Review: Tough to review for me.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2013
3.5 stars, I think. Maybe 4.5. I actually really, really don't quite know how to rate this book, but felt compelled to write this.It was emotionally gripping for me. I enjoyed the plot. The boys and the supporting cast were pretty great.I just struggled with some of the phrasing, I think. Some of the language was just a bit awkward for me. I thought perhaps it was me as I was a bit tired when I read it (that's still possible, I suppose), but afterward I read a short story and had no trouble. Perhaps an editor/a different editor may have caught it?It's just ... I had a rough time completely buying some of the dialogue. And not that we were "told" everything, but I wish we were maybe shown just a bit more. And yes, I am being overly picky.That said, I really couldn't put this story down. I had tears in my eyes several times, and I honestly can't remember the last time that happened. It literally felt almost heartsick at times due to the angst.I love angst.So, a 5 for the story itself. I don't know how I am rating the writing/grammar/phrasing. It's not that it was necessarily wrong. I don't think it was. Maybe just not for me.And I don't usually assign separate ratings. I think it's just that the story was SO GREAT that I really noticed the slightly odd prose. Which stinks, because I am really curious about the other books by this author. I'll have to decide whether I should take the chance. Hmmm.