Break My Heart 1,000 Times

May 01, 2013 Giselle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, contemporary

When you open a book, usually within 40-50 pages in you start getting a good perception of the plot and what direction it will lead you; this was the downfall of Break My Heart, 1000 Times. It began on a very high note, the premise is incredibly unique and interesting. I love ghost stories and this one was particularly different, cool even. I was expecting the plot to bring us into the story of this post-Event world, to explain how the ghosts are there, and become a little like a post apocalypti...more When you open a book, usually within 40-50 pages in you start getting a good perception of the plot and what direction it will lead you; this was the downfall of Break My Heart, 1000 Times. It began on a very high note, the premise is incredibly unique and interesting. I love ghost stories and this one was particularly different, cool even. I was expecting the plot to bring us into the story of this post-Event world, to explain how the ghosts are there, and become a little like a post apocalyptic novel where ghosts are the villain. This was not the case. Not only do we not find out anything about this Event whatsoever, the story is more of a serial killer novel - one where we know the identity of the killer from the start, which is not nearly as fun.

I will say, creativity is definitely apparent in the plot. We have a world where something caused ghosts to suddenly become a daily occurrence, a normality even. Plus, one of the POVs in the book is one of the ghosts - one of the few who is conscious of it, not just a recurring image or memory like most seem to be. This is the part that I enjoyed the most. It's a fascinating new way of life: to have ghosts appear in your classroom and not be phased by it very much. I was clearly hoping for a lot more backstory. What was this Event exactly? This question is brought up during the first few pages, without ever getting an answer.

Up until halfway through, I can say I was really enjoying it, being kept enchanted by the neat story. However, when a certain romance begins and our main character turns incredibly moody, it went downhill fast for me. I realized I was not particularly impressed with any of the characters. The protagonist, Veronica, never made me understand her. She's very one dimensional and I did not like her attitude at all. She gets incredibly pissed--to the point of slapping her boyfriend--because he did not pick her up after work. Fits like this annoy me, teenager or not. Their romance gave me a very weird vibe from the beginning, as well. It's hard to even pinpoint why, I just found them really awkward together. Then there's the inclusion of two strange not-really-love-triangles, where it seems one was only included to add in a fight between the two guys, then to never hear of the first guy again except for a random scene near the end, and the other was just… bizarre.

No backstory? Fine. I can absolutely get with a great serial killer story. It has a good plot overall; I found the motive especially intriguing. Told in several perspectives, we have the ghost, Veronica, and the killer, which is her English teacher (and this is not a spoiler). Since we get these POVs, we already know who the killer is from the get go, and we're simply along for the ride while the characters are blind to the danger that they're in. Preferring my killer mysteries to be, well, mysteries, I didn't find this one especially captivating. It made it highly predictable as well.

Clearly, I was expecting something much different than what I got. Still, it's unique with a really interesting premise, so I would not go and say it's terrible. It was mostly the characters that did not compel me. My heart wasn't into it, turning what could have been a very good book into a mediocre read.

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An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Nov 29, 2012 Cas rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adults, ghosts-spirits, ebook

Cover:

As for the book: I'm so excited! And I just can't hide it!

Post-Reading
Well, it was okay. I liked it, but it wasn't wow! I mostly knew how everything was going to end. It was a classic ghost-murder story.

Full review may come.

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Sep 06, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, 2012-publication, hyperion, october, pn-ghosts, own-dtb-tbr, ala-2012, dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, male-ya-author, deliciously-creepy, 2012-favorites, male-pov, read-2012, maybe-review

Creeeeeeeeepy. And one of the most interesting ghost stories I've ever read.

Review to come.

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Oct 22, 2012 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5/5

It's the creepy and atmospheric thing of the first half that was the strongest part in all this. Then of course, there’s how it’s different in how ghosts are the norm and somehow the byproduct of an (largely unexplained) Event years passed. Later on, it turns into this 'catch me if you can' but more like 'catch me in the act' because absolutely everyone knows who is up to no good! But a little odd was how things felt paused as if a majority of those in the know were waiting for something to...more 3.5/5

It's the creepy and atmospheric thing of the first half that was the strongest part in all this. Then of course, there’s how it’s different in how ghosts are the norm and somehow the byproduct of an (largely unexplained) Event years passed. Later on, it turns into this 'catch me if you can' but more like 'catch me in the act' because absolutely everyone knows who is up to no good! But a little odd was how things felt paused as if a majority of those in the know were waiting for something to happen, and someone else to act. In the meantime, each of them is specifically drawn, so that we know each player quite well: there's Ronnie, and Kirk, and their teachers and then there's Brian:

There’s Ronnie who’s remarkable in her confidence and easy acceptance of things. She is what draws everyone else in: from the boys, to the odd ball best friend, to the grieving mother… and yes even to a ghost or two as well as to some other crazies. It’s the last two that livens things up a bit (or should I say darkens it a shade more?) because while figuring out who plays what role is revealed early on, then things become just a matter of waiting things out, waiting them out as to what they’ve got planned.

There’s Kirk, the guy is remarkable in how not an asshole he could get. Get this, it’s not how he looks, though that’s briefly mentioned, rather it’s more because he’s cynical and on her level that there’s a connection made at all. They both possess a realistic perspective, him to the point of being cynical and her not almost but not quite on that level…yet. Anyway, Kirk is basically average boy who likes the girl and wants to catch her attention.

Then there’s Brian, the ghost (one of plenty in fact) who has a past of his own. Seeing developments on this end of the story, particularly as to feelings of certain characters directed at him was odd. Imagine falling for a picture of a guy: odd and sad because obviously you wonder if it really is going the direction it seemed to be headed, when there’s this other part of me wholly expectant of nothing ever going past a certain determined point, a little like…no, a lot like that love connection between Cas and Anna. And if that comparison makes no sense to you, with him being dead and her being not so, I ask, how pray tell are things to pan out? Of course, at this point, I realized I was reading too much into things and should just let whatever was coming come.)

So, it would be easy to say that every single person here is to be drawn to Ronnie, but that may not be the most accurate thing to say. All of them are so cleverly and individually drawn that even if things do start with her, it doesn’t stay just with her. Sure, she's girl confident, and Kirk is in love then Brian is Brian, but it’s the baddy in this one and us knowing who he is and why he’s doing certain things that made things more interesting. Yet even when you couple all that with the oddness of everyone else having an inkling as to what he's capable of whilst nothing's done, I still enjoyed this.

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Dec 03, 2012 Rayne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-oct, between-the-3-and-the-4, boy-narrator, ghosts, paranormal, stand-alone-novel, shifting-pov, there-s-romance-in-there-somewhere, thriller, you-have-disturbed-me, young-adult

3.5 stars

I was not a fan of the first book in the Generation Dead series. Actually, I kind of hated it. It's not that Waters can't write or that he doesn't have interesting ideas, it's just that he slows every part of the plot to a crawl, and then he focuses on unimportant matters and then he gives his characters a lot of potential for development that never goes anywhere. The same could be said for this novel, except that I was about a thousand times more entertained with this one than with Gen...more 3.5 stars

I was not a fan of the first book in the Generation Dead series. Actually, I kind of hated it. It's not that Waters can't write or that he doesn't have interesting ideas, it's just that he slows every part of the plot to a crawl, and then he focuses on unimportant matters and then he gives his characters a lot of potential for development that never goes anywhere. The same could be said for this novel, except that I was about a thousand times more entertained with this one than with Generation Dead. The concept was interesting and, for about 3/4 of the novel, the characters were engaging. But then the novel took a bit too long to get to where it needed to go, and the characters started to get annoying and some secondary characters essentially disappeared, oh, and there was a freaking murderer on the loose out to get someone and no one did anything about it. You know someone is waiting for an specific moment to kill you...and the obvious response is to not tell anyone, corner yourself in a solitary place and push away the only people that want to help you? (Sorry if I'm spoiling - which I don't think I am since all this is in the blurb, but I apologize in advance if anyone thinks I said something I shouldn't have.)All this annoyed me, but I am more irritated about the fact that Waters offered very little info on what actually caused the ghost apparitions. They give some general information, yes, and there's a whole bunch of theories been thrown around all throughout the novel, but concrete information? How about an actual account of what the freaking Event was? Nope. Not in this novel.

Still, the novel was interesting. The whole cat and mouse game was riveting and creepy and I really liked the general direction the novel took. So, in spite of all the annoyances aforementioned, I liked it. It is a fairly quick read, original (even if in the beginning I was reminded of Shade by Smith-Ready - another one that I didn't particularly enjoy) and interesting with a few creepy parts. So I guess giving Waters another chance sort of paid off, which means I'll be on the lookout for his next novel - as long as it doesn't include teenage zombies. (less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Ann Sloan rated it 2 of 5 stars

I love ghost stories; this one did not impress me.

I confess that I was not familiar with the author, but, apparently, Daniel Waters is critically acclaimed for Generation Dead which has two sequels. I have not read those books. I’m not tempted.

I was intrigued by the concept, but it was never explained. There was a great deal that was left unexplained.

Since the "Event," ghosts are a normal part of life now. Veronica's house has two ghosts: her father's ghost appears at the breakfast table each...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Joana Hill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, paranormal

Read more reviews at my blog, Words and Tea Bottles.

Now this was a book I could definitely get into. The concept itself is rather interesting, and provides a breath of fresh air from all the Twilight clones and cookie-cutter paranormal stuff that’s still going around even after the movie franchise is over.

But that’s a rant for another time, I suppose.

There’s a lot to like about this, not just the plot. For the most part, the writing is great. There are a few times where it’s awkward, and the aut...more Read more reviews at my blog, Words and Tea Bottles.

Now this was a book I could definitely get into. The concept itself is rather interesting, and provides a breath of fresh air from all the Twilight clones and cookie-cutter paranormal stuff that’s still going around even after the movie franchise is over.

But that’s a rant for another time, I suppose.

There’s a lot to like about this, not just the plot. For the most part, the writing is great. There are a few times where it’s awkward, and the author seems to have an obsession with describing Veronica’s clothes every time she changes, but nothing too bad.

While I’m listing my complaints, I suppose I’ll put the others I had. Veronica is a dynamic character, but so much so that I often got confused and wondered if two different people had written separate chapters. At times she’s kissing Kirk and completely comfortable with him, and then later she’s wondering why he’s falling for her and how to break up with him. I understand someone has a right to change their mind, but she acted like none of it had even happened! A bit irritating

Veronica’s best friend is absolutely terrified of ghosts, but I’m not sure I understand her character arc. One day she’s refusing to go with Veronica and Kirk to video tape them, the next she’s asking if she can go to Veronica’s house and see the image of Veronica’s father that appears every morning. Perhaps I’m missing something; I’m sure there was supposed to be some big character revelation. Unfortunately, with all the different focuses, she’s not one of them so we never see it.

Finally, just how this world is setup confused me as well. The summary and first few chapters of the book imply that the Event, which itself is vague and never gone into in too much detail (though I imagine it’s because no one really understands how it happened anyway) caused the ghosts to appear somehow. Later, it’s implied that ghosts always appear in this world after a tragic event, citing such things as the atom bomb drops in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Still later, those theories are dismissed as conspiracy theories. I suppose I just would’ve liked to know if this really was an alternate universe or something else.

However, this book, I feel, has pros that outweigh the cons. I’ve already mentioned the writing. It also manages to keep a very creepy vibe about it throughout the story. In this world, ghosts appear and act out a piece of their life before disappearing, often every day or several times a week. Even though it’s been years since the Event, people still often can’t tell the difference between a ghost and a living person, unless they know the ghost and know they’re dead. This most often happens when following Mr. Bittner’s point of view, although based on later events in the book, it seems he’s a bit more unhinged than even first implied.

Overall, a very enjoyable book, especially if you’re a paranormal buff. Definitely worth at least a borrow from the library or a friend!(less)

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Dec 26, 2012 Canadian Reader rated it 2 of 5 stars

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is an unconventional young adult ghost story--part thriller, part mystery, with hints of dystopian fiction--and essentially no chills. Some years after a very poorly-defined cataclysmic "Event" has left ghostly images of millions of the dead visible to the general public, Veronica,an attractive young high-school student is targeted by a creepy teacher, who has suffered his own family losses. A second teacher, another victim of the "Event", is writing a book on the ghos...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Matt Schwartz rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm not sure there's too many authors out there whose works I eagerly anticipate as much as Daniel Waters (not just for YA fiction -- fiction, period). His Generation Dead series remains one of the truly ballsiest and addictive series of the last decade.

His new stand-alone novel, Break my Heart 1,000 Times (great title, by the way) doesn't disappoint. As with Generation Dead, Waters plays with the idea of what's essentially a present-day world that has undergone a dramatic shift -- in this case...more

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Nov 05, 2012 TheBookSmugglers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers

Ever since the Event, ghosts have become a regular part of daily life. As if on an endless, mindless loop, these specters return every day, doing something that they did in life. For sixteen year old Veronica, her father appears every morning at the breakfast table, reading the same ghostly newspaper, sipping the same steaming hot cup of coffee, then looking up and smiling at some memory of his wife and daughter before disappearing. There's the ghost of M...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, ghosts

As you may have noticed, I rarely read YA but I couldn't resist the premise of BREAK MY HEART 1,000 TIMES when I heard about it. It's a supernatural thriller where the scary parts are actually not the ghosts -- how could I *not* try it?

I am completely unfamiliar with Daniel Waters' other work, the Generation Dead series, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a very interesting and thoughtful story about loss and death and all of the different ways people respond to big and small change...more As you may have noticed, I rarely read YA but I couldn't resist the premise of BREAK MY HEART 1,000 TIMES when I heard about it. It's a supernatural thriller where the scary parts are actually not the ghosts -- how could I *not* try it?

I am completely unfamiliar with Daniel Waters' other work, the Generation Dead series, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a very interesting and thoughtful story about loss and death and all of the different ways people respond to big and small changes in their lives, in addition to an exciting thriller storyline. The book is definitely geared toward the 12-17 age range but it's a nice book for those of us who are a little (or a lot) more mature. :)

The story is told from several points of view so you get to know the minds of several characters. The bulk of the novel is told by Veronica and Kirk, which allowed me to get to know them very well, but Daniel Waters also gives us some insight into Mr. Bittner, the creepy teacher, and Brian, one of the ghosts who lives in Veronica's house. The multiple angles lets us really see the world the author has created and I thoroughly appreciated it even though I didn't really enjoy being Mr. Bittner's brain.

BREAK MY HEART 1,000 TIMES is billed as a thriller but it's not a fast-paced novel so be prepared for a slow boil. I generally prefer this genre of book to have more action and what you get in BREAK MY HEART 1,000 TIMES is a lot of the characters' thoughts. As such, the book felt a little slow to me, particularly in the start, and I had a hard time getting into the story. I'm glad I read it through, though, because the pieces fall into place as Veronica learns Mr. Bittern has bad intentions and as she and Kirk investigate the ghosts in their community, and the story definitely builds as you get closer to the end.

My favourite part of this book, hands down, is the world building because the ghosts aren't inherently scary -- it's the regular people who are the source of all of the malice and harmful intent. The ghosts are simply an artefact of The Event, a mysterious occurrence that isn't fully explained in the novel. Instead, the focus is on the aftermath and how people deal with the ghosts. Some people are afraid of them, some rely on and take comfort in their appearances, others accept them as the new normal, and still others people want to figure out what's going on. The full spectrum of reactions is well represented and it made me think a lot about the different ways folks react to big, scary events in the real world, like September 11. (This is why I called the book 'thoughtful' in my second paragraph.)

While BREAK MY HEART 1,000 TIMES isn't the kind of book I'd normally pick up based on the target YA audience, I'm definitely happy I gave this book a try. I don't know if it's going to be for everyone but I'd urge you to read the excerpt below and see if it's to your tastes.

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Oct 18, 2012 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, scary-stuff, ya, arc, netgalley

I had the hardest time choosing a book to review for my stop during the Something Wicked Comes event! Killers, beasts, creepy crawlies, demons, mothers-in-law, vampires – all great sources of terror, but nothing really jumped out at me – ha, see what I did there – so I went with a classic and chose ghosts.

In the years following an unspecified Event that instantaneously killed millions of people, ghosts are everywhere, visible to everyone. They look like they’re reenacting little scenes by themse...more I had the hardest time choosing a book to review for my stop during the Something Wicked Comes event! Killers, beasts, creepy crawlies, demons, mothers-in-law, vampires – all great sources of terror, but nothing really jumped out at me – ha, see what I did there – so I went with a classic and chose ghosts.

In the years following an unspecified Event that instantaneously killed millions of people, ghosts are everywhere, visible to everyone. They look like they’re reenacting little scenes by themselves over and over each day, always at the same time for just a minute or so. For teenager Veronica, one of the ghosts she has in her house is her father, who shows up at 7:13 every morning to read his paper and have a sip of coffee at the kitchen table.

As odd as life has become with the ghosts, there’s still school, work, friends and dating. Veronica’s classmate Kirk has a crush on her and he’s been given permission from one of his teachers to do some research on ghosts for extra credit, knowing it won’t take much to entice her to come with him for most of his field trips. They start with some notorious local ghosts and start checking out people who were murdered, fatefully picking the one girl who would lead them to the next girl in a serial killer’s collection.

Cue The Twilight Zone music. This was weird. I think it was the juxtaposition of so much normality with the freaky: the slightly strange ghosts that do everyday things like Veronica’s dad, then the ghosts who are caught in the middle of dying or something horrible, then the downright creepiness of the serial killer plot that gave me the shivers. Let’s add in some psychological problems, shall we?

Veronica has, let’s say, issues. The girl is more comfortable with ghosts than she is with people. She can’t commit and has gotten very good at placing the blame on the guys that she’s constantly dumping. She’s not a flirt, it’s not her fault they attach themselves to her. Even with her best friend Janine, she’s happy to declare under what circumstances she’s willing to be needed. She can be difficult to like unless you give her some slack for being such an emotional chicken.

You find out almost immediately who the killer is, since it’s as much his story and why he kills as it is Veronica’s. He lost a daughter when she was a teenager and he and his wife never recovered. Since she was born on February 29, a leap year, he believes that if he kills another girl who was born on that day, on that day, that the veil will lift and his daughter will be able to come back to life. There are some shades of Psycho happening with this family that add more creepy-crawly onto the story.

The other characters play important roles just supporting Veronica and the killer which is good since their perspectives are drowned out by theirs. Kirk is a nice kid, probably too nice for Veronica. He doesn’t have any frame of reference for her, not having lost anyone in The Event, having a big family and not feeling any particular attachment or affinity for ghosts. Her best friend Janine was terrified of ghosts but ended up being an asset and a new ghost in Veronica’s bathroom who was related to one of the murder victims tried to help. All of them did what they could for Veronica and tried to make some kind of relationship with her which didn’t always make sense since she was as cuddly as a cactus.

I wasn’t terrified and I can turn the lights off but this was still very creepy. Ghosts, serial killers and Psycho are a guaranteed trifecta of chill-makers for me though, and this worked for that. I haven’t read anything quite like this before and I look forward to rereading it during the next dark and stormy night.(less)

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Sep 06, 2012 Reving rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! Just in time for Halloween, Break My Heart 1,000 Times is a great mix of serial killer suspense and other-wordly hauntings! Fantastic! I have never read a book by Waters, but now must go back and do so. He reminds me a bit of another favorite of mine, Jeffrey Ford. Different, well-written and creepy!

The Event killed many people in the United States and since then, ghosts are everywhere. Images really, the dead doing mundane tasks, like Ronnie's dad who drinks coffee and reads the paper eve...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts, guy-reads, high-school, multiple-pov, paranormal, romance, ya

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this super creepy ghost story!!

I'm not a huge fan of ghost stories in general-- I just don't find them all that interesting and scary. I found this story to be quite unusual and quite spooky, although not always because of the ghosts involved.

So it's the future and something referred to as "The Event" has happened, which we never really learn about, except that millions of people died and as a result, ghosts have become a part of everyday life. Many people...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Daniel Waters is an author that the Militant Recommender really enjoys. He was one of the first YA writers to use zombies in a completely original and believable way in the fictional reality of the world he created around teens living and "living impaired" in the Generation Dead series. He is also great at writing girl characters who come across as real whether they are zombies or goth girls or a girl like Veronica, or Ronnie as she's called, the protagonist in his new book, coming this October,...more Daniel Waters is an author that the Militant Recommender really enjoys. He was one of the first YA writers to use zombies in a completely original and believable way in the fictional reality of the world he created around teens living and "living impaired" in the Generation Dead series. He is also great at writing girl characters who come across as real whether they are zombies or goth girls or a girl like Veronica, or Ronnie as she's called, the protagonist in his new book, coming this October, with the best title I've heard in a while Break My Heart 1,000 Times.
Break My Heart takes place in a world and time after a horrifying disaster referred to as the Event, a sort of 9/11 type catastrophe. The world in which Veronica and her mother reside is a world filled with ghosts. Many are the ghosts of those who perished in that event, but many just appear at random. Some appear on a daily basis, like Ronnie's Dad who went into the city on the day of the Event and never returned, though his image appears every morning at the breakfast table, reading the paper and sipping coffee for several minutes before vanishing to reappear the next morning.
It's unnerving, to say the least, but Mr. Waters embodies the disembodied with an empathy that makes you feel it's completely natural to see ghosts continuing to collect the mail in their bathrobes, or show up in your bathroom while you're having a shower or... day after day knock on the door of your history teacher, the guy who lives down the street.
Ronnie escapes the ghost of her family life by serial dating guys from school. She doesn't want anything too complicated, but then finds herself attracted to the nice, smart and cute Kirk. Not her usual type, but there's something about him. He's kind and attentive, in a good way, so when their English teacher, a man with a ghost fixation encourages Kirk to film some of the ghosts around town for extra credit, Ronnie joins him on an investigation that uncovers mysteries long unsolved.
This is, honestly, a book you won't be able to put down. I found myself thoroughly immersed in this world of ghosts and the human horror living among them and adding to their population. It has one of the creepiest villains imaginable and even he gets some sympathy from the author! There are moments where you'll find yourself yelling at your book, or Kindle, or what have you, warning the characters of what lies in wait! That doesn't happen too often. And neither does a haunting story like this one!
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Aug 02, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-michelle

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A suspenseful thriller filled with wonderful writing, only to leave you wide awake at night and unable to sleep.

Opening Sentence: I walk through walls.

The Review:

The infamous Daniel Waters has written another paranormal masterpiece. Break My Heart 1,000 Times is filled with thrills, chills, and a large paranormal presence, that it will leave readers transfixed. Seeing the dead is a part of life, and since the “Event,” the aftermath has conti...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Katie added it

Shelves: arcs, for-review

It seems Daniel Waters has a knack for throwing teenage protagonists into terrifying situations because just like the Generation Dead series, I quite enjoyed Break My Heart 1,000 Times.

There are some good things and some iffy things for me when it comes to this book. One of my favorite things was that the story was coming at me from all different perspectives, one of them belonging to the book's resident crazy killer. It totally jacked up the creep factor to read from his point of view because,...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, 2012

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is not my typical reading, therefore I am not sure of the substance of my opinion. In fact, this is exactly the type of book I avoid, being a touch to close to the dark side of the real world.
Mr Waters writing is strong, drawing the reader into a shadowed world where an unexplained Event has left millions on the east coast dead and brought about a phenomenon of ghosts or images. These images play out like holograms all over town with no explination as to why it is "t...more Break My Heart 1,000 Times is not my typical reading, therefore I am not sure of the substance of my opinion. In fact, this is exactly the type of book I avoid, being a touch to close to the dark side of the real world.
Mr Waters writing is strong, drawing the reader into a shadowed world where an unexplained Event has left millions on the east coast dead and brought about a phenomenon of ghosts or images. These images play out like holograms all over town with no explination as to why it is "that" moment they repeat day after day. Some images are mundane, like the man who is mowing his lawn, others play out the more horrific moments of their deaths. In to this world Mr Waters adds a cast of broken characters that have tried to adjust to this new life. The youthful voices of Veronica and Kirk are true to their age, confused and insecure but honest and caring, they truly belive they have a future but are easily caught in the moment. They are young, remembering life before the Event yet have adjusted well. The adults are not so well adjusted, many lost loved ones in the Event and struggle with a lack of hope as they watch for the images of lost loved ones to appear. This part of the story I truly enjoyed, it was sharp, convincing, and what kept me reading.
I could even belive the dark shattered mind of August Bittner, he never felt false or contrived.
It was the actions of the images that I struggled with. Mr Waters sets the world up with rules that confine the images to a holographic likeness, confines they have not broken for several years. When the ghosts began moving outside these confines we are given no explination as to why now? Why not for someone else? There is no president, in fact it is stated several times that they don't change or deviate. It seamed to me that Waters broke his own rules in order to reach the visual conclusion he wanted. This logical fallacy is what turned the story for me, no mater how strong the voice, it was not strong enough to overcome this type of disruption and make it a truly good book.(less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Erin Forson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for this wonderful reading experience!
To be released October 16, 2012

Since “The Event” years before, where millions of people were killed in an instant, ghosts have become a constant part of the world. Veronica cannot walk to school without seeing a ghost, sit through a class or have breakfast without a ghost being present—in fact so many ghosts exist, that ghosts are quite normal. People are accustomed to seeing them and have stopped trying to figure out why they appear—with...more Thanks to Netgalley for this wonderful reading experience!
To be released October 16, 2012

Since “The Event” years before, where millions of people were killed in an instant, ghosts have become a constant part of the world. Veronica cannot walk to school without seeing a ghost, sit through a class or have breakfast without a ghost being present—in fact so many ghosts exist, that ghosts are quite normal. People are accustomed to seeing them and have stopped trying to figure out why they appear—with the exception of Mr. Pescatelli, who is writing a book on the subject, and employs Kirk and Veronica to do field work observing and taping ghost appearances. But when Kirk and Veronica begin to uncover grisly clues to the murder of several local girls, they realize that they are putting their own lives in very serious danger.

First let me say that this is my first Daniel Waters book, despite the fact that he has written many successful YA novels before. How did I miss this talented author? The first noticeable strength of this work is the style, the prose is so rich that at times it borders on the literary, the tone macabre and sinister without being egregiously violent. Veronica and Kirk are typical, relatable teens who want a simple, uncomplicated relationship but face roadblocks at every turn, while the villain and murderer of the story is complex and more than adequately creepy. The reader will loathe the killer as they listen to his thoughts, but they will also sympathize with him, and this story element speaks for the sophistication of the writing and the author’s insight into human nature. And then there are the ghosts! It becomes clear as the novel progresses that ghosts are not simple creatures. Ghosts may differ in nature, some merely images, others harbingers of doom, and others bent on helping, facts that Veronica and Kirk discover through their chilling investigations. Readers will be spellbound by the discoveries the protagonists make, and they will anxiously await the constant and seamless appearances of new ghosts at every turn. In addition to the riveting story line, the reader is also led to ponder philosophical questions that make the mind bend; is time really linear? Is there life after death? Are there ghosts all around us? Why do ghosts appear? A phenomenal work that successfully combines mystery with the paranormal and is impossible to put down, I encourage anyone with an interest in the paranormal, in mysteries, or anyone who just wants a fantastic, creepy read to buy this book the instant it hits bookstores!(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Elizabeth Briggs added it

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is such a delightfully creepy and scary book! Part ghost story, part serial killer thriller, this is one book you won't be able to put down... but will also wish you hadn't read right before bed.

The book is set after "The Event" has weakened the veil between the living and dead, and now everyone can see ghosts. Except the ghosts are more like images on repeat, showing up at the same time in the same place every day...or are they?

Layered on top of this unique world is t...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ghosts, horror-thriller, teen-fiction, death-dying

Veronica has been seeing ghosts ever since the Event. She's not alone. In fact, since the Event, everyone can see the ghosts. They show up at the same places at the same times; trapped in some sort of metaphysical loop. It doesn't really frighten anyone, even if it does cause unease. It's been happening for a few years now, so no one's too surprised when a ghost suddenly appears in their path. The thing is, there are now more and more ghosts appearing. Veronica even has one that appears in her b...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Kristin Fletcher-spear rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, horror, supernatural, teen-young-adult, suspense

I haven't been excited about very many teen books lately. It's something to do with so many new titles sounding the same. i mean first, it was vampires, then anything paranormal, now it's dystopian and all the time it's romance. Blah!

But then comes along this book. Wowzers, I really liked it. I read it during my tiny breaks at work and I kept having to tell myself to ge back to work. There's a great amount of suspense building throughout the book. Waters slowly unveils the different "shocks" in...more

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Mar 29, 2013 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

Using well developed characters the author makes a strong argument for the theory that ghosts may have the ability to communicate with the land of the living. A VERY unique story which happens after a world event where millions of people are killed; but the author leaves the event up to the reader’s imagination by not going into detail about it. However, this event let loose ghosts, everywhere (even in Veronica’s bathroom). Some are images; but more distubingly some think and have a concious. Th...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Katy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I've been excited about this book for a long time. I liked Water's Generation Dead series - although that was more of the cheesy read with undead students trying to fit in high school, whereas this book was a lot more serious and sinister. Ghost hauntings everywhere. A psychopath serial killer. An investigation into the paranormal activity of this town. What more could you possibly want in a horror story?

But I really struggled with this one, and I think when it came down to it, the story is beyo...more I've been excited about this book for a long time. I liked Water's Generation Dead series - although that was more of the cheesy read with undead students trying to fit in high school, whereas this book was a lot more serious and sinister. Ghost hauntings everywhere. A psychopath serial killer. An investigation into the paranormal activity of this town. What more could you possibly want in a horror story?

But I really struggled with this one, and I think when it came down to it, the story is beyond predictable. And I'm not saying this as in the reader can guess what is going to happen. I meant it as in the book pretty much tells readers what the situation is from the get-go, and it's more like the characters are trying to find out what the readers already know.

I do want to say that I felt there was too much going on in this book. With the ghost in Ronnie's house, to her father, to August Brittner and his pursuit of bringing back Eva, to Janine and her paranoia, to Stephen Pescatelli's mission, to James and Kirk. There were so many elements scattered throughout the book, and even though they're all connected, I felt it really took away from the main story.

The most interesting part of the book was August Brittner. Through a huge portion of the book, I wondered why Waters decided to write the rare first person point-of-view in the eyes of Brian and not Gus. Can you imagine what it would be like to get a glimpse of what's going on in his dark, twisted mind? The man is beyond creepy - like your next-door neighbor is a serial killer kind of creepy. But the thing that was mind-boggling was everyone in town thinks he is a murderer, yet how in the world is he allowed to teach at school. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

However, the rest of the characters were unmemorable. I couldn't really connect with anyone in the high school. Veronica was a weird one. She was supposed to be the pretty, flirty, popular girl in school, but she was moody and too often comes across as a bitch, not because she's a queen bee, but just because she has mood swings. And Kirk, he's your nice-guy-always-finish-last type of character, but he's just not very lovable. I don't mean he's not sweet and determined, but he's very forgettable. Janine is an interesting character with her paranoia, but again, the book doesn't make a big deal on highlighting her at all, so she's lost among all the other drama.

The twist that really got me was Stephen Pescatelli's confession concerning his feelings toward ghosts. Who would ever thought, with his obsession in researching them, that he was terrified of them? But he is definitely an interesting character with his curiosity and the role he played.

Overall, it's not a bad book to read. Like I said, it had a sinister plot filled with interesting things to keep you entertained enough. However, I just had too many problems with the book, and I couldn't give it more than just an okay rating.(less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Alma Ramos-McDermott rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ever since the Event, ghosts have appeared all over town. People have gotten used to seeing them go about their daily business and then disappear. Veronica agrees to join Kirk, her boyfriend, on a ghost hunt to see if they can determine ghost patterns. Daily, they go around town filming ghosts from those reenacting a typical daily scenario like mowing a lawn with an invisible lawnmower, to those reenacting their own deaths.

Don't forget to become a follower of my blog so you can get my COMPLETE...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Kelly Sierra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, crime, family-crimes, fall-2012, ghosts, heart-break-by-death, dystopia, mystery, romance, serial-killers, to-review

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is a creepy tale of ghosts and the difficult process of grieving. Unlike other books, this novel is neither a ghost story nor is it just a story of loss. Let’s look at what this book is centered on. Apparently there was an “Event” that occurred on Earth. After said “Event” many died tragically; however, those people would never be forgotten. Images of those that were killed during the “Event” are now stuck on replay. Here is an example, MC Veronica sees her father ever...more Break My Heart 1,000 Times is a creepy tale of ghosts and the difficult process of grieving. Unlike other books, this novel is neither a ghost story nor is it just a story of loss. Let’s look at what this book is centered on. Apparently there was an “Event” that occurred on Earth. After said “Event” many died tragically; however, those people would never be forgotten. Images of those that were killed during the “Event” are now stuck on replay. Here is an example, MC Veronica sees her father every day at the breakfast table. Every day he flips through the same newspaper, drinks the same coffee from the same mug, and give the same look to her mother and leaves.

There are some unique takes as to why the images remain. Of course these are not interactive ghosts; however, that changes a bit. SO not only is this story about the after effects of the “Event” but there is also a ghost in Veronica’s home, who she is not aware of, yet. This ghost has intent; this ghost is not an image. Veronica is intrigued by this fact but also to who the ghost is.

To add to that side story, Veronica has a creepy teacher that has been rumored to have killed a young girl a couple of decades ago. Unfortunately for him, this dead girl is an image at his door every morning, fortunately for him there is no proof he killed her (remember there is no intent with the images, it’s not like she can have a full blown convo with the police).

Better yet, there is another teacher in Veronica’s high school that is writing about the difference of the images and why they came into existence. Kirk, a classmate of Veronica’s, investigates the images for this teacher… and somehow it’s all connected to the side story above. This isn’t just a mystery book; it is also a book about loss and grieving. Veronica’s mother captures this, by stating that every time she sees her husband and has to see him leave without interacting with him it’s like her heart is breaking 1,000 times. How could we live with the images of our loved ones popping up every day like clockwork? Would it hurt more when they stop appearing?

Very interesting ghostly read. Thanks NetGalley! 3/5 stars.
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Oct 07, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those who love ghost stories mixed with suspense

Shelves: ya-fantasy, ya-paranormal, ghosts-reapers, horror, thriller-suspense

Originally posted at Riffs And Reviews

Based on an ARC of the book.

I was so excited to obtain an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Daniel Waters’ newest book Break My Heart 1,000 Times in a giveaway. I was not familiar with his previous work, but the description for this young adult paranormal/suspense thriller was so provocative I was desperate to check it out. A cataclysmic Event that has made ghosts an everyday occurrence? A teacher who would kill to have his daughter back? A phantom teenage boy sh...more Originally posted at Riffs And Reviews

Based on an ARC of the book.

I was so excited to obtain an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Daniel Waters’ newest book Break My Heart 1,000 Times in a giveaway. I was not familiar with his previous work, but the description for this young adult paranormal/suspense thriller was so provocative I was desperate to check it out. A cataclysmic Event that has made ghosts an everyday occurrence? A teacher who would kill to have his daughter back? A phantom teenage boy showing up in a teenage girl’s bathroom? It all seemed wonderfully creepy and I couldn’t wait to dive into this world. Once I did, I found a chilling read I am happy to have in any form.

When Kirk Lane is given a project by his English teacher to investigate and record some of the ghosts that appear in town, he hopes it will provide an opportunity to get to know Veronica Calder better and give him the inside track to her heart. Veronica, a girl who lives in the moment as much as possible, has always wondered about the ghosts that have become a part of everyday life and with a new one suddenly appearing in her bathroom her curiosity is piqued even further. But as Kirk and Veronica start to document the regular ghostly events around town, they stumble upon signs that a serial killer has been active in their town for years – and that Veronica may be his next victim.

Break My Heart 1,000 Times is a tautly paced thriller that grabbed my imagination from the very first paragraph. Told from multiple points of view the story takes a unique look at ghosts and handles them in a wonderfully natural manner. Most of the ghosts appear to be recordings caught in loops that play out daily, but some are a bit more conscious of their surroundings. One of these is Brian, a teenage boy who appears unexpectedly in Veronica’s bathroom. Brian is the only character to use the first-person narrative, which allowed me to quickly relate to him and his struggles to make his presence known. I was intrigued by the ways that different characters reacted to the presence of the ghosts, which ranged from complete trauma to casual acceptance. I had to question how I would react in such a situation and if I could go about my daily life normally if these bits of the past were everywhere.

Veronica and Kirk are an interesting couple. Veronica is bold, strong and lovely while Kirk is a quieter, more intellectual individual. Veronica struggles a bit with commitment issues, while Kirk is confident enough to jump right in and give a relationship his all. A love triangle tentatively rears its head between Veronica, Kirk and ghost Brian, but it never fully gets off the ground due to circumstance – which is perfectly fine since there is enough chemistry between Veronica and Kirk to satisfy. None of the characters has a problem speaking their minds, and each has a very specific “voice” when the point of view shifts to them. Daniel Waters subtly tweaks the tone of the narrative as each character takes center stage, and writes his female characters just as realistically as the males.

There is no mystery regarding the serial killer, since it is quickly revealed in Chapter 3 what history teacher August Bittner has been doing for several years. Instead, this is more of a suspense thriller as August picks out Veronica as his next victim and sets his plans in motion to bring his beloved Eva back into the world. As Kirk, Veronica and Brian become aware of August’s plans, the tension mounts and the pace quickens leading to a heart-pounding finale. The dichotomy of August’s cool, collected public façade versus his psychotic, private one adds to the menace, while his conversations with his wife provide plenty of creepiness to the proceedings.

Daniel Waters has created a fascinating, and chilling, premise that manages to leave a lot of questions open: Why is Brian different from the other ghosts? Why do the ghosts act differently around Veronica? Where did they go? What about those final lines of the book? I would love to visit this world again to get answers to these questions, and hope a sequel is somewhere on the horizon. There are so many ghostly tales left to explore it would be a shame to stop here.

With a cast of well-defined characters, a haunting premise, chills, and a touch of romance, Daniel Waters’ Break My Heart 1,000 Times is a young adult paranormal thriller that will leave you wondering what you would do if the ones you loved kept reappearing after death – and how far would you go if they didn’t?(less)

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Nov 18, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, dystopian, library, ghosts

The Good

The ghosts. I loved the descriptions of the ghosts--particularly Brian. Many were poignant, like the little girl in the library named Molly, but there were also memorably tragic ghosts such as the woman who throws herself off a building and stands up from the sidewalk smiling.
The distinct but interlocking plot lines. I really liked the multiple plot lines and points of view. With some books this type of writing style would be very disorienting, but Waters wove the different aspects o...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Jenia. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian, mysteries, crime, ghosts, library, favorites, books-read-in-2013, 2013-sarc

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. For as long that I remember, ghost stories always fascinated me, and I found myself reading quite few of them through the years. When I came across Break My Heart 1,000 Times while at library and read the summary, I knew that it would be the type of book I will love. It was not a story I was expecting it, and I found myself loving it more than I thought I would. I enjoyed that the book had so much mystery in it, I love paranormal mysteries, and they always capture my attention. After reading th...more For as long that I remember, ghost stories always fascinated me, and I found myself reading quite few of them through the years. When I came across Break My Heart 1,000 Times while at library and read the summary, I knew that it would be the type of book I will love. It was not a story I was expecting it, and I found myself loving it more than I thought I would. I enjoyed that the book had so much mystery in it, I love paranormal mysteries, and they always capture my attention. After reading this book, I will be checking rest of Water’s work, he has a way of keeping reader’s attention till the end.

GOODREADS SUMMARY
Living in the aftermath of the Event means that seeing the dead is now a part of life, but Veronica wishes that the ghosts would just move on. Instead, the ghosts aren't disappearing--they're gaining power.

When Veronica and her friend, Kirk, decide to investigate why, they stumble upon a more sinister plot than they ever could have imagined. One of Veronica's high school teachers is crippled by the fact that his dead daughter has never returned as a ghost, and he's haunted by the possibility that she's waiting to reappear within a fresh body. Veronica seems like the perfect host. And even if he's wrong, what's the harm in creating one more ghost?

What is there not to love about this book? It has an amazing cover. I can tell by just looking at cover that it will have a dark, mysterious story behind it. Way the girl looks, she looks serious, mysterious. Besides the cover, the title: Break My Heart 1,000 Times how can that title not capture the reader’s attention? The title is what captured my attention first, even before I knew that it was about ghost, I got curious and that’s what got me to pick up the book, to check it out. I was sure that book was going be a romantic one but it was more of mystery. While reading the book, I saw why it was titled that and I could see it fit. The cover too.

The writing style was unlike any style I seen before, it was unique. I loved that he was writing from different point of view’s, including the ghost, Brian from time to time. Reading from each of character’s point of view, including the killers, had me able get inside their head more, imagine what they were feeling. Out of everyone, I felt like I could find myself being able to connect with Veronica more, and Brian for some reason. Though he was in Mary in past, I got the feeling that he cared for Veronica too, and that’s why he wanted to warn her and it’s why he saved her. It actually made me wish that he was real, like Veronica did at one point. To me, it felt like there was more connection between her and Brian, then her and Kirk. I enjoyed reader about killer’s point of view, seeing what he was feeling and why he was doing in first place. Curious to see what his next move would be.

Veronica & Kirk: I’m not sure how I felt about their relationship. I could see that Kirk cared for Veronica, but I got the feeling that Veronica didn’t feel the way that Kirk cared about her, at least till not till end of the book. There didn’t seem to be connection between two of them, especially considering how she treated Kirk at times, even if he was nothing but sweet to her. It felt like Kirk was more obsessed with her and felt like he was pushing her, pressuring her through some things. Though as the book progressed, I warmed up to their relationship more, seeing that Veronica did seem to care for Kirk, even if it wasn’t same how he cared for her. I’m curious if their relationship progressed any farther, after end of book. Considering the feelings that she seemed have towards Brian, though he was a ghosts.

There was quite bit of mystery in this book. There seemed to be more mystery then romance in the book and that’s what I liked about it. That’s what kept me on edge of my seat, kept me on reading. I wanted to see if Veronica’s teacher would succeed this time or if he gets caught this time. Of course I was hoping he gets caught, so he wouldn’t be able get away from it. Though he was killer, I felt sorry for him, at times. The descriptions were so vivid, I actually felt like I was there with Veronica, Kirk.

I would highly recommend this book. It’s filled with mystery, murder, ghosts and some romance. It will keep you on reading.
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Jan 25, 2013 Brendan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book completely knocked me out. A really interesting twist on the ghost story that is dark, compelling, ultimately hopeful, and at times painfully honest about grief. I kept putting it down because I wanted to savor it and then picking it up again because I had to know what happened. Oh yeah--it's also beautifully written and full of three-dimensional, believable characters.

I hope that readers who like horror novels but don't usually read YA will find this because it is an exceptional horro...more

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