Review // Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L. James

Published - 26th May 2011
Published By -Vintage
Format - Paperback
Goodreads Synopsis - When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time. he unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.

Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

Where do I start with this book? Fifty Shades of Grey was given to me by my sister-in-law who insisted I should read it as she really enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy it. At all.


I knew what the book was about before going into it and although I wasn't interested, I hoped for an underlying story to emerge, maybe a fascinating love story between Ana and Christian. Unfortunately that just never came through. The only time E L James seemed to care about writing was during the sexual scenes. There was no character development; it barely felt like there even were characters. 


For a short period towards the end of the book, I held some hope in the fact that a plot might emerge regarding Christian's life but again, I was disappointed. I assume these things are revealed in the next two books but I was so put off by this one that it will be a long time before I consider moving on to those. I can't even recommend it for mind-numbing easy reading because I was so infuriated by the repetition of complete sentences throughout the book that it was actually challenging to finish. If I ever hear the words 'inner goddess' again, I can't be held responsible for my actions!


Please let me know what you thought about Fifty Shades of Grey, whether good or bad, and feel free to convince me to read the next one or it may never happen!