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summergirl's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Self harm
hat_rat's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Mia is what you would call a Troubled Teen. She drinks, does drugs, has sex, doesn't care about school, and most recently, she punched her stepmother. With her family--if you could even call them that--no longer able to deal with Mia's behavior, Mia is forcibly transported to Red Oak Academy, a therapeutic girls' boarding school that will hopefully change her ways. Although Mia is resistant to the school's seemingly controlling nature, from confiscated items, to strip searches, to 9pm bed times, it is through this school that Mia finally has a chance to be vulnerable and reflect on and process her relationships and experiences.
You Know I'm No Good had me hooked from the very first sentence all the way to the last. Through Mia's down-to-earth narration, the reader gets a nitty-gritty front row seat to the catastrophic events in her life. This is a story about what it means to be a "bad" girl--a slut, a whore, a junkie, a lost cause--and why this perception is deeply problematic and destructive. Intertwining themes of double standards, feminism, sexuality and sexual assault, mental health, family and friendships, just to name a few, Jessie Ann Foley's writing is deeply poignant and honest. Whether you have ever been in Mia's place, or perhaps have made some assumptions about someone in Mia's place, Foley encourages the audience to look beyond the surface and truly understand the burdens that "troubled teens" often carry.
I thought Mia's character, despite her decisions, was wonderfully written. She was angry and messy, but her voice was genuine. Of course, the idea misunderstood teens is far from new, but Foley offers a refreshing perspective on how harmful it is to demonize girls that may have "strayed from the path," as they might not even understand themselves or the events they have been through.
For readers of more mature, heavy YA, I would recommend this in a heartbeat. Powerful, heartbreaking, and realistically messy, this is the kind of story that will stay with you long after finishing it.
Content warnings: rape, underage sex, underage drinking, drug use, manipulation, mentioning of self harm
4.5 stars
Mia is what you would call a Troubled Teen. She drinks, does drugs, has sex, doesn't care about school, and most recently, she punched her stepmother. With her family--if you could even call them that--no longer able to deal with Mia's behavior, Mia is forcibly transported to Red Oak Academy, a therapeutic girls' boarding school that will hopefully change her ways. Although Mia is resistant to the school's seemingly controlling nature, from confiscated items, to strip searches, to 9pm bed times, it is through this school that Mia finally has a chance to be vulnerable and reflect on and process her relationships and experiences.
You Know I'm No Good had me hooked from the very first sentence all the way to the last. Through Mia's down-to-earth narration, the reader gets a nitty-gritty front row seat to the catastrophic events in her life. This is a story about what it means to be a "bad" girl--a slut, a whore, a junkie, a lost cause--and why this perception is deeply problematic and destructive. Intertwining themes of double standards, feminism, sexuality and sexual assault, mental health, family and friendships, just to name a few, Jessie Ann Foley's writing is deeply poignant and honest. Whether you have ever been in Mia's place, or perhaps have made some assumptions about someone in Mia's place, Foley encourages the audience to look beyond the surface and truly understand the burdens that "troubled teens" often carry.
I thought Mia's character, despite her decisions, was wonderfully written. She was angry and messy, but her voice was genuine. Of course, the idea misunderstood teens is far from new, but Foley offers a refreshing perspective on how harmful it is to demonize girls that may have "strayed from the path," as they might not even understand themselves or the events they have been through.
For readers of more mature, heavy YA, I would recommend this in a heartbeat. Powerful, heartbreaking, and realistically messy, this is the kind of story that will stay with you long after finishing it.
Content warnings: rape, underage sex, underage drinking, drug use, manipulation, mentioning of self harm
magsbord's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
4.0
littlealys's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pkaemmer's review against another edition
5.0
It’s funny because when you are a “not good” girl, you forget things...on purpose. Your brain tends to edge out..blur the lines where things got rough and difficult. Jessie Ann Foley walked me through my entire teen life with believable characters and what I needed most...forgiveness and redemption.
Sometimes you have to watch characters from afar, do the things you could have and should have done.
Really really enjoyed this and will be sharing with my most troubled high school girls.
Sometimes you have to watch characters from afar, do the things you could have and should have done.
Really really enjoyed this and will be sharing with my most troubled high school girls.
gggina13's review
4.0
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this title!!
This is probably closer to a 4.5 star read. It was really good! It’s about Mia, who is referred to throughout the book as a “troubled teen”. She has had a slew of behavioral problems that culminate with her punching her stepmom, and soon thereafter she finds herself at a therapeutic home for girls.
This story is really just about her learning how to heal from things in her past and be reflective on her actions and how they affected not only others but herself. She learns both by talking with a therapist, who she is extremely reluctant with at first, but also just by spending time with the other girls and evaluating their behaviors. There is also a rather suspenseful second half of this story where things go a little off path from the beginning which was really compelling as well.
This book is an exploration of feminism, trauma, self-worth, and anger. I think this would do great in a classroom with reluctant readers, especially ones who have traits mirroring some of the girls in the story. There’s some really tough subject matter, like hard drugs, rape, molestation, grooming, eating disorders, etc.... but that’s also the reality of a lot of teens whether we like to admit it or not.
This is probably closer to a 4.5 star read. It was really good! It’s about Mia, who is referred to throughout the book as a “troubled teen”. She has had a slew of behavioral problems that culminate with her punching her stepmom, and soon thereafter she finds herself at a therapeutic home for girls.
This story is really just about her learning how to heal from things in her past and be reflective on her actions and how they affected not only others but herself. She learns both by talking with a therapist, who she is extremely reluctant with at first, but also just by spending time with the other girls and evaluating their behaviors. There is also a rather suspenseful second half of this story where things go a little off path from the beginning which was really compelling as well.
This book is an exploration of feminism, trauma, self-worth, and anger. I think this would do great in a classroom with reluctant readers, especially ones who have traits mirroring some of the girls in the story. There’s some really tough subject matter, like hard drugs, rape, molestation, grooming, eating disorders, etc.... but that’s also the reality of a lot of teens whether we like to admit it or not.
hitbooksnotgirlz's review
5.0
Mia is full of snark and nothing short of hilarious. While she keeps it under wraps for the first while, it’s clear that she has a deep soul, a big heart, and an even bigger capacity for love. She’s just hurting. I loved watching her relationships at Red Oak flourish & her self awareness grow, despite a few setbacks.
I usually find footnotes quote annoying, but the ones in this novel were sometimes funny, always informative, and therefore enjoyable and totally justified.
I usually find footnotes quote annoying, but the ones in this novel were sometimes funny, always informative, and therefore enjoyable and totally justified.
joanareads's review
3.0
I wish this book was a little more sex positive, but all in all the therapy was better than most other ya books i’ve read (although not perfect) and I enjoyed it overall. Also check out the author’s review it filled my heart with joy.
kthornette's review
5.0
Maybe I’ve given my body away too many times but the compromise, the thing that keeps me feelings like a human is that my mind is mine alone. Untouchable.”
Beautiful cover aside, this story was chef’s kiss.
Right from the start, I loved Mia. Right from the start, I knew I’d love this book. Her story was so beautiful and intriguing, especially from such a flawed, head-strong, and self-aware character. I loved reading her growth and interact with the other girls and creating a sisterhood with them. I honestly have no words for this story since I was so captivated by it.
Beautiful cover aside, this story was chef’s kiss.
Right from the start, I loved Mia. Right from the start, I knew I’d love this book. Her story was so beautiful and intriguing, especially from such a flawed, head-strong, and self-aware character. I loved reading her growth and interact with the other girls and creating a sisterhood with them. I honestly have no words for this story since I was so captivated by it.