missprint_'s review against another edition
2.0
Is it that I'm too close to the 1970s (when my mom was in her prime so I have already heard about it from her) or too far from it (as a 1980s baby)? Either way I don't really care about the setting here and don't understand the choice--I guess because class distinctions would have been more pronounced? The dichotomy between Jean and Fritz is interesting but it was never clear to me why this story had to be told in the 1970s.
Be True to Me hits similar notes to The Great Gatsby with similar outcomes. It's atmospheric but slow to ease into the plot. It's dual first person POV between Jean and Fritz and their voices are hard to distinguish although their lives and perspectives are very different except when it comes to their fascination with and attraction to Gil. I don't mind love triangles at all but it bothered me that the whole point of the book was these two girls being set against each other both by society and their own choices. Which I guess is the point Griffin is trying to make here. It just felt much less compelling without a lack of connection to either the setting or the story.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
Be True to Me hits similar notes to The Great Gatsby with similar outcomes. It's atmospheric but slow to ease into the plot. It's dual first person POV between Jean and Fritz and their voices are hard to distinguish although their lives and perspectives are very different except when it comes to their fascination with and attraction to Gil. I don't mind love triangles at all but it bothered me that the whole point of the book was these two girls being set against each other both by society and their own choices. Which I guess is the point Griffin is trying to make here. It just felt much less compelling without a lack of connection to either the setting or the story.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
michelle_pink_polka_dot's review against another edition
5.0
Summery with an edge. A book that made me miss those childhood summers of freedom and friends. It's also completely addicting and I'll be so tired now that I've stayed up all night reading.
I was so excited for this book because-- 70's, and summer, and ADELE GRIFFIN. I know Ms. Griffin doesn't make most people's lists of fave authors, but she's super high on mine. You wanna know why?? It's because her books fucking GO FOR IT. They aren't perfect, and things don't always go the way I want them to go. The characters are HARSH. But I love the fact that it's so completely different with a unique writing style.
It's the summer of 1976-- the bicentennial. Man, it made me wish I was alive to celebrate America's 200th year. I'll bet is was a great party. Anyway, the setting and the era was complete perfection. I loved the 70's fashions and slang. I loved the way summer came through this book so hard I could almost smell the sunshine and sunscreen.
Characters: As I started reading it, I really took Jean's side. It's about 2 girls with nothing in common except that they both spend summers in a town on Fire Island. I feel like Fritz (the other girl), is the one that most people will gravitate towards-- she's definitely more likable.... but you know me. I have to be a rebel and like the one I'm probably not supposed to. The thing is, Jean was flawed and had all the resources and advantages, but at the same time she had an inner pain that I could relate to. She goes through a big character arc, deals with heartbreak, but she's the type who will always land on her feet eventually. She's the type that I root for.
Now we get to the end. Holy smokes. The ending gives this book an edge that honestly, I think it needed. Up until then it was just about a love-triangle-- and those can get annoying. About 3/4ths of the way through things started getting INTENSE and I could not stop reading. I was up super late because I just HAD to know. Don't you love when that happens??
OVERALL: OMG YES!!! It's the perfect summer book--- plus it's the 70's!!! How many 70's YA books are there being published? It's addicting, cool, edgy, and about so much more than a love-triangle.
My Blog:
I was so excited for this book because-- 70's, and summer, and ADELE GRIFFIN. I know Ms. Griffin doesn't make most people's lists of fave authors, but she's super high on mine. You wanna know why?? It's because her books fucking GO FOR IT. They aren't perfect, and things don't always go the way I want them to go. The characters are HARSH. But I love the fact that it's so completely different with a unique writing style.
It's the summer of 1976-- the bicentennial. Man, it made me wish I was alive to celebrate America's 200th year. I'll bet is was a great party. Anyway, the setting and the era was complete perfection. I loved the 70's fashions and slang. I loved the way summer came through this book so hard I could almost smell the sunshine and sunscreen.
Characters: As I started reading it, I really took Jean's side. It's about 2 girls with nothing in common except that they both spend summers in a town on Fire Island. I feel like Fritz (the other girl), is the one that most people will gravitate towards-- she's definitely more likable.... but you know me. I have to be a rebel and like the one I'm probably not supposed to. The thing is, Jean was flawed and had all the resources and advantages, but at the same time she had an inner pain that I could relate to. She goes through a big character arc, deals with heartbreak, but she's the type who will always land on her feet eventually. She's the type that I root for.
Now we get to the end. Holy smokes. The ending gives this book an edge that honestly, I think it needed. Up until then it was just about a love-triangle-- and those can get annoying. About 3/4ths of the way through things started getting INTENSE and I could not stop reading. I was up super late because I just HAD to know. Don't you love when that happens??
OVERALL: OMG YES!!! It's the perfect summer book--- plus it's the 70's!!! How many 70's YA books are there being published? It's addicting, cool, edgy, and about so much more than a love-triangle.
My Blog:
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
Set on Fire Island in 1976, this is a story about two girls -- Jean and Fritz -- and the new boy they're fighting over. It's a story of heat and romance, of summer, and about two girls who don't hate each other, don't tear one another down, but who are fiercely competitive, both on the tennis court and off. Griffin can write twists in her stories and this one is no exception. I'd come to accept something as the resolution and then BAM it was pulled from me (in a good way).
These are rich white kids getting in trouble, so it should appeal hugely to those who loved We Were Liars or other books in that vain. Well written, and the setting in 1976 really gives flavor to that time period without feeling like it's an ode to nostalgia.
One thing that I loved, and it's a small thing, was that both Jean and Fritz have sex with Gil in the book, and their experiences of that first time are so wildly differently. It's nice to see a story where that first sexual encounter is rendered in two very different, and yet totally normal, capacities.
These are rich white kids getting in trouble, so it should appeal hugely to those who loved We Were Liars or other books in that vain. Well written, and the setting in 1976 really gives flavor to that time period without feeling like it's an ode to nostalgia.
One thing that I loved, and it's a small thing, was that both Jean and Fritz have sex with Gil in the book, and their experiences of that first time are so wildly differently. It's nice to see a story where that first sexual encounter is rendered in two very different, and yet totally normal, capacities.
midnightbookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
1976. Two girls that should have been friends, and a boy trying to straddle two worlds. Because of, and not despite of, their flaws, I connected to both Jean and Fritz. I even understood Gil. The ending is emotionally draining, but holy shiz is it worth it. Big mistakes, small mistakes, selfish mistakes and angry mistakes all add up for one amazing story of two girls, one boy, and one small island.
readwithtay's review against another edition
4.0
{4/5}
THIS BOOK LEFT ME SHOOOOK LIKE HOLY HELL THAT ENDIIING!
THIS BOOK LEFT ME SHOOOOK LIKE HOLY HELL THAT ENDIIING!
lifeofaliterarynerd's review against another edition
2.0
So, this will be pretty short because I didn’t really love this story. I guess exclusive and ritzy island stories aren’t for me because I didn’t like [b:We Were Liars|16143347|We Were Liars|E. Lockhart|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402749479s/16143347.jpg|21975829] either. I wanted a fun summer story of love and drama, but the abundance of pettiness just made the story drag for me.
Things I Liked:
This book really delivered on the summer drama and teen angst. It was over the top and very entertaining. It also helped the plot to move quickly.
Things I Didn’t Like:
All of the characters were so petty and selfish and unlikeable. Which also made all of the relationship dynamics uninteresting to me. They never actually felt like real people who were trying to navigate this exclusive island, they felt like whiny children.
The love triangle was so boring. Call this a controversial opinion, but I actually have nothing against love triangles, and I think they can actually add tension to the story if done well. But here, I felt like the love triangle was just a way to get these two girls who didn’t really like each other to hate each other even more, over a guy they just met.
I wanted a story of intense family drama and beach politics of the wealthy in this exclusive island, but I felt like I never got to know any of these characters. If you like fun beachy reads, this will probably work for you, or if you’re craving some high class drama.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Things I Liked:
This book really delivered on the summer drama and teen angst. It was over the top and very entertaining. It also helped the plot to move quickly.
Things I Didn’t Like:
All of the characters were so petty and selfish and unlikeable. Which also made all of the relationship dynamics uninteresting to me. They never actually felt like real people who were trying to navigate this exclusive island, they felt like whiny children.
The love triangle was so boring. Call this a controversial opinion, but I actually have nothing against love triangles, and I think they can actually add tension to the story if done well. But here, I felt like the love triangle was just a way to get these two girls who didn’t really like each other to hate each other even more, over a guy they just met.
I wanted a story of intense family drama and beach politics of the wealthy in this exclusive island, but I felt like I never got to know any of these characters. If you like fun beachy reads, this will probably work for you, or if you’re craving some high class drama.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
aeandrews's review
4.0
3.5 stars.
Fairly compelling read but its comparison to WE WERE LIARS, which is one of my all time favorites, didn't do it any favors. I understand why that comparison was made - similar settings, class conflicts, forbidden love, etc etc - but in every aspect WE WERE LIARS does it better.
Fairly compelling read but its comparison to WE WERE LIARS, which is one of my all time favorites, didn't do it any favors. I understand why that comparison was made - similar settings, class conflicts, forbidden love, etc etc - but in every aspect WE WERE LIARS does it better.
thisgrrlreads's review against another edition
3.0
Classic beach feel, with love triangle on Fire Island. I have to say, I was waiting for something with some suspense, based on what I know of Adele Griffin's writing, and that may have hurt some of my enjoyment for this book. There is some, but not until all the way at the end. Read it as a summer love story and you'll be happy (if you like that sort of thing).
literarymarvel's review against another edition
4.0
This was a pretty heart wrenching book to read. I absolutely cannot stand petty girl fights over boys who don't deserve it.
I guess that's one of the good things about this novel: everyone makes mistakes. There is no perfect character. They all fold under peer or societal pressures, or are too rash or selfish.
But it was still a hard book to read in the former regard.
I guess that's one of the good things about this novel: everyone makes mistakes. There is no perfect character. They all fold under peer or societal pressures, or are too rash or selfish.
But it was still a hard book to read in the former regard.