Okay, let's get an honest review on this book. How it started, ended, how the story evolved, how the characters developed, and how the story correlates to reality.
First off, how it started.
I had the reluctance to read it. Partly because I still wasn't over ACOMAF, and also because this story had a slow turn for me. There was so much going on in the first few pages because Britt was introducing too many characters at the same time, which made me wonder if they were just made up to complete chapter one, or to actually have a role to portray aside from passing by or just saying goodbye. The book had a boring start, to be honest. I ended up rereading the first to third page because it didn't hit up on me or the author didn't introduce more of the main character. Which leads me to my second point.
Characters.
I should start with Korbie. Korbie is this sassy, insecure friend of Britt whom I think doesn't deserve her. Everytime she was mentioned in the book, it made me want to smack her in the face for being so ignorant and picky. She was so dumb for not helping Britt when she cried out for help. I seriously think Caz should've played that role, and that Caz was should've stuck around more often in the book. Next up--Calvin. Maaaan, this dude was shady from the very start. I sensed it. From the time he pulled the trigger on Shaun, I knew he had to do something with the murders. And he was being so unreasonable the whole time. He also didn't strike me as somewhat smart, which was half true, anyway. Then Mason/Jude. For the part of Mason, he kind of portrayed it well. He was very secretive. I liked how his character developed. Even when he opened up to his real name as Jude, he still held himself the same way. Jude, on the other hand, was short-lived. I wanted to know an equal side of him. Then, Britt. Let's discuss about her later.
Anyway. How the story evovled and ended.
As I said, it was kind of a slow turn of events for me. I had to reach to around page 70 to be curious about all the happenings. Although, in the middle, I commend it for being able to catch up and make a few fun ideas. There were times I laughed and there were times I was hooked. A bit of a throw-off for me,though, was how she would always recall her memories with Calvin. Like she was obviously obsessed with him and was so dependent on others. To the last few chapters of the book, after all the revealings, I found that I actually was happy-disappointed with Jude's decision to leave Britt. Happy because he knew priorities. Disappointed because I kind of didn't like the last chapter written. It left the supposed stand alone novel to become a cliffhanger.
Last but not the least--correlation to reality.
I found it hard to believe that they did not die due to natural causes or grizzly encounters. In the actual world, they could've just frozen or could've been eaten by the bear. The problem was as simple as that. But no. There was another one. Britt's character was played so misogynistically. Reading it made me feel like women are not entitled to their own strength and independence.
My dad was a model of indulgent parenting. I suspected it was because I was a girl, and the baby, and because I’d lost my mom to cancer before I was old enough to remember her. My dad was always standing by, ready to save me from even the most minor inconveniences. The truth was, I was comfortable being dependent on him—and every other man in my life.I found Britt's character as someone who was spoiled and childish as she often revealed in her thoughts that she knew that there was always a guy ready to accomodate her and keep her safe. Nice try, Britt. You spoiled little brat. No wonder Calvin called her Britt the Brat. But yeah, yes I hate her character. Both Korbie and her's, actually, because this story was written to say that two young and dumb teenagers went to backpack hike without much knowledge and had wanted to impress someone.
Anyway, this book still didn't wow me as much as I expected it to. The book cover was a 5/5, but the writing needs more work.
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