Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: YA (Urban Fantasy)
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children
Publishing Date: October 13 (US) / October 29 (UK)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Stand Alone or series: first in a planned duology
Why did I read the book: I love the cover and the premise. Plus the hype surrounding the book.
How did I get the book: I received an ARC from the publishers in the UK.
Summary
A sacred oath, a fallen angel, a forbidden love…This darkly romantic story features our heroine, Nora Grey, a seemingly normal teenage girl with her own shadowy connection to the Nephilim, and super-alluring bad boy, Patch, now her deskmate in biology class. Together they find themselves at the centre of a centuries-old feud between a fallen angel and a Nephilim…Forced to sit next to Patch in science class, Nora attempts to resist his flirting, though gradually falls for him against her better judgment. Meanwhile creepy things are going on with a mysterious stalker following her car, breaking into her house and attacking her best friend, Vi. Nora suspects Patch, but there are other suspects too – not least a new boy who has transferred from a different college after being wrongly accused of murdering his girlfriend. And he seems to have taken a shine to Nora…Love certainly is dangerous…and someone is going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice for it
Review:
A warning: this review contains spoilers. You have been warned!
There has been great hype and positive reviews over Hush, Hush until last week when a couple of negative reviews started to surface. After reading the latter, which had some well-thought out criticisms, I braced myself not to like the book as much as I hoped but I was not prepared for what I eventually got. Suffice to say that: the cover of the book is awesome. And that is just about as positive as this review is going to get.
The plot is simple: Nora Grey is the uncoordinated, plain girl who walks into Biology class one day to find out that the teacher wants to shake things up by moving the kids around. Instead of sitting with her best friend Vee as per usual, Nora ends up sitting next to the new kid, Patch. The dark, hot, mysterious Patch whom as soon as Nora sits next to him, starts to tease, argue, behaving like a jerk to Nora. Then, weird things start to happen, Nora believes she is being watched; someone jumps in front of her car when she is driving home one day and almost rips the door out. She immediately thinks that Patch is behind those incidents. She notices that everywhere she goes, he is there. More weird things happen, Patch can put thoughts inside her mind, he has a scar in his back. An internet search is in order: “angel wing scar” she types and is frightened that OMG Patch may not be human. She fears him, he is certainly dangerous, can she trust him? But yes. But no. But he is hot. But he is dangerous. He loves her! She loves him! He saves her from himself (he wants to kills her!) and from the dangerous lunatic who wants revenge. The end.
The first question I have for you dear reader, is this: How is this book NOT Twilight by Stephenie Meyer but with Angels? It is uncannily similar. But unfortunately, it is also worse than Twilight. (Take that as you will.)
Starting with the characters. Patch has been hailed as the Ultimate Bad Boy by some or as a Stupid Jerk by others. In all honestly, I could not care one iota for Patch: I have seen better Bad Boys and worse Jerks. He falls right bang in that middle ground of mediocrity. One thing is certain, I don’t see the attraction and I didn’t see any chemistry between the characters.
Now, Nora. Nora, Nora, Nora. I have yet to see a worst TSTL (Too Stupid to Live ) heroine. Let me count the ways: Nora is attacked or followed or stalked. Over and over again. Yet it never occurs to her to call the police, talk to the school principal, talk to her mother until it is too late. She talks with suspect number one instead. She is afraid of Patch for most of the book and keeps changing her mind about him every two seconds. It gets tiresome pretty soon:
He is hot. But he is dangerous. Can I trust him? But his dark smile and dark eyes! OMG he wants to kill me! But he smells good!
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Then her best friend is attacked by someone who mistakes her for Nora. Vee ends up in hospital, having surgery. They think it might have been Patch attacking her. One DAY later she is out of the hospital (without the police ever questioning them about the attack. No sign of the parents in the hospital either) so that they can go to the bar where he works to do some sleuthing (their words). This pinnacle of stupidity that is Nora, goes into the bathroom to put on a wig, a hot dress and gets a LIST of questions out of the pocket to ask the bartender. Her questions:
“Do you know if Patch has ever had any restraining orders?
Does he have a history of stalking?
Does he have a girlfriend?”
No, seriously. I ask myself if this is supposed to be cute or quirky. I ask myself if I shouldn’t just walk away from the book before my brain explodes or my eyes get stuck in the back of my head after that much rolling! I carry on though because I want to know how this is going to end and I am mildly curious about the Fallen Angels Mythology. I guess that counts as a positive too? That I want to know more? But I wish I hadn’t because once all is explained, it lacks inherent logic.
This is where things get really spoilery so avert your eyes now if you don’t want to know.
Firstly, Nora does her internet search and THE FIRST PAGE SHE OPENS after typing “Angel Scar Wings” is the correct page which relates this specific obscure mythology, because that is exactly how it happens when you Google something. Patch is supposed to be a Fallen Angel who wants to become human. He says he “found” the Book of Enoch that says there is a way of doing this if he sacrifices a descendent (that would be Nora, by the way) of the guy who swore fealty to him because that would kill the GUY and that would make him human. How exactly did Patch find the elusive Book of Enoch, if he was out of Heaven? How exactly does killing Nora kill her ancestor?
In addition: Patch is a BAD person because he Fell. And he fell because of lust for a woman he loved. At the end of the novel, he becomes an angel again and yet he proceeds with a relationship with Nora which is of course, based on lust as well. Isn’t that the same situation as before? Shouldn’t he fall again? This is completely illogical!
And then there is the fact that both as an angel AND as a fallen angel, Patch can not feel anything physical. So, let me make this clear: Patch can not feel Nora’s touch, he can not feel anything only what is inside his heart (yeah, seriously). Only what is emotional – except that he feels desire and lust for her. But surely that means that they can never have sex – if he can’t feel anything corporeal he surely can not get it up (and if he can, well then. Yet another nonsensical detail). How exactly does that work?
In the end I am supposed to believe these two loved each other so much they would sacrifice for one another. And yet. how can I possibly believe that, if every single interaction they had in this book is Patch being a jerk, and Nora reacting to his jerkiness? They hardly ever had an entire conversation that did not go around one of them doing or saying something nasty. I absolutely abhorred the fact that Nora was prepared to give up her life so easily so that Patch could become human. It’s not even about saving his life, only granting his wish.
So, yeah, Hush, Hush did not work for me in any level and I am most aggravated about it.
Notable Quotes/ Parts: …….
Verdict: This book did not work for me at all. And it is time that the Twilight train left the station.
Rating: 2 – A complete waste of my time.
Reading Next: Austenland by Shannon Hale
175 Comments
Holly
October 12, 2009 at 12:53 amInteresting. I have only seen 1 review for this book, and it was a stellar one. It’s interesting to get a different perspective. Thanks for your review! 🙂
Renay
October 12, 2009 at 1:40 amOh man, now I am full of regrets because I wanted to set Twilight on fiiiire and I just bought this book.
I will be over here, sobbing quietly. XD
Stephanie
October 12, 2009 at 1:53 amMy intense dislike for the characters was probably more of an issue for me than the completely illogical storyline. I HATED Vee and Disliked Nora intensely!!
I actually thought I was the only one, ’cause I read a ton of glowing reviews. Glad to see that I’m not completely crazy (or if i am, at least I’m not alone!)
Ana
October 12, 2009 at 2:01 amI could go on and on about the book: the mind-rape for example. A guy being able to put thoughts inside my head is NOT cool nor sexy. It is creepy.
Vee. I hated her too. The way she dismissed how Nora told her that a guy attacked her by simply saying,”oh it is ok, he was only drunk. don’t mind him”. wtf ??!! what kind of friend is that? 👿
Adele
October 12, 2009 at 2:13 amI am totally with you on this one…it didn’t appeal at all. I am a little flummoxed to why so many people fell over in adoration for Patch (and the story in general). Call me jaded but at least I know I have decent taste (like the Booksmugglers 😉 )
coldbluelight
October 12, 2009 at 3:49 amWow, this book sounds terrible, not to mention a shameless rip off of Twilight.
hagelrat
October 12, 2009 at 4:59 amOddly, I hated Twilight but loved Hush Hush.
Karissa
October 12, 2009 at 5:37 amThanks for the review! I had this book on my “to be read” list but after I read some reviews (even the positive ones) I decided it didn’t sound like the book for me. I agree with what you said in the beginning of your review, more and more negative reviews are popping up for this book.
Anyway, thanks for the honest review! It backs my decision to skip this book for now 🙂
KarenS
October 12, 2009 at 6:10 amHush, Hush was my most anticipated YA novel by a new author this fall and it also turned out to be the biggest disappointment. Thanks for your review – it reminds me how important it is to ignore pre-publication hype and excellent covers and rely on more than 3 stellar pre-pub reviews. (I ordered this and read it before I found any of the negative reviews I’ve been seeing lately.)
I also felt Twilight was better than Hush, Hush. I’m not a Twilight-series fan, but enjoyed Twilight when it was first published. Bella made more sense to me than Nora. Nora drove me crazy with her constant rationalizations – I know I shouldn’t go to this pool hall at night to see Patch because Patch terrifies me, but I’m going to do it because I need to get an A in this class and there’s no way Patch will answer my questions in school. Maybe he will answer them at the pool hall while he’s playing pool, even though he just hung up on me two seconds ago.
Nothing Nora did made sense and I never believed any of the reasons she gave for doing things she knew would put her in danger.
Patch was impossible for me to like. You are so right about the lack of chemistry between the two.
Mollie
October 12, 2009 at 7:17 amBummer. I’ve been looking forward to this one. Oh well I’ve got it on reserve at the library. I’ll still probably give it a go.
Joanne
October 12, 2009 at 7:18 amYes, yes, yes! That’s me agreeing with basically every point you made about this book.
The synopsis made me very hopeful that this would be an excellent read, but in the end all I could think was that it needed a serious re-write. Good idea but bad follow-through. Especially the explanations of the Angel business – it felt like it was thrown together with absolutely no structure in mind.
katiebabs
October 12, 2009 at 8:07 amI keep hearing about Patch mind raping Nora. I am still very interested in reading this book but if a hero is a jerk I tend to want to throw the book against the wall.
The thing with Twilight, Edward would never hurt Bella. Even though he could have had her and changed her, he never did. He kept pushing Bella away because he felt guilt and didn’t feel he was worthy.
It sounds because Patch doesn’t feel true emotions, he has no threshold. Perhaps Patch is supposed to be a villain and that was the point of Hush, Hush to show if the bad guy got the girl?
T.Y.
October 12, 2009 at 8:12 amShe dons a wig and tries to question him. Oh. My. Effing. God!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This review made my day. After dry heaving through the other Twilight rip-off (Evermore), I plan on putting this book on my Horrible Dare Challenge List. Someone else (Books I Done Read) will suffer next year. *Cue evil laughter*
KMont
October 12, 2009 at 8:20 am“The first question I have for you dear reader, is this: How is this book NOT Twilight by Stephenie Meyer but with Angels?”
Eh – yeah. The official cover blurb engenders that reaction alone, and then you’re own summary says it all too. I remarked over at Bab’s place today that we ought to just go ahead and make up a subgenre for these kinds of YA titles. We’ve seen almost the exact same blurb for so many now!
It seems as if the book couldn’t be more Twilight if it tried. Really though, what is with all the YA titles where girls are scared of/wonder about/lust after/bother to death these loner/loser/otherworldly/jerky/broody/bad ass guys?
Don’t answer – I think I know already. A formula that worked insanely well once upon a time. From a marketing standpoint at least. As well as a fun level for some. But c’mon. This one sounds too…ugh.
Anon
October 12, 2009 at 8:56 ami hated this book so much. i couldn’t get past the first scene, where in APRIL their “science project” was about “a personal interview” — um, don’t science student usually study like, cell biology or molecule orbitals or something?
none of the scenes or the characters made the slightest bit of sense and there was no chemistry whatsoever.
i’m sure it’ll be a huge hit.
Adrienne
October 12, 2009 at 9:34 amFunny, I hated Evermore as well-seriously though, could the author possible change up “bio” for maybe “history”? Make him sparkle and TaDAAA you have Edward-but not a douche bag…interesting trend with the fallen angel again. What does that make, 4, 5 different series that have the same plot lines? Thanks again for saving me $15 bucks on a book that I would have used to start a fire 😆 So honestly, how annoyed were you that you couldn’t get your time back for reading this? 😀
danielle
October 12, 2009 at 12:11 pmWell damn. I liked it…lol. Now I feel stupid XD
Annabel
October 12, 2009 at 2:21 pmAna I love your review and I can absolutely see where you’re coming from…however, I actually kinda liked this one! As a Twilight fan (well… an Edward fan)I still enjoyed hush hush for what it was regardless of the similarities. Vee was incredibly annoying and Nora was a bit wet but what can I say…I’m just a sucker for teenage romance 😉 And ok it’s creepy he could get into your mind, but on the very last page when he placed ‘kiss’ in her mind, for one second I wanted that to be me – ultimate secret flirting no?!!!
Jessica Kennedy
October 12, 2009 at 3:57 pmAgree with your review.
I found it lacking and I did not relate to any of the characters what so ever.
I’m glad I received an ARC because I would have been upset to spend that money. 🙁
Kay @ Infinite Shelf
October 12, 2009 at 4:01 pmThat was a great review! It seems that people are either loving or hating this book; I have read both very positive and very negative reviews of it. I think it makes me even more curious of reading it to see by myself, although the comparison to Twilight does nothing to reassure me!
Christine
October 12, 2009 at 6:03 pmUh oh. 😕
Michelle
October 12, 2009 at 7:20 pmGood Review! I am totally with you. I review Hush, Hush a few weeks ago and I mentioned some of the points you put in this review.
Peace
Michelle
sharon
October 12, 2009 at 7:23 pmThis review was brilliant. Both Nora and Vee were TSTL. Needless to say I agree with you on all of this!
I enjoyed reading your review more than I enjoyed reading Hush!
Excellent point about Patch being a fallen angel. I didn’t even think of that. How come he didn’t fall again? Seriously!? I was so wrapped up in my hatred of the characters that I totally missed out on some of the plot holes. 😀
Maya M.
October 12, 2009 at 8:42 pmYowza. 2! Don’t mess with the smugglers! Makes me almost want to know what merit rated the two points it did get. I’ll guess: the uberfabulous cover? I’m seriously impressed with it.
I am a definite non-fan of Twilight,so a similar story that is not even as ‘good’? Not going on my TBR list. My gorgeous cover list, perhaps…..
Ana
October 12, 2009 at 11:35 pmMaya, the only two other possible rates were a DNF (which I couldn’t give since I did finish the book) or a 1. It missed out being a 1 only because I did not pay for the book (the one rate is the one where I want my money back!).
Riddle Me This: Common YA Tropes «
October 13, 2009 at 5:51 am[…] Fitzpatrick, which I haven’t read, but might still to see what all the fuss is about. See the review by Ana over at The book Smugglers that spurred my thoughts on this topic. There’s also one […]
Meghan
October 14, 2009 at 2:03 amI mysteriously received an ARC of this, but I don’t think I’m going to like it very much. I’ve been putting it off because I read another review comparing it closely to Twilight. Honestly, Twilight was a fun read and I did like it, but that doesn’t mean I want to read the same story with shallower characters and interactions several times over. Argh. I have to give it a go, but I’m really not looking forward to it.
Veronica F.
October 14, 2009 at 11:20 pmoh no….well, I’ve been looking forward to this book for a few months b/c it looked so pretty and the blurb I read sounded interesting.I’m still gonna read it b/c I’ve waited so long but I really hope it’s not as bad as all that. Maybe this will be one of those “we have different opinions” instances? 😕
Sab H.
October 16, 2009 at 9:41 amI loved this review! See, I actually kind of “enjoyed” the book b/c I read it so quick. And I was so pissed of when I read Evermore, I thought exactly the same things you said in this review!
In this one, I hated the fact that you have no idea of what’s going on in HH until you have like 20 pages to go. And Patch really scared me! You do have the most valid point I’ve seen about the falling again/lust thing! You do pay more attention that most! GREAT REVIEW!! ;D
Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush « Fyrefly’s Book Blog
October 18, 2009 at 4:28 pm[…] Reviews: Bogormen, Book-a-Rama, The Book Lush, The Book Smugglers, BookMagic, Boy With Books, Dog-Eared and Well-Read, The Eclectic Reader, Frenetic Reader, Harmony […]
Saffie
October 21, 2009 at 9:46 amHave not read it yet except first two chapters that were posted online and thought it seems to be just like Twilight except with angels and a sillier and more annoying heroine (though I didn’t think it would be possible to surpass Bella on that aspect). Great review though and I’m glad it’s an honest one despite the hype surrounding this one.
Anonymous
October 31, 2009 at 10:14 amSorry, I absolutly adored the book. It has great voice. I dont give that i’t’s like Twilight. Cuz more books need to BE like twilight!!!! I finished the book today and I loved it so ❓ !!!!!!!!! What do u mean theres no frekn chemistry!!???!!!!??? Of course there isssss!!!!!!!!! Thats why they fell in love stupids!!!! derrr. 😡 I loved patch. Very hot 🙂
Riddle Me This: Common YA Tropes | Romance Fiction Books
October 31, 2009 at 8:40 pm[…] Fitzpatrick, which I haven’t read, but might still to see what all the fuss is about. See the review by Ana over at The Book Smugglers that spurred my thoughts on this topic. There’s also one […]
Jolene
November 2, 2009 at 12:40 amI just finished reading this book tonight and I have to say, after reading the complete twilight sequal whatever last fall, Hush Hush was 10x better! Although I did find Vee’s character to be annoying, I really enjoyed the storyline. It kept me thinking about what was going to happen next, I couldnt put it down.. I did however love Twilight but to me it felt like stephenie meyer got lazy and just started making pointless stuff up and since Becca Fitzpatrick is making this book a sequal im hoping the same doesnt happen to her next book like it did to stephenies.. But it was good to hear what you’re thoughts on this book were 🙂 😉
Shealynn Benner
November 6, 2009 at 11:16 pmWow! Bummed to see all of this negativity towards this book. I literally just finished it, and I loved it! Twilight be damned! I am SO OVER comparing EVERY teen novel with that darn series. I did not get Twilight out of this one as much as everyone else did. I don’t get it.
sabrina
November 10, 2009 at 6:44 ami finished reading this book and i loved .Its very good and the characters are great i cant wait for the follow up yay 😆 😆
natalia
November 12, 2009 at 8:24 pmThis book was easy to read but WHY does he(Patch) love her so much he has been around humans a long time so why Nora? Other then that it was alright. Love the story line about fallen angels i wish it went a little in to that. In City of bones they are Nephilim in that book now thats a love story that would kick twilights butt.
sam
November 20, 2009 at 7:13 pmwell, in all fairness, Patch seems to be based on what most girls want. A bad boy. I mean, let’s face it, when all of you were 16… maybe 17, didn’t you want someone who was hot, sexy, had attitude, and wasn’t always nice to you? I know I did. I know a lot of my friends did too. Personally, I really liked the book, and I can’t wait until the sequel comes out.
Nora did call the cops at one point. But she didn’t at any other point because she had no proof of what had happened. She didn’t want people to think she was crazy. Would you go to the police with no evidence someone was stalking you? Would you tell them, you’d hit some guy with your car and then they look and see there’s barely a scratch? No, most likely not. You may want to confess in your mother who is recently a widow, but she is struggling enough as it. Nora weighed the scales and decided she was still clinging to her father’s memory.
And in response to the “They are so nasty to each other, how could they like each other?” factually, that’s just how some people relate. It says in the book, constantly, how she just feels drawn in, how she doesn’t think he committed these crimes (beating up Vee, killing homeless lady). And some people, like our heroine, work off their gut. She wasn’t really attracted to Elliot all that much for being nice. When she found out about the criminal case with him as suspect she didn’t fall in love with him or anything. I mean, a boy flirting with you in class by being mean to you and a boy being accused of murdering someone draws two different kinds of attention. She went with her gut and went for the mysterious Patch, versus the obvious girlfriend-killing Elliot.
Then, Vee telling Nora that maybe he’s just drunk, blah blah blah. Does she not strike you as gullible? believing the best in people who come across as nice and innocent? She trusted Jules when they broke into the school to play hide-and-seek, that the reason they turned the lights off was so it was easier to hide (f I remember correctly) and that he was locking the doors so that it would discourage any of them to cheat and hide outside the school, and she still went along with it. She just seems stupid.
Okay, Science class may be about cells and biology, but this was … what? sex ed? not discussing cells, and biology, and anatomy (in detail) but just plain old human beings, what they feel, what they look for in a “mate”, etc. etc.
okay, and I truly am sorry, but (and I have never read twilight) by the way you all describe Edward, he is very down on himself, which sounds very familiar.. brooding, dark, a vampire, doesnt want to hurt the heroine…. OH! It’s Angel! from buffy the vampire slayer! And honestly, he sounds a lot less masculine than Angel. He sounds kind of Emo. Not that I’m attempting to insult the Emo population, buuuut he is kind of annoying in that same way.
For me, I liked the mystery. I felt it was really good and I was drawn in. And the way he made he feel and just the way everything was described, I thought it was a very good book and well written. and a lot of books don’t tell you every little detail about how something happened or what not. Sometimes, you need to use a bit of imagination :O
sam
November 20, 2009 at 7:29 pmoh! and the whole lust/falling again thing.
Byt the point he was a guardian angel, he loved her. He grew to love her. So he wouldn’t fall again. He isn’t forced to feel lust because he is no longer a “fallen angel” . He doesn’t “crave” people anymore. He refused her sacrificing herself.
And he lusted after that girl (when he first fell) as opposed to how he got to know Nora and loved her. There’s not necessarily any “he’ll fall again” moments
sorry for the rant… but this review didn’t put in all the facts. And I also just wanted to answer some people’s questions about the storyline… -____-
Elena
November 29, 2009 at 5:09 pmI just finished reading this book. No need to compare it to twilight. Being in each life-threatening situation, I feel I would make the same choices as her. Your narrow-minded review really ticks me off. You bash every single part in the book, without even looking beyond whats written. Why would Nora do what she did? Why would Vee say the things she said? Really. Ugh. I bet you’re way past your teenage years.
katiebabs
November 30, 2009 at 7:00 amElena: Hush Hush is beyond ridiculous. I’ve read this book and wouldn’t recommend it to any teen girl or adult because of the message behind it. The author wrote Patch in such a way where he is a bully, abusive and would kill Nora. But this message is okay from the author because Patch is beautiful, and so misunderstood. That is not the message I would want to read in any book or recommend to anyone.
You think it is a good thing for Nora to go off half-cocked, running around, following this boy who scares her, threatens her and where she places herself in dangerous situations for no reason? What’s really written? I can’t figure it out because Becca hasn’t written Nora dimensional enough to understand.
KMont
November 30, 2009 at 8:09 amAfter having read this book, I can see how wrong the message is in it. I wanted at times to just read it “for fun”, but at the end of the day, there wasn’t anything fun about the supposed romance in Hush, Hush.
The disbelief in some of the things Vee said is valid. She **SPOILER ALERT** encourages Nora to go out with a boy that basically assaults her outside her own home while he’s in a drunken rage. Vee honestly did not see anything wrong with the boy or the situation in question. As for the rest, this wasn’t romance. I said it in my review and I’ll say it here: a hero does not prey on the fears of the heroine, or anyone for that matter.
All that said, if anyone enjoys the book, genuinely – good for you! We’re all different and believe it or not, there is plnty of room to voice either side. I ended up strongly disliking Hush, Hush for the message it conveys, even if the message I got was unintended. Either way, this is an opportunity for a good discussion, but name calling only demeans it all – good or less than good opinions alike.
ashley
December 9, 2009 at 7:16 pmPeople like you drive me insane! Hush, Hush is nothing like Twilight and Twilight shouldn’t even be called a novel. You wouldn’t know good literature if it read itself to you. Also, Jane Austen never wrote a book called Austenland. Common sence, people, is not that hard to obtain. 🙄
ashley
December 9, 2009 at 7:25 pmYou guys keep talking about Twilight, which was deplorable. I don’t understand how you can like that, but not Hush, Hush. Hush, Hush is not a rip off of Twilight. It wasn’t good enough for a good writer to try a emulate; only bad enough for people with low inteligence to enjoy because they don’t have the vocabulary to understand anything else. One, vampires DON’T sparkle. They kill people… ever heard of Dracula, S. Meyer? Jeez. Also, to address a quote that bothered me deeply:
She dons a wig and tries to question him. Oh. My. Effing. God!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She wasn’t questioning him, she was questioning somebody he worked with. Get it right if you’re going to bitch about something.
katiebabs
December 10, 2009 at 7:22 amIsn’t common sence spelled common sense? If you found Twilight deplorable, how can you think Hush, Hush was better?
Sorry, psycho wanna be bad boys with wings and the girls who hang onto them looking for approval and love isn’t really a book I would want any one reading. The message behind it is shocking.
A guy who scares the hell out of you and wants to kill you, while whispering degrading words in my ear where he wants to screw me, is not my idea of a romance.
Tamara
December 14, 2009 at 11:09 amHush,Hush was an amazing book! By far better than the Twilight series so i couldn’t care less if it was slightly similar.
Harley
December 21, 2009 at 2:15 amHush Hush
Is a refreshing and witty.
My husband bought me Hush Hush with some other books and I have to admit, I put off reading it because on paper it sounded sorta Twilight-ish (forbidden love, big secret… can’t live with out you stuff)
When I finally began reading it, I felt like I stuck my foot in my mouth.
I read this book in one night, I could not put it down! I would recommend it to anyone! I loved the way the book was written and the characters became tangible. You will fall in love with this book.
Nora Grey
December 26, 2009 at 5:06 amI like your opinion of it, cuz you’re completely right about some things, but for the deeper meaning, you should be able to read between the lines.
For instance, i liked how Nora could say the stupidest things at times, but Patch would find it cute. So maybe Nora was odd, but maybe that’s the way the author wanted it to be.
Also, i really liked the plot line. Fallen angel, driven to kill to get what he wanted, but stopped because he found that Nora was different, and liked her. If you think about it, Nora isn’t plain. How many kids do you know today who have personality like hers? Be honest. Not many.
Basically, i thought it was a cute book. Sure, some things could’ve been improved, some things could’ve been cleared up some and made more sense. But i think it came out good. A perfect romance novel. =p.
Oh, and i didn’t think of Twilight at all as i was reading this. Besides, if every romance novel now that’s meant to be be fictional or fantasy is related to TWILIGHT….well of COURSE people aren’t going to like it. But i think Becca Fitzpatrick really just meant to write about something she was interested in.
Thanks for the review. You’ve funny, by the way
=)
Dragon
December 27, 2009 at 8:37 am.-. The whole mind control thing is cool to some people… It was just a splash of imagination there… This book isn’t like Twilight. Bella and edward are more open to dying for each other, the whole juliet and romeo. Patch didn’t commit suicide when his first human died, and Nora only jumped off because a guy was going to shoot her and she thought it was better to give Patch something if she was going to die anyways
Aoife
December 29, 2009 at 6:39 pmi really enjoyed this book and it was probably because im a huge fan of twilight(well mostly edward)
you were wondering why he wouldnt fall again like the last time…well i can clear all that up for you.The first time patch left on his own choice to come down and try to be human when he failed and tried to get back up they ripped off his wings.This time he wont become a fallen angel because he is now a gurdian angel her gurdian angel so he must stay on earth with her he cant get his wings torn off for being on earth because he was told to stay on earth and look after nora
i really hope that im making sense ..im more than likely not making sense so sorry if you dont understand what im saying!lol
laughing all the ways
December 31, 2009 at 2:42 pmThis was the funniest reveiew ive ever read. Second i think this book had MAJOR potential, its just that the author didnt really clean and develop it that much. patch i saw was interesting, it was like what will he do next, he was just so random, and yes he could have been badder, but the point was that he was supposed to become better or nicer. Nora made me sad, she was extremely similar to Bella, but she resisted Patch which Bella never did. Second it was like hot one moment and then cold the next. I didnt ever think she loved patch until the last ten pages, but he loved her from the beginning. no the plot was confusing and vague as well as the mythology, but she will hopefully clear it up in crescendo. to me it didnt become a book until the last twenty pages and the worst aspect was Vee. thats my view atleast 😐
Seahn
January 7, 2010 at 5:01 amI just read the run down of 2009 and felt bad that Ana was getting flak about her age being the reason for the opinions in this review. I’m a teen and have similar opinions on Hush, Hush and found all the characters just irritating and unfortunately nothing worth while- everything felt sort of wrong as I was reading.
Usually I try sequels but won’t be picking it up.
Really enjoyed reading this review much more entertaining than the book itself (that may be too harsh but this book is doing well so I don’t think it’s a problem)
Keri
January 14, 2010 at 4:34 pmLoved this review! I agree with the commenter who said this book had a lot of potential. The execution just felt unfinished, like this was a first draft.
In addition to the points mentioned in the review, there was a huge inconsistency that really bothered me. Patch tells Nora that he was going to kill her so that he could be human, but then he tells her that it has to be an intentional sacrifice, he couldn’t “just kill her.” Okay, so why was he planning it? It just doesn’t make sense.
The other thing that bothered me was that in Twilight (sorry, but they’re so similar I can’t help but compare them) I could sense that Edward was falling for Bella, but in Hush I never got that sense. One day the guy’s a complete jerk and the next he’s buying her a snow globe. And even then he seemed suspect. He just didn’t feel fully developed as a character.
That all said, I intend to read the sequel. Writers often grow and the first book is not always a true indication of their talent (and in this case, the editor deserves some of the blame for not catching and correcting some of the issues). I’m looking forward to seeing how Ms. Fitzpatrick develops these characters, as they do have potential. I only hope that she gets the time from the publishers she needs to write a great second book.
mystery lover
January 15, 2010 at 6:38 ami kinda liked hush, hush. maybe because of the mysteries kept from pages to pages. you kinda had a pint when you said that about Patch can’t feel a thing. i actually hadn’t thought of that.
oh, i just finished reading it and looking forward to the next sequel. i believe that it will get better. besides there is still chauncey (a.k.a Jules) to look forward and the rixon guy to add up.
Emma
January 19, 2010 at 10:35 ampersonally i loved the book, i never herd about this hype wenever it was about the book, i saw it in the store and loved the cover art, read it and loved it even more. i do have to agree that it did AT FIRST remind me a bit of twilight only because the way it is narated by i did not like twilight at all it was just a complete cliche’ of falling for a vampire. now how many angel books are there exacly because i havent read any so it was refreshing. when i read some comments about the whole mind reading thing and that edward would NEVER do that. i laughed because edward CANT do that and patch can so i think there just upset that patch can and edward cant. also they say its a total invasion of privacy um edward watched in a corner in belles room watch her sleep at night now THAT is an invasion of privacy. but moving on from that hush hush was intruiging and it kept getting deaper and deaper in mystery until far past half way through the book. i acually kinda suspected jules to be the bad guy, because he alway just disapeared and i thought whats the point of him being there unless he acually has a purpose so i was glad she didnt jsut randomly stick characters here and there like twilight the characters acually had a purpose. so as a conclusion i disagreed with the review and the review itself was very one sided and attemped to make the book sound as bland and boring as possible, which its not.
Tia
February 6, 2010 at 6:38 amwhen are authors gonna get a life and write something original???
Twilight was okay, but dude, enough with the young vampire teenage romance rot
Anonymous
February 7, 2010 at 1:34 pmIn my opinion. I LOVED hush hush. And Twilight. There both my favs
😀 😀
Anonymous
February 10, 2010 at 5:12 ami found it in whsmiths and liked the cover so i boaght it .it was amazing
Tobetruetomyself
February 15, 2010 at 12:04 pmMimi
February 18, 2010 at 11:58 amOM freaking G! I was going to read this book cause one of my friends told me to give it a go since i basically ran out of books to read…(by the way any suggestions? if you do email me any good books i should maybe read)… anyway after this review hell no! i ain’t wasting my money or my time on it… and one more question why does everybody say it’s a rip off of Twilight? when Twilight itself it’s a rip off of Vampire Diaries… 😆
Peyton
February 23, 2010 at 7:54 pmThis was the BEST book ive
ever read Patch sounds sexy and i love his personality. This book makes you wanna cry when you are finished in fact i did and im planning on reading it again and buying the sequel, “crescendo” Oct. 2010
tina
March 2, 2010 at 5:06 pmwell, i very much enjoyed the book. it had action and suspense dripping out of the book. i am now eagerly waiting for the seduel, “crescendo”
Anonymous
March 6, 2010 at 3:21 pmI completely disagree with the last statement saying you didn’t like it. I loved this book and I think that most teenage girls would.
Akin
March 14, 2010 at 9:26 amWorst. Book. Ever
Jassckie
March 21, 2010 at 9:28 amI personally disagree with this review. I thought the book was amazing and I like the idea. Sure it might be similar to Twilight but it is also completely different. I think it hooks the reader and keeps them interested because so many things happen during the book but none of your questions are answered until later so you just feel like you NEED to keep reading. That is my perspective. From a 14 year old girl, not a reporter or critic
Jassckie
March 21, 2010 at 9:36 amI Also think that yes I get how many of you hate the book. but really, if you hated the characters and the plot and everything. Why did you read it in the first place? (This question is for everyone who said they hated the book)
Celia
April 12, 2010 at 11:38 pmEven if I am a great fan of Twilight (just the first book), I can’t like Hush, hush. First, it borrows too many things from Twilight (I don’t think I have seen a book so shamelessly do this : biology, baseball, uncoordinated girl, one mysterious power shown before learning the truth, stalking, tranfert…), Nora is doing dumb things after dumb things (that’s not what I call a smart girl <_< ), I wanted to kill Vee (but after all, I guess she and Nora are alike), Patch is really annoying . Some things don't make sense (no info on Patch's file, policeman accusing Nora when no accusation was made for Vee's injuries, Nora calling Patch to have a ride when she think he's dangerous… she probably know noone with a car since after Vee and her mother, Patch is the one that comes to her mind <_< ). Dabria seems weird from the start… and didn't she think before that she could fall… nice to know angels can be psycho, don't really have amazing powers.
It was a really nice review, so it helped me to shift my view, I was afraid I was a bit at loss because I didn't enjoy the book at all. So being sure it was the book itself that was ridiculous made me aware that I should read it more as a joke if I want to finish it.
tami
April 14, 2010 at 7:29 pmI just finished the book & thoroughly enjoyed it. I was also a big fan of the Twilight series & though on the surface I can see where there are similarities, the story as a whole is very different. It reads & flows differently as well. I must agree with an earlier comment. If I’m going to read a fictional super-natural story, I don’t “think” it so much. I am just simply amazed at the degree of analysis over a fiction book about a fallen angel. It’s FUN, just FUN people!
Akin
April 26, 2010 at 6:11 pmYou know, Ana and Thea, I can’t wait to the review you guys come up with for the sequel. I hope you’re going to read the sequel. You have to!! lol
Anonymous
May 7, 2010 at 5:45 pmThe best book ever!!!
The Horrible Dare Is Here Again! « The Lit Connection
May 24, 2010 at 6:02 am[…] Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. The Book Smugglers gave this one a less than glowing review calling it Twilight with Angels and other not so nice […]
someone who thinks this is really crapy of people
June 10, 2010 at 11:16 pmi think hush hush is a good book and i don’t see why people keep saying its like twilight and how its terrible. now this is what is wrong with America and other people in this world if u don’t like something don’t read it but u keep commenting on it like it matters obviously it doesn’t .Becca is a great author and i don’t see why u people bring here down with Ur comments and i don’t really care what U think about me or this comment i left here.and another thing about calling it a rip off of twilight i am a some what fan of twilight but i like this book and why are u commenting on the characters? their characters i don’t see no point in commenting on them and I’ll admit this is SOMEWHAT like twilight but it is going in a different direction and twilight already have an ending as u can see but this can go anywhere as far as i know .SOOO the moral of the story is don’t READ ANYTHING U DON’T LIKE and DEFINITELY DO NOT JUDGE ON SOMETHING
PS.i really don’t care what u think of my comment but u need to look at it in two ways what u say can affect the author
someone who thinks this is really crapy of people
June 10, 2010 at 11:18 pmi think hush hush is a good book and i don’t see why people keep saying its like twilight and how its terrible. now this is what is wrong with America and other people in this world if u don’t like something don’t read it but u keep commenting on it like it matters obviously it doesn’t .Becca is a great author and i don’t see why u people bring her down with Ur comments and i don’t really care what U think about me or this comment i left here.and another thing about calling it a rip off of twilight i am a some what fan of twilight but i like this book and why are u commenting on the characters? their characters i don’t see no point in commenting on them and I’ll admit this is SOMEWHAT like twilight but it is going in a different direction and twilight already have an ending as u can see but this can go anywhere as far as i know .SOOO the moral of the story is don’t READ ANYTHING U DON’T LIKE and DEFINITELY DO NOT JUDGE ON SOMETHING if it is negative.
PS.i really don’t care what u think of my comment but u need to look at it in two ways what u say can affect the author and the outcome in this world so for once give a postive review
Jade
June 16, 2010 at 6:50 amhush hush is one of the best books i have ever read and i pursuade a lot of people to read it too. Any1 who says its bad must be on about a different book. I also hope that becca makes it into a continue … 😀 got my fingers crossed
Anonymous
June 20, 2010 at 4:33 amYou may not like this book, but i loved it, it’s not a copy of twilight it’s better, i coulldn’t put it down whereas i honestly got bored of the twilight series. I have to admit, the beginning of the book was not amazing, but as you got further in, with all of the mystery, it got amazing. Better than twilight 😉
Anonymous
July 1, 2010 at 11:46 amoh thats sad i thought it was going to be a good book from what i read so far….ah well i will give it a go anyway it cant be THAT bad can it? One more thing…why does EVERY young adult book have to be compared to twilight? i just read THE HUNGER GAMES and it is now my new favorite book and yet i hear they are comparing it to twilight 😯 its is NOTHING like twilight…just putting that out there 😀
April Books&Wine
July 23, 2010 at 7:19 amOh, these comments are so full of laughs! How dare you have an opinion of a book! Clearly, the only opinion you are allowed to have is a positive opinion, and don’t even get me started on thinking deeply. I love the comment about this being wrong with America, when the writer of the review, Ana, isn’t American, lololololol.
KMont
July 23, 2010 at 8:05 amOh. Mai. GAWD.
Ana, Thea, I had no idea the comments here had gotten this….interesting. Hahahahaha!
Jamie
July 23, 2010 at 8:07 amI’ll be skipping this one! I was on the fence about reading it before I saw this review and I just don’t think I’ll like it. I have plenty of books to read!
And I agree with April. I just read through these comments. HILARIOUS. As I’m sure that not liking Hush Hush is what is wrong with America. Oh dear Lordy. I fear for the generations that will be running things when I’m older if that is the biggest problem they see.
And I personally love, “clearly you are way above your teenage years”..lol. Ouch. Maybe us folk above our teenage years have some wisdom to see trash for what it really is 🙂 And to know what creepy boys are just really not cool.
Great review! Great blog!
Ceilidh
August 3, 2010 at 4:18 amI can’t not leave my two cents here since everyone else has.
I don’t think I’ve ever hated a book as much as I hated Hush, Hush. Forget that it’s an obvious Twilight rip off (a book I also disliked) and look at it on it’s own merits – servicable but dull writing, not an original bone in it’s body, a heroine too stupid to live, plot points that made no sense, complete mythology fail and then there’s Patch. Now I’m no expert in relationahips but to me it’s not love if a guy sexually harasses you, stalks you, scares you and at one point holds her down on a bed while she’s half dressed and threatens to kill her. The reason all this is a-okay – Patch is the designated love interest and he’s the ultimate bad boy! This book left me feeling insulted and I can’t believe the writer, not to forget her editors, agent, publisher and countless good reviews, could ever think that this was romantic. And we wonder why rape culture is being perpetuated in YA.
Anonymous
August 6, 2010 at 1:22 am😀 🙂 🙁 😮 😯 😕 8) 😆 😡 😛 😳 👿 🙄 😉 ❗ ❓ 💡 ➡ 😐
Improvisate » Blog Archive » Hush, Hush – Becca Fitzpatrick
August 7, 2010 at 9:33 pm[…] Talky Bits of Which This is Only a SamplingThe Book Smugglers (the comments on this one are alternately insightful and lollerific, and many are of the ‘U […]
Tayor
August 16, 2010 at 1:51 amto me it was better then twilight. all of you are saying how bad it is and i liked it… haha thats ironic:oops:
Carrie
August 16, 2010 at 1:53 amI liked it too
The Book Smugglers » Blog Archive » Smuggler’s Ponderings: On Books I Do Not Finish
September 8, 2010 at 2:01 am[…] one way or the other. Which means that sometimes I will finish a book even when I think it is REALLY bad or when it revolts me. Part of it comes from the fact that I want to be able to properly review […]
Priya
September 9, 2010 at 6:21 pmI haven’t read this book, & now I’m definitely not planning on it.
@ all the teenagers who reviewed: Are you TRYING to give us a horrible name? The collective lack of grammar, punctuation, and spelling skills are appalling, as is the completely IDIOTIC attraction to MCs that display abusive and stalker-like qualities.
I apologize for my generation. Being 16 is embarrassing sometimes.
Rachel
September 28, 2010 at 12:06 pmALRIGHT, LET US GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT HERE. You are all so extremely ridiculous, You aren’t going to read a book, JUST because this person’s opinion thought it sucked? I thought the book was a little like twilight yeah, But I happened to like it, So, Let’s start forming our own opinions and not acting like lost, little, sheep? Okay.
Ashleigh
October 6, 2010 at 5:21 pmI wish I’d found this review before I read Hush, Hush. I went in completely blind- no idea of the ideas or events of the book. I came out 400 pages later wishing I’d never picked up Hush, Hush. Patch is the creepiest “love interest” I’ve ever seen. He stole the award from Edward Cullen himself!
Meanwhile, the comments are equally laughtastic and saddening. As soon as I saw one commenter bring up the “If you didn’t like it, why did you read it?” argument, my face met the keyboard. They have their tastes and I have mine, so I’ll leave them alone because I don’t cause fights and insult people over books. That would be stupid.
Brenda Kahn
November 2, 2010 at 3:36 pmYe-ah! I just finished listening to it – in my car! I nearly ran off the road several times when my eye-rolling took my attention away from the road. I am tempted to reread it just to post-it the numerous cliched, trite, purple prose and plot holes big enough to drive a tank through. Jeez! I haven’t gotten this worked up over a book since, well, Twilight.
brenda
Anonymous
November 22, 2010 at 6:19 pmi really lyked the book…one of the best ive read 😀
Emily
December 11, 2010 at 3:14 pmFirst of all, I just wanted to say that I disagreed with this reveiw 100%. It’s obvious that the person who wrote this review is completely narrow minded and needs to get their facts straight before they go around bashing a perfectly wonderful book. I can gaurantee you that if you actually read carefully, you wouldn’t have been asking half the questions you did. As for the rest of the questions and statements, you had to read between the lines. Actually think about the characters and what you would do in their situations. Some aspects of this novel weren’t things you could read on a page, but actual emotions and feelings that even the best of authors cannot express. I’d also like to point out that this book was targeted for teenage readers, and it is perfectly understandable that older readers could not comprehend or relate to the actions of the characters. I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same as the characters, but I’m sorry to say that your opinions don’t really matter. The book was meant for teens, and obviously you are not going to feel the same as them. I felt that Hush, Hush was intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat. For all of those who decided not to read this book due to one person’s opinion, shame on you. Hasn’t anyone told you that you should think for yourself and not let other people go around deciding things for you? I’m aware that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I know that many people don’t agree that this was an amazing book, but how could someone say that without giving it a fair shot? This review and these comments outraged me, especially those who pointed “holes in the plot” without knowing what they are talking about. If any of you had paid attention to the details or gotten a clear message, it would be clear to you that you are absolutely incorrect and unable to understand or connect with characters thoughts, feelings, and reactions. If you have actually read this book carefully and still feel the way you do, kudos. Congrats. Great. I respect that decision. But if you haven’t, please consider re-reading and see if you still feel that way.
I personally loved Hush, Hush and cannot wait to read the sequel. But then again, I’m just one fourteen year old amongst many others who adored this book.
Priya
December 11, 2010 at 9:22 pmWhat irritates me are comments like Emily’s (the comment above mine). These reviews are completely hypocritical, saying that you shouldn’t base your opinion on someone elses’ and that it’s important to come to your own conclusions. Yet when you do, and when they differ from theirs, you’re wrong. I find that to be completely hypocritical and two-faced, because really, who are you to shoot down their opinion? Feel whatever the hell you want, but don’t think you have any right to dictate what other people think.
I’m a 16 year old girl, and I wasn’t planning on reading this book even before I read this review. & if anything, this review cemented what I already thought- that hordes of teenagers are running towards any cliche, supernatural book they can find. Oh, who cares about the terrible writing and plot holes when there’s a dreamy, bad (but really good at heart, obviously) guy waiting to sweep you off your feet?
& to all the teenage girls out there who think people like Patch and Edward are cute and handsome and dreamy- they aren’t. You shouldn’t want a guy who watches you sleeping, controls you, tampers with your car to make sure you don’t go to places that he doesn’t approve, doesn’t respect you or think you’re smart enough to make your own decisions, and is possessive like hell. That’s what abusive relationships are made of- think about it.
I personally love this blog to pieces, and respect the opinion of Ana and Thea. They’re very smart ladies who think things through and don’t buy the normal cliche crap. They’re funny, witty, and gasp! don’t follow the opinion of everyone else. Keep up the good work. =]
Emily
December 13, 2010 at 2:39 pmPriya,
I’m not being hypoctitical or rejecting Ana and Thea’s opinions. I just believe they need to get thier facts straight before they can form these kinds of opinions. And I don’t understand how you can call books “cliche crap” if you have never read them. Think what you want, call it crap, I don’t really care, but only if you read the book. Once you do, you can call it cliche all you want.
And believe me, I’m the last girl you would find obsessing over bad boys and supernatural fantasies. But I tried them first. That’s the key here. If you aren’t giving these books a chance, you don’t have the right to form such judgemental opinions. Hasn’t anyone told you, don’t judge a book by its cover? And don’t think I’m just ranting on at you, Priya. It’s everyone on this blog who said they haven’t read this book yet still say it’s terrible.
Like I said, I don’t care if you form an opinion, just get the facts straigt first.
Priya
December 13, 2010 at 2:49 pmWhat facts? You keep saying, get your facts straight, get your facts straight, but what facts are you talking about? The ones that are, in reality, opinion?
And she read the book! It’s not like she’s basing her opinion on air- she read it, and didn’t like any of it.
I think it’s funny how the first time I check my email in two days, I come on a second after this was posted.
Just for the record: I read all four of the books in the Twilight series, and actually own two copies of the first one (for various reasons). I have nothing against them- they’re extremely easy, cliche reads, not bad if you want something mindless. But I totally understand where all the people who don’t like it come from, because honestly, there isn’t that much to like.
& also, this wasn’t just against you either Emily- it was a general thing to everyone who responded similarly to you. Nothing personal, I promise. =]
Emily
December 13, 2010 at 3:12 pmThe facts I’m talking about are the general details in the book. I’m aware that they read the book, just not carefully enough. They had a few questions about the plot, angels, ect. that were actually answered in the book. So although their opinions are vailid for what they read, that aren’t actually true for what the book said. I also read the whole Twilight series, and honestly don’t like it very much either. However, I based that opinion on what I read. I’m sure if I missed something small from the plot that would make my opinion seem unreasonable people would be against me just like I’m going against Ana and Thea. So those facts I’m talking about are just simple facts from the novel that Ana and Thea seemed to miss and would actually omit their arguments.
Priya, just like you said, nothing personal. This is just the way I feel and that’s not going to change. Thank you for getting me thinking though! =)
Ana
December 13, 2010 at 3:23 pmHi Emily, thanks for dropping by.
I just wanted to say: I DID read the book carefully and to me the FACTS do not compute – The questions I ask are rethorical, I KNOW the answer to them – I am questioning how illogical they are, as to me, the worldbuilding does not make ANY sense, if you carefully think about it. That’s all.
Emily
December 13, 2010 at 4:38 pmAna,
I can see where you are coming from and why the book may not make sense to you. I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Thanks for your time and your blog, and don’t take it personal, because I do enjoy reading the rest of your blog.
Thanks =]
Samii
December 14, 2010 at 5:40 pmWoah! You go Emily!!!!! Tell them like it is!!!!!
Megan
January 7, 2011 at 4:28 pmJust came to check this out after seeing it linked in your year in review 🙂
I’ve definitely heard similar things to what this review says. I appreciate how detailed your reviews (this, and in general) are, so that instead of just knowing that you didn’t like it, I can see WHY you didn’t like it and make up my mind for myself. In this case, I’m pretty sure Hush Hush is not for me lol.
rebecca
January 12, 2011 at 12:18 pmI just want to know how old you all are? Seriously this book is marketed to Young Adults…I’m going to guess and say you all aren’t ‘young’ adults. Let the young adults review this book. I am a young adult and I LOVED it.
Jess Tudor
January 12, 2011 at 3:15 pm… the age issue makes me laugh. because well, Becca Fitzpatrick? NOT A TEEN EITHER. 🙂
emmy
January 14, 2011 at 7:26 pmI agree with rebecca. I’m also a young adult who loved this book, and of course Crescendo
Anonymous
January 23, 2011 at 9:43 pmI think you were reading the book upside down because most of your points aren’t very valid. It was very similar to twilight but I loved hush hush better.
Anonymous
January 24, 2011 at 10:45 am^^so true! 😀
Anonymous
January 25, 2011 at 6:31 amActually he CAN have sexual relations. He feels desire, gets ‘horny’, and can have an erection. Read the damn book before you give these bullshit reviews. Your just saying all the book we SHOULDN’T read. *smh
Anonymous
January 25, 2011 at 6:34 amUnless you are a teenage girl or young adult, I don’t know why you read it because it wouldn’t appeal to you. It’s pretty ignorant that people say they won’t read it now because of this review. I guess you won’t be reading alot of books because everyone has atleast one bad review. Read the book yourself. Get an ACTUALopinion.
Anonymous
January 25, 2011 at 6:36 am^ soooo true. Everyone has different likes and dislikes. Stop being robots v
Priya
January 25, 2011 at 8:33 amAre young adults not allowed to read adult fiction? Same way, they have every right to read young adult fiction if they so please. These comments are getting so nasty and rude, and for what? Their opinion is their opinion, same way your opinion is your opinion.
Anonymous
January 25, 2011 at 6:29 pmDon’t make bad reviews if you were warned that you might not like it. I don’t see any nasty or rude comments. I only see a nasty and rude review.
Anonymous
January 25, 2011 at 6:30 pmYou review this book like you haven’t even read it. Why are most of your points a twisted version of the truth?
Anonymous
January 25, 2011 at 6:33 pmShe had two choices for death. Either she gets killed for evil purposes or something good comes out of her death. Read the book if you are gonna give it a review.
emmy
January 25, 2011 at 6:58 pmI agree. If you haven’t even read the book, its pretty hard to say you don’t like something. And true, most of the points in the review aren’t valid or true.
Anonymous
January 26, 2011 at 7:40 pmI agree with Emmy and the reviews about the non-valid points. I can write an essay on a counter-point with the actually facts from the book to argue with this review. At least read the book.
Anonymous
February 5, 2011 at 10:21 am😀 🙂 🙁 😮 😯 😕 8) 😆 😡 😛 😳 😥 👿 😈 🙄 😉 ❗ ❓ 💡 ➡ 😐
Anonymous
February 6, 2011 at 8:12 pmThat’s nice. ^^
Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - The Book Smugglers
February 21, 2011 at 12:55 pmBook Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick – The Book Smugglers…
[…]But i think Becca Fitzpatrick really just meant to write about something she was interested in. Thanks for the review. You’ve funny, by the way =). 48. Comment by Dragon on December 27, 2009 at 8:37 am … I didnt ever think she loved patch until…
nothing
March 3, 2011 at 12:02 pmthis book was ok but other then that yuck!!!!!!!!!
😡
Sammy
April 24, 2011 at 12:51 pmWow. Unbeleivable. I wanted to read this book so bad, because I thought it would be fantastic. urns out, it’s just another Twilight wannabe. Seriously people, enough is enough. Thanks for the review. It would’ve saved me the regret of spending my money on such a book. 🙂
Anonymous
April 24, 2011 at 3:07 pmSeriously? I hate that people are saying “You saved me from reading a terrible book” when you haven’t actually read it. Don’t let other people make your opinions for you.
Dacota Brooks
May 19, 2011 at 2:49 pmI totally disagree with this review. I mean come on who didn’t love the Twilight series? But seriously this book has more interesting features in it then Twilight did! Well worth the read! 😀
lover of hush hush
June 27, 2011 at 9:10 amI LOVED THIS BOOK YO THE CORE N WUD ADVISE IT TO OTHERS MAN IF U DNT HAV NYC COMMENTS FUCK THE HELL OF MAN JOH 😈
Princess Mononoke
July 5, 2011 at 5:15 pmOk this book is probably the best romantic book i have read so far since twilight! i love the whole bad boy character patch he is so cool and i believe way more sensual than edward and nora always the naive one is….ok! But the two are perfect but the roamance is kind of similar to twilight but with alot of twist to it it kept me guessing what the next plot will be i could’t put the book away or forget about it after i was finished i love this book!
Jasmine Velazquez
July 7, 2011 at 5:50 pmI dont believe it is similiar to twilight but to Halo. Their story lines are VERY alike. Im not sure if I even want to get it because of that. Halo is a VERY good book and I think Im going to just give this one a chance too. Also cause im a bookaholic and need something to read 😀
Jasmine Velazquez
July 7, 2011 at 5:54 pmAnd for twilight: I loved the books, they definatly were amazing regardless of the people who think otherwise but the movies? I only pay to watch them because I loved the books so much and want to see what their going to mess up next. The movies are horrible, I get so upset because I love Harry Potter and the graphics are amzing and realistic but they made twilight look so fake and lame. It was such a turn off 🙁
Anonymous
July 14, 2011 at 4:27 pmJasmine, I read Halo and Hush, Hush and I thought Hush, Hush was even better. If you loved Halo, there’s not doubt you’re going to love this one too!
Anonymous
August 1, 2011 at 10:14 amI was searching for book, in which engels played significant role and it was when I discovered Hush,Hush, since lot’s of people were recommending it. And here I am – reading your review and thanking you at the same time, because you just warned me from reading another Twilight. I don’t want a story like that.
Oh, and I had a nice laugh on the comments too.
Me
September 6, 2011 at 10:13 amIf only this book came anywhere *near* being as good as Twilight! (Not that I think Twilight was that great. Greatly overrated, yes. But a whole lot better written, emotional, no incomprehensible plots, our ‘heroine’ Bella knew what she wanted.)
Hush, Hush is so idiotic it becomes funny again. And Crescendo gets even funnier! (Couldn’t make any sense of it, at all!)
From your review I can tell you HAVE read the book and thought things through. Okay, I am an adult too, and I like to read YA. But this book was an insult. It had some nice bits, some wickedly cool dialogues, but overall it was written by a twelve-year-old, and aimed to be read by the same category. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it was too much over the top. All those people wanting to kill Nora, and Nora herself suspecting everyone and chasing after them too! She was playing detective in a bad way, with dangerous things.
If we ‘hush, hush’ about this book, maybe it’ll be forgotten. Such a waste of a good theme.
you're
October 21, 2011 at 11:44 amPatch is cute
Alex
December 1, 2011 at 1:38 pmSo I think that you are way too critical to actually be reviewing a book. Do relate every book to Twilight? Because if you do you like it more than you think. Just that you’re even RELATING it to Twilight makes me think you think about it a lot. And you can put whatever you want in a book. Does it have to be realistic all the time? I want to see you write a book that I would absolutely LOVE, that I couldn’t put down. Try making some valid points next time. (And this is coming from a seventeen year old teenager)
Chestnut
December 15, 2011 at 11:34 amAfter pinballing about between several different books as a gift, I stumbled upon Hush, Hush, and seeing the similarities between it and Twilight, the book du jour at the moment for the person I intend to give it, figured I’d hit upon a sure fire result. After absorbing so many reviews (both positive *and* negative, to those commenters above who seem to decry the writer of the review and the supportive commenters), this one was the clincer, so thank you.
Only problem is, it’s narrowed it down to Hush, Hush being a bad book in my eye, but one that the person would love. The dilemma is now no longer choosing a book, but giving poor literature to one who’d uncritically enjoy it, or find a more stimulating book, but at the risk of dislike.
Oh, the perils of Christmas book shopping. Thanks again.
Kevin Quinn
December 31, 2011 at 6:18 pmThey found the Ark of the Covenant where Moses placed the 10 Commandments, in a cave under Golgotha.
http://arkofthecovenant2.blogspot.com/
Anonymous
April 3, 2012 at 4:35 pmIn the series, Which I am currently on Silence, I would always get exxccited for when Patch and Nora Met up next. I find Patch Alluring and Sexy, and Nora determined and passive. This saga is a great read, and I will gladly reread it. (Which is a shocker since I am not one to reread novels). 😛
Claire Young
April 19, 2012 at 8:00 amAlright. I’ve never read this book but I have read several similarly feeling reviews from blogs I trust and the Twilight series (which seems to be comparatively similar), which I initially enjoyed at age 15 but came to despise relatively quickly as the series progressed. Such was largely due to Bella’s complete lack of conviction, strength, or action as a character (among various other issues with Edward, Jacob the morality being presented etc.) The fact that all these anonymous comments are (for the most part) 1: furious at the reviewers for speaking openly and honestly about how this book affected them i.e. their opinions and right to free speech and 2: lauding a male character who sounds frankly poorly written, dangerous, and without redeeming characteristics as ‘hot and sexy’is disturbing to me, a 19 year old young woman, on so many levels.
I wasn’t planning to comment at all, but as an aspiring author who hopes to go about challenging the unhealthy stereotypes and archetypes presented in books like these I couldn’t not. What really sealed the deal for me was the description of the main character, Nora, as “I find…Nora determined and passive.” The fact that this is something said commentator is applauding is more disturbing than anything. Now determination is a trait that I can agree is a positive one, it alludes to grit and strength. However describing a character as ‘passive’ a teenage girl for that matter, and believing such a trait is a good thing disturbs me on so many levels. The fact that a teenage girl (I am inferring that the one who made said comment is a teenage girl) would applaud a female character of her age group for being ‘passive’ in regards to her existence and relationship is even more disturbing. Women and girls should not be passive, yes for hundreds of years western society has glorified the concept of a ‘good, submissive woman or ‘The Angel in the House’ but I had thought and believe that such a concept is completely out of place in our modern 21st century and is intrinsically wrong to begin with. The fact that the current generation of teenage girls is pushed to buy into that stereotype by books like these and then to have said teenage girls defend such a patriarchal concept so voraciously makes me absolutely sick.
Again, I have never read this book, but considering the number of similarly minded reviews I have discovered I feel relatively confident in the analysis presented above. Sorry for the lengthy comment, but these comments really set me off. Thank you Book Smugglers for posting such an insightful review.
Artemis
April 23, 2012 at 3:06 pmOkay seriously? Fuck you. Did you even read the freaking book? Practically all the points you made are invalid. Nora was in a situation where she didn’t have much of a choice. If she didn’t throw herself off the rafter Jules would have killed her, so wouldn’t it be better if the way she died ended up helping Patch? You obviously have too much free time if your writing such a stupid, messed up review. Hush Hush is FREAKING awesome, okay? And if you didn’t like it could you actually support your arguments with valid points?
“How exactly did Patch find the elusive Book of Enoch, if he was out of Heaven?” I’m pretty sure in the book Patch found out about the Book of Enoch from his ex-girlfriend.
Btw Bella is Too stupid too live, not Nora. Nora at least has some sense, she’s smart enough to be scared of Patch, and she actually tries to get her teacher to change the seating plan. What did Bella do? Nothing. She finds out Edward is a vampire and what does she do? Again nothing. What the fuck is wrong with that bitch?
Nora has the sense to be scared, she doesn’t like spending time with him at the first, but eventually she falls for Patch. She actually has reactions along Bella.
“I don’t see the attraction and I didn’t see any chemistry between the characters.” They DO have chemistry. If you want an example of a messed up couple, there’s Edward and Bella. The two of them pretty much fall for each other right away.
It takes time for Nora and Patch to actually accept their feelings. In Crescendo Nora tells Patch she loves him, but Patch doesn’t say it back.
“Now, Nora. Nora, Nora, Nora. I have yet to see a worst TSTL (Too Stupid to Live ) heroine. Let me count the ways: Nora is attacked or followed or stalked. Over and over again. Yet it never occurs to her to call the police, talk to the school principal, talk to her mother until it is too late.” I’m sure that would have made perfect sense. If Nora told anyone she they would have wrote her off as crazy. Nora did in fact call the police during Hush Hush, and she did so in Crescendo as well. She’s not worthless like Bella god damn it.
“He is hot. But he is dangerous. Can I trust him? But his dark smile and dark eyes! OMG he wants to kill me! But he smells good!” Stop freaking exaggerating. It did NOT happen like that at all. She did change her mind about him ‘every two seconds’ she didn’t trust him for most of the book.
Now I just wrote a long ass review, because after seeing what you wrote, and some of the comments it pissed me off.
Once again FUCK YOU!
Chastity
May 1, 2012 at 8:08 amI’d have to say I’m not far into it but love it. So I personally think book reviews are silly because you obviously don’t have the same opinion as me. And I personally don’t like your opinion (:
beth
May 2, 2012 at 2:38 pmbeth
May 2, 2012 at 2:41 pm❓ ❓ ❓
Anonymous
May 3, 2012 at 9:11 amI AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK SO DONT BE HATING!!!!!!!!!
sheeanna
June 2, 2012 at 9:50 pmi love this Book
i on to the next series
CRUSENDO!
😀
person
June 24, 2012 at 12:34 amfrom other websites reviews on this book it seems pretty sexual im only 11yrs old, it is too much for me? 🙄
Kat
July 31, 2012 at 1:05 amThe fact that we have young girls defending this book that advocates rape culture is sad.
chica85
August 3, 2012 at 5:34 pmi totally agree with your review 🙂 haha! ya, the only good thing about the book is its cover 😀 i cant believe i actually finished reading this “hush, hush”.. dumb characters.. compared to other “vampire/angel” books, this really sucks. well, im just saying it. sorry guys. for those who love this book, you havent read good stuff yet 🙁 or maybe you just love weak characters like nora 😀 😀
Anonymous
August 25, 2012 at 1:34 pmAhem. Just to point out…the point of a review is to read another’s opinion before you buy a product, just in case its crap and and a waste of money. So buying the book and then reading the reviews to see whether or not you should buy the book is kind of illogical….exactly like 80% of the generic teen horror that is hush hush.
Just thought I’d point it out to the younger readers, who obviously dont know enough of the world to have that figured out yet, and take it as a personal insult when somebody doesnt like the stuff they like…and who think its perfectly normal to fall in love with a guy who openly admits, perfectly seriously, that he planned on stabbing you with a knife that time he was making tacos in your kitchen.
Obviously, the reviewers have read this book, and have paid enough attention to understand its faults, rather than brushing over them to get to the parts where Patch takes his shirt off. Honestly, throw a “hot” supernatural guy in there and preteens will read it and call it amazing. Its not. Try the maximum ride series which is about a billion times better, then compare them. You will see what I mean.
No offence, young uns’, this book is immature and all-out stupid. Would have been much better of nora had remained dead in the end, she’s obviously too vapid to live. Another one to add to the Twilight Blacklist. *sigh*
Chelsea
October 9, 2012 at 2:34 amI’m not sure which one the comments make me want to do: laugh or cry.
Anonymous
October 23, 2012 at 2:10 am😆 i luv thiz book
Sara
December 4, 2012 at 11:05 pmHush hush wasn’t a bad book….. it was a AWFUL book! The plot line goes absolutely nowhere, nora is ok, but in the end she’s just a normal girl, patch is mean, stupid and all around unlikeable, she took so many things from twilight and to be honest, I’m pretty sure I’m the biggest twilight fan in the world, so I really got annoyed at that. Despite the fact that she ripped off my favourite series in the whole world, there are many many MANY differences that makes hush hush awful and twilight incredible, first of all if I described Edward in only 3 words, I would say, traditional, sweet, and romantic, not to mention absolutely perfect <3 <3 patch in 3 words on the other hand: obnoxious, unchanging and unlikeable. The only good character in hush hush is vee, she's the only character who stands out, even Bella and Nora are freakishly similar, but there are major differences that make Bella a amazing character and Nora a already been done character. If I had to go back to the three.
word thing, Bella: quirky, honest and slightly shy, and Nora: hormonal, ordinary and dull. It cost me five bucks to buy and I wish I could get my money back, plus maybe 5 extra dollars because I had to read it. And I know this comment probably sounds really mean, but I honestly mean no offense to anyone, if you liked the book, you liked the book, I'm not judging, this is just my opinion on this book, I actually only read up to page 135 so feel free to say something about that, but once you're halfway through, you know whether a book is bad or not. This book is defintey bad.
Smugglivus 2012 Guest Author/Blogger: Foz Meadows | The Book Smugglers
December 17, 2012 at 8:39 am[…] somehow becomes sweet and acceptable when the abuser loves their victim, or vice versa. As has been well-documented by now, one of the worst offenders is Patch in Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush series. The […]
“Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick | Weasel Of Doom
December 29, 2012 at 11:22 pm[…] due to the gorgeous cover (shallow, moi?). Well, now I read it, and unfortunately I have to second Ana from The Book Smugglers — it was a disappointing […]
Ever Wonder If A Book Is Good Or Not??? « Books Are My World
January 3, 2013 at 5:47 pm[…] happened to them that I didn’t approve of. I even cried when certain parts happened. http://www.thebooksmugglers.com/2009/10/book-review-hush-hush-by-becca-fitzpatrick.html Critics say that the book is quite good. Even though the cover doesn’t give you much of […]
Estelle
January 8, 2013 at 10:08 amO_o
I can’t believe all the nasty responses you guys got for this review. Where did all these people come from?
Hush, Hush was one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I understand the Twilight hype but I honestly don’t understand how anyone would find anything redeemable about Hush, Hush.
Your review said all that needed to be said about this book.
Anonymous
February 21, 2013 at 9:25 pmU say all this about the details not making sense. It is a book about fallen angels and nephilim for Pete’s sake!!
Anonymous
April 3, 2013 at 1:40 pmyou read my mind. i just finished the book to know how it ends. these books are a waste of time
Anonymous
May 28, 2013 at 3:49 pmI liked the book, but it would’ve made more sense from Patch’s point of view. On the other hand, that would take the revelation of fallen angels out of the plot. The romance would be more sounds through Patch’s point of view.
Naomi
July 24, 2013 at 1:51 amI’m almost at the end but only because I’m forcing myself to finish as I hate to stop before the end. This is seriously one of the worst books I’ve ever read. A lot of facts don’t make sense. At first I thought it was a poor copy of the book ‘Existence’ then it was an absolutely terrible ‘Twilight’ rip off. The whole scene with the homeless woman- if I was reading it on paperback not ereader I would’ve thrown the book. Just. Bad. Writing. No story direction, I mean what the hell is up with Elliot and Jules, one minute their the main story then she (the author) just forgets about them and I feel like I’m reading 2 books at once. Can’t say enough bad things. Rant over.
Naomi
July 24, 2013 at 1:51 am*they’re
Emily
September 15, 2013 at 5:26 pmDo you know what I notice?
That a bunch of different code names have the same picture.
But then we have a different ANON who has a different picture.
Interesting…
Anonymous
November 3, 2013 at 7:37 pmidk what your talking about of course it doesn’t make sence!! they fell in love so quickly because of how much they loved each other STOP BEING PESSAMISTS!! THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN!!!!!!!!! this book was absolutely amazing and I finished it in 2 DAYS I cudnt stop reading. I totally respect everyones opinon but I don’t have to agree with you. IF YOU ARE READING THS COMMENT PLEASE JUST TRY THE BOOK IT WAS AMZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND SO ARE THE REST OF THE BOOKS PLEASE !!!
Anyymous
November 13, 2013 at 8:22 pmThis book is one of the best books I’ve read. I give it a 9
Anyymous
November 13, 2013 at 8:22 pmThis book is one of the best books I’ve read. I give it a 9
Lauren
December 4, 2013 at 7:27 pmI really disliked the book as well, I usually don’t let reviews get to me, but, I now know that (in book terms) you should really not judge it by it’s intriguing cover. I was hooked when I saw it, but it turned out to be something that I regret reading, and I am into many, many books, but this one, I do not recommend for reader’s of any age. Sure, probably not the worst, but could be on my top 10 worst novels I’ve read. That’s for sure… I am sorry to the author, they have much ahead of them, but this was almost pathetic. xoxo.
me
December 4, 2013 at 8:50 pmI actually really liked this book but I can see why some people don’t like it
Mariangela
December 26, 2013 at 12:34 amI reeeealllllly do not understand why people hate it. It wasn’t that bad as people claim it to be. I fell in love with the series. Maybe it’s because I’ve never got into the Twlight saga, or my fascination of Fallen Angel Mythology, but overall, it was not a bad book. You should really read the rest of the books. They explain more of Patch’s character. I loved all four books and I can not wait for the movie. OMFG IF THEY CASTED COLTON HAYNES AS PATCH, OR IAN SOMERHALDER AS PATCH, (but with black contacts) I’D JUST EXPLODE OF HAPPINESS!
Shirlee
January 6, 2014 at 1:06 amI totally agree with you. I admit this book had me going, but Nora- no offense- she was absolutely stupid. And naive. And scared. And… well, you get the point. Like she changes her feelings about everyone LITERALLY EVERY FIVE SECONDS. And she refuses to ask for help from maybe her mother, or maybe another close person she trusts. Why? I have no idea. Let’s just say this book really disappointed me. I am definitely not reading the next one.
Celeste
April 11, 2014 at 12:25 pmI honestly love the Hush Hush series. They are such good books. This really is a tough love situation. I fully believe in Fallen Angels and everything like that. Maybe they can see us but we can’t see them. I love being a believer. There is so much to hold on to when you read these books. When I first started reading these books I could not put them down. I keep re-reading them every now and then just because they mean so much!(:
Nim
April 14, 2014 at 9:38 amI don’t…
Deer lord. if every1 who raed d bk n leik it types like dis i dont know wat it says about the book but it’s not definitely not complimentary.
I don’t know about the Twilight stuff, since I never read that. And is unlikely to. Nice review, thanks for the warning, love you all bye.
Sandy
October 2, 2015 at 12:06 pmOk so I completely disagree with you.
1.) they met in a human growth and development class and the banter between them made me laugh.
2.) It is nothing like twilight. Edward didn’t want to kill Bella for personal reasons and Patch did.
3.) I’ve read reviews on this site and in 4 out of the 5 on here it is always compared to twilight and personally it is nothing like twilight.
4.) It has an interesting plot line and I think the funny banter that happens between Patch and Nora does show them interested in each other.
When writing your review people may take them more serious if they’re isn’t irate ranting that are in these reviews. Talk about the style of the authors writing and do not say what you do not like about it talk about if it is poor, good, or excellent. This is not a professional review at all and has to much of your personal opinion. Yes, a review is an opinion but there is a difference of focusing on the plot line, style of writing, characters, and if any of those are poor, good, or excellent. (BTW Nora did not kill herself for Patch, she was going to die either way because another was going to kill her, so she decided to take her life and not give Jules the satisfaction of killing her. It just helped Patch because she killed herself. Read the books closer.)
Bella
July 17, 2017 at 7:27 pmHush, Hush was like an OKAY book. Honestly, to me I felt like it was more of a Wattpad story; a good plot, but things were all over the place. I feel as though it could’ve been better. Anyone agree?
simran
October 16, 2017 at 7:34 pmi agree with u (: this book is cute
Madi
November 6, 2017 at 1:40 pmYou have several valid points about your review, and I do respect your opinion. There’s just one thing off that I see about it.
It’s about why Patch didn’t fall AGAIN for his relationship with Nora.
The reason he fell previously, was yes, because of his lust. But, what really caused him to fall was that he left heaven to be with the human girl and tried possessing someone outside of Cheshvan (sorry if that’s spelt wrong). THAT’S the main reason he fell. So I just feel like that point about him not falling again didn’t match with the actual book.
Madi
November 6, 2017 at 1:41 pmI completely agree with this! I couldn’t have worded it better.
Anonymous
January 2, 2018 at 5:46 pmI agree with you 100%
Davian
January 2, 2018 at 5:51 pmWell patch is a bully and abusive and would kill Nora he never did kill her and out of all those things in the next few books he is really gentle and sweet to her so he kinda makes up for it
James Gunn Fired From Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 After Offensive Comments Resurface - Scandal Sheet
July 20, 2018 at 5:47 pm[…] (TEN!) and was horrified by how the “romance” basically consists a woman being being worn down by her stalker. It was bad enough back then, but how the hell does this happen in the #MeToo […]
Anonymous
February 8, 2019 at 3:55 pmI completely disagree with this review. This book was very capturing and interesting. I couldn’t put it down. KTHe author worked hard on this book and it is very disrespectful for you all to be trashing her work like this.
Hush hush
February 11, 2019 at 5:33 pmI think you are so very wrong. Becca Fitzpatricks Hush Hush saga is one of the most amazing series ever made. It inspired me to start writing my own types of books. Her idea behind the book may be a lot like the Twilight saga, but she made it her own. The story it tells is inspiring and beautiful. And I fully disagree with your statement.