Review: Vain by Fisher Amelie

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About the book 

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story. Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy. I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Genre: NA contemporary fiction + romance

My rating for Vain (The Seven Deadly Series, #1):

+ a round of applause and three thumbs up!

Oh sugars, where do I even begin with this one? 

Oh, I know: THIS BOOK WAS PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does that about cover up my thoughts? No, not quite, because this book deserves all the words and all the praise in the world! The story + the characters + the writing alone and then the meaning behind it all was so well done! Beautiful, incredible, brilliant, jaw-dropping, breath-taking, heart-wrenching, stunning, and (almost) indescribable are some of the words I think of when I think of this novel! 

I was initially intrigued by the idea of a story about a "bad girl" in contrast to the very common and popular "bad boy" story. While reading Vain though, it really wasn't about a "bad girl" as it was a girl who has been under-appreciated her entire life. 

Sophie Price's parents are filthy-rich workaholics who only care about appearances, leaving Sophie to only care about the material side of life. Sophie has the perfect hair, a rocking body, endless money to spend on whatever the hell she wants because of course her parents don't care what she does as long as her actions don't turn up in the publicity and at that, her parents just bribe their way out of any mess created. Sophie knows she's gorgeous and is at the top of food chain among her peers, which is why she uses her friends and goes through boys like they're objects. 

But in reality, she treats herself like an object. She throws up a barrier when she hooks up with guys and she parties hard with destructive substances to get away from her imperfect perfect life. Her actions could be labeled as bad, but everything she does is because she has no sense of self-worth and she wants to feel important.

The emotion stifled beneath Sophie's actions rammed into me like no other and I felt for her so bad! I haven't met a character like Sophie whose tears (that slipped her facade only in the company of her bedroom or shower) were crying for help, for a purpose, for happiness, but knew of no other way. My heart ached for Sophie like no other.

One night Sophie is busted at a party...and the next thing she knows, Sophie's life is turned upside down. I've revised my review here because I realized an aspect I loved about this book was how the next events in the book were complete surprises for me, and maybe it's best if you didn't go into reading this with more than what I've already given you. With that in mind, I felt like I was Sophie as she faced struggles and met very different people than herself in their completely foreign place. From this point on, my emotions and thoughts were so in sync with Sophie's as she maneuvered through these new challenges, but also as she slowly started transitioning from the spoiled girl to one who was selfless one she became. Her questions, doubts, and frustrations as she tried to prove herself transitioned to perfectly that I believed every bit of progress she made and I felt like I grew alongside her.

And then, of course, there was Ian. Ian, a.k.a. Dingane. Sophie and Ian were a unique duo. Originally, I wasn't sure what to make of then. Then, they became something I highly anticipated, who kept me on my toes, and eeking for more as the book progressed! It wasn't unexpected, but it continuously took my breath away and I would be lying if I said Sophie & Ian DIDN'T have an effect on how I looked at falling in love. Understanding and compassion broke their prejudices and tensions and I couldn't contain myself. The things Ian said, well, they practically made me cry because for the first time ever, Sophie could think of herself as more than just an object, than an appearance, and that was worth more than any money in the world could ever buy.

"Your heart is startlingly beautiful, Sophie."

“You are so gosh damn beautiful in here," he said, tapping my chest, "that what's here," he spoke, running the side of his hand down my face, "is magnified tenfold and that is a sight to be hold.” 

Fisher Amelie wrote an utterly captivating story of the importance of little things, how hope, faith, and love will prevail all, and that there is more than meets the eye. I loved every moment of the story from the ugly and cruel aspects as well as the beautiful and sweet parts of life that were framed within Vain. Sophie, Ian, Mandisa, Charles, Karina, Kate, Spence... I loved every single one of them. My heart had swollen five times its size during the duration of the novel that when it ended, it was pure pain for me because there was nothing left to read! So I flipped to page 1 again and began Sophie's life-changing journey for a second time because it's just that beautiful of a creation from God-given talent.

Find everything that has to do with Fisher Amelie, Vain, her other novels, and more here!