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majkah's review
4.0
Laugh out loud funny, and even though the topic was a bit out there it was still really relate-able. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because the end was some out underwhelming.
theresidentbookworm's review
3.0
First off, I want to say that I absolutely adored Robin Benway's debut novel Audrey Wait. The day I bought it, I just sat on my couch and read until I finished it, laughing hysterically the whole time. In fact, a section from it even inspired my ex-best friend's thank you cards for a b-day party, but that's a whole other story. That being said, I was disappointed in Robin Benway's sophomore novel.
I've been trying to figure what it was about this novel that just didn't satisfy me. I mean, it was a good story. I enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters and found it to be reasonably believable. (Then again, I'm the only girl in the family, so I don't have anything to refer to.) The characters, however, just didn't cut it for me. April was just a uptight priss, and reading her chapter was like watching someone have an anxiety attack. May was more bearable. I could relate to her awful teenage angstness and loner syndrome. June, however, was my favorite sister. I can relate to being the baby of the family and wanting to be my own person and follow my own path. I also envy her superpower. I mean, who wouldn't want to read minds? Imagine all the gossip you could get! *winks* The parents in this novel fell flat, something that disappointed me after the quirky parents in Audrey Wait. There weren't really many friends in this story, something that might contribute to my disappoint in this novel. I did like Mariah, who added some edge to the story. I absolutely hated Blake, who was just your stereotypical jackass. Oops, can I say that in a review? *shrugs* Oh well!
Now, of course, I must talk about the guys of this novel. Henry sounded adorable, and I loved the nice contrast between him and May. (Reminds me of That '70s Show with the couple's roles in reverse.) Julian and April are a whole other story. I feel like the author just threw him in so she would have an excuse to loosen up April a bit. Really, I think the two things that brought this book down were April and too many unnecessary plot points.
Which now allows me to talk about the plot. The plot of this novel itself is interesting but not well executed. Benway throws us a few good twists that are satisfying, but the overall feel is cluttered. (Not going to say what those twists are cuz you should read and find out.)
Recommendation: Definitely worth a read, but get it from the library.
Cover: I absolutely love this cover! It's so cool, thought the girls on the front aren't what I imagine the three sisters to look like.
I've been trying to figure what it was about this novel that just didn't satisfy me. I mean, it was a good story. I enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters and found it to be reasonably believable. (Then again, I'm the only girl in the family, so I don't have anything to refer to.) The characters, however, just didn't cut it for me. April was just a uptight priss, and reading her chapter was like watching someone have an anxiety attack. May was more bearable. I could relate to her awful teenage angstness and loner syndrome. June, however, was my favorite sister. I can relate to being the baby of the family and wanting to be my own person and follow my own path. I also envy her superpower. I mean, who wouldn't want to read minds? Imagine all the gossip you could get! *winks* The parents in this novel fell flat, something that disappointed me after the quirky parents in Audrey Wait. There weren't really many friends in this story, something that might contribute to my disappoint in this novel. I did like Mariah, who added some edge to the story. I absolutely hated Blake, who was just your stereotypical jackass. Oops, can I say that in a review? *shrugs* Oh well!
Now, of course, I must talk about the guys of this novel. Henry sounded adorable, and I loved the nice contrast between him and May. (Reminds me of That '70s Show with the couple's roles in reverse.) Julian and April are a whole other story. I feel like the author just threw him in so she would have an excuse to loosen up April a bit. Really, I think the two things that brought this book down were April and too many unnecessary plot points.
Which now allows me to talk about the plot. The plot of this novel itself is interesting but not well executed. Benway throws us a few good twists that are satisfying, but the overall feel is cluttered. (Not going to say what those twists are cuz you should read and find out.)
Recommendation: Definitely worth a read, but get it from the library.
Cover: I absolutely love this cover! It's so cool, thought the girls on the front aren't what I imagine the three sisters to look like.
jonireads's review
5.0
I was super excited when I opened up the envelope from Razorbill and saw this book! I read Audrey, Wait! a few months ago and I LOVED it, so I was excited to read Robin Benway's new novel. I flew through this book. It was so different from Audrey, Wait! but that is a good thing. That means that the author has the ability to write about a variety of subjects.
It was so easy to just dive right into the characters lives and right away I got a feel for dynamics of the family. April, being the oldest, was kind of like the second mother. She was very protective of her sisters, and she was very very controlling of all things in her life. May, the middle sister, slipped into the background. She had the hardest time dealing with her parents divorce, though she never shared that with her sisters. June, the youngest, was the playful of the three. She is the typical young teen girl that wants to be popular and make the most of high school.
I was excited to see how they would discover their powers. I never like books where it is all played up and you go through the "trying to convince everyone that you really the powers" bit. Thankfully, Extraordinary Secrets spared me of that. I will not tell you how the powers are revealed, but it is not all long and played out and you will not get frustrated and want to throw the book. Trust me on that.
Each girl has a power that is very fitting for their role in the family as well. April can see the future, which is perfect for the girl who always needs to be in control. It is much easier to keep a grip on things when nothing surprises you. May can disappear, which is fitting because it is something that has felt like she has been doing her whole life, as the middle child in the family. June can read minds, and to me she just has the perfect personality for that ability. She uses it for good, but she also has the most fun with her gift as well.
I loved the dialogue in this book. It flows very easily and it is never interrupted by "he said" or "she said", and yet you can easily follow along and know who is saying what.
The cover is beautiful. Honestly. if I had never heard of this book and I had walked by it in Barnes and Noble, I would have picked up simply because I love the cover so much.
This novel is fast-paced and easy to read. I felt like I was watching everything take place and not just reading about it. This is a book where I found myself getting personally involved with the characters. When April sees a vision that scares her and she refuses to share it with anyone, I was yelling at her to stop being so controlling. When May starts disappearing more and more and I wanted to be there for her to talk to. When June started pulling away from her sister's to try to be "popular" I wanted to smack her upside the head like I was her sister and tell her to get a grip. Closing the book, I was sad that it was over. I knew I was going to miss those sisters.
It was so easy to just dive right into the characters lives and right away I got a feel for dynamics of the family. April, being the oldest, was kind of like the second mother. She was very protective of her sisters, and she was very very controlling of all things in her life. May, the middle sister, slipped into the background. She had the hardest time dealing with her parents divorce, though she never shared that with her sisters. June, the youngest, was the playful of the three. She is the typical young teen girl that wants to be popular and make the most of high school.
I was excited to see how they would discover their powers. I never like books where it is all played up and you go through the "trying to convince everyone that you really the powers" bit. Thankfully, Extraordinary Secrets spared me of that. I will not tell you how the powers are revealed, but it is not all long and played out and you will not get frustrated and want to throw the book. Trust me on that.
Each girl has a power that is very fitting for their role in the family as well. April can see the future, which is perfect for the girl who always needs to be in control. It is much easier to keep a grip on things when nothing surprises you. May can disappear, which is fitting because it is something that has felt like she has been doing her whole life, as the middle child in the family. June can read minds, and to me she just has the perfect personality for that ability. She uses it for good, but she also has the most fun with her gift as well.
I loved the dialogue in this book. It flows very easily and it is never interrupted by "he said" or "she said", and yet you can easily follow along and know who is saying what.
The cover is beautiful. Honestly. if I had never heard of this book and I had walked by it in Barnes and Noble, I would have picked up simply because I love the cover so much.
This novel is fast-paced and easy to read. I felt like I was watching everything take place and not just reading about it. This is a book where I found myself getting personally involved with the characters. When April sees a vision that scares her and she refuses to share it with anyone, I was yelling at her to stop being so controlling. When May starts disappearing more and more and I wanted to be there for her to talk to. When June started pulling away from her sister's to try to be "popular" I wanted to smack her upside the head like I was her sister and tell her to get a grip. Closing the book, I was sad that it was over. I knew I was going to miss those sisters.
vveeee's review
3.0
It took me awhile before I got into this book. There equal parts in the book that I liked and that I wished it could have been better. For one thing, to me it is bittersweet how Benway portrays the sisters. It is the much seen set-up of the "thinks she needs to be the mature one when all she needs to do is relax eldest sister","the thinks no one is paying attention to her because her sisters are taking all the attention middle sister" and "the all eyes on her because she is the younger, cuter, sociable little sister" character set-up has be done before and over played. However, I did like the sisterly bond that develops throughout the span of the book. The misunderstandings and fights are familiar to those with siblings. After all the arguments, disputes and misunderstanding, in the end it just makes your relationship stronger.
mildlyjulie's review
3.0
I liked the author's other book, Audrey Wait, so I was definitely interested to read another one by her. I liked it. The story was fun. I wish there'd been a little more resolution with the reasoning/history behind why everything happened.
badradio's review
4.0
A lot of the time flip-flopping narrators is more of a hindrance to me. I find myself captured more by one narrator than the other, more interested in one specific story, and have a hard time concentrating on anyone else. With The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June, the only character whose story was less interesting was June’s, and I think even that was because she was so much younger than her sisters, and so her goals for popularity came off as shallow and annoying. For a fourteen-year-old girl, though, she’s spot on. April is the perfect picture of an older sister and May the invisible middle child—LITERALLY. If the prospect of reading about three sisters who suddenly develop superpowers wasn’t interesting enough, the real-life problems they deal with while getting used to these unreliable powers was just as enticing.
didyousaybooks's review
2.0
Voila un petit roman assez sympathique au premier abord. Mais j'ai été un peu déçu par la fin et le manque "d'action" général. C'est comme si j'attendais quelque chose qui n'est jamais arrivé. Et pourtant, cette histoire de super pouvoirs aurait pu être plus approfondi. Bref, deux étoiles, surtout pour,une fin décevante, mais je tiens quand même à dire qu'il se lit assez bien et que les 3 soeurs sont assez sympathiques.
booksonhermind's review
3.0
April, May, and June are three sisters whose parents have just divorced. After May's tequila breakdown they decided to move. Now there at this new school and about two weeks into it strange things start happening. I know I'm sounding cliche.
April is the eldest and she acts like it. She's pretty protective over her sisters especially June. She's the book worm and gets straight A's. She's bossy too. It all starts with her and her waking up seeing red. We find out later that she can see the future. You know there's going to be trouble already. She can look at people or think about people and sees things. She does this with this guy all of a sudden. They are going out and kissing and other stuff... which wasn't necessary. She knows something with June is going to happen so she tries to prevent it.
May is the middle child and feels completely invisible which is actually her power. Becoming invisible. She is kind of goth I guess. She's a loner too wit absolutely no friends like ever. She's sarcastic all the time and as you read earlier took the divorce hard especially since she was so close to her father. She needs a tutor in the beginning and gets stuck with Stanford Henry. He wears everything Stanford. He is rude when he first meets her and she gets angry at him all the time.
June. Oh, June. She is 14 so I guess it's okay for her to be immature but she is really immature! Her goal is to be... wait for it! Popular. Yeah... She sees Mariah as her gateway to that popularity. What she doesn't know is all the issues she has. And her jerk of a boyfriend Blake who doesn't even think about her and she would know because her power is reading minds. She gets really angry at her sisters treating her like a child.
This was a good book but it lacked. It could have been way better. It had so much potential. But my mom was right it is a little slow. Only a little. I guess I wanted the action right away. I don't know it just seemed like the big event and leading up to it could have been better. It could been more dramatic and the writing could have been better in that way.
April is the eldest and she acts like it. She's pretty protective over her sisters especially June. She's the book worm and gets straight A's. She's bossy too. It all starts with her and her waking up seeing red. We find out later that she can see the future. You know there's going to be trouble already. She can look at people or think about people and sees things. She does this with this guy all of a sudden. They are going out and kissing and other stuff... which wasn't necessary. She knows something with June is going to happen so she tries to prevent it.
May is the middle child and feels completely invisible which is actually her power. Becoming invisible. She is kind of goth I guess. She's a loner too wit absolutely no friends like ever. She's sarcastic all the time and as you read earlier took the divorce hard especially since she was so close to her father. She needs a tutor in the beginning and gets stuck with Stanford Henry. He wears everything Stanford. He is rude when he first meets her and she gets angry at him all the time.
June. Oh, June. She is 14 so I guess it's okay for her to be immature but she is really immature! Her goal is to be... wait for it! Popular. Yeah... She sees Mariah as her gateway to that popularity. What she doesn't know is all the issues she has. And her jerk of a boyfriend Blake who doesn't even think about her and she would know because her power is reading minds. She gets really angry at her sisters treating her like a child.
This was a good book but it lacked. It could have been way better. It had so much potential. But my mom was right it is a little slow. Only a little. I guess I wanted the action right away. I don't know it just seemed like the big event and leading up to it could have been better. It could been more dramatic and the writing could have been better in that way.