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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
Torrey was not likable to me at all. The entire book until the very few last pages show her to be incredibly shallow. All she can focus about is herself. She is willing to hurt people to become popular and she doesn't "grow" till the very last moment. Luis keeps seeming to forgive her every time she is mean. Perhaps he thought this was just her own way of grieving. That she is trying to distract herself from her sister's death by just focusing on her image. But that is not a proper way to show a character if she doesn't develop past this stage till the very last minute. There were parts of the book where it seems she actually does mourn for her sister but then it get's swept away in the fact that she is worried about how people view her. The side characters are a lot more enjoyable to read about than the main character.
This is how i felt after readign this book :)
recibed this book as a ARC from netgalley in exchange for a honest review <3
My Thoughts
recibed this book as a ARC from netgalley in exchange for a honest review <3My Thoughts
” when the moon shines bright, your fears will be few and only sweet dreams will come to you”
Meet Torrey Grey. Famous Beauty Guru from YouTube. She has the best friend, the perfect family, sits at the right table and has the required tall boyfriend. But one normal day of filming her new haul her life changes in ways she could have never imagined. Now she struggles with a broken family, new school, Luis the mysterious boy she can’t stop talking to and the worst: The last words she said that make her feel like everything is her fault. Pretty much her life is not what she wanted.
” I was never trapped inside”
I have to say, Torrey is not your typical, oh-im-nice-i-want-to-do-good type of character.No, Torrey was selfish at times, self-centered and she knew it. She was just her. And that was what I loved about her. You can see how she struggles with her old life and her new reality, how she realizes that some times things change and it’ s for the best, even if we don’t see it at the moment. By the end of the book I was tearing up from how different she was.
” When is that moment that the breath stops? How is taht decided? What happend?”
This book is about dealing with death, how our life change and twist and we have to realize how deal. How people who we thought were our “People” disappoint us, and the people who couldn’t be more different are the ones we need. How our future change and we discovered that taking a break can make you realize who you are. How every single thing we say has a meaning and we have to take advantage of our chances of saying what we mean because sometimes? we don’t have another chance; How some times we say things that fallows and make us regret it.
I loved this book, and I loved the ultimate message. which is for you to find out if you read it. It’s amazing. and is written in such a way that is so real; It describes how teen think , what is important to them and makes it more than you typical teen book. It makes you see things in a deeper perspective
The main character, Torrey, is a stuck-up, petty, rich and spoiled brat who gets whatever she wants.
So is everyone else in the book.
I do not recommend.
So is everyone else in the book.
I do not recommend.
Torrey Grey has always wanted to be famous. But fame is a funny thing. You have to be famous for something. But that's okay because Torrey found her calling at fifteen. As a beauty vlogger, Torrey is a taste-maker and a style guru with fashion tips and makeup tutorials to share. Thousands of people know about Torrey and her vlog, which also means thousands of people know when Torrey's little sister Miranda is hit by a drunk driver.
Now Torrey and her parents have moved from Colorado to Texas. All three of them are lost in their own grief. Torrey also has to deal with backlash from her fans as details of the fight Torrey and Miranda had before the accident leak.
On top of bottling up her own guilt, Torrey also has to navigate a whole new high school. Smooth talking her way into the popular crowd and away from her chatty oddball cousin Raylene isn't going to be easy. Add to that staying away from the oh-so-cute and oh-so-unacceptable Luis Rivera, while listening to everything he has to tell her about El Dia de Los Muertos, Torrey is going to have her hands full in Can't Look Away (2014) by Donna Cooner.
Can't Look Away is Cooner's second novel. It follows Skinny which is set in the same town--readers of both will recognize familiar characters.
Conner offers a solid contemplation of fame in the modern age here as well as a moving story of grief and forgiveness. Luis and details about Dia de los Muertos customs add another dimension to this story and fit in well with the arc of Torrey dealing with her loss.
Although Torrey has stumbling blocks throughout the story, her growth from beginning to end is obvious and largely satisfying. Torrey's early fixation on her relative celebrity is handled thoughtfully and emphasized with chapter titles and epigraphs quoted from Torrey's vlog. Similarly Torrey's worries over how viewers perceive her will ring true with anyone who's ever posted a vlog (or blog) online.
Can't Look Away is at times melancholy but it is ultimately a satisfying story about family and the strength that can come from finding yourself.
Possible Pairings: Now and Forever by Susane Colasanti, King of the Screwups by K. L. Going, Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley, Drawing the Ocean by Carolyn MacCullough, This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales, The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle, A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Now Torrey and her parents have moved from Colorado to Texas. All three of them are lost in their own grief. Torrey also has to deal with backlash from her fans as details of the fight Torrey and Miranda had before the accident leak.
On top of bottling up her own guilt, Torrey also has to navigate a whole new high school. Smooth talking her way into the popular crowd and away from her chatty oddball cousin Raylene isn't going to be easy. Add to that staying away from the oh-so-cute and oh-so-unacceptable Luis Rivera, while listening to everything he has to tell her about El Dia de Los Muertos, Torrey is going to have her hands full in Can't Look Away (2014) by Donna Cooner.
Can't Look Away is Cooner's second novel. It follows Skinny which is set in the same town--readers of both will recognize familiar characters.
Conner offers a solid contemplation of fame in the modern age here as well as a moving story of grief and forgiveness. Luis and details about Dia de los Muertos customs add another dimension to this story and fit in well with the arc of Torrey dealing with her loss.
Although Torrey has stumbling blocks throughout the story, her growth from beginning to end is obvious and largely satisfying. Torrey's early fixation on her relative celebrity is handled thoughtfully and emphasized with chapter titles and epigraphs quoted from Torrey's vlog. Similarly Torrey's worries over how viewers perceive her will ring true with anyone who's ever posted a vlog (or blog) online.
Can't Look Away is at times melancholy but it is ultimately a satisfying story about family and the strength that can come from finding yourself.
Possible Pairings: Now and Forever by Susane Colasanti, King of the Screwups by K. L. Going, Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley, Drawing the Ocean by Carolyn MacCullough, This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales, The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle, A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Can't Look Away was a wonderful novel with heart! Full review to come
Okay, so I put off reading this book for a lot longer than anticipated once I bought it. I usually take a week at most, but it took a year for me to finally pick this book up and get to it. And yikes. First off, I have to say it wasn't the worst book I've read. I loved the little romance and the supportive, always happy cousin, and I can for sure ignore a mean girl cliche when I see one (by the way, loved how the worst mean girl in the group was actually the side-kick #2 in this case, instead of the Queen B herself). But I had two main issues: Torrey's fame, and Torrey's attitude. Baby, you are NOT that famous to be acting like you run the world! She has around 300k subscribers, and yet somehow everyone on planet earth knows who she is or has at least watched one of her videos? Mmm, sounds a lil sketch to me. And then there's her whole "I snort popularity like it's cocaine" thing she has going for her. No baby! I get if you're the spotlight, and I understand that some girls in high school are trying to climb the social ladder, so it's not the most unrealistic thing to put in a story. But Torrey is so unlikeable with her "I'm better than you because I inject Vuitton heels into my arm for breakfast" attitude that I think it might have been my subconscious actually TRYING to get me to have not read this. Once again, though, it's not the worst book!!! And I love how culturally aware it is with Luis' family and the Day of the Dead. But since I physically, mentally, and spiritually couldn't get over how unrealistic her fame was and how snobby she was, I had to write a bad review on it.
*review to come*
Not too crazy about this one though. Unfortunately... because I really wanted to like it.
Not too crazy about this one though. Unfortunately... because I really wanted to like it.
It is what it is. Written for teen girls and I think teen girls will relate to Torrey and enjoy her story. Filled with the drama of fashion, boys, popularity, with a twist of the negatives of Internet fame and the loss of a sibling. I would recommend to teenagers, but adults can skip it.
Disclaimer: I received an e-galley provided by Scholastic from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinions.
This is really 2.5 stars
Can’t Look Away by Donna Cooner tells the story of Torrey Grey and the death of her sister. Torrey is Internet famous by posting videos on fashion. She displays her hauls and gives advice on her own YouTube channel. Her life gets turned upside the day her sister is killed by a drunk driver. Her family picks up and moves from Colorado to Texas and all Torrey wants to do is fit in. She struggles with her desire to be popular and the draw to hang out with her strange new friends that aren’t a part of the popular group. While learning about who she is, Torrey can’t help but think of the person who her little sister will never become.
I don’t know if I’m just too old for this book or if I just didn’t like it. I think this is a good story for a young teen (12-15) to read but not for someone who is about to graduate college (unless you plan on spending lots of time with younger teens).
This novel is a realistic portrayal of loss and even of the effects of fame (and internet trolls). I wish there was more written about Torrey’s best friend from Colorado, Zoe. From what I read, I couldn’t understand why they were even friends.
Overall, it was an interesting read. I liked the quotes by Torrey that were taken from her vlog. They were at the beginning of each chapter. However, I was unsure how they were said in her fashion vlog. They seemed a little out of place. I did like the inclusion of Dia de los Muertos. I thought that was a good way for Torrey to meet a boy and understand her feelings about her sister’s death. Though, the things she says when she’s placing the items at the gravestone are a tad cliche. She also thinks it was weird that she was collecting items of her sister’s. It’s not weird. It’s grief. The characters were mostly well-rounded and interesting to interact with. I just wish there was a slightly different storyline that didn’t have to do with popularity. I would have liked to see Torrey interact more with her cousin and her love interest without feeling embarrassed that she was doing something wrong. I would honestly read more about Torrey if she wasn’t always worried about not being popular. Popularity is overrated.
This is really 2.5 stars
Can’t Look Away by Donna Cooner tells the story of Torrey Grey and the death of her sister. Torrey is Internet famous by posting videos on fashion. She displays her hauls and gives advice on her own YouTube channel. Her life gets turned upside the day her sister is killed by a drunk driver. Her family picks up and moves from Colorado to Texas and all Torrey wants to do is fit in. She struggles with her desire to be popular and the draw to hang out with her strange new friends that aren’t a part of the popular group. While learning about who she is, Torrey can’t help but think of the person who her little sister will never become.
I don’t know if I’m just too old for this book or if I just didn’t like it. I think this is a good story for a young teen (12-15) to read but not for someone who is about to graduate college (unless you plan on spending lots of time with younger teens).
Spoiler
I think the conclusion of the novel, when Torrey finally realizes that it’s okay not be popular, is a bit simple. But as I said, maybe it would have had a bigger impact on a younger reader.This novel is a realistic portrayal of loss and even of the effects of fame (and internet trolls). I wish there was more written about Torrey’s best friend from Colorado, Zoe. From what I read, I couldn’t understand why they were even friends.
Overall, it was an interesting read. I liked the quotes by Torrey that were taken from her vlog. They were at the beginning of each chapter. However, I was unsure how they were said in her fashion vlog. They seemed a little out of place. I did like the inclusion of Dia de los Muertos. I thought that was a good way for Torrey to meet a boy and understand her feelings about her sister’s death. Though, the things she says when she’s placing the items at the gravestone are a tad cliche. She also thinks it was weird that she was collecting items of her sister’s. It’s not weird. It’s grief. The characters were mostly well-rounded and interesting to interact with. I just wish there was a slightly different storyline that didn’t have to do with popularity. I would have liked to see Torrey interact more with her cousin and her love interest without feeling embarrassed that she was doing something wrong. I would honestly read more about Torrey if she wasn’t always worried about not being popular. Popularity is overrated.
One of the first books I really remember falling in love with, and despite it being a 4-star rating, it remains one of my favorite books. A great exploration of grief, healing, and blame. Yes, the main character can be shallow, rude, and self-centered, but she is so real. One of my favorite portrayals of a teen because the author does not attempt to hide the bad. Torrey has her faults, but she grows lots throughout this novel. Love it.
3.8/5Stars Quality
4.5/5 Enjoyed
3.8/5Stars Quality
4.5/5 Enjoyed