taylormoseychuck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
tessaspr_16's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.75
evee88's review against another edition
4.0
If I had to rate this book I'd HAVE to give it at least a 4.5 stars. The other 0.5 was just taken out because of personal preference. I really did enjoy this book. It was really relatable in the sense since it is based on teens. However, I did get into this book on an assumption that it was going to be a happily ever after and that it was basically a feel good book. This was definitely not the case, as implied from the title the 2 main character's roles/feelings get flipped. It is a gradual flip though, not as abrupt as I imagined. This book, rather being a sappy romance book (through I love those too), made me think a lot about the choices and the mistakes we all make.
maitai55's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
patel22y's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kduncan's review
5.0
I read this as part of the book battle I participate in and I am SO glad I did! I feel this should be required reading for every middle school student. The two main characters are so relatable, real and develop realistically throughout the story. I loved that you get both Juli and Bryce's point of view on each event. I love how Bryce's side of the story is usually pretty basic and to the point but then when you read Juli's side more detail is shared and you get more of the whole picture. I have to admit my heart breaks for Juli during most of the book and I really dislike Bryce but I do realize that his actions are typical for that age I think. Both characters learn important lessons about life, love and growing up. The ending is a little abrupt but after reading the authors reasoning behind it I understand why she refuses to do a follow up. HIGHLY recommend for really any age! Delightful book!
mariaprata's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
alienor's review against another edition
4.0
Edit : I just watched the movie and it was SO FREAKING CUTE! ❤
Please don't laugh. Or do. I DON'T CARE. I'm just gonna smile like a big moron all day.
► Don't you ever want to say "this is JUST me!" and then realize that maybe, just maybe, you'd better keep your mouth shut because it might change how people see you? Yeah? Because that's what I feel right now.
Okay let's go. Ready?
"She didn't just barge into my life. She barged and shoved and wedged her way into my life."
▧ Juli is just like me! Like I was, anyway.
The girl can't take a no for an answer? ✔
The girl can't take a hint? ✔
The girl is an annoying, know-it-all prep pupil? ... ✔
The girl can be clingy as hell when she decided that that boy was amazing? Hmm ...
Okay give me a break, this was me from 6 to 13. Fortunately I learnt in high school that if you didn't chase boys, they chased you. But that's another story.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is this : in my honest opinion Juli has such a refreshing, believable and relatable voice that I couldn't help but love her from the very beginning. She is clingy, annoying as fuck, yes, but loyal, funny, daring and did I say that she was relatable? Yeah? I think I suggested it. Somehow. No?
▧ Moreover, her family was a real breath of fresh air - especially her parents, who were - wait for it - present (I know, astounding) and in my opinion they share great morals and values, without never being moralizing. Oh, and Bryce's granddad?
Best. Human. Yoda. Ever. (or something)
▧ Bryce now. Oh, Bryce. What an amazing evolution you showed us! From the judgmental (but hilarious) little boy who's afraid of Juli (yes, I said afraid, deal with it boy!) to the ... Well, a little less afraid teenager? Now, let's face it, he was really believable. I remember my baby brother being teased about a (girl) friend he had in elementary school - he hated that. Like, hated-hated it (he remembers). So, the "Juli and Bryce are kissing in a treeeeeee"? Yep. I can understand. Anyway, I loved how we get to see the slow changes in his personality and found them gradual and believable.
▧ The chapters are organized in alternative POV, and we basically get the same events related first by one of them and then by the other one. Frankly, whilst I found often interesting to see how the same events could be perceived differently (really, really, differently, trust me), it was tiring at times and I had to stop me from skimming some parts. I mean, I see what the author is trying to do and it's a success most of the time but it's difficult for the story not to drag.
Oh, but maybe you want me to talk about the plot? Yes? At first sight, it seems pretty simple :
✘ Girl meets Boy (at 7)
✘ Girl is obsessed with Boy
✘ Boy tries to escape Girl's attention...
... a very long time.
✘ Boy realizes that Girl is pretty great, in fact
End of story? Hahahaha NO.
✘ Because Girl gave up on him on the road.
"All my life she'd been there, waiting to be avoided, and now it was like I didn't even exist"
▧ I loved this story. It was exactly the good level of cuteness and laughter without never being cheesy. For real, that's one of the first time where a book is making me want to see a movie (apparently its' really famous? Lmao, I ask because I have almost no movie knowledge. Not that kind of movie anyway).
▧ This book is young-adult but on the middle-grade side, and I know it will stop a lot of readers, because we're all grown-up and all that stuff, but under the fluffy cute layers, what we find are questions about difference, appearances, judgments : why do we like people? How our parents' or friends' opinion can influence us? Are we always looking at the bigger picture? (no) To be frank, I was ridiculously impressed and surprised to see how meaningful this story could be. How endearing and moving.
▧ While I could understand Bryce's reactions (okay, Juli can be a little overwhelming - emphasis on overwhelming, not on little. Well really, I only wrote little to be nice. Kind of. Oh, whatever) Juli shows so much kindness to him that even though I was mostly smiling throughout my read, I suddenly reached a point where I found myself the stomach in knots because the bastard didn't want her eggs.
▧ All that is to say that if the entertaining side of the story is obvious from the start, trust me, the story has more layers than it appears and manage to feel so real at some point that you can't help but feel involved, you can't help but care. Deeply.
"I tried to convince the kids at the bus stop to climb up with me, even a little ways, but all of them said they didn't want to get dirty. Turn down a chance to feel magic for fear of a little dirt? I couldn't believe it"
► This book made me so happy, I would recommend it to everyone : you, teenagers, adults who want to smile - yes, it's a middle-grade book. So what? Do you think that New Adult is deeper? I don't.
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t4tid's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0