words flow and paint and make magic on the page.
I saw her face and I thought protect. I touched her skin and i thought mine. I kissed her lips and thought want.
"I won't care. Ever. Never again."
"Think that now"..."Think it now and i will hold you until you no longer think it anymore."
I was totally trashed by this book. Fisher took to me places I didn't want to go with these characters.
She made me... (in no particular order)
..giddy
..smile
..panic
..hope
..shredded
..anxiety filled
...freaking devastated
..want more.
No, he argued, this isn't attraction, Hazel. This is gravitation.
Just go One Click. I can't tell you how much I want everyone to read this book. I need someone to talk to about it. I need process time. Read fast..cause we need to talk.
November 4, 2016
I really didn't know what to expect from this one, never reading this author before.
What I found was a beautiful young heartbreaking love story.
Atticus and Hazel met in a bar and were instantly attracted to one another. Things happen on their first night and this leads us on to the whole story. Beautifully told and Atticuses brothers added some funny light moments as well as some bitter sweet ones.
This was a truly refreshing read just need plenty of tissues.
What I found was a beautiful young heartbreaking love story.
Atticus and Hazel met in a bar and were instantly attracted to one another. Things happen on their first night and this leads us on to the whole story. Beautifully told and Atticuses brothers added some funny light moments as well as some bitter sweet ones.
This was a truly refreshing read just need plenty of tissues.
October 31, 2016
Fisher Amelie takes on a whole new voice with this book.
Amelie draws you in from the very beginning, and has you wrapped up in these amazing characters faster than you can blink an eye.
Atticus and Hazel are both very deep and have such strong emotions and conventions.
The storyline tends to go back and forth, and makes your heart ache more than once. But Amelie brings it home in the end.
4 Stars
Amelie draws you in from the very beginning, and has you wrapped up in these amazing characters faster than you can blink an eye.
Atticus and Hazel are both very deep and have such strong emotions and conventions.
The storyline tends to go back and forth, and makes your heart ache more than once. But Amelie brings it home in the end.
4 Stars
November 11, 2016
2.5** This was disappointing. The story line had so much potential but it wasn't well executed. It felt like a different writer compared to the last two books I read from FA. Hazel was annoying. They were just going back and forth on the same issues, it got to be very repetitive. The dialogue was juvenile. It seemed some things were just thrown in without thought.
December 10, 2016
I read this book in a matter of hours. It was cute and sad and hopeful. It took me by surprise and it brought tears to my eyes. I finished this book only to want more of Atticus and Hazel, especially more of Atticus :D because he's the epitome of the perfect guy. I'm excited to say that I will be reading more of Fisher Amelie books
I loved it I loved it I loved it!!
November 5, 2016
Stayed up til 4 am to finish this book. Wonderful!
July 30, 2017
Holy moly, this was way more emotional than I was expecting!
When I picked this up on kindle ages ago, I figured much like all of the other books at the time, I was buying into a YA novel. A back and forth relationship of sorts, the usual trope for a YA romance anyway.
This went so far above and beyond that, especially given that these characters when we meet them are in their early twenties. This wasn't just a book about one relationship between the characters listed in the title, it was about all of the relationships. Friendship, family, you name it, it was all here.
There were quite a few surprises for me to be had here, but I can't say that they'll be surprises to anyone else. But I think the level of emotion that comes into play later in the story (not right away), will surely hook people right into this gripping and addictive tale.
My only complaint with this is that I didn't start it sooner.
The growth of characters here, the time spent apart as well as together and the situations they find themselves in, along with the way the writer chose to handle the situations in question, was beautiful, even if the speech at times from Atticus and Hazel almost seemed older in comparison to their years.
It was engaging, as I said before, gripping emotionally and I was hooked right from the word go, straight up until I turned the last kindle page. Fabulous story and I hope to be able to read more from this author in the future.
When I picked this up on kindle ages ago, I figured much like all of the other books at the time, I was buying into a YA novel. A back and forth relationship of sorts, the usual trope for a YA romance anyway.
This went so far above and beyond that, especially given that these characters when we meet them are in their early twenties. This wasn't just a book about one relationship between the characters listed in the title, it was about all of the relationships. Friendship, family, you name it, it was all here.
There were quite a few surprises for me to be had here, but I can't say that they'll be surprises to anyone else. But I think the level of emotion that comes into play later in the story (not right away), will surely hook people right into this gripping and addictive tale.
My only complaint with this is that I didn't start it sooner.
The growth of characters here, the time spent apart as well as together and the situations they find themselves in, along with the way the writer chose to handle the situations in question, was beautiful, even if the speech at times from Atticus and Hazel almost seemed older in comparison to their years.
It was engaging, as I said before, gripping emotionally and I was hooked right from the word go, straight up until I turned the last kindle page. Fabulous story and I hope to be able to read more from this author in the future.
November 9, 2016
I don't even know how to start this review. I went in to this not thinking it would be this moving. My initial thought was even that cover illustration is fantastic. I'm pretty sure this review won't do it justice but I'll try. One of those books you didn't see coming. For me anyway I just went into it blind.
When Atticus and Hazel met it was an instant chemistry, explosive chemsitry, perhaps deeper than instant attraction but that plus more. To me who usually is sometime skeptic with those I bought it, when it's well played it is believable. I actually loved that initial meeting and banter. The rapport was there, Hazel might be anti musician but something about Atticus is striking. His overall looks and charm included. They were testing the waters but fate had other plans for them.
These two characters definitely intrigued me, a gifted painter and talented producer. The confident and socially awkward. They seemed unlikely but that attraction can't e denied. An adventure of sorts, opening new perspectives. It makes me think if it was all really meant to be. I really liked both of these characters, real and flawed they had missteps along the way. I think Atticus and Hazel are both romantic and deep. Atticus is particular struck me as a sweet soul, fueled by his passions and creativity. Hazel is expressive and sensitive, I'm sure many can relate to.
Then the unexpected happen, though this trope is used a lot just when I had settled into that wooops not so fast. Not your usual way to do it. A young couple is faced with a difficult decision ahead, it was interesting how that turned out. They rolled with the punches, I went along with that. It was still going to be a rocky road.
Just when you least imagine another punch is pulled and whammy. That just broke my heart, my emotions just went all over the place. A powerful topic and tricky one at that. Atticus and Hazel took the long way to reach where they belong. The way was difficult and full of trials. It may have started on one night that changed it all, the inexplicable chemistry and artist souls that connected. The after was something else.
Fisher Amelie tells a profound story in True story about Atticus and Hazel. I was so used to her quirky characters and different stories then she writes this. She captured the intense emotions and the imagery so well. It is the kind of book that will stay with you and even if the topic is one you aren't familiar with it will still resonate with you. Amazing book all around.
When Atticus and Hazel met it was an instant chemistry, explosive chemsitry, perhaps deeper than instant attraction but that plus more. To me who usually is sometime skeptic with those I bought it, when it's well played it is believable. I actually loved that initial meeting and banter. The rapport was there, Hazel might be anti musician but something about Atticus is striking. His overall looks and charm included. They were testing the waters but fate had other plans for them.
These two characters definitely intrigued me, a gifted painter and talented producer. The confident and socially awkward. They seemed unlikely but that attraction can't e denied. An adventure of sorts, opening new perspectives. It makes me think if it was all really meant to be. I really liked both of these characters, real and flawed they had missteps along the way. I think Atticus and Hazel are both romantic and deep. Atticus is particular struck me as a sweet soul, fueled by his passions and creativity. Hazel is expressive and sensitive, I'm sure many can relate to.
Then the unexpected happen, though this trope is used a lot just when I had settled into that wooops not so fast. Not your usual way to do it. A young couple is faced with a difficult decision ahead, it was interesting how that turned out. They rolled with the punches, I went along with that. It was still going to be a rocky road.
Just when you least imagine another punch is pulled and whammy. That just broke my heart, my emotions just went all over the place. A powerful topic and tricky one at that. Atticus and Hazel took the long way to reach where they belong. The way was difficult and full of trials. It may have started on one night that changed it all, the inexplicable chemistry and artist souls that connected. The after was something else.
Fisher Amelie tells a profound story in True story about Atticus and Hazel. I was so used to her quirky characters and different stories then she writes this. She captured the intense emotions and the imagery so well. It is the kind of book that will stay with you and even if the topic is one you aren't familiar with it will still resonate with you. Amazing book all around.
November 20, 2016
I absolutely positively ADORED this story. It made me smile, squeal, and bawl my eyes out (which doesn't happen often for me). This book totally blindsided me! I ordered this book after reading the AMAZING sample which hooked me from the very beginning! I thought it was just going to be a cute, deep, romance book that I'd enjoy (more on the fluffy side to put it simply). Boy, was I wrong! I don't want to get into the plot anymore than the blurb does because I feel like this book is best going into blindly. The element of surprise seriously made this book the more excellent. I almost feel like the author tricked me or something(In the best way though)! The plot just went in a totally different direction than I thought it would in the first few pages. This is my first book from this author and I HONESTLY couldn't put it down (I was literally up after 4 AM reading, which is amazing since I barely slept the previous night!). This is just one of those rare books that you CANNOT put down after a certain point no matter how tired or busy you are. It'd just not humanly possible, it isn't! I'm seriously grateful for this book because I was in a serious reading slump before it.
This book made my heart flutter, break, and heal again in a matter of hours. And the fact that an author can strike so many DEEP emotions in me towards FICTIONAL characters through just words on a paper blows me away! I felt EVERYTHING the characters were feeling. I sometimes had to put down the book and squeal while figuratively fanning myself during the ( surprisingly very realistic and relatable) romantic/chemistry scenes. I even had to put down the book at some points to curse the protagonist out or cry (like, legit ugly crying). I felt like I was watching a movie and the dialogue was amazing. I felt so in sync with Hazel especially during her early conversations with Atticus. Like, it was scary. I felt happy when she was, turned on when she was, depressed when she was, etc.etc.
Anyways, I seriously recommend this book and it upsets me that it's not that popular (yet, hopefully). It's not like The Fault in Our Stars but DEFINITELY in the same league and strikes up similar emotions for the reader. It's deep, beautiful, insightful, and more relatable. The author doesn't sugarcoat anything(I honestly wished she did at times though because the pain and tears I experienced was almost enraging) but it's LIFE. The fact that it's based on the author's real experiences just makes it better. I'm so glad I came across this book and bought it. Everyone else should do the same.
This book made my heart flutter, break, and heal again in a matter of hours. And the fact that an author can strike so many DEEP emotions in me towards FICTIONAL characters through just words on a paper blows me away! I felt EVERYTHING the characters were feeling. I sometimes had to put down the book and squeal while figuratively fanning myself during the ( surprisingly very realistic and relatable) romantic/chemistry scenes. I even had to put down the book at some points to curse the protagonist out or cry (like, legit ugly crying). I felt like I was watching a movie and the dialogue was amazing. I felt so in sync with Hazel especially during her early conversations with Atticus. Like, it was scary. I felt happy when she was, turned on when she was, depressed when she was, etc.etc.
Anyways, I seriously recommend this book and it upsets me that it's not that popular (yet, hopefully). It's not like The Fault in Our Stars but DEFINITELY in the same league and strikes up similar emotions for the reader. It's deep, beautiful, insightful, and more relatable. The author doesn't sugarcoat anything(I honestly wished she did at times though because the pain and tears I experienced was almost enraging) but it's LIFE. The fact that it's based on the author's real experiences just makes it better. I'm so glad I came across this book and bought it. Everyone else should do the same.
September 4, 2017
"This is the strangest night of my life," I told him.
"It's a good strange though?" he asked.
"A great strange, Atticus."
Atticus and Hazel. Their love story is pretty explosive and rough. They have an amazing night together - their first meeting and Atticus chasing her was pretty cute. Their little adventures that night and the way they connect was so well done.
But somewhere along the line, when I should have been pulled in, I just wasn't. Hazel was a little hard to like. She was just so stubborn and unwilling to get help from anyone. She would rather tear her own heart out than admit she was wrong. It was awful and I had wanted more from her than that.
I loved Atticus - even when he made mistakes. He was the first to own up to his flaws even when Hazel wouldn't own her own. I love how well done he was. My only annoyance from him was his obsession with constantly calling Hazel by her name.....
(I also thought all the members in the hospital calling her babe was...odd and distracting.)
all in all, I liked it but I didn't quite feel the emotional punch I should have.
"It's a good strange though?" he asked.
"A great strange, Atticus."
Atticus and Hazel. Their love story is pretty explosive and rough. They have an amazing night together - their first meeting and Atticus chasing her was pretty cute. Their little adventures that night and the way they connect was so well done.
But somewhere along the line, when I should have been pulled in, I just wasn't. Hazel was a little hard to like. She was just so stubborn and unwilling to get help from anyone. She would rather tear her own heart out than admit she was wrong. It was awful and I had wanted more from her than that.
I loved Atticus - even when he made mistakes. He was the first to own up to his flaws even when Hazel wouldn't own her own. I love how well done he was. My only annoyance from him was his obsession with constantly calling Hazel by her name.....
(I also thought all the members in the hospital calling her babe was...odd and distracting.)
all in all, I liked it but I didn't quite feel the emotional punch I should have.
November 6, 2016
I didn't expect this story to turn my heart inside out so painfully but sometimes the pain is there so we feel human after all. Hazel & Atticus are some of those incredible humans who take your through a journey you don't where it's heading but you it doesn't matter to you. Fisher Amelie, you made me cry in blood-like tears but I still love you for sharing such an uplifting and heartwarming story❤️
October 31, 2016
Best book of 2016.
I can't describe my feelings right now. They are a crazy mix of heartache, love, devotion, anger, and respect. If you read one book this year, this is it.
I can't describe my feelings right now. They are a crazy mix of heartache, love, devotion, anger, and respect. If you read one book this year, this is it.
November 3, 2016
I don't know... I really struggled to finish this one.
November 10, 2016
First read by Fisher Amelie and I really enjoyed it
June 24, 2017
“There’s something in our chemistry,” I spoke softly, “that is utterly explosive.”
5/5 Stars
This was the second Fisher Amelie book I have read (The first being Callum & Harper, which I LOVED). All I have to say is, Fisher Amelie is becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are fun, cute, and have well-thought out, easy to read plots. Her characters are all also pretty likable which certainly helps. (And her covers are absolutely gorgeous!)
Synopsis:
When Hazel and Atticus meet, they are instantly attracted to one another.
That's pretty much all I can say without giving away too much plot, and believe me this is a book you want to go into knowing very little. I've decided to divide my review for this into two parts: spoiler and non-spoiler because there is a lot to talk about but I really don't want to give away too much to those who haven't read it.
Spolier Free:
Characters:
In this story you have two main characters, Atticus and Hazel. For the majority of the story, it's only Hazel speaking, but then around the 60%-ish mark you're treated to alternating Atticus and Hazel points of view. Atticus is around the age of 27 (if not exactly 27) and he is a musician. Hazel is a 20 year-old artist who paints on buildings around the city. Atticus and Hazel meet in a bar and quickly become attracted to one another. They spend a night in the city visiting Hazel's paintings, seeing a play, and meeting Atticus' family.
Hazel and Atticus were both very entertaining to read about and neither were dull by any means. As much as I loved this book, I'll admit that around the 30-40% mark I was pretty sure I was gonna end up giving this book a three star rating simply because of the characters. They weren't boring or badly written or annoying, I just really wasn't connecting with them. I couldn't figure out what it was about them that just wasn't working, it just took quite a while to connect and feel for them but eventually I did. They made some decisions at first that I just didn't get the point of...Well mainly it was just Hazel's decisions that were a bit annoying. She was nervous and unsure about liking Atticus, due to past family experiences, so she kept doubting herself which got annoying but she eventually got over it. As the book progresses and you really get into the story you start liking them more and you get to see more sides to both of them.
Plot:
I really can't say much about the plot in this portion of the review because there is an event that occurs early on that changes the whole plot (And it isn't said in the author's initial book description so I won't mention in the spoiler free part). What I can say however is that going into this, I was expecting a cute contemporary about a love-story, maybe with an unlikely couple. I was expecting there to be cheesy drama of "Will she fall for him or will she guard her heart through the entire book?" While there is some cheesy drama and the whole will she or won't she deal, there is so much more to this book. The plot takes turns I didn't expect when I started it and actually brings up some real issues that aren't typically in most teen books (and yes, I know that this book isn't technically a teen book but I honestly think a teen could read it. There weren't any REALLY mature scenes, it only hinted at certain things). I was expecting cute and fluffy contemporary, but it was actually quite a sad book that at times made you feel hopeless for the characters. Which sounds terrible but I promise it's not. This book certainly wasn't just a 'dumb teen book'.
*Also as a side-note, I loved that the cover was implemented into the book at a certain point. At least I'm pretty sure it was.
Fisher Amelie definitely delivered again, and as I said before, she is now one of my favorite authors. I plan to start her Seven Deadly series and finish the Sleepless series, because she is an awesome author. Thank you for writing such a good book that made me feel, you are truly amazing Fisher!
(Spoiler Review below Song list & Favorite Quotes)
Songs to go with The True Story of Atticus and Hazel:
1. The Weight of Us-Sanders Bohlke
2. The Girl and the Dreamcatcher- Make You Stay
3. Hailee Steinfeld- Rock Bottom
4. Jason Derulo ft. Julia Michaels- Trade Hearts
5. Lauv- Breathe
6. One Republic- Something I Need
7. Frenship & Emily Warren- Capsize
8. X Ambassadors- Unsteady
9. The Zombies- The Way I Feel Inside
10. I Won't Let You Go- Snow Patrol
11. Lil Dicky- Molly feat. Brendon Urie
12. Crywolf- Stomach It ft. EDEN
13. Oh Wonder- Livewire
(Went a bit overboard but oh well, so many songs could go along with this book that I couldn't narrow it down!)
Favorite Quotes:
"I wonder, I thought, if we could ever be as we were, if we could ever be simple, if he could ever love me
"All the bad had flushed its way from our minds and hearts and skin down, down, down into oblivion and we were left with nothing but the good, the sweet, the lovely."
"That boy would stop the world from spinning if she asked for it. You can see it in his face."
"No one who sees it will be aware of their perfect collision, but it will be an explosion amongst themselves, for only them to know, for only them to feel..."
SPOILER Review:
Have you ever read a book that just made you feel so powerless, sad, and hopeless for the characters? Well this book made me feel like that. It fools you at first into thinking the characters will make it through their issues and fall into each others' arms, only to have more bad things thrown at them that further rip them away from one another. And eventually, in a way, they do end up with one another or at least it leaves you hanging with hope. The hope that they'll make it together, despite the fact that the book is over and they aren't real so you'll never know.
Basically this is the plot: The night Atticus and Hazel meet, they end up sleeping with one another. Hazel later leaves him in a panic before he wakes up and she disappears. Atticus being the sweetheart he is, posts flyers around town in an attempt to find her (which is a tad creepy but oh well, it's good he did anyway because of what happens next). Hazel, now on her own and avoiding Atticus even though she's seen the flyers, finds out she's pregnant. She tells him and the first part of the story is them trying to come to terms with it and learning to love one another. Atticus doesn't flake out on her which I loved. Instead he vows to stay with her and their yet unborn kid, but they are not in a relationship. Part of this deal that Atticus makes with Hazel is that she has to stay with him for at least 3 months in the hopes that she will learn to love him. Atticus also wants her to love him in the hopes that she will stay with him and they can raise the kid together rather than give it up for adoption, as Hazel wants. That's about as brief of a description of the first part as I can get it.
I thought I had this plot figured out at a certain point, but I most certainly did not. There is another character that is introduced who is supposedly a very attractive girl that Atticus has to work with (make an album with). For a while it seemed that Atticus was going to fall in love with this girl and leave Hazel, and I thought for sure that that was what was going to happen but I was wrong. Hazel has a conversation with this girl in which she admits that she wants to take Atticus from Hazel. Hazel tries to tell Atticus this and he doesn't believe her, they fight and decide to go their separate ways (There were more reasons they split but there's too many to go into). This is where this book starts to feel really depressing and hopeless. Atticus becomes famous. Hazel starts to have from pregnancy complications but decides not to tell Atticus because she doesn't want to drag him away from his new life of fame. One day at work Hazel collapses and experiences severe pains and starts bleeding. She is rushed to a hospital where they have to cut out the baby, almost killing both Hazel and the baby but both miraculously live. The baby isn't expected to live because it is very pre-mature. This book fools you into thinking it will live, but sadly the baby dies. Hazel and Atticus, who had already fallen in love with the baby despite the short time they had it, are both emotionally scarred. Hazel can't even look at Atticus without experiencing the pain of that day. They spend an entire year apart until they eventually reunite and begin the process of rebuilding themselves and their relationship through one another.
I have never actually cried legitimate ugly tears while reading. Until this book. You watch two characters grow and change and slowly grow apart from one another and it hurts. It's a real example of how the world isn't all sunshine and butterflies and that happily ever after's don't happen to everyone. It hurt when they decide to officially split because you know that Hazel is scared, and then to make matters worse, you read Atticus' POV immediately after their fight and you see how much he loves her. He genuinely loved Hazel but respected her so much that he was willing to leave her because it was what she wanted. To read two POVs where each person describes their feelings for the other but keep inadvertently pushing one another away really hurts. From the start of the book it seems that they are on the same path, and its fate that they should end up together. But the further you read you can see them taking opposite paths leading further and further away from one another, even if Atticus and Hazel don't realize it themselves who continue to try and hold together the threads of their relationship as it slowly unravels. It feels hopeless because you know it's not forever and that they are bound to explode at some point. You just hope so badly that they don't.
So imagine that entire last paragraph as the knife that just gets stabbed into your chest. Fisher continues to then twist that knife with their reunion at the hospital. At the hospital you get these beautiful scenes with Atticus, Hazel, and the baby. They realize the weight of their situation and slowly begin to rekindle their relationship and its so bittersweet. Atticus and Hazel both harbor some hate for one another but in the hospital, they are there for one another and its beautiful. It's simply two people overcoming the past and choosing to live in the present for one another, and they try to imagine a life together with their new kid. And then their precious child gets ripped from them and that was when the dam broke for me. I cried as if I was Hazel and if I'm being honest it felt like I was. I felt a loss and sadness for these characters whom I just wanted to be happy. That scene where Juniper dies, was heart-wrenching as both Atticus and Hazel completely unravel. Then when I got it back together, there was the funeral scene. I just broke down in tears all over again. Hazel and Atticus both collapse into the dirt of Juniper's grave and I lost it, and it didn't help that Atticus simply looked at her and said "I'm sorry too" which makes sense if you read it yourself and know the story. They then don't speak to one another for a year, they both live in pain, alone. The scene where they reunite was amazing though and still managed to make me cry as well because of how much pain they were in, and that by simply looking at one another a fresh wave of pain would overtake them. I loved that we got to see them start to rebuild though. It lifted my spirits to see that they were trying again. For a book that made me feel hopeless for the majority of the time, the ending filled me with hope. Hope that maybe they could find a way to a better life with one another.
5/5 Stars
This was the second Fisher Amelie book I have read (The first being Callum & Harper, which I LOVED). All I have to say is, Fisher Amelie is becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are fun, cute, and have well-thought out, easy to read plots. Her characters are all also pretty likable which certainly helps. (And her covers are absolutely gorgeous!)
Synopsis:
When Hazel and Atticus meet, they are instantly attracted to one another.
That's pretty much all I can say without giving away too much plot, and believe me this is a book you want to go into knowing very little. I've decided to divide my review for this into two parts: spoiler and non-spoiler because there is a lot to talk about but I really don't want to give away too much to those who haven't read it.
Spolier Free:
Characters:
In this story you have two main characters, Atticus and Hazel. For the majority of the story, it's only Hazel speaking, but then around the 60%-ish mark you're treated to alternating Atticus and Hazel points of view. Atticus is around the age of 27 (if not exactly 27) and he is a musician. Hazel is a 20 year-old artist who paints on buildings around the city. Atticus and Hazel meet in a bar and quickly become attracted to one another. They spend a night in the city visiting Hazel's paintings, seeing a play, and meeting Atticus' family.
Hazel and Atticus were both very entertaining to read about and neither were dull by any means. As much as I loved this book, I'll admit that around the 30-40% mark I was pretty sure I was gonna end up giving this book a three star rating simply because of the characters. They weren't boring or badly written or annoying, I just really wasn't connecting with them. I couldn't figure out what it was about them that just wasn't working, it just took quite a while to connect and feel for them but eventually I did. They made some decisions at first that I just didn't get the point of...Well mainly it was just Hazel's decisions that were a bit annoying. She was nervous and unsure about liking Atticus, due to past family experiences, so she kept doubting herself which got annoying but she eventually got over it. As the book progresses and you really get into the story you start liking them more and you get to see more sides to both of them.
Plot:
I really can't say much about the plot in this portion of the review because there is an event that occurs early on that changes the whole plot (And it isn't said in the author's initial book description so I won't mention in the spoiler free part). What I can say however is that going into this, I was expecting a cute contemporary about a love-story, maybe with an unlikely couple. I was expecting there to be cheesy drama of "Will she fall for him or will she guard her heart through the entire book?" While there is some cheesy drama and the whole will she or won't she deal, there is so much more to this book. The plot takes turns I didn't expect when I started it and actually brings up some real issues that aren't typically in most teen books (and yes, I know that this book isn't technically a teen book but I honestly think a teen could read it. There weren't any REALLY mature scenes, it only hinted at certain things). I was expecting cute and fluffy contemporary, but it was actually quite a sad book that at times made you feel hopeless for the characters. Which sounds terrible but I promise it's not. This book certainly wasn't just a 'dumb teen book'.
*Also as a side-note, I loved that the cover was implemented into the book at a certain point. At least I'm pretty sure it was.
Fisher Amelie definitely delivered again, and as I said before, she is now one of my favorite authors. I plan to start her Seven Deadly series and finish the Sleepless series, because she is an awesome author. Thank you for writing such a good book that made me feel, you are truly amazing Fisher!
(Spoiler Review below Song list & Favorite Quotes)
Songs to go with The True Story of Atticus and Hazel:
1. The Weight of Us-Sanders Bohlke
2. The Girl and the Dreamcatcher- Make You Stay
3. Hailee Steinfeld- Rock Bottom
4. Jason Derulo ft. Julia Michaels- Trade Hearts
5. Lauv- Breathe
6. One Republic- Something I Need
7. Frenship & Emily Warren- Capsize
8. X Ambassadors- Unsteady
9. The Zombies- The Way I Feel Inside
10. I Won't Let You Go- Snow Patrol
11. Lil Dicky- Molly feat. Brendon Urie
12. Crywolf- Stomach It ft. EDEN
13. Oh Wonder- Livewire
(Went a bit overboard but oh well, so many songs could go along with this book that I couldn't narrow it down!)
Favorite Quotes:
"I wonder, I thought, if we could ever be as we were, if we could ever be simple, if he could ever love me
"All the bad had flushed its way from our minds and hearts and skin down, down, down into oblivion and we were left with nothing but the good, the sweet, the lovely."
"That boy would stop the world from spinning if she asked for it. You can see it in his face."
"No one who sees it will be aware of their perfect collision, but it will be an explosion amongst themselves, for only them to know, for only them to feel..."
SPOILER Review:
Have you ever read a book that just made you feel so powerless, sad, and hopeless for the characters? Well this book made me feel like that. It fools you at first into thinking the characters will make it through their issues and fall into each others' arms, only to have more bad things thrown at them that further rip them away from one another. And eventually, in a way, they do end up with one another or at least it leaves you hanging with hope. The hope that they'll make it together, despite the fact that the book is over and they aren't real so you'll never know.
Basically this is the plot: The night Atticus and Hazel meet, they end up sleeping with one another. Hazel later leaves him in a panic before he wakes up and she disappears. Atticus being the sweetheart he is, posts flyers around town in an attempt to find her (which is a tad creepy but oh well, it's good he did anyway because of what happens next). Hazel, now on her own and avoiding Atticus even though she's seen the flyers, finds out she's pregnant. She tells him and the first part of the story is them trying to come to terms with it and learning to love one another. Atticus doesn't flake out on her which I loved. Instead he vows to stay with her and their yet unborn kid, but they are not in a relationship. Part of this deal that Atticus makes with Hazel is that she has to stay with him for at least 3 months in the hopes that she will learn to love him. Atticus also wants her to love him in the hopes that she will stay with him and they can raise the kid together rather than give it up for adoption, as Hazel wants. That's about as brief of a description of the first part as I can get it.
I thought I had this plot figured out at a certain point, but I most certainly did not. There is another character that is introduced who is supposedly a very attractive girl that Atticus has to work with (make an album with). For a while it seemed that Atticus was going to fall in love with this girl and leave Hazel, and I thought for sure that that was what was going to happen but I was wrong. Hazel has a conversation with this girl in which she admits that she wants to take Atticus from Hazel. Hazel tries to tell Atticus this and he doesn't believe her, they fight and decide to go their separate ways (There were more reasons they split but there's too many to go into). This is where this book starts to feel really depressing and hopeless. Atticus becomes famous. Hazel starts to have from pregnancy complications but decides not to tell Atticus because she doesn't want to drag him away from his new life of fame. One day at work Hazel collapses and experiences severe pains and starts bleeding. She is rushed to a hospital where they have to cut out the baby, almost killing both Hazel and the baby but both miraculously live. The baby isn't expected to live because it is very pre-mature. This book fools you into thinking it will live, but sadly the baby dies. Hazel and Atticus, who had already fallen in love with the baby despite the short time they had it, are both emotionally scarred. Hazel can't even look at Atticus without experiencing the pain of that day. They spend an entire year apart until they eventually reunite and begin the process of rebuilding themselves and their relationship through one another.
I have never actually cried legitimate ugly tears while reading. Until this book. You watch two characters grow and change and slowly grow apart from one another and it hurts. It's a real example of how the world isn't all sunshine and butterflies and that happily ever after's don't happen to everyone. It hurt when they decide to officially split because you know that Hazel is scared, and then to make matters worse, you read Atticus' POV immediately after their fight and you see how much he loves her. He genuinely loved Hazel but respected her so much that he was willing to leave her because it was what she wanted. To read two POVs where each person describes their feelings for the other but keep inadvertently pushing one another away really hurts. From the start of the book it seems that they are on the same path, and its fate that they should end up together. But the further you read you can see them taking opposite paths leading further and further away from one another, even if Atticus and Hazel don't realize it themselves who continue to try and hold together the threads of their relationship as it slowly unravels. It feels hopeless because you know it's not forever and that they are bound to explode at some point. You just hope so badly that they don't.
So imagine that entire last paragraph as the knife that just gets stabbed into your chest. Fisher continues to then twist that knife with their reunion at the hospital. At the hospital you get these beautiful scenes with Atticus, Hazel, and the baby. They realize the weight of their situation and slowly begin to rekindle their relationship and its so bittersweet. Atticus and Hazel both harbor some hate for one another but in the hospital, they are there for one another and its beautiful. It's simply two people overcoming the past and choosing to live in the present for one another, and they try to imagine a life together with their new kid. And then their precious child gets ripped from them and that was when the dam broke for me. I cried as if I was Hazel and if I'm being honest it felt like I was. I felt a loss and sadness for these characters whom I just wanted to be happy. That scene where Juniper dies, was heart-wrenching as both Atticus and Hazel completely unravel. Then when I got it back together, there was the funeral scene. I just broke down in tears all over again. Hazel and Atticus both collapse into the dirt of Juniper's grave and I lost it, and it didn't help that Atticus simply looked at her and said "I'm sorry too" which makes sense if you read it yourself and know the story. They then don't speak to one another for a year, they both live in pain, alone. The scene where they reunite was amazing though and still managed to make me cry as well because of how much pain they were in, and that by simply looking at one another a fresh wave of pain would overtake them. I loved that we got to see them start to rebuild though. It lifted my spirits to see that they were trying again. For a book that made me feel hopeless for the majority of the time, the ending filled me with hope. Hope that maybe they could find a way to a better life with one another.
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February 11, 2018Anyone have The True Story of Atticus and Hazel on their TBR? Well, you're going to want to READ IT NOW. But don't read reviews or spoilers first. Just...trust me on this. I was hooked by the blurb alone and didn't read any reviews. There is no crazy twist, no *gasp* moment, but it is one of those where you need to go in without expectations or preconceived notions and just experience everything as it happens.
There is angst but nothing over the top, just real life stuff most of us can understand, and I wouldn't say miscommunication but rather the h reacting to things in a realistic way for her age (21) and her history. Even the reactions from his imperfectly perfect family were understandable if not difficult to digest at one point.
Then the Olympic figure skating is on in the background and a pair are skating to Mariah Carey's My All and it was beautiful and heartbreaking and I haven't heard that song in YEARS and I just lost my sh!t. I'll forever link that song with this book.
Yes, I'm gushing but it's hard not to when you stay up until 2:00 in the morning and then can't sleep because your nose is stuffed up from crying. And sobbing. Out. Loud.
No, neither the h nor H die. Just putting that out there even though I try NEVER to do so because spoilers and all. THAT is how much I want someone...anyone...to experience this book with me. Their pain and struggle is so raw and real that I blew snot bubbles. Gross, I know, but whatever. Sometimes life is gross.
This passage sums things up SO DAMN WELL...
“Our history is, well, it’s difficult,” I said.
Keitel’s needle stilled and both boys looked at me. “You don’t strike me as the drama type,” Keitel said. “Either of you.”
“It wasn’t the kind of drama you create, per se, it was the kind that finds and slams you to the ground unapologetically.��
Oh, my poor broken-yet-healing heart.
"Hazel, what happened?"
So much. Oh, so much.
There is angst but nothing over the top, just real life stuff most of us can understand, and I wouldn't say miscommunication but rather the h reacting to things in a realistic way for her age (21) and her history. Even the reactions from his imperfectly perfect family were understandable if not difficult to digest at one point.
Then the Olympic figure skating is on in the background and a pair are skating to Mariah Carey's My All and it was beautiful and heartbreaking and I haven't heard that song in YEARS and I just lost my sh!t. I'll forever link that song with this book.
Yes, I'm gushing but it's hard not to when you stay up until 2:00 in the morning and then can't sleep because your nose is stuffed up from crying. And sobbing. Out. Loud.
No, neither the h nor H die. Just putting that out there even though I try NEVER to do so because spoilers and all. THAT is how much I want someone...anyone...to experience this book with me. Their pain and struggle is so raw and real that I blew snot bubbles. Gross, I know, but whatever. Sometimes life is gross.
This passage sums things up SO DAMN WELL...
“Our history is, well, it’s difficult,” I said.
Keitel’s needle stilled and both boys looked at me. “You don’t strike me as the drama type,” Keitel said. “Either of you.”
“It wasn’t the kind of drama you create, per se, it was the kind that finds and slams you to the ground unapologetically.��
Oh, my poor broken-yet-healing heart.
"Hazel, what happened?"
So much. Oh, so much.
February 21, 2018
Sweet and original.
Both main characters were absolutely soulful and awesome. A perfect fit for one another. The rub of this book is that they fall in love too fast.... 1 magical night together.
Then the drama begins.
Hazel is an artist while Atticus is an up and coming musicien. While Hazel is standoffish, Atticus is all in. This is an artsy love story. One that kinda felt like some sort of urban fairy tale. While all reality seems to take second place to the interaction between the main characters. They seem to perpetually find themselves enclosed in a bubble of "THEM".
But when reality encroaches their fairy tale, things don't go well. And when reality hits, it hits hard.
It was hard to NOT like this story. But I also felt like this story had a lot of holes.
Let's just say it was an experience.
Both main characters were absolutely soulful and awesome. A perfect fit for one another. The rub of this book is that they fall in love too fast.... 1 magical night together.
Then the drama begins.
Hazel is an artist while Atticus is an up and coming musicien. While Hazel is standoffish, Atticus is all in. This is an artsy love story. One that kinda felt like some sort of urban fairy tale. While all reality seems to take second place to the interaction between the main characters. They seem to perpetually find themselves enclosed in a bubble of "THEM".
But when reality encroaches their fairy tale, things don't go well. And when reality hits, it hits hard.
It was hard to NOT like this story. But I also felt like this story had a lot of holes.
Let's just say it was an experience.
November 16, 2016
*3.5 stars*
I liked this book. I liked the way Atticus and Hazel met. I felt their chemistry. It drew me in right away. I would have liked for Hazel to make a few different choices along the way but I understood her abandonment issues.
I normally don't like this particular plot point brought up so early in a book but I thought the characters handled it well. I also thought it was a bit too G rated for my tastes but the storyline was good enough to keep my interest.
If you're looking for a quick, sweet read with just a little bit if angst, I highly recommend.
I liked this book. I liked the way Atticus and Hazel met. I felt their chemistry. It drew me in right away. I would have liked for Hazel to make a few different choices along the way but I understood her abandonment issues.
I normally don't like this particular plot point brought up so early in a book but I thought the characters handled it well. I also thought it was a bit too G rated for my tastes but the storyline was good enough to keep my interest.
If you're looking for a quick, sweet read with just a little bit if angst, I highly recommend.
November 11, 2016
2.5 I didn't connect with Atticus and Hazel at all, no character development or back story. Weak story line and over-the-top dialogue. Not for me.
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September 10, 2023Wow! That was almost too much for me. When "the big thing" happened, it touched very close to home and hurt my heart. I didn't think I could finish. But I am glad I did.
November 8, 2016
Title: The True Story of Atticus and Hazel
Series: Standalone
Genre: Romance/ Contemporary/ New Adult
Storyline: 4/5
POV: Dual POV
HEA: Readddd!!!! LOL
Overall rating: 4 Stars
BLURB:
It only took a second.
Overwhelming chemistry isn't something anyone ever prepares you for. It's not like your mama sits you down and warns you one day you might stumble upon someone impossible to resist, someone who sets your soul on fire. Combustible, explosive attraction is just the tip of the iceberg for Atticus Kelly and Hazel Stone. One touch between them can set them on fire, one word from their lips can send them careening, one look can cripple them to their knees. They are an inferno and they're approaching the end of their wick.
Burning too fast, way too fast.
Except there's nothing to temper the fever.
And the ramifications may be more than they can afford.
Everyone knows when it goes up in flames, there's no saving the kindling.
The decision only took a second. Just a second.
"Hazel, what happened?"
I picked up this book based purely on cover lust. I barely read the blurb. I am so, so glad I did pick it up. Atticus and Hazel and their story was pretty raw. It was unique. It was beautiful. It was ugly. It was EVERYTHING!
The first 20% or so I absolutely adored!!! I felt like my heart would literally burst reading it. But then towards the middle, it went a little cliche, and honestly became one of my pet peeve storylines. But then, THEN, Fisher flipped that cliche on its ass, and it left me feeling broken. Absolutely broken. It made me realise that a lot of love stories in real life start out as a cliche, but real life gets in the way. Real situations. And sometimes, some people are just unfortunate that they have to deal with the harsh brutalities that life can throw your way!!!!
I loved how this all played out. Did I like how it concluded? I have to say I did wish for a different kind of ending in all honesty. I won't say why or how, but I did. But this is a story I am still thinking about days later, so Fisher did her job as an author, and that was to touch the readers hearts.
January 13, 2019
Not sure how I'm going to write a review for this since my head is a mess and I'm speechless.
I've read two other books by Fisher Amelie before; 'Penny in London' & 'Get in the car, Jupiter' I really enjoyed both of them since they were such easy and cute reads, so going into this book I expected something similar.
But omg, THIS WAS SO SO SO MUCH MORE !
This book took me by surprise and definitely is my favourite book I've read by this author so far.
First of all the writing style felt so magical to me, the beginning sucked me right in and I couldn't stop reading at all. It was almost poetic at some points and I love how both the characters use each others names in the dialogue, it just made it feel extra special.
The chemistry was there from the beginning and normally I'm very sceptical about that but in this book it played a huge part and was very natural somehow. I love both Atticus and Hazel, they were special in their own ways, and I loved how they are both artists.
This book took a turn I didn't expect at all, but it was written so well and real, it was heartbreaking, beautiful and bittersweet all at the same time.
I'm so glad I decided to read this and recommend it to everyone. <3
I've read two other books by Fisher Amelie before; 'Penny in London' & 'Get in the car, Jupiter' I really enjoyed both of them since they were such easy and cute reads, so going into this book I expected something similar.
But omg, THIS WAS SO SO SO MUCH MORE !
This book took me by surprise and definitely is my favourite book I've read by this author so far.
First of all the writing style felt so magical to me, the beginning sucked me right in and I couldn't stop reading at all. It was almost poetic at some points and I love how both the characters use each others names in the dialogue, it just made it feel extra special.
The chemistry was there from the beginning and normally I'm very sceptical about that but in this book it played a huge part and was very natural somehow. I love both Atticus and Hazel, they were special in their own ways, and I loved how they are both artists.
This book took a turn I didn't expect at all, but it was written so well and real, it was heartbreaking, beautiful and bittersweet all at the same time.
I'm so glad I decided to read this and recommend it to everyone. <3
December 19, 2016
Where to start.... wow, just wow. This is a book so many people can relate to. From growing up without things most of us take for granted, to having dreams of breaking the cycle, to having dreams changed. I refuse to post spoilers, so I will just say everyone has to read this book.
December 2, 2016
I wanted to 5 star this from the start, I loved it so much!!! Little did I know, loving this book would kill me. Without saying much and without sounding heartless, I confess I'm not one to be affected deeply by this kind of story. When I come across a fictional tragedy, my attitude is Obladi Oblada Life Goes On! But the thing is, this didn't seem like just any fictional story. Fisher Amelie made me feel like I knew Atticus & Hazel personally. And that is where the genius writing strikes because I was hit, hard, and I found myself speechless. I can't even... Atticus & Hazel– Oh, I loved them from the first page to the last and even now. Their story was lovely and painful, something I couldn't forget.
P.S.
The brothers <3
The soundtrack <3
P.S.
The brothers <3
The soundtrack <3
November 4, 2016
I don't know what to say. I don't real blurbs or spoilers at all, so I went in completely blind. I've read everything of Fisher Amelie's that I can get my hands on and the last 2 were light and easy, so I guess that's what I assumed this one would be too. It is not. It was deep, beautiful, painful, devastating, crushing, but then, there was hope and more beauty and love. I cried and my heart hurt, but I loved it. It was so real. Books like this make me happy that I don't read spoilers and blurbs because it would have ruined the book for me. It would have saved me heartache, but I would have missed out a wonderful story.
November 6, 2016
4.5 heartbreaking stars
I fell in love with these characters the minute I met them, their chemistry and their pull was felt in the pages of this story. It was witty, intellectual dialogues between these people and it was kept clean and so well written.
As the book picks up it starts with bits of angst, but then it's gutting me to the point that I had to put it down and take a break bc I could not see the words in front of me of how hard I was crying. This story has a very heartfelt and beautiful message, one that was close to my heart.
The cover is stunning like the art described in the story.
I fell in love with these characters the minute I met them, their chemistry and their pull was felt in the pages of this story. It was witty, intellectual dialogues between these people and it was kept clean and so well written.
As the book picks up it starts with bits of angst, but then it's gutting me to the point that I had to put it down and take a break bc I could not see the words in front of me of how hard I was crying. This story has a very heartfelt and beautiful message, one that was close to my heart.
The cover is stunning like the art described in the story.
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