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lazygal's review against another edition
1.0
DNF.
Two narrators, one in the first person and one not. Neither of whom appealed to me: Thea because she's annoying, Alex because she was so blank. Once I learned what Alex' problem was, there seemed no reason to continue.
Copy provided by publisher.
Two narrators, one in the first person and one not. Neither of whom appealed to me: Thea because she's annoying, Alex because she was so blank. Once I learned what Alex' problem was, there seemed no reason to continue.
Copy provided by publisher.
ktbouch's review against another edition
4.0
A dark and twisted sister tale with both genuinely unlikeable and likable characters. Perfectly plotted with an ending that was both surprising and satisfying.
reigna's review against another edition
4.0
A little crazy but engrossing. Plus the love story that developed between Xander and Alex was very sweet, if a little arbitrary.
cmphill's review against another edition
1.0
This book had a promising premise, one sister being jealous of the other sister, but it fell flat. I disliked most of the characters. The many sentence fragments were distracting. I'm disappointed with this book.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
3.0
Alex and Thea's lives changed when their mother married the rich Arthur. They've gone from being the girls with part time jobs to being the girls who have it all. For Thea, this is her chance to become popular. It's her chance to be the kind of girl her sister has always been: the IT girl. For Alex, this sudden change in status is not everything she'd hoped for. It comes with immense pressure. Sure, having her step father get her that amazing internship at Haute was great, but that internship was far from what she'd hoped it could be. In fact, it's that internship that There is also a boy between the two girls, but that boy plays very different roles to each of them.
This could have been a poor little rich girl story. It could have been a story about two mean sisters. But it's about two very broken people who are broken for not the money nor the change in power. Instead, they're broken because of much deeper rooted issues. It was the changes that amplified and complicated them.
Griffin's writing is not the easiest to fall into but it's masterful. This story is told both through the eyes of Alex and Thea, Thea's story is told through the first person, and Thea is a thoroughly unlikable character. Alex's story is told through third person. And while this is initially a jarring way to read the story, it makes perfect sense for Alex. Forcing us into first person for Thea makes sense, too, because Thea's all about becoming that First Person in the story, even at the expense of her sister.
I thought Xander was a bit of a convenience in the story, but I was okay with it. I think what Griffin does in this story is noteworthy: she tells us a story about rivalry, about money and power and popularity and love and self-love and respect, but she does so in a way that is extremely teen. What these girls experience and go through on a daily are not LIFE ALTERING THINGS. They're struggling with popularity. With the way that a mother's new relationship changes their lives. With the way that money has an impact on their own self-perceptions. With. Xander's ultimately what Alex needs in her life, as much as he's what Thea needs.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/01/all-you-never-wanted-by-adele-griffin.html
Spoiler
causes Alex the worst kind of humiliation, which in turn leads her to developing an eating disorder in order to control every aspect of her bodily functions as possible.This could have been a poor little rich girl story. It could have been a story about two mean sisters. But it's about two very broken people who are broken for not the money nor the change in power. Instead, they're broken because of much deeper rooted issues. It was the changes that amplified and complicated them.
Griffin's writing is not the easiest to fall into but it's masterful. This story is told both through the eyes of Alex and Thea, Thea's story is told through the first person, and Thea is a thoroughly unlikable character. Alex's story is told through third person. And while this is initially a jarring way to read the story, it makes perfect sense for Alex.
Spoiler
At the Haute internship, Alex pees herself during preparation for a huge event. It seems like a small thing, but it's utterly embarrassing for her on a number of levels. She's not only embarrassed for herself, but it carries a lot more weight knowing that this internship came through favors and not through her own abilities. Thus, she feels even worse about the situation because she's proven herself not worthy of it on numerous levels. This little action is Alex's moment of removing herself from her life. This is when she develops disordered eating. It's when she stops living her life entirely. The third person perspective gives us this and gives it to us hard.I thought Xander was a bit of a convenience in the story, but I was okay with it. I think what Griffin does in this story is noteworthy: she tells us a story about rivalry, about money and power and popularity and love and self-love and respect, but she does so in a way that is extremely teen. What these girls experience and go through on a daily are not LIFE ALTERING THINGS. They're struggling with popularity. With the way that a mother's new relationship changes their lives. With the way that money has an impact on their own self-perceptions. With
Spoiler
how embarrassing it is when your own body misfunctions on you!Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/01/all-you-never-wanted-by-adele-griffin.html
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Meghan
Cover Story: Respectable Angst
BFF Charm: Yay and BURN IN HELL
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factor: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Trigger Warning: Eating Disorder
Relationship Status: College Club Buddies
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Respectable Angst
BFF Charm: Yay and BURN IN HELL
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factor: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Trigger Warning: Eating Disorder
Relationship Status: College Club Buddies
Read the full book report here.
cbashore's review against another edition
4.0
This book surprisingly hit the spot right now. I think that Alex's character was a really good example of modern day stress. I definitely have had days where I just can't get out of bed or move from anxiety. I was completely impressed with her vulnerability and how she dealt with it. My one off thing was just Thea, I wish her character would have had some closure but maybe in the long run it was better that way for story.
jessnorton's review against another edition
1.0
Can't write a review because I couldn't get into it enough to even finish it. I can get into some young adult fiction, but this was not one of them. Just not for me..
ninetalevixen's review against another edition
1.0
Didn't quite live up to the promise of the premise, imo. Alex and Xander was a pretty cute pairing, but Thea's propensity for tall tales became more immature and annoying than endearing. There didn't seem to be much real plot or resolution.
whovianpnw's review against another edition
I just couldn't get into the book as I have others, from what I read it has the makings of a good book, so give it a try just was not for me