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kokoalaframboise's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Car accident
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I knew how the story would end and Hannah's reasons, because I've already watched the Netflix show in it's entirety. The audiobook is done very well with Clay's confusion and distraught state whole listening and Hannah's emotions throughout telling her story. The book has landed on banned and challenged lists for years due to its topic of suicide (among other issues), but teens especially need to be openly discussing the issue. Teens contemplate, attempt, and even commit suicide often, and I appreciate Asher for using Hannah's voice to show how usually the cause is not one problem but the compounding of multiple life happenings.
The book mostly occurs all in one afternoon, evening, and night as Clay listens to the taped after finding them delivered to his house. He cuts in giving his thoughts on the events as Hannah tells her truths, and for me that added nuance to understanding who Hannah and all the people cast in her reasons are. I love how accurate season 1 of the show is to the book, except it plays out over more than one night. The show stuck with me, and the book will, too, in its own way.
The book mostly occurs all in one afternoon, evening, and night as Clay listens to the taped after finding them delivered to his house. He cuts in giving his thoughts on the events as Hannah tells her truths, and for me that added nuance to understanding who Hannah and all the people cast in her reasons are. I love how accurate season 1 of the show is to the book, except it plays out over more than one night. The show stuck with me, and the book will, too, in its own way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Car accident
crabinspace's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Vomit and Car accident
rody's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
courtney_g's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I read this book back when it first came out around 2007. At the time I was a freshman in hs myself and the text was somewhat relateable. Now as an adult after watching the series, I wanted to reread the book as it has always been one of my favorites. Reading it as an adult after more than ten years and many more experiences as a teen and an adult was a bit more challenging on the psyche. This is a very heartfelt story but not one for those who don’t enjoy a tear-jerker.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Car accident
avishajain's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
(3.5 stars)
It was not as.. depressing (?) as I was expecting it to be (according to what I'd heard), and although I understand that Hannah going through what she went through, one would take their own life, but me, as a reader, was not able to connect to it fully. It's like.. I wasn't feeling what Hannah would have been feeling or what clay was feeling and his reactions felt.. I just didn't FEEL what he was feeling, if it makes sense? I saw their reactions and they logically made sense, but I didn't feel the same. Obviously I'm not saying that it wasn't tragic for them, but what I'm saying is that I, as a reader, didn't feel the same things clay/Hannah did.
Regardless, this was a book with a really good and important message, and was written very well. It was a very strong and needed reminder of just how much our tiny little actions affect someone and how we should just.. be more considerate and nice and just a good person in general. Good book, would recommend, but don't go in expecting to come out depressed (which we sometimes go into a book wanting to feel so strongly, which this book, imo, won't make you feel anything too strong). Still recommend it, though.
It was not as.. depressing (?) as I was expecting it to be (according to what I'd heard), and although I understand that Hannah going through what she went through, one would take their own life, but me, as a reader, was not able to connect to it fully. It's like.. I wasn't feeling what Hannah would have been feeling or what clay was feeling and his reactions felt.. I just didn't FEEL what he was feeling, if it makes sense? I saw their reactions and they logically made sense, but I didn't feel the same. Obviously I'm not saying that it wasn't tragic for them, but what I'm saying is that I, as a reader, didn't feel the same things clay/Hannah did.
Regardless, this was a book with a really good and important message, and was written very well. It was a very strong and needed reminder of just how much our tiny little actions affect someone and how we should just.. be more considerate and nice and just a good person in general. Good book, would recommend, but don't go in expecting to come out depressed (which we sometimes go into a book wanting to feel so strongly, which this book, imo, won't make you feel anything too strong). Still recommend it, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
itsanagnorisis's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Stalking, Car accident, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
moony__3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death and Car accident
d_gurl_trinity's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Death
dariana12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I honestly really liked this book. I watched the show a couple of years ago so reading the book kinda felt nostalgic to me in a sense. I really like the main character, Clay, and I also really liked Tony. Tony is such a genuinely nice guy and was always nice to Hannah and was there for Clay when he needed him the most. The only thing that I didn’t like about the book was that, it isn’t right or healthy for Hannah to be blaming other teenagers and teaches for her suicide. People in high school will always be cruel but not even suicide will make those bad people realize they were in the wrong. Marcus tried to force himself on Hannah, and after hearing the tapes he still acted like a jack ass and didn’t think twice about Hannah or the tapes. I still really liked the book and found it impressing that we got to see a full picture of many characters, including Alex Standall, Jessica Davis, Justin Folley, Tyler and more, without actually meeting any of them and just hearing about them through the tapes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Car accident