Broken

by Ae Rought

[layawaydragon]

Read [b:Henry Franks|13490787|Henry Franks|Peter Adam Salomon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330195835s/13490787.jpg|19030152] instead.

The Good:
+ Pretty cover

The Bad & The Other:
-- Since when do schools allow hoodies to be up during class??? I went to school in MI and that shit didn’t fucking fly.
-- Trying too hard, feels fake and forced
-- Too long
-- Obvious
-- Didn’t delve into any of the important issues this subject brings to mind
-- Instalove angles
-- Emma sucks as a protagonist
-- Her parents felt off with their responses
-- Ending was anti-climactic and didn’t answer pertinent questions just the romantic nonsense
-- Tired evil scientist trope with no depth.

**headdesk**

I squandered days on this awful book. It was so long and dull. The only thing that kept me going was being a completionist and the teeny tiny hope it’d get better with answers.

It did not. But let’s start from the beginning.

It starts with red flags waving.



We first meet Emma as she’s wandering the cemetery and her Halloween decorated neighborhood. Automatically it felt like it was trying too hard for that edgy alternative feeling and fell flat.

Emma’s also the standard klutzy young woman who can’t do two things at once. Her previous boyfriend and love of her life, Daniel, had to constantly save her from herself. She doesn’t seem to have a personality or a life beyond Daniel. UGH.

From there, it’s the same standard plot and angsty teenage love. It’s so obvious where it is going. When you’re using something classic like Frankenstein’s monster you need to bring something fresh, new, and make it damn good. Broken fails on all accounts.



I was SO fucking tired of hearing about Alex’s eyes, the electricity between them, how it opens her locker like Daniel, blah blah blah. GET TO THE FUCKING POINT. Stop assuming readers are dunces and beating them over the head with it.

Emma: “Oh, it’s not possible. It’s all in my mind.” Then talk to someone about it instead of wasting your “best friends” time and dismissing her instantly since you’re so sure. Try a fucking shrink. They can’t share information with your parent’s without your permission. Try a fucking medium or whatever mumbo jumbo crap with your best friend. DO SOMETHING.

Her best friend Bree is the achingly hot theatrical woo-believer who pumps up her attractiveness above all other qualities. From Emma’s point of view anyways. I kept wondering why they were friends. They didn’t seem to do much or get along.



More FUUUUUU about Emma:

Gods, she was so annoying. Forcing herself to feel bad and feeling unreasonably guilty over everything. She repeats herself and it’s not even consistent. It’s stupid waffle-y “oh woe” bullshit.

She’s supposedly just a normal non-popular hanger on of the Drama group. Yet she ends up with FOUR guys so hot to trot over her there’s murderous consequences.



Emma also appears to be really fucking dense. Along with everyone else. When Daniel’s demise was finally revealed, the FIRST thought I had was about Jason. How the fuck did no one else? Why was Emma blamed by her parents and not the dude that actually pushed him?. It doesn’t make any sense.



Romance:
Stop telling me they love each other and show me why! But you can't because there's NO reason! They shouldn't be together!

Okay, so I’ve complained about this already but the “I’m broken, he’s broken and together we’re fixed/broken together & it’s beautiful” type talk is 1.) fucking stupid and 2.) a terrible message. They’re needy, codependent, possessive and obsessive. It’s not sweet, it’s toxic. Whyyyyyyy? Fuck these terrible relationships.



Besides that, how is Emma broken? Her first love died. That’s it. She can get over it and move on but noooooo. Let’s kidnap someone else’s body for her! Oy. It’d prefer it if they overcame their issues to lead happy lives apart.

The Ending:

Even if I loved the book before this part, I’d loathe the fucking ending. Magic happily ever after with no fucking answers for shit that’s actually important.

What about the other boys? Could they prove the murders and their families get answers/closure? Did the government seize their labs and the formula? What is even in it? How’d they explain it away? GRRR!



Oh, gods there’s a fucking sequel?!?!?! FUCKING HELL NO!