Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Hi!

Hi Jans, ready?

yeah

Today we shall begin, Niki!

This is the schedule.
01/10 : 1-4
02/10 : 5-8
03/10 : 9-14

Awesomee

Chapter 1-4:

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Honestly, I felt quite lost in the beginning. I love the fantasy world, and magical world-building, but being set up in contemporary life, it felt more natural and normal.

But, once we moved onto different POVs, I began enjoying it, like eating cake, one by one.

The sisters are so contrasting and different, one a rebel another naive, both having grudge against each other. Perfect characterizations bringing life around them.

Initially, I thought all these gifts are beautiful, but after hearing how Evanelle brought a suit for her own husband's funeral before he'd died, made it so sad. Her characterization was brilliant. Who wouldn't want an old lady coming with gifts and presents?

Sydney was a delight, contrast to her sister Claire, with a streak of selfishness that doesn't wear us out. And after what she'd endured I don't want her to get back to Hunter John.

Emma, Tyler, Fred, Ariel, Bay, David, such a wide and variety of beautiful characters. I am loving it for its so easy and elegant read.

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I was lost in the beginning too! I couldn't even figure out what time period this was taking place in but I'm guessing it is a modern day fantasy setting.
I love different POV narrations, where the characters aren't given specified chapters but it just kind of flows and you never know whose mind you're going to be inside for that time. I'm really enjoying the book till now. The first chapter seemed so light hearted and while I felt bad for how Claire spent her childhood, the dark overtones of the story only hit me when Sydney described her life. I already feel connected to all the Waverleys including little Bay and it's written in such a way that even though they have obvious faults, you can sympathise with them and hope they try and change rather than condemn them.
I had the same thoughts about Evanelle's gift, especially when she said that she first gave her husband a rock that he threw at her window and then the only other thing she gave him was the suit. The contrast between the two incidents is so subtle but very painful to think about.
I agree, I do not want Sydney to go back to Hunter John either but moreover, I don't want Emma to turn out to be one of those women who are simply written to trash the heroine and have no other purpose. I loved knowing what she was feeling and thinking and I really hope that her character is developed in a significant way.
I'm so curious about Tyler's vision and the extent of the Waverly powers. Great pick Jans, I'm loving this book till now!

Also I have a silly doubt about GR. How do I find this buddy read link? I have to go to our messages and click the link you sent there every time now but I'm 100% sure there is an easier way! Like do I get notifications or something? I'm so bad with technology so I'd appreciate all the help

Okay, never mind I fixed it! The notifications button is right there lol ignore the above message

Nikitha wrote: "I was lost in the beginning too! I couldn't even figure out what time period this was taking place in but I'm guessing it is a modern day fantasy setting.
I love different POV narrations, where the..."

True. Sydney's life was a true tragedy and I understand how she struggles to say anything happened in her life. Bay's gifts are super-amazing.

I am too very against when a character is written just to make the heroine look flawless. But with Emma, I could get why she is the way she is. It was wrong to make a young girl think she will eventually settle down with Hunter John irrespective of if he would love her or not. Her mother kept motivating her with the wrong ideas. In fact, I felt quite sad when Sydney tells she would have sex with Hunter John. Emma even thinks why Hunter John wouldn't tell her back if he loved her. I kinda not encourage her behaviour at the same time understand why she is the way she is.

You are on point about Evanelle's gift working only two times. I almost forgot and it's darn heart-wrenching.

Even I am not aware why Tyler likes Claire with the visions but I badly want him to have a slow burn love without any magic. He he...

Thanks Niki! I am too in love with this book. I have to pick up now to read for today's quota and can't wait for it.

Nikitha wrote: "Okay, never mind I fixed it! The notifications button is right there lol ignore the above message"

Glad you got it. If it is a mobile browser, I also find it too difficult to locate the notifications section.

I finished reading today's quota but I'll post my thoughts in the morning, I'm quite sleepy now. Happy reading Jans!

Nikitha wrote: "I finished reading today's quota but I'll post my thoughts in the morning, I'm quite sleepy now. Happy reading Jans!"

Awesome. :) Have a happy dream!

Chapter 5-8:

I began to love all the characters. But what I don't understand is, why everyone in town hates Waverley. All have some sort of power, and why does Waverlies are isolated, I can't begin to understand.

But Sydney not confessing to Claire about David and the missing photos are going to direct him right back here to Bascom. That being said, I utterly enjoyed Tyler's persistence with Claire and that kiss was amazing.

Hunter John was a huge disappointment, although, I am glad Sydney is being teamed up with Henry.

The most interesting aspect is how Claire and Sydney try to create an identity for themselves. How Claire is so orderly and keen on not changing anything. Small, tiny incidents are beautifully written.

I hope Fred moves on and it really is sad to know he became so much dependant on James and trying to mend their relationship by magic. I like him because he is having a heartbreak. I like everyone in this book.

It was shocking to see Bay have a POV. But I enjoyed it.

The only frustration was when the POV's constantly changed, I didn't know whose mind I was reading. There could've been some line breaker at least.

Chapters 5-8
It was hard to stop reading at chapter 8, I'm completely sucked into this book!
To answer your question about why everyone hates the Waverlys, I don't actually think anyone hates them. We push away what we cannot understand right? I think its more to do with the fact that the townspeople don't understand where their power comes from, why only they have the power and not knowing that scares them enough to want to alienate the Waverlys but like Claire said, the townspeople think them strange but when they need something they don't hesitate to ask. Also, a bunch of them are just jealous (*coughArielcough*)
David and the photographs put me on edge, I'm so anxious to know how its all going to turn out. I'm very sure David will find them, I just hope that when he does Sydney and Bay are prepared to fight back. But I understand Sydney's hesitation in confiding in Claire, they are just building up their relationship and for the most part of their childhood Claire didn't really like Sydney. BUT THE HAIRCUT SCENE! Very cute and I knew the headband was going to come to use like that.
Tyler and Claire are so sweet, the kiss was amazing and Tyler's determination and Claire's rebuttals are making their relationship so much fun!
I also think Bay's power is so cool and when she was explaining how she knew where to keep her dad's socks so that he won't be mad, that just about broke my heart. Very curious to know what she is missing from her dream vision though.
Hunter John was a disappointment to me too and I don't really understand his character. I hope there will a POV from him too so we can get to know him a little better.
Evanelle is so precious and I really like her relationship with Fred, who I feel really terrible for. It is sad that the one time Evanelle actually wants to help someone but she is unable to :/
Henry and Sydney could be the beginning of something great and I'm really looking forward to how they build their relationship. I also want more Emma POVs.

Chapters 9-14
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Done! I really liked the book so much. The concept was great, the characters were relatable and loveable and it was overall so feel good.
Claire and Tyler were so cute, I love how they get together. Tyler was patient until the very end and understood that Claire needed time even if he didn't fully understand why. Claire took her time to think things through and I love the conversation she had with Sydney at the reservoir, where she finally tells Sydney why she is the way she is. I also liked how it was just mentioned that they would have a baby, it was shocking but very sweet!
I was really happy for Fred and Evanelle too, I always knew that whatever she ended up giving to him wouldn't take him back to James. I also liked what Evanelle said about her not predicting the future, she just gives people things and they can do with that what they will. They left Fred's ending open but it seemed happy so that's good.
I felt like Hunter John and Emma's story was very abrupt. I am happy that they resolved their fight but I wanted to know more about their problems and about Emma's relationship with her mother. There was also no closure between Emma and Sydney but I guess we can make our own inferences after Emma leaves the voice mail for Sydney.
Henry was so sweet and Sydney deserved all the goodness he brought into her and Bay's life but again I wish we could have known more. There were tidbits of their conversations and feelings but by the time they got together, David arrived and then the book was over. I would have really enjoyed to read about them more.
David deserved everything that came his way. Him eating the apple wasn't something I was expecting but it was the perfect way to finish his story, with the magic of being a Waverly giving Sydney the strength to confront him. For a few seconds I thought Henry was going to die and I was so disappointed but thank God! Also, poor Tyler xD he was so freaked out about the tree but I'm glad he had a normal reaction and didn't just accept it because that wouldn't have been realistic. But when he tells Claire that after he ate the apple he only saw her, that was so heartwarming!

Finishing off with Bay's POV felt right to me. It was perfect that Evanelle's brooch was the sign she was waiting for and the ending was very well done, including the part where the tree takes Lorelai's photos.

All this being said, some problems that I had were that the magic or the specialty of the garden is never properly explained. The purple lights from Tyler and the heat from Claire bits were a little confusing to me, so if you understood it I would love to know but it just sort of felt random to me. Another thing I was confused about is the Hopkins. Were they magic too? What was the thing about them marrying older women and running? If there was a significance to that I didn't really get it.
Apart from this, it was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely 4 or 4.5 stars from me!
Also I see that there is a sequel so maybe some of my questions will be answered if I plan to read it.
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It was such a light read and I enjoyed knowing all the characters. Evanelle was the best amongst them and I kept praying the author wouldn't kill her in the end.

Tyler was truly sweet to Claire and when he expressed he only saw Claire after eating the apple, it made all so romantic.

Yeah, the reservoir conversation was quite heavy. But I finally relaxed when they both built their relationship to trust each other and confess their worries.

Actually, I ended up understanding Emma and Hunter John more than others. Emma kept fighting with Sydney, even though Sydney was never a part of Emma's life. And finally, I understood why Hunter John feels quite angered. They had spent more than 10 years together. So, obviously, his puppy love wouldn't matter anymore. As you said, we were supposed to infer Emma made peace with Sydney, by giving a call when needed. I kinda liked the way the story rounded around Emma, although, I still hate Ariel.

I kinda felt bad for Fred because he really wants to believe James would come back. 30 years is a long period to get over in mere months. But I guess Fred needed a push from someone like Evanelle to move on. I perfectly understood that pain but I also felt the story was beautiful around him.

As to other families, I guess, everyone has some sort of myth following around them. Clarks needing to be sexually forward. Hopkins only getting attracted to older women than them. Mattesons always taking care of the family business. And Waverleys gifted with special herbs in the garden. It looks like something ordinary, but it is realism-magic. So there are families having to do something because of their bloodline.

What I understood of Claire bearing so much heat was, Claire, connected to the house and garden. So, anything she feels instantly reflects in her house. Her anger, frustration and fear could easily be reflected in disarranged chairs, misplaced things, cluttered space. And she emits heat so much from her feelings. I guess this is some sort of Waverley only things.

Like Sydney cutting hair according to the person's personality, Evalenne handing away things, Bay knowing where things belonged. Claire's feelings get fast exposed out to the world.

Maybe in another book, we might know better about those gifts.

I was also not very satisfied with Henry's plot with Sydney. The book definitely needed more pages to develop romance.

Overall, I so much enjoyed the book. It is light read and relaxing. Especially after surging into Forbidden, this was calming me.

Oh yes, I didn't think of it like each family having a myth! That makes sense to me now. Hm yeah, the Claire thing makes sense too
Yes I agree about Fred but even though he spent 30 happy years with someone, he did not really start living till James left him. So in a roundabout way it was good for him.
It was a very light read and I think definitely in the future I'll read it again! This was fun Jans, not many different opinions and debates like with Beast of Beswick but still fun 😊

I guess when it comes to medieval romance, I become quite picky with how it is portrayed. That is why beast of beswick was quite a disappointment for me. Other wise for contemporary romance that book would have been awesome.