loveathena98's review
4.0
Everytime you thought you knew whodunit, it changed! I felt really really bad for Lucy and her ordeals and the reason the book didnt get 5 stars is because the author caused me to emphasize with her so well,and then attempted to place the blame for what had happened on her! Of course that's not gonna stick. :P
marielaiko99's review
3.0
#Scandal by Sarah Ockler tells the story of high school senior Lucy Vaccaro as she tries to survive her last few days of high school. Since freshman year, Lucy has been in love with her best friend's boyfriend. When she catches bird flu the day before prom, she asks Lucy to be his date. At the party, they get caught up in the spirit of prom and kiss. However, someone photographs the tender moment and posts it on her Facebook page, along with several other incriminating photos.
I had mixed feelings about this book, so I'm gonna list the pros and cons.
First of all, I was really happy with the overall message of the book. It addressed issues of feminism, covering topics on how misogyny is self-perpetuated by girls who bash and slut-shame each other. It talks about the poisonous atmosphere of social media and how anonymity empowers. Also, I liked the fact that Lucy's character compares her predicament to the zombie video game she constantly plays. I feel like this is a very realistic coping mechanism-type thing, and it added some humanity and authenticity to an otherwise dull character.
Now on to the cons! Although I agreed with the message the boom was trying to convey, I felt like the execution was quite forced. I feel like these subjects of the bashing should be underlying themes. This book would have been better as an allegory for feminism. Instead, the author writes her points into the dialogue. At one point, one of the characters directly talks about the patriarchy and overdrama, and I feel like that detracted from the theme. Also the plot seems forced. A pass code on Lucy's phone would have toppled the whole story. Just saying.... The perpetrator would not have been able to take pictures and upload them to the internet if the phone was password protected. I would have liked to see some extra detail that reenforced the story. I feel like the whole book hangs on a thread because of this.
Overall, this book was an amusing and quick read, although confusing at times. Lucy's character could be rather infuriating at times, but I feel like her story is relatable. I recommend this book only to people who don't have much on their TBR and are looking for a contemporary novel with some sort of underlying message.
My overall rating: B-
I had mixed feelings about this book, so I'm gonna list the pros and cons.
First of all, I was really happy with the overall message of the book. It addressed issues of feminism, covering topics on how misogyny is self-perpetuated by girls who bash and slut-shame each other. It talks about the poisonous atmosphere of social media and how anonymity empowers. Also, I liked the fact that Lucy's character compares her predicament to the zombie video game she constantly plays. I feel like this is a very realistic coping mechanism-type thing, and it added some humanity and authenticity to an otherwise dull character.
Now on to the cons! Although I agreed with the message the boom was trying to convey, I felt like the execution was quite forced. I feel like these subjects of the bashing should be underlying themes. This book would have been better as an allegory for feminism. Instead, the author writes her points into the dialogue. At one point, one of the characters directly talks about the patriarchy and overdrama, and I feel like that detracted from the theme. Also the plot seems forced. A pass code on Lucy's phone would have toppled the whole story. Just saying.... The perpetrator would not have been able to take pictures and upload them to the internet if the phone was password protected. I would have liked to see some extra detail that reenforced the story. I feel like the whole book hangs on a thread because of this.
Overall, this book was an amusing and quick read, although confusing at times. Lucy's character could be rather infuriating at times, but I feel like her story is relatable. I recommend this book only to people who don't have much on their TBR and are looking for a contemporary novel with some sort of underlying message.
My overall rating: B-
michellesantiago's review
4.0
My first Sarah Ockler novel.
I really, really enjoyed #Scandal. I quickly devoured it. Funny, snarky, sweet... this is a book to read this between your more serious contemporary novels for a pick me up. Although lighter in tone, it also discusses important issues about social media and cyberbullying that are relevant today.
Full review to come.
I really, really enjoyed #Scandal. I quickly devoured it. Funny, snarky, sweet... this is a book to read this between your more serious contemporary novels for a pick me up. Although lighter in tone, it also discusses important issues about social media and cyberbullying that are relevant today.
Full review to come.
dievalzam's review
3.0
It's more like a 2.85
I really liked the themes around the book like the bullying in american schools and in the internet, all the things involved with Facebook and social media. I really really loved the references of any kind to pop culture, i love that, And the detective kind of vibe.( it wasn't that big, but i loved it)
The characters didn't grow up as person in the book, i was expecting more growing from Lucy. I think that the characters weren't the strong point in the novel. It was more the themes around it
Es más como un 2.85
En verdad me gustaron los temas del libro, como el acoso en escuelas americas y en el internet, y todas las cosas involucradas con Facebook y redes sociales.
En verdad, verdad me gustaron las referencias de cualquier tipo a la cultura pop. Lo ame, y la vibra de tipo detectives (no fue muy grande, pero la ame)
Los personajes no crecieron como personas en el libro, estaba esperando más crecimiento en Lucy. Pienso que los personajes no fueron el punto fuerte en la novelas, era más los temas que la rodeaban.
I really liked the themes around the book like the bullying in american schools and in the internet, all the things involved with Facebook and social media. I really really loved the references of any kind to pop culture, i love that, And the detective kind of vibe.( it wasn't that big, but i loved it)
The characters didn't grow up as person in the book, i was expecting more growing from Lucy. I think that the characters weren't the strong point in the novel. It was more the themes around it
Es más como un 2.85
En verdad me gustaron los temas del libro, como el acoso en escuelas americas y en el internet, y todas las cosas involucradas con Facebook y redes sociales.
En verdad, verdad me gustaron las referencias de cualquier tipo a la cultura pop. Lo ame, y la vibra de tipo detectives (no fue muy grande, pero la ame)
Los personajes no crecieron como personas en el libro, estaba esperando más crecimiento en Lucy. Pienso que los personajes no fueron el punto fuerte en la novelas, era más los temas que la rodeaban.
sc104906's review
4.0
Girl is caught sleeping with best friends boyfriend on social media. Craziness ensues.
This book was preachy at times. However, it was good fluff.
This book was preachy at times. However, it was good fluff.
reviewsfromabookworm's review
2.0
For more reviews and giveaways, go to Reviews from a Bookworm.
I had been pretty excited to get to #scandal, the synopsis sounded interesting and all the praise I had heard for Sarah Ockler's books made me confident that this would be a good read. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me at all. I've recently read a few different books that concentrated on bullying and slut-shaming and this just didn't measure up to those at all. Maybe it isn't fair to compare it, but when you just read a 5/5 star read like The Truth About Alice, #scandal just doesn't feel like it even scratches the surface when it comes to the big issues.
My main problem with the book is that it's supposed to deal with serious issues and yet, most of the time, it feels like a very young read. I think some contemporaries I have read recently have lacked the kind of maturity I have come to expect from my YA. I recently read My Last Kiss and felt that had the exact same issue. We're reading about characters that are sixteen or seventeen but they seem to act like they are about four years younger. It just instantly seems to make me disconnect to the story and the characters when they talk and act like they are twelve. I end up feeling like I want to shake them all and tell them to grow up.
I expected this book to deal with and really explore the issue of bullying, slut-shaming and the differences in which men and women are viewed when it comes to sex. But, it doesn't. The main character is more bothered about finding out who set her up than she is about the fact she is being horrifically bullied by her whole school for something she didn't do. I feel like the book brushes aside the big issues and concentrates on the silly drama that's not really that important.
One thing that really bugged me about this book was that Lucy's sister is a star on a TV show but nobody knows. Seriously, she has lived in the same town her whole life and no one connects those dots. I know she would have been at school before Lucy but people would still know who her sister was. That part of the story was just so stupid that I couldn't even go there. How did no one know, how?
Another issue is that the romance in this is completely lacking... well, everything. There's just nothing to it at all. The characters tell each other they love each other but it's never believable because we never see it. The romance is all talk and no show. Lucy talks about how much she likes Cole and how long she has liked him but it never feels very real at all. I feel like we needed to actually feel something between the two, whether that be chemistry, love or any feelings at all. I felt nada, nothing, zilch.
This was a book that just didn't really make me feel much of anything. I don't have a huge dislike for it, I don't want to rant about it but I definitely don't have much praise for it either. It just didn't really bring out any emotion in me at all, I didn't care about the characters or anything else. I can always tells when I didn't really feel any emotion for a book because I barely take any notes when reading, I just have nothing to comment on. My notes for this took up barely a page in my notebook, where as The Truth About Alice, which is quite a short book, has six whole pages of notes. Never a good sign.
2/5 Butterflies
If I'm being completely honest, and you all know I always am, this feels like a read that really young teens might enjoy. It's a book that would be enjoyed more by younger readers who are young and naive enough to feel like Facebook drama is the be all and end all of everything. I really wanted a book that would look at the serious issue of bullying and slut-shaming in a mature way, and it doesn't. My recommendation would be to steer clear of this and go pick up The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu, that book is fantastic.
*I received a copy of this novel from the author/publisher/publicist via Edelweiss in exchange for a free and honest review and received no monetary compensation for this review.
I had been pretty excited to get to #scandal, the synopsis sounded interesting and all the praise I had heard for Sarah Ockler's books made me confident that this would be a good read. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me at all. I've recently read a few different books that concentrated on bullying and slut-shaming and this just didn't measure up to those at all. Maybe it isn't fair to compare it, but when you just read a 5/5 star read like The Truth About Alice, #scandal just doesn't feel like it even scratches the surface when it comes to the big issues.
My main problem with the book is that it's supposed to deal with serious issues and yet, most of the time, it feels like a very young read. I think some contemporaries I have read recently have lacked the kind of maturity I have come to expect from my YA. I recently read My Last Kiss and felt that had the exact same issue. We're reading about characters that are sixteen or seventeen but they seem to act like they are about four years younger. It just instantly seems to make me disconnect to the story and the characters when they talk and act like they are twelve. I end up feeling like I want to shake them all and tell them to grow up.
I expected this book to deal with and really explore the issue of bullying, slut-shaming and the differences in which men and women are viewed when it comes to sex. But, it doesn't. The main character is more bothered about finding out who set her up than she is about the fact she is being horrifically bullied by her whole school for something she didn't do. I feel like the book brushes aside the big issues and concentrates on the silly drama that's not really that important.
One thing that really bugged me about this book was that Lucy's sister is a star on a TV show but nobody knows. Seriously, she has lived in the same town her whole life and no one connects those dots. I know she would have been at school before Lucy but people would still know who her sister was. That part of the story was just so stupid that I couldn't even go there. How did no one know, how?Another issue is that the romance in this is completely lacking... well, everything. There's just nothing to it at all. The characters tell each other they love each other but it's never believable because we never see it. The romance is all talk and no show. Lucy talks about how much she likes Cole and how long she has liked him but it never feels very real at all. I feel like we needed to actually feel something between the two, whether that be chemistry, love or any feelings at all. I felt nada, nothing, zilch.
This was a book that just didn't really make me feel much of anything. I don't have a huge dislike for it, I don't want to rant about it but I definitely don't have much praise for it either. It just didn't really bring out any emotion in me at all, I didn't care about the characters or anything else. I can always tells when I didn't really feel any emotion for a book because I barely take any notes when reading, I just have nothing to comment on. My notes for this took up barely a page in my notebook, where as The Truth About Alice, which is quite a short book, has six whole pages of notes. Never a good sign.
2/5 Butterflies
If I'm being completely honest, and you all know I always am, this feels like a read that really young teens might enjoy. It's a book that would be enjoyed more by younger readers who are young and naive enough to feel like Facebook drama is the be all and end all of everything. I really wanted a book that would look at the serious issue of bullying and slut-shaming in a mature way, and it doesn't. My recommendation would be to steer clear of this and go pick up The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu, that book is fantastic.
*I received a copy of this novel from the author/publisher/publicist via Edelweiss in exchange for a free and honest review and received no monetary compensation for this review.
dtrumps's review
4.0
funny, likeable MC, timely concept, though sometimes I did want to shake the MC because she didn't stick up for herself. Also wish there was more romance, but love interest was adorable.
peruseproject's review
3.0
This is a weird one to rate so I am giving it a 3.5
It's weird for me to rate because some elements of this book I really really enjoyed specifically the topic of slutshaming and social media. However, there were other elements of this book that were slightly lacking and reeeeaaaaalllllyyy illogical. What comes to mind first is I thought the relationships between characters were either undeveloped( romantic relationship) or hyper developed (meaning they became besties WAYYYYY too fast) Overall I would recommend this book if you're a contemporary fan!
It's weird for me to rate because some elements of this book I really really enjoyed specifically the topic of slutshaming and social media. However, there were other elements of this book that were slightly lacking and reeeeaaaaalllllyyy illogical. What comes to mind first is I thought the relationships between characters were either undeveloped( romantic relationship) or hyper developed (meaning they became besties WAYYYYY too fast) Overall I would recommend this book if you're a contemporary fan!
tobyyy's review
4.0
I picked up #scandal after I noticed it was free to read on Pulseit, and after I'd seen that some of my friends here on Goodreads had read it. The title alone was enough to make me curious.
And I did enjoy it. It made me a little sad because Lucy went through so much pain as a result of someone getting revenge, but in the end, it led to her growing as a person so very much more than she would've had her senior year been smooth sailing. Sarah Ockler did an excellent job, too, in portraying the nastiness of plotted revenge, high school or not, but also did a good job in helping the reader see Lucy get a fresh perspective on herself and her approach to life.
The ending though. Wow. I did not see that coming, at all. This book was full of surprises, and that's really what bumped it up from a 3.5 to a 4.
I really don't think that I had any particular disagreements with the way that Ms. Ockler writes, or the way that the story is told. It just didn't quite hit the spot that some other books do. Perhaps because I felt that some aspects of high school weren't portrayed very realistically. Perhaps because the family element seemed a little... off, in a way that I'm not sure I can describe.
However, despite my uncertainties over why I didn't really "click" with #scandal, I recommend it for anyone who wants a fast-reading, attention-grabbing look at a high school "scandal."
And I did enjoy it. It made me a little sad because Lucy went through so much pain as a result of someone getting revenge, but in the end, it led to her growing as a person so very much more than she would've had her senior year been smooth sailing. Sarah Ockler did an excellent job, too, in portraying the nastiness of plotted revenge, high school or not, but also did a good job in helping the reader see Lucy get a fresh perspective on herself and her approach to life.
The ending though. Wow. I did not see that coming, at all. This book was full of surprises, and that's really what bumped it up from a 3.5 to a 4.
I really don't think that I had any particular disagreements with the way that Ms. Ockler writes, or the way that the story is told. It just didn't quite hit the spot that some other books do. Perhaps because I felt that some aspects of high school weren't portrayed very realistically. Perhaps because the family element seemed a little... off, in a way that I'm not sure I can describe.
However, despite my uncertainties over why I didn't really "click" with #scandal, I recommend it for anyone who wants a fast-reading, attention-grabbing look at a high school "scandal."