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SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Now available as a three-volume paperback boxed set, E L James’s New York Times #1 bestselling trilogy has been hailed by Entertainment Weekly as being “in a class by itself.” Beginning with the GoodReads Choice Award Romance Finalist Fifty Shades of Grey, the Fifty Shades Trilogy will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.
This boxed set includes the following novels:
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: When college student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly Ana realizes she wants this man, and Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian’s secrets and explores her own desires.
FIFTY SHADES DARKER: Daunted by Christian’s dark secrets and singular tastes, Ana has broken off their relationship to start a new career. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and while Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Ana is forced to make the most important decision of her life.
FIFTY SHADES FREED: Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to turn Ana’s deepest fears into reality.
This book is intended for mature audiences.
Sad to say that I caved into the hype about Fift Shades and bought the first book two weeks ago. Needless to say I zipped right through it less then a week (even though I have a very full schedule) and somehow was intrigued enough to buy the second book. Another week later and I'm done, left with a feeling of loss. What on earth compelled me to even continue after reading through the first book when all the lines seemed to be duplicating themselves? I was so hoping that perhaps if I continued reading, the characters would improve and the story would become more interesting. Needless to say, it was just all erotic scenes full of lust and didn't nothing to stimulate your intellect. I feel like I've been swindled into making a purchase by all the publicity this trilogy has gotten. Even when I read Twilight, I didn't feel like I had been bamboozled, because the story behind that trilogy was actually intense and full of suspense. For those books, I actually went and saw the movies too! But I would absolutely protest of Fifty Shades ever made it into the theaters. It would be a total waste of time and money for both movie-goers and Directors.
Okay, so Ana and Christian both have issues. I think it's been re-iterated to us so many times that everyone knows that by now. Through almost evey page of the book, that is all we ever read. Christian experience something traumatic as a child, that's the reason why he bahaves the way he does now. Ana lacks self-esteem, since she continues to beat herself up and question why this utterly HOT guy wants to be with her, yet she feels the need to be defiant when he tells her to do something? I feel like she's bipolar in so many ways and perhaps they both need to have more sessions with Dr. Flynn. And this BDSM or whatever the heck it's called is down right frightening. I could not even begin to picture the things that was described in this book. It sounds like something out of a scene from Law & Order SVU when they talk about psycho rapists and what not. I almost wanted to through my nook at the wall when I finished the second book. It just never developed into anything that a normal reader would be interested in. Perhaps the readers who are into things of this nature might love this trilogy, but I for one would not recommend it to my friends. I felt bad giving it one star, since there were moments when the story had decent snippets here and there, so I gave it two stars. Since all in all, it's not exactly poor, but it's definitely WAY below average in my standards.
274 out of 347 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 2012
With such a racy synopsis, one would expect negative reviews to spawn from prudishness. However, I have no problem with a good sexy book, and like a hot Alpha male as much as the next girl. This series *could* have been good - erotic and interesting... but fell far short.
My problem is with the stilted, awkward,repetitive writing. Seriously, Ana says "oh, my" and "holy crap" enough to induce nausea. And don't get me started on "ah" and "argh", eye rolling, and inner goddesses, among many other turns of phrase. I know that this is not supposed to be Pulitzer Prize-winning literature, but I can NOT believe it is bestselling!
The main characters are washed-out stereotypes, and Ana ish completely unrealistic - especially her innocence. (Seriously, a college graduate who is shocked to feel things "down there"?! And who actually says "down there", lol?) Christian's emotionally crippling childhood and subsequent fifty shades of messed up feel insipid and forced. I don't feel that the whole BDSM lifestyle was well researched or portrayed, and Ana's willingness to completely subjugate all sense of self is sickening.
The writing is so redundant it is absurd, to the point where you can just read the first couple of sex scenes and fights and skip the rest. The story isn't bad - I was involved enough to buy all three books - but could have been better told as one book if the author removed the gratuitous, ridiculously frequent, repetitive sex, and rethought the stilted dialogue. With such a risque premise, who'd have thunk the sex would be boring? I know I was rolling MY eyes! The Twilight overtones are unmistakeable and awkward, and the flavor of fanfiction is blatantly obvious in a bad way. I liked the idea of the book much better than the actuality, but these books were not a total wash. I just wish I had borrowed them instead of contributing to their climb up the bestseller list and wasting 30 bucks.
190 out of 226 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I finished this book last night.. and now I know the saying of "I feel like i've lost a friend". I won't say these are the best written books out there. They aren't suppose to be. I had so much fun reading them every day. I love books that go day by day. It makes it seem more real that way, like I know what they're doing every day. I never in a million years would have thought I would like these books.. let alone LOVE them! This is why I think everyone should give any book a chance.. it might surprise you. I love how this book played with your emotions. One minute I hated Christian and the next I loved him. You could totally feel the emotions through this book. I'm not sure what i'm going to do with myself now that i'm done. They were my first 5 star books of the year and I know I will have a hard time thinking about anything else but these books. So glad my book club suggested them.. otherwise I would have missed out on this wonderful trilogy.
129 out of 169 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I bought this trilogy on Friday, was done with book 1 by Sunday, book 2 by Monday and was Freed by Wednesday! I've never had a fictional boyfriend, but from the moment Mr. Grey was introduced, my inner goddess came alive! I am so excited over the talk of a movie, please...leave Edward and Bella...allow another couple to capture this type of sexual exploration.
Such a great book....all of them, got our whole office to start a book club. Will definitely continue to recommend - even to my husband!
Laters Baby,
112 out of 146 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.beachblonde843
Posted Wed May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2012
After reading all the negative reviews I was on the fence about reading/buying these books. A friend talked me into it and I read all 3 in 4 days. I couldn't seem to put my Nook down. The author did a great job at sucking you into the story and into the D/s world of Christian and Ana. It wasn't the best writing and I find myself only writing this review in response to all of the negativity. I do have to admit I loved all the "work" emails they sent to each other, gave me some pretty good ideas lol. This book definitely spices up a relationship. I found myself reading scenes to my boyfriend and he eventually wound up reading all 3 books as well.
The only thing I really didn't like was the fact that just like in Twilight the relationship moved WAY too fast. I felt like between Twilight and Shades both authors are telling young women that they need men in their lives to be whole. I can admit that I enjoyed my single days (as that's where we all really get to know our true selves) and being in a loving relationship is amazing and special. I just couldn't imagine marrying my boyfriend after 5 weeks of sorta dating.
Overall, its very good. It took me in and allowed me to forget about real life problems for just a bit and sometimes that's what we all need. I'm glad I ignored all the negativity and gave it a chance.
110 out of 130 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sun Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I've heard you either love it or hate it, and I'm in the hate it camp. If I had to read oh my or holy crap or feelings down there one more time, I thought I would hurl. Not to mention her inner goddess. Besides all that, it was just a poorly written book with unrealistic characters, repetitive writing, scenes and dialouge.
110 out of 146 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I Also Recommend:
One of my favorite bundles. did not disappoint!
110 out of 164 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Apr 19 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This is not a literary work of art nor did I expect it to be. That said, this trilogy is one of the most gripping tales I have read in quite some time. The characters are very real and very flawed. Once I started reading, I could not stop nor did I want it to end. You could choose to focus on the "kinkier" aspects of this story but that is not the real story being told. That component should and does play a secondary role to the story of a tragic childhood and the healing power of love.
86 out of 108 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012
It saddens me that someone out there is actually getting paid for writing this crap. This story originated as TWILIGHT FANFICTION - all this author did was change some names.
How on earth is this a bestseller? Is the world's average IQ dropping like a bomb?
80 out of 113 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I am reading the books again to see if I missed something that everyone else found. I thought they were okay and kept buying them hoping they would improve and live up to the hype but I was disappointed. They stories were typical romance with a little kink tossed in. It felt like the author learned about bdsm from google and hadnt experienced it in real life so the characters emotions and actions during a scene left me disappointed. I started skipping over the sex parts because they all started to be the same.
62 out of 82 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SiouxSW
Posted Fri Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I'm not a prude by any standards and I love a good racy, sexy book, but these books have no redeemable value in my mind. I read the first one and half of the second one and said "enough!" Not only are they poorly written but I had absolutely NO sympathy for Anastasia and maybe even less for Christian. What WAS the point of these books?
50 out of 65 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I listened to all the hype about FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and got really curious. I wanted to see what all the hurrah was about. Curiosity killed the cat, and in my opinion, it killed my curiosity in the first book. There is a story line if you can pick it out from among all the repetitive porno. I enjoy a little sex and doodling in a story, but I read for the story line:the plot. This was like reading the same stupid porno flick over and over and over; repetitive and boring.... If I could, I'd take the whole trilogy back to the seller and demand my money back! Anastasia was a ditzzy Cinderella wannabe, Christian was a whole other kind of obscenely rich, spoiled rotten, selfish bastard. The fact his life started out bad did not excuse his horrid behavior toward others.
In short, the story was poorly written, repetitive, boring and a complete letdown. To have the sort of publicity this book had I expected a lot more. I'm just sorry I bought the whole trilogy, furthering it's upward move. I can honestly say, I'll never give a second look to anything from this author again. I think a "creative" writing class would be to her great advantage. Start with a beginners class!
49 out of 63 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sun Apr 22 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Save your money. If you must try this story just buy the first book. If you are looking for a good read rather than a sex book you won't want the next two.
48 out of 62 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Why is it that everyone involved in a BDSM lifestyle has to be mentally and/or emotionally broken in books? Yet another book that preys on the perception of the public in regards to an alternative lifestyle - no, no, it's not listed as a mental illness, but buddy you have got some serious mental issues to cope with. There's not a single character directly involved in the lifestyle isn't completely dysfunctional in this book and in the case of his former Mistress, downright criminal. He's completely, emotionally blocked, his former subs are all written off as self-debasing, mentally ill females incapable of coping with life and is mistress is a self-serving predator. Come on, already, please stop insulting the varied and perfectly "normal", functional and competent people in the lifestyle. Not to mention, can we get an editor in here? The books still have to much of a Usenet feel to be really enjoyable. I mean these people do virtually nothing but f*ck (not to offend anyone, but if you read the books, you really shouldn't be anyway) and between way to many scenes that are virtually a dead bore by the middle of the 2nd book, they're busy having emotional catastrophes of unrealistic proportions.
45 out of 62 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Wed May 02 00:00:00 EDT 2012
I loved the trilogy!!! I could not put it down. I read the first two books in two days, and the third in two days (thought that I should clean my house, eat and get dressed). To me, this book was about so much more than sex (although it was really steamy). It was a love story that had sex, comedy, family and mystery. As the author told the story I could envision each scene...the car chase, the kidnapping, the birthday party, the interaction with each family member, the way each person looked, the surroundings in each house and the love that the main characters had for each other. I especially liked how Ana talked to and got guidance from her inner goddess (which in most cases was very funny). Shades of Grey was a fantastic read. It was wonderful that each book picked up where the previous book ended, and each was more exciting than the last. If I had anything negatve to say it would be that it was over to soon. Each day since I've finished reading I have wished for another book.
40 out of 47 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sat Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 2012
On and on it goes. Mostly boring parts sandwiched in between action. They want to make a movie out of this. No Way!
39 out of 53 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Excellent story. Quite kinky. However, it was very intriguing. Couldn't put it down. Really appreciated the dynamics between the two main characters. Loved this series.
34 out of 47 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2012
Could not put down! The HOTTEST books ever! Waaaaay better than twilight or true blood!
33 out of 58 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sat Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 2012
The book wasn' t that good, I mean Eragon has 10x better vocabulary and it was written by a 15 years old. So pretty much it was bad...
28 out of 46 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sun May 13 00:00:00 EDT 2012
If I could rate this less than one star, I would. My high school English teacher would have given me an "F" if I had turned in a paper that was as repetative and cliched as this one is. I hope she bites her lower lip off! I won't waste my money on the second and third book in the series.
22 out of 29 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Now available as a three-volume paperback boxed set, E L James’s New York Times #1 bestselling trilogy has been hailed by Entertainment Weekly as being “in a class by itself.” Beginning with the GoodReads Choice Award Romance Finalist Fifty Shades of Grey, the Fifty Shades Trilogy will obsess you, possess ...