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Finding Me #1
Finding Me
My name is Chloe Carmichael. I’m sixteen and a half. I live in the bustling metropolis of New York City. Life is grand, most of the time…at least when other’s are watching.
I touch my pretend boyfriend, Zack (that’s a whole other story), and bam I’m on the football field at school. Weirder. Zack’s dead. Murdered. But then, he not. I’m back in the school and Zack’s standing in front of me waiting for me to respond to him kissing my friend Lauren (another thing I’ll have to explain later). When the news reports Zack died, for real this time, I can’t ignore the mounting evidence: I’ve come unhinged and my mother will not like this.
A new student, Chris Thomas arrives (wouldn’t be a big deal if he wasn’t the embodiment of Adonis) at my school. I’m inexplicably drawn to him in a way I don’t understand (isn’t that always the way). A girl I’ve never met attends Zack’s in-school memorial with Chris. She disappears right before my eyes (blink, she’s gone). Then it’s clear: I’ve lost my mind.
Chris and the disappearing girl offer an alternate explanation. They’ve known me for years (seriously). Along with six others, we’re in a battle that stretches across multiple universes, with an enemy bent on destroying everyone in all of them – starting with us first. They try to explain more, but they can’t. They’re waiting for me to tell the rest (yeah, I’m shaken by that part, too).
I can’t help them, though. I don’t remember being Amanda in another life.
I touch my pretend boyfriend, Zack (that’s a whole other story), and bam I’m on the football field at school. Weirder. Zack’s dead. Murdered. But then, he not. I’m back in the school and Zack’s standing in front of me waiting for me to respond to him kissing my friend Lauren (another thing I’ll have to explain later). When the news reports Zack died, for real this time, I can’t ignore the mounting evidence: I’ve come unhinged and my mother will not like this.
A new student, Chris Thomas arrives (wouldn’t be a big deal if he wasn’t the embodiment of Adonis) at my school. I’m inexplicably drawn to him in a way I don’t understand (isn’t that always the way). A girl I’ve never met attends Zack’s in-school memorial with Chris. She disappears right before my eyes (blink, she’s gone). Then it’s clear: I’ve lost my mind.
Chris and the disappearing girl offer an alternate explanation. They’ve known me for years (seriously). Along with six others, we’re in a battle that stretches across multiple universes, with an enemy bent on destroying everyone in all of them – starting with us first. They try to explain more, but they can’t. They’re waiting for me to tell the rest (yeah, I’m shaken by that part, too).
I can’t help them, though. I don’t remember being Amanda in another life.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2014
15 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Brazil
18 books113 followersI read words. I write words. I love words. Words have so much power, I understood this at an early age so story-telling has always been a part of my life. After college, I tried my hand at a few different careers - paralegal, customer service, sales. Yeah, I shouldn't have. Now, I'm following my passion and doing what I love. I write Young Adult urban fantasy, science fiction, and romance novels. I live in Texas with my husband and three kids and my endless imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 24, 2016
**I received an e-copy of the book from the author, via Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review.**
OH MY GOD!! THE ENDING....that cliffhanger, I will die!! This book was literally AWSOMEEE. SUPERB. MINDBLOWING. I haven't read anything like this in quite a while now and the blurb was quite intriguing, so once again I couldn't resist and devoured this book.
Chloe was the daughter of a very rich family who always wanted her to obey certain rules to maintain their social status, even if that meant she had to date a guy who she didn't have any romantic feelings for. She really hated it but she was a chicken (which she wholeheartedly admitted) to step out of it. But she wasn't a spoil brat kind of girl, instead she was just like a normal girl trying to live a normal life until she saw a vision of her boyfriend's death and he was found murdered exactly the same way next day. Then she begins to hear some specific voices and discovers that she has powers beyond human level, which freaks her out. But then Chris and the other eight (the whole team) confronts Chloe and they tell her she's actually Amanda, their leader of the superhero team and they have to complete their task of finding out and killing the ENO (enemy number one), I know, I know it sounds weird but trust me it's not.
The plot was unique, it kept me on the edge from the very first page. It dealt with superheroes. *HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL* I really haven't read anything like this, ever. The concept was really good. At first I thought that it was the duty of the eight of them to save the whole world from the ENO but later Chloe understood it was not about saving the whole world, it was about saving themselves from the ENO, the humans were not the main target, they were.
There are six galaxies in total, Earth is the last one and it's their final chance to kill the ENO but time is a factor, they have to kill him before they turn 18, otherwise they all die. They have died like this in their previous planets and this is their last chance but Chloe doesn't remember any part of it because of an experiment she conducted on herself.
I loved the characters. Chloe was, like she said a chicken at first but as the book progressed she became more mature and brave. She had the power of telekinesis which is totally awsome! I loved her inner monologues, they were really funny! Chris, OMG, he materialised into Chole's room when he first came to talk to her. He was totally gorgeous and he was really, really in love with Amanda because she was his soul mate. The situation sometimes turned awkward because Chloe couldn't remember any of the past but she realised was falling for him, hard and fast. I respected her decesion when she wanted him to love her as Chloe and not Amanda but well things were kinda complicated.
I loved the other characters in the team as well specially Sam, she is cheerful, bubbly and an awsome best friend. I hated her overbearing mother but later she was somewhat tolerable.
The villian was sketched out really good. He had the ability to shapeshift into any person he had seen. Apart from being scary on occasion like most villains tend to be, this one was smart, crafty and kept to the shadows till the end to reveal himself. He always came when the characters lest expected and in such a way, they never knew who was attacking and then the villain was gone.
The writing style was simple and gorgeous. I couldn't stop reading this book, it's fast-paced from the very beginning and I couldn't wait to learn what was actually happening. Towards the end she did face the ENO and I loved their fight, oh the girl could kick some butt! But it was just the beginning, there were some rules in the game which couldn't be broken and she challenged him she would kill him without breaking the rules. But in the end, she sees a vision which was a total smack in the face, it changed everything. There were so many unanswered questions! SOMEBODY GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOO, PLEASEEEE!!!
Recommend it?
ABSOLUTELY.
This book doesn’t have much exposure but it should definitely be given a chance. I was totally blown by this story. You guys really should pick this one up.
Originally posted at: Daydreaming Books
OH MY GOD!! THE ENDING....that cliffhanger, I will die!! This book was literally AWSOMEEE. SUPERB. MINDBLOWING. I haven't read anything like this in quite a while now and the blurb was quite intriguing, so once again I couldn't resist and devoured this book.
Chloe was the daughter of a very rich family who always wanted her to obey certain rules to maintain their social status, even if that meant she had to date a guy who she didn't have any romantic feelings for. She really hated it but she was a chicken (which she wholeheartedly admitted) to step out of it. But she wasn't a spoil brat kind of girl, instead she was just like a normal girl trying to live a normal life until she saw a vision of her boyfriend's death and he was found murdered exactly the same way next day. Then she begins to hear some specific voices and discovers that she has powers beyond human level, which freaks her out. But then Chris and the other eight (the whole team) confronts Chloe and they tell her she's actually Amanda, their leader of the superhero team and they have to complete their task of finding out and killing the ENO (enemy number one), I know, I know it sounds weird but trust me it's not.
The plot was unique, it kept me on the edge from the very first page. It dealt with superheroes. *HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL* I really haven't read anything like this, ever. The concept was really good. At first I thought that it was the duty of the eight of them to save the whole world from the ENO but later Chloe understood it was not about saving the whole world, it was about saving themselves from the ENO, the humans were not the main target, they were.
There are six galaxies in total, Earth is the last one and it's their final chance to kill the ENO but time is a factor, they have to kill him before they turn 18, otherwise they all die. They have died like this in their previous planets and this is their last chance but Chloe doesn't remember any part of it because of an experiment she conducted on herself.
I loved the characters. Chloe was, like she said a chicken at first but as the book progressed she became more mature and brave. She had the power of telekinesis which is totally awsome! I loved her inner monologues, they were really funny! Chris, OMG, he materialised into Chole's room when he first came to talk to her. He was totally gorgeous and he was really, really in love with Amanda because she was his soul mate. The situation sometimes turned awkward because Chloe couldn't remember any of the past but she realised was falling for him, hard and fast. I respected her decesion when she wanted him to love her as Chloe and not Amanda but well things were kinda complicated.
I loved the other characters in the team as well specially Sam, she is cheerful, bubbly and an awsome best friend. I hated her overbearing mother but later she was somewhat tolerable.
The villian was sketched out really good. He had the ability to shapeshift into any person he had seen. Apart from being scary on occasion like most villains tend to be, this one was smart, crafty and kept to the shadows till the end to reveal himself. He always came when the characters lest expected and in such a way, they never knew who was attacking and then the villain was gone.
The writing style was simple and gorgeous. I couldn't stop reading this book, it's fast-paced from the very beginning and I couldn't wait to learn what was actually happening. Towards the end she did face the ENO and I loved their fight, oh the girl could kick some butt! But it was just the beginning, there were some rules in the game which couldn't be broken and she challenged him she would kill him without breaking the rules. But in the end, she sees a vision which was a total smack in the face, it changed everything. There were so many unanswered questions! SOMEBODY GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOO, PLEASEEEE!!!
Recommend it?
ABSOLUTELY.
This book doesn’t have much exposure but it should definitely be given a chance. I was totally blown by this story. You guys really should pick this one up.
Originally posted at: Daydreaming Books
July 7, 2015
*This book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
~~~I want to start by staying that, as with all my reviews, I am merely trying to leave productive feedback. I hope that no one thinks I didn't like this book because, while it may not be my absolute favorite, it is very good!~~~
I did have a couple questions left unanswered by this book but I still found it quite enjoyable.
I LOVED the opening line! It was perfect in my opinion. In fact, the entire opening sequence was perfect. I think things got confusing for me, at least, after Chris appeared after Chloe' s return to school in his role as McFlirty (apparently they watch more Grey's Anatomy than is strictly necessary for teenage girls. I really liked all their made-up words though! I do that all the time too. Any way, back to my review...)
I felt like it got a bit tiresome and a little all over the place, yet somehow redundant. I also never felt like the ENO or really anything else was well or fully explained - maybe that's the point though. I suspect it might also have something to do with the fact that I was feeling unwell and incredibly tired almost the entire time I read it.
I admit, this surprised me a little. I don't know why not. I was just expecting something else, though I can't fathom what it would have been.
Being me I have to make note of editorial "oopsies" - there were about 3 dozen - a small to normal number for a book of this length. The one that I remember most vividly at the moment is the misspelling of the word "shone". {e.g.: "Her eyes shone with unshed tears.", not shown...}
By the time I reached the end, I was feeling a bit better and I thought it was pretty interesting.
Oddly (or perhaps just sadly), the end and didn't surprise me in the least. I am, of course, interested in reading the sequel, Enlighten Me since, I I could certainly use some enlightenment!
Overall, I enjoyed this and I this and I think Ms. Brazil is a fantastic author with an exceedingly creative imagination. I look forward to reading more of her work.
~~~I want to start by staying that, as with all my reviews, I am merely trying to leave productive feedback. I hope that no one thinks I didn't like this book because, while it may not be my absolute favorite, it is very good!~~~
I did have a couple questions left unanswered by this book but I still found it quite enjoyable.
I LOVED the opening line! It was perfect in my opinion. In fact, the entire opening sequence was perfect. I think things got confusing for me, at least, after Chris appeared after Chloe' s return to school in his role as McFlirty (apparently they watch more Grey's Anatomy than is strictly necessary for teenage girls. I really liked all their made-up words though! I do that all the time too. Any way, back to my review...)
I felt like it got a bit tiresome and a little all over the place, yet somehow redundant. I also never felt like the ENO or really anything else was well or fully explained - maybe that's the point though. I suspect it might also have something to do with the fact that I was feeling unwell and incredibly tired almost the entire time I read it.
I admit, this surprised me a little. I don't know why not. I was just expecting something else, though I can't fathom what it would have been.
Being me I have to make note of editorial "oopsies" - there were about 3 dozen - a small to normal number for a book of this length. The one that I remember most vividly at the moment is the misspelling of the word "shone". {e.g.: "Her eyes shone with unshed tears.", not shown...}
By the time I reached the end, I was feeling a bit better and I thought it was pretty interesting.
Oddly (or perhaps just sadly), the end and didn't surprise me in the least. I am, of course, interested in reading the sequel, Enlighten Me since, I I could certainly use some enlightenment!
Overall, I enjoyed this and I this and I think Ms. Brazil is a fantastic author with an exceedingly creative imagination. I look forward to reading more of her work.
February 13, 2016
Chloe Carmichael is seventeen, rich, and mostly pretty pampered. She does have her frustrations with her mother, who is very into appearances, and has insisted that she date "the right boy,"--Zach. She and Zach regard each other as friends, but they both agree to be "boyfriend and girlfriend" to others, due to maternal pressure. She has good friends, though, likes her science classes, and figures that in another couple of years, she'll be at college and not so much under her mother's thumb.
Then strange things start to happen. She has a strange, frightening vision of Zach being murdered--shortly before he is really murdered, exactly as she envisioned. She starts seeing strange things, hearing voices, and having strange dreams. A new group of kids at school tell her they know why; she's one of them, part of a special group with a mission, to protect humanity.
And they tell Chloe that although she doesn't remember it, her name is really Amanda, and they've known each other for several lifetimes.
I like the characters, and the plot moves along. Unfortunately, some rather basic things haven't been though through properly. Chris, Chloe/Amanda's boyfriend from their previous lives, tells her that there are six universes within this galaxy. They've lived their lives in each of the five others, and Earth, Chloe's Earth, is the sixth. It's their last chance to stop the enemy that threatens humanity.
Now, of course, there's a way this business of six universes in one galaxy can be made to almost make sense, except that events in the story subsequently make clear that that particular alternate interpretation isn't the one Brazil is using. In an otherwise well-constructed story, this is just a huge hole, that will toss many readers right out of the story. And that's too bad, because there is a good story in here. Perhaps Brazil just needs a better, more demanding editor.
Aside from that flaw, there's also the fact that this is the first book of a trilogy. It ends with a quite major cliffhanger. However, the subsequent volumes will be out this year, so there won't be a long wait for the rest of the story.
Overall, an entertaining story aimed at young adult readers.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Then strange things start to happen. She has a strange, frightening vision of Zach being murdered--shortly before he is really murdered, exactly as she envisioned. She starts seeing strange things, hearing voices, and having strange dreams. A new group of kids at school tell her they know why; she's one of them, part of a special group with a mission, to protect humanity.
And they tell Chloe that although she doesn't remember it, her name is really Amanda, and they've known each other for several lifetimes.
I like the characters, and the plot moves along. Unfortunately, some rather basic things haven't been though through properly. Chris, Chloe/Amanda's boyfriend from their previous lives, tells her that there are six universes within this galaxy. They've lived their lives in each of the five others, and Earth, Chloe's Earth, is the sixth. It's their last chance to stop the enemy that threatens humanity.
Now, of course, there's a way this business of six universes in one galaxy can be made to almost make sense, except that events in the story subsequently make clear that that particular alternate interpretation isn't the one Brazil is using. In an otherwise well-constructed story, this is just a huge hole, that will toss many readers right out of the story. And that's too bad, because there is a good story in here. Perhaps Brazil just needs a better, more demanding editor.
Aside from that flaw, there's also the fact that this is the first book of a trilogy. It ends with a quite major cliffhanger. However, the subsequent volumes will be out this year, so there won't be a long wait for the rest of the story.
Overall, an entertaining story aimed at young adult readers.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2016
Warning!!!! This has a killer cliffhanger!! ;-) Seriously, but wow, wow, WOW! What a story it was.
I went into this thinking it was going to be just an ok book. I shouldn't have done that. I know not to ever judge a book based solely on the blurb and the category it is in but sometimes we just cant help ourselves!! My mind went crazy with this book.
I thought I knew where things were going in this book but every time I even assumed I got it figured out, BOOM, it flipped on me. I couldn't keep up. It kept blowing me away and throwing me off. I loved every second of it. I rarely find books I cant predict what's coming.
The writing in this was so fun. I think I scared my kids a few times because I would just laugh out loud from some of the descriptions of facial expressions or even the inner monologue was funny. Gotta love a girl with a sense of humor. Oh and she's smart. Way to not give in to hormones and wait to have sex! Woo hoo! I love it. Thats exactly how a YA book should be. We need to have more to help our girls in this over-sexed society something to read and feel to know that waiting is actually a really, really good thing!
So I loved this book and now to stalk the second one :-).
I went into this thinking it was going to be just an ok book. I shouldn't have done that. I know not to ever judge a book based solely on the blurb and the category it is in but sometimes we just cant help ourselves!! My mind went crazy with this book.
I thought I knew where things were going in this book but every time I even assumed I got it figured out, BOOM, it flipped on me. I couldn't keep up. It kept blowing me away and throwing me off. I loved every second of it. I rarely find books I cant predict what's coming.
The writing in this was so fun. I think I scared my kids a few times because I would just laugh out loud from some of the descriptions of facial expressions or even the inner monologue was funny. Gotta love a girl with a sense of humor. Oh and she's smart. Way to not give in to hormones and wait to have sex! Woo hoo! I love it. Thats exactly how a YA book should be. We need to have more to help our girls in this over-sexed society something to read and feel to know that waiting is actually a really, really good thing!
So I loved this book and now to stalk the second one :-).
February 12, 2024
While some small things annoyed me about this book (constantly pointing out wealth but using the same wood for example) I found the storyline interesting.
Reincarnated teen soulmates fighting against one common baddie. Having a form of amnesia was just the right touch of old-school soap operas that a YA book needs.
Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!
Reincarnated teen soulmates fighting against one common baddie. Having a form of amnesia was just the right touch of old-school soap operas that a YA book needs.
Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!
January 21, 2015
It’s hard for me to explain my feelings regarding this book. I really liked the plot. I think it is well structured, well paced, conceptually sound and engaging. It truly sucked me into the story and I wished I had been warned that this was a series, because I definitely want to know what happens next.
I felt the story was quite original, and was engrossed by it from the start. It made me nervous and thrilled and scared and happy.
My Favourite part was the parallel universe idea, and I don’t want to say anymore, because I don’t want to spoil anything, but the fact that the main characters have had second chances to achieve their mission, was pretty cool.
But I have to admit, I was annoyed by the name the author chose for one of the universes, as opposed to Earth. Why Tierra? In Spanish it means exactly Earth. It’s actually the same word in a different language. So if I speak Spanish and call Earth “Tierra” I live in a parallel universe? It really bugged me.
I also liked that the “Great Eight” were all paired, though I thought the romance was taken a bit to the extreme. Too intense. All clean though, just a heads up.
The plot certainly had some interesting twists and turns, and most of them came to me as really unexpected, and I just love to not be able to predict the story. So yeah, the story, guys, is great.
My main problem though, were the characters. I didn’t feel for them. I couldn’t actually connect, and for more than half of the book I was actually annoyed with Chloe. I didn’t like this scare self pitying girl, and what’s with all the lip and mouth biting? It was driving me crazy. I liked it when she finally stepped up though, but it took her way too long.
I don’t feel like I got to know any of the other characters, but they gave me the sensation that they were a bit forced.
So overall, the storyline was actually pretty good. I don’t know where the author plans to go from here, but I certainly want to know. I got the feeling that this story was just about to get better, but I did have a problem with the characters who came off as a bit blunt. I really wanted to get to know more about the Great Eight, some of them were hardly mentioned.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
I felt the story was quite original, and was engrossed by it from the start. It made me nervous and thrilled and scared and happy.
My Favourite part was the parallel universe idea, and I don’t want to say anymore, because I don’t want to spoil anything, but the fact that the main characters have had second chances to achieve their mission, was pretty cool.
But I have to admit, I was annoyed by the name the author chose for one of the universes, as opposed to Earth. Why Tierra? In Spanish it means exactly Earth. It’s actually the same word in a different language. So if I speak Spanish and call Earth “Tierra” I live in a parallel universe? It really bugged me.
I also liked that the “Great Eight” were all paired, though I thought the romance was taken a bit to the extreme. Too intense. All clean though, just a heads up.
The plot certainly had some interesting twists and turns, and most of them came to me as really unexpected, and I just love to not be able to predict the story. So yeah, the story, guys, is great.
My main problem though, were the characters. I didn’t feel for them. I couldn’t actually connect, and for more than half of the book I was actually annoyed with Chloe. I didn’t like this scare self pitying girl, and what’s with all the lip and mouth biting? It was driving me crazy. I liked it when she finally stepped up though, but it took her way too long.
I don’t feel like I got to know any of the other characters, but they gave me the sensation that they were a bit forced.
So overall, the storyline was actually pretty good. I don’t know where the author plans to go from here, but I certainly want to know. I got the feeling that this story was just about to get better, but I did have a problem with the characters who came off as a bit blunt. I really wanted to get to know more about the Great Eight, some of them were hardly mentioned.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
December 9, 2015
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author, via Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts: Superheroes! This book seriously hit my nerdy superhero obsession and it was awesome. I could go on for awhile about all of the different parts of the sci-fi world that I love, but I don't want to digress too much from the actual review of Finding Me.
The plot was interesting. Pretty creative, especially in comparison to all of the other books/series out there with a similar theme. I enjoyed the idea of a "team" of superheroes working together with a specific number of chances to enable good to win out over evil. It was a slight reminder of the Doctor's 13 reincarnations (yes, nerdy Doctor Who reference).
The main character, Chloe, was very believable. At first, I found her fear and disbelief annoying. As she continued to grow on me, I realized more and more that her reaction to learning about this part of her was completely normal. The secondary characters were surprisingly well-developed. The author introduced many characters with very different personalities and it never felt like too much. Sometimes an author will introduced too much, too soon and it feels like they're talking at you and explaining a story versus telling you a story in a way that makes you feel like you're a part of it. For the record, Finding Me falls into the latter category.
I will admit that the start of the book was a bit slow. I was worried that I wasn't going to like it at all, but after about 30 pages I was hooked. I just couldn't seem to read fast enough to find out what new power Chloe would discover or how she would interact with her friends (new and old) or her family.
I'm looking forward to picking up the second book in this series and reading more about the world that this author has created. It's a great read that seems to combine elements of X-Men, Doctor Who, Fringe, and sort of The Vow (with Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum). I would definitely recommend Finding Me.
For more reviews, check out Reviews in a Pinch today!
My Thoughts: Superheroes! This book seriously hit my nerdy superhero obsession and it was awesome. I could go on for awhile about all of the different parts of the sci-fi world that I love, but I don't want to digress too much from the actual review of Finding Me.
The plot was interesting. Pretty creative, especially in comparison to all of the other books/series out there with a similar theme. I enjoyed the idea of a "team" of superheroes working together with a specific number of chances to enable good to win out over evil. It was a slight reminder of the Doctor's 13 reincarnations (yes, nerdy Doctor Who reference).
The main character, Chloe, was very believable. At first, I found her fear and disbelief annoying. As she continued to grow on me, I realized more and more that her reaction to learning about this part of her was completely normal. The secondary characters were surprisingly well-developed. The author introduced many characters with very different personalities and it never felt like too much. Sometimes an author will introduced too much, too soon and it feels like they're talking at you and explaining a story versus telling you a story in a way that makes you feel like you're a part of it. For the record, Finding Me falls into the latter category.
I will admit that the start of the book was a bit slow. I was worried that I wasn't going to like it at all, but after about 30 pages I was hooked. I just couldn't seem to read fast enough to find out what new power Chloe would discover or how she would interact with her friends (new and old) or her family.
I'm looking forward to picking up the second book in this series and reading more about the world that this author has created. It's a great read that seems to combine elements of X-Men, Doctor Who, Fringe, and sort of The Vow (with Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum). I would definitely recommend Finding Me.
For more reviews, check out Reviews in a Pinch today!
November 10, 2014
This book was pretty amazing. I got sucked in right from the beginning of the story. The story was interesting and something that I have not read a lot about. Chloe’s character goes through the shock of her life and learns she has a love that has been with her across time and dimensions.
I loved that we got to see the growth of Chloe’s character. She doesn’t have her memories from another life that she was told she has lived so she has to learn everything again. She scared and doesn’t know who to trust but she tries. Chloe gets to grow into someone completely knew and she gets to fix the things she is not happy about in her life.
I loved all of the characters. They each brought something new to the story and they each brought something out in Chloe. Each character brings out a trait in Chloe’s personality that she needed. Raja was able to be the person that pushed Chloe. Raja was harsh but it was better than everyone else who was stressing the timeline but wouldn’t give her the push she needed. Jill was there when she was questioning the love between her and Chris. She was the best friend every girl needed.
Chris was pretty awesome. He never gave up on Chloe. The only thing I had a problem with was that he kept pushing her to be Amanda. I loved that she didn’t let him try and push her to be someone she wasn’t. Eventually he got to know the Chloe she was now. What Chloe, with the help of Chris, finds out is that she has been Amanda all along. She was just too scared and confused to realize it.
The book was a really fun read. I enjoyed every second of it. I can’t wait to read the next one. Oh and the cliff hanger is really mean. I had to read the last line over a few times I was so shocked.
May 15, 2014
Every teenager goes through an identity crisis. He or she has to decide if they want to make their own way in the world, or if they want to simply continue on in the manner in which they were raised. Chloe Carmicheal is no exception. She has the seemingly perfect life. Her family is well-off; she has a boyfriend that her parents approve of and a set of friends envied by the rest of the school. Chloe is a normal teenager… Or so she thought. One day, Chloe has a vision of her boyfriend being murdered which is unsettling to be sure. What is more unsettling is that it happens. Just like she saw. And that is only the beginning.
I very much enjoyed this book. The only reason it did not get a 5 out of 5 rating is because of the cliff-hanger-ish ending, which I’m growing to despise. However, since it seems to be such a mainstay in the genre, I should probably get used to it eventually. While there is heat between the hero and heroine, this is definitely a young adult novel. I will include the caveat that the book does depict violence so it might not be appropriate for those under 14. I did not see many grammatical or typographical errors, and those I did see did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, which I read almost in one sitting. And since the book is not exactly short, that should say something about my enjoyment of it. Ms. Brazil has done an excellent job of blending the day-to-day mundane world with the paranormal/supernatural aspects of the story. The reader comes to believe the weirdness in Chloe’s life right along with Chloe. I look forward to future books in the series, and based on the ending of Finding Me, I really hope there will be future books.
I very much enjoyed this book. The only reason it did not get a 5 out of 5 rating is because of the cliff-hanger-ish ending, which I’m growing to despise. However, since it seems to be such a mainstay in the genre, I should probably get used to it eventually. While there is heat between the hero and heroine, this is definitely a young adult novel. I will include the caveat that the book does depict violence so it might not be appropriate for those under 14. I did not see many grammatical or typographical errors, and those I did see did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, which I read almost in one sitting. And since the book is not exactly short, that should say something about my enjoyment of it. Ms. Brazil has done an excellent job of blending the day-to-day mundane world with the paranormal/supernatural aspects of the story. The reader comes to believe the weirdness in Chloe’s life right along with Chloe. I look forward to future books in the series, and based on the ending of Finding Me, I really hope there will be future books.
April 10, 2017
3.5 Stars*
When I first started to read this book I was a bit bored. Chloe was a bit wooden in her speaking and the cast of characters were one demential for a while. The timeline in the story was difficult to follow at times due to the way Chloe would think and be heading to say first period then insert thinking and it's the end of the school day. Some things were very confusing in the beginning and I found myself wandering. But then about half way through the story changed and came alive, the characters became better more real and the emotions they exhibited were great. Though there were still some parts that were confusing. I hated Chloe's mom I hated everything she did at the same time I also highly disliked Chloe. She was not a strong person she limited herself by constantly calling herself a chicken I couldn't understand why she wouldn't stand up to her mom. She didn't try not even once, but I never understood why since there were no consequences shown for those actions if she did "disobey". What would the ramifications be if she had ignored what her mother said? Even after she changed and grew as a person she still allowed her mother to consume her and direct her. That wasn't something I'd expect from a teenager. Overall once you get past the boring parts the story picks up and gets very interesting. The ending leaves me with a feeling of shock, though I had already suspected who it might be given some if the kernels we were given earlier in the story. I do want to see what happens next though.
*this book was given to me by the author for my open and honest review all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
When I first started to read this book I was a bit bored. Chloe was a bit wooden in her speaking and the cast of characters were one demential for a while. The timeline in the story was difficult to follow at times due to the way Chloe would think and be heading to say first period then insert thinking and it's the end of the school day. Some things were very confusing in the beginning and I found myself wandering. But then about half way through the story changed and came alive, the characters became better more real and the emotions they exhibited were great. Though there were still some parts that were confusing. I hated Chloe's mom I hated everything she did at the same time I also highly disliked Chloe. She was not a strong person she limited herself by constantly calling herself a chicken I couldn't understand why she wouldn't stand up to her mom. She didn't try not even once, but I never understood why since there were no consequences shown for those actions if she did "disobey". What would the ramifications be if she had ignored what her mother said? Even after she changed and grew as a person she still allowed her mother to consume her and direct her. That wasn't something I'd expect from a teenager. Overall once you get past the boring parts the story picks up and gets very interesting. The ending leaves me with a feeling of shock, though I had already suspected who it might be given some if the kernels we were given earlier in the story. I do want to see what happens next though.
*this book was given to me by the author for my open and honest review all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 25, 2014
Amazing Read! I couldn't put the book down! Dawn Brazil is a wonderful author I found her story most intriguing and her characters were different and absolutely wonderful. She writes with such an ease that you feel as if your right there with the characters and before you realize it you have read the whole book in one sitting.
The book is edgy as well you never know what is going to pop up next or what mystery is going to be uncovered around the corner, the cliff hanger ending leaves you needing the next book right now!..lol
I can't wait to see how the story unfolds and what happens to the characters next! they were all so unique and interesting I don't know if I could choose just one to love the most but I certainly loved them all in different ways. their personalities were very well written and the villain totally shocked me! I am usually able to figure it out before the end and I so had no idea about this one! so way to go Dawn!
The villain was executed brilliantly in this and was one of my favourite parts of the book. Apart from being scary on occasion like most villains tend to be this one was smart, crafty and kept to the shadows till the end to reveal themselves which I though was awesome. They didn't just come at the characters full force and have lots of battles, instead it was always when the characters lest expected and was executed in a way so that they never knew who was attacking and then the villain was gone. total ninja style!
Dawn Brazil is totally brilliant and you all have got to read this book! TBR today and get your copy!
The book is edgy as well you never know what is going to pop up next or what mystery is going to be uncovered around the corner, the cliff hanger ending leaves you needing the next book right now!..lol
I can't wait to see how the story unfolds and what happens to the characters next! they were all so unique and interesting I don't know if I could choose just one to love the most but I certainly loved them all in different ways. their personalities were very well written and the villain totally shocked me! I am usually able to figure it out before the end and I so had no idea about this one! so way to go Dawn!
The villain was executed brilliantly in this and was one of my favourite parts of the book. Apart from being scary on occasion like most villains tend to be this one was smart, crafty and kept to the shadows till the end to reveal themselves which I though was awesome. They didn't just come at the characters full force and have lots of battles, instead it was always when the characters lest expected and was executed in a way so that they never knew who was attacking and then the villain was gone. total ninja style!
Dawn Brazil is totally brilliant and you all have got to read this book! TBR today and get your copy!
May 19, 2015
Story starts off slowly, crawling along; this is a YA book narrated by a very young sounding 16 year old. When the plot starts to take a clearer shape, scenes seem too forced, and seem to occur rapidly at times before slowing down again.
A group of teenagers try to explain to the main character, Chloe, that she isn’t just having the usual teenage identity crisis; that she really is someone else, named Amanda, and they are superheroes. They attempt to explain this without pressuring her to remember and to join them, even though several different universes, including Earth, depend on her remembering. Even in a supernatural and magical YA novel, teenagers usually don’t usually blurt out, “We’re superheroes and we need your help to save all the universes!”
That the 8 superheroes were paired off and no love triangles exist is refreshing, even if there was no chemistry between Chloe and Chris. That Chloe doubted herself so much and didn’t act like a normal teenager, didn’t stand up to her mother at all, was less pleasant. Chloe’s inner dialog was immature, and so was the lack of information these so-called superheroes have about their villain. The kids even admit they are going in blind, as the ENO can resemble anyone at any time.
All in all, the plot is original and I’m interested to see what happens next, but Chloe doesn’t come close to being the most interesting or mature teenage narrator I’ve read this year.
Was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A group of teenagers try to explain to the main character, Chloe, that she isn’t just having the usual teenage identity crisis; that she really is someone else, named Amanda, and they are superheroes. They attempt to explain this without pressuring her to remember and to join them, even though several different universes, including Earth, depend on her remembering. Even in a supernatural and magical YA novel, teenagers usually don’t usually blurt out, “We’re superheroes and we need your help to save all the universes!”
That the 8 superheroes were paired off and no love triangles exist is refreshing, even if there was no chemistry between Chloe and Chris. That Chloe doubted herself so much and didn’t act like a normal teenager, didn’t stand up to her mother at all, was less pleasant. Chloe’s inner dialog was immature, and so was the lack of information these so-called superheroes have about their villain. The kids even admit they are going in blind, as the ENO can resemble anyone at any time.
All in all, the plot is original and I’m interested to see what happens next, but Chloe doesn’t come close to being the most interesting or mature teenage narrator I’ve read this year.
Was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2015
I received an e-copy of the book from the author, via Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts:
Dawn Brazil’s "Finding Me" was like a reading about a young group of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Except these supernaturals has a member with amnesia.
"Finding Me" was a creative spin on time travel and supernaturals. Brazil’s tale centers around a young girl who doesn’t remember she’s supernatural. She doesn’t remember anything about her life other than she’s a normal teen with a pretend boyfriend, snobby parents and snooty friends at an exclusive school. Once I got past all the name dropping (Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, etc.), the story was good. Chloe wasn’t a fan of all the big designer names. It was the world she lived in and Brazil attempted to reveal that to readers. I think she succeeded especially when the seventeen year old received a brand new sports car for a birthday present.
Chloe and The Great 8 are fighting an enemy they’ve known all their life. Unfortunately, she doesn’t remember the enemy until the last quarter of the book. Her memories start flooding back and now we get a major cliffhanger.
Brazil wrote a hopeful story with a clear, positive message–when you embrace who you are, you’re unstoppable! That’s a great message for everyone and not just teens. I look forward to reading the next installment by Brazil.
My Thoughts:
Dawn Brazil’s "Finding Me" was like a reading about a young group of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Except these supernaturals has a member with amnesia.
"Finding Me" was a creative spin on time travel and supernaturals. Brazil’s tale centers around a young girl who doesn’t remember she’s supernatural. She doesn’t remember anything about her life other than she’s a normal teen with a pretend boyfriend, snobby parents and snooty friends at an exclusive school. Once I got past all the name dropping (Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, etc.), the story was good. Chloe wasn’t a fan of all the big designer names. It was the world she lived in and Brazil attempted to reveal that to readers. I think she succeeded especially when the seventeen year old received a brand new sports car for a birthday present.
Chloe and The Great 8 are fighting an enemy they’ve known all their life. Unfortunately, she doesn’t remember the enemy until the last quarter of the book. Her memories start flooding back and now we get a major cliffhanger.
Brazil wrote a hopeful story with a clear, positive message–when you embrace who you are, you’re unstoppable! That’s a great message for everyone and not just teens. I look forward to reading the next installment by Brazil.
May 27, 2015
An Entertaining read!
***I was given an ebook from the author, via Goodreads, for an honest review.***
First of all I'd like to thank Ms. Dawn Brazil for allowing me this opportunity to R&R her book. I give Finding Me a strong four stars. It started out grabbing my attention right from the very first chapter. Somewhere around chapter 5, I didn't want to put the book down. The storyline was unique from other books out there in this genre, which kept the story interesting. The author does a great job of introducing the characters and allowing you to get to know each of them, both individually and as partners. I enjoyed meeting Chloe, but I am definitely looking forward to seeing much more of that ass Amanda! She came out in her fight with the E and O toward the end of the block and royally kicked butt! And of course, Chris! Mr. McDreamy himself. The sparks that fly between he and Amanda are enough to keep anyone coming back for more! Cliffy? Yep, definitely! Am I going to book 2? You Batcha! Already bought it!
I was definitely surprised to read in the write up at the end of the book that this was the author's first book! I think she did a tremendous job for her first book, especially! A job well done!
***I was given an ebook from the author, via Goodreads, for an honest review.***
First of all I'd like to thank Ms. Dawn Brazil for allowing me this opportunity to R&R her book. I give Finding Me a strong four stars. It started out grabbing my attention right from the very first chapter. Somewhere around chapter 5, I didn't want to put the book down. The storyline was unique from other books out there in this genre, which kept the story interesting. The author does a great job of introducing the characters and allowing you to get to know each of them, both individually and as partners. I enjoyed meeting Chloe, but I am definitely looking forward to seeing much more of that ass Amanda! She came out in her fight with the E and O toward the end of the block and royally kicked butt! And of course, Chris! Mr. McDreamy himself. The sparks that fly between he and Amanda are enough to keep anyone coming back for more! Cliffy? Yep, definitely! Am I going to book 2? You Batcha! Already bought it!
I was definitely surprised to read in the write up at the end of the book that this was the author's first book! I think she did a tremendous job for her first book, especially! A job well done!
May 22, 2015
***I received this ebook from the author, via goodreads, for an honest review***
Wow, ok first off in the beginning I was really confused, however, I am thinking that was the intention of the author and it helped me connect to the character. Then quickly this book just sucked me in to it's own little world, or worlds should I say. Ms. Brazil has this way of pulling you into the characters head/world and making you feel exactly what the character is going through. I had the sense that something was missing, like a piece of the puzzle just wasn't there but could not figure out what it was but this is the exact emotion the character feels. Several of the characters I loved (Sam, Chloe for example), a couple I hated (Mother...ugg), and one had me a lil confused (Chris...totally swoon-worthy but at times I wanted to smack him) lol. The ending....oh holy cliffy batman.... had me screaming "WHAT.....AUUUUGGGG" and running for book number 2. I give this book 4.5 stars and totally recommend this book.
Wow, ok first off in the beginning I was really confused, however, I am thinking that was the intention of the author and it helped me connect to the character. Then quickly this book just sucked me in to it's own little world, or worlds should I say. Ms. Brazil has this way of pulling you into the characters head/world and making you feel exactly what the character is going through. I had the sense that something was missing, like a piece of the puzzle just wasn't there but could not figure out what it was but this is the exact emotion the character feels. Several of the characters I loved (Sam, Chloe for example), a couple I hated (Mother...ugg), and one had me a lil confused (Chris...totally swoon-worthy but at times I wanted to smack him) lol. The ending....oh holy cliffy batman.... had me screaming "WHAT.....AUUUUGGGG" and running for book number 2. I give this book 4.5 stars and totally recommend this book.
February 1, 2016
Finding Me by Dawn Brazil had me hooked from the beginning. I absolutely LOVED it. From the start I was consumed with trying to figure out what was going on. The author does a fantastic job giving just the right amount of information to keep the book moving so I couldn't put it down.
The plot took an unexpected turn when I started learning more about the main character Chloe what she is capable of. I didn't know what to expect from one page to the next. Then there was Chris, Chloe's soul mate, who made me want to fall in love all over again. I don't like to give too much information about a book but the ending took me completely by surprise and anxious for the next!
Brazil is a truly creative writer. She found a way to write a book like none other. Finding me will make your heart race, make you happy, and even make you feel like a super hero.
The plot took an unexpected turn when I started learning more about the main character Chloe what she is capable of. I didn't know what to expect from one page to the next. Then there was Chris, Chloe's soul mate, who made me want to fall in love all over again. I don't like to give too much information about a book but the ending took me completely by surprise and anxious for the next!
Brazil is a truly creative writer. She found a way to write a book like none other. Finding me will make your heart race, make you happy, and even make you feel like a super hero.
May 26, 2016
Sorta interesting story. The beginning with Zach was probably one of my favorite parts, honestly. The vision and reality mixing together was a fun kind of freaky. I found some parts hard to follow and others a bit slow-moving. I didn't really like Chloe and that was probably the hardest part to get past. I was trying to read more into her and like her more, but she just seemed a bit too whiny and uncomfortable in her own skin. I didn't see a lot of the chemistry I needed between the characters to buy into a story and want to know what happens next. Cliffhanger ending was good and has me wondering what will become of everything.
ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
ARC provided in exchange for honest review.
July 27, 2014
I received this book in exchange for a honest review from the author.
This is an enjoyable YA read. The concept is fascinating, appealing and different. The main character, Chloe was slow to develop but once she came into her own she was a great character. I liked Chris right away, he is patient, loving and trying so very hard to help Amanda remember her past. There were some amazing twists that I did not expect. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
This is an enjoyable YA read. The concept is fascinating, appealing and different. The main character, Chloe was slow to develop but once she came into her own she was a great character. I liked Chris right away, he is patient, loving and trying so very hard to help Amanda remember her past. There were some amazing twists that I did not expect. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
May 29, 2015
Finding Me
by Dawn Brazil is a definite page turner. The storyline flows well. There were plot twists to keep me guessing and make me want to continue reading without a break. The ending is a cliffhanger that just makes me want to know, "How do I get the next book??!!"
**I received a free eBook copy of this book from the author, via Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review.**
by Dawn Brazil is a definite page turner. The storyline flows well. There were plot twists to keep me guessing and make me want to continue reading without a break. The ending is a cliffhanger that just makes me want to know, "How do I get the next book??!!"**I received a free eBook copy of this book from the author, via Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review.**
September 13, 2014
Oh my God where is the next one?! I seriously enjoyed every aspect of this book. There was an amazing character development although I wish we'd seen more of the other characters as well. I can't wait for the second!
April 8, 2014
Wow! This was a great YA paranormal romance! I couldn't put it down! Wonderful read and I am hoping there is a sequel! I am looking forward to reading more from this author!
December 1, 2014
Great book! And our December featured-come check out our full review on http://www.followbooks.com
August 9, 2021
Finding Me was a 3.5 stars for me. Having a great plot full of adventure and unpredictable surprises, I am still wondering what happens next to the protagonists and the ENO. The cliffhanger ending did its job.
This book felt like a mix of Twilight, Gossip Girl, and a kiddy version of Avengers. The way that Twilight introduced Edward and his paired off family members as beautiful superhuman creatures was very similar to the way Chris and the Great Eight were introduced. The Avengers each banded together as a superhuman group to fight the big bad villain, the same way the Great Eight are doing so now. The superpowers feel a bit excessive, causing them all to have less challenges than they should. The superficial side intrigue with the rich girls and the brand name dropping is very much like Gossip Girl.
The supporting characters felt hollow. Their personalities were not quite fleshed out. I still cannot differentiate between the characters in the Great Eight. Even the characters that were not part of that group really only had one defining attribute to describe them. The way the mom does a 180 degree turn in behavior is too quick and not realistic.
The book is interesting with great potential, if you do not think too deeply into it. I received this book for free, and I am voluntarily writing this review.
This book felt like a mix of Twilight, Gossip Girl, and a kiddy version of Avengers. The way that Twilight introduced Edward and his paired off family members as beautiful superhuman creatures was very similar to the way Chris and the Great Eight were introduced. The Avengers each banded together as a superhuman group to fight the big bad villain, the same way the Great Eight are doing so now. The superpowers feel a bit excessive, causing them all to have less challenges than they should. The superficial side intrigue with the rich girls and the brand name dropping is very much like Gossip Girl.
The supporting characters felt hollow. Their personalities were not quite fleshed out. I still cannot differentiate between the characters in the Great Eight. Even the characters that were not part of that group really only had one defining attribute to describe them. The way the mom does a 180 degree turn in behavior is too quick and not realistic.
The book is interesting with great potential, if you do not think too deeply into it. I received this book for free, and I am voluntarily writing this review.
August 10, 2021
This book was everything!
Bruh....that ending had me screaming, literally out loud!
Okay, so first, this was unlike anything I've read. So many different elements. It was here on earth, yet it wasn't. Ms. Brazil created an alternative world, for our reading pleasure, that was amazing.
In this novel we follow Chloe/Amanda on her journey of self-discovery. Her (fake) boyfriend is murdered and she meets her soul mate at the same time. Fighting her desires, she discovers she has powers. Powers that are supposed to help save the world. Only Chloe is weak and not interested in saving the world. That could be because she doesn't remember who she really is. Amanda, badass extraordinaire.
The great eight are there for her. Who are they? Well they are superheroes like her. These people are her best friends and are supposed to help save the world...this is their last chance.
I won't go into much detail, but they have their hands full with stopping the supposed evil ENO and helping Chloe/ Amanda remember.
Thank you to the author for the free copy for an honest review
Bruh....that ending had me screaming, literally out loud!
Okay, so first, this was unlike anything I've read. So many different elements. It was here on earth, yet it wasn't. Ms. Brazil created an alternative world, for our reading pleasure, that was amazing.
In this novel we follow Chloe/Amanda on her journey of self-discovery. Her (fake) boyfriend is murdered and she meets her soul mate at the same time. Fighting her desires, she discovers she has powers. Powers that are supposed to help save the world. Only Chloe is weak and not interested in saving the world. That could be because she doesn't remember who she really is. Amanda, badass extraordinaire.
The great eight are there for her. Who are they? Well they are superheroes like her. These people are her best friends and are supposed to help save the world...this is their last chance.
I won't go into much detail, but they have their hands full with stopping the supposed evil ENO and helping Chloe/ Amanda remember.
Thank you to the author for the free copy for an honest review
May 23, 2023
1/5 🌟
Here’s the thing — I dnf’d this book 2/3rds of the way into it! And quite frankly, I could care less. No part of me wants to know how it ends because I think if I did, it would actually infuriate me more. With that being said, I received a free e-arc from Net Gallery in exchange for my full, honest review.
Finding Me is a YA fantasy, romance novel about a high school girl who discovers after watching her boyfriend get murdered that she is from another universe with superpowers. That about sums it up. Chloe Carmichael has zero personality aside from the fact that she doesn’t like her family and she loves to fawn over boys she just met. I really try hard not to bash books, I’ve read a lot of great one and a lot of not so great ones, but this was just terrible. I can’t even say that I see the heart in writing this story because it’s just so cheesy and makes no sense. I don’t understand and I don’t wanna talk about it further.
No Pinterest board because I simply couldn’t bear it.
Here’s the thing — I dnf’d this book 2/3rds of the way into it! And quite frankly, I could care less. No part of me wants to know how it ends because I think if I did, it would actually infuriate me more. With that being said, I received a free e-arc from Net Gallery in exchange for my full, honest review.
Finding Me is a YA fantasy, romance novel about a high school girl who discovers after watching her boyfriend get murdered that she is from another universe with superpowers. That about sums it up. Chloe Carmichael has zero personality aside from the fact that she doesn’t like her family and she loves to fawn over boys she just met. I really try hard not to bash books, I’ve read a lot of great one and a lot of not so great ones, but this was just terrible. I can’t even say that I see the heart in writing this story because it’s just so cheesy and makes no sense. I don’t understand and I don’t wanna talk about it further.
No Pinterest board because I simply couldn’t bear it.
January 21, 2023
Audiobook: On the whole, I liked this story, but I thought it could use some editing. A 16-year-old girl finds out that she has lived a past life that she can't remember. Then a group of strangers tell her that she has to remember or the whole world was at risk. I liked the creative idea behind the story. I thought that Chloe was interesting as a character, but she doesn't evolve throughout the tale, she just sporadically changed her views and relationships. The other characters were one dimensional and had very little substance, other than as props or catalysts for Chloe's actions. Amanda Davidson's narration was fine as her voice was expressive; however, the word in the story was "envelop" and Amanda would pronounce it as "envelope" and that was somewhat distracting for me. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
January 5, 2021
Amazing. Recommend!
Amazing is quite boring for a word on this book but its the one word stuck in my head. The plot....totally cool and swervey at all the right places. I had guesses which I'm usually pretty good at but a couple I seriously got side swipped by. The characters are believable and real. It leaves you rooting for each in a different way. There intrigue and romance and fantasy and the people and the world are described in way that you need to keep "turning" the next page, to read one more paragraph that turns into page and then chapter besides the clear pictures created in your mind. I am so glad I can start the next book right away!
Amazing is quite boring for a word on this book but its the one word stuck in my head. The plot....totally cool and swervey at all the right places. I had guesses which I'm usually pretty good at but a couple I seriously got side swipped by. The characters are believable and real. It leaves you rooting for each in a different way. There intrigue and romance and fantasy and the people and the world are described in way that you need to keep "turning" the next page, to read one more paragraph that turns into page and then chapter besides the clear pictures created in your mind. I am so glad I can start the next book right away!
August 8, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of the book from vivacious reads from the author
Great Y/A read with an amazing storyline.
I loved the characters and you just can't wait to read the next book to find out what happens.
Great Y/A read with an amazing storyline.
I loved the characters and you just can't wait to read the next book to find out what happens.
April 23, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Finding Me is the first book of the upcoming trilogy. As a YA sci fi novel, it hits the mark.
Finding Me is the first book of the upcoming trilogy. As a YA sci fi novel, it hits the mark.
March 5, 2016
"Finding Me"
By Dawn Brazil
I agreed to review this first novel by Dawn Brazil because I rather like delving into the minds of the young adult readers. Although it always amazes me how difficult it must be to construct a novel that current teenagers will relate to when you are past that period in your life. Do you dumb it down? Do you have to have an eclectic memory? Do you ask for advise? How can you keep your own life experiences from seeping into the storyline? That is the conundrum. I give kudos to authors who take on this task for I feel it must be harder to write something with which you can't directly relate. Then add the paranormal twist and it must be doubly difficult.
I liked the snippet of information I received about the storyline and characters but was surprised to find that the introduction to the book was the most organized part of the story.
In my opinion the first third of the book was choppy and wordy. It reminded me of a paper written by a 16 year old in an English Composition class. I could tell there was a story there but it was taking forever to get there.
The middle third of the book got a little more exiting and the writing flowed in a much better pace and with greater structure. I questioned myself about there possibly being another author.
The last third of the book really went back to something I had trouble relating to and thinking "this doesn't make any sense". Perhaps it was just me being long past the teen years but I felt conflicting stories, conversations and confusing scenes. It felt like a dream (or nightmare) where you wake up and nothing you remember makes sense. There seemed to be quite a few "I'll explain later" conversations in the book and even halfway through I was still confused about what was going on with the "paranormals".
The story had all the right components: cute girl, cute guy, loyal friends, romance, suspense, high school drama and parental strife. I feel like the story might have benefitted from a little more editing and character development. The hook was good but a faster plot development would have went a long way to making this an easier read.
I know this is a re-release and that prompted me to seek out any previous reviews (of which I found 12) and found only one other similar to mine. The others seemed to give glowing accolades (3-4 stars) for this book which leads me to this conclusion: I just might be totally wrong, it might have been too soon to read this after some of the other books I have been reading or I am not totally unjustified in my review and am trying to help the author out with my comments. I hope it's a little of all three because I think this author is on the right track with good instincts but may need a little help with the "derailing" of some parts of the writing.
Please go ahead and try this story if you are a YA fan. I would love to be wrong in my assessment and I AM only one opinion.
Jeanie G
I give this story 1 1/2 stars
By Dawn Brazil
I agreed to review this first novel by Dawn Brazil because I rather like delving into the minds of the young adult readers. Although it always amazes me how difficult it must be to construct a novel that current teenagers will relate to when you are past that period in your life. Do you dumb it down? Do you have to have an eclectic memory? Do you ask for advise? How can you keep your own life experiences from seeping into the storyline? That is the conundrum. I give kudos to authors who take on this task for I feel it must be harder to write something with which you can't directly relate. Then add the paranormal twist and it must be doubly difficult.
I liked the snippet of information I received about the storyline and characters but was surprised to find that the introduction to the book was the most organized part of the story.
In my opinion the first third of the book was choppy and wordy. It reminded me of a paper written by a 16 year old in an English Composition class. I could tell there was a story there but it was taking forever to get there.
The middle third of the book got a little more exiting and the writing flowed in a much better pace and with greater structure. I questioned myself about there possibly being another author.
The last third of the book really went back to something I had trouble relating to and thinking "this doesn't make any sense". Perhaps it was just me being long past the teen years but I felt conflicting stories, conversations and confusing scenes. It felt like a dream (or nightmare) where you wake up and nothing you remember makes sense. There seemed to be quite a few "I'll explain later" conversations in the book and even halfway through I was still confused about what was going on with the "paranormals".
The story had all the right components: cute girl, cute guy, loyal friends, romance, suspense, high school drama and parental strife. I feel like the story might have benefitted from a little more editing and character development. The hook was good but a faster plot development would have went a long way to making this an easier read.
I know this is a re-release and that prompted me to seek out any previous reviews (of which I found 12) and found only one other similar to mine. The others seemed to give glowing accolades (3-4 stars) for this book which leads me to this conclusion: I just might be totally wrong, it might have been too soon to read this after some of the other books I have been reading or I am not totally unjustified in my review and am trying to help the author out with my comments. I hope it's a little of all three because I think this author is on the right track with good instincts but may need a little help with the "derailing" of some parts of the writing.
Please go ahead and try this story if you are a YA fan. I would love to be wrong in my assessment and I AM only one opinion.
Jeanie G
I give this story 1 1/2 stars
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