pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
girlreading's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderfully, infuriating and messy story.
I don’t know how else to describe this other than messy but in the best way. It portrayed the painfully messy inner workings of being a teen, the messy journey of discovering yourself and the mess that is society and the messages that, no matter how hard you try, you can’t quite escape.
So yeah, it was a mess but a brilliantly written one. It was funny, stressful, lighthearted, heavy and authentic. The characters were equally funny, witty, strong, loveable, messy and freaking infuriating. I kinda wanted to throw this book across the room at a few of their decisions but I’m pretty sure I’ve felt this way at some point or another about every teenager I’ve ever met (and I have no doubt many felt this on multiple occasions towards my teen-self. *I* feel this about my teen-self) but I also wanted to wrap them in bubblewrap and make everything okay.
I adored the way the three POV’s were structured. I don’t think I’ve ever read a multiple POV book where it dedicated portions of the book to each character, rather than alternating chapters etc. but I loved it.
All in all, this book sent me on a rollercoaster of loving it, hating it, having no clue what I felt about it, to finally settling on (I think) that kind of being the point, maybe? Life is a total mess, bad decisions are made and nobody’s perfect and people (teens especially) should be allowed to be messy in regards to figuring out who they are and where they fit in the world. So despite not agreeing with pretty much any of the decisions these characters made, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel like it will be an incredibly important one for many readers.
TW: homophobic slur, biphobia, deadnaming
I don’t know how else to describe this other than messy but in the best way. It portrayed the painfully messy inner workings of being a teen, the messy journey of discovering yourself and the mess that is society and the messages that, no matter how hard you try, you can’t quite escape.
So yeah, it was a mess but a brilliantly written one. It was funny, stressful, lighthearted, heavy and authentic. The characters were equally funny, witty, strong, loveable, messy and freaking infuriating. I kinda wanted to throw this book across the room at a few of their decisions but I’m pretty sure I’ve felt this way at some point or another about every teenager I’ve ever met (and I have no doubt many felt this on multiple occasions towards my teen-self. *I* feel this about my teen-self) but I also wanted to wrap them in bubblewrap and make everything okay.
I adored the way the three POV’s were structured. I don’t think I’ve ever read a multiple POV book where it dedicated portions of the book to each character, rather than alternating chapters etc. but I loved it.
All in all, this book sent me on a rollercoaster of loving it, hating it, having no clue what I felt about it, to finally settling on (I think) that kind of being the point, maybe? Life is a total mess, bad decisions are made and nobody’s perfect and people (teens especially) should be allowed to be messy in regards to figuring out who they are and where they fit in the world. So despite not agreeing with pretty much any of the decisions these characters made, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel like it will be an incredibly important one for many readers.
TW: homophobic slur, biphobia, deadnaming
laurieisreading's review against another edition
I think you guys really would like to know why I DNF'ed Nic Stone's Odd One Out at 31%. Well, there are a few reasons.
The main reason is the messy, distractive formatting of the book. The story is told in short paragraphs with looooooooooots of empty spaces between them, even within dialogue. This distracts me from the story and makes it feel distant to me. And WHY SO MANY WORDS IN CAPTIAL LETTERS?
Then, I knew what I was starting before I actually started and I knew that this might not be the story for me. I'm not one for fluffy and cute, that bores me. That's just a matter of taste, nothing to do with the themes of this book. I tried, I really tried, but this is just not for me. I will read Dear Martin though since I want to read at least one of Nic Stone's books before she's coming to The Netherlands in April. However, that book received much better reviews instead of these mixed (mostly negative) ones. Odd One Out is receiving.
Thank u, next.
The main reason is the messy, distractive formatting of the book. The story is told in short paragraphs with looooooooooots of empty spaces between them, even within dialogue. This distracts me from the story and makes it feel distant to me. And WHY SO MANY WORDS IN CAPTIAL LETTERS?
Then, I knew what I was starting before I actually started and I knew that this might not be the story for me. I'm not one for fluffy and cute, that bores me. That's just a matter of taste, nothing to do with the themes of this book. I tried, I really tried, but this is just not for me. I will read Dear Martin though since I want to read at least one of Nic Stone's books before she's coming to The Netherlands in April. However, that book received much better reviews instead of these mixed (mostly negative) ones. Odd One Out is receiving.
Thank u, next.
biblioemily's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. The writing style is just awkward and does not feel genuine to how teens (and people in general) actually talk. There are a lot of issues here...Coop being in love with his gay best friend and not being subtle about his physical attraction, Jupiter using multiple people to figure out her own identity and deal with jealousy, oh, and the constant bi-erasure and negative portrayal of bisexuality in general. I had high hopes for this, and I'm glad to have a YA book that deals with questioning sexuality, but this is just....not good.
kenadietd's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-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
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Coop and Jupiter are next-door neighbors and best friends, they are each other’s person. Coop has had a crush on Jupiter forever, but Jupiter is an out and proud lesbian. Coop knows in his head that they will never romantically get together, but his heart just won’t give up. This solid friendship is rocked when new girl, Rae comes to town. Both Coop and Jupiter have romantic interest in this new girl…and she may just have interests in both of them. Rae considers herself straight and has had boyfriends in the past, but her attraction to Jupiter is causing her to reconsider her sexual identity. These three are in for a love triangle on steroids.
This novel explores sexual identity from many different perspectives. It is especially helpful that it is told through the three perspectives, with each subsequently taking center stage throughout the novel. I appreciated the journey through sexual identity, no matter where you are on the spectrum, you may continue to question your identity.
Coop and Jupiter are next-door neighbors and best friends, they are each other’s person. Coop has had a crush on Jupiter forever, but Jupiter is an out and proud lesbian. Coop knows in his head that they will never romantically get together, but his heart just won’t give up. This solid friendship is rocked when new girl, Rae comes to town. Both Coop and Jupiter have romantic interest in this new girl…and she may just have interests in both of them. Rae considers herself straight and has had boyfriends in the past, but her attraction to Jupiter is causing her to reconsider her sexual identity. These three are in for a love triangle on steroids.
This novel explores sexual identity from many different perspectives. It is especially helpful that it is told through the three perspectives, with each subsequently taking center stage throughout the novel. I appreciated the journey through sexual identity, no matter where you are on the spectrum, you may continue to question your identity.
emmaacanning's review against another edition
1.0
had super high hopes but sadly it was just dull and biphobic.
candiecane333's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
2.0
I wanted to like this book cause the theme is so important however the writing style wasn't my fav & the teen angst/love triangle dragged on for so long I was bored. If this hadn't been for book club I probably wouldn't have finished it
angelreadsthings's review against another edition
4.0
This book surprised me in all the right ways. I selected it expecting a fun, slightly above average read about teens of color stuck in a love triangle. What I actually encountered was a story about identity, love (platonic, romantic, and familial), and belonging that successfully pulled in diverse perspectives to create a surprisingly holistic and authentic picture of each of those themes (while still being a lot of fun). This book is sure to provoke discomfort and anxiety in a lot of people because it doesn't shy away from the messiness and confusion of teenage emotions, desires, identity exploration, or decision-making. Stone lets her characters be realistically problematic, which will be off-putting to some but made me love (most of) them and the story all the more.
I also have to say that this is one of the most accurate examples I've read of navigating multigender attraction in a monosexist world. Stone wrote at the end of this book that this is the book she needed at various stages of her life as she wrestled with her own sexuality and I feel the same. I'm glad this book exists.
I also have to say that this is one of the most accurate examples I've read of navigating multigender attraction in a monosexist world. Stone wrote at the end of this book that this is the book she needed at various stages of her life as she wrestled with her own sexuality and I feel the same. I'm glad this book exists.
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
4.0
Book #64 Read in 2018
Odd One Out by Nic Stone
This is a well written, coming-of-age young adult fiction book. Jupiter and Coop have been friends since they were kids. Jupiter is gay and she makes no bones about it. Cooper happens to be in love with her, even though that is not likely to work out well for him. They become friends with Rae, and the friendship Rae and Coop begin affects Jupiter in surprising ways. Will the friendship survive all of this? High school girls will love this book. Boys might be surprised by it as it is pretty different than her book Dear Martin. I received this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
Odd One Out by Nic Stone
This is a well written, coming-of-age young adult fiction book. Jupiter and Coop have been friends since they were kids. Jupiter is gay and she makes no bones about it. Cooper happens to be in love with her, even though that is not likely to work out well for him. They become friends with Rae, and the friendship Rae and Coop begin affects Jupiter in surprising ways. Will the friendship survive all of this? High school girls will love this book. Boys might be surprised by it as it is pretty different than her book Dear Martin. I received this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.