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4saradouglas's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a good book, but it had one major problem--believability. Okay, I know this situation of a bad accident and thinking it was one person who died but it was actually the other has happened in the past, and I'm fine with that. I'm fine that they made a book about it. What I'm not fine with is how unbelievable everything else is. Like the girl who survived happened to be the nicer of the two. The girl who survived's family is more religious than the other family. They also didn't react so violently when they thought it was their girl who had died. The boyfriend happened to realize he always loved the girl who survived more than his actual girlfriend who was the one who died. Then there's the fact that she recovered so quickly. In the book there was a scene where the nurse told the mother not to expect too much and that it wasn't like a movie where in one scene the girl is lying there helpless and in the next she's taking her first unassisted steps.... and yet, that's what the book was like. She was in a coma forever and then it seemed like in no time at all she was out of the hospital and back to school. If you look past all of that, though, I liked this book. I don't know anything about people with brain injuries, but I thought the girl's speech and actions were realistic.
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Based on a true story. Two girls, best friends, get into a horrible car accident and only one of them survives. While she is in a coma, everyone thinks she is the other girl. Many repercussions abound.
tulscip's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, the plot idea is amazing. The theme is interconnected with it, and is equally strong. And extremely intriguing character mix, well written, with just the perfect amount of emotion. A must read for all!
klmreads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
I really liked this book but felt there were confusing/unnecessary characters
I really liked this book but felt there were confusing/unnecessary characters
kricketa's review against another edition
2.0
two lookalike best friends are in a terrible christmas eve car wreck, and the one in a coma is mistaken for the one who died. the mistake is discovered much later, after the funeral of one girl and beginning recovery of the other. one mother discovers that her dead daughter is alive, another mother discovers she's been keeping a bedside vigil with a different child while her own has been dead. the one who lives recovers from serious injuries with the burden that she is alive instead of her best friend.
in a way, i'm surprised jodi picoult didn't get to this plot first. the book was inspired by at least two real events where injured but alive victims were mistaken for dead victims after car accidents (both involved teens from michigan, incidentally, though one accident was in indiana)and it seems like just the sort of sensational situation that picoult would be all over.
the book also reminded me a bit of 'we were the mulvaneys'- a small, close-knit town affected by a tragedy in which people take sides and things are never the same. and the families were irish.
and, since i do not care for jodi picoult's work or 'we were the mulvaneys' it probably goes without saying that this book was not my cup of tea. i found the characters one-sided and shallow; the dialogue at the story's most dramatic moments was almost laughable. the story goes on for the complete recovery of the girl who lived, and it's just kind of...boring. probably realistic enough, but boring.
still, there's enough teen girls at my library who are really into picoult or tear-jerker stories (before i die, lurlene mcdaniel) and i think they would enjoy this.
in a way, i'm surprised jodi picoult didn't get to this plot first. the book was inspired by at least two real events where injured but alive victims were mistaken for dead victims after car accidents (both involved teens from michigan, incidentally, though one accident was in indiana)and it seems like just the sort of sensational situation that picoult would be all over.
the book also reminded me a bit of 'we were the mulvaneys'- a small, close-knit town affected by a tragedy in which people take sides and things are never the same. and the families were irish.
and, since i do not care for jodi picoult's work or 'we were the mulvaneys' it probably goes without saying that this book was not my cup of tea. i found the characters one-sided and shallow; the dialogue at the story's most dramatic moments was almost laughable. the story goes on for the complete recovery of the girl who lived, and it's just kind of...boring. probably realistic enough, but boring.
still, there's enough teen girls at my library who are really into picoult or tear-jerker stories (before i die, lurlene mcdaniel) and i think they would enjoy this.
bwesterfeld's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rebeccalynn869's review against another edition
4.0
this was a great book! honestly I didn't think I would even like it this much. the beginning was a little slow for me but then I just couldn't put it down! it didn't end how I wanted it to but I still liked the ending. it was very touching and when Maureen got mad at something I usually got mad with her!!