An intertwining tale of two magical and troubled lives, Ruby is a gripping mix of fantasy and reality.Ruby has always been different. Not just because she hides things.She sees things. She hears things. She knows things. Her father has always ignored it. But she knows it's real.She moves across the country, to LA, to take a job as a nanny. She wants to be able to leave herself behind. An ex-boyfriend shows up at her employer's door. Some things are easier said than done.She leave LA and travels

I don't know how I found this one but it reminded me of reading an Alice Hoffman book. I will definitely read more by this author.

It's easy to see Carmen Staton's influence in this novel. Often with Francesca Lia Block's novels, I have a hard time following her narrative. She tends to shift in and out of different timelines, and her use of language can be a touch hard for me to follow. As much as I love FLB's novels, her stories, her characters and her wordplay, her use of timelines and formatting often cause me to pull away. Staton seems to have grounded FLB here, and so the flow of the story is very linear. It's easy to

DNF @ 50%. I've had this for years. Never read it. I found it in my book closet (that I really need to read so I can get rid of some books) and picked it up. It just wasn't for me. It was one of them no plotter but we'll follow this whimsical girl who flits from place to place (without any explanation of how she gets where she's going.) This has like a SHITTON of flash backs too, which I hate. Like, this girl worked a year as a live-in nanny (so you know the pay would be crap) but she still mana...

So far this is my favorite FLB book. Her books are an acquired taste with her writing style more like poetry and not always linear. Carmen Staton helped immensely with this while not diluting any of the magic. Ruby and her sister Opal will rip you in half and fairie magic will paste you back together.

3.4 stars.Fan girl gets every fan girl's dearest wish...i.e., the object of her desire, an A-list movie star, falls in love with her because she's "spesh-shul."Snarky comment aside, I enjoyed this. But...the above sentence is basically the premise. Ruby, a young woman who has the gift of knowing, whose life has been filled with glimpses of magical other worlds, decides she is destined to be with a gorgeous young actor named Orion. She moves to England where she meets his parents, who are unbelie...

I originally rated this a four, but having reread it a few times after my initial read, I knocked it down to a solid 2. For me, FLB is very hit-or-miss; like most people I loved the Weetzie Bat books, particularly the character of Witch Baby, and she has a couple of other books I really adore, too. But then she has books like Pink Smog and Ruby where I just have to wonder if this is even the same author.There were aspects of this novella I liked a lot - I liked the character of Ruby, actually. I...

francesca lia block has really turned out to be a disappointment, huh? man. i was so into the "weetzie bat" books as a young teenager. i read all of them over & over again & recommended them to all my friends. but i have hated everything else she has ever written, & i am nervous to ever try re-reading the "weetzie bat" books lest they don't stand up to the test of time. after all, i am a bit more sophisticated in my literary tastes now than i was when i was 13, & i would adore everything i read

Francesca Lia Block has such a unique way of telling a story that is short, and to the point, while not leaving anything important out. I love her writing style, which makes me feel like I'm reading a long, beautifully descriptive poem.Ruby is a very simple book with a very simple plot. Many books tend to drag out a simple plot line into endless pages of nonsense, while Blocks books are always simple in size, yet full in description and charm. What I love about this book, is that it brings back

As with all FLB books, this was beautifully written. I loved the magic and whimsy of the tale, and the haunting sadness of Ruby's past. That being said, I couldn't help but roll my eyes through the entire book thinking that Ruby basically became a stalker to a famous actor, whom she felt was destined to be her soulmate. That main story line in itself was just so unbelievable that it took away from how much I could have enjoyed this. I also felt the book was way too short and didn't allow for eno...

The perfect treat! Cotton candy for my soul.I lovelove you, Francesca Lia Block. This was just what I needed. I'm glad I waited years being weary of this little book, because I really needed something this beautiful and sweet in my life this week. I was so afraid that Block's voice would be somewhat dimmed by the addition of Staton... but it wasn't, at all. If anything, it was just a bit more linear and there were a few less of those mile-long run-ons (that I absolutely adore), but the poetic, p...

Emotional and lyrical, I can read Block in one sitting... and prefer to! This one is very adult, but really, all her books are. The concepts are very adult, yet told from a more magical and fantastical point of view. The way a child may concoct a fairy tale to explain something he/she is unable to comprehend. This book read like poetry and the ending gave me a vast sense of calm and satisfaction.

used bookstore purchase i shamelessly kept in the loo til i finished it as my bawwwwth book. it looked appropriate tucked amongst my makeup & glitters...by far the most wiccan-influenced FLB book yet. it's hard to put my finger directly on what the co-author brought to this...maybe the direct spell-knowledge and some of the plot strays from her traditional narrative...but overall, pure FLB...

Growing up in an abusive family, Ruby decides that she will leave for LA as soon as she is legal. She finds a job as a nanny with a doctor who suspected the abuse, and we learn about Ruby's past and the magical touch she has. Ruby knows about her destiny and she sees who she is supposed to fall in love with. This just happens to be a superstar actor who has disappeared from the scene. Ruby sets off to England to find him. We slowly learn about what Ruby had to endure during her childhood and it'...

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹Reading Ruby was like having the demons of my past cutting my chest open, exposing my viscera to the world of germs and viruses and then an angel coming to take out my scarred heart and planting it in a garden full of roses.I consider books lovers that come into your life at the right time. That might be cliche by now. I apologize if it is. But I can’t help but notice that during my darkest times, the right book will come along and soothe my festering wounds that just won’t heal. I’ve final...

Ruby is the story of a midwestern girl that comes from an abusive family background. She has supernatural powers in the form of premonitions. She foresees who her soulmate is, and goes to London to find him, and ends up working in a apothecary shop. I love the magical elements of this book- like another reviewer notes, it reads a lot like Alice Hoffman. I'm not a big YA fan, and this book mostly didn't feel like that....until the romance, in which I found it pretty cringey. I still enjoyed it, a...

(3.5 stars) I liked Ruby's character - her strength and ability to create. A new future despite her haunted past. The way the book is written, at some points in second person, is interesting. It's not always clear when something is a flashback or a current recounting, a dream or reality, which is sometimes and confusing but I'm guessing partially on purpose since the narrator herself isn't always sure what's real and what's imagined. I didn't connect so much to the kind of magic in this book but...

This was the first novel I've read by FLB and I LOVED it! The novel is written beautifully, at times it is dark and at times it is light - perfectly balanced and magical. Within the realm of realism, fantasy and magic it appealed to all of my senses. At first it was hard to follow the characters and who was speaking, but was quickly figured out and enjoyable. I've awarded this novel 4/5 stars because I thought the end was lacking and abrupt, I would have loved to continue reading - but all good

***3.5 stars rounded up***The only reason I picked this book up was because I needed a book written by multiple authors for a readathon I'm participating in. I finished it in a few hours because it sounded like my kind of thing (magic and spells and sixth senses). It was like an enchanting fairytale to me, even though the subject matter can be extremely triggering and sad. The one thing that made the story slightly confusing at times was the constant, abrupt change between the narrator's age. Th...

I liked the magical realism and fairy tale feel of it, but the story wasn't for me. Ruby felt like a stalker when she moved to England to be with a movie star she saw in a film. When they first meet, Orion is "depressed and fragile". At one point Ruby says about their relationship: "And I felt that at that maybe in that moment I was pure enough for your love." Is that love? The whole time I felt like is was looking into a puddle, everything felt unfinished and shallow. All the flashbacks made me...

It’s hard for me to give Block such a low rating. I love her work, but the co-author’s influence is clear. It’s not bad, just not what I expect or want from a Block book. It has some beautiful phrases, and the first part of the book felt like we were building to something powerful, and then the ending felt rushed. Like they didn’t know how to end it.Deals with powerful subjects like breaking the cycle of violence, speaking up about abuse even if you aren’t believed, and discovering who you truly...

Francesca Lia Block, why is everything you write so magical? Your books never cease to fill me with wonder and they always make me feel better when I'm getting too stuck in my head and need to escape into a good book.

Another captivating yet easy read by FLB, one of my favourite authors. Bewitching and beautifully written. Has some dark elements but they are necessary to the story.

My daughter read her teen series so she really wanted me to read this one and I loved it. Francesca is such a gentle, kind, soul. My daughter has a chance to spend time with her and she is so sweet.

not into teen abuse books....

dreams by the cranberries

Francesca's writing is almost lyrical. Quite an enjoyable story.

Not my favorite Block book, but still very good.

Extremely captivating. Francesca has a way with her words that lets you feel what the characters feel

I really love this author a lot. This book was different than some of the others I read but I really liked it. It was very dark and some parts were a bit shocking. But, I loved the writing and the story. I would have liked more. I think she could have given the reader more of the story and the characters. Overall, it was very good.