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A review by lisawreading
Please Send Help by Allison Raskin, Gabe Dunn
4.0
First things first: When I requested this book from NetGalley, I had no idea it was a sequel. Despite my qualms, I decided to read it anyway, and I"m glad I did. While it might have been nice to have read the first book, not having read it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this cute, quirky, quick read. (More on this later...)
Please Send Help is written entirely in texts and emails between two best friends, Ava and Gen. Recent college grads, both are now facing grown-up life as they pursue their career dreams. Ava, in New York, is interning with a comedy show, dying to gain real-life experience as a writer while working her (unpaid) butt off. Gen, in Florida, is trying to break into serious journalism, but the only job she could find is at a small-town newspaper with nothing much at all to cover and no room for advancement at the family-run paper.
Ava and Gen have history together, and their bond is immediately apparent. Ava is coping with anxiety that stops her in her tracks from time to time, and because of Ava's previous experiences related to mental health, Gen tends to worry about her well-being -- especially once Ava gets disastrously involved with her older boss, who's so clearly a player who preys on young interns. Meanwhile, Gen is bi, out and proud, from a dysfunctional family and with no parental support whatsoever, trying to find connections as well as a juicy story in a backwards, socially conservative town where she has no chance of fitting in.
I loved the humor of the texts. Both Ava and Gen are wickedly, crassly funny, even when freaking out, making absurd decisions, or talking about insane events in their lives.
These two are definitely not perfect. But they get one another, and they're there for one another -- and even when they ignore good advice or act out in particularly questionable ways, they still are there to comfort, pick each other up, and kick a little ass if that's what needed to shake some reality into each other's minds and hearts.
Genre/library shelf-wise, I'm not quite sure where I'd put this one. NetGalley lists it as teen/YA, but since the characters are 22-ish (I think), I wouldn't have thought to consider this young adult. (Side note -- why are young adult novels mostly about teens and not about actual young adults -- which is what Ava and Gen are?) So sure, put it on the YA shelf if you want, but just know that it's about women in their 20s figuring out life, sex, STDs, and more. Not what I'd typically consider teen fare!
Please Send Help is heaps of fun. I'm glad I wasn't put off by finding out it's book #2. Now that I've finished it, I think I'll try to track down the first book (I Hate Everyone But You, set during Ava and Gen's college years). I'd imagine that the topics of the girls' families, mental health, sexuality, and more are explored in greater depth in that book, whereas here they're mostly backstory to the struggle to be independent and start a career and a life in a new city.
BUT, please don't feel that you can't read Please Send Help without reading the first book! Please Send Help works perfectly well as a standalone. I'm living proof that you can read this book without any prior knowledge of the characters and their stories. I really did feel like I got to know Ava and Gen through this book, and would love to hear what happens next in their lives! *fingers crossed for a book #3*
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Please Send Help is written entirely in texts and emails between two best friends, Ava and Gen. Recent college grads, both are now facing grown-up life as they pursue their career dreams. Ava, in New York, is interning with a comedy show, dying to gain real-life experience as a writer while working her (unpaid) butt off. Gen, in Florida, is trying to break into serious journalism, but the only job she could find is at a small-town newspaper with nothing much at all to cover and no room for advancement at the family-run paper.
Ava and Gen have history together, and their bond is immediately apparent. Ava is coping with anxiety that stops her in her tracks from time to time, and because of Ava's previous experiences related to mental health, Gen tends to worry about her well-being -- especially once Ava gets disastrously involved with her older boss, who's so clearly a player who preys on young interns. Meanwhile, Gen is bi, out and proud, from a dysfunctional family and with no parental support whatsoever, trying to find connections as well as a juicy story in a backwards, socially conservative town where she has no chance of fitting in.
I loved the humor of the texts. Both Ava and Gen are wickedly, crassly funny, even when freaking out, making absurd decisions, or talking about insane events in their lives.
Tabby finally gave in to her gluttony and came inside. I jumped up and shut the door. She did NOT like that but I have put vodka on all of my scratches so I'm sure I'm fine.
These two are definitely not perfect. But they get one another, and they're there for one another -- and even when they ignore good advice or act out in particularly questionable ways, they still are there to comfort, pick each other up, and kick a little ass if that's what needed to shake some reality into each other's minds and hearts.
Genre/library shelf-wise, I'm not quite sure where I'd put this one. NetGalley lists it as teen/YA, but since the characters are 22-ish (I think), I wouldn't have thought to consider this young adult. (Side note -- why are young adult novels mostly about teens and not about actual young adults -- which is what Ava and Gen are?) So sure, put it on the YA shelf if you want, but just know that it's about women in their 20s figuring out life, sex, STDs, and more. Not what I'd typically consider teen fare!
Please Send Help is heaps of fun. I'm glad I wasn't put off by finding out it's book #2. Now that I've finished it, I think I'll try to track down the first book (I Hate Everyone But You, set during Ava and Gen's college years). I'd imagine that the topics of the girls' families, mental health, sexuality, and more are explored in greater depth in that book, whereas here they're mostly backstory to the struggle to be independent and start a career and a life in a new city.
BUT, please don't feel that you can't read Please Send Help without reading the first book! Please Send Help works perfectly well as a standalone. I'm living proof that you can read this book without any prior knowledge of the characters and their stories. I really did feel like I got to know Ava and Gen through this book, and would love to hear what happens next in their lives! *fingers crossed for a book #3*
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.