Helpful Score: 14
WOW... just... WOW!!!
I just finished all three "Fifty Shades" books and I really cannot write a review about the books individually, so my review applies to entire series, which I consider to be one story.
I had heard so much about this series that I was almost afraid to start reading it. It seems like people either really love it or hate it. I, for one, really loved it!
I was expecting something much darker and, while there are certainly elements of BDSM in the story, the focus is on the growing relationship between Christian Grey - a very rich businessman with LOTS of baggage - and Ana Steele - a college student turned recent graduate with a surprising inner strength, who refuses to lose herself to his will.
There were a couple of scenes in the entire series where I almost hated Christian for reacting in certain ways, but overall, I really liked both characters throughout the books. Both were flawed to various degrees and had to work and compromise with each other around those flaws to grow as individuals and as a couple.
I certainly wasn't expecting the humor I found in the books. Some of my favorite parts were Ana's internal dialog with her "subconscious" and her "inner goddess" throughout the story. I also really liked the emails exchanged between the two main characters.
You absolutely have to read all three books to get the entire story and I HIGHLY recommend having "Fifty Shades Darker" on-hand before you finish "Fifty Shades of Grey". Trust me - you will want to go straight from the first one into the second one.
In addition, at the end of the last book ("Fifty Shades Freed"), there is an extra short story that re-tells the incidents of their first couple of meetings from Christian's point of view. (They were told from Ana's point of view in the first book.)
All in all, I am very glad that I read these books and that I had all three on-hand before I started reading the first one. I rarely give books 5 stars, but these books get a perfect rating from me because they drew me into the story to the extent that when I finished the last book, I felt a sense of loss because I will miss these characters. In my opinion, that is the mark of a great story-teller and a great story. I look forward to future works by Ms. James.
I just finished all three "Fifty Shades" books and I really cannot write a review about the books individually, so my review applies to entire series, which I consider to be one story.
I had heard so much about this series that I was almost afraid to start reading it. It seems like people either really love it or hate it. I, for one, really loved it!
I was expecting something much darker and, while there are certainly elements of BDSM in the story, the focus is on the growing relationship between Christian Grey - a very rich businessman with LOTS of baggage - and Ana Steele - a college student turned recent graduate with a surprising inner strength, who refuses to lose herself to his will.
There were a couple of scenes in the entire series where I almost hated Christian for reacting in certain ways, but overall, I really liked both characters throughout the books. Both were flawed to various degrees and had to work and compromise with each other around those flaws to grow as individuals and as a couple.
I certainly wasn't expecting the humor I found in the books. Some of my favorite parts were Ana's internal dialog with her "subconscious" and her "inner goddess" throughout the story. I also really liked the emails exchanged between the two main characters.
You absolutely have to read all three books to get the entire story and I HIGHLY recommend having "Fifty Shades Darker" on-hand before you finish "Fifty Shades of Grey". Trust me - you will want to go straight from the first one into the second one.
In addition, at the end of the last book ("Fifty Shades Freed"), there is an extra short story that re-tells the incidents of their first couple of meetings from Christian's point of view. (They were told from Ana's point of view in the first book.)
All in all, I am very glad that I read these books and that I had all three on-hand before I started reading the first one. I rarely give books 5 stars, but these books get a perfect rating from me because they drew me into the story to the extent that when I finished the last book, I felt a sense of loss because I will miss these characters. In my opinion, that is the mark of a great story-teller and a great story. I look forward to future works by Ms. James.
Helpful Score: 5
I finally got this trilogy finished. The story line was there but took 3 books to get to it and could have been done in one. I skimmed over quite a few pages of this. Only so much SEX can I believe in. I'm all for fantasy, but I guess I like mine tinged with a little more reality than this. OH well, now I can say i read all three books that most of the world seems to be so excited about.
Helpful Score: 4
If you have already started reading the series then keep on going, if you have not started, wait for the movie.
This is the third book in the Fifty Shades Trilogy.
Fifty Shades Trilogy
1. Fifty Shades of Grey
2. Fifty Shades of Darker
3. Fifty Shades of Freed
You knew it was going to happen. They are married and ready to buy the house with the white picket fence, nursery and a Playroom? What could this book possible bring to the story? This book is filled with Yada Yada Yada. The book just rattles on with a pinch of sex thrown in. It seems like the same conflicts are there and they keep on being hashed out. Just when you start to fall asleep they throw in some drama to wake you up. Then it is back to Yada Yada Yada and she ties up the ending with a leather bow.
After all the talk about this series I am disappointed. I think the second book was the best in the series. After reading the series I wonder if there will be a book about Christians life Pre Ana or maybe a book from his point of view. I would be interested in side books written by Christians staff or ex-submissives, it would be nice to hear their thoughts.
This is the third book in the Fifty Shades Trilogy.
Fifty Shades Trilogy
1. Fifty Shades of Grey
2. Fifty Shades of Darker
3. Fifty Shades of Freed
You knew it was going to happen. They are married and ready to buy the house with the white picket fence, nursery and a Playroom? What could this book possible bring to the story? This book is filled with Yada Yada Yada. The book just rattles on with a pinch of sex thrown in. It seems like the same conflicts are there and they keep on being hashed out. Just when you start to fall asleep they throw in some drama to wake you up. Then it is back to Yada Yada Yada and she ties up the ending with a leather bow.
After all the talk about this series I am disappointed. I think the second book was the best in the series. After reading the series I wonder if there will be a book about Christians life Pre Ana or maybe a book from his point of view. I would be interested in side books written by Christians staff or ex-submissives, it would be nice to hear their thoughts.
Stephanie G. (thestephanieloves) reviewed Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, Bk 3) on + 241 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Mr. Grey has finally settled. He's still possessivestill a control freakbut his coming-to-terms with Anastasiato take care of each other, to love each other, for better or worseinspires a different sort of dynamic between the two returning characters. Their relationship isn't intense, it's just bipolar; this is best displayed in this last installment of the Fifty Shades of Grey series.
I was highly annoyed by Anastasia's weird internal conflict; she wants her kinky ways with Christian, trying to adjust to his lifestyle, but breaks down every time he obligescrying it's too much and it's too painful. Make up your mind, woman! Everything is repetitive as always. It's like EL James copy-and-pasted her sex scenes into each other because most of them have the exact same wording and structure, but different venues, e.g. bed, table, aircraft, toilet (yes, she went there... kinky!).
Ana and Christian's roller-coaster ride of a relationship isn't even dramatic or heartfelt anymore; it's just exasperating. I'm also not sure how the fuck so deeply committed to each other after having known each other for only two months. Two. Months. Anastasia doesn't even know what Christian does for a living, for crying out loud! All she knows is that he's some hoity-toity entrepreneur. I have suspicions he's an underground slave auctioneer but sadly, this tidbit isn't actually revealed in the book.
SPOILER START: And they don't get a prenup??/ He's a BILLIONAIRE and they don't get a prenup because he trusts her so much. Just let that sink in for about fifteen seconds. This series should be relabeled as fantasy, not romance. SPOILER END
The ending... ugh. Grossly idealized, but I one thing I liked is how the book concludes exposing Christian's full story. Getting to know him so deeply was probably the best part of the novel. His love for Ana is clouded with overprotectiveness and insecurity, but it's still deep nonetheless. The heart of the dilemma is his need for control and his need for Anastasia. She believes the two aren't mutually exclusive, but even so, they just might be his ruin. These emotions are brutal, and they're actually sweetknowing where they come from, but really: that's the only thing that kept me reading.
Stylistically, you guessed it! Pretentious big words thrown around carelessly, but otherwise very basic, very weak. It's a shame to erotica writers that James identifies herself as one of them.
Pros: Great character-building // Christian's past
Cons: Let's put it like this: Book 1 should never have happened, Book 2 is dumb, and Book 3 is dumber. That's all you have to know
Love: Real quotes from the book that I needed to share with you:
He looks so sexy and genial.
(What?)
He's so adroit.
(What?)
I'm so aroused.
(I would be, too, if I orgasmed at the slightest breeze.)
(Two reasons to shoot me now:)
1. Mr. Orgasmic was using his fine-motor sexing skills on me.
2. Why are his feet so hot?
(Accurately displaying the length of Anastasia's attention span, or lack thereof:)
I will never understand this man. Hmmthis crème brulée is delicious.
I glance at my watch: 2:15 p.m. He should be here soon. My tea is cold... Ugh!
Verdict: Don't bother reading the actual book, because I can summarize the entire thing up for you here: sex; fight; makeup sex; fight; makeup sex; fight; fight fight; flight; yell; pregnancy scare; panic; OMG; major fight; weep; "hi," I breathed, "hi," he whispered back; makeup sex; happily every after. I really had high hopes for Fifty Shades Freed after liking the second book in the series so much, but alas, EL James disappoints.
6 out of 10 hearts (3 stars): Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back.
Source: Complimentary copy provided by Edenfantasys in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!).
I was highly annoyed by Anastasia's weird internal conflict; she wants her kinky ways with Christian, trying to adjust to his lifestyle, but breaks down every time he obligescrying it's too much and it's too painful. Make up your mind, woman! Everything is repetitive as always. It's like EL James copy-and-pasted her sex scenes into each other because most of them have the exact same wording and structure, but different venues, e.g. bed, table, aircraft, toilet (yes, she went there... kinky!).
Ana and Christian's roller-coaster ride of a relationship isn't even dramatic or heartfelt anymore; it's just exasperating. I'm also not sure how the fuck so deeply committed to each other after having known each other for only two months. Two. Months. Anastasia doesn't even know what Christian does for a living, for crying out loud! All she knows is that he's some hoity-toity entrepreneur. I have suspicions he's an underground slave auctioneer but sadly, this tidbit isn't actually revealed in the book.
SPOILER START: And they don't get a prenup??/ He's a BILLIONAIRE and they don't get a prenup because he trusts her so much. Just let that sink in for about fifteen seconds. This series should be relabeled as fantasy, not romance. SPOILER END
The ending... ugh. Grossly idealized, but I one thing I liked is how the book concludes exposing Christian's full story. Getting to know him so deeply was probably the best part of the novel. His love for Ana is clouded with overprotectiveness and insecurity, but it's still deep nonetheless. The heart of the dilemma is his need for control and his need for Anastasia. She believes the two aren't mutually exclusive, but even so, they just might be his ruin. These emotions are brutal, and they're actually sweetknowing where they come from, but really: that's the only thing that kept me reading.
Stylistically, you guessed it! Pretentious big words thrown around carelessly, but otherwise very basic, very weak. It's a shame to erotica writers that James identifies herself as one of them.
Pros: Great character-building // Christian's past
Cons: Let's put it like this: Book 1 should never have happened, Book 2 is dumb, and Book 3 is dumber. That's all you have to know
Love: Real quotes from the book that I needed to share with you:
He looks so sexy and genial.
(What?)
He's so adroit.
(What?)
I'm so aroused.
(I would be, too, if I orgasmed at the slightest breeze.)
(Two reasons to shoot me now:)
1. Mr. Orgasmic was using his fine-motor sexing skills on me.
2. Why are his feet so hot?
(Accurately displaying the length of Anastasia's attention span, or lack thereof:)
I will never understand this man. Hmmthis crème brulée is delicious.
I glance at my watch: 2:15 p.m. He should be here soon. My tea is cold... Ugh!
Verdict: Don't bother reading the actual book, because I can summarize the entire thing up for you here: sex; fight; makeup sex; fight; makeup sex; fight; fight fight; flight; yell; pregnancy scare; panic; OMG; major fight; weep; "hi," I breathed, "hi," he whispered back; makeup sex; happily every after. I really had high hopes for Fifty Shades Freed after liking the second book in the series so much, but alas, EL James disappoints.
6 out of 10 hearts (3 stars): Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back.
Source: Complimentary copy provided by Edenfantasys in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!).
Helpful Score: 1
Im glad this series has glided to its fairy-tale close. The second installment, Fifty Shades Darker had considerably lowered my expectations, but after the marathon of sex scenes in the beginning of Freed I began to enjoy the story a little more again, as a melodramatic romance rather than as erotica. If only people resolved their issues so quickly and completely upon falling in love in real life
