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livaausma's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Vomit and Gaslighting
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
j_steenwyk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
abbysbookishthings's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book a lot more than ABB, the writing is noticeably better and the story is a lot more involved and interesting.
The first section of the book was not the best, it was definitely the weakest of the three. There was a lot of things in the first part that I thought were kinda cringe, but it wasn’t that bad because I got through it.
The book definitely gets better in the second part, we get to see more of the characters and it’s just more entertaining and less cringe. Like it’s a little cringe but it a good way that’s not too over the top and somewhat relatable.
Overall I liked this book, the magic was fun and it’s supposed to be, I don’t need some big explanation for why there is magic, the magic makes the story more interesting and I don’t see the problem with it. I liked both Siri and Jamie (though I did enjoy Jamie’s sections better).
I’m looking forward to reading Christine’s future books, maybe she’ll stay on this track of improving with each book, because Better Together is noticeably better than Again, But Better.
The first section of the book was not the best, it was definitely the weakest of the three. There was a lot of things in the first part that I thought were kinda cringe, but it wasn’t that bad because I got through it.
The book definitely gets better in the second part, we get to see more of the characters and it’s just more entertaining and less cringe. Like it’s a little cringe but it a good way that’s not too over the top and somewhat relatable.
Overall I liked this book, the magic was fun and it’s supposed to be, I don’t need some big explanation for why there is magic, the magic makes the story more interesting and I don’t see the problem with it. I liked both Siri and Jamie (though I did enjoy Jamie’s sections better).
I’m looking forward to reading Christine’s future books, maybe she’ll stay on this track of improving with each book, because Better Together is noticeably better than Again, But Better.
carolinefunk's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised at just how much I loved this. It just totally sucked me in. So many laugh out loud moments this book was HILARIOUS ! And the dark moments gave it some depth too and good character development. Jamie is now added to my list of favorite sarcastic witty fictional characters. Love her and the sister relationship in the book.
The DIALOGUE. So good. Someone turn this into a screenplay.
There are cringe pop culture references and jokes but I think that comes with the genre of the book.
The reading playlist Christine made for this is also really good and makes the read feel cinematic.
The DIALOGUE. So good. Someone turn this into a screenplay.
There are cringe pop culture references and jokes but I think that comes with the genre of the book.
The reading playlist Christine made for this is also really good and makes the read feel cinematic.
thebookberrie's review
1.0
This intercoursing excrement was AWFUL.
Better Together is about two sisters named Jamie and Siri who were torn apart at a young age by their parents divorce. They've grown up completely different lives in LA and New Jersey, with each parent. When both girls sign up for a retreat in Colorado and they run into each other again, everything changes. Soon they come up with a crazy idea to switch places to confront their estranged parent.
So I really didn't like this booktuber turned author's last book but I had fun reading with friends. This book on the other hand was so painful to read and it wasn't fun at all. I don't know why my clown ass thought her second book could be better but here we are. Her writing, her characters, her everything just got WORSE.
So this book is a Parent Trip ripoff, which is wild but okay. But instead of making the girls twins, they are two years apart and there is a stupid magic part for no reason??? While Jamie knows about Siri, Siri. The believability in this entire book really said not today satan.
I literally will never understand the reason for the magic. So when Jamie and Siri decide to switch places, they change their clothes and hair and yet they go to a cabin where they read a riddle and get pooped on by magic glitter that makes them look like the other. Girl what? Then they get one person they can sneeze on and tell, showing their true self and it's all so dumb because they literally look like twins anyway??? Why we doing all this shit!!
There are literally so many Game of Thrones references in here??? Jamie and Siri are literally named after the famous INCEST TWINS and again, for what!!! Fucking weird shit that added nothing to the book besides to creep me tf out.
The romance is... bye. While I like that she tried to include a sapphic romance, it was so cringe. Then even worse, the other romance with the creepy dude from camp. Don't ask me his name because I'm not digging through the book to get it but he literally WORKED at the camp as a counselor and staged "meet cutes" where he would bump into girls for a moment. Hello police? That shit is predatory.
Jamie is literally the most annoying person ever oh my god her personality is HELL. Siri is no better because of her ridiculous "cussing". She's been raised not to cuss so she says shit like "excrement", "intercoursing", "what the underworld". BITCH WHAT. Jamie can actually cuss but even she says things like "flippity fudge fork jibbit fuck". Then when I thought I was safe, Jamie and other people starting cussing like Siri too and I can't express the rage that rose within me. Everyone is so quirky and extra and reading this book was just so weird.
I can't DO THIS ANYMORE. There is too much shit in this book to complain about and I'm so tired of thinking about this book. I give it one star and get this out of my face. It doesn't even matter how bad the book is because when you are the booktube number one star you can write while on crack and get away with it. Literally she is already working on her third book which just sounds like a threat at this point.
Better Together is about two sisters named Jamie and Siri who were torn apart at a young age by their parents divorce. They've grown up completely different lives in LA and New Jersey, with each parent. When both girls sign up for a retreat in Colorado and they run into each other again, everything changes. Soon they come up with a crazy idea to switch places to confront their estranged parent.
So I really didn't like this booktuber turned author's last book but I had fun reading with friends. This book on the other hand was so painful to read and it wasn't fun at all. I don't know why my clown ass thought her second book could be better but here we are. Her writing, her characters, her everything just got WORSE.
So this book is a Parent Trip ripoff, which is wild but okay. But instead of making the girls twins, they are two years apart and there is a stupid magic part for no reason??? While Jamie knows about Siri, Siri
Spoiler
believes that her sister was made up by her??? Her mother and grandfather just brainwashed her, making Jamie disappear completely so when Siri meets Jamie again she ATTACKS her and gives her a concussion and I just?? Excuse me what the fuckI literally will never understand the reason for the magic. So when Jamie and Siri decide to switch places, they change their clothes and hair and yet they go to a cabin where they read a riddle and get pooped on by magic glitter that makes them look like the other. Girl what? Then they get one person they can sneeze on and tell, showing their true self and it's all so dumb because they literally look like twins anyway??? Why we doing all this shit!!
There are literally so many Game of Thrones references in here??? Jamie and Siri are literally named after the famous INCEST TWINS and again, for what!!! Fucking weird shit that added nothing to the book besides to creep me tf out.
The romance is... bye. While I like that she tried to include a sapphic romance, it was so cringe. Then even worse, the other romance with the creepy dude from camp. Don't ask me his name because I'm not digging through the book to get it but he literally WORKED at the camp as a counselor and staged "meet cutes" where he would bump into girls for a moment. Hello police? That shit is predatory.
Jamie is literally the most annoying person ever oh my god her personality is HELL. Siri is no better because of her ridiculous "cussing". She's been raised not to cuss so she says shit like "excrement", "intercoursing", "what the underworld". BITCH WHAT. Jamie can actually cuss but even she says things like "flippity fudge fork jibbit fuck". Then when I thought I was safe, Jamie and other people starting cussing like Siri too and I can't express the rage that rose within me. Everyone is so quirky and extra and reading this book was just so weird.
I can't DO THIS ANYMORE. There is too much shit in this book to complain about and I'm so tired of thinking about this book. I give it one star and get this out of my face. It doesn't even matter how bad the book is because when you are the booktube number one star you can write while on crack and get away with it. Literally she is already working on her third book which just sounds like a threat at this point.
minidutchie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
nhi_nguyen's review against another edition
2.0
*2.5
It was hard to actually want to pick up this book and read it. I love Christine Riccio's Again, But Better, but this lacked the magic I was feeling throughout her debut novel. The premise was interesting. Two sisters who have been torn apart by their parents' relationship—or lack thereof. But the execution was not it. I had a hard time being interested in...anything. Not the plot or the characters. Siri and Jamie seem like decent characters. But I was so fed up with Siri's whiny attitude at the beginning of the book, and towards the end, she was way too bubbly. It was a shift that I didn't see. I definitely liked Jamie's POV better. There actually was some conflict on her part that kept me interested. A lot of the conversations felt forced and I rolled my eyes at a fair share of them. I will give CR a point for character uniqueness...cause boy are they unique.
The romance wasn't even that entertaining. Yes, it was cute. But honestly, the book could've been fine without the romance. I felt like it took away from the main focus of the story, which was the sister-and-parent-relationship. There was no familial development until the last 70 pages of the book. I contemplated on DNFing this book, but I gave it a final chance. Sadly, this was just not it.
It was hard to actually want to pick up this book and read it. I love Christine Riccio's Again, But Better, but this lacked the magic I was feeling throughout her debut novel. The premise was interesting. Two sisters who have been torn apart by their parents' relationship—or lack thereof. But the execution was not it. I had a hard time being interested in...anything. Not the plot or the characters. Siri and Jamie seem like decent characters. But I was so fed up with Siri's whiny attitude at the beginning of the book, and towards the end, she was way too bubbly. It was a shift that I didn't see. I definitely liked Jamie's POV better. There actually was some conflict on her part that kept me interested. A lot of the conversations felt forced and I rolled my eyes at a fair share of them. I will give CR a point for character uniqueness...cause boy are they unique.
The romance wasn't even that entertaining. Yes, it was cute. But honestly, the book could've been fine without the romance. I felt like it took away from the main focus of the story, which was the sister-and-parent-relationship. There was no familial development until the last 70 pages of the book. I contemplated on DNFing this book, but I gave it a final chance. Sadly, this was just not it.