Bad Reviews 🫠
I love books, but its so rare I give books 5 stars. I saw this trend going on where you find bad reviews of your favorites so here's the lemon8 version. Be prepared I talk a lot.
Impulse By Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorite books I have ever read. It was one of the first books I ever read that put a name to emotions that I had been feeling for years. I just reread it for the first time in years. While I agree there are issues within the book I don't agree with the review.
First off, conversation therapy isn't always bad. I loved conversation therapy because it made me feel less alone to get my thoughts into the world. If we want to talk about messed up practices in this book we should talk about the wilderness camp part. A practice that former participants have been speaking out against.
I agree that Love doesn't "fix" mental health. But these are teenagers. Teenagers are going to have bad priorities. Also it didn't fix it, like saying it fixed it is ignoring a major part of the story.
Finally I don't think this last point is accurate at all. They aren't seen as villains. Only one of them has "predatory" behavior, the quotations are there because the narrator is unreliable when it comes to older women.
Remarkably Bright Creatures had a lot of one star reviews about how they read the book based on the cover and expected more octopus or for him to be solving mysteries like Sherlock Holmes.
One of my favorite books this year is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, if you haven't checked it out yet you should. The first review is a joke about women in space like the characters weren't all brilliant scientists and pilots.
The second review grinds my gears because the book was very open about what it was. If you got halfway without realizing "oh these women want to kiss" I'm questioning what's wrong with you. Also if you dnf a book because you don't like the sexualities of the characters please don't write a review. It's silly to yuck someone else's yum because you think girls shouldn't kiss other girls.
Finally Sunrise on The Reaping by Suzanne Collins was amazing. I loved it, 10/10. The negative reviews were mainly that Haymitch was annoying.
Don't listen to all the reviews, because sometimes people are silly.
🏷️: #lemon8bookclub #lemon8challenge #BookReviews #onestarreviews #donttakeitpersonal
Reading one-star reviews of highly rated books can reveal much about differing reader expectations and societal perspectives. For instance, "Impulse" by Ellen Hopkins, a deeply emotional book addressing mental health, faces criticism for its portrayal of conversation therapy and mental health facilities. While some reviews condemn conversation therapy, others find it a valuable outlet for expressing difficult emotions. It is also important to distinguish the issues raised — such as concerns about wilderness camps used for therapy — which have real-world significance beyond fictional storytelling. Similarly, "Remarkably Bright Creatures" attracted negative reviews mostly from readers expecting more octopus content or mystery-solving elements, demonstrating how cover design and marketing can shape reader assumptions. This highlights how mismatch between expectations and content can lead to disproportionate negative reactions. The book "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid encountered polarized responses due to its portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships. Negative reviews that focus on the sexuality of characters or dismiss the story based on personal biases underscore the need for respecting diverse narratives and avoiding dismissive criticism. Open representation in literature is increasingly important, especially during cultural moments like Pride Month when such books are highlighted. Lastly, "Sunrise on The Reaping" by Suzanne Collins received critique mostly centered on character annoyance, such as the portrayal of Haymitch, which shows how subjective character opinions can influence overall book ratings. Overall, reading and understanding negative reviews can foster empathy towards diverse perspectives, but it's essential to contextualize critiques and avoid dismissing works based on surface-level misunderstandings or biases. Engaging critically with all reviews and focusing on the deeper themes of books enhances appreciation and broadens reader horizons. This approach also supports authors whose stories explore complex, sometimes uncomfortable, realities and viewpoints.
