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beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
This book is another one of those guilty pleasure books. There was nothing that redeeming about all of the teens in this book yet the story itself was intriguing to me. The most intriguing part was that I could so picture this book being current events. Which is very scary. Teens now a days are more like sheep, they just follow without really being leaders.
As I was reading this book I kept thinking is there anything in this world that I would really "need" that I would be willing to do anything for? My answer was: "There is nothing that I would absolutely "need" that I would go to great lengths to do things for to get what I "need".
Again I did not feel any remorse for the teens in this story but this is one of those books where if the storyline is great then it does not really matter if the characters where just so so.
As I was reading this book I kept thinking is there anything in this world that I would really "need" that I would be willing to do anything for? My answer was: "There is nothing that I would absolutely "need" that I would go to great lengths to do things for to get what I "need".
Again I did not feel any remorse for the teens in this story but this is one of those books where if the storyline is great then it does not really matter if the characters where just so so.
mary7974's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
3.0
A Pyramid scheme of destruction erupts when teens decide their “wants “ are “needs” for an accommodating website that asks for payment with mayhem or murder. Who is behind this and does anyone have the moral conscience to stop it?
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
One of Stephen King's most memorable books, at least for me, is NEEDFUL THINGS. It's brilliant in a lot of ways. NEED has a similar premise. I was hoping it would be like a less R-rated version of NEEDFUL THINGS, updated for a new generation. Was it? Yeah...no. While NEED asks some of the same questions, it's so completely unconvincing that I just found it annoying and dissatisfying overall.
First off, the book suffers from having way too many narrators, making it impossible to really get to know or care about any of them. Kaylee is the most sympathetic, but she's so prickly and whiny that it's hard to like her much. Second, although the book's premise is intriguing, the execution is SO far-fetched that it's totally unbelievable. My willing suspension of disbelief had to stretch too far to make this one work. Third, overall, this is a depressing book that seems pointless in the end. For all these reasons, it just did not work for me.
All that being said, NEED is a fast-paced story that kept me reading. I finished it in a day. Because it was compelling enough to hook me like that and convince me to read to the end, I gave it three stars.
First off, the book suffers from having way too many narrators, making it impossible to really get to know or care about any of them. Kaylee is the most sympathetic, but she's so prickly and whiny that it's hard to like her much. Second, although the book's premise is intriguing, the execution is SO far-fetched that it's totally unbelievable. My willing suspension of disbelief had to stretch too far to make this one work. Third, overall, this is a depressing book that seems pointless in the end. For all these reasons, it just did not work for me.
All that being said, NEED is a fast-paced story that kept me reading. I finished it in a day. Because it was compelling enough to hook me like that and convince me to read to the end, I gave it three stars.
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Death, Violence, and Car accident
rhaenyrareads's review against another edition
3.0
Ça m'a fait penser à un mélange de Kings Game et Pretty Little Liars. Et à Addict (que je n'ai pas lu). J'ai eu des problèmes de rythmes dans l'histoire qui ont fait que je n'ai pas tant accroché que ça. La fin et la résolution arrivent tardivement et se passent trop vite presque trop facilement ?
labraden's review against another edition
4.0
NEED is an amazingly well written book. I can't really call it a favorite, but it was so well done, I want to read other books by Joelle Charbonneau like her Testing series.
"NO ONE gets something for nothing. We should all know better." These statements from the front of the book really set the theme.
NEED is the story of a social network website that targets students at a high school in which the protagonist, Kaylee is a student. The purpose of the website it to grant the "needs" of students who join. As we quickly learn, the website doesn't give things without a cost.
Kaylee is introduced to the website by her best friend, Nate, whose brother, Jack, has been active already on the site. We meet several students who begin to use the site, but before long, they are being asked to do things in payment for their "need" that don't always seem right. The story gets really intense when a student dies from a severe allergic reaction when she eats a cookie laced with peanuts that was delivered in a gift box to her door.
Many issues are addressed in this story including greed, selfishness, and heroism. The story ends leaving open the possibility for a sequel.
The book should be classified as a young adult, psychological thriller that borders on horror - a very scary, well written, thought provoking story that is a fast paced page turner and well worth the read.
"NO ONE gets something for nothing. We should all know better." These statements from the front of the book really set the theme.
NEED is the story of a social network website that targets students at a high school in which the protagonist, Kaylee is a student. The purpose of the website it to grant the "needs" of students who join. As we quickly learn, the website doesn't give things without a cost.
Kaylee is introduced to the website by her best friend, Nate, whose brother, Jack, has been active already on the site. We meet several students who begin to use the site, but before long, they are being asked to do things in payment for their "need" that don't always seem right. The story gets really intense when a student dies from a severe allergic reaction when she eats a cookie laced with peanuts that was delivered in a gift box to her door.
Many issues are addressed in this story including greed, selfishness, and heroism. The story ends leaving open the possibility for a sequel.
The book should be classified as a young adult, psychological thriller that borders on horror - a very scary, well written, thought provoking story that is a fast paced page turner and well worth the read.
abbygoldsmith's review against another edition
5.0
As a seventh and eighth grade English teacher, there are so many important themes in this book for today’s students. Social media can be a dangerous place, and sometimes it takes a dramatic book like this to show that. Absolutely loved it.
catiinha's review against another edition
4.0
Full Review HERE
*I was provided an eARC by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When I read this novel blurb on NetGalley it looked so mysterious that I had to request it. I normally don’t read thrillers but this book is basically about social networks gone bad and in a world where social networks are huge I knew that I needed to read this. When I finally decided that it was time to read it this is the first thing that I read:
WANT: a desire to possess or do something. A wish.
NEED: something required because it is essential. Something very important that you cannot live without.
What do you NEED?
This is how this book starts and it made me more curious about the story than I was before. This book is about a secret social network only for students of Nottowa High School. In this social network you can ask for anything you need but of course that anything is for free and the students have to do what they are asked for in order to get what they need. One thing that was pretty different in this book was that it had 10 different POVs. While it would get a little bit confusing at sometimes it still gave a little something to this book because we would know what was in these students minds and what they were able to do only to have they needed. But let me talk about the weird and sinister things that the students have to do in order to achieve their needs. It was creepy and it allowed the reader to know what some of them were really willing to do just because they wanted something. While this book had 10 different POVs only one was told in first person, Kaylee’s POV. Kaylee was actually the only character that I really sympathized and connected with not only because she had more chapters than the other characters but also because she really needed something. I loved her connection with her brother DJ and most of the times also with her best friend Nate. However the ending was a little bit anti-climatic and left me a little bit confused and that’s the only reason why my rating is not higher.
Overall, this is a fast-pacing and intense book that will make you want to read it in one sitting and will make you want to know what is really happening. While I had a few problems with the ending I still think that everyone should read this book if they are into this genre.
*I was provided an eARC by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
When I read this novel blurb on NetGalley it looked so mysterious that I had to request it. I normally don’t read thrillers but this book is basically about social networks gone bad and in a world where social networks are huge I knew that I needed to read this. When I finally decided that it was time to read it this is the first thing that I read:
WANT: a desire to possess or do something. A wish.
NEED: something required because it is essential. Something very important that you cannot live without.
What do you NEED?
This is how this book starts and it made me more curious about the story than I was before. This book is about a secret social network only for students of Nottowa High School. In this social network you can ask for anything you need but of course that anything is for free and the students have to do what they are asked for in order to get what they need. One thing that was pretty different in this book was that it had 10 different POVs. While it would get a little bit confusing at sometimes it still gave a little something to this book because we would know what was in these students minds and what they were able to do only to have they needed. But let me talk about the weird and sinister things that the students have to do in order to achieve their needs. It was creepy and it allowed the reader to know what some of them were really willing to do just because they wanted something. While this book had 10 different POVs only one was told in first person, Kaylee’s POV. Kaylee was actually the only character that I really sympathized and connected with not only because she had more chapters than the other characters but also because she really needed something. I loved her connection with her brother DJ and most of the times also with her best friend Nate. However the ending was a little bit anti-climatic and left me a little bit confused and that’s the only reason why my rating is not higher.
Overall, this is a fast-pacing and intense book that will make you want to read it in one sitting and will make you want to know what is really happening. While I had a few problems with the ending I still think that everyone should read this book if they are into this genre.
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn't book the book down! I had to see see what would happen next. Lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Left me pondering over just what would I do for something I really needed or rather thought I needed?