I didn't realize until I was well into this novel that it is a "book 2," but as it is part of a series set in the same world with different characters, I didn't lose anything by not reading book one. I thought this was a fun twist on/combination of fairytales, and while it wasn't necessarily the most engrossing read for me, I can see its appeal to my readers who love the fairytale retellings. I am glad I have this series as a good one to recommend to this group!

For three weeks I tried to read this book. Three weeks. I finally gave up. For these reasons: I hate all of the characters, the horror that was a massive info-dump, and the awful teen tropes (I'm looking at you love triangle).

The characters are all just shallow and unlikable. I mean I understand that they are supposed to be based on very two dimensional fairy tale characters, but if you are going to spend the time building a world you should also build your characters so the reader doesn't get so annoyed she wants to see what happens when she puts the pages in a immersion blender.

I also realize that this is the second book in a series (heaven help us) and that the world was developed in the earlier title. That does not mean we need 80 pages of info dumping. Bad info dumping at that. Families have fairy tale curses. I get it. Move on. If you have ever seen Once Upon a Time you get it already. A whirlwind of forgettable characters.

All of the teens magical or not fall into Mean Girl-esque tropes. I was hoping they would break out of those, but not at 50% of the way through.

I skimmed the rest of the book and was not impressed. There are much better fairy tale retellings out there that I would much rather hand my teens.

Netgalley ARC copy review.

To be honest I liked the second story better, but the main characters of Kill Me Softly more. Viv was kind of a brat, but it was a good retelling.

http://librarianonthelake.wordpress.com/2014/12/28/tear-you-apart-by-sarah-cross/

See Full Review Here: Reading Between Classes

I love Sarah Cross. Every time I read one of her books I am left DYING for the next one. I seriously want a novel for every character in Beau Rivage.

Read my full review on Turning Pages.

Who doesn’t love a good fairy-tale retelling, especially when set in modern times? While Cross’ Kill Me Softly was a let-down to me, Tear You Apart is much better in various ways (though it still has it’s issues).

Tear You Apart is a modern fairy-tale retelling of Snow White - among other fairy-tales - that’s dark and complex and riveting. The romance is definitely the weakest aspect of the novel, in one sense, because Henley is so volatile and blames rather than tries to understand Viv. The plot, however, is very interesting and kept me hooked to the story.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Three stars for originality. The retelling of Snow White and the way the author has managed to merge fairy tales in with today's pop culture is pretty unique.

Unfortunately I found the characters very flat. Also the voice was young which did not mesh well with the material that was more suited for an older teen audience.

Received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely delightful read! TEAR YOU APART is a fun, fresh, modern twist on a classic fairytale. Sarah Cross managed to seamlessly weave in other fairytales, which made for a compelling read. Because this was not just another retelling, I was constantly on the edge of my seat--I had no idea what was coming next, even when I thought I did. Pacing was spot on and built up to an extremely emotional climax. Absolutely loved the way this fractured fairytale ended. Perfect for fans of Once Upon a Time. Highly recommend!

Tear You Apart, the second book in the Beau Rivage series, is an edgy, modern fairytale retelling that follows along the Snow White curse. I read the first book in the series, Kill Me Softly, when it first came out, and I really enjoyed the story. I was really glad to see series continue on and I was also excited to see where the author would go next with this storyline.

The main character in the story is Vivian who has the Snow White curse. Since she knows every detail on how the curse plays out, she has major trust issues, especially with her step-mom and the Huntsman. And who can blame her, honestly? Viv’s step-mom, Regina, is young, hot, and pretty much the definition of evil, and doesn’t mind letting Viv know exactly how she feels about her. She will do anything she has to do to get Viv out of the picture, including turning Viv’s best friend, Hensley, against her.

Viv has two love interests in the story; one being with the Hensley, the Huntsman, who she has known and loved pretty much her whole life, and also with the ‘prince’ from her storyline, Jasper, who lives in the underworld. While she loves Hensley, she doesn’t know if she can trust him not to kill her when the time comes. And even though Jasper claims that he can protect her as long as she stays in the underworld, she has to wonder if she can trust him as well. What’s a girl to do??

I have to say that I absolutely love the fairytale storyline for these books. I am a pretty big fan of retellings, and I love that this book pretty much has them all in one. And sometimes it’s not the ‘Disney’ version of the retellings that the story follows, but the horrible ones that were made long, long ago. Also, the world-building for the book was totally engrossing, not just the fairytale town in which they live, but also the underworld as well. This, along with the characters, will have you completely hooked as you turn the pages.

Overall; If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, you’re definitely going to want to check out Tear You Apart, and Kill Me Softly! These books will take you on an adventure that you won’t soon forget.

Happy Reading!

Actual score: 3.5 stars. I received this as an eGalley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First let me say, not my genre of choice. I read the first in this series "Kill Me Softly" and was pleasantly surprised. So when I saw this book come up on my list, I was very excited. Sarah Cross does an excellent job of trying to get her readers invested in the story. However, I did not care for this one as much as the first. I really enjoyed the descriptions, settings, and general feeling of the underworld. Cross is excellent at creating moods and keeping them where the reader should be. Overall, I struggled with this story mostly because I liked the villain better than the protagonist. I am very open to a novella about Regina - her story, being a loving mom, and how it all turned. Her story was hinted at in Tear You Apart. It was very difficult for me to like or have any sympathy for Viv. Much of the story is predictable - boy loves girl, girl doesn't want boy, bitterness, love, drama, girl makes rash decision, consequences... Things escalate rather dramatically towards the end. I appreciate the turn around Viv makes and the realizations she has about herself and life.
I would cautiously recommend this to those who enjoyed the first book. I would be more inclined to recommend it to girls who enjoy very dramatic and slightly dark tales.
Last, I would continue to read this series in the hopes that another book will match my adoration of the first.