Title: Hooked
Author: Liz Fichera
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: Jan 29, 2013
Buy: The Book Depository
The book description, if anything, is what caught my attention here. It promised an antagonistic romance and characters both engaging and diverse. With Fred Oday being the only girl on a boy-dominated golf team, I expected entertainment and humour, a strong main character and a story both significant and fun. That isn't quite what I got in the end, but Hooked was still a decent read, despite that.
At times, I truly enjoyed this. The book occasionally delivered on my expectations and provided that longed-for romantic tension. Fred and Ryan are not unlikeable characters, nor are they difficult to understand. The only real issue here is that they are, more often than not, frustratingly forgettable. There are also several other aspects of the book that could have been better handled, from the casual racism to the home-life issues.
Overall, however, the plot is a solid one. The sports theme is handled well, with golf - arguably the dullest pastime in existence - being portrayed in an interesting light. Although this book did not entirely meet all of my expectations, I do think it will appeal to readers less particular with their contemporary.
Overall, however, the plot is a solid one. The sports theme is handled well, with golf - arguably the dullest pastime in existence - being portrayed in an interesting light. Although this book did not entirely meet all of my expectations, I do think it will appeal to readers less particular with their contemporary.
Rating: 3 stars
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Title: Hysteria
Author: Megan Miranda
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: Feb 14, 2013
Buy: The Book Depository
“Secrets weren’t a currency. They were a burden. A heavy, dangerous burden.”
My thoughts on Hysteria, Megan Miranda’s second novel, are very much scattered. Admittedly, my expectations for this book were not particularly high – and perhaps that helped to some extent – but I am fairly satisfied with the end product, despite moments of disappointment.
The biggest fault of this book is its transparent plot. For a story marketed as a psychological thriller, it is a margin too predictable, rendering much of the story irrelevant. There are moments of promise, with aptly unnerving scenes starring ghostly apparitions and bloody handprints, but this tense atmosphere is a rather inconsistent one. The characters, despite one or two clichéd boarding-school roles, are a little more engaging. The main character is especially difficult to discern, with her constant sleeping pills and stolen knife hidden in the drawer. A slight romance blossoms between Mallory and her old friend Reid, one that is likeable, even if not capable of stirring deeper emotions.
While Hysteria is not a novel I will rush to recommend, I do think it is a decent enough read, though better suited for those who are fans of Miranda’s work already.
Rating: 3 stars
I wasn't able to finish Hysteria. I didn't think it was a good psychological thriller AT ALL. I agree that the plot was very transparent. Without twists and things to keep me reading, I just found it dull and had to quit.
ReplyDeleteI have read many mixed reviews of Hooked,So I am still on the fence about reading it or not. I am still not sure about reading hysteria I got about 50 pages in and stopped, I have not yet continued reading it. Is it worth continuing?
ReplyDeleteGreat honest reviews on both Sam! <3
Probably not, in all honesty. I enjoyed it well enough at the time, but I don't think you are missing out if you choose not to. :) And thank you!
DeleteAww, it's a shame these were two such average novels, Sam. Hysteria had a lot of promise, but I cannot stand transparent plot lines, so I'll be steering clear of it for sure. I haven't been intrigued to pick up Hooked and with forgettable characters, I know I definitely won't. Thanks for these honest and beautifully written mini-reviews, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI had heard that Hooked had some racist remarks in the book. The problem is that I read such a great review before I read this one and another one. Now I still want to read it but I'm worried I'm going to just be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteHmm... You might like I Hunt Killers. It's about a boy who's father was a serial killer and he has the... tendencies to be another possible serial killer. There is one overly dramatic moment but the other parts of the book were really well done with a nice shocking ending.
There's something about the cover of Hooked that put me off for some reason. Plus, the mixed reviews don't help either. I'm probably going to stay away from it. It seems like the book really did have potential. It's too bad that the whole issue with racism isn't really fully explored. Still, I'm glad you liked it enough at the end to give it 3 stars.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a very positive experience with Fractured, so I'm most probably going to stay away from Hysteria. I admit that the summary makes it very tempting. I always think going into a book with lower expectations helps to like the book much better. Glad to hear that you enjoyed this one too, Sam!
Lovely mini-reviews! :)
The cover of Hooked didn't really draw me in either. I was thinking smexy romance but I heard it's not steamy at all. I like stories about girls on all boy teams and things like that but I've never been in a rush to read it. Hysteria sounded like a good mysterious thriller so I'm sad to hear it was predictable. I'll still probably try that one at some point.
ReplyDeleteI'll be reading Hooked this week and I'm really hoping I'll like it! Great mini-reviews, Sam! :D
ReplyDeleteI have Hooked as well but something keeps stopping me from reading it. I laughed at your comment: "golf - arguably the dullest pastime in existence" because I totally agree! I'm glad I passed on Hysteria. After reading Fracture I wasn't hopeful that this would be much better and I made my mind up to wait until reviews started coming through. Guess my choice paid off. Great mini-reviews Sam. :)
ReplyDeleteHooked was one I was curious about. The trick to having fun playing golf is going with the right people and having the right amount of alcohol in your system. lol.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your comment about golf, it really is one of the most boring things, imo! But, I'm glad Hooked was an ok read - I need to get to it soon
ReplyDeleteYes, I've heard mixed about Hystery. Such a shame that the plot is so transparent. I'm not going to pick this one up very soon. Hooked doesn't sound like sometime I would enjoy. I do think it's cool that the girl is called Fred (but in my opinion, it would be horrible to have that name in real life..)
ReplyDeleteLike many other people, it's the front cover of Hooked that has put me off. And I couldn't agree more about your comment on golf - seriously, how is that even classed a sport?! I tried watching it once to see why some love it, but I almost fell asleep. :P
ReplyDeleteI have been seeing Hysteria so much lately, and it looks like a creepy read! I'm glad you found it okay, despite it having a transparent plot.
Thanks so much for sharing your lovely mini-reviews with us, Sam! I really enjoy reading them. :)
I was so disappointed by Hysteria, possibly because my expectations were a bit higher. I just never learn, it seems. The predictability was a major issue, and I'm afraid none of it was very memorable. I've already forgotten some of the details.
ReplyDeleteAs for Hooked, I'm not the biggest contemporary fan, so when I do choose to read it, I want more than a three-star read.
Great reviews, Sam!
I liked the mini reviews, Sam.
ReplyDeleteShame that the stories didn't quite live up to expectations. Especially with a psychological-thriller, you tend to expect something unpredictable.
However, at least you have them three stars, a fairly decent rating! :)
I've seen quite a few disappointed reactions to these books as well, which is a shame because they look so good! My expectations for them now are significantly lower, which should hopefully help when I start reading. I expected something slightly different from both. Still, I'm glad you ended up satisfied with the overall results. Lovely reviews, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't bring myself to request Hooked. It just looked cheesy or disappointing. Like, typical. I'm glad it didn't piss you off or anything and that you still liked it in spite of it's flaws.
ReplyDeleteLuckily for me, predictable for you isn't as predictable for me as we've come to notice when we read the same books so I'm hoping the plot won't be so easy to figure out. But, I'm still relatively excited for Hysteria, and I'm kind of expecting feeling the same about it as I did Fracture. Which was more on the like side of things.
Also: YOU ARE AMAZEBEANS. <3
Brilliant mini-reviews, Sam! I have heard of Hooked before and it looked quite interesting even though it has had some mixed reviews. I'm sorry that it had a few flaws. It is quite bad that some issues weren't handled well, like the racism, as that theme could have potential to give out a good message.
ReplyDeleteI have Hysteria for review and I keep putting it off. It is a shame you didn't enjoy it that much but maybe I'll try some of Miranda's other books before this one.
Thanks for posting! :)
I think that was the biggest issue for me, I was expecting a unpredictable thriller but was very much let down. I agree that it may be enjoyed more by people who like her other book Fracture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest mini-reviews, Sam. :)
Uh I'm sorry to hear this about Hysteria cause I was expecting something more intense. For the Hooked I really don't have expectations so it's the same to me. But still I might as well pass both books. Great reviews Sam. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Hooked and Hysteria didn't quite live up to your expectations, Sam - that's awful! However, I am glad you ended up enjoying it in general. I was eager to read both of them, especially Hooked, but now I'm not so sure this'll be as good as I was hoping it would be :(
ReplyDeleteHmm, I still need to read Hooked. But now I am kind of reluctant to do so. Uh huh. I'll see :P
ReplyDeleteYeah we so agreed on Hysteria.
ReplyDeleteFor Hysteria, I can understand why the level of enjoyment in reading it would drop quite a bit when the plot is transparent and predictable. I'm still debating if I'll get a copy of Hooked. Maybe I'll check it out from a library. Thanks for sharing these mini-reviews, Sam!
ReplyDeletehmm Hooked sounds good.. though it sucks that the characters for forgettable for you! As for Hysteria, I have high expectations for it because i absolutely LOVED fracture, but after reading the average ratings for it, I may have to lower my expectations! And it sucks to hear that it was a bit predictable at times! Lovely mini reviews Sam!
ReplyDelete- Farah @ MajiBookshelf
I have read mixed reviews for Hooked and still haven't decided if I should pick it up or not. Maybe sometime soon, but not now. I'm sorry it didn't meet all your expectations and the characters were forgettable. :( As for Hysteria, I haven't heard of it, but I'm disappointed to hear about the plot. For such an interesting idea, I would have hoped for more too.
ReplyDeleteFabulous reviews, Sam! :) Hopefully your current read can make up for these ones! :D
~ Maida
I've never read Miranda's novels so I'll probably deal with Hysteria later since I have it for review. I also have Hooked and it sounds okay. I'm curious to see golf being portrayed in an interesting light. Lol, it's such a dull sport to watch in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI actually started Hooked but after 5 pages it became too boring for me to continue :( However, I am interested in the sports aspect so I *might* continue sometime!
ReplyDeleteI forgot if you liked Fracture or not? I loved it so I've been looking forward to Miranda's Hysteria for a while now :) It's a pity the plot was so predictable...(I usually loathe those!) but I'm still willing to give this a go :)
I haven't actually read Fracture... and I don't think I'm really too interested in it now after Hysteria. I probably won't read it any time soon. :)
DeleteThanks for the reviews, Sam! Eh, I've got HOOKED waiting on my e-reader, but I'm not sure I want to read it now, especially since it didn't reach up to your expectations (which were what I was expecting, too!). Glad that the plot remained true, though.
ReplyDeleteOh, HYSTERIA. I really looked forward to that book, but now I'm not so sure... Too bad it was quite predictable. Psychological thrillers are supposed to thrill, not bore. :/
Your reviews have given me a lot to think about, Sam! Thanks!
Yeah I'm not much of a golf fan either, but I'm glad the author managed to portray it in an interesting way, at least. I think I might avoid Hooked though as I don't usually enjoy contemporary anyway.
ReplyDeleteHysteria sounds a little more like my sort of thing but it's a shame it wasn't that impressive for you either. These both seem to be pretty average, forgettable books, and I don't think it's worth my time maybe. Great review Sam! Very helpful as aslways. :)
I haven't read either of these yet, my tbr list is getting longer and longer !!
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping over to our UK Bloggers Linkup, now following you xx
Great reviews, Sam :D I'm sorry you didn't love Hooked that much, not sure I will ever read it :) It sounds interesting, but yeah, I would probably find it a bit boring too (A) Sorry that you didn't love Hysteria :\ I did, but I do understand why you had some issues with it :) Still, glad you mostly liked it :D Thank you for sharing your thoughts. <3
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'll be picking up either of these books. I have to admit, I never found either that appealing but you've sealed the deal for me. Thanks for your reviews Sam :)
ReplyDeleteGlad that Hooked provided at least some of the tension you were looking for, but sad the characters are forgettable.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading,
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
Hysteria's reviews are so disappointing! I wanted it to be so good but no one loves it, it seems like everyone gave it a 3 star. I love shocking unpredictability and thrill when I read those kinds of reads so I'm sure I would reach the same opinions so I decided to skip it. As for Hooked, I was never really sure about it and it's like Hysteria, it's not a very well reviewed read. Thanks for taking 2 for the team, muffin! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have Hooked and I want to pick it up but I've read a lot of reviews about how it didn't meet there expectations. And there's nothing worse then forgettable characters. Thanks for the honest reviews!
ReplyDeleteI kind of felt the same way about Fracture, it was good but it was a bit predictable and it lacked originality for me. I know everyone was really excited over Hysteria but most of the reviews are just average, I am glad I didn't get it. Hooked is another one that I have been seeing around it sounds decent. Hey, now Golf really isn't the most boring passtime ever, I can think of way worse.
ReplyDeleteSam, I'm liking your format of the double mini-reviews. More Sam is always a good thing :-)
ReplyDeleteYou lost me at "golf game" with HOOKED, Sam. Heh. I didn't realize this book had a sports theme for some reason. Maybe because it features the typical boy-girl-almost kiss on the front cover!
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing mixed reviews of HYSTERIA too, although I love mysteries so I'm still curious. Not too high on my list, though, especially after reading your reaction. thanks for the reviews!
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
I think the reviews for both these books have been a mixed bunch so far, I was tempted when I first saw Hooked to request a copy, as I thought it reminded me of Catching Jordan, but then I didn't think it would be for me. And with your lukewarm review I'm kind of glad I didn't request it. Hysteria also sounded like it had a lot of potential, but I think the transparent plot would be a big letdown for me too! Sorry you weren't able to enjoy these as much as you'd hopes Sam! Lovely reviews! :)
ReplyDeleteIs it horrible that I forgot I wrote a review on this book? So I agree with you on the forgettable-ness, but I did really like the story. Hysteria seemed good, but I was like "Okay, then..." at your review so I won't read it. Great reviews, Sam! Loved them :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this one too! I like how it kept you guessing until the very end, I had a million in one guesses as to what was going on but none of them were right. A real page turner indeed! Great review =)
ReplyDeleteregards,
rowena of Votive Candles