Haze

Mute #2

by Christine Bernard

Haze, Part 2 - Sequel to Mute.

Not all problems can be solved with a mute button.

Everyone knows Rebecca Marley. She’s the crazy, brave and introspective woman who spent nine months without talking. Everyone loves her. She’s raw, honest and relatable. She’s also rich and famous, although I’m sure you knew that already. You’ve probably read her articles, or her book, or seen one of her many interviews. She’s also socially anxious, self-conscious and self-degrading, but she tries to keep that to herself. Her once-silent world has changed, and the noise has engulfed her. It’s also about to get noisier, as Rebecca agrees to a new challenge, perhaps even crazier than before. This story picks up from Mute, and follows Rebecca on a new journey, one which we all face today. It begs the question, ‘how do we find quiet in a deafening world?’

288 pages, ebook

Published July 23, 2018

Reviews

[Joni Janice Mielke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As a sequel it blends in perfectly with Mute, Haze's predecessor, as Rebecca Marley's life continues to unfold in it's complexities, joys and challenges.

While I really liked this book, I feel that a reread of Mute would have been in order before I dived into this one. Although book 2 includes background information aplenty, there is far more richness to be gained in a fresh recollection of book 1's storyline.

Mute is excellent. Haze is just as good.
Highly recommended!

[Cassey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this is so so hard to review. I loved that we got more of Rebecca's story post Mute, bonus for Benjamin appearances :) But, when characters are going through tough mental times, and all the self reflection while you're in the same phase...hard, hard reading. Which clearly isn't fair in terms of judging the book...but it's ridiculously hard to separate it from the read for me right now.

Totally winning in that we get:
* more Bubbles
* Benjamin interactions
* the development of her relationship with her mom
* full circle on dinner
* a great new friend for Rebecca
* resolution of things that irked our girl in Mute

Also, while there is a challenge going on for this book...it's not one that has me adding another tick in the Christine Bernard doesn't like her characters column ;)

*I'm a lucky fish and am on the author's ARC team*

[Sharon Britz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Haze by Christene Bernard - Audio book
Haze is the follow-up book of Mute By Christene. I enjoyed both books tremendously. I loved Rebecca in these books as she is just a character that I could identify with... her struggles, fears, insecurities, hopes, dreams and joys... all so real in a wonderful and cringe worthy way. I laughed out loud so many times in this book that Im sure people around me thought I was slightly crazy. All the other characters just added to the whole experience. I loved the narrator Kendra Murray and the way she brought all the characters and the situations to life.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat idea to do different challenges that strangers pick out. I definitely enjoyed Mute more. For some reason, this time the main character annoyed me. It is part of her growth, but still...I didn't care for her really.
All in all, I give this one 3.5 stars.

I was given a free copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

[Frieda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb! I saw so much of myself in this story. The conflict within me about myself. The emotional rollercoaster, up and down and around the bend!! 🙈🤯 Liking people but not sharing myself with the world.

[Suz Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging character, delightful story

This novel is a sweet story about being yourself and not letting others define you. If you’re an introvert or struggle with others' expectations, you’ll enjoy the self-discovery journey of writer Rebecca Marley. (Be sure to read the book Mute before this one.)

Rebecca is sarcastic, sassy and superb. Fabulous, flawed and funny. She is also prone to alliterations like these when describing someone or something. Apart from her love of words and repartee, she is insightful about life and human interactions. She doesn’t always like people, but her observations about them are spot on; at least in the opinion of this introvert. 

I love Rebecca’s insights, especially about happiness (no spoilers here, you’ll have to read/listen to find out).

Rebecca‘s journey from Mute to Haze is interesting, insightful and irreverent. OK. I’ll stop with the alliteration; see what you’ve got me doing Rebecca?

If you want a couple of books with lovely and engaging characters check out Mute and Haze.

Kendra Murray does a nice job of narrating and easily “becomes” Rebecca.

This book was so enjoyable that I almost forgot that I was given a complementary copy in exchange for my honest review. 

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

first book review: https://superfluousreading.wordpress....
I found the second book on KU. Although it is enjoyable as an individual book, there is a depth that is only visible to those who have worked with Rebecca as she faced her demons and stayed sane(sort of).
I genuinely did not think a lead protagonist would do any more self-analysis after having tasted success in our first visit. But, there was more! This is not a sign of annoyance on my part. I enjoyed (if I can use that word) the continuing growth arc that Rebecca Marley and her newfound fame take.
Rebecca is now a published writer. She has an agent, a Facebook page and everything that goes with people sometimes identifying her in the road and taking selfies. There is another book due, and she is extremely reluctant to bring up things she has finished already because it does not fit in with her image. What happens next is the complete book.
We have new characters to add to the existing lovable ones.
It was an entertaining book that I am glad I took the time out to read ahead of others already pending and immediately after the first because I felt like the story was now complete.

[Ester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite excited to read Haze, the follow up to Mute. Once again, I was not disappointed.

Rebecca Marley is now dealing with the fame that came from her book about her experience with being mute for 9 months. She has moved into a show apartment and is recognised on the street. Her cat is the star of her Instagram account.
Her agent is eager for her to write another book, and eventually Rebecca hits on an idea. She asks her Facebook followers to set any challenges they would like to see her do, and one of her fans offers to co-ordinate by choosing the best 2 every week and allowing Rebecca to choose the one she wants to do.

Rebecca, to her credit, does not choose the easiest option, she really does want to challenge herself, for the sake of her fans and her book.

The challenges are sometimes funny and sometimes a bit scary, but Rebecca pushes herself, and completes each one she takes on, learning more about herself in the process. She realises she has again lost her true self, and that she needs to appreciate those that are close to her.

I enjoyed this book as much as Mute. I look forward to more books from Christine Bernard.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this straight after Mute, and I did wonder if the sequel would be as good as the first, I needn't have worried, it surpassed itself. WOW, just WOW!

Like Mute, this book left me thinking long after putting it down, so many things resonated with me, and did wonder if Christine had some how been spying on me.......

Following on a while after Rebecca has completed her mute challenge, she embarks on challenges set on a weekly basis, by her fans on social media, and as before, has to write about her experiences for a new book. Along with doing these challenges, many very awkward for our Rebeccca, she has to deal with fame, her agent, publisher demands, forging new friendships and juggling old friendships, and the minefield that is LOVE and DATING!

I shall miss Rebecca, Bubbles, and co, but can be content in the knowledge I can pick the books up anytime to re-read....

[Hayley Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in this series, Mute, was my book of the year, possibly even my favourite book of all time and when I found out that there was to be a sequel, I will admit I was nervous. Nervous that I wouldn't love the story as much as I loved Mute, that I wouldn't connect with Rebecca like I did in the first book.
I am so happy to report that my nerves were unfounded, Haze is as magnificent as Mute, the story is sublime and I connected with Rebecca as much as I did in Mute.
I just know that I will be rereading these books for years to come.

Mute and Haze are most certainly my favourite books of 2018, possibly of all time.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m glad there was a sequel to Mute. After I read that, I had so many questions and thankfully, this book answered. I’m glad. I like closure.

I will say though, Rebecca can be quite negative sometimes. It was getting to the point where I was starting to get annoyed with her. I felt as if she was being purposely dumb at times. For example, Benjamin. Here is this guy, confessing his love for her in the 1st book, and what does she do with that information? Nothing. ::Sigh::

Overall, I liked the story. I liked the characters. I even really liked Rebecca (when she wasn’t being dumb). The narrator is good too. I love her voice.

[Angelique Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of sequels. Probably because they tend to suck. That being said, this book far exceeded my expectations and might actually be better than the first one. Wow! The author makes getting back into Rebecca's head seamless. You might begin to wonder if you're speaking aloud to yourself. I couldn't put this book down and I had serious book hangover. So, when's number three coming out?

[Loverlypurple · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book of this series Mute. Was excited to see what was in store for Rebecca in Haze. I had a hard time getting into the book, I stop reading before the half way mark for week or so and it took me a while to get back to it. But then when I got to the dancing challenge and Leonard came into Rebecca's life the book seemed to turn around for me and I finished it with new enthusiasm. I still loved the first book but the second half of Haze was wonderful.

[Tammi Saayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Rebecca's first story in Mute and Haze offered yet another journey with the quirky & lovable character. The book offered so many learning opportunities, and plenty of laughs (I personally think Rebecca would be tons of fun to hang out with).
This was an enjoyable read, and very hard to put down.

[Alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this sequel to Mute. A great title too. Once again I found the continuation of the same concept interesting. This book was richer than Mute, but then, Mute couldn’t be easy to write, seeing there is not much dialogue. Rambling on about the challenge/s would bore the readers, and I wasn’t bored. A good lighthearted read with a touch of intrigue, drama & romance.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the follow up book to Mute. Awkward but amiable Rebecca Marley is back on her self-finding course even though she didn't really realise that she lost herself.
Yet another funny story about being truly yourself. I also liked to see more Ben-ja-min and more of personal relationships. An entertaining read!

[Marisia Robus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the follow on from Mute and the challenges were really interesting. I kept on thinking what would I learn from the challenges. I liked the ending.

[thegreensofa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nowhere near as good as the first book in the duology, sadly a little juvenile. It would have to take a completely different turn for me to read it if there is a third one later.

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haze will stay on my mind forever, just as Mute has and does.

I don't know what it is about Christine's books but they always leave me with thoughts afterwards. I cannot help imagine if I'd be able to do what Rebecca did - successfully do challenges chosen by strangers for me, a new one each week, and to push myself out of my comfort zone to do them.

And you know what, when life gets too comfortable, how often do you push those boundaries and do something crazy or uncomfortable to learn something about yourself or spice things up.

100% recommend to read (along with Mute) because it is a feel-good, easy reading book!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad to get my hands on Haze when I realized it was the sequel to Mute. I enjoyed Mute so much and was hoping for a continuation of Rebecca Marley's story and wasn't disappointed. For once, I think the sequel might have even surpassed the original in pure entertainment value! The book was full of lots of funny moments, though Rebecca takes you through the emotional spectrum as she completes the challenges her fans set out for her while she tries to figure out just who she wants to be. Another reader described her as "fabulous, flawed and funny" and she is all of that - and in my eyes that makes Rebecca "normal" and, therefore, so very relatable. The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars is my one frustration with her - she says she love Benjamin, and she's longing for him. He's told her he loves her but she doesn't even acknowledge that he's told her and does nothing with it. What's up with that? It seems so junior high school. However, despite my one pet peeve, I still enjoyed the book immensely and would recommend it!

[Nerine Dorman]

Disclaimer: I edited this, so I can't rate.
Absolutely enjoy working with Christine! She's one of my favourite people!