memica's review against another edition
4.0
AWESOMESAUCE !
I started reading this book, without expecting much of it ... but lucky me :D it was awesome !
Just when you think she is going to do smth , she changes her mind and does smth else xD
It kinda suprised me :D
The romance was so cuuuuute :) And guys ... they are 16 - 17 years old, how the writer described in this book, THAT is how love should start. So innocent :$
I started reading this book, without expecting much of it ... but lucky me :D it was awesome !
Just when you think she is going to do smth , she changes her mind and does smth else xD
It kinda suprised me :D
The romance was so cuuuuute :) And guys ... they are 16 - 17 years old, how the writer described in this book, THAT is how love should start. So innocent :$
blakehalsey's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been on my shelf, literally, for over a year, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. Ellie and Mikey's story was such a fresh and unique look at the issue of rape. Downham did an amazing job of creating an atmosphere of angst, fear, love, betrayal, and even the inklings of healing. The characters were excellently developed, believable, and compelling. The conclusion, while not altogether clean, was satisfying and hopeful. I loved this book--beautiful and honest and real.
sophieekeeble's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
a lovely complicated story about what happens when two teenagers on opposite ends of the social strata and a legal dispute fall in love. mikey's sister karyn has accused tom parker of sexual assault. tom's sister ellie can't believe that he would ever do a thing like that. and then mikey & ellie meet.
once again i'm very impressed with jenny downham, who writes about another difficult topic with sensitivity and fairness. neither tom nor karyn are made out to be 100% sympathetic or 100% evil, even when the truth is revealed. mikey & ellie aren't perfect either. the reader really sees the effect that this situation has on these two families, and how hard it is for any of the characters to know what the right thing is at any given time. highly recommended for older teens.
once again i'm very impressed with jenny downham, who writes about another difficult topic with sensitivity and fairness. neither tom nor karyn are made out to be 100% sympathetic or 100% evil, even when the truth is revealed. mikey & ellie aren't perfect either. the reader really sees the effect that this situation has on these two families, and how hard it is for any of the characters to know what the right thing is at any given time. highly recommended for older teens.
ahoipanem's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eine wirklich schwere Thematik, die auf eine berührend authentische Art beschrieben wurde. Obwohl mich der plumpe Schreibstil am Anfang durch das Umgangssprachliche ein wenig abgeschreckt hat, bin ich mit der Zeit immer mehr reingekommen und die Schreibweise der Autorin hat es so anfühlen lassen, als käme die Geschichte mitten aus dem Leben, als könnten da draußen wirklich irgendwo eine Ellie und ein Mikey existieren.
Die Charaktere waren überraschend vielschichtig und das hat mich mega positiv überrascht - selbst den Vergewaltiger konnte man am Ende nicht zu 100 Prozent hassen, weil er einem auch irgendwo leidgetan hat. Da kann man dann automatisch die Familie besser verstehen, die natürlich hinter ihrem Kind stehen möchte und nicht glauben will, dass das eigene Kind zu so etwas fähig sein kann, obwohl jeder Leser dieses Verhalten instinktiv verurteilt.
Schön war auch der Umgang mit Klischees, da Ellie und Mike zwar so Situationen hatten wo ich dachte, dass das jetzt nicht wirklich passiert, aber dann haben sie mich überrascht, weil sie gut kommuniziert haben und dadurch diese Klischeesituation gerettet haben. Generell war es toll, die Entwicklung der Charaktere zu verfolgen und besonders auch die der Eltern und von Ellies Mum hat mich besonders berührt <3
Das Ende fand ich sehr passend für eine so schwere Thematik wie diese- kein Happy Ende wie aus dem Bilderbuch aber dennoch hoffnungsvoll und lebensbejahend ❤️
Die Charaktere waren überraschend vielschichtig und das hat mich mega positiv überrascht - selbst den Vergewaltiger konnte man am Ende nicht zu 100 Prozent hassen, weil er einem auch irgendwo leidgetan hat. Da kann man dann automatisch die Familie besser verstehen, die natürlich hinter ihrem Kind stehen möchte und nicht glauben will, dass das eigene Kind zu so etwas fähig sein kann, obwohl jeder Leser dieses Verhalten instinktiv verurteilt.
Schön war auch der Umgang mit Klischees, da Ellie und Mike zwar so Situationen hatten wo ich dachte, dass das jetzt nicht wirklich passiert, aber dann haben sie mich überrascht, weil sie gut kommuniziert haben und dadurch diese Klischeesituation gerettet haben. Generell war es toll, die Entwicklung der Charaktere zu verfolgen und besonders auch die der Eltern und von Ellies Mum hat mich besonders berührt <3
Das Ende fand ich sehr passend für eine so schwere Thematik wie diese- kein Happy Ende wie aus dem Bilderbuch aber dennoch hoffnungsvoll und lebensbejahend ❤️
alannahherrmann's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
poachedeggs's review against another edition
3.0
This story about the romance between the brother and sister of a rape victim and the rapist respectively could have been so good. It started out well enough, with a bleak scene in the rape victim's public housing flat, then later, a creepy haircutting scene at the privileged rapist's house (with the sister being the hairdresser). What's more, Mikey is working at a pub, learning about how to be the next Jamie Oliver, and Ellie is studying for her O-levels, which is all so nicely British and refreshing after the recent surfeit of American YA in my life...
After THE DISCLOSURE though, things become a little unreal, and the book began to seem unwieldy - too long at 413 pages. It felt like climax after climax was inserted to keep the interest of the reader burning, and the sappiness of the relationship also took its toll on its more cynical adult reader after a while.
The premise is really good, and Downham portrays the tensions within each household quite beautifully. I just wish she had stopped at pg. 300!
After THE DISCLOSURE though, things become a little unreal, and the book began to seem unwieldy - too long at 413 pages. It felt like climax after climax was inserted to keep the interest of the reader burning, and the sappiness of the relationship also took its toll on its more cynical adult reader after a while.
Spoiler
Really, did Mikey have to go and visit Ellie when the trial hadn't even begun yet, at the end of the novel? Wouldn't this compromise her position even more??The premise is really good, and Downham portrays the tensions within each household quite beautifully. I just wish she had stopped at pg. 300!
colorcrystals's review against another edition
3.0
Overall a good, but twisted, story. I have to admit that I was expecting more after reading Before I Die and I was disappointed somewhat.
circularcubes's review against another edition
4.0
I devoured this in a single sitting. I just couldn't stop reading. Complicated and real and human.