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_arahabak1's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
bog_elfin's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.5
lydiastorytime's review
3.0
I apriciate the diversity but I fell the story was poorly written in parts. some bits of the internal monologe defiantly took away from the story. I think the author was trying to do to many things and take a stance on to many issues. I appreciate bringing important issues into the story but some of it really side tracked and drug out the plot. You simply can't solve every world issue in one book. I also thought some of the internal dialogue sounded like what an old person thinks teens souns like. It seemed disconnected from reality and took away from charicter development. I wish we got more of a sence for who the people were and less essays about thoughts on various issues. I think talking about the charicters sexuality and international health care fit into the plot. these could have been better discussed if less things clouded it. Too much lying it was weird and too much side drama. A couple side plots well done would be better. I wish it was wrapped up sooner. it started to feel like endless concluding reflections.
I love the premis and representation. the "love" story bits were cute. this mission trip is quite outlandish but a fun reality to visit. i definitely think its a nice story with good lessons but less lessons would have made it a more interesting read.
I love the premis and representation. the "love" story bits were cute. this mission trip is quite outlandish but a fun reality to visit. i definitely think its a nice story with good lessons but less lessons would have made it a more interesting read.
kara44212's review
4.0
This was a perfectly entertaining, sweet and fluffy romance with some of the best representation I've ever seen in a YA contemporary. The church conference and the debate subplots were also a brilliant way to bring up and discuss a lot of sensitive and important issues as well. I honestly wasn't expecting any of that from this book, so I'm pleasantly surprised.
starbuck1210's review
4.0
I have read quite a few LGBTQ books over the past year or so and I can adequately say that none of them really addressed bisexual relationships or safe sex between women as this one did. In fact I'm pretty sure I've never read a book that covered dental dams at all. So definite pluses for that.
My only complaint was that But other than that I was very happy with this book and felt it did a great job showing a bisexual relationship with two girls just figuring out their sexuality and preferences.
My only complaint was that
Spoiler
Aki and Christa really should have been left over when they "broke up". It felt weird to me that the author threw them back together in the last two-ish chapters of the book.caffeineaddict980's review
5.0
Our Own Private Universe follows Aki, a girl who is going to a small group trip with her best friend to Mexico. Aki wants to test her theories about sex among other things, but what she didn't expect was to meet a slightly older girl called Christa, who she begins to fall for.
Wow.
This book was absolutely amazing and I loved every second of it.
All of the characters in the novel along with the storyline was extremely well-developed.
Ack!
So good!!!
-SPOILERS ALERT-
*****************
Aki and her best friend Lori decide to make a pact to have three hook-ups over the summer and Aki's Dad wants her to do a side project with the local kids.
Things are going well with Christa, until she realises that Christa has a boyfriend back home. Christa tells her that she's on a break with her boyfriend for the summer and they both decide to hook-up over the course of four weeks and share their first kiss.
After one of the people within the small group bring round a petition about same sex marriages, Aki signs automatically as well as her best friend, but Christa is hesitant.
Why?
Aki soon finds out the reason why from Christa.
Straying away from the group one day, Christa and Aki decide to spend a day with each other instead of the group and get to know each other better.
Drew (Her Brother) talks to her and brings up the subject of a rumour going around about Aki and Christa having a relationship, Aki confirms that the rumours are true and they keep it a secret.
Aki and Lori have a fight and she finds out that Lori has been seeing someone else too (which is later revealed not to be true)
Things begin to get intense between Christa and Aki, which changes things after they have an argument based around the rumour that is spreading.
Aki and her friends organise a debate on issues that are going to be part of a conference.
The boys that Aki ratted out for getting drunk and smashing a girl's guitar in a river obtain a photo of Aki and Christa kissing and threaten her with it.
Aki finally comes out as bisexual to her Dad and he is completely supportive and Christa makes a revelation that changes their entire relationship.
Wow.
This book was absolutely amazing and I loved every second of it.
All of the characters in the novel along with the storyline was extremely well-developed.
Ack!
So good!!!
-SPOILERS ALERT-
*****************
Aki and her best friend Lori decide to make a pact to have three hook-ups over the summer and Aki's Dad wants her to do a side project with the local kids.
Things are going well with Christa, until she realises that Christa has a boyfriend back home. Christa tells her that she's on a break with her boyfriend for the summer and they both decide to hook-up over the course of four weeks and share their first kiss.
After one of the people within the small group bring round a petition about same sex marriages, Aki signs automatically as well as her best friend, but Christa is hesitant.
Why?
Aki soon finds out the reason why from Christa.
Straying away from the group one day, Christa and Aki decide to spend a day with each other instead of the group and get to know each other better.
Drew (Her Brother) talks to her and brings up the subject of a rumour going around about Aki and Christa having a relationship, Aki confirms that the rumours are true and they keep it a secret.
Aki and Lori have a fight and she finds out that Lori has been seeing someone else too (which is later revealed not to be true)
Things begin to get intense between Christa and Aki, which changes things after they have an argument based around the rumour that is spreading.
Aki and her friends organise a debate on issues that are going to be part of a conference.
The boys that Aki ratted out for getting drunk and smashing a girl's guitar in a river obtain a photo of Aki and Christa kissing and threaten her with it.
Aki finally comes out as bisexual to her Dad and he is completely supportive and Christa makes a revelation that changes their entire relationship.
powisamy's review against another edition
4.0
Book Review:
After reading What We Left Behind, I had had a bad experience with Robin Talley but wanted to give her a second chance and I did really enjoy this book. Our Own Private Universe was a diverse read and had good characters and a story that kept me engaged.
I was first interested in Our Own Private Universe because it was an f/f romance story that was own voices that had a bisexual main character. I had not and still have not read many books that focus on this topic. This was something that I really enjoyed in the book and it was something that I definitely liked learning about in the story.
The story also focuses on sexual experiences of the characters and instead of ignoring the lack of contraception in the story like many writers do this does tackle it head-on. This was something that I really did like and I felt like I did learn from the book's discussion although it didn't affect me. This could be extremely helpful for anyone who needs this discussion in books.
One of the biggest debates in the book is that there is too much drama and that the characters do lie to each other a little too much which makes this worse. Although I do agree with this and I don't often like characters lying to each other, this was a way to make the story progress and I can't lie when I say that the drama did add to the story because let's face it who doesn't like a little drama anyway.
With the whole lying to each other, this does seem really unnecessary and I don't really see why it was needed. I am sure that this could be done in a different way. I also did really enjoy the characters and their relationships in the story and one thing that I can't fault in Talley's writing which I always enjoy.
The Verdict:
Our Own Private Universe is a drama-filled contemporary story which was highly entertaining and an enjoyable read from start to finish.
After reading What We Left Behind, I had had a bad experience with Robin Talley but wanted to give her a second chance and I did really enjoy this book. Our Own Private Universe was a diverse read and had good characters and a story that kept me engaged.
I was first interested in Our Own Private Universe because it was an f/f romance story that was own voices that had a bisexual main character. I had not and still have not read many books that focus on this topic. This was something that I really enjoyed in the book and it was something that I definitely liked learning about in the story.
The story also focuses on sexual experiences of the characters and instead of ignoring the lack of contraception in the story like many writers do this does tackle it head-on. This was something that I really did like and I felt like I did learn from the book's discussion although it didn't affect me. This could be extremely helpful for anyone who needs this discussion in books.
One of the biggest debates in the book is that there is too much drama and that the characters do lie to each other a little too much which makes this worse. Although I do agree with this and I don't often like characters lying to each other, this was a way to make the story progress and I can't lie when I say that the drama did add to the story because let's face it who doesn't like a little drama anyway.
With the whole lying to each other, this does seem really unnecessary and I don't really see why it was needed. I am sure that this could be done in a different way. I also did really enjoy the characters and their relationships in the story and one thing that I can't fault in Talley's writing which I always enjoy.
The Verdict:
Our Own Private Universe is a drama-filled contemporary story which was highly entertaining and an enjoyable read from start to finish.
professionalreader's review
4.0
Another awesome story from an amazing writer!
There needs to be more positive bisexual stories like this for teens. Also my FAVORITE part was Aki did her safe sex research!! Girls who sleep with girls need to know you can still get diseases, safety and communication is so important! Well done Robin!!
There needs to be more positive bisexual stories like this for teens. Also my FAVORITE part was Aki did her safe sex research!! Girls who sleep with girls need to know you can still get diseases, safety and communication is so important! Well done Robin!!