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kristid's review
3.0
I think the thing that really made this novel for me was Molly's voice. It's so real and it was easy to relate to her and her insecurities. I remember all to well, having the same feelings about myself that Molly felt. Insignificant... average.... never good enough, although unlike Molly, I didn't have the intelligence or strength to leave home and attend a prestigious college.
I loved the message that this novel held... that you can't help who you love, and that sometimes the love of a friend can be just as meaningful as the love of a significant other.
The supporting characters of Molly's two friends were fantastic. I loved the the dynamics of their own relationships with their boyfriends..... Molly wasn't the only one that couldn't figure it out. Those two girls needed some help! They may not have known what a healthy relationship was, but I think that Molly's friends helped her come out of her cocoon of self doubt... she evolved into someone with more self confidence and someone that was finally comfortable in her own skin, even if things didn't work out in the way she wanted them to. She accepted what she had and made the best of it. Something that I know a lot of people wouldn't be able to do. The girl has guts!
So... we've got great character development, an awesome story and an enjoyable read. Add it to your reading piles!
I loved the message that this novel held... that you can't help who you love, and that sometimes the love of a friend can be just as meaningful as the love of a significant other.
The supporting characters of Molly's two friends were fantastic. I loved the the dynamics of their own relationships with their boyfriends..... Molly wasn't the only one that couldn't figure it out. Those two girls needed some help! They may not have known what a healthy relationship was, but I think that Molly's friends helped her come out of her cocoon of self doubt... she evolved into someone with more self confidence and someone that was finally comfortable in her own skin, even if things didn't work out in the way she wanted them to. She accepted what she had and made the best of it. Something that I know a lot of people wouldn't be able to do. The girl has guts!
So... we've got great character development, an awesome story and an enjoyable read. Add it to your reading piles!
silverbook's review
2.0
I am thrilled that there are more books for young adults and teens with gay characters. I hope the amount keeps growing and that books address all types of issues with being gay (or being related to someone who's gay or being friends with someone who's gay, etc).
I understand that this book wants to take the perspective of the girl who finds out her biggest crush is gay and how she reconciles herself to him, but it just falls short from a girl perspective. In the beginning of the story, I love Molly. Her voice is real. Then, she happens too fast. She loses any endearing quality that made her unique and gets shoved into a stereotypical mold--she doesn't sound real to me anymore. I did like when she went back home for winter break--I felt her again. But the New York Molly--just didn't buy it. I longed for an alternating view point. Mark, Simon, Lily, Jessie--a differing view to give Molly's more life.
I'd still read more of Brian Malloy. I want to read The Year of Ice just from the reviews I've read.
I understand that this book wants to take the perspective of the girl who finds out her biggest crush is gay and how she reconciles herself to him, but it just falls short from a girl perspective. In the beginning of the story, I love Molly. Her voice is real. Then, she happens too fast. She loses any endearing quality that made her unique and gets shoved into a stereotypical mold--she doesn't sound real to me anymore. I did like when she went back home for winter break--I felt her again. But the New York Molly--just didn't buy it. I longed for an alternating view point. Mark, Simon, Lily, Jessie--a differing view to give Molly's more life.
I'd still read more of Brian Malloy. I want to read The Year of Ice just from the reviews I've read.
mldavisreads's review
4.0
A story about friendship, love, and how life can change when you leave your small hometown to go off to college in the city. Part of this story has been told before, but the character development in this story is very strong. The relationship between Molly and Mark is beautiful, as it changes from unrequited love to a beautiful friendship that is stronger than the dating relationships they both encounter in their first year away from home. The friendships between the three girls is also refreshing, deep and free of the drama that plagues some YA novels (and many actual teenage friendships). Recommended for high school or older.
evila_elf's review
2.0
I had a hard time with this book. It should really have only taken me 3 days to read...it took me over 2 weeks. I just could not relate to the main character. She was so boring and I didn't care anything about here.
By the middle of the book, I could predict the storyline, though the surprise with Simon was a twist. Her friends drag her to a gay bad for fun. Shock, shock, she runs into Mark there, the boy she has been pining for. Can't there be a more creative way to find out someone is gay? The book did pick up a little bit after that, since I think the author was just writing to get to that point and 'the big reveal'.
Her friends were two dimensional. I had no idea why any of them would want to hang out.
It ended with the girl unlucky with love, pretty much. Okay...since we are reading it as the girl, since this is first person, how about giving us a good storyline? The boys seemed to be doing great.
I think this book would have been a lot better if it was done from the pov that the author really wanted to write about: The guy's view.
By the middle of the book, I could predict the storyline, though the surprise with Simon was a twist. Her friends drag her to a gay bad for fun. Shock, shock, she runs into Mark there, the boy she has been pining for. Can't there be a more creative way to find out someone is gay? The book did pick up a little bit after that, since I think the author was just writing to get to that point and 'the big reveal'.
Her friends were two dimensional. I had no idea why any of them would want to hang out.
It ended with the girl unlucky with love, pretty much. Okay...since we are reading it as the girl, since this is first person, how about giving us a good storyline? The boys seemed to be doing great.
I think this book would have been a lot better if it was done from the pov that the author really wanted to write about: The guy's view.
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