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joana_stormblessed's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and I really liked the characters and the audiobook was really good. However theres something missing. I mean i loved following Yvonne and her quest to find herself but in the end i feel like something was missing. I still really enjoyed it
I really enjoyed this book and I really liked the characters and the audiobook was really good. However theres something missing. I mean i loved following Yvonne and her quest to find herself but in the end i feel like something was missing. I still really enjoyed it
wishfulfillment's review
2.0
DNFed this at 40% a couple of weeks ago. I didn't feel like there were enough stakes or enough to root for. It read a bit more like a slice of life than a contemporary.
papertraildiary's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this so badly. I didn't like it... it read very shallow a lot in the sense that some things could've used more detail and other things were too repetitive or obvious. However I think this is a book that young women could turn to for comfort. I liked the idea of writing about a girl who really doesn't know what to do with her life. But throwing the pregnancy thing in felt like a way to just force her to make a decision about something.
cosmicjess's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5 stars
(triggers at the end)
this went by so quickly, i feel like there was a portion in the middle i don't remember? like where was i when everything was going down? because i do not remember them, that's for sure :(
anyways, i feel like this was still a really solid read, all in all! i could understand what yvonne's responses and reactions were all about, even if they were irrational at times; they were not for her, and if i think in her shoes, i can see why she made them. the plotpoint spoken about in the descriptions end doesn't come into play until the like last third of the book? but it was still interesting, even if i feel like there could've been more to unpack there.
good shit, miss brandy, good shit.
trigger warnings for
unexpected pregnancy, abortion, deceitful relationship, parental abandonment
(triggers at the end)
this went by so quickly, i feel like there was a portion in the middle i don't remember? like where was i when everything was going down? because i do not remember them, that's for sure :(
anyways, i feel like this was still a really solid read, all in all! i could understand what yvonne's responses and reactions were all about, even if they were irrational at times; they were not for her, and if i think in her shoes, i can see why she made them. the plotpoint spoken about in the descriptions end doesn't come into play until the like last third of the book? but it was still interesting, even if i feel like there could've been more to unpack there.
good shit, miss brandy, good shit.
trigger warnings for
unexpected pregnancy, abortion, deceitful relationship, parental abandonment
miss617's review against another edition
4.0
Super quick read dealing with a sensitive subject. It's not hard to sympathize with Yvonne but, at the same time, it feels like the book ends too quickly to get to know her.
girlinthepages's review against another edition
3.0
This year at YallWest I was lucky enough to have a chance to meet Brandy Colbert and receive a signed ARC of her newest novel, Finding Yvonne. I've been wanting to read a Brandy Colbert novel for a long time, since I've heard amazing things about her ballet book, Pointe. I was excited to pick up this quick contemporary novel that drops some major themes in its synopsis and seemed like it wasn't afraid to confront controversial topics head on.
Finding Yvonne is on the shorter side for a contemporary novel (under 300 pages) but in its pages its able to tell a story that actually covers some really important themes while handling them in a mature and not dramatized way. Yvonne is a protagonist who I felt rather detached to as a reader- I honestly felt like I didn't really see inside her head and was instead following her around and she was more of a vessel for the issues in the story. Despite this, I think she served an important purpose as a senior in high school who's struggling to find a purpose and direction for her future after she decides that, though a talented musician, playing the violin is no longer the main passion of her life. The exploration of what it means to give up a hobby that has defined you for so long and feeling like 18 is too young to start something new is something that I think a lot of late highschoolers/early college students will resonate with, and while I didn't find Yvonne relatable, I did find her struggles to be.
I was surprised when I read the synopsis for this book that it led with a pretty big spoiler- Yvonne finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. It's a big plot point to lead with, and I found myself surprised by how late it happens in the book. Therefore I wouldn't call this a pregnancy book at all- rather its one event that makes up the bigger story of Yvonne's life (which is a refreshing take on pregnancy in YA to be honest). This book was also very sex-positive, which you don't often find in narratives about teenage pregnancy. There is open talk about contraception, consent, and characters talk (and sometimes argue) about their views on the issue. The open dialogue was refreshing and the book also wasn't afraid to discuss the options Yvonne had for dealing with her pregnancy, without stigmatizing or sensationalizing any of them.
Another running theme throughout the novel that I was pleasantly surprised played such a large role was that of food. Yvonne's father is a chef and restaurant owner, she has a sort-of relationship with his sous chef, and she finds solace during her directionless time through starting to bake. I love any books with food/cooking as a theme, and I loved how it was used as a stress reliever and something that comforted Yvonne.
Despite all of the refreshing, frank, and honest elements in this story, my rating was impacted by the fact that the book didn't really feel like it had a clear plot. I've seen other readers refer to it as a "slice of life" novel, and I think that's a pretty accurate description for it- it sort of feels like I was dropped into the middle of Yvonne's life as a reader and left before I could really see the extend of her character ARC. The ending events happened very quickly, and I would have preferred the ending had been longer and the beginning paired down a bit, as it was slow for me.
Overall: Finding Yvonne handles a lot of difficult topics in honest ways, which I LOVE to see in YA books. However, its abrupt ending along with a rather distant protagonist and lack of plot let to a lower rating from me.This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages
Finding Yvonne is on the shorter side for a contemporary novel (under 300 pages) but in its pages its able to tell a story that actually covers some really important themes while handling them in a mature and not dramatized way. Yvonne is a protagonist who I felt rather detached to as a reader- I honestly felt like I didn't really see inside her head and was instead following her around and she was more of a vessel for the issues in the story. Despite this, I think she served an important purpose as a senior in high school who's struggling to find a purpose and direction for her future after she decides that, though a talented musician, playing the violin is no longer the main passion of her life. The exploration of what it means to give up a hobby that has defined you for so long and feeling like 18 is too young to start something new is something that I think a lot of late highschoolers/early college students will resonate with, and while I didn't find Yvonne relatable, I did find her struggles to be.
I was surprised when I read the synopsis for this book that it led with a pretty big spoiler- Yvonne finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. It's a big plot point to lead with, and I found myself surprised by how late it happens in the book. Therefore I wouldn't call this a pregnancy book at all- rather its one event that makes up the bigger story of Yvonne's life (which is a refreshing take on pregnancy in YA to be honest). This book was also very sex-positive, which you don't often find in narratives about teenage pregnancy. There is open talk about contraception, consent, and characters talk (and sometimes argue) about their views on the issue. The open dialogue was refreshing and the book also wasn't afraid to discuss the options Yvonne had for dealing with her pregnancy, without stigmatizing or sensationalizing any of them.
Another running theme throughout the novel that I was pleasantly surprised played such a large role was that of food. Yvonne's father is a chef and restaurant owner, she has a sort-of relationship with his sous chef, and she finds solace during her directionless time through starting to bake. I love any books with food/cooking as a theme, and I loved how it was used as a stress reliever and something that comforted Yvonne.
Despite all of the refreshing, frank, and honest elements in this story, my rating was impacted by the fact that the book didn't really feel like it had a clear plot. I've seen other readers refer to it as a "slice of life" novel, and I think that's a pretty accurate description for it- it sort of feels like I was dropped into the middle of Yvonne's life as a reader and left before I could really see the extend of her character ARC. The ending events happened very quickly, and I would have preferred the ending had been longer and the beginning paired down a bit, as it was slow for me.
Overall: Finding Yvonne handles a lot of difficult topics in honest ways, which I LOVE to see in YA books. However, its abrupt ending along with a rather distant protagonist and lack of plot let to a lower rating from me.This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages
dianametzger's review against another edition
5.0
Really loved this book—well drawn characters, very realistic situations involving sex that I haven’t seen in any YA book I’ve read before. Also not everything tied up neatly at the end which felt even more satisfying.
cocopurplebooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book was really amazing but at the same time, I was expecting alot more. Even though Yvonne wasn't in a committed relationship with both of her love interests, the sneaking around was a little bit uncomfortable for me since I felt like she was playing both guys. Her selfish behavior also got a little annoying after a while but at the same time was reasonable.
Yvonne is a teenager struggling with alot of things right now. Her passion for music is dwindling, her relationship with her father is non-existent and her mother walked out on her when she was younger. Yvonne is a person that craves love and attention even though she made some iffy relationship choices throughout the book. I think I would enjoy the book more if the book focused solely on Yvonne's family dynamics because to me that was the best part about the book. The whole love triangle aspect of the book was meh for me and I felt like it kinda dragged the book down a little. I thought I would love Yvonne/Omar together but he becomes a big tool towards the end of the book.
I thought I was going to dread the whole pregnancy plot but I actually love it. I was happy that Yvonne didn't felt any regret about her decision and I was super happy to see that she had such strong support system in her best friends, her best friends mom and her father (even though he wasn't that supportive at first). I wished Yvonne's father had more development because their relationship was strained throughout most of the book until the second to last chapter. It just sorta felt rush to me. I also love how unapologetic Yvonne was about her sex life and body.
In the end, I think this book would've been better if it was slightly longer and more character development happened to another character besides Yvonne because I felt like everyone kinda stayed the same.
Yvonne is a teenager struggling with alot of things right now. Her passion for music is dwindling, her relationship with her father is non-existent and her mother walked out on her when she was younger. Yvonne is a person that craves love and attention even though she made some iffy relationship choices throughout the book. I think I would enjoy the book more if the book focused solely on Yvonne's family dynamics because to me that was the best part about the book. The whole love triangle aspect of the book was meh for me and I felt like it kinda dragged the book down a little. I thought I would love Yvonne/Omar together but he becomes a big tool towards the end of the book.
I thought I was going to dread the whole pregnancy plot but I actually love it. I was happy that Yvonne didn't felt any regret about her decision and I was super happy to see that she had such strong support system in her best friends, her best friends mom and her father (even though he wasn't that supportive at first). I wished Yvonne's father had more development because their relationship was strained throughout most of the book until the second to last chapter. It just sorta felt rush to me. I also love how unapologetic Yvonne was about her sex life and body.
In the end, I think this book would've been better if it was slightly longer and more character development happened to another character besides Yvonne because I felt like everyone kinda stayed the same.