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riverlloyd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
themaxdog's review against another edition
4.0
Full review now up on my blog: http://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk/2015/06/book-review-and-giveaway-all-my-secrets.html
Before I read All My Secrets, I saw a lot of 2-3 star reviews. So with these in mind, I was expecting to be disappointed. However, I was actually pleasantly surprised.
Unlike a lot of YA fiction, I didn’t find it predictable. I hadn’t guessed what was going to happen until it actually happened, and the story was unexpected, peppered with exciting twists and turns. Similarly, I also liked that it was fast-paced and full of action and drama throughout. Just a dash of romance was nice too, rather than the love interest becoming the main focus of the story.
All the characters were interesting with different personalities that really made for an engaging and involving read. I particularly liked Pepper and Josh, although they all had their good points. The author has definitely managed to accurately capture the wide range of feelings and emotions that a group of ‘troubled’ teenagers would be experiencing in this situation.
I really enjoyed reading All My Secrets, and I’m sure you will too!
Before I read All My Secrets, I saw a lot of 2-3 star reviews. So with these in mind, I was expecting to be disappointed. However, I was actually pleasantly surprised.
Unlike a lot of YA fiction, I didn’t find it predictable. I hadn’t guessed what was going to happen until it actually happened, and the story was unexpected, peppered with exciting twists and turns. Similarly, I also liked that it was fast-paced and full of action and drama throughout. Just a dash of romance was nice too, rather than the love interest becoming the main focus of the story.
All the characters were interesting with different personalities that really made for an engaging and involving read. I particularly liked Pepper and Josh, although they all had their good points. The author has definitely managed to accurately capture the wide range of feelings and emotions that a group of ‘troubled’ teenagers would be experiencing in this situation.
I really enjoyed reading All My Secrets, and I’m sure you will too!
kirstysbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
This was about a girl called Evie who finds out that her mother is not actually her birth mother. She completely loses and goes to see her uncle. Her parents and her uncle decide to send her to this island which helps 'troubled' teens. On the island, she thinks she sees her mother's ghost and she believes that her mum was murdered on the island.
I found this book really fast paced and I really enjoyed it. I found the ending a little disappointing as it was very anti-climatic.
I found this book really fast paced and I really enjoyed it. I found the ending a little disappointing as it was very anti-climatic.
Spoiler
I found it very predictable that uncle Gavin was involved. When he found out about Evie he didn't act very surprised and he took to having a niece really well, a little too well.serenityyou's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book in return for a blog post review. You can find the review at http://serenityyou.com/2015/08/all-my-secrets-by-sophie-mckenzie.html
15 year old Evie, learns something about her family that she is finding hard to cope with. And at the same time she also finds out that she is to inherit a massive amount of money. She has so many questions and finding it hard to come to terms with them.
She is sent away for a while to Lightsea, A place for trouble teens to help them with their problems. But soon Evie starts seeing 'ghosts' and is certain someone is trying to stop her from finding the truth about her family and might even be trying to kill her.
A found Evie very irritating at first and very impatient. But the more the story went along the more I began to like her. I didn't fall in love with her character though. Overall the story is well written and perfect for teen girls. I give this 3.5/5
15 year old Evie, learns something about her family that she is finding hard to cope with. And at the same time she also finds out that she is to inherit a massive amount of money. She has so many questions and finding it hard to come to terms with them.
She is sent away for a while to Lightsea, A place for trouble teens to help them with their problems. But soon Evie starts seeing 'ghosts' and is certain someone is trying to stop her from finding the truth about her family and might even be trying to kill her.
A found Evie very irritating at first and very impatient. But the more the story went along the more I began to like her. I didn't fall in love with her character though. Overall the story is well written and perfect for teen girls. I give this 3.5/5
rayureads's review against another edition
4.0
I am a major fan of Sophie Mckenzie. In fact, she is one of my favourite authors and I have read many of her previous books. This book was not my favourite but it was still a good read (good enough to stay up until 2am to finish it.)
Now, this review does contain a few subtle spoilers but honestly the book is so clear headed from the start that there was only a handful of real shocks when I got to the end - that included why irina was at lightsea in the first place and why Mr. Lomax had been lying.
Considering the book is called "all my secrets" it's a little ironic that Evie literally has no secrets as she spills her heart out to anyone she thinks will listen - which I get is for the plot but seriously? I nearly put the book down because of how stupid she was being. if I suspected someone murdered my mother I wouldn't be telling them what I'd found out all the time!
I did enjoy the character developments and the little quirks or flaws each had - Josh with his music, Sam with his facts, Evie with her inability to swim etc... - but Evies relationship with Kit does seem a little forced and how she comes up with a decision for who she wants to be with seems way too rushed. The main climax came and then there is a quick little end of "oh okay so Evie is going out with this guy, the end." It was almost an after thought on behalf of the author - which, again, I understand why (because the main story isn't about the romances that the character gets in to but I would've liked a little more feeling to have gone into it)
From the start I could already see the role Gavin was going to play in it (although his partner wasn't something I expected to come about and it took me until 100 pages were left to figure out why someone was trying to kill Evie if not to keep her quiet about Irinas death).
So, now you've heard my review I bet you're wondering: why have you given it 4 stars if it's so crap? Honestly, it's because I would read this book again.
I loved a few characters like Samuel, Josh and Pepper because they did make the book entertaining. I liked the concept even if it wasn't written out as good as it could've been.
I feel like Mckenzie did produce a good book with a lot of amazing twists and the book neatly worked things out (although I still don't understand how the hell the ghost was faked AND how Joshs MP3 player managed to survive being submerged underwater - but it never did state it worked it just said he kept it so I can't grumble about that too much.)
I do recommend this book because overall it does have a good storyline that you want to carry on reading - even if the main character is a little annoying. Oddly, the fact you can see where the story is going to go does make you want to read to see if you were right and Mckenzie adds in little things that you don't expect to happen.
Now, this review does contain a few subtle spoilers but honestly the book is so clear headed from the start that there was only a handful of real shocks when I got to the end - that included why irina was at lightsea in the first place and why Mr. Lomax had been lying.
Considering the book is called "all my secrets" it's a little ironic that Evie literally has no secrets as she spills her heart out to anyone she thinks will listen - which I get is for the plot but seriously? I nearly put the book down because of how stupid she was being. if I suspected someone murdered my mother I wouldn't be telling them what I'd found out all the time!
I did enjoy the character developments and the little quirks or flaws each had - Josh with his music, Sam with his facts, Evie with her inability to swim etc... - but Evies relationship with Kit does seem a little forced and how she comes up with a decision for who she wants to be with seems way too rushed. The main climax came and then there is a quick little end of "oh okay so Evie is going out with this guy, the end." It was almost an after thought on behalf of the author - which, again, I understand why (because the main story isn't about the romances that the character gets in to but I would've liked a little more feeling to have gone into it)
From the start I could already see the role Gavin was going to play in it (although his partner wasn't something I expected to come about and it took me until 100 pages were left to figure out why someone was trying to kill Evie if not to keep her quiet about Irinas death).
So, now you've heard my review I bet you're wondering: why have you given it 4 stars if it's so crap? Honestly, it's because I would read this book again.
I loved a few characters like Samuel, Josh and Pepper because they did make the book entertaining. I liked the concept even if it wasn't written out as good as it could've been.
I feel like Mckenzie did produce a good book with a lot of amazing twists and the book neatly worked things out (although I still don't understand how the hell the ghost was faked AND how Joshs MP3 player managed to survive being submerged underwater - but it never did state it worked it just said he kept it so I can't grumble about that too much.)
I do recommend this book because overall it does have a good storyline that you want to carry on reading - even if the main character is a little annoying. Oddly, the fact you can see where the story is going to go does make you want to read to see if you were right and Mckenzie adds in little things that you don't expect to happen.
leyamay22's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
maccymacd's review against another edition
4.0
An easy, exciting read. I sped through this in one evening, and with a migraine! Pretty compelling story. Evie has just found out some disturbing and upsetting news, and is rebelling strongly against her parents. They think the best thing is for her to get some help and rest at Lightsea, a children's behavioural unit in Scotland. Once there, Evie discovers some truly terrifying things about her past, and wonders if she can really trust anyone.