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Love Lies Beneath #1
Love Lies Beneath
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Collateral comes a gripping novel about a woman caught in a love affair that could be her salvation...or her undoing.
Tara is gorgeous, affluent, and forty. She lives in an impeccably restored Russian Hill mansion in San Francisco. Once a widow, twice divorced, she’s a woman with a past she prefers keeping to herself.
Enter Cavin Lattimore. He’s handsome, kind, charming, and the surgeon assigned to Tara following a ski accident in Lake Tahoe. In the weeks it takes her to recover, Cavin sweeps her off her feet and their relationship blossoms into something Tara had never imagined possible. But then she begins to notice some strange things: a van parked outside her home at odd times, a break-in, threatening text messages and emails. She also starts to notice cracks in Cavin’s seemingly perfect personality, like the suppressed rage his conniving teenage son brings out in him, and the discovery that Cavin hired a detective to investigate her immediately after they met.
Now on crutches and housebound, Tara finds herself dependent on the new man in her life—perhaps too much so. She’s handling rocky relationships with her sister and best friend, who are envious of her glamour and freedom; her prickly brother-in-law, who is intimidated by her wealth and power; and her estranged mother. However perfect Tara’s life appears, things are beginning to get messy.
Writing in beautiful prose, Ellen Hopkins unveils a new style while evoking her signature poetic form that readers fell in love with in Collateral and Triangles.
Tara is gorgeous, affluent, and forty. She lives in an impeccably restored Russian Hill mansion in San Francisco. Once a widow, twice divorced, she’s a woman with a past she prefers keeping to herself.
Enter Cavin Lattimore. He’s handsome, kind, charming, and the surgeon assigned to Tara following a ski accident in Lake Tahoe. In the weeks it takes her to recover, Cavin sweeps her off her feet and their relationship blossoms into something Tara had never imagined possible. But then she begins to notice some strange things: a van parked outside her home at odd times, a break-in, threatening text messages and emails. She also starts to notice cracks in Cavin’s seemingly perfect personality, like the suppressed rage his conniving teenage son brings out in him, and the discovery that Cavin hired a detective to investigate her immediately after they met.
Now on crutches and housebound, Tara finds herself dependent on the new man in her life—perhaps too much so. She’s handling rocky relationships with her sister and best friend, who are envious of her glamour and freedom; her prickly brother-in-law, who is intimidated by her wealth and power; and her estranged mother. However perfect Tara’s life appears, things are beginning to get messy.
Writing in beautiful prose, Ellen Hopkins unveils a new style while evoking her signature poetic form that readers fell in love with in Collateral and Triangles.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2015
217 people are currently reading
7854 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Hopkins
48 books19.2k followersEllen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, Tricks, Fallout, Perfect, Triangles, Tilt, and Collateral. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me", and she can be visited at ellenhopkins.com.
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
March 24, 2017
I’m kind of embarrassed to admit how long this book has been sitting on my shelf, patiently waiting for a little bit of attention. For some reason, I let the not so favorable reviews sway me and what a mistake that turned out to be. Just goes to show, no two people ever read the same book. Above all else, for me, Tara’s story was fun. Refreshing. Surprising. And even a tad suspenseful.
Three divorces and some savvy investments later, Tara is forty, well-off, gorgeous and living in a prestigious San Fransisco neighborhood. She’s the first to admit she’s never been in love, despite the three husbands she’s shared her years with. She’s confident, blunt and never shies away from telling the truth . . . well, most of the time. Do lies of omission count? There’s not many people who can say they would rather tell the truth, than waste time lying to make someone feel better. Some people might call that harsh; straddling the line between honesty and being mean, but from Tara’s perspective it was kind of liberating. Forget playing coy or the fear that she was going to push someone away, when Tara wanted answers, she went for it. Is she the most lovable character? Certainly not. Something has to be said for her strength and resilience though.
Just when she least expects to have her heart stollen, Tara meets Cavin. A dreamy doctor with a house in Tahoe, he seems perfect. Add in their intense chemistry, witty banter and his charming nature, and there’s a ton of promise. Naturally, my first thought was - how in the heck is this guy single? My second - ok, what’s wrong with him? Throw Cavin’s semi-estranged seventeen-year old son, Eli, into the mix and things get pretty interesting. Maybe even a tad creepy?
The author manages to weave in a little mystery with the rocky father-son relationship (who should Tara believe?) and the very real possibility that Tara might have a stalker. You have to wonder . . . is there something more sinister going on than meets the eye? Is Tara making a HUGE mistake the one and only time she’s truly given her heart away?
“Can love connect two people indefinitely?”
An epic novel this is not. I found it to be more akin to a guilty pleasure; a read just for the sake of enjoyment and exactly what the doctor ordered after my last disaster of a pick. And that ending . . . ahhhhh. A little open-ended, a tad rushed, but more importantly, riddled with unexpected revelations. I only wish I could get a tiny peek into the future. Looks like I might get that chance next year, with the release of the second book.
*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Three divorces and some savvy investments later, Tara is forty, well-off, gorgeous and living in a prestigious San Fransisco neighborhood. She’s the first to admit she’s never been in love, despite the three husbands she’s shared her years with. She’s confident, blunt and never shies away from telling the truth . . . well, most of the time. Do lies of omission count? There’s not many people who can say they would rather tell the truth, than waste time lying to make someone feel better. Some people might call that harsh; straddling the line between honesty and being mean, but from Tara’s perspective it was kind of liberating. Forget playing coy or the fear that she was going to push someone away, when Tara wanted answers, she went for it. Is she the most lovable character? Certainly not. Something has to be said for her strength and resilience though.
Just when she least expects to have her heart stollen, Tara meets Cavin. A dreamy doctor with a house in Tahoe, he seems perfect. Add in their intense chemistry, witty banter and his charming nature, and there’s a ton of promise. Naturally, my first thought was - how in the heck is this guy single? My second - ok, what’s wrong with him? Throw Cavin’s semi-estranged seventeen-year old son, Eli, into the mix and things get pretty interesting. Maybe even a tad creepy?
The author manages to weave in a little mystery with the rocky father-son relationship (who should Tara believe?) and the very real possibility that Tara might have a stalker. You have to wonder . . . is there something more sinister going on than meets the eye? Is Tara making a HUGE mistake the one and only time she’s truly given her heart away?
“Can love connect two people indefinitely?”
An epic novel this is not. I found it to be more akin to a guilty pleasure; a read just for the sake of enjoyment and exactly what the doctor ordered after my last disaster of a pick. And that ending . . . ahhhhh. A little open-ended, a tad rushed, but more importantly, riddled with unexpected revelations. I only wish I could get a tiny peek into the future. Looks like I might get that chance next year, with the release of the second book.
*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2017
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
I don’t even know where to begin with this epic disaster. I’m just as shocked as you are… Ellen Hopkins! One of my all-time favorites! The one I’ve always been able to rely on for a beautifully written story with a moving plot. Love Lies Beneath was nothing like I’ve come to expect from Hopkins and while change isn’t necessarily a bad thing in this case she strayed from her verse style and opted for a typical style of writing and it was a major fail. I can’t even soften this (or shorten my rant) so I don’t come off as a complete asshole because I am completely shocked at how straight up horrible this was. Me. Rating an Ellen Hopkins 1 star. Hell hath frozen over.
First off, I need to mention that I read the short story that is listed as a prequel story called On the Rocks. I’m all for anything that adds a new level of understanding and from what other reviewers said, reading it before Love helped you to understand Tara and Graham’s relationship better. (cue insane laughter) I have to basically spoil the short story in order to properly explain the beginning of my aggravations, so you’ve been warned.
Tara is introduced as a powerful, self-sufficient woman who is also a recent widow. She takes what she wants, in life and in the bedroom, and has no qualms about doing so. Graham meets twenty-three year old Tara for the first time in a local pawnshop, which she’s owner. He’s been seeing this other girl recently, but he thinks Tara is really something so he calls her a few days later to ask her out on a date. They hit it off, end up in bed together, and in the morning he leaves to go meet his girlfriend for lunch. Yeah, he’s a real charmer. Long story short, his girlfriend’s sister is meeting them and go figure, Tara is the sister that shows up. Talk about awkward. The aggravations began when I picked up Love and noted some SERIOUS inconsistencies.
When Love opens, there’s a serious jump in time. Tara is now forty and is now a three-time divorceé who spends her time in the gym or working on fundraising. One of her exes is a politician who takes care of all her expenses still so she doesn’t have to do any real work. Graham ended up married to her sister and they have three children together. Tara and Graham hate each other and the short story was supposed to be the key to explaining it all. But that’s where I ran into a major snag:
‘…would it have been better to confide the fact that Graham had tried to sleep with me?’
Wait. TRIED to sleep with her? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought it was pretty clear in the short story they slept together.
‘They fuck for hours, until there’s nothing left to fuck away-no loneliness, no frustration, no pain, no thirst.’
Uh, yeah. I don’t think that could be any more clear. Yet I believe I counted at least three instances which mentioned how he hates her because she “turned him down”… TWENTY YEARS AGO. Because that makes complete sense for him to hate her after that long and after marrying her sister and having kids together for him to still hold a grudge for all that. Even if the story upheld the short stories claim that they slept together, it still wouldn’t be realistic for him to hate her after all that time.
Alright, so on to my next issue. Tara. Tara is not a character you will grow fond of. I’ve read my fair share of unlikable characters and this alone won’t bring a story down for me. What brought it down is Tara is a total cliché and could not be more of a cardboard cutout. Her narrative is ridiculous and uninspiring and the motivations behind her mannerisms are chalked up to an absent mother that slept around with a bunch of men. But the things that would come out of her mouth were straight-up cringe worthy. Here are a few treasures I saved:
“No. You broke even, minus the three hundred you gave away. You could have lost the whole thing! Who does that? Who takes that kind of risk?
She is seriously clueless. “It’s only money, Mel.”
“Kayla’s been heading in the wrong direction for a while now. I’m afraid she’s lost all sense of reason.”
I’ve heard marijuana can do that to a person, and what if it’s become a gateway to harder stuff?
‘I’ve relied on condoms for intermittent liaisons, and remained herpes and fetus-free. Should I worry now? At my age, is what’s left of my egg stash even viable?
Oh well, if things go wrong, there’s always abortion.’
And my favorite:
‘The burgers, at least, don’t disappoint, and the fries are worth every fat-soaked bite. Good thing I didn’t eat earlier.’
Yeah, she’s a fabulous person. But she’s just so terribly written that she comes off as laughable and I’m not sure that’s what was intended. Speaking of the writing, compared to her more lush verse stories, this reads like somebody completely different wrote it. It’s oversimplified and the supposed “mystery” is something that’s thrown in for a half-assed twist at the end which made it all the more ludicrous. In addition to changing her writing style, she added in a whole lot more sex scenes than I had seen before from her, even in her other adult novels. Suffice it to say that I found them laughable as well and I’m certain that’s definitely not what she intended.
But personally, I want to lick him, forehead to foreskin. Hmm. Does he have foreskin? Damn, now I’m wondering.
Then I unhinge my jaw, which is what it takes for my mouth to accept the whole thing, and I teach him the meaning of head, Tara-style […]
I’m not sure when but she apparently transformed into a snake at some point. I missed that scene.
And this completely creepy mental image:
Completely engorged, his cock crawls up the backs of my legs.
Um. Cocks don’t do that. Maybe he should have that looked at.
And if all that wasn’t bad enough, towards the end she has this medical crisis and was a complete idiot about it. She had a reaction to something she ate and had to use her epi pen and considering I personally have to carry an epi pen and know exactly how all that shit goes, the scene was completely enraging. She describes injecting herself and how the swelling in her eyes and face as well as the hives began to immediately shrink. And how she went to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror, noted that her skin was slack from being all stretched out so she applied some tightening lotion. Uh, that’s not how that works, at fucking all. Your swelling doesn’t go away that quickly. But the icing on the fucking cake:
‘All the literature says to call 911 or go into the ER after an episode capped with epinephrine. But I want to go to the beach.’
And I’m done. I’m baffled. So completely shocked. I can’t even comprehend.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I don’t even know where to begin with this epic disaster. I’m just as shocked as you are… Ellen Hopkins! One of my all-time favorites! The one I’ve always been able to rely on for a beautifully written story with a moving plot. Love Lies Beneath was nothing like I’ve come to expect from Hopkins and while change isn’t necessarily a bad thing in this case she strayed from her verse style and opted for a typical style of writing and it was a major fail. I can’t even soften this (or shorten my rant) so I don’t come off as a complete asshole because I am completely shocked at how straight up horrible this was. Me. Rating an Ellen Hopkins 1 star. Hell hath frozen over.
First off, I need to mention that I read the short story that is listed as a prequel story called On the Rocks. I’m all for anything that adds a new level of understanding and from what other reviewers said, reading it before Love helped you to understand Tara and Graham’s relationship better. (cue insane laughter) I have to basically spoil the short story in order to properly explain the beginning of my aggravations, so you’ve been warned.
Tara is introduced as a powerful, self-sufficient woman who is also a recent widow. She takes what she wants, in life and in the bedroom, and has no qualms about doing so. Graham meets twenty-three year old Tara for the first time in a local pawnshop, which she’s owner. He’s been seeing this other girl recently, but he thinks Tara is really something so he calls her a few days later to ask her out on a date. They hit it off, end up in bed together, and in the morning he leaves to go meet his girlfriend for lunch. Yeah, he’s a real charmer. Long story short, his girlfriend’s sister is meeting them and go figure, Tara is the sister that shows up. Talk about awkward. The aggravations began when I picked up Love and noted some SERIOUS inconsistencies.
When Love opens, there’s a serious jump in time. Tara is now forty and is now a three-time divorceé who spends her time in the gym or working on fundraising. One of her exes is a politician who takes care of all her expenses still so she doesn’t have to do any real work. Graham ended up married to her sister and they have three children together. Tara and Graham hate each other and the short story was supposed to be the key to explaining it all. But that’s where I ran into a major snag:
‘…would it have been better to confide the fact that Graham had tried to sleep with me?’
Wait. TRIED to sleep with her? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought it was pretty clear in the short story they slept together.
‘They fuck for hours, until there’s nothing left to fuck away-no loneliness, no frustration, no pain, no thirst.’
Uh, yeah. I don’t think that could be any more clear. Yet I believe I counted at least three instances which mentioned how he hates her because she “turned him down”… TWENTY YEARS AGO. Because that makes complete sense for him to hate her after that long and after marrying her sister and having kids together for him to still hold a grudge for all that. Even if the story upheld the short stories claim that they slept together, it still wouldn’t be realistic for him to hate her after all that time.
Alright, so on to my next issue. Tara. Tara is not a character you will grow fond of. I’ve read my fair share of unlikable characters and this alone won’t bring a story down for me. What brought it down is Tara is a total cliché and could not be more of a cardboard cutout. Her narrative is ridiculous and uninspiring and the motivations behind her mannerisms are chalked up to an absent mother that slept around with a bunch of men. But the things that would come out of her mouth were straight-up cringe worthy. Here are a few treasures I saved:
“No. You broke even, minus the three hundred you gave away. You could have lost the whole thing! Who does that? Who takes that kind of risk?
She is seriously clueless. “It’s only money, Mel.”
“Kayla’s been heading in the wrong direction for a while now. I’m afraid she’s lost all sense of reason.”
I’ve heard marijuana can do that to a person, and what if it’s become a gateway to harder stuff?
‘I’ve relied on condoms for intermittent liaisons, and remained herpes and fetus-free. Should I worry now? At my age, is what’s left of my egg stash even viable?
Oh well, if things go wrong, there’s always abortion.’
And my favorite:
‘The burgers, at least, don’t disappoint, and the fries are worth every fat-soaked bite. Good thing I didn’t eat earlier.’
Yeah, she’s a fabulous person. But she’s just so terribly written that she comes off as laughable and I’m not sure that’s what was intended. Speaking of the writing, compared to her more lush verse stories, this reads like somebody completely different wrote it. It’s oversimplified and the supposed “mystery” is something that’s thrown in for a half-assed twist at the end which made it all the more ludicrous. In addition to changing her writing style, she added in a whole lot more sex scenes than I had seen before from her, even in her other adult novels. Suffice it to say that I found them laughable as well and I’m certain that’s definitely not what she intended.
But personally, I want to lick him, forehead to foreskin. Hmm. Does he have foreskin? Damn, now I’m wondering.
Then I unhinge my jaw, which is what it takes for my mouth to accept the whole thing, and I teach him the meaning of head, Tara-style […]
I’m not sure when but she apparently transformed into a snake at some point. I missed that scene.
And this completely creepy mental image:
Completely engorged, his cock crawls up the backs of my legs.
Um. Cocks don’t do that. Maybe he should have that looked at.
And if all that wasn’t bad enough, towards the end she has this medical crisis and was a complete idiot about it. She had a reaction to something she ate and had to use her epi pen and considering I personally have to carry an epi pen and know exactly how all that shit goes, the scene was completely enraging. She describes injecting herself and how the swelling in her eyes and face as well as the hives began to immediately shrink. And how she went to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror, noted that her skin was slack from being all stretched out so she applied some tightening lotion. Uh, that’s not how that works, at fucking all. Your swelling doesn’t go away that quickly. But the icing on the fucking cake:
‘All the literature says to call 911 or go into the ER after an episode capped with epinephrine. But I want to go to the beach.’
And I’m done. I’m baffled. So completely shocked. I can’t even comprehend.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 18, 2015
This is the type of book a reader could love to 'trash-chat'...(all in fun). 3.8 rating!
Like the day after the Oscar awards...'trash-the-Oscars' -chats. (one of my favorite days of the year). lol
This is a 'party' book....( gotta invite your friends to read with you), so 'You' each can be as nasty as any of the characters.....at any given time! MUCH to book-chat about.
Tara has a ski accident... (Welcome to MY WORLD)....
Needs surgery...(welcome to MY WORLD)...
Walks with crutches while healing...(welcome to MY WORLD)....
I just wonder if Tara picked a bright HOT PINK CAST like I have!! Hm??? She is very fashionable,... so she might have, if given the choice!
So... now that we have established that Tara, our main character, and I, (the reader), share a little BOO-BOO in common....(which is about all we shared in common)....
let me share reasons to read this book:
.....There is so much wrong with everyone in this story, ...it's almost perfect (welcome to OUR MESSY WORLD).... Lots of superficial values, trust issues, withheld communications, irresponsible attitude about sex, "Oh well, if things go wrong, there's always abortion", inappropriate flirtations, and trying to live somewhat 'flashy'..,somewhat risky...all in order to maybe compensate a painful past.
.... How often do you get to read about a 40 year old woman, gorgeous, wealthy, sexy youthful spirit, who lives in a very affluent section of San Francisco, and is seriously considering getting married for a 4th time?
.....readers get to 'enjoy-the-ride' of the storytelling...while at the same time step back an examine these characters..,(each fully developed no matter what your opinion).
Questions to ponder?
Would you marry somebody who has been married 3 times before? Why or why not?
How does money interfere with allowing people to face deeper issues?
Why is it important for adult children to find a way to get complete with their parents...be at peace?
A story that might look shallow on the surface... Is really a good read...because truth is...'everything' in this novel speaks of truth. It's part of today's contemporary life.
A favorite part of this story I found 'very' enjoyable was a 5 day trip that Tara and Cavin took to Carmel....(one of my favorite places myself)
It's true the California coastline is one of the most beautiful sites in the world. The house they stayed in perched on a cliff....overlooking the ocean. ( just like the place we visit)...
I loved day the couple drove to Monterey to go whale watching ...(simply lovely storytelling)...
Mention of the Aquarium- Cannery Row..even a little information about John Steinbeck's influence in the area. The visuals and smells visited the room I sit. Hopefully .. I'll go next week myself for my birthday.,,(cast ..,crutches...included).
So, GUYS, if you enjoy a chick-book from time to time, you'll enjoy this one! What's not to enjoy about San Francisco, Tahoe, and Carmel?/!!!
Thank you to Atria publishing company - Netgalley... and to the charming author, Ellen Hopkins.. (Who just had to remind me of orthopedic surgeons & my right leg limitations at the moment!)..,lol
Like the day after the Oscar awards...'trash-the-Oscars' -chats. (one of my favorite days of the year). lol
This is a 'party' book....( gotta invite your friends to read with you), so 'You' each can be as nasty as any of the characters.....at any given time! MUCH to book-chat about.
Tara has a ski accident... (Welcome to MY WORLD)....
Needs surgery...(welcome to MY WORLD)...
Walks with crutches while healing...(welcome to MY WORLD)....
I just wonder if Tara picked a bright HOT PINK CAST like I have!! Hm??? She is very fashionable,... so she might have, if given the choice!
So... now that we have established that Tara, our main character, and I, (the reader), share a little BOO-BOO in common....(which is about all we shared in common)....
let me share reasons to read this book:
.....There is so much wrong with everyone in this story, ...it's almost perfect (welcome to OUR MESSY WORLD).... Lots of superficial values, trust issues, withheld communications, irresponsible attitude about sex, "Oh well, if things go wrong, there's always abortion", inappropriate flirtations, and trying to live somewhat 'flashy'..,somewhat risky...all in order to maybe compensate a painful past.
.... How often do you get to read about a 40 year old woman, gorgeous, wealthy, sexy youthful spirit, who lives in a very affluent section of San Francisco, and is seriously considering getting married for a 4th time?
.....readers get to 'enjoy-the-ride' of the storytelling...while at the same time step back an examine these characters..,(each fully developed no matter what your opinion).
Questions to ponder?
Would you marry somebody who has been married 3 times before? Why or why not?
How does money interfere with allowing people to face deeper issues?
Why is it important for adult children to find a way to get complete with their parents...be at peace?
A story that might look shallow on the surface... Is really a good read...because truth is...'everything' in this novel speaks of truth. It's part of today's contemporary life.
A favorite part of this story I found 'very' enjoyable was a 5 day trip that Tara and Cavin took to Carmel....(one of my favorite places myself)
It's true the California coastline is one of the most beautiful sites in the world. The house they stayed in perched on a cliff....overlooking the ocean. ( just like the place we visit)...
I loved day the couple drove to Monterey to go whale watching ...(simply lovely storytelling)...
Mention of the Aquarium- Cannery Row..even a little information about John Steinbeck's influence in the area. The visuals and smells visited the room I sit. Hopefully .. I'll go next week myself for my birthday.,,(cast ..,crutches...included).
So, GUYS, if you enjoy a chick-book from time to time, you'll enjoy this one! What's not to enjoy about San Francisco, Tahoe, and Carmel?/!!!
Thank you to Atria publishing company - Netgalley... and to the charming author, Ellen Hopkins.. (Who just had to remind me of orthopedic surgeons & my right leg limitations at the moment!)..,lol
September 4, 2015
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF = 31%
I am sorry but I just cannot stand the main character of this book. She completely gets on my nerves and I don't have any ounce of sympathy of her miserable life despite of being rich. She's so cruel and arrogant. I just couldn't stand her acting like so superior, belittling other people because she's THAT powerful and she randomly hooked up with men. She HATES married men and immediately dumped them. Then she explains how adultery is bad?! Omg, woman.
I am done with this book. The writing style is okay but the story just... *sighs* I just don't care anymore. I don't like the characters at all.
DNF = 31%
I am sorry but I just cannot stand the main character of this book. She completely gets on my nerves and I don't have any ounce of sympathy of her miserable life despite of being rich. She's so cruel and arrogant. I just couldn't stand her acting like so superior, belittling other people because she's THAT powerful and she randomly hooked up with men. She HATES married men and immediately dumped them. Then she explains how adultery is bad?! Omg, woman.
I am done with this book. The writing style is okay but the story just... *sighs* I just don't care anymore. I don't like the characters at all.
June 18, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
Penelope is one of those rare young things whose obviously natural curves and fawn suede complexion rival anything my pricey plastic surgeon could accomplish. If I had hackles, they’d be bristling.
The woman always could stun me silent. She circles the room again, trailing haughtiness like perfume.
My Review:
There was something about the slow build of this story that kept me on edge while unable and unwilling to put my kindle down. It was not action packed or emotional, yet quite tightly written with lavish and evocative details that formed sharp visuals and prickled my skin. Masterfully crafted and tautly written, I was intrigued and felt as if I was forever several steps behind yet so very close to grasping something just out of reach. The characters were enticing yet untrustworthy, I suspected every single one of them of deceit, and at top of that list was the enigmatic character of Eli who possessed black belt verbal sparring skills. But that ending – oh my - so completely unexpected, and would have me fuming and stamping my little foot if I didn’t already have the next book locked and loaded. Ellen Hopkins has mad skills.
Penelope is one of those rare young things whose obviously natural curves and fawn suede complexion rival anything my pricey plastic surgeon could accomplish. If I had hackles, they’d be bristling.
The woman always could stun me silent. She circles the room again, trailing haughtiness like perfume.
My Review:
There was something about the slow build of this story that kept me on edge while unable and unwilling to put my kindle down. It was not action packed or emotional, yet quite tightly written with lavish and evocative details that formed sharp visuals and prickled my skin. Masterfully crafted and tautly written, I was intrigued and felt as if I was forever several steps behind yet so very close to grasping something just out of reach. The characters were enticing yet untrustworthy, I suspected every single one of them of deceit, and at top of that list was the enigmatic character of Eli who possessed black belt verbal sparring skills. But that ending – oh my - so completely unexpected, and would have me fuming and stamping my little foot if I didn’t already have the next book locked and loaded. Ellen Hopkins has mad skills.
February 17, 2019
Tara is a lovely forty-year who is once widowed, twice divorced. She's independent, both financially and in her relationships. She had a tough childhood with an unpredictable and volatile mother. Then, while skiing with her sister, Tara injuries her knee. As such, she meets Cavin, a handsome orthopedic surgeon. Tara quickly finds herself falling for Cavin, who is charismatic and wealthy. After her surgery, she moves in with Cavin and is dependent on him while she heals. She also meets his awkward teenage son, Eli, who doesn't seem too happy to have Tara in his life. Tara starts receiving odd threats and other strange things begin happening. Is Tara safe--and who is responsible for these bizarre occurrences?
This was one of those strange books that I didn't really enjoy, yet I couldn't stop reading. It takes a very long time to build up to its description--and I'd argue that it never really delivers on what it promised. Yes, there's a lot of simmering, ominous things that occur in the background (threats, texts), but I was expecting more outright terror and abuse. Honestly, not much really happens, you know? The big twist comes on literally the last two pages. Now, it's a good twist, and it's probably enough that I'll eventually track down and read the second book, but sheesh. I would have liked a little more excitement during the rest of the book, instead of it all jammed into the last few pages.
Still, the book was interesting enough that I felt drawn to Tara. The book revolves very much around her and her perspective. The background events keep you confused and wondering if more is going to occur (it doesn't, really). I'll be intrigued to see what happens in book #2. 2.5 stars.
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This was one of those strange books that I didn't really enjoy, yet I couldn't stop reading. It takes a very long time to build up to its description--and I'd argue that it never really delivers on what it promised. Yes, there's a lot of simmering, ominous things that occur in the background (threats, texts), but I was expecting more outright terror and abuse. Honestly, not much really happens, you know? The big twist comes on literally the last two pages. Now, it's a good twist, and it's probably enough that I'll eventually track down and read the second book, but sheesh. I would have liked a little more excitement during the rest of the book, instead of it all jammed into the last few pages.
Still, the book was interesting enough that I felt drawn to Tara. The book revolves very much around her and her perspective. The background events keep you confused and wondering if more is going to occur (it doesn't, really). I'll be intrigued to see what happens in book #2. 2.5 stars.
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April 2, 2015
The writing is interesting. However, the reveal is so long coming and so unsatisfying that it betrays any tension that has built up.
May 11, 2015
SPOILER ALERT!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first time I've read a novel an adult novel by Ellen Hopkins. I've read almost all of her young adult verse novels so I was looking forward to this one to see how similar or different it would be. To be honest, I was hooked from the beginning. Tara is a strong female and after three marriages enjoys independence and the good life. I like her confidence and strength. She doesn't let anyone take advantage of her. I was completely sucked in to all the drama in her life, past and present. The suspense continued to build and I readied myself for an ending where Tara took care of business and Nothing. A few pages of reveal and the book ended. What??!! Three stars is strictly because the ending really ticked me off.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first time I've read a novel an adult novel by Ellen Hopkins. I've read almost all of her young adult verse novels so I was looking forward to this one to see how similar or different it would be. To be honest, I was hooked from the beginning. Tara is a strong female and after three marriages enjoys independence and the good life. I like her confidence and strength. She doesn't let anyone take advantage of her. I was completely sucked in to all the drama in her life, past and present. The suspense continued to build and I readied myself for an ending where Tara took care of business and Nothing. A few pages of reveal and the book ended. What??!! Three stars is strictly because the ending really ticked me off.
July 27, 2015
This is the first adult novel of Ellen Hopkins that I have read besides her YA poetic novels and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't guess the ending which made the book so much more enjoyable. I'll definitely be reading more of her adult novels.
February 25, 2022
2.5 Stars
If I had to pick one word to describe this series, it would be CONFUSING. It's one of those peculiar books that I can’t say I enjoyed but couldn’t put it down either. I’m at a loss on how to even explain it, but I’ll do my best. I’m tagging the rest for spoilers but will not give away the twist.
****SPOILERS****
I wish I wouldn’t have read the prequel because it left us where I wanted this story to begin. In case you missed it, we were introduced to Tara, a 23-yr old widow that owns a pawn shop. She met Graham and they had an instant lust connection. The two partook in a fuck-fest ( They fuck for hours, until there’s nothing left to fuck away.) Then Graham took off to meet his GF and her sister for lunch… and I’m sure you guessed it… Tara was the GF’s sister!!!
What makes this completely confusing is that Love Lies Beneath has a massive time jump and now Tara is 40-twice divorced, and Graham is married to the sis with children. And other than being someone she hates; Graham has nothing to do with the plot. Even more perplexing, she says repeatedly that he hates her because she turned him down…but… They fuck for hours, until there’s nothing left to fuck away.
The focus of the book is on Tara and her new relationship with her surgeon, Cavin. We only get Tara’s POV, and some might find her independent and financially secure, but most will find her a self-absorbed gold-digger. I pictured her as Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones- power hungry, totally crazy, and a tendency for inappropriate sexual relations, but where Cersei was doing her brother… Tara is fantasizing about Cavin’s 17-yr old son. (Eli)
I think this quote best represents Tara.
‘I’ve relied on condoms for intermittent liaisons, and remained herpes and fetus-free. Should I worry now? At my age, is what’s left of my egg stash even viable? Oh well, if things go wrong, there’s always abortion.’
The plot is unclear, I’m still not exactly sure where she was trying to take us. It’s one of those books where a lot is going on, but nothing is really happening. There’s a stalker, a break-in, and threatening texts and emails that go nowhere. Whacky stuff like Eli sleeping with his dad’s ex, but no one acting like it’s a big deal. Like I said… confusing.
Lastly, the sexy-time was puzzling. I almost wonder if the author had National Geographic playing in the background and subconsciously incorporated it into the sex scenes.
Then I unhinge my jaw, which is what it takes for my mouth to accept the whole thing, and I teach him the meaning of head, Tara-style
Completely engorged, his cock crawls up the backs of my legs, and when it thrusts between them, I am very happy to be dripping.
This…
...doesn't get my motor revving.
Bottom Line- It was just ok for me, but I will read the next one. At first, I thought this would be a romantic thriller; after the lack of romance, I changed my expectation to a thriller; after nothing thrilling happened, I thought maybe just a mystery, but that never really shakes out either. Several teasers in the background provide some tension, but they don’t come to fruition. The build-up takes so long (until the last few pages), and then the “twist” was quite anticlimactic. I didn’t realize this would be an ongoing storyline, and I incorrectly assumed that each book would center around a new couple. They are free to read with Scribd.
If I had to pick one word to describe this series, it would be CONFUSING. It's one of those peculiar books that I can’t say I enjoyed but couldn’t put it down either. I’m at a loss on how to even explain it, but I’ll do my best. I’m tagging the rest for spoilers but will not give away the twist.
****SPOILERS****
I wish I wouldn’t have read the prequel because it left us where I wanted this story to begin. In case you missed it, we were introduced to Tara, a 23-yr old widow that owns a pawn shop. She met Graham and they had an instant lust connection. The two partook in a fuck-fest ( They fuck for hours, until there’s nothing left to fuck away.) Then Graham took off to meet his GF and her sister for lunch… and I’m sure you guessed it… Tara was the GF’s sister!!!
What makes this completely confusing is that Love Lies Beneath has a massive time jump and now Tara is 40-twice divorced, and Graham is married to the sis with children. And other than being someone she hates; Graham has nothing to do with the plot. Even more perplexing, she says repeatedly that he hates her because she turned him down…but… They fuck for hours, until there’s nothing left to fuck away.
The focus of the book is on Tara and her new relationship with her surgeon, Cavin. We only get Tara’s POV, and some might find her independent and financially secure, but most will find her a self-absorbed gold-digger. I pictured her as Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones- power hungry, totally crazy, and a tendency for inappropriate sexual relations, but where Cersei was doing her brother… Tara is fantasizing about Cavin’s 17-yr old son. (Eli)
I think this quote best represents Tara.
‘I’ve relied on condoms for intermittent liaisons, and remained herpes and fetus-free. Should I worry now? At my age, is what’s left of my egg stash even viable? Oh well, if things go wrong, there’s always abortion.’
The plot is unclear, I’m still not exactly sure where she was trying to take us. It’s one of those books where a lot is going on, but nothing is really happening. There’s a stalker, a break-in, and threatening texts and emails that go nowhere. Whacky stuff like Eli sleeping with his dad’s ex, but no one acting like it’s a big deal. Like I said… confusing.
Lastly, the sexy-time was puzzling. I almost wonder if the author had National Geographic playing in the background and subconsciously incorporated it into the sex scenes.
Then I unhinge my jaw, which is what it takes for my mouth to accept the whole thing, and I teach him the meaning of head, Tara-style
Completely engorged, his cock crawls up the backs of my legs, and when it thrusts between them, I am very happy to be dripping.
This…
...doesn't get my motor revving.
Bottom Line- It was just ok for me, but I will read the next one. At first, I thought this would be a romantic thriller; after the lack of romance, I changed my expectation to a thriller; after nothing thrilling happened, I thought maybe just a mystery, but that never really shakes out either. Several teasers in the background provide some tension, but they don’t come to fruition. The build-up takes so long (until the last few pages), and then the “twist” was quite anticlimactic. I didn’t realize this would be an ongoing storyline, and I incorrectly assumed that each book would center around a new couple. They are free to read with Scribd.
November 7, 2015
Rating 4.5 of 5
As a long time fan of Ellen Hopkins and her books, I always experience great excitement when I know she has a new book coming out. I love her writing style and the depth that she goes to reveal the lives of her characters. I went in blindly reading Love Lives Beneath knowing that it was an adult novel, but not much else since I hadn't read the synopsis or book description. When I began reading the novel, I was surprised to discover that it wasn't written in verse like her other novels. As I read, I would catch myself thinking how different this book felt from the others because it was written in prose, but at the same time recognizing the nuances of an Ellen Hopkins book. I think readers will enjoy this writing style just as much as her verse novels. I know I did.
Love Lies Beneath is full of tension and suspense. And romance. It was easy to get swept up in the love affair between Tara and Cavin. He was charming and attentive and just the kind of man you would want to spend your days and your nights with. Yet, sometimes he seemed a little too good to be true. He had some secrets that he was keeping which became even more evident when his son was around.
Something that I always find interesting about Hopkins's books are the dynamics of relationships. There is so much more going on that what the characters reveal on the surface. She is careful in how she presents the characters and EVERYTHING MEANS SOMETHING. Nothing exists just as filler. In Love Lies Beneath, the relationships, both romantic and familial, are complicated. There are power struggles throughout and they are intense. These are some of my favorite parts of the story.
I mentioned before that I went in blindly reading this novel, but about halfway through, I unintentionally read a small snip-it of the synopsis and discovered a major spoiler that had not yet been revealed in the book. Of course I was disappointed and surprised that this information was in the synopsis, but it didn't ruin the book for me. It did change the way I viewed the characters and how I read their story.
Love Lies Beneath provides many elements of intrigue that make for a perfect book club selection and would make for a great discussion. I would put this book in the hands of readers who have missed out on Hopkins's books because they "don't like verse novels" (what is wrong with people). I think they would like Hopkins's storytelling so much that they would rush to read her other books. I like the new style and hope she continues to write more novels like Love Lies Beneath. I will definitely read them!
As a long time fan of Ellen Hopkins and her books, I always experience great excitement when I know she has a new book coming out. I love her writing style and the depth that she goes to reveal the lives of her characters. I went in blindly reading Love Lives Beneath knowing that it was an adult novel, but not much else since I hadn't read the synopsis or book description. When I began reading the novel, I was surprised to discover that it wasn't written in verse like her other novels. As I read, I would catch myself thinking how different this book felt from the others because it was written in prose, but at the same time recognizing the nuances of an Ellen Hopkins book. I think readers will enjoy this writing style just as much as her verse novels. I know I did.
Love Lies Beneath is full of tension and suspense. And romance. It was easy to get swept up in the love affair between Tara and Cavin. He was charming and attentive and just the kind of man you would want to spend your days and your nights with. Yet, sometimes he seemed a little too good to be true. He had some secrets that he was keeping which became even more evident when his son was around.
Something that I always find interesting about Hopkins's books are the dynamics of relationships. There is so much more going on that what the characters reveal on the surface. She is careful in how she presents the characters and EVERYTHING MEANS SOMETHING. Nothing exists just as filler. In Love Lies Beneath, the relationships, both romantic and familial, are complicated. There are power struggles throughout and they are intense. These are some of my favorite parts of the story.
I mentioned before that I went in blindly reading this novel, but about halfway through, I unintentionally read a small snip-it of the synopsis and discovered a major spoiler that had not yet been revealed in the book. Of course I was disappointed and surprised that this information was in the synopsis, but it didn't ruin the book for me. It did change the way I viewed the characters and how I read their story.
Love Lies Beneath provides many elements of intrigue that make for a perfect book club selection and would make for a great discussion. I would put this book in the hands of readers who have missed out on Hopkins's books because they "don't like verse novels" (what is wrong with people). I think they would like Hopkins's storytelling so much that they would rush to read her other books. I like the new style and hope she continues to write more novels like Love Lies Beneath. I will definitely read them!
July 19, 2015
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
**I received an advanced readers copy from Atria Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
I wanted to like this book so bad and I really, really tried. From the synopsis it sounded like it was going to be a page turning thriller filled with suspense but with only 20 minutes left in the book I was still waiting for something to happen. At that point I knew that no matter what was written on those last few pages that it wouldn't make up for what was on all of the pages before it.
The thing that I struggled with most was Tara. I could not stand her from the very first page. There was absolutely nothing about her that I liked, related to, or wanted to know more about. It was so bad that I was anxiously waiting and wanting a twist that would have her in crisis that never happened.
Unfortunately I couldn't find it within myself to enjoy the love story that unfolded because of Tara. I didn't care if Cavin was good or bad because either way he was still too good for Tara. She was just that unlikable.
The story was extremly slow moving but for readers that like a twist I can assure you that there is one. You just have to wait until the last few sentences of the book for it and by then any impact is long lost.
**I received an advanced readers copy from Atria Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
I wanted to like this book so bad and I really, really tried. From the synopsis it sounded like it was going to be a page turning thriller filled with suspense but with only 20 minutes left in the book I was still waiting for something to happen. At that point I knew that no matter what was written on those last few pages that it wouldn't make up for what was on all of the pages before it.
The thing that I struggled with most was Tara. I could not stand her from the very first page. There was absolutely nothing about her that I liked, related to, or wanted to know more about. It was so bad that I was anxiously waiting and wanting a twist that would have her in crisis that never happened.
Unfortunately I couldn't find it within myself to enjoy the love story that unfolded because of Tara. I didn't care if Cavin was good or bad because either way he was still too good for Tara. She was just that unlikable.
The story was extremly slow moving but for readers that like a twist I can assure you that there is one. You just have to wait until the last few sentences of the book for it and by then any impact is long lost.
May 25, 2017
Being completely honest, I didn't like this book at all. The "action" that the description describes really never happens. She is not held hostage in the house with him. Secondly, the main character is completely unbelievable. She's sassy and a man-user, then she's completely head over heels wishy-washy in love and agrees to marry him that soon? I do not buy this at all.
The poems in between the sections are weird, frankly. The sex scenes were unnecessarily crass, and I'm no prude when it comes to love stories -- I just felt like it was unnecessary and took away from the story.
I do not think this book should have a sequel, especially if it's like the first one at all. Perhaps it would have seemed a smidge better if the description actually matched what the book was about.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The poems in between the sections are weird, frankly. The sex scenes were unnecessarily crass, and I'm no prude when it comes to love stories -- I just felt like it was unnecessary and took away from the story.
I do not think this book should have a sequel, especially if it's like the first one at all. Perhaps it would have seemed a smidge better if the description actually matched what the book was about.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2018
OMFG GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 3, 2015
Wow! I have read most of Ellen Hopkins YA books and really enjoyed them. I love the way they written.
This book is definitely an adult book and it blew me away. Ellen is definitely one of my favorite authors. I hope she continues to write both genres.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little romance mixed with intrigue and mystery.
This book is definitely an adult book and it blew me away. Ellen is definitely one of my favorite authors. I hope she continues to write both genres.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little romance mixed with intrigue and mystery.
dnf
December 9, 2015Dnf page 13. Fastest dnf in almost a year.
I just can't continue with this. The writing is just horrible which depresses me because Hopkin's writing is usually so poetic and flowing. Maybe she should stick with the verse books.....
I just can't continue with this. The writing is just horrible which depresses me because Hopkin's writing is usually so poetic and flowing. Maybe she should stick with the verse books.....
August 1, 2015
I didn't get the point of this book. So she's a black widow? A C-word? Tara was interesting at first then just became flat til the end. If there was a character development, I didn't notice it. If she had redeeming qualities, I didn't see much of it either.
June 5, 2015
3.0 out of 5 stars - "...some cracks can't be mortared."
Can a 40 something rich widow who is also twice divorced find true love after a lifetime of forgettable marriages, casual flirtations, risky sexual liaisons, and manipulative relationships? Tara is determined to find out when she meets the handsome orthopedic surgeon, Cavin Lattimore, after a ski accident leaves her with a blown-out knee requiring extensive rehab. She falls for him but there are complications and secrets -- can anyone be trusted to be truthful and can this great new life Tara wants finally happen for her?
The characters in this novel are meant to be quite complex but I didn't find Tara to be a remotely likeable person and the reader isn't privy to any real insight. Her interactions with her sister and family were superficial and when Tara meets Cavin's son, Eli, the conversations were quite odd. Tara is definitely not someone that I would like to know, and definitely not one to cross. Can Tara's perceptions and reactions to situations be believed? As the tension mounts though the pages leaving the reader wondering and waiting for the big reveal, everything is analyzed. I tried to figure out where this was all going.
I have read every one of the books written by Ellen Hopkins, and the teens in my school certainly love the YA titles that I always have on the shelves. I used to think it was just me, that free verse left out too much of the story and I never felt like I got the whole scoop when I read her -- but now, with this one in prose, I feel the exact same way. That ending was so unsatisfying and incomplete that it almost made me gasp at getting to the grand finale only to...LETDOWN.
I really was invested in this novel, but ultimately was left disappointed by its dangling conclusion which seemed rushed given the long, slow buildup. I'm sure fans won't want to miss it, but I sure would have preferred a solid finish. Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an e-book ARC to review.
Can a 40 something rich widow who is also twice divorced find true love after a lifetime of forgettable marriages, casual flirtations, risky sexual liaisons, and manipulative relationships? Tara is determined to find out when she meets the handsome orthopedic surgeon, Cavin Lattimore, after a ski accident leaves her with a blown-out knee requiring extensive rehab. She falls for him but there are complications and secrets -- can anyone be trusted to be truthful and can this great new life Tara wants finally happen for her?
The characters in this novel are meant to be quite complex but I didn't find Tara to be a remotely likeable person and the reader isn't privy to any real insight. Her interactions with her sister and family were superficial and when Tara meets Cavin's son, Eli, the conversations were quite odd. Tara is definitely not someone that I would like to know, and definitely not one to cross. Can Tara's perceptions and reactions to situations be believed? As the tension mounts though the pages leaving the reader wondering and waiting for the big reveal, everything is analyzed. I tried to figure out where this was all going.
I have read every one of the books written by Ellen Hopkins, and the teens in my school certainly love the YA titles that I always have on the shelves. I used to think it was just me, that free verse left out too much of the story and I never felt like I got the whole scoop when I read her -- but now, with this one in prose, I feel the exact same way. That ending was so unsatisfying and incomplete that it almost made me gasp at getting to the grand finale only to...LETDOWN.
I really was invested in this novel, but ultimately was left disappointed by its dangling conclusion which seemed rushed given the long, slow buildup. I'm sure fans won't want to miss it, but I sure would have preferred a solid finish. Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an e-book ARC to review.
July 23, 2015
This is my first adult novel from Ellen Hopkins (I have Triangles on my shelf, too, but I haven't gotten to it yet). It is also her first novel ever written in prose. Those of you who have been with Hopkins as long as I have--back since good ol' Crank, a decade ago--were probably surprised by this development. I was, too, at first, but after reading Love Lies Beneath, it makes complete sense.
Tara is forty years old, smokin' hot, affluent, white . . . and privileged in most other ways you can think of. Basically, she's got everything going for her, until a ski accident at Lake Tahoe tears a bunch of stuff in her knee and renders her useless. Fortunately, her doctor is smokin' hot like she is.
I think you can see where this is going.
But that's where Hopkins gets you. Where the conventional romance goes is not where this novel goes. Even if you expect it. Even if you don't think anything else could possibly happen.
And you're kind of right. There is some romance, some wild sex, some of the stuff you expect. But after a certain point, Hopkins takes convention and throws it out the window. What results is an unexpected thrill ride, a tense, edgy build to an shocking ending that left me reeling.
In some ways, Love Lies Beneath is signature Hopkins: dark, suspenseful, and psychological. It also breaks new ground, as it's written in a new style, but it maintains Hopkins's beautifully poetic nature.
In other words: sign me up for Hopkins's next novel, because this only confirms how much I love her writing.
Tara is forty years old, smokin' hot, affluent, white . . . and privileged in most other ways you can think of. Basically, she's got everything going for her, until a ski accident at Lake Tahoe tears a bunch of stuff in her knee and renders her useless. Fortunately, her doctor is smokin' hot like she is.
I think you can see where this is going.
But that's where Hopkins gets you. Where the conventional romance goes is not where this novel goes. Even if you expect it. Even if you don't think anything else could possibly happen.
And you're kind of right. There is some romance, some wild sex, some of the stuff you expect. But after a certain point, Hopkins takes convention and throws it out the window. What results is an unexpected thrill ride, a tense, edgy build to an shocking ending that left me reeling.
In some ways, Love Lies Beneath is signature Hopkins: dark, suspenseful, and psychological. It also breaks new ground, as it's written in a new style, but it maintains Hopkins's beautifully poetic nature.
In other words: sign me up for Hopkins's next novel, because this only confirms how much I love her writing.
July 29, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders
I am a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins, so of course I jumped at the chance to read and review her newest adult fiction novel! I wasn't too sure about the idea of prose over poetry, but I do think that it was still laid out in a good, Hopkins style.
But this wasn't great, it was good. I was expecting a thriller with a lot of who to trust, who not to trust, and being on the edge of my seat the entire time. But that isn't what I got. It fell kind of flat some times and the ending was a little unsatisfying. I thought there were some loose ends and unanswered questions, but since this is a series I am sure there is more to come that will explain this.
Eli, though, he was my favorite character. I loved not knowing whether to trust him or not, let alone his intentions. He was probably the best character overall. I am thinking that maybe this will be like Triangle and Tilt with one book from the parent's perspective and then one from the child's.
The ending was unfulfilling. I thought there was too much build up for what the result was.
Overall: 3.5/5 stars for this one. I hope the rest of the series has more to it than this one did!
This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders
I am a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins, so of course I jumped at the chance to read and review her newest adult fiction novel! I wasn't too sure about the idea of prose over poetry, but I do think that it was still laid out in a good, Hopkins style.
But this wasn't great, it was good. I was expecting a thriller with a lot of who to trust, who not to trust, and being on the edge of my seat the entire time. But that isn't what I got. It fell kind of flat some times and the ending was a little unsatisfying. I thought there were some loose ends and unanswered questions, but since this is a series I am sure there is more to come that will explain this.
Eli, though, he was my favorite character. I loved not knowing whether to trust him or not, let alone his intentions. He was probably the best character overall. I am thinking that maybe this will be like Triangle and Tilt with one book from the parent's perspective and then one from the child's.
The ending was unfulfilling. I thought there was too much build up for what the result was.
Overall: 3.5/5 stars for this one. I hope the rest of the series has more to it than this one did!
August 12, 2015
Okay Ellen Hopkins, I hope you read these reviews. Stick to young adult and to the original way of writing. This didn't do a thing for me, you try to build us up to a great ending. What a let down!!!
Was it just me? Was I the only one that didn't like this book and her style? Till this book came out I couldn't for the next one, now not so much! Please please please go back to the other form of writing!
Was it just me? Was I the only one that didn't like this book and her style? Till this book came out I couldn't for the next one, now not so much! Please please please go back to the other form of writing!
August 22, 2016
I still haven't figured out what I want to rate this novel.
On one hand, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the twist at the end and enjoyed the writing style and enjoyed the thriller style that I'm not used to seeing from Ellen Hopkins.
On the other hand, the characters were incredibly annoying. I don't need a character's wealth thrown in my face every couple of pages (and Graham's character was so so bad! SO BAD!).
On one hand, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the twist at the end and enjoyed the writing style and enjoyed the thriller style that I'm not used to seeing from Ellen Hopkins.
On the other hand, the characters were incredibly annoying. I don't need a character's wealth thrown in my face every couple of pages (and Graham's character was so so bad! SO BAD!).
August 5, 2015
Wow, just a colossal waste of time. What's up with the ending? It seemed like "ok I've hit my word count, let's end the book NOW."
November 11, 2019
I’m still trying to figure out the point of this book. For fans of Hopkins poetry, this was a let down. The synopsis implies this book is almost a romantic thriller. I expect girl to meet guy, whirlwind romance, turns out the guy is shady and she struggles to get away.
What I got was a partial romance, with an insufferable MC, a lot of plot threads that really kind of went nowhere, and what could have been a compelling mystery was literally “solved” in one afterthought sentence on the second to last page. Though the mystery aspect was never actually prevalent anyway so it wrapped up in a fitting way I suppose.
But on top of all of it, I don’t know what the point of this story was. Tara really doesn’t feel like she went on a journey, any character development from her happened in the past and we only get glimpses of it. Every other possibly interesting story line is sidelined for the mediocre romance all to culminate in what I think is a cliff hanger for book 2, which I will not be reading.
If you like Hopkins poetry, do yourself a favor and stay away from this one.
What I got was a partial romance, with an insufferable MC, a lot of plot threads that really kind of went nowhere, and what could have been a compelling mystery was literally “solved” in one afterthought sentence on the second to last page. Though the mystery aspect was never actually prevalent anyway so it wrapped up in a fitting way I suppose.
But on top of all of it, I don’t know what the point of this story was. Tara really doesn’t feel like she went on a journey, any character development from her happened in the past and we only get glimpses of it. Every other possibly interesting story line is sidelined for the mediocre romance all to culminate in what I think is a cliff hanger for book 2, which I will not be reading.
If you like Hopkins poetry, do yourself a favor and stay away from this one.
October 24, 2021
LOVE LIES BENEATH is the story of Tara, a 40 year old who finally seems to find love on a ski trip. She’s all in but still struggles with trust issues and some things just don’t add up. The reader doesn’t know who to believe. I found the book to be very readable and fast paced but it ends on a cliff hanger so now I need to get the second book in the duology. If graphic intimate scenes offend you, you’ll want to skip this book.
August 16, 2015
Ellen Hopkins is my favorite author and I'm so sad to say I've given her a two star review, but what was this book? Really? For being written by Ellen Hopkins, it was pathetic and barely a novel. The characters (all but one) sucked. The plot sucked. There was no real climax. And the "big plot twist" that Ellen Hopkins always has at the end of her books, was barely a twist at all. And the story was left off in such a horrible way that 1. Made me mad. 2. Makes me not want to read any books that follow, if there will be any.
The characters were so bland. Tara was a self-centered, stuck up woman who thought she was God's gift to the world and really, I just wanted to run her over with one of her fancy cars. She lives in a world that revolves around her, and if she sees someone struggle with an average person's problem, then she kind of laughs about it; for example, when she blows a bunch of money and her sister freaks out because that was enough for food for a month of something else just important, she kind of just scoffs and says "it's just money". How can anyone that reads this book, enjoy a character who is such a bitch? Maybe if she had wit or charm, but she had neither. Calvin was just too weird. He wasn't anything special and was very two-faced. The only good character was Eli. He was a smart ass yet sweet in a weird way, and he was HILARIOUS. I love him!
Now, the plot and "climax"? It sucked. I only read the whole book because it was by my favorite author. The first half was rushed, to get all the information in and to set the scene for the stalker and romance. The second half of the book DRAGGED ON. It was the same tuff over and over and over again. I hated it. I couldn't even tell you what the climax of the book should have been, because nothing stuck out and it was all boring and made me want to sleep.
The ending sucked. It seemed rushed and like Ellen Hopkins needed to wrap everything up within two pages. It wasn't even interesting!!! It was the most expected ending and still left things open, but not in the way that makes you want more - it was left open in the way that makes you ask "Wtf was that? That's it? That's the book?". I'm so disappointed.
And, per usual of Ellen Hopkins, there was a big plot twist at the end of the book. Normally at this point, my jaw drops or I'm just thinking to myself "HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT". This time though? I read it and barely thought of it for anything. It was kind of expected
The characters were so bland. Tara was a self-centered, stuck up woman who thought she was God's gift to the world and really, I just wanted to run her over with one of her fancy cars. She lives in a world that revolves around her, and if she sees someone struggle with an average person's problem, then she kind of laughs about it; for example, when she blows a bunch of money and her sister freaks out because that was enough for food for a month of something else just important, she kind of just scoffs and says "it's just money". How can anyone that reads this book, enjoy a character who is such a bitch? Maybe if she had wit or charm, but she had neither. Calvin was just too weird. He wasn't anything special and was very two-faced. The only good character was Eli. He was a smart ass yet sweet in a weird way, and he was HILARIOUS. I love him!
Now, the plot and "climax"? It sucked. I only read the whole book because it was by my favorite author. The first half was rushed, to get all the information in and to set the scene for the stalker and romance. The second half of the book DRAGGED ON. It was the same tuff over and over and over again. I hated it. I couldn't even tell you what the climax of the book should have been, because nothing stuck out and it was all boring and made me want to sleep.
The ending sucked. It seemed rushed and like Ellen Hopkins needed to wrap everything up within two pages. It wasn't even interesting!!! It was the most expected ending and still left things open, but not in the way that makes you want more - it was left open in the way that makes you ask "Wtf was that? That's it? That's the book?". I'm so disappointed.
And, per usual of Ellen Hopkins, there was a big plot twist at the end of the book. Normally at this point, my jaw drops or I'm just thinking to myself "HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT". This time though? I read it and barely thought of it for anything. It was kind of expected
August 1, 2015
Warning: Some spoilers ahead.
I really, REALLY wanted to like this novel. I tried so hard to like this novel. It just wasn't happening.
Tara is a 40-something twice-divorced widow who is extremely affluent and (let's face it) a manipulative man-user. That became old very quickly. You can't get a grip on this character because of her nuances of being a person who doesn't care about other people. When the book opens with what is basically her personal trainer cheating on another woman with Tara, it's hard to become empathetic.
I was tired of hearing about these rotten children who get their way on EVERYTHING. You wanna go smoke pot and have your tuition paid for by your rich aunt? Okay, fine. You wanna bang your dad's girlfriend (which was crazy all by itself) and then expect to stay with him? Okay, fine. "Woe is me!" seemed to be the rich motto throughout the novel. That got old VERY quickly.
There was no climax to the story. None. The big "twist" at the end didn't really feel like a twist at all. It was simple to figure out throughout the novel who was texting her, and the "big reveal" seemed to be (while a little less obvious), again, anti-climatic.
I just think that I expected so much more since Hopkins's work has been so incredible in her verse young adult novels. Here's to hoping that things only get better from here.
I really, REALLY wanted to like this novel. I tried so hard to like this novel. It just wasn't happening.
Tara is a 40-something twice-divorced widow who is extremely affluent and (let's face it) a manipulative man-user. That became old very quickly. You can't get a grip on this character because of her nuances of being a person who doesn't care about other people. When the book opens with what is basically her personal trainer cheating on another woman with Tara, it's hard to become empathetic.
I was tired of hearing about these rotten children who get their way on EVERYTHING. You wanna go smoke pot and have your tuition paid for by your rich aunt? Okay, fine. You wanna bang your dad's girlfriend (which was crazy all by itself) and then expect to stay with him? Okay, fine. "Woe is me!" seemed to be the rich motto throughout the novel. That got old VERY quickly.
There was no climax to the story. None. The big "twist" at the end didn't really feel like a twist at all. It was simple to figure out throughout the novel who was texting her, and the "big reveal" seemed to be (while a little less obvious), again, anti-climatic.
I just think that I expected so much more since Hopkins's work has been so incredible in her verse young adult novels. Here's to hoping that things only get better from here.
March 18, 2017
I almost didn't read this one based on the bad reviews it got! I'm really glad I don't always judge a book by its reviews because I loved this one! I figured even a bad Hopkins book is better than most books anyway!
This book tells the story of Tara...a woman with a rough childhood but now very wealthy and has been divorced three times! She has a ski accident and meets a very handsome doctor and they fall in love! I really enjoyed the main character Tara! I thought she was fun and didn't take any shit from anyone! She was too the point and knew what she wanted and liked and went for it!
I was expecting a bit more of a twist at the end as her books usually have big whammies at the end of them! This was just a small whammy and I figured it out before the end anyway!
I did enjoy that this book was more funny and lighter than all the other Hopkins books I've read! Her books are usually darker than this was! Can't wait to read the next one and get the rest of the story! A lot seemed to be left up in the air!
This book tells the story of Tara...a woman with a rough childhood but now very wealthy and has been divorced three times! She has a ski accident and meets a very handsome doctor and they fall in love! I really enjoyed the main character Tara! I thought she was fun and didn't take any shit from anyone! She was too the point and knew what she wanted and liked and went for it!
I was expecting a bit more of a twist at the end as her books usually have big whammies at the end of them! This was just a small whammy and I figured it out before the end anyway!
I did enjoy that this book was more funny and lighter than all the other Hopkins books I've read! Her books are usually darker than this was! Can't wait to read the next one and get the rest of the story! A lot seemed to be left up in the air!
January 23, 2018
A fast paced and sexy thriller. Can’t wait for the sequel!
August 2, 2017
Love Lies Beneath by Ellen Hopkins was her first public attempt at writing a novel in a non-poetry based style, and I must say that I am extremely impressed. The writing was raw, thorough, detailed, and extremely riveting. While I expected the book about a semi-bedridden woman falling in love with a new man to be somewhat Misery-esque, it was actually much deeper and more suspenseful, leaving me unaware of the actual ending until... the ending. I was left in stunned silence, and with this book being as well-written as it was, I look forward to more like this from Ellen Hopkins. Amazing and captivating.
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