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sketchy_reader's review against another edition
3.0
This book was ok. I felt like it was very much all over the place. Like the author was trying to throw in as many major teen problems as possible. But this book is not about rape, or suicide, or eating disorders, it's not about teen pregnancy and teen abortion, it's not about teen sexuality. In reality this book was about not being comfortable with who you are, allowing your family and friends to define who you are and being too afraid to find out for yourself. This book is most about the one thing all people have in common and yet it barely focuses on it. The writing style was great and the author had a really beautiful way of describing things and feelings but I feel if she had just focused on that main theme, this book could have been life changing.
mollywetta's review against another edition
4.0
The world needs more quiet books.
This is the story of Annabeth's senior year of high school. For years, she's been buoyed by her close friendship with Noe. But now Noe is pulling away from her, and she's feeling alone and uncertain. Ultimately, she works through these issues -- and several others. But what I loved about this novel is that the issues weren't all consuming, even if they were serious. I had a completely different perspective than the School Library Journal review, which found the book "full of dark decisions" and the secondary characters "flat and underdeveloped." I thought Annabeth's character had incredible voice, and that the decisions she makes and glimpses she gives of secondary characters were true to that voice. This is a book that doesn't talk down to teens or tie up difficult issues in a neat bow. Highly recommended.
This is the story of Annabeth's senior year of high school. For years, she's been buoyed by her close friendship with Noe. But now Noe is pulling away from her, and she's feeling alone and uncertain. Ultimately, she works through these issues -- and several others. But what I loved about this novel is that the issues weren't all consuming, even if they were serious. I had a completely different perspective than the School Library Journal review, which found the book "full of dark decisions" and the secondary characters "flat and underdeveloped." I thought Annabeth's character had incredible voice, and that the decisions she makes and glimpses she gives of secondary characters were true to that voice. This is a book that doesn't talk down to teens or tie up difficult issues in a neat bow. Highly recommended.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
5.0
This is really my sort of book - wonderful writing and a teen heroine, Annabeth, who ends up making her own path. Ms. Smith bracingly takes on some fairly common teen novel issues - bulimia, depression, closeted homosexuality - as well as, perhaps more controversially, abortion. I LOVED it. See my full review here.
ericaroseeberhart's review against another edition
4.0
I began this book and really found myself disliking it. The writing style, the characters, the events were all pretty awful. The book has a ton of chapters despite being under 400 pages because most chapters often anywhere from a page to five pages long. There was a lot of telling, not much showing. "I went to class. I wrapped up a sandwich." and while there was a scattering of pretty prose, well descriptions of the emotions going through the main character, it still was fleeting and didn't really enter the book until long past the halfway point. It was simplistic writing at best.
The characters go through a lot of awful, typical high school drama and I remember those days, so this certainly would be more appealing to high school-aged people as they can probably give more sympathy to the situations at hand. For me, it's just awful memories that are long past and I'm ok with leaving them in the past so I found it hard to find much sympathy. But about three-fourths of the way into the book I realized I wanted to know what was going on with the characters and how they'd get past their stupid teen issues. When I reached the end of the book, I was surprised to realize I wanted to know what happened to a few of the characters once the book was done.
I don't know if I'd read more of Smith's books, particularly because her writing style is so simple and this book had SO MANY errors. Like, easy ones that anyone could catch while reading. But, I'll give it the credit that it was entertaining while I read it. This is definitely something you can read in a day.
The characters go through a lot of awful, typical high school drama and I remember those days, so this certainly would be more appealing to high school-aged people as they can probably give more sympathy to the situations at hand. For me, it's just awful memories that are long past and I'm ok with leaving them in the past so I found it hard to find much sympathy. But about three-fourths of the way into the book I realized I wanted to know what was going on with the characters and how they'd get past their stupid teen issues. When I reached the end of the book, I was surprised to realize I wanted to know what happened to a few of the characters once the book was done.
I don't know if I'd read more of Smith's books, particularly because her writing style is so simple and this book had SO MANY errors. Like, easy ones that anyone could catch while reading. But, I'll give it the credit that it was entertaining while I read it. This is definitely something you can read in a day.
bushraboblai's review against another edition
5.0
Reminded me of my dying relationship with my best friend.
rachelwrites007's review against another edition
4.0
Powerful stories live inside this book. Hilary T. Smith is a woman writer to be reckoned with; one who weaves beautiful sentences, intriguing character pasts, and subplots that I haven't seen anywhere else in YA. Watch for this one.
diaadiary's review against another edition
4.0
Annabeth’s story was both addicting and relatable. I kind of wanted to smack Noe upside the head but she was still a well written character and it frustrated me that Annabeth couldn’t see the manipulation that was dripping out of her mouth from the start of their friendship. The writing is incredible and powerful. Totally recommend.
laden_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
So the pitch that had me reading this was - there are a lot of books that involve the breakup of a romantic relationship, but not many that are about the breakup of a friendship. That's what this is, and it's done really well. The girls are friends all through high school, the dynamics are accurately portrayed and the little/big things that friends/best-friends do to one another is very very real. Really well done. I've got a couple of quibbles about shoehorning some (additional, gigantic) subplots that the story could have done without but it all works out well in the end.
shananigans1988's review against another edition
3.0
Im surprised it took me a couple hours to read this. However, it a easy read and the chapters were short. I thought I would like Noe. It turns out she is not a good friend and a person. Who does that to a friend you've known for your entire high school career.