Book Review – The Evolution of Ivy: Poison by Lauren Campbell

The Evolution of Ivy: Poison
Well that as fun! I saw the recommendation from one of my all-time crazy twist love story authors ever (Alessandra Torre loved it), and I KNEW I had to jump in and experience this for myself.

There’s nothing better than experiencing a thrill of epic guilty-pleasure proportions, especially if there are some jaw dropping twists along the way. Or at least the threat, er, I should say promise of some . No matter what though, a story like this promises unpredictability, which is exactly what I’m looking for.

And a few of my fellow readers were loving it, too!

Maryse: *sigh* Here I am loving a creepy stalker book again. And again… another woman as the stalker. Good times. LOL!!!! This definitely has a bit of “The Opportunist” feel, and “You” and “Bad Mommy” and that other one (or three)  that I enjoyed not too long ago. This stalker-story was calling me (she completely reinvents herself to get him). And Alessandra Torre recommended it, and well, you know me. I love her, and I love psych-thriller love stories (even if it’s bad love). And it’s pretty darn good, too. So far anyway…

Danielle:  I loved this one! I can’t wait to see what craziness takes place in book two! … The story flowed really well and the writing was great!

Kim: I read this and totally loved it. I haven’t read a crazy stalker book before and this held my interest all the way through. So well written. Guess I’ll check out the other books you mentioned…

Saffron: So glad to hear you’re loving! I adored this story so much! Hope you keep loving

Donna: Bat sh*t crazy!!!!!!!!

Christine: girl – did you finish? i have been dying to see what you think!!!

Part psych-thriller, part soulmate potential love story? And I say part, ’cause the whole way through, you realize there’s a whole lotta crazy going on, so… you know. Come on. This one doesn’t hide from its obsessive stalker-like main character, but you soon realize that some of the targets might not be so innocent either.

The engagement makes things more difficult, but I won’t let it get in my way. I’m rich now, and money changes people. I’ll let it change me, and then I’ll change them. I’m going to destroy Eliza, and I’m going to fuck them up.

And then … I’ll take back what’s mine.

And it ALL has a background. Some “things” from the past (and even the present) that slowly reveal why the main character is so… er… “focused” and why she goes to such extremes.

So what’s it about?

A time in the past when a sweet friendship was soured by multiple social issues, from the rich boy with a big heart, and the poor girl that was allowed to go to the rich kid’s school.

Sometimes I feel like I don’t belong here with all of these rich kids. The only reason my parents can send me here is because my dad is the head janitor and I get free tuition. Yay me!

Sure, she wasn’t part of the “it” club, she didn’t have all the expensive clothes, nor the exceptional beauty, but she developed a friendship with one of the cool kids, and he saw her for WHO she was.

And while she seemed to have great (albeit “poor”) parents that loved her, loved each other, and took the best care of her they could, she imprinted on her social inadequacies, and her desire to be a part of something bigger.

And then one day, she was handed that opportunity. An inheritance that made her (at least financially) everything she valued, but only after years of ostracization, humiliation, and deep psychological (and accidental physical!) trauma.

I know I was never going to be beautiful. I was a perfectly average plain Jane, and I was just fine with that. Brooks was fine with that. But the torment I endured as a side effect of Eliza’s carelessness forever changed the course of my life. Though Brooks is not innocent, either. He got to know my heart. He got to know the real me. Fell in love with me. And then he just threw us away, all because I’d changed on the outside.

Therefore… she was messed up. In the head AND in the heart. But she was about to set things in motion to get back all that she believed was hers ANY way she could (even complete physical and facial restructuring),

There has never been a moment since the accident in which I’ve felt normal— until now. Except I’m not normal. And I’m definitely no longer ugly. Dr. Rain was right. I am beautiful.

No. I am f*cking gorgeous. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.

…and boy a boy what a psychological journey it was.

He loved me before I was ugly, and he’ll love me after I’m not ugly anymore, and I have over three hundred days to get this sh*t done.

Her intention, and past life trauma certainly opened this “love story” up to a whole slew of psycho.

I feel like I’m missing something— like my brain is attempting to spell out a message for me, but no matter what I do, I can’t read it.

BUT!!! A love story it is, because it would appear this is the only love she feels she’s ever truly known (or at least, given value to). Deeply. She’s held on to that love for years despite all that has happened to her. And along the way, she makes new friends. And meets old enemies. And sometimes, they are one and the same.

Okay, now I’m going to analyze my experience of this book just a little deeper, so I recommend that anyone that wants to read this book, stop here. I don’t spoil anything per se, but I don’t want you to misinterpret my words below… or PROPERLY interpret my words and have anything spoiled for you:

I LOVED how all of it was handled (mind you, it DOES get to be a little “night-time soap” pesky…) with some twists and reveals that are somewhat gasp-worthy and worth a second thought, but at times, lightened up the intense feel of the story as a whole. It sometimes goes from dark and twisted, to transparent and catty. Almost seemed to tame the whole thing down, just a little, from crazy-evil-mastermind, to just… life, and karma doing its thing.

I TOTALLY get the “Joe” (from “You”) comparisons (I mean, you kind of TOTALLY feel for her, despite the crazy she went through to set her plan in motion, and then you see why and how, and her story, and then *whoooops* she thinks something so totally pyscho and scary that you remember who you’re dealing with… and  *gasp* connecting to!!!). LOL!!!! Plus the whole “The Opportunist” feel. I get EXACTLY where you guys are coming from with that, and if you enjoyed those, I have NO doubt, this will be another freaky-fun thrill for you!

Still though, I’m intrigued with where book #2 is going. I can’t exactly say this one ends on a cliffhanger, because there’s much resolved, however, who knows where #2 will take us. There is a WHOLE lot more story to be revealed, and this one could go anywhere.

4 stars!

P.S. Thank you to the author for sending me this review copy. I shall be continuing onto book #2. I gotta know where this is going!