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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Sexual assault
I expected this book to be more fast-paced and feel more like a "Gossip Girl" inspired book. That is not to take away from the writing, which was nice, but the storyline in and of itself. I didn't feel connected to the book and I also didn't have the feeling of wanting to get through the book because I was dying to know what would come next.
When I saw Kate was coming out with a new book I was so excited because I am an avid viewer of her youtube channel and I have followed her journey writing this book. I wasn't disappointed!
This book centres on a girl named Meredith - an all-around "good girl" with religious parents and a wallflower personality. Meredith's more extroverted friend Johanna makes what they call an anti-virginity pact, promising each other that they will both lose their virginity (I believe) before graduation. Although reluctant, Meredith signs this agreement, little does she know that it might come back to haunt her.
I have a wide array of thoughts for this book.
First of all, I was surprised at how much I was sucked in by Katie's writing. There was just enough vivid description and dialogue to make the book flow right without overuse of flowery language or dramatics.
I also loved Meredith's character. I related to her enough that her decisions were plausible and she seemed like the kind of girl I would want to hang out with. I think Sam and Johanna were also well explored too for secondary characters.
I was very interested in the religious parent perspective as this is something that has always fascinated me as I come from a very atheist household. I liked that Katie really highlighted her parent's religious beliefs without every other second throwing some scripture into the book as if her parents go around preaching. This is an issue I have found in other books though Katie avoids this well.
The only issue I had (which may not bother all) was that I felt it was a very slow start. Don't get me wrong, I liked where the book was going and I think without the pact 'getting out' for everyone to see, the book would be fine enough on its own. However, 50% in I had to double-check I was still reading the right book because up until then, this anti-virginity pact had only been mentioned less than a handful of times. It finally came back into play around 53% which I guess isn't much after but I just felt like I was expecting it to be a much bigger plotline that what I felt like it was.
Overall, a solid read as a debut from Katie. I would definitely recommend for an easy, enjoyable read. I can definitely see readers enjoying this book around a pool in the summertime.
4 stars.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book centres on a girl named Meredith - an all-around "good girl" with religious parents and a wallflower personality. Meredith's more extroverted friend Johanna makes what they call an anti-virginity pact, promising each other that they will both lose their virginity (I believe) before graduation. Although reluctant, Meredith signs this agreement, little does she know that it might come back to haunt her.
I have a wide array of thoughts for this book.
First of all, I was surprised at how much I was sucked in by Katie's writing. There was just enough vivid description and dialogue to make the book flow right without overuse of flowery language or dramatics.
I also loved Meredith's character. I related to her enough that her decisions were plausible and she seemed like the kind of girl I would want to hang out with. I think Sam and Johanna were also well explored too for secondary characters.
I was very interested in the religious parent perspective as this is something that has always fascinated me as I come from a very atheist household. I liked that Katie really highlighted her parent's religious beliefs without every other second throwing some scripture into the book as if her parents go around preaching. This is an issue I have found in other books though Katie avoids this well.
The only issue I had (which may not bother all) was that I felt it was a very slow start. Don't get me wrong, I liked where the book was going and I think without the pact 'getting out' for everyone to see, the book would be fine enough on its own. However, 50% in I had to double-check I was still reading the right book because up until then, this anti-virginity pact had only been mentioned less than a handful of times. It finally came back into play around 53% which I guess isn't much after but I just felt like I was expecting it to be a much bigger plotline that what I felt like it was.
Overall, a solid read as a debut from Katie. I would definitely recommend for an easy, enjoyable read. I can definitely see readers enjoying this book around a pool in the summertime.
4 stars.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oof. This was a tough one. This book has a promising concept, but the writing is just not very good (it makes sense that the author started writing this book while she was in high school), the characters were flat and undeveloped, and the number of “issues” packed into the book are so unbelievable. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Anti-Virginity Pact is about a pastor’s daughter named Mare. Usually known as the shy, awkward girl, she is forced into the spotlight when an “anti-virginity” pact she has signed gets spread around her school.
I do follow Katie Wismer on Youtube, and was so excited to be able to get an ARC of this book! The book hooked me in from the beginning. I think I inhaled this book in less than twelve hours. The pacing and writing style really worked for me. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. As someone who was shy growing up, I immediately could relate to some of Mare’s reactions and feelings. I also appreciated that this book did not have a typical, predictable ending. Everything wasn’t wrapped up perfectly with a bow, and that was refreshing.
My biggest issue with the book was that there were too many issues that were trying to be addressed in the book. While I appreciate the author not backing down from tough issues, there were so many issues in the book. I don’t know that they were all necessary to tell the story, and maybe made the story not quite as coherent.
Overall, this was a quick, fun read and I am looking forward to reading more from Katie Wismer.
I do follow Katie Wismer on Youtube, and was so excited to be able to get an ARC of this book! The book hooked me in from the beginning. I think I inhaled this book in less than twelve hours. The pacing and writing style really worked for me. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. As someone who was shy growing up, I immediately could relate to some of Mare’s reactions and feelings. I also appreciated that this book did not have a typical, predictable ending. Everything wasn’t wrapped up perfectly with a bow, and that was refreshing.
My biggest issue with the book was that there were too many issues that were trying to be addressed in the book. While I appreciate the author not backing down from tough issues, there were so many issues in the book. I don’t know that they were all necessary to tell the story, and maybe made the story not quite as coherent.
Overall, this was a quick, fun read and I am looking forward to reading more from Katie Wismer.
Rating:3.5
**Thank you to Nat Galley, Katie Wismer, and Xpressor Book Tours for this arc in exchange for an honest review. Release date: June 16,2020**
In my opinion, and based solely on enjoyment, The Anti-Virginity Pact was an okay book. It had some really good scenes that made me want to keep reading and others where I just wanted to close the book and move on.
Some things to look out for is sexual assault, animal abuse, bullying, and religion dilemmas.
I enjoyed the relationship between Harper and Mare. I also liked how Mare grew-up in a way that she views herself and others in a different way, although it took some dumb choices to get there.
What I didn't enjoy was some of the over dramatized scenes like, the bullying, which in my opinion was a bit excessive. Another thing is that Mare read like a 14-16 year old, not a high school senior, but I understand that everyone matures at their own space and based on their own experiences.
The one thing that bothered me the most is that I felt that when religion was mentioned, the religion as a whole was put down instead of pointing out the problems within the religion and acknowledging that not everyone in a certain religion acts and thinks the exact same but, I do understand that Mare may have felt that way.
Overall, The Anti-Virginity Pact was a quick and fun read once you get past some aspects of the book.
**Thank you to Nat Galley, Katie Wismer, and Xpressor Book Tours for this arc in exchange for an honest review. Release date: June 16,2020**
In my opinion, and based solely on enjoyment, The Anti-Virginity Pact was an okay book. It had some really good scenes that made me want to keep reading and others where I just wanted to close the book and move on.
Some things to look out for is sexual assault, animal abuse, bullying, and religion dilemmas.
I enjoyed the relationship between Harper and Mare. I also liked how Mare grew-up in a way that she views herself and others in a different way, although it took some dumb choices to get there.
What I didn't enjoy was some of the over dramatized scenes like, the bullying, which in my opinion was a bit excessive. Another thing is that Mare read like a 14-16 year old, not a high school senior, but I understand that everyone matures at their own space and based on their own experiences.
The one thing that bothered me the most is that I felt that when religion was mentioned, the religion as a whole was put down instead of pointing out the problems within the religion and acknowledging that not everyone in a certain religion acts and thinks the exact same but, I do understand that Mare may have felt that way.
Overall, The Anti-Virginity Pact was a quick and fun read once you get past some aspects of the book.
*I want to thank Net-Galley for giving me ARC copy for Review*
The Anit-Virginity Pact by Katie Wismer is one of those novels that will sit with me. If it through the subject mater that is discuss, or even simply the characters that it portrays. Everything about this novel was beautifully constructed, well almost everything. There is at one point near the end that I thought was a little outlandish. I'm giving no spoilers here but linked down bellow will be both my non-spoiler review, and spoiler review that went up on my YouTube channel. In the spoiler review I do mention what I thought was outlandish. But for the sake of anyone who hasn't read it yet, no spoilers here.
Back to the novel, first I want to start with Mare our protagonist. A character that I fell in love with from the first line of the novel, "For the record, I don't normally have a predisposition for making bad decisions." She intrigued me, and soon became a character I would jump in front of a bullet for. Her journey from a person who never spook up to someone with a defining voice is powerful. The story that is told around her was nerve-racking to watch unfold and several moments I had no idea where it was going. In others, I wished I had not known as the destination was far worse. That is to say this book is dark, it deal with very heavy topics. It is safe to say that every topic is handle with such ease.
That brings me to the second thing I want to discuss, the trigger warnings. They are listed in the front of the book and pay attention to them. I would say the big ones to look out for are; religion, sexual assault, anxiety, bullying, and most importantly trauma. If any of these subjects make you uncomfortable I highly recommend passing.
With that being said Wismer does some remarkable things handle subjects such as religion and trauma. Mare struggle with religion, with grounds the novel, is something amazing to watch unfold. Down to the final moments. But I say most importantly, the way Wismer handles trauma is something most writers hope to achieve. There are several quotes I have never related to more in my life. The way Mare deals with the trauma that is place upon her is something that changed me. Made me look at myself and helped me.
Lastly, lets talk about the beautiful writing. There are moments were some writing techniques are subtle and mesmerizing. Then they're others where is right there on the page and I want to briefly mention them. I do want to warn, a slight spoiler ahead.
-Spoiler-
Lets talk about Mare's first kiss with Sam for a second. The way it is written was one of the best kissing scenes I think I have ever seen written. As a writer these scenes are tough to write. The vulnerability and the way she captured it all so beautifully.
-Spoiler-
Now we can talk about how Wismer sets up the scene. Each scene set up is perfect and well described that we can picture it unfold before our eyes. It was like watching a movie. At some points it was how she described a group of kids sitting and others a busy party. Each time I saw everything and never once was I told.
The Anti-Virginity Pact will be a book I hold dear for a long time. A book that will surely reread again and again. Of course, I will follow this author and continue to read whatever she puts out.
Non-spoiler Review: https://youtu.be/XboyKJgWoTg
Spoiler Review: https://youtu.be/JmvIKdwzXo0
The Anit-Virginity Pact by Katie Wismer is one of those novels that will sit with me. If it through the subject mater that is discuss, or even simply the characters that it portrays. Everything about this novel was beautifully constructed, well almost everything. There is at one point near the end that I thought was a little outlandish. I'm giving no spoilers here but linked down bellow will be both my non-spoiler review, and spoiler review that went up on my YouTube channel. In the spoiler review I do mention what I thought was outlandish. But for the sake of anyone who hasn't read it yet, no spoilers here.
Back to the novel, first I want to start with Mare our protagonist. A character that I fell in love with from the first line of the novel, "For the record, I don't normally have a predisposition for making bad decisions." She intrigued me, and soon became a character I would jump in front of a bullet for. Her journey from a person who never spook up to someone with a defining voice is powerful. The story that is told around her was nerve-racking to watch unfold and several moments I had no idea where it was going. In others, I wished I had not known as the destination was far worse. That is to say this book is dark, it deal with very heavy topics. It is safe to say that every topic is handle with such ease.
That brings me to the second thing I want to discuss, the trigger warnings. They are listed in the front of the book and pay attention to them. I would say the big ones to look out for are; religion, sexual assault, anxiety, bullying, and most importantly trauma. If any of these subjects make you uncomfortable I highly recommend passing.
With that being said Wismer does some remarkable things handle subjects such as religion and trauma. Mare struggle with religion, with grounds the novel, is something amazing to watch unfold. Down to the final moments. But I say most importantly, the way Wismer handles trauma is something most writers hope to achieve. There are several quotes I have never related to more in my life. The way Mare deals with the trauma that is place upon her is something that changed me. Made me look at myself and helped me.
Lastly, lets talk about the beautiful writing. There are moments were some writing techniques are subtle and mesmerizing. Then they're others where is right there on the page and I want to briefly mention them. I do want to warn, a slight spoiler ahead.
-Spoiler-
Lets talk about Mare's first kiss with Sam for a second. The way it is written was one of the best kissing scenes I think I have ever seen written. As a writer these scenes are tough to write. The vulnerability and the way she captured it all so beautifully.
-Spoiler-
Now we can talk about how Wismer sets up the scene. Each scene set up is perfect and well described that we can picture it unfold before our eyes. It was like watching a movie. At some points it was how she described a group of kids sitting and others a busy party. Each time I saw everything and never once was I told.
The Anti-Virginity Pact will be a book I hold dear for a long time. A book that will surely reread again and again. Of course, I will follow this author and continue to read whatever she puts out.
Non-spoiler Review: https://youtu.be/XboyKJgWoTg
Spoiler Review: https://youtu.be/JmvIKdwzXo0
I would like to first thank NetGalley and the Author for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a solid book with a driven plot direction right from the start. I was very intrigued by the religious aspect of the book, it was a risky choice to have a character with a religious background want to break out of that mold. Mere was that character, I really enjoyed her point of view. She was shy, smart, focused, anxious, and yet had a side that you could really relate to if you feel trapped inside of yourself. A side more open than what she led on.
I would say with all the the triggers that this book had, they were handled with grace. It was not a book I had to convince myself to pick up, I was drawn to know what was going to happen next. Especially with the cute little romance.
The downfall for me was the way the ending was - loved the way the parents were handled, love that her and the sister could come to a common ground, but I did not like the romantic ending. NO - I do not need or want a happily ever after - that is not what this book was about, however I do not think Sam was seen to be the type to give up so easily so I was a little disappointed on that. I also would have liked to see Jo or the teacher have ANY interaction after what happened. BUT those are all personal preferences. Either way - this book was great and gripping, would highly recommend!
I really enjoyed this book, it was a solid book with a driven plot direction right from the start. I was very intrigued by the religious aspect of the book, it was a risky choice to have a character with a religious background want to break out of that mold. Mere was that character, I really enjoyed her point of view. She was shy, smart, focused, anxious, and yet had a side that you could really relate to if you feel trapped inside of yourself. A side more open than what she led on.
I would say with all the the triggers that this book had, they were handled with grace. It was not a book I had to convince myself to pick up, I was drawn to know what was going to happen next. Especially with the cute little romance.
The downfall for me was the way the ending was - loved the way the parents were handled, love that her and the sister could come to a common ground, but I did not like the romantic ending. NO - I do not need or want a happily ever after - that is not what this book was about, however I do not think Sam was seen to be the type to give up so easily so I was a little disappointed on that. I also would have liked to see Jo or the teacher have ANY interaction after what happened. BUT those are all personal preferences. Either way - this book was great and gripping, would highly recommend!
slow-paced