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daffz's review against another edition
3.0
The concept of this book intrigued me, but I couldn't get into the story as much as I wanted to. I'm not sure why, but none of the different plotlines really pulled me in. Each girl has their own problems, and it felt to me like there were maybe a few too many different things going on for me to get invested in it all. I think I liked Ava's story best, overall.
It was an entertaining book, but I never really felt too invested in what was going to happen. The central conflict of the park never really spoke to me, and I had trouble getting really invested in anything. In the end, I also don't know if I love the way the initial hook about which girl would be president was handled. It was a bit of a bait and switch, and it made me feel a bit frustrated.
But it is still a good book if you want to read about female friendships, the relationship between the girls was what I liked most in the end.
It was an entertaining book, but I never really felt too invested in what was going to happen. The central conflict of the park never really spoke to me, and I had trouble getting really invested in anything. In the end, I also don't know if I love the way the initial hook about which girl would be president was handled. It was a bit of a bait and switch, and it made me feel a bit frustrated.
But it is still a good book if you want to read about female friendships, the relationship between the girls was what I liked most in the end.
annalisemarie03's review against another edition
5.0
This book is actually amazing. It is incredibly character driven which means it developed the characters perfectly. With the addition of the mystery in this I could not stop reading it. AND I never saw the ending coming in the best way possible! I thought it was a different girl on every page!
ajcollignon's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the characters in this book. It took me a little longer than I would have liked to be able to tell which was which, though. I think it would have helped if each chapter was a different perspective instead of multiple main characters in a chapter. I look forward to whatever book Sarah Watson writes next, and until then I'll be watching The Bold Type.
ameliag_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
readingoverbreathing's review against another edition
3.0
"I have never had a transformational experience.
I know it's only a matter of time. I know that someday the phone will ring, or there will be a knock on the door, or something will happen that will make my life forever different. I know how it will impact me, because I know how it has impacted the people I love. It will make me stronger in some ways. It will make me more vulnerable in others. It will leave a residue. But also a shine. It will be a thing that happened to me, but not the thing that defines me. It will change me in some ways. Perhaps it will change me in many ways. But it will not change who I am."
This truly was a sweet read. It was quick, light but not fluffy, realistic in some ways and yet a little idealistic in others. I myself was a senior in the same position as these girls only two years ago, and this read recalled so many memories from that last formidable year that made it a little nostalgic for me as well.
I loved the concept of this and had heard a lot going in, so I think my expectations were just a little high, and thus why I found this slightly disappointing. Without those expectations, though, I can see this being a fantastic read, with all the ease and substance a YA contemporary can possess.
I had a difficult time connecting to the characters, despite my own senior year nostalgia. It seemed to me like Sarah Watson took a box of character stereotypes and randomly drew a few out to create each of the girls in an effort to create a diverse compendium that didn't always totally work. I also was a bit offset by Logan Diffenderfer, as he seemed like your average teenage white boy to me, and yet all the girls seemed inexplicably enthralled by him and his almost constant presence.
I will say Watson really did get me
Spoiler
with that last-minute twist, where Wyatt turned out to be the Diffenderfer of the prologue all along, just when I thought I had it all figured out. It's rare for YA to catch my by surprise like that, and for that I was impressed.Overall, though far from a favorite, this was a fun book which presented a lot of the best elements of the YA genre, and a lovely diversion worth the quick read it was.
soulbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The ending gagged me.
dinomoon's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, I felt that the storyline of this book was bland and lacked any depth. It was obvious the author was trying hard to tick off lots of diversity boxes, which felt forced and a little cringey at times. I also found it difficult to distinguish between the girls for a lot of the book, as they all sounded pretty much the same. It’s a shame as I was looking forward to this book.
notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
4.0
Well this was just a delight! I truly enjoyed it, so much. But felt it could have been... Maybe longer? The ending to epilogue transition was so abrupt!