minty's review against another edition
3.0
Cute. Reminiscent of Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist, but not really as good as that. Still, a sweet little story with nice storytelling. If it were a movie, Michael Cera could rightly play the main character (whereas I believe he was mis-cast as Nick in that movie).
devoted_bookworm's review against another edition
The writing was different than I'm used to. Sometimes this bothered me, but for the most part it was nice to read something a little different. I wasn't able to guess what the big revelation at the end was going to be, but I wasn't very surprised to find out what it was. The rest of the story seemed fairly predictable. I'm glad I read this book because I usually read books that are from the female perspective and it's nice to read something from a male perspective sometimes.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
3.0
Ehrenhaft's tone and humor reminds me so much of Blake Nelson. This was a good book with definite boy appeal (minus the cover). There's a little mystery and no dead people. Not my favorite but I loved the voice.
virginiaduan's review against another edition
2.0
*sigh* Where did I get this recommendation? I knew within the first chapter that I wouldn't like this story. Instead, I slogged through because I knew it wouldn't take more than an hour or two to get through. The protagonist was annoying and Emma is the only person I liked. I guess there were some interesting plot points, but other than that, blech.
sarcrawsh's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. Could not get into this book and then the library loan was over. Doubt I'll pick it up again.
librandian's review against another edition
3.0
Everything changed after Hen’s sister Sarah disappeared a year ago. No one knows where or why she went, but there are speculations everywhere that she is in some kind of trouble. Since his sister vanished, Hen has fallen in love (he thinks), played the bass guitar in his girlfriend, Petra’s, band (subpar, at best), and managed ridiculously paranoid parents (he’s not going to run away, you know). Now everything is slowly crumbling to Hen’s feet. Petra dumped him and kicked him out of the band leaving his social life an empty void except for his best friend Emma and the addictive VH1 Behind the Music marathons. Right when Hen is getting settled in his new, slightly boring life, he comes home to an empty house with only a note stating that Sarah had returned. His parents refuse to acknowledge the fact that Sarah had been missing for a year and life continues on as it had before she left. The worst part is no one will tell Hen where she was or why she was gone, but he’s positive that his parents know everything.
With the reemergence of Sarah comes the paranoid artist, Gabriel Stern. Gabriel was apparently with Sarah while she was gone and is now trying to become a part of Hen’s life as well. When Gabriel offers to teach Hen how to play the bass better, Hen agrees with the hopes that Gabriel will shed some light on the last year of Sarah’s life. On top of some sneaking around Gabriel’s apartment, Hen finds a few new activities to keep him busy. Hen gets a part-time job walking dogs for some very wealthy women. He is also invited to join back up with Petra and her band for a very important gig. Can Hen juggle everything after having a boring, uneventful life?
A down-to-earth story, Friend is not a Verb mirrors the real lives of teenagers fairly accurately. Hen is a likeable character with the habit of narrating his life like an announcer for a biographical TV show. One of the only negative thoughts I have about this book refers to the cover. A boy and a girl holding hands is not a good representation for this book and I fear it will turn guys away. Don’t believe the cover! Pick it up today!
With the reemergence of Sarah comes the paranoid artist, Gabriel Stern. Gabriel was apparently with Sarah while she was gone and is now trying to become a part of Hen’s life as well. When Gabriel offers to teach Hen how to play the bass better, Hen agrees with the hopes that Gabriel will shed some light on the last year of Sarah’s life. On top of some sneaking around Gabriel’s apartment, Hen finds a few new activities to keep him busy. Hen gets a part-time job walking dogs for some very wealthy women. He is also invited to join back up with Petra and her band for a very important gig. Can Hen juggle everything after having a boring, uneventful life?
A down-to-earth story, Friend is not a Verb mirrors the real lives of teenagers fairly accurately. Hen is a likeable character with the habit of narrating his life like an announcer for a biographical TV show. One of the only negative thoughts I have about this book refers to the cover. A boy and a girl holding hands is not a good representation for this book and I fear it will turn guys away. Don’t believe the cover! Pick it up today!
jadesofiee's review against another edition
2.0
Don't you just hate it when you like the cover + title more than the book itself?