Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Before I Fall

So glad to put this book back on my favorites shelf, having now reread it 8 years later. Being so different than I was all that time ago, I wasn’t quick to expect that my favorite book then would be anything special but I’m delighted to say that I was wrong.
If you’re reading this for the first time and struggling to get thru the obnoxious cast of characters and attitudes, stay strong because this book could be used in a lit class to teach about character development.
It was so touching that I almost cried a few times and that’s not so easy to do these days.
My one sort-of critique that’s not so much a critique of this book but of all of LO’s writing- Did she grow up on the set of mean girls or was her high school experience actually so fucked up that she thinks high schools really act like this to each other? I mean I know I had a better hs experience than most but I just can’t imagine that her idea of teenage cruelty is actually realistic..?
I do wish it wasn’t so dramatic in that sense bc thinking abt it while reading always takes me out of her books. Also, it’s kinda uncomfy how sexual she makes so many of her teenage characters- not so much in their actions but in their thoughts… Lots of weird stuff, again I mean in all of her books. It’s not too bad but also just a little weird and takes me out of the book.

I have now read all of the YA/Adult Lauren Oliver books and I think I’ll actually be really excited to keep her in the rotation and stay on top of any new releases… this is def her best book tho.

For a further discussion of my thoughts, check out the next episode of my podcast: Books without Borders. https://anchor.fm/books-wo-borders

My scoring:
5.00 | = everyone in the world must read this book
4.75 | = between 4.5 and 5
4.50 | = dessert island book
4.25 | = between 4 and 4.5
4.00 | = great, solid, recommendable book
3.75 | = almost a 4, but not quite
3.50 | = not a 4, but I had a good time
3.25 | = rough patches, but not bad
3.00 | = meh, read-able but nothing to write home about
2.75 | = between a 2.5 and 3
2.50 | = there’s something I liked here but it wasn’t enough to be good
2.25 | = between a 2 and 2.5
2.00 | = not good and there was nothing I liked
1.00 | = bad

Content Warnings

regalreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

hemmr3252's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

c45p1n's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I hated Sam so much in her first few days but actually grew to not hate her by the fourth and fifth day. she had a lot of great character development and just self-realization as she kept going. and while the ending was pretty predictable (for me at least) i really enjoyed this read and could hardly put it down

Content Warnings

waste_cup's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

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