Thursday, 26 February 2015

Review: Even in Paradise

Even in Paradise 
Publication Date: October 14th 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins






It gave me the same vibe as We Were Liars did, not in character or storyline but in the way that the family was perfectly portrayed dysfunctional in a way that wasn't dysfunctional. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but let's put it this way. There's secrets, there's something that doesn't add up and  Charlotte knows that, that behind all of their glitz and glam and perfectness there's something there, chipping it away at it all as they try and cling on. And yet, she's still gets caught up in everything Buchanan and gets charmed by them. It's perfectly portrayed in a way that even though you know there's something not quite right, you get all caught up in everything  Buchanan and get charmed by it, too/ 

"Gatsby tries so hard for his dream. That he wants to be part of Daisy's world so badly that he'll do anything. He believes in her long after he shouldn't. His hope is beautiful. It's what ends up killing him, but it's still beautiful.

While I breathe, I hope."

Both Charlotte and Julia  are characters I'd hate if it wasn't in this story. As soon as Julia's in Charlotte's life, she ditches her friends. As soon as Julia eases her way into Charlotte's life, she ditches her friends. While there's a reason for the latter the formers blamed on Charlotte being swept up into the new world she was exploring. Which I get, but is still a crappy thing to do, which she knows what she's doing and how she's acting.

Even in Paradise is more about friendship and family dynamics than anything else, and it was nice to read about a rich family that are nice. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying rich people are, well, not nice, but it's mostly the way it goes  in YA, with the rich bitchy mean girl, etc, it was a nice surprise, as was the romance, which was sweet but bitter-sweet.

Rating: 4/5