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j_olip's review
2.0
Advanced Reader Copy received at BookCon (June 2017).
This book was the definition of "meh". Wasn't bad but wasn't exactly good. Hope was borderline a manic pixie dream girl, which is always a hard pass for me. I wanted to like Spencer but I just couldn't. I wish the novel dealt more with navigating high school with a disability, about the relationship between the brothers (there were some major problematic things going on here) and gave any other character more backstory. We know nothing about the other characters in play, and they had lots of potential.
This book was the definition of "meh". Wasn't bad but wasn't exactly good. Hope was borderline a manic pixie dream girl, which is always a hard pass for me. I wanted to like Spencer but I just couldn't. I wish the novel dealt more with navigating high school with a disability, about the relationship between the brothers (there were some major problematic things going on here) and gave any other character more backstory. We know nothing about the other characters in play, and they had lots of potential.
junjun10's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
whitreadslit's review
5.0
I loved this precious little contemporary romance! I loved getting to follow the main characters through the ups and downs of their friendship from age 13 to 19. Also, I learned a lot about Tourette’s Syndrome, which you don’t really see in YA fiction. Highly recommend for a lovely contemporary with some depth and disability representation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
rachelwrites007's review
5.0
Charming and funny and gahhhh so cute. This one was a fast read for me (one day - too punny, Rach?). I really enjoyed how Rachael Allen looked at disability through Spencer's POV (his Tourette's is just a part of him), but I also really liked how his family doesn' make a huge deal out of it (i.e. except for his dad, sigh, nobody makes it into this terrible/embarrassing 'thing', and I loved that his older jock-y brother especially did not). I also REALLY appreciated the frank discussion of interracial relationships and racism, and Confederate flag dinner conversation (in which their school bans anything w/the flag on it). I giggled at the Pumpkin Spice Latte references and Hamilton sing-alongs. I appreciated that Spencer was into sports and science and that he grew into himself. Aghhhhh, what a sweet little dork.
What a sweet book. <3
What a sweet book. <3
papalbina's review
3.0
Siento que he leído tres o cuatro temporadas de una serie para adolescentes... No sé si me ha gustado mucho o no. Ha sido interesante, pero nada espectacular
shainapnina's review
5.0
Let me tell you, in detail, why this book is a masterpiece
1. Each section of the book is Spencer (the main character) at a different age. The writing changes in each section as Spencer matures. This is awesome because I haven’t read many books that can successfully transition from the POV of a 13 year old to a 19 year old.
2. It’s written in present tense. This usually drives me nuts but somehow it was written so elegantly I didn’t even notice it.
3. The main character has Tourette’s Syndrome but it’s not the main point of the book. It’s established that he struggles with it and he has tics throughout the book and does have episodes but it’s not his defining characteristic. I like that because a lot of books I read make one struggle/ illness/ disability of a character the whole plot. That’s fine in some books but it couldn’t possibly work in a book like this.
Ok. This has possibly been my longest review. I just think this book is so much better than the title might suggest.
1. Each section of the book is Spencer (the main character) at a different age. The writing changes in each section as Spencer matures. This is awesome because I haven’t read many books that can successfully transition from the POV of a 13 year old to a 19 year old.
2. It’s written in present tense. This usually drives me nuts but somehow it was written so elegantly I didn’t even notice it.
3. The main character has Tourette’s Syndrome but it’s not the main point of the book. It’s established that he struggles with it and he has tics throughout the book and does have episodes but it’s not his defining characteristic. I like that because a lot of books I read make one struggle/ illness/ disability of a character the whole plot. That’s fine in some books but it couldn’t possibly work in a book like this.
Ok. This has possibly been my longest review. I just think this book is so much better than the title might suggest.
hellomadalyn's review
5.0
*4.5 stars*
My first read for BookTubeAThon 2017! I loved this so much more than I expected. The characters felt so true to life.
My first read for BookTubeAThon 2017! I loved this so much more than I expected. The characters felt so true to life.
apotts's review
5.0
There are too many things I loved about this book to name, so I will mentioned number one--while the main character has Tourette's, this isn't a story about Tourette's entirely. As a parent of a teen with Tourette's, it makes me so happy that this story is so much more. This story is so relatable on so many levels, that I can't think of a teen who would not want to read it. The plot took me entirely by surprise, too, and sucked me in much more than I expected!
In terms of age...I have to go 7th grade and up since there are mature moments (and often hilariously embarrassing).
In terms of age...I have to go 7th grade and up since there are mature moments (and often hilariously embarrassing).
booksandladders's review
2.0
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I really did not like this one. Mostly because the characters were just poorly constructed. I didn't like Hope or Spencer as individuals. I thought they were meh and could have been expanded beyond what we got. And the other, secondary characters were even worse. They were all "tokens" and very two dimensional.
I also wasn't a fan of the plot. I did like the time jumps because it meant less time in each year. It helped keep the pacing at a place where I never turned off the book (although I wanted to many times). But it also meant that nothing really felt resolved because we were missing so much of the rest of the story.
IDK. I just wasn't a fan of this one even though I really wanted to be. Hopefully others will appreciate it more.
I really did not like this one. Mostly because the characters were just poorly constructed. I didn't like Hope or Spencer as individuals
Spoiler
(or as a couple)I also wasn't a fan of the plot. I did like the time jumps because it meant less time in each year. It helped keep the pacing at a place where I never turned off the book (although I wanted to many times). But it also meant that nothing really felt resolved because we were missing so much of the rest of the story.
IDK. I just wasn't a fan of this one even though I really wanted to be. Hopefully others will appreciate it more.
taterspreshuss's review
This book made me continuously ugly cry and giggle for an entire plane ride. People were concerned.