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steph01924's review
5.0
4.5 stars. Well-written and a good slice-of-life contemporary that I enjoyed quite a bit while reading, although looking back just a week later I don't know how long the details will really stick with me. Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
hopeloveslit's review against another edition
2.0
When You Look Like Us explores some great themes. Harris shines a light on how missing black girls aren't always taken seriously. I enjoyed this theme because it's so important! However, it wasn't explored much, and the mystery felt like a subplot. Jay's journey dragged on, and it felt unfocused. The ending was very unrealistic to me.
joyreadsbuku's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3 stars - This book was okay. Characters were okay, plot & pace were medium to slow because things were dragging a bit. Tbh I didn't feel the mystery/thriller aspect of it until 80% into the book. I think it's because the person we're looking for in the book is basically unknown to us. I think the lack of not knowing or barely knowing anything about them (other than them struggling with addiction, and their parents not being around) is the reason for the dragging. Some things were funny tho, but the whole use of fictional weed to the point of using a different name for it, and the weird cursing, threw me off. Just curse, it's okay lol. It's a good book for teens. Audiobook was good. Great debut!
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Pretty solid YA. Nothing really stood out to me as super memorable. I did like some of the character development for Jay.
katiegrrrl's review against another edition
3.0
Jay has had a hard life, his father passed away young, his mother is jail, he lives in a neighborhood that is considered bad and his older sister has gone missing.
2022 YMA Odyssey award honor
2022 YMA Odyssey award honor
vtlism's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
Basic, pretty much a waste of time. I really dislike the stereotypical ya book plot point of "teen gets so stressed trying to hold it all together so he blows up and is a jerk to everyone who loves him then realizes how much harder life is without them so apologizes and they all forgive him" aka teen tantrum which happens typically about 70% of the way through the book. Not a spoiler since this is incidental to the plot and completely predictable.
samanthabooks19's review
4.0
3.5 stars*
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc copy!
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. I expected it to be slow and frankly boring, but it was anything but. It actually had me not wanting to put it down, which doesn’t happen a lot to me.
I became connected to the characters. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. I loved the development and range of relationships in this book. The romance in this book was unexpected but thoroughly loved. We had deep family and friend relationships that built up the story. Everything was very life-like.
The pace was fast, and I was never bored with events. The timing and structuring of the plot was done very well. This book has the right amount of impactfulness and entertainment. There is a lot to take away from this story; it’s very inciteful.
I enjoyed the writing style of the book. It didn’t use complicated words to try and be fancy. It was easy to read but still gave me enough detail to be able to fully understand events and descriptions. The only thing I don’t like is that this book does curse a good deal. I would say it’s not YA. However, there isn’t really any adult themes except drugs.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed my time and I’m glad I read this book before the end of the year.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc copy!
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to. I expected it to be slow and frankly boring, but it was anything but. It actually had me not wanting to put it down, which doesn’t happen a lot to me.
I became connected to the characters. I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. I loved the development and range of relationships in this book. The romance in this book was unexpected but thoroughly loved. We had deep family and friend relationships that built up the story. Everything was very life-like.
The pace was fast, and I was never bored with events. The timing and structuring of the plot was done very well. This book has the right amount of impactfulness and entertainment. There is a lot to take away from this story; it’s very inciteful.
I enjoyed the writing style of the book. It didn’t use complicated words to try and be fancy. It was easy to read but still gave me enough detail to be able to fully understand events and descriptions. The only thing I don’t like is that this book does curse a good deal. I would say it’s not YA. However, there isn’t really any adult themes except drugs.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed my time and I’m glad I read this book before the end of the year.
cherryseven's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I had a hard time getting into the writing at first. I feel like the writer was trying too hard to sound like a teenager, but listening to the audiobook instead of reading it physically helped. In the end, I really liked it and think this is a good book for teens to read.