ŷ

RoseBane (Jess)'s Reviews > Unravel Me

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Rate this book
Clear rating

by
48477217
's review

it was amazing
bookshelves: favorites
Read 2 times. Last read October 1, 2023 to October 4, 2023.


5/5 stars.
This book, this book SHATTERED me.
I couldn't write a review for the first two days because I was speechless.

This book, this world - so abandoned, so fucked up. And still, people continue to live in it. I'm amazed at people's survival. Even if they are rebels, even if they are soldiers, even if they are just plain poor citizens who still manage to live through terror. It amazes me.

I know a lot of people don't like Juliette. I read a lot of reviews that said Juliette was weak. That she thinks only of herself and the chaos called her life. That she always whining about herself and her troubles, so much so that she forgets that others have issues too. But I can understand her.

It happens to most of us, to be honest. When we live this useless life. A cruel life where we find it hard to find ourselves, difficult to cope with, and therefore difficult to deal with ourselves.

Juliette is strong.
She went through a brutal life. All her life she was treated like a monster. So how can she see herself as someone who isn’t a monster? So what if she found a way out? So what if she got to a point in her life where others actually see her as a human being? She forgot about it. She forgot how to live with people, she forgot how to be human. She didn't know what touch was, or love. The turnaround in her life - from a monster who went through hell, bullying and isolation, to a regular person - was fast. These were only a few weeks. Weeks versus 16 years. It‘s nothing.

She found a person who loved her, who could touch her. And even that was taken from her. And fast.
She knew what touch was for a very short time, and she held on to that knowledge. It made her realize that she might be an ordinary person. But once she discovered that this touch that made her feel human, is hurting the person she love, she took a step back.

There's a quote that says - “If you really love someone, let him go.� And you know what? It rips you from the inside.
She isn’t selfish, she is not a monster and she is not weak.
She’s a human being. Completely human.
And that's the hardest thing, letting a person you love go. Sure enough when he's the only one who ever made you feel truly loved.
In addition, you can see how she cares about others, how she cares about humanity.
Adam said- “You are one of the bravest, strongest people I’ve ever met. You have the best heart, the best intentions. You’re the best person I’ve ever known. You’ve been through the worst possible experiences and you survived with your humanity still intact.�
And I think he’s right.

Now let's talk about the relationships between Juliette and the boys.
In my review for the first book, I wrote that the love between Juliette and Adam isn’t real. I wrote that Juliette fell in love with him because he was the only person who could touch her and the only one who loved her. Touch and love are things she never received. Once she found out that a person could do both things, she “fell in love� with him.

In the first book, I noticed that Juliette liked his touch more than him specifically. I thought maybe, MAYBE in the second book, it would go forward. but no.
You know, there are a lot of books where the main characters "fall in love" right away and become couples quickly.
It makes no sense to me.
You can't fall in love with someone so quickly because you don't really know him. You can be attracted to him, sure, but not to love his personality completely. It takes time.
Rare are the books where the main characters take time to fall in love, which is a shame.
In these rare books, you can notice how the characters get to know each other, understand each other, and then they fall in love.
It didn’t happen with Adam.

In the second book, too, Adam and Juliette’s relationship was focused on the touch. Where is the acquaintance? Where are those conversations you get to know each other? All the conversations between them were pleas of "I can't do without you, let's stay together" and "Juliette, please don't leave me."
It's pretty pathetic.
“I really wish you wouldn’t waste your affection on someone who has to beg for your love.� Said Warner to Juliette. “At least I still have my dignity.� He said to Adam.
And he couldn't be more right than that.
That's the difference between Adam and Warner. Between these two relationships.

Juliette hated Warner in the first book. I can understand that, he's a psycho (but a cute one, shall we agree?). Without conscience. "Without emotions."
But I was from the minority who really liked Warner from the very first book. I understood it from the beginning. I understood where his insensitivity came from. I realized that this was all a mask and walls he had built for himself because of the shit he had been through.
Juliette understood that too. Why? Because although her caring for people remained, she also went through a difficult past. I think the reason she didn't build walls was because she didn't have a chance to do so, she spent her life in isolation. Warner, on the other hand, has always been in the company of people. He was educated to be a ruler, he has learned to be cruel. So he built walls to hide his feelings and become a good warrior and commander.

In this book you can learn about Warner's life. And why so? Because unlike Adam, Juliette did speak to Warner. The conversations between them taught her who he is, she got to know him. And that, THAT’S how we usually get to know a person. This is how we learn to LOVE a person. I even find Warner and Juliette’s conventions much more intimate than Adam and Juliette’s kisses and touches.

And of course I have to put the legendary Kenji into this review. Is there anyone who doesn't like him? I don't think so, it's just not possible.

You know, I have my own Kenji.
My best friend also learned to laugh at everything, bringing joy to blur the brutal world we live in. This is amazing.

Kenji isn’t only funny. He’s also caring, smart and loyal. Kenji and Juliette have the healthiest relationship in my opinion. He can be honest with her, tell her the painful truth in her face and open her eyes. Juliette tends to listen to him, take a step back and try to see if what he says is true. We, as people, find it hard to accept truth that is unpleasant, and if we tend to listen to a person in such a way, it’s because we love him, because we care about his opinion, and trust him. I'm sure if Kenji wasn't in Juliette’s life, she wouldn't be who she was designed to be in this book.

And that's it, I think.
I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to go on to the next books.
1883 likes · flag

Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read Unravel Me.
Sign In »

Quotes RoseBane Liked

Tahereh Mafi
“Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them.”
Tahereh Mafi, Unravel Me


Reading Progress

February 26, 2016 – Shelved
February 26, 2016 – Shelved as: to-read
August 19, 2019 – Started Reading
August 19, 2019 –
page 27
5.63% "What’s wrong with Adam 😬"
August 20, 2019 –
page 72
15.0% "“It’s crippling, this feeling, this not knowing how to prove your own innocence. It’s my entire life replayed over and over and over again, trying to convince people that I’m not dangerous, that I never meant to hurt anyone, that I didn’t intend for things to turn out this way. That I’m not a bad person. But it never seems to work out." -This girl is really injured on the inside."
August 22, 2019 –
page 147
30.63% "Kenji, you are a freaking king."
August 24, 2019 –
page 240
50.0% "Psychotic Juliette... I like that."
August 25, 2019 –
page 330
68.75% "I find Warner and Juliette's conversation much more intimate than Adam and Juliette's touches and kisses."
August 26, 2019 –
page 408
85.0% "NO-FREAKING-WAY.
Chapter 62 started perfectly. So SO fucking perfectly. And ended so painfully.
I think I’m actually going to die."
August 29, 2019 – Finished Reading
October 1, 2023 – Started Reading
October 4, 2023 – Finished Reading
June 12, 2024 – Shelved as: favorites

Comments Showing 1-50 of 84 (84 new)


Molly YESSS!! Can not wait to read this!!!!!


RoseBane (Jess) Molly wrote: "YESSS!! Can not wait to read this!!!!!"

😘😘😘


message 3: by Christine (new)

Christine B Great review!!!!


RoseBane (Jess) Christine wrote: "Great review!!!!"

Thank you so much, love 💕


TJ ~hiatus~ I'm so happy you like Juliette T.T


Ashley Lewis I absolutely love this series! So glad to see you enjoying it! I'm on Defy Me <3


RoseBane (Jess) TJ wrote: "I'm so happy you like Juliette T.T"

I don't like her, I love her ;)


RoseBane (Jess) Ashley wrote: "I absolutely love this series! So glad to see you enjoying it! I'm on Defy Me <3"

Same! Have a wonderful read, hun! <3


Jane I enjoyed this book a lot, too!


RoseBane (Jess) Earl Jane wrote: "I enjoyed this book a lot, too!"

So glad you enjoyed it!


message 11: by ~ Rose ~ (new) - added it

~ Rose ~ Beautiful review. Xox


RoseBane (Jess) ~Aurora Walsh~ wrote: "Beautiful review. Xox"

Thank you, doll <3


Maria I honestly am not the best personally at reviews of books, and you just put into words what I couldn’t describe about this book!! I couldn’t agree more with your review!! Great job!!! 👏🙌


message 14: by Katy (new)

Katy Fabulous review! Your emotion and honesty for this book comes through loud and clear! Truly delightful!


RoseBane (Jess) Maria wrote: "I honestly am not the best personally at reviews of books, and you just put into words what I couldn’t describe about this book!! I couldn’t agree more with your review!! Great job!!! 👏🙌"

Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear that you agree with me. :)


Camille Wonderful review! Such a delight to read: we can feel how it impacted you and I love that. It's also so on point with my feelings while reading this book. I love your analysis of Juliette, and Juliette/Adam's relationship, as well as Juliette/Warner's.


RoseBane (Jess) Katy wrote: "Fabulous review! Your emotion and honesty for this book comes through loud and clear! Truly delightful!"

Thank you so so much!!


RoseBane (Jess) Camille wrote: "Wonderful review! Such a delight to read: we can feel how it impacted you and I love that. It's also so on point with my feelings while reading this book. I love your analysis of Juliette, and Juli..."

Thank you so much, love! I’m so happy to hear that, really. I usually talk/write a lot when I start explaining my thoughts about a book. Excessively, mostly. 🤭


message 19: by TMR (new) - added it

TMR Will have a read then.


RoseBane (Jess) Javelyn wrote: "Will have a read then."

Yes! Have a great read! 💕


Felicia I loooooved this first book then this one completely turned me off the series 😫😫


RoseBane (Jess) LostKnight wrote: "Superb review."

Thank you so much <3


RoseBane (Jess) Felicia wrote: "I loooooved this first book then this one completely turned me off the series 😫😫"

REALLY? I think this book was even better than the first one.


message 24: by Lucy (new) - rated it 5 stars

Lucy Johnson Couldn’t agree more, great review!


RoseBane (Jess) Lucy wrote: "Couldn’t agree more, great review!"

Aw, thank you ☺️


Jeanna Smith YES, what a great review I completely agree with everything you said. I felt the same way between her and Adam all they had were touches and their past in school which again they never talked to each other. They are a fantasy couple, they both thing they are meant to be together but they didn't get to know one another. And yes I loved the talks between Warner and Juliette. and of that moment when he asked her to call him Aaron, swoon...


RoseBane (Jess) Jeanna wrote: "YES, what a great review I completely agree with everything you said. I felt the same way between her and Adam all they had were touches and their past in school which again they never talked to ea..."

Million times YES. I’m so glad we think the same way. And thank you so much! ❤️


Ashley Tyler This is my favorite book out of the entire series!


RoseBane (Jess) @Ashley I can see why 😊 even tho I haven’t read the rest yet, I’m so stupid 😖


message 30: by Samantha Montes (new)

Samantha Montes OMG 😲!!! This book sounds crazy!!!! What a great review. Thank you!


RoseBane (Jess) @Samantha It is! Thank you so much <3


message 32: by Tina (new) - rated it 4 stars

Tina Aziz You took the words right out of my mouth. Especially the one with Adam and Aaron. Even when Juliette was supposed to interrogate Aaron, they alwayswent off track because they were so eager to talk to each other and know one another. Warner sees Juliette, Like truly sees her, something that Adam don’t, not really. To me, Aaron and Juliette will always be my endgame


message 33: by Emily (new) - added it

Emily Gladser I’m always so turned off to love triangles, like I can see in theory how its possible to “love� two people, but it seems silly. As if you don’t truly love either of them enough. But the way you explained it kind of clicked, with Juliette loving Adam’s touch more than himself, and her being desperate for it. It makes total sense, and I really hope that was intentional for the authors setup of her complicated feelings towards Warner.
I just feel secondhand awful and embarrassment for the poor Adam who gets to be mixed up in how she feels, but you’re right. We literally don’t know anything about him other than his dad and James. He’s just.. there. Blank. Surface emotions only, only and always. Never anything deeper, always just sitting on the surface for all to see. Always erupting in some kind of emotion, be it passion or anger, oftentimes in inappropriate times.
This reminds me so so much of the relationship with Feyre in A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, how she falls for one guy so quickly but when she learns more about him (because how can you know someone so damn fast? You can’t), instead falls for the more deep and complex enemy with heart.


Maranda It’s like you went into my head and wrote all my thoughts in my own notebook for me😂 I genuinely appreciated Warner’s character in the first book and then I really started liking him in Destroy Me. This book has just made me love him more and honestly I’m starting to hate Adam he just seems to become so selfish and overprotective it’s like he can’t let Juliette figure out who she is. On the other hand Warner knows her deepest thoughts he’s fallen deeply in love with who she was, is, and who he knows she can be which I think is the most beautiful type of love and Juliette feels it too. Reading all the scenes between them felt so intense I couldn’t put it down and I still can’t stop thinking about it.


nicolia wow, you hit everything right on the nose. i don’t think i could explain the book any better than you just did.


message 36: by Nics (new) - rated it 4 stars

Nics What a great review! You really have such a passion talking about fictional characters, you describe them as every author would desire their characters to be. You really see the best in everyone and explained really well how the two relationship were.


message 37: by Lola (new) - rated it 5 stars

Lola Havens I totally agree with this. ADAM IS SO FUCKING MID. I may or may not be bias towards Warner�<3


amelia This was an amazing review and I absolutely loved this book


Nimrah OMGOMGOMG you put my thoughts in words! Best review so far!! I think Julliete is the most affectionate and kind hearted person ever, she cares abt everyone, she didnt want to hurt Adam so she started keeping distance no matter who much it hurt her; she preferred to hurt herself than others!
Warner is a bit psycho, I didnt like him in the first book dky but I really really love his character now! When I got to know abt his power I was like HE FOR SURE IS MADE FOR JULLIET


message 40: by Joe (new)

Joe  b. W


Daniela Love your review except for one thing…Juliette and Adam actually fell for each other as children. Their relationship did grow for years. I believe Adam loves her deeply but you are correct in that her love is more physical. Had it been deeper, she wouldn’t have held things back/lied to him.


message 42: by im amazing (new)

im amazing to how many pieces


message 43: by im amazing (new)

im amazing can i have a slice


message 44: by Faiza (new) - rated it 1 star

Faiza Haq girl stfu


message 45: by Ella (new) - rated it 4 stars

Ella Great review! I definitely need to buy this now! I've been procrastinating since reading the first one,


message 46: by é (new) - rated it 5 stars

é Servais GREAT REVIEW !!! I absolutely agree with you !!


Lilly OMG these were my feelings ❤️


Camille Lei The part you wrote about the difference between Adam and Warner in regard to their relationship with Juliette is so true! I myself found Adam and Juliette's relationship being irritating as I don't think what's displayed yet is enough to explain why Juliette was in love with Adam, to a degree that I found the part Adam expressing his desperation to have her ridiculous.
Besides, I think I am also among the minority that likes Warner from the start.


Kayla Farris This was a beautiful review and actually has changed my opinion on Warner and Juliette’s relationship slightly.


Elle Jacobs I completely agree with you, I buddy read the first book with a group of friends and I was the only one who likes Warner/Aaron’s relationship with Juliet than Adam and Juliet. This is an amazing post!


« previous 1
back to top