The Taming

May 01, 2012 Maria rated it 1 of 5 stars

I hated this book. I had to force myself to finish it. Evan is a jackass. Katie is a dumbass. The whole time those phrases kept popping up in my head. I loved Lisa but unfortunately her role in this story was limited. I really felt like this book was trying to excuse why Evan was such a heartless piece of shit. He also flip flopped way too much. He must have bipolar disorder to a degree I have never seen before. The ending is so unrealistic to what Katie's character had portrayed herself to be....more

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Aug 27, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be after reading the description from Goodreads. I was expecting a lighter story; a typical "rich boy goes after shy girl" type of story. Maybe I just didn't read the summary too carefully but the description on the back of the book was more accurate to what the story actually is.

The themes in the were darker as it deals with various forms of abuse but it was done in a way that is completely realistic and believeable.

The parallels to The Taming of...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Lee-ann Sleegers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Random House Canada Random Reader Challenge Young Adult

So the Challenge this time around was to read one of the following Adult fiction books:
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters
Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton
Flip by Martyn Bedford

For me the decision came down to which book became available first from my local library. The first book to win the battle was The Taming by Teresa Toten and E...more Random House Canada Random Reader Challenge Young Adult

So the Challenge this time around was to read one of the following Adult fiction books:
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters
Someone Else’s Life by Katie Dale
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
The Fathomless Fire by Thomas Wharton
Flip by Martyn Bedford

For me the decision came down to which book became available first from my local library. The first book to win the battle was The Taming by Teresa Toten and Eric Walters from DoubleDay Canada 2012. It also ended up being my 24th read for the 50 Book Pledge.

The Taming is a book about high school students who meet and become involved while their drama class performs Shakespeare's The Taming of The Shrew. The Taming starts off strong with an introduction to Katie and her friends Travis and Lisa. The second chapter introduces us to
Evan who becomes Katie's boyfriend. There is a very distinct clash between different society classes. The novel switches between Katie and Evan's POV every chapter to give a rounded account of the story.

As the book continues there are several parallels to The Taming of The Shrew, however Katie goes from being a person who disappears into the background to a strong confident young woman able to stand up to and ultimately break up with Evan a very controlling boyfriend. This of course is the reverse of what happens in the play but it deals with a reality many teens face.

I found the turning points in the book to be when Katie's mom's boyfriend Joey tells Katie to be careful and that he suspects what is happening as well as when Katie goes to Lisa for help in "catching" Evan. It was wonderful to see Katie stand up to Evan and I got the impression even though he was making all the promises he didn't really change but was just a smooth operator like his father used to getting women to do whatever he wanted.

The Taming is a relatively easy read that explores the issue of controlling/abusive relationships in a subtle manner. I enjoyed the book and recommend to any young girl in such a circumstance or
a friend who wants to know how to support a friend in such a situation.

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Feb 03, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 1 of 5 stars

I wasn't totally sold on the sound of The Taming going in, but it was highly recommended by a good source so I thought it might be one of those guilty pleasure reads. Maybe it is for some, but not for me.

Teresa and Eric used the frame work of The Taming of the Shrew to tell an alternate story of "taming" by abuse. Unlike the Bards original there is no humor in this telling, instead they dive into the dark waters of verbal, sexual and physical abuse from both Katie and Evans alternating view poi...more I wasn't totally sold on the sound of The Taming going in, but it was highly recommended by a good source so I thought it might be one of those guilty pleasure reads. Maybe it is for some, but not for me.

Teresa and Eric used the frame work of The Taming of the Shrew to tell an alternate story of "taming" by abuse. Unlike the Bards original there is no humor in this telling, instead they dive into the dark waters of verbal, sexual and physical abuse from both Katie and Evans alternating view points. They very carefully craft the slow entrapment of an abusive relationship, showing the slippery slide from one uncomfortable moment to the point of being constantly on guard. I especially liked how they illustrated the cycle, how Katie and Evan's past experiences came to bear on their own messed up relationship, and how hard it was for either of them to fight against those experiences.

That being said, I didn't like either Katie or Evan. Katie went from quiet and cautious to vapid and flip in a way I didn't understand. Although she's supposedly high on her relationship with Evan and the attention he lavishes on her, many of her comments and actions just seem ridiculous to me. Especially when she gets all doe eyed around Evan and makes comments like,
"Evan ordered for me and then showed me how to layer and properly fold a sizzling fajita. I felt so sophisticated...And it wasn't just about fajitas. Evan seemed to know everything about everything"
Honestly? Fajitas are sophisticated?

Evan is made somewhat unlikeable from the beginning, which didn't seem fair to me. As a victim of abuse himself, I felt like The Taming would have been more interesting if it showed his struggle more clearly too. Its touched upon off and on, but for the most part he's painted the villain, until the end when suddenly I'm supposed to have sympathy for him. But by that point I was just so sick of both of them I didn't care what happened, as long as I didn't have to be subjected to it anymore.

An interesting subject matter, told in a grating way I didn't enjoy at all, The Taming missed the mark for me.
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Feb 20, 2013 Me rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: forest-of-reading

If this book was not on the White Pine book, or co-written by Eric Walters I never would have read it. The two people kissing on the cover, the phrase "over the course of their relationship" on the back would have made me put the book down. I do not like romances at all, so this influences the review a lot. I do not consider Romance to be a plot line, so I found this book OK. This book was not completely romance, but I feel it would have been better if they tried to make it just a romance. This...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Denisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: white-pine-2012-2013, stand-alone, read-in-2012, first-reads, novel, library-book

I think, that this book could have been better. I found that there wasn't enough background on Evan, not as much as it could have. It was pretty good, the way it was written didn't make me want to throw it against a wall due to Katies "love" for Evan. It felt unreal because they fell in love too quickly in my opinion. And I would have thought she'd be more cautious because of how her mother relationships were like. I also think that the there could have been more interaction between Lisa and Kat...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Chapter by Chapter rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was great on so many levels. There was humour, innocence, deceit, betrayal, strength… Everything that a good book should have! I was totally cracking up throughout this book. Everything about it was just so cute! I was giggling at so many different points, and howling at other parts. For example, when they were talking about roosters and chickens in perspective to the play, The Taming Of The Shrew. As most of you know, my favorite point of view is first person point of view, especially...more This book was great on so many levels. There was humour, innocence, deceit, betrayal, strength… Everything that a good book should have! I was totally cracking up throughout this book. Everything about it was just so cute! I was giggling at so many different points, and howling at other parts. For example, when they were talking about roosters and chickens in perspective to the play, The Taming Of The Shrew. As most of you know, my favorite point of view is first person point of view, especially when it jumps back and forth between chapters from one character to the next. The Taming was exactly that. The characters that were created were so believable and so loveable in their own ways.

I loved how Toten and Walters would subtly insert fragments of the secrets that Katie and Evan have. It was done in such a perfect way that it held my attention straight through to the end. They give just enough that I needed to continue reading in order to find our whatever secrets our main characters are hiding deep within.

There were various parts that I found myself smirking and smiling at the early interaction between Katie and Evan, whether it’s words that are being exchanged, or their own thoughts. Thinking back now, I can’t get over how much I chuckled at the dialogue in this book! Almost everything that came out Katie’s mouth, or thought, made me laugh. I mean, the date at the movies…I was literally laughing out loud! I could envision everything that was happening. It was almost like I was talking to my friends, the way the authors write. It was so enjoyable!

It kind of reminded me a little of the old short lived t.v. series (and yes, I’m totally dating myself right about now), My So-Called Life when Claire Dane’s character, Angela Chase and Jared Leto’s character, Jordan Catalano finally got together, and the narrative Katie has in her head as well as some of her mannerisms totally reminded me of Angela Chase. Maybe it’s just me who sees it…I totally miss that show!

And then, the happy times are replaced when a twist of all twists happens, and it completely came out of nowhere! I was seriously not expecting it. My jaw dropped, and I had to re-read a little further back to see if I missed anything, because seriously…I didn’t see it coming! My heart ached for poor Katie with everything she had to go through. I knew that there were deep, dark secrets, but I did not expect what happens. What was a coming of age teen t.v series seriously changed into something reminescent of the movie Fear with Mark Wahlberg...kinda sorta. I love, love, love the writing style in The Taming. Everything flowed so perfectly that the pages just flew right by.

Fantastic character development, and an unforeseen plot twist combined with an addictive storyline, this story made me want…no, NEED to keep on reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next, and how the characters would overcome.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mind warp, and wants to read a book that will leave an impact on you. (less)

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Mar 20, 2012 Kerri rated it 3 of 5 stars

"The Taming" didn't quite hit the mark for me. Based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, this story does not quite have the humour of the original. Instead this version tackles a darker side including verbal, physical and even sexual abuse.

Katie and Evan are total opposites. Katie is shy, poor and awkward. Evan is rich, smart and charming. No one is more surprised than Katie when she is given the lead role in her school's production of The Taming of the Shrew. Even more surprising she cat...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Bookseller Cate rated it 5 of 5 stars

No one is more shocked than Katie herself when she's cast in the role of Katherina in the school's production of The Taming of the Shrew, and to her even greater surprise, she finds that she loves acting. After years of trying to be invisible, she's found a safe way to let everyone see her.

One of those people is Evan, new to their school after being kicked out of yet another private academy, for reasons that are slightly unclear and which Evan insists are unfair. He becomes Katie's biggest fan,...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Skyla rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: based-on-another-book, book-throwing, books-i-own, bored, canadian-author, dark-subject-matter, disappointment, my-brain-hurts, originally-a-play, real-life-issues, shakespeare, want-to-poke-out-my-own-eyes, what-the-hell-just-happened, why-did-i-read-this, wtf, ya, i-hate-these-characters, bffs-better-than-mc

I'm going to start off by saying I HATED THIS BOOK! This may get a little ranty and spoilery but bare with me...

"The Taming" is supposed to be loosely based on the idea of Shakespeare's play "The Taming of the Shrew", but there wasn't a SHREW to tame! Katie was too quiet and demure to begin with and although Evan does do the whole act of molding her into the "perfect" girlfriend for him, it wasn't done with the caliber of Shakespeare.

I understand Shakespeare, I've been obsessed with him since I...more I'm going to start off by saying I HATED THIS BOOK! This may get a little ranty and spoilery but bare with me...

"The Taming" is supposed to be loosely based on the idea of Shakespeare's play "The Taming of the Shrew", but there wasn't a SHREW to tame! Katie was too quiet and demure to begin with and although Evan does do the whole act of molding her into the "perfect" girlfriend for him, it wasn't done with the caliber of Shakespeare.

I understand Shakespeare, I've been obsessed with him since I was like 6. I have spent time in his homes, I have performed on his stage and I have played Kate. Everyone kept saying Katie was perfect on stage but because we are in her head when she performs all I felt was her fear and insecurity. I have a severe anxiety disorder but when I'm on stage I am not thinking about what other people are thinking about me, all I'm thinking about is the character, when I performed Kate in High School, was I thinking "Oh they are going to pour pig's blood on me like they did in Carrie", NO I was thinking like Kate would think...that everyone around her was an idiot.

The characters and the plot were poorly constructed and I found myself skimming a lot because I honestly didn't want to rad the same day from their different perspectives (which weren't even that dissimilar) seeing as they spent like the whole time together anyways. The only characters I actually ended up liking were Danny and Travis and maybe Lisa (it was a bit touch and go for awhile). Danny and Travis had some of the best lines and they made me laugh a lot. Lisa was the only one who saw through Evan even though to begin with both Evan and Katie are like "Why does she not like me/him?" We are given Evan and Katie's sort of passing thought that Lisa does not like Evan but we don't see Lisa not liking Evan until much later in the novel.

The plot skipped and jumped and was one the choppiest things I have read since Timothy Findley's "The Wars". It had no real pace it was just like "here is day one of them meeting, hey let's now jump to day six, now to day 34, day 50..." I didn't like the skips and jumps, there is a right way and wrong way to move your plot along and this is the wrong way, definitely the wrong way.

I would have liked it better if instead of different fonts for when the change between POVs happen to maybe have that plus their name up at the top, because often times I got confused and am like "I thought I was reading from Evan's POV, obviously not".

Maybe it was because there was two writers (and I'm not sure how they split up the work) but the entire thing was a bit of an editing nightmare. There were a lot of sentences missing words, and I didn't like the fact that I had to fill them in, I'm dyslexic! It is hard enough to keep the words right in my head without adding all the mistakes that were missed before publishing.

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Jan 13, 2012 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fiction, young-adult, canadian

I received this book through the first reads program on goodreads.

After first reading the premise of this book I was excited. A story about young love that can conceal darker truths. And trust me, these truths are dark. Evan and Katie a high school couple. Katie is shy and wants to remain invisible, Evan is the ultra charming new kid. When they start dating it's only a matter of time before things seem a little off. It remained fairly close to it's source material, Shakespeare's The Taming of t...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Lioness rated it 2 of 5 stars

An insecure young woman meets a golden boy and much to her shock, he is interested in her. It is clear from the start that she has been abused & it seems likely that he has too, in one way or another. But while she gains confidence from their romance, he only becomes manipulative and controlling. As they also act out The Taming of the Shrew in their high school drama class, we are supposed to see parallels between the 2 stories.

Kate was real enough that I wanted to know what happened to her....more

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Mar 23, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, contemporary, young-adult

Katie goes through life wanting to be invisible but now that she’s been cast as Katerina, the lead character in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, everyone is starting to notice her. Evan is the new boy in town. Rich and good looking--he seems to have it all. The two start dating and Katie is over the moon. How can someone like him be interested in her? Evan is the perfect boyfriend and Katie would do anything to please him.

Katie is very shy and wants to go through life being invisible. Som...more

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Dec 17, 2011 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, cant-put-these-down, favourites, net-galley, own

*Gratuitous sigh* Young love. It's great isn't it? The first time you see him across the hall...the first time you notice the hair flopping on his forehead...the silly way he makes you feel when he smiles at you...or how you tried, in vain, to calm your heart the first time he talked to you. Sigh. Oh to be young again.

Juxtaposing The Taming of the Shrew, I had images of Heath Ledger in all his badass glory serenading a very shrewd Julia Stiles in the stands. If you're not familiar with the movi...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Sylvia McNicoll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alternating viewpoints are like a duet. At the beginning of The Taming I wish the names of the singers were clearly marked in the chapter headers till I could differentiate the singers better. But I became hooked by the slow build of tension. Eric writes in a masterly malevolent voice. And then he shows Evan's vulnerability. I almost wanted Katie to stay with him and help him through his issues by the end. And no one wants their daughter, sister, best friend to ever do this.

The pinnacle moment...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Sabrina rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 24, 2013 Prescylla rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Taming. I don't why I said the name of the book first but I feel that it gives my review a formal feel to it. To start off I just want to say I went through SO much with this book. Well not maraculous amount of things, but lordhavemercy is was unnecessary. This is the mini story before the review. Basically I was reading this book like a year ealier and I was on the 6th chapter. But that was back in the day when I used to only read books at the bookstore and never buy them. Then for some unk...more The Taming. I don't why I said the name of the book first but I feel that it gives my review a formal feel to it. To start off I just want to say I went through SO much with this book. Well not maraculous amount of things, but lordhavemercy is was unnecessary. This is the mini story before the review. Basically I was reading this book like a year ealier and I was on the 6th chapter. But that was back in the day when I used to only read books at the bookstore and never buy them. Then for some unknown reason I stopped reading it, and decided to buy the ebook like two weeks later. But then I forgot the name of the book, and I tried to ask my friend what the name was because she read the book , and guess what? What. She didnt know the name either. So now I'm pissed. Then I started typing all these weirds things in into google for like the description of the book and the cover and just things I remembered, even the character's names. Didn't work. So I gave and read another book. A year later, I'm sitting in my school library with my world history class working on our research papers and there it is "THE TAMING" in some teen romance novels display at my library. Then I screamed for joy, thanked my lord and saviour then went to go take out the book. Then I found out I owed money and books that I didn't return so I couldn't take it out. Pissed again. Seriously wtf. Then I just ended up buying the ebook,when I could've easily returned the books but at the time , nobody had time for that it. Now it brings me to this review that is like long overdue. Here goes. So, The Taming. This book was really different and interesting. I mean like I loved it at first then hated it, then got confused, then loved it, then hated it, then like had a neutral feel to it, if that makes any sense. The whole story of the "The Taming", why do I keep quoting it?, was based on Will Shakespeares play "The Taming of the Shrew". So basically its about higschool aged girl and boy who meet through the play because the school is having the play and the girl is the female lead. But, the boy is not he's a random rich kid who's new to the school. Any who,the story kind of follows the plot of the actual play by Willy Shakespeare and that makes you have an aha moment, because you expect it but the again you don't because the book itself distracts you then you realize in the to the middle of the end of the book or the end of the middle of the book, however you grasp on to the aha moments of live. It really depends on the soul. Just kidding. Any way, I loved the character of Kate, hopefully that's the female main characters name because I'm to lazy to search it up. You know my review readers derserve better. I will search it. *searches characters names* Katie the character KATIE. I thought she was so cute, but damn. She was naive like no tomorrow. In a way it's not her fault but it is. I get that her life wasn't that great and her mom is crazy but she is so naive, like she believed everything that Evan told her. I think that she grew up alot in this book and definitely was able to realize her potiental that she had so that was good. So Kate was the really shy, outsider type of girl that moves around alot, due to a crazy boyfriend obsessed mother, and has no friends but is really pretty but no one notices because she's an outsider. Yes, one of them ones. Then suddenly when she gets the lead role of the play, on stage she becomes the cheetah of the jungle but in real life she's still Katie. Now everyone notices her.(less)

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Mar 24, 2013 Alanna King rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian

I expect high things from anything that Eric Walters puts his name on. After the Ontario Library Association nominated this as one of the best Canadian young adult fiction of the year, I expected even more. Until halfway through I thought I had found a predictable teen romance. When our main character Katie's life starts to imitate her art on the stage of her high school Shakespeare production, I became engrossed. The rest of the story strikes me as very true dealing with the bizarre power strug...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Sabrina *The REAL Princess* rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The Taming" was a very well-written novel indeed, however, too dark for my liking. Let me start off by saying that I have never read Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. And I am extremely sorry because I have heard that it was amazing and if this novel follows the same idea, I must read it in the near future.

Before I read the novel, I didn't even bother reading the synopis on the back, a first for me. I was captivated by the lovely cover, even more captivated by the fact that it was written...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Lindsay rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, shakespeare, family, friendship, high-school, romance, reviewed, canadian

Katie likes to believe she's invisible. It's much safer than being seen as who she is - shy, awkward, poor. Getting up on stage to play the lead in The Taming of the Shrew should be torture, but it's not. Something completely unexpected happens and she's transformed from invisible Katie to visible Katharina. Evan's another story. He knows what it takes to get noticed, and uses every one of those skills. Okay, sure, it might be an abuse of the power the comes with money and privilege. But is his...more Katie likes to believe she's invisible. It's much safer than being seen as who she is - shy, awkward, poor. Getting up on stage to play the lead in The Taming of the Shrew should be torture, but it's not. Something completely unexpected happens and she's transformed from invisible Katie to visible Katharina. Evan's another story. He knows what it takes to get noticed, and uses every one of those skills. Okay, sure, it might be an abuse of the power the comes with money and privilege. But is his romance with Katie another version of the same thing, or is it real?

The Taming was a unique re-telling or re-imagining, or at the very least a unique 'drawing on Shakespeare as source material.' There were realistic characters and setting and plot, plus humourous dialogue at odds with a story that slowly turns dark and subtly dangerous. I couldn't help but continue reading, I needed to know how the book ended.

There are two sides to this book, Katie coming out of her shell and Evan attempting to start over in a new place. When they come together, it's not necessarily surprising, but the path they take certainly was. So much of the plot was unexpected.

Katie slowly comes out of her shell by becoming Katharina and sees a new world over the one she's lived for years, one when she's invisible, wounded, walked over and put down by her mother. I kept waiting for that moment when she would spread her wings and fly.

Evan is flawed, entitled because of his father's money but hating him all the while because he's been forced to change schools. Seeing Katie act wakes him up, but he becomes overwhelmed to turn her into the perfect girlfriend, to make her Katharina instead of Katie. He's blinded by what she becomes on stage.

To me, Evan was the handsome but wicked prince, trying to turn Katie the innocent princess into something she's not, and it's up to her to fight her way free and find herself again before she completely loses herself.

As unexpected as this book was in terms of the plot twists and and darkness, it was still enjoyable, still a great story told by two great authors. I feel the need to push this book into the hands of every teenager I can find, boy or girl, visible or invisible, lost or found.(less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Evie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-ya, contemporary, finished-copy, ya

***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA and Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and news! ^___^

This is a powerful read. And by powerful, I mean, DEVASTATINGLY SO. I really loved this book, from the first page to last. I loved how readable it was, how captivating and intensely emotional. I absolutely loved the darker undertones of it, and how every chapter, every passage, every sentence of it pulls you deeper into its dark and sticky web of emotional abuse and tox...more ***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA and Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and news! ^___^

This is a powerful read. And by powerful, I mean, DEVASTATINGLY SO. I really loved this book, from the first page to last. I loved how readable it was, how captivating and intensely emotional. I absolutely loved the darker undertones of it, and how every chapter, every passage, every sentence of it pulls you deeper into its dark and sticky web of emotional abuse and toxic jealousy. It's a poignant, multilayered, and gripping tale that takes what seems to be a dominant theme in contemporary novels - a love story - and darkens it. At the same time, though, it has its lighter moments, humorous tension-breakers that perfectly balance it out. In other words, it's a truly phenomenal book. I was extremely glad to have discovered it and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Built around the school production of Shakespear's The Taming Of The Shrew, the plot of Teresa Toten's and Eric Walter's collaborative novel deals with some heavy (but very meaningful) subjects. This whole story - complete with the extremely well-drawn, believable characters - is just brilliant. I mean it. The main protagonists, Katie and Evan, are not only real and convincing, but also very complex. They're not some flat, black-and-white characters, they both have beating hearts, filled with emotions, dreams, fears and hopes. They're not perfect - they're perfectly imperfect, flawed, scared, overwhelmed by their personal problems. They both need love and acceptance, but they go looking for it in all the wrong places. They make mistakes, they get tangled up in each other, messy.. lost. Toten and Walters did a fantastic job capturing their complicated relationship (with all its intensity). I loved it! I thought the character building was masterful, and I just loved it. I especially loved the character growth in Katie. When we meet her, she's nothing but a shy, invisible grey mouse, she doesn't know how to assert herself, prefers to lay low and not attract any attention. And then she gets picked to play the part of Katherine in the school interpretation of The Taming Of The Shrew, and her world begins to change. When Evan asks her out, her heart practically bursts with happiness. At first, she can't even believe it. Evan? The most handsome, fabulous, and disgustingly rich guy in town wants to date her? How could she say no to that? How could she say no to anything that Evan wants from her?

Yes, you will probably feel very uncomfortable and anxious once you realize where the authors are going with the story, but you will also stop and think about the massage this book carries and how well the brilliantly weaved plot gets it across. This is not a happy first-love story and it shouldn't be approached as such. It's an eye-opening, thought-provoking, unsettling story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

What I loved the most about this book, though, is that although it's a dark tale, it's also one that ends with hope. I loved seeing the transformation that Katie's character underwent towards the end of The Taming. I liked that she became this strong-willed, assertive girl who could stand up for herself. I absolutely loved that she didn't let Evan break her, overpower her, tame her. And she didn't need saving, she found the power and will to save herself.

I also loved that the authors didn't make Evan to be this one-dimensional bad-guy. Instead, they provided enough background story and insight into his past for the reader to better understand his motives. That, of course, didn't make him a good guy, but it definitely made it harder to hate him. I came out of reading this book disturbed, with my head spinning, and very satisfied with its conclusion. I also felt a great deal of sympathy, and not only for Katie, but for both of them - for totally different reasons. If all that doesn't make a great read, than I don't know what does.

Teresa Toten and Eric Walter make a magnificent writing duo. They do awful and dark so well, and they get under your skin so deep, that you feel like taking a shower after reading some of the chapters of this book. It's draining and disturbing. Most of all, though, their writing is just absolutely fascinating. At least it was to me, I'm sure not everyone feeds on sad and scary as much as I do, but what can I say? I like my books to be dark, creepy and powerful. And the reason for this book being so sad and scary is simple: it's just all too real. It's disquietingly authentic, and that kind of authenticity is bound to resonate deep within.(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Taming for me was a one time read and not something I would pick up for a second/third/etc read. I was able to connect with the characters of Evan and Katie on some levels and could relate to some of their experiences but felt the book was lacking in creating a relationship between reader and characters . I agree with many reviews that the synopsis misleads the reader on the plot and context of the book. However the book does deal with some relevant and realistic issues in teen and adult rel...more

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May 06, 2012 Krystal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Starting The Taming, I thought I was in for some teenage high school love story. The cover, and the synopsis set me up with those expectations. Katie, is a young girl who has done so much to become invisible in high school, to NOT become one of those "popular" girls. To her, she is as invisible as you can get. Until she becomes the lead in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and she sees that she loves the stage, she was meant for it. People start noticing her. No longer is Katie invisible.
Ev...more Starting The Taming, I thought I was in for some teenage high school love story. The cover, and the synopsis set me up with those expectations. Katie, is a young girl who has done so much to become invisible in high school, to NOT become one of those "popular" girls. To her, she is as invisible as you can get. Until she becomes the lead in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and she sees that she loves the stage, she was meant for it. People start noticing her. No longer is Katie invisible.
Evan, the new guy from a prep school, who let me be honest here sounded like a great guy! He has the clothes, the car, the money and along with that, the nonchalant attitude; I mean he throws his car keys to the first kid he meets in school, saying "hey, take it! It's got a full tank!". Everybody notices Evan, he has that for him. But there is so much more to Evan than we're lead to believe.
Evan meets Katie, and things spark between them, and now more than ever, Katie is as noticeable. For Katie, this is all new. The lead in the play, the noticing and more importantly, the boyfriend. She has spent so much time with just herself and her two odd, quirky but very good friends and now all of a sudden she has this guy who can't get enough of her, is willing to take her on dates (and pay himself). He's buying her clothes that he thinks will suit her, telling her what her favourite flowers are and so on. Katie is in heaven. Then things start happening, and without giving too much away, from past situations, Katie blames herself for these events. This is where the book took the turn I was not expecting. Secrets are revealed and more secrets are kept and The Taming becomes a haunting story. So many times I wanted to yell through the pages at Katie or Evan (or their parents!) and try to help them. I felt so bad for Katie, and honestly, as the book went on I felt for Evan too. The things they had / have to endure separately with their family was heart breaking.
Walters and Toten collaborated with this book. Walters writing the POV of Evan and Toten writing the POV of Katie. I think it was really well done, their story tied really well with The Taming of the Shrew and flowed nicely. I have never read a book from either of these authors, but have heard wonderful things about Eric Walters. And after reading his writing in this, it may not be the last. The emotion and thought put behind each character was obvious. The character development was clearly there and the plot moved along smoothly with the said unexpected twist. My overall thoughts on the book? Well, apart from throwing me completely for a loop, it was addicting. I felt that if I kept reading, I could help them and because of that, I read it without hesitation. I enjoyed The Taming, and the way Katie changed drastically and became aware made it that much better.(less)

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Mar 22, 2012 Antonia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, average-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Katie Rosario is quiet and invisible or at least she believes this is true. She slips right under the radar until she is cast the lead role of Katherina in her school play of "The Taming the Shrew". The role comes so easily to her and she becomes Katherina on stage. Katie becomes noticable and finally visible. She feels powerfull but also more shy and vunerable to the world she has ignored for almost 16 years.
Evan on the other hand is the rich, bold, charming and smart new boy that just transfe...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Angel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, contemporary, random-house, wishlist, ya, arc-for-review

You can find this review and many more at Mermaid Vision Books!

Release Date:January 24, 2012
Publisher: Doubleday Canada (Random House)
Pages: 256
Format: Paperback
Source: ARC received from publisher

Tell Me More:In recent years,The Taming of the Shrewhas become one of Shakespeare's highly contested plays. Readers are split over whether Petruchio was horribly sexist or if Katherine was bullied into submission. Of course, it's easy for those of us who grew up with10 Things I Hate About You to believe...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Efe rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book was so horible and probably written on impulse!!
I just felt like burning this book..it made no sense to me....
One of the protagonist (Katie) is weak and stupid it's just annoying and the plot is just ughh!! If i could I would rate it a half star just because its a book....but a horible unberable one..

All in all very bad book Eric Walters!!!

*REASONS I DIDN'T LIKE THIS BOOK!*
1.Katie Is just to dumb I felt like she just didn't get the hint that HE'S ABUSIVE!!

2.Evan was so alluring at firs...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Tatiana rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a first book in a long time I'm reviewing.
Those are confused three stars. They could've gone either way. This is a fairly short book, and I've read it in one sitting, so maybe it's not settled in yet. I liked the subject matter, and I could even feel for the characters to an extent, but it also felt so unresolved and underdeveloped that I was left wishing the book was a little longer, but dealt with the issues it just left hanging.
It's a good skeleton of a book that could have been.

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Mar 26, 2012 -k The Lady Critic added it

Shelves: arc-copy, e-book, for-review

I am so beyond happy with how this novel ended - to the point where I almost cheered when it did.

Normally I have a love-hate relationship for these types of books with characters like Katie and Evan. I love reading the turmoil and the triumph - but I hate the weak (in character, not the way they're written) characters.

Along the same lines as Stay by Deb Caletti, this is a fantastic comtemporary novel that started out as a beautiful romance but quickly turned into something mean and ugly.

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Jan 13, 2013 Cardine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow, the book was awesome but not what I expected. I thought Evan would be the sweet lover boy when actually he was a jerk in secret. I hate the way he took advantage of Katie but it made the book interesting. Katie's point of view always made him seem nice. - The ending shocked me a bit, I didn't expect Evan to hit Katie. That was intense. I was glad though when she stood up for herself afterwards. The book was a good read!

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Dec 29, 2012 GG rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Taming of the Shrew is not my favourite Shakespearean play. Having said that, I'm always interested in seeing how authors weave the Bard's work into their tales. I was a little disappointed in The Taming, because I was expecting something a little lighter based on the synopsis, and things got dark about half-way through. I felt unprepared for the turn of events.

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