Review: A somewhat new plot line.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 17, 2013
Did I enjoy this book: I did but not as much as I hoped to. The Art of Love has a lot of potential but some flaws. It took a bit longer to get through than I expected, too.The concept is great. The girl that runs away to get away from a past that is revealed later in the book. She ends up in the big city with no where to go and knowing no one. Marina happens to stumble upon an art exhibit with free food. She then becomes the unwilling participant of the exhibit. Fitz is the performance artist who zeroes in on Marina. After the show, he takes her back to his place to give her shelter and a place to say. Then, the story progresses and other friendships are formed. Marina’s past then starts tracking her down.As I said, a great story line with lots of potential. But there were some flaws. I had a hard time determining how old Marina was at the start of the book. I wish this had been revealed at the beginning. It would have helped me understand her a bit more. I saw her as a late-teen until I was told otherwise. Marina seems young, sheltered, and naive at times. Then, she seems worldly, sassy, and confident. It was hard to get used to her and like her. I did like her but she also got on my nerves at times. It kind of bugged me that – and I’m going to be vague here so I don’t completely spoil anything - she thought at her age that she would be forced by authorities to go back to her past. That made no sense to me at all. I understand her fear and mindset about the person tracking her down but I couldn’t get my head around her reaction to the search. And, on that note, I was also surprised that the authorities would go to such lengths given her age. I’m surprised they didn’t deem her as a runaway.But I loved Marina’s growing confidence in determining who she is and what she wants out of life. Her story could have ended many different ways. I am happy that it went the way it did. She didn’t take the easy way out. That made me like her in the end.Fitz was a romantic character and very trusting and caring. He was your typical trust fund boy who is “finding himself” while rebelling against his bankrolling father. While he does have these issues, I think his interest in being an artist is genuine. But he is not a starving artist like so many others. Fitz is very trusting to take in some girl he knows absolutely nothing about. That is unbelievable to me. He also experiences almost-insta-love with Marina. But his protection and love for her is genuine. That is apparent.I would like to see a sequel to this book. I want to see what happens with all of these characters…and I don’t just mean the main two. I want to know what happens with all of them – Viridian, Derek, Fitz, Fitz’s father, Marina, Marina’s father, and Ruth.This was a tough book to rate because there were parts of the book that bugged me and that I couldn’t get behind. However, the overall story and connection between Marina and Fitz were good and new. So, I would give this book…Would I recommend it: I would recommend The Art of Love if you like NA and a somewhat new but not completely novel plot line.Will I read it again: I will not.(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)