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omgitssarahbee's review
5.0
A review is coming as soon as my fat fingers get themselves on an actual keyboard!
lisawreading's review
4.0
First things first: When I requested this book from NetGalley, I had no idea it was a sequel. Despite my qualms, I decided to read it anyway, and I"m glad I did. While it might have been nice to have read the first book, not having read it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this cute, quirky, quick read. (More on this later...)
Please Send Help is written entirely in texts and emails between two best friends, Ava and Gen. Recent college grads, both are now facing grown-up life as they pursue their career dreams. Ava, in New York, is interning with a comedy show, dying to gain real-life experience as a writer while working her (unpaid) butt off. Gen, in Florida, is trying to break into serious journalism, but the only job she could find is at a small-town newspaper with nothing much at all to cover and no room for advancement at the family-run paper.
Ava and Gen have history together, and their bond is immediately apparent. Ava is coping with anxiety that stops her in her tracks from time to time, and because of Ava's previous experiences related to mental health, Gen tends to worry about her well-being -- especially once Ava gets disastrously involved with her older boss, who's so clearly a player who preys on young interns. Meanwhile, Gen is bi, out and proud, from a dysfunctional family and with no parental support whatsoever, trying to find connections as well as a juicy story in a backwards, socially conservative town where she has no chance of fitting in.
I loved the humor of the texts. Both Ava and Gen are wickedly, crassly funny, even when freaking out, making absurd decisions, or talking about insane events in their lives.
These two are definitely not perfect. But they get one another, and they're there for one another -- and even when they ignore good advice or act out in particularly questionable ways, they still are there to comfort, pick each other up, and kick a little ass if that's what needed to shake some reality into each other's minds and hearts.
Genre/library shelf-wise, I'm not quite sure where I'd put this one. NetGalley lists it as teen/YA, but since the characters are 22-ish (I think), I wouldn't have thought to consider this young adult. (Side note -- why are young adult novels mostly about teens and not about actual young adults -- which is what Ava and Gen are?) So sure, put it on the YA shelf if you want, but just know that it's about women in their 20s figuring out life, sex, STDs, and more. Not what I'd typically consider teen fare!
Please Send Help is heaps of fun. I'm glad I wasn't put off by finding out it's book #2. Now that I've finished it, I think I'll try to track down the first book (I Hate Everyone But You, set during Ava and Gen's college years). I'd imagine that the topics of the girls' families, mental health, sexuality, and more are explored in greater depth in that book, whereas here they're mostly backstory to the struggle to be independent and start a career and a life in a new city.
BUT, please don't feel that you can't read Please Send Help without reading the first book! Please Send Help works perfectly well as a standalone. I'm living proof that you can read this book without any prior knowledge of the characters and their stories. I really did feel like I got to know Ava and Gen through this book, and would love to hear what happens next in their lives! *fingers crossed for a book #3*
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Please Send Help is written entirely in texts and emails between two best friends, Ava and Gen. Recent college grads, both are now facing grown-up life as they pursue their career dreams. Ava, in New York, is interning with a comedy show, dying to gain real-life experience as a writer while working her (unpaid) butt off. Gen, in Florida, is trying to break into serious journalism, but the only job she could find is at a small-town newspaper with nothing much at all to cover and no room for advancement at the family-run paper.
Ava and Gen have history together, and their bond is immediately apparent. Ava is coping with anxiety that stops her in her tracks from time to time, and because of Ava's previous experiences related to mental health, Gen tends to worry about her well-being -- especially once Ava gets disastrously involved with her older boss, who's so clearly a player who preys on young interns. Meanwhile, Gen is bi, out and proud, from a dysfunctional family and with no parental support whatsoever, trying to find connections as well as a juicy story in a backwards, socially conservative town where she has no chance of fitting in.
I loved the humor of the texts. Both Ava and Gen are wickedly, crassly funny, even when freaking out, making absurd decisions, or talking about insane events in their lives.
Tabby finally gave in to her gluttony and came inside. I jumped up and shut the door. She did NOT like that but I have put vodka on all of my scratches so I'm sure I'm fine.
These two are definitely not perfect. But they get one another, and they're there for one another -- and even when they ignore good advice or act out in particularly questionable ways, they still are there to comfort, pick each other up, and kick a little ass if that's what needed to shake some reality into each other's minds and hearts.
Genre/library shelf-wise, I'm not quite sure where I'd put this one. NetGalley lists it as teen/YA, but since the characters are 22-ish (I think), I wouldn't have thought to consider this young adult. (Side note -- why are young adult novels mostly about teens and not about actual young adults -- which is what Ava and Gen are?) So sure, put it on the YA shelf if you want, but just know that it's about women in their 20s figuring out life, sex, STDs, and more. Not what I'd typically consider teen fare!
Please Send Help is heaps of fun. I'm glad I wasn't put off by finding out it's book #2. Now that I've finished it, I think I'll try to track down the first book (I Hate Everyone But You, set during Ava and Gen's college years). I'd imagine that the topics of the girls' families, mental health, sexuality, and more are explored in greater depth in that book, whereas here they're mostly backstory to the struggle to be independent and start a career and a life in a new city.
BUT, please don't feel that you can't read Please Send Help without reading the first book! Please Send Help works perfectly well as a standalone. I'm living proof that you can read this book without any prior knowledge of the characters and their stories. I really did feel like I got to know Ava and Gen through this book, and would love to hear what happens next in their lives! *fingers crossed for a book #3*
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
cokerosary's review
lighthearted
3.0
It was cute! Found one of the main characters slightly annoying but it was a very quick read and I enjoyed for the most part.
lindsey_kerrigan's review
4.0
Endlessly hilarious and relatable! Once again I adored Ava and Gen, I think they portrayed extremely different versions of "the millennial" perfectly as well as what a modern day friendship is like. My only complaint is that sometimes the second-hand retelling dumbed down the events of the story and made it less grand. Even the climax of the story didn't feel amazing because of the format it was told in. Otherwise, I loved the unique story and characters 10/10 worth it.
wheninapril's review
3.0
A Goldman never pays her debts but she does ruin her enemies with slander!
Please Send Help is the sequel of I Hate Everyone But You, which I did not know when I requested it on netgalley. (I thought it is a thriller! *face-palm*)I am yet to read the first book. But it did not hamper the reading experience, it could be read as stand alone as well.
The book was hilarious. A very easy read about two best friends who despite of living far way from one another tried to be there for one another. It deals with several issues like depression, mental health, Bisexuality, Work place relationships etc. It was a fun read and very fast pacing but it could not make me love it.
I did not like any of the friends. Next part of this review contains slight spoiler, so proceed at your own risk!! Or you can just skip the spoiler part!!
Gen manipulated Baeu in the worst way possible. And her excuse was laughable! Also I agree Ben was manipulative and I hate him for that, but Ava was the first who made a move! Why girl?!! He is your boss!! Learn some workplace ethics -_- Also I wanted to see Dana still there when Gen moved in.. Why after she moved in all I get to know is DANA SHIFTED?!! WTF!! He was there for Ava on her worst time!!! Is it too much to ask for a proper goodbye?!!! :(
For above reasons my rating for this book came down to 3.5 stars insteed of 4 stars!
*Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the review copy.*
Please Send Help is the sequel of I Hate Everyone But You, which I did not know when I requested it on netgalley. (I thought it is a thriller! *face-palm*)I am yet to read the first book. But it did not hamper the reading experience, it could be read as stand alone as well.
The book was hilarious. A very easy read about two best friends who despite of living far way from one another tried to be there for one another. It deals with several issues like depression, mental health, Bisexuality, Work place relationships etc. It was a fun read and very fast pacing but it could not make me love it.
I did not like any of the friends. Next part of this review contains slight spoiler, so proceed at your own risk!! Or you can just skip the spoiler part!!
Spoiler
Gen manipulated Baeu in the worst way possible. And her excuse was laughable! Also I agree Ben was manipulative and I hate him for that, but Ava was the first who made a move! Why girl?!! He is your boss!! Learn some workplace ethics -_- Also I wanted to see Dana still there when Gen moved in.. Why after she moved in all I get to know is DANA SHIFTED?!! WTF!! He was there for Ava on her worst time!!! Is it too much to ask for a proper goodbye?!!! :(
For above reasons my rating for this book came down to 3.5 stars insteed of 4 stars!
*Thank you St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the review copy.*
claudializet's review
3.0
If you liked the first book,I Hate Everyone But You, then you'll like this one; same characters with different issues as they navigate their early 20s.
melissadelongcox's review
3.0
*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!*
First of all, I didn't realize this was a sequel and so now, I must go back and read the first book. But aside from that - I mostly loved this! Told entirely via email and texts, and woven with several pop culture references (shout out, most importantly, to the VPR reference!), this novel was a fun and relatable read. I kind of loved that Ava and Gen were both hot fucking messes for the most part, and I extra super loved that Ava was fully crying all the time, because that's why I do LOLLLL.
Really though: fun, fast read. My only dislike was that at the end, it just ended. Like dead stop, just over. Now seeing that it's a sequel, that makes more sense to me, but I wasn't happy when it just ended!
First of all, I didn't realize this was a sequel and so now, I must go back and read the first book. But aside from that - I mostly loved this! Told entirely via email and texts, and woven with several pop culture references (shout out, most importantly, to the VPR reference!), this novel was a fun and relatable read. I kind of loved that Ava and Gen were both hot fucking messes for the most part, and I extra super loved that Ava was fully crying all the time, because that's why I do LOLLLL.
Really though: fun, fast read. My only dislike was that at the end, it just ended. Like dead stop, just over. Now seeing that it's a sequel, that makes more sense to me, but I wasn't happy when it just ended!
kaylareadsbooks's review
5.0
I love the friendship in this one and they really remind me of myself and my two best friends. I loved the OCD, anxiety and Jewish rep! Also has LGBTQ+ rep!
selenalikeslemons's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0