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blankeechats's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I had read this book about a year ago and had not remembered a single detail, so I decided to put it back on my physical TBR. I was a little annoyed by how the romance between Sean and Bree were introduced. However, I really enjoyed the representation of bullying and anxiety. I seem to keep picking books that end in the main character at a grave, most of the time apologizing . This book had me bawling at times and laughing out loud at others I think all of the little cliques and character development in this book are so lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Vomit, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Minor: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Grief, Body shaming, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
rachelwrites007's review
4.0
I read an early draft and thoroughly enjoyed this one. Can't wait to see Ami's changes :-)
booksandladders's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'll have my full thoughts up as part of Sunday Street Team!
WARNING: There is suicide mention and a full blown panic attack in this, which can be triggering for some people! Please be cautious while reading this, friends.
This was a really good read. Allen-Vath can WRITE, that's for sure. And she does so in a way that not only feels realistic but tells the story in a way that you want to read it. There were some pacing things I wasn't a fan of, as I thought part of it dragged a little bit. However, this didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. The other thing was that there were some characterizations that left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth when it came to how Bree described other girls (and while it was realistic, it was still a little eh). I liked that I went into this expecting a light-hearted contemporary novel but that Allen-Vath gave us something so much more than that. I think the change was one that everyone needs to read. It is nice to have a light, fluffy contemporary novel, but it is also great to have something that has a bit more to it than that. And if nothing else, reading the last 10% made the whole book worth it.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I'll have my full thoughts up as part of Sunday Street Team!
WARNING: There is suicide mention and a full blown panic attack in this, which can be triggering for some people! Please be cautious while reading this, friends.
This was a really good read. Allen-Vath can WRITE, that's for sure. And she does so in a way that not only feels realistic but tells the story in a way that you want to read it. There were some pacing things I wasn't a fan of, as I thought part of it dragged a little bit. However, this didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. The other thing was that there were some characterizations that left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth when it came to how Bree described other girls (and while it was realistic, it was still a little eh). I liked that I went into this expecting a light-hearted contemporary novel but that Allen-Vath gave us something so much more than that. I think the change was one that everyone needs to read. It is nice to have a light, fluffy contemporary novel, but it is also great to have something that has a bit more to it than that. And if nothing else, reading the last 10% made the whole book worth it.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
blakehalsey's review
5.0
This book really encompassed so many high school feels for me. It was a perfect blend of fun and serious and the romance is so, so sweet, I can't even. Loved it!
kbranfield's review
5.0
Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath is a captivating young adult novel that is the perfect blend of teenage angst, humor and romance. However, Ami Allen-Vath deftly incorporates true to life, hard-hitting issues into the storyline and this is what makes it an absolute must read for readers of all ages.
Bree Hughes is well-liked by most of her classmates but she prefers to stay out of the limelight. However, she is thrust into the middle of drama when she, her best friend Kallie Vale and the much bullied Maisey Morgan are nominated for prom queen. Bree also has a serious crush on Sean Mills but since she is too shy to approach him, she spends a lot of time daydreaming about him. Much to her surprise, Sean asks her to help him on a class assignment, but when the two continue hanging out together, she is uncertain whether or not they are just friends or if they are dating. In the midst of the normal teen angst, Maisey commits suicide and leaves Bree a letter that she is too afraid to read. She is still trying to make sense of Maisey's death when her relationship with Sean hits an unexpected snag. With her life in chaos and prom fast approaching, Bree is finally forced to change her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems.
Bree is a very appealing and likable character who, on the surface, seems to have it all together. But there is a lot going on her life that she is keeping to herself. Her parents have recently divorced and while Bree is glad her home life is much more serene, she refuses to deal with her feelings over the changes in her life. At the same time, she and Kallie are drifting apart since Kallie spends most of her free time with her boyfriend. Bree is completely blindsided by Masiey's suicide and she experiences a ton of guilt that she did not do more to stop her classmates incessant bullying. She is also confused about why Maisey left her a letter but no matter many times she tries, she cannot bring herself to read Maisey's final words.
Bree's relationship with Sean is very sweet and slowly transitions from friendship to romance. Their interactions are mostly fun and laidback and while Sean eventually opens up about what is going on in his life, Bree keeps quiet about the problems in hers. She retreats when things get rough but Sean never gives up trying to get through to her. Their romance is mostly trouble free but when Bree learns distressing news about him, she pulls away from him, refusing to allow Sean to tell his side of the story. However, this is the impetus she needs to finally find a healthier way to deal with her problems and by prom night, Bree's self-confidence gives her the courage to publicly speak about Maisey's suicide.
Maisey is an absolutely heartbreaking character and it is impossible not to feel empathy for the suffering she endured. Bullied by her classmates for years, she is miserable and just trying to survive until graduation. But she reaches her breaking point when she is nominated for prom queen and becomes an even bigger laughingstock to her classmates. Maisey lashes out in anger when Bree makes a half-hearted attempt to comfort her, but it is definitely a case of too little, too late. There is more going on behind the scenes with Maisey than anyone could possibly imagine and this, too, plays a role in her decision to take her life.
Light-hearted with darker undertones, Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that tackles some very worthwhile subjects with sensitivity and compassion. The characters are well-developed with true to life flaws and imperfections but this is what makes them easy to relate to. The novel is well-written with a realistic storyline that has depth and substance. The ending is poignant yet uplifting and the epilogue is very heartwarming. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this phenomenal young adult novel to readers of all ages.
Bree Hughes is well-liked by most of her classmates but she prefers to stay out of the limelight. However, she is thrust into the middle of drama when she, her best friend Kallie Vale and the much bullied Maisey Morgan are nominated for prom queen. Bree also has a serious crush on Sean Mills but since she is too shy to approach him, she spends a lot of time daydreaming about him. Much to her surprise, Sean asks her to help him on a class assignment, but when the two continue hanging out together, she is uncertain whether or not they are just friends or if they are dating. In the midst of the normal teen angst, Maisey commits suicide and leaves Bree a letter that she is too afraid to read. She is still trying to make sense of Maisey's death when her relationship with Sean hits an unexpected snag. With her life in chaos and prom fast approaching, Bree is finally forced to change her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems.
Bree is a very appealing and likable character who, on the surface, seems to have it all together. But there is a lot going on her life that she is keeping to herself. Her parents have recently divorced and while Bree is glad her home life is much more serene, she refuses to deal with her feelings over the changes in her life. At the same time, she and Kallie are drifting apart since Kallie spends most of her free time with her boyfriend. Bree is completely blindsided by Masiey's suicide and she experiences a ton of guilt that she did not do more to stop her classmates incessant bullying. She is also confused about why Maisey left her a letter but no matter many times she tries, she cannot bring herself to read Maisey's final words.
Bree's relationship with Sean is very sweet and slowly transitions from friendship to romance. Their interactions are mostly fun and laidback and while Sean eventually opens up about what is going on in his life, Bree keeps quiet about the problems in hers. She retreats when things get rough but Sean never gives up trying to get through to her. Their romance is mostly trouble free but when Bree learns distressing news about him, she pulls away from him, refusing to allow Sean to tell his side of the story. However, this is the impetus she needs to finally find a healthier way to deal with her problems and by prom night, Bree's self-confidence gives her the courage to publicly speak about Maisey's suicide.
Maisey is an absolutely heartbreaking character and it is impossible not to feel empathy for the suffering she endured. Bullied by her classmates for years, she is miserable and just trying to survive until graduation. But she reaches her breaking point when she is nominated for prom queen and becomes an even bigger laughingstock to her classmates. Maisey lashes out in anger when Bree makes a half-hearted attempt to comfort her, but it is definitely a case of too little, too late. There is more going on behind the scenes with Maisey than anyone could possibly imagine and this, too, plays a role in her decision to take her life.
Light-hearted with darker undertones, Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that tackles some very worthwhile subjects with sensitivity and compassion. The characters are well-developed with true to life flaws and imperfections but this is what makes them easy to relate to. The novel is well-written with a realistic storyline that has depth and substance. The ending is poignant yet uplifting and the epilogue is very heartwarming. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this phenomenal young adult novel to readers of all ages.
bangchrislvr's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
pikasqueaks's review
5.0
I really loved this book for a few simple reasons:
- Bree is half-Latina, she suffers from panic attacks, and her family is atypical. None of these are big deals, the story isn't about them, and the author manages to incorporate all of this seamlessly and wonderfully without disregarding any of it, but also without making a huge deal out of any of it.
- The characters, voice, and situations are all extremely young adult. They are teenagers. You can tell Bree is by her voice. The issue of the adult-looking-back-lens isn't here, and I appreciate it so much.
- This fits in the bevy of teen movies. This could have easily been written as a great, awesome Mean Girls, DUFF, Clueless type movie and I adore that so, so much.
I really liked this, and I feel like it set the bar for the rest of my year's YA reads pretty high in terms of entertainment value, among other things.
- Bree is half-Latina, she suffers from panic attacks, and her family is atypical. None of these are big deals, the story isn't about them, and the author manages to incorporate all of this seamlessly and wonderfully without disregarding any of it, but also without making a huge deal out of any of it.
- The characters, voice, and situations are all extremely young adult. They are teenagers. You can tell Bree is by her voice. The issue of the adult-looking-back-lens isn't here, and I appreciate it so much.
- This fits in the bevy of teen movies. This could have easily been written as a great, awesome Mean Girls, DUFF, Clueless type movie and I adore that so, so much.
I really liked this, and I feel like it set the bar for the rest of my year's YA reads pretty high in terms of entertainment value, among other things.
bayy245's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It was a beautifully put together story of all the struggles of a girl in her senior year. Bree faces fall outs with her best friend, the struggles of prom court, first love, divorce, and anxiety. Bree is a wonderfully developed character, I see a lot of myself in her. She’s a very fun and sarcastic girl inseparable from her best friend. She’s just trying to survive her senior year with her future looming in the distance. She’s struggling with anxiety as well but doesn’t want to admit it. And this is where I really connect with Bree, besides her sarcastic sass. I recently started getting help for my anxiety. Now granted mine is a lot worse than hers, but I struggled with taking the leap to get help. But it was the best decision I ever made. So I urge any of you that are struggling with something, take the leap and get help. You’re worth it.
The only gripe I have with this book is it’s simply not long enough. I felt like the love story was a tad bit rushed, I wanted it strung out longer and I wanted to see more of them together, more of their dynamic, and more of them falling in love. What we did see however was wonderful. It wasn’t rushed or filled with clichés, it was simply natural. I felt like I was peaking behind a bush, watching a couple fall in love.
The author used a very familiar situation, senior year and prom, to teach a lesson. You can’t look at someone and understand what they’re going through so just be kind. You don’t know how hard your words will hurt someone, something you may see as a joke could be the last straw for someone. Things get better. Take it day by day because things get better. You might think they don’t but they do.
The only gripe I have with this book is it’s simply not long enough. I felt like the love story was a tad bit rushed, I wanted it strung out longer and I wanted to see more of them together, more of their dynamic, and more of them falling in love. What we did see however was wonderful. It wasn’t rushed or filled with clichés, it was simply natural. I felt like I was peaking behind a bush, watching a couple fall in love.
The author used a very familiar situation, senior year and prom, to teach a lesson. You can’t look at someone and understand what they’re going through so just be kind. You don’t know how hard your words will hurt someone, something you may see as a joke could be the last straw for someone. Things get better. Take it day by day because things get better. You might think they don’t but they do.
hiallhyles's review
3.0
Not a bad read, but I had trouble relating to the main character. Plot-wise, this didn't do much for me, but the book was well-written. Bree, the main character, has a unique voice, just not one that is particularly interesting to me. However, the discussion of teen suicide is very important, and that alone makes the book more compelling.
bookmarklit's review
3.0
I honestly don't think I've ever felt so conflicted about a book. On one hand, the writing felt very weird and awkward most of the time. It made me roll my eyes a bit and just want more from each paragraph. On the other hand, it was interesting and addicting. There were some moments that made me laugh out loud and some that made me cringe. Coming in at under 200 pages, this book was super short and could have benefited a lot from 100 more pages of real stuff (instead of more dates and parties). I'm not sure. More thoughts to come.