A review by popsiclerainbow
Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Favorite moments:
- Look when Jeremy was first like getting sexual with Chloe, no lie that was... an experience.
- The Squip is AMAZING. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. THE CHARACTER. THE SNARK. AAHHH SO GOOD.
Why I thought this book was 3.5 stars:
If you're going to pick this book up, know one thing, and that is that Part One is extremely boring. It was almost as hard to read as Dear Evan Hansen, so much so that I even joked calling this book Dear Evan Hansen 2: Electric Boogaloo. It lasts for 100 pages ish and is easily the worst part of this book.
Luckily, Part Two is fucking amazing. Jeremy gets the Squip in this part and trust me, it is the best thing to ever happen to this story. The Squip just adds so much sorely-needed action and character to this book and it easily makes Part Two one of the most interesting and exciting things I have ever read.
Sadly, the ending doesn't live up to the expectations set by the middle section. The ending of this book tries to really hammer home the message of "technology bad" but in my opinion this was done in a very sloppy and rushed way. Now in hindsight, there were hints here and there that this was the message the book was trying to convey (Like Jeremy ditching Michael, Jeremy stealing his mom's car and money, Jeremy being made to do drugs and shit.) so the moral of this book definitely wasn't just tacked on carelessly, but the delivery of it especially at the end was extremely poor. It honestly could have benefited from 30 extra pages to properly pace all the events at the end and draw them out for drama, but of course it didn't do that which sucks.
So, if you're willing to ignore that super flimsy ending and the boring ass beginning and focus solely on Part Two, by all means pick this book up. If you're not, then I highly suggest you go find something else to read.
- Look when Jeremy was first like getting sexual with Chloe, no lie that was... an experience.
- The Squip is AMAZING. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. THE CHARACTER. THE SNARK. AAHHH SO GOOD.
Why I thought this book was 3.5 stars:
If you're going to pick this book up, know one thing, and that is that Part One is extremely boring. It was almost as hard to read as Dear Evan Hansen, so much so that I even joked calling this book Dear Evan Hansen 2: Electric Boogaloo. It lasts for 100 pages ish and is easily the worst part of this book.
Luckily, Part Two is fucking amazing. Jeremy gets the Squip in this part and trust me, it is the best thing to ever happen to this story. The Squip just adds so much sorely-needed action and character to this book and it easily makes Part Two one of the most interesting and exciting things I have ever read.
Sadly, the ending doesn't live up to the expectations set by the middle section. The ending of this book tries to really hammer home the message of "technology bad" but in my opinion this was done in a very sloppy and rushed way. Now in hindsight, there were hints here and there that this was the message the book was trying to convey (Like Jeremy ditching Michael, Jeremy stealing his mom's car and money, Jeremy being made to do drugs and shit.) so the moral of this book definitely wasn't just tacked on carelessly, but the delivery of it especially at the end was extremely poor. It honestly could have benefited from 30 extra pages to properly pace all the events at the end and draw them out for drama, but of course it didn't do that which sucks.
So, if you're willing to ignore that super flimsy ending and the boring ass beginning and focus solely on Part Two, by all means pick this book up. If you're not, then I highly suggest you go find something else to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Misogyny
The Squip gives a few misogyny-y vibes ngl, talking about how women are predictable and manipulable it was weird.