So I'm in a slight predicament. I've been given an ARC of a YA paranormal queer book that I really wanted to read. I was so thrilled when I got the copy from the publisher, I mean the cover alone had me giddy with excitement!
Now, here's the thing... I finished the book and I don't like it at all. I honestly think there are several problematic points. It's catered to YA readers and I feel like the book romanticized being somebody's doormat when the other person is purposefully being cruel. I think it's sending the wrong message when somebody says "I don't want you, I don't want this.." and yet you're "refusing to give up on that person" and it's also sending mixed messages about peer pressure. "come on, you have to show up and fight for him, give him an out, you have to be there for him.."
As a queer teen or young adult, what would that have taught me? That it's okay when somebody says no, don't give up hope because you'll be able to change their mind? I get the nuances.. but I also get the mixed messages.
The book's premise was promising. It had the good bones of what could have been a great story. It just fell short, at least in my honest opinion.
Here comes my dilemma.. this book is a debut novel of a new-to-me and seemed to me that it's also a brand new author. I checked Goodreads to see if anybody else caught the unintentional subliminal message that I got. There aren't a lot of reviews yet, the star rating though is high. So now, I'm thinking, was it just me? Did I over think this?
I don't want to cause hurt feelings to an author's work. This is somebody's book baby and I don't want to hinder somebody's creative flow. I understand all of that.
So, do I present my views on the review? Or do I just say "this one isn't my jam"? As of this moment, I'm waiting for what my friends who are getting the physical copy of the ARC think. I might reread it, but I really don't want to waste any more precious reading time. Ugh.
More than anything, I'm disappointed the book didn't deliver (for me). I really wish it did, it'd save me from this reviewer's dilemma.
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