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kickpleat's review
5.0
I picked up this book after midnight last night and read most of it before I fell asleep. You bet it was the first thing I picked up this morning, even though today is Monday and I felt a bit guilty reading in bits during work-not-so-downtimes. Well written, real characters that I wanted to hold onto for a bit longer.
bookarina's review
4.0
Welcome to this book review !
This book was super profound, I loved the writing style ! I wanted to read a more psychological book for a while and I heard about this book. People told me it was good or seemed good, so I brought it and I am really happy I did buy it ! It was sad, but happy, I loved the self discovery in this book and the fact that you could see a brotherly bond being repared. I loved seeing Alex ( the younger brother who tried to commit suicide), discover more about himself, accepting himself and how much he hated the pity he could see in everyones eyes since the incident. When I fist started reading it, I thought that James(older brother) was such a douche, like really you don't tell someone, just after they tried to commit suicide, about how stupid they are and a "nutcase"... But as the story advanced you could see everything behind it, the blurry lines in the story became thicker and clearer, making you understand the action each character made. It was overall an amazing book, I loved it and plan on reading it a couple of times again, in the future !
I totally recommend this book !
-Bookarina :)
This book was super profound, I loved the writing style ! I wanted to read a more psychological book for a while and I heard about this book. People told me it was good or seemed good, so I brought it and I am really happy I did buy it ! It was sad, but happy, I loved the self discovery in this book and the fact that you could see a brotherly bond being repared. I loved seeing Alex ( the younger brother who tried to commit suicide), discover more about himself, accepting himself and how much he hated the pity he could see in everyones eyes since the incident. When I fist started reading it, I thought that James(older brother) was such a douche, like really you don't tell someone, just after they tried to commit suicide, about how stupid they are and a "nutcase"... But as the story advanced you could see everything behind it, the blurry lines in the story became thicker and clearer, making you understand the action each character made. It was overall an amazing book, I loved it and plan on reading it a couple of times again, in the future !
I totally recommend this book !
-Bookarina :)
emeelee's review against another edition
3.0
Nice, quick read. I couldn't quite pin down when the story is supposed to take place: though published in 2008, I'd say it feels more like 2002-3 or even earlier. The writing is pretty simplistic, but the characters feel realistic and flawed, and even with some heavy topics it never gets preachy or after-school-special-y. It definitely has that older YA feel (makes sense considering the publish date), which I like because I've been reading YA for a long time. I do wish some of the themes had been explored deeper, or been treated with a bit more care.
TW: homophobia, F slur, bullying, suicide attempt, car crash, casual racism and misogyny, reference to unplanned pregnancy and abortion, slut shaming, casual fatphobia
⭐2022 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge⭐
48. A book with two POVs
TW: homophobia, F slur, bullying, suicide attempt, car crash, casual racism and misogyny, reference to unplanned pregnancy and abortion, slut shaming, casual fatphobia
⭐2022 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge⭐
48. A book with two POVs
tsabrinac's review
4.0
I don't have much to add about James and Alex that hasn't already been said (the progression of their relationship was awesome, and the subtlety in this book is used phenomenally), but the more I read What They Always Tell Us, the more I liked it!
Here's why: the secondary characters. Each one of them - Alice, Clare, Nathen, Tyler, Laura, Henry - is paid as much attention as Alex and James.
Here's an example:
Alice was one-dimensional in the beginning, and after she left James, I expected her to be gone for good. But she showed up every now and then, and, gradually, her true personality was revealed. She was as injured and vulnerable as any of the other characters, and that made Alice, and all of the other characters, seem real. The author did an impressive job with making three-dimensional characters.
Because after the closure at the end of the book, the only one I'm left wondering, REALLY WONDERING about, is Tyler.
Yes, Tyler. He was Alex's friend, then a bully, a jerk, a phony. He acted nice to James while bashing Alex like crazy, and he showed enough personality changes throughout the book for me to notice how complex and interesting he is. My biggest wish for this book is to explain his motives and maybe give him a happy ending too, because if this book taught me anything, it's that people can redeem themselves.
Overall, this is a book that is deceptively complex, well thought-out, and delicate. The characters are heart-warming, and that's all you really need to like a book very much, isn't it? :~>
Here's why: the secondary characters. Each one of them - Alice, Clare, Nathen, Tyler, Laura, Henry - is paid as much attention as Alex and James.
Here's an example:
Alice was one-dimensional in the beginning, and after she left James, I expected her to be gone for good. But she showed up every now and then, and, gradually, her true personality was revealed. She was as injured and vulnerable as any of the other characters, and that made Alice, and all of the other characters, seem real. The author did an impressive job with making three-dimensional characters.
Because after the closure at the end of the book, the only one I'm left wondering, REALLY WONDERING about, is Tyler.
Yes, Tyler. He was Alex's friend, then a bully, a jerk, a phony. He acted nice to James while bashing Alex like crazy, and he showed enough personality changes throughout the book for me to notice how complex and interesting he is. My biggest wish for this book is to explain his motives and maybe give him a happy ending too, because if this book taught me anything, it's that people can redeem themselves.
Overall, this is a book that is deceptively complex, well thought-out, and delicate. The characters are heart-warming, and that's all you really need to like a book very much, isn't it? :~>
elvenavari's review
5.0
It took me about five chapters to get into this book but once I did I was off and running. I loved the fact that I could feel Alex's nervous anxiousness and his fluttering happiness. James was an enigma but I found himself liking him immensely, especially once he started acting like a brother to Alex. Henry was a fun character too, I was sad to see him leave, even though I think he's going to get his happy ending.
I was sad to see this book end because it didn't give me a true feeling of closure. But... at the same time I feel like I discovered something incredible in those last lines.
I look forward to seeing what this author does in the future.
I was sad to see this book end because it didn't give me a true feeling of closure. But... at the same time I feel like I discovered something incredible in those last lines.
I look forward to seeing what this author does in the future.
cewhisenant's review
3.0
This is going to be a hard book to review because I'm going to break protocol: I'm not going to begin this review with a quote. This wasn't an incredibly quotable book and I don't want to start off my review with a mediocre quote about this above average book. I may have rated it three stars, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate how needed stories like this are.
What They Always Tell Us is a novel centered around a pair of brothers growing up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. James and his younger brother, Alex. The book starts out a little while after Alex had drunk Pine-Sol at a party which definitely sets the mood of this novel to "serious contemporary." It goes on to handle sexuality, peer pressure, mental illness, brotherhood, and many other high school-centric themes.
This isn't a happy-go-lucky novel that leaves you giddy and optimistic. It's not glamorous or even enjoyable to read at times. The characters aren't perfect and don't always make the kind or right choice. Lots of these characters actually make you rage at humanity.
But it matters because not every story needs to be about perfect people living perfect lives where something goes wrong. The world of YA especially needs more novels like this, where not everything ends up perfect or miserable but just in the middle. Some things worked out others did not. It was just like real life. It was refreshing and uncomfortably honest.
This would have been an easy four or five stars if the novel hadn't had a few pacing and plot problems. I felt like certain chapters had me glued to the page while others were dull. There were also a few subplots I didn't completely understand the purpose of. However, maybe this was just a me thing.
Overall, a touching story of two brothers and all the crap life throws at us. Highly recommend to lovers of realistic realistic fiction, those who enjoy themes of family and friendship, and of course, fans of some good old self-discovery.
What They Always Tell Us is a novel centered around a pair of brothers growing up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. James and his younger brother, Alex. The book starts out a little while after Alex had drunk Pine-Sol at a party which definitely sets the mood of this novel to "serious contemporary." It goes on to handle sexuality, peer pressure, mental illness, brotherhood, and many other high school-centric themes.
This isn't a happy-go-lucky novel that leaves you giddy and optimistic. It's not glamorous or even enjoyable to read at times. The characters aren't perfect and don't always make the kind or right choice. Lots of these characters actually make you rage at humanity.
But it matters because not every story needs to be about perfect people living perfect lives where something goes wrong. The world of YA especially needs more novels like this, where not everything ends up perfect or miserable but just in the middle. Some things worked out others did not. It was just like real life. It was refreshing and uncomfortably honest.
This would have been an easy four or five stars if the novel hadn't had a few pacing and plot problems. I felt like certain chapters had me glued to the page while others were dull. There were also a few subplots I didn't completely understand the purpose of. However, maybe this was just a me thing.
Overall, a touching story of two brothers and all the crap life throws at us. Highly recommend to lovers of realistic realistic fiction, those who enjoy themes of family and friendship, and of course, fans of some good old self-discovery.
coelon's review
5.0
Book wasn't what is expected and split from what seemed like the main path to a side one but i still liked it.
capriqueen's review
4.0
While a little slow in the beginning, I sped through this book once I got about fifty pages in. It’s a thoughtful book, and one with a lot of heart.
It focuses a lot on interpersonal relationships of all kinds—friends, family, siblings, significant others, exes (of the friend and romantic kind). I really liked seeing how the brothers grew through their relationships, the way the people around them influenced them and helped them see the world and themselves in a different way.
It focuses a lot on interpersonal relationships of all kinds—friends, family, siblings, significant others, exes (of the friend and romantic kind). I really liked seeing how the brothers grew through their relationships, the way the people around them influenced them and helped them see the world and themselves in a different way.