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jenhurst's review against another edition
4.0
I did enjoy this but I was so confused by how this girl could be so rude to everyone and they kept giving her chances. I know she was struggling but she’s so mean to everyone.
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
5.0
Before reading:
I've been wanting to read a book by Courtney Summers for a long time. Her novels seem to appeal to the more mature YA audience and I'm curious to see how she'll tackle the heavy subjects like bullying, rape etc.
After reading:
This was just my kind of contemporary book. It's raw and real with complex characters. None of them are likable, but they grow a lot throughout the book (especially the main character), and it's one of the best books I've read this year.
Looking forward to reading more from Courtney Summers, though I'll have to wait a while to recover from Cracked up to be. It is a little hard to swallow, but so amazing if you don't require your characters to be likable, and are looking for a book that'll make you emotional and linger, you should pick this up.
I've been wanting to read a book by Courtney Summers for a long time. Her novels seem to appeal to the more mature YA audience and I'm curious to see how she'll tackle the heavy subjects like bullying, rape etc.
After reading:
This was just my kind of contemporary book. It's raw and real with complex characters. None of them are likable, but they grow a lot throughout the book (especially the main character), and it's one of the best books I've read this year.
Looking forward to reading more from Courtney Summers, though I'll have to wait a while to recover from Cracked up to be. It is a little hard to swallow, but so amazing if you don't require your characters to be likable, and are looking for a book that'll make you emotional and linger, you should pick this up.
abbyreads2's review against another edition
3.0
3.9
OMFG this book needs a continuous because I'm so curious. For one, did they ever find out who killed Jessica? For two, I want to know more about Parker's problem. And last but not least, I want to actually see a romance book about her and Jake because honestly I want to see more. Throughout this book, I was ready to scream cuz I wanted to know what was the big secret causing her all her problems. I feel like we got a glimpse of it but her problems seems to have started before her friend died? And I'm curious about that.
But like WHY????? WHY DID BAILEY HAVE TO DIE??????
I was like nooooo not Bailey. It was so fucking sad. I liked Bailey.
I was a little annoyed that she was stringing Jake along because I totally shipped her. She was basically doing her best to isolate herself and I can sort of relate to some of her behavior.
But overall, the writing was a bit confusing at times. The characters were sort of annoying. It was funny, drastic, and crazy. The romance was barely there. She seemed a bit self absorbed. Everyone was basically enabling her. I'm really glad she finally decided to get help in the end. It will not be easy but I'd love to read a book about her journey after getting help and with Jake of course.
OMFG this book needs a continuous because I'm so curious. For one, did they ever find out who killed Jessica? For two, I want to know more about Parker's problem. And last but not least, I want to actually see a romance book about her and Jake because honestly I want to see more. Throughout this book, I was ready to scream cuz I wanted to know what was the big secret causing her all her problems. I feel like we got a glimpse of it but her problems seems to have started before her friend died? And I'm curious about that.
But like WHY????? WHY DID BAILEY HAVE TO DIE??????
I was like nooooo not Bailey. It was so fucking sad. I liked Bailey.
I was a little annoyed that she was stringing Jake along because I totally shipped her. She was basically doing her best to isolate herself and I can sort of relate to some of her behavior.
But overall, the writing was a bit confusing at times. The characters were sort of annoying. It was funny, drastic, and crazy. The romance was barely there. She seemed a bit self absorbed. Everyone was basically enabling her. I'm really glad she finally decided to get help in the end. It will not be easy but I'd love to read a book about her journey after getting help and with Jake of course.
emkreads's review against another edition
4.0
4.25/5 stars
I wasn't convinced at first but the writing was keeping me going and my god. I loved this a lot and it deals about mental health which is AMAZING.
I wasn't convinced at first but the writing was keeping me going and my god. I loved this a lot and it deals about mental health which is AMAZING.
iceangel32's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down and finished it in a day.
I like that it is a book about the popular girl that is acting out so that she can disappear. It was nice to have a book where you can hate the main character, but I don't know if i do hate her. She was't what you expected and I found her complex and interesting. I do sometimes feel bad for the popular girls, because their lives are always on display and everyone is watching them. I think a lot if youth that seem happy are really dealing with stuff on the inside and have different ways to deal with it. In Parker's case acting out and punishing herself. I have seen popularity do horrible things to nice people and worse things when you want out of the spotlight. So I think I can kind of empathize with her more than hate her.
I also liked that the book threw me back into high school. I can see something like this occurring...maybe not the exact situation, but something like it in the halls of our high schools right now.
This book will stay with me for a long time. And I will be looking forward to reading more of Courtney's books.
I like that it is a book about the popular girl that is acting out so that she can disappear. It was nice to have a book where you can hate the main character, but I don't know if i do hate her. She was't what you expected and I found her complex and interesting. I do sometimes feel bad for the popular girls, because their lives are always on display and everyone is watching them. I think a lot if youth that seem happy are really dealing with stuff on the inside and have different ways to deal with it. In Parker's case acting out and punishing herself. I have seen popularity do horrible things to nice people and worse things when you want out of the spotlight. So I think I can kind of empathize with her more than hate her.
I also liked that the book threw me back into high school. I can see something like this occurring...maybe not the exact situation, but something like it in the halls of our high schools right now.
This book will stay with me for a long time. And I will be looking forward to reading more of Courtney's books.
stephxsu's review against another edition
5.0
CRACKED UP TO BE is pretty much perfect. It’s a short but dense read that will keep you impatiently engrossed in Parker’s convoluted world, unable to tear yourself away until you find out what happened to make Parker deteriorate so much.
Of course, it is Parker who carries the novel, Parker who makes me love this book. One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to create characters who are not necessarily likable but still make readers empathize with them. Parker and all her friends are such characters. They are the most popular people at their high school—something I, along with most of us, have never experienced—but even so they are bitchy, emotional, hurt, in love, in lust, manipulative—in short, relatable, complex, and one hundred percent real.
The novel is set up in a way that we don’t find out about what’s been eating at Parker until the very end, and the setup is wonderfully appropriate, for it allows us to focus on the character development while being intrigued by the backstory. I said that this book is pretty much perfect, and not just in the foundations, like the characters and the plot. Courtney Summers is also a writing master: she writes in an unassuming, straightforward prose that doesn’t beat around the bush. That’s the way Parker talks also; she gets straight to the point in wonderfully sarcastic lines.
All in all…does this review even need a conclusion? Are you confused about how I feel about this novel? Run out and buy it right now!
Of course, it is Parker who carries the novel, Parker who makes me love this book. One of the most difficult things for a writer to do is to create characters who are not necessarily likable but still make readers empathize with them. Parker and all her friends are such characters. They are the most popular people at their high school—something I, along with most of us, have never experienced—but even so they are bitchy, emotional, hurt, in love, in lust, manipulative—in short, relatable, complex, and one hundred percent real.
The novel is set up in a way that we don’t find out about what’s been eating at Parker until the very end, and the setup is wonderfully appropriate, for it allows us to focus on the character development while being intrigued by the backstory. I said that this book is pretty much perfect, and not just in the foundations, like the characters and the plot. Courtney Summers is also a writing master: she writes in an unassuming, straightforward prose that doesn’t beat around the bush. That’s the way Parker talks also; she gets straight to the point in wonderfully sarcastic lines.
All in all…does this review even need a conclusion? Are you confused about how I feel about this novel? Run out and buy it right now!
kalliste's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, can't believe how fast I read this! I really loved Parker in all her anxiety ridden craziness.
The best thing about this was the end. I won't say why for fear of spoilers but sometimes a book needs to end this way.
The best thing about this was the end. I won't say why for fear of spoilers but sometimes a book needs to end this way.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The subject was serious, but the main character was hilarious and really kept you reading. Someone else said the book reminded them of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I agree to a point. Somewhat similar plot, but this book is more of a fun read. Parker took a bad situation and turned it outward, sassing everyone in sight while Melinda from Speak turned it inward, making it a much darker novel. Anyways, both great books!
kaitlynfolk's review against another edition
3.0
Read via Audiobook.
I had read Sadie by Courtney Summers last year and had thought that it would have made a wonderful audiobook, so when I went to pick this up I decided to go with the audiobook instead of the physical. I think that was a mistake with this one. The story jumps around from past to present a lot without much indication that that is happening. I imagine the physical book switches to italics or something to indicate the difference, but in audio it left me a little confused at times. Otherwise this was good!
I had read Sadie by Courtney Summers last year and had thought that it would have made a wonderful audiobook, so when I went to pick this up I decided to go with the audiobook instead of the physical. I think that was a mistake with this one. The story jumps around from past to present a lot without much indication that that is happening. I imagine the physical book switches to italics or something to indicate the difference, but in audio it left me a little confused at times. Otherwise this was good!