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fairycakes666's review
4.0
This one has been on my (virtual) pile of unread books for a ages and now I really don't know why I haven't read it sooner. I liked it a lot, especially because - as opposed to many other books in this genre - the supporting characters actually had some depth and doing the supporting didn't seem to be their only reason for "being".
Of course, the story itself was good, too. :D
Of course, the story itself was good, too. :D
kim_j_dare's review
4.0
A lovely story of family and friendship. When Francesca's mom, who has always been the energizer of the family, has a nervous breakdown that stretches first into weeks and then into months, the fractures within the family are slowly felt. Marchetta does a wonderful job of portraying the exhaustion, hopelessness, and resentment that Francesca feels toward her mother and her father as she isolates herself more and more from friends at her new school.
trin's review against another edition
3.0
Reminiscent of one of my favorite books, [b:The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks|1629601|The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks|E. Lockhart|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313980820s/1629601.jpg|1623714] (right down to the coincidence of the main characters having the same first name!), but not nearly as good -- at least not for me. I loved all the female friendships, but I didn't find the romance convincing at all, and for whatever reason the familial relationships didn't quite ring true to me either. A parent's depression is a worthy topic for a young adult book, but something about the way it was handled here seemed too simplistic to me -- Mia's work is amazingly understanding and she doesn't get fired even though she doesn't go in for months; there's an "explanation" for the depression instead of it just being, you know, depression. And so forth. Also this book felt weirdly dated: I would have sworn it was written in the '90s, not in 2003, because Francesca's friends' references were all to '90s movies, music, and TV and there's rarely even mention of a computer. Maybe the '90s only reached Australia in the early aughts? (I grew up in Vermont, where for much of the '90s it was still the '80s, so I sympathize.)
Still: female friendships! I can't be too mad at a book that's delivering so well in that department.
Still: female friendships! I can't be too mad at a book that's delivering so well in that department.
lyakimov's review
4.0
This was a really quick and easy read and I enjoyed it! It was pretty simple and not super wild, and it was just a good optimistic story. I'm excited to read more of Melina Marchetta's works!
achillesheeled's review
4.0
I want to spend the rest of my days in a whirlwind of the last few days. Of flirting. Of laughing. Of ridding the world of evil. Of folk songs. Of piggybacks. Of hip-hop dancing. Of foolishness.
this was sooo cute oh my god
this was sooo cute oh my god
kaulhilo's review
5.0
this book was so wonderful, every time i read an new marchetta book, it just comes crashing down to me about how amazing and brilliant of an author she is. i cried so much towards the ending, and i'm so glad it ended the way it did - because. damn.
dunder_mifflin's review
5.0
Until about a third of the way into this book, I didn't think it was that great. I thought it was another of those books that I'd enjoy, but I wouldn't get the hype about. But I get the hype now. The characters are amazing and the friendships are amazing and the focus on that (and family, of course) is amazing. And having suffered with depression myself (I still am suffering, tbh) it really meant a lot to see it so accurately portrayed.
sam_hartwig's review
5.0
I have nothing bad to say about this. Loved it and I love you Melina! AWESOME BOOK - a must read!