Jess’s Comments (group member since Feb 09, 2015)

Jess’s comments from the Worldwide Book Club group.

Finished this a bit ago... READ MY REVIEW?! (if you'd like)
I enjoyed this book but (in my opinion) found it very very overhyped. The story was predictable and I found myself guessing most of the plot and "surprises". Aside from that (and I don't know if i'm just being picky because i'm tired) I felt like the characters were always contradicting themselves in some way, like, a lot. They would say one thing and then say something different the next.
Soooo...Rebel Belle follows Harper-a polite, I'm-good-at- everything-I-do-and-I'll-stab-someone-with-a-spoon-if-they-screw-up-my-many-many-pointless-extracurricular-activities, southern belle. She is a workaholic but also the "queen bee" of her school-so she's like friends with everyone and super rich and all that jazz. Enter David Stark. A boy I can only describe as a hot hipster (glasses, tweed jacket, and plaid pants included) and who is also Harper's rival since diaper days. Well things get weird one night and now Harper is "blessed" with the job of protecting David at ANY COST (caps included for dramatic purpose). They have to work together and figure things out and...What?...pass algebra and not be killed? So thats a rough (very rough) idea on what Rebel Belle is about. Interested?

1) I think i found a writing and editing mistake (not a big deal but i thought it was interesting) on page 41 (paperback version) it says "we were sitting in his car, parked in my driveway. It was AFTER MIDNIGHT, but still bright in the car..." and then on page 50 it says "It wasn't even midnight yet, and that was my curfew." So the time doesn't match up (again, not a big deal to me-just something I noticed that stuck in my mind) (hide spoiler)]

2) why was there no speculation on what happened to Mr. Hall and Mr.DuPont? What was it- SIX weeks of not coming in to work? Nobody noticed?! A teacher and janitor don't just disappear without people noticing...thats all.

I suggest Mistborn by: Brandon Sanderson or it looks like this-> or maybe this->

M'kay. So it was cute and relatable here and there. I liked Reagan and thought Levi was great. I'm not a contemporary fan so this book was difficult for me to get through and took me a super long time. They talked about Starbucks-yes they did-which is my definition of a contemporary book-its everywhere!

Hey everyone! Currently, I'm on page 95 and I'm totally struggling. So many people L.O.V.E this book and although I can see its appeal, I myself am having a hard time getting through it. I'm not the biggest contemporary fan (thats an understatement) and wish I was reading about dragons, powers, mystical creatures, etc ... but I'm reading about college and Starbucks. Don't get me wrong I think the book is written very well and the story brings back memories and I completely understand the stuff Cath worries and thinks about, yet I find myself SLOWLY getting through this. Is anyone else struggling? Do things pick up? Happy reading fellow WWBC goers!

Jemma wrote: "That is such a good point about kick-arse female characters hating anything girly. It is soooo common and while sometimes that is fine, I do think that authors think that if they make their charact..."

For sure! I think I like the characters that have a good balance of tough and "girly" more than the females portrayed as despising those things. I like to think I can be tough if I need to be but I also love dressing up from time to time

Karen wrote: "Jess, I liked Nehemia a lot, also. She was one of my favorites. Also, I thought Celaena was a smart character. She knew she could escape, if she had to, but decided to stay and fulfill the challeng..."

Great points! I know i LOVE when a character has a love for books!

Ok. So...I enjoyed this book a lot but found myself wishing for a bit more. There isn't a lot of world building (I'm sure it will come in the later books!) and at times I was a bit lost (maybe that was just me though). I love Celaena and her strong personality and found the other characters fascinating as well. Even though there is a love triangle (sorta)-I find myself hoping for only one (and this can sometimes frustrate me) to be with Celaena. The Captain of the Guard (Chaol) and The Prince (Dorian) are both great characters but I already know who I like better.

Aside from the boys, one of my favorite characters was Nehemia-I found myself really enjoying her strength and wisdom! Sarah J. Maas creates very wonderful, "real" characters no matter what role they have in the story. I'm very excited to see what will happen next and really think I will enjoy this series as it continues (I've heard each one gets better and better). I just hope Crown of Midnight has some more world building and that the characters I ship will develop together even more!!!!!

P.S. I also really appreciate Celaena as a female character. She is strong and smart and can totally take down anyone in her path but she still has a feminine quality. Some books I've read tend to have the "super strong female" hate anything "girly". However, you can be a kick butt female and still like to be in a dress and dance! I appreciate her as a character and found it refreshing.

I suggest:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by: Sarah J. Maas
and Rebel Belle by: Rachel Hawkins

I suggest Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

I'm Jessica and am apparently representing the US right now. I love dystopian and fantasy books with strong female characters and obviously some sort of attractive hot guy. I speak fluent movie as well as some french. Dream family: Meryl Streep as my mom, Steve Carell as my dad, Tina Fey as my aunt, Emma Watson, Emma Stone, and Jennifer Lawrence as my sisters...that would be rocking'. I'm also a booktuber (OnlyJessting)!

You can find me on:
*YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLOk...
*PLANET EARTH
*NORTH AMERICA/USA
*and my goodreads account...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...