dlberglund's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars? I was swept away(by a wave?) while I was reading this, but as soon as I finished, I started picking it apart.
Henri and Emma are attached at the hip, codependent sisters. Emma depends on Henri for her social life, her mirror, her fashion advice....pretty much all of her identity. And Henri depends on Emma's dependency to validate her.
Then....some stuff happens, and Henri is very mad. (More cold than mad, I guess. Seething hatred.) Then the girls are washed up on a deserted island somewhere sort of near Puerto Rico, and need to both figure out their issues and also not die. It's all very dramatic, and there's also a boy. (There's always a boy.)
They cover a lot of interpersonal issues in this book, and I don't think they covered them all well enough or deeply enough. I also left feeling less empathy for the two of them than I did in the beginning. It had some great moments, but I don't think it holds up under scrutiny.
Henri and Emma are attached at the hip, codependent sisters. Emma depends on Henri for her social life, her mirror, her fashion advice....pretty much all of her identity. And Henri depends on Emma's dependency to validate her.
Then....some stuff happens, and Henri is very mad. (More cold than mad, I guess. Seething hatred.) Then the girls are washed up on a deserted island somewhere sort of near Puerto Rico, and need to both figure out their issues and also not die. It's all very dramatic, and there's also a boy. (There's always a boy.)
They cover a lot of interpersonal issues in this book, and I don't think they covered them all well enough or deeply enough. I also left feeling less empathy for the two of them than I did in the beginning. It had some great moments, but I don't think it holds up under scrutiny.
ladyophelia's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I wanted rate this book 2.5 stars, but I can't. I almost quit reading this book several times. The sisters had a very unhealthy relationship, and I'm glad that was portrayed. However, there were several issues in the book. Like Henri was almost gang raped, then comes home drunk and has sex with Jesse. This situation was just overall problematic. Then there's the issue of Henri and Gavin, her teacher. So these two get involved, and when her sister tells her mom, she comes to regret it later. Henri is portrayed as the seductress and her sister later regrets outing them. Henri even gets slut shamed by Jesse in front of her classmates. This entire situation was just problematic, and I really want to give the author 1 star. The 2 stars is because she has decent writing skills.
I would also like to note that Henri was in no way at fault in the "relationship " with Gavin. It takes two to tango, and Gavin is a goddamn adult. He should know better. Portraying Henri as the seductress and later having the sister state he already forgave her for reporting him was disgusting.
I would also like to note that Henri was in no way at fault in the "relationship " with Gavin. It takes two to tango, and Gavin is a goddamn adult. He should know better. Portraying Henri as the seductress and later having the sister state he already forgave her for reporting him was disgusting.
lexyg's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn’t what I was expecting. I mean, it was fast paced, it kept me interested on the characters, but I hate them. Every single one of them. Henri was the worst by much, she was annoying, mean, rude and actually a little bit evil, thought Emma was never able to see it. I guess Alex was the best? I don’t know. And the whole ‘horrible’ thing that Emma did… Man that was lame! She did the right thing for the wrong reasons, but still. I’m conflicted about this book, so, I’ll give it 3 stars.
abbiekelly's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
1.0
anthama's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
norababora's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! I didn't want to put it down and was able to finish it in under a week.
melissadelongcox's review against another edition
3.0
I’m having a hard time deciding what to say about this story and here’s why (SPOILERS AHEAD): I am fine with needing a certain level of suspended belief to enjoy a book. After all, I’m not usually looking for something intellectual, I’m usually looking for entertainment. So I’m fine with things that seem totally implausible, like three shipwrecked teenagers actually knowing how to survive. But I hated the way the book started. I wanted more of Casey/Alex/Henri/Emma before the shipwreck, some context for how they ended up on the island in the first place.
That said, I liked how past was woven with present, so you weren’t quite sure about what Emma actually did to Henri. Personally I thought that reveal was a little dumb on Henri’s part (don’t sleep with a teacher then you won’t be exposed for doing so, AMIRIGHT!), but I was also a teen girl once so I get the level of dramatics, ha!
I also would’ve enjoyed seeing more about when they got home and how that played out. Overall, I enjoyed this!
That said, I liked how past was woven with present, so you weren’t quite sure about what Emma actually did to Henri. Personally I thought that reveal was a little dumb on Henri’s part (don’t sleep with a teacher then you won’t be exposed for doing so, AMIRIGHT!), but I was also a teen girl once so I get the level of dramatics, ha!
I also would’ve enjoyed seeing more about when they got home and how that played out. Overall, I enjoyed this!
readerjenn's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Adult/minor relationship
bubblegumbook's review against another edition
2.0
This one was so sad and intense! I loved the sister dynamic because I could to tally relate to it, having two sisters and all. I really liked how it went.
kwbat12's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, which came from an ALA ARC giveaway. It had some thrill with the shipwreck theme and some personal drama from the sisters. It was a quick read, and I barely put it down.