gxxbxxty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarah1984's review against another edition
1.0
Read for the 2017 POPSUGAR Challenge prompt 'An Audiobook'
SPOILERS
29/3 - This was not a good book, so I'm pleased that I didn't pay for it (as a Kindle first, then the Audible audiobook edition in order to make it fit for the challenge).
I had so many problems with this book. First, Piper is dreadfully judgemental of all the females in the book. In her eyes they're fake-breasted bimbos (even her BFF), except for her second assignment from the 'Station'. Abby starts out as the victim of bullying from some of the aforementioned bimbos, until Piper gets into her head and explains to her about how she can become more popular by straightening her hair. It seems straight hair is a magical cure for depression caused by the tragedy of being the daughter of a murderer in a small town. The next day she suddenly becomes more popular with the general population of the school (the main instigators/Kardashian lookalikes don't care how straight her hair is) and starts eating her lunch with two other students, rather than in the toilets. If you feel better with straight hair than I say straighten it (I certainly do), but that can't be enough to bring a suicidal teen back from the edge, it's never as simple as that.
Second, the fact that as a teenage victim of rape who eventually killed herself there is no way it's okay for Piper to be inserted into the head of an adult male, to spend the next two months living in his head with no way to shut herself off from anything that he experiences. She wasn't even aware that her first assignment was going to be a man until she looked at 'herself' naked in the mirror and saw a penis. How damaging would that experience be when your only other contact with a naked man was when he was raping you? Yet, all Piper could think about was how gorgeous Sloan was and what it would feel like to touch him and have him touching her : /
Third, the narrator, Kimberly Woods is not cut out to do any audiobooks with male characters in them. Whenever she had to voice a male character she lowered her voice and sort of 'growled' and it just came out sounding like Lea Thompson's Back to the Future character Lorraine Bains McFly when she was the 'run down' 1985 version (as opposed to the spruced up, rejuvenated version that she became after Marty got back from 1955 in both the first and second movies). This was my first audiobook and listening to Woods' performance doesn't make me interested to listen to any more.
I've read a couple other reviews and it seems that 'reading' this instead of 'listening' to it would not have made my experience any better. Most of the reviews with low ratings mention frequent editing mistakes and Dawson's apparent inability to use get past her use of the descriptive term 'cool'. So, even if you go with the idea that the reason I didn't enjoy the audiobook was Wood's narration of it, I think I would have rated the written book even worse (well, the rating couldn't get any worse, but this review would have said all it says now, plus each editing mistake I caught, as well).
In summation, this could have been a really interesting book, but then it was ruined by disappointing writing, disturbing plot devices and personality traits, and a huge cliff hanger a la Lost season finales. I won't be reading the sequels (even if I could get them free) as I've read a review of the fourth book and the explanation behind the 'Station' is rubbish and I refuse to give my time to an author who cops out of her story like that. If you're interested enough to know what happens, but don't want to actually read any more of the books I recommend you read Ryan's review as it gave the answers I was looking for in five minutes of reading, saving me hours of annoyance.
SPOILERS
29/3 - This was not a good book, so I'm pleased that I didn't pay for it (as a Kindle first, then the Audible audiobook edition in order to make it fit for the challenge).
I had so many problems with this book. First, Piper is dreadfully judgemental of all the females in the book. In her eyes they're fake-breasted bimbos (even her BFF
Spoiler
whose death she is responsible for early on in the bookSecond, the fact that as a teenage victim of rape who eventually killed herself there is no way it's okay for Piper to be inserted into the head of an adult male, to spend the next two months living in his head with no way to shut herself off from anything that he experiences. She wasn't even aware that her first assignment was going to be a man until she looked at 'herself' naked in the mirror and saw a penis. How damaging would that experience be when your only other contact with a naked man was when he was raping you? Yet, all Piper could think about was how gorgeous Sloan was and what it would feel like to touch him and have him touching her : /
Third, the narrator, Kimberly Woods is not cut out to do any audiobooks with male characters in them. Whenever she had to voice a male character she lowered her voice and sort of 'growled' and it just came out sounding like Lea Thompson's Back to the Future character Lorraine Bains McFly when she was the 'run down' 1985 version (as opposed to the spruced up, rejuvenated version that she became after Marty got back from 1955 in both the first and second movies). This was my first audiobook and listening to Woods' performance doesn't make me interested to listen to any more.
I've read a couple other reviews and it seems that 'reading' this instead of 'listening' to it would not have made my experience any better. Most of the reviews with low ratings mention frequent editing mistakes and Dawson's apparent inability to use get past her use of the descriptive term 'cool'. So, even if you go with the idea that the reason I didn't enjoy the audiobook was Wood's narration of it, I think I would have rated the written book even worse (well, the rating couldn't get any worse, but this review would have said all it says now, plus each editing mistake I caught, as well).
In summation, this could have been a really interesting book, but then it was ruined by disappointing writing, disturbing plot devices and personality traits, and a huge cliff hanger a la Lost season finales. I won't be reading the sequels (even if I could get them free) as I've read a review of the fourth book and the explanation behind the 'Station' is rubbish and I refuse to give my time to an author who cops out of her story like that. If you're interested enough to know what happens, but don't want to actually read any more of the books I recommend you read Ryan's review as it gave the answers I was looking for in five minutes of reading, saving me hours of annoyance.
ode_to_readers's review against another edition
5.0
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was definitely original and fast paced. The storyline was emotional and the way the author described the characters and their characteristics made them very realistic to me. I certainly grew attached to each of their stories and the ending makes me eager to read the next one!
mellamaron's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and am super excited to read more. I adore books about the afterlife and this one was definitely interesting. I also liked Piper. She was a really clever and insightful volunteer.
I hope the rest of the books are just as good as this one was!
I hope the rest of the books are just as good as this one was!
addythebookbat's review against another edition
4.0
*Actual rating 4.5
It would have gotten five stars from me, but I found some parts to be quite triggering. I would not recommend this to anyone who is not in a good state of mind and are sensitive to suicide or suicidal thoughts.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and I may continue on with the series.
It would have gotten five stars from me, but I found some parts to be quite triggering. I would not recommend this to anyone who is not in a good state of mind and are sensitive to suicide or suicidal thoughts.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and I may continue on with the series.
shadowfoxmoon's review against another edition
4.0
First time I cried reading a book in a long time.
Hit some feels for me, mostly because I used to suffer a lot from depression and this book handles it as if it could read my mind when I was in that dark state not long ago.
Sadly, I can't read the rest of the series, since books 2-4 are not on kindle unlimited.
I only buy books if I know I will read them over and over again. And that is very rare for me, and sadly this book did not hit that string in my heart to warrant me to buy so I could read it multiple times.
Hit some feels for me, mostly because I used to suffer a lot from depression and this book handles it as if it could read my mind when I was in that dark state not long ago.
Sadly, I can't read the rest of the series, since books 2-4 are not on kindle unlimited.
I only buy books if I know I will read them over and over again. And that is very rare for me, and sadly this book did not hit that string in my heart to warrant me to buy so I could read it multiple times.
simply_j's review against another edition
4.0
I'd admit, at first I was a bit wary to read this book. You take such a sensitive and potentially triggering subject and develop a story out of it. I was also a bit skeptical at how fast everything seemed to go in the beginning, but in a book this size I can understand the need to get to the point fast. Needless to say, it was a very enjoyable read and the end actually made me scream, "What?!" And go out to find the second book instantly.
pelicanfreak's review against another edition
5.0
Couldn't put down ... then immediately had to purchase #2 in this series and boy was I relieved to see that #3 just dropped as well as someone who is DYING for the third installment of Dawson's Find Me Series.
The book starts off on a predictable note but turns unpredictable within just a few pages. Piper Willow is special; that much we can tell right away but I'm still into book 2 and haven't found out exactly how/ what makes her special. Not only is this an impossible-to-put-down page turner but, this can completely help those who have lost people to suicide. Trish describes a completely plausible and detailed explanation of where they go and what they are doing - and it's damn good, like they took themselves from us because others need them more.... without giving anything away - I guess that's all I'll say here. Other than: read it. I personally promise you'll love it, 'young adult' or not.
The book starts off on a predictable note but turns unpredictable within just a few pages. Piper Willow is special; that much we can tell right away but I'm still into book 2 and haven't found out exactly how/ what makes her special. Not only is this an impossible-to-put-down page turner but, this can completely help those who have lost people to suicide. Trish describes a completely plausible and detailed explanation of where they go and what they are doing - and it's damn good, like they took themselves from us because others need them more.... without giving anything away - I guess that's all I'll say here. Other than: read it. I personally promise you'll love it, 'young adult' or not.
jenmiller253's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting take of the afterlife. I know it is fiction but I still don't know how I feel about "amateurs" trying to help people - especially when