brilynnluna's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, I’m not usually one to criticize books but OH. MY. GOD. This book bored the heck out of me.
First of all, as a YA book primarily about a romance, we barely got introduced to the love interest until halfway through the book. The first half of the book is filled with Auden talking about her parents’ divorce and her mom’s life and Auden judging her stepmom because of, am I reading this right, how she writes her emails?! What. The. Heck?
Auden was kind of a really boring character? She was pretty emotionless. There wasn’t much to her except that she has “insomnia” but she’s actually just nocturnal. 🤦🏼♀️
Auden’s dad was just pretty much an a**hole. He has ZERO redeeming qualities. Same with her mom.
Don’t even get me started on Thisbe! Half the book is filled with her crying! Like MY GOD.
Eli was also a boring character and Auden and Eli didn’t have much chemistry.
Also, the whole part about Jason was completely pointless. They ran into each other, he texted her asking her to lunch a ton of times but she ignored him, and he asked her to the dance but they didn’t even go together. So, what was the point of that?!
Overall, not a favorite. Now, this doesn’t mean that I’m going to judge all of Sarah Dessen’s books because of this one.
First of all, as a YA book primarily about a romance, we barely got introduced to the love interest until halfway through the book. The first half of the book is filled with Auden talking about her parents’ divorce and her mom’s life and Auden judging her stepmom because of, am I reading this right, how she writes her emails?! What. The. Heck?
Auden was kind of a really boring character? She was pretty emotionless. There wasn’t much to her except that she has “insomnia” but she’s actually just nocturnal. 🤦🏼♀️
Auden’s dad was just pretty much an a**hole. He has ZERO redeeming qualities. Same with her mom.
Don’t even get me started on Thisbe! Half the book is filled with her crying! Like MY GOD.
Eli was also a boring character and Auden and Eli didn’t have much chemistry.
Also, the whole part about Jason was completely pointless. They ran into each other, he texted her asking her to lunch a ton of times but she ignored him, and he asked her to the dance but they didn’t even go together. So, what was the point of that?!
Overall, not a favorite. Now, this doesn’t mean that I’m going to judge all of Sarah Dessen’s books because of this one.
rytisa04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
uwishuknewmyname's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, the chain reaction of being a Samia fan.
While the “middle school summer reading” sticker on my library’s copy of this kept me humble throughout, I really enjoyed this book and thought a lot of it probably would have gone over middle school me’s head. It was a bold choice to make the protagonist so unlikeable at the start, but Dessen pulled it off through her character development, incorporation of backstory, and portrayal of family relationships. To be honest, she had me from the first page, when she dedicated the book to the girls that babysit her daughter.
While the “middle school summer reading” sticker on my library’s copy of this kept me humble throughout, I really enjoyed this book and thought a lot of it probably would have gone over middle school me’s head. It was a bold choice to make the protagonist so unlikeable at the start, but Dessen pulled it off through her character development, incorporation of backstory, and portrayal of family relationships. To be honest, she had me from the first page, when she dedicated the book to the girls that babysit her daughter.
marshmallowbooks's review against another edition
4.0
It has simply become my default setting to be excited for and thoroughly enjoy Sarah Dessen's books. Again, the way she writes is so realistic. I can imagine real people that are just like her characters. I believe it is possible for the plots she has created to really be happening to someone, somewhere. This book is no different.
Sarah Dessen's ability to create characters I end up caring about and feel like I really get to know is amazing. I also enjoy how she carefully inserts things and people from her other books - it makes them exist beyond the last page of their books.
*****
Update: I listen to this (and many of Sarah Dessen's other books) quite often because I bought the audiobooks. I just have to say that with each time through, I very much dislike Auden's mom and dad - like a lot. I hate them. They're rude and narcissistic and prejudiced against everyone but themselves, including their daughter. It's a bit sad that sometimes Auden is like that as well, especially in the first half of the book. This is slightly more unfortunate because she can sometimes identify these traits in her parents, but certainly never seems to see them in herself. Luckily, although not by any conscious decision of her own, events of the summer allow Auden for the most part to move beyond that incredibly annoying mindset to see the people around her for who they are rather than for how they're not just like her.
Sarah Dessen's ability to create characters I end up caring about and feel like I really get to know is amazing. I also enjoy how she carefully inserts things and people from her other books - it makes them exist beyond the last page of their books.
*****
Update: I listen to this (and many of Sarah Dessen's other books) quite often because I bought the audiobooks. I just have to say that with each time through, I very much dislike Auden's mom and dad - like a lot. I hate them. They're rude and narcissistic and prejudiced against everyone but themselves, including their daughter. It's a bit sad that sometimes Auden is like that as well, especially in the first half of the book. This is slightly more unfortunate because she can sometimes identify these traits in her parents, but certainly never seems to see them in herself. Luckily, although not by any conscious decision of her own, events of the summer allow Auden for the most part to move beyond that incredibly annoying mindset to see the people around her for who they are rather than for how they're not just like her.
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Cute! Not as fluffy as I expected, but I’m excited to watch the movie now!
jnsa84's review against another edition
2.0
I really tried to get into this book, but I just couldn't connect with the main character. I couldn't really connect with the book, and in truth I couldn't wait for it to be finished. Disappointing.
el73's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Quite different to the film but still rlly good, nice quick read