neeannika's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dorset_daisy's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
3.5
Quite predictable but very easy to read - got through it in 24 hours and enjoyed it. I wish there was more - some kind of conclusion between Kelsie and Alice, I guess.
Spoiler
was Josh gay?saluki's review against another edition
4.0
Alice is a slut!
The high-school rumour-mill is put under the microscope to uncover jealousy, lies, slander and the consequences which escalate out of control.
Told from the perspectives of Elaine, Kelsie, Josh, Kurt and Alice it seems Status, Sex & Booze is at the forefront of most of their minds. These high-school stereotypes — popular, former bff, jock, nerd and beauty are recognisable, their motivations honest yet often cruel, revealing a powerful story that is uncomfortable and very real.
The high-school rumour-mill is put under the microscope to uncover jealousy, lies, slander and the consequences which escalate out of control.
Told from the perspectives of Elaine, Kelsie, Josh, Kurt and Alice it seems Status, Sex & Booze is at the forefront of most of their minds. These high-school stereotypes — popular, former bff, jock, nerd and beauty are recognisable, their motivations honest yet often cruel, revealing a powerful story that is uncomfortable and very real.
wintermomof4's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bbboeken's review against another edition
3.0
Het stond al een tijdje op mijn leeslijst, en uiteindelijk heb ik het ergens zien passeren bie iemand wiens adviezen ik wel op prijs stel, dus heb ik het maar in één ruk uitgelezen (grotendeels tijdens een concert --ik doe dat vaak, lezen tijdens een concert, het helpt mij om mij op de muziek te concentreren en tegelijk toch het boek te volgen; muziek beluisteren en boeken lezen gaan al jaren hand in hand bij mij).
Voor de doelgroep (young adult, nietwaar) is dit een heletegans aan te raden boek. Het zit vol waarden en gevaren die anders op een betuttelende manier worden aangekaart, maar die in dit boek in de leefwereld van de jongeren in een vanzelfsprekendheid wordt meegegeven.
Voor mijzelf lag het er allemaal iets te vingerdik op: niet alleen de boodschap, maar vooral het plot kende een iets te vanzelfsprekende afwikkeling, met slechts een matige hoeveelheid verrassing. Niettemin, een aangename lectuur, en al helemaal voor de voor de doelgroep. (Op school kan men misschien beter zoiets lezen ipv 'Zijdeman'.)
Voor de doelgroep (young adult, nietwaar) is dit een heletegans aan te raden boek. Het zit vol waarden en gevaren die anders op een betuttelende manier worden aangekaart, maar die in dit boek in de leefwereld van de jongeren in een vanzelfsprekendheid wordt meegegeven.
Voor mijzelf lag het er allemaal iets te vingerdik op: niet alleen de boodschap, maar vooral het plot kende een iets te vanzelfsprekende afwikkeling, met slechts een matige hoeveelheid verrassing. Niettemin, een aangename lectuur, en al helemaal voor de voor de doelgroep. (Op school kan men misschien beter zoiets lezen ipv 'Zijdeman'.)
agrutle's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
I was drawn in by this cover, its just so pretty. Then I read the summary and I wanted to know what went down in this small town and how Alice was the equivalent of everything bad.
This story is told from four points of view. Elaine, Josh, Kelsie and Kurt all tell the story the way they're seeing it. Elaine is the token popular girl, Josh is the jock football player, Kelsie is popular also but she wasn't always, and Kurt is the outcast.
Elaine is who is up first we find out that she's had a party and thats where it all went down. Two guys in one night and one of them is star football and Elaine's on again off again boy toy. I say boy toy because Elaine herself says that they weren't boyfriend/girlfriend. She's pissed because they should be exclusive, ya know HBIC and BMOC should be united. (HBIC- head bitch in charge and BMOC- big man on campus)
Next up is Kelsie and I'm here to tell you with a friend like Kelsie who needs enemies. She was the new girl freshman year and Alice was the ONLY one to talk to her. They hit it off and became bff's. Kelsie didn't go to Elaine's party because she was sick, she only got texts about what went down. Now Kelsie has stuff of her own going on and she doesn't know if she can believe Alice when she tells her she didn't do what everyone is saying she did. After a while Kelsie just stops answering calls and texts from Alice. Then BMOC dies in a crash and its horrible no doubt. It seems though that everyone is blaming Alice and so its open season on Alice now. Kelsie her former bff starts writing on a wall in the girls bathroom, everyone is writing there and its ugly.
Josh, jock boy and Brandon's best friend, was in the car with Brandon when it crashed. He survived and he's the one that told Brandon's mom that Alice was texting Brandon non stop. He told her Brandon was distracted by all the text coming in and that's what caused the crash. Here's my thoughts on Josh, I think Josh as gay. I think he was in love or in lust with Brandon. I would love to know what you all think about that.
Finally Kurt. He has loved Alice from afar for forever it seems. He just thinks shes an extraordinary girl. Kurt is super smart, he really should already be in college. Everyone thinks hes weird because he doesn't talk to anyone but the teachers. He over hears one day that Alice isn't doing so well in her math class so he drops a note in to her locker offering to tutor her. She is suspicious at first but accepts and in the end they become friends. Kurt knows the truth about what happened with Alice, he got it straight from Brandon's mouth. He doesn't know what to say though, he doesn't know who to tell or how to tell her he knows.
I really want to know where Alice's mother was, why she wasn't taking up for her child? Alice was 16 when this all started, no one was there for her at all, adult wise. Kurt was her friend and he had true intentions toward her. Really this was all a giant bullying story. Even the girl that was supposed to be her best friend, turned on her and attacked her with as much venom as she could. I felt so bad for Alice, she was so down and depressed. They had kicked her to the bottom and she just accepted it. It was a good book with a good lesson, words no matter if they are true or not hurt. They can cause as much if not more pain than a knife. Check it out! Leave love for the author in the form of a review!
I was drawn in by this cover, its just so pretty. Then I read the summary and I wanted to know what went down in this small town and how Alice was the equivalent of everything bad.
This story is told from four points of view. Elaine, Josh, Kelsie and Kurt all tell the story the way they're seeing it. Elaine is the token popular girl, Josh is the jock football player, Kelsie is popular also but she wasn't always, and Kurt is the outcast.
Elaine is who is up first we find out that she's had a party and thats where it all went down. Two guys in one night and one of them is star football and Elaine's on again off again boy toy. I say boy toy because Elaine herself says that they weren't boyfriend/girlfriend. She's pissed because they should be exclusive, ya know HBIC and BMOC should be united. (HBIC- head bitch in charge and BMOC- big man on campus)
Next up is Kelsie and I'm here to tell you with a friend like Kelsie who needs enemies. She was the new girl freshman year and Alice was the ONLY one to talk to her. They hit it off and became bff's. Kelsie didn't go to Elaine's party because she was sick, she only got texts about what went down. Now Kelsie has stuff of her own going on and she doesn't know if she can believe Alice when she tells her she didn't do what everyone is saying she did. After a while Kelsie just stops answering calls and texts from Alice. Then BMOC dies in a crash and its horrible no doubt. It seems though that everyone is blaming Alice and so its open season on Alice now. Kelsie her former bff starts writing on a wall in the girls bathroom, everyone is writing there and its ugly.
Josh, jock boy and Brandon's best friend, was in the car with Brandon when it crashed. He survived and he's the one that told Brandon's mom that Alice was texting Brandon non stop. He told her Brandon was distracted by all the text coming in and that's what caused the crash. Here's my thoughts on Josh, I think Josh as gay. I think he was in love or in lust with Brandon. I would love to know what you all think about that.
Finally Kurt. He has loved Alice from afar for forever it seems. He just thinks shes an extraordinary girl. Kurt is super smart, he really should already be in college. Everyone thinks hes weird because he doesn't talk to anyone but the teachers. He over hears one day that Alice isn't doing so well in her math class so he drops a note in to her locker offering to tutor her. She is suspicious at first but accepts and in the end they become friends. Kurt knows the truth about what happened with Alice, he got it straight from Brandon's mouth. He doesn't know what to say though, he doesn't know who to tell or how to tell her he knows.
I really want to know where Alice's mother was, why she wasn't taking up for her child? Alice was 16 when this all started, no one was there for her at all, adult wise. Kurt was her friend and he had true intentions toward her. Really this was all a giant bullying story. Even the girl that was supposed to be her best friend, turned on her and attacked her with as much venom as she could. I felt so bad for Alice, she was so down and depressed. They had kicked her to the bottom and she just accepted it. It was a good book with a good lesson, words no matter if they are true or not hurt. They can cause as much if not more pain than a knife. Check it out! Leave love for the author in the form of a review!
libraryjen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
I expected this one to be harder to get through and full of teenage angst. I was wrong. Although parts definitely made me angry, overall the various POVs worked for me and I enjoyed the story.
izzy9's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
3.25
lookingforace's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75