This comment is not hate or shade towards Abby or any other writers who I've noticed this from, but lately I've realised that after a couple of books it seems that writers lose their writing touch, their style. I read Part of Your World series over the weekend, so one book since Friday. I've just finished Just for the Summer and it's Sunday. The books were getting progressively less whimsical and sweet. I have a running theory that writers are getting ghost writers to finish off their series or they're getting burnt out churning out series because of a perceived impatience from their audience. Either theory would explain why as the books go on, it feels like you're reading someone else's story. I have no idea what secret sauce was in Part Of Your World but it was so good I gave it a 5 star and was speechless. I tore through the rest of the series expecting that same writing style at least but I started feeling less and less the more I went in. I didn't realise it was the writing style until I read some other reviews and you said that whole thing about the Burger King line. Because what exactly was that all about. I think Part of Your World saved Abby from having to weave our real life world into the book. She's had to come up with everything about Wakhan so nothing feels cringey. Reading about Starbucks every 4 chapters made me irrationally angry but as I'm putting that to the side and anticipating more of that POYW magic these kinds of things wear me down. Soon I'm skipping paragraphs and reading impatiently wishing an entire chapter would go by faster. I also struggled to connect with Emma. Her running away after finding out about her family history could've hit more if she had sat there a little, maybe spiraled and we got to know what was going on inside her head. That could've been such an emotional scene. She could've let us into her mind and saw more of the Grant House, interacted with her niece and brother more. Even Alexis' relationship with her father felt more emotional than her reaction. The running away immediately felt like watching an episode of Catfish and the MTV production crew was running after the victim with shake cameras and nothing made sense but we were along for the ride. I'm only now coming to terms with my disappointment. Innpitially I was going to give the book four stars, and even then it felt like I was lying to myself about what I actually went through in this book. I think I rated it based on what I expected Abby to deliver with how amazing the premise of the book was. Ugh, and what a letdown with how well she can weave magic into her books. The fact that she refused to tap into the magic for the curse breaking stuff... sigh. But ultimately I think what it was is a book about Emma and her mother, and all the people who fall victim to the repercussions of the way Emma was raised (that's a little harsh but I think you know what I mean). Justin being an afterthought to her would've made more sense. Because to this point I still don't believe she loves that man the way he loves her. I think if we spent a few more chapters with her post the 6 month finding herself arc she could've shown the reader that she deserves such a sweet man. I have some other thoughts but this comment is already too long and my thoughts are all over the place anyway. I had to come back and say that I slept for 4 hours in the middle of reading this book. Maybe this just wasn't her best work. Maybe we have to admit that Abby kinda didn't hit with this. And maybe the curse they had to break was the friends we made along the way???
I didn't realize this was a part of a series either! I am not a fan of the writing style, but I will try the first two books.
Hope you like them!
This comment is not hate or shade towards Abby or any other writers who I've noticed this from, but lately I've realised that after a couple of books it seems that writers lose their writing touch, their style. I read Part of Your World series over the weekend, so one book since Friday. I've just finished Just for the Summer and it's Sunday. The books were getting progressively less whimsical and sweet.
I have a running theory that writers are getting ghost writers to finish off their series or they're getting burnt out churning out series because of a perceived impatience from their audience. Either theory would explain why as the books go on, it feels like you're reading someone else's story.
I have no idea what secret sauce was in Part Of Your World but it was so good I gave it a 5 star and was speechless. I tore through the rest of the series expecting that same writing style at least but I started feeling less and less the more I went in. I didn't realise it was the writing style until I read some other reviews and you said that whole thing about the Burger King line. Because what exactly was that all about.
I think Part of Your World saved Abby from having to weave our real life world into the book. She's had to come up with everything about Wakhan so nothing feels cringey. Reading about Starbucks every 4 chapters made me irrationally angry but as I'm putting that to the side and anticipating more of that POYW magic these kinds of things wear me down. Soon I'm skipping paragraphs and reading impatiently wishing an entire chapter would go by faster.
I also struggled to connect with Emma. Her running away after finding out about her family history could've hit more if she had sat there a little, maybe spiraled and we got to know what was going on inside her head. That could've been such an emotional scene. She could've let us into her mind and saw more of the Grant House, interacted with her niece and brother more. Even Alexis' relationship with her father felt more emotional than her reaction. The running away immediately felt like watching an episode of Catfish and the MTV production crew was running after the victim with shake cameras and nothing made sense but we were along for the ride.
I'm only now coming to terms with my disappointment. Innpitially I was going to give the book four stars, and even then it felt like I was lying to myself about what I actually went through in this book. I think I rated it based on what I expected Abby to deliver with how amazing the premise of the book was. Ugh, and what a letdown with how well she can weave magic into her books. The fact that she refused to tap into the magic for the curse breaking stuff... sigh.
But ultimately I think what it was is a book about Emma and her mother, and all the people who fall victim to the repercussions of the way Emma was raised (that's a little harsh but I think you know what I mean). Justin being an afterthought to her would've made more sense. Because to this point I still don't believe she loves that man the way he loves her. I think if we spent a few more chapters with her post the 6 month finding herself arc she could've shown the reader that she deserves such a sweet man.
I have some other thoughts but this comment is already too long and my thoughts are all over the place anyway.
I had to come back and say that I slept for 4 hours in the middle of reading this book. Maybe this just wasn't her best work. Maybe we have to admit that Abby kinda didn't hit with this. And maybe the curse they had to break was the friends we made along the way???
I loved Maddy too❤
She was the best!