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acidxox's review
4.0
I would give this book 4.5 ⭐ if i could. IT WAS AMAZING. I was instantly hooked and could not put it down. I loved the storyline and characters but there were times i would want to strangle Cara. Sometimes she was so annoying. I loved how diverse it was and inclusive, it made references to it but didn't make it the whole story like some books do. I was sobbing at the end and a MUST READ.
readingmagic's review against another edition
I understand that this book was important for the author to write and that is covers serious topics with the bonus of a minority MC. For me though, I personally need a break from suicidal and such hard-hitting books. To continue, I also feel almost in a way that it glorifies those thoughts. I completely understand that is not the intention of the author, but a literary aspect for the website, but I physically can not read something that involves a website like that. (I also did not like the formatting of the physical book…)
haley_kay's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Important subject, sensitively and honestly handled, with a multicultural cast of adolescents and their varied lives.
A tough subject to read about - young people deciding that suicide is their only way out of their problems - but one that covers the topic with consideration and principle.
With a three-way narration, we discover why three adolescent girls each separately join the Memento Mori website, which matches up those wanting to kill themselves, so they can work together towards the same end. Cara is wheelchair-bound after being involved in a car accident that killed her much-loved father. Mehreen self-harms and struggles to fit in with family and friends, listening to the voices in her head that tell her she is worthless and unloved. And Olivia has a mum obsessed with keeping a boyfriend close, while Olivia outwardly appears in control, she is hiding her own terrible secrets.
The three girls, directed by Memento Mori, are brought together to complete their suicide pact, but find friendship and support along the way, finding someone at last who understands and makes them rethink their decision. But if they renege on their promise, will that be the end of it?
I rushed through these short chapters, the differing perspectives of the three stories that intermingle. Each thread was heart-breaking, seeing what it takes to send a young person down this path. Each family situation showed how a lack of communication and misunderstandings can leave vulnerable adolescents without the network of support and loving care that can make or break a person's psyche and mental wellness.
Each voice sounded real, Cara most amusingly (such a potty mouth!) making jokes about her own disability while frustrated by her overly-protective mother, Olivia is the perfectly-polite fashionista, Mehreen the artist and 'good Muslim girl' who is constrained by her religion and family.
A tense story, we never get a full picture of just how the Memento Mori website works, it is a threatening presence as the young women try to help each other through their obstacles. The author shows the terrible lows of suicidal thoughts, the thoughts that occur that bring someone to that tipping point, as well as the huge change a friend and confidante can make.
This could well prove to be helpful in schools (some swearing aside and sexual suggestions, the content is not graphic), and readers will relate to the characters and their technology-driven lives. The problems here are, unfortunately, not uncommon ones.
There are contacts for helpful websites/organisations at the end. A very well-composed story that handles a delicate topic with the right amounts of frankness, humour and pathos.
For ages 14 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
A tough subject to read about - young people deciding that suicide is their only way out of their problems - but one that covers the topic with consideration and principle.
With a three-way narration, we discover why three adolescent girls each separately join the Memento Mori website, which matches up those wanting to kill themselves, so they can work together towards the same end. Cara is wheelchair-bound after being involved in a car accident that killed her much-loved father. Mehreen self-harms and struggles to fit in with family and friends, listening to the voices in her head that tell her she is worthless and unloved. And Olivia has a mum obsessed with keeping a boyfriend close, while Olivia outwardly appears in control, she is hiding her own terrible secrets.
The three girls, directed by Memento Mori, are brought together to complete their suicide pact, but find friendship and support along the way, finding someone at last who understands and makes them rethink their decision. But if they renege on their promise, will that be the end of it?
I rushed through these short chapters, the differing perspectives of the three stories that intermingle. Each thread was heart-breaking, seeing what it takes to send a young person down this path. Each family situation showed how a lack of communication and misunderstandings can leave vulnerable adolescents without the network of support and loving care that can make or break a person's psyche and mental wellness.
Each voice sounded real, Cara most amusingly (such a potty mouth!) making jokes about her own disability while frustrated by her overly-protective mother, Olivia is the perfectly-polite fashionista, Mehreen the artist and 'good Muslim girl' who is constrained by her religion and family.
A tense story, we never get a full picture of just how the Memento Mori website works, it is a threatening presence as the young women try to help each other through their obstacles. The author shows the terrible lows of suicidal thoughts, the thoughts that occur that bring someone to that tipping point, as well as the huge change a friend and confidante can make.
This could well prove to be helpful in schools (some swearing aside and sexual suggestions, the content is not graphic), and readers will relate to the characters and their technology-driven lives. The problems here are, unfortunately, not uncommon ones.
There are contacts for helpful websites/organisations at the end. A very well-composed story that handles a delicate topic with the right amounts of frankness, humour and pathos.
For ages 14 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
gabriela_13_15's review against another edition
emotional
fast-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
hannahwillacy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
jani_mcgonagall's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
vandavknihach's review against another edition
5.0
Nebýt Yoli narozenin a společného čtení, tak bych se k téhle knize asi jen tak nedostala. Což by byla fakt velká škoda, protože tohle byla pecka. Já bych si snad troufala říct, že jedna z nejlepších contemporary, kterou jsem od Yoli kdy četla.
Celý příběh byl napsán dost reálně a já to holkám fakt věřila. Dost často mívám u podobných příběhů s tímto problém. Tady to bylo způsobené tím, že se zde objevovali opravdu skutečné důvody, které jsou za mě opravdu vážné a chápu proč by hlavní hrdinky kvůli tomu chtěli spáchat sebevraždu. Navíc mě překvapilo, kolik vážných témat se zde prolíná. Myslela jsem si, že to bude čistě o depresi a sebevraždě, ale ono toho bylo mnohem více.
Všechny tři hlavní hrdinky mi byly sympatické, dokázala jsem najít pochopení u každé z nich a v hloubi duše doufala, že to s nimi dobře dopadne. Nejvíce mi ale k srdci přirostla Olivia, jejíž problém je opravdu na pováženou a mělo by se o tom sakra mluvit. Plusové body určitě přidávám i za to, jak jejich jednotlivé kapitoly byly graficky odlišené.
No a třešničkou na dortu je to, že je to napsáno thrillerovým stylem. To už je druhá kniha, u které se mi tahle kombinace žánrů osvědčila a ráda bych ji vyhledávala i nadále. Člověk takový příběh slupne jak malinu.
Další kniha, kterou mohu vřele doporučit dále. Opravdu mě velmi mile překvapila.
Celý příběh byl napsán dost reálně a já to holkám fakt věřila. Dost často mívám u podobných příběhů s tímto problém. Tady to bylo způsobené tím, že se zde objevovali opravdu skutečné důvody, které jsou za mě opravdu vážné a chápu proč by hlavní hrdinky kvůli tomu chtěli spáchat sebevraždu. Navíc mě překvapilo, kolik vážných témat se zde prolíná. Myslela jsem si, že to bude čistě o depresi a sebevraždě, ale ono toho bylo mnohem více.
Všechny tři hlavní hrdinky mi byly sympatické, dokázala jsem najít pochopení u každé z nich a v hloubi duše doufala, že to s nimi dobře dopadne. Nejvíce mi ale k srdci přirostla Olivia, jejíž problém je opravdu na pováženou a mělo by se o tom sakra mluvit. Plusové body určitě přidávám i za to, jak jejich jednotlivé kapitoly byly graficky odlišené.
No a třešničkou na dortu je to, že je to napsáno thrillerovým stylem. To už je druhá kniha, u které se mi tahle kombinace žánrů osvědčila a ráda bych ji vyhledávala i nadále. Člověk takový příběh slupne jak malinu.
Další kniha, kterou mohu vřele doporučit dále. Opravdu mě velmi mile překvapila.
tia_leona's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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