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michelle_pink_polka_dot's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I thought I would like this a whole lot better than I did. I love the "I can't remember" trope-- and I love the books that deal with the tough issues. This had both, but ended up feeling very bland to me. Genevieve was NOT a memorable character. She talked in her head way too much, and her emotion level was frigid. I get what the author was going for here, but the execution was not page-turning and was not giving me the feels.
lisa_the_bookdragon's review
3.0
it was a really good book!! not light and fluffy material for sure. things I appreciated :
- main character was extremely smart and sensible and made good decisions even if it was hard and took her a while *applause*
- I highly appreciate the theme of online shaming/harassment/bullying and strangers drawing conclusions and judging you without knowing anything about the truth
- also seeing this character go through so much : car accident, hospitalization, police investigation, the death of her boyfriend, the pressure from people outside ... all this!! it was so unique and really helped to make me look at things from other perspectives.
- I read this book mainly because Marie from drizzleandhurricanebooks.com talked about it as a book with traveling/wanderlust ... so while I wouldn't classify it as a wanderlust book myself, I certainly appreciated the setting of Zion National Park in Utah. it was really beautiful.
- loved seeing Genevieve's developing relationship with her family.
- it was a sad book - not heavy or depressing, but a serious read! still intriguing and fascinating and more captivating than I thought, but not FUNNY material in any way.
- I actually really likes seeing how Halley, a Mormon, and Elliott, a guy with two dads, could get along and be really good friends and act like siblings and have a GOOD RELATIONSHIP even though their worldviews/beliefs differed on things. BEEN LOOKING TO READ SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
- plot was intriguing, and I WAS REALLY HOOKED. there was like a mystery/suspense aspect, that wasn't REALLY mysterious or suspenseful but STILL.
- this book just had solid characters and solid themes and solid rep and JUST WOW IMMA IMPRESSED k?
- also the American Ninja Warrior training room part adkhfjakshfasfoahfda that was such fun
three stars just because I can't rank it as a TOP FAVE you know???
- also I'M SORRY but Elliott's character was slightly underwhelmed for me because as a woodsy/nature person working at a national part he just made me think too much of Elliot the deer from Open Season (the kid's movie) and just eeehhhhhhhhh ... weird, ain't I????
- but the moment the book said, he was either Hawaiian or Native American, I was OOH YES. so he was all right.
OK review is over!! this book is totally worth a read, jsyk.
- main character was extremely smart and sensible and made good decisions even if it was hard and took her a while *applause*
- I highly appreciate the theme of online shaming/harassment/bullying and strangers drawing conclusions and judging you without knowing anything about the truth
- also seeing this character go through so much : car accident, hospitalization, police investigation, the death of her boyfriend, the pressure from people outside ... all this!! it was so unique and really helped to make me look at things from other perspectives.
- I read this book mainly because Marie from drizzleandhurricanebooks.com talked about it as a book with traveling/wanderlust ... so while I wouldn't classify it as a wanderlust book myself, I certainly appreciated the setting of Zion National Park in Utah. it was really beautiful.
- loved seeing Genevieve's developing relationship with her family.
- it was a sad book - not heavy or depressing, but a serious read! still intriguing and fascinating and more captivating than I thought, but not FUNNY material in any way.
- I actually really likes seeing how Halley, a Mormon, and Elliott, a guy with two dads, could get along and be really good friends and act like siblings and have a GOOD RELATIONSHIP even though their worldviews/beliefs differed on things. BEEN LOOKING TO READ SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
- plot was intriguing, and I WAS REALLY HOOKED. there was like a mystery/suspense aspect, that wasn't REALLY mysterious or suspenseful but STILL.
- this book just had solid characters and solid themes and solid rep and JUST WOW IMMA IMPRESSED k?
- also the American Ninja Warrior training room part adkhfjakshfasfoahfda that was such fun
three stars just because I can't rank it as a TOP FAVE you know???
- also I'M SORRY but Elliott's character was slightly underwhelmed for me because as a woodsy/nature person working at a national part he just made me think too much of Elliot the deer from Open Season (the kid's movie) and just eeehhhhhhhhh ... weird, ain't I????
- but the moment the book said, he was either Hawaiian or Native American, I was OOH YES. so he was all right.
OK review is over!! this book is totally worth a read, jsyk.
stenaros's review
3.0
As I enjoy reading books that have to do with "famous" people, this was a fun foray. Genevieve Grace is the girlfriend of a famous YouTube star, who is just releasing his first album. She wakes up from a coma to find she has been in a car accident; her boyfriend is dead, and the other driver--a man with a former DUI convention--is fine.
Genevieve can't remember the accident, and while she pieces her memories together she flees her St. Louis home to live with her father in Utah for the summer. While essentially hiding her identity, she watches the internet rage against the unfairness of her boyfriend's death. As slowly remembers the accident and the public's grief turns to rage and violent action, Genevieve must make some decisions that will affect the rest of her life.
Stokes is very good at ending chapters with cliffhangers strong enough to keep me turning pages.
Genevieve can't remember the accident, and while she pieces her memories together she flees her St. Louis home to live with her father in Utah for the summer. While essentially hiding her identity, she watches the internet rage against the unfairness of her boyfriend's death. As slowly remembers the accident and the public's grief turns to rage and violent action, Genevieve must make some decisions that will affect the rest of her life.
Stokes is very good at ending chapters with cliffhangers strong enough to keep me turning pages.
bananna21's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booksonal's review
4.0
*ARC kindly provided by the publisher, Harper Collins, in exchange for an honest review!*
>full review at: http://booksonal.blogspot.fi/2017/07/this-is-how-it-happened-review.html?m=0
Stars: ✦✦✦✦✧
So as usual, I'll tell 4 things I liked about the book and 1 thing I didn't like.
So what did I think?
+1 | First of all I want to say how important the message of the book is,
and I really liked how the world we live in was portrayed in regards to the internet and the slew of problems it brings.
+1 | The characters I really liked and it was interesting how all their layers were brought out bit by bit
+1 | The writing style and the pace was so well done and fully thought out
+1 | The story and premise itself was really different which I found to be a good change.
Also like I stated in the previous point it was so well thought of that the story arc was clear even though they brought parts from the past alongside the main storyline
-1 | I felt like the relationship that was brought in at the end wasn't needed,
and also the last twist wasn't how I hoped it would go, but at the same time I didn't hate it if that makes any sense
!!! If anyone else has an ARC of this book, go to the authors goodreads to check if you have a page that is missing from the early versions !!!
Read on lovelies,
S
>full review at: http://booksonal.blogspot.fi/2017/07/this-is-how-it-happened-review.html?m=0
Stars: ✦✦✦✦✧
So as usual, I'll tell 4 things I liked about the book and 1 thing I didn't like.
So what did I think?
+1 | First of all I want to say how important the message of the book is,
and I really liked how the world we live in was portrayed in regards to the internet and the slew of problems it brings.
+1 | The characters I really liked and it was interesting how all their layers were brought out bit by bit
+1 | The writing style and the pace was so well done and fully thought out
+1 | The story and premise itself was really different which I found to be a good change.
Also like I stated in the previous point it was so well thought of that the story arc was clear even though they brought parts from the past alongside the main storyline
-1 | I felt like the relationship that was brought in at the end wasn't needed,
and also the last twist wasn't how I hoped it would go, but at the same time I didn't hate it if that makes any sense
!!! If anyone else has an ARC of this book, go to the authors goodreads to check if you have a page that is missing from the early versions !!!
Read on lovelies,
S
islandgeekgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Paula Stokes has been on my auto-buy authors list for a while and books like this one is the reason why. Her ability to write characters that are easy to relate to, flawed and lovable, relationships that are sweet and believable, and plots that are addicting to read, is why she has become one of my auto-buy authors and when this book comes out in physical form, I will be buying it.
Gen was a character I found easy to relate to, not because I'd ever been in her situation, but because I could see myself having the same sort of reaction if I were to ever be in her situation. Her whole world had been flipped upside down with the accident and the loss of her boyfriend and with the media and his fans and everyone wanting answers, there was no time for her to really grieve his death. She was grieving and she was scared and the flashes of memories were leading her to a conclusion she had no idea how to deal with. She went through a lot and she grew a lot through the book.
The book dealt with grief but it also dealt with internet shaming and how easily it can destroy a person's life. The use of online articles and their comments section, the way people happily tore apart the guy accused of the accident even before all the evidence was in, was something to can be found online on most sites on any day. I found it very easy to understand why Gen would be terrified of her memories making her wonder if she was the cause of the accident, to have the online mob turn on her.
I also really appreciated the family dynamics in this book. Her parents were divorced and Gen hadn't really gotten to know her father's new wife so going out to stay with them to escape the media circus gave her the chance to warm up to her. Both her parents were doctors so she felt a lot of pressure to be perfect and it made admitted when she had made mistakes very difficult. It was very clear how much they did love each other though. I really loved her friendships with the two teens on her stepmom's team at the Zion National Park.
Paula Stokes has definitely done it again. Every time I read a new book by her, it's even better than the last. I didn't think it would happen this time with how much I loved Girl Against the Universe and those two are very, very close. It's definitely one of those situations where either could eek out top spot depending on my mood that day.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Gen was a character I found easy to relate to, not because I'd ever been in her situation, but because I could see myself having the same sort of reaction if I were to ever be in her situation. Her whole world had been flipped upside down with the accident and the loss of her boyfriend and with the media and his fans and everyone wanting answers, there was no time for her to really grieve his death. She was grieving and she was scared and the flashes of memories were leading her to a conclusion she had no idea how to deal with. She went through a lot and she grew a lot through the book.
The book dealt with grief but it also dealt with internet shaming and how easily it can destroy a person's life. The use of online articles and their comments section, the way people happily tore apart the guy accused of the accident even before all the evidence was in, was something to can be found online on most sites on any day. I found it very easy to understand why Gen would be terrified of her memories making her wonder if she was the cause of the accident, to have the online mob turn on her.
I also really appreciated the family dynamics in this book. Her parents were divorced and Gen hadn't really gotten to know her father's new wife so going out to stay with them to escape the media circus gave her the chance to warm up to her. Both her parents were doctors so she felt a lot of pressure to be perfect and it made admitted when she had made mistakes very difficult. It was very clear how much they did love each other though. I really loved her friendships with the two teens on her stepmom's team at the Zion National Park.
Paula Stokes has definitely done it again. Every time I read a new book by her, it's even better than the last. I didn't think it would happen this time with how much I loved Girl Against the Universe and those two are very, very close. It's definitely one of those situations where either could eek out top spot depending on my mood that day.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
tjlcody's review
4.0
I am here and ready for any book that condemns internet lynch mobs and keyboard warriors as the idiots that they are, and this book does that in SPADES.
athbayaz's review against another edition
4.0
Genevieve was tired so she asked Dallas her boyfriend to drive her home the next thing she knows she’s in the hospital and Dallas is dead
...
The book was amazing I fell amazingly in love with Paul’s words. I loved the romance between the boy from the park and Genevieve how it started with being friends. I felt devastated when Dallas died even though Paula didn’t write a lot about him! I especially loved the way how Genevieve parents were divorced and she stayed with her dad’s new wife.
Overall I would rate the book 4 starts since I didn’t like the ending very much