Eve (Eve #1) – Anna Carey

Eve (Eve #1) – Anna CareyTitle: Eve (Eve #1) by Anna Carey
Publishing Info: October 4, 2011 by HarperCollins
Source: Library
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: June 14, 2013

    Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
    Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth's population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
    Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust... and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.
    In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying.

bookreview1

I’ll admit it. I originally made it 80% through this audio book and THEN gave up, marking it DNF. That just didn’t sit well with me, though. I had come so far! I really didn’t want to give up… So I finished honestly for the sake of finishing the book. I wasn’t enjoying it but I made it that far…. Might as well!

Firstly. I did not like Eve. Even before the narrator of the audiobook bothered me more. I found Eve to be weak-minded, wishy-washy, and an overall victim. She made a few bold decisions but mostly out of necessity than bravery. She was very naïve, didn’t think for herself, and seemed to latch onto whatever people told her. How did she go from being raised her WHOLE LIFE to not trust men/that they’re evil and then she “falls in love” soooo easily, depending entirely on Caleb and barely flinching when they join forces. I felt like she always played the victim, even when she had the opportunity to stop and think.

Secondly. The narrator was actually very good at telling the story, using different voices, putting in emotion, etc. But it felt like everything that she was doing with Eve’s character only enhanced the things I was hating about her. I just couldn’t take the whines, the exasperation, the shrillness… I was done.

Lastly. I wasn’t a fan of this dystopian world. I guess it was supposed to be 2030-something? Which I either missed or just plain didn’t know, but I felt SO pulled out of the story will all of the present-day (for us) or even past references (“I Love Rock and Roll”, the movie Ghost, several classic literature references). I felt like the world ended in the 80s, not the future. Those things just really pulled me out of the story and sort of… cheesed it up a bit for my personal tastes. I guess it depends on how those things of the past connect to the dystopian’s present. In this case, it just wasn’t working for me.

There were just too many things I didn’t care for about the book — Not HORRIBLE things to really turn me off, but if I don’t get along with the main character, it’s pretty much over from there. I wasn’t a fan of the way the story was done… Again, not horrible, but meh. It just wasn’t the book for me. Plus, I find as I read more and more dystopians, I get more and more picky. It’s just going to happen.

character_breakdown1

Eve: I didn’t like Eve. There, I said it. I felt like she was naïve to the point of annoyance (on my part), whiney, weak-minded, and easily swayed. I got frustrated how easily she changed her mind based on what people told her and she was just a weak character for me. Not my cup of tea.
Caleb: Zero swoons whatsoever. I really wanted a lot more character development from him. He just seemed like a boy who was in the right place and the right time so that’s where the romance started. Eh.
Arden: I actually liked Arden! She had some fight and she was a fiery personality! Maybe the story should have been about her…
addiction_factor1

Pass.

I know some people have enjoyed this series, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend it. I felt like there are much better dystopians out there and I just was NOT a fan of the main character so that was really hard for me.

book_recommendations1BOOKS LIKE EVE

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Hi, I'm Brittany!
Hi, I'm Brittany!

I'm an avid reader, candle-maker, and audiobook lover! Here you'll find book reviews, fun blog posts, and my other loves of photography & craft beer!

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9 thoughts on “Eve (Eve #1) – Anna Carey

  1. Zeee @ I Heart Romance & YA

    Awesome review, Brittany! I was thinking about reading this but just haven’t gotten into actually reading it. Reading the blurb already warned me that it was going to be like this. Thanks for reading Eve, so I didn’t have to!

    Reply
  2. Renae @ Respiring Thoughts

    Even though I (for reasons I cannot explain, so don’t ask lol) really liked *Eve* the book, I agree with everything you say here. All of your complaints—especially the ones about Eve the character, are even more valid in the second and third books, also. Just…as a person Eve has no qualities that attract her to me or make me want to root for her, you know? Very dull. I obviously don’t recommend continuing on with the series (not that you would), especially since you didn’t even like this one, which is definitely the best of the series.

    Reply
  3. Amy @ bookgoonie

    Very interesting. I have Eve on the shelf taunting me for the past 2 years. The taunting is because mostly I’ve read good things. Maybe I’m not feeling so bad now.

    Reply
  4. Judith

    Hating the main character is, imo, the worst thing that can happen while reading a book. From what you said about her, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have liked Eve either. I don’t always mind characters who play the victim, but then at least I have to sympathize with them. It’s too bad the book was about her 😉 Also, I’m a little over dystopias at the moment. The world building just always seems so meh to me atm. I’m taking a break from the terrible world building right now haha. Too bad you didn’t like it but HEY at least you finished 😉

    Reply
  5. Kelly

    I really enjoyed Eve while I was reading it, though Eve was a fairly frustrating heroine, but when I sat down to write my review I realized a lot of the worldbuilding didn’t make sense! I’ve heard the series goes down hill from here, so at least you got out early! Haha

    Reply
  6. Alexa Y.

    I never particularly wanted to read this series, and just reading your review makes me feel like I made the right choice. I wouldn’t have been a big fan of Eve’s either!

    Reply
  7. Amy

    I have to admit…I’ve never been drawn to this series. I like dystopians in general, but I’ve found that I’m kind of picky about which ones I read because so many of them wind up sounding the same to me. 🙁
    I applaud you finishing this one even though you weren’t a fan!

    Reply
  8. bookrockbetty

    haha….. clearly you LOVED this book! 😉 😉
    i actually did enjoy this one even though, yes, it did have quite a few flaws!
    i found Caleb quite sexy– muddy boy without shirt on riding horseback. heck yeaaah!
    i’m sorry you didn’t enjoy. 🙁 BUT.. at least you realize it NOW because although book 2 was good, book 3 was a complete disaster. SUCH A MESS.
    great review!! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Brittany Post author

      Haha that IS quite sexy though….. Love rugged, outdoorsy boys 🙂 I just didn’t feel the connection with Eve!
      YIKES I’ve heard a lot of bad things about book three 🙁 To be honest, I think if I had read this right when I first started reading dystopians, it would have been “as bad” because I couldn’t help but feel let down since I’ve read some pretty great ones this past year! It just didn’t quite do it for me, but I can see why other people enjoyed it!

      Reply

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