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stephxsu's review
4.0
Hope Shay—real name Bernadette Romano—is a talented fifteen-year-old actor whose desire to perform is ambiguously mixed up with her mother’s hardcore stage mother actions. We meet Hope when she’s at a strict prep-like school called Miss Taylor’s for supposedly faking her own kidnapping. Hope has got it good: the lead role in her prestigious arts school’s production of Romeo and Juliet, a blossoming acting career, the right clothes. So why would someone like her do what she did?
In her journal, Hope writes about always being prettier/skinnier/more talented than everyone else, and thus being the object of everyone’s envy. At Starwood, she has no friends except for her “boyfriend” Logan Rose, the good-looking senior with a score of commercials and TV roles—even a part in a movie!—to his name. Hope believes that they are madly in love, and Logan even talks of them running off to New York or LA together.
Then Logan hatches The Idea, which involves them faking Hope’s kidnapping, demanding a $20,000 ransom from her parents, and Logan dramatically rescuing her, thereby putting him in such good graces with her parents that they will allow the two teenagers to go wherever they’d like, school be damned. Strangely, however, as opening night and the initiation of The Idea nears, Logan seems to draw away from Hope, hanging out with another girl instead. Borderline desperate, Hope is convinced that the only way she can prove her love for him is to carry out with the faked abduction.
However, things do not go as planned, as Hope goes from being famous for her acting ability to being famous for being the harbinger of the hoaxed abduction…and learns a few startling things about herself and her life as a result.
NOW YOU SEE HER is sort of strange, but strangely satisfying. Hope comes off as a slightly whiny, narcissistic teenager, but through her journal entries and her revelations we come to empathize with her. This book is a telling of an adventure such as only a drama queen can tell it…and it is really good.
In her journal, Hope writes about always being prettier/skinnier/more talented than everyone else, and thus being the object of everyone’s envy. At Starwood, she has no friends except for her “boyfriend” Logan Rose, the good-looking senior with a score of commercials and TV roles—even a part in a movie!—to his name. Hope believes that they are madly in love, and Logan even talks of them running off to New York or LA together.
Then Logan hatches The Idea, which involves them faking Hope’s kidnapping, demanding a $20,000 ransom from her parents, and Logan dramatically rescuing her, thereby putting him in such good graces with her parents that they will allow the two teenagers to go wherever they’d like, school be damned. Strangely, however, as opening night and the initiation of The Idea nears, Logan seems to draw away from Hope, hanging out with another girl instead. Borderline desperate, Hope is convinced that the only way she can prove her love for him is to carry out with the faked abduction.
However, things do not go as planned, as Hope goes from being famous for her acting ability to being famous for being the harbinger of the hoaxed abduction…and learns a few startling things about herself and her life as a result.
NOW YOU SEE HER is sort of strange, but strangely satisfying. Hope comes off as a slightly whiny, narcissistic teenager, but through her journal entries and her revelations we come to empathize with her. This book is a telling of an adventure such as only a drama queen can tell it…and it is really good.
alexasaltzman's review
3.0
It’s not often that I read a book where the main character is so unlikable, but also pitiful. I was a bit surprised (and disappointed) by the ending as I felt it was a tad flat. I expected Hope to be “playing” the psych system as well. Regardless, I found this to be an easy read that was enjoyable enough.
novelesque_life's review
2.0
2.5 STARS
"Hope has it all: brains, beauty, and acceptance at Starwood, a prestigious arts prep school. A mere sophomore, she has won the lead in Romeo and Juliet, beating out seniors for the role—seniors who have been in movies and on Broadway! And with handsome Logan as her Romeo onstage and off, her life couldn't be more perfect.
So why would this talented teen throw everything away? Why would she fake her own abduction? Hope wants to explain what really happened, and gradually the truth comes out: Maybe her life wasn't that perfect after all." (From Amazon)
Mitchard has written from a young adult's point of view before - and I have enjoyed them but this one (actually written for young adults) just didn't catch my interest.
"Hope has it all: brains, beauty, and acceptance at Starwood, a prestigious arts prep school. A mere sophomore, she has won the lead in Romeo and Juliet, beating out seniors for the role—seniors who have been in movies and on Broadway! And with handsome Logan as her Romeo onstage and off, her life couldn't be more perfect.
So why would this talented teen throw everything away? Why would she fake her own abduction? Hope wants to explain what really happened, and gradually the truth comes out: Maybe her life wasn't that perfect after all." (From Amazon)
Mitchard has written from a young adult's point of view before - and I have enjoyed them but this one (actually written for young adults) just didn't catch my interest.
jerrica's review
2.0
I didn't like this book very much. The author didn't really dive too much into teenage perspective, instead of Hope being the smart girl that she was described to be, the author made her seem like one of those stereotypical Hollywood divas. Which is sometimes fun to read about, but not in this book.
lovelyjanelle13's review
2.0
The writing while I consider it to be accurate for the type of character was annoying to read, the only redeeming factor that made me glad I made it through the entire story was the plot twist, even though there were hints throughout the story that something wasn’t quite right.
twiinklex's review
4.0
Read this for the first time years ago and teenage me was completely shook. It was still as enjoyable when I re-read it a few months back. Hard to put down and a gripping page-turner. I really felt for Hope.
brifrog's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
madetofly's review
3.0
My initial reaction upon finishing this book was that it was insane. I started off really hating the main character Hope. She's an actress and basically thinks she is the greatest person to ever live. For the first few chapters all I could think about was how much I didn't like her. I was slightly tempted to stop reading, but I saw that other people seemed to have liked the book, so I kept reading.
You can read the rest of my review here:
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-now-you-see-her-by.html
You can read the rest of my review here:
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-now-you-see-her-by.html
seemeghanread's review
3.0
I thought this was a really neat book. The ending will surprise you, I guarantee it!