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Acts of Love
A bold, intelligent, and modern love story which reminds us that the most powerful relationships are not so much about two people finding each other as they are about that most human quest to find ourselves.
Bernadette is expert at hiding the truth.
She has built her career as a journalist on her talent for lulling powerful men into a false sense of security, then exposing them in her ruthless profile pieces.
But in Radley Blake, she may have met her match. Immune to her charms, he seems to see through every layer of her carefully constructed act: right to the truth of who she is inside.
We think we're looking for love - but what if it's ourselves we need to find? Talulah Riley's wonderful first novel is an irresistible will-they-won't-they tale that asks how it is we can strive for independence, but still believe in destiny...
Bernadette is expert at hiding the truth.
She has built her career as a journalist on her talent for lulling powerful men into a false sense of security, then exposing them in her ruthless profile pieces.
But in Radley Blake, she may have met her match. Immune to her charms, he seems to see through every layer of her carefully constructed act: right to the truth of who she is inside.
We think we're looking for love - but what if it's ourselves we need to find? Talulah Riley's wonderful first novel is an irresistible will-they-won't-they tale that asks how it is we can strive for independence, but still believe in destiny...
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2016
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February 19, 2017I'm rather conflicted about this book. The author's style is nicely literary; the setting and sense of place are excellent, and the story is okay, though fairly unsurprising (a Love Triangle, with a man-hating heroine, the man on whom she has a crush and the man she learns not to hate), although the people persistently comparing it to GONE WITH THE WIND are doing neither book a service. My problem with most "retellings" of classic novels is usually the same one - that is, the fact that the success of a story based in a certain time and place, with all the complexities of its social and historical setting, doesn't necessarily transplant well to a modern scenario. Gender politics have changed since GONE WITH THE WIND. Scarlett o' Hara was striking because of her strength of character, which contrasted nicely with the fact that, as a woman, she had so little personal agency. The background of the Civil War gave her character room to expand and to show her courage under pressure. However, the protagonist of ACTS OF LOVE has all the social and personal agency that Scarlett lacks, which makes her character's personal deficiencies and reactions hard to understand or sympathize with, in spite of the enormous info dump of backstory (abusive, demanding father, hatred of men linked with the perverse desire to please them) delivered in the first chapter. As a result this modern-day Scarlett pivots between hard-eyed socialite and swooning debutante in a way that made me feel quite ill. That said, it's a perfectly decent love story by a promising first novelist who should have had more structural help from her editors, and whose second novel (which hopefully will not be a retelling of something else) I look forward to reading.
November 16, 2020
So Talulah Riley wrote a book, the cover is so cute and I'm interested to read a book by her because of her career as an actress (Mary in Pride & Prejudice and Annabelle in St Trinian's) and her glamours and interesting personal life. It might be reflected in her writing. Let's see!
Now that I'm reading the book I can say that my suspension is correct, this is Talulah's love story with Elon Musk the CEO of SpaceX. Her writing is exquisite, she is the full package, beautiful, talented, smart, and has a wicked sense of humor.
It's funny to read this because I felt while I was reading that the beginning of Acts of Love is a mix between Gone with the Wind and their lives. The whole scene with Tim when she confesses her love to him at his engagement party was so Scarlett O'Hara!
This book is very well written, it's also funny, frustrating, and romantic. I loved Bernadette and Radley. Radley is 100& made after Elon Musk, which made the novel sort of autobiographical. As for Bernie, I don't think of Talulah this way, they share some similarities but Talulah seems fragile and more romantic.
Now that I'm reading the book I can say that my suspension is correct, this is Talulah's love story with Elon Musk the CEO of SpaceX. Her writing is exquisite, she is the full package, beautiful, talented, smart, and has a wicked sense of humor.
I found the public response to Fifty Shades of Grey interesting, particularly the way people received Christian Grey. It made me wonder how readers would react if a female character was that sexually conniving and manipulative, so I started writing about a journalist who makes a career of exposing high-profile men but meets one who challenges her assumptions. It became my first novel, Acts of Love. It took me three years to write. My process was quite structured – I created an outline of the story and wrote a chapter breakdown detailing the main events in each – but my writing routine was unstructured. There was no deadline or pressure on me, as it was a hobby, so I wrote whenever I had a moment – usually in the evenings, as I tend to come alive after 11pm.
It’s chick-lit set in LA, a modern parody of Gone With The Wind, which I love. That’s what I’m attempting, anyway. I like lighter stuff. I’m a hedonist in search of a good time.
It's funny to read this because I felt while I was reading that the beginning of Acts of Love is a mix between Gone with the Wind and their lives. The whole scene with Tim when she confesses her love to him at his engagement party was so Scarlett O'Hara!
This book is very well written, it's also funny, frustrating, and romantic. I loved Bernadette and Radley. Radley is 100& made after Elon Musk, which made the novel sort of autobiographical. As for Bernie, I don't think of Talulah this way, they share some similarities but Talulah seems fragile and more romantic.
October 31, 2017
My name is Khadidja and am freaking annoyed
WHY? WHY?!!!!!
LIKE I DONT GET TO HAVE A PROPER LOVE LIFE, CUZ IT'S REAL LIFE I FULLY UNDERSTAND. BUT WHY CAN'T SHE??
WHY? WHY?!!!!!
LIKE I DONT GET TO HAVE A PROPER LOVE LIFE, CUZ IT'S REAL LIFE I FULLY UNDERSTAND. BUT WHY CAN'T SHE??
July 29, 2016
What a load of old shite. Disliked the lead character with a vengeance. What a cow. There was not one viable reason why the lead male would like her. Be gone silly book.
June 24, 2017
I didn't like this one at all. Usual chick lit/modern romance nonsense set in LA with an English heroine, billionaire male character and unrequited love. Way too long with none of the mystique and mastery of Gone with the Wind to which it has been compared. Simple lack lustre plot line, simpering self indulgent characters and a completely uninteresting and boring story line. Nothing like the superb Mitchell novel that it is being compared with. To my mind this novel is just mushy nonsense with no originality or creativity. I couldn't be bothered to read to the end I'm afraid and although I have been harsher with this review it is because you'd have to be brilliant to be compared to the timeless novel that Margaret Mitchell produced and this certainly wasn't even close. Sorry this only gets 1 star from me.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2018
I adore Talulah, don’t understand why so many people hate her because of Elon.
May 5, 2016
Talulah Riley's debut novel is bold and powerful modern love story. How is it that we strive to control our own destiny, yet still crave a happy ever after? With all the allure and sharp dialogue you would expect from Talulah's background as an actress and screenwriter, Act Of Love surprises with its sensitive portrayal of the vulnerability hiding behind even the most confident exterior. It sweeps you up in the tension between Radley and Bernadatte, and reminds us that the most powerful relationships are not so much about two people finding each other as they are about that most human quest to find ourselves. At its heart Acts Of Love epitomises the inner turmoil many women have today at what point do you concede you'd like to find the one without ignoring your strong feminist values?
July 1, 2016
Firstly I just want to say that this was one of the most beautiful arcs I have ever received so I'm sure the actual book will look just as stunning!
I've been aware of Talulah Riley's talent as an actress for a while but I didn't realise that she was also a talented writer.
I got into this book literally on the first page. The writing style is so effortless and accessible. This book made me laugh a few times but was also very good at exploring more emotional subjects.
I don't often read romantic novels but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend this book to others. It was a pleasure to read this book so I hope there will be more books from Talulah in the future!
I received this book from a Goodreads First reads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I've been aware of Talulah Riley's talent as an actress for a while but I didn't realise that she was also a talented writer.
I got into this book literally on the first page. The writing style is so effortless and accessible. This book made me laugh a few times but was also very good at exploring more emotional subjects.
I don't often read romantic novels but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend this book to others. It was a pleasure to read this book so I hope there will be more books from Talulah in the future!
I received this book from a Goodreads First reads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2019
I agree with some other reviewers, who felt this reads like a daytime soap, despite this (or maybe because of it) it really was a page-turner, while I sipped some tea and took breaks from coding. It felt somewhat like a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but decidedly darker than Bridget Jones. The prose was an enjoyable and felt sophisticated and I liked the story the author told.
I liked the main character's journey. I didn't find her amiable, but I liked how she eventually changed and I felt before the epilogue, that the ending was just. The other characters lacked depth. I get it, the story is supposed to be a love story, so it's important to focus attention on the romantic leads. And making characters believable is hard, but I didn't believe anyone except for Bernie.
Except only Bernie changed. Radley was static (and of course super awesome, buff, flawless, handsome, etc....), Tim was somewhat varied, and Elizabeth was Jane Benett--so good and sweet.
There were only two things about the book that put me off: (1) I was looking for more info about the author and found she is the ex-wife (2x) of Elon Musk. After that Radley Blake's perfection became even more annoying, espescially when Bernie was at Clarion and the book went all hail-corporate on me. I found it difficult to take Radley as a fictional character, because much of what he says at Clarion are almost direct quotes from Elon Musk. He doesn't feel like a CEO. He's really a botanist. Replace botanist with engineer. The way Clarion is described: White sleek, solar panels everywhere, super high tech. Ger: Smart-Anlage (en?) Sounds like the Giga factory to me. Also Radley is described physically similar to Musk. Even the syllables-count in their names are the same for both romantic leads real-life personas.
(2) The ending.
In spite of the flaws, I still really liked reading this. Had I not known Talulah was the ex-wife of Billionaire I'd have probably enjoyed it much more. Having learnt this about a quarter way through colored my experience a little too much. I'd love to read more from Riley, which are hopefully a little further from her reality than this book.
Note:
At times I found it distracting that the main character was a sexy Bernie. All I could think of was Bernie Sanders in a hiked-up dress and sexy stockings. The millenial whisperer strikes again!
Summary for me, with loads of spoilers:
EDIT:
After watching a video from Lindsay Ellis about the Death of the Author I have to say that knowing that Ms. Riley was married to Elon Musk ruins this book. I reread some of my notes from this book and have to admit that I just couldn't enjoy this novel knowing this now. The corporate worship is awful therefore I downgraded my 3 stars to just 2.
I liked the main character's journey. I didn't find her amiable, but I liked how she eventually changed and I felt before the epilogue, that the ending was just. The other characters lacked depth. I get it, the story is supposed to be a love story, so it's important to focus attention on the romantic leads. And making characters believable is hard, but I didn't believe anyone except for Bernie.
Except only Bernie changed. Radley was static (and of course super awesome, buff, flawless, handsome, etc....), Tim was somewhat varied, and Elizabeth was Jane Benett--so good and sweet.
There were only two things about the book that put me off: (1) I was looking for more info about the author and found she is the ex-wife (2x) of Elon Musk. After that Radley Blake's perfection became even more annoying, espescially when Bernie was at Clarion and the book went all hail-corporate on me. I found it difficult to take Radley as a fictional character, because much of what he says at Clarion are almost direct quotes from Elon Musk. He doesn't feel like a CEO. He's really a botanist. Replace botanist with engineer. The way Clarion is described: White sleek, solar panels everywhere, super high tech. Ger: Smart-Anlage (en?) Sounds like the Giga factory to me. Also Radley is described physically similar to Musk. Even the syllables-count in their names are the same for both romantic leads real-life personas.
(2) The ending.
In spite of the flaws, I still really liked reading this. Had I not known Talulah was the ex-wife of Billionaire I'd have probably enjoyed it much more. Having learnt this about a quarter way through colored my experience a little too much. I'd love to read more from Riley, which are hopefully a little further from her reality than this book.
Note:
At times I found it distracting that the main character was a sexy Bernie. All I could think of was Bernie Sanders in a hiked-up dress and sexy stockings. The millenial whisperer strikes again!
Summary for me, with loads of spoilers:
EDIT:
After watching a video from Lindsay Ellis about the Death of the Author I have to say that knowing that Ms. Riley was married to Elon Musk ruins this book. I reread some of my notes from this book and have to admit that I just couldn't enjoy this novel knowing this now. The corporate worship is awful therefore I downgraded my 3 stars to just 2.
September 24, 2016
This is light and fun but smacks of an inexperienced writer - some strained writing, lots of derivative scenes (Pride and Prejudice, Gone With The Wind), names checks to modern classic romances like Pretty Woman plus a bit of 50 Shades without any sex.
The central characters are quite bland and Bernadette is a mix-up of qualities rather than a rounded character: part damaged daddy's girl, part neurotic, part siren (supposedly), part professional career woman; while the hero has the physique of an athlete, the brains of a Nobel winner and the moral/emotional insight of a psychologist...
More wit and sharpness and this could have been a beach winner but there are too many distractions and not enough chemistry along the way - frothy but derivative.
The central characters are quite bland and Bernadette is a mix-up of qualities rather than a rounded character: part damaged daddy's girl, part neurotic, part siren (supposedly), part professional career woman; while the hero has the physique of an athlete, the brains of a Nobel winner and the moral/emotional insight of a psychologist...
More wit and sharpness and this could have been a beach winner but there are too many distractions and not enough chemistry along the way - frothy but derivative.
July 7, 2024
This book is really gonna make you hate the FMC, and I wasn't an exception. But still, the book drew me in, don't know why.
Bernadette was selfish, self centered, egotistical, snobe, and many other things. And despite all these, I felt bad for her in more than one occasion. The way she was, her father made her that way and some men helped polish her interior. She is at fault, I am not saying she isn't, but honestly, she never stood a chance to be any diferent.
I really liked Radley. He really loved her and did what he could to show it. But she wasn't ready for it.
At the epilogue, when they see each other for the first time after 2 years, I swear I got emotional. You could see she really loved him all this time and missed him and wanted to be with him. The ending is kinda left in the open but it's ok, in my imagination, they resolved their issues (her issues mostly but yeah) and lived HEA
Bernadette was selfish, self centered, egotistical, snobe, and many other things. And despite all these, I felt bad for her in more than one occasion. The way she was, her father made her that way and some men helped polish her interior. She is at fault, I am not saying she isn't, but honestly, she never stood a chance to be any diferent.
I really liked Radley. He really loved her and did what he could to show it. But she wasn't ready for it.
At the epilogue, when they see each other for the first time after 2 years, I swear I got emotional. You could see she really loved him all this time and missed him and wanted to be with him. The ending is kinda left in the open but it's ok, in my imagination, they resolved their issues (her issues mostly but yeah) and lived HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2016
Acts of Love by Talulah Riley was a goodreads win
I usually assess a book by the cover and introductory blurb. The cover of this book gave no indication of what it was about at all, just the title – so no help there. The blurb made the book sound interesting, a somewhat damaged woman trying to find love, when she should have been sorting her own life out. It promised a bold and powerful modern love story.
I was disappointed. The characters could have come from an America soap opera. Americans would have related to them, but as a UK reader I thought they lacked originality and conviction. The heroine Bernadette had 'an arresting face with pointed chin, and high cheekbones'. Elizabeth was 'bookish and plain, solid and dependable'. Radley was 'as strong as his muscled frame suggested – Bernadette shut her eyes and leant her head on his ridiculously broad shoulder' . Sorry, but I couldn’t relate to the characters at all.
The story was easy to read and follow, but rather predictable.
I think the author wrote about the life and culture she was familiar with, but
I think it would have been appreciated more by Americans, rather than finding its way to an elderly UK woman! Rather than criticise the book, I think it fair to say it just found the wrong reader!
I usually assess a book by the cover and introductory blurb. The cover of this book gave no indication of what it was about at all, just the title – so no help there. The blurb made the book sound interesting, a somewhat damaged woman trying to find love, when she should have been sorting her own life out. It promised a bold and powerful modern love story.
I was disappointed. The characters could have come from an America soap opera. Americans would have related to them, but as a UK reader I thought they lacked originality and conviction. The heroine Bernadette had 'an arresting face with pointed chin, and high cheekbones'. Elizabeth was 'bookish and plain, solid and dependable'. Radley was 'as strong as his muscled frame suggested – Bernadette shut her eyes and leant her head on his ridiculously broad shoulder' . Sorry, but I couldn’t relate to the characters at all.
The story was easy to read and follow, but rather predictable.
I think the author wrote about the life and culture she was familiar with, but
I think it would have been appreciated more by Americans, rather than finding its way to an elderly UK woman! Rather than criticise the book, I think it fair to say it just found the wrong reader!
September 3, 2017
I was intrigued by this, but sadly found it pretentious in its prose, and predictable in its plot. Not for me.
June 28, 2016
Time taken to read - 4 days (on and off)7
Pages - 320
Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton
Blurb from Goodreads
A bold, intelligent, and modern love story which reminds us that the most powerful relationships are not so much about two people finding each other as they are about that most human quest to find ourselves.
Bernadette is expert at hiding the truth.
She has built her career as a journalist on her talent for lulling powerful men into a false sense of security, then exposing them in her ruthless profile pieces.
But in Radley Blake, she may have met her match. Immune to her charms, he seems to see through every layer of her carefully constructed act: right to the truth of who she is inside.
We think we're looking for love - but what if it's ourselves we need to find? Talulah Riley's wonderful first novel is an irresistible will-they-won't-they tale that asks how it is we can strive for independence, but still believe in destiny..
My Review
Bernadette St John is beautiful, strong, charming and calculated, she has men eating out of the palm of her hand, all but the one she wants. Lusting after her manager who is also in a relationship with her "friend" Bernadette is waiting to pounce. People only see the sweet facade she puts forward, until Radley Blake comes along. Radley is rich, intelligent, friends with Bernadette's circle and drawn to Bernadette like most men. However Radley sees through her guise and calls her on her behaviour, mocks and challenges her. They seem the perfect match but Bernadette has only one man in mind and Radley isn't him!
This book had echos of Gone with the Wind with Bernadette being a modern day Scarlett O'Hara and Radley mirroring the wonderful Rhett Butler. Bernadette has strong feminine values, scorning men after being hurt in the past and sculpted by the thorny hands of her father. Tim, her manager, is the only man who escapes her scorn which draws her to him and wobbles her feminine principles. Radley sees Bernadette's true character and forces her to examine who she really is and what she really desires.
A book that looks at the impact a child's rearing can have on the adult they will become, testing relationships, a look at feminism, friendship, adultery and personal growth. Bernadette isn't a very likeable character, she is selfish, self involved, rude, deceptive and calculating however glimpses into her past offer explanation as to why. An interesting debut novel that delves into feminist attitudes and a plethora of societal & personal issues, 3/5 for me this time. I would certainly read this author again oh and on a side note, my cover of the book is different to the one shown here. I do hope they go with this as the final release, the texture of the material is really nice and the colours of predominantly white with metallic blue works really well together. Thanks so much to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. This book is available to buy from all good retailers for £12.99, hardback, from 11/08/2016.
Pages - 320
Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton
Blurb from Goodreads
A bold, intelligent, and modern love story which reminds us that the most powerful relationships are not so much about two people finding each other as they are about that most human quest to find ourselves.
Bernadette is expert at hiding the truth.
She has built her career as a journalist on her talent for lulling powerful men into a false sense of security, then exposing them in her ruthless profile pieces.
But in Radley Blake, she may have met her match. Immune to her charms, he seems to see through every layer of her carefully constructed act: right to the truth of who she is inside.
We think we're looking for love - but what if it's ourselves we need to find? Talulah Riley's wonderful first novel is an irresistible will-they-won't-they tale that asks how it is we can strive for independence, but still believe in destiny..
My Review
Bernadette St John is beautiful, strong, charming and calculated, she has men eating out of the palm of her hand, all but the one she wants. Lusting after her manager who is also in a relationship with her "friend" Bernadette is waiting to pounce. People only see the sweet facade she puts forward, until Radley Blake comes along. Radley is rich, intelligent, friends with Bernadette's circle and drawn to Bernadette like most men. However Radley sees through her guise and calls her on her behaviour, mocks and challenges her. They seem the perfect match but Bernadette has only one man in mind and Radley isn't him!
This book had echos of Gone with the Wind with Bernadette being a modern day Scarlett O'Hara and Radley mirroring the wonderful Rhett Butler. Bernadette has strong feminine values, scorning men after being hurt in the past and sculpted by the thorny hands of her father. Tim, her manager, is the only man who escapes her scorn which draws her to him and wobbles her feminine principles. Radley sees Bernadette's true character and forces her to examine who she really is and what she really desires.
A book that looks at the impact a child's rearing can have on the adult they will become, testing relationships, a look at feminism, friendship, adultery and personal growth. Bernadette isn't a very likeable character, she is selfish, self involved, rude, deceptive and calculating however glimpses into her past offer explanation as to why. An interesting debut novel that delves into feminist attitudes and a plethora of societal & personal issues, 3/5 for me this time. I would certainly read this author again oh and on a side note, my cover of the book is different to the one shown here. I do hope they go with this as the final release, the texture of the material is really nice and the colours of predominantly white with metallic blue works really well together. Thanks so much to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. This book is available to buy from all good retailers for £12.99, hardback, from 11/08/2016.
September 30, 2019
I tried with this one, I honestly did but our heroine, Bernadette, is such a thoroughly nasty character that it was a real struggle to finish the book. There is not one redeeming personality trait for this woman; even worse her supposed mortal enemy, Elizabeth, is so saccharine sweet it defies belief. The inability to have a normal person enter the proceedings even extends to the men that make brief appearances as arm fodder for the women. I appreciate that normality is extremely subjective but every single person within these pages has no depth, no subtlety to their character; they are painted in the broadest of black and white strokes with no co-mingling to the grey area that makes each of us interesting.
Couple this with a plot at times both pedestrian and so far fetched as to be almost fantasy and you can probably see why I struggled finishing this one. Unfortunately, this was a promotional copy that the publishers were kind enough to disseminate so I did feel a duty to swallow down the despair picking the book up caused my reading muscles and managed to power through to the end. Well, where the printed word stopped because there is no nice little ending to this book, everything is left hanging in what is supposed to be a tantalising manner.
The worst thing about the whole thing is that I *think* I get where the author is trying to go with this. Showing how outside influences can damage us seemingly irreparably - in Bernadette's case first her father and then her ill-fated relationship with the MP. However, there is hope, we can change ourselves and others can be instrumental in easing the letting go of destructive habits. The problem with that is that it requires a subtle touch and more than a textbook understanding of psychology. In short, the characters aren't people they are a set of closely defined traits to signify one particular personality issue.
Having finished the book I am unable to recommend this to anyone. Honestly, I am convinced that my copy must have fallen through a wormhole from another dimension when I compare my reading experience to that of some of the other reviewers.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PUBLISHER.
Couple this with a plot at times both pedestrian and so far fetched as to be almost fantasy and you can probably see why I struggled finishing this one. Unfortunately, this was a promotional copy that the publishers were kind enough to disseminate so I did feel a duty to swallow down the despair picking the book up caused my reading muscles and managed to power through to the end. Well, where the printed word stopped because there is no nice little ending to this book, everything is left hanging in what is supposed to be a tantalising manner.
The worst thing about the whole thing is that I *think* I get where the author is trying to go with this. Showing how outside influences can damage us seemingly irreparably - in Bernadette's case first her father and then her ill-fated relationship with the MP. However, there is hope, we can change ourselves and others can be instrumental in easing the letting go of destructive habits. The problem with that is that it requires a subtle touch and more than a textbook understanding of psychology. In short, the characters aren't people they are a set of closely defined traits to signify one particular personality issue.
Having finished the book I am unable to recommend this to anyone. Honestly, I am convinced that my copy must have fallen through a wormhole from another dimension when I compare my reading experience to that of some of the other reviewers.
THIS IS AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED VIA THE PUBLISHER.
October 14, 2023
עמדתי לתת 5 כוכבים, החלטתי לתת 1.
שנים שאני מתרחקת מספרים הכתובים בגוף שלישי כאילו מדובר באבולה, או בימי אלו- חצבת, אבל. הזמנתי לפני חודשים מהספרייה הדיגיטלית והמבחר שם דל והוא סוף סוף הגיע.
כשהתחלתי לקרוא כמעט שמטתי אותו מידי, אפילו טרחתי לציין מה הפריע לי ״שימוש מוגזם במילים גבוהות״, ״ סתירה בכתוב״.
אבל... הוא הגיע מהספרייה וחיכיתי כל כך הרבה זמן.
מהר מאוד גיליתי ספר שנון, ציני, הומוריסטי בטירוף. אין רגע שלא צחקתי, סימנתי כמעט כל עמוד שאהבתי. אחד הספרים הכי מהנים שקראתי, בהחלט , עזבתי את הספר בכדי לראות מה עוד הסופרת כתבה, מה אוכל לקרוא כשאסיים- מסתבר שכלום....
הספר הזה היה ראוי ל 5 כוכבים באמת, מיוחד ברמה קיצונית.
אבל.
אני מרגישה שעבדו עליי, עבדו עליי בגדול.
אני דיי מצטערת שקראתי אותו, אני לא אוהבת סופרים שמנסים להוציא לעצמם שם על חשבון הקוראים.
כשאתה קורא ספר רומנטי אתה מצפה לסוף טוב, זה חייב להגמר טוב. הספוילר בספרים האלו הוא סודות לאורך הספר, לא הסוף, לא העמוד האחרון.
הספר הזה יכול היה להיות מוצלח בשל עצמו, לעשות לעצמו שם בגלל שהוא נכתב באופן מיוחד- טרחתי לסיים ספר בגוף שלישי! ציינתי שאני לא טורחת אפילו לראות תקציר?!
פשוט מבאס, תחושה לא נעימה בכלל.
בקיצור נשאר טעם מר בפה ובעיניי לא שווה את הקריאה בכלל.
אם הסופרת תחשוב להוסיף עוד שתי עמודים ולתקן את העוול שנגרם לי, אתן לו 5
אציין שקראתי אותו בעברית, התרגום היה סבבה יחסית בעיניי, לא משהו שצרם לי.
2023 i like the book, not the end
שנים שאני מתרחקת מספרים הכתובים בגוף שלישי כאילו מדובר באבולה, או בימי אלו- חצבת, אבל. הזמנתי לפני חודשים מהספרייה הדיגיטלית והמבחר שם דל והוא סוף סוף הגיע.
כשהתחלתי לקרוא כמעט שמטתי אותו מידי, אפילו טרחתי לציין מה הפריע לי ״שימוש מוגזם במילים גבוהות״, ״ סתירה בכתוב״.
אבל... הוא הגיע מהספרייה וחיכיתי כל כך הרבה זמן.
מהר מאוד גיליתי ספר שנון, ציני, הומוריסטי בטירוף. אין רגע שלא צחקתי, סימנתי כמעט כל עמוד שאהבתי. אחד הספרים הכי מהנים שקראתי, בהחלט , עזבתי את הספר בכדי לראות מה עוד הסופרת כתבה, מה אוכל לקרוא כשאסיים- מסתבר שכלום....
הספר הזה היה ראוי ל 5 כוכבים באמת, מיוחד ברמה קיצונית.
אבל.
אני מרגישה שעבדו עליי, עבדו עליי בגדול.
אני דיי מצטערת שקראתי אותו, אני לא אוהבת סופרים שמנסים להוציא לעצמם שם על חשבון הקוראים.
כשאתה קורא ספר רומנטי אתה מצפה לסוף טוב, זה חייב להגמר טוב. הספוילר בספרים האלו הוא סודות לאורך הספר, לא הסוף, לא העמוד האחרון.
הספר הזה יכול היה להיות מוצלח בשל עצמו, לעשות לעצמו שם בגלל שהוא נכתב באופן מיוחד- טרחתי לסיים ספר בגוף שלישי! ציינתי שאני לא טורחת אפילו לראות תקציר?!
פשוט מבאס, תחושה לא נעימה בכלל.
בקיצור נשאר טעם מר בפה ובעיניי לא שווה את הקריאה בכלל.
אם הסופרת תחשוב להוסיף עוד שתי עמודים ולתקן את העוול שנגרם לי, אתן לו 5
אציין שקראתי אותו בעברית, התרגום היה סבבה יחסית בעיניי, לא משהו שצרם לי.
2023 i like the book, not the end
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2016
I was actually pretty intrigued by the notion of a man-eating feminist surprising herself by falling in love. However, this is not that.
Radley is not in any way immune to Bernadette’s charms: he falls in love with her at first sight and relentlessly pursues her throughout the novel, while Bernadette whines about her unrequited love for Tim, who is engaged to the good, kind-hearted Elizabeth.
The whole structure—down to Bernadette’s petulance, vanity, inclination to sulk, childishness, and need to be bullied into accepting the romance that’s obvious to all others—mimics Gone with the Wind with an almost eerie exactitude, though without the interesting historical context. The wealthy LA jet-setting crew replaces the southern debutantes, and Radley Blake plays the part of the rakish, enigmatic, wealthy and occasionally casually cruel (but out of love!) Rhett Butler. There is little that is feminist to be found in these pages.
Actually, if it would embrace its own similarities to Gone with the Wind and present itself as such then it could be like Sittenfeld's Eligible, a modern retelling of a classic romance. But the protagonist is thoroughly unlikable throughout, in my opinion, and everyone is a bit too shrill and over-the-top.
Radley is not in any way immune to Bernadette’s charms: he falls in love with her at first sight and relentlessly pursues her throughout the novel, while Bernadette whines about her unrequited love for Tim, who is engaged to the good, kind-hearted Elizabeth.
The whole structure—down to Bernadette’s petulance, vanity, inclination to sulk, childishness, and need to be bullied into accepting the romance that’s obvious to all others—mimics Gone with the Wind with an almost eerie exactitude, though without the interesting historical context. The wealthy LA jet-setting crew replaces the southern debutantes, and Radley Blake plays the part of the rakish, enigmatic, wealthy and occasionally casually cruel (but out of love!) Rhett Butler. There is little that is feminist to be found in these pages.
Actually, if it would embrace its own similarities to Gone with the Wind and present itself as such then it could be like Sittenfeld's Eligible, a modern retelling of a classic romance. But the protagonist is thoroughly unlikable throughout, in my opinion, and everyone is a bit too shrill and over-the-top.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2021
I very rarely leave 1 star reviews because I respect how much time and effort goes into writing a book and art is always subjective. But I really couldn’t bring myself to give this book more than 1. Bernadette was an incredibly annoying character. Instead of being feisty and independent she just came across as incredibly spoilt and cruel to others. I had no idea why Radley supposedly fell in love with her. I love a good morally grey character but only if there are redeemable qualities and noticeable character growth by the end, both of which were glaringly lacking. The only real growth we see is in the epilogue, set 2 years later, so any development is done off screen which was highly disappointing. Radley was hardly a likeable character himself with his manipulative behaviour and changeable character which we were supposed to overlook because he was a genius and revoltingly wealthy. All in all I struggled through this book and had no desire whatsoever to see either of these characters achieve their happy ending.
November 6, 2016
This is, apparently, a "Gone with the wind" modern day retelling. I haven't read the original one, but I doubt it was as shallow as this book. I never got was so amazing about the heroine (who is superficially a self insert of the writer, seriously) or Tim (the original object of her affections). Elizabeth (the rival) and Radley (the hero) needed more character development.
I seriously need to read a decent modern romance. I can't remember the last time I read a decent one.
I seriously need to read a decent modern romance. I can't remember the last time I read a decent one.
January 15, 2018
Apparently too ashamed to write the romance novel this book should have been, the author has added some spurious and ill-formed gender politics. This might have been a rather good Mills & Boon, if the wordcount had been dropped by half. If it had been a M&B at least the terribly developed characters would not have been so noticeable.
August 8, 2016
An enjoyable will they won't they get together love story, somehow feel this could have been much better. I received my copy via goodreads and found this story not quite the page turner I had anticipated, never the less a fair story.
April 27, 2018
Truly awful. Like an A-Level drama play but in book form. With nothing original or good just lots of boring tropes taken from other books and not even done better but worse. Really feel like I wasted an afternoon with this one.
May 7, 2019
Seriously not my kind of book. No intensity or feel while reading the boom. It felt like it took 5 pages to say what 2 pages could say. I just put it down on page 80 realising normally I read 80 pages of a book in over 1hr and this took me a day!!!! Omg this was not so great...
Want to read
May 27, 2016I think I need this now.
June 23, 2020
Could not get into this book. Not written that great
July 4, 2017
When reading the blurb it sounded interesting and what drew me to the book was, one – the cover and two – the idea that Bernadette had met her match and was going to become completely wrapped up in him while discovering herself. But I was slightly disappointed. I was forcing myself to continue reading after the first and second chapter and I will say I got through it with little to no problems after that but I was eager to pick it up after I put it down.
For me, it kind of dragged and was just a bit slow. The constant back and forth between Bernadette and Radley was good for a while but it seemed to get old. In my eyes, it wasn’t even a tease or a chase between them anymore. Not to mention Tim! I didn’t understand the connection or fascination, the good guy (overly good) who can do no wrong and is always there for her but in the end, it’s like he flipped a switch at the very last minute when Radley confronts him (?). I found Radley’s character refreshing, he is straight to the point there is no fluffing around with white lies and definitely straightforward when speaking about his feelings and intentions. And obviously, for Bernadette that’s confronting since the guy she is in love with strings her along as if not even realising it.
Personally, I did not enjoy the ending, I found it ridiculous. Bernadette finally realises how she feels, who she wants, even confesses it in front of someone but yet when faced with Tim there is still a kiss that happens? I don’t understand and I feel like it would have been much better if at last minute she pushes Tim back and says, “it’s too late, I know who I love and it’s not you” (or something along those lines). Instead, we have an almost ruined wedding and an angry, hurt Radley, which breaks my heart, this man has been pulled through the ringer with this girls on and off again approach.
Even the epilogue is a bit eh, I mean it was nice to know she let go of her persona as the “Man Whisperer” but to have them speak as if they were strangers and he then walks off and insinuating they will see each other… but will we ever know whether or not they actually do see each other again? Was the fortune teller correct or not? I want to know and yet I don’t know if I’d read the second book if there was one.
For me, it kind of dragged and was just a bit slow. The constant back and forth between Bernadette and Radley was good for a while but it seemed to get old. In my eyes, it wasn’t even a tease or a chase between them anymore. Not to mention Tim! I didn’t understand the connection or fascination, the good guy (overly good) who can do no wrong and is always there for her but in the end, it’s like he flipped a switch at the very last minute when Radley confronts him (?). I found Radley’s character refreshing, he is straight to the point there is no fluffing around with white lies and definitely straightforward when speaking about his feelings and intentions. And obviously, for Bernadette that’s confronting since the guy she is in love with strings her along as if not even realising it.
Personally, I did not enjoy the ending, I found it ridiculous. Bernadette finally realises how she feels, who she wants, even confesses it in front of someone but yet when faced with Tim there is still a kiss that happens? I don’t understand and I feel like it would have been much better if at last minute she pushes Tim back and says, “it’s too late, I know who I love and it’s not you” (or something along those lines). Instead, we have an almost ruined wedding and an angry, hurt Radley, which breaks my heart, this man has been pulled through the ringer with this girls on and off again approach.
Even the epilogue is a bit eh, I mean it was nice to know she let go of her persona as the “Man Whisperer” but to have them speak as if they were strangers and he then walks off and insinuating they will see each other… but will we ever know whether or not they actually do see each other again? Was the fortune teller correct or not? I want to know and yet I don’t know if I’d read the second book if there was one.
April 18, 2018
I think Acts of Love is a better insider book than Ashlee Vance's biography. It's impossible to read this book without seeing it as a thinly veiled fiction. I mean Sadly is a bulking figure with a "soft spoke trans-Atlantic accent that is not British" (paraphrased) but it was just very hard to not see the parallels.
In fact I read it in two days because I got swept up in the parallels - I feel like I could pick out every caricature and match it to the corresponding real life face - even down to the intern. ( I don't know if I ever read a book that fast. )
Bernadette St John was a savagely unlikeable character. I'd read Talulah was trying to challenge the idea of the bad female lead and see the reaction, and yeah he was just awful. She wasn't even bad in a "bad girl" kind of way - I always assume bad girls are more like the girls who just don't give a f*** about anything or anyone, or what anyone thinks of them. Bernie was quite the opposite - she was so insecure. She was neurotic and self-loathing, and toxic towards herself. But yet not a "bad girl". Just a mess of a human. I mean even the flirting was just a defence mechanism so that she wouldn't have to feel love, classic "choose the unavailable man because that way you can't really get hurt" situation.
In a way I felt I could relate to Bernie, but as my old self. I'm glad to be reminded what it's like to be that messed up, to felt the self-loathing, because I don't experience that anymore and it's nice to see how far one has come.
Talulah is a talented writer. This was nice and easy to read, and yes the parallels were so striking, so much I wonder if this was non-fiction dressed as fiction. Enjoyable though, perhaps because of that.
In fact I read it in two days because I got swept up in the parallels - I feel like I could pick out every caricature and match it to the corresponding real life face - even down to the intern. ( I don't know if I ever read a book that fast. )
Bernadette St John was a savagely unlikeable character. I'd read Talulah was trying to challenge the idea of the bad female lead and see the reaction, and yeah he was just awful. She wasn't even bad in a "bad girl" kind of way - I always assume bad girls are more like the girls who just don't give a f*** about anything or anyone, or what anyone thinks of them. Bernie was quite the opposite - she was so insecure. She was neurotic and self-loathing, and toxic towards herself. But yet not a "bad girl". Just a mess of a human. I mean even the flirting was just a defence mechanism so that she wouldn't have to feel love, classic "choose the unavailable man because that way you can't really get hurt" situation.
In a way I felt I could relate to Bernie, but as my old self. I'm glad to be reminded what it's like to be that messed up, to felt the self-loathing, because I don't experience that anymore and it's nice to see how far one has come.
Talulah is a talented writer. This was nice and easy to read, and yes the parallels were so striking, so much I wonder if this was non-fiction dressed as fiction. Enjoyable though, perhaps because of that.
February 21, 2021
I really hated the protagonist of this one. I don't like women that don't like women, and I don't always like characters that are jerks, but I probably could've gotten past that if it was one of only a few things about her that are unpleasant. However, this character also hates men, is condescending about everyone she meets without regard to how they act towards her, treats a woman who considers her either a best friend or a very close friend highly to her face and literally spends her entire internal monologue complaining about and insulting her while smiling to her face, and has no good reason for it all. We get a good understanding of a reason she hates men in her backstory, but her mom seems to be someone to love, and there is no other reason given that she might dislike women. No competitor at work, no bullies in her past, just a spontaneous hate for women, which makes her an unlikeable narrator in an unpleasant and unforgivable way. She's no Macbeth, and she also doesn't learn the error of her ways (at least in the first half of the book) so she's no Scrooge either, just a cranky old miser with a repeatedly mentioned hot body and an inability to see past the end of her own nose, who somehow located a group of either unfailingly charitable (overlooking her constant rudeness and disrespectfulness of them) or insurmountably gullible (if they believe her words over her repeated actions) group of people to hang around and use to her best advantage. I got to a shocking event and didn't even care at all, and kind of hoped for an unhappy end for her, and that's when I knew I had to DNF this thing.
February 8, 2023
Like many people, I had picked up this book because of the author. Even though I was aware the demographic of this novel is not meant for me, I like Talulah Rile enough to venture into this ready to be disappointed.
However, I must admit I was surprised at times at how much I was enjoying it. The storyline and character dynamic were interesting, and the nuance in Bernadette's character made the novel more enjoyable, especially in the first half as I was learning more about the characters. But as I read on, I felt more disconnected from the characters, I felt as though the author had an image in her mind as how she wants the storyline to be, but she couldn't get there in a natural way; some of the conversations and emotions between Bernadette and Radley were just rushed into without proper build-up.
I think I will remember most the part where they went shopping for a wedding dress and the casual conversation between Radley and Bernadette, there was nothing particularly special about that scene, but I enjoyed it a lot. I wish the entirety of the novel was more like that where there's a present undertone of romance but not conveyed through strong emotions and language, but rather little gestures and conversations that are imbued with romance. I know some would like it the way it is but that's my personal preference.
However, I must admit I was surprised at times at how much I was enjoying it. The storyline and character dynamic were interesting, and the nuance in Bernadette's character made the novel more enjoyable, especially in the first half as I was learning more about the characters. But as I read on, I felt more disconnected from the characters, I felt as though the author had an image in her mind as how she wants the storyline to be, but she couldn't get there in a natural way; some of the conversations and emotions between Bernadette and Radley were just rushed into without proper build-up.
I think I will remember most the part where they went shopping for a wedding dress and the casual conversation between Radley and Bernadette, there was nothing particularly special about that scene, but I enjoyed it a lot. I wish the entirety of the novel was more like that where there's a present undertone of romance but not conveyed through strong emotions and language, but rather little gestures and conversations that are imbued with romance. I know some would like it the way it is but that's my personal preference.
August 15, 2018
I am torn about this book. The literature was beautiful and I have only ever wanted to highlight sentences out of this novel (ironically I have a paperback novel and cannot). I struggled with the main character. I cringed so much I could not force myself to continue reading. The only problem is, is that I am fighting with myself to pick it up and finish it (I really just want to see what happens at the end). So you see, I am conflicted. This book could be amazing, although the main character is clearly not nice and I cannot relate to her at all (I really hope most women can’t relate because that would be scary). She has a destructive nature and her ability to have no empathy for others confirms my uneasiness with the main character.
Sorry Talulah Riley, you are a very talented writer and artist. I do look forward to seeing what you release in the future as I quite enjoyed the literature.
Sorry Talulah Riley, you are a very talented writer and artist. I do look forward to seeing what you release in the future as I quite enjoyed the literature.
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