charmaineac's review against another edition
3.0
For the most part, this book was way too drawn out and mundane. I felt no drive to finish reading it. For the longest time, these kids were too weird, too awkward, too angsty, and far too self-absorbed. But as the years went on, they all became more likeable people. Their identities changed. They grew into themselves. They all transformed into the people they should have been from the start. We are all one of these characters at some point in our lives. I also really liked seeing all the ways their lives intermingled over the years. From parental crushes to crazy car stories to teddy bears and chance encounters, there was a lot of cool dramatic irony. We got to see things that went without notice, which makes me wonder what we miss in real life just by not asking the right things or paying attention.
Mia: I am PROUD of this girl. At first, I had no idea what her motives were. I didn't understand why she was so obsessive and strange. Makeover? Necessary. Sophie friendship? Necessary. Jeremiah? Necessary. Brock? Essential. Low key, I want her and Brock to truly hit it off.
Jake: Kid's had it rough, and it's all thanks to TED. I like how Jake spent a lot of time finding himself. I'm glad he was an incredible artist, which didn't mean that he suddenly sucked at football (it just wasn't him anymore). I like how Whitney "saved" him. I liked how he saved Mia (temporarily) and Zoe (long-term). I like how he was that universally well-liked guy who didn't subscribe to the whole popularity game.
Whitney: Speaking of the popularity game, hi. I really hated a lot of her "friends," and thankfully they got what they deserved. This was like Mean Girls brought to life. I'm glad she realized how to be happy.
Gregor: Poor kid couldn't catch a break. It was amazing to see him blossom over the years.
Zoe: She was angsty and spoiled and self-entitled. Then, before you knew it, she was something else. I felt like the car scene was pivotal in the sense that it showed how much she had grown, without coming as a surprise/major change in character... and without noticeable changes as the months went by. It's like everything seems to be going at the same pace, until you look back, and before you know it... you're someone completely different. I understand now why people seem to change so much when you haven't seen them in a long time, yet seem exactly the same when you see them every day. There's something cool about changing with people together.
It was slow at first but nice at the end. The pacing made sense though.
Mia: I am PROUD of this girl. At first, I had no idea what her motives were. I didn't understand why she was so obsessive and strange. Makeover? Necessary. Sophie friendship? Necessary. Jeremiah? Necessary. Brock? Essential. Low key, I want her and Brock to truly hit it off.
Jake: Kid's had it rough, and it's all thanks to TED. I like how Jake spent a lot of time finding himself. I'm glad he was an incredible artist, which didn't mean that he suddenly sucked at football (it just wasn't him anymore). I like how Whitney "saved" him. I liked how he saved Mia (temporarily) and Zoe (long-term). I like how he was that universally well-liked guy who didn't subscribe to the whole popularity game.
Whitney: Speaking of the popularity game, hi. I really hated a lot of her "friends," and thankfully they got what they deserved. This was like Mean Girls brought to life. I'm glad she realized how to be happy.
Gregor: Poor kid couldn't catch a break. It was amazing to see him blossom over the years.
Zoe: She was angsty and spoiled and self-entitled. Then, before you knew it, she was something else. I felt like the car scene was pivotal in the sense that it showed how much she had grown, without coming as a surprise/major change in character... and without noticeable changes as the months went by. It's like everything seems to be going at the same pace, until you look back, and before you know it... you're someone completely different. I understand now why people seem to change so much when you haven't seen them in a long time, yet seem exactly the same when you see them every day. There's something cool about changing with people together.
It was slow at first but nice at the end. The pacing made sense though.
justineduhart's review against another edition
3.0
3 - 3,5/5
I enjoyed it but something was definitely missing for me.
I enjoyed it but something was definitely missing for me.
flo_lilli's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 4.75
I really enjoyed this one. Probably one of my favorite contemporaries. I really connected with the characters and they felt so alive in my head. I could picture everything so well. I really became invested in these characters lives, and I'm said it had to end. If you're looking for a good book with not much drama this is the perfect one
I really enjoyed this one. Probably one of my favorite contemporaries. I really connected with the characters and they felt so alive in my head. I could picture everything so well. I really became invested in these characters lives, and I'm said it had to end. If you're looking for a good book with not much drama this is the perfect one
readbymatt's review against another edition
2.0
This book has been on my tbr for longer then I can remember. Decided to pick it up and had trouble getting into it, so I took a speed reading approach. Thank god I did, this book was boring and probably could have been told in less pages if it wasn't for the premise that it is being told over 4yrs of high school. The only character I cared even a smidge about was Gregor. Overall I'm just glad to finally get this off my tbr.
sonni89's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very clear case of this book tried to do too much on too few pages.
There's just no way to tell five separate stories over the course of four years on 400 pages. We definitely missed out on so much that I felt like I never got to know most of these people.
That said, I was invested in what happened to them and how things would continue. It was just strange that whenever something monumental (usually terrible) happened to one of them, we'd only hear from them again months later, when it was all done.
It was just a weird concept for a contemporary YA novel that didn't work for me. I did love the kids though, especially Mia and Jake, so I'm still giving this (a generous) 3 stars. But yeah, this should have been four books, one for each year of high school. If it had been, it probably would have worked. As it is, there wasn't enough substance to it and it didn't work for me.
There's just no way to tell five separate stories over the course of four years on 400 pages. We definitely missed out on so much that I felt like I never got to know most of these people.
That said, I was invested in what happened to them and how things would continue. It was just strange that whenever something monumental (usually terrible) happened to one of them, we'd only hear from them again months later, when it was all done.
It was just a weird concept for a contemporary YA novel that didn't work for me. I did love the kids though, especially Mia and Jake, so I'm still giving this (a generous) 3 stars. But yeah, this should have been four books, one for each year of high school. If it had been, it probably would have worked. As it is, there wasn't enough substance to it and it didn't work for me.
kaiahbaillie33's review against another edition
3.0
as a recent highschool graduate this book was super nostalgic even though i couldn’t relate to all of the trivial “highschool” components it brought up. i adore analyzing the way people come in and out of others lives and i think highschool is the exact definition of “infinite in between”, the dipping in and out of eachothers last four years. it wasn’t the best book i’ve read & it wasn’t the worst, it was a lovely 462 pages.
joey1914's review against another edition
3.0
It was a cute story but you're waiting for the characters to come together and they don't ever truly become friends which was very disappointing.
pirate10100's review against another edition
5.0
started reading Carolyn Macklers books when The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things came out when I was 13 or so. Ten years later I still love her books, the fact that this one was released on my birthday just made it even better.
The characters as usual are very real, real life situations without over the top drama. I liked how the stories intertwined but not as much as in Tangled. It was interesting to see these five teenagers go through high school and recognizing some of the situations.
I cant say anything bad about it but I am probably biased since its my favorite author.
The characters as usual are very real, real life situations without over the top drama. I liked how the stories intertwined but not as much as in Tangled. It was interesting to see these five teenagers go through high school and recognizing some of the situations.
I cant say anything bad about it but I am probably biased since its my favorite author.
hazelstaybookish's review against another edition
3.0
Can't say I love or related to any of the characters (except Gregor's grief, that hit me) but I was pretty satisfied with the romance/s later on as things finally started coming together. Really liked Jake's parents especially their reaction/response when he came out, but wasn't a fan of other family/friendship dynamics.