“Life with a cheat code isn’t life. Our existence isn’t something to be engineered or optimized for the avoidance of pain.”
it’s b★ 5 stars
“Life with a cheat code isn’t life. Our existence isn’t something to be engineered or optimized for the avoidance of pain.”
it’s been three weeks since i finished this book and i still think about it everyday. i don’t think i’ll ever be able to forget it (and i don’t want to).
first of all, i won’t go too much into plot details in this review because i feel like the best option is to go into this book blind, not knowing a lot of details about the story, that’s what i did and i ended up having the best experience ever. the blurb doesn’t give much away, though; you can read it if you want and i believe that you’d still have a good experience, but i personally think that it’s better to not know exactly what to expect.
Recursion has elements of other genres, but it’s primarily a mix of science-fiction and thriller. i was a little hesitant to read this because i’ve never read sci-fi before and i honestly never felt the urge to read anything with this genre, so i really thought i wouldn’t like this book. but luckily, i was wrong! i absolutely adored it.
everything about this book is perfect. the characters, the story, the writing, the pacing, everything. i’m not even exaggerating, i literally loved every single aspect of this book. it’s fascinating. at first, i have to admit that i was a bit confused — but that was obviously expectable since i was exploring a new genre, so that’s not really a complaint. by the time things started making a little bit of sense, i was already hooked and i couldn’t stop reading for the life of me. the more i read, the more invested i became.
the main characters, Barry & Helena, were both interesting, realistic, endearing and sharply written. i was able to emotionally connect with them on a deep level and i grew so attached to them, i loved them more than i thought i would. two memorable and unforgettable characters.
“Time is an illusion, a construct made out of human memory. There’s no such thing as the past, the present, or the future. It’s all happening now.”
the plot was mind-blowing, brilliant, enthralling and gripping from beginning to end — there was never a moment where i felt bored or disinterested, i was completely immersed. there were also a lot of action-packed moments and intense scenes that made my heart race and sent shivers down my spine. i absolutely adored the way it took me in such a wild ride. i was listening to the song Little Dark Age nonstop while reading those scenes/moments because i felt like it matched the vibes so well.
“Humans cannot be trusted with technology of such power.”
something that made it even better is that the twists and turns were all great and also very unpredictable. every time i thought i figured out what was going to happen next, i was proved wrong. i had no idea where the story was going whatsoever and that’s honestly one of the main reasons why my experience was so enjoyable. there’s nothing better than reading a book that surprises you in many different ways and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
there’s a bit of romance in this which was something that i was definitely not expecting. it came out of nowhere and initially i have to admit that i thought i wouldn’t like it — but, fortunately, i ended up loving it. it was a pleasant surprise to me.
“You won’t even recognize me.” “My soul knows your soul. In any time.”
i can’t say too much without giving it away, so all i’m gonna say is that it was one of the most beautiful and touching love stories i’ve ever read. i enjoyed every second of it.
“Think of our life like a book, we can only perceive one moment, one page, at a time. Our flawed perception shuts off access to all the others. Until now.”
Recursion easily became a new favorite of mine — it’s a book that is going to stay with me for a long, long time. i highly recommend it to anyone.
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pre-review (2023):
i NEED a 5 star read before the year ends. ...more
“I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories, but now there is no other. This is the only story I will ev
★ 5 stars
“I suppose at one time in my life I might have had any number of stories, but now there is no other. This is the only story I will ever be able to tell.”
The Secret History genuinely altered my brain chemistry forever. this book is truly a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and i really regret not reading it sooner. the story left me impressed and speechless — it’s so enthralling, captivating, unique and well-written. i gotta admit that the pacing was a bit slow at times, but it didn’t bother me that much. overall, i was hooked from beginning to end.
what i liked more was how all of the characters were complex, flawed and imperfect. each one of them made a lot of mistakes and for that reason they got on my nerves countless times — but nevertheless, i absolutely loved the way they were written because it just made them feel more real and human.
all in all, it’s one of the best books i’ve read in a while and i highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a fascinating read. i had such high expectations after seeing all the hype and i’m glad it didn’t disappoint me, not even in the slightest. it was everything I was expecting and more. if i could give it more than five stars, i would without a doubt! a new favorite of mine for sure. <3
maybe someday i’ll write a longer and more detailed review for this incredible book. but since i finished reading it a few hours ago, my thoughts are still a mess so that’s all i can manage to say at the moment. sorry for this bland review.
— some of my favorite quotes ♡
“Even more terrible, as we grow older, to learn that no person, no matter how beloved, can ever truly understand us.”
“Forgive me, for all the things I did but mostly for the ones that I did not.”
“Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it.”
“Our own selves make us most unhappy, and that’s why we’re so anxious to lose them, don’t you think?”
“I believe that it is better to know one book intimately that a hundred superficially.”
“In short: I felt my existence was tainted, in some subtle but essential way.”
“Love doesn’t conquer everything. And whoever thinks it does is a fool.”
“I am nothing in my soul if not obsessive.”
“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from the world, that no one and no thing hurts along with one’s burned tongues and skinned knees, that one’s aches and pains are all one’s own.”
“We think we have many desires, but in fact we have only one. What is it?” “To live.”
“Are you happy here?” He considered this for moment. “Not particularly,” he said. “But you’re not very happy where you are, either.”
“The path I traveled to get here would amount to nothing without someone to reflect on it with. And there’s no better storyteller, n
★ 5 stars
“The path I traveled to get here would amount to nothing without someone to reflect on it with. And there’s no better storyteller, no better reflection of my worth than in the eyes of the woman who shared in my journey and helped me navigate my way through the worst of it.”
reading this book for the second time was absolutely AMAZING! a rollercoaster of emotions all over again.
i adore Cecelia and her character development is truly incredible. i have to admit that in the first book there were times where i couldn’t really stand her and some of her actions because she was very immature and gullible, but gladly, she isn’t that naive girl anymore. she ended up becoming a stronger and wiser woman and i’m really happy to see how much she has matured and grown throughout the trilogy. (view spoiler)[i love how she made Tobias fight hard for her because, honestly, that’s what my girl actually deserves. (hide spoiler)]
and Tobias... i am so down bad for this man. i won’t accept any hate towards him, he’s one of the best characters and no one can convince me otherwise. literally obsessed with him. having his POV is one of my favorite things about this book, it made me love him even more and it was great to know more details about his life. (view spoiler)[being able to see a little bit of his dynamic with Dominic made me sob so hard. despite his mistakes, the way he cared for Dom was just so pure and sweet. (hide spoiler)]
“From the time I held him as a baby in my arms, knowing he belonged to me, to the day he looked up at me and faded away, he was mine.”
“Brothers first,” I whisper. “Always brothers,” he replies softly.
“I made you a promise, Dom, but I lost you to keep it. And looking back, I don’t feel it was worth it. As selfish as it is, I would trade everything we’ve done, just to get you back.”
“I fucking miss you. Every single day. Every goddamn day. And if I’m destined to live a long life without you, I guess the least I can do is thank you. Thank you, Dominic.”
of course, i couldn’t forget to mention Tobias and Cecelia’s relationship because their chemistry is... top tier. i have so much love for them and rereading this book made me appreciate their relationship a LOT more. they will always have a special place in my heart! and i’ll never shut up about them <3
some of my favorite quotes:
“Dream with me again, Cecelia. Dream a thousand more dreams with me, and I will make them all come true.”
“No man on earth has ever loved a woman more than I love you. I’ll prove this every day for the rest of our lives. I love you more than any cause, any ambition.”
“She brought direction back to my deadening soul when I lost my way, and she continues to guide me back, a star too bright to ignore, no matter how far I stray.”
“I always considered myself a lone traveler until she blazed her way onto my path as my opponent, my lover, teacher, confidante, and best friend.”
“My strongest temptation and undoing. The only woman capable of satiating me. My nemesis and equal, my torment and love.”
“I’m certain that if God granted me only one minute of life on this earth, I would want it to be this minute, this moment with him, where I know exactly why I’m alive and who for.”
this book ripped my heart out, stomped on it and shattered it into a million pieces. AGAIN.
i literally cried a river while reading t★ 5 stars
• reread
this book ripped my heart out, stomped on it and shattered it into a million pieces. AGAIN.
i literally cried a river while reading this and i’m not joking when i say my eyes were swollen when i finished. but despite all the emotional damage it put me through, it’s still one of my favorite books EVER and words really can’t express how much i love it! i have such a deep connection with the characters and the story.
if i could give it more than five stars i would without a doubt <3...more
“I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.” “Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
this is on★ 5 stars
“I just wanted to know how long it took you to move on.” “Oh, well, that’s an easy one,” he says. “It hasn’t happened.”
this is one of my favorite books <3 it was my third time reading it (yes, as you can see, i’m obsessed) but since i didn’t write a review before, i’m gonna do it now!
i don’t even know where to start honestly, because words can’t describe how much i LOVE this book. the story is just... ugh, absolutely amazing and it’s so beautifully written. it also took me through a rollercoaster of emotions – i cried, i laughed, i got angry, i swooned, i squealed and everything in between.
i’m gonna write a quick summary of this book, but just a heads up first: the summary does NOT really contains spoilers, it’s just a detailed version of the blurb. still, i’m gonna hide a few stuff just in case!
so, Ghosted is a second chance romance that follows two highschool sweethearts, Jonathan Cunningham and Kennedy Garfield. it’s told in alternating chapters between past and present, but it’s kind of different; in this one we get to know more of their past from Kennedy’s notebook entries, where she wrote details of their story from the very first day they met. to sum it up, Jonathan has always dreamed of becoming an actor ever since he was a kid, and before his graduation he decides to run away to LA to pursue his dreams. he doesn’t want to leave Kennedy behind though, so he asks her to go with him, and she ends up accompanying him on this journey. they think it’ll be a story of triumph; but, of course, things aren’t that simple. (view spoiler)[it takes a while for him to get his big break, and for that reason he feels pressured and starts seeking relief in alcohol. when Jonathan finally reach his stardom, his relationship with Kennedy starts to fall apart and his addiction gets a lot worse. she tries to help and support him, until she reaches her breaking point. she then decides to leave him and return to her hometown. (hide spoiler)] the story officially starts 6 years later; Jonathan is now a successful actor, and Kennedy works as an assist manager at a local grocery store and is a single mother to a five-year-old named Maddie – who’s also Jonathan’s daughter.
Kennedy is such an amazing, selfless and strong character. i love her so much and i truly admire her in every way. my heart aches for her because she sacrificed everything to help Jonathan chase his dreams and all she got in return was heartbreak. she really didn’t deserve any of the things she went through. this woman deserves all the happiness in the world.
i couldn’t forget to mention that she is also an incredible mother – her relationship with Maddie is so precious and it’s one of my favorite things about this book. ah, and Maddie is literally the sweetest girl ever! she’s funny, smart, compassionate and, of course, absolutely adorable. i adore her with all my heart.
I smile down at her. “Love you more than lunch breaks and paychecks.” “Love you more than recess.” “That’s a lot of love, little girl.” “All of it in the whole world.”
i love how Kennedy was consistently putting Maddie’s needs above her own, always protecting her and prioritizing her happiness and well-being no matter what. (view spoiler)[and the fact that she didn’t let Jonathan be a part of their daughter’s life until he got sober just makes me so emotional.
“And I know—god, I know—you’ll make a great father, one of the greatest, and you’ll love this little girl with every part of your soul. But that can’t happen until you’re ready.”
“I need you to go and not come back until you get better,” I say. “I’m asking you… no, I’m begging you… don’t come back here like this again. She’s going to need a father, a real one, someone who can love her more than everything. There’s no place in our lives for an addict. So, please… leave, Jonathan.”
i admire her strength for doing this because i’m sure it was one of the hardest things she has ever made. deep down Kennedy still loved Jonathan, but she knew she couldn’t let him break her little girl’s heart. i definitely think she made the right decision by pushing him away until he sorted himself out.
“So you don’t know this, but that girl? That beautiful little one wrapped in pink in the nursery? Her name is Madison Jacqueline Garfield, and someday, you’re going to know her. Someday, she’s going to call you her daddy. And when that happens, she’s going to steal your heart, and you’ll get that chance you asked for. But you need to be ready, Jonathan, because she’s here, and she's waiting. Don't make her wait too long before finding your way home.”
*screaming, crying, throwing up* THE WAY I WAS LITERALLY BAWLING MY EYES OUT READING THE LAST ENTRIES OF HER NOTEBOOK... i’ve never cried so much over a book before. i’m gonna sue the author for emotional damage.
Jonathan has made a lot of mistakes, that’s a fact. and i’m not gonna lie here, some of the things he did really upset me and there were times i wanted to punch him in the face but i can understand why he acted the way he did. he was going through some stuff and battling addiction is extremely hard so i won’t – and i can’t – judge him for that. the important thing is that he fought hard to get clean. it took him a few years yes, but he got there, and i was beyond proud to see him recovered, his character’s growth and development was truly wonderful. and seeing him finally being able to be a father to his daughter was the best thing ever! their relationship is the cutest and the love they have for each other is just so pure. i thoroughly enjoyed reading each one of their moments together. can confirm that they are the best father-daughter duo <3
“It’s ‘cuz I love you.” His expression shifts. I see it as those words strike him. “You love me?” Maddie laughs. “Duh.” Duh. She says that like he’s being ridiculous asking that question, like he’s supposed to just know, but love isn’t something he’s had a lot of. “I love you, too,” he says. “More than bacon?” she asks, munching on a piece. “More than bacon,” he says quietly. “More than everything.”
“She’s beautiful, this kid—even more beautiful than I ever could’ve dreamed of. There’s a spark inside of her, one that echoes inside of me, the kind of spark I haven’t felt in a long time.”
I laugh as she hugs me. “Hey, pretty girl.” She looks up at me. “You think I’m pretty?” “What? Of course.” I kneel next to her, grinning as I press a finger to the tip of her nose. “You look like your mom.” “You think Mommy’s pretty, too?” “I think she's the most beautiful woman in the world.”
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