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Vivian Divine is Dead
In this fast-paced adventure set in Mexico, teen celebrity Vivian Divine goes on the run after receiving a death threat, and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her charmed life—and the boy she loves—is a lie.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2014
10 people are currently reading
2847 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Sabel
2 books138 followersOriginally from the Rocky Mountains, Lauren Sabel has returned to the cool mountain air of Boulder, Colorado after living in several wonderful cities that she will always love and continue to visit year after year.
Lauren loves her husband, her kids, her family, her friends, and stories that end happily. She also loves digging into her mind and revealing tiny gems she didn’t know were there.
Lauren learned to mind dig while getting her MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa, a Buddhist college in Boulder, Colorado. Before Naropa, Lauren studied film in Rome, where she developed her love of crypts and other beautiful creepy things. She also worked in the film industry in New York and San Francisco, focusing mainly on film festivals, as she can never pass up a good party. In San Francisco she worked for Chronicle Books, where she was inducted into the fascinating world of book publishing.
For the past eight years, Lauren has been teaching college students the joys of creative writing, whether they like it or not.
In 2008, Lauren was published in Undiscovered Voices, an anthology of the best new writers for children in the U.K., where she was living at the time. Then life got very exciting very quickly. She signed with Jodi Reamer Esq. at The Writer’s House Agency in New York, and they made magic happen, and that magic is named Katherine Tegen. (aka: Katherine Tegen Publishing, Harper Collins).
Lauren's first book, VIVIAN DIVINE IS DEAD was published June 3 2014. Lauren's second book LIES I LIVE BY was released by KT Books on May 31 2016. She's currently working on her next book, which she can't wait to tell you about (but has to wait just a little while anyway).
Lauren believes that being a teenager is an act of courage, and is proud of anyone who manages to stick through it, despite the pain. :)
Lauren loves her husband, her kids, her family, her friends, and stories that end happily. She also loves digging into her mind and revealing tiny gems she didn’t know were there.
Lauren learned to mind dig while getting her MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa, a Buddhist college in Boulder, Colorado. Before Naropa, Lauren studied film in Rome, where she developed her love of crypts and other beautiful creepy things. She also worked in the film industry in New York and San Francisco, focusing mainly on film festivals, as she can never pass up a good party. In San Francisco she worked for Chronicle Books, where she was inducted into the fascinating world of book publishing.
For the past eight years, Lauren has been teaching college students the joys of creative writing, whether they like it or not.
In 2008, Lauren was published in Undiscovered Voices, an anthology of the best new writers for children in the U.K., where she was living at the time. Then life got very exciting very quickly. She signed with Jodi Reamer Esq. at The Writer’s House Agency in New York, and they made magic happen, and that magic is named Katherine Tegen. (aka: Katherine Tegen Publishing, Harper Collins).
Lauren's first book, VIVIAN DIVINE IS DEAD was published June 3 2014. Lauren's second book LIES I LIVE BY was released by KT Books on May 31 2016. She's currently working on her next book, which she can't wait to tell you about (but has to wait just a little while anyway).
Lauren believes that being a teenager is an act of courage, and is proud of anyone who manages to stick through it, despite the pain. :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
June 22, 2014
A line pops into my head, one I repeated dozens of times to get the right balance of hope and desperation that the Zombie Killer is known for. All that stands between me and the end of the world...is a bobby pin.I have two, motherfuckers.
Vaya con dios, mi amigo.No, that's not a quote from the book. It's my advice to you, it means "go with god, my friend," and you're going to need that advice should you insist upon reading this book.
It's one of those so-bad-it's-almost-good books.
It's insta-love, and that's pretty much it. We have omg HE'S SUCH AN ASSHOLE and YOU ARE A FUCKING MORONIC PRINCESS and then 5 seconds later I LOVE HIM. What the fuck.
Ok, so here's kind of a spoiler, but not really. The book is entitled Vivian Divine is Dead. I know that this is huge news. Shocking. Absolutely flabbergasting, jaw-dropping, and all of that good shit but Vivian Divine doesn't die.
I wish she had. The book might have been more interesting otherwise.
The Summary:
I try not to think about the day Pierre and I first fell in love. It was a year ago, when we were wrapping up Zombie Killer, my blockbuster about an orphan who saves the human race.Sure, Vivian Divine may be a famous Hollywood movie star, Oscar-nominated by age 16, with a famous director father and the 3rd most beautiful (and very dead) mother (as chosen by Time magazine), but as far as she's concerned, everything in her life has been about the movie Zombie Killer, in which she has acted. Remember that movie.
But no really, her life kind of sucks right now because:
1. Mommy is dead, from MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
2. Daddy tried to kill himself from ZE PAIN
3. Her boyfriend, Pierre, just cheated on her with her much skinner best friend, Sparrow (not much of a best friend anymore!). Her heart is totally, irretrievably broken.
Pierre was the only one who could make me feel better, and the only boy who ever whispered, This is forever.Oh yeah, and um.
4. Someone's sending her death threats. Hence the title of the book. Vivian Divine really, really thinks she's going to die.
And apparently, shit, it's true! People are trying to kill her! What's the poor Vivian Divine to do? She's never attended school, she's never done a single fucking thing for herself.
I hate asking for help. Luckily, I never have to. A team of specialists is paid to take care of my every need, to anticipate what I might want and have it prepared ahead of time. If they don’t have the right brand of mango lip balm ready for me after a shoot, they’re done.So Vivian Divine is totally fucked when her only way of escaping CERTAIN DOOM is to escape to Mexico!
Ay, caramba! (I know there's supposed to be another exclamation mark before the Ay, but I'm too tired to look it up in Character Map, ok?)
So with a mysterious, awesome new disguise---you know how when you go incognito, you're supposed to look plain and all that good shit so that you don't attract attention?
I’m normally cute: big blue eyes, pouty lips, long copper curls. But this is gorgeous. My short black hair falls straight and glossy as a waterfall; my eyes are melting chocolate.Someone forgot to tell Vivian Divine.
But it's ok, because the instant she meets trouble...Vivian Divine falls into insta-love.
Standing in front of me is the sexiest guy I’ve ever seen. His eyes are a rugged green, his black hair shaggy on his shoulders. His cargo pants hang off his slim hips, and a white undershirt clings to his chest. My personal trainer would kill for his body.Nick is instantly contemptuous of her. This spoiled little princess who is clearly out of her league in the wilds of México. Such a fool. What could this toughened, experienced, battle-weary boy ever see in Hollywood Royalty Vivian Divine?
“Hola.” I’m completely tongue-tied.
“You’re a spoiled brat. You have no problems,” Nick says. “You think your life’s so tough, but your rich mommy and daddy take care of everything for you.” He snatches my orange soda from my hand, takes the last sip, and tosses it into the trash. “You don’t know what real pain is.”Uh huh! YOU TELL HER, NICK! Don't let that prissy little princess worm her way into her heart. And true to his words, Nick holds steady for all of 5 seconds.
“When I met you on the bus, I thought you were just another rich American,” he continues. “But you’re not. You’re...different.”OH, NO, NOT THE D WORD!!!!!!!!
But the romance aside, THERE'S STILL PEOPLE TRYING TO KILL VIVIAN DIVINE. Even in Mexico! But it's all good, Vivian Divine was in Zombie Killer, remember? Her experience from Zombie Killer not only helps her endure wearing contacts when she's donning her disguise...
[She] finds me a pair of brown contacts, which I’m used to wearing, thanks to my months of demon-red contacts in Zombie Killer.And helps her tolerate hunger during her days on the run in Mexico.
I’ve never been this hungry before (except for all-night shoots for Zombie Killer.But it helps Vivian to prove herself to Nick when he's being an asshat to her.
Anger races through me, and I remember the judo move I learned for the all-night shoot of Zombie Killer. I’ll show you petty problems.And it helps her to protect herself against the BAD BAD GUYS. Vivian is trapped in a moving car? It's all good. She can jump out of the car if she needs to, thanks to her experience with Zombie Killer.
I’ve done it before. I jumped out of a moving car for a stunt in Zombie Killer.If someone tries to attack her, it's all good, because she's learned judo on the set of Zombie Killer.
What if someone jumps out and attacks me? What do I do? I try to recall the judo moves I learned for Zombie Killer.If she needs encouragement...Vivian can just remember her mother's words of advice...for acting in Zombie Killer.
I remember my mom telling me the day before she disappeared, when I was filming the fight scene for Zombie Killer. In that scene, when the zombies had me almost beaten, the Zombie Killer realized that sometimes not fighting is as powerful as fighting.MEXICO JA JA JA: The Mexico portrayed in this book can best be described in one word: stupid. People can eat rodents if they need to. There are fucking mariachi bands everywhere. They eat tacos every meal of the day. They eat cricket tacos. They speak in complete English sentences...but certain words have to constantly be in Spanish. A guy can speak for an entire paragraph in fluent English, but when he refers to his mother, it's always mi madre . Come on, now.
Divinely Insipid:
Hiding from a killer with an armed stranger in Mexico? Am I crazy?Yes, yes you are.
Vivian Divine is Hollywood Royalty, which is the synonym for I have no common sense whatsoever outside of what I learned in movies. She has spent her entire life as an actor. She has never been to school. Her parents are famous and wealthy. She has always been waited on hand and foot. She doesn't know what it's like to be in the real world, so when she gets immersed into it, into the wilds of Mexico, of all things, she drowns. It takes a big, strong man to protect her, because Vivian Divine can't do jack shit.
All her experience is gleaned from movies. She sees a fucking house. It looks like a house in [insert movie here] that she's been in. It happens repeatedly. To Vivian, Mexico looks like a movie set.
I’ve seen this church before, I realize, on the studio’s back lot. It’s the “Traditional Mafia Church” set.To Vivian, everything that happens is the equivalent of a movie scene.
It feels like my story’s ending. It’s a story with a tragic ending, one where the heroine starves to death on the side of a mountain, all alone, with only a lamb to keep her company.And I must be frank, there's no other way to put it. Vivian Divine, by rights, should have died because she is a fucking moron who wouldn't last 1.5 seconds in downtown LA, much less Mexico.
The Romance: For someone who falls into insta-love so quickly, Vivian Divine can't forget about her ex-boyfriend, Pierre.
His eyes seem to breathe me in, all of me, not just little useful pieces like Pierre’s used to do. But maybe I’m just imagining it.
I expect Nick to look confused, like Pierre did when I told him, but he’s nodding like he understands.
If Pierre was here, he’d pretend he knew how to do it, burn himself, and then make me start the fire.
It’s the complete opposite of Pierre’s bathroom, which is stuffed with expensive colognes and hair gel, but then again, Pierre has more beauty products than I do.
I know all about sleeping pills. Pierre takes them to get a few hours of sleep before his shoots so that he won’t have bags under his eyes.
All this happens throughout the book. She is constantly thinking about Pierre and comparing/contrasting them. Enough already. And then not a few days passes before Vivian Divine realizes...
I see your soul, I want to say, but I bite my tongue, and hope he sees mine.The insta-love is terrible. Nick hated her in the beginning, and then for no reason at all, they start to fall in love right after she tells him the equivalent of I'M NOT AS SHALLOW AS YOU THINK I AM, without any proof, without any character development whatsoever. And before you know it, this happens.
“Nobody knows,” Nick says. “But when the locals look at them, they see angels.”God won't help you. Watch a telenovela instead.
“What do you see?”
“Something even better,” Nick says, looking right at me.
April 23, 2014
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
Vivian Divine is Dead is so bad that it’s almost comical. I was craughing after finishing it. No joke. With its clichés and "coincidences", this book is like a big fat joke. This is something that would be a million times better on TV than on paper. When you write a book, it’s important you close all the loop holes or at least attempt to. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen in this book. What we have here instead are dramatic twists that are so predictable they just make you want to bang your head on a wall.
Vivian Divine came from a perfect family. Her mother was voted Hollywood’s most beautiful woman 3 times in a row. Her dad's one of the best directors in Hollywood and she herself was the youngest person to be nominated for an Oscar. She had a perfect boyfriend and a beautiful best friend (throw in some self-image issues, too, when she compares herself to her bff) but then her mother died (6 months before the start of the novel) and her father tried to commit suicide. They are trapped in a bubble of grief and no one can seem to catch a break. Her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend (there’s that trope), her life is in danger (ooh, another one) and now she must go on the run (YAY! Another one, too).
The one thing extremely off with the situation is how her bodyguard lets her go off on her own into the wild without any backup. NO ONE lets celebs go on the run on their own, never mind a celeb who's not even an adult (she is like 16!). I cannot believe Vivian never questioned that. She must have lived a VERY sheltered life.
Which is kind of evident from the fact that Vivian doesn’t even understand the seriousness of the situation she is in. The police may or may not be trying to hunt her down and she is on her way to another country to take refuge, yet she still manages to be self-important and goes around expecting everything to be handed to her on a silver platter. Welcome to the real world, hon. But you know what? She is not ‘that’ bad; she realizes that the real world is completely different because like there are people who go to churches with enough gold to buy Beverly Hills but cannot afford to buy shoes. So, so sad. *sigh*
Vivian Divine also feels like people owe her. She commands people to help her, strangers that have no obligation to do so but should because she ‘wants’ them to. *shakes head*. She is a flip flop of a character. I cannot actually decide what the author wants us to feel. Are we supposed to like her or are we supposed to be annoyed? Hell, what does Vivian even want herself? I GOT NO IDEA because she cannot make her bloody mind.
The author tries to create a contrast between the environment and where our main character comes from, but the author takes it to the extreme, like to the extreme-extreme. It’s kind of ridiculous.
Her family is surprisingly normal (like before everything went down the shitter) and I have no idea how I feel about that. On one hand it's a positive portrayal of families and doesn't follow the 'bad parents' stereotype (except her dad is overworked and doesn't give her enough time) but on the other hand, I feel like it just seems so weird that they are these famous Hollywood people and yet they appear extremely normal. This could be a result of my own bias but I definitely found the normalcy somewhat odd.
That wasn't the only thing that struck me as odd, though - the romance was off-the-charts weird. It was horrible. For the first day there seems to be hope that you might see a somewhat developed romance, but then the next day the L words are thought and it’s just like a wtf moment. This book has a tendency to make you go:
Chloe would look pretty damn awesome as the cover of the book. That also happened to be my reaction to the plot. Plot? What plot? This is a soap opera with dramatic twists that can be seen coming from MILES away. It’s not so much unpredictable as it is question mark inducing.
Vivan seems to arrive at the right places and strangers always seem willing to help her. She even compares this to how ‘back home’ people won’t help an old lady cross the road and everyone seems to be nice here. Wait, wait, hold on a second; is this supposed to be the real world because where the fuck is the real world? COINCIDENCES LIKE THESE DON’T HAPPEN.
With all that said, the ending was actually pretty nice. I said that. Go ahead. Throw stuff at me (I have a tendency to do this). I was surprised by it but it did nothing to redeem the book. The book still sucked and I wished I could have my time back.
In all honesty, I really wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. It’s a waste of time and unless you’re really bored and cannot find any books to read, skip this and read something that’s been on your shelf since the dawn of time.
Vivian Divine is Dead is so bad that it’s almost comical. I was craughing after finishing it. No joke. With its clichés and "coincidences", this book is like a big fat joke. This is something that would be a million times better on TV than on paper. When you write a book, it’s important you close all the loop holes or at least attempt to. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen in this book. What we have here instead are dramatic twists that are so predictable they just make you want to bang your head on a wall.
Vivian Divine came from a perfect family. Her mother was voted Hollywood’s most beautiful woman 3 times in a row. Her dad's one of the best directors in Hollywood and she herself was the youngest person to be nominated for an Oscar. She had a perfect boyfriend and a beautiful best friend (throw in some self-image issues, too, when she compares herself to her bff) but then her mother died (6 months before the start of the novel) and her father tried to commit suicide. They are trapped in a bubble of grief and no one can seem to catch a break. Her boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend (there’s that trope), her life is in danger (ooh, another one) and now she must go on the run (YAY! Another one, too).
The one thing extremely off with the situation is how her bodyguard lets her go off on her own into the wild without any backup. NO ONE lets celebs go on the run on their own, never mind a celeb who's not even an adult (she is like 16!). I cannot believe Vivian never questioned that. She must have lived a VERY sheltered life.
Which is kind of evident from the fact that Vivian doesn’t even understand the seriousness of the situation she is in. The police may or may not be trying to hunt her down and she is on her way to another country to take refuge, yet she still manages to be self-important and goes around expecting everything to be handed to her on a silver platter. Welcome to the real world, hon. But you know what? She is not ‘that’ bad; she realizes that the real world is completely different because like there are people who go to churches with enough gold to buy Beverly Hills but cannot afford to buy shoes. So, so sad. *sigh*
Vivian Divine also feels like people owe her. She commands people to help her, strangers that have no obligation to do so but should because she ‘wants’ them to. *shakes head*. She is a flip flop of a character. I cannot actually decide what the author wants us to feel. Are we supposed to like her or are we supposed to be annoyed? Hell, what does Vivian even want herself? I GOT NO IDEA because she cannot make her bloody mind.
The author tries to create a contrast between the environment and where our main character comes from, but the author takes it to the extreme, like to the extreme-extreme. It’s kind of ridiculous.
Her family is surprisingly normal (like before everything went down the shitter) and I have no idea how I feel about that. On one hand it's a positive portrayal of families and doesn't follow the 'bad parents' stereotype (except her dad is overworked and doesn't give her enough time) but on the other hand, I feel like it just seems so weird that they are these famous Hollywood people and yet they appear extremely normal. This could be a result of my own bias but I definitely found the normalcy somewhat odd.
That wasn't the only thing that struck me as odd, though - the romance was off-the-charts weird. It was horrible. For the first day there seems to be hope that you might see a somewhat developed romance, but then the next day the L words are thought and it’s just like a wtf moment. This book has a tendency to make you go:
Chloe would look pretty damn awesome as the cover of the book. That also happened to be my reaction to the plot. Plot? What plot? This is a soap opera with dramatic twists that can be seen coming from MILES away. It’s not so much unpredictable as it is question mark inducing.
Vivan seems to arrive at the right places and strangers always seem willing to help her. She even compares this to how ‘back home’ people won’t help an old lady cross the road and everyone seems to be nice here. Wait, wait, hold on a second; is this supposed to be the real world because where the fuck is the real world? COINCIDENCES LIKE THESE DON’T HAPPEN.
With all that said, the ending was actually pretty nice. I said that. Go ahead. Throw stuff at me (I have a tendency to do this). I was surprised by it but it did nothing to redeem the book. The book still sucked and I wished I could have my time back.
In all honesty, I really wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. It’s a waste of time and unless you’re really bored and cannot find any books to read, skip this and read something that’s been on your shelf since the dawn of time.
August 6, 2016
Oh, what a book. Blythe and I did a discussion review on the blog.
What we didn't like:
- how forgetful it was (though that's sorta a good thing. LIKE WHO WOULD WANT TO REMEMBER SUCH A NIGHTMARISH NOVEL)
- how it tricked us and went downhill from chapter 1. The first chapter was actually decent
- how predicable and unsurprising the twists were.
- Vivian was a spoiled brat and was a total idiot. Whenever she was in trouble, someone was there to save her.
- apparently the love interest is the hottest guy she's ever seen. Because he's just so damn sexy, Vivian follows him around
- nothing is logical. Vivian's bodyguard ditches her to go on an adventure by herself even though she's a famous movie star.
- how Vivian is constantly comparing her ex with the new love interest. "It's like the author couldn't make Nick's merits stand on their own because they weren't enough to build a likable character or love interest around, so she compared his characteristics to an awful person's to make him look like some Jesus love interest."
What we didn't like:
- how forgetful it was (though that's sorta a good thing. LIKE WHO WOULD WANT TO REMEMBER SUCH A NIGHTMARISH NOVEL)
- how it tricked us and went downhill from chapter 1. The first chapter was actually decent
- how predicable and unsurprising the twists were.
- Vivian was a spoiled brat and was a total idiot. Whenever she was in trouble, someone was there to save her.
- apparently the love interest is the hottest guy she's ever seen. Because he's just so damn sexy, Vivian follows him around
- nothing is logical. Vivian's bodyguard ditches her to go on an adventure by herself even though she's a famous movie star.
- how Vivian is constantly comparing her ex with the new love interest. "It's like the author couldn't make Nick's merits stand on their own because they weren't enough to build a likable character or love interest around, so she compared his characteristics to an awful person's to make him look like some Jesus love interest."
June 15, 2014
To see full review click on the below link:
My Blog
Did I ever mention I wanted to write soap operas…
I’m sure I did.
This book is what gives soaps a bad name. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen a soap opera that is this messed up since the network was purposely trying to cancel All My Children and they had Dixie die by tainted pancakes.
God, that was a horrible storyline.
Vivian Divine read like that era of daytime television that many people have tried to forget its existence. To be honest, I wasn’t planning on giving this book such a low rating, but the last act and its borderline offensive tone kept me from giving it a passable rating.
Yeah, based on the summary I should’ve known what I was getting into. But I expected the book to be zany fun. Instead of culturally offensive melodrama.
And yes, I said culturally offensive since its views on Mexico were…well, borderline offensive (to me at least). I’m from Texas and the Mexican culture plays a large part of the culture here. Unlike Vivian, I was well aware of what the day of the dead was. What basic Mexican cuisine is. And I can ask what is your name in Spanish without making an ass of myself.
Given that Southern California has a huge Mexican population too, you’d think Vivian wouldn’t be so shocked with Mexican culture. But nope. Girl treats the country like it’s a third world country. I think Sabel wanted sort of a Romancing the Stone effect which was why she had Vivian act like such an ignoramus, but here’s the deal, Joan Wilder tried to absorb her culture to some degree and she had a right to be annoyed with Michael Douglass, he destroyed her expensive heels. Nick, he didn’t destroy Vivian’s shoes. Though he was a big little bit of a chauvinistic jerk.
Add the fact that their relationship is spurred by insta love….
You have a very annoyed reader.
And that’s not even the worst thing about this book.
My Blog
Did I ever mention I wanted to write soap operas…
I’m sure I did.
This book is what gives soaps a bad name. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen a soap opera that is this messed up since the network was purposely trying to cancel All My Children and they had Dixie die by tainted pancakes.
God, that was a horrible storyline.
Vivian Divine read like that era of daytime television that many people have tried to forget its existence. To be honest, I wasn’t planning on giving this book such a low rating, but the last act and its borderline offensive tone kept me from giving it a passable rating.
Yeah, based on the summary I should’ve known what I was getting into. But I expected the book to be zany fun. Instead of culturally offensive melodrama.
And yes, I said culturally offensive since its views on Mexico were…well, borderline offensive (to me at least). I’m from Texas and the Mexican culture plays a large part of the culture here. Unlike Vivian, I was well aware of what the day of the dead was. What basic Mexican cuisine is. And I can ask what is your name in Spanish without making an ass of myself.
Given that Southern California has a huge Mexican population too, you’d think Vivian wouldn’t be so shocked with Mexican culture. But nope. Girl treats the country like it’s a third world country. I think Sabel wanted sort of a Romancing the Stone effect which was why she had Vivian act like such an ignoramus, but here’s the deal, Joan Wilder tried to absorb her culture to some degree and she had a right to be annoyed with Michael Douglass, he destroyed her expensive heels. Nick, he didn’t destroy Vivian’s shoes. Though he was a big little bit of a chauvinistic jerk.
Add the fact that their relationship is spurred by insta love….
You have a very annoyed reader.
And that’s not even the worst thing about this book.
December 18, 2013
This novel is so impressive in so many ways that it's hard to know where to start writing about it. I could comment on the beautiful descriptive language that the author uses to evoke both Hollywood and rural Mexico. I could talk about the dark threats that hover over Vivian from the first page, keeping the tension thick chapter after chapter. Or I could focus on Vivian herself, and her journey from spoiled starlet to determined, responsible young woman.
Put all of these elements together, though, and you have one of the most evocative and original YA debuts I've read in quite a while. Clear some space in your schedule before reading this one; you won't be able to put it down.
Put all of these elements together, though, and you have one of the most evocative and original YA debuts I've read in quite a while. Clear some space in your schedule before reading this one; you won't be able to put it down.
December 30, 2013
Awesome book for young adults!! It captures the essence of some real life issues teens go through and how they deal with them so it was very easy to relate to the characters and really feel like I was in the story with them. It was such a fast read because it was such a page turner! I kept wanting to know what happened next and couldn't seem to put the book down. Will definitely be recommending this to all of my friends as a must read! Will love to read more from this author in the future!!
August 13, 2016
I loved this book! It's wildly original, unlike anything else out there in the YA world... which makes it especially delightful and worth reading. The writing is wonderful, and so is the voice... I would follow Vivian anywhere on her adventures (and hope to do so in a sequel!) The story is fast-paced and utterly intriguing, with romance and travel and adventure-- just what I look for in a novel. I was so impressed with this debut and look forward to reading Lauren Sabel's future books.
December 12, 2013
This book blew me away!
December 14, 2013
Vivian Divine is Dead. What an utter waste! It had me at the title but lost me somewhere after chapter two.
Too much like a telenovela, and this was despite the setting. That whole thing about doubt suspension being directly proportional to how entertaining something is still holds true, because things while unbelievable were also either frustrating or boring or some other negative participle. I just couldn't get with it!
Why?
Well, the lead for starters. Vivian Divine is not divine at all. There's a flatness to her that had me uninterested in what was going on (and there was a lot going on too). She is IT girl.. super star, power couple, Hollywood princess. You name it, she was it. Yet despite all that she read boring to me!
And frustrating too... because points of it had her all on top of her game then switch to some other bit and she's whiny and almost too-young in how she'd react. Hell, even the negatives to her weren't all that clear to me because I was simply uniterested in finding out.
The story too had me... feeling something. Just Think Telenovela: Handsome stranger meets beautiful girl with one of them on the run, both against a backdrop that starts all glitzy and Hollywood then shifts to something else totally. Then add mysterious threatening messages, death in recent past, publicized infidelity, and why not throw in absent parent syndrome. And let me not forget scary figures named Scars and then scarier boss-men who come out of nowhere. Simply? It's all too much.
Thank you, Edelweiss!
Too much like a telenovela, and this was despite the setting. That whole thing about doubt suspension being directly proportional to how entertaining something is still holds true, because things while unbelievable were also either frustrating or boring or some other negative participle. I just couldn't get with it!
Why?
Well, the lead for starters. Vivian Divine is not divine at all. There's a flatness to her that had me uninterested in what was going on (and there was a lot going on too). She is IT girl.. super star, power couple, Hollywood princess. You name it, she was it. Yet despite all that she read boring to me!
And frustrating too... because points of it had her all on top of her game then switch to some other bit and she's whiny and almost too-young in how she'd react. Hell, even the negatives to her weren't all that clear to me because I was simply uniterested in finding out.
The story too had me... feeling something. Just Think Telenovela: Handsome stranger meets beautiful girl with one of them on the run, both against a backdrop that starts all glitzy and Hollywood then shifts to something else totally. Then add mysterious threatening messages, death in recent past, publicized infidelity, and why not throw in absent parent syndrome. And let me not forget scary figures named Scars and then scarier boss-men who come out of nowhere. Simply? It's all too much.
Thank you, Edelweiss!
January 7, 2014
Fantastic read! This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept it throughout the whole story. I was never bored with this book. It is very fast paced and it would be a great read for many teenage readers! I would recommend this book to any teenagers that are looking for a fast paced read. Great job!
January 7, 2014
This book is AMAZING in so many different ways! It was fast paced and kept me turning the pages which I loved! The suspense and emotion between the two main characters kept me interested and feeling like I was actually there with them. There was also such a huge plot twist towards the end that just blew my mind!! I loved loved loved this book and can't wait to read more from this author!!
Read
April 23, 2014Couldn't finish. Continuity issues within the first fifteen pages and a lot of blahblahblahhhing on about a boy and true love and ugh. No.
January 30, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Vivian Divine is Dead is a gripping masterpiece with a creepy, exciting premise.
Opening Sentence: My name is Vivian Divine.
The Review:
Vivian Divine is a child star. Her mother, Pearl Divine, was named World’s Sexiest Woman multiple times and her father is one of the most successful directors in Hollywood. Her life should be perfect, but it’s spiraled out of control. Her boyfriend Pierre was caught by the paparazzi kissing her best friend. Her mother was murdered and her father tried to kill himself, and would have if Vivian hadn’t stopped him in time. And Vivian just got a note, the same note that her mother got days before she was murdered, that tells her of her impending death. Now Vivian must go on the run, trying to save herself from whatever had got her mother.
Vivian Divine is a fantastic character. She’s like any other teenager, struggling with self-confidence while having to deal with what might be her death. Her emotions are described so wonderfully. Throughout the book, she finds strength in herself, and realizes that she isn’t as weak as she seemed. And then there is Nick — the love interest, who by the way, I thought was perfect. This character is lovable and not too perfect, as some authors make the mistake of doing to their characters.
Right from the get go, we are immersed into Vivian’s life and hooked almost immediately. I was so glued to the pages it was almost painful to shut off the light, since it was pretty late. It doesn’t take long to really understand Vivian and sympathize with her. She has such a unique personality and yet is like any other adolescent on the face of the earth. There aren’t many calm moments in this book, but when there is, it almost makes the peaceful moment more peaceful because of the chaos that usually occupies the chapters.
If I could say one downside of Vivian Divine is Dead it would have to be the mystery aspect. It was sometimes confusing to connect the dots and piece it together, but Vivian would already completely understand and be moving on. I wish that sometimes she had clarified. It wasn’t that bad, but I certainly was confused a few times, make no mistake. It’s a good thing the story was so enthralling that I didn’t care too much! Sadly, though, that knocked it down one star to the still-killer four star rating.
Vivian Divine is Dead is an exciting thrill ride through the life of one child star just trying to stay alive. It has betrayal, mystery, and love on every other page, seamlessly threading together into an amazing novel. If you don’t love this than I would be very surprised. Plus, you get to see more into the Mexican culture, which is lots of fun. Just a note: Spanish is used in this book, but if you have a basic understanding (cómo, bueno, etc.) than you should be good. Oftentimes it is translated but sometimes it isn’t — keep that in mind. Otherwise, make sure to pick this up as soon as possible!
Notable Scene:
“We need to talk to you,” Sparrow says, pushing through the reporters. Her whiny voice reminds me of the nights we used to stay up with Mar, listening to stories about first kisses and true love. Since Sparrow went to an all-girls school and I was homeschooled by a private tutor neither of us knew much about boys, until I started dating Pierre. Before she stole him from me. “It was a mistake.”
“Kissing my boyfriend was a mistake?” I shriek so loudly the reporters take a step back before lunging forward again. Get is together. Never lose your temper in front of a camera. I can see the headlines: Teen Star Slaps Former Best Friend in Fit of Rage. Career Plunges.
FTC Advisory: Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Vivian Divine is Dead. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Vivian Divine is Dead is a gripping masterpiece with a creepy, exciting premise.
Opening Sentence: My name is Vivian Divine.
The Review:
Vivian Divine is a child star. Her mother, Pearl Divine, was named World’s Sexiest Woman multiple times and her father is one of the most successful directors in Hollywood. Her life should be perfect, but it’s spiraled out of control. Her boyfriend Pierre was caught by the paparazzi kissing her best friend. Her mother was murdered and her father tried to kill himself, and would have if Vivian hadn’t stopped him in time. And Vivian just got a note, the same note that her mother got days before she was murdered, that tells her of her impending death. Now Vivian must go on the run, trying to save herself from whatever had got her mother.
Vivian Divine is a fantastic character. She’s like any other teenager, struggling with self-confidence while having to deal with what might be her death. Her emotions are described so wonderfully. Throughout the book, she finds strength in herself, and realizes that she isn’t as weak as she seemed. And then there is Nick — the love interest, who by the way, I thought was perfect. This character is lovable and not too perfect, as some authors make the mistake of doing to their characters.
Right from the get go, we are immersed into Vivian’s life and hooked almost immediately. I was so glued to the pages it was almost painful to shut off the light, since it was pretty late. It doesn’t take long to really understand Vivian and sympathize with her. She has such a unique personality and yet is like any other adolescent on the face of the earth. There aren’t many calm moments in this book, but when there is, it almost makes the peaceful moment more peaceful because of the chaos that usually occupies the chapters.
If I could say one downside of Vivian Divine is Dead it would have to be the mystery aspect. It was sometimes confusing to connect the dots and piece it together, but Vivian would already completely understand and be moving on. I wish that sometimes she had clarified. It wasn’t that bad, but I certainly was confused a few times, make no mistake. It’s a good thing the story was so enthralling that I didn’t care too much! Sadly, though, that knocked it down one star to the still-killer four star rating.
Vivian Divine is Dead is an exciting thrill ride through the life of one child star just trying to stay alive. It has betrayal, mystery, and love on every other page, seamlessly threading together into an amazing novel. If you don’t love this than I would be very surprised. Plus, you get to see more into the Mexican culture, which is lots of fun. Just a note: Spanish is used in this book, but if you have a basic understanding (cómo, bueno, etc.) than you should be good. Oftentimes it is translated but sometimes it isn’t — keep that in mind. Otherwise, make sure to pick this up as soon as possible!
Notable Scene:
“We need to talk to you,” Sparrow says, pushing through the reporters. Her whiny voice reminds me of the nights we used to stay up with Mar, listening to stories about first kisses and true love. Since Sparrow went to an all-girls school and I was homeschooled by a private tutor neither of us knew much about boys, until I started dating Pierre. Before she stole him from me. “It was a mistake.”
“Kissing my boyfriend was a mistake?” I shriek so loudly the reporters take a step back before lunging forward again. Get is together. Never lose your temper in front of a camera. I can see the headlines: Teen Star Slaps Former Best Friend in Fit of Rage. Career Plunges.
FTC Advisory: Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Vivian Divine is Dead. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
December 16, 2013
Huge thank you to Katherine Tegen Books and Edelweiss for an advance copy of this book.
2.5, rounded to a 3.
Vivian Divine is Dead might be one of the weirdest books I've read in a long time. The pace moves at lightning speed with no sense of stopping, and yet when you reach the end of the book, you question a little bit as to what the heck you just read. This book is weird. Like, really weird at times.
I think the best way to describe this book is Stockholm Syndrome. Vivian is kidnapped, yet she's... okay with it most of the time? It seems a bit odd, but it would have played better had our protagonist not been so bratty or delusional. Part of the problem is that Vivian comes across flat and stereotypical for a rich girl and it doesn't do her any favors. Yet, her circumstances made you want to turn pages and see what the heck was happening to her.
I really, really, hate the romance in this novel. Nick is an awful character who is simply too all over the place to really enjoy. He's a crappy person, does crappy things, yet a lot of the time Vivian just brushes it aside, meanwhile you find yourself asking "what the heck is so interesting about this tool?" I just didn't understand the connection -- I don't mind a character that plays both sides, but a lot of his motivations felt so awkwardly put together that I just felt very unsure most of the time. Nick, you and I will continue to be having words.
Vivian Divine is such an awkward duck and in a lot of ways it was hard to engage with because you expect more from the characters and the situation they are involved in. Yes there's living dangerously and being free spirited, but I wanted more than just what the rush provided for me. I still found myself asking more questions, and feeling like everything wrapped up a bit too nicely for its own good.
2.5, rounded to a 3.
Vivian Divine is Dead might be one of the weirdest books I've read in a long time. The pace moves at lightning speed with no sense of stopping, and yet when you reach the end of the book, you question a little bit as to what the heck you just read. This book is weird. Like, really weird at times.
I think the best way to describe this book is Stockholm Syndrome. Vivian is kidnapped, yet she's... okay with it most of the time? It seems a bit odd, but it would have played better had our protagonist not been so bratty or delusional. Part of the problem is that Vivian comes across flat and stereotypical for a rich girl and it doesn't do her any favors. Yet, her circumstances made you want to turn pages and see what the heck was happening to her.
I really, really, hate the romance in this novel. Nick is an awful character who is simply too all over the place to really enjoy. He's a crappy person, does crappy things, yet a lot of the time Vivian just brushes it aside, meanwhile you find yourself asking "what the heck is so interesting about this tool?" I just didn't understand the connection -- I don't mind a character that plays both sides, but a lot of his motivations felt so awkwardly put together that I just felt very unsure most of the time. Nick, you and I will continue to be having words.
Vivian Divine is such an awkward duck and in a lot of ways it was hard to engage with because you expect more from the characters and the situation they are involved in. Yes there's living dangerously and being free spirited, but I wanted more than just what the rush provided for me. I still found myself asking more questions, and feeling like everything wrapped up a bit too nicely for its own good.
September 6, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
16-year-old Vivian Divine is a famous movie star, and her mother who was also a movie star was brutally murdered six months ago.
Now Vivian has received a video detailing how she too will be murdered in just 3 days, if she can’t disappear for a while that is.
Is the same person threatening Vivian the one who killed her mother? And can she escape before she too meets the same end?
This was an okay story, but I did lose interest after a while.
Vivian was an okay character, but she was maybe a little naïve at times. She seemed to make poor decisions, and didn’t follow advice which could have really been her downfall. She was also quite selfish and immature, and even when she claimed not to be a spoiler rich girl, she kind-of was.
The storyline was okay, although I did lose interest quite early on in the book. The book just lost it’s way a bit for me, and I got bored. There were some twists, and I didn’t guess a couple of them, but one of the major ones I saw coming, so it wasn’t all that much of a surprise for me.
There was some romance, but it wasn’t really a big part of the storyline, and for me there was only really one semi-romantic scene.
The ending was okay, although some of the storylines weren’t tied up at all, which leaves me wondering if there is a sequel planned for this book. If not, I’m slightly annoyed by the way that certain things were just left hanging.
Overall; okay story, but I got bored.
6.5 out of 10.
16-year-old Vivian Divine is a famous movie star, and her mother who was also a movie star was brutally murdered six months ago.
Now Vivian has received a video detailing how she too will be murdered in just 3 days, if she can’t disappear for a while that is.
Is the same person threatening Vivian the one who killed her mother? And can she escape before she too meets the same end?
This was an okay story, but I did lose interest after a while.
Vivian was an okay character, but she was maybe a little naïve at times. She seemed to make poor decisions, and didn’t follow advice which could have really been her downfall. She was also quite selfish and immature, and even when she claimed not to be a spoiler rich girl, she kind-of was.
The storyline was okay, although I did lose interest quite early on in the book. The book just lost it’s way a bit for me, and I got bored. There were some twists, and I didn’t guess a couple of them, but one of the major ones I saw coming, so it wasn’t all that much of a surprise for me.
There was some romance, but it wasn’t really a big part of the storyline, and for me there was only really one semi-romantic scene.
The ending was okay, although some of the storylines weren’t tied up at all, which leaves me wondering if there is a sequel planned for this book. If not, I’m slightly annoyed by the way that certain things were just left hanging.
Overall; okay story, but I got bored.
6.5 out of 10.
Read
December 2, 2014Picture this: you're standing around at a party and this random person sidles up and starts telling you about something that happened to them. Their story sounds like the plot of a completely implausible action movie. You're listening, thinking: "Is this person for real?" That's how I felt while reading this book.
In the first few pages, Vivian tells the reader that she's an Oscar nominated 16 year-old actress whose famous mother was just murdered, famous father recently attempted suicide, and (you guessed it) famous boyfriend just cheated on her with her best friend. (I can't remember if the best friend was famous or not. Probably.) As if that isn't enough, Vivian receives a death threat and has to disguise herself and go on the run. To Mexico. All by herself. Just ... because, okay? Because the police and FBI are "in on it." Don't ask so many questions.
The story is seriously wacky and yet so fast-paced that there's barely enough time to register that things don't completely make sense. At times I wondered if Vivian a) was suffering from some kind of temporary mental illness brought on by the death of her mother, b) didn't mention to the reader that she was starring in a soap opera the whole time, or c) was having a bad dream.I don't think this is a series, but the ending was somewhat unresolved.
In sum, this book was entertaining at times but also pretty out-there. If you enjoy campy, breathlessly told stories, give this a try.
In the first few pages, Vivian tells the reader that she's an Oscar nominated 16 year-old actress whose famous mother was just murdered, famous father recently attempted suicide, and (you guessed it) famous boyfriend just cheated on her with her best friend. (I can't remember if the best friend was famous or not. Probably.) As if that isn't enough, Vivian receives a death threat and has to disguise herself and go on the run. To Mexico. All by herself. Just ... because, okay? Because the police and FBI are "in on it." Don't ask so many questions.
The story is seriously wacky and yet so fast-paced that there's barely enough time to register that things don't completely make sense. At times I wondered if Vivian a) was suffering from some kind of temporary mental illness brought on by the death of her mother, b) didn't mention to the reader that she was starring in a soap opera the whole time, or c) was having a bad dream.I don't think this is a series, but the ending was somewhat unresolved.
In sum, this book was entertaining at times but also pretty out-there. If you enjoy campy, breathlessly told stories, give this a try.
May 29, 2014
This isn't one of those books that you go into expecting an in depth look into the characters or a heart felt read or anything even truly mind blowing, instead it gives you exactly what most books should, an escape from reality for however long it takes you to finish it.
This is a hard book to review. The writing was fabulous in some aspects and lacked in others. The plot was wild and out there but still maintained some originality which, lets face it, is becoming harder and harder to find in the world of YA. Yet where it excelled in originality is failed in reality.
At times this seemed so far out there that it was completely unbelievable and I felt like rolling my eyes and yet, it still kept me turning the pages because I couldn't help but be fascinated as each new twist took on an even wilder and crazier one than the last.
Overall I would say this was a crazy ride that while laughable was still very much hard to put down.
This is a hard book to review. The writing was fabulous in some aspects and lacked in others. The plot was wild and out there but still maintained some originality which, lets face it, is becoming harder and harder to find in the world of YA. Yet where it excelled in originality is failed in reality.
At times this seemed so far out there that it was completely unbelievable and I felt like rolling my eyes and yet, it still kept me turning the pages because I couldn't help but be fascinated as each new twist took on an even wilder and crazier one than the last.
Overall I would say this was a crazy ride that while laughable was still very much hard to put down.
August 8, 2016
This was a fun, light and very silly book. It was painfully predictable but still entertaining. I listened to the audio version and the narrator sounded quite good speaking Spanish (to this non-Spanish speaker) and the voices of the different characters were distinctive and well done. There were a few English words that were pronounced strangely, as in wrong to my ear, near the beginning but I didn't notice it later on.
December 20, 2014
I really felt bad for her, seeing what happens to her, that she's told she's going to die, and yeah, how she works through all the things surrounding that and her mom's death, loved all the twists in this book! Though I kinda want a sequel, because it's almost wrapped, there's just the one thread!
July 9, 2016
This book had an interesting concept but that is the only thing I really liked about it except the setting. I just felt like the characters were just that, characters. I'm sorry this review so short!
February 13, 2017
I am struggling to think of the last time I hated a book this much. Even flipping back through my other one star reviews, this one seems to take the cake. It contains every possible thing I hate in a book...and then does it The Most.
1) Vivian Divine Is Dead? No. Vivian Divine Is A Pathetic Useless White Girl Who Bumbles Around Mexico Making Disparaging Remarks About Those Poor Uncivilized Savages. Honestly, the way this book is written is why I'm so uncomfortable with the term "savage" used how it's used now. To mean something deep cutting, brutal, hurtful, wild. You know, like how people used to use that term for...people. This whole book all I could see was Vivian walking around with a torch and pitchfork screaming "SAVAGES!" The worst part is that I genuinely think the author thought she was doing some sort of favor to Mexican culture by setting it alongside the pettiness that is white Hollywood. But no. Both author and character just come away seeming like insensitive, culture appropriating jerks.
2) More ranting on Vivian because she's fucking terrible. It really annoys me that the writing is so amateurish that I can SEE where she was trying to go with Vivian. She was trying to make her terrible for a purpose. There was a reason Vivian is literally the most useless human to ever exist inside the pages of a novel. Unfortunately, like I mentioned above, the author does The Most and makes Vivian so despicable, so irredeemable, that none of those reasons matter. There is no way to relate to someone who is such a rotting pile of trash so any lesson or comparisons we were supposed to take away... Also trash.
3) Insta-love! Ohhh if I thought the writing couldn't get weaker, my friends, it somehow does. I love the whole enemies to lovers trope as much as the next person...when it's done with any skill whatsoever. Unfortunately here, Vivian and Nick go from loathing each other to ~~becoming one being beneath the stars~~ in about, I don't know, two chapters. Nick turns to her at one point and says "At first I thought you were just another spoiled American--"
AND THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IT. Because that's what she is. But no. He follows it up with the most cliche line given to every YA girl in every cliche YA book. You know what it is. Say it with me.
"But you're not like other girls."
Go fuck yourself. I don't have anything else to add there.
So add all that together with an utterly predictable plot, writing that gets progressively worse as the book goes on, and not a single likable character for miles.... And you get Vivian Divine Is Dead. Which I wish were the case. Because I hate her. And myself a little bit for ever picking up this fucking dumpster fire of a book.
1) Vivian Divine Is Dead? No. Vivian Divine Is A Pathetic Useless White Girl Who Bumbles Around Mexico Making Disparaging Remarks About Those Poor Uncivilized Savages. Honestly, the way this book is written is why I'm so uncomfortable with the term "savage" used how it's used now. To mean something deep cutting, brutal, hurtful, wild. You know, like how people used to use that term for...people. This whole book all I could see was Vivian walking around with a torch and pitchfork screaming "SAVAGES!" The worst part is that I genuinely think the author thought she was doing some sort of favor to Mexican culture by setting it alongside the pettiness that is white Hollywood. But no. Both author and character just come away seeming like insensitive, culture appropriating jerks.
2) More ranting on Vivian because she's fucking terrible. It really annoys me that the writing is so amateurish that I can SEE where she was trying to go with Vivian. She was trying to make her terrible for a purpose. There was a reason Vivian is literally the most useless human to ever exist inside the pages of a novel. Unfortunately, like I mentioned above, the author does The Most and makes Vivian so despicable, so irredeemable, that none of those reasons matter. There is no way to relate to someone who is such a rotting pile of trash so any lesson or comparisons we were supposed to take away... Also trash.
3) Insta-love! Ohhh if I thought the writing couldn't get weaker, my friends, it somehow does. I love the whole enemies to lovers trope as much as the next person...when it's done with any skill whatsoever. Unfortunately here, Vivian and Nick go from loathing each other to ~~becoming one being beneath the stars~~ in about, I don't know, two chapters. Nick turns to her at one point and says "At first I thought you were just another spoiled American--"
AND THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IT. Because that's what she is. But no. He follows it up with the most cliche line given to every YA girl in every cliche YA book. You know what it is. Say it with me.
"But you're not like other girls."
Go fuck yourself. I don't have anything else to add there.
So add all that together with an utterly predictable plot, writing that gets progressively worse as the book goes on, and not a single likable character for miles.... And you get Vivian Divine Is Dead. Which I wish were the case. Because I hate her. And myself a little bit for ever picking up this fucking dumpster fire of a book.
December 28, 2016
Okay another book down, this free time is wonderful—such blessed and happy holidays 2016 has been a year of change, struggle and growth and I am ready to see what 2017 will bring, whew but as far as my favorite pastime I have been sorely missing with school and teaching I must say I even miss books that I struggle through, books that I should not have read and those I will myself to finish—yup yup those who have been with me through a few reads-my wanksters….Those books that I promise myself if I make it to 100 pages with that I have to finish but never really enjoy and don’t recommend and I have come across one I believe my first one of the year which is amazing for me but well deserved nonetheless as this book was all over the place, confusing for no reason and just pretty pointless. So I am trying to read through my Young Adult new read section so I can intelligently converse and recommend reads to my scholars when they are able to check out (oh soon soon) and now I have selected a curious read that unknowingly dealt with Mexico, a mafia, the Day of the Dead, kidnappings, hidden paternity, betrayals and swooning irrational teenage love. Alright so the story starts with a child okay teen but childlike actress Vivian is dealing with the death of her beautiful famous actress mother and an emotionally distant director father in addition to filming a new movie, discovering her boyfriend was having an affair with her best friend and coincidentally receiving kidnapping threats in the mail with people looking for her. Desperate to know if the people threatening her are connected to what happened to her mother and cautioned to leave by her bodyguard nanny Mary she sets off to Mexico to a safehouse to wait out the results of the threats and it is there the book unravels pretty fast. On the bus ride there she loses her bag and has to depend on a devastatingly handsome boy named Nick with secrets of his own and shady men following her..the way the chapters end really foreshadow suspense that you never really feel but there are many questions that arise and you are curious to know more and the same silly stereotypical characters continue to appear with the gangster with a heart, the muscle guy, the old wise woman, a helpful girl and a guide that knows more than they say with secrets everyone plays close but the reveals seem sloppy and forced. Sprinkled liberally with Spanish language and the flighty hormonal teenage daydreams of our heroine this story winds through cemeteries, there is mention of Dia de Muerte traditions but overall I found this story silly and disjointed. I struggled to finish this and aside from the beautiful cover and the references to the Day of the Dead and Spanish language reference I cant say anything too good about this book for real it was just eh….Need to read something amazing now, no more time for this LOL>..
May 29, 2014
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel is a mystery/suspense young adult novel that takes place mainly in Mexico. I was immediately pulled into the story by the first sentence and remained intrigued until the very open-ended conclusion. Quickly paced and surprisingly addicting, Sabel's novel was a fun read, even if it was predictable and slightly cliche.
Vivian, the protagonist, is still dealing with her mother's murder when we're introduced to her. Not only that, but we're also thrust into the current dilemma of her just finding out that her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend, so life isn't exactly perfect. But when she gets threatened by the same person who supposedly murdered her mother, her life immediately becomes a confusing world full of danger.
I enjoyed Sabel's novel because though it was full of twists, it was a quick read. If you're looking for a book that will make you stop and think, this really isn't it. But regardless of that, Vivian Divine is Dead is still an enjoyable book because of how predictable it is. Yes, when someone reads that a book is predictable, they might think, "But then, that's not such a good book, right?" but the thing is, it makes it fun if you're in the mood for a light thriller on a hot summer evening.
The romance was very instant and way too fast-paced. Vivian receives her threat four days before the event is supposed to take place, so I remember thinking that there's no way she can find and connect properly with a love interest. I will admit I'm not too surprised that the author found her someone anyway. So, instead of focusing on how unrealistic the relationship that Vivian ends up building with her love interest is, I just went with it, because honestly? I just enjoyed the concept of her running through an unknown place in order to save herself.
What really irked me, however, was the Spanish. Being fluent in Spanish myself, I found it interesting how important it would be to have a handle of the language before reading this book. Not only are there no immediate translations for non-Spanish speaking readers, but the grammar is horrendous. Rather than seeing the Mexicans portrayed in the book as believable characters, I just saw someone with just barely a grasp on the Spanish language. And while I didn't mind the unrealistic romance and cliche adventure, I couldn't help but feel annoyed with the Spanish.
Overall, I enjoyed Vivian Divine is Dead because it was a quick, adventure-filled read. If you're looking for something quick to read that has a cheesy but still cute romance, and is host to multiple twists, then you might enjoy this one! If you're fluent in Spanish like me, beware: you're going to either be annoyed, or burst out with a hopefully good natured laugh.
I received a copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Vivian Divine is Dead by Lauren Sabel is a mystery/suspense young adult novel that takes place mainly in Mexico. I was immediately pulled into the story by the first sentence and remained intrigued until the very open-ended conclusion. Quickly paced and surprisingly addicting, Sabel's novel was a fun read, even if it was predictable and slightly cliche.
Vivian, the protagonist, is still dealing with her mother's murder when we're introduced to her. Not only that, but we're also thrust into the current dilemma of her just finding out that her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend, so life isn't exactly perfect. But when she gets threatened by the same person who supposedly murdered her mother, her life immediately becomes a confusing world full of danger.
I enjoyed Sabel's novel because though it was full of twists, it was a quick read. If you're looking for a book that will make you stop and think, this really isn't it. But regardless of that, Vivian Divine is Dead is still an enjoyable book because of how predictable it is. Yes, when someone reads that a book is predictable, they might think, "But then, that's not such a good book, right?" but the thing is, it makes it fun if you're in the mood for a light thriller on a hot summer evening.
The romance was very instant and way too fast-paced. Vivian receives her threat four days before the event is supposed to take place, so I remember thinking that there's no way she can find and connect properly with a love interest. I will admit I'm not too surprised that the author found her someone anyway. So, instead of focusing on how unrealistic the relationship that Vivian ends up building with her love interest is, I just went with it, because honestly? I just enjoyed the concept of her running through an unknown place in order to save herself.
What really irked me, however, was the Spanish. Being fluent in Spanish myself, I found it interesting how important it would be to have a handle of the language before reading this book. Not only are there no immediate translations for non-Spanish speaking readers, but the grammar is horrendous. Rather than seeing the Mexicans portrayed in the book as believable characters, I just saw someone with just barely a grasp on the Spanish language. And while I didn't mind the unrealistic romance and cliche adventure, I couldn't help but feel annoyed with the Spanish.
Overall, I enjoyed Vivian Divine is Dead because it was a quick, adventure-filled read. If you're looking for something quick to read that has a cheesy but still cute romance, and is host to multiple twists, then you might enjoy this one! If you're fluent in Spanish like me, beware: you're going to either be annoyed, or burst out with a hopefully good natured laugh.
February 15, 2022
What even is this book???? Like I’m not entirely convinced that this wasn’t some fever dream I hallucinated. But alas, the internet confirmed its existence, so I must address it.
Vivian Divine is Dead is a book that promises a story about a teen celebrity on a dangerous journey filled with romance, adventure, and a terrifying villain. It delivers on none of those fronts.
So to begin with my ranting, let’s talk about the romance, or should I say, the lack of it. I am not a fan of the romance genre in the first place, but I don’t mind it being a side-plot. This half-baked Frankenstein version of a love story was anything but a side-plot. They have a meet-cute and BAM— insta love. They have their first “fight” about two minutes after they meet and immediately make up. After that, I suffered through pages and pages AND PAGES of banter. Usually I enjoy banter!! It takes a lot for me to not enjoy it, and yet this book somehow managed it. Nick is like a shallow imitation of the “tall, handsome, and brooding” generic guy stereotype without any of the character development, making him just plain annoying. I cannot describe how much I LOATHE this character (actually I can, but that would involve spoilers so I won’t), but suffice it to say, the romance itself docked off two stars just for how much space it takes up,
Next up, “adventure.” Or once again, the lack thereof. This teen celeb escapes from LA down to Mexico and becomes immersed in the Mexican culture… except it seems that the author did exactly one Google search about Mexican culture and it yielded the word “tacos.” How convenient that every single place our heroine goes serves her the one Mexican food that the author actually happens to know about. I was promised twists and turns, and yet every single plot thread follows the pattern of a soap opera, and was thereby completely predictable. One star was docked from my disappointment.
Lastly the villain, my personal favorite part, and the only reason I gave this book two stars rather than one. One phenomenon I have noticed with books that I don’t particularly like is that i begin cheering for the villain over the hero and I think this was probably one of those situations. The hero is a stuck-up spoiled little brat that went on a journey and came out the exact same way with absolutely no development except maybe that now she’s tried actual Mexican tacos. The villain is a rich lord who wears expensive suits and lives in a massive house. I think you see where I’m coming from.
Overall this book was not great, there was zero character development so the heroes stay at a stagnant level of annoying. The plot likes to think it’s clever, but is reminiscent of a tv drama. And to think that this book had THE GALL to end on a cliffhanger. Like you put us through this much, at least give a conclusion.
Vivian Divine is Dead is a book that promises a story about a teen celebrity on a dangerous journey filled with romance, adventure, and a terrifying villain. It delivers on none of those fronts.
So to begin with my ranting, let’s talk about the romance, or should I say, the lack of it. I am not a fan of the romance genre in the first place, but I don’t mind it being a side-plot. This half-baked Frankenstein version of a love story was anything but a side-plot. They have a meet-cute and BAM— insta love. They have their first “fight” about two minutes after they meet and immediately make up. After that, I suffered through pages and pages AND PAGES of banter. Usually I enjoy banter!! It takes a lot for me to not enjoy it, and yet this book somehow managed it. Nick is like a shallow imitation of the “tall, handsome, and brooding” generic guy stereotype without any of the character development, making him just plain annoying. I cannot describe how much I LOATHE this character (actually I can, but that would involve spoilers so I won’t), but suffice it to say, the romance itself docked off two stars just for how much space it takes up,
Next up, “adventure.” Or once again, the lack thereof. This teen celeb escapes from LA down to Mexico and becomes immersed in the Mexican culture… except it seems that the author did exactly one Google search about Mexican culture and it yielded the word “tacos.” How convenient that every single place our heroine goes serves her the one Mexican food that the author actually happens to know about. I was promised twists and turns, and yet every single plot thread follows the pattern of a soap opera, and was thereby completely predictable. One star was docked from my disappointment.
Lastly the villain, my personal favorite part, and the only reason I gave this book two stars rather than one. One phenomenon I have noticed with books that I don’t particularly like is that i begin cheering for the villain over the hero and I think this was probably one of those situations. The hero is a stuck-up spoiled little brat that went on a journey and came out the exact same way with absolutely no development except maybe that now she’s tried actual Mexican tacos. The villain is a rich lord who wears expensive suits and lives in a massive house. I think you see where I’m coming from.
Overall this book was not great, there was zero character development so the heroes stay at a stagnant level of annoying. The plot likes to think it’s clever, but is reminiscent of a tv drama. And to think that this book had THE GALL to end on a cliffhanger. Like you put us through this much, at least give a conclusion.
June 13, 2015
Vivian Divine is Dead is a unique addition to the young adult contemporary suspense genre. Lauren Sabel crafted a very twisted mystery that left me guessing until the very end. It’s not often that I’m unable to figure things out but that was definitely the case with this one.
Vivian Divine is a spoiled rotten movie star. She was really hard to like at first. Her mom was murdered and her dad pretty much gave up on life after that but that didn’t give her the right to be the bitch that she was. She expected people to wait on her and she couldn’t fend for herself to save her life. She talked down to people and she thought very highly of herself. She was like that for most of the book and I thought that might be the one thing that would make me hate Vivian Divine is Dead but that actually wasn’t the case. She did develop as a character and I was already hooked on the story so I never once thought about giving up on this one.
Nicholas, Marcos, Scars, Isabel, and pretty much all the rest of the secondary characters were a little flat. Nicholas was this handsome stranger who Vivian met on the bus to Mexico. Since he spoke English, Vivian decided to rely on him to help keep her safe. He honestly didn’t have much going on other than being handsome. There was a little back-story to him but not enough to really get me interested in knowing more about him. He wasn’t well-developed and while I liked him well enough, I wasn’t invested in his relationship with Vivian. Marcos and Scars were worse than Nicholas. I had no interest in them and found them to be more of an annoyance than anything else. Scars had no personality and was really just known for being a big bad ass with scars. He was not really all that creepy if you ask me. Marcos was a little better developed but still lacking. As for Isabel, she was the only one I really cared for. She had more back-story than any of them and was the most developed of them all.
The story was the truly interesting part of the book. Vivian Divine goes on the run after receiving a death threat. Seems like a simple plot but there was a lot more going on than I ever expected. Not once was I able to guess who was behind the death threat or why. There was also a mystery surrounding Vivian’s mom and what exactly happened to her. I had no clue how Lauren Sabel was going to tie everything together in the end but she managed it wonderfully. Admittedly, the story was a little all over the place at times but it was still entertaining.
Overall, Vivian Divine is Dead is a great debut from Lauren Sabel and I will plan to check out more from her in the future. Hopefully that includes a sequel to Vivian Divine is Dead since I could use a little more from these characters!
Vivian Divine is a spoiled rotten movie star. She was really hard to like at first. Her mom was murdered and her dad pretty much gave up on life after that but that didn’t give her the right to be the bitch that she was. She expected people to wait on her and she couldn’t fend for herself to save her life. She talked down to people and she thought very highly of herself. She was like that for most of the book and I thought that might be the one thing that would make me hate Vivian Divine is Dead but that actually wasn’t the case. She did develop as a character and I was already hooked on the story so I never once thought about giving up on this one.
Nicholas, Marcos, Scars, Isabel, and pretty much all the rest of the secondary characters were a little flat. Nicholas was this handsome stranger who Vivian met on the bus to Mexico. Since he spoke English, Vivian decided to rely on him to help keep her safe. He honestly didn’t have much going on other than being handsome. There was a little back-story to him but not enough to really get me interested in knowing more about him. He wasn’t well-developed and while I liked him well enough, I wasn’t invested in his relationship with Vivian. Marcos and Scars were worse than Nicholas. I had no interest in them and found them to be more of an annoyance than anything else. Scars had no personality and was really just known for being a big bad ass with scars. He was not really all that creepy if you ask me. Marcos was a little better developed but still lacking. As for Isabel, she was the only one I really cared for. She had more back-story than any of them and was the most developed of them all.
The story was the truly interesting part of the book. Vivian Divine goes on the run after receiving a death threat. Seems like a simple plot but there was a lot more going on than I ever expected. Not once was I able to guess who was behind the death threat or why. There was also a mystery surrounding Vivian’s mom and what exactly happened to her. I had no clue how Lauren Sabel was going to tie everything together in the end but she managed it wonderfully. Admittedly, the story was a little all over the place at times but it was still entertaining.
Overall, Vivian Divine is Dead is a great debut from Lauren Sabel and I will plan to check out more from her in the future. Hopefully that includes a sequel to Vivian Divine is Dead since I could use a little more from these characters!
April 21, 2014
Glad to get this one I needed something fresh and new to read, I some times think the covers like this one will turn me away because it seems young and it was a little but don’t always judge a book by its cover!
Vivian divine is a 16 year old movie star. Her mother, Pearl Divine, was one too before she was murdered, six moths before the present time in the book. Her father is a director in Hollywood, and is very successful. He ignores Vivian after Pearl died. Her life has many complications recently. Her boyfriend Pierre kissing her best friend, and caught by the press, and her mother being killed and her father trying to kill himself.
Then she receives a threat in the mail about how she is going to die in a few days, she learns from her bodyguard that the same thing happened to her mother and now Vivian is not sure what to do. Her bodyguard told her to run away and disappear for a while it is the only way to be safe. So she leaves for Mexico to meet up with a man that her bodyguard sets her up with and hopes this guy will keep her safeRight when she arrives Vivian meets a boy who she says is the “sexiest thing she’s ever seen” named Nicolas but is he all hot and sexy? Is anyone who they seem to be and will she be safe here? Take the adventure in this one with Vivian!!
It was certainly a page-turner in my opinion. I was a little confuses at some point and could not follow along but by the end it was easy to put everything together. I did love how Sabel wrote a story that made me keep guessing and made me want keep getting to the next page to see what was going to happen!
I love the character of Vivian Divine. The story was really interesting and kept me hooked. Nicolas was perfect and seemed to be mean but then was also so romantic and cute but yes had his flaws as well but we all love a hot buy right!? I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more to come! If you’re looking for a good book to read this is definitely a good book to leave you guessing, and a surprising ending!
Vivian divine is a 16 year old movie star. Her mother, Pearl Divine, was one too before she was murdered, six moths before the present time in the book. Her father is a director in Hollywood, and is very successful. He ignores Vivian after Pearl died. Her life has many complications recently. Her boyfriend Pierre kissing her best friend, and caught by the press, and her mother being killed and her father trying to kill himself.
Then she receives a threat in the mail about how she is going to die in a few days, she learns from her bodyguard that the same thing happened to her mother and now Vivian is not sure what to do. Her bodyguard told her to run away and disappear for a while it is the only way to be safe. So she leaves for Mexico to meet up with a man that her bodyguard sets her up with and hopes this guy will keep her safeRight when she arrives Vivian meets a boy who she says is the “sexiest thing she’s ever seen” named Nicolas but is he all hot and sexy? Is anyone who they seem to be and will she be safe here? Take the adventure in this one with Vivian!!
It was certainly a page-turner in my opinion. I was a little confuses at some point and could not follow along but by the end it was easy to put everything together. I did love how Sabel wrote a story that made me keep guessing and made me want keep getting to the next page to see what was going to happen!
I love the character of Vivian Divine. The story was really interesting and kept me hooked. Nicolas was perfect and seemed to be mean but then was also so romantic and cute but yes had his flaws as well but we all love a hot buy right!? I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more to come! If you’re looking for a good book to read this is definitely a good book to leave you guessing, and a surprising ending!
February 3, 2015
4.5/5
REVIEW BY MOLLY 8:1
Vivian Divine is a child movie star, Her Mother, Pearl Divine is the best and sexiest movie star and her father is one of the most successful directors in Hollywood. Her life should be perfect, but it has spiraled out of control. Her Mother is murdered and her father tries to kill himself. A few days later Vivian gets the exact same note her mother did before she died, telling her she is next. Now Vivian must go on the run from whatever killed her mother.
Vivian, like any other teenager, struggles with self-confidence while having to deal with what might be her death. Her emotions are described wonderfully. Throughout the book she finds strength in herself and isn’t as weak as she initially appears.
My favorite character has got to be Vivian as she is clever and thoughtful but also is a funny, making her a fun character to read about.
From the beginning I was immersed into Vivian’s life and it was hard to put this book down. It doesn’t take long to really understand Vivian and to empathize with her. She has a unique personality and yet is very down to earth. There aren’t many calm moments in this book, but when there is, it makes it even more peaceful because of the chaos in the chapters.
The only downside and aspect I would change about this book would have to be the mystery within the plot, because it was sometimes hard to connect the dots and piece it together, but Vivian would already completely understand and move on, I just wished that she had clarified some of the points. It wasn’t to bad but I certainly got confused at times.
Vivian Divine is a thrill ride following a child star who is trying to stay alive. It has betrayal, love and mystery on every page seamlessly threading together in an amazing novel.
I would defiantly read a book by this author again and I would recommend this book as 11+ as it has some bad language in it. I would give this book 4 ½ stars.
REVIEW BY MOLLY 8:1
Vivian Divine is a child movie star, Her Mother, Pearl Divine is the best and sexiest movie star and her father is one of the most successful directors in Hollywood. Her life should be perfect, but it has spiraled out of control. Her Mother is murdered and her father tries to kill himself. A few days later Vivian gets the exact same note her mother did before she died, telling her she is next. Now Vivian must go on the run from whatever killed her mother.
Vivian, like any other teenager, struggles with self-confidence while having to deal with what might be her death. Her emotions are described wonderfully. Throughout the book she finds strength in herself and isn’t as weak as she initially appears.
My favorite character has got to be Vivian as she is clever and thoughtful but also is a funny, making her a fun character to read about.
From the beginning I was immersed into Vivian’s life and it was hard to put this book down. It doesn’t take long to really understand Vivian and to empathize with her. She has a unique personality and yet is very down to earth. There aren’t many calm moments in this book, but when there is, it makes it even more peaceful because of the chaos in the chapters.
The only downside and aspect I would change about this book would have to be the mystery within the plot, because it was sometimes hard to connect the dots and piece it together, but Vivian would already completely understand and move on, I just wished that she had clarified some of the points. It wasn’t to bad but I certainly got confused at times.
Vivian Divine is a thrill ride following a child star who is trying to stay alive. It has betrayal, love and mystery on every page seamlessly threading together in an amazing novel.
I would defiantly read a book by this author again and I would recommend this book as 11+ as it has some bad language in it. I would give this book 4 ½ stars.
June 16, 2014
This review is also posted on The Storybook Kingdom
I think I'll just jump into this one and start with the good, because there really isn't that much good I can say about Vivian Divine is Dead. It's short. So in the end I didn't feel like I lost out on a lot of reading time. Besides that there really wasn't all that much I liked about it. I was promised "creepy, witty, fast-paced adventure". I got confusion, cheesiness, and a bad soap opera.
I didn't like one character in this book. I can usually find at least one person I kind like in a book, but this was the largest group of unlikable people I've seen in one place in a long time. Everyone is entitled, rude, or completely off their rocker. Vivian plays the pampered Hollywood actress perfectly. Even though she's lost her mother I just never feel any empathy for her. Her relationship with Nick is unbelievable. As far as Nick goes, he was no swoon worthy and kind of flat.
My other issue is that the events in this book were so incredibly unbelievable. The story also didn't flow all that well for me. I kept stopping to ask myself how we even to that point in the book. It just didn't make sense. Maybe I'm explaining this wrong. I know how how the events happened and how they got there, it just didn't flow very well. Then I got to the end and there was no closure. I want to know what happens to these people. I think I at least deserve that much after making it through the entire book.
Pretty much the worst thing you can do is promise me action in a book and then not deliver. I was hoping it would at least be cute. This is definitely not a book I'd recommend to anyone.
I think I'll just jump into this one and start with the good, because there really isn't that much good I can say about Vivian Divine is Dead. It's short. So in the end I didn't feel like I lost out on a lot of reading time. Besides that there really wasn't all that much I liked about it. I was promised "creepy, witty, fast-paced adventure". I got confusion, cheesiness, and a bad soap opera.
I didn't like one character in this book. I can usually find at least one person I kind like in a book, but this was the largest group of unlikable people I've seen in one place in a long time. Everyone is entitled, rude, or completely off their rocker. Vivian plays the pampered Hollywood actress perfectly. Even though she's lost her mother I just never feel any empathy for her. Her relationship with Nick is unbelievable. As far as Nick goes, he was no swoon worthy and kind of flat.
My other issue is that the events in this book were so incredibly unbelievable. The story also didn't flow all that well for me. I kept stopping to ask myself how we even to that point in the book. It just didn't make sense. Maybe I'm explaining this wrong. I know how how the events happened and how they got there, it just didn't flow very well. Then I got to the end and there was no closure. I want to know what happens to these people. I think I at least deserve that much after making it through the entire book.
Pretty much the worst thing you can do is promise me action in a book and then not deliver. I was hoping it would at least be cute. This is definitely not a book I'd recommend to anyone.
April 21, 2014
Vivian Divine is Dead is unlike any book that I’ve read this year. The title alone is one that captured my attention from the second I heard about the book and the cover is one that is hard to take your eyes off of. As for the story? The story is an original gem and one that captivated me the second I started reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, Vivian, and the elements she brought to the story written by Lauren Sabel. For me, I am intrigued by the lives of celebrities and this story takes the high life of a celebrity to an entirely different level. One of danger, mystery, and utter astonishment for the reader. Vivian showed determination even at her weakest and possessed the power that was hard to ignore. Yes, she showed fear, as she should in some moments that she experienced, but overall, her determination is what really shown through.
Nick proved to be a mystery from the moment he enter the story and left me wondering if he was good, bad, or a perfect mix of both. (I’ll leave that for you to discover for yourself…)
The book also possesses this surreal visual imagery that allows for the ready to envision the glitz and glam of Hollywood and the rugged and magical Mexico. As a visual person, I truly enjoyed the writing and imagery by Sabel.
Overall, Vivian Divine is Dead, is a book that’ll leave you turning page after page and struggling to find that just right place to stick a bookmark in. For me, I certainly hope a sequel is soon to follow.
http://www.theturningpages.com/2014/0...
I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, Vivian, and the elements she brought to the story written by Lauren Sabel. For me, I am intrigued by the lives of celebrities and this story takes the high life of a celebrity to an entirely different level. One of danger, mystery, and utter astonishment for the reader. Vivian showed determination even at her weakest and possessed the power that was hard to ignore. Yes, she showed fear, as she should in some moments that she experienced, but overall, her determination is what really shown through.
Nick proved to be a mystery from the moment he enter the story and left me wondering if he was good, bad, or a perfect mix of both. (I’ll leave that for you to discover for yourself…)
The book also possesses this surreal visual imagery that allows for the ready to envision the glitz and glam of Hollywood and the rugged and magical Mexico. As a visual person, I truly enjoyed the writing and imagery by Sabel.
Overall, Vivian Divine is Dead, is a book that’ll leave you turning page after page and struggling to find that just right place to stick a bookmark in. For me, I certainly hope a sequel is soon to follow.
http://www.theturningpages.com/2014/0...
December 16, 2014
Surprisingly good. I really liked it, its broadly predictable but there are a lot of small surprises. Overall a fun read
I will say however that the author pushed clichés pretty far, exagerated the "poor/ruggedly handsome boy resents rich girl for being priviledged--and he calls her PRINCESS just to drive the point home!" so much that not only did I start strongly disliking the love interest instantly, but their developing love felt so rushed and out of nowhere it was funny. Like author chill
They've known each other for like two days
And disliked each other for 1 of them
They don't NEED to be undyingly in love
Chill
**SPOILERS COMING***
And when we found out that he was in cahoots with Marcos (I'm embarrased to say that actually surprised me) she forgave him SO FAST
It wasn't even like "I'm not really with him. He's my godfather and id do anything for him but I'm not in the mafia or anything"
HE HAS THE TATTOO
HE IS NO GOOD
But "He could be"
Bleh give me a break. He got rid of her bag so she had no money or anything and was completely reliant on HIM. He lied to her and abandoned her.
"I didn't know he would hurt you"
HES THE EFFIN MOB
WTH DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN
BYE TAKE YOUR BS ELSEWHERE PLEASE
but then within like two seconds she was saying I love you?!?!? Naive and out of control
He mightve loved her I guess. But forgiveness was way too easy for him to obtain
The mary character. Bleh
Marcos was a bit over the top
I wanted to SMACK her dad, her best friend and Pierre cheaterpants
Other than all that stuff its pretty good
I will say however that the author pushed clichés pretty far, exagerated the "poor/ruggedly handsome boy resents rich girl for being priviledged--and he calls her PRINCESS just to drive the point home!" so much that not only did I start strongly disliking the love interest instantly, but their developing love felt so rushed and out of nowhere it was funny. Like author chill
They've known each other for like two days
And disliked each other for 1 of them
They don't NEED to be undyingly in love
Chill
**SPOILERS COMING***
And when we found out that he was in cahoots with Marcos (I'm embarrased to say that actually surprised me) she forgave him SO FAST
It wasn't even like "I'm not really with him. He's my godfather and id do anything for him but I'm not in the mafia or anything"
HE HAS THE TATTOO
HE IS NO GOOD
But "He could be"
Bleh give me a break. He got rid of her bag so she had no money or anything and was completely reliant on HIM. He lied to her and abandoned her.
"I didn't know he would hurt you"
HES THE EFFIN MOB
WTH DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN
BYE TAKE YOUR BS ELSEWHERE PLEASE
but then within like two seconds she was saying I love you?!?!? Naive and out of control
He mightve loved her I guess. But forgiveness was way too easy for him to obtain
The mary character. Bleh
Marcos was a bit over the top
I wanted to SMACK her dad, her best friend and Pierre cheaterpants
Other than all that stuff its pretty good
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