This Adventure Ends Is More Than Just A Pretty Cover | Book Review
Hii friends! *waves*
I’m going to be reviewing This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
today. This is my second book of hers, the first being First And Then! I really
love her style of writing and her cute and fluffy contemporaries are quite
different from others!
I didn’t know much about this book going into it other than
it was by an author who I had previously read and enjoyed the work of and the
cover was insanely gorgeous! (PS. I highly recommend going in for the hardcover
of this bad boy, it is jaw droppingly gorgeous!)
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me a review copy however all thoughts and opinions are my own and this is an honest review.
About the book.
Pages: 308
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication date: 1 March 2017
Australian RRP: $24.99 hardcover
Publication date: 1 March 2017
Australian RRP: $24.99 hardcover
Synopsis: Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.
Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives. (source)
Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives. (source)
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Recommended for: Anyone 12+
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me a review copy however all thoughts and opinions are my own and this is an honest review.
My thoughts.
WHAT I LIKED:
- The cover. As previously mentioned. The cover is so stunning and beautiful and the naked hardcover is just as gorgeous! I could literally stare at it all day
- The writing is quite simple to understand. I liked how Mills kept it quite simple and brief (although sometimes it would have been nice to have something a little more whimsical which I feel could have worked well with this style of book)
- The dialogue was so witty and well-paced. The conversations of these characters had me laughing out loud, which is always so rare and very enjoyable
- It’s a short and fun read. I have been going for shorter reads lately because I find they’re great for keeping me intrigued in the book and keep me out of the dreaded reading slump
- The idea is quite unique. So I don’t know about you but I haven’t read many YA books about a lost painting and an adventure to retrieve it
- The romance actually develops and isn’t too instalovey as it is in other contemporaries. Trust me, this is one of the biggest things I liked about this book.
- The friendships <3 .="" b=""> I love a good YA book with some solid friendships/is based on friendships and this one really is! It totally made me envious seeing this tight knit group of friends together 3>
- The characters are so unique (especially Frank!). You need to read this book to know what I’m talking about but the characters are just so enjoyable to read and they make you wish you had a solid friend group like that just because they all know each other inside and out
- Had very relatable elements. One of the characters – Vera is a social media star and I feel that can really resonate within teenagers seeing how social media is such a big part of our lives
- Dad jokes. Basically Sloane’s father is the best and had me cracking up multiple times to say the least
- Sloane as a character. I loved how sarcastic and independent and caring she was. She was such a fantastic protagonist it was impossible not to enjoy the book!
- Felt satisfied at the end. You don’t know how many books I have read to only to be left feeling super ‘meh’ at the end
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
- It was quite hard to connect with the characters. Don’t get me wrong, I liked them. But it was hard to get onto their level.
- There wasn’t that much of a plot. Like most contemporaries, there wasn’t much happening. But unlike them, there wasn’t a whole lot of character development either
- It wasn’t what I expected. So I know this can be a good and bad thing but for me, it turned out to be a negative because I was expecting a whole road trip, adventure style book that’s all about finding yourself and having fun with a good group of friends but this wasn’t it and I felt quite let down by that. But in saying that, I think it’s more of a personal expectation and probably won’t affect everyone
OVERALL RATING:
★★★★
Have you read This
Adventure Ends or First And Then? What did you think? And if not, is it on your
TBR? And do you ever have personal reasons for not liking aspects of a book
like I did?
30 happy thoughts
i really liked this one. I agree there wasn't much of a plot, but it was an easy, fluffy, fun read and it was quick and sucked me in. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you enjoyed it Lily! Thanks for reading and commenting! <3
DeleteOoh definitely going to check this one out! It sounds cute and perfect to cheer me up when I'm blue
ReplyDeleteYESS DO IT STEPH!!!
DeleteI loved this book too!! I was worried bc the cover is so beautiful-- I mean it could only go down from there, right?? But NO!! The inside is just as good :) Sloane's dad was my absolute fave. I loved his fanfic addiction-- it was too cute. And I loved that the romance didn't over overtake the friendship aspect of the book. Lots of times in friendship books, once the romance starts heating up, the characters are like "friends, what are those??"... but this had friendship the main focus and the relationship was the side-action.
ReplyDeleteAnd OMG I forgot how cool the book looks naked!! I need to take pictures of it soon!
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM MICHELLE! Also yay so good to hear another person enjoyed it! I want more books to have dad jokes like the one this one has! It is honestly just too cute! <333
DeleteI have to agree with you about the cover :D and dad jokes are always good.
ReplyDeleteRight???
DeleteThis was my favorite book cover from all of last year! I also loved Sloane's dad. It was nice to see the MC's family in the story - it felt more realistic than some YA novels where teenagers are just running around by themselves!
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! I actually really like that point! And he was there for her and it was all just so awesome!
DeleteI still haven't read this yet but I definitely want to. I love the cover too. It reminds me of a painting as well as swirls of frosting on a cake or cupcake. I love that the story focuses on friendship. Thanks for your review!
ReplyDeleteYES the story is about a painting and I think it's supposed to represent that! Thanks for reading and commenting Christina!
DeleteEeep, I'm excited about this one! I've reserved it at my library but I 100% regret that now and wish I'd just bought it because IT'S SO PRETTY I CAN'T EVEN. And I've heard the naked cover is even prettier!?? Like fjadksldjk I need these kind of gorgeous books in my life hahah.😂 Anyway, I'm glad it was an excellent and unique read! Even if the characters weren't particularly relatable? But I'm looking forward to the dad jokes for sure, hehe.😂
ReplyDeleteIT IS SO PRETTY CAIT YOU HAVE TO GET IT! And yes the naked hardcover is stunning! YAY hope you enjoy it and thanks for commenting! I adore your blog so trying not to fangirl over the top and word vomit all over you!
DeleteI really liked it too!! The dad jokes and the social media and the witty banter AND THE COVER. Haha. It's so excellent.
ReplyDeleteYAY thanks for reading and commenting Emily! So glad you enjoyed it! <3
DeleteDad jokes, witty dialogue and romance? I'm sold! This cover is BEAUTIFUL though! :O. Lovely review :)
ReplyDeleteYou are too sweet Kristin! Thanks for reading and commenting!
DeleteI've heard so many good things about this book! I really enjoyed this author's debut. I love that it had dad jokes! I need to read this one soon.
ReplyDeleteOMG First And Then was such a cutie! I hope you enjoy this too Lori! <33
DeleteThis sounds SO INTERESTING. It is on my Amazon WL (purely for that BEAUTIFUL cover) but I'm so glad you liked it! It does sound very different, a book about looking for a painting. It does seem like it should have been a little whimsical at least, if only to fit the feel of the book.
ReplyDeleteSuch a well explained review!
Aditi @ http://athousandwordsamillionbooks.blogspot.in/
AHA THANK YOU SO MUCH ADITI! I hope you get around to reading this as it's such a lovely book!
DeleteOh this book is beautiful - I have the author's previous book (and to be honest, I bought it because I loved the cover, haha), and this one is gorgeous too. It kind of reminds me of cake frosting - I honestly was hoping to see some of your amazing cupcakes along with this book, but the picture you took for it was simply beautiful, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that you liked this one - I've heard nothing but good things about it, and I really have to add it to my list of books that I need to buy. As always, amazing review!
YOU'RE TOO SWEET KELLY! <333
DeleteYAY!! We gave this book the same rating! *high five* :D I also really enjoyed this book, and the cover is so lovely and cute :) It think it's a great, adorable contemporary for fantasy lovers who are super picky with contemporary books, like myself! Fabulous review, as always <3
ReplyDeleteBrittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
YAAAS GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!!! <33
DeleteOh man, the cover and naked cover for this book looks so incredible, it's absolutely beautiful! A shame about the road trip idea though, and how it didn't pan out. I'm glad you enjoyed the friendships and the characters though, which is the main part.
ReplyDeleteYES! THANKS JEANN! <3
DeleteI bought this one forever ago it feels like (aka when it first came out probably) and I STILL haven't picked it up. But this review has honestly moved it higher up on my list! It seems like the perfect book to follow a super deep fantasy novel, so I'm looking forward to it after I finish Godsgrave! Lovely review <3
ReplyDeleteYAY oh my gosh! And luckyyy I've been waiting for Godsgrave for ages! Thanks so much Olivia! <3 <3
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