kindlereads's review against another edition
5.0
This book was both inspiring from a writing stand point and incredibly long winded. The idea of two books in one is amazing but in actuality it's really hard for me the reader to switch back and forth when I really have gotten into one of the stories. As a reader I switch between stories all the time, I read sometimes four Books at a time but I choose when I walk away from the story and come back to it. If I had been reading one story or the other I could've sped read through it but because they were combined I didn't have that option. I will likely read a sequel if there is one but I might do it grudgingly and I will probably put it off.
kimberlydyer's review against another edition
5.0
This book is severely underrated. I immensely enjoyed it and really hope that we get an "Untitled Patel" in the future!
rindr's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, I have never seen a concept like this in a book and I feel it was executed really well. The ending fell off a little but I'm not complaining too much we got a really interesting good book :)
sandrareilly513's review against another edition
4.0
Exploring "coming of age" in two radically different ways... Westerfeld shares his latest novel with not only chapters from alternative POV, but also alternating WORLDS. Just when you get into the rhythm of the "YA heaven" real-world character, readers are thrust into the fictional world SHE created through a character struggling with surviving the aftermath of a terrible tragedy. Darcy and Lizzie are navigating their way through their drastically-changing lives; Darcy as a young 17-18 year-old author moving to New York and trying to figure out how (and why) she fits into the adult world, and Lizzie as a 17-18 year old survivor of a terrorist attack who "played dead" so well that she developed the ability to travel between the living world and what comes after. Due to a smattering of a few choice curse words and the deep-though-invoking thick veil of existentialism in both characters' universes, I would recommend this for ages 15/16 and up.
emrache's review against another edition
4.0
This book had all the things... book within a book, YA paranormal romance, YA normal romance, discussion and acknowledgement of possible cultural appropriation, a discussion of the Angelina Jolie Paradox (is that an actual thing? I don't know but I totally bought it), and, of course, ghosts.
samantha_89's review against another edition
3.0
My take away from this is that Scott Westerfeld had the idea for Afterworlds (the novel in the story) but couldn't flesh it out enough to write a full novel so he went totally meta with it. I love the idea and I really enjoyed how Darcy (the author) speaking about her novel allowed us to see all the changes that can happen to a novel from beginning to publication. I liked Afterworlds (the novel in the story) but due to it sharing the stage with Darcy's story it felt like there was something lacking. As if Darcy had to take away some detail from Afterworlds (the novel...) in order to exist. I found Darcy to be incrediably irritating. I loved Scott Westerfeld several years back and never found too much irritation in his characters. Perhaps because I was the same age as them. Now, being several years older than the main character I just found her luck and naivete to be annoying. Like, the apartment doesn't fit in your budget. Who cares if it has good writer vibes; you can't afford it! I don't particularly like when I can see a character making stupid mistakes from the get-go. Three stars for the novel within the novel. If it had just been Darcy's story I wouldn't have finished this.
nyxaslan's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
This was an amazing read tbh. I had a few minor problems with it though. First and foremost, they spoiled the different endings of Darcy's book before you read it. Second, because of the fact that you are reading the final draft while also hearing edits to the first draft, it's very easy to get confused. Third, it seemed like the relationship between Yama and Lizzie went from 0-100 just like that. I also would have liked more clarification on who Jamie is. However, I loved the both stories and I loved how they played in to each other. It gave me a better understanding of YA Heaven is like, and also the struggles of being an 18 year old trying to balance work and love for the first time. I loved the relationship between Darcy and Imogen. It seemed very real and intense. The book was also original. I have never heard about a book within a book before, not until reading this. Both stories were captivating and suitably brutal. Overall, an amazing read for fans of reality and fantasy in one.
FROM NOW ON JAMIE, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING
This was an amazing read tbh. I had a few minor problems with it though. First and foremost, they spoiled the different endings of Darcy's book before you read it. Second, because of the fact that you are reading the final draft while also hearing edits to the first draft, it's very easy to get confused. Third, it seemed like the relationship between Yama and Lizzie went from 0-100 just like that. I also would have liked more clarification on who Jamie is. However, I loved the both stories and I loved how they played in to each other. It gave me a better understanding of YA Heaven is like, and also the struggles of being an 18 year old trying to balance work and love for the first time. I loved the relationship between Darcy and Imogen. It seemed very real and intense. The book was also original. I have never heard about a book within a book before, not until reading this. Both stories were captivating and suitably brutal. Overall, an amazing read for fans of reality and fantasy in one.
FROM NOW ON JAMIE, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING
lanica's review against another edition
3.0
Two stories told at the same time, every other chapter.
One - a young girl writes an amazing novel and has to learn how to deal with the expectations of greatness, even though the book is a first draft.
The other - A young girl gains paranormal powers after surviving a terrorist attack.
PERSONAL REVIEW:
I LOVE Scott Westerfeld's books. I do. But this one was...soft. It had a malleable plot, a bunch of fuzzy characters, a wishy-washy setting. It was good, but not great. Unfortunately for this book I have come to expect greatness from Mr. Westerfeld. I enjoyed the book, but as I finished it I was left with a feeling of sadness that it was not as good as it could have been. He has a few amazing ideas, but they don't grow into anything...they fizzle. Sigh.
LIBRARIAN REVIEW:
A book I think would be great for many young adult readers. It is an interesting way of explaining the realities of the publishing world. I would love to book-club it with some of my more mature kids. There are some amazing discussions that could come from reading this. I love his writing style, and a few of his characters are great. I like the setting of the underworld in the paranormal sections, and I think that a young reader would enjoy the book more than I, an older and more jaded reader, did.
Notes to those who are thinking of adding it to their library collection without reading it. You need to know...
Also, there are a lot of the word 'Fuck' in this book, a few in the early chapters, and more often as the book goes on.
One - a young girl writes an amazing novel and has to learn how to deal with the expectations of greatness, even though the book is a first draft.
The other - A young girl gains paranormal powers after surviving a terrorist attack.
PERSONAL REVIEW:
I LOVE Scott Westerfeld's books. I do. But this one was...soft. It had a malleable plot, a bunch of fuzzy characters, a wishy-washy setting. It was good, but not great. Unfortunately for this book I have come to expect greatness from Mr. Westerfeld. I enjoyed the book, but as I finished it I was left with a feeling of sadness that it was not as good as it could have been. He has a few amazing ideas, but they don't grow into anything...they fizzle. Sigh.
LIBRARIAN REVIEW:
A book I think would be great for many young adult readers. It is an interesting way of explaining the realities of the publishing world. I would love to book-club it with some of my more mature kids. There are some amazing discussions that could come from reading this. I love his writing style, and a few of his characters are great. I like the setting of the underworld in the paranormal sections, and I think that a young reader would enjoy the book more than I, an older and more jaded reader, did.
Notes to those who are thinking of adding it to their library collection without reading it. You need to know...
Spoiler
The main female character is gay and has a wonderful (although not graphic) relationship with another woman. (I'm not hiding this because she is gay, I'm hiding it because finding out she is gay is a wonderful little scene in the book.)Also, there are a lot of the word 'Fuck' in this book, a few in the early chapters, and more often as the book goes on.
maresuju's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Child death, Murder, and Grief
everthereader's review against another edition
4.0
When I first started reading, I found it pretty cool that the author instead of going to college she was going to publish a book.Many people were confused a irritated with the whole two worlds thing where tehy were swiching between the book and Darcy. I actually found it pretty cool.