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A review by bigolscrewup
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75/5⭐
I don't know why, I just don't seem to enjoy YA books the way I loved few years back. Tell me three things is a poignant story of Jessie, a 16 year old girl who moves from Chicago to California after her dad marries a woman, (two years after Jessie's mom passed away) and how she makes connections in the new place. My friend recommended me this book.
1) Right off the bat, I loved the author's exploration of grief, this idea of "before" and "after", like an event that separates a person's life in two halves. It was one of the three things I absolutely loved about this book.
2) Even though it was infuriating at times to read this book, because it's not really a mystery who's SN in real life, I just loved reading the texts between SN and Jessie. I don't want to give anything away, but the author really should have handled it better. At times, it felt like Jessie was bright in everything except when it comes to figuring out SN's identity. I really don't like when authors do that, it's somewhat lazy I feel. Also, at various points in the book, a character would behave completely different to how they have been from the start of the story.
3) I felt like the author was prejudiced against blondes and girls who live in California in this book ( even though the author herself lives in LA ) It was blatant stereotyping at some places. Honestly, if it weren't for Dri, Agnes and Scarlett and their friendship with Jessie, I wouldn't have completed this book, since it bordered on hate at some places. I get that some characters are just mean, but it's not like every person who has the same body features as those mean characters are similar.
I don't know why, I just don't seem to enjoy YA books the way I loved few years back. Tell me three things is a poignant story of Jessie, a 16 year old girl who moves from Chicago to California after her dad marries a woman, (two years after Jessie's mom passed away) and how she makes connections in the new place. My friend recommended me this book.
1) Right off the bat, I loved the author's exploration of grief, this idea of "before" and "after", like an event that separates a person's life in two halves. It was one of the three things I absolutely loved about this book.
2) Even though it was infuriating at times to read this book, because it's not really a mystery who's SN in real life, I just loved reading the texts between SN and Jessie. I don't want to give anything away, but the author really should have handled it better. At times, it felt like Jessie was bright in everything except when it comes to figuring out SN's identity. I really don't like when authors do that, it's somewhat lazy I feel. Also, at various points in the book, a character would behave completely different to how they have been from the start of the story.
3) I felt like the author was prejudiced against blondes and girls who live in California in this book ( even though the author herself lives in LA ) It was blatant stereotyping at some places. Honestly, if it weren't for Dri, Agnes and Scarlett and their friendship with Jessie, I wouldn't have completed this book, since it bordered on hate at some places. I get that some characters are just mean, but it's not like every person who has the same body features as those mean characters are similar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, and Death of parent