ARC Book Review: This Adventure Ends – Emma Mills

This Adventure Ends
Author: Emma Mills
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.

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Summary:

 
First Sentence: My immediate priority is air.

My Review:

Ever since I started blogging again, I’ve heard nothing but the highest kind of praises for Emma Mills’ books. I didn’t pay much attention to all the praises as Emma Mills’ books didn’t seem like my kind of book until I saw someone saying that they might actually like Emma Mills’ books more than Stephanie Perkins’ books, which was ASTONISHING to me as Stephanie Perkins is one of my favorite contemporary authors, ever. That moment was when I knew I had to read one of Emma Mills’ books to judge for myself.

This Adventure Ends took awhile for me to get into at first. There were just so many storylines being thrown at me – Sloane’s friendships, Sloane’s family situation, Sloane’s friends’ situation, fandom, and Sloane’s “adventure.” However, after around the halfway point of This Adventure Ends, I felt myself slowly becoming invested with the story, not wanting to put the book down.

“These hands are for…for caressing,” I continue. “For stroking, even.”
“Oh yeah?” Mason says with a dumb little smile.
…
“Yeah,” I say. “Yourself. In front of the TV. Alone. Every night.” (ARC 3)

I feel a bit let down about the “adventure” part of the story. When I hear the word “adventure,” I picture road trips, a deep dark mystery, and lots and lots of spying. (I think I’ve been watching way too many movies.) Instead, all I got was a search for something (being purposely vague because spoilers!) through multiple advertisements, phone calls, emails. The “adventure” part of This Adventure Ends wasn’t even a big deal so I have no idea why the book was titled that way.

I was surprised that I actually enjoyed the romance in This Adventure Ends. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t mind reallllly slowburn romances where the main character constantly denies that she or he has feelings for the other person, nor do I mind romances that take the entire book to develop. However, since This Adventure Ends focused on so many different subplots, the romance wasn’t close to being the front and center of the book until the very end. I’m the kind of reader who really needs the romance scenes to be the front and center of the book before I become invested in it. However, I found myself being invested with the romance in This Adventure Ends and the last few chapters featuring the couple was so darn cute.

She points at me. “You’re great. You’re staying. We’re keeping you.” (ARC 7)

What shocked me the most about This Adventure Ends was how it actually made me cry. It was totally unexpected and I found myself subtly wiping away my tears while reading on the train.

Overall, there isn’t any doubt that I enjoyed reading This Adventure Ends. However, unlike other people, This Adventure Ends sadly isn’t one of my favorite books, but I definitely will be reading Emma Mills’ other books in the future.