Bookcat > Recent Status Updates

Having a bit more trouble getting into this one :(

I think it’s because they met a bit too early or because I really want it to be the vibe of the cover and it isn’t rn

Still decent so far though

The day we get an Abby Jimenez novels where none of the parents are flawed/one of the major causes of conflict is the day I will actually drink coffee

My brother will hold me to that promise so let’s hope it goes smoothly

20 pages in and we have bread debates

Chris is awesome

The toilet king has returned

I’m happy idk

4 stars but man I had some issues, mostly the lack of vivid language and how repetitive some of the twists got

Also too much Ben

I've read quite a few novels with a similar plot and this one was the worst, but still decent

Eh good ending twist but it was still anticlimactic

Like you can't just infodump about this scar on the last page

....Filler character suddenly becomes important in the last 20 pages...

Wait why did we only see Professor Clerval once? I swear he had the vibe of someone who would be way more important to the story

NO, BEN.

YOU SHOULD'VE GIVEN UP.

SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU.

YOU'RE EMBARRASSING YOURSELF.

Yayyyyy happiness

But why such a drastic mood shift

Bro now we have cringe villain motivations

And now there's too much Ben again like it gets boring when he has the same twist happen like 3 or 4 times

If anything the people in this book are REALLY good at covering things up

Okay I totally forgot arranged marriage was a thing but like it also says the guy who arranged it doesn't have actual power in the matter so it's still stupid

....Even in the 1800s, I'm pretty sure that's NOT how engagement works.

HOW DO YOU SCREW UP WRITING PEOPLE GETTING ENGAGED

Yea the bratty romantic personality has officially gotten tacky

I do think it's a good way to make Dilly regret her actions but it could've been done in a less juvenile way

Well today's a good day I guessed the most obvious twist that we all saw coming

Gimme my trophy

Wait if you knew he was going to confront you about your big secret that he just learned why would you bother meeting with him like everything's normal

Ehhhhh now I'm not sure about the personality shift angle especially since there's so many "the old version would never do this!" lines written that exact way

Also why is the murder plot here now it's so obvious what it's referencing and it's too late to make it deep

And I'm 99% sure who it is

Ooooooooo skepticism

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

And there was some actual description in the last few scenes yayyyyy

Bro please just use some imagery or even purple prose that was the most pivotal scene and it had like no impact

I’m sorry but this book has no atmosphere

...Is Ben supposed to be seedy or a cute love interest I seriously can't decide because when he's helping Dilly and trying to bring her to lectures there's no sign that he's seedy, and then suddenly he's a mysterious guy who we shouldn't trust

Still like his character, but pick a side

Also the last scene is probably one of the best so far, it had actual stakes and stuff

Brooooooo how the heck do you keep screwing up like that Ben

Filler plot points strike again for the second time in 10 pages but at least we have a new character who could be important

I like Ben but this book has too much Ben please let our MC explore on her own please she can take a break from him

Also the last scene was definitely another filler scene what was the point there except to include more sexism and highlight that Ben's father is stupid

And I want less Ben

Uhhhhhh shouldn't there be a more... extreme reaction to finding out your sister wants to date the guy you've been doing literal grave robberies with? Like shouldn't you be more nervous?

Feels like this is going to be a "meandering through stuff that's somewhat connected to the plot" book, so I realllyyyy want some twists.

Also now realizing that the tailor shop scene was basically filler

FINALLY a decent man who is actually encouraging her interest in science

Yeahhhhh you can tell the Frankenstein inspiration and that kinda sucks because this isn't supposed to be an actual retelling but this entire lecture scene and the teacher literally being named Victor Clerval is so copy-paste

Ugghhhhh I actually like the love interest now but he was introduced wayyyyy too early

That last scene was cute. But the father is honestly the most cruel man I've read in any of these 19th century novels.

Uhhhh that was a bit too many reveals please slow down a little I think we could’ve waited to meet that guy

Also I HATE blank pages before chapter starts whyyyyy do publishers waste paper for no reason