petitsayumii's review
4.0
I think that almost everybody knows who is Simone Elkeles. She is writing the Fuentes Brothers series (I'm gonna to do a review about the two first books later). She wrote this series in 2006, and she was already dealing with people of differents backgrounds getting acquainted and falling in love. And the best part of her books is: You always can see yourself in the skin of one of her characters -Well, I can do that.- And it wasn't different with this book.
In the begging, we're introduced to Amy Nelson, a normal 16 year-old girl, from Chicago. She lives with her mother, and doesn't have much contact with her father because she's the result of a one night-stand, while her mother was in the college, but it's going to change. She receives a call from her father (aka Sperm Donor. It's what she calls him.), inviting her to go to his birth country, Israel, because his mother is ill, and he believes that she probably won't survive, so he wants to introduce Amy to his family. This is when she starts to freak out, because to her, Israel is a place where you can die from a bombing at any minute! You weren't safe anywhere! I know that almost everybody already thought that at the least once in your life. I thought that, but It's because we're just like Amy: We don't know the country. We just know that places because of TV, and almost every news related to Israel, Iraq and etc, is a bomb related news.
So, after much discussion, she pack her things and gets on a plane, to Israel, where she mets her grandmother, her aunt and uncle and two cousins, but the problem is: They didn't know that Amy existed. And this hurts her, but after some time she doesn't mind anymore, and start to like her father's family. But it doesn't mean that she starts to like Israel.
Well, for every strong heroine, there must be a hero who is strong enough for her. And this hero comes in the format of a hot Israeli guy, named Avi. And of course, we can't forget the cute dog, Mutt, who is with Amy all time after she got in Israel.
So, this book is a book where you can see yourself in the place of the main character, and understand her emotions and her decisions, because if you were in her place, probably you would do the same things that she did. And by bonus, we can learn a little about Israel and it's culture, what it's awesome!
In the begging, we're introduced to Amy Nelson, a normal 16 year-old girl, from Chicago. She lives with her mother, and doesn't have much contact with her father because she's the result of a one night-stand, while her mother was in the college, but it's going to change. She receives a call from her father (aka Sperm Donor. It's what she calls him.), inviting her to go to his birth country, Israel, because his mother is ill, and he believes that she probably won't survive, so he wants to introduce Amy to his family. This is when she starts to freak out, because to her, Israel is a place where you can die from a bombing at any minute! You weren't safe anywhere! I know that almost everybody already thought that at the least once in your life. I thought that, but It's because we're just like Amy: We don't know the country. We just know that places because of TV, and almost every news related to Israel, Iraq and etc, is a bomb related news.
So, after much discussion, she pack her things and gets on a plane, to Israel, where she mets her grandmother, her aunt and uncle and two cousins, but the problem is: They didn't know that Amy existed. And this hurts her, but after some time she doesn't mind anymore, and start to like her father's family. But it doesn't mean that she starts to like Israel.
Well, for every strong heroine, there must be a hero who is strong enough for her. And this hero comes in the format of a hot Israeli guy, named Avi. And of course, we can't forget the cute dog, Mutt, who is with Amy all time after she got in Israel.
So, this book is a book where you can see yourself in the place of the main character, and understand her emotions and her decisions, because if you were in her place, probably you would do the same things that she did. And by bonus, we can learn a little about Israel and it's culture, what it's awesome!
mariekerk's review against another edition
1.0
I’m too old for this bratty behaviour she shows I guess
kricketa's review
1.0
amy is looking forward to a summer of tennis camp and hanging out with her new boyfriend. suddently, her parents change her plans for her. now she is going to israel with her estranged father to meet her grandmother, who is ill. israel is full of unexpected surprises: a sweet grandma, a jealous cousin, a cute but arrogant boy, an annoying dog.
i think i would have really enjoyed this book in 8th grade! unfortunately, i'm not in 8th grade anymore and it takes more than some steamy make-out scenes to appease me. therefore, i present to you my list of beefs:
1. this book is so skimpy on setting research. simone elkeles is half israeli herself, so she really could have made the setting of this book pop. unless, like the main character, she had absolutely no interest in that half of her heritage prior to the book's events. there's a few half-assed references to israeli phrases and the conflict with palestine, but israel is basically used as an exotic location for amy's steamy romance- ie israel is hot & dangerous, and so is avi, amy's new israeli boyfriend. how convenient.
2. amy as a character is not likeable. i found it hard to believe that avi would find her so fun & feisty when she is actually just a bratty pain in the ass. amy does, however, frequently mention how enormous her breasts are. you do the math.
3.amy's cousin, osnat (who amy oh-so sensitively refers to as o'snot) hates amy at first sight (who can blame her?) and tries to make her look stupid whenever possible. but after amy steals her love interest, she sweetly fixes osnat up with another boy (avi: "that was so selfless of you!") and poof! instant besties! hmmm. i don't think so.
4. ditto for amy's relationship with her father, which is suddenly fixed after amy falls for avi. suddenly she wants to take her father's last name and move in with him. there are no problems in amy's life that can't be solved instantly by a steamy make-out session!
5. the most heinous of all: amy decides to convert to judaism after her summer in israel. there are no references to amy's family engaging in any jewish traditions whatsoever. basically amy's grandmother gives her a star of david necklace (oooh! sparkly jewelry!) and tells amy she's a jew. if i was a caring adult in amy's life, i might suggest she is converting purely for avi.
6. the last paragraph. just read the last paragraph. HOW ON EARTH DID THIS GET PUBLISHED?
ok. all done!
i think i would have really enjoyed this book in 8th grade! unfortunately, i'm not in 8th grade anymore and it takes more than some steamy make-out scenes to appease me. therefore, i present to you my list of beefs:
1. this book is so skimpy on setting research. simone elkeles is half israeli herself, so she really could have made the setting of this book pop. unless, like the main character, she had absolutely no interest in that half of her heritage prior to the book's events. there's a few half-assed references to israeli phrases and the conflict with palestine, but israel is basically used as an exotic location for amy's steamy romance- ie israel is hot & dangerous, and so is avi, amy's new israeli boyfriend. how convenient.
2. amy as a character is not likeable. i found it hard to believe that avi would find her so fun & feisty when she is actually just a bratty pain in the ass. amy does, however, frequently mention how enormous her breasts are. you do the math.
3.amy's cousin, osnat (who amy oh-so sensitively refers to as o'snot) hates amy at first sight (who can blame her?) and tries to make her look stupid whenever possible. but after amy steals her love interest, she sweetly fixes osnat up with another boy (avi: "that was so selfless of you!") and poof! instant besties! hmmm. i don't think so.
4. ditto for amy's relationship with her father, which is suddenly fixed after amy falls for avi. suddenly she wants to take her father's last name and move in with him. there are no problems in amy's life that can't be solved instantly by a steamy make-out session!
5. the most heinous of all: amy decides to convert to judaism after her summer in israel. there are no references to amy's family engaging in any jewish traditions whatsoever. basically amy's grandmother gives her a star of david necklace (oooh! sparkly jewelry!) and tells amy she's a jew. if i was a caring adult in amy's life, i might suggest she is converting purely for avi.
6. the last paragraph. just read the last paragraph. HOW ON EARTH DID THIS GET PUBLISHED?
ok. all done!
smiley7245's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I'm normally a big fan of Simone Elkeles, but the secondhand embarrassment in this book was extreme. Yes, it had some beautiful moments of self-discovery as Amy came to terms with her relationship with her father and the family she never knew anything about, but those moments were few and far between. I wanted to like this more than I did, but I spent too much time cringing to really connect with any of the characters or enjoy it.
theartsybookwitch's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Grief, and Death
seffra's review
4.0
This book was good!! I loved Avi!! Ohhh myy I want my own Avi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also like the growth between Amy and her father, Ron. Overall it was a good novel and I look forward to read the 2nd.
paperlove's review against another edition
Wegen der unsympathischen, verwöhnten Protagonistin und der unbedeutenden, oberflächlichen Story habe ich das Buch vorzeitig abgebrochen.
ashleylaughbox's review
4.0
I loved this book so much! It has a lot of Jewish cultural background and it's very relatable.
eb00kie's review against another edition
3.0
brownie points for the bitchy protagonist, humorous storytelling and hot guy on the cover. Weak plot, kinda cliche