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Cinder & Ella #1
Cinder & Ella
Updated Cover can be found here
It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.
…
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.
It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.
…
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.
254 pages, ebook
First published August 15, 2014
About the author
Kelly Oram
48 books4,278 followersKelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,342 reviews
March 28, 2018
THIS WAS THE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE I NEEDED. It was so cute (and so cheesy in a good way). I loved it.
July 16, 2016
Richard and Kahlan.
She mentioned Richard and Kahlan.
Ella almost fainted when she got to meet Richard and Kahlan.
Excuse me while I try to compose myself.
I loved it! I loved it! I EFFING LOVED IT! That goofy smile on my face is just the tip of the iceberg! I can feel my heart dancing salsa and pink clouds raining candy canes on my head! I need a moment to thank Rachel E. Carter for recommending me this book. Seriously Rachel, you're like the cute contemporary guru!
Cinder & Ella is a (surprise, surprise!) Cinderella retelling taking place in Hollywood. Only the stepmother isn't evil, the father is alive, Prince Charming is a swoonworthy playboy and Cinderella a fantasy geek. The real villain, besides the awful, I-wanna-strangle-you-bitch Kaylee, is the society. The society that can't show compassion to a girl who lost her mother and was damaged both mentally and physically during the accident that turned her world upside down. Being bullied all the time and feeling unwanted by a family she just got to meet, Ella's only sunshine was her internet friend Cinder. She never met him in person, but she felt like she had known him her entire life. And the best part is (the one I absolutely adored) that the reason it all started was their love for the same fantasy books! I love nerdy protagonists!
Ella's misfortunes often brought me tears, I didn't expect to become so emotional while reading it. And let's just say that I fell in love with Cinder pretty much from the start! He was so cocky and hot and tried to hide his inner nerd that it was inevitable! Kelly Oram did an amazing job with the rest of the characters as well. I loved Vivian and Rob and Juliette and Jessica, I even understood Ana's attitude (which is very hard to admit). While the story wasn't complex (I dare say it was predictable) I loved every single thing about Cinder & Ella, especially the interactions and the dialogues between them, they cracked me up and made me wanna die due to overwhelming feelings and squeal and speak gibberish and fangirl in every possible way!! I know for sure that I'm going to read more from Kelly Oram because she won a place in my heart!!
She mentioned Richard and Kahlan.
Ella almost fainted when she got to meet Richard and Kahlan.
Excuse me while I try to compose myself.
I loved it! I loved it! I EFFING LOVED IT! That goofy smile on my face is just the tip of the iceberg! I can feel my heart dancing salsa and pink clouds raining candy canes on my head! I need a moment to thank Rachel E. Carter for recommending me this book. Seriously Rachel, you're like the cute contemporary guru!
Cinder & Ella is a (surprise, surprise!) Cinderella retelling taking place in Hollywood. Only the stepmother isn't evil, the father is alive, Prince Charming is a swoonworthy playboy and Cinderella a fantasy geek. The real villain, besides the awful, I-wanna-strangle-you-bitch Kaylee, is the society. The society that can't show compassion to a girl who lost her mother and was damaged both mentally and physically during the accident that turned her world upside down. Being bullied all the time and feeling unwanted by a family she just got to meet, Ella's only sunshine was her internet friend Cinder. She never met him in person, but she felt like she had known him her entire life. And the best part is (the one I absolutely adored) that the reason it all started was their love for the same fantasy books! I love nerdy protagonists!
Ella's misfortunes often brought me tears, I didn't expect to become so emotional while reading it. And let's just say that I fell in love with Cinder pretty much from the start! He was so cocky and hot and tried to hide his inner nerd that it was inevitable! Kelly Oram did an amazing job with the rest of the characters as well. I loved Vivian and Rob and Juliette and Jessica, I even understood Ana's attitude (which is very hard to admit). While the story wasn't complex (I dare say it was predictable) I loved every single thing about Cinder & Ella, especially the interactions and the dialogues between them, they cracked me up and made me wanna die due to overwhelming feelings and squeal and speak gibberish and fangirl in every possible way!! I know for sure that I'm going to read more from Kelly Oram because she won a place in my heart!!
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January 27, 2023
AWWWWW. I loved this book. I loved everything about it. Yes, it may not be the most original, the most literary, the most developed, etc., etc. but it made me smile the whole time I was reading it. This book was just a really sweet romance and I didn't even mind the switching POV'S (!!!) -which is huuuge because I never like them.
Kelly Oram reminds me of Meg Cabot in her writing style -that fuzzy, feel good, fast-paced awesomeness that I fell in love with in middle school. This is the book you read when you are in the mood for something light between big fantasy/dystopia books. This book is Ella Enchanted in YA contemporary the way Cinder is it for sci-fi.
I can't wait to read more by Kelly!
June 27, 2019
Wow! So liebe ich eine moderne cinderella Geschichte! Es sind so viele magische Momente eingewoben, dass die Geschichte ein absoluter Page turner ist. Ich habe mich sowohl in ella, als auch in cinder schockverliebt. Für alle, die auf romantische cinderella Interpretationen mit dem Hauch booknerd stehen, LEST ES UNBEDINGT!
June 18, 2021
(3.75)
the title’s reminding you a bit to a certain unhinged blondie who wears glass slippers (how), goes to a ball w/ pumpkin as a carriage and has rodents as friends isn’t it?
well that’s bcs it is. inspired by that i mean. (retelling?) well, not really. there are evil stepsisters and all that but that’s where it ends. for a thing, the heroine, Ella has a backbone, i loved her and there ain’t no prince charming here. ‘Cinder’ and ‘Ella’ are actually characters on some novel the MCs loved, and so they became internet friends bcs of that (Cinder and Ella are their nicknames on that app), not intentionally from that lame maid girl.
now, i was full on irritated the first 20% of the book, so ofc, me being me, i dropped it. but after a couple of weeks, when i picked it up again, this was just nothing if not entertaining. i embraced all the drama and OTT stuff that happened, bcs i loved the heroine, and more importantly, we connected, i never had any problem w/ her decisions. a lil backstory, she has an accident that killed her mom and forced her to live w/ her father & his new family. yet she was still slaying with a second & third degree burns covering seventy percent of her body (i relate to her so much, the way she deals w/ the shit that came in her life was exactly what i’d’ve done)
the book was cheesy at best and dramatic at worst, but like i said, i was hella entertained, and while i thought Brian+Ella’s romantic relationship was moving too fast (they’ve been online friends for years but the first time they met they decided to date right on, immediately, so while there were no insta love, they have never met before, albeit they met near the end so i’ve no problem w/ it), the book in general was still able to gripped me till the end. that’s the important thing, really.
so i dunno whether to rec this to people or not, from how dramatic it was, but i had a really great time nonetheless (probably good for when y’all ever stuck in a reading slump and are in a mood for some engaging over the top but not nauseating drama? no guarantee, and not permanently, but it worked for me tho. for a few hours, at least)
’We really were Cinder and Ella. I was the commoner, and he a prince. Even if he loved me, eventually he would make the choice expected of him—the noble choice, as he so often told me. He would choose Ratana. Maybe it wouldn’t be Kaylee Summers, but it would be someone famous. Someone beautiful. Someone worthy of him.’
the title’s reminding you a bit to a certain unhinged blondie who wears glass slippers (how), goes to a ball w/ pumpkin as a carriage and has rodents as friends isn’t it?
well that’s bcs it is. inspired by that i mean. (retelling?) well, not really. there are evil stepsisters and all that but that’s where it ends. for a thing, the heroine, Ella has a backbone, i loved her and there ain’t no prince charming here. ‘Cinder’ and ‘Ella’ are actually characters on some novel the MCs loved, and so they became internet friends bcs of that (Cinder and Ella are their nicknames on that app), not intentionally from that lame maid girl.
now, i was full on irritated the first 20% of the book, so ofc, me being me, i dropped it. but after a couple of weeks, when i picked it up again, this was just nothing if not entertaining. i embraced all the drama and OTT stuff that happened, bcs i loved the heroine, and more importantly, we connected, i never had any problem w/ her decisions. a lil backstory, she has an accident that killed her mom and forced her to live w/ her father & his new family. yet she was still slaying with a second & third degree burns covering seventy percent of her body (i relate to her so much, the way she deals w/ the shit that came in her life was exactly what i’d’ve done)
the book was cheesy at best and dramatic at worst, but like i said, i was hella entertained, and while i thought Brian+Ella’s romantic relationship was moving too fast (they’ve been online friends for years but the first time they met they decided to date right on, immediately, so while there were no insta love, they have never met before, albeit they met near the end so i’ve no problem w/ it), the book in general was still able to gripped me till the end. that’s the important thing, really.
so i dunno whether to rec this to people or not, from how dramatic it was, but i had a really great time nonetheless (probably good for when y’all ever stuck in a reading slump and are in a mood for some engaging over the top but not nauseating drama? no guarantee, and not permanently, but it worked for me tho. for a few hours, at least)
October 11, 2014
To see review with gifs click here.
You know what I hate about being a lawyer, the fact that I can’t watch Law and Order or any other lawyer-ish show and call foul anytime something isn’t factually correct. The thing is, I give the shows a lot of leeway. For the most part, they actually try to do research about the legal issues they’re presenting.
I don’t think Kelly Oram did that all with Cinder and Ella or she probably didn’t care. But it really annoys me.
Before I go into particulars, I am going to give a bit of a disclaimer. Going into this I was sort of weary. My first appearance with Oram was DNF-ville with that terrible superhero book of hers where parents pushed their daughter to be with an annoying stalker. Everyone was awful in that book.
It shouldn’t surprise me then, that everyone was an asshole in Cinder and Ella as well.
Strike two against the book.
And what about strike three? I already mentioned the legal and factual inaccurcies, the horrible characters, oh and did I mention unnecessary melodrama that relates back to items two and three.
Sigh…
Do I have anything nice to say before I get my Book Hulk on? Well, Oram tried with this one. I liked the fact we had a diverse character, who was prickly, and who wasn’t stereotypically pretty. But everything sort of fell apart that aside.
Sigh…
For the rest of the review I’m going to divide it into three categories: 1) Legal/Factual Issues, 2) Assholes, and 3) Melodrama. I think by doing this I can sort of sort out my feelings without having my head explode and make sense of what’s going to be some rather rambily rants. Because guys, this book kept me up all last night because I was raging.
1) Legal/Factual Issues: In Other Words Orum Contributes to a Lawyer’s Bad Mood
I think this will be a me category more than the other categories on here, but it really annoys me when non-lawyer authors don’t even do the barest amount of research one legal issues like getting someone declared freaking incompetent.
Or about the American Disabilities Act.
A couple of Google searches would’ve told them all they needed to know.
Yes, I said Google. Because while she needed to do some research, it isn’t like she needs to read case law, but if you just Google celebrities who were declared incompetent you’ll find that it’s a difficult thing to do. Having one suicide attempt way back in the past probably isn’t going to be enough, especially if the character doesn’t try to harm themselves since and has fairly rationale goals and views on life-i.e. she just wants to go to college. However, apparently not figuring out the exact dormitory you’re going to live in equals unstable according to her not so wonderful shrink.
Just like with declaring someone incompetent, it’s extremely difficult to have someone committed. You’re only going to be committed, generally speaking when you’re an imminent threat to yourself or others and that did not happen here. Yet, the main character is constantly threatened by her own shrink about going to a mental institute all because she doesn’t want to be a super extrovert and make friends.
Because heaven forbid someone likes to have alone time and reading a fucking book.
That equals unstable you know. I’ll tell you what’s unstable me after reading this book.
I should mention said shrink threatened her after a traumatizing event that was no way her own fault.
Yes, I’d be a little depressed after someone fucking tore a skin graft and treated me like a monster in home room too. I probably wouldn’t want to go to prom either.
I guess I”m sort of overlapping into areas two and three now.
But I just want to say if that was my shrink I’d call her an asshole then ask for a second opinion before reporting her to the freaking ethics committees.
Now, I’m not a shrink, but threatening a patient like that doesn’t ring like good idea to me. Especially when said patient just experienced trauma. And you’re yelling at them because they didn’t join the pom squad.
Fuck you.
Then there’s the whole part about how the character should be sent to a special school just because she has a limp and some scarring.
Really?
Fucking really?
Ever heard of the ADA, Oram? I’m even linking it here because I found this part just appalling. And she has scars. So freaking what. This is the twenty-first century most of us who have a some sense of compassion and maturity do not make fun of a person because they have a physical disability. Sure, there are some assholes out there, but the majority of people aren’t like that. Or if they are they aren’t so openly cruel about it.
Seriously, you think a school administrator already threatened by a litigious lawyer parent would not even open his asshole mouth about that.
But since they’re all asshole (which is an obvious hook to point number too) well….
2) Assholes: Because Everyone in this Book was a Cast Member of Spaceballs
Yes, they’re all assholes even are lead who I feel sympathy for. But she’s still an asshole too.
Though she has a reason to be an asshole unlike everyone else.
To be honest, it just felt unrealistic. And reminded me why I didn’t like the Jaime Baker series because Oram can’t create character that have a shred of decency or that aren’t borderline creepy for the life of her.
Okay, maybe the nurses and doctors who were bit roles acted like normal people, but that was probably because I didn’t know them.
Everyone. And I mean, everyone was douche like in this book. And unsympathetic. Don’t believe me let’s go down the list:
Ella: Has a chip on her shoulder, though it’s understandable. But sometimes I just wanted to shake her.
Brian: Ha! Ha! Ha! Weak, weak, weak. No backbone there. Seriously, allowing himself to be blackmailed like that (shudders). Makes him a stupid asshole.
Ella’s Father: Dick. Who doesn’t even try to listen to his daughter. And doesn’t even consult her before he cleans out her dead mother’s apartment. And if my father threw out my books….well….
Stepmom: Bitch who actually tells stepdaughter how bad she looks and suggests plastic surgery and doesn’t understand how that upsets her.
Stepsister 1: Well, no one would be surprised that her mother is Lilith (see above).
Stepsister 2: Spineless
Stepsister’s Boytoy: Evil incarnate
Psychiatrist: Sadistic quack. Who needs to have license revoked ASAP.
Principal: A lawyer’s worst nightmare who lacks any sort of sensitivity.
Ella’s Dead Mother: A personification of offensive culture cliches.
Do I need to be continue?
To be fair, some characters, like the dead mother, personalities weren’t the cause of their a-holeness. It’s not their thought they’re depicted in such a 1D way. But as for Ella’s family and quack of a shrink.
They can all stuff it.
3) Melodrama: Duh, they’re Teenagers
The melodrama in this one was overdone and obviously unrealistic. However, unlike some books where I can just deal with it. I couldn’t here. So many of the situations could’ve been avoided. Don’t believe me, I’m going to play let’s solve everyone’s problem in a short paragraph or less:
1) Ella being forced with her dad because she’s declared incompetent and now has to please him and that quack of a shrink:
Answer: Get a new shrink and find an attorney that can represent you. Yes, expensive. But there are ways to work around it (aka legal aid). Grant it, you’re not going to probably get the best of the best, but it still could work given the situation. Plus, if you have access to funds after you’re declared competent problem solved. Or if you had access to funds before being declared incompetent (which I’m assuming you did) you could’ve been declared competent that way. Honestly, based on the sketchy details that we had I had a hard time buying this situation.
2) Ella’s father saying how she’s not social:
Answer: Treat her like a human being and tell your stepdaughters and wife to act like a decent human being. Also, realize that she’s probably not going to like you because you skipped out on like more than half of her life.
3) Brian being forced to be engaged with Kaylee because she’s blackmailing him.
Answer: Call Perez Hilton or TMZ and expose her. Trust me, if you’re that big of a teen idol you’ll still get roles. Hollywood is always looking for a good sob story and to villainize someone. Problem solved.
4) Someone treating you like a dick in school.
Answer: Confront them. And press charges when they rip your skin graft. I’m sorry, but I had no sympathy for that asshole and did not like or approve how the main character was willing to give him a break because he was young. He assaulted her. She might need surgery. It was uncalled for, and I HATE it when the author has the character be like I’ll give him a second chance. No. No. No. No. No.
5) When a school suggests you might be better off with your “own kind” (other people with disabilities).
Answer: Threaten to lawyer up and sue the bastards. Or at least get the media on their asses. Once again, they’d totally back your back because sob story.
I DNF’d pretty much after that when it was suggested that the main character go to a mental institute because she wasn’t joining any extracurricular and being social.
Rolls eyes.
I’m sorry, not joining after school basket weaving does not mean you need to be institutionalized. This book just put me in so much rage that I couldn’t sleep the night after I read it. It was actually an interesting idea. I looked forward to getting in some gooey sappy cheese with a heroine who had disabilities. You know, if done right it could’ve been good. If Oram was so insistent about giving the father control of everything, she should’ve just kept the main character seventeen. It would’ve been easier and annoyed me less. And I really wish I could get a fictional character’s therapist license revoked because that shrink….
Overall Rating: DNF. But even though I despised you book, at least you gave me an emotional and memorable reaction. That’s something, right?
You know what I hate about being a lawyer, the fact that I can’t watch Law and Order or any other lawyer-ish show and call foul anytime something isn’t factually correct. The thing is, I give the shows a lot of leeway. For the most part, they actually try to do research about the legal issues they’re presenting.
I don’t think Kelly Oram did that all with Cinder and Ella or she probably didn’t care. But it really annoys me.
Before I go into particulars, I am going to give a bit of a disclaimer. Going into this I was sort of weary. My first appearance with Oram was DNF-ville with that terrible superhero book of hers where parents pushed their daughter to be with an annoying stalker. Everyone was awful in that book.
It shouldn’t surprise me then, that everyone was an asshole in Cinder and Ella as well.
Strike two against the book.
And what about strike three? I already mentioned the legal and factual inaccurcies, the horrible characters, oh and did I mention unnecessary melodrama that relates back to items two and three.
Sigh…
Do I have anything nice to say before I get my Book Hulk on? Well, Oram tried with this one. I liked the fact we had a diverse character, who was prickly, and who wasn’t stereotypically pretty. But everything sort of fell apart that aside.
Sigh…
For the rest of the review I’m going to divide it into three categories: 1) Legal/Factual Issues, 2) Assholes, and 3) Melodrama. I think by doing this I can sort of sort out my feelings without having my head explode and make sense of what’s going to be some rather rambily rants. Because guys, this book kept me up all last night because I was raging.
1) Legal/Factual Issues: In Other Words Orum Contributes to a Lawyer’s Bad Mood
I think this will be a me category more than the other categories on here, but it really annoys me when non-lawyer authors don’t even do the barest amount of research one legal issues like getting someone declared freaking incompetent.
Or about the American Disabilities Act.
A couple of Google searches would’ve told them all they needed to know.
Yes, I said Google. Because while she needed to do some research, it isn’t like she needs to read case law, but if you just Google celebrities who were declared incompetent you’ll find that it’s a difficult thing to do. Having one suicide attempt way back in the past probably isn’t going to be enough, especially if the character doesn’t try to harm themselves since and has fairly rationale goals and views on life-i.e. she just wants to go to college. However, apparently not figuring out the exact dormitory you’re going to live in equals unstable according to her not so wonderful shrink.
Just like with declaring someone incompetent, it’s extremely difficult to have someone committed. You’re only going to be committed, generally speaking when you’re an imminent threat to yourself or others and that did not happen here. Yet, the main character is constantly threatened by her own shrink about going to a mental institute all because she doesn’t want to be a super extrovert and make friends.
Because heaven forbid someone likes to have alone time and reading a fucking book.
That equals unstable you know. I’ll tell you what’s unstable me after reading this book.
I should mention said shrink threatened her after a traumatizing event that was no way her own fault.
Yes, I’d be a little depressed after someone fucking tore a skin graft and treated me like a monster in home room too. I probably wouldn’t want to go to prom either.
I guess I”m sort of overlapping into areas two and three now.
But I just want to say if that was my shrink I’d call her an asshole then ask for a second opinion before reporting her to the freaking ethics committees.
Now, I’m not a shrink, but threatening a patient like that doesn’t ring like good idea to me. Especially when said patient just experienced trauma. And you’re yelling at them because they didn’t join the pom squad.
Fuck you.
Then there’s the whole part about how the character should be sent to a special school just because she has a limp and some scarring.
Really?
Fucking really?
Ever heard of the ADA, Oram? I’m even linking it here because I found this part just appalling. And she has scars. So freaking what. This is the twenty-first century most of us who have a some sense of compassion and maturity do not make fun of a person because they have a physical disability. Sure, there are some assholes out there, but the majority of people aren’t like that. Or if they are they aren’t so openly cruel about it.
Seriously, you think a school administrator already threatened by a litigious lawyer parent would not even open his asshole mouth about that.
But since they’re all asshole (which is an obvious hook to point number too) well….
2) Assholes: Because Everyone in this Book was a Cast Member of Spaceballs
Yes, they’re all assholes even are lead who I feel sympathy for. But she’s still an asshole too.
Though she has a reason to be an asshole unlike everyone else.
To be honest, it just felt unrealistic. And reminded me why I didn’t like the Jaime Baker series because Oram can’t create character that have a shred of decency or that aren’t borderline creepy for the life of her.
Okay, maybe the nurses and doctors who were bit roles acted like normal people, but that was probably because I didn’t know them.
Everyone. And I mean, everyone was douche like in this book. And unsympathetic. Don’t believe me let’s go down the list:
Ella: Has a chip on her shoulder, though it’s understandable. But sometimes I just wanted to shake her.
Brian: Ha! Ha! Ha! Weak, weak, weak. No backbone there. Seriously, allowing himself to be blackmailed like that (shudders). Makes him a stupid asshole.
Ella’s Father: Dick. Who doesn’t even try to listen to his daughter. And doesn’t even consult her before he cleans out her dead mother’s apartment. And if my father threw out my books….well….
Stepmom: Bitch who actually tells stepdaughter how bad she looks and suggests plastic surgery and doesn’t understand how that upsets her.
Stepsister 1: Well, no one would be surprised that her mother is Lilith (see above).
Stepsister 2: Spineless
Stepsister’s Boytoy: Evil incarnate
Psychiatrist: Sadistic quack. Who needs to have license revoked ASAP.
Principal: A lawyer’s worst nightmare who lacks any sort of sensitivity.
Ella’s Dead Mother: A personification of offensive culture cliches.
Do I need to be continue?
To be fair, some characters, like the dead mother, personalities weren’t the cause of their a-holeness. It’s not their thought they’re depicted in such a 1D way. But as for Ella’s family and quack of a shrink.
They can all stuff it.
3) Melodrama: Duh, they’re Teenagers
The melodrama in this one was overdone and obviously unrealistic. However, unlike some books where I can just deal with it. I couldn’t here. So many of the situations could’ve been avoided. Don’t believe me, I’m going to play let’s solve everyone’s problem in a short paragraph or less:
1) Ella being forced with her dad because she’s declared incompetent and now has to please him and that quack of a shrink:
Answer: Get a new shrink and find an attorney that can represent you. Yes, expensive. But there are ways to work around it (aka legal aid). Grant it, you’re not going to probably get the best of the best, but it still could work given the situation. Plus, if you have access to funds after you’re declared competent problem solved. Or if you had access to funds before being declared incompetent (which I’m assuming you did) you could’ve been declared competent that way. Honestly, based on the sketchy details that we had I had a hard time buying this situation.
2) Ella’s father saying how she’s not social:
Answer: Treat her like a human being and tell your stepdaughters and wife to act like a decent human being. Also, realize that she’s probably not going to like you because you skipped out on like more than half of her life.
3) Brian being forced to be engaged with Kaylee because she’s blackmailing him.
Answer: Call Perez Hilton or TMZ and expose her. Trust me, if you’re that big of a teen idol you’ll still get roles. Hollywood is always looking for a good sob story and to villainize someone. Problem solved.
4) Someone treating you like a dick in school.
Answer: Confront them. And press charges when they rip your skin graft. I’m sorry, but I had no sympathy for that asshole and did not like or approve how the main character was willing to give him a break because he was young. He assaulted her. She might need surgery. It was uncalled for, and I HATE it when the author has the character be like I’ll give him a second chance. No. No. No. No. No.
5) When a school suggests you might be better off with your “own kind” (other people with disabilities).
Answer: Threaten to lawyer up and sue the bastards. Or at least get the media on their asses. Once again, they’d totally back your back because sob story.
I DNF’d pretty much after that when it was suggested that the main character go to a mental institute because she wasn’t joining any extracurricular and being social.
Rolls eyes.
I’m sorry, not joining after school basket weaving does not mean you need to be institutionalized. This book just put me in so much rage that I couldn’t sleep the night after I read it. It was actually an interesting idea. I looked forward to getting in some gooey sappy cheese with a heroine who had disabilities. You know, if done right it could’ve been good. If Oram was so insistent about giving the father control of everything, she should’ve just kept the main character seventeen. It would’ve been easier and annoyed me less. And I really wish I could get a fictional character’s therapist license revoked because that shrink….
Overall Rating: DNF. But even though I despised you book, at least you gave me an emotional and memorable reaction. That’s something, right?
January 22, 2020
Das war unerwartet emotional muss ich sagen!
Ich kann mich nicht erinnern, ob ich bei einem Buch jemals so viel geheult habe. Ja geheult, nicht bloß geweint. Stellenweise musste ich wirklich unterbrechen weil ich nicht weiterlesen konnte. Menschen können so grausam und Schicksal so ungerecht sein.
Diese Emotionen haben auch dazu geführt, dass ich das Buch im Nu lesen musste. Allerdings hat mir die erste Hälfte um einiges besser gefallen als die zweite. Da wurde doch alles recht kitschig und dramatisch, was ich bei einer modernen Adaption von Cinderella auch noch ganz passend finde.
Jedoch fand ich es auch recht schade, dass der Fokus doch nicht so sehr auf der Lovestory lag wie ich es erwartet hätte, aber das ist nur mein empfinden, da ich auch etwas anderes erwartet hatte.
Daher gebe ich dem Buch auch "nur" 4 Sterne, wobei es trotzdem wirklich toll war. Auch den Schreibstil kann ich nur als angenehm und positiv bewerten, da es die Autorin meisterhaft versteht Gefühle zu vermitteln. Auch unsere Protagonisten mochte ich wirklich gerne, da beide authentisch waren und kein unnötiges Drama produziert haben (gab ja auch so schon genug "richtiges" Drama).
Ich kann mich nicht erinnern, ob ich bei einem Buch jemals so viel geheult habe. Ja geheult, nicht bloß geweint. Stellenweise musste ich wirklich unterbrechen weil ich nicht weiterlesen konnte. Menschen können so grausam und Schicksal so ungerecht sein.
Diese Emotionen haben auch dazu geführt, dass ich das Buch im Nu lesen musste. Allerdings hat mir die erste Hälfte um einiges besser gefallen als die zweite. Da wurde doch alles recht kitschig und dramatisch, was ich bei einer modernen Adaption von Cinderella auch noch ganz passend finde.
Jedoch fand ich es auch recht schade, dass der Fokus doch nicht so sehr auf der Lovestory lag wie ich es erwartet hätte, aber das ist nur mein empfinden, da ich auch etwas anderes erwartet hatte.
Daher gebe ich dem Buch auch "nur" 4 Sterne, wobei es trotzdem wirklich toll war. Auch den Schreibstil kann ich nur als angenehm und positiv bewerten, da es die Autorin meisterhaft versteht Gefühle zu vermitteln. Auch unsere Protagonisten mochte ich wirklich gerne, da beide authentisch waren und kein unnötiges Drama produziert haben (gab ja auch so schon genug "richtiges" Drama).
May 4, 2017
4.5 stars
Cinder & Ella is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and sad books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Even going in with different expectations, I did not get disappointed. While I was expecting a light and fluffy read, instead I got a dose of all the feels. Which was fine, because this book was amazing.
Cinder and Ella both lead hectic lives in their own way, and they each find solace and peace in the same thing: a chatroom where they can talk for hours on end. They are, essentially, best friends, and know pretty much everything about each other except for their first names. However, there are a few secrets left.
What he doesn’t know is that Ella was in a gruesome car accident, lost her mother, spent eight months in rehab, and is now for 70% covered in burn marks.
What she doesn’t know is that Cinder is actually Brian Oliver, Hollywood’s next teenage heartthrob, and about to play the lead role in The Cinder Chronicles, a movie adaptation of their favourite book series.
At times, I felt like Ella’s story was going to tear my heart in two. The way she would get either ignored or bullied at school for not looking like everyone else, the way she never truly fit in with her new family, how her body would never be her own anymore. It was absolutely heart-breaking to watch her going through the motions of what others have taken for granted. She walks with a cane, she can’t fully stretch her right (mangled) hand, she was forced to move in with a father who left her when she was 8 years old. At times, it was really difficult to read. I don’t usually cry when I’m reading something, but this time I did have something in my eye a few times.
The only one she can truly count on is Cinder, and even so, he’s in a bit of a pickle of his own. His life is being dictated to him and he doesn’t have any input – up to the point where they decide who he gets engaged to. Their lives are turned upside down when they meet by happenstance at a fantasy convention, but there are so many complications that can’t be ignored.
Cinder & Ella wasn’t without fault and did have a handful of clichés, but the high rating is because of the fact that I couldn’t put it down and read the entire thing within 24 hours. It is because it made me feel so many things, because I truly sympathised with Ella, because I loved Ella and wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be alright. It is because I would recommend this book to anyone who’s a contemporary fan, because it was cute and swoon-worthy and definitely a new favourite.
Cinder & Ella is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and sad books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Even going in with different expectations, I did not get disappointed. While I was expecting a light and fluffy read, instead I got a dose of all the feels. Which was fine, because this book was amazing.
Cinder and Ella both lead hectic lives in their own way, and they each find solace and peace in the same thing: a chatroom where they can talk for hours on end. They are, essentially, best friends, and know pretty much everything about each other except for their first names. However, there are a few secrets left.
What he doesn’t know is that Ella was in a gruesome car accident, lost her mother, spent eight months in rehab, and is now for 70% covered in burn marks.
What she doesn’t know is that Cinder is actually Brian Oliver, Hollywood’s next teenage heartthrob, and about to play the lead role in The Cinder Chronicles, a movie adaptation of their favourite book series.
At times, I felt like Ella’s story was going to tear my heart in two. The way she would get either ignored or bullied at school for not looking like everyone else, the way she never truly fit in with her new family, how her body would never be her own anymore. It was absolutely heart-breaking to watch her going through the motions of what others have taken for granted. She walks with a cane, she can’t fully stretch her right (mangled) hand, she was forced to move in with a father who left her when she was 8 years old. At times, it was really difficult to read. I don’t usually cry when I’m reading something, but this time I did have something in my eye a few times.
The only one she can truly count on is Cinder, and even so, he’s in a bit of a pickle of his own. His life is being dictated to him and he doesn’t have any input – up to the point where they decide who he gets engaged to. Their lives are turned upside down when they meet by happenstance at a fantasy convention, but there are so many complications that can’t be ignored.
Cinder & Ella wasn’t without fault and did have a handful of clichés, but the high rating is because of the fact that I couldn’t put it down and read the entire thing within 24 hours. It is because it made me feel so many things, because I truly sympathised with Ella, because I loved Ella and wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be alright. It is because I would recommend this book to anyone who’s a contemporary fan, because it was cute and swoon-worthy and definitely a new favourite.
September 4, 2019
Das Problem mit Märchen ist, dass die meisten mit einem tragischen Schicksalsschlag beginnen.
Es gibt nicht viele Bücher, die einen auch beim wiederholten Lesen so sehr packen und begeistern. Dieses gehört absolut dazu, ich habe mich total in Ella und Cinder verliebt und auch die anderen Figuren sind einfach nur toll. Ich will unbedingt wissen, wie es weitergeht!
Wenn ihr irgendwo da draußen jemanden mit Bisswunden an den Händen seht... das bin ich. Ich habe mich mehrfach in meine Finger verbissen, weil das Buch mich so sehr gepackt hatte. Und ich hatte das nicht erwartet. Wirklich nicht. Ich hätte das Buch nie auch nur angerührt, wenn es nicht eine Zeit lang so lange in meinem Goodreads Feed aufgetaucht wäre. Ich war deswegen neugierig und musste unbedingt mal reinlesen, nur um zu wissen, was so viele Menschen da draußen lesen. Aus dem Reinlesen wurde dann ein "In einem Rutsch durchlesen". Ich hatte nichtmal Zeit, Stellen für das Zitat zu markieren, das ich meinen Reviews eigentlich immer voranstelle. Die Stelle konnte ich mir erst beim zweiten Durchgang markieren.
Cinder & Ella ist mitreißend geschrieben, fesselt den Leser an die Seiten und hat eine unheimlich starke Hauptfigur, die eigentlich gar keinen Prinzen an ihrer Seite braucht, damit ihre Geschichte erzählt werden kann. Sie ist so stark, so real und hat mich absolut begeistert! Ich habe das Buch nur zwischendurch kurz zur Seite gelegt, um ein wenig auszurasten. Diese Märchenneuerzählung ist definitiv verdammt gut gelungen.
Und ich würde sehr gerne das Buch im Buch lesen (so wie ich bei Famous in Love die Bücher, die verfilmt wurde, wesentlich interessanter fand als die eigentlich Geschichte), die Asche-Chroniken klingen sehr spannend!
February 4, 2018
Me ha ENCANTANDO. ¡Qué sorpresa tan bonita!
Me adentré en este libro por su portada y su nombre, sin saber mucho más. Ya sabéis que no me gusta leer las sinopsis y tal... pero OMG! No imaginé que me iba a encontrar una historia tan bonita en él.
Esta historia entre Cinder y Ella me ha parecido lo más cuqui y bonita del mundo. Lo suyo surge despacio como la espuma. Son mejores amigos, y de ahí acaban perdidamente enamorados el uno del otro. Pero nada es fácil, porque Ella ha sufrido muchísimo, ha pasado por muchas cosas y Cinder es uno de los actores más exitosos de Hollywood.
Yo de verdad os recomiendo darle una oportunidad, porque no solo encontraréis una historia adictiva, sino una historia de superación, de amor y aunque pueda parecer bastante normal, os sorprenderá la cantidad de cosas importantes de las que acaba tratando. Ha sido increíble, lo volvería a releer mil veces. Y he gritado al ver que ¡tiene secuela! NECESITO TENERLA YA.
Me adentré en este libro por su portada y su nombre, sin saber mucho más. Ya sabéis que no me gusta leer las sinopsis y tal... pero OMG! No imaginé que me iba a encontrar una historia tan bonita en él.
Esta historia entre Cinder y Ella me ha parecido lo más cuqui y bonita del mundo. Lo suyo surge despacio como la espuma. Son mejores amigos, y de ahí acaban perdidamente enamorados el uno del otro. Pero nada es fácil, porque Ella ha sufrido muchísimo, ha pasado por muchas cosas y Cinder es uno de los actores más exitosos de Hollywood.
Yo de verdad os recomiendo darle una oportunidad, porque no solo encontraréis una historia adictiva, sino una historia de superación, de amor y aunque pueda parecer bastante normal, os sorprenderá la cantidad de cosas importantes de las que acaba tratando. Ha sido increíble, lo volvería a releer mil veces. Y he gritado al ver que ¡tiene secuela! NECESITO TENERLA YA.
December 3, 2019
first read: April 2 - 3, 2015
first reread: June 20, 2015
second reread: April 3, 2016
third reread: Febryary 1 - ?, 2017
JUNE 2015 I was without internet/phone for over 24 hours, so I thought I'd reread some of those 2015 favorites so I wouldn't be upset that I couldn't update on GR.
So, of course, I reread this :)
I love this story! nothing much has changed from my previous review. I laughed at the same parts, and I am pretty sure I cried at the same parts as well. I didn't love this any less than I did the first time. This is a book I can see myself rereading time and time again.
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APRIL 2015this is my 80th book read this year....and I wish it had been one of the first.
This was such an adorable, heartwarming [at times], devastating [a lot...], beautiful, gut wrenching, and amazingly wonderful book.
I laughed, I cried.....I laughed until I cried....I just...cried....and I smiled.... you would think this is 'just' another retelling of Cinderella, but, its so much more than that.
It's about a girl, who has survived a horrible accident and how she tries to deal with her life as it is now, which is so much different than what she grew up knowing. She is in a new place, with a new family, shes bullied....shes hated....but she is just so strong, and I love her to pieces.
It's about a boy, who is so much more under the surface....
its about a beautiful friendship that just might be something else entirely.
I loved this book!
first reread: June 20, 2015
second reread: April 3, 2016
third reread: Febryary 1 - ?, 2017
“You want to know why you’ve never been able to make me cry? Because you’re trying to tear down someone who’s already hit rock bottom. You can’t make me feel any worse about myself than I already do.”
JUNE 2015 I was without internet/phone for over 24 hours, so I thought I'd reread some of those 2015 favorites so I wouldn't be upset that I couldn't update on GR.
So, of course, I reread this :)
I love this story! nothing much has changed from my previous review. I laughed at the same parts, and I am pretty sure I cried at the same parts as well. I didn't love this any less than I did the first time. This is a book I can see myself rereading time and time again.
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APRIL 2015
This was such an adorable, heartwarming [at times], devastating [a lot...], beautiful, gut wrenching, and amazingly wonderful book.
I laughed, I cried.....I laughed until I cried....I just...cried....and I smiled.... you would think this is 'just' another retelling of Cinderella, but, its so much more than that.
It's about a girl, who has survived a horrible accident and how she tries to deal with her life as it is now, which is so much different than what she grew up knowing. She is in a new place, with a new family, shes bullied....shes hated....but she is just so strong, and I love her to pieces.
It's about a boy, who is so much more under the surface....
its about a beautiful friendship that just might be something else entirely.
I loved this book!
August 15, 2021
4.5
This was going to be awesome. It was like a dream come true for a fantasy geek like me.
ohh yeah, definitely. This book was that for me!
It was so cute! I love this kind of love stories. I just finished and I ordered the next book. I would have bought it earlier, but I tought it was from the same series but no the same main characters.
And when I found out they were the same I couldn's stop myself in doing it. And yes like a perfect geek I found it online, soooo I will start it now.
But first I want to share my favourite phrase in the book.
You want to know why you've never been able to make me cry? Because you're trying to tear down someone who's already hit rock bottom.
I cried like a baby, I don’t know why. But, it hit my heart.
This was going to be awesome. It was like a dream come true for a fantasy geek like me.
ohh yeah, definitely. This book was that for me!
It was so cute! I love this kind of love stories. I just finished and I ordered the next book. I would have bought it earlier, but I tought it was from the same series but no the same main characters.
And when I found out they were the same I couldn's stop myself in doing it. And yes like a perfect geek I found it online, soooo I will start it now.
But first I want to share my favourite phrase in the book.
You want to know why you've never been able to make me cry? Because you're trying to tear down someone who's already hit rock bottom.
I cried like a baby, I don’t know why. But, it hit my heart.
October 5, 2020
This book packs a punch. A real punch. I love it! This is my first book by Miss Oram. Will not be my last.
I love love Ella. She has 75% burn skin and yet she has back bone of thr steel. The way she deals with her family drama is beyond her age.
The story is more NA romance. There is the issue of popularity and friendship at school. I feel connected so many level with Ella. Cinder is also complicated character. His situation is complex. Not just plain prince charming. I am glad everything works fine for him.
Please just read this book. I do not want to spoil any plot in my review.
5 stars
I love love Ella. She has 75% burn skin and yet she has back bone of thr steel. The way she deals with her family drama is beyond her age.
The story is more NA romance. There is the issue of popularity and friendship at school. I feel connected so many level with Ella. Cinder is also complicated character. His situation is complex. Not just plain prince charming. I am glad everything works fine for him.
Please just read this book. I do not want to spoil any plot in my review.
5 stars
July 18, 2019
4,5 Sterne
Sehr sehr cute Story 🥰
Sehr sehr cute Story 🥰
October 1, 2018
There is no way I can convey how much this book made me smile.
I was pretty much hooked from the first page. The author did an amazing job of transforming the classic fairy tale into something believable and relatable. An only child of a divorced mom, Ella's life was happy. Until a car accident changed everything. Now forced to live with a dad she doesn't know, a perfect stepmother and her two "mean girl" stepsisters, Ella's life is anything but happy. She's trying hard to adapt to her new circumstances, but just can't seem to fit in with her new family.
The only thing she has from her past is her blog and Cinder, her online best friend, but she hasn't checked on either of them since her accident more than eight months ago. When she finally emails Cinder, she's ecstatic to discover that he's missed her, and they resume their relationship right where they left off. Neither one knows the real world identity of the other and that's worked for them during their three years of friendship. But Ella's absence forced Cinder to admit his feelings for her, even if it's only to himself. However, he's in an impossible situation where he has very little control over his own life. When an opportunity to meet arises and Cinder declines, Ella is hurt. She's had a secret crush on him for years and always hoped he'd feel the same way some day.
I don't want to say any more. While a lot of what happens in the story is kind of predictable (it is, after all, a re-telling), it doesn't lessen the impact. There are so many awwwww moments and even a few happy tears. I'll let you discover those moments for yourself.
As far as sweet and innocent and non-world-changing goes, this book is now on my all-time favorite list. There wasn't just a happy ending, it was the happiest of endings, just like in a Hallmark movie. 😍❤️
I was pretty much hooked from the first page. The author did an amazing job of transforming the classic fairy tale into something believable and relatable. An only child of a divorced mom, Ella's life was happy. Until a car accident changed everything. Now forced to live with a dad she doesn't know, a perfect stepmother and her two "mean girl" stepsisters, Ella's life is anything but happy. She's trying hard to adapt to her new circumstances, but just can't seem to fit in with her new family.
The only thing she has from her past is her blog and Cinder, her online best friend, but she hasn't checked on either of them since her accident more than eight months ago. When she finally emails Cinder, she's ecstatic to discover that he's missed her, and they resume their relationship right where they left off. Neither one knows the real world identity of the other and that's worked for them during their three years of friendship. But Ella's absence forced Cinder to admit his feelings for her, even if it's only to himself. However, he's in an impossible situation where he has very little control over his own life. When an opportunity to meet arises and Cinder declines, Ella is hurt. She's had a secret crush on him for years and always hoped he'd feel the same way some day.
I don't want to say any more. While a lot of what happens in the story is kind of predictable (it is, after all, a re-telling), it doesn't lessen the impact. There are so many awwwww moments and even a few happy tears. I'll let you discover those moments for yourself.
As far as sweet and innocent and non-world-changing goes, this book is now on my all-time favorite list. There wasn't just a happy ending, it was the happiest of endings, just like in a Hallmark movie. 😍❤️
March 10, 2017
Aghhhh so unrealistic and cheesy but soooooo good!!! I LOVE reading this stuff right now! Just the cutest re-telling ever. And, again, totally sprinkled with cheese.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
October 18, 2016
5 stars
A modern twist to an otherwise famous fairytale, this book had me tearing up one second then smiling the next. This is only by first book by Kelly Oram and it was unexpectedly amazing. Not normally a fan of YA, this one made me second guess my reasons for not normally reading YA books. This story had no sex scenes (as expected) however the author made it up with love, family and friendship. This book also deals with abandonment issues and bullying, chapters which really broke my heart.
'Cinder' & Ella meet over the internet and start a beautiful friendship. Unbeknownst to anyone, they are each other's life savers and totally in love. Sadly, a devastating tragedy occurs to Ella and her otherwise happy life flips around. Ella reconnects with Cinder a year later and finds her solace in him.
I have never cried for a heroine more than i have for Ella. My gut twisted so hard for the life that was handed to her. The way she felt about her dad and his new family- i was literally.in.tears. WOW!
Ella and 'Cinder" have secrets which pretty much make up the rest of the story, but these two characters have the most amazing connection, i could only root for a happy ending. Although it wasn't until the later half of the book,i adored Juliette, Viviane and Rob who made Ella's life so much easier.
HIGHLY RECOMMEDED!
A modern twist to an otherwise famous fairytale, this book had me tearing up one second then smiling the next. This is only by first book by Kelly Oram and it was unexpectedly amazing. Not normally a fan of YA, this one made me second guess my reasons for not normally reading YA books. This story had no sex scenes (as expected) however the author made it up with love, family and friendship. This book also deals with abandonment issues and bullying, chapters which really broke my heart.
'Cinder' & Ella meet over the internet and start a beautiful friendship. Unbeknownst to anyone, they are each other's life savers and totally in love. Sadly, a devastating tragedy occurs to Ella and her otherwise happy life flips around. Ella reconnects with Cinder a year later and finds her solace in him.
I have never cried for a heroine more than i have for Ella. My gut twisted so hard for the life that was handed to her. The way she felt about her dad and his new family- i was literally.in.tears. WOW!
Ella and 'Cinder" have secrets which pretty much make up the rest of the story, but these two characters have the most amazing connection, i could only root for a happy ending. Although it wasn't until the later half of the book,i adored Juliette, Viviane and Rob who made Ella's life so much easier.
HIGHLY RECOMMEDED!
February 17, 2018
ABSOLUTAMENTE PRECIOSO. Justo acabo de terminarlo y no quería esperar mucho para dar mi opinión, prefería tener todos los sentimientos recientes.Si...lo he leído en menos de un día, pero es que simplemente no podía dejar de leer ¿Qué puedo decir de este libro? Lo empecé buscando una lectura ligera y fresca, pero no he encontrado eso exactamente. He encontrado mucho más. Una historia preciosa que me ha enamorado y con la que he sufrido muchísimo. Una historia que nos habla del dolor, de la superación personal, de las segundas oportunidades, de lo crueles que podemos llegar a ser las personas, del acoso, los prejuicios, del amor...¿sigo? Me han encantado los protagonistas, absolutamente perfectos cada uno a su manera. He sufrido y (casi) llorado con Ella, por todo lo que ha tenido que pasar. Me he enamorado de Cinder desde el principio y no me ha decepcionado en ningún momento (y esto es raro puesto que todos los protagonistas masculinos lo suelen hacer en uno y otro momento). He odiado muchísimo a tanta gente por lo injustos y crueles que son. Como veis, este libro ha sido una montaña rusa de emociones.
October 25, 2014
I'm really a fan of Kelly Oram. :) Just got the ARC! Thank you, Kelly! <3
Days after... Finally finished it! Just now. Lol.
First of all... WHERE CAN I GET THE DRUID CHRONICLES BOOK?!!?
Second, if this is purely fantasy, PLEASE WRITE THE STORY OF DRUID CHRONICLES, KELLY ORAM. I BEG YOU.
Third, I FREAKING LOVE YOU KELLY ORAM.
Fourth, I DEFINITELY LOVE CINDER & ELLA!!!
-REVIEW-
This was such a cheesy story which I definitely enjoyed! All the feels! I have it! Kelly Oram is simply one of the best writers. And I am off to preorder the book. Wonder if it'll release a paperback or hardback? Whatever would be available for my collection. :)
Some might say the story is cliché, used a lot. I read a lot of novels like this but as always there was the difference. For one, Oram wrote this so cleverly I am in awe of her. She made us laugh, snort, pissed off with some of the characters like Kaylee and all those bullies, be in love with Cinder/Brian and most of all, bawl like a baby with the family drama.
I love the family development. I love how it was written out for us to see that they can improve. The can be better. That they have their stories just awaiting to be uncovered. It was not easy reading the family situations like Ella have. With her handicap and issues and scars, I am saluting Ella. Oram shows that Ella is only human, a girl who lost it all but then found out that she still have someone or some people who really care for her.
I also like the online relationship part. I can relate. Makes me think that one day, I can definitely meet my online friends. Like meet up with them BEA starts. ;) I'm not closing the possibility it might happen someday. I am looking forward to that day.
People might argue with me that the story is just so-so, or whatever. One thing I know, I ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF READING THIS STORY. I LOVE JULIETTE, VIVIAN AND HER DADS. I LOVE THE FANTASYCON SCENE. AND YOU PEOPLE MUST READ THIS. I can't stress it enough. JUST DO IT, BUY THE BOOK! SPREAD THE WORD, SPREAD THE LOVE OF CINDER & ELLA. <3
Kelly Oram is one of my weakness. Lol. I was stressed the whole week but after reading Cinder & Ella, I'm okay. I'm good.
Definitely worth reading, worth your time and money. Go to Amazon now! :D
Days after... Finally finished it! Just now. Lol.
First of all... WHERE CAN I GET THE DRUID CHRONICLES BOOK?!!?
Second, if this is purely fantasy, PLEASE WRITE THE STORY OF DRUID CHRONICLES, KELLY ORAM. I BEG YOU.
Third, I FREAKING LOVE YOU KELLY ORAM.
Fourth, I DEFINITELY LOVE CINDER & ELLA!!!
-REVIEW-
This was such a cheesy story which I definitely enjoyed! All the feels! I have it! Kelly Oram is simply one of the best writers. And I am off to preorder the book. Wonder if it'll release a paperback or hardback? Whatever would be available for my collection. :)
Some might say the story is cliché, used a lot. I read a lot of novels like this but as always there was the difference. For one, Oram wrote this so cleverly I am in awe of her. She made us laugh, snort, pissed off with some of the characters like Kaylee and all those bullies, be in love with Cinder/Brian and most of all, bawl like a baby with the family drama.
I love the family development. I love how it was written out for us to see that they can improve. The can be better. That they have their stories just awaiting to be uncovered. It was not easy reading the family situations like Ella have. With her handicap and issues and scars, I am saluting Ella. Oram shows that Ella is only human, a girl who lost it all but then found out that she still have someone or some people who really care for her.
I also like the online relationship part. I can relate. Makes me think that one day, I can definitely meet my online friends. Like meet up with them BEA starts. ;) I'm not closing the possibility it might happen someday. I am looking forward to that day.
People might argue with me that the story is just so-so, or whatever. One thing I know, I ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF READING THIS STORY. I LOVE JULIETTE, VIVIAN AND HER DADS. I LOVE THE FANTASYCON SCENE. AND YOU PEOPLE MUST READ THIS. I can't stress it enough. JUST DO IT, BUY THE BOOK! SPREAD THE WORD, SPREAD THE LOVE OF CINDER & ELLA. <3
Kelly Oram is one of my weakness. Lol. I was stressed the whole week but after reading Cinder & Ella, I'm okay. I'm good.
Definitely worth reading, worth your time and money. Go to Amazon now! :D
September 25, 2017
*4.25 HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER STARS*
“True beauty comes from inside a person. If you feel beautiful, then you’ll look beautiful to others no matter what’s on the surface.”
This was such a lovely read and just what I needed after the huge mindfuck that is called Dangerous Girls lol.
Make no mistake though, this book dealt with some serious topics like death, bullying, physical and mental scars and so on...
Review to come!
“True beauty comes from inside a person. If you feel beautiful, then you’ll look beautiful to others no matter what’s on the surface.”
This was such a lovely read and just what I needed after the huge mindfuck that is called Dangerous Girls lol.
Make no mistake though, this book dealt with some serious topics like death, bullying, physical and mental scars and so on...
Review to come!
June 21, 2019
3⭐️
Lo leí en digital porque necesitaba algo fresco para leer...y he de admitir que aunque me gustó, no llegó a engancharme del todo. Me esperaba más. El problema fue ir con las expectativas muy altas. Estuvo bien, pero no para tanto.
Lo leí en digital porque necesitaba algo fresco para leer...y he de admitir que aunque me gustó, no llegó a engancharme del todo. Me esperaba más. El problema fue ir con las expectativas muy altas. Estuvo bien, pero no para tanto.
December 16, 2019
First re-read:
Just as amazing as the first time around! It's such a great mash up of real-life and fairy tale - very slightly based on Cinderella. I love that both the main heroine Ella, and Brian, famous movie star are such a fantasy book-lovers! *Ella is also a big fan of Richard and Kahlan!*
They 'met' through her blog, and instantly became best friends for years, until an accident which changed Ella's whole life. Things became much more complicated and their friendship even more essential and indispensable.
This book is more meaningful than it may seem by the cover, and it really deserves more hype in my opinion. I, without doubt, recommend to read this book to everyone. It's one of my favourite Contemporaries of all time!
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Original review:
“A great character needs trials to overcome—experiences to give them depth, to make them vulnerable, relatable, and likable. Good characters need hardships to make them strong. The idea makes sense, but it still sucks if you’re the heroine.”
Cinder & Ella is emotionally overwhelming read. This is a story about family, friendship, fame, love, losing beloved person and overcoming terrible accident that turns your life upside down, also about courage and weaknesses. It shows that nothing is only black or white. That every person - even the 'bad one' - has his side of a story. I laughed, I cried, I was enraged and happy at the same time. So don't get fooled by the horrible cover, because Cinder & Ella is definitely worth the read!
“Dad was a modern-day Hercules, and it only made his abandonment hurt that much more. I’d always wondered how such a hero, who spent so much time helping others, could be the villain of my story. How could a man like that just walk away, leaving Mama and me on our own?”
Just as amazing as the first time around! It's such a great mash up of real-life and fairy tale - very slightly based on Cinderella. I love that both the main heroine Ella, and Brian, famous movie star are such a fantasy book-lovers! *Ella is also a big fan of Richard and Kahlan!*
They 'met' through her blog, and instantly became best friends for years, until an accident which changed Ella's whole life. Things became much more complicated and their friendship even more essential and indispensable.
This book is more meaningful than it may seem by the cover, and it really deserves more hype in my opinion. I, without doubt, recommend to read this book to everyone. It's one of my favourite Contemporaries of all time!
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Original review:
“A great character needs trials to overcome—experiences to give them depth, to make them vulnerable, relatable, and likable. Good characters need hardships to make them strong. The idea makes sense, but it still sucks if you’re the heroine.”
Cinder & Ella is emotionally overwhelming read. This is a story about family, friendship, fame, love, losing beloved person and overcoming terrible accident that turns your life upside down, also about courage and weaknesses. It shows that nothing is only black or white. That every person - even the 'bad one' - has his side of a story. I laughed, I cried, I was enraged and happy at the same time. So don't get fooled by the horrible cover, because Cinder & Ella is definitely worth the read!
“Dad was a modern-day Hercules, and it only made his abandonment hurt that much more. I’d always wondered how such a hero, who spent so much time helping others, could be the villain of my story. How could a man like that just walk away, leaving Mama and me on our own?”
Read
October 12, 2019..
DESCRIPTION
It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.
…
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.
This sounds like an interesting story, but it doesn't warn you about the severity or harshness involved in the experiences that you are willing to allow to impact your mind. Once you absorb these negative scenes, it is most difficult to remove them if you ever can.
I listened to the audible version of this story and I was by far more disappointed than I ever expected that I would be. Young adult narratives are usually much more enticing and somewhat uplifting. NOt so with this tale. It aggravated me beyond reason!
After losing her mother in a car accident, laying in a coma for a month, and suffering through eight months of tortuous rehab, the heroine is forced to move in with her father and his new family. There was no compassion, no empathy, and no pretense of understanding in her father's house.
There was no concern for her feelings or ability to make important personal life choices. This household overflowed with pessimism, overwhelming hostility, and the abominable disdain displayed by the stepmother and her daughters were unconscionable. I can not neglect the totally unnecessary profanity either.
Why people choose to force people to fit in places they are not comfortable with doesn't make any sense to me. Sometimes people do understand what is in the best interest of someone else actually is, but sometimes they are so off base that it creates much more damage, causing so much pain and agony that should not be ignored. The icing on the cake was the harsh bullying that no one addressed or corrected - which is totally unacceptable!
I pushed through almost seven chapters and then I finally had to give up. Sometimes a book choice is a joy and sometimes it is not. Personally, I felt this was the opposite of joyful. I don't relish having to live through pain and misery, so I exercised my right and chose not to. I know I am in the minority on my opinions of this book, but for me, it was just too disturbing!
There are countless books available with the ability to capture my attention without aggravating the crap out of me like this one did. So, off I go . . .
..
DESCRIPTION
It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.
…
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.
This sounds like an interesting story, but it doesn't warn you about the severity or harshness involved in the experiences that you are willing to allow to impact your mind. Once you absorb these negative scenes, it is most difficult to remove them if you ever can.
I listened to the audible version of this story and I was by far more disappointed than I ever expected that I would be. Young adult narratives are usually much more enticing and somewhat uplifting. NOt so with this tale. It aggravated me beyond reason!
After losing her mother in a car accident, laying in a coma for a month, and suffering through eight months of tortuous rehab, the heroine is forced to move in with her father and his new family. There was no compassion, no empathy, and no pretense of understanding in her father's house.
There was no concern for her feelings or ability to make important personal life choices. This household overflowed with pessimism, overwhelming hostility, and the abominable disdain displayed by the stepmother and her daughters were unconscionable. I can not neglect the totally unnecessary profanity either.
Why people choose to force people to fit in places they are not comfortable with doesn't make any sense to me. Sometimes people do understand what is in the best interest of someone else actually is, but sometimes they are so off base that it creates much more damage, causing so much pain and agony that should not be ignored. The icing on the cake was the harsh bullying that no one addressed or corrected - which is totally unacceptable!
I pushed through almost seven chapters and then I finally had to give up. Sometimes a book choice is a joy and sometimes it is not. Personally, I felt this was the opposite of joyful. I don't relish having to live through pain and misery, so I exercised my right and chose not to. I know I am in the minority on my opinions of this book, but for me, it was just too disturbing!
There are countless books available with the ability to capture my attention without aggravating the crap out of me like this one did. So, off I go . . .
..
March 11, 2018
Un retelling de la cenicienta muy especial y original, donde su protagonista brilla como un estrella. 🌟
http://serendipia-aazul.blogspot.com/...
http://serendipia-aazul.blogspot.com/...
October 21, 2014
Este libro es genial. No, no es perfecto, pero es una lectura bastante entretenida.
Ella: Ella es bastante típica. Sí, tienes problemas de autoestima por su apariencia física (en un accidente de auto se quemó gran parte de su cuerpo... Hmmm, esta fue la semana de las protagonistas con quemaduras), pero por todo lo demás es una protagonista bastante genial. Ella tiene que lidiar con mucha mierda en la escuela y ver cómo supera todo eso me gustó bastante. Además de todo el bullying, también tiene que lidiar con su padre abandonador (#IHateYouRich ¬¬), con su madrastra y con unas hermanastras que son unas completas PERRAS... Pero todo eso la ayuda a crecer y a mejorar y eso me gustó bastante.
La autora no se tomó todo este drama a la ligera. Ella tiene ayuda sicológica durante todo el proceso y eso fue MUY genial. Aunque el amor tiene bastante que ver con la aceptación de Ella, su psicóloga y la ayuda de sus amigos también son parte fundamental en el proceso..
Cinder: Cinder también es bastante típico (hay unos cuantos capítulos contados desde su POV). Es el típico chico súper guapo, súper genial, con un súper cuerpazo y un súper womenizer. Usualmente me disgusta esta clase de protagonista, pero adivinen qué... Me encantó Cinder. Kelly no escribe un personaje odioso, sino un chico, que a pesar de ser superficial, es bastante simpático, divertido y muy inteligente. Sí, me gustó este personaje a pesar de todo.
Amor: Los protagonistas se conocen desde hace casi tres años y creo que ese fue un movimiento bastante inteligente por parte de la autora. No hay instalove, porque a pesar de que no se han conocido en persona, sí han tenido un montón de conversaciones y conocen sus vidas privadas (aunque, eh, Ella no conozca el nombre real de Cinder XD), así que el amor ya está ahí cuando empieza el libro y tengo que decir que eso estuvo bien. La relación es bastante linda y juntos tienen conversaciones muy divertidas e interesantes.
Personajes secundarios: Todos los personajes secundarios son interesantes y aportan bastante a la historia. Desde el padre abandonador de Ella (I hate you!), pasando por la madrastra que resulta no ser la madrastra de la Cenicienta, y por los amigos de Ella (Vivian es demasiado genial, Rob es demasiado cute, y Juliette logró ganarse mi perdón), y terminando con las malas del libro, la malvada hermanastra (Ana la bruja) y la no-prometida de Brian, Kaylee (otra bruja ¬¬). Sí, cada uno hace que la historia sea más interesante y eso logró mantener mi atención completamente (aunque Kaylee resulta ser muy muy mala para mi gusto XD)
¿El problema?
A veces la autora se pasa de cursi. De verdad. Creo que lo mejor del libro es la primera parte, donde Ella tiene que lidiar con su nueva familia, con sus problemas emocionales, con sus problemas escolares y con la idea de conocer a Cinder. Pero los últimos capítulos son los más ligeros y donde creo que la historia decae un poco. La autora es MUUUUY cursi, y a mí me encanta lo cursi, MUCHO, pero de verdad creo que hay diálogos que se pasan un poco y que te hacen sonreír, porque son cute, pero también porque son too much XD.
Tampoco me gustó mucho que la autora intentara justificar el abandono del padre de Ella dejando mal a su madre. No sé, la verdad esperaba otro desenlace para esa parte de la historia, y aunque me gustó mucho que no todo se solucionara de tirón, sí me molestaron las excusas del padre.
El final. De nuevo, es una sobrecarga de cursilería XD.
En general, es una historia COMPLETAMENTE entretenida, que logra atraparte de principio a fin. Con personas que pueden ser bastante típicos, pero que aún así logran llegarte al corazón.
Ella: Ella es bastante típica. Sí, tienes problemas de autoestima por su apariencia física (en un accidente de auto se quemó gran parte de su cuerpo... Hmmm, esta fue la semana de las protagonistas con quemaduras), pero por todo lo demás es una protagonista bastante genial. Ella tiene que lidiar con mucha mierda en la escuela y ver cómo supera todo eso me gustó bastante. Además de todo el bullying, también tiene que lidiar con su padre abandonador (#IHateYouRich ¬¬), con su madrastra y con unas hermanastras que son unas completas PERRAS... Pero todo eso la ayuda a crecer y a mejorar y eso me gustó bastante.
La autora no se tomó todo este drama a la ligera. Ella tiene ayuda sicológica durante todo el proceso y eso fue MUY genial. Aunque el amor tiene bastante que ver con la aceptación de Ella, su psicóloga y la ayuda de sus amigos también son parte fundamental en el proceso..
Cinder: Cinder también es bastante típico (hay unos cuantos capítulos contados desde su POV). Es el típico chico súper guapo, súper genial, con un súper cuerpazo y un súper womenizer. Usualmente me disgusta esta clase de protagonista, pero adivinen qué... Me encantó Cinder. Kelly no escribe un personaje odioso, sino un chico, que a pesar de ser superficial, es bastante simpático, divertido y muy inteligente. Sí, me gustó este personaje a pesar de todo.
Amor: Los protagonistas se conocen desde hace casi tres años y creo que ese fue un movimiento bastante inteligente por parte de la autora. No hay instalove, porque a pesar de que no se han conocido en persona, sí han tenido un montón de conversaciones y conocen sus vidas privadas (aunque, eh, Ella no conozca el nombre real de Cinder XD), así que el amor ya está ahí cuando empieza el libro y tengo que decir que eso estuvo bien. La relación es bastante linda y juntos tienen conversaciones muy divertidas e interesantes.
Personajes secundarios: Todos los personajes secundarios son interesantes y aportan bastante a la historia. Desde el padre abandonador de Ella (I hate you!), pasando por la madrastra que resulta no ser la madrastra de la Cenicienta, y por los amigos de Ella (Vivian es demasiado genial, Rob es demasiado cute, y Juliette logró ganarse mi perdón), y terminando con las malas del libro, la malvada hermanastra (Ana la bruja) y la no-prometida de Brian, Kaylee (otra bruja ¬¬). Sí, cada uno hace que la historia sea más interesante y eso logró mantener mi atención completamente (aunque Kaylee resulta ser muy muy mala para mi gusto XD)
¿El problema?
A veces la autora se pasa de cursi. De verdad. Creo que lo mejor del libro es la primera parte, donde Ella tiene que lidiar con su nueva familia, con sus problemas emocionales, con sus problemas escolares y con la idea de conocer a Cinder. Pero los últimos capítulos son los más ligeros y donde creo que la historia decae un poco. La autora es MUUUUY cursi, y a mí me encanta lo cursi, MUCHO, pero de verdad creo que hay diálogos que se pasan un poco y que te hacen sonreír, porque son cute, pero también porque son too much XD.
Tampoco me gustó mucho que la autora intentara justificar el abandono del padre de Ella dejando mal a su madre. No sé, la verdad esperaba otro desenlace para esa parte de la historia, y aunque me gustó mucho que no todo se solucionara de tirón, sí me molestaron las excusas del padre.
El final. De nuevo, es una sobrecarga de cursilería XD.
En general, es una historia COMPLETAMENTE entretenida, que logra atraparte de principio a fin. Con personas que pueden ser bastante típicos, pero que aún así logran llegarte al corazón.
July 29, 2019
4'25 🌟 Este libro me ha robado el corazón, contiene una historia tan bonita y cruda que me ha tenido en muchas ocasiones con los sentimientos a flor de piel. Los protagonistas me han encantado, sus discusiones y el sarcasmo de Ella me han tenido con una sonrisa perpetua. Y por supuesto, la fortaleza y valentía de Ella han logrado que la admirara hasta el final. Y Brian, ay al principio me tuvo un poco enfadada pero me ha ido ganando, sobre todo, en los capítulos finales, ay por favor que chico 😍❤️
Solo único que me queda es ponerme ya con el segundo porque esta pareja me ha ganado y necesito saber más sobre ellos😍
Solo único que me queda es ponerme ya con el segundo porque esta pareja me ha ganado y necesito saber más sobre ellos😍
October 15, 2019
Absolutes Jahreshighlight ❤️
October 7, 2018
THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I COULD EVER DREAM OF IN A CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE BOOK AND MORE!
October 27, 2019
Warum habe ich dieses Buch erst jetzt gelesen? Es war so, so schön. So unbeschreiblich schön. Ich liebe Ella und Brian. Mein Herz geht bei diesen beiden auf - bei jedem Telefonat, bei jedem Chat sie waren so toll! 😭
February 23, 2018
Pues me ha parecido una historia excesivamente dramática con respecto a la crueldad, algo que me ha resultado poco creible y un poco infantil ... la protagonista no aparente la edad que tiene.
Esperaba otra cosa .. no me ha convencido.
Esperaba otra cosa .. no me ha convencido.
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