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kawthar114's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my teenage favorites 🤍🤍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lolabee's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
From what I've read this book has mixed reviews. I read this book twice as a teen, when I was 12. Back then I was caught up in the excitement of forbidden romance but reading this again I have 3 notes.
1) Jeane is refreshing. She's not likeable, no, but she feels real. She's a bitch and I love it. She's your strong teenage feminist and then some - and she's got the intellectual chops to prove it. Her personality doesn't suddenly disappear when a man arrives in her life and even at her most vulnerable moments she is unapologetically Jeane.
2) Despite the author's attempts, much appreciated attempts I might add, to include the the perspective of the often ignored male love interest, Michael feels like an afterthought. Jeane takes up space in people's lives and her character and experience spill into Michael chapters. It gets so bad that towards the end Michael is almost a mouthpiece for more Jeane. As a result, despite being a main character, Michael feels flat and unresolved. Furthermore, Michael talks the talk but cannot walk the walk. His character development is confused.The supposed character development of Michael seems to be that he's finally not afraid to be seen with dorky people. However, Michael never hated Jeane. He was lovely to her, in public too. What Michael really needed work on was being a pushover. Everyone in his life pushed him around: his mum, his friends and especially Jeane. And he awknowledges this several times but never does anything about it This ruined the book for me.
3) Despite my critiques of the character development, this book is ahead of it's time.From the comments about capitalism and the destruction of teen counterculture to the limitations of online friendships, Jeane's speech rings eerily true.
I could not appreciate such, aged 12. I am glad I re-read it.
I am giving it a 3. It was readable and shockingly relevant.
1) Jeane is refreshing. She's not likeable, no, but she feels real. She's a bitch and I love it. She's your strong teenage feminist and then some - and she's got the intellectual chops to prove it. Her personality doesn't suddenly disappear when a man arrives in her life and even at her most vulnerable moments she is unapologetically Jeane.
2) Despite the author's attempts, much appreciated attempts I might add, to include the the perspective of the often ignored male love interest, Michael feels like an afterthought. Jeane takes up space in people's lives and her character and experience spill into Michael chapters. It gets so bad that towards the end Michael is almost a mouthpiece for more Jeane. As a result, despite being a main character, Michael feels flat and unresolved. Furthermore, Michael talks the talk but cannot walk the walk. His character development is confused.
3) Despite my critiques of the character development, this book is ahead of it's time.
I could not appreciate such, aged 12. I am glad I re-read it.
I am giving it a 3. It was readable and shockingly relevant.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
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