Scan barcode
readwithlauren22's review against another edition
3.0
Friends, the area I live in is experiencing a snow drought! There’s barely been more than a dusting all winter! My snow loving heart was having a hard time coping so I turned to books with snow on the cover! My library had a snowy book display recently and I grabbed White Out from their selection! I also listened simultaneously on audio thanks to a gifted audio copy from Libro.fm!
Brief Synopsis: Atlanta, GA is in the midst of a huge snow storm. Despite travel delays, getting snowed in and stuck various places, and battling the elements…12 friends are on a mission to help a friend apologize to their true love. Will they pull off the mission?
My thoughts: This was a very fun, fast read! It felt like a mix of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, an ensemble holiday movie, and all the best parts of young love. Living in the south, I enjoyed the Atlanta setting, especially given how rare snow is there! I also appreciated the inclusion of Black joy as well as the themes of immigration, the LGBTQIA+ community, the difficulties of high school, and family issues.
.
There are a lot of characters in this book so I do wish I had read more of the story in print versus listening to the audio (which had fantastic narration) mostly because it was hard to keep up with all of the different characters via audio. Overall very enjoyable! 3⭐️
obsidian_blue's review against another edition
3.0
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
This sadly was not as good as Blackout was. Probably because the main couple we follow in this one didn't read as romantic to me at all. They (Sola and Stevie) read as very immature and honestly I got really tired of Stevie mighty quick. I didn't find that whole dinner party thing realistic at all because Stevie is supposed to be really smart, but takes something that she doesn't realize would have her entirely out of it? Come on. And after that I felt eh about the rest of the stories too. I didn't have the rush to get to the end like I did with Blackout. I just found most of the stories not very realistic and thought some of the characters should have been aged up. Maybe that would have worked more? Because anyone saying yes Stevie and Sola are couple goals and who they go to for advice had me wondering if I was reading an entirely other book. Also too many of the storylines felt unfinished.
Breaking down chapters/people again. I can't tell you which author wrote which chapters because this is an ARC and it doesn't say. So going to just breakdown the stories.
"Stevie"-We don't know what happened (yet) but know that Stevie wants to make things up with their (fingers crossed) not ex-girlfriend Sola. They have something really big planned but needs their friends to help them out. Too bad Atlanta is getting hit with snow that is shutting down everything. We find out through some word choices that Stevie I think is non-binary. Don't know when this was announced, but appears their father is still getting used to it. Stevie is grounded because of events that are still unknown. Chapter three, seven, nine, and eleven follows Stevie.
"Kaz"-I got real tired of Kaz's best friend Porsha. The two of them are hitting the Lenox (mall in Atlanta) to obtain something for Stevie's plan. We find out real quick that Kaz has feelings for Porsha and has plans to reveal himself after advice from Sola. This slowed down things considerably. I wish that this book had done what Blackout had which is to give us the other person's point of view when possible. I really didn't buy Kaz or Porsha's feelings. I also thought Porsha's reasonings why she never celebrated Kaz's holidays (Ramadan/Eid) to be really really dumb.
"E.R."-Absolutely not. This whole storyline was a mess and I hated it.
"Sola"-I felt sorry for Sola and honestly wondered what she saw in Stevie. Because even with the additional chapters we get following Stevie, I got why they were into Sola. It seems like Sola was constantly begging for signs to see how much Stevie loved them. I don't know. Once you find out what happened and why Sola was done I would have been too. Also there's still some plot holes left open regarding this incident and Stevie's whole grounding thing. Why I said at the beginning this whole book read as unfinished.
"Jordyn"-This was the only story that got me honestly. And I felt a bit annoyed we don't get to see how Jordyn's complicated feelings for her "egg donor" are resolved.
"Jimi'-Jordyn's younger sister. I thought this whole storyline was not realistic. Sorry.
"Ava & Mason"-I still don't even know what was going on here. This felt like a stuck on story that didn't build up on other sections at all. I honestly was like was Ava or Mason ever mentioned in any of the other stories? I do a search and Ava was, but honestly I don't even recall it.
This sadly was not as good as Blackout was. Probably because the main couple we follow in this one didn't read as romantic to me at all. They (Sola and Stevie) read as very immature and honestly I got really tired of Stevie mighty quick. I didn't find that whole dinner party thing realistic at all because Stevie is supposed to be really smart, but takes something that she doesn't realize would have her entirely out of it? Come on. And after that I felt eh about the rest of the stories too. I didn't have the rush to get to the end like I did with Blackout. I just found most of the stories not very realistic and thought some of the characters should have been aged up. Maybe that would have worked more? Because anyone saying yes Stevie and Sola are couple goals and who they go to for advice had me wondering if I was reading an entirely other book. Also too many of the storylines felt unfinished.
Breaking down chapters/people again. I can't tell you which author wrote which chapters because this is an ARC and it doesn't say. So going to just breakdown the stories.
"Stevie"-We don't know what happened (yet) but know that Stevie wants to make things up with their (fingers crossed) not ex-girlfriend Sola. They have something really big planned but needs their friends to help them out. Too bad Atlanta is getting hit with snow that is shutting down everything. We find out through some word choices that Stevie I think is non-binary. Don't know when this was announced, but appears their father is still getting used to it. Stevie is grounded because of events that are still unknown. Chapter three, seven, nine, and eleven follows Stevie.
"Kaz"-I got real tired of Kaz's best friend Porsha. The two of them are hitting the Lenox (mall in Atlanta) to obtain something for Stevie's plan. We find out real quick that Kaz has feelings for Porsha and has plans to reveal himself after advice from Sola. This slowed down things considerably. I wish that this book had done what Blackout had which is to give us the other person's point of view when possible. I really didn't buy Kaz or Porsha's feelings. I also thought Porsha's reasonings why she never celebrated Kaz's holidays (Ramadan/Eid) to be really really dumb.
"E.R."-Absolutely not. This whole storyline was a mess and I hated it.
"Sola"-I felt sorry for Sola and honestly wondered what she saw in Stevie. Because even with the additional chapters we get following Stevie, I got why they were into Sola. It seems like Sola was constantly begging for signs to see how much Stevie loved them. I don't know. Once you find out what happened and why Sola was done I would have been too. Also there's still some plot holes left open regarding this incident and Stevie's whole grounding thing. Why I said at the beginning this whole book read as unfinished.
"Jordyn"-This was the only story that got me honestly. And I felt a bit annoyed we don't get to see how Jordyn's complicated feelings for her "egg donor" are resolved.
"Jimi'-Jordyn's younger sister. I thought this whole storyline was not realistic. Sorry.
"Ava & Mason"-I still don't even know what was going on here. This felt like a stuck on story that didn't build up on other sections at all. I honestly was like was Ava or Mason ever mentioned in any of the other stories? I do a search and Ava was, but honestly I don't even recall it.
skye_era_books's review against another edition
Honestly I’m just bored and am finding myself not wanting to go back to reading this 🥲
jwtindall's review against another edition
3.0
This had some really cute moments, but I didn’t quite love it as a whole, at least not as much as I did Blackout. Some of the couples in the book maybe shouldn’t get/be together and so that kind of took me out of it a bit. But still worthwhile. And I think Joniece Abbott-Pratt is my favorite narrator in the business right now.
mandypurv's review against another edition
5.0
I am, once again, blown away by the collective genius that happens when Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon come together to write. As with Blackout, Whiteout brings the reader along during a weather emergency that leads to a city-wide shut down, this time in Atlanta. As a Georgia girl, born and raised, this story felt like home. I lived so close to I75 during Atlanta's infamous 2014 Snowpocalypse. I've walked the Jungle under Hartsfield-Jackson--it's as beautiful as they described and makes you not want to take the train. I've been to concerts at Mercedes-Benz and absolutely choked up when Jimi walked onto the stage of the Fox and described our beautiful theatre--that is-it-a-ceiling-or-is-it-the-sky will truly take your breath away.
As ever, I appreciate all of the representations of love that Whiteout conveys, in both romantic relationships between people of all genders, but also the overwhelming friendship between this cast of characters. These people, even in a literal state of emergency/shelter in place, still found a way to show up for each other, no matter what. This is something that I wish happened more in real life, but if authors like these keep writing, and the world keeps consuming, stories like this, I think it might help to change the world for the better.
I am so grateful for having been able to read this book.
As ever, I appreciate all of the representations of love that Whiteout conveys, in both romantic relationships between people of all genders, but also the overwhelming friendship between this cast of characters. These people, even in a literal state of emergency/shelter in place, still found a way to show up for each other, no matter what. This is something that I wish happened more in real life, but if authors like these keep writing, and the world keeps consuming, stories like this, I think it might help to change the world for the better.
I am so grateful for having been able to read this book.
caitief's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
melbsreads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content warnings: homophobia, mental health, abandonment, Islamophobia/xenophobia, panic attacks, vomit
Look, I'm not going to lie: I was very distracted by ranting to friends via text message about some bullshit happening at work while I was listening to this, so a lot of it kind of went in one ear and out the other.
I did like the Atlanta setting and the snowstorm as a reason for forced proximity for various couples. Probably I would have retained more of it if a) I hadn't been massively distracted and b) if I'd read it with my eyeballs and not my ears, because I found it more difficult to establish the connections between the various stories when I was listening to it.
So at the end of the day, this is very definitely a Me Problem and not a Book Problem. I still enjoyed it! It's just not a book that's going to stick in my brain though.
Look, I'm not going to lie: I was very distracted by ranting to friends via text message about some bullshit happening at work while I was listening to this, so a lot of it kind of went in one ear and out the other.
I did like the Atlanta setting and the snowstorm as a reason for forced proximity for various couples. Probably I would have retained more of it if a) I hadn't been massively distracted and b) if I'd read it with my eyeballs and not my ears, because I found it more difficult to establish the connections between the various stories when I was listening to it.
So at the end of the day, this is very definitely a Me Problem and not a Book Problem. I still enjoyed it! It's just not a book that's going to stick in my brain though.
leilah_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ellereadsalottt's review against another edition
4.0
This was a four star, which feels unfair considering I really liked almost all the couples… but Stevie’s love story was the focal point for the full novel, and I just could not stand them. (I did like Sola, in fact I think she deserved much better.) I think Stevie reminded me of me at that age, so pretentious and oblivious to how the things they say hurt other people. Maybe it was a realistic portrayal, but I didn’t enjoy it. The rest of it though? Lovely. A young, black, love actually (and I loved Love, Actually). I don’t read many love stories, or a tonne of YA anymore, but this was good, a nice palate cleanser. And I know I’m an outlier here, but I preferred it generally over Blackout
meesha84's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the cover art of this. I haven’t read the first book, and while I did think that there was a possibility that it was referencing characters from the first, I do think it could still be read as a stand-alone.
This made me feel all warm and cosy inside. I feel like this would be perfect to read with a hot chocolate in hand, snug under a warm blanket and the snow falling outside. It’s a really sweet teen romance, that gives me all the same feels that Elizabeth and Todd did from the Sweet Valley High books.
That will probably tell you I’m the wrong age to be reading this. Quite far beyond the correct age. But I still enjoyed it, and it reminded me slightly of the Dash & Lily books.
The story follows two people in a relationship, one has majorly messed up and the other isn’t going to forgive them any time soon. Their friends are involved to help pull off an epic apology.
This is very current - you have non-binary and gay characters, and it’s set slightly after the pandemic. So it feels very up to date and is sprinkled with text message and WhatsApp exchanges. And a rather mad taxi driver. I’m not sure how much some of the slang terms will last in a few years time but that goes for any books I suppose.
Did I believe Stevie and Sola’s relationship? I think Stevie messed up but at the same time, I thought Sola’s reaction was a bit extreme. But I was rooting for them - even to the point where the other characters individual chapters were really annoying me because I wanted to get back to Stevie’s Grand Plan.
Now for the bad points.
This did not need to be written by six authors. I can understand each author was telling a character’s story from their perspective but I found it all very same-y and sometimes struggled to differentiate between who I was reading about. Two, maximum three, could have done the same job. I don’t feel the need to have six authors writing a book.
The suspense was killing me with Stevie. Get back to Stevie. I found myself reading the other characters chapters as fast as possible, so we could get back to Stevie.
It’s a predictable and fluffy teen romance, read by a cynical 30-something. I liked it and I think it’s perfect to read at this time of year. I just don’t think the high number of authors made it absolutely astounding.
This made me feel all warm and cosy inside. I feel like this would be perfect to read with a hot chocolate in hand, snug under a warm blanket and the snow falling outside. It’s a really sweet teen romance, that gives me all the same feels that Elizabeth and Todd did from the Sweet Valley High books.
That will probably tell you I’m the wrong age to be reading this. Quite far beyond the correct age. But I still enjoyed it, and it reminded me slightly of the Dash & Lily books.
The story follows two people in a relationship, one has majorly messed up and the other isn’t going to forgive them any time soon. Their friends are involved to help pull off an epic apology.
This is very current - you have non-binary and gay characters, and it’s set slightly after the pandemic. So it feels very up to date and is sprinkled with text message and WhatsApp exchanges. And a rather mad taxi driver. I’m not sure how much some of the slang terms will last in a few years time but that goes for any books I suppose.
Did I believe Stevie and Sola’s relationship? I think Stevie messed up but at the same time, I thought Sola’s reaction was a bit extreme. But I was rooting for them - even to the point where the other characters individual chapters were really annoying me because I wanted to get back to Stevie’s Grand Plan.
Now for the bad points.
This did not need to be written by six authors. I can understand each author was telling a character’s story from their perspective but I found it all very same-y and sometimes struggled to differentiate between who I was reading about. Two, maximum three, could have done the same job. I don’t feel the need to have six authors writing a book.
The suspense was killing me with Stevie. Get back to Stevie. I found myself reading the other characters chapters as fast as possible, so we could get back to Stevie.
It’s a predictable and fluffy teen romance, read by a cynical 30-something. I liked it and I think it’s perfect to read at this time of year. I just don’t think the high number of authors made it absolutely astounding.