cassidylynnereads's review against another edition
2.0
This is another reread for me and this one is worse than I remembered, unfortunately. The characters are extremely annoying. Bailey is the typical dumb blonde bimbo who can’t think for herself and does everything to impress men. Sure, she realizes this and decides to change in the end, but I’m pretty sure after living that way for seventeen years it will be really hard to change her entire personality. I also can’t stand how big of a deal it is that she’s a girl gamer. This book is the definition of the “I’m so special because I’m a gamer and I’m so not like other girls because I’m beautiful too” stereotype that everyone hates. Meg is super annoying and I’m pretty sure if her mom knew that she blamed herself for her dad’s death she would have brought up therapy herself instead of waiting for Bailey to do it. I know she’s rarely home but there’s no way Meg’s emotional distance never came up before. Also if Meg is supposed to be the super logical smart one I’d think she would realize at some point that it was her dad’s choice to commit suicide, not her fault, and Bailey can’t be so stupid that she knew Meg blamed herself without pointing out how wrong that assumption is. Chase is also really annoying with his “waaaa waaa waa” you hurt my feewings every two seconds just to change his mind and go back to Meg again, and then change his mind again and try to get with her. The ending with Simon getting in legal trouble for having the fake Ryder profiles is not realistic at all. People lie about their indentities all the time online and unless they’re manipulating minors I’m pretty sure that’s not illegal, even if you do emotionally hurt someone because of it (I’d hardly call what he did cyberbullying compared to what went down between Bailey and Meg). Meg and Bailey are also super petty and annoying in how quickly they get angry over nothing and turn on each other. They’re supposed to be best friends since childhood, yet they fight at the drop of a hat. That’s not friendship, that’s just a toxic relationship. Sure they may have reconciled by “changing” in the end, but as someone who has had the same best friend since the second grade I will tell you right now that a healthy friendship, even over a span of many years, is nothing like Bailey and Meg’s. I’ve maybe fought twice with my best friend the entire time I’ve known her and never bad enough to drag her online like Meg and Bailey did to each other. None of the characters are relatable at all and their drama is just annoying.
heisereads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Not exactly what I was expecting, but a story I think my students would enjoy reading with some cautionary tales about what gets posted online, trying to stay friends as we grow up, accepting and loving oneself in order to love others, and families who struggle.
Not exactly what I was expecting, but a story I think my students would enjoy reading with some cautionary tales about what gets posted online, trying to stay friends as we grow up, accepting and loving oneself in order to love others, and families who struggle.
chrissymcbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
Bailey and Meg are best friends, despite the fact that they have entirely different personalities. Bailey, insecure and confused in her identity, lives like a chameleon, adapting the likes and interests of whatever boy strikes her fancy at the time. Spontaneous and romantic, Bailey is not intensely worried about her future -- everything will happen, in due time, as it should.. hopefully. Meg, on the other hand, is serious and artistic, fiercely controlling of herself and her emotions. Prone of bouts of melancholy for the purpose of her art, Meg is determined to get the perfect scholarship to the perfect college -- and no boy will interfere with her destiny.
After a messy breakup with her high school boyfriend, Bailey throws herself into her ideas for creating her own video game, going to the internet for inspiration and technical assistance. She soon finds Ryder, a mysterious guy on the internet who seems to be her perfect match in every way. Ryder offers his assistance with Bailey's gaming project and meanwhile manages to captivate Bailey's attention and affection with his frequent emails and texts. He seems like the perfect guy, but Ryder always has an excuse as to why he can't meet up with Bailey. What is Ryder hiding?
Suddenly, Ryder reveals something to Bailey that makes her question the loyalty of her best friend Meg. Surely Meg wouldn't reveal Bailey's deepest darkest secrets to Ryder, right? But, how else would he know so many hidden things about Bailey? After a devious act of brutal revenge, Meg and Bailey find themselves in an entirely new territory. Who is Ryder and what dangers are really in store for a teenage girl who reveals a bit too much about herself to a total stranger?
I can't deny that I loved the concept of this young adult novel -- I'm a sucker for any story that explores the medium of online messaging or texting as a way to integrate parts of the story line. And, with the popularity of the show CATFISH, who can resist a story about the mystery lurking on the other side of the internet? There were so many possibilities for this book, I think, and so many potential lessons to teenagers about the dangers of emotional intimacy with utter strangers on the net.
However, there were several problems I had with the story that really kept me from elevating it to the LOVE level. For one, I just found the characters of Bailey -- and to a much greater extend, Meg -- to be very extreme and unrelatable. Don't get me wrong -- I adore extreme characters, especially those plagued by deep psychological problems -- but these girls were almost TOO much to handle. They constantly referenced their daddy issues, they were very fickle and ridiculously quick to turn on pretty much everyone, and especially the character of Meg just seemed to try TOO hard to present herself as dark and disturbed. I'd like to see a little more relateability to these characters, I think, to make them a bit more likeable to keep me more invested in their stories.
Also, the identity of Ryder felt like a bit of a dud. I guessed pretty early on who was hiding behind the computer, and I was disappointed to find that I was correct. I just feel like it would have been much more effective to infuse a bit more mystery and dangerous into the message here. There really weren't any huge repercussions to these girls revealing 'TMI' to a stranger, which I presumed to be the significance of the title. On the positive side, though, there was a lot more discussion of the evolution of the girls' friendship than what I expected from the description, which was definitely interesting to see. The girls both experienced character growth which led to a pretty happy ending, which is never a bad thing.
I appreciate getting the opportunity to receive an advanced reader's copy of this novel and I look forward to more from this author in the future. TMI had a great foundation to an interesting idea, and I'd like to see more like this one in the future, for sure.
After a messy breakup with her high school boyfriend, Bailey throws herself into her ideas for creating her own video game, going to the internet for inspiration and technical assistance. She soon finds Ryder, a mysterious guy on the internet who seems to be her perfect match in every way. Ryder offers his assistance with Bailey's gaming project and meanwhile manages to captivate Bailey's attention and affection with his frequent emails and texts. He seems like the perfect guy, but Ryder always has an excuse as to why he can't meet up with Bailey. What is Ryder hiding?
Suddenly, Ryder reveals something to Bailey that makes her question the loyalty of her best friend Meg. Surely Meg wouldn't reveal Bailey's deepest darkest secrets to Ryder, right? But, how else would he know so many hidden things about Bailey? After a devious act of brutal revenge, Meg and Bailey find themselves in an entirely new territory. Who is Ryder and what dangers are really in store for a teenage girl who reveals a bit too much about herself to a total stranger?
I can't deny that I loved the concept of this young adult novel -- I'm a sucker for any story that explores the medium of online messaging or texting as a way to integrate parts of the story line. And, with the popularity of the show CATFISH, who can resist a story about the mystery lurking on the other side of the internet? There were so many possibilities for this book, I think, and so many potential lessons to teenagers about the dangers of emotional intimacy with utter strangers on the net.
However, there were several problems I had with the story that really kept me from elevating it to the LOVE level. For one, I just found the characters of Bailey -- and to a much greater extend, Meg -- to be very extreme and unrelatable. Don't get me wrong -- I adore extreme characters, especially those plagued by deep psychological problems -- but these girls were almost TOO much to handle. They constantly referenced their daddy issues, they were very fickle and ridiculously quick to turn on pretty much everyone, and especially the character of Meg just seemed to try TOO hard to present herself as dark and disturbed. I'd like to see a little more relateability to these characters, I think, to make them a bit more likeable to keep me more invested in their stories.
Also, the identity of Ryder felt like a bit of a dud. I guessed pretty early on who was hiding behind the computer, and I was disappointed to find that I was correct. I just feel like it would have been much more effective to infuse a bit more mystery and dangerous into the message here. There really weren't any huge repercussions to these girls revealing 'TMI' to a stranger, which I presumed to be the significance of the title. On the positive side, though, there was a lot more discussion of the evolution of the girls' friendship than what I expected from the description, which was definitely interesting to see. The girls both experienced character growth which led to a pretty happy ending, which is never a bad thing.
I appreciate getting the opportunity to receive an advanced reader's copy of this novel and I look forward to more from this author in the future. TMI had a great foundation to an interesting idea, and I'd like to see more like this one in the future, for sure.
poppincandy's review against another edition
2.0
2.5. I would have liked this book more if the characters weren't so wholly unlikable. Chase is creepy and Bailey is an awful self centered person who doesn't deserve a decent ending. Booo.
nicoleabouttown's review against another edition
3.0
I confess, it has been a long time since I was a teenager. Longer than I would care to admit and if I'm being honest, I don't think I behaved or thought like an actual teenager when I was one. If I did behave like a stereotypical teenager, and by stereotypical I mean like the teenagers in TMI, then why the hell didn't somebody slap me? Because I can tell you now if these characters are meant to be a typical representation of teenagers and how the behave then we are in for some serious, serious problems.
I think that is part of my problem with the book. Because I am nowhere near a teenager or that mentality I found it unbelievably hard to connect with any of the characters. The idea behind the story was great and I am honestly very glad that it didn't end up like a Dateline To Catch a Predator episode. Because it could have, really easily. I just think that the characters were a little too petty. Not to mention the weird dynamic that was the friendship of Bailey and Meg. It's almost like they are more frenemies than anything.
All in all this is a decent read and I'm sure that other's would will like it just fine, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I think that is part of my problem with the book. Because I am nowhere near a teenager or that mentality I found it unbelievably hard to connect with any of the characters. The idea behind the story was great and I am honestly very glad that it didn't end up like a Dateline To Catch a Predator episode. Because it could have, really easily. I just think that the characters were a little too petty. Not to mention the weird dynamic that was the friendship of Bailey and Meg. It's almost like they are more frenemies than anything.
All in all this is a decent read and I'm sure that other's would will like it just fine, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.
relaxsky's review against another edition
1.0
An 'in between books' read. I didn't like either one of the main characters. The pettiness between two supposed best friends - even for high schoolers - was too much for me to handle.
nikkigee81's review against another edition
2.0
Young adult fiction is not a genre I read much. However, I feel, as a future librarian, I should broaden my horizons. (I also figured a few YA books would be shorter and help me reach my challenge before the end of the year). To this end, when last I visited the library, I browsed the shelves and pulled down what looked interesting.
This book . . . oh, where to begin?
The storyline is a good one, especially with this generation living their lives constantly online. The era of the overshare, is how I refer to it. Kids don't seem to be too wary of the dangers inherent. Not everyone is a creep or out to get you, but one must exercise caution. I thought this book was going to take a more sinister turn, but it did not. There are some good talking points for parents and their kids.
Again, I'm not the target audience, so maybe I'm being too harsh, but . . . these characters were awful. I couldn't relate to any of them on a personal level. They both seemed too extreme, almost caricatures.
What did ring true, however, was the drama. I had shitty friends like this in middle and high school, who would be there for me one minute and then attack me the next. I'm just thankful I walked those hallowed halls way before social media was a thing . . .
This aspect of the book also bothered me, and I think it's because all of this drama is the major focus of the book, despite the blurb telling you otherwise. The book isn't sure what it wants to be, and it had me rolling my eyes very hard about halfway through.
The writing style also did not help. I liked the fact that the chapters alternated between the main characters, Bailey and Megan, but they were written in third person limited point of view. This leads to a lot of breaking of the cardinal rule in fiction writing - show, don't tell. "She told him blah blah blah" is not as effective as her actually SAYING it. Lots of missing conversations in this book, which I felt were important. Two characters having a Serious Moment - "we need to talk." Smash cut to later, after the talk, and the audience has no idea what has been said. Was it resolved? The author tells us it has been, but it's something the reader should really be able to discover for herself.
I can't say I'd really recommend this to anyone.
This book . . . oh, where to begin?
The storyline is a good one, especially with this generation living their lives constantly online. The era of the overshare, is how I refer to it. Kids don't seem to be too wary of the dangers inherent. Not everyone is a creep or out to get you, but one must exercise caution. I thought this book was going to take a more sinister turn, but it did not. There are some good talking points for parents and their kids.
Again, I'm not the target audience, so maybe I'm being too harsh, but . . . these characters were awful. I couldn't relate to any of them on a personal level. They both seemed too extreme, almost caricatures.
What did ring true, however, was the drama. I had shitty friends like this in middle and high school, who would be there for me one minute and then attack me the next. I'm just thankful I walked those hallowed halls way before social media was a thing . . .
This aspect of the book also bothered me, and I think it's because all of this drama is the major focus of the book, despite the blurb telling you otherwise. The book isn't sure what it wants to be, and it had me rolling my eyes very hard about halfway through.
The writing style also did not help. I liked the fact that the chapters alternated between the main characters, Bailey and Megan, but they were written in third person limited point of view. This leads to a lot of breaking of the cardinal rule in fiction writing - show, don't tell. "She told him blah blah blah" is not as effective as her actually SAYING it. Lots of missing conversations in this book, which I felt were important. Two characters having a Serious Moment - "we need to talk." Smash cut to later, after the talk, and the audience has no idea what has been said. Was it resolved? The author tells us it has been, but it's something the reader should really be able to discover for herself.
I can't say I'd really recommend this to anyone.
bookswritinghappiness's review against another edition
3.0
This book was definitely not what I expected and it escalated quite a bit over the course of the book! It stayed intriguing throughout, which I loved, and I also loved Meg and Chase's character developments. Some of the interactions and conflicts between Meg and Bailey happened a little too quickly, however, and sometimes the story felt a little too fast-paced. Overall, though, I enjoyed it!
justkeyreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book shows you how just ONE post can tear two people apart and in the end can never be the same. Meg and Bailey are two best friends who do everything together. They each have their share of problems, but deal with them so differently. Meg is more of the reasonable kind and has a passion for painting and loving Chase. Then there's Bailey who's the polar opposite more outgoing. Bailey always changes because of a guy, so when she meets this faceless Ryder, she is over ecstatic and she begins falling for him quickly. When secrets are revealed, so are the true feelings are revealed.
Chase... oh my goodness.. Chase. Despite how Meg kept pushing him away, he didn't run away, he was so persistence. At one point I thought they were going to be together of Meg's list and her constantly making herself not be attracted to Chase. But that didn't work. Finally, during the final chapters, she learned that she couldn't let her past ruin her future with Chase and being loved.
Chase... oh my goodness.. Chase. Despite how Meg kept pushing him away, he didn't run away, he was so persistence. At one point I thought they were going to be together of Meg's list and her constantly making herself not be attracted to Chase. But that didn't work. Finally, during the final chapters, she learned that she couldn't let her past ruin her future with Chase and being loved.
andreathereader's review
2.0
Meg and Bailey have been besties forever. Through thick and thin, they’ve managed to stay close. Through Meg fending off the advances of the super nice boy next door, to Bailey’s abusive relationship, they know each other’s secrets and would do anything for each other. Even butt into each other’s lives if necessary.
This book was okay; it was a quick read and had some entertainment value, but I had a lot of issues with it.
The 2 main characters, Meg and Bailey, were supposed to be the best of friends, but they didn’t act like it. Throughout the book, they were friends, then they’d fight and be enemies, then they made up again. Friends, enemies, friends, enemies, over and over again. The flip flopping got old very fast. Also, they both seemed incredibly immature for 17 year-olds. I would have pegged them as maybe 13.
Meg was insanely driven to excel at everything. She had a focused plan and there was no room for anything else – no other friends, no boys, no subpar grades. She seemed to think that any deviation from her set plan would result in catastrophe. This was the reason she was avoiding any sort of relationship with the sweet boy next door who was very obviously crushing on her. Once the big reason behind her narrow-minded focus was revealed, I thought it was silly and not worth the build-up.
Bailey was one of those girls who changed herself to be a boy’s ideal girl. Unsurprisingly, the boys never made her very happy. Her latest was on the controlling side and downright mean. I’m not sure what she saw in him in the first place. I think she liked him because he was popular. I questioned whether Bailey was Meg’s friend at all when she decided she would make Meg realize her feelings for the boy next door by dating him herself and making Meg jealous. What kind of friend does that?
I figured out the mystery of “Who is Ryder West” within a chapter of his first appearance on Meg’s radar, so no surprises there. The plot was an interesting idea, but the execution left me wanting.
The sum up: A great idea bogged down by very unlikable characters.
This book was okay; it was a quick read and had some entertainment value, but I had a lot of issues with it.
The 2 main characters, Meg and Bailey, were supposed to be the best of friends, but they didn’t act like it. Throughout the book, they were friends, then they’d fight and be enemies, then they made up again. Friends, enemies, friends, enemies, over and over again. The flip flopping got old very fast. Also, they both seemed incredibly immature for 17 year-olds. I would have pegged them as maybe 13.
Meg was insanely driven to excel at everything. She had a focused plan and there was no room for anything else – no other friends, no boys, no subpar grades. She seemed to think that any deviation from her set plan would result in catastrophe. This was the reason she was avoiding any sort of relationship with the sweet boy next door who was very obviously crushing on her. Once the big reason behind her narrow-minded focus was revealed, I thought it was silly and not worth the build-up.
Bailey was one of those girls who changed herself to be a boy’s ideal girl. Unsurprisingly, the boys never made her very happy. Her latest was on the controlling side and downright mean. I’m not sure what she saw in him in the first place. I think she liked him because he was popular. I questioned whether Bailey was Meg’s friend at all when she decided she would make Meg realize her feelings for the boy next door by dating him herself and making Meg jealous. What kind of friend does that?
I figured out the mystery of “Who is Ryder West” within a chapter of his first appearance on Meg’s radar, so no surprises there. The plot was an interesting idea, but the execution left me wanting.
The sum up: A great idea bogged down by very unlikable characters.