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kyleechris's review against another edition
4.0
Something I've noticed now that I read YA books a lot more is you don't often find just a normal mystery type book. I'm assuming it's because it's not the hype right now, but I'd really love to see more mystery books. No paranormal twist and no dytopian themes. Just a plain jane mystery. When I first saw The Rules for Disappearing on Goodreads I could not freaking wait to read this book. When I found it on Netgalley and actually got accepted to read the book? Freaking ecstatic.
The first chapter really sucked me in, I loved the opening. It started off as a mystery and had my mind forming questions after just the first few pages. Instantly I felt for Meg and her family, I can't imagine having to move around and lose everything you've come to know in a matter of weeks. Being able to go through a move with Meg and her family, feeling and experiencing what it's like to be uprooted from somewhere and just plopped into some place you don't know was really intense. We know about the witness protection program and what it's for but seeing it (sort of) first hand was really intriguing. I figured crazy stuff was going to happen a lot faster or sooner than it did but I enjoyed it being slow enough for me to get to know Meg and the other characters. Meg's parents were a bit of a mystery, they were involved but yet not involved at the same time. Meg's Mom was an alcoholic and I feel like this plot line could have gone somewhere more than it should have or shouldn't have been there at all? It just didn't feel right, like it didn't quite fit. Meg's Dad was just weird to me at first, but in the end when I found out how exactly he tied into the story and what was going on with him I could tell he really cared about Meg even though I didn't agree with a thing he was doing. Overall Meg's parent's just fell flat for me. Emma and Ben were really forced and it was obvious, I didn't care for them as characters at all. Ethan, Teeny, and Pearl were my favorite supporting characters. Ethan was too clever for his own good and definitely fun to read about. I find it weird how he was so willing to help Meg but it was very endearing. Teeny, Meg's little sister, was a great story line. I loved seeing Meg have someone she cared about, seeing her so protective over Teeny and having to take on the mother role was one of the better parts of this story. It made the book feel more realistic. Pearl was the light throughout this book, she was funny and provided a sort of escape for Meg and Teeny. I enjoyed her sass and willingness to help Meg and Ethan. I'd kill to have a boss like her for my first job.
The ending to this story was a bit frustrating. I absolutely hate when stories, books, movies, or TV series just end something answering some questions but not completely wrapping it all up and that's what Ashley did with this book. She left us knowing what happened but then she throws in this twist that leaves us uncertain. I had a much bigger issue with this until I found out we're getting a second book, which I'm really excited about! Although this story fell short for me in some places I still enjoyed it. It's different from anything coming out lately in the YA book world and definitely worth a look.
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy to read and review.
The first chapter really sucked me in, I loved the opening. It started off as a mystery and had my mind forming questions after just the first few pages. Instantly I felt for Meg and her family, I can't imagine having to move around and lose everything you've come to know in a matter of weeks. Being able to go through a move with Meg and her family, feeling and experiencing what it's like to be uprooted from somewhere and just plopped into some place you don't know was really intense. We know about the witness protection program and what it's for but seeing it (sort of) first hand was really intriguing. I figured crazy stuff was going to happen a lot faster or sooner than it did but I enjoyed it being slow enough for me to get to know Meg and the other characters. Meg's parents were a bit of a mystery, they were involved but yet not involved at the same time. Meg's Mom was an alcoholic and I feel like this plot line could have gone somewhere more than it should have or shouldn't have been there at all? It just didn't feel right, like it didn't quite fit. Meg's Dad was just weird to me at first, but in the end when I found out how exactly he tied into the story and what was going on with him I could tell he really cared about Meg even though I didn't agree with a thing he was doing. Overall Meg's parent's just fell flat for me. Emma and Ben were really forced and it was obvious, I didn't care for them as characters at all. Ethan, Teeny, and Pearl were my favorite supporting characters. Ethan was too clever for his own good and definitely fun to read about. I find it weird how he was so willing to help Meg but it was very endearing. Teeny, Meg's little sister, was a great story line. I loved seeing Meg have someone she cared about, seeing her so protective over Teeny and having to take on the mother role was one of the better parts of this story. It made the book feel more realistic. Pearl was the light throughout this book, she was funny and provided a sort of escape for Meg and Teeny. I enjoyed her sass and willingness to help Meg and Ethan. I'd kill to have a boss like her for my first job.
The ending to this story was a bit frustrating. I absolutely hate when stories, books, movies, or TV series just end something answering some questions but not completely wrapping it all up and that's what Ashley did with this book. She left us knowing what happened but then she throws in this twist that leaves us uncertain. I had a much bigger issue with this until I found out we're getting a second book, which I'm really excited about! Although this story fell short for me in some places I still enjoyed it. It's different from anything coming out lately in the YA book world and definitely worth a look.
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy to read and review.
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
The Rules for Disappearing was a pretty good book. It mostly helped me with my drive from my house to my work today because I was in traffic for 2 FREAKING HOURS! Yup, so I definitely went to my kindle app and read the shit out of this book. Now since it was on my phone.. well the pacing was kind of all flip-floppy. It was still highly enjoyable though and I wanted to figure out what the hell was happening as much as, well probably more than, the MC mystery girl.. who has way too many names to remember.
Okay, so this family is in the witness protection program. Now the MC goes by Meg, and her sister goes by Mary.. I don't even remember what her parents went by but does it really matter?!? All I remember about her parents is that her mom is a complete drunk and needs AA meetings STAT and her dad gives awful nicknames to everyone he meets.
Throughout the book Meg is trying to figure out why her family is even in the freaking witness protection program. She has noticed that her sister has gone from acting like a normal pre-teen.. to basically a baby in a matter of months. Her parents are acting weird but accepting it as the normal.. and she has a god awful hair cut/color job and has to wear colored contacts. Now if you aren't miserable after reading that.. well, I sure was while typing it.
Unfortunately we, and Meg, don't get answers (no matter how small they may be) until like the halfway point of this book. At this point the book was kind of dragging and then started to pick up. I just wanted to know more about this whole situation. I also just wanted this to be their last house because this family needs to get fixed ASAP!
Now there was some romance!! YAS!! Okay I really liked Meg and Ethan! I shipped them so freaking much! However, I would've enjoyed a more realistic kind of friendship/relationship than the whole insta thing that happened.
Overall, it was an okay but enjoyable book. If it didn't drag so much, have annoying family characters, or have anything romantic instantaneously happen then I would've given it more stars than I did. I hope the second book is a hell of lot better than this one.
Okay, so this family is in the witness protection program. Now the MC goes by Meg, and her sister goes by Mary.. I don't even remember what her parents went by but does it really matter?!? All I remember about her parents is that her mom is a complete drunk and needs AA meetings STAT and her dad gives awful nicknames to everyone he meets.
Throughout the book Meg is trying to figure out why her family is even in the freaking witness protection program. She has noticed that her sister has gone from acting like a normal pre-teen.. to basically a baby in a matter of months. Her parents are acting weird but accepting it as the normal.. and she has a god awful hair cut/color job and has to wear colored contacts. Now if you aren't miserable after reading that.. well, I sure was while typing it.
Unfortunately we, and Meg, don't get answers (no matter how small they may be) until like the halfway point of this book. At this point the book was kind of dragging and then started to pick up. I just wanted to know more about this whole situation. I also just wanted this to be their last house because this family needs to get fixed ASAP!
Now there was some romance!! YAS!! Okay I really liked Meg and Ethan! I shipped them so freaking much! However, I would've enjoyed a more realistic kind of friendship/relationship than the whole insta thing that happened.
Overall, it was an okay but enjoyable book. If it didn't drag so much, have annoying family characters, or have anything romantic instantaneously happen then I would've given it more stars than I did. I hope the second book is a hell of lot better than this one.
kelsey3's review against another edition
4.0
I've never really read a book that classified as a mystery novel, until I picked up this one. It was great! The storyline was full of twists and turns and I adored it! I also couldn't wait for a sequel when I was finished. The downside to this book is that the narrator was very harsh to her father because she blamed him & it was terrible. Her mom was equally irritating because she was almost always in a state of intoxication which didn't seem too realistic, considering the situation. I also saw the twist ending coming once I was 75% done with the book.
Over all, I highly recommend this book!
Over all, I highly recommend this book!
abbyeg's review against another edition
5.0
I was in middle school when I read this but I remember loving it so much. The characters got me hooked and it was interesting how the author played on the Witness Protection Program. Each page i wanted to read faster so I knew how it played out. I would recommend this to someone who needs to get out of a reading slump, or is just really interested in books involving mystery and little romance.
sducharme's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this page-turner about a girl in high school whose family is in a Witness Protection Program. She keeps having to move, change her name, and constantly wonder what her parents DID in order to put them in such a dangerous situation. Who is after them? What will happen if they are spotted?
As she's trying to sort it all out, her little sister frequently falls apart, her mother is passed-out drunk, and there's a boy at her new school whose Southern charms are in danger of making her reveal who she really is.
I'm buying the next in the series for sure.
As she's trying to sort it all out, her little sister frequently falls apart, her mother is passed-out drunk, and there's a boy at her new school whose Southern charms are in danger of making her reveal who she really is.
I'm buying the next in the series for sure.
readuntilthelastpage's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
Meh.
For me, nothing about his book stood out. The characters, the plot, the dialogue were just average, perhaps even mediocre. And the main character's inability to pick up on any warnings, clues, or red flags just irritated me.
Still, the book was interesting and exciting enough that I had to finish it, so it's not a complete waste of your reading time.
For me, nothing about his book stood out. The characters, the plot, the dialogue were just average, perhaps even mediocre. And the main character's inability to pick up on any warnings, clues, or red flags just irritated me.
Still, the book was interesting and exciting enough that I had to finish it, so it's not a complete waste of your reading time.
aneeqah's review against another edition
3.0
A fresh of breath air after the heaviness of my last read (*stares down Allegiant while trying not to burst into tears*).
This really was good only if you didn't think too much about it.
Mini-review to come.
This really was good only if you didn't think too much about it.
Mini-review to come.
jadmo_11's review against another edition
4.0
I actually hadn't heard of this book until goodreads but i'm so happy I did because I really enjoyed it. I got through it very quickly, and quite honestly couldn't put it down. This book has action, mystery, romance, family, thriller, but wasn't too heavy or complicated. It had likeable and believable characters and storyline. It felt as if something was always happening, which I liked, and it forced me to read on. Must get my hands on the second book soon.
librarianshell's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars. I enjoyed this book-it kept me reading, I just found it hard to believe. There were many choices that Meg/Anna made that I didn't understand or think were all that smart and didn't seem to have the consequences I thought would come about because of the situation she was in. I thought the slow unravel of what was actually going on was good, I definitely saw some similarities with her newest book "This is Our Story." I saw the ending coming, but it still leads me to want to read the second book in the series. Overall a good read.