kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
mara valentine's life is turned upside down when her niece, who is only a year younger than her, comes to live with her family. vivienne "v" valentine, who straight-a vegan mara considers a chaotic slut, teaches mara a thing or two about being happy and being herself, even when the decisions she's making seem wrong.
i've liked carolyn mackler since i was a teenager reading "love and other four letter words" so it's a treat to catch up on her other books. i accidentally read guyaholic before this one, which gave me a different perspective on v. i read this in two sittings on my porch while hunkering down to avoid the woodward dream cruise.
i've liked carolyn mackler since i was a teenager reading "love and other four letter words" so it's a treat to catch up on her other books. i accidentally read guyaholic before this one, which gave me a different perspective on v. i read this in two sittings on my porch while hunkering down to avoid the woodward dream cruise.
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
Will be a short review because I am sick, but I really want to atleast write a bit what I thought of it.
Let me say this, I expected many things from the book, and I got more. :)
Mara is a wonderful character, she is smart, fun and cute. She grows to much more than that later on, eventually becoming a good balanced character who finds out there is more to life than studying and getting great grades.
V.. however.. was a character that made me drop the book almost. In the beginning of the book, I really disliked her, sure she had a crappy past and her mom isn't really great, but to do all those things? Sex randomly? Smoke? Just don't give a damn about life? No.. Luckily in the end she turns in a more likeable character, I even bought book 2 in this series which is about her.
In overall, this was a great book, all set in a few months of time, but those few months are chock-full with amazing things, sad things and life changing things.
I would really recommend this book to everyone. :)
Let me say this, I expected many things from the book, and I got more. :)
Mara is a wonderful character, she is smart, fun and cute. She grows to much more than that later on, eventually becoming a good balanced character who finds out there is more to life than studying and getting great grades.
V.. however.. was a character that made me drop the book almost. In the beginning of the book, I really disliked her, sure she had a crappy past and her mom isn't really great, but to do all those things? Sex randomly? Smoke? Just don't give a damn about life? No.. Luckily in the end she turns in a more likeable character, I even bought book 2 in this series which is about her.
In overall, this was a great book, all set in a few months of time, but those few months are chock-full with amazing things, sad things and life changing things.
I would really recommend this book to everyone. :)
bookwyrm_kate's review against another edition
1.0
Craptastic. And don't make "Vegan" the first word in your title unless you're prepared to get a whole S***storm of disgust from actual vegans who picked up the book excited about a vegan protagonist, only to read about a hypocritical, egotistical, completely oblivious bint. Yes, I used the word "bint." For the first time. In all of it's contextual glory. Also, she's not vegan, by any stretch of the term.
It wasn't just the vegan thing; the title was awful, the story was unimaginative, cliched (sorry, not sure how to add the accent with html), and completely anti-climatic.
Ms. Mackler....you suck. Thank God this was a library book. *mic drop*
It wasn't just the vegan thing; the title was awful, the story was unimaginative, cliched (sorry, not sure how to add the accent with html), and completely anti-climatic.
Ms. Mackler....you suck. Thank God this was a library book. *mic drop*
gigidiva's review
2.0
2.5
i don't really anything to say to this book. it wasn't bad but it wasn't good either.
also the age gap wasn't necessary i fear
i don't really anything to say to this book. it wasn't bad but it wasn't good either.
also the age gap wasn't necessary i fear
lumos_libros's review against another edition
3.0
I have a very odd, complicated, and mixed relationship with this book. I thought some things were dead on, and others not so much.
Mara is on the fast track. She is in tons of activities in school, she takes college classes, works and basically an all around shining star. She feels like she has everything under control until she finds out maybe she doesn't want the things she thought she wanted. To make things a little more interesting we see V come into the picture. V is her niece that's only about a year younger than Mara, and the polar opposite of her. Things get kind of sticky when Mara hears that V was making out with her ex-boyfriend. Said ex-boyfriend is also the one she has to beat to get title of Valedictorian. Here we see it start to unravel...
The thing that really hit home for me was the feeling of having to live up to what you think others want. Mara has this deeply embedded in her and along the way she finds out what she really wants to do. I know this is going to sound strange but I was so glad that she and her niece didn't go to the prom because they knew they didn't have to go just to prove something. The aspect of the story I most appreciated was the dynamic between Mara and V. They are so different but they learn a lot from each other despite of that. The book breaks the boundaries of what people think is successful which isn't always the right definition and how doing everything fast doesn't necessarily mean better.
What really didn't set well with me was how Mara went about with her new relationship (can't say who!). She really is secretive about it and I get why, but when she reveals what has been happening I felt that the people around here didn't really seem to have a big reaction. Going behind people's back is a pretty big deal and I expected a bigger fallout. Then there is the thing that the guy she is with seems a little to well-spoken, but that might be just me. He is sweet and really is good for Mara. There is also this one part of the book I think is suppose to be pretty romantic but it felt a little forced to me.
This is a really engaging book and I stayed up late to find out what happened. It's getting a 3.5 star rating from me (yes I'm one of the fans of the half star:D) and I'm sure there are people who will love it more than I did. Oh I have to mention that don't let the cover title mislead you, this isn't light and fluffy. The story has a good amount of depth and reminds you to smell the roses sometimes.
Mara is on the fast track. She is in tons of activities in school, she takes college classes, works and basically an all around shining star. She feels like she has everything under control until she finds out maybe she doesn't want the things she thought she wanted. To make things a little more interesting we see V come into the picture. V is her niece that's only about a year younger than Mara, and the polar opposite of her. Things get kind of sticky when Mara hears that V was making out with her ex-boyfriend. Said ex-boyfriend is also the one she has to beat to get title of Valedictorian. Here we see it start to unravel...
The thing that really hit home for me was the feeling of having to live up to what you think others want. Mara has this deeply embedded in her and along the way she finds out what she really wants to do. I know this is going to sound strange but I was so glad that she and her niece didn't go to the prom because they knew they didn't have to go just to prove something. The aspect of the story I most appreciated was the dynamic between Mara and V. They are so different but they learn a lot from each other despite of that. The book breaks the boundaries of what people think is successful which isn't always the right definition and how doing everything fast doesn't necessarily mean better.
What really didn't set well with me was how Mara went about with her new relationship (can't say who!). She really is secretive about it and I get why, but when she reveals what has been happening I felt that the people around here didn't really seem to have a big reaction. Going behind people's back is a pretty big deal and I expected a bigger fallout. Then there is the thing that the guy she is with seems a little to well-spoken, but that might be just me. He is sweet and really is good for Mara. There is also this one part of the book I think is suppose to be pretty romantic but it felt a little forced to me.
This is a really engaging book and I stayed up late to find out what happened. It's getting a 3.5 star rating from me (yes I'm one of the fans of the half star:D) and I'm sure there are people who will love it more than I did. Oh I have to mention that don't let the cover title mislead you, this isn't light and fluffy. The story has a good amount of depth and reminds you to smell the roses sometimes.
oohsarracuda's review against another edition
2.0
Cute, fast, and Mackler certainly can turn some clever phrases. However - veganism as a phase/obsessive need to completely control something? You can tell she's loosening up, letting go, because she consumes animal products and stops caring about the welfare of other animals and starts again supporting enslavement, torture, and murder? Boo. Speciesist and insulting.
daisha101's review
fast-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
This would have been a decent book if it centered on the relationships between the family members. Unfortunately, a main focus of the book is the relationship between the 17-year-old main character and her 22-year-old boss. The relationship is condoned by every character in the book included the parents of the 17-year-old. It's disappointing to say the least.
The more interesting components of the books are not developed properly. Mara and V go from enemies to friends with very little time devoted to how their relationship progressed. Mara goes from being hyper involved with everything academic and extra-curricular to not caring as much which wasn't necessarily a bad change, but the way it was written leaves a lot to be desired.
The more interesting components of the books are not developed properly. Mara and V go from enemies to friends with very little time devoted to how their relationship progressed. Mara goes from being hyper involved with everything academic and extra-curricular to not caring as much which wasn't necessarily a bad change, but the way it was written leaves a lot to be desired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Drug use
princessleia4life's review against another edition
1.0
It was okay. None of her other books hold a candle to [b:The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things|253106|The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things|Carolyn Mackler|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405148355s/253106.jpg|2974214].
j_yoon's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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