Review of Blue Valentine

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Blue Valentine" by Thomas Cummings.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Blue Valentine by Thomas Cummings is a hard book to read. You understand why Nicki Valentine is how she is, but reading it is painful. Always hated by her mother for Nicki’s father’s indigestions, you want to shout at her mother and tell her that Nicki had nothing to do with it. The same goes for Quinn. He is unwanted by his father, and it is his father’s doing. Only Quinn’s mother, Marisa, and Nicki accepted him. No wonder these two mistreated and unwanted kids found solace in each other. They comforted each other, and they supported each other.

Nicki has low self-esteem and feels that she deserves everything that she gets. She cuts herself, and I have a hunch that she just wants to feel something, even if it is just pain. Nicki is very promiscuous at a young age and tells herself that she doesn’t care what people say about her; she is having fun. Or is she? When Nicki is only fourteen, she meets up with Bobby James, who is thirty. A thirty-year-old man has no business messing around with a teenager; she is not the only girl that Bobby James is fooling around with. Nicki feels special that a man would want her, and he takes her places where she has never gone before and hobnobs with adults. Quinn tells her that she shouldn’t have anything to do with this man and that she will get hurt. Is Quinn right? Does Bobby James hurt her, or does she live happily ever after with him?

Growing up, I knew girls like Nicki Valentine and wondered why they acted that way. Now, I have some insight into why these girls were the “bad girls” of school. You wish that you knew something back then and that you could have helped them in some way. The book was intriguing and about someone acting out her life in the only way she knows how to. There were parts of the book that were very disturbing, and I did not care for the way it ended at all. I found very few errors in the story, so it would seem that the book was professionally edited. I am going to rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. My reasons for deducting two stars are that this book gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach throughout the book, especially at the end. I know people live this way, but I don’t like reading about it and don’t have to accept it. Someone could have helped these two kids, but no one seemed to care, which is a shame.

I feel that I must warn readers that this is not for the sensitive person. There is a lot of profanity, violence, rape, drinking, drugs, and sex in this book.

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Blue Valentine
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[Leslie coccia]

This book seems interesting and well written even though the plot has elements that could be hard to get through. The author must do a really good job at creating a believable character in Nicki. Great review!

[Alishba Zahid]

Nicki is a strong and complex character in Blue Valentine. She is struggling to overcome her past trauma and find happiness. Her story is one of hope and healing.I really loved her character

[NetMassimo]

I undertand the difficulty in reading this kind of story and I guess the author wanted to make a point about Nicki's painful situation and her behavior as a "bad girl" as a consequence. Thank you for your honest review!

[Louis Donald]

The harsh realities in this story make it sound like a tough read, especially with the disturbing themes and heavy emotions. While the characters' struggles are compelling, I’m not sure if I’m ready for something so intense and unsettling. I might skip this one for now.

[Pearl Flourish]

“Blue Valentine” by Thomas Cummings offers a raw and unsettling portrayal of a young woman’s struggle against a traumatic past and societal neglect. While the narrative delves deep into the complexities of abuse and self-destructive behavior, it may be distressing for sensitive readers due to its explicit content. The story sheds light on the profound impact of childhood trauma and the often-over

[Seetha E]

Sad, but these things are real and probably that is what the author aimed to bring out; urging people to help. Undoubtedly it was an intense read. Thank you for your great review!