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catiinha's review against another edition
3.0
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Actual Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
A few months ago I read Dreaming of Antigone and I really liked that book. It had a few problems but overall I liked it. In that book we were introduced to Natalie who was the main character in The Form of Things Unknown. Because Natalie was a side characters in Dreaming of Antigone I only knew a few things about her and I didn’t know the full story. Well, let me tell you that The Form of Things Unknown is quite different from that Natalie but mostly because of something that happened to her after the first book. That was one of my main problems in this book. I didn’t like Natalie at all and I didn’t like what she was doing. Right in the beginning of the book we learnt that Natalie has mental health problems and she takes meds because of that. Being new in town she tries to hide from everyone else her problems and does some stupid things just to look normal (like drink and not take her meds when she might be having schizophrenic episodes). That was just wrong for me. I really didn’t like her in this book. I didn’t like her but I didn’t like the other characters at all. The only one I kind of liked was Luke, the love interest. He was super cute but we don’t even learn that much about him in the book. We just know Natalie likes him and he likes her but we don’t know why because we barely see them talking. The other characters were just terrible. They were all terrible friends and I didn’t like them at all. And don’t even make me talk about Natalie’s brother because he was a terrible older brother. He didn’t care about his sister at all. Most of the times he only cared about his boyfriend and when something bad happened to Natalie he didn’t even believe her. He didn’t believe the person that he has known for years and instead he believes in a girl that he has known for about a year. It was screwed up.
Not only I didn’t like the characters but I also had a few problems with the writing. It was a little bit confusing sometimes and I was constantly coming back to a certain sentence to try to understand what was happening. The good thing about this book is that at one point I was super invested in the story and couldn’t stop reading it.
Unfortunately this book was kind of disappointment to me. I would love to say that I loved it because I really liked Dreaming of Antigone but this one wasn’t that as good as the first one. I don’t think I can recommend this book but if you’re interested in the blurb go on and read it. You might enjoy it.
Actual Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
A few months ago I read Dreaming of Antigone and I really liked that book. It had a few problems but overall I liked it. In that book we were introduced to Natalie who was the main character in The Form of Things Unknown. Because Natalie was a side characters in Dreaming of Antigone I only knew a few things about her and I didn’t know the full story. Well, let me tell you that The Form of Things Unknown is quite different from that Natalie but mostly because of something that happened to her after the first book. That was one of my main problems in this book. I didn’t like Natalie at all and I didn’t like what she was doing. Right in the beginning of the book we learnt that Natalie has mental health problems and she takes meds because of that. Being new in town she tries to hide from everyone else her problems and does some stupid things just to look normal (like drink and not take her meds when she might be having schizophrenic episodes). That was just wrong for me. I really didn’t like her in this book. I didn’t like her but I didn’t like the other characters at all. The only one I kind of liked was Luke, the love interest. He was super cute but we don’t even learn that much about him in the book. We just know Natalie likes him and he likes her but we don’t know why because we barely see them talking. The other characters were just terrible. They were all terrible friends and I didn’t like them at all. And don’t even make me talk about Natalie’s brother because he was a terrible older brother. He didn’t care about his sister at all. Most of the times he only cared about his boyfriend and when something bad happened to Natalie he didn’t even believe her. He didn’t believe the person that he has known for years and instead he believes in a girl that he has known for about a year. It was screwed up.
Not only I didn’t like the characters but I also had a few problems with the writing. It was a little bit confusing sometimes and I was constantly coming back to a certain sentence to try to understand what was happening. The good thing about this book is that at one point I was super invested in the story and couldn’t stop reading it.
Unfortunately this book was kind of disappointment to me. I would love to say that I loved it because I really liked Dreaming of Antigone but this one wasn’t that as good as the first one. I don’t think I can recommend this book but if you’re interested in the blurb go on and read it. You might enjoy it.
thecozyreaderwbo's review against another edition
4.0
A good new girl to new town book.
Centers around Natalie who has just had a heck of a break up, and is making new friends in her new home town after moving to help support her grandmother.
Main characters are well developed but I feel the supporting characters lacked in connection to the story. Such as Starla and Colton.
Overall, a decent read and a surprising ending.
Centers around Natalie who has just had a heck of a break up, and is making new friends in her new home town after moving to help support her grandmother.
Main characters are well developed but I feel the supporting characters lacked in connection to the story. Such as Starla and Colton.
Overall, a decent read and a surprising ending.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
The Form of Things Unknown by Robin Bridges is a credible depiction of a teenager's struggles to be "normal" despite her diagnosis of schizophrenia. This young adult novel also has a bit of a mystery element along with a hint of romance.
Natalie Roman and her family have recently relocated to Savannah to take care of her grandmother who also suffers from schizophrenia. Grateful for the new beginning, Natalie lets her brother David talk her into trying out for the summer production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, she is quickly dismayed when she recognizes one of the cast members Lucas Grant. She and Lucas were both recently receiving treatment at the same metal health facility and she would rather keep this information to herself for the time being. Her worries appear to be unfounded when Lucas continues to ignore her and Natalie is befriended by cast members Raine and Starla. Amid rumors the theater is haunted, the three girls delight in exploring the theater for spirits but after a few ghostly encounters, Natalie wonders if what she is seeing is real or delusions caused by her schizophrenia.
In many ways, Natalie is a typical teen who makes questionable decisions due to her immaturity. She does not want to cause any problems for her parents who are struggling to care for her grandmother and the stress from their recent move. She does have an excellent relationship with David and their interactions are a wonderful blend of teasing and concern for each other's well being. Natalie's desire to keep schizophrenia under wraps is understandable, but in an effort to fit in with her new friends, she makes some very unwise decisions that could lead to a worsening of her symptoms. When these choices lead to trouble, her parents remain supportive but still manage to emphasize the importance of managing her health responsibly.
The secondary story arcs with Natalie's new friends, the ghost stories and an unexpected romance with Lucas are skillfully interwoven into the main plot. Raine and Starla are also normal teens but their budding friendship is full of peer pressure that leads to Natalie making some stupid decisions that jeopardize her health. The mystery surrounding the ghostly manifestations at the theater is interesting and it is impossible to tell if these sightings are real or part of Natalie's delusions. There is also a slight romantic element which involves Natalie and Lucas and although their romance is not the main focus of the story, it does play a pivotal role in a major plotline.
The Form of Things Unknown by Robin Bridges is a fast-paced and engaging young adult novel. The characters are multi-faceted with true to life frailties that are realistically portryaed and easy to relate to. The teenagers' thoughts and actions mimic real life and although they make questionable decisions with predictable outcomes, they are sympathetic and likable. The overall plot is compelling and the various storylines are fully resolved by the novel's conclusion. All in all, it is a wonderful novel that readers of all ages are sure to enjoy.
Natalie Roman and her family have recently relocated to Savannah to take care of her grandmother who also suffers from schizophrenia. Grateful for the new beginning, Natalie lets her brother David talk her into trying out for the summer production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, she is quickly dismayed when she recognizes one of the cast members Lucas Grant. She and Lucas were both recently receiving treatment at the same metal health facility and she would rather keep this information to herself for the time being. Her worries appear to be unfounded when Lucas continues to ignore her and Natalie is befriended by cast members Raine and Starla. Amid rumors the theater is haunted, the three girls delight in exploring the theater for spirits but after a few ghostly encounters, Natalie wonders if what she is seeing is real or delusions caused by her schizophrenia.
In many ways, Natalie is a typical teen who makes questionable decisions due to her immaturity. She does not want to cause any problems for her parents who are struggling to care for her grandmother and the stress from their recent move. She does have an excellent relationship with David and their interactions are a wonderful blend of teasing and concern for each other's well being. Natalie's desire to keep schizophrenia under wraps is understandable, but in an effort to fit in with her new friends, she makes some very unwise decisions that could lead to a worsening of her symptoms. When these choices lead to trouble, her parents remain supportive but still manage to emphasize the importance of managing her health responsibly.
The secondary story arcs with Natalie's new friends, the ghost stories and an unexpected romance with Lucas are skillfully interwoven into the main plot. Raine and Starla are also normal teens but their budding friendship is full of peer pressure that leads to Natalie making some stupid decisions that jeopardize her health. The mystery surrounding the ghostly manifestations at the theater is interesting and it is impossible to tell if these sightings are real or part of Natalie's delusions. There is also a slight romantic element which involves Natalie and Lucas and although their romance is not the main focus of the story, it does play a pivotal role in a major plotline.
The Form of Things Unknown by Robin Bridges is a fast-paced and engaging young adult novel. The characters are multi-faceted with true to life frailties that are realistically portryaed and easy to relate to. The teenagers' thoughts and actions mimic real life and although they make questionable decisions with predictable outcomes, they are sympathetic and likable. The overall plot is compelling and the various storylines are fully resolved by the novel's conclusion. All in all, it is a wonderful novel that readers of all ages are sure to enjoy.
aprilk's review against another edition
4.0
The Form of Things Unknown is the second book in this series. Both of which involve teens having to deal with some pretty heavy stuff amidst falling in love and trying to figure things out in general.
In The Form of Things Unknown Natalie's family has moved in with her grandmother to help take care of her since she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Apparently Natalie's ex boyfriend gave her some ecstasy that triggered hallucinations of her own and with her family history of mental health issues she now has to take medication to keep her from possibly having more hallucinations. This would understandably be tough on anyone, much less a teenager. So I don't find it hard to believe when she makes some mistakes with skipping her medication or drinking with it when she is hanging out with friends. This may not be the smart move or even be what us as readers would want her to do but it is very realistic for her age and situation. It also adds to the mystery of her believing that she may be seeing things at the theater. It really keeps you wondering if it's because she isn't taking her medications properly or is it because the theater is truly haunted, or maybe it's something else entirely. Add in the possible budding relationship with Lucas a boy she knows from the rehabilitation facility and it definitely keeps things interesting. I like that it's not all gloom and doom and there is humor throughout as well and some fun characters like Lucas's younger sister and the boy Natalie's brother has a crush on to help keep things light. I find it refreshing to find characters in ya contemporary dealing with some big real life issues such as mental health and not just boy drama. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more novels by Ms. Robin Bridges.
** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for honest review **
In The Form of Things Unknown Natalie's family has moved in with her grandmother to help take care of her since she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Apparently Natalie's ex boyfriend gave her some ecstasy that triggered hallucinations of her own and with her family history of mental health issues she now has to take medication to keep her from possibly having more hallucinations. This would understandably be tough on anyone, much less a teenager. So I don't find it hard to believe when she makes some mistakes with skipping her medication or drinking with it when she is hanging out with friends. This may not be the smart move or even be what us as readers would want her to do but it is very realistic for her age and situation. It also adds to the mystery of her believing that she may be seeing things at the theater. It really keeps you wondering if it's because she isn't taking her medications properly or is it because the theater is truly haunted, or maybe it's something else entirely. Add in the possible budding relationship with Lucas a boy she knows from the rehabilitation facility and it definitely keeps things interesting. I like that it's not all gloom and doom and there is humor throughout as well and some fun characters like Lucas's younger sister and the boy Natalie's brother has a crush on to help keep things light. I find it refreshing to find characters in ya contemporary dealing with some big real life issues such as mental health and not just boy drama. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more novels by Ms. Robin Bridges.
** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for honest review **
merlin_reads's review against another edition
2.0
Umm...this one was hard for me to rate. There were some really good moments - the way the author portrayed mental illness and how it affects everyone and everything around you was by far the highlight.
Natalie suffered a mental breakdown and did some time in a mental institution. Now out and trying to get her life back together, she joins the summer theater program to help her brother get a guy. While Nat just wants to forget what happened and be normal, she runs into a fellow former patient while auditioning for the play. Lucas is an immediate threat to her. He knows her secrets and Nat is terrified that soon her new found friends will know.
I'm trying to put my finger on what didn't work for me and it's hard. The pacing seemed off a lot of the times, it either moved insanely fast or dragged. There was no balance. The ending was rushed and kind of thrown together with everything getting all wrapped up perfectly - it just wasn't very realistic. Also the characters themselves weren't memorable. Natalie constantly made horrible decisions in regards to her safety and wellbeing. Her two new friend blended into each other that I had a hard time telling their personalities apart. The best characters of the book were 5 year old Caitlin and Nat's brother, David.
I don't know. I guess with the heavy subject matter, I just wanted more.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Natalie suffered a mental breakdown and did some time in a mental institution. Now out and trying to get her life back together, she joins the summer theater program to help her brother get a guy. While Nat just wants to forget what happened and be normal, she runs into a fellow former patient while auditioning for the play. Lucas is an immediate threat to her. He knows her secrets and Nat is terrified that soon her new found friends will know.
I'm trying to put my finger on what didn't work for me and it's hard. The pacing seemed off a lot of the times, it either moved insanely fast or dragged. There was no balance. The ending was rushed and kind of thrown together with everything getting all wrapped up perfectly - it just wasn't very realistic. Also the characters themselves weren't memorable. Natalie constantly made horrible decisions in regards to her safety and wellbeing. Her two new friend blended into each other that I had a hard time telling their personalities apart. The best characters of the book were 5 year old Caitlin and Nat's brother, David.
I don't know. I guess with the heavy subject matter, I just wanted more.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
kirstysbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided a copy via Net Galley.
Natalie had to spend time in a mental hospital after she started having hallucinations. After leaving the hospital her family moves in with her Grandma who has schizophrenia. Her brother persuades her to try out for the summer play; A Midsummer's Night Dream. But Natalie starts seeing ghosts at the theatre.
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that the author dealt with mental illness in a really good way. The way that it was dealt with made it seem realistic and I think it did a good job of portraying what it is like to live with a mental illness.
I enjoyed the romance in this book as it was a slow building romance. I also like that the romance wasn't used as a 'cure' for the mental illness. I find a lot of books use the love interest as a way of making the character better but this is unrealistic and I felt that this relationship was a lot more realistic.
The plot twist is a bit disappointing but it did surprise me as I had no idea that a particular character was going to end up like that. I wasn't a huge fan of the ghost storyline and I feel that the book would have still worked if this hadn't been included.
Overall I really enjoyed this and I would recommend it. I can't wait to read more from the author in the future.
Natalie had to spend time in a mental hospital after she started having hallucinations. After leaving the hospital her family moves in with her Grandma who has schizophrenia. Her brother persuades her to try out for the summer play; A Midsummer's Night Dream. But Natalie starts seeing ghosts at the theatre.
I really enjoyed this book and I thought that the author dealt with mental illness in a really good way. The way that it was dealt with made it seem realistic and I think it did a good job of portraying what it is like to live with a mental illness.
I enjoyed the romance in this book as it was a slow building romance. I also like that the romance wasn't used as a 'cure' for the mental illness. I find a lot of books use the love interest as a way of making the character better but this is unrealistic and I felt that this relationship was a lot more realistic.
The plot twist is a bit disappointing but it did surprise me as I had no idea that a particular character was going to end up like that. I wasn't a huge fan of the ghost storyline and I feel that the book would have still worked if this hadn't been included.
Overall I really enjoyed this and I would recommend it. I can't wait to read more from the author in the future.
thecozyreader's review against another edition
4.0
A good new girl to new town book.
Centers around Natalie who has just had a heck of a break up, and is making new friends in her new home town after moving to help support her grandmother.
Main characters are well developed but I feel the supporting characters lacked in connection to the story. Such as Starla and Colton.
Overall, a decent read and a surprising ending.
Centers around Natalie who has just had a heck of a break up, and is making new friends in her new home town after moving to help support her grandmother.
Main characters are well developed but I feel the supporting characters lacked in connection to the story. Such as Starla and Colton.
Overall, a decent read and a surprising ending.
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
This book was so awesome and enjoyable, I loved the characters and the mystery, and yeah, it was so great!
kunger129's review
3.0
I enjoyed The Form of Things Unknown, but ultimately it isn’t a story that will stay with me. Natalie and her family have moved to Savannah to stay with her grandmother, who has schizophrenia. Natalie herself has just been released from a mental hospital after a brief stay following a bad experience with ecstasy. Her brother, who attends the college in town, convinces her to try out for a summer theater program. She lands the part of the fairy queen in A Midsummer’s Night Dream and begins hanging out with the theater crowd, including Lucas, a boy she knows from the mental hospital. They’re practicing in a really old theater, and there are some ghost stories involved. When Natalie starts seeing and hearing things, she begins to question whether she is going crazy again.
I loved the play aspects of this story. And there were some really great instant friendships which made me happy for Natalie. The parents were fine, and I enjoyed the brother-sister relationship. Everything was just OK with this story. It was a quick, easy read, but nothing really stood out. It just wasn’t very memorable. If you like mental illness stories, maybe you’ll want to pick this one up, but otherwise it may not be worth your time.
http://opinionatedbooklover.com/review-the-form-of-things-unknown-robin-bridges/
I loved the play aspects of this story. And there were some really great instant friendships which made me happy for Natalie. The parents were fine, and I enjoyed the brother-sister relationship. Everything was just OK with this story. It was a quick, easy read, but nothing really stood out. It just wasn’t very memorable. If you like mental illness stories, maybe you’ll want to pick this one up, but otherwise it may not be worth your time.
http://opinionatedbooklover.com/review-the-form-of-things-unknown-robin-bridges/
taegibee's review against another edition
2.0
The twins are called Hailey and Bailey. Really? Only one letter differentiates them. This literally pains me.