What do you think?
Rate this book
Ten Below Zero
“In here,” he said, pushing on the skin above my heart, “you're ten below zero. And you’re closer to death than I am.”
My name is Parker. My body is marked with scars from an attack I don’t remember. I don’t want to remember. I choose to live my life by observation, not through experience. While people are laughing and kissing and connecting, I’m in the corner. Watching them live. I’m indifferent to everything, everyone. The only emotion I feel with any kind of depth is annoyance, and I feel it often.
A text message sent to the wrong number proves to be my undoing.
His name is Everett, but I call him rude. He’s pushy, he’s arrogant, he crowds my personal space, and worst of all: he makes me feel.
He chooses to wear all black, all the time, as if he’s waiting to attend a funeral. Probably because he is.
Everett is dying. And he’s spending his final days living, truly living. In doing so, he’s forcing me to feel, to heal. To come face to face with the demons I suppressed in my memory.
He hurts me, he fulfills me, he completes me. And still, he's dying.
My name is Parker. My body is marked with scars from an attack I don’t remember. I don’t want to remember. I choose to live my life by observation, not through experience. While people are laughing and kissing and connecting, I’m in the corner. Watching them live. I’m indifferent to everything, everyone. The only emotion I feel with any kind of depth is annoyance, and I feel it often.
A text message sent to the wrong number proves to be my undoing.
His name is Everett, but I call him rude. He’s pushy, he’s arrogant, he crowds my personal space, and worst of all: he makes me feel.
He chooses to wear all black, all the time, as if he’s waiting to attend a funeral. Probably because he is.
Everett is dying. And he’s spending his final days living, truly living. In doing so, he’s forcing me to feel, to heal. To come face to face with the demons I suppressed in my memory.
He hurts me, he fulfills me, he completes me. And still, he's dying.
208 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2014
491 people are currently reading
6742 people want to read
About the author
Whitney Barbetti
18 books1,342 followers***Please message me via my website - I am almost never on Goodreads! Thank you!***
Join my Facebook fan group (not a street team) for first looks at upcoming books, exclusive cover reveals, and giveaways!
I am the author of new adult and contemporary romance novels. Please visit my website to see all of my current novels.
Join my Facebook fan group (not a street team) for first looks at upcoming books, exclusive cover reveals, and giveaways!
I am the author of new adult and contemporary romance novels. Please visit my website to see all of my current novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,007 reviews
December 31, 2016
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
I've read a lot of fabulous books over the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, 'Ten Below Zero' wasn't one of them. Was I harsher on this book because I had read so many spectacular books around the same time? Maybe. It is possible that I would have given this a 4-star rating if I had read it at some other point in time. However, it paled in comparison to the other books that I've read recently.
The story is about two damaged individuals that form a friendship, and later a romantic relationship. They help each other come to terms with their "issues" and face some hard truths. Most of this bonding occurs over the course of a long road-trip together after they check out of their day-to-day lives.
Although this story was okay, I never felt any type of strong connection to either of the characters. The heroine, Parker, was a withdrawn and socially inept lady that was a total doormat for her nasty roommates. She went through the motions, but never formed any attachments or had any concern for others. After escaping the clutches of a serial killer, she survived each day, but never really lived.
Everett was also tough to relate to. More often than not, I found him to be rude and insulting. He is an alcoholic with a brain tumor. Despite being relatively young and otherwise healthy, he decides to forego an operation that may save his life. Meanwhile, he constantly harasses Parker about the fact that she isn't really "living" her life. Hypocritical much?
Together, these two were just overwhelmingly depressing. I just couldn't get into this story or relate to the characters. I listened to the Audible edition and despite the good narration, I had to force myself to finish this story. It just seemed to drag along, like a dark cloud hanging over my head.
That being said, the writing was good. It just wasn't the story for me at this time. I had a really hard time concentrating on this one. In the end, it picked up a little, but not enough to make me care about the characters or where they were headed. The whole story was just kind of "meh" for me.
I've read a lot of fabulous books over the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, 'Ten Below Zero' wasn't one of them. Was I harsher on this book because I had read so many spectacular books around the same time? Maybe. It is possible that I would have given this a 4-star rating if I had read it at some other point in time. However, it paled in comparison to the other books that I've read recently.
The story is about two damaged individuals that form a friendship, and later a romantic relationship. They help each other come to terms with their "issues" and face some hard truths. Most of this bonding occurs over the course of a long road-trip together after they check out of their day-to-day lives.
Although this story was okay, I never felt any type of strong connection to either of the characters. The heroine, Parker, was a withdrawn and socially inept lady that was a total doormat for her nasty roommates. She went through the motions, but never formed any attachments or had any concern for others. After escaping the clutches of a serial killer, she survived each day, but never really lived.
Everett was also tough to relate to. More often than not, I found him to be rude and insulting. He is an alcoholic with a brain tumor. Despite being relatively young and otherwise healthy, he decides to forego an operation that may save his life. Meanwhile, he constantly harasses Parker about the fact that she isn't really "living" her life. Hypocritical much?
Together, these two were just overwhelmingly depressing. I just couldn't get into this story or relate to the characters. I listened to the Audible edition and despite the good narration, I had to force myself to finish this story. It just seemed to drag along, like a dark cloud hanging over my head.
That being said, the writing was good. It just wasn't the story for me at this time. I had a really hard time concentrating on this one. In the end, it picked up a little, but not enough to make me care about the characters or where they were headed. The whole story was just kind of "meh" for me.
February 1, 2019
Ten shiny stars above the sky!
Three words can barely define this book. AMAZING!AMAZING! AMAZING!
This book is about life, surviving, learning to love, being brave enough to take risks!
Two characters are not only suffering from their scars, but also suffering more from the scars are hidden inside of their minds, their hearts.
When I read this book and share the amazing journey of Parker and Everett, I amazed them, I loved them , I got angry of them, I cried for them, I grieved for their losses, struggles, pains and I enjoyed every part of it!
Because without pain you may not feel the value of love!
Three words can barely define this book. AMAZING!AMAZING! AMAZING!
This book is about life, surviving, learning to love, being brave enough to take risks!
Two characters are not only suffering from their scars, but also suffering more from the scars are hidden inside of their minds, their hearts.
When I read this book and share the amazing journey of Parker and Everett, I amazed them, I loved them , I got angry of them, I cried for them, I grieved for their losses, struggles, pains and I enjoyed every part of it!
Because without pain you may not feel the value of love!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2015
"4.5**squeeze. squeeze . squeeze** STARS"
So, many of you may or may not have realized I rarely read romance novels as well….. I tend to dislike them. No I haven't t been burned by love "thank. you. very .much!" I find them to be a bit boring and slooooowwwwwwwwwly paced for my impatient taste. I'm one of the weirdo's that doesn’t care for the type of angst they provide, which normally consist of twohamsters characters running on a wheel like forest gump… i.e. the heroine doesn't want to talk about her feelings and/or past so the twit runs away a sobbing mess … and Mr. Numbnuts chases after said nitwit....but not to talk about their issues.. God forbid! ... its to fuck the problems out of her,. Against a wall no doubt. Shake your head at me all you like, but we all know that's exactly what happens 90% of the time.. or maybe I'm a magnet for this type of plot. *shrug* Regardless, Whitney Barbetti agrees with me (Whitney,even if you don't can you please play along with me here?)
The author provides her readers with something different. You may have heard of it---> Mature Adult Syndrome. I did not know of said syndrome prior to reading TBZ but something about the blurb caught my attention, so I requested it.
Ten Below Zero starts off by introducing the reader to Parker.She's a 21 year old introvert by choice. The MC doesn't interact with people, she watches them. Parker has no recollection of the attack on her 3 years ago, but she has the physical scars to prove it. Now she did grate my nervous by harping on her damn scars at the start of the book, but my man Tristan calls her out on that shit (and there is a reason) so in the end, it didn't affect my rating.
One night while lounging around in her room, doing absolutely nothing, Parker receives a text message from a stranger asking if she'd meet them at a local bar. This text message is not meant for her but instead of informing said messenger, Parker throws caution to the wind and agrees to meet…. Okay, if I'm being completely honest I thought it was a slightly farfetched that she would agree to meet a stranger when she doesn't talk to anyone BUT there wouldn't be a touching story to be read if she hadn't so..
The mystery text messenger is named Everett and I LOVED his characters . Some readers may find him bland, rude, maybe a little obnoxious….. I'm not one of them.. Everett is NOT a alpha male, he's an honest male. Yup, he has no filter and that is what I loved most about him. I never felt that forced macho side that I often do with a number of female authors . Everett is a 28 year old , middle class, recently unemployed male … who is dying of cancer. Everrett and Parker's first encounter is short lived as Parker runs away… WAIT!! I never said the book was perfect but Parker realized meeting a stranger was a crazy idea.
Anyway, back to the story. Parker learns via text message that she left her credit card at the bar and for reasons beyond her, she agrees to meet Everett again. There second meeting doesn't fare much better but they have a few more encounters anyway ...during one in which Everett ask Parker to go on a road trip with him.. Yeah,do remember that cancer I told you about? Everett wants to spend his last days exploring new places, facing his fears , having as much fun as possible and mostly importantly he wants his " One sweet moment, one moment in his memory to hold on to when his soul leaves this earth. One moment to be remembered for." ***boom*** Mission completed. He owned me w/ this statement.
Everett and Preston journey extends well beyond the open road. If you are looking for perfect characters-->Sorry they are both broken and scarred. If you are hoping to spend 200 pages reading about MC's salivating over each others bodily juices--> NOPE,there are a few sensual scenes( the mirror scene. YUM!). The main focus of the story is about Parker and Everett breaking down personal barriers and living life to fullest.. For however long that might be.
**ARC was kindly provided on exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
So, many of you may or may not have realized I rarely read romance novels as well….. I tend to dislike them. No I haven't t been burned by love "thank. you. very .much!" I find them to be a bit boring and slooooowwwwwwwwwly paced for my impatient taste. I'm one of the weirdo's that doesn’t care for the type of angst they provide, which normally consist of two
The author provides her readers with something different. You may have heard of it---> Mature Adult Syndrome. I did not know of said syndrome prior to reading TBZ but something about the blurb caught my attention, so I requested it.
Ten Below Zero starts off by introducing the reader to Parker.She's a 21 year old introvert by choice. The MC doesn't interact with people, she watches them. Parker has no recollection of the attack on her 3 years ago, but she has the physical scars to prove it. Now she did grate my nervous by harping on her damn scars at the start of the book, but my man Tristan calls her out on that shit (and there is a reason) so in the end, it didn't affect my rating.
One night while lounging around in her room, doing absolutely nothing, Parker receives a text message from a stranger asking if she'd meet them at a local bar. This text message is not meant for her but instead of informing said messenger, Parker throws caution to the wind and agrees to meet…. Okay, if I'm being completely honest I thought it was a slightly farfetched that she would agree to meet a stranger when she doesn't talk to anyone BUT there wouldn't be a touching story to be read if she hadn't so..
The mystery text messenger is named Everett and I LOVED his characters . Some readers may find him bland, rude, maybe a little obnoxious….. I'm not one of them.. Everett is NOT a alpha male, he's an honest male. Yup, he has no filter and that is what I loved most about him. I never felt that forced macho side that I often do with a number of female authors . Everett is a 28 year old , middle class, recently unemployed male … who is dying of cancer. Everrett and Parker's first encounter is short lived as Parker runs away… WAIT!! I never said the book was perfect but Parker realized meeting a stranger was a crazy idea.
Anyway, back to the story. Parker learns via text message that she left her credit card at the bar and for reasons beyond her, she agrees to meet Everett again. There second meeting doesn't fare much better but they have a few more encounters anyway ...during one in which Everett ask Parker to go on a road trip with him.. Yeah,do remember that cancer I told you about? Everett wants to spend his last days exploring new places, facing his fears , having as much fun as possible and mostly importantly he wants his " One sweet moment, one moment in his memory to hold on to when his soul leaves this earth. One moment to be remembered for." ***boom*** Mission completed. He owned me w/ this statement.
Everett and Preston journey extends well beyond the open road. If you are looking for perfect characters-->Sorry they are both broken and scarred. If you are hoping to spend 200 pages reading about MC's salivating over each others bodily juices--> NOPE,there are a few sensual scenes( the mirror scene. YUM!). The main focus of the story is about Parker and Everett breaking down personal barriers and living life to fullest.. For however long that might be.
" I want that moment to live for. "Don't we all?
**ARC was kindly provided on exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
September 29, 2014
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED :::
This is the story of a college girl, Parker, whose body bears the scars of an attack she doesn't remember and who lives her life keeping to herself as much as possible, playing things safe, watching people live but rarely participating in life. Then one night she gets a text message. It's a wrong number, but she answers it anyways and takes a chance by going to meet the guy who sent it...
Everett is not like anyone else she's ever met. He's brutally honest (some people, like Parker, might call it rude) and nearly everything about him annoys her to no end. He's pushy, he challenges her every word, wears all black and yet, for the first time since the attack that scarred her, he makes her feel. Something.
He's also dying. And not only is he dying, but he's okay with it... Or at least, he's embraced the idea and his only wish is to live out the rest of his life on his own terms... truly living each moment to the max.
And something about her draws him in. He can see that she's hiding behind her scars and he becomes bound and determined to teach her to truly live while he still has time. With one condition...
PS -- I promise (cross my heart) that this is not a tragic book!!! M'kay? No tragedy. *pinky swear*
I really liked both Everett and Parker. I know some people might call Everett rude or even an asshole but I actually loved his attitude. He wasn't mean, he was just really blunt about everything. He didn't lie or sugar coat things and there was nothing he wouldn't say. He was completely honest and didn't have time for bullshit. I found it really refreshing to read about someone who didn't hide or hold back their opinions.
In turn, Parker was an oddly perfect match for him even though she was the complete opposite in many ways. She was more closed off because she hadn't yet accepted or figured out the the way she wanted to be. And I loved that Everett wasn't trying to change her. He liked her just the way she was, he just wanted her to live. But this story wasn't just about choosing to live though, it was about choosing how to live. About finding out what you valued most in life, and sometimes that wasn't even literally life itself, but the precious moments and memories that make up who we are and make life worth living.
This was such a great story. For those of you who are scared by the blurb, just trust me that everything will be ok. This is a HEA book. I don't usually come out and say it that bluntly but I'm making an exception in this case because I want to reassure you that while this book will make you care for the characters and their story, it won't devastate you. I promise. You're totally safe to read it! :)
Rating: 4 -- 4.5 stars. Standalone New Adult Romance.
Again.... this book is NOT tragic!!! :-)
_______________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Twitter
“A single text message changed my entire life.”
This is the story of a college girl, Parker, whose body bears the scars of an attack she doesn't remember and who lives her life keeping to herself as much as possible, playing things safe, watching people live but rarely participating in life. Then one night she gets a text message. It's a wrong number, but she answers it anyways and takes a chance by going to meet the guy who sent it...
"Why don't you ask me about my scars?"
"Why don't you ask me about mine?"
Everett is not like anyone else she's ever met. He's brutally honest (some people, like Parker, might call it rude) and nearly everything about him annoys her to no end. He's pushy, he challenges her every word, wears all black and yet, for the first time since the attack that scarred her, he makes her feel. Something.
"You look like you belong at a funeral."
Everett laughed humorlessly. "I probably do."
"What does that mean?"
He's also dying. And not only is he dying, but he's okay with it... Or at least, he's embraced the idea and his only wish is to live out the rest of his life on his own terms... truly living each moment to the max.
"Everyone is going to die, Parker. You're going to die, I'm going to die, we're all going to die. And I want to leave this world with a little dignity. I want to spend the rest of my life, no matter how much is left of it, doing what I want."
And something about her draws him in. He can see that she's hiding behind her scars and he becomes bound and determined to teach her to truly live while he still has time. With one condition...
"Just promise me something… Don't fall in love with me."
PS -- I promise (cross my heart) that this is not a tragic book!!! M'kay? No tragedy. *pinky swear*
I really liked both Everett and Parker. I know some people might call Everett rude or even an asshole but I actually loved his attitude. He wasn't mean, he was just really blunt about everything. He didn't lie or sugar coat things and there was nothing he wouldn't say. He was completely honest and didn't have time for bullshit. I found it really refreshing to read about someone who didn't hide or hold back their opinions.
"You are so…"
"Rude?" he prompted. "Yes. I am. I call it like I see it. And I see a girl who hides behind her hair, who doesn't give two fucks about her looks. You think no one notices you… But guess what, Parker? You are hiding in plain sight. I see you. I see the parts you don't want anyone else to see."
In turn, Parker was an oddly perfect match for him even though she was the complete opposite in many ways. She was more closed off because she hadn't yet accepted or figured out the the way she wanted to be. And I loved that Everett wasn't trying to change her. He liked her just the way she was, he just wanted her to live. But this story wasn't just about choosing to live though, it was about choosing how to live. About finding out what you valued most in life, and sometimes that wasn't even literally life itself, but the precious moments and memories that make up who we are and make life worth living.
This was such a great story. For those of you who are scared by the blurb, just trust me that everything will be ok. This is a HEA book. I don't usually come out and say it that bluntly but I'm making an exception in this case because I want to reassure you that while this book will make you care for the characters and their story, it won't devastate you. I promise. You're totally safe to read it! :)
Rating: 4 -- 4.5 stars. Standalone New Adult Romance.
Again.... this book is NOT tragic!!! :-)
_______________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
dnf
July 5, 2016On hold for now... at 35%
The blurb of this story called to me.... the characters seemed damaged and I thought I would love it so I picked up the audio. At 35% and I haven't connected to either of the characters. Also, the narration is far too masculine for Parker's voice. I may come back to it at some point (I'll read- not listen) but for now I'm moving on to something else :)
The blurb of this story called to me.... the characters seemed damaged and I thought I would love it so I picked up the audio. At 35% and I haven't connected to either of the characters. Also, the narration is far too masculine for Parker's voice. I may come back to it at some point (I'll read- not listen) but for now I'm moving on to something else :)
August 12, 2014
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Title: Ten Below Zero
Series:Standalone
Author:Whitney Barbetti
Release date: August 28, 2014
Rating:5 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA:
To be perfectly honest, I was a little apprehensive going into this book. I knew that (judging by the synopsis) the potential was there for going through an emotional battle and I wasn’t sure if I would win the war. And with no guarantee of a Happily Ever After…I was jittery. Ok, I was scared. But what really pulled me to this story was the fact that it sounded so different from what I usually read. And here's one thing I know. Different is good.
If you would have told me that I was going to rate this book 5 stars when I was in the first part of the book I don't think I would have believed you. It wasn't the writing itself-as in her debut novel, Whitney has a style of writing that I'm drawn to. It's thought provoking and eloquent. No, my difficulty was the characters. The heroine is called Ten Below Zero for a reason.
Words could bite. When I spoke to strangers, I wanted my words to have fangs.
She's not a very likable person. And he's not much better. One is cold hearted and the other is just hardened. Both rude, blunt, and no sorry a bit about it. But what you have to realize about these characters is they're like an abstract painting. Stand too close, and you see one big mess. But when you stand back and get the bigger picture, you see what it was meant to be.
One is unable to truly live.
Parker is stuck. Numb. Frozen. Unable to experience emotion past indifference or annoyance.
My brain swam in Novocain. I walked through life, straying from potentially dangerous situations.
She's an observer of her own life and everyone else's and can't bring herself to care. As shocking as her physical scars are, her emotional ones are overwhelmingly sad. What she went through and survived is something no one should have to experience. So she avoids conflict and danger at all costs to preserve her safe numbness.
One is just waiting to die
Everett is Rude, blunt, and living with a death sentence. He's when he and Parker meet, he sees someone like him. Someone who's honest but hurting. She's lashing out, but she's not fooling him. He can see deep down into her. And more than that, he wants to see her.
As the story progresses, you see them both thawing and changing. They see past each other's scars-the ones you see and the ones you can't. And the more time they spend together, the closer they come to really experiencing happiness. I started rooting for this couple to fight past their circumstances and make everything okay. But would they find their forever together? Or would she be left just with memories?
This book came rushing up on me in the last half like a tidal wave. The characters were flawed yet there was a a beauty in their struggle to grasp life in all it's possibilities and begin to hope. I'm not going to tell you how this ends. If you know beforehand, you won't experience the same impact that you could have had. I will say that the last 10% of the book was absolutely, positively, nerve-wracking, suspenseful, and I couldn't have imagined it ending in a more perfect way. Down to the last sentence! Everything came together in a way that was so beautiful to me. I can't get over how this book touched me-it wasn't just a book that you read and set aside never to give it a second thought again. It's one that you can come back to-one that you want to come back to. As much as I loved He Found Me, there was something preventing me from giving it a full 5 stars. But this book had that missing piece to me. The emotion it drags from you, the feeling you have after turning the last page tells me that it's 5 star worthy.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
Title: Ten Below Zero
Series:Standalone
Author:Whitney Barbetti
Release date: August 28, 2014
Rating:5 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA:
To be perfectly honest, I was a little apprehensive going into this book. I knew that (judging by the synopsis) the potential was there for going through an emotional battle and I wasn’t sure if I would win the war. And with no guarantee of a Happily Ever After…I was jittery. Ok, I was scared. But what really pulled me to this story was the fact that it sounded so different from what I usually read. And here's one thing I know. Different is good.
If you would have told me that I was going to rate this book 5 stars when I was in the first part of the book I don't think I would have believed you. It wasn't the writing itself-as in her debut novel, Whitney has a style of writing that I'm drawn to. It's thought provoking and eloquent. No, my difficulty was the characters. The heroine is called Ten Below Zero for a reason.
Words could bite. When I spoke to strangers, I wanted my words to have fangs.
She's not a very likable person. And he's not much better. One is cold hearted and the other is just hardened. Both rude, blunt, and no sorry a bit about it. But what you have to realize about these characters is they're like an abstract painting. Stand too close, and you see one big mess. But when you stand back and get the bigger picture, you see what it was meant to be.
One is unable to truly live.
Parker is stuck. Numb. Frozen. Unable to experience emotion past indifference or annoyance.
My brain swam in Novocain. I walked through life, straying from potentially dangerous situations.
She's an observer of her own life and everyone else's and can't bring herself to care. As shocking as her physical scars are, her emotional ones are overwhelmingly sad. What she went through and survived is something no one should have to experience. So she avoids conflict and danger at all costs to preserve her safe numbness.
One is just waiting to die
Everett is Rude, blunt, and living with a death sentence. He's when he and Parker meet, he sees someone like him. Someone who's honest but hurting. She's lashing out, but she's not fooling him. He can see deep down into her. And more than that, he wants to see her.
As the story progresses, you see them both thawing and changing. They see past each other's scars-the ones you see and the ones you can't. And the more time they spend together, the closer they come to really experiencing happiness. I started rooting for this couple to fight past their circumstances and make everything okay. But would they find their forever together? Or would she be left just with memories?
This book came rushing up on me in the last half like a tidal wave. The characters were flawed yet there was a a beauty in their struggle to grasp life in all it's possibilities and begin to hope. I'm not going to tell you how this ends. If you know beforehand, you won't experience the same impact that you could have had. I will say that the last 10% of the book was absolutely, positively, nerve-wracking, suspenseful, and I couldn't have imagined it ending in a more perfect way. Down to the last sentence! Everything came together in a way that was so beautiful to me. I can't get over how this book touched me-it wasn't just a book that you read and set aside never to give it a second thought again. It's one that you can come back to-one that you want to come back to. As much as I loved He Found Me, there was something preventing me from giving it a full 5 stars. But this book had that missing piece to me. The emotion it drags from you, the feeling you have after turning the last page tells me that it's 5 star worthy.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
August 13, 2014
3--You Brought Me Back to Life--Stars!!
I really liked the premise of this story. I loved how Everett and Parker met. I loved the idea of two scarred people healing each other. Two broken people who had given up on living wanting to live for each other. Two people deeply affected by their pasts.
For me, Parker's character just wasn't very likable...from the very beginning.
I didn't feel anything for Parker. She lacked emotion and feeling.
I just never connected with her and what she went through. Her actions came off as rude and petulant more than anything. I really wanted to like her but I never warmed up to her, not even in the end.
I also struggled with Everett's character. He was equally as lost as Parker but for different reasons.
I think the story was really lacking by not having Everett's POV. I couldn't sympathize with him and what he was going through because I never knew what he was thinking or feeling.
I just felt disconnected to both characters. I never saw their feelings for each other progress, through their actions. I never felt them falling in love. It felt like they were constantly bickering.
I thought the rude thing was WAY overdone not to mention how many times Parker called Everett an asshole. In fact, a lot of things were a bit too repetitive.
I was expecting to feel, to ache, to hurt....to root for the characters to find love. To feel the pain that they went through. The hurt that brought them to where they are today. And in the end, I just didn't.
ARC kindly provided by Whitney Barbetti in exchange for an honest review
"Some of us have scars that aren't meant to be seen."
I really liked the premise of this story. I loved how Everett and Parker met. I loved the idea of two scarred people healing each other. Two broken people who had given up on living wanting to live for each other. Two people deeply affected by their pasts.
For me, Parker's character just wasn't very likable...from the very beginning.
"You’re cold. Ten below zero cold.”"
I didn't feel anything for Parker. She lacked emotion and feeling.
I just never connected with her and what she went through. Her actions came off as rude and petulant more than anything. I really wanted to like her but I never warmed up to her, not even in the end.
I also struggled with Everett's character. He was equally as lost as Parker but for different reasons.
I think the story was really lacking by not having Everett's POV. I couldn't sympathize with him and what he was going through because I never knew what he was thinking or feeling.
I just felt disconnected to both characters. I never saw their feelings for each other progress, through their actions. I never felt them falling in love. It felt like they were constantly bickering.
I thought the rude thing was WAY overdone not to mention how many times Parker called Everett an asshole. In fact, a lot of things were a bit too repetitive.
I was expecting to feel, to ache, to hurt....to root for the characters to find love. To feel the pain that they went through. The hurt that brought them to where they are today. And in the end, I just didn't.
ARC kindly provided by Whitney Barbetti in exchange for an honest review
November 14, 2019
I don’t have the slightest idea where to start with this book. It’s one of the greats that stole my words and left me with the most beautiful mess of emotions. When I pick up a novel, I read for experience, understanding, and emotion. Occasionally, I read to escape or venture to a different location. Ten Below Zero ticked every possible box for me on my quest for an appealing read. Many thanks to Talon at Under the Cover Book Blog for recommending this book to me, and tirelessly pimping out the works of amazing Indie authors. I feel indebted to her after reading Ten Below Zero, along with many of her other recommendations over the past couple of years. Many have become my favorite reads.
The characters in this story were beautifully broken in the most relatable way. I saw myself in Parker – her attitude toward life and her need to keep every person at arm’s length was like looking in a mirror. Everett’s struggles and self-blame were endearing and heartbreaking. In some ways, he reminded me of my husband’s ability to pull me out of my shell through the years, allowing me to view myself in a more healthy way. Not to mention the road trip we took after our wedding in Las Vegas, our sight-seeing at the Grand Canyon and standing in Four Corners. Experiencing these moments with the characters was a perfect walk down my own memory lane.
“I see you,” he said. I shook my head back and forth, disbelieving. “I see you, Parker. You’re broken. Not all broken things can be fixed. And that’s okay, don’t you know that? It was your brokenness that drew me to you, because I saw in you the same things I saw in me. It was our brokenness that connected us. So I can’t wish away those broken pieces in me, because without them I wouldn’t have seen you.”
The writing within these pages reeled me in from the first page. I couldn’t stop reading and dreaded having to put this book down. It was woven with honesty and wisdom that could only come from understanding through experience. I’m simultaneously grateful and saddened for whatever allowed Whitney Barbetti to pen such a moving story. Not since In This Life by Christine Brae have I had to read through blurry, tear-filled eyes, or had to stop reading to gather myself before continuing on. Books that are able to elicit this reaction from me are instant favorites. It takes a uniquely talented writer to turn simple, fictional black and white words into emotions that I physically feel and experience. Even halfway through this novel, I knew it was going to rank as a favorite, leaving me a Whitney Barbetti fan for life.
“Love, the emotion that should elicit healing, was, in fact, the most painful emotion of them all. It crept in when you didn’t want it. Made itself at home, terrorizing your hormones with confusion. It made you more susceptible to pain, it weakened your resolve while simultaneously making you frantic with need. And it hurt. Not just mentally, but physically.”
When I made it to the end of this novel, I thought I could put it aside and recover a bit from the emotional road trip I was taken on. Then I read the author’s note….
If Whitney’s words to her readers didn’t completely rip me to shreds once again. She clearly writes for the right reasons, and I can’t wait to binge on every book in her collection. And believe me, binge-reading is only reserved for my absolute favorites. Please pick up this book if you haven’t already. I’m not above begging. 😉
---
My face is sticky from all of the tears I’ve cried...
so obviously this book is an instant FAVORITE.
did-not-finish
August 28, 2014DNF @ 20%
Well I'll be damned. Having a nice record of finishing my books, this is my 2nd DNF-ed book in GR history. Sorry guys, I TRIED. I REALLY TRIED. But but..
I can't stand Parker; she's annoyingly rude and overly repetitive. You know what else is annoyingly rude? Saying the word RUDE 13 times to Everett within 4 chapters (yes I did a word search for the heck of it). I mean, there's always "pretentious" or "arse" y'know.
Also by 20% in, I felt no connection whatsoever with both MC's. All I got was them bickering and calling each other RUDE. Seriously, is this a new way of flirting? Am I living in a different era?
And I've read other stories with heroine scarred faces but this was downright OTT for me. Parker was overly self-conscious (or at least her POV sounded that way for me) & I don't mean to sound insensitive but repeating the word "scar" is like shoving the message to my face over and over again. I get the message, I really do!
Andddd I'm done.
Well I'll be damned. Having a nice record of finishing my books, this is my 2nd DNF-ed book in GR history. Sorry guys, I TRIED. I REALLY TRIED. But but..
I can't stand Parker; she's annoyingly rude and overly repetitive. You know what else is annoyingly rude? Saying the word RUDE 13 times to Everett within 4 chapters (yes I did a word search for the heck of it). I mean, there's always "pretentious" or "arse" y'know.
Also by 20% in, I felt no connection whatsoever with both MC's. All I got was them bickering and calling each other RUDE. Seriously, is this a new way of flirting? Am I living in a different era?
And I've read other stories with heroine scarred faces but this was downright OTT for me. Parker was overly self-conscious (or at least her POV sounded that way for me) & I don't mean to sound insensitive but repeating the word "scar" is like shoving the message to my face over and over again. I get the message, I really do!
"Why don't you ask me about my scars?"
"Why don't you ask me about mine?"
"Because that would be rude."
"You like that word, don't you?"
Andddd I'm done.
January 20, 2022
loved this book so well written with amazing but broken characters that you just can't wait to see where it's going to go. Great locations in the book too would be a movie I would want to watch for sure it is a page turner so just warning you you will have troble putting it down.
If you liked this book you will also enjoy Tied (All Torn Up Book 2) by Carian Cole you don't have to read the first book to enjoy the second book.
If you liked this book you will also enjoy Tied (All Torn Up Book 2) by Carian Cole you don't have to read the first book to enjoy the second book.
August 14, 2014
3.5 Stars
Perhaps it’s the fact that I have read similar stories about the numb girl who learns to love and live again with the thrown in road trip but this one did have its positives. Parker is living completely numb to life since a horrific event in her past. She was meant to be unlikable so Everett can breathe life back into her. These facts I completely understand, still I didn’t like her much in the first portion of the book.
”You are wasting your life,” he whispered. “Why did you fight so hard to live so little?”
Parker responds to a text message sent wrongly to her phone and decides to go meet this stranger and see what happens. The stranger, Everett who claims to be an alcoholic and oh yes and he’s dying.
”We both have scars.”
Parker and Everett’s interactions leading to their road trip were just odd for me but once they hit the road of redemption and sightseeing, I liked their connection and what the two find in one another.
”Parker, he sleepily murmured against my neck. “Are you in love with me yet?”
There was a scene where Parker is being a decoy for a friend that for me just seemed out of place and the term ‘rude’ was so over done I keep thinking of Michelle Tanner from Full House instead of flirting with Everett.
Overall, I feel the author produced several great quotes, she went for an epic idea and I do think she got her story across still I had to take a few days to think on my rating.
ARC kindly provided by Whitney Barbetti in exchange of honest review
Perhaps it’s the fact that I have read similar stories about the numb girl who learns to love and live again with the thrown in road trip but this one did have its positives. Parker is living completely numb to life since a horrific event in her past. She was meant to be unlikable so Everett can breathe life back into her. These facts I completely understand, still I didn’t like her much in the first portion of the book.
”You are wasting your life,” he whispered. “Why did you fight so hard to live so little?”
Parker responds to a text message sent wrongly to her phone and decides to go meet this stranger and see what happens. The stranger, Everett who claims to be an alcoholic and oh yes and he’s dying.
”We both have scars.”
Parker and Everett’s interactions leading to their road trip were just odd for me but once they hit the road of redemption and sightseeing, I liked their connection and what the two find in one another.
”Parker, he sleepily murmured against my neck. “Are you in love with me yet?”
There was a scene where Parker is being a decoy for a friend that for me just seemed out of place and the term ‘rude’ was so over done I keep thinking of Michelle Tanner from Full House instead of flirting with Everett.
Overall, I feel the author produced several great quotes, she went for an epic idea and I do think she got her story across still I had to take a few days to think on my rating.
ARC kindly provided by Whitney Barbetti in exchange of honest review
February 22, 2017
3.5 broken stars!
My Parker
My Everett
Ok so I had to think about this book for a while because seriously, I had no idea what I thought about the story or how to rate. It had his ups and it had its downs, and I wasn't sure in which direction the pull was.
So the book start with a text message to the wrong number. Who would have thought that this small mistake would change the life of this two broken people?
"I didn't want to draw people to me with my broken pieces. I wanted to be left alone among all those pieces, sitting in the middle of them so if people dared to come close, they'd cut themselves on all the pieces to get to me."
Parker life was in one word - numb. After a brutal attack from her past she checked out and let life pass her by, living in the shadows of her apartment and her job. She didn't LIVE. She went trough the motions and let life go on without her.
"Fuck off."
"Too late now. I'm stuck on you. Which means you'r stuck with me."
"You'r trapping me," I said. I let annoyance seep into my voice.
"Yep."
"Move."
"Make me."
Everett life is no better. With his cancer recurrence he decided that he won't fight it, he would live every day like it was his last one, without knowing when it would end.
”You are wasting your life,” he whispered. “Why did you fight so hard to live so little?”
When they meet each other the attraction is fierce and suddenly Everett is everywhere, and Parker doesn't know how to deal with that. When both went to a road trio together both will learn a few things about life, themselves and LOVE.
“In here,” he said, pushing on the skin above my heart, “you're ten below zero. And you’re closer to death than I am.”
"You bring out something in me."
This book was good. The ending was blow minding and I was glad NOT KNOWING beforehand. What can I say, I'm a spoilers kind of girl lol
"When you look at this photo, remember looking at purgatory with me. While everyone else was looking at the arch, we were looking at that."
I have a few things I didn't like thought.
# The hero annoyed me pretty much most of the book. And by annoying I mean 'every fucking thing that came out of his mouth' annoying. He was TOO arrogant. TOO smug. TOO cocky. Just .. TOO. He did grow on me but it wasn't enough and his personality made me care less about them I gauss.
# When she was working at the restaurant she saw him entering with a woman.
Overall I will recommend because the road trip and the experiences were awesome!! And the final line - god! I was glad to learn what something he was doing during the novel meant ;)
"Are you in love with me yet?”
"I'm watching you," he held my face, running his fingers over my cheekbones and my lips. "I'm watching you, always."
“ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review”
My Parker
My Everett
Ok so I had to think about this book for a while because seriously, I had no idea what I thought about the story or how to rate. It had his ups and it had its downs, and I wasn't sure in which direction the pull was.
So the book start with a text message to the wrong number. Who would have thought that this small mistake would change the life of this two broken people?
"I didn't want to draw people to me with my broken pieces. I wanted to be left alone among all those pieces, sitting in the middle of them so if people dared to come close, they'd cut themselves on all the pieces to get to me."
Parker life was in one word - numb. After a brutal attack from her past she checked out and let life pass her by, living in the shadows of her apartment and her job. She didn't LIVE. She went trough the motions and let life go on without her.
"Fuck off."
"Too late now. I'm stuck on you. Which means you'r stuck with me."
"You'r trapping me," I said. I let annoyance seep into my voice.
"Yep."
"Move."
"Make me."
Everett life is no better. With his cancer recurrence he decided that he won't fight it, he would live every day like it was his last one, without knowing when it would end.
”You are wasting your life,” he whispered. “Why did you fight so hard to live so little?”
When they meet each other the attraction is fierce and suddenly Everett is everywhere, and Parker doesn't know how to deal with that. When both went to a road trio together both will learn a few things about life, themselves and LOVE.
“In here,” he said, pushing on the skin above my heart, “you're ten below zero. And you’re closer to death than I am.”
"You bring out something in me."
This book was good. The ending was blow minding and I was glad NOT KNOWING beforehand. What can I say, I'm a spoilers kind of girl lol
"When you look at this photo, remember looking at purgatory with me. While everyone else was looking at the arch, we were looking at that."
I have a few things I didn't like thought.
# The hero annoyed me pretty much most of the book. And by annoying I mean 'every fucking thing that came out of his mouth' annoying. He was TOO arrogant. TOO smug. TOO cocky. Just .. TOO. He did grow on me but it wasn't enough and his personality made me care less about them I gauss.
# When she was working at the restaurant she saw him entering with a woman.
Overall I will recommend because the road trip and the experiences were awesome!! And the final line - god! I was glad to learn what something he was doing during the novel meant ;)
"Are you in love with me yet?”
"I'm watching you," he held my face, running his fingers over my cheekbones and my lips. "I'm watching you, always."
“ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review”
March 30, 2016
4 out of 3,5
A girl who is physically alive but emotionally dead after having survived the brutal attack of a serial killer.
She has no memory of the attack, only the scars on her face and body that his knife left.
She has no emotions but indifference.
She is cold, she is distant, she is “ten below zero”.
A man, who has fought with a recurring type of cancer all his life long.
Now, it is back.
Another brain tumor threatening his life.
And he chooses “not to fight”.
He is tired.
He is sad.
He is refusing the treatment.
He is surrendering to death.
So what happens when “a girl who lives as if she is dead” meets “a man who is so close to death”?
TEN BELOW ZERO is the story of what happens when they meet...
It is depressing.
It is sad and dark and gloomy.
It is raw.
It is the meeting of two dark souls healing one another.
I have read sad books before. They all had some kind of happy, some kind of beautiful moments in between the painful and heart-wrenching moments.
This one doesn’t.
This book is depressing all along the way. You feel their darkness in your bones.
By 80% of the book, I was nearly in a suicidal mood but that ending and the beautiful epilogue saved my soul.
If you read some of these quotations, you can catch the mood:
“You resist touch, as if the warmth of another human touching your skin will thaw you out too much. You harden yourself to experiences. You don’t say nice things. You inflict pain with your words. You do these things to push people away. You’re cold. Ten below zero cold.”
“You don’t want to feel, you don’t want to connect, you don’t want to exist outside of that big head of yours. I should have told you that you were six feet under instead.”
***
“You have no right to tell me how I should be living. You’re choosing to die.”
***
“I see you, Parker. You’re broken. Not all broken things can be fixed. And that’s okay, don’t you know that? It was your brokenness that drew me to you, because I saw in you the same things I saw in me. It was our brokenness that connected us. So I can’t wish away those broken pieces in me, because without them I wouldn’t have seen you.”
I couldn’t stop shaking my head. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to draw people to me with my broken pieces. I wanted to be left alone among all those pieces, sitting in the middle of them so if people dared to come close, they’d cut themselves on all the pieces to get to me.
***
“ You confuse me. I don’t particularly like you, but I’m drawn to you. A moth to a flame.”
***
“He was showing me how to live. But the healing, the living hurt. They hurt with the knowledge that Everett was still dying.”
***
“My mind wanted to record this moment. To save it for another time. This is what I would remember: his hands on my wrists, keeping them from exploring. The way his lips pulled on mine, as if he wanted to pull away but couldn’t. It reminded me of the pull of gravity. They way gravity held us to the earth to keep us from flying away. I so desperately wanted to be his gravity, to hold him on this earth and keep him from leaving me.”
A girl who is physically alive but emotionally dead after having survived the brutal attack of a serial killer.
She has no memory of the attack, only the scars on her face and body that his knife left.
She has no emotions but indifference.
She is cold, she is distant, she is “ten below zero”.
A man, who has fought with a recurring type of cancer all his life long.
Now, it is back.
Another brain tumor threatening his life.
And he chooses “not to fight”.
He is tired.
He is sad.
He is refusing the treatment.
He is surrendering to death.
So what happens when “a girl who lives as if she is dead” meets “a man who is so close to death”?
TEN BELOW ZERO is the story of what happens when they meet...
It is depressing.
It is sad and dark and gloomy.
It is raw.
It is the meeting of two dark souls healing one another.
I have read sad books before. They all had some kind of happy, some kind of beautiful moments in between the painful and heart-wrenching moments.
This one doesn’t.
This book is depressing all along the way. You feel their darkness in your bones.
By 80% of the book, I was nearly in a suicidal mood but that ending and the beautiful epilogue saved my soul.
If you read some of these quotations, you can catch the mood:
“You resist touch, as if the warmth of another human touching your skin will thaw you out too much. You harden yourself to experiences. You don’t say nice things. You inflict pain with your words. You do these things to push people away. You’re cold. Ten below zero cold.”
“You don’t want to feel, you don’t want to connect, you don’t want to exist outside of that big head of yours. I should have told you that you were six feet under instead.”
***
“You have no right to tell me how I should be living. You’re choosing to die.”
***
“I see you, Parker. You’re broken. Not all broken things can be fixed. And that’s okay, don’t you know that? It was your brokenness that drew me to you, because I saw in you the same things I saw in me. It was our brokenness that connected us. So I can’t wish away those broken pieces in me, because without them I wouldn’t have seen you.”
I couldn’t stop shaking my head. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to draw people to me with my broken pieces. I wanted to be left alone among all those pieces, sitting in the middle of them so if people dared to come close, they’d cut themselves on all the pieces to get to me.
***
“ You confuse me. I don’t particularly like you, but I’m drawn to you. A moth to a flame.”
***
“He was showing me how to live. But the healing, the living hurt. They hurt with the knowledge that Everett was still dying.”
***
“My mind wanted to record this moment. To save it for another time. This is what I would remember: his hands on my wrists, keeping them from exploring. The way his lips pulled on mine, as if he wanted to pull away but couldn’t. It reminded me of the pull of gravity. They way gravity held us to the earth to keep us from flying away. I so desperately wanted to be his gravity, to hold him on this earth and keep him from leaving me.”
February 22, 2017
I have very conflicting feelings about this book. I really struggled to get through the first half. There were two reasons for this. One, I knew Parker was going to be closed off, but I wasn't expecting Everett to be equally aloof. It just made for a lot of negativity and dislike at once. And two, while I related to Parker, her thoughts were extremely repetitious in the beginning. She repeated the words "rude" and "annoyance" (or some derivative of this) a lot, and there were times when I would have preferred to be shown her annoyance, rather than her flat out saying that she was annoyed, yet again. To be honest, I considered not finishing, or putting it on a break. I am really glad I didn't. I flew through the last part of this book, and I enjoyed it immensely.
I loved watching them fall in love, watching them lower their guards and trust each other. And I was really happy with how Everett accepted Parker just as she was, and eventually accepted himself.
Ultimately I ended up loving because of the message Everett got through to Parker.
I would recommend this (with reservations), and keep in mind that it really does pick up after the 50% mark. I know most probably won't want to wait that long, but the ending more than made up for the beginning, in my opinion. And I can't wait to read more from this author!
Safety:
Closure:
I loved watching them fall in love, watching them lower their guards and trust each other. And I was really happy with how Everett accepted Parker just as she was, and eventually accepted himself.
"It was your brokenness that drew me to you, because I saw in you the same things I saw in me. It was our brokenness that connected us. So I can't wish away those broken pieces in me, because without them I wouldn't have seen you."He also had sweet moments once he stopped being so hard on Parker, and he wasn't embarrassed about it either <3
"Don't frown. I'd rather see you smile."
"You said I'd look weird with one," I reminded him.
"Doesn't mean I still don't want to see it. Or be the reason for it." He dropped a kiss on my lips.
Ultimately I ended up loving because of the message Everett got through to Parker.
"In here," he said, pushing on the skin above my heart, "you're ten below zero. And you're closer to death than I am."
"You are wasting your life," he whispered. "Why did you fight so hard to live so little?"
"There's pleasure in a little pain then." I opened my eyes and straightened my head.I'm nowhere near like Parker in terms of what she went through, but I have been known to shut people out and with my anxiety, I can get scared to go out and do things. I was hesitant in the beginning, but I loved the concept of the someone who was dying trying to teach someone how to live, and Everett achieved it. Which ultimately saved him, because Parker was able to turn it around on him, to give him the courage to fight his cancer.
"I guess so."
"There is, Parker." He wrapped his arms around my front and rubbed the body wash over me again. "You just have to be brave enough to endure it."
I would recommend this (with reservations), and keep in mind that it really does pick up after the 50% mark. I know most probably won't want to wait that long, but the ending more than made up for the beginning, in my opinion. And I can't wait to read more from this author!
Safety:
Closure:
January 24, 2018
Ten Below Zero is an emotional and poignant novel. I loved how this book started. Parker receives a text message that wasn’t meant for her. The text was for a date with a man named Everett. Parker normally won’t do something spontaneous, but she decides to meet up with Everett. The ‘date’ ends with Parker running away from Everett. Everett doesn’t want to let Parker go without a fight and Parker is intrigued with Everett to keep seeing him.
I almost stopped reading this book a few times. There was too much running away and rude comments between Parker and Everett. But then there was a shocking revelation about one of the characters and then I slowly started to like the story. I really liked what happened next and what Parker and Everett did. I needed to know how Ten Below Zero was going to end.
There was always some connection and some understanding between Parker and Everett. They are not really living or enjoying life. Something horrible happened to Parker and this still affects her life. Parker is lonely, smart, honest, feisty and closed off. She doesn’t realize how strong she is nor that she’s a fighter. Everett is going through a difficult time. I’m glad that Parker and Everett found each other and that they will be happy again at the end.
I almost stopped reading this book a few times. There was too much running away and rude comments between Parker and Everett. But then there was a shocking revelation about one of the characters and then I slowly started to like the story. I really liked what happened next and what Parker and Everett did. I needed to know how Ten Below Zero was going to end.
There was always some connection and some understanding between Parker and Everett. They are not really living or enjoying life. Something horrible happened to Parker and this still affects her life. Parker is lonely, smart, honest, feisty and closed off. She doesn’t realize how strong she is nor that she’s a fighter. Everett is going through a difficult time. I’m glad that Parker and Everett found each other and that they will be happy again at the end.
June 7, 2017
Warning: Ten Below Zero is about a guy who is dying and is also trying to get a girl to feel something because she doesn't feel for things. Parker and Everett will be blunt, honest, annoying and rude. If you are already turned off by that then I suggest you find another book to read because this was just heartbreakingly beautiful and it doesn't deserve anything less than your heart (and soul) on a platter willing to get torn to shreds.
I knew right away that Parker was going to be a hard person to connect to because people need pure, raw emotions for other's to actually feel something toward them. It's human nature. So I turned off my brain and felt how Parker felt. We clicked instantly. Her indifference to everything around her, wanting to be alone to have space, the way she gets annoyed by everything Everett does, is understandable. You can't ask for more from a girl that basically doesn't give a sh*t. Take it or leave it. Parker is Parker. And I LOVED Parker!!! <3
Everett broke my heart right from the start. The guy is dying so that's kind of a no brainer. I'm use to the romance and the happily-ever-afters so getting into this was completely different for me. (In a good way, just so we're clear) He's trying to find the right moment to hold on to before he leaves this world and let me tell you, every moment was pure gold. I WILL NOT comment on the ending of this book. You will need to read Ten Below Zero and figure it out yourself because it's worth it. Trust me.
That being said, I am in complete awe on how the author wrote this and got me to feel everything I felt. I laughed, I cried, I cried even harder and then I wished for a miracle because my heart is still f*cking breaking and it's all Parker and Everett's fault. They were so...blunt and rude...and likable that I looked forward to every moment they shared.
Highly recommended! **P.S. Characters from, He Found Me, are mentioned in this book so I also suggest reading that before TBZ for a better understanding of a certain scene in this book. It's not required but since I loved it, it's recommended too.**
*****Updated with GIF's because I still can't get this book out of my head a week after reading it*****
And since Parker and Everett are real to me, I picture them saying/thinking this while I'm ugly crying and can't stop because of how AMAZING this book was!!!:
I knew right away that Parker was going to be a hard person to connect to because people need pure, raw emotions for other's to actually feel something toward them. It's human nature. So I turned off my brain and felt how Parker felt. We clicked instantly. Her indifference to everything around her, wanting to be alone to have space, the way she gets annoyed by everything Everett does, is understandable. You can't ask for more from a girl that basically doesn't give a sh*t. Take it or leave it. Parker is Parker. And I LOVED Parker!!! <3
Everett broke my heart right from the start. The guy is dying so that's kind of a no brainer. I'm use to the romance and the happily-ever-afters so getting into this was completely different for me. (In a good way, just so we're clear) He's trying to find the right moment to hold on to before he leaves this world and let me tell you, every moment was pure gold. I WILL NOT comment on the ending of this book. You will need to read Ten Below Zero and figure it out yourself because it's worth it. Trust me.
That being said, I am in complete awe on how the author wrote this and got me to feel everything I felt. I laughed, I cried, I cried even harder and then I wished for a miracle because my heart is still f*cking breaking and it's all Parker and Everett's fault. They were so...blunt and rude...and likable that I looked forward to every moment they shared.
Highly recommended! **P.S. Characters from, He Found Me, are mentioned in this book so I also suggest reading that before TBZ for a better understanding of a certain scene in this book. It's not required but since I loved it, it's recommended too.**
*****Updated with GIF's because I still can't get this book out of my head a week after reading it*****
And since Parker and Everett are real to me, I picture them saying/thinking this while I'm ugly crying and can't stop because of how AMAZING this book was!!!:
January 19, 2015
Thank you all for the TBZ love!! If you'd like to join my Facebook group to be the first to know about new books, read excerpts, enter giveaways, and discuss TEN BELOW ZERO and HE FOUND ME, join over here
BUY TEN BELOW ZERO
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
To clear up any questions - TEN BELOW ZERO is a STANDALONE. Reading HE FOUND ME is not required, though there is a scene in TEN BELOW ZERO that is related to HE FOUND ME. :)
BUY TEN BELOW ZERO
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
To clear up any questions - TEN BELOW ZERO is a STANDALONE. Reading HE FOUND ME is not required, though there is a scene in TEN BELOW ZERO that is related to HE FOUND ME. :)
November 23, 2017
"You're ice cold. You don't let yourself feel. You don't care about anyone, not even yourself. In here," he said, pushing on the skin above my heart, "you're ten below zero. And you're closer to death than I am."
Ten Below Zero parla principalmente di due persone che tornano a vivere, grazie alla presenza dell'altro. Parker non vive più da quando è stata brutalmente attaccata da un serial killer due anni prima, e Everett vuole smettere di stare male per colpa della malattia che lo affligge da quando era un ragazzino. Così, insieme, decidono di intraprendere un road trip attraverso l'america e visitare luoghi particolari.
Parker è stata una pugnalata al cuore, lo dico perchè puo sembrare un personaggio freddo e insensibile come se ne sono visti tanti, ma in alcune scene era la mia copia sputata, pensavo di essere io la protagonista di questo romanzo, e dovevo prendere tante pause durante la lettura, per questo ci ho messo quasi una settimana per leggere 200 pagine. Parker sono io, siamo tutti un po' Parker, e mi ci sono affezionata, le ho voluto bene come ad una gemella.
Everett è il classico ragazzo che io non posso fare a meno di amare. Grazie a lui Parker diventa una persona nuova, una persona che prima non era. La aiuta a "sentire" di nuovo, a provare qualcosa, qualsiasi cosa, pur di non sentire nulla per il resto della sua vita.
Verso la fine ammetto che ho avuto tanta paura, pensavo: "ecco, ora finisce come Io Prima Di Te e piango per due giorni filati", e invece Whitney Barbetti mi ha sorpresa, dandomi un po' di malinconia ma con un finale per me perfetto.
"Some of us have scars that aren't meant to be seen."
August 13, 2014
☆ I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆
So, I was right. At the end of this read I was thinking, "What the f#*k did I just read?".
Ten Below Zero is one of those reads that I'll admit was a bit difficult to stay in tune with at first, but once it picked up the ante and hooked you, you're in it for the long haul.
I should have literally psyched myself up before walking into the upending storm. It totally kicked my a$#, that's for sure.
I mean, how do you rate a story with characters so different, unique, and drastically flawed as the ones portrayed by Whitney Barbetti?
I'm sorry. This doesn't sound like a typical review that I normally write where I like to divulge the plot and make comments about everything.
To me, Ten Below Zero is one of those reads where you simply just pick up and the book will do the talking.
It was just different. And yes, I've used that word twice in my review. I can't really think of a different (hah, correction, 3x!) word to describe it really. It honestly left me lost for words.
Good luck readers!! You're about to be pulled Ten Below Zero.
So, I was right. At the end of this read I was thinking, "What the f#*k did I just read?".
Ten Below Zero is one of those reads that I'll admit was a bit difficult to stay in tune with at first, but once it picked up the ante and hooked you, you're in it for the long haul.
I should have literally psyched myself up before walking into the upending storm. It totally kicked my a$#, that's for sure.
I mean, how do you rate a story with characters so different, unique, and drastically flawed as the ones portrayed by Whitney Barbetti?
I'm sorry. This doesn't sound like a typical review that I normally write where I like to divulge the plot and make comments about everything.
To me, Ten Below Zero is one of those reads where you simply just pick up and the book will do the talking.
It was just different. And yes, I've used that word twice in my review. I can't really think of a different (hah, correction, 3x!) word to describe it really. It honestly left me lost for words.
Good luck readers!! You're about to be pulled Ten Below Zero.
August 11, 2014
**ARC, kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.**
...
When I read a book this wonderful, I always wish I had more of a way with words, so I could do the book justice. All I can say is, this is a book that is an honest, deep look into how lives change in an instant.
I absolutely love the way Whitney writes. She's such a talented author, her style of writing is very easy to understand and keeps you captivated. She manages to repeatedly smash your heart into pieces over and over again, but that's just the way I love my books to be.
A Highly recommended read.
...When I read a book this wonderful, I always wish I had more of a way with words, so I could do the book justice. All I can say is, this is a book that is an honest, deep look into how lives change in an instant.
I absolutely love the way Whitney writes. She's such a talented author, her style of writing is very easy to understand and keeps you captivated. She manages to repeatedly smash your heart into pieces over and over again, but that's just the way I love my books to be.
A Highly recommended read.
August 11, 2016
Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeze.
[Recensione scritta per il blog Greta Booklovers]
«Qui» disse, premendomi una mano sul cuore «sei dieci gradi sotto zero. E sei più vicina alla morte di quanto lo sia io.»
Non potevo non iniziare con questa frase. Perché ci sono momenti in cui non puoi restare indifferente di fronte a un richiamo. E questo libro mi ha chiamata. A gran voce. Ripetutamente. Io ho un legame quasi empatico con i libri — sanno loro quando chiamarmi e se chiamarmi, quasi mi conoscessero. Quasi conoscessero il mio spirito e sapessero se possono entrarmi dentro. E allora basta uno sguardo, un piccolo, impercettibile brivido che mi fa capire che quella determinata storia sta aspettando me.
Io e Ten Below Zero ci siamo riconosciuti, ci siamo attesi, ci siamo presi.
Sono stati tre i pugnali con cui questo romanzo mi ha centrata al primo impatto:
- La protagonista: Sono indifferente a tutto, a tutti.
- Il protagonista: Mi riempie, mi ferisce, mi completa. Eppure, sta morendo.
- La cover, la stessa che ho condiviso non appena c'è stato il cover reveal e di cui mi sono innamorata all'istante. Ma non l'avevo osservata bene. Non l'ho capita veramente finché non è arrivata quella scena. (Onore e gloria alla mitica Najla del Najla QamberDesign!)
Ora tenterò di parlarvi di questo incredibile romanzo, sperando di esserne all'altezza. Non sarà molto facile, perché il tipo di emozioni che ho provato durante la lettura derivano dal fatto che io e la protagonista… be', siamo uguali.
Lei è Parker, una ragazza apparentemente incapace di provare emozioni umane, tranne una continua irritazione verso tutto e tutti. Ha smesso di sentire dopo essere stata aggredita ed essere stata sfregiata brutalmente, chiudendo le porte della propria memoria per non ricordare quell'orrenda notte. Ora, Parker vive nell'ombra, non si fa notare, osserva ciò che le accade intorno e apprende. Non vive. Gli altri vivono, non lei. Lei è immobile.
Finché il destino non vuole che un sms diretto a qualcun altro arrivi invece sul suo cellulare…
Sconosciuto: Sono l'amico di Jacob, Everett.
Ha detto che dovremmo incontrarci.
Everett. Non ho davvero parole per descrivere questo ragazzo. Quello che so per certo è che lo odio. Forse lo odio anche più di Parker. Lui è una di quelle persone che non si fanno mettere i piedi in testa, né da qualcuno né dalla vita stessa. È una di quelle persone che dice quello che pensa e non ha paura. Se vuole qualcosa la ottiene. Fine dei giochi.
«È da maleducati fissare, sai.»
«Non ho mai preteso di non esserlo.»
C'è qualcosa che accade tra Parker e Everett, nel bar in cui si danno appuntamento. Qualcosa che non puoi identificare, a cui non puoi dare un nome. Ma lo senti. Senti che prende fuoco. Che vive. Fin dalla prima pagina — ma chi voglio prendere in giro, prima ancora di iniziare a leggere — io e Parker abbiamo stabilito un legame. E da quell'istante, la lettura di questo romanzo non è stata come le altre. Ho sentito tutto.
Parker,
Mi dispiace per ieri. Alcuni di noi hanno cicatrici che non sono fatte
per essere viste.
Cena stasera. A casa mia. Alle sei.
Everett.
Ho avvertito la barriera che lei ha eretto intorno a sé creparsi come ghiaccio ogni volta che Everett invadeva il suo spazio. Pressandola. Obbligandola a sentire. A rispondere. A percepirlo insinuarsi dentro di lei come lei stava serpeggiando in lui. Odio Everett. Lo odio con tutta me stessa.
Perché sta morendo.
Ogni qualvolta dovevo girare pagina, il terrore mi abbrancava. Ogni capitolo che iniziavo poteva essere l'ultimo in cui lo avrei visto ridere. In cui avrei potuto chiamarlo stronzo insieme a Parker e sopprimere un sorrisino alla sua immancabile risposta. Everett sta morendo e ha scelto di passare i suoi ultimi giorni vivendo davvero, forzando Parker a vivere con lui. A vederlo.
Perché lui vede lei.
«Ti sottrai al contatto, come se il calore di un altro essere umano potesse farti sciogliere troppo. Ti indurisci alle esperienze. Non dici cose carine. Ferisci con le parole. Fai tutto questo per respingere le persone. Sei fredda. Dieci gradi sotto zero.»
Ten Below Zero è un CAPOLAVORO del suo genere, quella perfezione che stavo cercando per continuare a credere nei New Adult. Una valanga di emozioni, ecco come descrivere questo libro — quelle emozioni che ti serrano il cuore in una morsa dolorosa. È impossibile restare indifferenti, poiché ogni più piccolo gesto contenuto in queste pagine è come un dardo scoccato con ferocia affinché tu senta.
E io ho sentito.
Ho sentito il suo braccio che, istintivamente, avvolgeva Parker nel sonno. Ho sentito il cuore che mancava un battito quando Parker ha aperto il diario di Everett e ha visto il disegno. Ho sentito quello che provava Everett, sguardo dopo sguardo. All'inizio non l'ho capito, come lei, del resto. Non capivo perché le stringesse la mano tre volte. Poi…
Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeze.
✤ Leggi la recensione sul blog ✤
★ COMPRA ORA CON 1-CLICK ★
|| Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest ||
August 21, 2014
Review to come
September 25, 2020
This was a gem, I absolutely loved it!
September 28, 2015
Another example of why I shouldn't just dismiss books because I *think* I won't like them.
I tend to bodyswerve books when words like 'heartbreaking' and 'damaged' are bandied about in the blurb and in reviews because I love to escape during my precious reading time and I tend to prefer existing in a happy bubble over self inflicted misery any day. So to recap, sweet sadness is a yes, snotty, snorty sobs, not so much. This one had the damaged heroine and a guy with mysterious secrets who helps her to learn how to live and love.
I cannot lie, at 24%, blind fear won out and I *whispers* scrolled to the last page before reading on. How bad is that?
It made me feel a bit uncomfortable -and sad - at times, but it did deliver on the happy tingles too. The banter was lively and the pace of their attraction built and escalated to some intense and hot, tension driven smut. But the real strength of this was in the romance - this felt like a proper love story where both characters grow to love the other. Just what I was hoping for.
The end seemed to resolve everything a little too fast to me, but I enjoyed it plenty anyway. This is a complete story, recommended even for those of us who like a happy book.
I tend to bodyswerve books when words like 'heartbreaking' and 'damaged' are bandied about in the blurb and in reviews because I love to escape during my precious reading time and I tend to prefer existing in a happy bubble over self inflicted misery any day. So to recap, sweet sadness is a yes, snotty, snorty sobs, not so much. This one had the damaged heroine and a guy with mysterious secrets who helps her to learn how to live and love.
I cannot lie, at 24%, blind fear won out and I *whispers* scrolled to the last page before reading on. How bad is that?
It made me feel a bit uncomfortable -and sad - at times, but it did deliver on the happy tingles too. The banter was lively and the pace of their attraction built and escalated to some intense and hot, tension driven smut. But the real strength of this was in the romance - this felt like a proper love story where both characters grow to love the other. Just what I was hoping for.
The end seemed to resolve everything a little too fast to me, but I enjoyed it plenty anyway. This is a complete story, recommended even for those of us who like a happy book.
May 20, 2017
" ¿ Ya estas enamorada de mi ?
Sonrei. - Desafortunadamente. ¿ Estas enamorado de mi ?
En respuesta, sus manos apretaron las mias. Tres veces. Con cada apreton vocalizo dos palabras.
- TE AMO.
Ten Below Zero de Whitney Barbetti es mi primera lectura de la autora y narra la historia de Everett y Parker.
No se ni como empezar esta reseña, ante todo debo decir que esta no es la tipica historia super romantica y llena de escenas empalagosas, es esa clase de historia que se te mete bajo la piel sin que te des cuenta hasta que deja una marca, asi de impresionante es.
No hay palabras suficientes para describir este libro : es hermoso por momentos, triste, duro, injusto, cruel en algunas escenas, tierno, emocionante ... podria seguir asi por siempre y nunca alcanzaria a describir ni una cuarta parte de todo lo que me hizo sentir esta lectura.
Inicie la lectura un poco exceptica, a pesar de que muchas reseñas decian lo increible que era, yo no me lo crei, pense que seria una historia mas. Si me hubieran dicho que este libro que empece sin ninguna clase de expectativas me llegaria a emocionar, me hubiera reido en su cara.
Puede que la premisa por la que empieza la historia no sea nada nuevo, dos protagonistas rotos y con un pasado dificil, pero es mucho mas, tienen que leerlo para llegar a comprender lo profundo que llega este libro cuando lo lees.
Ademas te deja una leccion de vida que muy pocos consiguen dejar, desgarradoramente hermoso!
4.75 Estrellas!!!
August 27, 2014
Loved it.
Where do I start without giving too much away…
I loved the characters and thought that the story was so original. I dropped everything to sit down and read.
One night, Parker gets a text message from a number she does not recognize. This “number” asks her to meet him for a drink. Parker has closed herself from the world, but for some reason she accepts this “date” from this stranger. Parker knows that this Everett had mistakenly sent her this message, but she does not care. She wants to take a chance and meet this stranger. From Everett’s and Parker first meeting both characters show their true behaviors and attitudes. Parker is cold and Everett is arrogant. I loved the interaction. I never knew where the story was going to go.
Everett is dying. Period. He has a brain tumor that after so many years, he is tired of fighting. Parker is a girl who has suffered a traumatic experience that she does not remember, but has the physical and emotional scars to remind her that her life as she knew it will never be the same.
Even though Everett and Parker are very different, they are similar.
Both are living day by day. How everything unfolds was beautiful to see and experience. I do not want to say too much for the fear of giving away any spoilers. This story brought many tears. There was so much depth in the story. I knew the tone from the beginning, but had no idea how it was going to end.
Highly recommend.
Where do I start without giving too much away…
I loved the characters and thought that the story was so original. I dropped everything to sit down and read.
One night, Parker gets a text message from a number she does not recognize. This “number” asks her to meet him for a drink. Parker has closed herself from the world, but for some reason she accepts this “date” from this stranger. Parker knows that this Everett had mistakenly sent her this message, but she does not care. She wants to take a chance and meet this stranger. From Everett’s and Parker first meeting both characters show their true behaviors and attitudes. Parker is cold and Everett is arrogant. I loved the interaction. I never knew where the story was going to go.
Everett is dying. Period. He has a brain tumor that after so many years, he is tired of fighting. Parker is a girl who has suffered a traumatic experience that she does not remember, but has the physical and emotional scars to remind her that her life as she knew it will never be the same.
Even though Everett and Parker are very different, they are similar.
Both are living day by day. How everything unfolds was beautiful to see and experience. I do not want to say too much for the fear of giving away any spoilers. This story brought many tears. There was so much depth in the story. I knew the tone from the beginning, but had no idea how it was going to end.
Highly recommend.
December 30, 2020
5 Ten Below Zero Stars
Seriously this book, if you have it on your TBR list…move it up because wow. I am blown away at how fantastic it was. All the feels the twists, just the raw emotions. Just a must-read book if I ever read one before.
Parker phew so much to say about her, without giving too much away but I will try. She is raw, she is hiding within herself and she doesn't even know it. She has so much but she exits in life she doesn't live. She thinks of herself as indifferent but that’s so far from it.
Meeting Everett was one of the best things to have to happen to her, I say one of the best because the best thing was her having the courage to open up even if she didn't realize she was doing it.
Everett is going to break your hearts, in good and bad ways. This book is going to stick with me for so long because the connection these two have it’s unreal. It’s as if they heal each other. Meant to be and all that jazz.
The audiobook is Fan-Freaking-Tastic, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the narration because it’s so raw so unemotional for most of it, but it’s perfect for the book. Natasha Soudek was Parker in my eyes. I am blown away again because it was just so damn good.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
Seriously this book, if you have it on your TBR list…move it up because wow. I am blown away at how fantastic it was. All the feels the twists, just the raw emotions. Just a must-read book if I ever read one before.
Parker phew so much to say about her, without giving too much away but I will try. She is raw, she is hiding within herself and she doesn't even know it. She has so much but she exits in life she doesn't live. She thinks of herself as indifferent but that’s so far from it.
Meeting Everett was one of the best things to have to happen to her, I say one of the best because the best thing was her having the courage to open up even if she didn't realize she was doing it.
Everett is going to break your hearts, in good and bad ways. This book is going to stick with me for so long because the connection these two have it’s unreal. It’s as if they heal each other. Meant to be and all that jazz.
The audiobook is Fan-Freaking-Tastic, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the narration because it’s so raw so unemotional for most of it, but it’s perfect for the book. Natasha Soudek was Parker in my eyes. I am blown away again because it was just so damn good.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
September 2, 2015
+++ 4.5 HEART WRENCHING STARS +++
Ten Below Zero will have you clinging to live and wanting to explore the world.
There's so much I want to say, but at the same time so little because any detail will give away the beauty behind this heartbreaking story.
All I know is that my heart fell in love with Everett and Parker. Both were lost souls that found each other when they needed it the most. They became each other's strength, and Everett showed Parker how to live while Parker showed Everett how to fight.
Be prepared to embark on a journey of self discovery, acceptance and overall healing. You learn and grow alongside these wonderful characters. It was one of those stories that will have you feeling so many emotions and at times you become frustrated. Whitney! How dare you put water in my eyes! Thank you for this beautiful story of learning to live and showing us how powerful love can be.
"I see you, Parker. You're broken. Not all broken things can be fixed. And that's okay, don't you know that? It was your brokenness that drew me to you, I saw in you the same things I saw in me. It was our brokenness that connected us. So I can't wish away those broken pieces in me, because without them I wouldn't have seen you."
"This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us."
Ten Below Zero will have you clinging to live and wanting to explore the world.
There's so much I want to say, but at the same time so little because any detail will give away the beauty behind this heartbreaking story.
All I know is that my heart fell in love with Everett and Parker. Both were lost souls that found each other when they needed it the most. They became each other's strength, and Everett showed Parker how to live while Parker showed Everett how to fight.
Be prepared to embark on a journey of self discovery, acceptance and overall healing. You learn and grow alongside these wonderful characters. It was one of those stories that will have you feeling so many emotions and at times you become frustrated. Whitney! How dare you put water in my eyes! Thank you for this beautiful story of learning to live and showing us how powerful love can be.
"I see you, Parker. You're broken. Not all broken things can be fixed. And that's okay, don't you know that? It was your brokenness that drew me to you, I saw in you the same things I saw in me. It was our brokenness that connected us. So I can't wish away those broken pieces in me, because without them I wouldn't have seen you."
October 22, 2020
Trauma, Shutdown, Love and Life
I loved this book. Everett and Parker are coping with obstacles in life in different ways.
Parker shuts down and doesn’t want to feel, Everett is trying to cram in as much as he can. They click and begin a journey to find purpose and strength.
It was emotional, thought provoking and fulfilling.
While I Initially thought Everett was a jerk, I came to understand and love him.
This book gave me all the feels. Wow!
I loved this book. Everett and Parker are coping with obstacles in life in different ways.
Parker shuts down and doesn’t want to feel, Everett is trying to cram in as much as he can. They click and begin a journey to find purpose and strength.
It was emotional, thought provoking and fulfilling.
While I Initially thought Everett was a jerk, I came to understand and love him.
This book gave me all the feels. Wow!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,007 reviews