Book Breakups is a feature hosted by Pure Imagination. I thought it was a great way to talk about books that didn’t work for me personally but might be a good fit for other readers, so I decided to join in and occasionally talk about books that had me saying “it’s not you, it’s me.”
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
Colleagues had highly recommended this one, especially for guys who want a funny, realistic book. I get the humor, and perhaps it would have been different had I not tried the audio…but Carter’s mind was just painful to be in. I just didn’t want to hear his completely embarassing internal monologue, especially when he started thinking about girls. Nick Podehl is a much celebrated narrator, but I find his style to be a little over-the-top. I definitely can understand the appeal of this. It’s full of crude humor and frank discussion of boobs and sex. I just couldn’t quite stomach it personally. I only got about 20% through the audiobook and had to give it up.
Others liked it:
Abby the Librarian: “This is a book that definitely straddles the line between tween and teen and for some guys it will be exactly the kind of book they need. It’s a funny, enjoyable book about a guy who’s going through much of the same stuff they’re going through and who’s giving them hope that they’ll figure it out someday, too.”
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
I
really thought I was going to LOVE this one. Epic fantasy, kick-ass heroine, complex world-building, and thoughtful commentary on gender? Everyone I know raves about this book. Fellow bloggers, librarians, teens in the library. Everyone.
But I got about 60% through the audiobook and bailed. I did not enjoy the narrator, and the story was just dragging out f-o-r-e-v-e-r. This might be one I’d considering trying again in print since it’s so well-loved.
Others loved it:
April from Good Books Good Wine: “And this, my friends, begins Goodman’s sweeping Asian-inspired fantasy novel Eon: Dragoneye Reborn. I inhaled this 536 page book in the course of two days. As intrigues unfolded, battles raged, and secrets were reveled, I held the book in almost a death grip, eyes glued to the page.”
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
I picked this one up (like the others) because it was available on MP3 CD from my library, but I also thought I’d give it a try because it was on YALSA’s Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list this year. I thought it was completely predictable and juvenile and couldn’t get past the first few chapters. This didn’t feel like anything I could sell to readers at my library and was frankly, boring. I’m always suprised by a few titles on awards lists, and this one that I just couldn’t see as one of the top ten titles released for teens in the past year. I’ve read reviews from others who were similiarly disappointed, but I know others who thought it was great. Perhaps I didn’t get far enough? Still, I’m not tempted to investigate further.
Kimberly at STACKED: “I liked that Kontis used The Frog Prince as her springboard but did not limit herself to a mere re-telling. By that I mean she created a new mythology with new magic, injecting some originality into these very old stories.”
Not every book works for every reader. Since I read in a wide variety of genres, I’m bound to encounter books that aren’t for me. Especially since I’ve been listening to so many audiobooks, I’ve got a lot more DNF reads lately, and Book Breakups gives me a way to discuss them without sharing a full review.
wrapped up in books 
I had heard so many good things about Eon. I just knew I was going to adore it…but I didn’t. It moved extremely sloooow.
I love fantasy and thought I’d like it too, but you’re so right. At first I just thought it was the audiobook, but maybe it’s just the story.
What a nice idea to have a note about why it would work for others. That’s a great solution. I know it’s hard to say you didn’t like a book!
I so agree with Enchanted. I finished it. But. It just didn’t work for me at all. Too much going on, too little dialogue. AH.
Oh, I struggled with Enchanted, too! I wanted to love it. Fairytale retellings are a favorite of mine, and the cover is super pretty (not that I should read a book just because it has a pretty cover). Anyways, I read a decent chunk of it, and the more I read, the less I liked.