Review: Sweet, but didn't quite get there for me
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 17, 2014
What You Own is in first person POV that alternates between the two main characters with flashbacks written in a present tense, diary style that works quite well. The author utilises an almost conversational style. It's very much like you're listening to Ryan and Adam tell you their stories. I did find the short back and forth point of views, especially in the first few chapters, a bit too much. It made it difficult to really get a handle on either character. This did ease up somewhat with longer time given to each character before switching POV and I ended up getting a better sense of the characters. I think some of the problem I had with the POV changes was that they weren't a break or a scene change but carried directly on from where the other character left off with the events happening and I found that a little jarring. That both point of views were told in first person didn't help because I found myself being pulled out of the story repeatedly as I had to keep remembering whose head we were in.I can totally see how another person might love it, but this story was merely okay for me. The first person alternating POVs distanced the story and I had no emotional investment in the characters. I mean, it was kind of like hearing about someone I didn't know. While I wished them all the best and hoped things turned out well for them, it was in a vague kind of general way that I would have for anyone. It wasn't a personal, fingers crossed, I really want good things to happen to my friends kind of wish. And being unfamiliar with Rent and its music, all of those references went right over my head. It had its sweet moments and, even though it didn't quite work for me, may well be worth giving it a try for yourself.Read the full review at Live Your Life, Buy The Book