After Eden
Helen Douglas
Series: After Eden, #1
Released: November 5th, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Rating: 1.5 stars
Word Rating: Why do I never learn from my mistakes?
Reviewed by: Mel
The day Eden met Ryan changed her world forever. Actually, not just her world. Ryan has time traveled from the future to save the world. In a few weeks, Eden’s best friend Connor will discover a new planet—one where human life is possible. The discovery will make him famous. It will also ruin the world as we know it. When Ryan asks Eden for help, she must choose between saving the world and saving her best friend’s greatest achievement. And a crush on Ryan complicates things more than she could have imagined. Because Connor is due to make the discovery after the girl he loves breaks his heart. That girl is Eden.
Grounded in a realistic teen world with fascinating sci-fi elements, After Eden is a heart-pounding love triangle that’s perfect for dystopian fans looking for something new to devour.
After Eden is your typical YA sci-fi novel. Basically, there's a really hot and gorgeous guy (Ryan) who appears out of nowhere. All the girls at school are fawning over him. All the guys are jealous of him. And when Eden meets him, she feels an attraction to him immediately. He's not just a pretty face (Ryan insists himself he's a gorgeous face, not just pretty), he's also awfully smart and has a fantastic grasp on astronomy. However, he seems to know nothing else: he doesn't know what pizza is, he doesn't know who Hitler was. No one suspects a thing--apart from Eden.
What I liked about this book:
- How about nothing. Yeah.
What I disliked about this book:
- Eden. So I'll give her credit for discovering that Ryan wasn't a person from Earth but from the future--all by herself. But apart from that, she's pretty dead stupid. My main example? When she discovers Ryan's secret, Eden starts asking bucket loads of questions. Ryan tells her that he can't tell because he'd be in a lot of trouble if he did; however Eden persists and claims that he doesn't trust her and crap like that when he still refuses. Like c'mon girl. It's none of your bloody business, he said it's dangerous to let anyone know about the future but you think you're an exception? Not to ruin your ego but...YOU AREN'T SOME SPECIAL RAINBOW UNICORN THAT CAN SPEAK ELEPHANT SO NOOOO.
- Connor. I love girl/boy friendships. They're like romance, but contain much less drama and cheesiness. I was waiting for those awesome scenes with Connor and Eden however they acted like they weren't best friends at all. Eden or Connor might say something about how long they've known each other to someone, but I never saw their friendship, if that makes any sense. Additionally, I hated Connor in general. He got jealous in an instant about Ryan and acts like a douchebag half the time. Ugh.
- Ryan. Well hellloo there Gary Stu. I don't understand how he's smart. If he didn't want to be discovered (that he was a dude from outer space), then why ask people what pizza is? It only turns heads and makes people wonder what's up with your brain (or lack of one.) Because of that one clue, and other small ones that followed (due to his stupidity), Eden found out his secret.
- The conveniences. This paragraph contains mild spoilers. At the end of the novel, Eden nearly dies. But she doesn't because Ryan saved her. Can someone please explain how the hell does Ryan just suddenly appear out of nowhere (once again). Honestly, that scene felt so fake and I was banging my head of the wall. NOTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS IN REAL LIFE.
- Insta-Iove. Must I go into that any further? Because I don't think I need to.
Moral of the story: learn from your mistakes. It makes life much better (and less painful) (and means you can read good books instead of shockingly horrible ones).
*shudders* I rated this one 2 stars because it was just cookie cutter and terribly predictable. HAHA I haven't heard the term Gary Stu before but can I say, HILARIOUS! Awesome review as always Mel :)
ReplyDeleteGary Stu is the guy version of Mary Sue, hehe.
DeleteAhh from the comment above it looks like this should be a book that I skip. I hate when character relationships and characters in general are underdeveloped like why world why all I wanted was an interesting character who didn't make stupid decisions *cries* The plot just sounds horribly executed and I cringed a tiny but at the insta-love bit because that plot device is my bitter, biiiiiiittteeeerrrr enemy. Fantastic review, though, Mellypoo! (trying out some new nicknames what do you think? ;))
ReplyDeleteO_O Can I call you Leenypoo then?
DeleteI wasn't blown away with this one either. I found it a fast, entertaining read but so clichéd and all been done before. Seemed like there could have been some great potential but it just wasn't realized.
ReplyDeleteExactly, I thought the idea of time travel to change the past was a great idea, but it once again got let down by the execution
DeleteGah, the comment I wrote got deleted. Damn you, blogger! Anyway, I was saying I was actually looking forward to this book. I have a soft spot for anything with extraterrestrials but it seems this is a horrible book :( I don't understand why the dude doesn't know what pizza is when he came from the future? I'm pretty certain if that's the case pizza should have survived and even if not, it would still be well-known as a delicacy of the past... and not knowing, Hitler? We pretty much live in the future now compared to the 1940s but everyone knows who that dude is. This book thinks we're probably stupid not to catch these :( sorry you had to read such a terrible book!
ReplyDeleteFaye @ The Social Potato
Naughty blogger! I thought it was pretty weird that he didn't know what pizza was. I mean, it's such a common food! Also, he studied Shakspeare, but didn't know who Hitler was. Like seriously what?
DeleteLove this review!! I can't stand stupid characters so I can see that I would not enjoy this book. Also, when things seem too convenient it bothers me. Thank you for enduring this book to warn potential readers about the horrible characters and typical YA sci-fi ness to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! :) The characters were so idiotic, and something I forgot to mention was how predictable the story line was. *snore*
DeleteIn this case, you can judge a book by its cover. I must admit I loved this review more than I should have done, but MAN you make a bad book sound so appealing!
ReplyDeleteHaha, oh dear! Yes, it's true that this one should have been judged by the cover. All 3 of the cover designs were horrid
DeleteNot hearing the best things about this one. Though it sounds good and has a nice cover I think I'll more than likely be shying away from this one.
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely do not bother with this one.
DeleteI think I was in the right mood for this when I read it, because I *looks around guiltily* enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI mean, it obviously wasn't award-winning or anything, but for a light read, it did the trick of keeping me entertained.
I don't disagree with anything you've said though, and normally I'd be ranting along next to you! Haha