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sassyykassie's review against another edition
3.0
There was a lot about this book that I loved, and a lot about this book that I hated?? This book feels pretty raw and real and it reminded me a lot of an Ellen Hopkins novel in that we're following our main character that isn't the usual teen Main Character. Rianne parties, she has sex with multiple people in this book, and not everything goes the way a "traditional" or "good" person would want their life to go. The book is messy in that way and I really enjoyed that.
I also feel like some of what Rianne experienced should've been enlightened on from maybe a different perspective. There were a couple spots where this did happen, and I'm glad they did. But at the same time, even though we did see that other perception of the situation, nothing was ever resolved. It felt a little bit like this book was saying some of the situations were fine because our main character doesn't see the problem with them. That's a more spoilery discussion that I won't get into here.
Overall, I went with a 3/5 stars because I felt like the parts I loved and the parts I really disliked balanced each other out in a way that I'm not sure I'd ever recommend this book to anyone, but I did enjoy it while I was reading (although I also did NOT like the ending).
Trigger Warnings:
Unconsenual sex with a minor
underage drinking
undiagnosed mental health issues
violence (fist fighting)
dementia
large age difference relationships
cheating
I also feel like some of what Rianne experienced should've been enlightened on from maybe a different perspective. There were a couple spots where this did happen, and I'm glad they did. But at the same time, even though we did see that other perception of the situation, nothing was ever resolved. It felt a little bit like this book was saying some of the situations were fine because our main character doesn't see the problem with them. That's a more spoilery discussion that I won't get into here.
Overall, I went with a 3/5 stars because I felt like the parts I loved and the parts I really disliked balanced each other out in a way that I'm not sure I'd ever recommend this book to anyone, but I did enjoy it while I was reading (although I also did NOT like the ending).
Trigger Warnings:
Unconsenual sex with a minor
underage drinking
undiagnosed mental health issues
violence (fist fighting)
dementia
large age difference relationships
cheating
jbolwerk8's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars.
It took me a little to get into because I jumped in having to learn all of these different characters and the time jump at the beginning.
Grammatically, the writing was eh. “Sentences” were very short, and choppy.
But my biggest reason for the low rating was because I did not like the ending. There were WAY too many loose ends, and I DID NOT like Sergei’s character. Rianne and his relationship seemed very weird and forced the whole time, whereas Luke did everything right. I know some of it probably just me wishing I had someone like Luke (🙃) but still!! You don’t just up and go to Russia with some dude that you don’t know that well (besides physically, in her case).
Even though I never had experiences like this, I am sure it was very authentic.
Disclaimer: Required read for grad school YA Lit course
It took me a little to get into because I jumped in having to learn all of these different characters and the time jump at the beginning.
Grammatically, the writing was eh. “Sentences” were very short, and choppy.
But my biggest reason for the low rating was because I did not like the ending. There were WAY too many loose ends, and I DID NOT like Sergei’s character. Rianne and his relationship seemed very weird and forced the whole time, whereas Luke did everything right. I know some of it probably just me wishing I had someone like Luke (🙃) but still!! You don’t just up and go to Russia with some dude that you don’t know that well (besides physically, in her case).
Even though I never had experiences like this, I am sure it was very authentic.
Disclaimer: Required read for grad school YA Lit course
maggiemaggio's review against another edition
3.0
What a weird ending.
Seeing as it took me seven months to finish this book (I read about 30% of it over 2 days and then stopped it for 7 months and then finished the rest of it over 3 days once I picked it back up), I guess I can't really say I enjoyed it. The story is really character driven so it makes sense that I wasn't dying to keep turning the page. It was nice to read a story that takes place in MN and be familiar with the places and things they were talking about. While the story raised a lot of interesting issues about gender (and also socioeconomic issues) it didn't quite go there enough for me. Given Mesrobian's other books I expected something more both with the gender questions and also with the whole story, but it just never quite came together. I did enjoy Rianne as a character and really liked her honesty and the out of the ordinary observations she was prone to make.
Seeing as it took me seven months to finish this book (I read about 30% of it over 2 days and then stopped it for 7 months and then finished the rest of it over 3 days once I picked it back up), I guess I can't really say I enjoyed it. The story is really character driven so it makes sense that I wasn't dying to keep turning the page. It was nice to read a story that takes place in MN and be familiar with the places and things they were talking about. While the story raised a lot of interesting issues about gender (and also socioeconomic issues) it didn't quite go there enough for me. Given Mesrobian's other books I expected something more both with the gender questions and also with the whole story, but it just never quite came together. I did enjoy Rianne as a character and really liked her honesty and the out of the ordinary observations she was prone to make.
anxietygirl89's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.5
*****spoilers*****
I kept thinking this book would get better, but not so much. I also HATED the ending.
She was assaulted by a grown man her sophmore year of high school. She didn't think of it as assault, even though she was wasted and the only person she ever told about it was her boyfriend senior year. He goes on and on about how fucked up that situation was and how it seemed a little rapey. She still doesn't see it that way.
She cheats on her boyfriend, who's in love with her and thinks they have a future together because she won't tell him otherwise, with a twenty something year old Russian guy. She also sees nothing wrong with that aside from occasionally feeling a little guilt about her boyfriend.
I wanted to like this book. I kept thinking it would get better. Maybe she would finally tell a friend or her parents what happened to her and get some help. But no. The fucking ending! Ugh. Major spoiler ahead............. she leaves with Russian guy to go to Russia with him without even telling anyone. What. The. Fuck.
I kept thinking this book would get better, but not so much. I also HATED the ending.
She was assaulted by a grown man her sophmore year of high school. She didn't think of it as assault, even though she was wasted and the only person she ever told about it was her boyfriend senior year. He goes on and on about how fucked up that situation was and how it seemed a little rapey. She still doesn't see it that way.
She cheats on her boyfriend, who's in love with her and thinks they have a future together because she won't tell him otherwise, with a twenty something year old Russian guy. She also sees nothing wrong with that aside from occasionally feeling a little guilt about her boyfriend.
I wanted to like this book. I kept thinking it would get better. Maybe she would finally tell a friend or her parents what happened to her and get some help. But no. The fucking ending! Ugh. Major spoiler ahead............. she leaves with Russian guy to go to Russia with him without even telling anyone. What. The. Fuck.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 I really did enjoy it but I had too many problems to say that I really liked it. First up is, every ending of this authors books are some of the worst endings ever and this one tops them all. Second is one of the love interests does something that rightfully Rianne should be mad at him for but she isnt which said love interest whom started out great quickly went downhill which is another thing. Fourth the problem isnt that Rianne sleeps around, the problem is shes a cheater who feels next to nothing guilt. Fifthly I just dont think all the other characters were fleshed out that well. And lastly, Rianne turns into a very unlikable person at the end with how she acts to certain characters.
anywho2's review against another edition
1.0
I'm all for sex in YA books, especially if its done in a way to represent the positive and safe experiences that can be had. This book almost kinda maybe seems like it was trying to do that and failed. And it isnt just that. The book felt stale, rote, unrealistic. The chracters were flat. The supposed plot was flat. If i hadnt read the book for class I would most certainly be asking myself what is the point of the book.
stenaros's review against another edition
4.0
I was a huge fan of Mesrobian's Sex and Violence and so eagerly grabbed this ARC. As with S&V, I was fascinated by the exploration of the early sexual experience and its ramifications. This book follows a similar path. It's the kind of book that is very discussable, especially around what it means for a female to have sex. It's also interesting to see a relationship that the girl is only partway invested in.
Sex is graphically described in a way that would have been too much for my 14-year-old self, and exactly what my 16-17-18-year-old self would have needed to read.
I seem to have missed two of Mesrobian's books. I look forward to catching up.
Sex is graphically described in a way that would have been too much for my 14-year-old self, and exactly what my 16-17-18-year-old self would have needed to read.
I seem to have missed two of Mesrobian's books. I look forward to catching up.
tunikaknows's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. I have rarely reviewed a book I didn't finish, but for this one, it feels necessary. I got about half way through before I decided I couldn't do it anymore. My primary problem is that the relationships are way underdeveloped, and this is by chapter eight. For example, Rianne's so called relationship with Luke doesn't feel real because there's barely any dialogue from him, and weak interaction between him and Rianne beyond their sex. I can think of one scene where the two of them really open up. Worse though is her interest with Sergei. For what happened to have happened, there should have been more from her perspective as to why she was interested in him at all. Instead, Rianne comes off as rash and obsessive.
As a character, I saw great potentional for Rianne to develop and grow. She had a great many issues (self-esteem, unadressed assault), and I feel it never occurred to her to ask herself why she was acting a certain way. She keeps on in her way but still drags herself (*hard*) for being "bad." Honestly, it's concerning and frustrating.
Overall, the writing felt scattered and unfocused at times, with plot points leading into long-winded and unnecessary monologues that didn't make sense to the story.
As a character, I saw great potentional for Rianne to develop and grow. She had a great many issues (self-esteem, unadressed assault), and I feel it never occurred to her to ask herself why she was acting a certain way. She keeps on in her way but still drags herself (*hard*) for being "bad." Honestly, it's concerning and frustrating.
Overall, the writing felt scattered and unfocused at times, with plot points leading into long-winded and unnecessary monologues that didn't make sense to the story.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book about how things are different for boys than girls, mostly regarding sex. But also about growing up! Great read!
sydneythewhale's review against another edition
3.0
Nov. 2017: 3.5⭐️
i’m not even sure how to explain how i feel about this book. my favorite (?) part, at least to read about, was rianne’s and sergei’s relationship - and yet i felt gross about it because for most of it rianne was cheating on luke and i don’t condone cheating.... i don’t even know.
this book was very confusing for me (emotionally), although i do like how some double standards were addressed. for example, the different standards that rianne and luke were held to when they both slept around.
and ANOTHER THING: i have very mixed feelings about all the characters, especially rianne. some parts i loved her, some i hated her. it was just an emotional journey for everyone involved. (good job at articulating your thoughts, sydney. 10/10)
i’m not even sure how to explain how i feel about this book. my favorite (?) part, at least to read about, was rianne’s and sergei’s relationship - and yet i felt gross about it because for most of it rianne was cheating on luke and i don’t condone cheating.... i don’t even know.
this book was very confusing for me (emotionally), although i do like how some double standards were addressed. for example, the different standards that rianne and luke were held to when they both slept around.
and ANOTHER THING: i have very mixed feelings about all the characters, especially rianne. some parts i loved her, some i hated her. it was just an emotional journey for everyone involved. (good job at articulating your thoughts, sydney. 10/10)