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pam_simpson06's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings, and Classism
Minor: Car accident, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This review is in two languages at the same time as I read it in German, highlighted scenes that were translated into German, added English notes and have an English audience and due to the length I decided not to translate it it in two different languages and kept it in it's original form.
I know that most like this book and that's totally fine for me. I just think honestly I might shouldn't have read it as I usually don't read teenage thrillers and tend to stay in thrillers were the characters are already adults. So one could say the book was out of my comfort zone.
My opinions down below aren't intended to insult or hurt anyone, they are just my personal opinion and my experience while reading.
How to summaries the book perfectly based on Sam's words: "»Addy ist das Prinzesschen und du bist die Sportskanone«, sagt Simon zu mir. Er deutet mit dem Kinn auf Bronwyn und danach auf Nate. »Du die Intelligenzbestie und du der Outlaw. Ihr seid allesamt wandelnde Teenie-Film-Stereotypen.«"
Liked
• Even though the plot twists were obvious I liked that 1 of them was show than tell (all the others were tell only)
• Like how the 4 people not know eachother. Is more realistic if they have their own friend group and barely or just a few know eachother.
• Addy has a great character development. From being obedient to being independent.
• Even though I hate how cliché everything is, the whole bullying and teenage phase think is actually realistic.
Disliked
• Don't know about you, but if I would be the people in the book I wouldn't bully the people who are suspects about a murder case.
In the end they kill ME 🤷
(also the whole 'In the end I never really had any friends' thing is too often used now)
• Also not sure if you really can call anything of this a plot twist as these aren't secrets that are revealed but actual personal and privat stuff that is totally normal not to tell everyone.
• Way too many clichés and the whole puberty thing was so annoying (especially when Addy cut her hair and didn't like it in the end, and built her personality and connections only based on Jake)
• I don't know if it's my translation as I read it in German but I saw it so often now. Not knowing the difference between 'outing' and 'coming out'.
The word 'Zwangsouting' (forced outing) makes no sense as outing means:
"Outing," a term used for making the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of another public, when they would prefer to keep this information secret.
And 'coming out' means:
Coming out refers to the process that people who are LGBTQ go through as they work to accept their sexual orientation or gender identity and share that identity openly with other people.
So using outing and forced in front of it just makes it have a double meaning.
• The whole happy ending. In reality at least one thing wouldn't turn out like one would like it to be. That is what life is. Unrealistic.
• All flat characters. Sam was the closest of being three-dimensional, but all the others? Except what we know of the blurb about them we barely get to know about them anything else. Yes maybe a few 'secrets' or rather private information, but nothing like quirks, favourite something, more backstory that isn't based on their profession and more. We barely know them. Yes, Addy had a character development but it was still all about her relationship, how she was some kind of beauty princess and not queen (which is so bad, not) and that she had her 'I cut my hair to show that I'm independent now' phase (which she by the way regretted as soon as she saw Jake)
• The whole 'you aren't borinf 'cause you drink, do drugs, sex, etc..' thing is so damaging to say and even this book said it. I get it they are teens, they want to have fun and stuff, but please never tell someone that in real life. You just put pressure on someone and everyone can be interesting without doing such stuff.
• From my point of view, every female character was having the hots for lots of boys and I also disliked how some (even though irrelevant characters) just touched one of our male protagonists.
Here is the scene where Mallory touched Nate without allowance: "Sie kichert noch lauter und streicht mir über den Bauch."
And: "Mallory fummelt weiter an mir herum und ich trete einen Schritt zurück."
• We get once again the muscules and just being extraordinary hot cliché.
Oh and one apparently can ONLY like sporty people
Reference: "Ehrlich gesagt weiß ich nicht, was Simon sich dabei gedacht hat. Keely steht nur auf Sportler. Bei jemandem wie Bronwyn hätte er vielleicht mehr Chancen gehabt."
• Everyone flirts with everyone or even becomes a h0e
Reference: "Gott, meine Mutter. Die Frau hat tatsächlich den Nerv, mit Officer Budapest zu flirten"
Reference 2: "Und auf einmal habe ich ihn geküsst und vorgeschlagen, zu ihm nach Hause zu gehen.
Nichts von dem, was passiert ist, ist also seine Schuld." (The scandal scene)
Example 3: "»Dann hattest du gleichzeitig was mit mir und mit Nate?«
»Würde dir das was ausmachen?«"
Example 4: "Sie hat sich übrigens SOFORT Luis geangelt, nachdem Cooper mit ihr Schluss gemacht hatte. Wenn sie den Pitcher nicht haben kann, reicht ihr wohl auch sein Catcher. Luis hat Olivia für sie sitzen gelassen"
• THIS
"»Typisch Mann. Du hast keinen Schimmer, wie schwer es ist, ein Kostüm zu finden, in dem man sexy aussieht, aber nicht wie eine Nutte.«
Luis wackelt vielsagend mit den Brauen. »Dann geh doch einfach gleich als Nutte«,"
Ist so
wieso sexy aussehen wollen wenn Halloween eigentlich eh für Kinder ist und sexy man nur für bf oder gf sein sollte und nicht für alle Welt
• No research done what a sociopath is
"»Wer weiß, vielleicht bin ich ja ein Soziopath. Die sollen wahre Meister darin sein, ihre Umgebung zu täuschen.«"
Nein, das sind Psychopathen, sie wissen ganz genau wie sie charmant zu sein haben während Soziopathen noch empathie besitzen und auch impulsiver handeln
• Here is the example why I said earlier that Addy's whole personality and persona is based on Jake:
"Wenn ich nicht Jakes Freundin bin, wer bin ich dann?"
Eine Individuelle Person? kannst mir nicht sagen, sie denkt sonst sie existiert nicht nur weil sie mit Jake nicht mehr zusammen ist
Reference 2: "»Fällt dir wirklich nichts ein, was du gerne machst und was nichts mit Jake zu tun hat?«"
• Sexistic
"»Er hat kein Recht, dich aus der Welt zu radieren. Gott, du hast einen dummen Fehler gemacht. Aber es ist schließlich nicht so, als hättest du jemanden umgebracht.«"
Ach wirklich aber wenn ein Typ es macht heißt es wieder aLlE mÄnNeR sInD sChLImM
Example 2: "»Jemanden zu betrügen ist kein Fehler. Man entscheidet sich dafür«, gibt Jake aufgebracht zurück und klingt einen kurzen Moment vollkommen nüchtern."
Hat er vollkommen recht. man entscheidet sich. man kontrolliert auch sein eigen Körper und dementsprechend auch Entscheidungen
• It makes NO sense
Erst so 'Ich will nie wieder mit dir reden' auch Jake:
"»Wie geht es dir so?«, fragt er.
Ich muss beinahe lachen. »Oh, na ja, du weißt schon. Nicht so gut.«"
• No talking, just expecting others to solve your issues??
"»Tja, dann … man sieht sich.«"
So translated you do the usual girl move by not talking and expecting him to solve it himself even though its a US issue
• "Geht die Polizei zu weit, wenn private Informationen preisgegeben werden, um in einem Fall weiterzukommen?"
Ja, dürfen die in real life nicht mal
Genauso wie die Polizei weiß wenn eine Datei geschnitten wurde egal wie sehr man rumtrickst
• Addy's mum. Don't know if I need to explain but just her move that one NEEDS to have a bf to be happy. And pressuring her to get a new one.
• Cringe
"Addy dreht sich so schnell zu mir um, dass ihre blonde Mähne wie in einer Shampoo-Werbung um ihre Schultern schwingt."
• That haircut thing
"Ich habe mich an den Schnitt gewöhnt und MANCHMAL mag ich ihn sogar, aber es ist unmöglich, meine Haare über Nacht fünfundvierzig Zentimeter wachsen zu lassen, und es gibt nichts, was ich tun kann, damit sie in Jakes Augen besser aussehen."
Wrote the review: 26. July 2024
I know that most like this book and that's totally fine for me. I just think honestly I might shouldn't have read it as I usually don't read teenage thrillers and tend to stay in thrillers were the characters are already adults. So one could say the book was out of my comfort zone.
My opinions down below aren't intended to insult or hurt anyone, they are just my personal opinion and my experience while reading.
How to summaries the book perfectly based on Sam's words: "»Addy ist das Prinzesschen und du bist die Sportskanone«, sagt Simon zu mir. Er deutet mit dem Kinn auf Bronwyn und danach auf Nate. »Du die Intelligenzbestie und du der Outlaw. Ihr seid allesamt wandelnde Teenie-Film-Stereotypen.«"
Liked
• Even though the plot twists were obvious I liked that 1 of them was show than tell (all the others were tell only)
• Like how the 4 people not know eachother. Is more realistic if they have their own friend group and barely or just a few know eachother.
• Addy has a great character development. From being obedient to being independent.
• Even though I hate how cliché everything is, the whole bullying and teenage phase think is actually realistic.
Disliked
• Don't know about you, but if I would be the people in the book I wouldn't bully the people who are suspects about a murder case.
In the end they kill ME 🤷
(also the whole 'In the end I never really had any friends' thing is too often used now)
• Also not sure if you really can call anything of this a plot twist as these aren't secrets that are revealed but actual personal and privat stuff that is totally normal not to tell everyone.
• Way too many clichés and the whole puberty thing was so annoying (especially when Addy cut her hair and didn't like it in the end, and built her personality and connections only based on Jake)
• I don't know if it's my translation as I read it in German but I saw it so often now. Not knowing the difference between 'outing' and 'coming out'.
The word 'Zwangsouting' (forced outing) makes no sense as outing means:
"Outing," a term used for making the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of another public, when they would prefer to keep this information secret.
And 'coming out' means:
Coming out refers to the process that people who are LGBTQ go through as they work to accept their sexual orientation or gender identity and share that identity openly with other people.
So using outing and forced in front of it just makes it have a double meaning.
• The whole happy ending. In reality at least one thing wouldn't turn out like one would like it to be. That is what life is. Unrealistic.
• All flat characters. Sam was the closest of being three-dimensional, but all the others? Except what we know of the blurb about them we barely get to know about them anything else. Yes maybe a few 'secrets' or rather private information, but nothing like quirks, favourite something, more backstory that isn't based on their profession and more. We barely know them. Yes, Addy had a character development but it was still all about her relationship, how she was some kind of beauty princess and not queen (which is so bad, not) and that she had her 'I cut my hair to show that I'm independent now' phase (which she by the way regretted as soon as she saw Jake)
• The whole 'you aren't borinf 'cause you drink, do drugs, sex, etc..' thing is so damaging to say and even this book said it. I get it they are teens, they want to have fun and stuff, but please never tell someone that in real life. You just put pressure on someone and everyone can be interesting without doing such stuff.
• From my point of view, every female character was having the hots for lots of boys and I also disliked how some (even though irrelevant characters) just touched one of our male protagonists.
Here is the scene where Mallory touched Nate without allowance: "Sie kichert noch lauter und streicht mir über den Bauch."
And: "Mallory fummelt weiter an mir herum und ich trete einen Schritt zurück."
• We get once again the muscules and just being extraordinary hot cliché.
Oh and one apparently can ONLY like sporty people
Reference: "Ehrlich gesagt weiß ich nicht, was Simon sich dabei gedacht hat. Keely steht nur auf Sportler. Bei jemandem wie Bronwyn hätte er vielleicht mehr Chancen gehabt."
• Everyone flirts with everyone or even becomes a h0e
Reference: "Gott, meine Mutter. Die Frau hat tatsächlich den Nerv, mit Officer Budapest zu flirten"
Reference 2: "Und auf einmal habe ich ihn geküsst und vorgeschlagen, zu ihm nach Hause zu gehen.
Nichts von dem, was passiert ist, ist also seine Schuld." (The scandal scene)
Example 3: "»Dann hattest du gleichzeitig was mit mir und mit Nate?«
»Würde dir das was ausmachen?«"
Example 4: "Sie hat sich übrigens SOFORT Luis geangelt, nachdem Cooper mit ihr Schluss gemacht hatte. Wenn sie den Pitcher nicht haben kann, reicht ihr wohl auch sein Catcher. Luis hat Olivia für sie sitzen gelassen"
• THIS
"»Typisch Mann. Du hast keinen Schimmer, wie schwer es ist, ein Kostüm zu finden, in dem man sexy aussieht, aber nicht wie eine Nutte.«
Luis wackelt vielsagend mit den Brauen. »Dann geh doch einfach gleich als Nutte«,"
Ist so
wieso sexy aussehen wollen wenn Halloween eigentlich eh für Kinder ist und sexy man nur für bf oder gf sein sollte und nicht für alle Welt
• No research done what a sociopath is
"»Wer weiß, vielleicht bin ich ja ein Soziopath. Die sollen wahre Meister darin sein, ihre Umgebung zu täuschen.«"
Nein, das sind Psychopathen, sie wissen ganz genau wie sie charmant zu sein haben während Soziopathen noch empathie besitzen und auch impulsiver handeln
• Here is the example why I said earlier that Addy's whole personality and persona is based on Jake:
"Wenn ich nicht Jakes Freundin bin, wer bin ich dann?"
Eine Individuelle Person? kannst mir nicht sagen, sie denkt sonst sie existiert nicht nur weil sie mit Jake nicht mehr zusammen ist
Reference 2: "»Fällt dir wirklich nichts ein, was du gerne machst und was nichts mit Jake zu tun hat?«"
• Sexistic
"»Er hat kein Recht, dich aus der Welt zu radieren. Gott, du hast einen dummen Fehler gemacht. Aber es ist schließlich nicht so, als hättest du jemanden umgebracht.«"
Ach wirklich aber wenn ein Typ es macht heißt es wieder aLlE mÄnNeR sInD sChLImM
Example 2: "»Jemanden zu betrügen ist kein Fehler. Man entscheidet sich dafür«, gibt Jake aufgebracht zurück und klingt einen kurzen Moment vollkommen nüchtern."
Hat er vollkommen recht. man entscheidet sich. man kontrolliert auch sein eigen Körper und dementsprechend auch Entscheidungen
• It makes NO sense
Erst so 'Ich will nie wieder mit dir reden' auch Jake:
"»Wie geht es dir so?«, fragt er.
Ich muss beinahe lachen. »Oh, na ja, du weißt schon. Nicht so gut.«"
• No talking, just expecting others to solve your issues??
"»Tja, dann … man sieht sich.«"
So translated you do the usual girl move by not talking and expecting him to solve it himself even though its a US issue
• "Geht die Polizei zu weit, wenn private Informationen preisgegeben werden, um in einem Fall weiterzukommen?"
Ja, dürfen die in real life nicht mal
Genauso wie die Polizei weiß wenn eine Datei geschnitten wurde egal wie sehr man rumtrickst
• Addy's mum. Don't know if I need to explain but just her move that one NEEDS to have a bf to be happy. And pressuring her to get a new one.
• Cringe
"Addy dreht sich so schnell zu mir um, dass ihre blonde Mähne wie in einer Shampoo-Werbung um ihre Schultern schwingt."
• That haircut thing
"Ich habe mich an den Schnitt gewöhnt und MANCHMAL mag ich ihn sogar, aber es ist unmöglich, meine Haare über Nacht fünfundvierzig Zentimeter wachsen zu lassen, und es gibt nichts, was ich tun kann, damit sie in Jakes Augen besser aussehen."
Wrote the review: 26. July 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Outing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
lilareads5678's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
liked the book but not super memorable. it didn’t end how i wanted it too like wdym it was suicide
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Hate crime, Self harm, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Alcohol
wild_mustang's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
It was fine.
Pretty much just teen drama - sex, drugs, alcohol and depression. Oh, and trying to stay out of jail - but to be honest there wasn’t heaps of focus on the murder mystery. At least there wasn’t until the last 100 pages or so.
Personally, I didn’t really care for the romance sub-plots either.
The writing was also in a more juvenile voice than what I normally read, which makes sense because it’s first person perspectives from teenagers, but it took me a little while to get used to. Additionally, many of the plots were very trope heavy and painfully stereotypical at times
However, if was a very easy read and only took like 7hrs so it gets an average 3 star rating. The extra quarter of a star is an appreciation of some of the authors writing choices and the execution of perspective narrations to reveal relevant things in the intended literary light and at the right narrative time.
I recently studied Reader-Response Theory and I think, in this light, McManus did a very good job at writing for the implied reader (so the rating is bumped up), however, I really don’t think that I am the implied or intended reader (so it’s still a fairly average rating).
To take a strategic leaf from Simon’s tumblr…
JT recommended this to me and I’m not mad I read it but I certainly don’t care to continue the series.
Pretty much just teen drama - sex, drugs, alcohol and depression. Oh, and trying to stay out of jail - but to be honest there wasn’t heaps of focus on the murder mystery. At least there wasn’t until the last 100 pages or so.
Personally, I didn’t really care for the romance sub-plots either.
The writing was also in a more juvenile voice than what I normally read, which makes sense because it’s first person perspectives from teenagers, but it took me a little while to get used to. Additionally, many of the plots were very trope heavy and painfully stereotypical at times
However, if was a very easy read and only took like 7hrs so it gets an average 3 star rating. The extra quarter of a star is an appreciation of some of the authors writing choices and the execution of perspective narrations to reveal relevant things in the intended literary light and at the right narrative time.
I recently studied Reader-Response Theory and I think, in this light, McManus did a very good job at writing for the implied reader (so the rating is bumped up), however, I really don’t think that I am the implied or intended reader (so it’s still a fairly average rating).
To take a strategic leaf from Simon’s tumblr…
JT recommended this to me and I’m not mad I read it but I certainly don’t care to continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
tetedump's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Outing
severe allergy reaction