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awxhhlilla's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Bullying, Rape, Cursing, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Fabulous first two thirds, drags a bit in the final 1/3, with the ending far less convincing than it should be, given the strength of what's come before
charms1976's review against another edition
2.0
When I first received this book for review, everyone was telling me how wonderful this book was. I fell hard into the hype of You Against Me, but it didn't have the same impact to me that it had to others. While the summary was fascinating and the cover was beautifully done, the story wasn't something that kept me interested like it should have.
The story is told from alternating points of view between Ellie and Mikey. While I could understand the pain that each character was feeling, I just couldn't stay interested in the story enough to care about the romance. It was bland and stale from my point of view in the feelings department for each other. I wanted so much more that never seemed to unfold.
While the story will appeal to others as a wonderful and angst filled read, I just felt it was a mediocre book that could have been so much more. If you are a fan of the authors previous book, then give this one a try and see for yourself.
The story is told from alternating points of view between Ellie and Mikey. While I could understand the pain that each character was feeling, I just couldn't stay interested in the story enough to care about the romance. It was bland and stale from my point of view in the feelings department for each other. I wanted so much more that never seemed to unfold.
While the story will appeal to others as a wonderful and angst filled read, I just felt it was a mediocre book that could have been so much more. If you are a fan of the authors previous book, then give this one a try and see for yourself.
innodavid's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 STARS
RTC
“If you want a girl to like you, you have to listen like a woman and love like a man.”
RTC
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
Mikeys jüngere Schwester Karyn wird von Ellies älterem Bruder Tom vergewaltigt. Um sich an Tom zu rächen, versucht Mikey über Ellie an Informationen heranzukommen und merkt schnell, dass Schwester nicht gleich Bruder ist und Rache nicht alles wieder gut machen kann.
Keine rosige Ausgangssituation und das ändert sich auch im Laufe des Buches nicht. Umso tiefer ich in die Geschichte hinein geriet, desto größer wurden die Probleme. Mikeys Familie erinnerte mich mit der alkoholkranken Mutter und dem Kratzen am Existenzlimit enorm an die Serie Shameless. Jetzt, wo seine Schwester Karyn sich vor der Welt zurückzieht, kämpft Mikey damit regelmäßig Essen in den Kühlschrank zu bringen, seine kleinste Schwester von der Schule abzuholen, seine Mutter rechtzeitig aus ihrem Alkoholkoma zu wecken bevor die Sozialarbeiterin kommt und nebenher noch sein eigenes Leben auf die Reihe zu kriegen. Aber auch hinter Ellies wesentlich besser betuchter Familienfassade kriselt es gewaltig. Der Vater sieht keinen Vergewaltiger in seinem Sohn, die Mutter tut, was der Vater für richtig hält und Ellie weiß nicht mehr, was sie von dem liebevollen Bruder, der ihr Leben lang für sie da war, denken soll.
Das Buch hat mich richtig nah herangelassen an diese Situationen, hat Dialoge zwischen Familienmitgliedern geschildert, die andere Geschichten oft überspringen. Außerdem wird hier nichts Schwarz-Weiß gemalt. Mikey kann sich gleichzeitig rührend um seine Schwestern kümmern und eine Stunde später eine andere Frau wie den letzten Dreck behandeln. Selbst seine Mutter hat wache Momente der Fürsorge für ihre Kinder. Das Buch scheut sich aber auch nicht davor unangenehme Dinge auszusprechen, die niemand auch nur denken sollte (z.B. dass sich Mikeys Familie den Stress mit der Sozialarbeiterin erspart hätte, wenn Karyn über das Verbrechen geschwiegen hätte). Nicht unerwähnt sollte die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Ellie und Mikey bleiben. Der Roman hätte sie nicht nötig, sie fügt aber hier und da zusätzliche Verzwickungen hinzu und zeigt, dass aus schlimmen Geschehnissen nicht nur Negatives hervorgehen muss.
Eine Verknüpfung brisanter Themen und Familienkonflikte, die vor allem in der hautnahen Schilderung einzelner Situationen glänzt. Die obligatorische Liebesgeschichte stiehlt dem Ganzen weder den Fokus, noch driftet sie ins Schnulzige ab.
Keine rosige Ausgangssituation und das ändert sich auch im Laufe des Buches nicht. Umso tiefer ich in die Geschichte hinein geriet, desto größer wurden die Probleme. Mikeys Familie erinnerte mich mit der alkoholkranken Mutter und dem Kratzen am Existenzlimit enorm an die Serie Shameless. Jetzt, wo seine Schwester Karyn sich vor der Welt zurückzieht, kämpft Mikey damit regelmäßig Essen in den Kühlschrank zu bringen, seine kleinste Schwester von der Schule abzuholen, seine Mutter rechtzeitig aus ihrem Alkoholkoma zu wecken bevor die Sozialarbeiterin kommt und nebenher noch sein eigenes Leben auf die Reihe zu kriegen. Aber auch hinter Ellies wesentlich besser betuchter Familienfassade kriselt es gewaltig. Der Vater sieht keinen Vergewaltiger in seinem Sohn, die Mutter tut, was der Vater für richtig hält und Ellie weiß nicht mehr, was sie von dem liebevollen Bruder, der ihr Leben lang für sie da war, denken soll.
Das Buch hat mich richtig nah herangelassen an diese Situationen, hat Dialoge zwischen Familienmitgliedern geschildert, die andere Geschichten oft überspringen. Außerdem wird hier nichts Schwarz-Weiß gemalt. Mikey kann sich gleichzeitig rührend um seine Schwestern kümmern und eine Stunde später eine andere Frau wie den letzten Dreck behandeln. Selbst seine Mutter hat wache Momente der Fürsorge für ihre Kinder. Das Buch scheut sich aber auch nicht davor unangenehme Dinge auszusprechen, die niemand auch nur denken sollte (z.B. dass sich Mikeys Familie den Stress mit der Sozialarbeiterin erspart hätte, wenn Karyn über das Verbrechen geschwiegen hätte). Nicht unerwähnt sollte die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Ellie und Mikey bleiben. Der Roman hätte sie nicht nötig, sie fügt aber hier und da zusätzliche Verzwickungen hinzu und zeigt, dass aus schlimmen Geschehnissen nicht nur Negatives hervorgehen muss.
Eine Verknüpfung brisanter Themen und Familienkonflikte, die vor allem in der hautnahen Schilderung einzelner Situationen glänzt. Die obligatorische Liebesgeschichte stiehlt dem Ganzen weder den Fokus, noch driftet sie ins Schnulzige ab.
caffeineaddict980's review against another edition
3.0
'It was strange how words meant something when they came out of your mouth.'
Mikey and Ellie's lives have both been touched with tragedy. Mikey's sister tells him that a boy assualted her.
Ellie's brother is convicted and charge with the crime. When both Mikey and Ellie meet, suddenly their lives are changed.
Mikey has always tried to be a 'man' - tough and strong like most men he knows are, coming from a broken home, he tries to look after his Mother and two sisters as best he can.
Ellie's family are struggling in the aftermath of her brother's conviction, soon Tom is released on bail and Ellie is caught between the truth and her loyalty to her brother to speak in his defense in court.
Mikey crashes a party being thrown for Tom and first meets Ellie, trying to get information out of her about Tom, which ultimately fails but they both swap numbers.
The two eventually meet again in a cemetary. Again, Mikey presses for awnsers, trying to charm Ellie to aid his revenge on Tom. However, he ends up falling for her.
The romance is a slow burn and soon Ellie realises that Mikey is the brother of the girl that her brother sexually assualted.
Not sure if I was a fan of the romance element, specifically as a lot of it was one of them trying to dig information out of the other to begin with.
Although, the romance develops into something much more positive as the novel continues.
The novel really picks up the pace when one of them find out who the other person really is. It doesn't end well, especially evident of a fight breaking up between Mikey and Tom.
The ending shows the strengthened relationship between Mikey and Ellie, but also shows Ellie as courageous, due to the fact she finally tells the truth about what she saw the night of Karyn's sexual assualt.
Mikey and Ellie's lives have both been touched with tragedy. Mikey's sister tells him that a boy assualted her.
Ellie's brother is convicted and charge with the crime. When both Mikey and Ellie meet, suddenly their lives are changed.
Mikey has always tried to be a 'man' - tough and strong like most men he knows are, coming from a broken home, he tries to look after his Mother and two sisters as best he can.
Ellie's family are struggling in the aftermath of her brother's conviction, soon Tom is released on bail and Ellie is caught between the truth and her loyalty to her brother to speak in his defense in court.
Mikey crashes a party being thrown for Tom and first meets Ellie, trying to get information out of her about Tom, which ultimately fails but they both swap numbers.
The two eventually meet again in a cemetary. Again, Mikey presses for awnsers, trying to charm Ellie to aid his revenge on Tom. However, he ends up falling for her.
The romance is a slow burn and soon Ellie realises that Mikey is the brother of the girl that her brother sexually assualted.
Not sure if I was a fan of the romance element, specifically as a lot of it was one of them trying to dig information out of the other to begin with.
Although, the romance develops into something much more positive as the novel continues.
The novel really picks up the pace when one of them find out who the other person really is. It doesn't end well, especially evident of a fight breaking up between Mikey and Tom.
The ending shows the strengthened relationship between Mikey and Ellie, but also shows Ellie as courageous, due to the fact she finally tells the truth about what she saw the night of Karyn's sexual assualt.
ameserole's review against another edition
5.0
This book was hands down a fantastic book! I loved Mikey and Ellie's relationship. Okay so about the book--You Against Me is about Mikey, who has a sister who may or may not have been raped, and Ellie, who's brother may or may not have raped Mikey's sister. Ellie's family is very supportive of her brother but what baffled me was that no one even asked Tom if he actually did commit the crime?!? WHY?!? That would've been the first question I'd ask my brother--or any family member. And the ending!!! Ugh, I have a love/hate relationship because I really want to know what happened to Tom. Was he convicted?!? Can there be another book?!? Or a movie?!? SO I CAN KNOW. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?!?! Other than that, I loved the book. Now I can't wait to read Before I Die from Jenny :)
dynamicdylan's review against another edition
5.0
This was an excellent dark YA romance. The grittiness reminded me of Ellen Hopkins, and the characters were well developed and like-able. Definately recommended.
justlily's review against another edition
4.0
This was an incredibly enjoyable book. I almost didn't pick it up because I'm not much for romance novels but when I saw a glowing review for it by one of my favorite authors, I decided to give it a shot. Jenny Downham is a master of showing, not telling. The prose here is sparse and almost lyrical but you never lack for deep emotions and for knowing the mental state of the characters.
Told in alternating points of view, I think the author was true to both sides of this story. The brother of the abused and the sister of the accused, two sides which wouldn't normally be told. It was definitely a unique and compelling read.
Told in alternating points of view, I think the author was true to both sides of this story. The brother of the abused and the sister of the accused, two sides which wouldn't normally be told. It was definitely a unique and compelling read.