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cboooots's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ashley_nicole_bee's review against another edition
3.0
I chose this book because it was written by, what a librarian referred to as, one of the stereotypical, young-adult authors. In the end the book ending up having more depth than initially anticipated. I expected the novel to be an disgustingly sappy love story, but in the end wasn't. I actually really enjoyed the depth the plot carried.
I didn't love this book, but I must admit that I did like it. However, I did feel that the actual story significantly outweighed the overall quality by which it was written. In my opinion this book will appeal to teenage girls, but I must say that it would not stand up to in-depth, formal literary analysis. I would recommend this book to many high school aged females because I feel this audience would enjoy it. In addition, this audience would likely get the most from this book's message of acceptance and help prepare them for situations they very well may face. I do not think that I would share this book with an entire class because I don't think many teenage boys would enjoy it.
Warnings:
Drugs: Although there are no illegal drugs specifically mentioned, there is a good amount of smoking.
Sex: The premise of the story relies on a sexual assault.
R and R: The main character's sister suffers from bulimia and there is one graphic scene involving the effects this disease. The damaging effects of the modeling industry are brought to light.
Language: Moderate Use of Adult Language
Violence: Again the premise is a sexual assault.
I didn't love this book, but I must admit that I did like it. However, I did feel that the actual story significantly outweighed the overall quality by which it was written. In my opinion this book will appeal to teenage girls, but I must say that it would not stand up to in-depth, formal literary analysis. I would recommend this book to many high school aged females because I feel this audience would enjoy it. In addition, this audience would likely get the most from this book's message of acceptance and help prepare them for situations they very well may face. I do not think that I would share this book with an entire class because I don't think many teenage boys would enjoy it.
Warnings:
Drugs: Although there are no illegal drugs specifically mentioned, there is a good amount of smoking.
Sex: The premise of the story relies on a sexual assault.
R and R: The main character's sister suffers from bulimia and there is one graphic scene involving the effects this disease. The damaging effects of the modeling industry are brought to light.
Language: Moderate Use of Adult Language
Violence: Again the premise is a sexual assault.
thesimplereader's review against another edition
3.0
A few years ago, this book captivated me. It lead me to be intrigued by Sarah Dessen and her writings which I followed to the point that I have now read all of her books. Going back a second time, I didn't feel the same undercurrent of passion for this story as I did before, but it was still spectacular.
meaganleigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
ec_newman's review against another edition
4.0
I really do like Sarah Dessen's stories, even if sometimes I find them a little too perfect by the end. The struggles the girls go through are very real and I like that she doesn't glorify the bad parts, but is honest. I enjoyed this one, although Lock and Key might still be my favorite. I enjoyed the music stuff and certainly enjoyed Owen. I just wanted Annabel to talk.
I just don't relate to characters that don't talk. lol.
I just don't relate to characters that don't talk. lol.
mehsi's review
1.0
This was just utterly crap and boring. I am really sad, I was looking forward to this one. But I hated the characters, the overload of settings/problems.
Annabel, dear Lord girl you need some backbone and you need to care for your friends more. Dropping Clarke like that, because of what someone says? Bad, very bad. And then thinking she hates you? Seriously girl what is wrong with your head...
Also if you don't want to model, come out with it. I don't need 100+ pages of boohoo I actually don't want to be a model but my dear mommy wants it so badly.
And throughout the book I was wondering if there ever was a song/genre of music that she liked. She was bashing everything that Owen offered to her.... Seriously, there must be one song she must have liked.
Sophie, I hated her from the beginning, and I was totally right. Little miss Bitch, thinking she is the almighty queen or something. Not listening to her friends (or were they ever her friends), not checking the other side, the other story. No, someone is in a dark room with your boyfriend and you immediately go into bitch mode, not caring to listen, not caring to see how your friend looked. Did she look happy at all? I am sorry, but she just got raped, I am sure you can see that clearly. Sad pathetic little bitch.
The whole thing with Owen? Urgh, he was nice, but so boring and plain. I didn't once see him as a love interest. More like a friend, nothing more.
I also felt like there was just too much going on. Rape, Loss of Friends, Modelling (and not wanting to do that), Sister Problems (Kirsten/Whitney, Whitney's eating disorder), Parent Stuff, Boy Stuff. I think it would have been better if there was less stuff and that it just focussed on one or two things. Like Loss of Friends and the Rape. Or just Modelling and Boy Stuff. Or any other combination.
I am disappointed, however I will not give up on reading Sarah Dessen books. My Summer Challenge 2014 will continue. :)
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Annabel, dear Lord girl you need some backbone and you need to care for your friends more. Dropping Clarke like that, because of what someone says? Bad, very bad. And then thinking she hates you? Seriously girl what is wrong with your head...
Also if you don't want to model, come out with it. I don't need 100+ pages of boohoo I actually don't want to be a model but my dear mommy wants it so badly.
And throughout the book I was wondering if there ever was a song/genre of music that she liked. She was bashing everything that Owen offered to her.... Seriously, there must be one song she must have liked.
Sophie, I hated her from the beginning, and I was totally right. Little miss Bitch, thinking she is the almighty queen or something. Not listening to her friends (or were they ever her friends), not checking the other side, the other story. No, someone is in a dark room with your boyfriend and you immediately go into bitch mode, not caring to listen, not caring to see how your friend looked. Did she look happy at all? I am sorry, but she just got raped, I am sure you can see that clearly. Sad pathetic little bitch.
The whole thing with Owen? Urgh, he was nice, but so boring and plain. I didn't once see him as a love interest. More like a friend, nothing more.
I also felt like there was just too much going on. Rape, Loss of Friends, Modelling (and not wanting to do that), Sister Problems (Kirsten/Whitney, Whitney's eating disorder), Parent Stuff, Boy Stuff. I think it would have been better if there was less stuff and that it just focussed on one or two things. Like Loss of Friends and the Rape. Or just Modelling and Boy Stuff. Or any other combination.
I am disappointed, however I will not give up on reading Sarah Dessen books. My Summer Challenge 2014 will continue. :)
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
lezlo12's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lj99's review
4.0
Sarah dessen just brings me back to me sneaking book into honors Chem in 10th grade and not paying any attention to anything mrs Higgins says. Makes my heart happy
knuckledown's review against another edition
4.0
I think I may have jinxed this book by commenting that "her books keep getting better." I also had pretty high expectations for a strong musical element, quite understandably derived from the girl with the iPod on the cover. I have deduced both from reading and writing experience that musical references are hard to pull off if you're also trying not to date your book too badly. Dessen avoids this by using real names and songs from older groups that are fairly timeless and making up anmes for the "current" music. This is fairly effective but at times a bit distracting.
Also i have to take into consideration the fact that this is Dessen's seventh young adult novel, and I have read them all, often multiple times. I'm very familiar with her style. As I have noticed with other authors, this can make it difficult to ignore the patterns that are inevitable in a writer's body of work. Not to mention the fact that Dessen sets all her books in the same area with the same fictional stores popping up in different books. This can be fun for a fan like myself, especially since she has now begun giving characters from past books cameos in the newer ones. Still, I think in a way she's made it harder for herself to keep each novel feeling fresh.
Okay, I'm making it sound like I didn't enjoy this book. That's not true! I loved it as I love all of Dessen's books and read it in three days flat. Annabel is a main character withholding a secret, which is pretty much always intriguing. Owen Armstrong is an awesome leading man who manages to remain unique from leading men past. He wasn't as goofy as Dexter or as stoic as Wes. In fact, I wish Owen had been in the book more. Conversations between him and Annabel were so fun to read. The family storyline just couldn't compete.
Also i have to take into consideration the fact that this is Dessen's seventh young adult novel, and I have read them all, often multiple times. I'm very familiar with her style. As I have noticed with other authors, this can make it difficult to ignore the patterns that are inevitable in a writer's body of work. Not to mention the fact that Dessen sets all her books in the same area with the same fictional stores popping up in different books. This can be fun for a fan like myself, especially since she has now begun giving characters from past books cameos in the newer ones. Still, I think in a way she's made it harder for herself to keep each novel feeling fresh.
Okay, I'm making it sound like I didn't enjoy this book. That's not true! I loved it as I love all of Dessen's books and read it in three days flat. Annabel is a main character withholding a secret, which is pretty much always intriguing. Owen Armstrong is an awesome leading man who manages to remain unique from leading men past. He wasn't as goofy as Dexter or as stoic as Wes. In fact, I wish Owen had been in the book more. Conversations between him and Annabel were so fun to read. The family storyline just couldn't compete.