Sites like Amazon have made consumer reviews of everything from refrigerators to socks the most important form of marketing and advertising out there. But consumer reviews of books have always mattered. How many books have you picked up to read because a friend or family member said it was great and you had to check it out?
So while reviews from literary journals, traditional media outlets and book-focused blogs and websites are craved by authors, reviews from “real people” a.k.a. everyday readers, are just as treasured.
Readers’ Favorite Rates “Beautiful and Terrible Things” 5 Stars
So I’m thrilled to tell you that Readers’ Favorite has bestowed upon Beautiful and Terrible Things a coveted 5-Star Review. Readers’ Favorite is a website and program that helps readers find new books, and get free books in exchange for honest reviews. Their goal is to help books from self-published authors and smaller publishing houses get more attention.
Here’s an excerpt from the Readers’ Favorite 5-star review of Beautiful and Terrible Things:
“Beautiful and Terrible Things brilliantly articulates contemporary social issues, featuring characters with different ethnicities and backgrounds. The protagonist is genuinely flawed, and readers instantly sympathize with her inner struggles. There is excitement in watching her evolve and emerge from her shell. The conversations between Charley and Xander help Charley confront her past traumas and rediscover herself, while Xander’s exuberance and compassion offer her a glimmer of hope.
“Through vivid descriptions and dialogue, the author creates emotionally rich, often tense, and heartwarming scenes. Beautiful and Terrible Things by S.M. Stevens is a compelling literary novel with resonant themes and characters that stay with readers after the last page is turned.“
“Trade” Reviews of Beautiful and Terrible Things
Those professional reviews I mentioned above? Happy to say a few of those have come in as well, in advance of the novel’s publication. Here are some highlights (and links to the full reviews, if you want to read more):
Midwest Book Review: “Beautiful & Terrible Things is a novel about social exile, awakening, and new discoveries in modern-day America…[Charley’s] move from hermit to hero is immense…S.M. Stevens creates a fine juxtaposition of beautiful and terrible moments in a life already frayed by self-destructive tendencies, depression, and isolation. The title of this book aptly mirrors the ebb and flow of a challenge that evolves as Charley’s life takes dramatic turns, moving away from patterns that once seemed engrained.”
(You have to scroll down on the MBR page to reach the BATT review; or search on the title.)
Literary Titan: “Stevens’s prose is lyrical and rich…the authenticity and emotional resonance of each scene are palpable…This novel remains with you, a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the complexities of life it navigates.”
Indies Today: “With a bustling contemporary backdrop, a sobering dose of stark realities, and a kaleidoscopic cast that is both flawed and fascinating, Beautiful and Terrible Things reads like a rousing anthem for social evolution…From embarrassing habits to shameful memories, the hyperrealistic characters are elegantly portrayed…A potent juxtaposition of things painful to bear and inspiring to behold, Beautiful and Terrible Things is an eloquent novel that fully lives up to its name.”
More Reader Reviews of Beautiful and Terrible Things
More advance reviews from readers can be found on these sites:
I am grateful for each and every one, and am enthralled by many of the positive comments. But this has to be one of my favorites, because I loved the critically acclaimed book A Little Life, and because The Big Chill vibe (or Friends) is exactly what I was going for:
“SM Stevens’ brilliant novel, Beautiful & Terrible Things, carries the emotional weight of Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life with characters resembling a diverse version of The Big Chill. — Author Cam Torrens
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