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moonchild720's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book bit was a very fast pace romance. Some parts really made me sad because it reminded me if personal experiences. I will definitely check out more books by this author, even though the covers are extremely cheesy.
lizzy2swizzy's review against another edition
2.0
Super fast paced story. Very cheesy but hits real relationship issues.
reddyrat's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. However, it's one of the relatively rare times in the world of YA that I feel too old for a book. It was light and fun in a way that seemed kinda silly from an adult perspective. But as I was reading it, I could see teenagers really getting a kick out of it.
A few things:
1. Insta-love? This was my first complaint about this book. The characters briefly - really briefly - met and had a strong connection. Then they were apart for an entire year and were obsessed with each other the whole time. They tried dating, but it couldn't live up to this "perfect" soul mate.
However, upon further reflection, I don't think this is actual insta-love. More like insta-fascination. It's something that feels very teenagery to me. Whether it's teenagery like real teenagers or like the teen stereotype, I'm not sure. But it bothered me less as the book went on.
2. Seth and Skye - Our hero and heroine are simultaneously likeable, immature, smart, funny, whiny, kind, and irritating. You could argue that this makes them feel real, because they're both good and bad. But mostly, the annoying parts of them won out over the good parts.
From my review, it sounds like I didn't enjoy this at all. That's not quite true. It was a very quick read. It had a happy ending. It's saccharine, which can at times be a good thing when you're in the mood for it. It is a perfectly serviceable YA romance.
Recommendation: Borrow
A few things:
1. Insta-love? This was my first complaint about this book. The characters briefly - really briefly - met and had a strong connection. Then they were apart for an entire year and were obsessed with each other the whole time. They tried dating, but it couldn't live up to this "perfect" soul mate.
However, upon further reflection, I don't think this is actual insta-love. More like insta-fascination. It's something that feels very teenagery to me. Whether it's teenagery like real teenagers or like the teen stereotype, I'm not sure. But it bothered me less as the book went on.
2. Seth and Skye - Our hero and heroine are simultaneously likeable, immature, smart, funny, whiny, kind, and irritating. You could argue that this makes them feel real, because they're both good and bad. But mostly, the annoying parts of them won out over the good parts.
From my review, it sounds like I didn't enjoy this at all. That's not quite true. It was a very quick read. It had a happy ending. It's saccharine, which can at times be a good thing when you're in the mood for it. It is a perfectly serviceable YA romance.
Recommendation: Borrow
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so sweet. It really makes you believe in love and happily ever after. Relationships aren't always easy in this book, but the characters work at it because they really want to be together. Happily ever after has obstacles and isn't like fairy tales, but it's worth it. Friendships in this book are the same way. They don't always get along, but they talk their problems through. This was a good summer read. Romantic, fluffy, and real. Loved it. The best part is watching the characters support one another. It's one of my favorites by her.
kaylielongley's review against another edition
1.0
We accept the trash lit we think we deserve. As the rain pours, I spent two hours with this flimsy thing. The formula is nothing new: the protag teens fall instantly in love. Life presents roadblocks, like distance and age, and they choose one another. My biggest gripe isn't the lack of originality. It's that every plot point is discussed retroactively, to give more page time to their supposed chemistry. The author gave a couple quirks, like a passion for 80s music, but she could have pushed the envelope more, such as a quick examination of their divergent socioeconomic statuses or the psychological turmoil of time apart. I expected pure fluff and received just that.
josemosle's review against another edition
3.0
Predictable, basic, but I got what it promised: a love story. In the end, we all fall for a love story, don't we?
cjyu's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
It started out very very strong and I was having incredible hopes for it, but I don't think it sold as well in the middle and it started lacking some depth, going through a large timeframe at the same time. Not my favourite Susane Colasanti book, but the idea was something that I was so looking forward- meeting your soulmate and having that instant connection is something pretty much every girl dreams about and the love that inspires every fairy tale. I just don't think the story was totally spun right- I think more sh** should have hit the fan. (I'm terrible I know) but there were other things I wanted to happen, and the ending felt like it was cleaned up too easily, too quick. A lot more depth would be appreciated.
But hey, overall it was ok not the most enjoyable chick-lit I've read but not the worse. Some sweet moments, some meaningful moments. All I Need is not Susane's best books but one of her best ideas.
It started out very very strong and I was having incredible hopes for it, but I don't think it sold as well in the middle and it started lacking some depth, going through a large timeframe at the same time. Not my favourite Susane Colasanti book, but the idea was something that I was so looking forward- meeting your soulmate and having that instant connection is something pretty much every girl dreams about and the love that inspires every fairy tale. I just don't think the story was totally spun right- I think more sh** should have hit the fan. (I'm terrible I know) but there were other things I wanted to happen, and the ending felt like it was cleaned up too easily, too quick. A lot more depth would be appreciated.
But hey, overall it was ok not the most enjoyable chick-lit I've read but not the worse. Some sweet moments, some meaningful moments. All I Need is not Susane's best books but one of her best ideas.
maggiemaggio's review against another edition
2.0
2.75 stars
This was my first Susanne Colasanti book and honestly, unless someone makes a very convincing argument that there’s another of her books that I absolutely have to read, this will be my last. There is pretty much nothing in this book that I clicked with or enjoyed.
I did love the concept. A girl and a guy meet at the beach, spend a few days together, don’t get the chance to see each other one last time to exchange contact info, and then spend a year thinking about each other. I don’t know how realistic not exchanging last names or contact info is, but I guess it goes along with the feeling of a summer romance.
The story skips quickly through time, alternating chapters between Skye and Seth’s perspectives. I liked the alternating perspectives and I liked that the book was able to cover this big time range, but I didn’t like that there was nothing at the beginning of the chapter telling you how much time had passed between the last chapter. I was able to figure it out, but sometimes it took me a minute to adjust myself.
I really disliked Skye and Seth’s banter. I’m not a huge fan of banter in books or movies and I feel like the majority of conversations Skye and Seth had were in this really annoying banter. I also hated how the dialogue was often written as just line after line of dialogue without a guide to who was saying what or the character’s thoughts in-between. It was less bad if it was a scene with two characters, but sometimes it happened in scenes with more than two characters and I found it odd and confusing.
I am also not normally a fan of instant romance, but part of me feels like the year they spent apart let them both really think about the relationship and made it less instant. That said, they are 16 years old and 18 years old when they meet and the adult side of me always has a difficult time believing characters these ages really know what they’re doing and will actually end up together years later.
Around the midpoint of this book I was really miserable, there was nothing I really liked, I never wanted to stop reading, because I wanted to know what happens, but it was definitely dragging. I was going to give this book 2.5 stars, but I have to say that the last 20% of so kind of won me over. I thought the way that Skye handled the problems she and Seth were having, and her decision about where to go to college, was very mature and refreshing to see. I also thought the conversations she had with her friends about baggage were great points.
Bottom Line: I can’t in good faith recommend this book, but I will say the ending did help me like it more than I thought it would. The concept is good, I just didn’t care for the execution and I never felt like I was able to really connect to the characters.
This review originally appeared on my blog.
This was my first Susanne Colasanti book and honestly, unless someone makes a very convincing argument that there’s another of her books that I absolutely have to read, this will be my last. There is pretty much nothing in this book that I clicked with or enjoyed.
I did love the concept. A girl and a guy meet at the beach, spend a few days together, don’t get the chance to see each other one last time to exchange contact info, and then spend a year thinking about each other. I don’t know how realistic not exchanging last names or contact info is, but I guess it goes along with the feeling of a summer romance.
The story skips quickly through time, alternating chapters between Skye and Seth’s perspectives. I liked the alternating perspectives and I liked that the book was able to cover this big time range, but I didn’t like that there was nothing at the beginning of the chapter telling you how much time had passed between the last chapter. I was able to figure it out, but sometimes it took me a minute to adjust myself.
I really disliked Skye and Seth’s banter. I’m not a huge fan of banter in books or movies and I feel like the majority of conversations Skye and Seth had were in this really annoying banter. I also hated how the dialogue was often written as just line after line of dialogue without a guide to who was saying what or the character’s thoughts in-between. It was less bad if it was a scene with two characters, but sometimes it happened in scenes with more than two characters and I found it odd and confusing.
I am also not normally a fan of instant romance, but part of me feels like the year they spent apart let them both really think about the relationship and made it less instant. That said, they are 16 years old and 18 years old when they meet and the adult side of me always has a difficult time believing characters these ages really know what they’re doing and will actually end up together years later.
Around the midpoint of this book I was really miserable, there was nothing I really liked, I never wanted to stop reading, because I wanted to know what happens, but it was definitely dragging. I was going to give this book 2.5 stars, but I have to say that the last 20% of so kind of won me over. I thought the way that Skye handled the problems she and Seth were having, and her decision about where to go to college, was very mature and refreshing to see. I also thought the conversations she had with her friends about baggage were great points.
Bottom Line: I can’t in good faith recommend this book, but I will say the ending did help me like it more than I thought it would. The concept is good, I just didn’t care for the execution and I never felt like I was able to really connect to the characters.
This review originally appeared on my blog.
emilygrafton8's review against another edition
3.0
first booktubeathon book down ✅
this book was a fast fun read. you get absorbed in the book and the characters. although it did have its flaws. first; two much insta love. it was crazy. after spending basically 3 hours they were already in love. second; I wasn't a fan of the huge time gaps. between chapters months and months would pass without anyone knowing and then she mention something that happened last chapter as 6 months ago. it got to hard to figure out when the first time they met was. third; the dialogue and writing wasn't my favorite. which is weird bc I love susane's city love series. Skye was definitely a good character and I loved her friends as well. it was a good mix. I did like Seth's chapter too and he seemed like a sweetie. Even though he low key got on my nerves
as a whole this was a fun summer read!
booktubeathon day 1 is off to a great start!!
this book was a fast fun read. you get absorbed in the book and the characters. although it did have its flaws. first; two much insta love. it was crazy. after spending basically 3 hours they were already in love. second; I wasn't a fan of the huge time gaps. between chapters months and months would pass without anyone knowing and then she mention something that happened last chapter as 6 months ago. it got to hard to figure out when the first time they met was. third; the dialogue and writing wasn't my favorite. which is weird bc I love susane's city love series. Skye was definitely a good character and I loved her friends as well. it was a good mix. I did like Seth's chapter too and he seemed like a sweetie. Even though he low key got on my nerves
as a whole this was a fun summer read!
booktubeathon day 1 is off to a great start!!