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A review by dinohakari
Rescued by Hayden Hall
4.0
Well, this is quite a different story from what [a:Hayden Hall|20997448|Hayden Hall|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1608820892p2/20997448.jpg] has accustomed us to. I was looking forward to it because I really love his other books and I thought it would be interesting to see him get out of his comfort zone.
But it turns out [b:Rescued|63360133|Rescued|Hayden Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668937664l/63360133._SY75_.jpg|99306991] was difficult for me to review, because on the one hand I liked the story, I was interested in what it proposed but...
But certain aspects of the book did not finish convincing me: As I said at the beginning, I liked the story. The beginning and as far as he goes to the shelter is quite interesting and harrowing, and I can also say that I liked the ending.
My problem is with the middle part, specifically, the fact that he, in a few days, is already involved in an intimate relationship with someone he just met and whom we assume also has some issues to heal. I mean, I can understand him being attracted, but from there to being with someone intimately, without even starting his healing process? Having spent years in an abusive relationship, it's not very realistic (and yes, I know it's fiction, but a lot of the plot is the emotional and psychological abuse he suffers and THAT is a real life issue).
Something that I DID LIKE, is how Archer has internalized the abuse. That is, his mental process, how he believes that he is not worth it, how he believes that because there was no physical violence he does not deserve the help, how he ends up looking for excuses for his ex's behavior. In this, I think the writer excelled. He really portrayed a victim of abuse. That's mainly why I find it hard to believe that the author hasn't stretched the times a bit since Archer's arrival at the shelter and the beginning of his relationship with Brooklyn. I think it would have been more interesting and believable if he gradually learned to trust the other person, and more importantly, that he learned to love himself, and only then did he start to build a relationship.
I also would have liked to get to know Brooklyn a bit more. I still don't quite get why he's in the shelter. I think a few chapters from his POV would have helped to understand him and make him more engaging, at least to me. We only get glimpses of his past, through what he tells Archer, but getting inside his mind would have been more interesting.
Despite all this, I give the story four stars, because I think the little I didn't like is far outweighed by what I did like about the book.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Merged review:
Well, this is quite a different story from what [a:Hayden Hall|20997448|Hayden Hall|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1608820892p2/20997448.jpg] has accustomed us to. I was looking forward to it because I really love his other books and I thought it would be interesting to see him get out of his comfort zone.
But it turns out [b:Rescued|63360133|Rescued|Hayden Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668937664l/63360133._SY75_.jpg|99306991] was difficult for me to review, because on the one hand I liked the story, I was interested in what it proposed but...
But certain aspects of the book did not finish convincing me: As I said at the beginning, I liked the story. The beginning and as far as he goes to the shelter is quite interesting and harrowing, and I can also say that I liked the ending.
My problem is with the middle part, specifically, the fact that he, in a few days, is already involved in an intimate relationship with someone he just met and whom we assume also has some issues to heal. I mean, I can understand him being attracted, but from there to being with someone intimately, without even starting his healing process? Having spent years in an abusive relationship, it's not very realistic (and yes, I know it's fiction, but a lot of the plot is the emotional and psychological abuse he suffers and THAT is a real life issue).
Something that I DID LIKE, is how Archer has internalized the abuse. That is, his mental process, how he believes that he is not worth it, how he believes that because there was no physical violence he does not deserve the help, how he ends up looking for excuses for his ex's behavior. In this, I think the writer excelled. He really portrayed a victim of abuse. That's mainly why I find it hard to believe that the author hasn't stretched the times a bit since Archer's arrival at the shelter and the beginning of his relationship with Brooklyn. I think it would have been more interesting and believable if he gradually learned to trust the other person, and more importantly, that he learned to love himself, and only then did he start to build a relationship.
I also would have liked to get to know Brooklyn a bit more. I still don't quite get why he's in the shelter. I think a few chapters from his POV would have helped to understand him and make him more engaging, at least to me. We only get glimpses of his past, through what he tells Archer, but getting inside his mind would have been more interesting.
Despite all this, I give the story four stars, because I think the little I didn't like is far outweighed by what I did like about the book.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
But it turns out [b:Rescued|63360133|Rescued|Hayden Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668937664l/63360133._SY75_.jpg|99306991] was difficult for me to review, because on the one hand I liked the story, I was interested in what it proposed but...
But certain aspects of the book did not finish convincing me: As I said at the beginning, I liked the story. The beginning and as far as he goes to the shelter is quite interesting and harrowing, and I can also say that I liked the ending.
My problem is with the middle part, specifically, the fact that he, in a few days, is already involved in an intimate relationship with someone he just met and whom we assume also has some issues to heal. I mean, I can understand him being attracted, but from there to being with someone intimately, without even starting his healing process? Having spent years in an abusive relationship, it's not very realistic (and yes, I know it's fiction, but a lot of the plot is the emotional and psychological abuse he suffers and THAT is a real life issue).
Something that I DID LIKE, is how Archer has internalized the abuse. That is, his mental process, how he believes that he is not worth it, how he believes that because there was no physical violence he does not deserve the help, how he ends up looking for excuses for his ex's behavior. In this, I think the writer excelled. He really portrayed a victim of abuse. That's mainly why I find it hard to believe that the author hasn't stretched the times a bit since Archer's arrival at the shelter and the beginning of his relationship with Brooklyn. I think it would have been more interesting and believable if he gradually learned to trust the other person, and more importantly, that he learned to love himself, and only then did he start to build a relationship.
I also would have liked to get to know Brooklyn a bit more. I still don't quite get why he's in the shelter. I think a few chapters from his POV would have helped to understand him and make him more engaging, at least to me. We only get glimpses of his past, through what he tells Archer, but getting inside his mind would have been more interesting.
Despite all this, I give the story four stars, because I think the little I didn't like is far outweighed by what I did like about the book.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Merged review:
Well, this is quite a different story from what [a:Hayden Hall|20997448|Hayden Hall|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1608820892p2/20997448.jpg] has accustomed us to. I was looking forward to it because I really love his other books and I thought it would be interesting to see him get out of his comfort zone.
But it turns out [b:Rescued|63360133|Rescued|Hayden Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668937664l/63360133._SY75_.jpg|99306991] was difficult for me to review, because on the one hand I liked the story, I was interested in what it proposed but...
But certain aspects of the book did not finish convincing me: As I said at the beginning, I liked the story. The beginning and as far as he goes to the shelter is quite interesting and harrowing, and I can also say that I liked the ending.
My problem is with the middle part, specifically, the fact that he, in a few days, is already involved in an intimate relationship with someone he just met and whom we assume also has some issues to heal. I mean, I can understand him being attracted, but from there to being with someone intimately, without even starting his healing process? Having spent years in an abusive relationship, it's not very realistic (and yes, I know it's fiction, but a lot of the plot is the emotional and psychological abuse he suffers and THAT is a real life issue).
Something that I DID LIKE, is how Archer has internalized the abuse. That is, his mental process, how he believes that he is not worth it, how he believes that because there was no physical violence he does not deserve the help, how he ends up looking for excuses for his ex's behavior. In this, I think the writer excelled. He really portrayed a victim of abuse. That's mainly why I find it hard to believe that the author hasn't stretched the times a bit since Archer's arrival at the shelter and the beginning of his relationship with Brooklyn. I think it would have been more interesting and believable if he gradually learned to trust the other person, and more importantly, that he learned to love himself, and only then did he start to build a relationship.
I also would have liked to get to know Brooklyn a bit more. I still don't quite get why he's in the shelter. I think a few chapters from his POV would have helped to understand him and make him more engaging, at least to me. We only get glimpses of his past, through what he tells Archer, but getting inside his mind would have been more interesting.
Despite all this, I give the story four stars, because I think the little I didn't like is far outweighed by what I did like about the book.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.