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phillygirljl's review against another edition
4.0
Reshma is an unlikeable, yet realistic, teen who is willing to do anything, go to any lengths, to top her fellow classmates and be the best.
It's very rare that I like a book that has a main character in it that I absolutely loathe, but in this case, Enter Title Here is an exception. Reshma is selfish, cunning, and really only looking out for herself, but to me, that makes her character all the more realistic. High school in general is competitive, but when you mix in the fight to stay on top academically, to get into the best college(s), and to best the best overall, it's down right cutthroat. Enter Title Here does a great job of highlighting this phenomena through Reshma's character.
On the other hand, because of Reshma's character development, despite disliking her so much, I was also able to see through her eyes and empathize with her. I could understand her actions, even while thinking she was going way to far to achieve her goals. The complexity of her character had me disagreeing with her at the same time that I accepted the fact that she felt it was necessary to go to the lengths she did to ensure her personal successes.
I read Enter Title Here in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Reshma was scarily driven and utterly focused on her goals, but she was still a high school student looking to belong somewhere, even as she alienated anyone who got close to her. I enjoyed reading this book as an adult, but would have loved it as a teen.
It's very rare that I like a book that has a main character in it that I absolutely loathe, but in this case, Enter Title Here is an exception. Reshma is selfish, cunning, and really only looking out for herself, but to me, that makes her character all the more realistic. High school in general is competitive, but when you mix in the fight to stay on top academically, to get into the best college(s), and to best the best overall, it's down right cutthroat. Enter Title Here does a great job of highlighting this phenomena through Reshma's character.
On the other hand, because of Reshma's character development, despite disliking her so much, I was also able to see through her eyes and empathize with her. I could understand her actions, even while thinking she was going way to far to achieve her goals. The complexity of her character had me disagreeing with her at the same time that I accepted the fact that she felt it was necessary to go to the lengths she did to ensure her personal successes.
I read Enter Title Here in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Reshma was scarily driven and utterly focused on her goals, but she was still a high school student looking to belong somewhere, even as she alienated anyone who got close to her. I enjoyed reading this book as an adult, but would have loved it as a teen.
hastings91's review against another edition
4.0
More like a 4.65/5
Definitely one of the best contemporaries I've read (which doesn't say a lot since I generally am not that into the genre). Also this will be a horrible review since I read this months ago so be warned.
Likes
-The main character Reshma! I loved how even though she was pitched as the stereotypical studious indian girl she was so much more fleshed out then that. Also she's an anti heroine, which I feel like is a trope we rarely explore with WoC (The Young Elites by Marie Lu being the obvious wonderful exception). She definitely won't be everyones preferred type of protagonist, and honestly if you need a "likable" main character to enjoy a book I suggest you just not pick this up. I personally adore morally gray ladies and Reshma has got to be one of my favorites.
-The way the book handled racism, particularly white feminism, was just a pleasure to read about. I'm not going to go into detail because I feel the novel handles that more effectively than I ever could!
-The humor! The book is mostly set up to be a comedy despite handling some more serious topics. I read this during finals week and that element gave it an escapism factor that was honestly much needed.
Why it isn't a full 5 star read
-The love triangle was so unnecessary. I'm not even opposed to the trope but it added little to the story (even though I did like the character she ended up with).
-I felt like some of Reshma's character development was rushed within the last 100 pages or so. I liked the ways she grew (and also didn't grow in some cases). But the delivery could have been a lot better. Still that had very little impact on my liking of the book!
Definitely one of the best contemporaries I've read (which doesn't say a lot since I generally am not that into the genre). Also this will be a horrible review since I read this months ago so be warned.
Likes
-The main character Reshma! I loved how even though she was pitched as the stereotypical studious indian girl she was so much more fleshed out then that. Also she's an anti heroine, which I feel like is a trope we rarely explore with WoC (The Young Elites by Marie Lu being the obvious wonderful exception). She definitely won't be everyones preferred type of protagonist, and honestly if you need a "likable" main character to enjoy a book I suggest you just not pick this up. I personally adore morally gray ladies and Reshma has got to be one of my favorites.
-The way the book handled racism, particularly white feminism, was just a pleasure to read about. I'm not going to go into detail because I feel the novel handles that more effectively than I ever could!
-The humor! The book is mostly set up to be a comedy despite handling some more serious topics. I read this during finals week and that element gave it an escapism factor that was honestly much needed.
Why it isn't a full 5 star read
-The love triangle was so unnecessary. I'm not even opposed to the trope but it added little to the story (even though I did like the character she ended up with).
-I felt like some of Reshma's character development was rushed within the last 100 pages or so. I liked the ways she grew (and also didn't grow in some cases). But the delivery could have been a lot better. Still that had very little impact on my liking of the book!
missmary98's review against another edition
2.0
I can't quite bring myself to give this one star, but it comes pretty close. I just don't understand the point of this book, and there was absolutely nothing likeable about Reshma. Not a good book.
emilymorgan02's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and frustrating and emotional and crazy...I really enjoyed this story...for how different it was and for the insight it gave into the main character's life.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
5.0
Whew! I really enjoyed this book! Rahul Kanakia really nails the pressure that overachievers experience. I was reminded of myself a bit. Reshma is willing to do anything to maintain her valedictorian status, and she takes things a bit too far. She is such an unlikeable character that I found her to be quite likable. I notice the GoodReads ratings of this book are high (a 3.58 average) but not incredibly high, and I laughed. Books with unlikable characters are always unfairly low in their ratings. When I put this book down, I felt like I'd learned a lot. Reshma feels like a real person because she makes some major mistakes. She is an anti-hero. I had difficulty putting the book down because I wanted to see how far she would go, and it made me cringe a bit. This book evoked a visceral reaction out of me!
Full Review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=12141
Full Review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=12141
scentedcandle's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been a quick read to me, but some parts of it weighed heavily. I started out disliking the main character, to feeling concerned for her, to being sad for what she's going through, to rooting for her, then disliking her again. Just when I thought she was making progress, she regresses back to her behavior at the beginning of the book.
I like the pacing of the book. It kept me engaged in the story I literally read it in half a day even though it's 300 or so pages. The main character's downward spiral halfway made me sad for a fictional character. I couldn't imagine myself or anyone I know going through that.
Here are come of the quotes that I especially liked:
"I'll realize that life is only a series of moments. And that I've wasted a dozen yyears of those moments by contantly looking ahead and wishing that some other moment would arrive. I'll realize that I never got to enjoy the things I had because I kept wishing for things that I didn't yet have. And I'll realize that even if I get everyting I want... I'll immediately find somthing new to want. I'll realize that I've wasted my life."
"It's poisonous to hold a position you didn't earn."
"One more over-groomed study machine who can regurgitate facts but can't think critically."
"I work harder than everyone. And there's nothing I won't do. But I;m still not a success. I'm not good enough."
"And give yourself a break. I know that good things will happen for you."
"You're telling a story about a girl who's forced to deal with the fact that she's not really special. And it's a good story. But it's not your story. You're still in the process of becoming an amazing person."
I like the pacing of the book. It kept me engaged in the story I literally read it in half a day even though it's 300 or so pages. The main character's downward spiral halfway made me sad for a fictional character. I couldn't imagine myself or anyone I know going through that.
Here are come of the quotes that I especially liked:
"I'll realize that life is only a series of moments. And that I've wasted a dozen yyears of those moments by contantly looking ahead and wishing that some other moment would arrive. I'll realize that I never got to enjoy the things I had because I kept wishing for things that I didn't yet have. And I'll realize that even if I get everyting I want... I'll immediately find somthing new to want. I'll realize that I've wasted my life."
"It's poisonous to hold a position you didn't earn."
"One more over-groomed study machine who can regurgitate facts but can't think critically."
"I work harder than everyone. And there's nothing I won't do. But I;m still not a success. I'm not good enough."
"And give yourself a break. I know that good things will happen for you."
"You're telling a story about a girl who's forced to deal with the fact that she's not really special. And it's a good story. But it's not your story. You're still in the process of becoming an amazing person."
lbrauz's review against another edition
2.0
So many things swirling through my head right now with this book. It was a hodgepodge of randomness. Reshma, the main character, is completely awful. She has absolutely NOTHING redeeming about her, and I spent most of the book waiting for her to fall on her face and have an epiphany or “Come to Jesus” moment that never happens. The end just fizzled out. It just all seemed so....random. I really liked that Reshma was trying so hard to be valedictorian—this is something many of my students can relate to, but I just don’t think there’s anything my students can learn from the text.
madlee's review against another edition
4.0
While I loathed the main character and her decisions, she was an intriguing character. It is refreshing to read about a character who you can't relate to. For me, it drove me wondering what was going to happen next and what wild decision she was going to choose. It was fun, irritating, and wild.
karunek's review against another edition
The character was too unlikeable which I wouldn’t be too mad about except that a glance at reviews mention a rushed redemption and I’m feeling way to much second hand embarrassment
justinyan13's review against another edition
4.0
Confusing, but relatable as a fellow high school valedictorian. Shows a glimpse into the hidden fears, resentment of many high school perfect students.