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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
So basically this was a 5 stories in 1 kinda novel. Very much character driven. The plot was entertaining and everything connected. Like I can’t even express how I flipped back and forth through the pages to connect all the dots!
This read involved found family, friendship, loss, internal conflicts, bit of a romance and a ton of teenagers who aren’t quite sure of themselves.
This read involved found family, friendship, loss, internal conflicts, bit of a romance and a ton of teenagers who aren’t quite sure of themselves.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
This book was a good contemporary YA book that yanks at the heartstrings, makes you laugh and wish for more. I read this book in one day on two separate train trips and it kept me enthralled the whole time, despite there being some issues with it.
My Thoughts:
This review has taken me a long time to write because I just can’t decide how I feel about it. I started with 4.5 stars and then dropped to 4 which has now dropped to 3.5 stars. I read this book and definitely would re-read it again but there are a few things I didn’t like.
I find that contemporary novels are some of the easiest to read which is why I love them. I speed-read this book in one day and really loved how it was based in Sydney. Being a Sydney-sider myself, I loved being able to really relate to what the culture is like in this book and how it’s written. OzYA has got some great authors and I am glad I’ve picked up a Sarah Ayoub book to check her out.
Following 5 stories was great and I loved all the different voices. I liked that there were boys and girls as the main characters and that they were all so different. None of the chapters seemed out of character as they progressed and it felt really natural as they explored their final year at high school. The idea that the yearbook is put together by people who don’t know each other is laughable because it could be such a disaster but the story had you wanting more and more.
The characters are very real. You have ones with friendship issues, others with family problems, some with physical issues and others who were just different and real. When I look at who my friend group consists of, I think of diversity and this book definitely has that in these 5 characters. They bounced off the page and into my heart which sometimes is hard to do now that I am so out of high school but I really enjoyed going on the journey with them.
I like the writing. It reads really easily, it is easily digestible and you just want to know more. I also love how all the storylines intertwine even though that brings some issues which I am still sorting through. I loved the characters of Gillian and Matty and could have seen more of them. The others were great too, but you know, you always have certain characters you love better!
This book has a really huge plot twist which was heartbreaking and awful and I think it’s one of the reasons I don’t really love the book. I understand why the author wrote it that way but nevertheless, I don’t like it. To be honest, it kind of soured the book for me. There’s no resolution to it either and overtime I flick through this book all I can think is that it just finishes.
The other thing that kind of bothered me was the popular girls at the school. I went to an all-girls school, with a grade of over 120 students. Our ‘popular groups’ were not like these ones. They weren’t this mean. I hate perpetuating this stereotype that there will always be a popular group at school who are terrible and for me that was just silly. It made the Tammi parts hard to read. I also hated that there was no on page retribution for anything they did. I mean, I know in the real life sometimes there isn’t justice but come on. Surely the book world can fix these things.
This book scratches the surface of a lot of issues and unfortunately since there is no retribution for the problems that come up, there is no time to address them. Issues such as drink spiking, illegal substances, bullying, slut-shaming, feminism are mentioned and play a role in the story but there is no real discourse about them. You get one discussion from a police officer and a few feminist rants in the book which barely scratches the surface. I understand that it is a YA book and you can’t go into essays about these issues, especially if so many are a part of your story, but I think there should have been a bit more discussion about them and what they mean. I feel like the book just ends and you’re left wondering what you are meant to take away from it.
Despite that, I did enjoy it while I read it and even after finishing it. Looking at it with a critical eye there are issues but I would still have a re-read in a year to see if I feel differently.
Recommended for: Contemporary YA lovers and people who love books about high schools.
Quotes (Spoiler Free):
“But sir, I'm seventeen," I reply bluntly. "I'm genetically programmed to want to make statements.”
“That's the thing about choices. They're an act of knowledge, of faith, of love. It's how we make them that sets us apart, because every single day, worlds are colliding, and our choices shape so much more than just our own story. And if we want to change this world for the better, then we must be the best possible version of ourselves, because who we are in each moment is a gift to the universe. This is what the present is: when the sum of one person's past meets a world's collective future.”
“The yearbook committee had started out as a random bunch of people who walked the same halls, sat the same exams, shared the ordinary school experiences that became extraordinary as we learnt to look beyond one another's façade, Facebook profile picture, group of friends. Who knew after all those meetings, the five of us would not only accomplish what we set out to do, but become better people by knowing and learning from each other?”
This book was a good contemporary YA book that yanks at the heartstrings, makes you laugh and wish for more. I read this book in one day on two separate train trips and it kept me enthralled the whole time, despite there being some issues with it.
My Thoughts:
This review has taken me a long time to write because I just can’t decide how I feel about it. I started with 4.5 stars and then dropped to 4 which has now dropped to 3.5 stars. I read this book and definitely would re-read it again but there are a few things I didn’t like.
I find that contemporary novels are some of the easiest to read which is why I love them. I speed-read this book in one day and really loved how it was based in Sydney. Being a Sydney-sider myself, I loved being able to really relate to what the culture is like in this book and how it’s written. OzYA has got some great authors and I am glad I’ve picked up a Sarah Ayoub book to check her out.
Following 5 stories was great and I loved all the different voices. I liked that there were boys and girls as the main characters and that they were all so different. None of the chapters seemed out of character as they progressed and it felt really natural as they explored their final year at high school. The idea that the yearbook is put together by people who don’t know each other is laughable because it could be such a disaster but the story had you wanting more and more.
The characters are very real. You have ones with friendship issues, others with family problems, some with physical issues and others who were just different and real. When I look at who my friend group consists of, I think of diversity and this book definitely has that in these 5 characters. They bounced off the page and into my heart which sometimes is hard to do now that I am so out of high school but I really enjoyed going on the journey with them.
I like the writing. It reads really easily, it is easily digestible and you just want to know more. I also love how all the storylines intertwine even though that brings some issues which I am still sorting through. I loved the characters of Gillian and Matty and could have seen more of them. The others were great too, but you know, you always have certain characters you love better!
This book has a really huge plot twist which was heartbreaking and awful and I think it’s one of the reasons I don’t really love the book. I understand why the author wrote it that way but nevertheless, I don’t like it. To be honest, it kind of soured the book for me. There’s no resolution to it either and overtime I flick through this book all I can think is that it just finishes.
The other thing that kind of bothered me was the popular girls at the school. I went to an all-girls school, with a grade of over 120 students. Our ‘popular groups’ were not like these ones. They weren’t this mean. I hate perpetuating this stereotype that there will always be a popular group at school who are terrible and for me that was just silly. It made the Tammi parts hard to read. I also hated that there was no on page retribution for anything they did. I mean, I know in the real life sometimes there isn’t justice but come on. Surely the book world can fix these things.
This book scratches the surface of a lot of issues and unfortunately since there is no retribution for the problems that come up, there is no time to address them. Issues such as drink spiking, illegal substances, bullying, slut-shaming, feminism are mentioned and play a role in the story but there is no real discourse about them. You get one discussion from a police officer and a few feminist rants in the book which barely scratches the surface. I understand that it is a YA book and you can’t go into essays about these issues, especially if so many are a part of your story, but I think there should have been a bit more discussion about them and what they mean. I feel like the book just ends and you’re left wondering what you are meant to take away from it.
Despite that, I did enjoy it while I read it and even after finishing it. Looking at it with a critical eye there are issues but I would still have a re-read in a year to see if I feel differently.
Recommended for: Contemporary YA lovers and people who love books about high schools.
Quotes (Spoiler Free):
“But sir, I'm seventeen," I reply bluntly. "I'm genetically programmed to want to make statements.”
“That's the thing about choices. They're an act of knowledge, of faith, of love. It's how we make them that sets us apart, because every single day, worlds are colliding, and our choices shape so much more than just our own story. And if we want to change this world for the better, then we must be the best possible version of ourselves, because who we are in each moment is a gift to the universe. This is what the present is: when the sum of one person's past meets a world's collective future.”
“The yearbook committee had started out as a random bunch of people who walked the same halls, sat the same exams, shared the ordinary school experiences that became extraordinary as we learnt to look beyond one another's façade, Facebook profile picture, group of friends. Who knew after all those meetings, the five of us would not only accomplish what we set out to do, but become better people by knowing and learning from each other?”
A really well written story for young people. The characters were multi layered & diverse. My only problem was trying to remember all the characters names and who was who.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
THIS BOOK IS SO INCREDIBLE AND UNDERRATED BUT I LOVE IT SO MUCH PEOPLE GO READ IT!
I absolutely LOVE the trope of a random assortment of people being put together in a group with no similar interests. I get that is a very specific category, but if you guys have any more of them, please let me know, because I need more of this in my life.
I also LOVE that the story was from 5 different points of view. I loved learning about each of the unique characters, and I love that the author so clearly distinguished between them and I was never confused, and I loved how they all came together.
Also: The characters are all so unique, and at different times they were All. So. Relatable. There's a character for everyone! I like to think I could see myself most in Gillian, and there were passages like this:
He gives me a look that says 'I told you so', then opens up his textbook. I open mine too and wonder why algebra makes more sense than my own life.
That had me nodding in agreement.
But then ending. You really have to read this book to understand. This is a big reason the review took so long in the making, as I am still emotionally recovering from this book.
One epic task that cemented a now-unbreakable bond between five strangers who became four friends and a memory.
It was just so good and all the characters were great and the friendships were so awesome! THE FRIENDSHIPS FORMED IN THIS BOOK ARE SO INCREDIBLE HONESTLY GUYS!
But you should definitely all read it, I love it so much!
I absolutely LOVE the trope of a random assortment of people being put together in a group with no similar interests. I get that is a very specific category, but if you guys have any more of them, please let me know, because I need more of this in my life.
I also LOVE that the story was from 5 different points of view. I loved learning about each of the unique characters, and I love that the author so clearly distinguished between them and I was never confused, and I loved how they all came together.
Also: The characters are all so unique, and at different times they were All. So. Relatable. There's a character for everyone! I like to think I could see myself most in Gillian, and there were passages like this:
He gives me a look that says 'I told you so', then opens up his textbook. I open mine too and wonder why algebra makes more sense than my own life.
That had me nodding in agreement.
But then ending. You really have to read this book to understand. This is a big reason the review took so long in the making, as I am still emotionally recovering from this book.
Spoiler
Gillian's death was so unexpected, and I never saw it coming. I am still immensely shook. My heart may never recover. And this quote summarising the book in Ryan's perspective broke me:One epic task that cemented a now-unbreakable bond between five strangers who became four friends and a memory.
It was just so good and all the characters were great and the friendships were so awesome! THE FRIENDSHIPS FORMED IN THIS BOOK ARE SO INCREDIBLE HONESTLY GUYS!
But you should definitely all read it, I love it so much!
This book was such a reminder of how great high-school is, hanging out with friends, meeting new people, parties..... and it was also such a reminder of how much high-school sux, bullies and nastiness and pressure. I am left with a little hole in my heart after this one.
I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would but I really hope that other people do.
Really enjoyed this one. Lots of Breakfast Club vibes from this.
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
The idea of the book is good, and for most of it I thought it was not too bad, but towards the end things get messy, the situations reminded me of soap operas (which I don't personally enjoy). Also, it gets very sad near the end.
Another issue is that I listened to the audiobook, and it's not a good one. There are 5 main characters, but we only get two narrators, one male and one female. There are more chapters from the point of view of female characters, so it's hard to say much about the male narrator, but both had similar issues: didn't make distinctive voices for each character, and they did not act the book much, their tone is almost always a reading one. The girl, also, had an "angry" teen tone in most of the book, like the characters were always annoyed and defensive. Not enjoyable, but it's the version my library had to offer me.
Another issue is that I listened to the audiobook, and it's not a good one. There are 5 main characters, but we only get two narrators, one male and one female. There are more chapters from the point of view of female characters, so it's hard to say much about the male narrator, but both had similar issues: didn't make distinctive voices for each character, and they did not act the book much, their tone is almost always a reading one. The girl, also, had an "angry" teen tone in most of the book, like the characters were always annoyed and defensive. Not enjoyable, but it's the version my library had to offer me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Fatphobia
Oh, look at what I found in my Kindle limbo! Alright, given that it's been stuck at 34% since March, I think I can say that it never managed to interest me. Oops.