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shemyshines98's review
4.0
This was a good book to read. From the moment I started reading, I kinda knew she killed Dallas. But, I kept my suspicions on hold until I found out. Unfortunately, she was drowsy driving after a party they were attending and pretty much fell asleep at the wheel and swerved into another lane got hit by a truck that badly injured her and killed Dallas. I loved how the author incorporated the comments from social media into the book and made it seem so real. The book, in general, felt realistic and that's very hard to achieve these days. Overall, I liked the book, it was predictable but it was great enough for me to continue reading. This book goes to show that, opinions are like assholes, everyone has them. Social media can make people turn into cruel monsters. It's just best that you ignore it, block it and continue living. Because at the end of the day, someone will always have something to say.
raquewi's review
2.0
Again, definitely a book. Also another Y/N Self insert kind of thing. It felt fake deep to me, but I don't remember the details of the story so I'm just going to leave it at that.
madiclown's review
5.0
I wish I could give this story 50 stories. I loved it so much and I couldn't put it down after I started reading it.
Thanks Paula Stokes for making yet another fantastic read. This book was so thought provoking and real emotions plagued Genevieve. It really makes you think about internet shaming and driving while drunk or drowsy. Once again I loved it and highly will recommend this book to anyone and everyone!!!
Thanks Paula Stokes for making yet another fantastic read. This book was so thought provoking and real emotions plagued Genevieve. It really makes you think about internet shaming and driving while drunk or drowsy. Once again I loved it and highly will recommend this book to anyone and everyone!!!
literarilyjess's review
5.0
Heartbreakingly lovely.
I adore everything Paula writes. She can pull off so many different genres but always manages to tell a wonderfully compelling story. This is How it Happened was no different. I couldn't put it down.
Genevieve's struggle with grief and guilt was so beautifully told. This book covers a lot of important topics but never felt like it had an agenda or read like an issue book. The plot unfolded along with flashbacks of the night of the accident as Gen remembered them in "real time" and it worked really well to support the narrative. Gen was such a complex character and her story had me crying by the end. The depiction of the Internet mob mentality and cyber bullying felt devastatingly accurate - in our modern society we're never really allowed to deal with tragedy on our own terms, and I think this was shown really well. I really loved the setting of Zion National Park and felt like I was able to picture it. Also, the love story was perfectly adorable but never overpowered the story or character development.
I received an ARC from the author, but this did not influence my review in any way.
I adore everything Paula writes. She can pull off so many different genres but always manages to tell a wonderfully compelling story. This is How it Happened was no different. I couldn't put it down.
Genevieve's struggle with grief and guilt was so beautifully told. This book covers a lot of important topics but never felt like it had an agenda or read like an issue book. The plot unfolded along with flashbacks of the night of the accident as Gen remembered them in "real time" and it worked really well to support the narrative. Gen was such a complex character and her story had me crying by the end. The depiction of the Internet mob mentality and cyber bullying felt devastatingly accurate - in our modern society we're never really allowed to deal with tragedy on our own terms, and I think this was shown really well. I really loved the setting of Zion National Park and felt like I was able to picture it. Also, the love story was perfectly adorable but never overpowered the story or character development.
I received an ARC from the author, but this did not influence my review in any way.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
3.0
Received advanced reader copy from author (included corrections and the page missing from ARC)> **Actual rating = 3.5 stars**
After waking from a coma, Genevieve slowly pieces together what happened the night the car accident took her memory – and her famous boyfriend Dallas.
A powerful message lies at the root of this story. It is this message that bumped my rating up another ½ star … but I cannot tell you the message because, well, **spoilers, sweetie!**
Genevieve reads as a “typical teen” character. Is that fair? Is there such a thing as typical? Well she reads real: from a divorced family, a strong student, not very popular but dating an emerging music star thus getting thrust into a spotlight she isn’t really sure she wants to be in. I wish I had a chance to get to know Dallas a little bit better – but, alas, we lose him in the opening pages and only get glimpses of him in flashbacks. I really liked Elliott! Lots of facets to this young man and I can see why Gen was drawn to him. I also loved that part of this story was Genevieve and her relationship with her parents. I saw myself in her relationship with Rachael, though, I must admit I was not as quick to accept.
Despite the heavy message, this was an easy read with a beautiful setting and enjoyable characters. The only thing that kept this from a higher rating is I felt like the climax fell flat. We learn at about the halfway point. So, what came after that just didn’t have the pow! that it could have had.
After waking from a coma, Genevieve slowly pieces together what happened the night the car accident took her memory – and her famous boyfriend Dallas.
A powerful message lies at the root of this story. It is this message that bumped my rating up another ½ star … but I cannot tell you the message because, well, **spoilers, sweetie!**
Genevieve reads as a “typical teen” character. Is that fair? Is there such a thing as typical? Well she reads real: from a divorced family, a strong student, not very popular but dating an emerging music star thus getting thrust into a spotlight she isn’t really sure she wants to be in. I wish I had a chance to get to know Dallas a little bit better – but, alas, we lose him in the opening pages and only get glimpses of him in flashbacks. I really liked Elliott! Lots of facets to this young man and I can see why Gen was drawn to him. I also loved that part of this story was Genevieve and her relationship with her parents. I saw myself in her relationship with Rachael, though, I must admit I was not as quick to accept.
Despite the heavy message, this was an easy read with a beautiful setting and enjoyable characters. The only thing that kept this from a higher rating is I felt like the climax fell flat. We learn at about the halfway point
Spoiler
that Genevieve is responsible for the accident by falling asleep at the wheeldebi_g's review
3.0
I received an ARC on Independent Bookstore Day, and was surprised to see that the main event of the book takes place on my home turf of Lake Saint Louis. That used to happen when I lived in Napa, but nobody sets novels in the western exurbs of St. Louis, so I appreciated that even if it was modified for the book.
The story is realistic. The plot contains important issues. The national park setting and work are both lovely aspects. The references to a physically competitive TV program are well-suited. The love interest is endearing. The inescapable reach of the internet is represented with accuracy. The story is engrossing.
In spite of the lengthy list of positive attributes, this novel also has shortcomings. The pacing is uneven and the timeline is unnecessarily stretched. The police investigation is downplayed. The parents and best friend are one-dimensional. The dialogue often sounds idealistic or otherwise false.
Overall, I liked this book but I didn't love it. It's memorable and interesting enough to recommend it to my students and find out what they think of it.
The story is realistic. The plot contains important issues. The national park setting and work are both lovely aspects. The references to a physically competitive TV program are well-suited. The love interest is endearing. The inescapable reach of the internet is represented with accuracy. The story is engrossing.
In spite of the lengthy list of positive attributes, this novel also has shortcomings. The pacing is uneven and the timeline is unnecessarily stretched. The police investigation is downplayed. The parents and best friend are one-dimensional. The dialogue often sounds idealistic or otherwise false.
Overall, I liked this book but I didn't love it. It's memorable and interesting enough to recommend it to my students and find out what they think of it.
khairun_atika's review
4.0
This is How it Happened is an eye-opener to the different consequences of social media. While it may be an outlet for information, making research convenient, it has also welcomed a wave of bullies who feel entitled to judge or pick on every single person's mistake. Paula Stokes has perfectly captured the tone of the dangerous and intimidating online haters, who could well be just quiet teenagers hiding in the safety of their homes, exposing and shaming other people. Stokes used the premise of the death of a beloved pop star to encapture the consequences of making one mistake, and how it can be blown out of proportion by internet bullies. It is painful to see how the world has changed, into a world where internet bullying is the equivalent of stoning, and that everyone feels entitled to do so without truly understanding the facts. Well-written, heartbreaking and truthful, it was a delight to read the story. What is important is a good support system, and this leads to the courage of facing and telling the truth, and not letting comments destroy you. This is a very important message that Stokes relayed in her book.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this would be a mystery but it turned out to be a contemporary focused on online bullying in the media and consequences of car accidents. I liked it fine enough but I just felt like the whole point of the book was to tell a message that this is bad and that is bad and this helps and I don't like messages shoved in my face which this book did.
amarylissw's review
2.0
Although this story has a great message, the story and characters bring nothing new to the table. I feel like I’ve read this book a thousand times before.
sc104906's review
3.0
I received this as an eARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Genevieve's superstar singer boyfriend, Dallas was killed in a car accident where she was driving. She can't remember what lead up to the accident, but the internet has begun attacking the other driver for drunk driving. As she begins to heal, she begins remembering more about that night and what actually happened.
This novel was solidly interesting. I was really feeling the sections that took place in Utah, as opposed to St. Louis. I found the characters, setting, and plot to be more interesting and developed there. The novel did become overtly preachy at times and the news story comments didn't mesh well with the overall story, perhaps it could have been addressed better with multiple perspectives. I really liked how this book presented sports and activities (hiking, and American Ninja Warrior) that are not typically covered in other novels. It added a unique layer to the story.
Genevieve's superstar singer boyfriend, Dallas was killed in a car accident where she was driving. She can't remember what lead up to the accident, but the internet has begun attacking the other driver for drunk driving. As she begins to heal, she begins remembering more about that night and what actually happened.
This novel was solidly interesting. I was really feeling the sections that took place in Utah, as opposed to St. Louis. I found the characters, setting, and plot to be more interesting and developed there. The novel did become overtly preachy at times and the news story comments didn't mesh well with the overall story, perhaps it could have been addressed better with multiple perspectives. I really liked how this book presented sports and activities (hiking, and American Ninja Warrior) that are not typically covered in other novels. It added a unique layer to the story.