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mehsi's review
5.0
Review for the ARC.
I absolutely adored this book, the main character was a sweet, wonderful girl. And the side-characters made the story even more awesome.
I am not a big fan of Ukelele, or their sound, but I think it was a wonderful touch to have a character who wants to play impromptu songs on an ukelele. Especially since you don't often find this instrument in books. Mostly it would be something like guitars or pianos.
The plot itself was great, our main character finds out more about her dad, finds out things that her mom hid from her all these years. Next to that we also have that the main character discovers more about herself.
There are various moments that were just hilarious and I had quite a few parts where I just laughed aloud, even read a few parts to my boyfriend. I loved the birthday parties part. How she tried her best to be a perfect mermaid, but just couldn't get it right for various things, but eventually even found a fan. :)
I didn't like the mom. I can somehow imagine it must suck to go through such a thing as divorce and all that comes with it, but to do what that mom did. No. You could have expected that the lies you spun would fall apart and your daughter will find out the truth.
I am planning on buying this book as soon as the paperback comes out. This one deserves a spot on my bookshelves. :) And I would recommend this book to everyone who needs a nice contemporary story to read.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I absolutely adored this book, the main character was a sweet, wonderful girl. And the side-characters made the story even more awesome.
I am not a big fan of Ukelele, or their sound, but I think it was a wonderful touch to have a character who wants to play impromptu songs on an ukelele. Especially since you don't often find this instrument in books. Mostly it would be something like guitars or pianos.
The plot itself was great, our main character finds out more about her dad, finds out things that her mom hid from her all these years. Next to that we also have that the main character discovers more about herself.
There are various moments that were just hilarious and I had quite a few parts where I just laughed aloud, even read a few parts to my boyfriend. I loved the birthday parties part. How she tried her best to be a perfect mermaid, but just couldn't get it right for various things, but eventually even found a fan. :)
I didn't like the mom. I can somehow imagine it must suck to go through such a thing as divorce and all that comes with it, but to do what that mom did. No. You could have expected that the lies you spun would fall apart and your daughter will find out the truth.
I am planning on buying this book as soon as the paperback comes out. This one deserves a spot on my bookshelves. :) And I would recommend this book to everyone who needs a nice contemporary story to read.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
acciolibris's review
2.0
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I didn't hate this book, but I didn't overwhelmingly like it, either. Minerva is a relatively well-developed female protagonist, but my issue with this book was the lack of plot. There could have been some really cute romantic moments between Minerva and Hayes, but all we ever got was one or two outings together with not a whole lot of substance between them (things were written far better with Fin, at least).
What I was really disappointed in was the lack of any plot concerning Minerva's father and stepsister. We saw almost no confrontation or reconciliation between Minerva and Keanu (minus yelling at him from across the room or reading about how they all apparently went to family counseling together). We didn't even get to see what happened between Cassie and Minerva once they figured out the were stepsisters!
It was a cute book with a cute premise, but it seems mostly fluff and not so much substance.
I didn't hate this book, but I didn't overwhelmingly like it, either. Minerva is a relatively well-developed female protagonist, but my issue with this book was the lack of plot. There could have been some really cute romantic moments between Minerva and Hayes, but all we ever got was one or two outings together with not a whole lot of substance between them (things were written far better with Fin, at least).
What I was really disappointed in was the lack of any plot concerning Minerva's father and stepsister. We saw almost no confrontation or reconciliation between Minerva and Keanu (minus yelling at him from across the room or reading about how they all apparently went to family counseling together). We didn't even get to see what happened between Cassie and Minerva once they figured out the were stepsisters!
It was a cute book with a cute premise, but it seems mostly fluff and not so much substance.
trisha_thomas's review
3.0
This is a great book for an age appropriate reader. I think it does a great job of documenting a single parent house where the parent that stayed....has swayed the kid to really hate the one that walked away. For better or worse, I don't judge either way, but I thought the topic was handled very respectfully.
I also think the light banter with Finn was wonderful and he was hilarious - they were great and he was a funny friend.
but for me, this was just a little too silly for me.
I also think the light banter with Finn was wonderful and he was hilarious - they were great and he was a funny friend.
but for me, this was just a little too silly for me.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review
4.0
*I received a free ARC of Get Happy from Egmont USA via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review*
Cute contemporary about a girl who is obsessed with getting a ukulele. The writing is a little juvenile, but this managed to get across the MCs age and naïveté.
Full review to come soon.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Cute contemporary about a girl who is obsessed with getting a ukulele. The writing is a little juvenile, but this managed to get across the MCs age and naïveté.
Full review to come soon.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
hereisenough's review
4.0
Minerva's 16th birthday falls flat with an ugly gift and the lack of what she really wants, a ukulele. It falls even further with an arrival of a package- from Minerva's father who left her as a baby. Minerva uncovers secrets of her family's past, fits in a job as a mermaid at birthday parties, and takes hold of her ukulele.
a YA fiction ukulele book. hallelujah.
as a ukulele playing/loving teenager how could i not grab this one and read it immediately?
Such a cute, fun, book- and the songs. Love the songs.
The ukulele is pretty rad. Love ukuleles.
This book was a lot of fun, really cute and funny, but also an emotional story. The reader is submerged in Minerva's head and feels all that she feels, the heartache, loss, and anger, the joy of the ukulele, and the laughter of her friends.
The 'romance' part was perfect. It was light hearted yet it meant a lot, it was a little more normal than a lot of YA books.
AND THE SONGS. I really have loved the way Amato included songs in the books, with lyrics and chords. That is one of the best parts of her books. They're always so fun to play.
The cover is okay. It's cute but looks a little meddle-grade, not YA.
The lack of closure//hurried ending [with the family] was a little flat. I mean, she said that about her father in front of everyone, left and we are told they went to counseling and then what?
I did jokingly guess something that ended up being true...
Teenage girls who love [making] music will probably enjoy this book.
If you love ukuleles, you'll obviously love to play the songs.
read as an advanced reading copy.
a YA fiction ukulele book. hallelujah.
as a ukulele playing/loving teenager how could i not grab this one and read it immediately?
Such a cute, fun, book- and the songs. Love the songs.
The ukulele is pretty rad. Love ukuleles.
This book was a lot of fun, really cute and funny, but also an emotional story. The reader is submerged in Minerva's head and feels all that she feels, the heartache, loss, and anger, the joy of the ukulele, and the laughter of her friends.
The 'romance' part was perfect. It was light hearted yet it meant a lot, it was a little more normal than a lot of YA books.
AND THE SONGS. I really have loved the way Amato included songs in the books, with lyrics and chords. That is one of the best parts of her books. They're always so fun to play.
The cover is okay. It's cute but looks a little meddle-grade, not YA.
The lack of closure//hurried ending [with the family] was a little flat. I mean, she said that about her father in front of everyone, left and we are told they went to counseling and then what?
I did jokingly guess something that ended up being true...
Teenage girls who love [making] music will probably enjoy this book.
If you love ukuleles, you'll obviously love to play the songs.
read as an advanced reading copy.
lexiww's review
3.0
Minerva isn’t entirely surprised that her mom didn’t get her the ukulele she so desperately wanted for her sixteenth birthday. After all, birthdays have been a disappointment since her father left the family when she was a baby. But what is shocking was the confusing package she receives from her dad after all this time. Her life is complicated enough now that she’s landed a new job performing at children’s parties along with her hysterical best friend, a cute fellow classmate, and an insufferable new girl in town. Adding a long-lost father into the mix would be just too much. How could she possibly forge a relationship with him now, after so much time has passed? But the deeper she digs into her past, the more she realizes that the story she’s been told about her family isn’t totally true. Amato (Guitar Notes, 2012) once again strums a clever, heartfelt, and realistic story sure to appeal to musical tweens. Lyrics and chords for some of Minerva’s original tunes are included.— Lexi Walters Wright, First published October 1, 2014 (Booklist).
sandraagee's review
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up because this books fills a niche that I enjoy. I kind of saw Minerva's family drama coming a mile away, but I still very much enjoyed the ride.
Almost no romance. Could give this to younger and/or sheltered teens pretty comfortably.
Almost no romance. Could give this to younger and/or sheltered teens pretty comfortably.
froydis's review
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley.com and EgmontUSA for early access to this title.
3 1/2 stars -
I quite enjoyed this little book. I enjoyed the teen characters and the plot, but found some of the adults to be a bit unrealistic. I particularly struggled with the characterization of the mother in this regard. The teen angst was well done, and appropriate for the situation. This would be a good read for teens who enjoy realistic fiction. I particularly liked that the author wrote actual songs for this book, and included them in the back with the chords so we could play them out ourselves.
3 1/2 stars -
I quite enjoyed this little book. I enjoyed the teen characters and the plot, but found some of the adults to be a bit unrealistic. I particularly struggled with the characterization of the mother in this regard. The teen angst was well done, and appropriate for the situation. This would be a good read for teens who enjoy realistic fiction. I particularly liked that the author wrote actual songs for this book, and included them in the back with the chords so we could play them out ourselves.
msethna's review
4.0
This book falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It was definitely a quick read and one I think some of my students will like.The main character's (Minerva) parents are divorced and she hasn't seen her father since she was a little girl. All her life she has doubted herself and why her father would want nothing to do with her. In the end the truth comes out and Minerva learns that she can be happy even with a broken family.
ellieroth's review
4.0
No me había dado cuenta que el libro se publicaba en Octubre :D
La reseña esperará un poquito pero me ha gustado, si buscas una historia profunda, este no es tu libro, si buscas una historia que te haga sonreír, sí. Tiene algunas cosas que no me convencieron pero eso ya en mi reseña más "profunda"
Reseña "profunda" también en: El Extraño Gato del Cuento
(La sinopsis te spoilea .___.)
Get Happy o “Minerva quiere un ukelele” es un libro que disfruté pero al final no me enseñó nada. ¿Qué quiero decir? Por lo general un libro, por más superficial o light que sea, en algún momento tiene un mensaje, casi siempre es el “Quiere a tu familia y madura” y sus variantes, estoy segura que lo has notado. En Get Happy no pasa.
El libro empezó bastante forzado, no encontraba ningún tipo de química entre los personajes, son tan efusivos en algunos momentos que simplemente, yo que soy antisocial y completamente seca, pensé durante un minuto aproximadamente en dejar el libro y empezar otro. Pero como bien sabes, soy sádica, estaba disfrutando anticipadamente de como destruiría este libro, solo que curiosamente mientras más avanzaba la lectura, me descubría más sonriendo con los personajes, me emocionaba más con cada comienzo de capítulo.
No voy a negar que el libro tiene varias fallas: la protagonista nunca aprendió nada, el pequeño giro que le da a la historia queda completamente en el olvido luego de una par de capítulos y sobre todo, lo positivos que son algunos personajes, nadie es tan positivo, es muy molesto. Ese tipo de gente taaan positiva y alegre creo que merece un puñetazo de vez en cuando ¿No les parece? Una buena idea, creo yo.
Me gustan los personajes como Minerva, por lo general en los libros tenemos protagonistas femeninos perfectitas o muy zorras. Lo escritores son un poco exagerados, y nosotros como público lo apoyamos algunas veces. Con esto quiero decir que Minerva me recordó a mí, así bien egoísta y malvada *inserta risa malvada*. Los libros a veces tienden a idealizar a la adolescente, siempre en su casa y haciendo tarea, nunca le desea mal a nadie y si lo hace, se siente culpable inmediatamente y va y hace penitencia en la iglesia (cuando el escritor nos quiere dar una protagonista buena), Minerva tiene ese lado malvado, ese momento de furia y envidia ciega que nos lleva hacer cosas tontas e infantiles. ¿Eso qué hace Minerva? Soy culpable, lo hice en el colegio. Tenía malas influencias en ese momento, kittens u.u
Lo más resaltante y algo que me encantó completamente del libro es la “lista de Hayes”. ¿Sobre la gente positiva? Este es el culpable, varias veces me dio ganas de patearlo por su adorabilidad. No les contaré más sobre esto para que no pierdan las ganas de reventarlo cuando lo lean.
Te gustará si lo que buscas es una historia que relaje tu mente, reírte un rato y renegar un poco por las fallas del libro.
La reseña esperará un poquito pero me ha gustado, si buscas una historia profunda, este no es tu libro, si buscas una historia que te haga sonreír, sí. Tiene algunas cosas que no me convencieron pero eso ya en mi reseña más "profunda"
Reseña "profunda" también en: El Extraño Gato del Cuento
(La sinopsis te spoilea .___.)
Get Happy o “Minerva quiere un ukelele” es un libro que disfruté pero al final no me enseñó nada. ¿Qué quiero decir? Por lo general un libro, por más superficial o light que sea, en algún momento tiene un mensaje, casi siempre es el “Quiere a tu familia y madura” y sus variantes, estoy segura que lo has notado. En Get Happy no pasa.
El libro empezó bastante forzado, no encontraba ningún tipo de química entre los personajes, son tan efusivos en algunos momentos que simplemente, yo que soy antisocial y completamente seca, pensé durante un minuto aproximadamente en dejar el libro y empezar otro. Pero como bien sabes, soy sádica, estaba disfrutando anticipadamente de como destruiría este libro, solo que curiosamente mientras más avanzaba la lectura, me descubría más sonriendo con los personajes, me emocionaba más con cada comienzo de capítulo.
No voy a negar que el libro tiene varias fallas: la protagonista nunca aprendió nada, el pequeño giro que le da a la historia queda completamente en el olvido luego de una par de capítulos y sobre todo, lo positivos que son algunos personajes, nadie es tan positivo, es muy molesto. Ese tipo de gente taaan positiva y alegre creo que merece un puñetazo de vez en cuando ¿No les parece? Una buena idea, creo yo.
Me gustan los personajes como Minerva, por lo general en los libros tenemos protagonistas femeninos perfectitas o muy zorras. Lo escritores son un poco exagerados, y nosotros como público lo apoyamos algunas veces. Con esto quiero decir que Minerva me recordó a mí, así bien egoísta y malvada *inserta risa malvada*. Los libros a veces tienden a idealizar a la adolescente, siempre en su casa y haciendo tarea, nunca le desea mal a nadie y si lo hace, se siente culpable inmediatamente y va y hace penitencia en la iglesia (cuando el escritor nos quiere dar una protagonista buena), Minerva tiene ese lado malvado, ese momento de furia y envidia ciega que nos lleva hacer cosas tontas e infantiles. ¿Eso qué hace Minerva? Soy culpable, lo hice en el colegio. Tenía malas influencias en ese momento, kittens u.u
Lo más resaltante y algo que me encantó completamente del libro es la “lista de Hayes”. ¿Sobre la gente positiva? Este es el culpable, varias veces me dio ganas de patearlo por su adorabilidad. No les contaré más sobre esto para que no pierdan las ganas de reventarlo cuando lo lean.
Te gustará si lo que buscas es una historia que relaje tu mente, reírte un rato y renegar un poco por las fallas del libro.