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F*ck Love
Helena Conway has fallen in love.
Unwillingly. Unwittingly.
But not unprovoked.
Kit Isley is everything she’s not—unstructured, untethered,
and not even a little bit careful.
It could all be so beautiful … if he wasn’t dating her best friend.
Helena must defy her heart, do the right thing, and think of others.
Until she doesn’t.
Unwillingly. Unwittingly.
But not unprovoked.
Kit Isley is everything she’s not—unstructured, untethered,
and not even a little bit careful.
It could all be so beautiful … if he wasn’t dating her best friend.
Helena must defy her heart, do the right thing, and think of others.
Until she doesn’t.
266 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2015
About the author
Tarryn Fisher
29 books23.4k followersI would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling could do that. Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,382 reviews
October 17, 2016
This is one of the most difficult books to rate that I've run across. There were things about this story that I absolutely loved. I can't deny that I was inexplicably drawn to this story. Yet, there were also things that just didn't work for me. I definitely have a love/hate relationship with this one.
I love Tarryn Fisher's writing. 'The Opportunist' is a favorite of mine and this book held much of the same appeal in so many ways. I'm not a person that shies away from love triangles or cheating either. In fact, I love the push and pull of an angsty love story. Forbidden is my thing.
As far as angst goes, this book had tons! If you like your stories to bring some emotional pain, look no further. I felt like I vacillated between varying levels of heartache and joy the entire time I was listening to this story. Ms. Fisher definitely toyed with my emotions and made me feel things I wasn't sure I was ready for.
This is a story about a young woman, Helena, that falls in love with her best friend's boyfriend, Kit. The relationship begins as a casual friendship, becoming progressively flirtatious over time. Eventually, lines blur and the dynamics of their relationships are forever altered.
Helena was the type of heroine that you could relate to because she was such a flawed human. She had so many insecurities and always seemed to get the short end of the stick. Even though I didn't agree with many of her choices, even thinking that some were kind of creepy and pathetic --I mean who moves cross country to live in you best friend's boyfriend's home town because you can't have him? -- I wanted her to "win" for once. She was kind of like the underdog that you can't help but root for.
Kit and Helena's best friend, Della, were much harder for me to warm up to. Della was just a selfish, wicked cow! There was nothing about her that I found to be appealing or endearing. I hated her!
Kit, on the other hand, stirred up a range of emotions in me. At times I loved him. Other times, I thought that he was cowardly and undeserving of Helena. He never seemed to care for her as much as she cared for him.
My biggest complaint is that Kit royally screwed Helena over...more than once...and he got off easy. If you've been a friend of mine for long, you know that I demand some damn groveling when the hero screws up. That never happened here, which left a very bad taste in my mouth.
With all that being said, I still could not put this book down. I loved this story, in spite of all my objections. Ms. Fisher has a way of sucking me in to her emotional stories, even when my brain is telling me that I should be offended. The heart wants what it wants. Despite all reason, I loved this story!
I love Tarryn Fisher's writing. 'The Opportunist' is a favorite of mine and this book held much of the same appeal in so many ways. I'm not a person that shies away from love triangles or cheating either. In fact, I love the push and pull of an angsty love story. Forbidden is my thing.
As far as angst goes, this book had tons! If you like your stories to bring some emotional pain, look no further. I felt like I vacillated between varying levels of heartache and joy the entire time I was listening to this story. Ms. Fisher definitely toyed with my emotions and made me feel things I wasn't sure I was ready for.
This is a story about a young woman, Helena, that falls in love with her best friend's boyfriend, Kit. The relationship begins as a casual friendship, becoming progressively flirtatious over time. Eventually, lines blur and the dynamics of their relationships are forever altered.
Helena was the type of heroine that you could relate to because she was such a flawed human. She had so many insecurities and always seemed to get the short end of the stick. Even though I didn't agree with many of her choices, even thinking that some were kind of creepy and pathetic --I mean who moves cross country to live in you best friend's boyfriend's home town because you can't have him? -- I wanted her to "win" for once. She was kind of like the underdog that you can't help but root for.
Kit and Helena's best friend, Della, were much harder for me to warm up to. Della was just a selfish, wicked cow! There was nothing about her that I found to be appealing or endearing. I hated her!
Kit, on the other hand, stirred up a range of emotions in me. At times I loved him. Other times, I thought that he was cowardly and undeserving of Helena. He never seemed to care for her as much as she cared for him.
My biggest complaint is that Kit royally screwed Helena over...more than once...and he got off easy. If you've been a friend of mine for long, you know that I demand some damn groveling when the hero screws up. That never happened here, which left a very bad taste in my mouth.
With all that being said, I still could not put this book down. I loved this story, in spite of all my objections. Ms. Fisher has a way of sucking me in to her emotional stories, even when my brain is telling me that I should be offended. The heart wants what it wants. Despite all reason, I loved this story!
March 14, 2022
5 + STARS
���Long live the beige bitch.”
Tarryn Fisher surpasses my expectations with this novel. Helena Conway is shown a glimpse of what her life would be like being married and loved by her best friend's boyfriend.
"The day I fell in love with you was the first day you found yourself. You weren't even mine yet."
The writing is utterly addicting and simply phenomenal. The heroine is lovable, funny, and relatable. The hero is equal parts confusing, frustrating and wonderful. At times the whole situation drove me mad wondering how Ms. Fisher will choose to end their story. The panic and heartbreak, the constant stress of Kit and Helena's actions, and lack of, all make the experience imperfectly perfect.
This is a standalone story that definitely ranks withThe Opportunist for me. For those on the fence about starting this book… GO FORTH!
���Long live the beige bitch.”
Tarryn Fisher surpasses my expectations with this novel. Helena Conway is shown a glimpse of what her life would be like being married and loved by her best friend's boyfriend.
"The day I fell in love with you was the first day you found yourself. You weren't even mine yet."
The writing is utterly addicting and simply phenomenal. The heroine is lovable, funny, and relatable. The hero is equal parts confusing, frustrating and wonderful. At times the whole situation drove me mad wondering how Ms. Fisher will choose to end their story. The panic and heartbreak, the constant stress of Kit and Helena's actions, and lack of, all make the experience imperfectly perfect.
This is a standalone story that definitely ranks withThe Opportunist for me. For those on the fence about starting this book… GO FORTH!
January 12, 2016
Most of my friends LOVED this book. And I love that they loved it. I absolutely love Tarryn Fisher. I think her writing is impeccable and profound. She is one of those authors whose words stick with you. I highlighted a ton in this story. Her writing gets 5 stars, the story, however didn’t work for me as I hoped it would. I loved The Opportunist so hard. It’s one of those books I’ll never forget reading. I remember where I was when I read it, what I was doing and the way it made me feel.
I don’t know how to explain how I felt about this story. I didn’t hate it, it wasn’t all bad, but I can’t say I actually liked it. I’m not sure I liked any of the characters very much and I was unnecessarily stressed out for the bulk of the book. I wanted the hero of this story to step up. I was frustrated with the way things kept going. But the writing is SO GOOD. I mean… these words!!! Her words are so amazing!
“Art is the blood that comes from a wound. You can’t let it scab; let it keep bleeding. Let it bleed until you have enough blood to paint with.”
Embrace the lows so that you can more effectively enjoy the highs. Love the fight. Love it so much, and let it save you when your emotional muscles have become soft.
As I said before, I am in the minority here by not loving this one. The majority of my friends LOVED this (here are some of their fantastic 5 star reviews for a different perspective: FMA's Review, Jennifer's Review, Allison's Review) They all had an amazing and different perspective than me. It just wasn't the book for this reader.
January 5, 2016
5 Stars!!
“F*ck Love” was a such a great and unique book for me. ( It’s been two days since I finished reading this book and I’m still thinking about it!!) It was an interesting, addictive read from the very first chapter, equally heartbreaking and heartwarming and I couldn’t put it down. It was a book about life, love destiny, finding yourself and so much more. It was one of the most interesting books I have read in a while, complex, though-provoking and captivating from until the end.
First and foremost I have to say I loved the concept of this book and the plot has to be one of the most interesting I have read in a while. The story is told in such a way you definitely will be hooked from the beginning. That being said, I’m not going to talk further about the plot because everyone should experience this book without reading to many spoiler-ish reviews.
This story is about Helena, a young woman who has a dream who will change not only her life, but who she is as well. Helena’s journey to discover who she is and what she really wants was inspiring, really well done and it really made me feel. It made me smile and laugh, but it also frustrated me and made me angry at times. It was a story that made me think and also made me hopeful.
Our heroine, Helena was one of the most relatable characters I have met. She was so well, developed and has so much depth. I connected with her in so many ways and maybe that’s why she was such a colorful character to me. She was a very fun character to read about. She’s strong, a little bit odd and I enjoyed deeply her personality.
I enjoyed the pace of the story. In my opinion it was perfect and I loved the refreshing and entertaining writing.
All in all, “F*ck Love” was more than a story about love. It was refreshing from the start, with a little bit of everything, a story that will keep you at the edge of your sweet with all the angsty moments, but also with all the sweet and powerful scenes. It's a story that will stay with me for a while, a story that I highly recommend!
“F*ck Love” was a such a great and unique book for me. ( It’s been two days since I finished reading this book and I’m still thinking about it!!) It was an interesting, addictive read from the very first chapter, equally heartbreaking and heartwarming and I couldn’t put it down. It was a book about life, love destiny, finding yourself and so much more. It was one of the most interesting books I have read in a while, complex, though-provoking and captivating from until the end.
“We think we can control our lives, but our lives control us. And everything that touches our lives controls us. People have less power than they think they do. It’s just the reactions we control.”
First and foremost I have to say I loved the concept of this book and the plot has to be one of the most interesting I have read in a while. The story is told in such a way you definitely will be hooked from the beginning. That being said, I’m not going to talk further about the plot because everyone should experience this book without reading to many spoiler-ish reviews.
“I don’t want to be someone’s ‘girl who got away.’ I want to be someone’s ‘girl who’d I’d never let get away.”
This story is about Helena, a young woman who has a dream who will change not only her life, but who she is as well. Helena’s journey to discover who she is and what she really wants was inspiring, really well done and it really made me feel. It made me smile and laugh, but it also frustrated me and made me angry at times. It was a story that made me think and also made me hopeful.
“No one tells you that it hurts this much to be a grown-up. That people are so complicated they end up hurting each other to self preserve.”
Our heroine, Helena was one of the most relatable characters I have met. She was so well, developed and has so much depth. I connected with her in so many ways and maybe that’s why she was such a colorful character to me. She was a very fun character to read about. She’s strong, a little bit odd and I enjoyed deeply her personality.
I enjoyed the pace of the story. In my opinion it was perfect and I loved the refreshing and entertaining writing.
All in all, “F*ck Love” was more than a story about love. It was refreshing from the start, with a little bit of everything, a story that will keep you at the edge of your sweet with all the angsty moments, but also with all the sweet and powerful scenes. It's a story that will stay with me for a while, a story that I highly recommend!
“Contrast is important in life. We understand what light is because we can compare it with what we know is dark. Sweet is made sweeter after we eat something bitter. It’s the very same with sadness. And it’s important to experience sadness, to embrace it in order to truly know happiness.”
February 9, 2017
A 2.5... I didn't really like it, though I absolutely love Tarryn's writing style.
February 10, 2019
4.5 Stars!
Have you ever been affected by your dream to the point that you can't stop thinking about it all day? I certainly have.
Have you ever asked yourself if dreams can influence reality?
Or better yet, have you ever had a dream and then have it happen in real life?
That's what happens to Helena. Well, sort of…
About dreams.
Dreaming is one of the strangest phenomena humans experience on a daily basis and yet we all take it for granted. But what effects do our nightly journeys have on our lives?
Dreams exist to act out impulses suppressed in our everyday lives.
The interaction of dreams and reality comes through the power of human belief. By holding an idea we find in a dream to be true, we give that idea power to affect our reality.
And something similar happened to Helena.
But I won’t talk about the plot. I won’t even talk about the characters. You have to go into this story completely blind.
About the story.
A story of forbidden love.
A story of searching and finding oneself.
A story about fighting for love while growing and changing as a human.
It teaches you that you can’t run away to find yourself.
It teaches you to be you.
It teaches you that you can’t control your life, only your reactions to it.
It teaches you to fight for yourself.
It teaches you that nothing worth finding is easy to find.
It teaches you to embrace the lows so that you can enjoy the highs.
It teaches you that there is no real choice in love. You cannot convince anyone to choose you.
It makes you laugh out loud.
It makes you cry.
It makes you angry.
It makes you hopeful.
It makes you happy.
Gripping. Beautiful. Angsty. Painful. Heart-wrenching. Devastating. Crazy. Quirky. Fucked-up. Inspiring.
About the author.
Is there a word which is superior to the word “genius” in the English language? I looked it up but didn’t find it. Well, Tarryn Fisher is a genius (for lack of another superior term). And I’m not talking just about the story or her writing. I’m talking about her imagination, her quirky humor and her insightful observations. Her book proves it. Enough said.
This book was worth every penny and every second of my time.
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Writing style: 5 stars
Story: 4 stars
Flow of the story: 4 stars
Character development: 5 stars
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Secondary characters: 4 stars
Tone/mood of the book: 5 stars
Emotion evoking: 5 stars
Originality: 5 stars
Enjoyment: 4.5 stars
Effect on me: 4 stars
Have you ever been affected by your dream to the point that you can't stop thinking about it all day? I certainly have.
Have you ever asked yourself if dreams can influence reality?
Or better yet, have you ever had a dream and then have it happen in real life?
That's what happens to Helena. Well, sort of…
About dreams.
Dreaming is one of the strangest phenomena humans experience on a daily basis and yet we all take it for granted. But what effects do our nightly journeys have on our lives?
Dreams exist to act out impulses suppressed in our everyday lives.
The interaction of dreams and reality comes through the power of human belief. By holding an idea we find in a dream to be true, we give that idea power to affect our reality.
And something similar happened to Helena.
But I won’t talk about the plot. I won’t even talk about the characters. You have to go into this story completely blind.
About the story.
A story of forbidden love.
A story of searching and finding oneself.
A story about fighting for love while growing and changing as a human.
It teaches you that you can’t run away to find yourself.
It teaches you to be you.
It teaches you that you can’t control your life, only your reactions to it.
It teaches you to fight for yourself.
It teaches you that nothing worth finding is easy to find.
It teaches you to embrace the lows so that you can enjoy the highs.
It teaches you that there is no real choice in love. You cannot convince anyone to choose you.
It makes you laugh out loud.
It makes you cry.
It makes you angry.
It makes you hopeful.
It makes you happy.
Gripping. Beautiful. Angsty. Painful. Heart-wrenching. Devastating. Crazy. Quirky. Fucked-up. Inspiring.
About the author.
Is there a word which is superior to the word “genius” in the English language? I looked it up but didn’t find it. Well, Tarryn Fisher is a genius (for lack of another superior term). And I’m not talking just about the story or her writing. I’m talking about her imagination, her quirky humor and her insightful observations. Her book proves it. Enough said.
This book was worth every penny and every second of my time.
“Life is but a carousel of four seasons. Unpredictable for the most part. Happy. Unhappy. Content. Searching. Mess up the order, and they still rebound at one point or another. I’ve learned that revolution can be inward or outward. A move across the country to gain perspective. A change of heart and mind to gain sanity. But the point is to revolt when the season changes. If only to quench your thirst, revolt.”
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Writing style: 5 stars
Story: 4 stars
Flow of the story: 4 stars
Character development: 5 stars
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Secondary characters: 4 stars
Tone/mood of the book: 5 stars
Emotion evoking: 5 stars
Originality: 5 stars
Enjoyment: 4.5 stars
Effect on me: 4 stars
January 2, 2016
How did I spend the first day of 2016?
Within Tarryn's grasp. Her words. Her passion. Her art. I hid away from the world, hoping to sneak one more page.
Helena was such an authentic and relatable heroine, it was as if I could feel her heart beat, and for 257 pages, mine was beating in tandem. I felt her confusion, uncertainty, fear, hope and heartbreak. I won't delve any further into the plot, because this story should simply be read. It was a brilliantly written, unforgettable journey, not only about destiny, bad timing, and love, but also about a young woman finding herself.
"Art is the blood that comes from a wound. You can't let it scab; let it keep bleeding. Let it bleed until you have enough blood to paint with."
Thank you again for the gift, Pavlina! xx
July 3, 2017
"The best kind of love is the love that isn't supposed to happen."
Apparently, I am one of the minority here who didn't exactly warm up to the story and I feel like the odd ball for not loving it like the rest of the readers. This book was actually written well. Tarryn Fisher has a way with words that offer a real pleasure to the readers and one thing that particularly made me feel interested to go on and finish what I've started was the humor. It was extremely hilarious! It's just that, I didn't find myself really invested in the book.
F*ck Love begins when one day, Helena dreamed about Kit. In her dream, they were together and were happily residing in Washington together with their baby named Brandi. When she woke up, she eventually started to create a fantasy that somehow, perhaps she and Kit will be together and will be in love for real. Slowly she developed feelings for him, which she didn't expect at all knowing that Kit was already taken and worse, in a relationship with her best friend Della. Helena, on the other hand, was also in a relationship with Neil, so that makes everything complicated.
I really find the book promising. It's my first time to read a book written by Tarryn Fisher (I don't know if Never Never counts, but yeah) However, no matter how entertaining the book appeared to be, it fell short to me because of the somewhat unbelievable characterization and weak plot. Helena, for me, fell a little over the top. I have nothing against her bubbly personality. She was funny at times and I find her fangirling over Harry Potter so amusing, but then I couldn't connect to her. At times I find her unbelievable and a bit immature, too. The author, in my opinion, basically failed to make Helena appear "unique" and "refreshing" to the audience.
Kit, on the other hand, didn't strike me as an interesting character. Normally I always end up swooning over beautiful, hot male leads but with Kit, nah. Aside from the fact that his character seemed lacking when it comes to descriptions, he was a bit coward and weak to me. Not to mention boring. All throughout the book, I wanted to see some development in his character. Some surprise. But I got nothing from him, and that alone didn't make him stand out.
The plot was also unsatisfying and it didn't feel as clean to me. Most of the scenes also failed to hold my attention.. which was so sad. I admit a had high expectations for this book, especially because I've heard so many great things about the author and her previous works, but I think I had set my bar too high and now I end up feeling disappointed. :( Nevertheless, it was the humor that made the book charming to me. But emotionally wise, it didn't captivate me.
Rating:
January 5, 2016
EDIT #2: 4 estrellas
EDIT #1: "I resent everyone who's saying I don't know how to write a romance. My romance will be beautiful and maybe everyone dies BUT THAT'S BEAUTIFUL."
-Tarryn Fisher, 2015
Having read all of Tarryn Fisher's book, I'm quite certain that this book will make me suffer and that I WILL LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT.
EDIT #1: "I resent everyone who's saying I don't know how to write a romance. My romance will be beautiful and maybe everyone dies BUT THAT'S BEAUTIFUL."
-Tarryn Fisher, 2015
Having read all of Tarryn Fisher's book, I'm quite certain that this book will make me suffer and that I WILL LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT.
January 5, 2016
Wow,just Wow.....this book has completely captivated me!!
5+ STARS
I don't know how to review this little gem to do it justice.
I've said countless times before in reviews about not being able to put a book down but this is definitely one of the most addictive books I've read.I started it late one night and thought,a few chapters then I'll sleep...3 hrs later I was still going.
The writing,the characters,the scene setting were all just perfect.
The book opens with Helena getting a 'glimpse' at what her life could be.Something she never expected and definitely with someone she would never have dreamed of.
She becomes fixated on her 'glimpse' though and tries so hard to do the right thing but events and feelings get in the way.
I'm not going to go into the story anymore and this is one I definitely went into blind and I'm so glad I did.
Helena....what an amazing character the Author has created here.I'm sure anyone who reads this will relate to her in a certain way.The story is told only from her POV,something I'm not normally a fan of but it totally works here.
She has her insecurities but is so open and honest (and so funny at times).I could really feel her conflict as she struggled with doing the right thing or following her heart
That's it!!!
Just read it and I'm sure you'll enjoy this addictive book......
5+ STARS
I don't know how to review this little gem to do it justice.
I've said countless times before in reviews about not being able to put a book down but this is definitely one of the most addictive books I've read.I started it late one night and thought,a few chapters then I'll sleep...3 hrs later I was still going.
The writing,the characters,the scene setting were all just perfect.
The book opens with Helena getting a 'glimpse' at what her life could be.Something she never expected and definitely with someone she would never have dreamed of.
She becomes fixated on her 'glimpse' though and tries so hard to do the right thing but events and feelings get in the way.
I'm not going to go into the story anymore and this is one I definitely went into blind and I'm so glad I did.
Helena....what an amazing character the Author has created here.I'm sure anyone who reads this will relate to her in a certain way.The story is told only from her POV,something I'm not normally a fan of but it totally works here.
She has her insecurities but is so open and honest (and so funny at times).I could really feel her conflict as she struggled with doing the right thing or following her heart
That's it!!!
Just read it and I'm sure you'll enjoy this addictive book......
January 10, 2016
Click on the banner to read my review on the blog.
Tarryn Fisher has a distinct writing style that's all her own and she's back with a somewhat-different love story. Sadly, my issues with the characterization and overall plot prevented me from falling in love with Kit and Helena's story. And it breaks my heart to say so.
Helena has a vivid and unsettling dream. In the dream, she and Kit are ridiculously in love. They have two kids—one is his—and live in Port Townsend, Washington and she's a successful illustrator. But in real life, Kit and Helena are not in love. In fact, they barely even know each other. They live in Florida, and Helena doesn't have an artistic bone in her body. Helena's best friend, Della, has been dating Kit for five months and is already madly in love with him. Crap.
Despite having her own boyfriend, Helena can't quite shake the feelings she felt in her dream. Love. Desire. Happiness. Kit should be hers. They should get their happily-ever-after. But what about Della? Hello, moral dilemma. This dream shifts Helena's perspective and what she wants out of life, compelling her to make a change.
Helena is disorganized, a Ravenclaw turned Slytherin, a horrible artist, and in love with her best friend's boyfriend. She's "a lovely mess." Kit is a writer, self-contained and self-aware, but completely oblivious to the fact that Helena dreamt of a life that includes the two of them and unknowingly caught in a web of unrequited forbidden love. Kit and Helena's story is not an easy one—it has several ups and downs. But Helena's evasive tendencies have the reader—and Kit—running to keep up with her.
I found Helena's quirky characteristics to be a overly exaggerated to the point that she became a caricature. After her dream, Helena tries desperately to recreate the dream life she had with Kit. She takes art classes, starts drinking wine even though she's a beer drinker, begins talking with Kit in hopes of making him love her back, sleeps with a wine cork because it reminds her of dream Kit. When all hope seems lost, she escapes Kit-saturated Florida, moves in with her—all in the name of self-discovery. While these things may have been added to make Helena seem "strange and quirky", it came off as manic and more than a little bit crazy.
I think Fisher meant for the reader to laugh at her and I did—some of the time. Her internal monologue was quite funny in some moments. But with all of her strange habits and characteristics combined, she didn't feel real to me at all. They felt completely forced, like the author was trying too hard to make her distinct and unique. I was unable to relate to her, which made it difficult for me to understand her actions.
In many ways, the romance in F*ck Love felt like a rehash of Fisher's Love Me With Lies series, but without the magic or chemistry. I felt no anxiety or desperation for Kit and Helena to be together. While there were some sweet moments between Kit and Helena that I liked, I'd hoped that this book would evoke the same emotions I get when reading a gripping love story—that "OMG I think I will die if they don't end up together" feeling. Instead, I was left with the worst feeling of all—indifference.
It was almost like Fisher used the bones of her Love Me With Lies characters to create Helena, Della, and Kit. Kit's character reminded me so much of Caleb (and even Isaac from Mud Vein). Likewise, Helena is known to run away from love and life when things get tough or too emotional—much like Senna (of Mud Vein ) and Olivia. While I loved the Love Me With Lies series, I was hoping for a hero and heroine that were completely new, not ones who so closely resembled past characters.
F*ck Love lacked a cohesive plot and a sense of structure for the reader to grasp on to. Instead, this book fell victim to many other books' pitfall—plot whiplash. There was very little resolution of one problem before another problem was thrown into the pot. There was no gradual building of conflict. Instead, the reader got a "and then this happened and then this happened and then this happened" sort of story.
Fisher is notorious for writing unconventional tales, taking her readers out of what's ordinary and dropping them in the middle of the unexpected. That's what F*ck Love was for me. It was unexpected. While I didn't end up loving the book, I can appreciate the story's message: Fight for what you want in life and don't give up.
* I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
2 stars
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Tarryn Fisher has a distinct writing style that's all her own and she's back with a somewhat-different love story. Sadly, my issues with the characterization and overall plot prevented me from falling in love with Kit and Helena's story. And it breaks my heart to say so.
Helena has a vivid and unsettling dream. In the dream, she and Kit are ridiculously in love. They have two kids—one is his—and live in Port Townsend, Washington and she's a successful illustrator. But in real life, Kit and Helena are not in love. In fact, they barely even know each other. They live in Florida, and Helena doesn't have an artistic bone in her body. Helena's best friend, Della, has been dating Kit for five months and is already madly in love with him. Crap.
Despite having her own boyfriend, Helena can't quite shake the feelings she felt in her dream. Love. Desire. Happiness. Kit should be hers. They should get their happily-ever-after. But what about Della? Hello, moral dilemma. This dream shifts Helena's perspective and what she wants out of life, compelling her to make a change.
Helena is disorganized, a Ravenclaw turned Slytherin, a horrible artist, and in love with her best friend's boyfriend. She's "a lovely mess." Kit is a writer, self-contained and self-aware, but completely oblivious to the fact that Helena dreamt of a life that includes the two of them and unknowingly caught in a web of unrequited forbidden love. Kit and Helena's story is not an easy one—it has several ups and downs. But Helena's evasive tendencies have the reader—and Kit—running to keep up with her.
I found Helena's quirky characteristics to be a overly exaggerated to the point that she became a caricature. After her dream, Helena tries desperately to recreate the dream life she had with Kit. She takes art classes, starts drinking wine even though she's a beer drinker, begins talking with Kit in hopes of making him love her back, sleeps with a wine cork because it reminds her of dream Kit. When all hope seems lost, she escapes Kit-saturated Florida, moves in with her—all in the name of self-discovery. While these things may have been added to make Helena seem "strange and quirky", it came off as manic and more than a little bit crazy.
I think Fisher meant for the reader to laugh at her and I did—some of the time. Her internal monologue was quite funny in some moments. But with all of her strange habits and characteristics combined, she didn't feel real to me at all. They felt completely forced, like the author was trying too hard to make her distinct and unique. I was unable to relate to her, which made it difficult for me to understand her actions.
In many ways, the romance in F*ck Love felt like a rehash of Fisher's Love Me With Lies series, but without the magic or chemistry. I felt no anxiety or desperation for Kit and Helena to be together. While there were some sweet moments between Kit and Helena that I liked, I'd hoped that this book would evoke the same emotions I get when reading a gripping love story—that "OMG I think I will die if they don't end up together" feeling. Instead, I was left with the worst feeling of all—indifference.
It was almost like Fisher used the bones of her Love Me With Lies characters to create Helena, Della, and Kit. Kit's character reminded me so much of Caleb (and even Isaac from Mud Vein). Likewise, Helena is known to run away from love and life when things get tough or too emotional—much like Senna (of Mud Vein ) and Olivia. While I loved the Love Me With Lies series, I was hoping for a hero and heroine that were completely new, not ones who so closely resembled past characters.
F*ck Love lacked a cohesive plot and a sense of structure for the reader to grasp on to. Instead, this book fell victim to many other books' pitfall—plot whiplash. There was very little resolution of one problem before another problem was thrown into the pot. There was no gradual building of conflict. Instead, the reader got a "and then this happened and then this happened and then this happened" sort of story.
Fisher is notorious for writing unconventional tales, taking her readers out of what's ordinary and dropping them in the middle of the unexpected. That's what F*ck Love was for me. It was unexpected. While I didn't end up loving the book, I can appreciate the story's message: Fight for what you want in life and don't give up.
"Don't be upset that you can't attain constant happiness. It's the quickest way to feel like a failure in life."
* I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
2 stars
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January 5, 2016
UNPOPULAR OPINON COMING YOUR WAY...
Sometimes you read a book and you can pinpoint exactly what didn’t work for you. Sometimes, you read a book and you just can’t say why you didn’t really enjoy it. You just…didn’t. And this unfortunately has happened with this book. But let me try to explain...
In the beginning, I was most definitely captivated. There was that sense of yearning and longing that I love in romance reads, but then…it all kind of went ...nowhere. Or maybe I just didn’t care where it went because the MCs’ indecisiveness caused me to lose interest in what was going to happen.
I didn’t connect with the characters. At all. Maybe because this overall story reminded me of a cross between ‘Something Borrowed’ and ‘Love Me With Lies'. Maybe Helena’s personality and actions were a little too awkward and came off as forced and exaggerated. Maybe it was because I did not for the life of me understand Kit’s choices. And on this note, I actually don’t know why Helena even loved Kit outside of the dream she had telling her she did. His character was rather flat and besides his few one liners and smirks, he lacked personality and because of this I didn’t understand his appeal.
When I had to put this down, I didn’t really have a desire to pick it back up. Though it is filled with some beautiful prose and I can appreciate the author’s willingness to dive into the messy and inconvenient sides of love, nothing in this stood out to me.
I didn’t have or feel that desperate need for the MCs to be together. Their interactions didn’t evoke any emotion. Not in the way her MCs in LMWL did, anyway. I didn’t lust. I didn't swoon. And when I read ‘romance’ that is exactly what I want and expect to happen. I suspect this is because of the disconnect I felt towards the MCs mixed with the very little amount of angst this delivered.
I do think she is a fantastic writer, but sadly this was a flop for me.
January 3, 2016
FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED:
This is one of those reviews I prefer not writing, but because I know I will be asked time and time again what my thoughts were on this book, I will offer my very personal and entirely subjective impression of this story, reminding you that the opinions of one reviewer in no way define a book, and should always be taken with a grain of salt. I also premise this review by saying that I am an emotional reader who needs to connect with her fictional characters, as flawed as they may be, in order to appreciate their journey. And this was my greatest obstacle while reading this book.
Helena Conway is a young woman in her early twenties, on the cusp of true adulthood. She comes from a loving and supportive family, she is outgoing, caring towards her friends, firmly on a path she thought she always wanted. But one dream changes everything. In this dream, she sees her ten-year-older self, in a home she does not recognize, in a part of the country she’s never even visited, the mother of two beautiful babies, in love with a man she knows, but who has never been hers. The man in her dream happens to be her best friend’s boyfriend. So, this one dream, this one glimpse at true happiness that she never knew she wanted, changes Helena’s outlook on life. She starts questioning her career choice, her friends, herself, and she convinces herself she is in love with her friend’s boyfriend, Kit.
Naturally, Helena’s friend senses early on the growing attachment between Helena and Kit, and their friendship suffers as a result. Irreparably. Helena moves away, rearranges her entire life in order to find a small piece of happiness somewhere else if she cannot have what and whom she really wants, but every choice she makes stems from her obsession with Kit and the life she dreamed of having with him. And even though her heart eventually gets what it wants the most, fleetingly at times, this is not a ‘hearts and flowers’ kind of love story, and it remains peppery until the very end. Each moment of happiness is counterweighed by an act of emotional sacrifice, every small victory comes at a dire price, and the longer we remain in the heroine’s mind, the more we realise she would never be truly happy with all we might wish for her.
My greatest concern while reading this book was that I could not pinpoint the personalities of any of the characters in this story, their erratic and often inconsistent actions constantly changing my perception of them as a whole. Helena, in particular, is a complex character whose cynical inner voice does not always match the person she lets everyone see, or her behaviour at times, so much so that it feels foreign to her more often than not. She is a dichotomy of traits— self-indulgent to the core but selfless without fail, vain but continually self-deprecating, a cynical romantic but a hopeful one too—and while this opposition of character qualities and resulting behaviours kept me glued to the pages, it also prevented me from truly connecting with her from the start. She is an amalgam of disparities, and it is that incongruent quality to her character that eventually made me disconnect from her altogether. The hero, on the other hand, remained a question mark to me until the very end, a curious blend of wise one-liners and all-knowing smirks, but the substance of his personality stayed unexplored. Their connection thus felt somewhat impenetrable, and relied too heavily on the heroine’s obsessive personality and the meant-to-be scenario at the core of this story, rather than all the reasons why these two people were made for one another.
I do not need to like a character in order to enjoy their story. But I need to understand it. And in Helena’s case, I never did. The only character I actually did understand was Helena’s best friend, Della, whom we are not supposed to like or empathise with in this instance. But I did, and that created an even greater disconnection from the character I was meant to understand more.
I have no doubts whatsoever that most readers will find this story fascinating, compelling, so perfectly different from every single ‘traditional romance’ out there, but I suspect I was not a good fit for it from the start. This story made me feel like I was floating in a sea of overwhelming glumness and melancholy, with no real highs or lows, just a doleful half way point, with the occasional ripple. I live and breathe for those moments of skin-tingling angst in a book that make me catch my breath and skip a heartbeat, and I never experienced them while reading this story. I also suspect that was due to my complete detachment from the characters.
There was always a good chance a hopeless romantic like me would not enjoy a book whose very title gave love the middle finger, but my morbid curiosity eventually won over caution, and I will not lie to you—after only two pages, I was hooked. The interesting premise, the quirky heroine so reminiscent of Olivia from The Opportunist, the drama galore from the get-go were all winning aspects of this story in my eyes at first, but unfortunately, as the story progressed, my connection to the characters and the story itself slowly started losing momentum. I have pondered on this book much longer than it took me to read it, and I am no closer to deciding whether this story is even a romance in my mind. In many ways, it is a reflective journey of a young woman trying to find herself, and learning along the way how very pricky true love can be. Relying heavily on the life lessons aspect of the story and all its philosophical assertions, I see this book more as a lesson in accepting life as it comes, never expecting it to be a fairy-tale. I did not hate it, I did not ever feel tempted to stop reading it, and I loved how different it is from the books I usually tend to pick, but it was not the kind of ‘fictional reality’ I enjoy reading, nor did it have the kind of characters I am personally able to connect with. I respect this author’s talent immensely, I admire her for her stance on writing non-traditional romances, and every iota of me hoped I’d love this book in the end. But as I said before, even though I was not overwhelmed by it, I am certain this story will find its willing audience and mean a great deal to a lot of readers.
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“Timing is everything when you’re about to tell someone you dreamed him into your heart.”
This is one of those reviews I prefer not writing, but because I know I will be asked time and time again what my thoughts were on this book, I will offer my very personal and entirely subjective impression of this story, reminding you that the opinions of one reviewer in no way define a book, and should always be taken with a grain of salt. I also premise this review by saying that I am an emotional reader who needs to connect with her fictional characters, as flawed as they may be, in order to appreciate their journey. And this was my greatest obstacle while reading this book.
“The day I fell in love with you was the first day you found yourself. You weren’t even mine yet.”
Helena Conway is a young woman in her early twenties, on the cusp of true adulthood. She comes from a loving and supportive family, she is outgoing, caring towards her friends, firmly on a path she thought she always wanted. But one dream changes everything. In this dream, she sees her ten-year-older self, in a home she does not recognize, in a part of the country she’s never even visited, the mother of two beautiful babies, in love with a man she knows, but who has never been hers. The man in her dream happens to be her best friend’s boyfriend. So, this one dream, this one glimpse at true happiness that she never knew she wanted, changes Helena’s outlook on life. She starts questioning her career choice, her friends, herself, and she convinces herself she is in love with her friend’s boyfriend, Kit.
“To fall in love with a boy is one thing, but to fall in love with your best friend’s boy because of a dream is … well, I’m f*cked.”
Naturally, Helena’s friend senses early on the growing attachment between Helena and Kit, and their friendship suffers as a result. Irreparably. Helena moves away, rearranges her entire life in order to find a small piece of happiness somewhere else if she cannot have what and whom she really wants, but every choice she makes stems from her obsession with Kit and the life she dreamed of having with him. And even though her heart eventually gets what it wants the most, fleetingly at times, this is not a ‘hearts and flowers’ kind of love story, and it remains peppery until the very end. Each moment of happiness is counterweighed by an act of emotional sacrifice, every small victory comes at a dire price, and the longer we remain in the heroine’s mind, the more we realise she would never be truly happy with all we might wish for her.
“F*ck fear, and f*ck Kit, and f*ck love. I don’t need any of that muggle shit.”
My greatest concern while reading this book was that I could not pinpoint the personalities of any of the characters in this story, their erratic and often inconsistent actions constantly changing my perception of them as a whole. Helena, in particular, is a complex character whose cynical inner voice does not always match the person she lets everyone see, or her behaviour at times, so much so that it feels foreign to her more often than not. She is a dichotomy of traits— self-indulgent to the core but selfless without fail, vain but continually self-deprecating, a cynical romantic but a hopeful one too—and while this opposition of character qualities and resulting behaviours kept me glued to the pages, it also prevented me from truly connecting with her from the start. She is an amalgam of disparities, and it is that incongruent quality to her character that eventually made me disconnect from her altogether. The hero, on the other hand, remained a question mark to me until the very end, a curious blend of wise one-liners and all-knowing smirks, but the substance of his personality stayed unexplored. Their connection thus felt somewhat impenetrable, and relied too heavily on the heroine’s obsessive personality and the meant-to-be scenario at the core of this story, rather than all the reasons why these two people were made for one another.
“In his mind, I’m just some possibility that could have been, but in my mind, he’s the only possibility.”
I do not need to like a character in order to enjoy their story. But I need to understand it. And in Helena’s case, I never did. The only character I actually did understand was Helena’s best friend, Della, whom we are not supposed to like or empathise with in this instance. But I did, and that created an even greater disconnection from the character I was meant to understand more.
“I’m trying to find myself.”
“That, my dear, is the scariest thing you’re ever going to do.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you might not like what you find.”
I have no doubts whatsoever that most readers will find this story fascinating, compelling, so perfectly different from every single ‘traditional romance’ out there, but I suspect I was not a good fit for it from the start. This story made me feel like I was floating in a sea of overwhelming glumness and melancholy, with no real highs or lows, just a doleful half way point, with the occasional ripple. I live and breathe for those moments of skin-tingling angst in a book that make me catch my breath and skip a heartbeat, and I never experienced them while reading this story. I also suspect that was due to my complete detachment from the characters.
There was always a good chance a hopeless romantic like me would not enjoy a book whose very title gave love the middle finger, but my morbid curiosity eventually won over caution, and I will not lie to you—after only two pages, I was hooked. The interesting premise, the quirky heroine so reminiscent of Olivia from The Opportunist, the drama galore from the get-go were all winning aspects of this story in my eyes at first, but unfortunately, as the story progressed, my connection to the characters and the story itself slowly started losing momentum. I have pondered on this book much longer than it took me to read it, and I am no closer to deciding whether this story is even a romance in my mind. In many ways, it is a reflective journey of a young woman trying to find herself, and learning along the way how very pricky true love can be. Relying heavily on the life lessons aspect of the story and all its philosophical assertions, I see this book more as a lesson in accepting life as it comes, never expecting it to be a fairy-tale. I did not hate it, I did not ever feel tempted to stop reading it, and I loved how different it is from the books I usually tend to pick, but it was not the kind of ‘fictional reality’ I enjoy reading, nor did it have the kind of characters I am personally able to connect with. I respect this author’s talent immensely, I admire her for her stance on writing non-traditional romances, and every iota of me hoped I’d love this book in the end. But as I said before, even though I was not overwhelmed by it, I am certain this story will find its willing audience and mean a great deal to a lot of readers.
“Life is but a carousel of four seasons. Unpredictable for the most part. Happy. Unhappy. Content. Searching. Mess up the order, and they still rebound at one point or another. I’ve learned that revolution can be inward or outward. A move across the country to gain perspective. A change of heart and mind to gain sanity. But the point is to revolt when the season changes. If only to quench your thirst, revolt.”
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March 5, 2021
5 Big Stars
“I forgot how weird you are,” he says when I sit back down. “You’re a dead language, you know that? No one is like you, and you are like no one.”
This was me the entire time I was reading this book.
I'm going to do everyone a favor and keep my review short and sweet because, let's face it, I'm pretty awesome at spoiling a good book. Even when I don't mean to. I absolutely refuse to spoil anything about Helena's journey. And a journey is what this story is.
I generally like my romances heavy on the romance and light on the introspection, but I'm not even sure I'd classify F*ck Love as a romance, per se. More like the story of a young woman figuring out just who the hell she is, spurred on by a complicated love story. See? I'm already messing this up.
Helena and everything she went through, self inflicted or not, broke my heart more than once but I love the girl. She's a little quirky and a whole lot awkward, which always works for me. At first, I wanted some of Kit's POV but by the end, I was glad this story is told entirely from Helena's perspective because it really is her story to tell.
This book made me think without hurting my head (thank you, Tarryn Fisher!) and struck just the right balance between lighthearted and gritty without turning dark. It's not a neat and tidy story but you know what? Life's messy and Helena's story reflects that.
Some words of wisdom to ponder:
No one tells you that it hurts this much to be a grown-up. That people are so complicated they end up hurting each other to self preserve.
This is something I’ve learned. You can’t run away to find yourself. Yourself is there no matter where you go. The difference is, if you’re running, you’ll be too busy to pick up the sword and face your enemies. Sometimes your enemy will be you; sometimes it will be those with the power to hurt you. Take off your shoes and stop running.
And the age old question:
“How come Justin Bieber never gets any better at being a thug?”
Even though the last twenty percent was one big clusterfuck, this book is so far from a clichéd romance that I'm letting it slide. Helena won me over big time. Not in spite of her quirky inner ramblings but because of them. What a way to lose my Tarryn Fisher V-card.
“I forgot how weird you are,” he says when I sit back down. “You’re a dead language, you know that? No one is like you, and you are like no one.”
This was me the entire time I was reading this book.
I'm going to do everyone a favor and keep my review short and sweet because, let's face it, I'm pretty awesome at spoiling a good book. Even when I don't mean to. I absolutely refuse to spoil anything about Helena's journey. And a journey is what this story is.
I generally like my romances heavy on the romance and light on the introspection, but I'm not even sure I'd classify F*ck Love as a romance, per se. More like the story of a young woman figuring out just who the hell she is, spurred on by a complicated love story. See? I'm already messing this up.
Helena and everything she went through, self inflicted or not, broke my heart more than once but I love the girl. She's a little quirky and a whole lot awkward, which always works for me. At first, I wanted some of Kit's POV but by the end, I was glad this story is told entirely from Helena's perspective because it really is her story to tell.
This book made me think without hurting my head (thank you, Tarryn Fisher!) and struck just the right balance between lighthearted and gritty without turning dark. It's not a neat and tidy story but you know what? Life's messy and Helena's story reflects that.
Some words of wisdom to ponder:
No one tells you that it hurts this much to be a grown-up. That people are so complicated they end up hurting each other to self preserve.
This is something I’ve learned. You can’t run away to find yourself. Yourself is there no matter where you go. The difference is, if you’re running, you’ll be too busy to pick up the sword and face your enemies. Sometimes your enemy will be you; sometimes it will be those with the power to hurt you. Take off your shoes and stop running.
And the age old question:
“How come Justin Bieber never gets any better at being a thug?”
Even though the last twenty percent was one big clusterfuck, this book is so far from a clichéd romance that I'm letting it slide. Helena won me over big time. Not in spite of her quirky inner ramblings but because of them. What a way to lose my Tarryn Fisher V-card.
January 6, 2016
If you enjoyed this book, please don't read my review. I don't want to offend anyone.
They're not together, I tell myself. But that's lousy reasoning. A slippery slope. I've known her since we were kids. My loyalty is supposed to be with Della; chicks before dicks. Is that even even realistic? Humans seek connection above all else, and we are willing to destroy things to attain it.
It all started with a blue crayon.
Reading this book was not the best of ideas, or maybe I'm just missing the point and couldn't grasp the message hidden in this book.
So what about that first chapter though?! Aptly called #wtf and that's exactly what I said after reading it, promptly followed by "make the confusion go way!" A heroine who suffers from a mild case of ADD, is having illusions of grandeur and lastly had a minor meltdown which basically gives us our story.
The fact that the story is told in the first person, gave me a front row seat to Helena's ridiculous ramblings about KFC, to biting her nails, to keeping a box of socks under bed (and touching them periodically. Her top knot, her beige whatever, oh and that bloody dream she had.
Kit Isley
What was this guy washing with?! Or did he have some voodoo talisman that made all the girls melt? He was the most selfish, cowardly and indecisive characters I have ever read. And you know how I like my men in books. Strong and confident, easy as that.
Why would I route for two of the most selfish characters I have ever read about? Have you ever hope a couple didn't end up together while reading a book? Actually, you know what? F*ck Kit and Helena!
My thoughts on the story?
"You shouldn't have to convince anyone to choose you. There is no real choice in love."
They're not together, I tell myself. But that's lousy reasoning. A slippery slope. I've known her since we were kids. My loyalty is supposed to be with Della; chicks before dicks. Is that even even realistic? Humans seek connection above all else, and we are willing to destroy things to attain it.
It all started with a blue crayon.
Reading this book was not the best of ideas, or maybe I'm just missing the point and couldn't grasp the message hidden in this book.
So what about that first chapter though?! Aptly called #wtf and that's exactly what I said after reading it, promptly followed by "make the confusion go way!" A heroine who suffers from a mild case of ADD, is having illusions of grandeur and lastly had a minor meltdown which basically gives us our story.
The fact that the story is told in the first person, gave me a front row seat to Helena's ridiculous ramblings about KFC, to biting her nails, to keeping a box of socks under bed (and touching them periodically. Her top knot, her beige whatever, oh and that bloody dream she had.
Kit Isley
What was this guy washing with?! Or did he have some voodoo talisman that made all the girls melt? He was the most selfish, cowardly and indecisive characters I have ever read. And you know how I like my men in books. Strong and confident, easy as that.
Why would I route for two of the most selfish characters I have ever read about? Have you ever hope a couple didn't end up together while reading a book? Actually, you know what? F*ck Kit and Helena!
My thoughts on the story?
"You shouldn't have to convince anyone to choose you. There is no real choice in love."
April 15, 2016
OH MY GOD! What the hell I just read? Wooow!!! This story fucked my mind so bad but I freaking loved it so much and I have a lot of feelings right now!!! God, I laughed, I cried... Holy Shit Tarryn, you always making me cry... But I f-ing love you and thank you very much for this truly amazing story. ;)
"Contrast is important in life. We understand what light is because we can compare it with what we know is dark. Sweet is made sweeter after we eat something bitter. It’s the very same with sadness. And it’s important to experience sadness, to embrace it in order to truly know happiness. I was just a flat line until he came along. And maybe now I’m hurting. But isn’t that what love is supposed to do? Make you feel, make you brave, make you look at yourself more carefully?"
"Contrast is important in life. We understand what light is because we can compare it with what we know is dark. Sweet is made sweeter after we eat something bitter. It’s the very same with sadness. And it’s important to experience sadness, to embrace it in order to truly know happiness. I was just a flat line until he came along. And maybe now I’m hurting. But isn’t that what love is supposed to do? Make you feel, make you brave, make you look at yourself more carefully?"
January 2, 2016
★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★
F*ck. My words are inadequate. I loved this story and I hated it too. Way back in 2012, I read The Opportunist, back when it was a standalone, and I knew that that was the type of book that I would always be searching for, it makes you FEEL everything and sometimes you feel absolutely fucking awful whilst reading it, but the journey to the end is always worth it. When you finally get the end and your heart can be put back together again and be full. Tarryn Fisher has done it once again with this new standalone contemporary romance.
I didn't even read the blurb to this book before reading, which is very unusual for me. I like to know what I am getting into, and I at least like to know the names of the main characters and a general gist of what is in store for me. I am glad that I went in blind, because the full effect hit me like a freight train and whilst at first I didn't know what the heck was going on, I just went with it and trusted the author to write a story that would be amazing.
This is a story of fate, and destiny and how sometimes you can't choose who you fall in love with. I fell in love with Helena, she was completely relate-able to me and I felt her emotions completely. Kit was also easy to fall in love with, but he tested me so much at times, especially towards the end. As for Della, she was a needy and clingy friend, a egotist who was insecure and vain. I loved to hate her.
The writing was phenomenal, the plot complex enough to keep you reading without wanting to stop and the characters each had great depth to their personalities.
My advice. Read it.
F*ck Love is a standalone contemporary romance, told in the heroine's POV.
“You shouldn’t have to convince anyone to choose you. There is no real choice in love.”
F*ck. My words are inadequate. I loved this story and I hated it too. Way back in 2012, I read The Opportunist, back when it was a standalone, and I knew that that was the type of book that I would always be searching for, it makes you FEEL everything and sometimes you feel absolutely fucking awful whilst reading it, but the journey to the end is always worth it. When you finally get the end and your heart can be put back together again and be full. Tarryn Fisher has done it once again with this new standalone contemporary romance.
“It never passes, and it never pauses. It’s like a fist clutched around my heart, squeezing all day long.”
I didn't even read the blurb to this book before reading, which is very unusual for me. I like to know what I am getting into, and I at least like to know the names of the main characters and a general gist of what is in store for me. I am glad that I went in blind, because the full effect hit me like a freight train and whilst at first I didn't know what the heck was going on, I just went with it and trusted the author to write a story that would be amazing.
This is a story of fate, and destiny and how sometimes you can't choose who you fall in love with. I fell in love with Helena, she was completely relate-able to me and I felt her emotions completely. Kit was also easy to fall in love with, but he tested me so much at times, especially towards the end. As for Della, she was a needy and clingy friend, a egotist who was insecure and vain. I loved to hate her.
“Your girlfriend is a narcissistic bitch, and you’re an indecisive coward.”
The writing was phenomenal, the plot complex enough to keep you reading without wanting to stop and the characters each had great depth to their personalities.
My advice. Read it.
F*ck Love is a standalone contemporary romance, told in the heroine's POV.
January 1, 2016
Tarryn Fisher delivers the unexpected—a love story that is both aching and tender, witty and romantic—but not without lacing the narrative with her singular style that readers have come to love.
[4.5 stars]
Tarryn Fisher delves into contemporary romance once again, but not without stamping it with her own singular style. F*ck Love is a story of destiny and determination, heartache and love, timing and choices. We see a different side of Tarryn, with more wit, tenderness and effervescence imbued into the narrative, making the novel compulsively readable and enjoyable. There were so many things I loved, everything from her fresh and funny chapter hashtags to the protagonist’s life-centering Harry Potter references (who doesn’t relate to that?!). A portion of the story also takes place in Port Townsend, Washington, and the setting felt very vivid and immersive, giving the story an added sense of connection.
This story felt more plot driven than some of her previous work without losing the feels and character intrigue. In fact, I really loved our protagonist, Helena, who was very much relatable even as she struggled to do the right thing and understand both her sense of self and her emotions.
The novel unravels when in a dream Helena Conway experiences a slice of life that could be… would be… should be? She leaps into a life she never expected, with a man she never imagined, getting an unexpected taste of happiness. The issue is that man is not her boyfriend, but rather, her best friend’s boyfriend. Worse yet, her life is tethered to another man and her best friend Della, seems to think her boyfriend Kit is to propose soon.
Helena spins into an emotional frenzy she can’t control, examining her life, her ambitions, her heart. She ends up falling for the man of her dreams, someone who is not hers to love.
The plot moves quickly as destiny’s ill-timed plays vexed these star-crossed lovers in a will they/won’t they/should they situation. I couldn’t help but fall for Helena and Kit, for the possibility of Helena and Kit’s happily ever after, but fate continued to throw more complication into the mix.
I never know what to expect in Tarryn Fisher’s books and so as I read, I wasn’t sure how the story would close, but I’ll reveal that it certainly concludes with some twists that made my heart ache, all the while pounding with anticipation. Friendships, relationships, choices and chance get thematically explored in a book that is most definitely a love story. F*uck Love expresses another side of Tarryn and I hope we see more of it in the future. This is a book many will love, just I have.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow Vilma's Book Blog: Website | Facebook | Twitter
[4.5 stars]
“You are supposed to be with me.”
Tarryn Fisher delves into contemporary romance once again, but not without stamping it with her own singular style. F*ck Love is a story of destiny and determination, heartache and love, timing and choices. We see a different side of Tarryn, with more wit, tenderness and effervescence imbued into the narrative, making the novel compulsively readable and enjoyable. There were so many things I loved, everything from her fresh and funny chapter hashtags to the protagonist’s life-centering Harry Potter references (who doesn’t relate to that?!). A portion of the story also takes place in Port Townsend, Washington, and the setting felt very vivid and immersive, giving the story an added sense of connection.
This story felt more plot driven than some of her previous work without losing the feels and character intrigue. In fact, I really loved our protagonist, Helena, who was very much relatable even as she struggled to do the right thing and understand both her sense of self and her emotions.
The novel unravels when in a dream Helena Conway experiences a slice of life that could be… would be… should be? She leaps into a life she never expected, with a man she never imagined, getting an unexpected taste of happiness. The issue is that man is not her boyfriend, but rather, her best friend’s boyfriend. Worse yet, her life is tethered to another man and her best friend Della, seems to think her boyfriend Kit is to propose soon.
“I was just a flat line until he came along. And maybe now I’m hurting. But isn’t that what love is supposed to do? Make you feel, make you brave, make you look at yourself more carefully?”
Helena spins into an emotional frenzy she can’t control, examining her life, her ambitions, her heart. She ends up falling for the man of her dreams, someone who is not hers to love.
“Fuck fear, and fuck Kit, and fuck love. I don’t need any of that muggle shit.”
The plot moves quickly as destiny’s ill-timed plays vexed these star-crossed lovers in a will they/won’t they/should they situation. I couldn’t help but fall for Helena and Kit, for the possibility of Helena and Kit’s happily ever after, but fate continued to throw more complication into the mix.
“We have something, Helena. In another life, it would have been a beautiful something.”
I never know what to expect in Tarryn Fisher’s books and so as I read, I wasn’t sure how the story would close, but I’ll reveal that it certainly concludes with some twists that made my heart ache, all the while pounding with anticipation. Friendships, relationships, choices and chance get thematically explored in a book that is most definitely a love story. F*uck Love expresses another side of Tarryn and I hope we see more of it in the future. This is a book many will love, just I have.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow Vilma's Book Blog: Website | Facebook | Twitter
January 4, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
SPOILERS. SPOILERS EVERYWHERE.
It all begins with a dream. Helena dreams of her future, but instead of her current serious boyfriend starring as her husband, it is her best friend’s boyfriend Kit in the role of leading male. Now, I admit I’ve had some dreams that seem realistic and have even had that “David After Dentist” moment when I’ve been super angry at my husband until I was able to clear the cobwebs and differentiate between what happened during R.E.M. and what was actually real life. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for Helena. Nope, after her kind of cuckoo and obviously very dreamy dream about Kit Helena just can’t let it go . . . .
I mean, for real. For all the bashing of instalove that I’ve seen over the years, how the heck does this currently have a 4.48 rating? The bitch don’t even KNOW him and falls in lurrrrrrrrv. And then? Well then the story became The Opportunist version 2.0 . . . .
“Girls always choose men, and men always choose the wrong girls. It’s an endless cycle.”
The same tired tropes were troped out yet again – the “I can’t have him, but I want him and I’ll develop a “platonic” relationship in order to get him to see we are meant to be” and “whoops, I accidentally knocked this chick up who I don’t even love anymore but since I’m a pigman I have to continue having much of the sex with her anyway and also now I have to marry her.” (Sidenote: What f-ing year is it that people HAVE to get married because of a baby and seriously over half of all marriages fail anyway which sucks but you REALLY think you’re going to be able to pretend a happily-ever-after just because you have a kid? Uhhhhh, notsamuch.) And I can’t forget this is yet another Tarryn Fisher story with an attractive yet quirky female lead who is petite with waist-length, raven hair that is frequently tied in a top-knot who continually runs away from anything related to love and speaks in Harry Potter terminology. Basically, she has written herself. AGAIN.
At this point you’re probably asking why I didn’t rate this lower. The simple answer is it’s because I have an enormous girl crush on Ms. Fisher . . .
You’re damn right, Honey Boo Boo. This story may have been too familiar and too “beige” for my liking. However, I appreciated the lack of purple when it came to the writing and I’m 100% a basic bitch who gets sucked in by the right words if I read them at the right time . . .
“Stop saying my name. It gives me butterflies and I don’t trust you or your butterflies.”
I'm also fairly comfortable saying even though I read this on the second day of the new year it will win best title/cover combo of 2016 hands down.
What can I say? I’m merely a Muggle who is under Tarryn Fisher’s spell . . .
(But I’m still ready for her writing to go back to the dark side.)
ORIGINAL "REVIEW":
My body is ready! Well . . . maybe? Probably not. But my brain is definitely ready for the mindf*&^ : )
Dear Ms. Fisher,
Please feel free to ignore the disclaimer on my "about me" section about not doing review requests. That rule does not apply to either you or CoHo.
SPOILERS. SPOILERS EVERYWHERE.
It all begins with a dream. Helena dreams of her future, but instead of her current serious boyfriend starring as her husband, it is her best friend’s boyfriend Kit in the role of leading male. Now, I admit I’ve had some dreams that seem realistic and have even had that “David After Dentist” moment when I’ve been super angry at my husband until I was able to clear the cobwebs and differentiate between what happened during R.E.M. and what was actually real life. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for Helena. Nope, after her kind of cuckoo and obviously very dreamy dream about Kit Helena just can’t let it go . . . .
I mean, for real. For all the bashing of instalove that I’ve seen over the years, how the heck does this currently have a 4.48 rating? The bitch don’t even KNOW him and falls in lurrrrrrrrv. And then? Well then the story became The Opportunist version 2.0 . . . .
“Girls always choose men, and men always choose the wrong girls. It’s an endless cycle.”
The same tired tropes were troped out yet again – the “I can’t have him, but I want him and I’ll develop a “platonic” relationship in order to get him to see we are meant to be” and “whoops, I accidentally knocked this chick up who I don’t even love anymore but since I’m a pigman I have to continue having much of the sex with her anyway and also now I have to marry her.” (Sidenote: What f-ing year is it that people HAVE to get married because of a baby and seriously over half of all marriages fail anyway which sucks but you REALLY think you’re going to be able to pretend a happily-ever-after just because you have a kid? Uhhhhh, notsamuch.) And I can’t forget this is yet another Tarryn Fisher story with an attractive yet quirky female lead who is petite with waist-length, raven hair that is frequently tied in a top-knot who continually runs away from anything related to love and speaks in Harry Potter terminology. Basically, she has written herself. AGAIN.
At this point you’re probably asking why I didn’t rate this lower. The simple answer is it’s because I have an enormous girl crush on Ms. Fisher . . .
You’re damn right, Honey Boo Boo. This story may have been too familiar and too “beige” for my liking. However, I appreciated the lack of purple when it came to the writing and I’m 100% a basic bitch who gets sucked in by the right words if I read them at the right time . . .
“Stop saying my name. It gives me butterflies and I don’t trust you or your butterflies.”
I'm also fairly comfortable saying even though I read this on the second day of the new year it will win best title/cover combo of 2016 hands down.
What can I say? I’m merely a Muggle who is under Tarryn Fisher’s spell . . .
(But I’m still ready for her writing to go back to the dark side.)
ORIGINAL "REVIEW":
My body is ready! Well . . . maybe? Probably not. But my brain is definitely ready for the mindf*&^ : )
Dear Ms. Fisher,
Please feel free to ignore the disclaimer on my "about me" section about not doing review requests. That rule does not apply to either you or CoHo.
January 12, 2016
5 Profoundly Epic Stars!
F*ck Love is a book I pondered back and forth whether I wanted to read it. The vast majority of friends LOVED it, but I was on the fence. First the dedication ticked me off a bit,
Hmm, okay. Not knowing the author personally, I didn't see the humor in it and I found it a tad off-putting and it put a bit of bad taste in my mouth. Not a good way to start a book...
So, where am I going with this? Right okay....I decided to look the other way and keep an open mind. I am so glad I did! I read this book in less than a day (and I am a snail-paced reader). I DEVOURED it!
F@ck Love is a love it or hate it kind of book. Those that loved this book, I can attest were able to really grasp all the hidden meanings...life lessons this book is chock full of. On the surface it seems humorous chick lit but it's so much more.
Helena is our heroine and she is not without quirky issues. If you're a reader looking for a tough as nails heroine, look elsewhere. She's human and has flaws...mostly in the lower self esteem category. Helena falls asleep and has a vivid dream and when she wakes, it's almost as if her life has changed and she looks to make that dream come true. Unfortunately the dream includes her best friend's boyfriend, Kit, a guy she barely knows. This could get a bit awkward...
So from this point of the book, I'm hooked because this exact thing has occurred in my life. Haven't you ever awoken from a dream and it almost seems like it really happened?I once dreamed my husband cheated on me and let me say I was pissed at him the whole next day! So I loved this premise of the story. Helena is fairly blah and this dream is totally not her! So as her story progresses, is it the dream inevitably coming to life or is Helena purposefully directing it in order to make that dream come true?
Comedy- I seriously loved this aspect of the book. Helena was awkward with her obsession with KFC and Kit Kats or her innate ability to dribble wine all over herself.I admit to doing the same- only when I'm wearing white. Or dry-clean only clothes. She's a bit manic, can be pretty indecisive on life decisions, but I looked at this book as a journey of sorts for a girl living a life of beige. She's drab and wall-flowerish and maybe that color is just not for her in the end...
Angst- This book one-two punched me with the angst. Just when I'm all settled into the day to day comedic life of Helena, the author socks me upside the head with a pretty tragic twist. I didn't see it coming and a few quotes in the mind of Helena really hit me in the feels for this particular aspect of the book. It was almost personal for me and well well written.
Each character has a role in this story and even if it seemed their part seemed fleeting, they have a deeper role in the lessons in life we learned. I found myself highlighting almost the entire epilogue or anything pertaining to the character, Muslim as his role is pivotal in the book.
So, enough rambling. I loved this book. I hope everyone who reads it can take away from it what I learned from it. I finished this book shaking- it was that touching for me. Thank you for that Ms. Fisher. And I forgive you for making my first impression not good with that dedication. After reading Helena's humor in this, I truly understand that is Tarryn Fisher's humor coming through. You made it up to me with flying colors with that story.....
A few quotes that I found most profound and their meaning is deep within the theme of F@ck Love. Just look for it!!!
F*ck Love is a book I pondered back and forth whether I wanted to read it. The vast majority of friends LOVED it, but I was on the fence. First the dedication ticked me off a bit,
For my haters,
fuck you.
Hmm, okay. Not knowing the author personally, I didn't see the humor in it and I found it a tad off-putting and it put a bit of bad taste in my mouth. Not a good way to start a book...
So, where am I going with this? Right okay....I decided to look the other way and keep an open mind. I am so glad I did! I read this book in less than a day (and I am a snail-paced reader). I DEVOURED it!
F@ck Love is a love it or hate it kind of book. Those that loved this book, I can attest were able to really grasp all the hidden meanings...life lessons this book is chock full of. On the surface it seems humorous chick lit but it's so much more.
Helena is our heroine and she is not without quirky issues. If you're a reader looking for a tough as nails heroine, look elsewhere. She's human and has flaws...mostly in the lower self esteem category. Helena falls asleep and has a vivid dream and when she wakes, it's almost as if her life has changed and she looks to make that dream come true. Unfortunately the dream includes her best friend's boyfriend, Kit, a guy she barely knows. This could get a bit awkward...
So from this point of the book, I'm hooked because this exact thing has occurred in my life. Haven't you ever awoken from a dream and it almost seems like it really happened?
Comedy- I seriously loved this aspect of the book. Helena was awkward with her obsession with KFC and Kit Kats or her innate ability to dribble wine all over herself.
Angst- This book one-two punched me with the angst. Just when I'm all settled into the day to day comedic life of Helena, the author socks me upside the head with a pretty tragic twist. I didn't see it coming and a few quotes in the mind of Helena really hit me in the feels for this particular aspect of the book. It was almost personal for me and well well written.
Each character has a role in this story and even if it seemed their part seemed fleeting, they have a deeper role in the lessons in life we learned. I found myself highlighting almost the entire epilogue or anything pertaining to the character, Muslim as his role is pivotal in the book.
So, enough rambling. I loved this book. I hope everyone who reads it can take away from it what I learned from it. I finished this book shaking- it was that touching for me. Thank you for that Ms. Fisher. And I forgive you for making my first impression not good with that dedication. After reading Helena's humor in this, I truly understand that is Tarryn Fisher's humor coming through. You made it up to me with flying colors with that story.....
A few quotes that I found most profound and their meaning is deep within the theme of F@ck Love. Just look for it!!!
“Art is the blood that comes from a wound. You can’t let it scab; let it keep bleeding. Let it bleed until you have enough blood to paint with.”
----------
Who wants to hide from the truth? Maybe people who have had too much of it. Or people who have had too little. Or people who are too shallow to appreciate it's hard edges. #TRUTH
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You can love someone your whole life and not know why. You can even live with it.
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Don’t be upset that you can’t attain constant happiness. It’s the quickest way to feel like a failure in life. If each of our lives represented a page in a book, happiness would be the punctuation. It breaks up the parts that are too long.
----------
And my personal favorite-
Embrace the lows so that you can more effectively enjoy the highs. Love the fight. Love it so much, and let it save you when your emotional muscles have become soft.
January 12, 2016
Oh boy, this book was not for me. This is my first Tarryn Fisher novel and I have heard so many fantastic things about it, so I was very excited to start it.
From the very beginning I was confused, but as you read it on it all comes together. So that isn’t even my issue with the story. My issue with the story is Kit Isley. The man that captivated and owned three women’s hearts. I am an easy reader, so I am truly okay with most things.
However, if my hero is going to be so badass that three women will alter the course of their lives for him I am going to need him to be a few things. I am going to need him to be endearing, honest, brave and confident. Confident in his feelings, confident in hisself and confident in his decisions. Kit Isley is a runner and a coward. He ran from his high school love when she made a mistake. He ran from Della when she was becoming too much. He ran from Helena when it meant he had to make a decision.
I wasn’t a fan of this story necessarily, but Tarryn’s writing is absolutely beautiful. I mean her words made me think. I highlighted so many parts just because I thought it was so smart and there is so much wisdom in her words. So the struggle is real, because I want to love the actual plot, characters and story, but it just wasn’t for me.
Regardless, all my friends are loving this one and I do truly believe this one is just not for me, but definitely give it a try yourself!
From the very beginning I was confused, but as you read it on it all comes together. So that isn’t even my issue with the story. My issue with the story is Kit Isley. The man that captivated and owned three women’s hearts. I am an easy reader, so I am truly okay with most things.
However, if my hero is going to be so badass that three women will alter the course of their lives for him I am going to need him to be a few things. I am going to need him to be endearing, honest, brave and confident. Confident in his feelings, confident in hisself and confident in his decisions. Kit Isley is a runner and a coward. He ran from his high school love when she made a mistake. He ran from Della when she was becoming too much. He ran from Helena when it meant he had to make a decision.
I wasn’t a fan of this story necessarily, but Tarryn’s writing is absolutely beautiful. I mean her words made me think. I highlighted so many parts just because I thought it was so smart and there is so much wisdom in her words. So the struggle is real, because I want to love the actual plot, characters and story, but it just wasn’t for me.
Regardless, all my friends are loving this one and I do truly believe this one is just not for me, but definitely give it a try yourself!
January 20, 2016
5 "F*ck, Love?" STARS
I can seriously say without a doubt that I've read my first book of my "Top 25 Books of 2016"!
I think Tarryn Fisher is a magnificent and multifaceted writer and she literally wrung my heart out with her Love Me with Lies series (utterly amazing). She did the same with this one. Like that series, my chest literally ached as I read this yet I couldn't and wouldn't tear myself away from it.
The story of Helena and Kit was equal parts apprehensive and foreboding as it was beautiful and ethereal. Both the H/h were flawed and frustrating yet lovable and endearing. The only thing I'd wished could have been included was to be inside Kit's head, for even a bit of this, as he was one puzzle that was hard to solve and I would've loved to make sure I had all the pieces!
"Embrace the lows so that you can more effectively enjoy the highs. Love the fight. Love it so much, and let it save you when your emotional muscles have become soft."
I'm sure many are on the edge of the cliff and undecided as to whether or not you should take the leap with this one. I say JUMP!!
I can seriously say without a doubt that I've read my first book of my "Top 25 Books of 2016"!
I think Tarryn Fisher is a magnificent and multifaceted writer and she literally wrung my heart out with her Love Me with Lies series (utterly amazing). She did the same with this one. Like that series, my chest literally ached as I read this yet I couldn't and wouldn't tear myself away from it.
The story of Helena and Kit was equal parts apprehensive and foreboding as it was beautiful and ethereal. Both the H/h were flawed and frustrating yet lovable and endearing. The only thing I'd wished could have been included was to be inside Kit's head, for even a bit of this, as he was one puzzle that was hard to solve and I would've loved to make sure I had all the pieces!
"Embrace the lows so that you can more effectively enjoy the highs. Love the fight. Love it so much, and let it save you when your emotional muscles have become soft."
I'm sure many are on the edge of the cliff and undecided as to whether or not you should take the leap with this one. I say JUMP!!
July 1, 2016
This book leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
It has something thoroughly sad about it.
Even after reading the final page, it still has me in its grip.
It's evil and consuming.
A beige colored nightmare.
A desperate cry for help.
It this book even about love? I don't think so.
This isn't love I read about.
Love isn't supposed to make you feel so hateful. So lovely mad.
Helena, the main narrator, is unlovable.
She is spiteful and raging,
unfeeling and too sensitive,
closed minded and insightful,
your basic beige girl,
and maybe an extraordinary star, too.
I caught myself laughing out loud at her evilness. I muttered some evil words back at her. Feeling connected with her in some sick sort of way, but also not liking her, at all.
I didn't agree with her choices.
I hated her weakness. Her willingness to keep running.
For her problems. For Kit. For herself.
Tarryn herself shined through those choices. What are you telling me, Tarryn? Is this you?
Are all these characters part of some sort revelation? Are these women fractured pieces of you?
Why couldn't Helena trust anybody? Why was she so cold-hearted?
So insecure?
I kept searching for reasons. Was that my fault? I am talking to you, Tarryn. You know your books touch me on some level. Am I recognizing myself in that calculated regularity of a woman who chooses only one color?
Who let's herself be moved by a dream and at the end, that's not even enough anymore, either.
Am I recognizing myself in the way she is so disappointed how her life is going, because the dream was so much better?
And am I the only one who is feeling this way?
Maybe I am mad at you, because you made me feel so much, Tarryn and in the end it wasn't enough.
I wanted more from you. You never promised a purple fairy-love, but maybe I didn't expect to feel like this.
I am sounding negative, but these are all compliments, Tarryn. Look at that rating.
Look at all these emotions bleeding out of these words, trying to reach you. Trying to create art out of hurt. You thought me that, you know?
And I loved this book like certain dark things are to be loved.
In secret.
In rage and spite and wonder.
And I'll feel melancholic thinking about old towns and chili pepper love.
I have respect for you.
The way you think: f*ck you, society for wanting a specific kind of story.
I am glad you don't follow the hype and instead create your own thing.
It's weird like all of your characters, but it works.
I liked the idea of Muslim thrown within the story. He'll be my dark hero.
Let's not talk about weak, pathetic Kit. I don't want to ruin this review. :)
It was never about him. For me, anyway.
It was about Helena.
And life.
About me and you.
January 4, 2016
4.75 You were my Muse Stars
I moved to Port Townsend because I fell in love with my best friend's boyfriend. I wanted to get as far away from the both of you as I could, while also being as close to you as I could. Does that make sense, or does it sound too crazy?"
Clever, Clever, Clever...that is what I was thinking the entire time I was reading this book. I wanted to start out my 2016 with a fabulous read and I took a big risk with a story about Helena...who is in love with her BF Della's boyfriend Kit. This had disaster written all over it, yet Tarryn Fisher has such a unique style of writing that I decided F*CK it!
This story is very complex and at many points I started to question myself and wonder if I had too much wine! Helena is quite a gal...to me she has been every woman at some time or another. She is that "walk the straight and narrow," the "I don't really know who I am" girl.
You're a muggle who wants to be magical."
"So go be magical. It's a choice."
I feel so pouty. I am just a muggle. A beige bitch muggle.
She is loyal to a fault and completely underestimates her value. She possibly wants more yet it is not until a "dream" of a what-if life with Kit changes her entire path of being. Oh, wow, "the Dream" is something else as this is were the author toys with your sanity a bit and has you questioning what exactly is going on!
As the story progresses with a confused and ever changing Helena you find yourself caught up in a web of unspoken want and passion. It is a slow developing relationship of past and present lovers that causes loss at every turn for Helena...a true hard place to stay and watch your best friend and you heart's desire together.
F*ck fear, and F*ck Kit, and F*ck love. I don't need any of that muggle shit.
What an amazing read of twists and turns of the story and of the heart. I was angry and I cried, yet laughed out loud a hundred times! I have to admit that I was often put off by Kit and his closed off yet intriguing ways. I struggled with the back and forth pull of Helena and Kit as I know exactly how that manic high and devastating low of being in love is. To be so close and to lose it...to be faced with constant temptation...to want so badly to fall but yet no there is no catch...to finally reconcile your heart and move on...to be called back.
I am not 100% sure I really "loved" this story, but damn if it didn't keep my attention for 3 straight hours. I could not put it down. I had no idea who I wanted together or what I wanted to ultimately happen. I just knew I could not stop reading. So kudos to Tarryn Fisher for starting my 2016 out on the right foot. This book was written so well. The characters, while not all likeable were completely captivating, and the story was one for all!
I moved to Port Townsend because I fell in love with my best friend's boyfriend. I wanted to get as far away from the both of you as I could, while also being as close to you as I could. Does that make sense, or does it sound too crazy?"
Clever, Clever, Clever...that is what I was thinking the entire time I was reading this book. I wanted to start out my 2016 with a fabulous read and I took a big risk with a story about Helena...who is in love with her BF Della's boyfriend Kit. This had disaster written all over it, yet Tarryn Fisher has such a unique style of writing that I decided F*CK it!
This story is very complex and at many points I started to question myself and wonder if I had too much wine! Helena is quite a gal...to me she has been every woman at some time or another. She is that "walk the straight and narrow," the "I don't really know who I am" girl.
You're a muggle who wants to be magical."
"So go be magical. It's a choice."
I feel so pouty. I am just a muggle. A beige bitch muggle.
She is loyal to a fault and completely underestimates her value. She possibly wants more yet it is not until a "dream" of a what-if life with Kit changes her entire path of being. Oh, wow, "the Dream" is something else as this is were the author toys with your sanity a bit and has you questioning what exactly is going on!
As the story progresses with a confused and ever changing Helena you find yourself caught up in a web of unspoken want and passion. It is a slow developing relationship of past and present lovers that causes loss at every turn for Helena...a true hard place to stay and watch your best friend and you heart's desire together.
F*ck fear, and F*ck Kit, and F*ck love. I don't need any of that muggle shit.
What an amazing read of twists and turns of the story and of the heart. I was angry and I cried, yet laughed out loud a hundred times! I have to admit that I was often put off by Kit and his closed off yet intriguing ways. I struggled with the back and forth pull of Helena and Kit as I know exactly how that manic high and devastating low of being in love is. To be so close and to lose it...to be faced with constant temptation...to want so badly to fall but yet no there is no catch...to finally reconcile your heart and move on...to be called back.
I am not 100% sure I really "loved" this story, but damn if it didn't keep my attention for 3 straight hours. I could not put it down. I had no idea who I wanted together or what I wanted to ultimately happen. I just knew I could not stop reading. So kudos to Tarryn Fisher for starting my 2016 out on the right foot. This book was written so well. The characters, while not all likeable were completely captivating, and the story was one for all!
January 8, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Female
Rating:
Helena Conway has always been content with her life. She was the one everyone could count on and be dependent on. That was until a dream jolted her from her bubble and spurred her to take a chance.
That chance happened to be Kit Isley. He was a nice, creative and spontaneous man who encouraged her to be someone no else believed she could be. The problem is expecting more would be a hard task because he also happened to be her best friend’s boyfriend.
I wasn’t sure what I would get when I decided to read this book. I’ve always been a fan of the author because her works tend to be heavy – on either the emotion or darkness. This book had a slightly different feel but still reflected the author’s signature style.
Helena was very likeable. Her quirkiness and awkwardness was part of her charm. I love how she expressed herself through pictures.
I liked Kit a lot. He was very laid back and considerate. But there were moment I wanted him to be more assertive.
I really like the premise of this book – doing what’s right versus doing what’s best for you – because there are always pros and cons either way. I love the connection between Helena and Kit. However, I felt it was less intense than what I’d like. Yes, the book is on the lighter side, but it could still use a stronger pull between the two.
What I love the most about this book is how much I relate to its philosophy on life. I’ve always been a firm believer in experiencing myriad of feelings in order to truly live your life.
F*uck love is a story of friendship, love and life’s direction. With interesting plot and well developed characters, you’d want to root for the characters from start to finish.
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Female
Rating:
Helena Conway has always been content with her life. She was the one everyone could count on and be dependent on. That was until a dream jolted her from her bubble and spurred her to take a chance.
That chance happened to be Kit Isley. He was a nice, creative and spontaneous man who encouraged her to be someone no else believed she could be. The problem is expecting more would be a hard task because he also happened to be her best friend’s boyfriend.
I wasn’t sure what I would get when I decided to read this book. I’ve always been a fan of the author because her works tend to be heavy – on either the emotion or darkness. This book had a slightly different feel but still reflected the author’s signature style.
I don’t want to be someone’s ‘girl who got away.’ I want to be someone’s ‘girl who’d I’d never let get away.’
Helena was very likeable. Her quirkiness and awkwardness was part of her charm. I love how she expressed herself through pictures.
He was from a place where giant bubbles blew down Main Street, and artists lived in old clam canneries. The magic of this town clung to him.
I liked Kit a lot. He was very laid back and considerate. But there were moment I wanted him to be more assertive.
I really like the premise of this book – doing what’s right versus doing what’s best for you – because there are always pros and cons either way. I love the connection between Helena and Kit. However, I felt it was less intense than what I’d like. Yes, the book is on the lighter side, but it could still use a stronger pull between the two.
“Contrast is important in life. We understand what light is because we can compare it with what we know is dark. Sweet is made sweeter after we eat something bitter. It’s the very same with sadness. And it’s important to experience sadness, to embrace it in order to truly know happiness.”
What I love the most about this book is how much I relate to its philosophy on life. I’ve always been a firm believer in experiencing myriad of feelings in order to truly live your life.
F*uck love is a story of friendship, love and life’s direction. With interesting plot and well developed characters, you’d want to root for the characters from start to finish.
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 7, 2017
TITLE: F*ck Love
AUTHOR: Tarryn Fisher
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: January 01st 2016
MY RATING: 5 + STARS
Love the title I am very guilty in the past of saying exactly that F*CK LOVE!!
Love the cover harder
But that synopsis is the killer that's what got me one clicking!!
Man oh Man I feel like I've been put through the wringer, my emotions are wrung, the highs and lows, the feels, I love books that get me so absorbed in the story where you feel everything that author has put on paper this is definitely a book that will stay with me for such a long time, beautifully tragic, beautifully written, emotionally beautiful.. I lover this book so hard!! It is so easy to get into, nothing to what I was expecting, I love awkward Helena, I am so glad I one clicked this, some may hate but this chick loves!!
The first chapter is aptly named WTF as i sit there reading that first chapter all that is running through my mind is WTF am I reading!! I am sooooo WTF confused!!
The day I fell in love with you was the first day you found yourself. You weren't even mine yet.
Hopefully I find out if she's time travelled, is concussed, or is on drugs or what I read comes at the end of the book..Gods it's definitely a WTF chapter..
Ok still f*cking confused, so Helena dream't all that crap that happened in chapter one, divorced, two kids, is married/with her best friends boyfriend, is a successful artist (she should've pinched herself harder) That's a definite WTF dream!!
To now waking up and craving/wanting that dream life, to stalking that dream life
It dawns on me that since my dream I’ve become obsessive about making it come true.
Here's a good indication that I am reading a REALLY good BOOK
1: I've not brushed my teeth
2: I've not brushed my hair
3: (sniffs under arm pits) or not put any deodorant on *Phew*
4: (Looks at clock) eaten breakfast or lunch
5:(Looks at clothes I'm wearing) WTF I'm still in my Jim Jams!!
Timing is everything when you’re about to tell someone you dreamed him into your heart.
All good reasons WHY you NEED/HAVE to go one clicking this book!!
Apart from my very blond confusion at the beginning you still get so drawn into the book that life just gets put on hold!!
I love/crave books like this and I am only a few chapters in and I am HOOKED
This book is such a roller coaster of a clusterf*ck ride!!
“Hoes before bros!”
I yell at the phone.
But it’s too late. A bro came, and both the hos are in turmoil.
"F*ck you, Kit Isley,” say under my breath.
OMG Priceless!!
Hold that thought.I say. Then I punch him. Right in the eye, and like my dad taught me. Pull back, throw forward. His head rolls, then snaps forward like a bobble head. Boing, boing, boing on his skinny turkey neck. He lifts his hand to his eye, and I slap him so that he has a hit on each side of his face.
Fuck fear, and fuck Kit, and fuck love. I don’t need any of that muggle shit.
January 5, 2016
This happens to me every time I pick up a book by Tarryn Fisher - about 25% into the story I ask myself 'WHY do I do this to myself??' and the answer is always the same: I crave #TheFEELS Tarryn Fisher style!! When I was done with 'F*CK LOVE' around 2AM this morning, I experienced the case of déjà vu - I remember clutching my Kindle, sobbing [also in the middle of the night] as I read the last page of 'The Opportunist' back in October, 2012. So to say this author is consistent, at least when it comes to THIS reader, would be pretty accurate.
As I was reading 'F*CK LOVE', I kept pondering the rating and in the end, I couldn't NOT give it FIVE GLORIOUS stars it deserves for several reasons:
1. #TheFEELS
2. #ORIGINALITY
3. see #1 & #2
I've always said that Tarryn Fisher's books deserve their own category simply called 'TARRYN FISHER'S BOOKS' because they are THAT unique! With this particular story, I actually felt as if I DID walk a mile in someone else's shoes. I felt every little thing Helena felt. It was uncanny. It was like being inside her body/mind. Seeing the world through her eyes. Feeling everything with her heart. These are the kind of books/stories I hope for when I #one-click a book on Amazon!
I am forever grateful to Ms Fisher for yet another unforgettable experience. I hope she keeps on writing because it would be a great loss to a reading community if she ever stopped!
Cheers!
January 5, 2016
5+ stars!
I loved this book HARD! I swear it’s like literary crack. I defy you to read one chapter and stop because Tarryn Fisher has crafted a breathtaking story that is exhilarating and captivating from the very first page to the last.
I’m really not a fan of love triangles, but this one is definitely the exception. It’s a story about one lost girl, one insecure girl, and the lighthearted man they both love.
The story is told entirely from Helena’s point of view. She is adrift, and she just wants to be seen and loved.
She’s always been the faithful best friend. Now, though, as her relationship with Della evolves and her feelings for Kit intensify, she’s torn between doing the right thing and following her heart.
It’s a complicated situation involving flawed characters of great depth, and I felt deeply for each of them. I really admired Helena. She’s fearless on her difficult journey to self-discovery. She’s also a bit of an odd duck with her collection of captioned selfies and monochromatic beige clothing.
The characters are in their early 20s so it’s technically a New Adult book. However, the maturity level and complexity of the characters make this read like an Adult Contemporary novel. If you’re looking for a drama-free book, this is definitely not the one for you, but oh my gosh – the feels!
The writing is simply gorgeous. I highlighted the heck out of this book. Each chapter is filled with insightful observations and moving quotes. I adored every single thing about it: the chapters titled with clever hashtags; the integral way in which Instagram is used; the steady build up of tension; the unpredictable plot. F*ck Love is one angsty rollercoaster of emotions that both enthralled and wrecked me. This one’s a no-brainer. Go and 1-click it immediately.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mqHOj3
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JQ53b4
I loved this book HARD! I swear it’s like literary crack. I defy you to read one chapter and stop because Tarryn Fisher has crafted a breathtaking story that is exhilarating and captivating from the very first page to the last.
I’m really not a fan of love triangles, but this one is definitely the exception. It’s a story about one lost girl, one insecure girl, and the lighthearted man they both love.
The story is told entirely from Helena’s point of view. She is adrift, and she just wants to be seen and loved.
“I don’t want to be someone’s ‘girl who got away.’ I want to be someone’s ‘girl who’d I’d never let get away.’”
She’s always been the faithful best friend. Now, though, as her relationship with Della evolves and her feelings for Kit intensify, she’s torn between doing the right thing and following her heart.
It’s a complicated situation involving flawed characters of great depth, and I felt deeply for each of them. I really admired Helena. She’s fearless on her difficult journey to self-discovery. She’s also a bit of an odd duck with her collection of captioned selfies and monochromatic beige clothing.
The characters are in their early 20s so it’s technically a New Adult book. However, the maturity level and complexity of the characters make this read like an Adult Contemporary novel. If you’re looking for a drama-free book, this is definitely not the one for you, but oh my gosh – the feels!
The writing is simply gorgeous. I highlighted the heck out of this book. Each chapter is filled with insightful observations and moving quotes. I adored every single thing about it: the chapters titled with clever hashtags; the integral way in which Instagram is used; the steady build up of tension; the unpredictable plot. F*ck Love is one angsty rollercoaster of emotions that both enthralled and wrecked me. This one’s a no-brainer. Go and 1-click it immediately.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mqHOj3
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JQ53b4
January 23, 2016
4.5* FULL REVIEW TO COME...
I read this in a day and somehow didn't realized i was posting status on a different format and when i tried to fixed it i about lost all my status WTH??? ughh....ok i'll try to post review this weekend. I need to let my heart beat slow down I almost had a mini heart attack LMAO
~~~~~BLURB~~~~~
Helena Conway has fallen in love.
Unwillingly. Unwittingly.
But not unprovoked.
Kit Isley is everything she’s not—unstructured, untethered,
and not even a little bit careful.
It could all be so beautiful … if he wasn’t dating her best friend.
Helena must defy her heart, do the right thing, and think of others.
Until she doesn’t.
Book Order Standalone:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
I read this in a day and somehow didn't realized i was posting status on a different format and when i tried to fixed it i about lost all my status WTH??? ughh....ok i'll try to post review this weekend. I need to let my heart beat slow down I almost had a mini heart attack LMAO
~~~~~BLURB~~~~~
Helena Conway has fallen in love.
Unwillingly. Unwittingly.
But not unprovoked.
Kit Isley is everything she’s not—unstructured, untethered,
and not even a little bit careful.
It could all be so beautiful … if he wasn’t dating her best friend.
Helena must defy her heart, do the right thing, and think of others.
Until she doesn’t.
Book Order Standalone:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
January 12, 2016
4 - 4.5 ★'s
OMG...the title still makes me laugh! What else would we expect from Tarryn Fisher besides the unexpected! And that's really the pull because you have no idea where she is going with this story! You want to know so you read and read and read and then you're done and you're left thinking...WTF*ck did I just read! Yea, that should be the title of her next book!
So....the book starts off with almost a paranormal aspect. Helena is out with her best friend, Della, and their respective boyfriends, Neil and Kit when Kit comes up to her and tells her “You are supposed to be with me.” She's a little freaked out and thinks he's on drugs. He gives her a blue crayon to hold and tells her to say, "Show me, Kit." So, of course, she does.
She wakes up and it's ten years in the future. She's living with Kit and they have two kids, well, it's complicated. She's an artist, he's a writer, they love to make lists, go on trips and shop at Pottery Barn...which she now thinks is cliché! Everything is intense and nothing like she thought her future would be. Then just as her and Kit are making love...she wakes up for real.
Everything else in her life is the same but she is not. She tries to make sense of her 'dream' and steer her life in that direction...and that includes towards Kit who is still Della's boyfriend. She doesn't want to be "that" girl but she can't help herself because of the 'dream'.
And that's the uncomplicated part! So, hold onto your book/ereader because this story is going to take you on a wild ride. Full of adventure, love and heartbreak. Of finding yourself and losing yourself. Talking selfies and cherishing wine corks. Searching for memories and making new ones. Protecting your heart and coming to the revelation that what you really need is for it to be left unguarded and with your arms wide open.
I'll just leave you with a few grievances I had:
♦ The story overwhelmed me...there's a lot to take in. Usually I love all the little things that T.F. incorporates into her stories but this is A. LOT.
♦ Also, I felt a real sense of disconnect with Kit and why he did the things he did...and didn't. So many times I wanted to bash him over the head. I really wanted his POV!
♦ ONE sort of sex scene. I hear T.F. doesn't do romance...I just don't want to believe it. I mean The Opportunist! 'Nuff said!!
♦ And Muslim....really? If you haven't read Marrow, you're gonna be confused. I read it and I was still confused. Thanks Brandi for clearing that up!
● Bottom Line... I hope you give it a chance and if you don't enjoy it, at least enjoy the ride or read The Opportunist instead.
Favorite quote:
♥ "I know you; I walked with you once upon a dream…"
OMG...the title still makes me laugh! What else would we expect from Tarryn Fisher besides the unexpected! And that's really the pull because you have no idea where she is going with this story! You want to know so you read and read and read and then you're done and you're left thinking...WTF*ck did I just read! Yea, that should be the title of her next book!
So....the book starts off with almost a paranormal aspect. Helena is out with her best friend, Della, and their respective boyfriends, Neil and Kit when Kit comes up to her and tells her “You are supposed to be with me.” She's a little freaked out and thinks he's on drugs. He gives her a blue crayon to hold and tells her to say, "Show me, Kit." So, of course, she does.
She wakes up and it's ten years in the future. She's living with Kit and they have two kids, well, it's complicated. She's an artist, he's a writer, they love to make lists, go on trips and shop at Pottery Barn...which she now thinks is cliché! Everything is intense and nothing like she thought her future would be. Then just as her and Kit are making love...she wakes up for real.
Everything else in her life is the same but she is not. She tries to make sense of her 'dream' and steer her life in that direction...and that includes towards Kit who is still Della's boyfriend. She doesn't want to be "that" girl but she can't help herself because of the 'dream'.
And that's the uncomplicated part! So, hold onto your book/ereader because this story is going to take you on a wild ride. Full of adventure, love and heartbreak. Of finding yourself and losing yourself. Talking selfies and cherishing wine corks. Searching for memories and making new ones. Protecting your heart and coming to the revelation that what you really need is for it to be left unguarded and with your arms wide open.
I'll just leave you with a few grievances I had:
♦ The story overwhelmed me...there's a lot to take in. Usually I love all the little things that T.F. incorporates into her stories but this is A. LOT.
♦ Also, I felt a real sense of disconnect with Kit and why he did the things he did...and didn't. So many times I wanted to bash him over the head. I really wanted his POV!
♦ ONE sort of sex scene. I hear T.F. doesn't do romance...I just don't want to believe it. I mean The Opportunist! 'Nuff said!!
♦ And Muslim....really? If you haven't read Marrow, you're gonna be confused. I read it and I was still confused. Thanks Brandi for clearing that up!
● Bottom Line... I hope you give it a chance and if you don't enjoy it, at least enjoy the ride or read The Opportunist instead.
Favorite quote:
♥ "I know you; I walked with you once upon a dream…"
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