annag77's review against another edition
2.0
When I received an arc copy of Olivia Twisted, I was thrilled. I was really wanting something different to read, and a story about teenage computer hackers, that was loosely based on the classic novel Oliver Twist, sounded intriguing. I hadn't read Oliver Twist in years, and had forgotten many of the details of the story. That was a good thing though, because I didn't want to keep comparing it to Olivia Twisted.
I really wanted to love this book. At first, I really liked the main character, Olivia (Liv), a sixteen year old girl, who has been in many foster homes. This has led her to become a bit jaded when it comes to trusting people and getting attached. Despite all of that, Liv is very smart- she gets stellar grades and has is great with computers. She had plans on attending a well respected university, and making a good life for herself.
In the beginning of this story, she is placed in a new home. Right off the bat, she gets a feeling that something is not quite right with her new foster parents. Turns out, her suspicions were valid.
I have to say, I was enjoying reading Olivia Twisted up until this point. I guess I was hoping that Liv would triumph for good and use her brains to get far in life. This all seemed to go out the window when she met Samantha (Sam) and Z (yep, that's what he legally changed his name to). Now first off, let me just say that I love reading about bad boys in my books. I mean, 9/10 times, I will fall for the bad guy versus the good, nice guy. However, Z was a different story. He's basically a thief, and doesn't see anything wrong with stealing. He basically justifies it. You see, Z is a computer hacker. A very very good computer hacker. He and Sam are also orphans who work for a man named, "Bill", and their main job is to crack into the accounts of big businesses, banks, or from the wealthy, and take their money. They justify their actions by saying that all these corporations are stingy (granted- some are), don't deserve their wealth, and don't donate to charities for the right reasons, therefore it's ok to just help themselves to it. It almost seems hypocritical to me. I mean, do these hackers deserve it either? In a lot of ways, computer hacking is a game to them. I found it difficult to believe that these teens never slipped up or got caught by the authorities. Another thing that struck me as odd, was that they made it sound so easy, when in reality many of these business and accounts have top notch software. I was so sad to see Liv succumb to all this and take this route. I believe having nowhere to go and finding a new family among kids who she could relate to, sealed the deal.
Z also disappointed me when something terrible happens in the story, and instead of getting help from authorities, he tries to fix the problem himself (using his hacking skills). He tries to play judge and dish out his own justice (mind you, this kid is only sixteen or seventeen).
There were a few other things that made me not love this book too. I just didn't get attached to any of the characters, and found plot holes here and there. I didn't root for a romance between Z and Liv, and I was really surprised that she trusted him to begin with. He did a couple of questionable things, that I don't want to spoil my readers with, but let's just say it would cause me to run from this guy.
I really wanted to love this book. At first, I really liked the main character, Olivia (Liv), a sixteen year old girl, who has been in many foster homes. This has led her to become a bit jaded when it comes to trusting people and getting attached. Despite all of that, Liv is very smart- she gets stellar grades and has is great with computers. She had plans on attending a well respected university, and making a good life for herself.
In the beginning of this story, she is placed in a new home. Right off the bat, she gets a feeling that something is not quite right with her new foster parents. Turns out, her suspicions were valid.
I have to say, I was enjoying reading Olivia Twisted up until this point. I guess I was hoping that Liv would triumph for good and use her brains to get far in life. This all seemed to go out the window when she met Samantha (Sam) and Z (yep, that's what he legally changed his name to). Now first off, let me just say that I love reading about bad boys in my books. I mean, 9/10 times, I will fall for the bad guy versus the good, nice guy. However, Z was a different story. He's basically a thief, and doesn't see anything wrong with stealing. He basically justifies it. You see, Z is a computer hacker. A very very good computer hacker. He and Sam are also orphans who work for a man named, "Bill", and their main job is to crack into the accounts of big businesses, banks, or from the wealthy, and take their money. They justify their actions by saying that all these corporations are stingy (granted- some are), don't deserve their wealth, and don't donate to charities for the right reasons, therefore it's ok to just help themselves to it. It almost seems hypocritical to me. I mean, do these hackers deserve it either? In a lot of ways, computer hacking is a game to them. I found it difficult to believe that these teens never slipped up or got caught by the authorities. Another thing that struck me as odd, was that they made it sound so easy, when in reality many of these business and accounts have top notch software. I was so sad to see Liv succumb to all this and take this route. I believe having nowhere to go and finding a new family among kids who she could relate to, sealed the deal.
Z also disappointed me when something terrible happens in the story, and instead of getting help from authorities, he tries to fix the problem himself (using his hacking skills). He tries to play judge and dish out his own justice (mind you, this kid is only sixteen or seventeen).
There were a few other things that made me not love this book too. I just didn't get attached to any of the characters, and found plot holes here and there. I didn't root for a romance between Z and Liv, and I was really surprised that she trusted him to begin with. He did a couple of questionable things, that I don't want to spoil my readers with, but let's just say it would cause me to run from this guy.
moniqueeditrix's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this book was so worth wasting my whole day away! Full review to come!
nogenreleftbehind's review against another edition
5.0
A little disclosure on my part - I'm not a fan of Charles Dickens writing style, but I have always loved the idea behind Oliver Twist.
Olivia has had a hard life with few bright spots scattered here and there. As a foster kid she has learned to take care of herself and keep people at a distance so she doesn't get hurt when it's time to move on again. Her most recent move and change of schools has brought her into the Z's (yes that is what he's called) world. Z is instantly attracted to Olivia's skills on the computer - but he's intentions aren't all that great.
As Z pulls Olivia deeper and deeper into the world of hackers, Olivia is going to have to make some very tough decisions about the morality of what she is being asked to do. Throughout this struggle, Vivi Barnes manages to include some wonderful references straight from Oliver Twist that made me grin each time.
A story full of growth and growing up on every page. Both Olivia and Z are some of the most dynamic characters I've seen. This is very important as the story reaches it's incredible climatic high point that had me sitting on the edge of my seat praying for everything to work out well. Vivi Barnes seems to have captured the spirit of Oliver Twist and brought it to a new life in today's world with today's problems and issues. This was a slam dunk all the way.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-olivia-twisted-by-vivi-barnes.html#sthash.TBrxHBXN.dpuf
Olivia has had a hard life with few bright spots scattered here and there. As a foster kid she has learned to take care of herself and keep people at a distance so she doesn't get hurt when it's time to move on again. Her most recent move and change of schools has brought her into the Z's (yes that is what he's called) world. Z is instantly attracted to Olivia's skills on the computer - but he's intentions aren't all that great.
As Z pulls Olivia deeper and deeper into the world of hackers, Olivia is going to have to make some very tough decisions about the morality of what she is being asked to do. Throughout this struggle, Vivi Barnes manages to include some wonderful references straight from Oliver Twist that made me grin each time.
A story full of growth and growing up on every page. Both Olivia and Z are some of the most dynamic characters I've seen. This is very important as the story reaches it's incredible climatic high point that had me sitting on the edge of my seat praying for everything to work out well. Vivi Barnes seems to have captured the spirit of Oliver Twist and brought it to a new life in today's world with today's problems and issues. This was a slam dunk all the way.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-olivia-twisted-by-vivi-barnes.html#sthash.TBrxHBXN.dpuf
labraden's review against another edition
4.0
Olivia Twisted is a modern-day take on Oliver Twist. Instead of pick-pockets and con men, Z and his house are computer hackers who steal from corporations to make money for Bill who runs the house. Z's job is also to recruit new hackers to live and work at the house, especially girls who are taken with his good looks and charms. In comes Olivia who is new to the school and seems like a perfect recruit. She is well-versed with computers and is an orphan living with a foster family. Problems arise when Z begins to fall for Olivia and at the same time realizes that she will never be able to accept the life of a criminal. This is a well-written take on a classic story. Z is charming and Olivia definitely changes his world.
hollymbryan's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely loved this book!! Z was swoony, and Olivia was smart, tough, independent, and so much more. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
vee79's review against another edition
4.0
I have never seen Oliver Twist but I like to think that if you put that and Hackers together you come up with this fantastic called Olivia Twisted by ViVi Barnes. ViVi's writing is so catching, It literally makes you not want to put the book down, I was drawn in from the very first chapter!
Liv(Olivia) is a foster kid who, like any other has been through the ringer, and when she moves in with her latest foster family she starts a new school and meets two new friends who are also foster kids but drive fancy cars and nice motorcycle and just happen to be great in computer programming class, like her. More at www.bookbesties.com
Liv(Olivia) is a foster kid who, like any other has been through the ringer, and when she moves in with her latest foster family she starts a new school and meets two new friends who are also foster kids but drive fancy cars and nice motorcycle and just happen to be great in computer programming class, like her. More at www.bookbesties.com
whatanerdgirlsays's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I was sent an ARC by Entangled, that I trust because they are in charge of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s books and goodness, those books are AMAZING. So I was definitely intrigued on reading Vivi Barnes novel. Because I received an advanced e-copy of it, I definitely knew this was a book that I had to read.
There’s also been this urge to read some good contemporary novels. Sure, there’s the whole hacking angle of this novel but there’s no fantasy or dystopian or science fiction in it. Those are all my favorite things to read but I’ve really needed a break, and I was so glad to be able to dive into this book.
I think that Vivi is able to write an incredibly compelling and real story, wrapped around this sexy nature of computer hacking. She makes the idea of getting on a computer and hacking into someone’s profile or bank account seem like an extremely fun and sexy thing to do. And this is coming from someone’s identity has been hacked several times. Its a way of making a talent out of something that may not seem like it. To be able to do this requires strategy, intelligence, forward thinking and thinking outside of the box and I think she shows that. I think, with the ending she provides, it also encourages using those kind of skills for good though haha.
The love story is very sweet too. Olivia and Z have a sort of rocky romance, due to both of them having their own problems, especially when it comes to issue of trust. Both have lived in foster homes, have been left to their own devices, and its hard to trust anyone, no matter WHO they are. But the gradual build up was enough to leave any reader panting for more. When their relationship does develop, and they begin to trust and care for each other, its just super sweet and beautiful. Plus, Z just fits my typical fictional crush. I love the distant, aloof, hilarious, sarcastic bad boys and he fits that profile so beautifully that the minute he showed up on page, I knew I was going to be in love with by the end of the book.
I also want to commend Vivi for really addressing this sort of orphan/foster kid story. The idea of an orphan in a YA novel is nothing new. Most of the time, in these kind of novels, they are orphans. But she really addresses it, the effect that it can have on these children, how they can feel abandoned and mistreated and abused. I know that the story was a sort of re-telling of Oliver Twist (which, admittedly, I’ve never read) so there was a parallel there but I appreciated it nonetheless. It really calls your attention to this problem. Sure, Harry Potter is an orphan but there aren’t kids out there being killed by evil dark wizards, and that sort of thing. Parents with drug addictions, kids forced into foster homes, and shuttled from one home to another, this is so real, and its such a problem that I think people don’t think of. If there was one thing that someone got from that story, it would be that this is problem that we need to continually tackle.
This book is fun, a super fast read, and full of romance, action, humor and drama, and is a commendable debut for Vivi Barnes. I eagerly await future stories from her and I wish her a TON of luck in the future!
There’s also been this urge to read some good contemporary novels. Sure, there’s the whole hacking angle of this novel but there’s no fantasy or dystopian or science fiction in it. Those are all my favorite things to read but I’ve really needed a break, and I was so glad to be able to dive into this book.
I think that Vivi is able to write an incredibly compelling and real story, wrapped around this sexy nature of computer hacking. She makes the idea of getting on a computer and hacking into someone’s profile or bank account seem like an extremely fun and sexy thing to do. And this is coming from someone’s identity has been hacked several times. Its a way of making a talent out of something that may not seem like it. To be able to do this requires strategy, intelligence, forward thinking and thinking outside of the box and I think she shows that. I think, with the ending she provides, it also encourages using those kind of skills for good though haha.
The love story is very sweet too. Olivia and Z have a sort of rocky romance, due to both of them having their own problems, especially when it comes to issue of trust. Both have lived in foster homes, have been left to their own devices, and its hard to trust anyone, no matter WHO they are. But the gradual build up was enough to leave any reader panting for more. When their relationship does develop, and they begin to trust and care for each other, its just super sweet and beautiful. Plus, Z just fits my typical fictional crush. I love the distant, aloof, hilarious, sarcastic bad boys and he fits that profile so beautifully that the minute he showed up on page, I knew I was going to be in love with by the end of the book.
I also want to commend Vivi for really addressing this sort of orphan/foster kid story. The idea of an orphan in a YA novel is nothing new. Most of the time, in these kind of novels, they are orphans. But she really addresses it, the effect that it can have on these children, how they can feel abandoned and mistreated and abused. I know that the story was a sort of re-telling of Oliver Twist (which, admittedly, I’ve never read) so there was a parallel there but I appreciated it nonetheless. It really calls your attention to this problem. Sure, Harry Potter is an orphan but there aren’t kids out there being killed by evil dark wizards, and that sort of thing. Parents with drug addictions, kids forced into foster homes, and shuttled from one home to another, this is so real, and its such a problem that I think people don’t think of. If there was one thing that someone got from that story, it would be that this is problem that we need to continually tackle.
This book is fun, a super fast read, and full of romance, action, humor and drama, and is a commendable debut for Vivi Barnes. I eagerly await future stories from her and I wish her a TON of luck in the future!
justkeyreads's review against another edition
4.0
This was a thrilling, suspenseful romance that deals with hacking, and it's an Oliver Twist retelling. I've never read Oliver Twist, but I would love to read it now.
Characters:
Olivia has been bouncing to and from the foster home and it's taken a toll on her, especially her last home where she thought she actually fit in. But she's put in with two foster parents and a new school which is not new to her. At her new school, she meets Sam who knows a little too much about her and is very nosy and she gets the attention of hacker, Z. She knows that Z is trouble, especially something is off him. She can't put her finger on it, but she bonds with him because he knows what she has to go through. Falling for him when she doesn't puts a wrench in both of their plans. Being introduced into Z's world is one that really puts her heart and her conscience on the line.
Z is the bad boy and a few girls are bitter, because of his relationships. He's not fixated on falling for another girl, but when he meets Liv she changes him and it scares him. Getting his feelings involved with this hacking thing, may destroy everyone. He was mysterious (like the definition) a bit dodgy at times especially with Liv. Everything Z thinks that he can throw, Liv throws back harder and he's shocked and the case he needs to get finished is ticking. It was a mystery, because he something as going to go down, just NOT what. I always kept that in my mind despite the underlying issue that mystery that surrounded Z.
Final Thoughts:
It was SO good. It was a good mixture of mystery, romance and a whole lot of HACKING. I'm all about girls rocking the technology world though Liv was a bit illegal (okay, a LOT illegal). But I'm so excited for the next book in the duology.
Characters:
Olivia has been bouncing to and from the foster home and it's taken a toll on her, especially her last home where she thought she actually fit in. But she's put in with two foster parents and a new school which is not new to her. At her new school, she meets Sam who knows a little too much about her and is very nosy and she gets the attention of hacker, Z. She knows that Z is trouble, especially something is off him. She can't put her finger on it, but she bonds with him because he knows what she has to go through. Falling for him when she doesn't puts a wrench in both of their plans. Being introduced into Z's world is one that really puts her heart and her conscience on the line.
Z is the bad boy and a few girls are bitter, because of his relationships. He's not fixated on falling for another girl, but when he meets Liv she changes him and it scares him. Getting his feelings involved with this hacking thing, may destroy everyone. He was mysterious (like the definition) a bit dodgy at times especially with Liv. Everything Z thinks that he can throw, Liv throws back harder and he's shocked and the case he needs to get finished is ticking. It was a mystery, because he something as going to go down, just NOT what. I always kept that in my mind despite the underlying issue that mystery that surrounded Z.
Final Thoughts:
It was SO good. It was a good mixture of mystery, romance and a whole lot of HACKING. I'm all about girls rocking the technology world though Liv was a bit illegal (okay, a LOT illegal). But I'm so excited for the next book in the duology.