wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
pikasqueaks's review against another edition
4.0
ALL YOU NEVER WANTED is a tough story about sibling rivalry that sticks with you – because it’s amazing to look at two sisters, and see how bitterness can truly screw up a relationship.
I’ve read a bunch of books lately that have multiple points of view that are also in different perspectives or tenses. It can drive a wedge between you and the book, and shake you out of the flow. But with ALL YOU NEVER WANTED, I didn’t really have this problem. I think it’s mostly because Alex’s voice is so lyrical and strong, yet weak and scared at the same time. Her perspective suits the character, and I think it actually brings us closer, because we’re seeing how she sees herself, but not through her own eyes.
Alex is the older sister, overcome with anxiety in every way. She’s so afraid and so ridden with anxiety that she tries not to leave the house. She also develops what might at first seem like an eating disorder (she eats so little and drinks so little), but it’s a deep-rooted fear of losing control of her bodily functions that controls her, instead. It might be hard for some readers to identify with her – after all, she’s rich now, and some of it might seem like White Girl Problems: The Novel. But when you get past the glitz and glamour of a new life, you might understand: she didn’t ask for it. She didn’t necessarily want it. She was thrust into this new world, and it’s terrifying. Seriously, have you ever watched Gossip Girl? Those rich people sure have some issues.
Thea is the younger sister brimming with jealousy. The new social class her family fits into has taken hold of her, tempting her to become the person that Alex might have been. She lies to interest her sister’s old friends, she manipulates people to get what she wants, and she has no problem going after her sister’s boyfriend. That’s your standard sibling rivalry, but there’s something else going on under the surface. That something is Gia, but I’ll let you read and figure out what’s going on, there.
That’s what I really liked about ALL YOU NEVER WANTED. Adele Griffin brought forth the twisting, winding lives of these two girls and didn’t lay it all out. There’s some nuance in the way things are written. If you’re used to pounding back silly book after silly book, you might have to stop and re-read some things to understand how psychological it actually is.
But every book comes with some frustrations, and for me, Alex and Xander were my main frustration. The connection develops too quickly, and it’s once again “dude comes along and magically fixes a girl,” and although you can argue she isn’t fixed by any means, it’s at least hinted that’s what going on.
ALL YOU NEVER WANTED has an ending that doesn’t send us off with restored faith that these two will make it through and great together. In fact, it leaves us hanging – and I like it. If you enjoy books by Courtney Summers, I’m guessing you’ll love this one.
I’ve read a bunch of books lately that have multiple points of view that are also in different perspectives or tenses. It can drive a wedge between you and the book, and shake you out of the flow. But with ALL YOU NEVER WANTED, I didn’t really have this problem. I think it’s mostly because Alex’s voice is so lyrical and strong, yet weak and scared at the same time. Her perspective suits the character, and I think it actually brings us closer, because we’re seeing how she sees herself, but not through her own eyes.
Alex is the older sister, overcome with anxiety in every way. She’s so afraid and so ridden with anxiety that she tries not to leave the house. She also develops what might at first seem like an eating disorder (she eats so little and drinks so little), but it’s a deep-rooted fear of losing control of her bodily functions that controls her, instead. It might be hard for some readers to identify with her – after all, she’s rich now, and some of it might seem like White Girl Problems: The Novel. But when you get past the glitz and glamour of a new life, you might understand: she didn’t ask for it. She didn’t necessarily want it. She was thrust into this new world, and it’s terrifying. Seriously, have you ever watched Gossip Girl? Those rich people sure have some issues.
Thea is the younger sister brimming with jealousy. The new social class her family fits into has taken hold of her, tempting her to become the person that Alex might have been. She lies to interest her sister’s old friends, she manipulates people to get what she wants, and she has no problem going after her sister’s boyfriend. That’s your standard sibling rivalry, but there’s something else going on under the surface. That something is Gia, but I’ll let you read and figure out what’s going on, there.
That’s what I really liked about ALL YOU NEVER WANTED. Adele Griffin brought forth the twisting, winding lives of these two girls and didn’t lay it all out. There’s some nuance in the way things are written. If you’re used to pounding back silly book after silly book, you might have to stop and re-read some things to understand how psychological it actually is.
But every book comes with some frustrations, and for me, Alex and Xander were my main frustration. The connection develops too quickly, and it’s once again “dude comes along and magically fixes a girl,” and although you can argue she isn’t fixed by any means, it’s at least hinted that’s what going on.
ALL YOU NEVER WANTED has an ending that doesn’t send us off with restored faith that these two will make it through and great together. In fact, it leaves us hanging – and I like it. If you enjoy books by Courtney Summers, I’m guessing you’ll love this one.
michelle_pink_polka_dot's review against another edition
4.0
A story of siblings who have some damage in them. Thea lies and Alex is a mess. Ever since she did her senior internship at Haute, she doesn't eat and she can barely even leave the house. Alex is definitely hiding something, and Thea and Joshua (Alex's boyfriend) seem powerless to help. With Thea's lying getting more and more out of control and Alex feeling like Xander (the guy who runs the volunteers at her new senior internship) could be someone to lean on.... things are bound to explode.
I really got into this book. I absolutely loved the writing in this book! I was semi-obsessed with it. The way the characters talk and think, they just have such an authentic voice. These characters have personalities that I really haven't seen in other books (and I read A LOT). I have never met another Thea. I felt achingly bad for her, and she wasn't even supposed to be the sister with the problems. She wanted to fit in with her sister, to be noticed by her.... and it kind of turned her into a headcase.
Alex on the other hand was harder for me to get. Yes something happened to her that caused her to feel out of control, but what I didn't get was how Xander made that all better for her. This guy that she didn't really pay much attention to, one day... BOOM it's insta-love? Not quite sure I was feeling that. I said earlier this week on my blog that I dislike it when a girl needs a guy to solve her problems... I think it relays a bad message.
One other thing that was different about this book was the chapters were alternating POV's in alternating tense. Thea's chapters were all in first person... Alex's in third. I didn't mind it though, it made it easier to follow actually.
So, I really liked this book and the thing that is putting me off a full 5-Star rating is the insta-love and the ending! I like when an author gives you some credit and gives you a chance to imagine where the characters might go, but I like some problems cleared up.... these problems were just blowing up! And the ending left me feeling like Alex is a bad sister, and I don't think she really was deep down.
PS- Not a fan of the cover. When I first saw it I thought the book was going to be about a WWII girl. It's fine, but it just doesn't say modern-day at all.
I was give this to review via NetGalley...thanks!
My Blog:
http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot.com/
I really got into this book. I absolutely loved the writing in this book! I was semi-obsessed with it. The way the characters talk and think, they just have such an authentic voice. These characters have personalities that I really haven't seen in other books (and I read A LOT). I have never met another Thea. I felt achingly bad for her, and she wasn't even supposed to be the sister with the problems. She wanted to fit in with her sister, to be noticed by her.... and it kind of turned her into a headcase.
Alex on the other hand was harder for me to get. Yes something happened to her that caused her to feel out of control, but what I didn't get was how Xander made that all better for her. This guy that she didn't really pay much attention to, one day... BOOM it's insta-love? Not quite sure I was feeling that. I said earlier this week on my blog that I dislike it when a girl needs a guy to solve her problems... I think it relays a bad message.
One other thing that was different about this book was the chapters were alternating POV's in alternating tense. Thea's chapters were all in first person... Alex's in third. I didn't mind it though, it made it easier to follow actually.
So, I really liked this book and the thing that is putting me off a full 5-Star rating is the insta-love and the ending! I like when an author gives you some credit and gives you a chance to imagine where the characters might go, but I like some problems cleared up.... these problems were just blowing up! And the ending left me feeling like Alex is a bad sister, and I don't think she really was deep down.
PS- Not a fan of the cover. When I first saw it I thought the book was going to be about a WWII girl. It's fine, but it just doesn't say modern-day at all.
I was give this to review via NetGalley...thanks!
My Blog:
http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot.com/
daniellecalifornia's review against another edition
I’m not in the right headspace for this.
lazygal's review against another edition
1.0
DNF.
Two narrators, one in the first person and one not. Neither of whom appealed to me: Thea because she's annoying, Alex because she was so blank. Once I learned what Alex' problem was, there seemed no reason to continue.
Copy provided by publisher.
Two narrators, one in the first person and one not. Neither of whom appealed to me: Thea because she's annoying, Alex because she was so blank. Once I learned what Alex' problem was, there seemed no reason to continue.
Copy provided by publisher.
ktbouch's review against another edition
4.0
A dark and twisted sister tale with both genuinely unlikeable and likable characters. Perfectly plotted with an ending that was both surprising and satisfying.
reigna's review against another edition
4.0
A little crazy but engrossing. Plus the love story that developed between Xander and Alex was very sweet, if a little arbitrary.
cmphill's review against another edition
1.0
This book had a promising premise, one sister being jealous of the other sister, but it fell flat. I disliked most of the characters. The many sentence fragments were distracting. I'm disappointed with this book.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
3.0
Alex and Thea's lives changed when their mother married the rich Arthur. They've gone from being the girls with part time jobs to being the girls who have it all. For Thea, this is her chance to become popular. It's her chance to be the kind of girl her sister has always been: the IT girl. For Alex, this sudden change in status is not everything she'd hoped for. It comes with immense pressure. Sure, having her step father get her that amazing internship at Haute was great, but that internship was far from what she'd hoped it could be. In fact, it's that internship that There is also a boy between the two girls, but that boy plays very different roles to each of them.
This could have been a poor little rich girl story. It could have been a story about two mean sisters. But it's about two very broken people who are broken for not the money nor the change in power. Instead, they're broken because of much deeper rooted issues. It was the changes that amplified and complicated them.
Griffin's writing is not the easiest to fall into but it's masterful. This story is told both through the eyes of Alex and Thea, Thea's story is told through the first person, and Thea is a thoroughly unlikable character. Alex's story is told through third person. And while this is initially a jarring way to read the story, it makes perfect sense for Alex. Forcing us into first person for Thea makes sense, too, because Thea's all about becoming that First Person in the story, even at the expense of her sister.
I thought Xander was a bit of a convenience in the story, but I was okay with it. I think what Griffin does in this story is noteworthy: she tells us a story about rivalry, about money and power and popularity and love and self-love and respect, but she does so in a way that is extremely teen. What these girls experience and go through on a daily are not LIFE ALTERING THINGS. They're struggling with popularity. With the way that a mother's new relationship changes their lives. With the way that money has an impact on their own self-perceptions. With. Xander's ultimately what Alex needs in her life, as much as he's what Thea needs.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/01/all-you-never-wanted-by-adele-griffin.html
Spoiler
causes Alex the worst kind of humiliation, which in turn leads her to developing an eating disorder in order to control every aspect of her bodily functions as possible.This could have been a poor little rich girl story. It could have been a story about two mean sisters. But it's about two very broken people who are broken for not the money nor the change in power. Instead, they're broken because of much deeper rooted issues. It was the changes that amplified and complicated them.
Griffin's writing is not the easiest to fall into but it's masterful. This story is told both through the eyes of Alex and Thea, Thea's story is told through the first person, and Thea is a thoroughly unlikable character. Alex's story is told through third person. And while this is initially a jarring way to read the story, it makes perfect sense for Alex.
Spoiler
At the Haute internship, Alex pees herself during preparation for a huge event. It seems like a small thing, but it's utterly embarrassing for her on a number of levels. She's not only embarrassed for herself, but it carries a lot more weight knowing that this internship came through favors and not through her own abilities. Thus, she feels even worse about the situation because she's proven herself not worthy of it on numerous levels. This little action is Alex's moment of removing herself from her life. This is when she develops disordered eating. It's when she stops living her life entirely. The third person perspective gives us this and gives it to us hard.I thought Xander was a bit of a convenience in the story, but I was okay with it. I think what Griffin does in this story is noteworthy: she tells us a story about rivalry, about money and power and popularity and love and self-love and respect, but she does so in a way that is extremely teen. What these girls experience and go through on a daily are not LIFE ALTERING THINGS. They're struggling with popularity. With the way that a mother's new relationship changes their lives. With the way that money has an impact on their own self-perceptions. With
Spoiler
how embarrassing it is when your own body misfunctions on you!Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/01/all-you-never-wanted-by-adele-griffin.html
mesy's review against another edition
1.0
This book was unlikable, to say the least. This is a book of two sisters one, older, Alex, and Thea. One has disordered eating to full-blown ED due to the anxiety she gained after a horrific event and Thea just lies... about everything. It is disappointing till the end with a bigger disappointment. There is apparently romance and the insta-love will fic the disorder when it came in this book with Alex and Zander (a co-worker if Alex who is in the same charity) Thea is after Joshua, Alex's boyfriend.
Just didn't like the book. And honestly, it wasn't worth the time I spent listening to the book as I went on my runs.
Just didn't like the book. And honestly, it wasn't worth the time I spent listening to the book as I went on my runs.