Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.03 AVERAGE
3.03 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
TW: R*pe
Althea just straight up rapes Oliver and gets away with it. The first 80 pages are alright, kinda slow but beautiful writing. After that it goes to hell.
Oliver has a semi-conscious moment in one of his sleep episodes and Althea has sex with him. However, Oliver couldn't give consent during this. This is the equivalent of a drunk person/sober person having sex.
Althea gets mad at Oliver for not remembering having sex with her. Oliver is constantly made to look the bad guy here.
Also, Althea sleeps with another guy (with consent), but punches him out because he "made her bleed".
You would think Althea faces the repercussions of raping Oliver, but she doesn't. She follows him to NYC without anyone knowing and they made out again. Oliver seems to just...forgive her?
Anyways, this book is a dumpster fire.
Althea just straight up rapes Oliver and gets away with it. The first 80 pages are alright, kinda slow but beautiful writing. After that it goes to hell.
Oliver has a semi-conscious moment in one of his sleep episodes and Althea has sex with him. However, Oliver couldn't give consent during this. This is the equivalent of a drunk person/sober person having sex.
Althea gets mad at Oliver for not remembering having sex with her. Oliver is constantly made to look the bad guy here.
Also, Althea sleeps with another guy (with consent), but punches him out because he "made her bleed".
You would think Althea faces the repercussions of raping Oliver, but she doesn't. She follows him to NYC without anyone knowing and they made out again. Oliver seems to just...forgive her?
Anyways, this book is a dumpster fire.
I'm not sure what I had in mind for this book. I picked it up because the title sounded familiar and I thought it was one I had wanted to read, but didn't look at the synopsis. I was expecting it to be a high school friends become something more type book, but it was a gritter story with more complexity and depressing events than I wanted. I didn't really care about the characters and was a bit disturbed by the various unhealthy relationships and interactions.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger warning: This book contains sexual assault and an abusive relationship between friends
****SPOILER ALERT****
I was excited to read this book because it was supposed to be a coming of age story about punk rockers. Instead I got a friendship story about two kids in North Carolina that reminded me of Dawson's Creek. Althea & Oliver are an unlikely pair, like Joey and Dawson, that have been inseparable since they were six. Like Joey and Dawson both have feelings for each other they don't know how to deal with...seems tame enough. However, in this story Oliver has a disease (Kleine-Levin Syndrome) that renders him unconscious for large periods of time, only waking to eat and use the bathroom and it's during one of these periods that Althea rapes him.
This is where the book becomes problematic, because no one is willing to call it rape. Oliver gets upset when he finds out what happened, because before his episode, he kissed Althea, but told her he wasn't ready when she asked him to come to her room. However, he's not willing to call it rape either, though, but his anger at Althea and his words clearly show he feels violated, because not only was the boy not conscious of his actions when it happened, he specifically told her he wasn't ready for it before it did happen. Althea was worried it would never happen if she didn't take matters into her own hands, but so what if it had never happened? That wasn't her decision to make. You can't just MAKE someone do something because YOU want them to. People aren't toys. Then when Oliver goes off to participate in a study and tells his new friend, Will, about what happened, Will acts like he's crazy. I mean why wouldn't you want to screw your beautiful best friend? He tells him to find her and do it again! At this Oliver's anger magically disappears. Althea on the other hand feels bad, but for selfish reasons. She's upset Oliver doesn't remember the incident and she's upset that Oliver is mad at her, because after all, he "wanted" it. She goes to New York to apologize to Oliver because she's afraid of losing him, but when she finally gets the chance she's flippant about it and after talking to his friend, Will, Oliver is dismissive because what guy wants to admit out loud that he was raped? I mean he "wanted" it anyway, right? So who cares how it happened...WTF!
I kept hoping that Althea would redeem herself, but here's what I got from the end of the book instead.
Althea shrugs - Sorry I raped you
Oliver - No worries, it wasn't really rape or at least I'm not ready to call it that and deal with my trauma yet or ever, because you're my best friend. Let's have consensual sex this time so I can pretend like the other unmentionable thing never happened.
Althea - Ok (they have sex, but it's not at all like last time. Althea liked last time better, but it's nice to see recognition in his eyes this time).
Althea - Our relationship is officially over now. I've got my eye on that Ethan guy. Have a nice life/See you when I see ya.
Oliver - Ok. Now I can pretend that nothing f**d up ever happened and we just went our separate ways after our relationship came to it's inevitable conclusion once we had consensual sex. See ya.
I feel disappointed and gross for having invested my time in what is essentially Althea's story since Oliver is asleep for large chunks of it.People aren't perfect, I get that. People make mistakes - I understand that, too. However, part of growing up is owning your mistakes and taking responsibility for them, rather that sweeping them under the rug. I know she's only 17, but I was hoping for just a hint of that from Althea since what she did was pretty f**d up. Instead by the end of the book I just got a sense that Althea who was already self-involved, was becoming even more self-involved...and yeah, finding yourself is part of growing up, but so is realizing how your actions affect others and that the world doesn't revolve around you/people aren't always going to do what you want them to. Ugh!
One star because the writing is good and perhaps it will lead to discussions about consent.
****SPOILER ALERT****
I was excited to read this book because it was supposed to be a coming of age story about punk rockers. Instead I got a friendship story about two kids in North Carolina that reminded me of Dawson's Creek. Althea & Oliver are an unlikely pair, like Joey and Dawson, that have been inseparable since they were six. Like Joey and Dawson both have feelings for each other they don't know how to deal with...seems tame enough. However, in this story Oliver has a disease (Kleine-Levin Syndrome) that renders him unconscious for large periods of time, only waking to eat and use the bathroom and it's during one of these periods that Althea rapes him.
This is where the book becomes problematic, because no one is willing to call it rape. Oliver gets upset when he finds out what happened, because before his episode, he kissed Althea, but told her he wasn't ready when she asked him to come to her room. However, he's not willing to call it rape either, though, but his anger at Althea and his words clearly show he feels violated, because not only was the boy not conscious of his actions when it happened, he specifically told her he wasn't ready for it before it did happen. Althea was worried it would never happen if she didn't take matters into her own hands, but so what if it had never happened? That wasn't her decision to make. You can't just MAKE someone do something because YOU want them to. People aren't toys. Then when Oliver goes off to participate in a study and tells his new friend, Will, about what happened, Will acts like he's crazy. I mean why wouldn't you want to screw your beautiful best friend? He tells him to find her and do it again! At this Oliver's anger magically disappears. Althea on the other hand feels bad, but for selfish reasons. She's upset Oliver doesn't remember the incident and she's upset that Oliver is mad at her, because after all, he "wanted" it. She goes to New York to apologize to Oliver because she's afraid of losing him, but when she finally gets the chance she's flippant about it and after talking to his friend, Will, Oliver is dismissive because what guy wants to admit out loud that he was raped? I mean he "wanted" it anyway, right? So who cares how it happened...WTF!
I kept hoping that Althea would redeem herself, but here's what I got from the end of the book instead.
Althea shrugs - Sorry I raped you
Oliver - No worries, it wasn't really rape or at least I'm not ready to call it that and deal with my trauma yet or ever, because you're my best friend. Let's have consensual sex this time so I can pretend like the other unmentionable thing never happened.
Althea - Ok (they have sex, but it's not at all like last time. Althea liked last time better, but it's nice to see recognition in his eyes this time).
Althea - Our relationship is officially over now. I've got my eye on that Ethan guy. Have a nice life/See you when I see ya.
Oliver - Ok. Now I can pretend that nothing f**d up ever happened and we just went our separate ways after our relationship came to it's inevitable conclusion once we had consensual sex. See ya.
I feel disappointed and gross for having invested my time in what is essentially Althea's story since Oliver is asleep for large chunks of it.People aren't perfect, I get that. People make mistakes - I understand that, too. However, part of growing up is owning your mistakes and taking responsibility for them, rather that sweeping them under the rug. I know she's only 17, but I was hoping for just a hint of that from Althea since what she did was pretty f**d up. Instead by the end of the book I just got a sense that Althea who was already self-involved, was becoming even more self-involved...and yeah, finding yourself is part of growing up, but so is realizing how your actions affect others and that the world doesn't revolve around you/people aren't always going to do what you want them to. Ugh!
One star because the writing is good and perhaps it will lead to discussions about consent.
Gutsy and fresh--a standout in a sea of contemporary realistic YA fiction that treats teens on the cusp of adulthood as adult readers. Immediately engrossing, if somewhat unbelievable at times. Reading about Oliver's struggle with KLS made me do a little research of my own to know more about this syndrome. The ending was an excellent way to wrap up the complicated relationship between these two life-long friends who are like "two sides of the same coin." I loved how it captured young adult relationships where there is love and desire, but not necessarily romance. Points for having a beautiful young female character who doesn't fit the mold or fall into stereotypes.
Not a very long review, just a short/medium one to express my thoughts and feelings on this book.
Althea and Oliver, the cover didn't pull me in (I am still a cover lover), but the description and genres did pull me in. And I am really happy that, regardless of the ugly cover (though pretty colour), I loved the book. That doesn't happen often. :)
The book is written from two POVs. Althea and Oliver. Friends since childhood, however things are now changing. At least for Althea. Althea is slowly, but very surely, falling in love with Oliver. Sadly Oliver doesn't think of her in that way. Which causes lots of awkwardness between the two. Add to that that Oliver has a rare disease that causes him to fall asleep, not for a night, no for days, for weeks, sometimes for months. Causing him to wake up in a world that is quite different, events having happened and he missing those.
I loved Althea, sure she had quite a few things I didn't like (like her smoking or her taking advantage of Oliver (and sure at that event he also had a hand in it, but still not a good choice)), but other than the few things I didn't like, I loved her. She was interesting, kick-ass and I was just cheering for her to get the boy. Hoping she would be lucky, hoping she could be happy.
Like I said, she makes some stupid choices, does some stupid things and lies at times, but we can also see she feels terrible and sorry afterwards. She is not inhuman, she is just a teenager, a very confused teenager. Faced with the end of high school, seeing the love of your life being sick and not feeling the same way as you do, I can imagine one might do things wrong.
I loved her more during the later parts, during the New York time. You could see her glow, grow up and live her life more. She found a place she can call home, made friends and found something she wants to do.
Oliver, mm, I am still not entirely sure I liked him or not. At times I know I did, at times I felt sorry for him. But I think the fact that we barely saw him (after all he slept through quite a bit of the book), is the reason I couldn't connect to him that much. Also the fact that he was utterly confusing. Saying how he likes Althea, how beautiful he found her, and a few other things, yet not loving her in the way she does love him. It was a bit confusing and contradictory. Also his disease and what he did when he woke up in between stuff was a bit disturbing. Add to that, the fact he like to guilt trip people when he found out months has passed. Not like they can do anything about it!
I have also seen enough people talk about the ending and that people apparently didn't like it. I loved it. Sure it was open-ended, but I loved that it ended like that, not forced, but instead as expected. I hate it when an author would try to make something happen, something we as readers cannot see happening. I won't spoil much, but I can say I am really delighted by the ending. Of course this leaves open a space for maybe a few short novellas with some after stuff. What happened to Oliver (did he or did he not make a certain decision, and if he did, what happened to him?), how is it going with Althea (did she stay or did she find another place, did she go home, did she go and study)?
There were also various fun references and a lot of things that clearly showed the age the book was written in. I really loved that.
All in all this book is really highly recommended. A story about love, friendship, sickness and finding a place you belong in this wonderful world.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Althea and Oliver, the cover didn't pull me in (I am still a cover lover), but the description and genres did pull me in. And I am really happy that, regardless of the ugly cover (though pretty colour), I loved the book. That doesn't happen often. :)
The book is written from two POVs. Althea and Oliver. Friends since childhood, however things are now changing. At least for Althea. Althea is slowly, but very surely, falling in love with Oliver. Sadly Oliver doesn't think of her in that way. Which causes lots of awkwardness between the two. Add to that that Oliver has a rare disease that causes him to fall asleep, not for a night, no for days, for weeks, sometimes for months. Causing him to wake up in a world that is quite different, events having happened and he missing those.
I loved Althea, sure she had quite a few things I didn't like (like her smoking or her taking advantage of Oliver (and sure at that event he also had a hand in it, but still not a good choice)), but other than the few things I didn't like, I loved her. She was interesting, kick-ass and I was just cheering for her to get the boy. Hoping she would be lucky, hoping she could be happy.
Like I said, she makes some stupid choices, does some stupid things and lies at times, but we can also see she feels terrible and sorry afterwards. She is not inhuman, she is just a teenager, a very confused teenager. Faced with the end of high school, seeing the love of your life being sick and not feeling the same way as you do, I can imagine one might do things wrong.
I loved her more during the later parts, during the New York time. You could see her glow, grow up and live her life more. She found a place she can call home, made friends and found something she wants to do.
Oliver, mm, I am still not entirely sure I liked him or not. At times I know I did, at times I felt sorry for him. But I think the fact that we barely saw him (after all he slept through quite a bit of the book), is the reason I couldn't connect to him that much. Also the fact that he was utterly confusing. Saying how he likes Althea, how beautiful he found her, and a few other things, yet not loving her in the way she does love him. It was a bit confusing and contradictory. Also his disease and what he did when he woke up in between stuff was a bit disturbing. Add to that, the fact he like to guilt trip people when he found out months has passed. Not like they can do anything about it!
I have also seen enough people talk about the ending and that people apparently didn't like it. I loved it. Sure it was open-ended, but I loved that it ended like that, not forced, but instead as expected. I hate it when an author would try to make something happen, something we as readers cannot see happening. I won't spoil much, but I can say I am really delighted by the ending. Of course this leaves open a space for maybe a few short novellas with some after stuff. What happened to Oliver (did he or did he not make a certain decision, and if he did, what happened to him?), how is it going with Althea (did she stay or did she find another place, did she go home, did she go and study)?
There were also various fun references and a lot of things that clearly showed the age the book was written in. I really loved that.
All in all this book is really highly recommended. A story about love, friendship, sickness and finding a place you belong in this wonderful world.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
why.
was this author in their right mind when they decided that it would be fine to have a character RAPE ANOTHER?!??! oh, and i can’t forget about the fact that this was written to blossom into oliver almost…. liking it?!?!?!?
i regret this book
don’t read it
was this author in their right mind when they decided that it would be fine to have a character RAPE ANOTHER?!??! oh, and i can’t forget about the fact that this was written to blossom into oliver almost…. liking it?!?!?!?
i regret this book
don’t read it
Memorable, original, and brilliantly written. There is much troubling/disturbing in this book, but Moracho is a stunning writer.
The picture she paints of adolescence is unnerving; Althea is a character who's hard to root for, and the Red Hook scenario is a bit unrealistic. Still: I read it in three busy school days and found the voice, pacing, and, especially, the writing outstanding.
The picture she paints of adolescence is unnerving; Althea is a character who's hard to root for, and the Red Hook scenario is a bit unrealistic. Still: I read it in three busy school days and found the voice, pacing, and, especially, the writing outstanding.