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Angela's Reviews > The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden
The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden (The Coincidence, #1)
by
Poor writing & implausible story made this a non-finisher for me
In an attempt to try out another New Adult title, I downloaded The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. It is currently sitting in the #4 spot on the NYT Best Sellers list for e-books, and it seemed like a deal at only 99 cents. I even picked up the author's second similar title (The Secret of Ella and Micha) on a whim at the same time. Though I should have been more wary due to the low price and the author's self-pubbed status, I was feeling adventurous.
Oh, how wary I should have been! I have never before given up on a title so quickly as I did with this book (at the 7% completion mark). The two chapters that I read were littered with typos, incorrect pronoun usage, and simply pedestrian and awkward writing. As per usual with YA or NA titles, the characters have trials or past abuses to overcome, but this story laid them out entirely too obviously within the first three pages with clunky statements about "hiding the scars on the inside" and the young woman's obvious fear of men. Then, soon after we're told that the main character hasn't touched anyone outside her family in six years and has never told a soul about what trauma has befallen her, the next chapter finds her at college with a new best friend -- the token gay guy -- whom she touches, laughs with, and has shared her darkest secrets with. The quick character changes, and the obviously forthcoming romance with the also-traumatized football jock from her hometown, just seemed too unbelievable. I simply had to stop reading due to the absolute implausibility of the story and the poor writing.
Though I don't hope to diminish anyone else's interest or enthusiasm for this book, I can't understand any of the hype, high sales, or great ratings for this book and the author's other titles, if they are at all similar. Not only did I declare this a DNF title, but it is also the first thing I have ever digitally returned. Read at your own risk.
by
Angela's review
bookshelves: abandoned-dnf, contemporary, cringe-inducing, read-in-2013, triggering-topics, new-adult, 0-stars, issues, trauma-porn-romance
Jan 21, 2013
bookshelves: abandoned-dnf, contemporary, cringe-inducing, read-in-2013, triggering-topics, new-adult, 0-stars, issues, trauma-porn-romance
Poor writing & implausible story made this a non-finisher for me
In an attempt to try out another New Adult title, I downloaded The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. It is currently sitting in the #4 spot on the NYT Best Sellers list for e-books, and it seemed like a deal at only 99 cents. I even picked up the author's second similar title (The Secret of Ella and Micha) on a whim at the same time. Though I should have been more wary due to the low price and the author's self-pubbed status, I was feeling adventurous.
Oh, how wary I should have been! I have never before given up on a title so quickly as I did with this book (at the 7% completion mark). The two chapters that I read were littered with typos, incorrect pronoun usage, and simply pedestrian and awkward writing. As per usual with YA or NA titles, the characters have trials or past abuses to overcome, but this story laid them out entirely too obviously within the first three pages with clunky statements about "hiding the scars on the inside" and the young woman's obvious fear of men. Then, soon after we're told that the main character hasn't touched anyone outside her family in six years and has never told a soul about what trauma has befallen her, the next chapter finds her at college with a new best friend -- the token gay guy -- whom she touches, laughs with, and has shared her darkest secrets with. The quick character changes, and the obviously forthcoming romance with the also-traumatized football jock from her hometown, just seemed too unbelievable. I simply had to stop reading due to the absolute implausibility of the story and the poor writing.
Though I don't hope to diminish anyone else's interest or enthusiasm for this book, I can't understand any of the hype, high sales, or great ratings for this book and the author's other titles, if they are at all similar. Not only did I declare this a DNF title, but it is also the first thing I have ever digitally returned. Read at your own risk.
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Reading Progress
January 20, 2013
–
Started Reading
January 20, 2013
–
Finished Reading
January 21, 2013
– Shelved
January 21, 2013
– Shelved as:
cringe-inducing
January 21, 2013
– Shelved as:
contemporary
January 21, 2013
– Shelved as:
read-in-2013
January 21, 2013
– Shelved as:
triggering-topics
January 21, 2013
– Shelved as:
new-adult
January 21, 2013
– Shelved as:
0-stars
April 17, 2013
– Shelved as:
issues
March 1, 2016
– Shelved as:
abandoned-dnf
June 4, 2017
– Shelved as:
trauma-porn-romance
Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)
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Ohhhh, Easy was leaps and bounds better than this, one in my opinion. Even though I didn't like Easy overall and found many parts of it problematic, I can see why it's popular and liked by others. Maybe if I had persevered with this, I would feel the same way, but I doubt it.
I read three of these books in a row. "Hopeless", "The Coincidence..." and "Dare You To". 2/3 has rape in it, and in Hopeless I found it was REALLY unnecessary. To the point where I wish I could have been warned somehow.
Judy wrote: "I read three of these books in a row. "Hopeless", "The Coincidence..." and "Dare You To". 2/3 has rape in it, and in Hopeless I found it was REALLY unnecessary. To the point where I wish I could ha..."Others are finding it completely unnecessary too, including other published authors. Read more here if you're interested: http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/2...
Thanks for the link! I agree that choosing rape as the "trauma" that has to occur to a woman and using it as plot advancement (e.g. being rescued by love interest) is something I do not want to support. Or even if it results in character development, why is it that the heroines never deal with their issues? They don't seek help, they don't talk to their parents, they don't demand that their attacker pay for what happened to them.
It makes me uncomfortable that yes, we are acknowledging that rape is this big, terrible thing that happens to women, but we are also saying that it is through the power of "love" that you somehow are "healed" from this experience and never face any repercussions from what happened. Ugh.
Judy wrote: "Ugh."My thoughts exactly. ;)
Sarah wrote: "I have learned to ALWAYS get a sample of self published Kindle books first! There are some good ones out there, but there is also a lot of slush. :-("I even saw the sample option, but I foolishly thought to myself, "Oh, hey, this is only 99 cents, and I have gift card money to spend! How bad could it be?" Obviously, my one moment of being spontaneous was *not* rewarded. >:/
Wow! I'm sure you are a well known published writer that is used to such criticism! Please let me know what books you have published, so that I may be just as critical to your art!
@Barb: While I can appreciate that you feel so positively toward this book, a reader's perception of a book's quality or one's enjoyment of it has nothing to do with whether the reader him or herself (in this case, me) has published a book. If someone had to be a published writer in order to provide feedback and criticism about works, there would be no room for a place like Goodreads, professional book reviewers, or even, I dare say, English classes where we teach students how to evaluate written works, both from a personal and a critical perspective.
Angela wrote: "@Barb: While I can appreciate that you feel so positively toward this book, a reader's perception of a book's quality or one's enjoyment of it has nothing to do with whether the reader him or herse..."Your point is well taken. Mine is just that it takes a lot of time and effort for these Indie writers to publish a book. Not that I feel so strongly about this particular book, because there are several that I may have given the same type of review, but I take into consideration an authors feelings. So, it may not have been a book you enjoyed, others may have loved it. That is why there are several book selections and genres for everyone.
One of my best friends devours all these new adult books and has told me several plots in hopes of trying to get me to read them, but honestly l just don't think this is my genre. A lot of it just sounds like unnecessary drama. So needless l *probably* won't be picking this one up ;) or downloading it for that matter, lol.
Barb wrote: "Angela wrote: "@Barb: While I can appreciate that you feel so positively toward this book, a reader's perception of a book's quality or one's enjoyment of it has nothing to do with whether the read..."You're right that there are "several book selections and genres for everyone," and I even made a point in the closing paragraph of my review above to note that my review was not meant "to diminish anyone else's interest or enthusiasm for this book." However, as a reader, I think it's my responsibility to be honest about my experience with a book, instead of sugarcoating my reaction in a consideration of an author's feelings. I am on Goodreads in order to share my reading experiences, both good and bad, with others. Maybe a friend will read my review here and think that she does want to read this book because she's curious about it. Another might decide to skip it in favor of something else in her huge to-be-read pile. Either way, my responsibility is to fellow readers, not the author.
Also, I have never doubted the effort -- intellectually, emotionally, and professionally -- that it takes to write a book and then publish it, whether indie or traditionally published. I also never called into question the effort or intent of this author, nor did I lob any personally demeaning remarks at her, even if I did criticize the quality of the work itself. This was one of my more negative reviews, but if you look through my other reviews, you will see that I have never once attacked an author personally and his/her choice to write a book. That is something that I pride myself on doing -- never attacking an author personally, even if I have a negative experience with his/her work.
Carly222 wrote: "One of my best friends devours all these new adult books and has told me several plots in hopes of trying to get me to read them, but honestly l just don't think this is my genre. A lot of it just ..."Hey girl! :) I also have a friend who devours these new adult titles, along with her younger sister, but it just doesn't seem to be a good fit for me. I feel like they're just sensationalized YA with more sex and more drama -- romance for the college-aged set. While there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not a good fit for me. If you ever want to check one out, I would say go for it, since you can often get them on the cheap as eBooks. And if you ever do read one, be sure to let me know what you think.
Hope you're doing swell!
Okay so that was supposed to say: so needless to say l won't be picking it up haha. My brain is slower on Tuesdays because it's my longest day at work. Yea l agree with your description and really, none of them so far have pulled me in with their summaries. So l mean maybe l'll pick one up one day and if l do, l'll definitely let you know! On a side note l am swell! I know its been a long time since we last talked but there is nothing really new on my end. Hope all is well with you and your schedule has calmed down some, or at least it is tolerable. :)
Carly222 wrote: "Okay so that was supposed to say: so needless to say l won't be picking it up haha. My brain is slower on Tuesdays because it's my longest day at work. Yea l agree with your description and really,..."It *has* been a long time since we've talked, and I take complete and utter responsibility for that. Things have not slowed down at all, but it's all for a good cause -- making me into a good teacher (or so I hope). Do know this, though; you are not forgotten! I thought of you this Christmas while driving through Nashville on our way home from visiting family in the Midwest. :)
Aw you definitely don't have to take all the responsibility and l totally understand being so busy and barely even just having time to read. :) and its so exciting to hear how close you are to becoming a teacher and for the record, l think you will be a great one! Aw l hope you had wonderful holidays :) and that you had no lingering problems and you all are safe from the crazy weather last night!
Carly222 wrote: "Aw you definitely don't have to take all the responsibility and l totally understand being so busy and barely even just having time to read. :) and its so exciting to hear how close you are to beco..."Thanks for the compliments about teaching; I'm trying to get there slowly but surely and learning more each day. We survived the storms better than your area did, though I did wander around the yard picking up sticks and branches today. If we keep our fingers crossed, we might get snow tonight. Woo! :)
I lasted 50% because I kept waiting for it to get better. Basically I got to the kissing scene and was unable to contain my utter rage at the poor writing and shoddy characterization. Honestly, I thought the plot was the least of the worries. I feel like a few more months of honest and thorough editing could have salvaged the issues of both writing quality and the unrealistic characterization. I definitely think it's an improvement to see so many books where characters have to deal with rape trauma, but I agree with some other commentators - it's extremely problematic that the only way a character can deal with her trauma is through finding "true love" with another formerly abused person. I felt like the abuse aspect of the story was just completely over the top in this story. I'm glad to know that there are at least a few other readers out there who feel similarly.
FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE WHO RECOGNIZES THIS BOOK FOR WHAT IT WAS
@Christine & Daniella: Thanks for your comments and shared feelings of frustration over this book! :)
Same experience as Easy probably?