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toodoorcc's review
1.0
This book completely sucked. More than 95% of the time, she would have just ONE sentence and it would last up to a paragraph with either one or two commas or none at all. It made me feel like gabby was talking a mile a minute with run on sentences everywhere. The boyfriend was a complete idiotic character that I didn't care for and so were the rest of the characters. What really kind of made me shake my head at all the characters and story in General was when gabby remembered and confronted billy about catching him in the act with a topless Aliza on top of him and her tongue down his throat, he just kind of shrugged his shoulders in a "who cares" kind of way lol who does that
jordaneb's review against another edition
4.0
Don't know if I've ever read a book where I don't like the main character before, but this was it. She learned in the end and it was a great story but yeah, wasn't a fan.
sappix's review against another edition
1.0
Yuck!
I encounter very little books that actually displease me enough to discontinue reading it mid-way through, but alas, this one is one of those rare books that fit into my personal "atrocious" category.
Some people have been raving about this book, but I cannot fathom as to why some view it in a positive light. I regret buying this book, and I now intend to give it away or to hide it deep in the depths of my closet. I admit, the synopsis captured enough of my attention to actually buy this book (big mistake!). However, once the book started, I am launched into this extremely negative world in which there is not one single character that relieves this pessimistic aura. It's all vanity and beauty, only exaggerated to the point where this cannot possibly be realistic. The mother is trying to smother her face with make-up while her daughter is in the trauma ward of a hospital! And what does she try to do next? Coat that make up on her daughters ruined face.
I could go on as to how I despise this book, but then I'd be wasting my time. I do not recommend this to anyone, not matter what the circumstance is.
I encounter very little books that actually displease me enough to discontinue reading it mid-way through, but alas, this one is one of those rare books that fit into my personal "atrocious" category.
Some people have been raving about this book, but I cannot fathom as to why some view it in a positive light. I regret buying this book, and I now intend to give it away or to hide it deep in the depths of my closet. I admit, the synopsis captured enough of my attention to actually buy this book (big mistake!). However, once the book started, I am launched into this extremely negative world in which there is not one single character that relieves this pessimistic aura. It's all vanity and beauty, only exaggerated to the point where this cannot possibly be realistic. The mother is trying to smother her face with make-up while her daughter is in the trauma ward of a hospital! And what does she try to do next? Coat that make up on her daughters ruined face.
I could go on as to how I despise this book, but then I'd be wasting my time. I do not recommend this to anyone, not matter what the circumstance is.
pikasqueaks's review against another edition
3.0
First line of the book started right off with slut-shaming. I've never had the first sentence of a book turn me off so quickly. It got better, but the whole amnesia trope and the "mental home memories" is such the easy way out of writing and discovering who she was / why she was.
The ending is clear right from the beginning.
Pretty writing, but I'm sick of slut-shaming in YA books.
The ending is clear right from the beginning.
Pretty writing, but I'm sick of slut-shaming in YA books.
missprint_'s review against another edition
1.0
Stampler's writing is great in this story. The opening pages in particular draw readers in. Unfortunately after the unpredictable opening Gabby does little to keep readers interested. While the secrets and flashbacks work to some extent, they do little to actually make Gabby a sympathetic character. As she tries to parse out what she remembers and what she doesn't, what happened before and what's happening after, she just isn't very compelling. Gabby spends so much time telling people what her life should be or used to be that there isn't a big chance to see who Gabby is in the moment. There are a few YA books that tackle amnesia as a big tenet of the story. Unfortunately, this book's structure helped to make it a less effective addition to that group.
kenziexreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
drowningfaithh's review against another edition
1.0
I first read this 5 years ago and I disliked it. Years later, I come across this book and I forgot what happened so I decided to give it another go. Sad to say that my opinion from 5 years ago remains unchanged.
About 100 pages in with completely nothing happening, Where It Began indeed. The book was so slow and I did not know what direction it wanted to take. It was difficult for me to keep on going because of how repetitive and irrelevant some of the main character’s narration were. It’s upsetting because the concept was interesting but the execution was such a letdown.
Everyone has their own opinion so I would not discourage anyone from reading it. For me, it was just a waste of time.
About 100 pages in with completely nothing happening, Where It Began indeed. The book was so slow and I did not know what direction it wanted to take. It was difficult for me to keep on going because of how repetitive and irrelevant some of the main character’s narration were. It’s upsetting because the concept was interesting but the execution was such a letdown.
Everyone has their own opinion so I would not discourage anyone from reading it. For me, it was just a waste of time.
charmaineac's review against another edition
5.0
This book was fantastic.
I realized that very early on in the story, but it made sense that she didn't realize it until it was right in her face. The fact that everyone assumed she knew (including her best friends) added to the authenticity of the story, in my opinion. She was in denial because she wanted that perfect life that would please her parents.
Speaking of her parents, they were some of the worst I've ever read about. Gabby's mother brought down her self-esteem so low, had such poor priorities, and didn't even believe her by the end of it. I saw some hope in Gabby's father, at least. But I really wish Gabby's mother made some progress at some point or another. I couldn't fault her for wanting the best for Gabby, but she seriously had the wrong idea of going about it. I kind of wished she got some therapy too, hah! It absolutely seemed plausible that Gabby's lack of self-confidence and self-worth stemmed from a lifetime of not measuring up to her parents' expectations and hopes. She had a serious inferiority complex that I've sadly come to see in real life as well -- we live in a world where having sub-regular hair is more horrific than having to move across the ocean to come to terms with yourself.
I hate how but at the same time, I know that's how the real world works. As messed up as politics of the 3B's were portrayed, I know the book shed a light into the real world. If you have money, you can get away with murder (and it's crazy how that's almost not merely an idiom in this case). It isn't right, but not much can be done about it.
The fact that Gabby had to go away across the world to escape that same past is also an unfortunate truth. She got out of probation, at least, but she had to go through great lengths to retain some sense of normalcy. Her life was changed irrevocably because of that one night. But at the same time, she did drown her sorrows in alcohol. She had her own demons to get over, and I'm glad she was coming to terms with that by the end of the story. She was lucky for her art teachers and her support system (although none of them were painted as paragons of virtue, thankfully).
Billy, on the other hand, showed no sense of remorse or guilt at the end. It seems impossible for anyone to be that selfish. I wish Billy was even a little more considerate. Even Andie realized this when she told Andy that Billy wasn't a good person, despite being their best friend. Andy had his faults for understanding the situation in its near-entirety, but at least he felt guilty about it. For the most part though, the Andies were in their own bubble, which is true about most acquaintances. They worry about you to the extent that your problems affect them.
Aside from Billy and perhaps Gabby's mother, the characters in this book were incredibly authentic. They all made mistakes, they all had their issues, but they all had reasons and motivations for their actions.
My only other gripe would be the slightly-off vocabulary used. The use of "totally" and other YA-isms made the book seem a little younger than it could have been. Otherwise, its depiction of teenagers today hit the mark.
I realized that
Spoiler
Billy framed GabbySpeaking of her parents, they were some of the worst I've ever read about. Gabby's mother brought down her self-esteem so low, had such poor priorities, and didn't even believe her by the end of it. I saw some hope in Gabby's father, at least. But I really wish Gabby's mother made some progress at some point or another. I couldn't fault her for wanting the best for Gabby, but she seriously had the wrong idea of going about it. I kind of wished she got some therapy too, hah! It absolutely seemed plausible that Gabby's lack of self-confidence and self-worth stemmed from a lifetime of not measuring up to her parents' expectations and hopes. She had a serious inferiority complex that I've sadly come to see in real life as well -- we live in a world where having sub-regular hair is more horrific than having to move across the ocean to come to terms with yourself.
I hate how
Spoiler
Billy got away scot-free,The fact that Gabby had to go away across the world to escape that same past is also an unfortunate truth. She got out of probation, at least, but she had to go through great lengths to retain some sense of normalcy. Her life was changed irrevocably because of that one night. But at the same time, she did drown her sorrows in alcohol. She had her own demons to get over, and I'm glad she was coming to terms with that by the end of the story. She was lucky for her art teachers and her support system (although none of them were painted as paragons of virtue, thankfully).
Billy, on the other hand, showed no sense of remorse or guilt at the end. It seems impossible for anyone to be that selfish. I wish Billy was even a little more considerate. Even Andie realized this when she told Andy that Billy wasn't a good person, despite being their best friend. Andy had his faults for understanding the situation in its near-entirety, but at least he felt guilty about it. For the most part though, the Andies were in their own bubble, which is true about most acquaintances. They worry about you to the extent that your problems affect them.
Aside from Billy and perhaps Gabby's mother, the characters in this book were incredibly authentic. They all made mistakes, they all had their issues, but they all had reasons and motivations for their actions.
My only other gripe would be the slightly-off vocabulary used. The use of "totally" and other YA-isms made the book seem a little younger than it could have been. Otherwise, its depiction of teenagers today hit the mark.