imawriter23's review against another edition
3.0
I wished I read this when I was still in high school. I can totally relate to what the girls went through. It's a story of friendship and family above everything else. There were some sensitive issues touched here-- like lesbianism, sex and drugs. But I really like the pacing of the story and the way it was told. It kept me guessing through the end.
kaylakaotik's review against another edition
2.0
This book was certainly not what I was expecting after reading the blurb. Throughout the whole book, I’m expecting some huge event that completely flips the book from just mediocre to absolutely amazing (or at least worth the read). Instead, nothing. The book just ends. Right when we’ve reached the high point, the big unforgivable act, it just ends. We see no justice. We see no resolution. Highly disappointing.
The weirdest part of the book was the second-person narrative. Surely it’s been done well before, but certainly not in this case. I assume the book was told this way in order to make the reader feel closer to the characters and become invested in them. Instead, for me, it did just the opposite. I never developed a connection to any of the characters and I didn’t really care what happened to either of them. I kept thinking about how strange the narrative was and it removed me from the story rather than immersed me in it.
After reading some reviews on Goodreads, I guess this is one of those polarizing books. For some, it’s this amazing book. For others, like me, it’s a letdown.
The weirdest part of the book was the second-person narrative. Surely it’s been done well before, but certainly not in this case. I assume the book was told this way in order to make the reader feel closer to the characters and become invested in them. Instead, for me, it did just the opposite. I never developed a connection to any of the characters and I didn’t really care what happened to either of them. I kept thinking about how strange the narrative was and it removed me from the story rather than immersed me in it.
After reading some reviews on Goodreads, I guess this is one of those polarizing books. For some, it’s this amazing book. For others, like me, it’s a letdown.
juicelina's review against another edition
4.0
*3.5 Stars*
This book took me a while to get into because of the writing style. I didn't really like the whole second person pov, but once I got past it I couldn't put it down. Blair and Ardith both have really shitty home lives, but they're also super different. They have a connection because of that mutual shit storm. I was annoyed a lot of the time because they made some pretty stupid choices but I had to remind myself that they were super young. I think they started the book at 13 and ended at 15. So I was like yeah I would've probably made the same choices because I remember how desperate I was to grow up at those ages.
This book does have a trigger warning for rape and abuse. It's not super graphic, but it does occur a lot. Also slut shaming is a major subject in this novel. They never mention it directly, but it does touch on the fact that the girl gets blamed a lot of the time over being a tease or how if a girl attracts boys she's a slut, but if a boy attracts girls he's a player. Ardith does become a bit slut shame-y towards Blair, but she usually corrects herself about it.
I think this book is one everyone should definitely check out. It touches on some very important subjects plus it's just one of those books you have to read till the end.
This book took me a while to get into because of the writing style. I didn't really like the whole second person pov, but once I got past it I couldn't put it down. Blair and Ardith both have really shitty home lives, but they're also super different. They have a connection because of that mutual shit storm. I was annoyed a lot of the time because they made some pretty stupid choices but I had to remind myself that they were super young. I think they started the book at 13 and ended at 15. So I was like yeah I would've probably made the same choices because I remember how desperate I was to grow up at those ages.
This book does have a trigger warning for rape and abuse. It's not super graphic, but it does occur a lot. Also slut shaming is a major subject in this novel. They never mention it directly, but it does touch on the fact that the girl gets blamed a lot of the time over being a tease or how if a girl attracts boys she's a slut, but if a boy attracts girls he's a player. Ardith does become a bit slut shame-y towards Blair, but she usually corrects herself about it.
I think this book is one everyone should definitely check out. It touches on some very important subjects plus it's just one of those books you have to read till the end.
pikasqueaks's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for second person, broken families, and angry teenagers. But I'm an even bigger sucker for writing that can make you just as angry and enraged as the characters feel, and as hopeless and frustrated, too. Laura Wiess accomplished this almost every section, with Blair's mother, with Adrith's entire family, with the kids at school, and with the "boys will be boys" phrase scattered throughout.
It doesn't excuse what they do, but that's the point. That's the whole point.
It doesn't excuse what they do, but that's the point. That's the whole point.
rccxart's review against another edition
5.0
It was such an emotional journey for the reader. It was a fresh way to view how wicked and cruel people in the world can be. It was amazing to see how someone can choose to find herself among her chaos. It was well written and had me crying at the end. Beautiful book.
hstevens5's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting read— wasn’t impressed by the ending, but it was an unique take on two young women’s tragic stories.
mokey81's review against another edition
3.0
I guess this is a good story. I'm just constantly unnerved at how young adult fiction has changed.
This is the story about two girls who do something rather terrible for justice. One comes from a family who have parties all the time and she has to avoid bing groped or worse by all the males in the house. The other is a girl whose mother's ambition drives their family apart and leaves the girl home along most of the time, abandoned. This is about them trying to make it, but then they are forbidden to see each other. And in the face of a crime against a mutual friend, rather than let the world happen to them, the exact their own justice.
It was alright and fairly decent writing. I just...wasn't thrilled with the content. Guess I chose poorly.
This is the story about two girls who do something rather terrible for justice. One comes from a family who have parties all the time and she has to avoid bing groped or worse by all the males in the house. The other is a girl whose mother's ambition drives their family apart and leaves the girl home along most of the time, abandoned. This is about them trying to make it, but then they are forbidden to see each other. And in the face of a crime against a mutual friend, rather than let the world happen to them, the exact their own justice.
It was alright and fairly decent writing. I just...wasn't thrilled with the content. Guess I chose poorly.
librariann's review against another edition
4.0
Ages 14+ (language, rape, sex, underage drinking/smoking)
Very chilling, very good, with a killer last line. Recommend to those who enjoyed Aimee, The Basic Eight.
Very chilling, very good, with a killer last line. Recommend to those who enjoyed Aimee, The Basic Eight.
apathofpages's review against another edition
3.0
Moving and tragically relatable in certain ways. Kind of confusing and takes a bit to grasp the way they are telling their stories and the perspectives they use. It's a different and effective approach within the storyline. Honestly it could have gone fabulously or failed tragically, but in this particular case it worked.
Some parts are predictable and others, for me at least, are caught off guard.
This book is an eye-opener especially amongst teen girls, and emphasizes realities of girls and the struggles we go through in every day life. Things that may not seem a big deal to others, but can make or break our sanity in ways we cannot explain to others, let alone understand ourselves
Some parts are predictable and others, for me at least, are caught off guard.
This book is an eye-opener especially amongst teen girls, and emphasizes realities of girls and the struggles we go through in every day life. Things that may not seem a big deal to others, but can make or break our sanity in ways we cannot explain to others, let alone understand ourselves
venusmorningstar's review against another edition
5.0
Personally, I think this one was even better than such a pretty girl. The characters are totally relatable and the story is great!