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jordynrose's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tabibuch's review against another edition
5.0
I mean coming from a Green brother I knew it had to be good. But I didn't expect it to be this good! So fun to read, so contemporary, so smart and understanding of the world we live in today, humanity's faults and strengths and what ultimately drives us as a people and individuals. Loved it and there better be a sequel cause you CANNOT keep us hanging like this!
emmabeckman's review against another edition
2.0
Well, I'd like to start out this review by saying that even though I did not like this book, I have no doubt that there is someone out there who I could recommend this book to who would really like it. I personally didn't really get along with it, but most people aren't like me (just read those top reviews down there). (Fair warning: There will probably be spoilers in this review.)
Here's the breakdown. Plot idea: 5 stars. Plot execution: 3 stars. Writing: 1 star. I know that averages to 3 stars, but really, writing definitely weighs more that plot idea on this scale. Based on a skim of some reviews before reading, I knew that I was probably not going to get along with the writing, but I didn't realize just how badly it was not going to gel. Other than the characters being in their 20s, I'm not really sure why this book wasn't classified as YA. The writing is one of the many aspects that would make it appeal much more to a YA audience than an adult one.
Related to the writing, this book also used one of my most hated tropes: the narrator telling us over and over again that now they have the benefit of hindsight and NOW they realize things that they didn't know then, but then not actually telling us those things half the time (giving us the old "you'll find out later" spiel). Sorry, but... I hate that.
Some other things I didn't like:
- Things were explained multiple times. This happened in the first chapter where within 5 pages we were told twice that April had bopped between majors in college. That should have been a sign. Another notable one: two different characters explain the hexidecimal system over the course of what feels like 20 pages.
- We spend 200 pages reading about fame and book tours and being on the news. This was super boring when we could have spent that time talking about the Carls and solving their puzzles and then had a MUCH better plot pay off in the end.
- Why did this turn into some sort of lesson about divisions in society?
- The ending was so rushed.
- The best part was the solving of puzzles in the dream and we only got to see 2.5 of them actually done.
- Based on those reviews I skimmed, I was expecting an explosive plot. This did not deliver (see above: re: 200 pages of fame, news, book tours). The build up and the ending were really not that exciting (to me, at least). I think I expected this book to be more alien focused and less "highs and lows of fame" focused. So maybe that was my own error.
- Her name is April May.
Good things:
- I'm here for the bi rep and the discussion, however brief, of the validity of bisexuality.
Here's the breakdown. Plot idea: 5 stars. Plot execution: 3 stars. Writing: 1 star. I know that averages to 3 stars, but really, writing definitely weighs more that plot idea on this scale. Based on a skim of some reviews before reading, I knew that I was probably not going to get along with the writing, but I didn't realize just how badly it was not going to gel. Other than the characters being in their 20s, I'm not really sure why this book wasn't classified as YA. The writing is one of the many aspects that would make it appeal much more to a YA audience than an adult one.
Related to the writing, this book also used one of my most hated tropes: the narrator telling us over and over again that now they have the benefit of hindsight and NOW they realize things that they didn't know then, but then not actually telling us those things half the time (giving us the old "you'll find out later" spiel). Sorry, but... I hate that.
Some other things I didn't like:
- Things were explained multiple times. This happened in the first chapter where within 5 pages we were told twice that April had bopped between majors in college. That should have been a sign. Another notable one: two different characters explain the hexidecimal system over the course of what feels like 20 pages.
- We spend 200 pages reading about fame and book tours and being on the news. This was super boring when we could have spent that time talking about the Carls and solving their puzzles and then had a MUCH better plot pay off in the end.
- Why did this turn into some sort of lesson about divisions in society?
- The ending was so rushed.
- The best part was the solving of puzzles in the dream and we only got to see 2.5 of them actually done.
- Based on those reviews I skimmed, I was expecting an explosive plot. This did not deliver (see above: re: 200 pages of fame, news, book tours). The build up and the ending were really not that exciting (to me, at least). I think I expected this book to be more alien focused and less "highs and lows of fame" focused. So maybe that was my own error.
- Her name is April May.
Good things:
- I'm here for the bi rep and the discussion, however brief, of the validity of bisexuality.
morganwerner's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sophie_theresia_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Blood, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
gpmuli100's review against another edition
2.0
This was a well written pile of hot garbage. I don't quite understand why Hank Green deserved 340 pages to proselytize about social media or why people seem to be on board with his directionless message. What a bummer that he manages to defeat the point he is trying to make in the last 10 pages. What the hell.