The Night Circus question

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't! I didn't like the romance at all, one I just didn't like Marco and two I didn't feel their chemistry at all. I also didn't like the one dimensional characters and just didn't have any depth. I also thought the storyline was confusing, rushed and very anticlimactic.
So yes I agree, this book did not live up to they hype.

i personally loved this book, but i can 100% see where you are coming from. I appreciated the writing style and atmosphere of the book itself which is why i gave it 5 stars. If the writing was completely different i would have probably hated it. The romance was boring and pretty much insta-love, i truly just looked over it.

It's funny because I loved it for all the reasons you didn't!
I feel like so many fantasy books (and books in general) focus on the love story or the magic system itself. This one used that as a tool to tell a different love story - The story of people's love for a circus. The story of the Reveliers (spelling?) is the interesting part because in a way we are meant to be one of them. One of the people who falls in love with the circus because of the wonder of the unknown and getting a glimpse, but not able to quite understand it.

On the flip side of that, I would argue heavily against the idea that some people claim this is an "insta love". The two of them know each other for years, but we aren't involved in that growth. The growth of their love we DO get to see are the love letters they make for each other within the circus. Every tent they make for each other stops being a challenge, but instead becomes a love letter to the other. Then they spend years working together on tents and creating them together - What could be more romantic than bringing beautiful art to life with someone?

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the book, but I totally understand if it isn't your cup of tea! I won't say that it's one of my favorite books, because I too enjoy the kind of books you were looking for when reading this one, but I did revel in an opportunity to enjoy a book written differently than the other books I enjoy.

*did not live up to the hype

This book is for a very specific type of reader, the ones that want to escape to a lusciously described world. The ones who want to lean back, close their eyes, and envision themselves attending this super cool circus.

If you read books for things like "plot" and "character," don't even bother with this one. They're only there to guide you around the super cool circus.

I went into this book with really high expectations, and I'm sad to say that it did not live up to them. I really, really wanted to like this book. I loved the worldbuilding, but the rest was... bland. I got excited by the premise, but everything went downhill from there.
The biggest issue I had with the book were the characters. I think that they had so much potential, but they're somehow all devoid of a personality.
The romance between Marco and Celia makes no sense whatsoever, as does the rivalry between them. I never really understood the point in both.

I wish the whole competition storyline had been developed in a completely different fashion.

Prapti wrote: "I think the main plot of this book was driven away , romance part underdeveloped, too much magic with sugar-coated language, a little confusing with the dates or timelines [sometimes they'll skip a..."

Yes! I was so bored and found it so dissatisfying.

Yes! I think it was too long and the characters were boring, so i didn´t really care about the story. But the writing style and the descriptions of the circus were beautiful

YES!!! Super overrated.

Really enjoyed this book, maybe because it was a change for me.

I think the ending was kind of iffy bc it’s an open ending and everything but how can the two main characters be happy when they’re literally trapped inside a circus ?? That kinda sounds like a nightmare. Also, when I read the descriptions i thought it wouldn’t be an enemies to lovers thing but there wasn’t really any focus on their rivalry and they never actually disliked or feared each other or anything so even if their love was still amazing I still feel overly scammed.

Thank you so much for this discussion because I was really starting to think that I was the only one that didn’t liked this book. I tried to read it twice, and both times I lost interest on it because it was so boring… and I thought I was stupid or idk because all the internet seem to love it. I still don’t understand why.

I was utterly underwhelmed. This book came with such high recommendations so I dove in with high hopes. I kept reading, waiting for "the beat to drop". It never did. So i forced myself to finish it but it left me going... meh.

Everything about this book except for the prose was overrated. The "instalove" was ridiculous. Marco was married or whatever and just dropped her like a sack of moldy potatoes because he up and fell in love with his rival who he never even spoke with. The competition was "do magic until someone dies." Like seriously does the magic take a toll on you or are you supposed to just make caramel corn until you die or boredom? And the magic had no rhyme or reason. hey look its a house full of paper mache and origami this must have taken forever! "no it's MAGIC!!!" Seriously that little boy moppet or poppet or whatever was the only interesting part. The narration is the only reason I finished it.

I adore this book. I listen to the narration by Jim Dale once a year. But it really is all about characters unveiling themselves in a slow spool and lush, detailed description. I can taste the treats Poppet and Widget are eating and it is decadent. But I agree it isn't for everyone. Erin Morgenstern's writing puts her in my top 10 all time favorite authors.

no.

Literally! Premise was so good but did not deliver at all

Very. So overhyped, I am amazed a 100 million+ CGI based movie based on it hasn't come out yet.

I agree! I thought the book was a solid 3.5-4/5 BUT definitely not as hyped as it is. Could have been more romance, a bit choppy with timelines & overall not quite what I was expecting