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tinky47's review against another edition
4.0
Ruby was just another rebellious teenager who hated her stepdad and obsessed over the usual things such as clothes, makeup, and her crush. When her friend's laid-back parents come home early during a party and rush everyone indoors before a summer storm, Ruby doesn't realize that it is just the moment when life for everyone had changed. The rain is toxic and fatal. Ruby is suddenly thrown into a world where water is precious and letting your guard down will get you killed.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
_mitsuri_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
susanneverreads's review
4.0
*MINOR SPOILERS...I don't think there is enough to mark this a spoiler review but giving warnings anyway*
A lot of reviews for this book rate it low (1-2 stars). I can see why. As an adult, I was iffy about this book at first. But once I got into the mindset that this book was written for teenagers (main character is 16 so I would say this book is for the ages of 14 to 18), I did enjoy this book.
Ruby doesn't act like a usual main character thrown in a world-ending situation. She acts like a teenager. She picks up things she likes over practical items simply because she couldn't before. To her, she is able to do what she was never allowed.
She learns as she goes through. In the beginning, she didn't look at the clouds when she started going out. Ruby didn't even think twice about it because why would she? The rain was normal before. She is selfish at times, but what teen isn't. All she wanted to do is find her dad, even if it meant being selfish.
Ruby is a teenager, and this book is written like it is her journal. This book shows realistically how a teenager may act in this situation. Not every teenager is going to go into survival mode, they will take time to process what is happening and this book shows that.
A lot of reviews for this book rate it low (1-2 stars). I can see why. As an adult, I was iffy about this book at first. But once I got into the mindset that this book was written for teenagers (main character is 16 so I would say this book is for the ages of 14 to 18), I did enjoy this book.
Ruby doesn't act like a usual main character thrown in a world-ending situation. She acts like a teenager. She picks up things she likes over practical items simply because she couldn't before. To her, she is able to do what she was never allowed.
She learns as she goes through. In the beginning, she didn't look at the clouds when she started going out. Ruby didn't even think twice about it because why would she? The rain was normal before. She is selfish at times, but what teen isn't. All she wanted to do is find her dad, even if it meant being selfish.
Ruby is a teenager, and this book is written like it is her journal. This book shows realistically how a teenager may act in this situation. Not every teenager is going to go into survival mode, they will take time to process what is happening and this book shows that.
harleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
This book was nowhere near what I was expecting. While the idea of the story was interesting, the main character really brought this book down. I just had a few issues while reading this that I wish hadn't happened.
The thing I didn't like:
1. Ruby. Her priorities where no in the right place. The rain is killing people and all shes cares about it her phone and makeup. She was just not in the right mind set, the only reason she lived was due to luck.
2. How nothing was really explained. I guess I was wanting more science. As in why were plants and animals not affected? Is a cure even possible? Are some people immune?
The things I did like:
1. The basic Idea. I picked this up because I thought it sounded interesting. I still feel that the idea of rain that kills is interesting, it just need a bit of tweaking.
2. Darius. It seems to me that he was one of the only characters in the entire book thinking reasonably, but even he had time where he wasn't.
All in all this book was just ok. I'm not entirely sure I will be picking up the second book. I have heard that Ruby finally starting thinking rationally, and that it is much better than the first. I'm till curious to how it all ends, so who knows.
The thing I didn't like:
1. Ruby. Her priorities where no in the right place. The rain is killing people and all shes cares about it her phone and makeup. She was just not in the right mind set, the only reason she lived was due to luck.
2. How nothing was really explained. I guess I was wanting more science. As in why were plants and animals not affected? Is a cure even possible? Are some people immune?
The things I did like:
1. The basic Idea. I picked this up because I thought it sounded interesting. I still feel that the idea of rain that kills is interesting, it just need a bit of tweaking.
2. Darius. It seems to me that he was one of the only characters in the entire book thinking reasonably, but even he had time where he wasn't.
All in all this book was just ok. I'm not entirely sure I will be picking up the second book. I have heard that Ruby finally starting thinking rationally, and that it is much better than the first. I'm till curious to how it all ends, so who knows.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Immature and selfish teenage girl... caught up in global viral apocalypse.
I remember reading a dystopia where a drug addict was our protagonist in a zombie apocalypse story, with loyalties and priorities swaying between his instinct for drugs and that for survival. This is nothing like that book but the main character has a similar issue - she's a teen, with loyalties towards her phone, her friends, her make-up.
Ruby is excited about her recent first kiss at a party when The Rain begins, a shower that brings with it death - there's something in the rain that kills you if you get wet... Nothing is going to be the same now. Ruby, her friends and family must try and survive, try to find others and get themselves somewhere safe... can they even drink the water? Take a shower? Use a toilet?
It's a great premise, with danger in every cloud. And though other reviewers have criticised Ruby, I actually thought she was very realistic - how many teens would REALLY undergo an instant conversion and turn their back on their whole history of dating, clothes and make-up. Of course her head will be turned by a looted jewellery shop, she'll spend time putting on mascara in the midst of a worldwide crisis. But on the other hand, she also shows us how anyone will step up to some degree if called to.
It's a genre with a growing audience, though authors need a really good gimmick/antagonist to rail against.
I listened to the audiobook of this, which suited the talking-to-the-audience narrator style. The voice of Ruby was suitably young and annoyingly guileless/careless.
There is some description of 'death by rain' and plenty of dead characters, which should be taken into account when recommending this. One for ages 11+.
I remember reading a dystopia where a drug addict was our protagonist in a zombie apocalypse story, with loyalties and priorities swaying between his instinct for drugs and that for survival. This is nothing like that book but the main character has a similar issue - she's a teen, with loyalties towards her phone, her friends, her make-up.
Ruby is excited about her recent first kiss at a party when The Rain begins, a shower that brings with it death - there's something in the rain that kills you if you get wet... Nothing is going to be the same now. Ruby, her friends and family must try and survive, try to find others and get themselves somewhere safe... can they even drink the water? Take a shower? Use a toilet?
It's a great premise, with danger in every cloud. And though other reviewers have criticised Ruby, I actually thought she was very realistic - how many teens would REALLY undergo an instant conversion and turn their back on their whole history of dating, clothes and make-up. Of course her head will be turned by a looted jewellery shop, she'll spend time putting on mascara in the midst of a worldwide crisis. But on the other hand, she also shows us how anyone will step up to some degree if called to.
It's a genre with a growing audience, though authors need a really good gimmick/antagonist to rail against.
I listened to the audiobook of this, which suited the talking-to-the-audience narrator style. The voice of Ruby was suitably young and annoyingly guileless/careless.
There is some description of 'death by rain' and plenty of dead characters, which should be taken into account when recommending this. One for ages 11+.
audrey_took's review against another edition
1.0
I liked the premise, but for the love of pete, Ruby was one of the most unlikeable main characters I've ever read.
bright_night's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
3.0
ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
3.0
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
The first time H2O was on NetGalley I was denied for it, and then my library never had it and I always had too many ARCs to read to actually go out and buy it. Recently Sourcebooks Fire sent an e-mail out with the sequel to this book, and this one for download. I jumped at the chance. I am a little torn about this one, I liked it enough to finish it but I didn't love it enough to care about what is going to happen next.
Ruby isn't someone I would get along with in real life. She is way to superficial to me. Girl, almost every you know - wait - EVERYONE but ONE person you know is dead, from some alien bacteria and you are worried about what you look like!? After Simon dies, Ruby gives herself a spray tan and dies her hair red, and from there it only goes down hill. I am thinking the makeup, hair and clothes was Ruby's version of having a mental breakdown. That or she was really at a loss on what to do. Also, I dislike books that the main character knows they are telling a story. Ruby made is clear on the first page she was telling this story, and though she may have had a whit to her and claims she told "Everything she knew." I wasn't a fan of the whole idea. Literally at the end of the book she was talking about if this would get turned into the movie. Ruby, 83% of the world is dead. I doubt anyone wants to produce, let alone make a movie right now.
I liked the idea behind H2O though. An asteroid fell to Earth years earlier, making a big mess of everything. The bacteria that made the rain deadly was in the asteroid, and as soon as it was exposed to Earth's water it was on a feeding/reproduction frenzy. Soon all the water is polluted including the clouds. The bacteria wants to get to your blood. If you ingest it, it will melt your insides, if it touches your skin you will get a rash that burns and hurts so bad that you want to peel your skin off, and eventually you will. The world building and idea for the post apocalyptic world were there. But, Ruby is the problem that I have with it all.
The most emotion that was evoked from me during this book is when she has to leave the dog behind, and he chases the car. I cried a little bit at that. That was the extent of the emotion for this. Sadly, I wasn't a fan of H2O. Which is sad since I was really looking forward to it. I have hopes though that Ruby will grow up a little bit in the next book.
The first time H2O was on NetGalley I was denied for it, and then my library never had it and I always had too many ARCs to read to actually go out and buy it. Recently Sourcebooks Fire sent an e-mail out with the sequel to this book, and this one for download. I jumped at the chance. I am a little torn about this one, I liked it enough to finish it but I didn't love it enough to care about what is going to happen next.
Ruby isn't someone I would get along with in real life. She is way to superficial to me. Girl, almost every you know - wait - EVERYONE but ONE person you know is dead, from some alien bacteria and you are worried about what you look like!? After Simon dies, Ruby gives herself a spray tan and dies her hair red, and from there it only goes down hill. I am thinking the makeup, hair and clothes was Ruby's version of having a mental breakdown. That or she was really at a loss on what to do. Also, I dislike books that the main character knows they are telling a story. Ruby made is clear on the first page she was telling this story, and though she may have had a whit to her and claims she told "Everything she knew." I wasn't a fan of the whole idea. Literally at the end of the book she was talking about if this would get turned into the movie. Ruby, 83% of the world is dead. I doubt anyone wants to produce, let alone make a movie right now.
I liked the idea behind H2O though. An asteroid fell to Earth years earlier, making a big mess of everything. The bacteria that made the rain deadly was in the asteroid, and as soon as it was exposed to Earth's water it was on a feeding/reproduction frenzy. Soon all the water is polluted including the clouds. The bacteria wants to get to your blood. If you ingest it, it will melt your insides, if it touches your skin you will get a rash that burns and hurts so bad that you want to peel your skin off, and eventually you will. The world building and idea for the post apocalyptic world were there. But, Ruby is the problem that I have with it all.
The most emotion that was evoked from me during this book is when she has to leave the dog behind, and he chases the car. I cried a little bit at that. That was the extent of the emotion for this. Sadly, I wasn't a fan of H2O. Which is sad since I was really looking forward to it. I have hopes though that Ruby will grow up a little bit in the next book.
natixii's review
1.0
I almost gave this book a 2 because it was fast and easy to read. But you know those people that if the world were to come to a halt right now you at least wouldn't have to deal with them any more? For 90% of the book that is who the main charicter is. The wrighting is poor, the main charicter is nauseating, and from the way it read the author probably hasn't acctuly ever experienced dehydration... or even really looked it up, which is odd as it is a BIG plot point.
And yes, I am not a teenager, YA is not my preferred reading group, I only read this because a co-worker insisted it was amazing. So I am very much not the target audience of this. But trust me, if I had read this as the asshole teenager I used to be I would be even less forgiving then I am being now.
The good thing, and it almost hurts me to say that, is that by the end the main character does seem to acctuly show some growth and development.
And yes, I am not a teenager, YA is not my preferred reading group, I only read this because a co-worker insisted it was amazing. So I am very much not the target audience of this. But trust me, if I had read this as the asshole teenager I used to be I would be even less forgiving then I am being now.
The good thing, and it almost hurts me to say that, is that by the end the main character does seem to acctuly show some growth and development.
caseyflemingo's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of the most conflicting books I have ever read. The main element is, Ruby is an annoying protagonist. At first, I was able to sympathize with her, and her way of speaking was fitting for a teenager. But in contrast to Ruby and her thoughts/behavior is the horrifying things happening around her. There are some elements of this book that will haunt me, in a beautifully tragic kind of way, and those are the parts of the book I loved, as painful as they were. But those elements are surrounded by Ruby doing things that are so annoying or frustrating that it’s hard to keep reading.
Overall, this book is a fascinating premise and I am going to read the sequel, hoping maybe Ruby will be a little less infuriating.
Overall, this book is a fascinating premise and I am going to read the sequel, hoping maybe Ruby will be a little less infuriating.