Member Reviews
I enjoyed the way the scenes were described, but I did find that the initial s*x scene between what I understand to be two virgins was very unrealistic. I found it pulled me out of the story and caused me to re-read to clarify what I knew about the characters.
Tinkerbell was also a little problematic for me. I understand that she was the villain, but her obsession with Pan even as he was young/a child clear on through him at the age of 17-ish was a bit bizarre to me, and her character just didn't quite come off finished.
Overall, I did struggle to get past the first third of the story, but after that, I found the flow more consistent and kept up with it. It was a nice retelling, just not quite set up in a way that kept my attention initially.
This book was M A G I C A L. If you're a Disney girly who is a lover of all things romance and smut - this is something you'll want to add to your tbr!
I couldn't put this retelling down - it was so captivating! I'm a lifelong fan of Peter pan and this is no exception.
✧ It's dark, twisted, and steamy to the point where my legs were shaking for Wendy. Hook and Pan being the same man brought intensity to the plot, contrasting with most books I read with one dimensional characters; and the jumping back & forth between timelines was so clean and effortless. It brought so much depth to the story — it was quite the page turner, I was in a constant state of wondering was was going to happen next.
✧ Brittany Montgomery (aka Evelyn Montgomery) is releasing a second edition of Losing Neverland, coming our way this September with no triggers and BONUS content, so if you’re more interested in reading that one, keep your eyes peeled. I can’t wait to read it as well to see the differences, especially the new ending.
A twisty take on the tale of Peter Pan and Wendy. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded between the past and present and the known characters that popped. Even with the heaviness of the subject matter, it wasn't as dark as I assumed (or wished). The OTT obsession of Pan to Wendy was so good and their tension together was great. The ending kind of feel apart for me, which is a bummer, but overall, very fun read.
A plot that kept changing its mind, and not in a good way. Like many other reviewers, I thought the premise sounded good, but in reality it was very poorly executed.
The characters are shallowly drawn, even for smut. And it seems the author wasn't sure where things were going until they happened. There were plot holes and jumps of logic I found frustrating until I just gave up on things making sense. Characters disappeared halfway through, much like my interest.
And there was one whose identity was supposed to be a surprise, but he was clearly the only one it could be BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WAS EVER INTRODUCED, so options were limited.
I don't normally complain about book endings, but this one made me upset.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy.
This was all spice and minimal plot. I definitely need more to keep my attention. I also found the use of italics to be overbearing. Instead of using for all flashback chapters, could have just indicated with the chapter headings.
I loved this book! The dark romantic aspect is everything!
However it has completely destroyed my favorite Disney film and now I can never look at Peter and Wendy the same again! It is totally worth it though!
Thank you to Net galley for this Arc.
So I have to say, I finished the book about 1 or 2 weeks ago.
I didn't really know what to say to it when I finished it, and I do not know really what to say now.
I think any retelling of Peter Pan is a book I would pick up and read, I do think that Hooked had me more hooked on the book then this one.
Sometimes I really thought she was making it all up, it was hard for me to imagine it as a fantasy book or with fantasy aspects.
I was about half way through and I thought I would DNF it, but I really do not like to do that, so I speed read through the last 40% of the book.
I still always advise you read a book on your own and make up your own mind, I think I should also have wrote this review earlier before most of it left my mind , It had potential and I might even give it a re-read one day
This was a Peter Pan retelling. Dual POV and spicy! It had some twists and a decent plot. I have read Peter Pan retellings the most and I just love them!
As a diehard Disney fan, this book was my childhood all grown up. I loved the old Peter Pan movies (animated and live action) and in my head, a slightly older Jeremy Sumpter is Pan in this book lol. I like the different POVs and timelines, it's a nice way of tying all of the events together and making the storyline flow. I've been quite into smut lately, and this DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Part of me is sad about my favorite childhood characters being bad now, but the drama and twists kept me reading! Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity.
Peterpan retelling. Sexy, duel pov, and spicy. This one has some good twists and was overall very entertaining.
*Ultimately, I did enjoy this book by the end. I did feel frustrated in the beginning because I was confused by the flashbacks that were happening and felt the need to go back to the beginning of chapters and the continuity felt strange to me. I did finish the book, though, and enjoyed the idea of Pan and Hook being the same person and how the change came to be. It was an interesting concept that I feel actually made kind of sense and it was a fun book to read. I think I actually do anticipate the next book since it did end on a cliffhanger and I found myself curious as to how it will end. I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.
I got a copy of this book from the author through NetGalley
The book is a new spin on Peter Pan and Wendy.
True to its warning it is dark and smutty
My Thoughts
The book flips from the present day to the past Wendy Darling in the present is a 40-year-old woman and Peter Pan has a split personality and is also hook.
the smutty parts of the book are good and sometimes dark this book is 80% Smut and the other 20% I found hard to grasp where it jumped back and forth it made it difficult to keep up with what was going on and the plot other than the fun hanky panky.
So the love between Peter Pan and Wendy seems to be deep and real and their love for each other is felt throughout the book which makes it a nice love story. The issue for me was that a 40 year old Wendy and a 17 year old pan were going at it made it weird for me.
overall
The book is good for a smutty read but sometimes the plot is hard to keep up with but I did enjoy the book.
I was drawn to "Losing Neverland" by Evelyn Montgomery as it is a unique take on Peter Pan. The blend of familiar elements with refreshing twists, like Hook's alter ego, intrigued me. I appreciated the dual perspective narrative, which added depth to the story and allowed insights into different characters' minds.
While the book had its moments of confusion, especially in the middle, the plot eventually came together. Lots of unexpected twists, keeping readers guessing and emotionally invested until the end. Although I wished for more descriptive scenes, the vivid portrayal of actions compensated for it.
Overall, I rate it 4 stars since its enjoyable and a pretty quick read.
A brilliant spin on a classic fairytale!
Peter Pan and Wendy were never admittedly my favourite fairytale but this intriguing spin on the world was so imaginative I couldn’t help but love it.
A dark retelling I did not know I needed
this book wasn’t for me. it goes past and present and i struggled understand it. and over all i think the writing style just wasn’t what i like.
Arc review
This was a great dark and twisted retelling of Peter Pan. Also a second chance at love. Loved the switching between the present and the past. It helped understand what happened in the past that tore them apart. It had the right amount of spice and just kept you wondering what would happen next.
I am intrigued on the authors take on the well known childhood story of Peter Pan.
I like how some parts of the story remained the same as the original, but some changed such as Hook and the alter ego. I also liked how the book was written in dual perspective. So each chapter switched from different characters perspectives, written in 1st person.
The book itself was good but I do feel the story got “lost” / confusing at times; Only to make sense towards the end of the book.
I feel a lot of good books out there can have so many twists and turns, can make you think you know what’s going to happen and then all of a sudden it changes. I like that the author used that with this book.
I don’t quite know yet how I feel about the ending. I have so many mixed emotions but when an author can truly do that and cause those emotions just shows the readers emotional investment in the book.
I feel the book could’ve been a little more descriptive on the scenes where things were taking place, but that it did a really good job at describing actions that were taking place in the book.
I would’ve loved to hear more about the twins and what happened in those 17 years apart, I feel the author could’ve definitely done a small series out of this.
All in all, I give it about 4 stars. Some parts for me seemed to lack that pull, but for the most part it was a very enjoyable and quick read.
Also, a big thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I think there's a lot of people out there who will enjoy this book but unfortunately I just don't think this authors writing style is for me personally
Thank you NetGalley and Evelyn Montgomery for providing me with an eARC of Losing Neverland in return for my honest opinion.
I have read dark retellings of Peter Pan before and was very intrigued when the concept of this one was that Pan and Hook were the same man. This book has so so much potential with this storyline, alongside the storyline of Pan and Wendy losing each other and finding themselves and each other again. The concept of bad Tink and John’s *spoiler* betrayal were also very interesting concepts. However, this book is quite short and I feel that unfortunately these concepts were not explored to their full potential.
This book focuses a lot on the build up to the spice, which is fine if you love spice, but unfortunately I think the amount of spice took away from the overall story. I loved the quotes from Peter and Wendy at the start of each chapter, that was a really nice touch. The timeline felt a little confusing at times in this book, we were constantly swapping from present to past throughout and it was hard to keep up at times with where the story was. It is a really easy to read story, I just wish the author had gone more in-depth with some of their ideas and concepts.
Rating: 3.5 stars
"You and me, Wendy. That's the beginning and the end of everything."
This book takes a dark and twisted turn on the classic Peter Pan story, offering a unique perspective through the eyes of a grown-up Wendy Darling. I was intrigued by the concept of exploring the aftermath of Wendy's departure from Neverland and the impact it had on both Peter Pan and Hook.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Peter Pan is not just a boy who never grows up but also the notorious Captain Hook. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, and Gardner does an excellent job of delving into the psychological aspects of this duality. We witness the transformation of Peter Pan into Hook, exploring the reasons behind his descent into darkness and his unrequited love for Wendy.
One of the standout aspects of this book is the explicit smut between Wendy and Hook. While some readers may find this aspect overly graphic, it is undeniably a significant part of the story. Gardner does a good job of portraying the intensity of their passion and the emotional connection that forms between them.
However, the book is not without its flaws. The plot can be convoluted at times, and some readers may struggle to follow the complex timelines and shifts in perspective. Additionally, the character development of some supporting characters, such as John and Tiger Lily, feels incomplete, leaving their motivations and actions somewhat unclear.
The pacing of the story is also a bit uneven, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag on. The final part of the book, in particular, leaves many questions unanswered, which may frustrate readers who prefer a satisfying conclusion.
Despite these minor flaws, "Losing Neverland" is a compelling and thought-provoking retelling of the Peter Pan story. It offers a fresh perspective on a classic character and delves into the darker aspects of human nature.
Trigger Warning: This book contains the following triggers:
Peter Pan Retelling: The book explores the dark side of the Peter Pan character, including his sexual obsession with Wendy Darling.
Dark Romance: The relationship between Wendy and Hook is portrayed as intense and passionate, with elements of smut and dub-con.
Second Chances: The story involves characters getting a chance to relive their past actions and choices.
Multiple Points of View: The book shifts between different characters' perspectives, which can be disorienting for some readers.
'Good Girl'/'Darling' Dynamic: The book explores the power dynamics between Wendy and Hook, with Wendy being portrayed as a naive and submissive 'good girl'.
Grooming/Attempted Rape: There are instances of grooming and attempted rape between Wendy and Hook, which are depicted in a disturbing manner.
Death: The book contains themes of death and violence.
Both Virgins: The characters are portrayed as virgins, and their sexual encounters are explicit.
First Love: The book explores the themes of first love and infatuation.
Non-Con: There are instances of non-consensual behavior in the book.
Dub-Con: The relationship between Wendy and Hook involves elements of dub-con, where Wendy is coerced into sexual activities.
Pregnancy: There is a suggestion of pregnancy in the book, which is not explored further.
Murder: The book contains elements of murder and violence.
If you are sensitive to any of these triggers, it is important to consider whether this book is appropriate for you.
Thank you, Netgalley!