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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Wow wow wow. That is all I can say about this book. Why did I not know that Daniel Handler is Lemony Snicker? Finding this out after I read the book, I realize that it makes so much sense. The weirdness, the unanswered questions, the parts that leave you hanging, it makes so much sense. This book. This book, this book, this book. It was amazing. That is all I will say about it. If anything, you should pick it up. Beautiful.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was like every popular YA trope thrown together in a really dull and annoying way.
Wonderful take on high school love and heartbreak. The writing is vivid, fascinating and heartfelt.
As a teenager, I found this book unrealistic and non-relatable in many ways. Let's see...
1. Ed and Min went out for one month and proclaimed themselves soulmates.
No one does this, especially not people with hints of intelligence like Ed & Min. They proclaimed their love after what, two weeks, if that? They even talked about having children together. One month? Really, Handler, that is how you think teenage relationships are? Especially in high school, people aren't that ridiculous. Unless they're psycho.
2. Ed and Min are psychopaths.
Besides the "I love you" thing, Ed and Min are clearly too insane and immature to actually have a relationship. Maybe this was a choice by Handler to make them seem "crazy in love", but the fact that Min can't balance her friends with her relationship AT ALL is not in any way truthful. There are plenty of people I've known that were very much in love with their boyfriend/girlfriend and were still able to keep their friendships entirely intact.
Also, NO TEENAGE GUY IN THE WORLD would EVER EVER EVER tell a girl that he wanted to have children with her. Not unless he wanted a first-class ticket on the Clingy Girlfriend Express.
3. Al and Min are meant to be.
Oh yes, the best friend that has been there all along. Except wait, no he hasn't. In order for Handler to make Al a convincing character, he would've had to include him more to make the reader want Al & Min together. Instead, Al appeared at random intervals, and Handler focused entirely on Ed, only to ax him at the last minute with an impulsive plot twist.
4. "OH NO MIN I'VE BEEN CHEATING ON YOU THIS ENTIRE TIME."
Handler clearly couldn't think of a reason for Ed & Min to break up, which was inconvenient due to the title of the book being "Why We Broke Up". In fact, that title was entirely inaccurate. I thought that plot of the book would've showed the relationship of Ed & Min, cracks forming, slowly culminating into their ultimate break-up. Well no, they only dated a month. And double no, he's been cheating on her this entire time, which was barely even hinted at in the slightest until the last few pages leading up to it.
More accurate titles:
*Girl References Old Movies While Boyfriend Hooks Up With An Ex.
*We Dated for a WHOLE ENTIRE Month and This is What Happened.
*Look At This Stuff! Isn't It Neat? You Cheated On Me Here It Is.
*Bitter Letter to Psychopath
*Don't Lose Your Virginity to a Basketball Player, or You'll Regret It!
*Daniel Handler Shamelessly but Unsuccessfully Panders to Angst-Ridden Teenagers
5. Basketball practice
No one goes to their boyfriend's basketball practice. All they do is run drills and whatever. No one goes to anyone's sports practices for any reason other than they are also on that team. Duh.
1. Ed and Min went out for one month and proclaimed themselves soulmates.
No one does this, especially not people with hints of intelligence like Ed & Min. They proclaimed their love after what, two weeks, if that? They even talked about having children together. One month? Really, Handler, that is how you think teenage relationships are? Especially in high school, people aren't that ridiculous. Unless they're psycho.
2. Ed and Min are psychopaths.
Besides the "I love you" thing, Ed and Min are clearly too insane and immature to actually have a relationship. Maybe this was a choice by Handler to make them seem "crazy in love", but the fact that Min can't balance her friends with her relationship AT ALL is not in any way truthful. There are plenty of people I've known that were very much in love with their boyfriend/girlfriend and were still able to keep their friendships entirely intact.
Also, NO TEENAGE GUY IN THE WORLD would EVER EVER EVER tell a girl that he wanted to have children with her. Not unless he wanted a first-class ticket on the Clingy Girlfriend Express.
3. Al and Min are meant to be.
Oh yes, the best friend that has been there all along. Except wait, no he hasn't. In order for Handler to make Al a convincing character, he would've had to include him more to make the reader want Al & Min together. Instead, Al appeared at random intervals, and Handler focused entirely on Ed, only to ax him at the last minute with an impulsive plot twist.
4. "OH NO MIN I'VE BEEN CHEATING ON YOU THIS ENTIRE TIME."
Handler clearly couldn't think of a reason for Ed & Min to break up, which was inconvenient due to the title of the book being "Why We Broke Up". In fact, that title was entirely inaccurate. I thought that plot of the book would've showed the relationship of Ed & Min, cracks forming, slowly culminating into their ultimate break-up. Well no, they only dated a month. And double no, he's been cheating on her this entire time, which was barely even hinted at in the slightest until the last few pages leading up to it.
More accurate titles:
*Girl References Old Movies While Boyfriend Hooks Up With An Ex.
*We Dated for a WHOLE ENTIRE Month and This is What Happened.
*Look At This Stuff! Isn't It Neat? You Cheated On Me Here It Is.
*Bitter Letter to Psychopath
*Don't Lose Your Virginity to a Basketball Player, or You'll Regret It!
*Daniel Handler Shamelessly but Unsuccessfully Panders to Angst-Ridden Teenagers
5. Basketball practice
No one goes to their boyfriend's basketball practice. All they do is run drills and whatever. No one goes to anyone's sports practices for any reason other than they are also on that team. Duh.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First off, Daniel Handler is one of my favorite writers. I still think it's one of the craziest coincidences that I bought this book before realizing he was Lemony Snicket, the author of my favorite series. How I feel about the book itself is a little more complex. I suppose I don't have a reason to not like it. The characters were fine and the storyline was fine, but it just didn't really stick out to me. It's a solid three stars to me.