October 9, 2009

The Hollow - Jessica Verday




Young Adult
Pages: 544
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: September 1, 2009

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.


First, I did NOT finish the book, I stopped in page 305. I'm really picky about what I read that's why you see a lot of 5-star reviews here but this book was so well promoted I picked it up. I think its kind of harsh to give one star to a book, so I've decided to start with the things I did like. I liked the fact that Abbey makes perfumes, its kind of interesting and creative and I also liked how the chemistry between her and Caspian is described in some parts. Plus, I normally don't like when there are faces in the cover -I like to imagine the character myself- but this cover is beautiful. It really draws attention.
Now moving on to what bothered me: the book is full of nonsense. There are at least 80 scenes where nothing actually happens! Like pages that just want to keep you there or torture you! I mean, when I sat down to read, I would start but then anything around me, any noise, a wind, anything would pull my attention away. It's weird because I'm the kind of person who gets so into the book that you can come talk to me when I'm reading and I wouldn't notice. So that was a really bad sign.
Abbey was so boring and dumb, a complete bubble-head. She obsesses over a guy she just met and keeps analyzing how to tell him what she feels. Who does that? And Caspian is not that bad, he has his hot/mysterious thing going on but it wasn't enough to keep me interested.
The writing was not something I enjoyed either, it felt awkward sometimes. The best friend's death subplot is not what the book is about. It's about Abbey and Caspian's relationship. Which is not what you think when you read about the book. To me, that death part seemed kind of forced, but I don't really know the ending. I suggest you read other reviews of people who could finish it. And then again this is just my opinion, you may think differently.


8 comments:

  1. I truly understand your review...I finished the book but it took me some time to really get into it. The book could have been so much better…the sad part for me is that I was more interested on the friends “secret” than anything else...and I really though that was the plot of the book!! I know is just your opinion just like this is mine and people are free to like and dislike different things…Hey is not going to be 5 star all the time!

    p.s: Yes the cover IS pretty

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  2. Very well said! I have this book but I keep putting it off to read because I've seen so many reviews like your's. I'm just like you - get into a book and somebody as to literally slap you to get your attention, LOL - and if I have to work to keep my attention on a book then I tend to get frustrated.

    Great Honest Review!! LOVE IT!!

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  3. By the way, I love your new header a lot.

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  4. I posted a comment yesterday, but it didn't show up. Eek! So I'll just re-do it, lol

    I haven't read this book yet, but thanks so much for posting your honest thoughts on it! I think it's better when bloggers tell it straight then not at all =D

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  5. What a good review! I've been on the fence about reading this one and it will probably go to the bottom of my pile.

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  6. Its very well described. I love your new header.

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  7. I finished this book in about 3 days, which is slow for me, and i found the only good parts were the beginning and end. In the middle it just a lot random stuff about Abbey and her everyday life. And who would fall for someone they know NOTHING about! She waited WAY to long to ask him about himself. This book pretty much sucked and it left you with more questions than answers.

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