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beastreader's review against another edition
2.0
I agree with other readers that the subject matter featured in this book is a serious topic that affects not just women but guys as well. People need to be able to have a voice and know it is ok to speak out and ask for help. Luckily, I have not encountered this situation that Annie dealt with. However as I have said before when it comes to these types of books, empathy goes a long way. I did not really feel this for any of the characters except for a tiny bit for Annie. Otherwise for the most part the rest of the characters in this story got on my nerves. Sarah for her "poor me attitude", Sarah and Annie's parents for being "clueless or uncaring", Garrett for trying to be the "knight in shiny armour", all of Sarah and Annie's class mates for being "snobbies".
Although the alternating voices and view points was nice. I like the way that the author scripted Annie's voice. It was written in poem format or just a few words on a page. So you might wonder how I was able to read this book so fast if I did not like most of the characters. It is because the chapters were short...only a few pages long. I do want to say however that everyone pulled together in the last few chapters of this book. However for me I still did not feel the family connection. Plus, the ending was alright.
Although the alternating voices and view points was nice. I like the way that the author scripted Annie's voice. It was written in poem format or just a few words on a page. So you might wonder how I was able to read this book so fast if I did not like most of the characters. It is because the chapters were short...only a few pages long. I do want to say however that everyone pulled together in the last few chapters of this book. However for me I still did not feel the family connection. Plus, the ending was alright.
kdurham2's review against another edition
3.0
Told through both sets of eyes of a set of twins. Annie's chapters are told through poetry while Sarah's chapters are told in usual novel form. Something has changed in Annie's life but the family has no clue; the only thing they know is she has changed and she is gaining weight and has cut her hair. Sarah usually the quiet, more reserved twin is being pushed into the spotlight and doesn't like it at all.
I have to be honest I didn't love this one. It took way too long to find out what happened to Annie and I would have loved more book to happen after the reader finds out what made Annie's life change. I wanted more about how her and her family really came to terms and helped her overcome this life changing event.
I have to be honest I didn't love this one. It took way too long to find out what happened to Annie and I would have loved more book to happen after the reader finds out what made Annie's life change. I wanted more about how her and her family really came to terms and helped her overcome this life changing event.
sqeeker's review against another edition
4.0
- I've read enough of Carol's books to know that when I pick one up, it is going to be rough. This one was no different, but the reason I love these books so much is because they deal with tough things in a very real and tasteful way, and there is always hope at the end. The character can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and they can start to heal.
- Annie was crying out for help without actually crying out for help, and the only one that really noticed was her sister. Annie's mom belittled her, her friends ditched her, and her peers mocked her. It was SO sad, but that is life. People are cruel. It was very heartwarming to see Sarah reach out and get to know her sister.
- I loved the format of the book. Carol is always trying new formats and styles of writing, and I love it! Sarah's perspectives read like a normal book, but Annie's thoughts were short choppy lines.
- The ending didn't really take me by surprise, but it I was still surprised. I kinda guessed what was going on with Annie, but it was still a shock to me.
- Great story, great writing, great book! I love Carol's books!
- Annie was crying out for help without actually crying out for help, and the only one that really noticed was her sister. Annie's mom belittled her, her friends ditched her, and her peers mocked her. It was SO sad, but that is life. People are cruel. It was very heartwarming to see Sarah reach out and get to know her sister.
- I loved the format of the book. Carol is always trying new formats and styles of writing, and I love it! Sarah's perspectives read like a normal book, but Annie's thoughts were short choppy lines.
- The ending didn't really take me by surprise, but it I was still surprised. I kinda guessed what was going on with Annie, but it was still a shock to me.
- Great story, great writing, great book! I love Carol's books!
sc104906's review against another edition
5.0
Twins Sarah and Annie have well defined roles within their family. Annie is the adored pageant girl, who can do no wrong. Sarah is pushed to the shadows, can’t do anything right, and often feels invisible. However, a few months ago, Annie gave up her pageants, started eating anything she wants, and simply rebelling against the role of perfect daughter. The family’s focus remains on Annie, forcing Sarah even further into the shadows. Annie is self-destructing and her parents keep pushing and fighting to regain their old daughter.
The two girls are finally finding ways to connect, through parental disappointment. Each begins to learn more about their sister and realize that not everything is as it seems.
A great emotional book. It is angsty goodness. While Sarah writes in typical novel format, Annie writes in verse. It is a great interesting way to present the story.
The two girls are finally finding ways to connect, through parental disappointment. Each begins to learn more about their sister and realize that not everything is as it seems.
A great emotional book. It is angsty goodness. While Sarah writes in typical novel format, Annie writes in verse. It is a great interesting way to present the story.
twiinklex's review against another edition
3.0
Randomly picked up this book at the library because it seemed interesting, not realising it was going to hit so close to home. I thought it was a strange, odd book at first but when the final last bit was revealed, my heart broke. I felt so much for the characters.
No means so.
Even if, at first, you thought you meant yes.
Even if, at first, it was your fault.
Even if, at first, you made yourself available.
——————————
He expected more,
Wanted more,
Asked for more,
And I gave it.
——————————
"You have to tell. You said no. That's rape."
"I can't. I said yes later."
"I'm ashamed. Like it was something I did. Like I took advantage of how I looked. Like I made it too easy. I let him care for me and I let me care for him."
Spoiler
Just gonna leave these quotes here:No means so.
Even if, at first, you thought you meant yes.
Even if, at first, it was your fault.
Even if, at first, you made yourself available.
——————————
He expected more,
Wanted more,
Asked for more,
And I gave it.
——————————
"You have to tell. You said no. That's rape."
"I can't. I said yes later."
"I'm ashamed. Like it was something I did. Like I took advantage of how I looked. Like I made it too easy. I let him care for me and I let me care for him."
butterfliesonmybookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
I loved "Waiting" by this author, and while this book wasn't as good as "Waiting," it was still really enjoyable.
raequigley's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on Drunk On Pop
I was able to get through Never Said very quickly. I don’t typically enjoy dual perspective books, as evidenced by countless reviews on here, but this one fit together really nicely. I loved that it alternated between prose and poetry. Carol Lynch Williams wrote beautifully, and I would definitely read more from this author. I felt like the character development was on point, and each of the characters felt genuine.
There were still a few issues for me, though. I felt like the actual content of the story was really unoriginal, and actually quite problematic. The “twist”, or reason for one twin to start gaining weight was really obvious. Which was one of the awful parts of this book. The one twin just assumes that if she starts gaining weight and “getting fat” (which she gained like, 40 pounds, which would hardly make her “fat” to begin with) that she would stop getting male attention. That’s potentially harmful for girls that are overweight and reading this, and I wish that the author would have involved some sort of lesson for that twin that she’s beautiful just as she is and that gaining weight or cutting off your hair doesn’t make you unattractive or bad to be around. Especially since this was one of the books for BookSparks ‘Reading Is Beautiful‘ summer YA reading challenge.
Then, all of a sudden, parents that were so awful to her throughout the entire book are suddenly supportive and wonderful and everything wraps up very nicely with a bow. The actual book was very well written, and I enjoyed reading it, but I feel like if you’re going to write angst you need to see it all the way through.
PLEASE NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from Booksparks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions held within this review are my own thoughts and feelings and do not reflect upon anyone else.
I was able to get through Never Said very quickly. I don’t typically enjoy dual perspective books, as evidenced by countless reviews on here, but this one fit together really nicely. I loved that it alternated between prose and poetry. Carol Lynch Williams wrote beautifully, and I would definitely read more from this author. I felt like the character development was on point, and each of the characters felt genuine.
There were still a few issues for me, though. I felt like the actual content of the story was really unoriginal, and actually quite problematic. The “twist”, or reason for one twin to start gaining weight was really obvious. Which was one of the awful parts of this book. The one twin just assumes that if she starts gaining weight and “getting fat” (which she gained like, 40 pounds, which would hardly make her “fat” to begin with) that she would stop getting male attention. That’s potentially harmful for girls that are overweight and reading this, and I wish that the author would have involved some sort of lesson for that twin that she’s beautiful just as she is and that gaining weight or cutting off your hair doesn’t make you unattractive or bad to be around. Especially since this was one of the books for BookSparks ‘Reading Is Beautiful‘ summer YA reading challenge.
Then, all of a sudden, parents that were so awful to her throughout the entire book are suddenly supportive and wonderful and everything wraps up very nicely with a bow. The actual book was very well written, and I enjoyed reading it, but I feel like if you’re going to write angst you need to see it all the way through.
PLEASE NOTE: I received a free copy of this book from Booksparks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions held within this review are my own thoughts and feelings and do not reflect upon anyone else.
amandamccormick's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review from Booklook Bloggers!
"For as long as she can remember, Sarah’s family life has revolved around her twin sister, Annie—the pretty one, the social one, the girl who can do anything. The person everyone seems to wish Sarah—with her crippling shyness—could simply become.
When Annie suddenly chops off her hair, quits beauty pageants, and gains weight, the focus changes—Annie is still the star of the family, but for all the wrong reasons. Sarah knows something has happened, but she too is caught in her own spiral after her boyfriend breaks up with her and starts hanging out with one of Annie’s old friends.
Annie is intent on keeping her painful secret safe. But when she and Sarah start spending time together again for the first time in years, walls start to break on both sides … and words that had been left unsaid could change everything." (Taken from the Goodreads Page)
The description of the novel alone tells you that it's something worth reading. Having a voice for the personal issues involved in this particular novel is something that I think should happen more often. The issues within affect not just women, but men as well, and I think that it's wonderful that there is a voice given, and something that can represent and reach out to others.
As to the storytelling itself, it's told in a dual perspective. I can sometimes enjoy novel formatting like this, but I didn't love the writing style. The story was good, but I think that the writing itself could have had a little improvement. Some of it seemed stiff, and almost more robotic than emotional, which I think should have been the representation, given the subject matter of the book. Overall, I think that it was an extremely interesting novel, and a something that was worth picking up.
I'll give it 3.5 out of 5 stars, because there was room for improvement, but I'm not sad that I read it.
"For as long as she can remember, Sarah’s family life has revolved around her twin sister, Annie—the pretty one, the social one, the girl who can do anything. The person everyone seems to wish Sarah—with her crippling shyness—could simply become.
When Annie suddenly chops off her hair, quits beauty pageants, and gains weight, the focus changes—Annie is still the star of the family, but for all the wrong reasons. Sarah knows something has happened, but she too is caught in her own spiral after her boyfriend breaks up with her and starts hanging out with one of Annie’s old friends.
Annie is intent on keeping her painful secret safe. But when she and Sarah start spending time together again for the first time in years, walls start to break on both sides … and words that had been left unsaid could change everything." (Taken from the Goodreads Page)
The description of the novel alone tells you that it's something worth reading. Having a voice for the personal issues involved in this particular novel is something that I think should happen more often. The issues within affect not just women, but men as well, and I think that it's wonderful that there is a voice given, and something that can represent and reach out to others.
As to the storytelling itself, it's told in a dual perspective. I can sometimes enjoy novel formatting like this, but I didn't love the writing style. The story was good, but I think that the writing itself could have had a little improvement. Some of it seemed stiff, and almost more robotic than emotional, which I think should have been the representation, given the subject matter of the book. Overall, I think that it was an extremely interesting novel, and a something that was worth picking up.
I'll give it 3.5 out of 5 stars, because there was room for improvement, but I'm not sad that I read it.