Reviews

Not the biggest fan. It was readable, but feel like I was a bit too old for this. It was super cringey and everyone in the book was obsessed with boys.

kricketa's review against another edition

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3.0

a 15 year old girl sees a psychiatrist when she has panic attacks after friend/boyfriend drama. takes place in seattle. it's cute, but the main characters life is tragically boy-centric. i too was boy-crazy in high school, probably would have loved this, but grown-up me couldn't keep track of all the boys on the list ruby makes.

note: i think that 'the nature of jade' (which also takes place in seattle) has a better take on panic/anxiety in teens.

shanyreader's review against another edition

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1.0

I feel like I'm the only one who actually didn't like this book! Scrolling down the reviews, everyone seems to be giving it five and four stars. It only gets one from me. There were so many things I felt were just wrong with the book from the minute I started reading. I wanted to put it down and return it to the library. The characters were SO annoying. It was unbelievable how annoying and nosy the parents are,they never let her speak, and they argue all the time. Are parents in real life honestly that possessive of an only child? Also, those "friends" of her. I agree with Noel in the later part of the story. They were NEVER her friends. It was so heartbreaking to me how cruel they could be over a guy. I've been shunned because of guys, stupid things were said about me concerning guys, but it always blew over. What happened to Ruby should be illegal! There was so much hate and angst in the book it was overwhelming and scary. The switching back and forth between middle school, elementary school, high school, after Dr.Z just lost me. It was only at the end of the book I realized the story was progressing without me even knowing. Last complaint, sorry, I had a lot to complain about when I stayed up last night to finish this--Jackson and the other guys. They're jerks. The whole lot of them, with the exception of Noel and Hutch, every single guy she fell for was, or is now, a jerk. I feel like the author just WANTED to put this poor girl through every pain possible. Bad parents, bad friends, bad guys who feel her up, verbally abuse her, and give her TERRIBLE gifts, etc. It never ended, and there has to be parts where it will end, because it didn't balance out the book for me. The flashbacks were never enough to make up for the depressing main story. The footnotes, going from one page to another? No, never, nope. I can't do that. Not really. I'm glad I finished this book and found out that Ruby's life is still shattered except for a sudden friendship with two random people I never would have guessed. So overall, this was a miss. I can see why some people would love it, maybe they haven't been shunned because of a guy or something, or maybe they feel like they can relate...but oh my goodness, the POOR GIRL. I wanted to smack her and hug her at the same time. Now I'm just ranting. Ok, it gets a star because although I didn't like it, I did like the basic writing style, and the scene between her and Noel at the end. THAT made me squeal and give this book a 1.5 in my overall rating.

daniellebeverly's review against another edition

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4.0

I just finished WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart, and wanted to give her backlist a try (if you haven't read THAT, get on it--5 stars). I was given THE BOYFRIEND LIST, and was skeptical. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying this book!*1 It's smart, witty, and completely captures real thoughts a teenage girl (and even myself at 24!) would have in social situations of the Tate universe.*2 I laughed and screamed out loud as Roo maneuvers through life as a fifteen year old. The formatting of footnotes quickly grew on me;*3 I thought they were such a unique and ingenious choice. Well done, Lockhart! I will now read everything you've ever written.

*1: Thank goodness they changed the cover back to the frog! It had a girl on it before, which would have completely turned me off.
*2: What's the Tate universe, you ask? Read TBL to find out :)
*3: Clearly

mehsi's review against another edition

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4.0

A lot happened in Ruby Oliver's life, she lost her boyfriend, her best friend, her other friends, and is like she says: A leper.
She now follows therapy and she and her therapist are going through all her male friends (even if they only kissed or only gave presents).

It was an interesting list, but also big.
Ruby didn't seem like the kind of girl who would be such a man-eater. :) But I was cheering for her during some of the Jackson moments. Man Jackson was just a (pardon my French) dick, a very big one at that. First saying that everything is ok, then dumping your girl, then taking her to a party, then kissing her. Wait what? And why is Ruby ok with the last 2 parts? Well she was kind of hoping he still likes her and all. *rolls eyes*He broke up with you!

I liked all the descriptions of the boys, what they meant to her and how she felt during that time. We also get enough crazy mom action (and her mom is pretty crazy), really those parents weren't exactly helping when Ruby was having an attack. And when she didn't feel ok, the mom immediately went for anorexic or thinking Ruby was using drugs or something else. WTH? Really weird.

Her best friends... well after what Kim did. :\ That is not best friend behaviour. And her other 2 friends, well I can kinda see why they hate Ruby (she isn't the smartest one), and the fact that she went out with Jackson and that she kissed him while he was with

Spoiler

Kim

.

Overall, it was a fun book. :) Recommended to everyone who wants a cute, fluffy book.

nonsocialreader's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this. I felt a connection with Ruby through her writing and in sessions with her therapist. I didn't realise when starting this it was the beginning of a series so I'm now off in search of the next one as I'm totally here for Ruby and her lists. (High School can really suck so thank goodness for therapy).

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