The Curse of High Expectations

Been away for a month or so, recovering from a terrible illness. I could barely complete a 2K walk, forget about a 5K run. So writing, studying, researching, pretty much everything took a backseat while I recovered.

During this time, books were the only things that kept me going. Some reads were such revelations, and I enjoyed the extra time found covering my never-ending TBR pile. At the same time, some were total duds, and they left me fuming.

So, this week I would like to rant a bit about the unique pains of these literary let-downs.

You know the feeling. You pick up a book with excitement and such high hopes, the pages promise a gripping story, and you're hooked. You invest your time, your emotions, your very soul into the narrative, sacrifice other reads only to be left high and dry by an ending that feels less like a conclusion and more like a betrayal.

For me, that book was Hellfire by Leesa Gazi.

I'll be honest, I tried really hard not to DNF (did not finish) it. The story had so much going for it. The deep-seated turmoil between the sisters, the complicated relationship with their mother, the tantalizing taste of independence for the first time, the dark realities of their family history. It was all there, a perfectly simmered pot of interesting subplots. The build-up was quite excellent, the characters were compelling, and I was all in.

And then, it just… ended. Just like that.

I still don't know what to make of it. I was left completely confused, to the point where I started questioning my own reading skills. Did I miss something? Was the ending so profound and complex that it sailed right over my commoner's head? Or did the writer simply forget to tie up the loose ends and serve the reader a proper conclusion? It felt like a gourmet meal that was cooked to perfection, only to be served ice-cold.

I'm usually blunt and unforgiving when it comes to books that don't land. I'll drop them without a second thought. There isn't already enough time in this lifetime to complete my TBR pile. But this one was different. I felt like I had invested too much time, too much emotional energy, to just walk away. It's one of those rare books I truly wish I hadn't read. Not because it was bad, but because it had the potential to be so good, and that's the most disappointing plot twist of all.

What's a book that you had high hopes for, only to be let down by the end?