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shivani_n's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
the synopsis of wild ground is so interesting, but i can't say the same for the actual book ðŸ˜. i was disappointed by the story as a whole to be honest. i didn't see what was so special about danny and neef's "connection" or how they "loved each other so much". i honestly think they were both kind of shitty and toxic together and it's better that they're apart anyway lmao. maybe that's the point but i don't know i feel like the author was making it out to be some really special relationship that the main character could never really forget, but then didn't actually succeed in letting the reader in on the so-called uniqueness of their relationship.
i thought danny was kind of a dick, and neef is a boring character. i wasn't particularly impressed by the writing either. overall i would call this book very bleak and just not worth reading, especially because it's 337 pages. so yeah this one just wasn't for me!
i thought danny was kind of a dick, and neef is a boring character. i wasn't particularly impressed by the writing either. overall i would call this book very bleak and just not worth reading, especially because it's 337 pages. so yeah this one just wasn't for me!
briwithabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lilyreads01's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
scottxbooks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nataliebonetti's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mrscorytee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
inkreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wild Ground by Emily Usher and narrated by Natalie Gavin is a story of young love, poverty, racism, addiction in a little town in Yorkshire. The story is authentic and written with deepest integrity.
Neef and Danny were both outsiders in their town, finding solace in each other. They dreamed of being together forever, escaping their lives, but life began to weevil its way into their idyllic dreams and result in an outcome that neither could have forseen
The narration of Natalie Gavin is on point, achoing the desolation of the area and the grit, vulnerability and tenacity of the characters
Emily Usher writes with authenticy, it resonates and makes the heart ache. A tale of dreams crushed by the overarching reality of life. Heartbreaking and relatable, a compelling read
Thank you to Netgalley, Profile Books Audio | Serpent’s Tail Audio, the author Emily Usher and narrator Natalie Gavin for this ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Neef and Danny were both outsiders in their town, finding solace in each other. They dreamed of being together forever, escaping their lives, but life began to weevil its way into their idyllic dreams and result in an outcome that neither could have forseen
The narration of Natalie Gavin is on point, achoing the desolation of the area and the grit, vulnerability and tenacity of the characters
Emily Usher writes with authenticy, it resonates and makes the heart ache. A tale of dreams crushed by the overarching reality of life. Heartbreaking and relatable, a compelling read
Thank you to Netgalley, Profile Books Audio | Serpent’s Tail Audio, the author Emily Usher and narrator Natalie Gavin for this ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
bookglutton's review against another edition
3.0
Emily Usher's Wild Ground is a tormenting saga of generational abuse and trauma. Narrator Jen reflects on her life through a series of dramatic episodes and must reckon with the individual who triggered them when he reenters her life decades later.
I get the sense that Jen's narration is supposed to be unreliable, but each recollection is so exhaustive as to shatter the veneer of it being a memory. In other words, there is a lot of writing and a little showing. Perhaps this is an effect of Jen's desperation to understand what happened to her and to be understood: to make her life as she knows it now make sense.
I think I would have appreciated a more balanced narration of past and present. The present narration was so sparse that it only really interrupted my investment in the past. Perhaps a more seamless interaction between the two temporal scenes would have resulted from more chapters set in the present that better contextualize her reflections.
I"m also left feeling a bit weary with how Jen (and--dare I say--by extension the author) handles racism. Danny and Denz's race is mentioned every other page, and yet racism is never directly identified, seemingly for the sake of fragile (white) Jen, who just "doesn't understand". In her present-day musings, Jen--having been taken under the wing of another interracial couple--suggests she *does* better understand the racially charged climate of her upbringing, but ultimately it is unclear if she has really come to terms with how it has affected her understanding of herself and of the past.
I get the sense that Jen's narration is supposed to be unreliable, but each recollection is so exhaustive as to shatter the veneer of it being a memory. In other words, there is a lot of writing and a little showing. Perhaps this is an effect of Jen's desperation to understand what happened to her and to be understood: to make her life as she knows it now make sense.
I think I would have appreciated a more balanced narration of past and present. The present narration was so sparse that it only really interrupted my investment in the past. Perhaps a more seamless interaction between the two temporal scenes would have resulted from more chapters set in the present that better contextualize her reflections.
I"m also left feeling a bit weary with how Jen (and--dare I say--by extension the author) handles racism. Danny and Denz's race is mentioned every other page, and yet racism is never directly identified, seemingly for the sake of fragile (white) Jen, who just "doesn't understand". In her present-day musings, Jen--having been taken under the wing of another interracial couple--suggests she *does* better understand the racially charged climate of her upbringing, but ultimately it is unclear if she has really come to terms with how it has affected her understanding of herself and of the past.
romanaromana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 stars.
(Here are some content warnings).
I have been excited to read this since I heard about it, and it did not disappoint.
I was very quickly impressed by the readability and flow of Emily Usher’s writing. It was pacy and believable and I was so pleased by how easy it was to sink into her prose. This no doubt points to the strength of Neef’s voice throughout, and the seamless way that Usher flicks between the past and present.
It was also somewhat unusual, but great nonetheless, to find that both timelines were equally engaging. They are balanced so well against each other, giving readers just the right amount of each segment of Neef’s life, whilst keeping the right amount at bay until the perfect moment. It really was just excellently paced and carefully written.
My minor complaint is due here because there was an element of repetition in Neef’s character and journey which bogged me down slightly, although I appreciate that this was just a reflection of Neef herself and the particular story Usher had chosen to tell. Perhaps to offset that, I would have liked a hint of better forward progress and understanding from Neef at the end of things. This would have been particularly welcome in regard to Neef’s naivety towards racial prejudice, which I would like to think she had begun to grow out of or realise in the present narrative.
Neef aside, I was intrigued by the other characters in Wild Ground too. Danny shone, of course, and I especially liked seeing the way his relationship with his dad and grandmother shifted over the years, and did so much to his behaviour around others too. Chrissy was another strong figure, and even Barry was very much interesting to read.
A very strong start for Usher! I look forward to the next.
(Here are some content warnings).
I have been excited to read this since I heard about it, and it did not disappoint.
I was very quickly impressed by the readability and flow of Emily Usher’s writing. It was pacy and believable and I was so pleased by how easy it was to sink into her prose. This no doubt points to the strength of Neef’s voice throughout, and the seamless way that Usher flicks between the past and present.
It was also somewhat unusual, but great nonetheless, to find that both timelines were equally engaging. They are balanced so well against each other, giving readers just the right amount of each segment of Neef’s life, whilst keeping the right amount at bay until the perfect moment. It really was just excellently paced and carefully written.
My minor complaint is due here because there was an element of repetition in Neef’s character and journey which bogged me down slightly, although I appreciate that this was just a reflection of Neef herself and the particular story Usher had chosen to tell. Perhaps to offset that, I would have liked a hint of better forward progress and understanding from Neef at the end of things. This would have been particularly welcome in regard to Neef’s naivety towards racial prejudice, which I would like to think she had begun to grow out of or realise in the present narrative.
Neef aside, I was intrigued by the other characters in Wild Ground too. Danny shone, of course, and I especially liked seeing the way his relationship with his dad and grandmother shifted over the years, and did so much to his behaviour around others too. Chrissy was another strong figure, and even Barry was very much interesting to read.
A very strong start for Usher! I look forward to the next.
rhack05's review against another edition
4.0
If you like books with heartbreak, addiction issues, neglectful parenting and bad choices by teenagers/young adults you will love this book. It is raw and real and gut wrenching but leaves you with a sense of hope. This book is not for the faint of heart so please take note of trigger warnings before reading.
This is a wonderfully done debut novel that will have me wondering about Jennifer & Danny for a long time to come.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Emily Usher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wonderfully done debut novel that will have me wondering about Jennifer & Danny for a long time to come.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Emily Usher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.