Scan barcode
readwithdj's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I hated grace and the parents but Ig they get better. And omg that wedding speech is horrible.
katiebookqueen's review against another edition
4.0
THE PLOT
Mia is the middle child. Her older sister, Grace, is as clever as they come and everyone adores her. Her younger sister, Audrey, is destined for Olympic success. Mia feels like an afterthought. With no idea what her ‘thing’ is in life, she struggles to find her place after Grace returns home from her gap year.
THE CHARACTERS
Mia is the exact type of character I love. She’s someone who has a true learning curve throughout the story, making plenty of mistakes and hurting people along the way, but learning in the process. Characters like Mia always feel authentic and true to reality. There are so many students of her age who have no idea what their next step is in life, and everyone copes with it differently. But we can find our place in the end, no matter how pointless it can seem.
I enjoyed Mia's different relationships with her sisters. Family is the heart of this story, and it does a great job of showing how certain situations can tip a tender scale within a busy home. The three sisters are all so different that finding common ground is one of the main difficulties they face throughout the story.
REASONS TO LOVE
⭐ The characters. Whilst Mia herself is a wonderful main character, her family and friends are just as interesting. Seeing their relationships shift over the course of the story had me hooked.
⭐ Relatable. Though my life is very different from the one Mia leads, her feelings towards her future are ones that myself and so many others are familiar with.
⭐ It’s all about the journey. Mia isn’t always a likeable character. She makes bad choices, she can be selfish, and she doesn’t seem to care. But the further we delve into her story, the more we understand why she acts the way she does. Learning slowly along the way makes for a better pay off at the end.
THE FINAL WORD
There's a reason Lisa Williamson is one of my favourite UKYA writers. Her characters are always completely real. They speak to readers on a personal level, and deal with issues that so many young people face in silence. Mia is one of those characters who will help certain readers realise that their feelings are valid.
Reviewed @ The Queen of Teen Fiction
Mia is the middle child. Her older sister, Grace, is as clever as they come and everyone adores her. Her younger sister, Audrey, is destined for Olympic success. Mia feels like an afterthought. With no idea what her ‘thing’ is in life, she struggles to find her place after Grace returns home from her gap year.
THE CHARACTERS
Mia is the exact type of character I love. She’s someone who has a true learning curve throughout the story, making plenty of mistakes and hurting people along the way, but learning in the process. Characters like Mia always feel authentic and true to reality. There are so many students of her age who have no idea what their next step is in life, and everyone copes with it differently. But we can find our place in the end, no matter how pointless it can seem.
I enjoyed Mia's different relationships with her sisters. Family is the heart of this story, and it does a great job of showing how certain situations can tip a tender scale within a busy home. The three sisters are all so different that finding common ground is one of the main difficulties they face throughout the story.
REASONS TO LOVE
⭐ The characters. Whilst Mia herself is a wonderful main character, her family and friends are just as interesting. Seeing their relationships shift over the course of the story had me hooked.
⭐ Relatable. Though my life is very different from the one Mia leads, her feelings towards her future are ones that myself and so many others are familiar with.
⭐ It’s all about the journey. Mia isn’t always a likeable character. She makes bad choices, she can be selfish, and she doesn’t seem to care. But the further we delve into her story, the more we understand why she acts the way she does. Learning slowly along the way makes for a better pay off at the end.
THE FINAL WORD
There's a reason Lisa Williamson is one of my favourite UKYA writers. Her characters are always completely real. They speak to readers on a personal level, and deal with issues that so many young people face in silence. Mia is one of those characters who will help certain readers realise that their feelings are valid.
Reviewed @ The Queen of Teen Fiction
kaylareadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
*I received an ARC of this book at Bookcon back in June*
Mia is anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t good enough or has compared themselves to anyone in their lives. Her older sister Grace is the perfect daughter, she never does anything wrong. And Audrey’s the baby sister who is a competitive swimmer training to one day be in the olympics. And then you have middle sister Mia, who doesn’t know her talents and likes to run her mouth.
Mia is unapologetically herself and doesn’t care that she stands out. She may drink too much or never say the right things, but that doesn’t stop her from being herself.
I love Mia. She is real and honest. And truthfully, she made me cringe. A lot. And it was the best feeling ever while reading a book, because it felt real. Mia’s friends are just as real as she is. Mia has really embraced the teenage rebellion years, driving her parents up the wall and causing her sisters to avoid her.
Mia makes every bad choice someone can make. Kisses the wrong people, lies, drink WAY too much, makes scenes at the worst times and so much more. But that is what made me love Mia. We have all had our fair share of moments we wish we could take back and words we wished we never said.
The only part of this book that I wasn’t a fan of, was the ending. I wanted there to be more to it, I felt like it was missing a little depth. But it was still great.
The characters are fun, messy, cringey (in the best way humanly possible), caring, lovable and just plan fantastic. The dialogue between the characters is real and quick. And reading Mia’s thoughts is like being inside the head of any teenage girl.
I really recommend this book for anyone who has either had a rebellious streak or wishes they did.
Mia is anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t good enough or has compared themselves to anyone in their lives. Her older sister Grace is the perfect daughter, she never does anything wrong. And Audrey’s the baby sister who is a competitive swimmer training to one day be in the olympics. And then you have middle sister Mia, who doesn’t know her talents and likes to run her mouth.
Mia is unapologetically herself and doesn’t care that she stands out. She may drink too much or never say the right things, but that doesn’t stop her from being herself.
I love Mia. She is real and honest. And truthfully, she made me cringe. A lot. And it was the best feeling ever while reading a book, because it felt real. Mia’s friends are just as real as she is. Mia has really embraced the teenage rebellion years, driving her parents up the wall and causing her sisters to avoid her.
Mia makes every bad choice someone can make. Kisses the wrong people, lies, drink WAY too much, makes scenes at the worst times and so much more. But that is what made me love Mia. We have all had our fair share of moments we wish we could take back and words we wished we never said.
The only part of this book that I wasn’t a fan of, was the ending. I wanted there to be more to it, I felt like it was missing a little depth. But it was still great.
The characters are fun, messy, cringey (in the best way humanly possible), caring, lovable and just plan fantastic. The dialogue between the characters is real and quick. And reading Mia’s thoughts is like being inside the head of any teenage girl.
I really recommend this book for anyone who has either had a rebellious streak or wishes they did.
gabiloue's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book WAY more than I thought I would. In fact, I kind of loved it. The story was really entertaining, the writing was fun, and the characters were comical.
Mia, the main character and the middle child of a rather impressive family, was written as though she was supposed to be be unlikeable to the rest of the characters in the book, but was in fact the most likable of the bunch. She was funny, relatable, and true, and provided the perfect voice to narrate the story.
The plot itself was nothing surprising, and actually near the end began to get so typical that it was almost annoying to read, but it conveyed the message of the book really well.
I would definitely recommend this book to any teenager, either to have a character to relate to or just an entertaining book to read.
Mia, the main character and the middle child of a rather impressive family, was written as though she was supposed to be be unlikeable to the rest of the characters in the book, but was in fact the most likable of the bunch. She was funny, relatable, and true, and provided the perfect voice to narrate the story.
The plot itself was nothing surprising, and actually near the end began to get so typical that it was almost annoying to read, but it conveyed the message of the book really well.
I would definitely recommend this book to any teenager, either to have a character to relate to or just an entertaining book to read.
hannahsutherland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Mia's life was a train wreck I couldn't look away from. So much second hand embarrasment.
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
I have found a new favourite author! This is the first book I have read by Lisa and I absolutely loved it and devoured it. I will definately be reading her previous book and new book which is soon to be published. Eee. Exciting.
This story will have you reminiscing on your own teenage years. Mia is the average teenager, we’ve all been there… Wanting to stand out, wanting to be popular, wanting attention, wanting the boys, showing off and the love for alcohol AKA underage drinking. We’d be lying if we say we haven’t done it.
I fell inlove with her character, she is the middle child to what she describes as two perfect sisters… She’s the odd one out or so she thinks. In parts I found her quite a selfish character and uncaring. However, in other parts she really shines through the loving and caring girl she can really be. Like most teenagers she thinks the world is against her when it’s not. She loves a drink but sometimes… actually most of the time she takes it too far. Will she change?
Towards the end of the story Mia starts to change and its a brilliant, unexpected, wonderful and heart warming ending for all! I loved it and I was proud of her character. Now I am still classed as a young adult (FOR NOW) and I bloody loved this story! I would highly recommend it to you all… Dive into Mia’s world. It isn’t dull. She gets upto all sorts of mischief. Brilliant. A well deserved four stars, well written and easy to read.
This story will have you reminiscing on your own teenage years. Mia is the average teenager, we’ve all been there… Wanting to stand out, wanting to be popular, wanting attention, wanting the boys, showing off and the love for alcohol AKA underage drinking. We’d be lying if we say we haven’t done it.
I fell inlove with her character, she is the middle child to what she describes as two perfect sisters… She’s the odd one out or so she thinks. In parts I found her quite a selfish character and uncaring. However, in other parts she really shines through the loving and caring girl she can really be. Like most teenagers she thinks the world is against her when it’s not. She loves a drink but sometimes… actually most of the time she takes it too far. Will she change?
Towards the end of the story Mia starts to change and its a brilliant, unexpected, wonderful and heart warming ending for all! I loved it and I was proud of her character. Now I am still classed as a young adult (FOR NOW) and I bloody loved this story! I would highly recommend it to you all… Dive into Mia’s world. It isn’t dull. She gets upto all sorts of mischief. Brilliant. A well deserved four stars, well written and easy to read.
shemyshines98's review against another edition
3.0
This is was good book about the middle child having insecurities about their life and choosing to spiral out of control. Mia is just misunderstood. I feel that if people actually take the time to know the real her under the facade she shows, you'll see someone that is just sensitive and hurting. She just wants to be acknowledged and we all have felt like this, especially with siblings. When you have a perfect older sister who just happens to show up pregnant and everyone welcomes her with open arms, but if you did the same it would be a total disgrace. I totally understand why Mia was the way she was. It isn't fair. But, I'm glad in the end, everyone communicated and things were sorted out. The book has a lot of funny moments and moments where you go "I'm glad this isn't me!" Overall, it's a good read.
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
3.0
This is a good example of contemporary ya - well written and evocative. Despite the fact I'm more like Grace (without the pregnancy!), I think at some point we've all felt like Mia. Some days I still do. This lost a star because I'm not the biggest fan of contemporary ya and so I honestly can't rate it against my favourites. It also lost half one for second hand embarrassment - all very well done but there were a couple of cringey moments that were a bit much for me even though they were right for the moment and for the character. Just personal preference both!
gracechrister's review against another edition
4.0
rereading bc the last time i read it i was like 14?
I'm a bit too similar to mia for my liking, despite being an eldest sister named grace
I'm a bit too similar to mia for my liking, despite being an eldest sister named grace