Scan barcode
delapatent's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kvreadsandrecs's review against another edition
2.0
Not great. Skimmed most of it. Predictable and mostly unrealistic. Didn't care about the sibling subplot at all.
emybooksandcoffee's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I ever hated any character in literature more than I hated Bree in my meagre reading journey when I first read this at 16. I wish this book was more popular in the children/young adult section. Very harsh, realistic but necessary.
lanaglennon's review against another edition
3.0
There's a lot to unpack with this book. It deals with several really intense issues including suicide, cyberbullying, sexuality, self-harm, and many other hot topic issues. Littman takes the perspective of four different teens through this trial.
This story follows Lara, Bree, Liam, and Syd as they navigate high school. Lara gets asked to the homecoming dance by Christian. Christian then outwardly insults Lara on Facebook. Lara takes a downward spiral and things spin out of control. As Lara spirals down, so does her best friend, Bree, but not in the way you might think. Christian insulting and degrading Lara also leads to the collapse of the life of her sister, Syd as she works on navigating her own relationships. Bree's brother, Liam, also faces his own challenges as he discovers some secrets that he was never meant to know. Everyone's life gets turned upside down because of the ruthless and mean comments of others.
This book takes an interesting viewpoint and tries to dive into the mind of a teenager. While I think that Littman did a pretty good job, some of it can be cheesy. I find the message very important, and I think this is a good book for others to read, but be prepared for some intense emotions. It explodes into all of those issues that I talked about earlier. I feel like the story jumped into a lot all at once, which can make some of the writing confusing. Overall, a good book, but not one that I think I will go back to again and again.
This story follows Lara, Bree, Liam, and Syd as they navigate high school. Lara gets asked to the homecoming dance by Christian. Christian then outwardly insults Lara on Facebook. Lara takes a downward spiral and things spin out of control. As Lara spirals down, so does her best friend, Bree, but not in the way you might think. Christian insulting and degrading Lara also leads to the collapse of the life of her sister, Syd as she works on navigating her own relationships. Bree's brother, Liam, also faces his own challenges as he discovers some secrets that he was never meant to know. Everyone's life gets turned upside down because of the ruthless and mean comments of others.
This book takes an interesting viewpoint and tries to dive into the mind of a teenager. While I think that Littman did a pretty good job, some of it can be cheesy. I find the message very important, and I think this is a good book for others to read, but be prepared for some intense emotions. It explodes into all of those issues that I talked about earlier. I feel like the story jumped into a lot all at once, which can make some of the writing confusing. Overall, a good book, but not one that I think I will go back to again and again.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
2.0
The beginning of the book is shocking and it hooks you, but after that it took me forever to get through this. I didn't like any of the characters and it just didn't have any heart in it if that makes sense. It just felt like the author knew this was a timely topic and so wrote a book about it, knowing it would sell, but didn't really have anything else invested in it. It very much felt like a moral tale meant to teach us all a lesson. Parts were very repetitive to the point where I wondered if the first draft were way too short and she was asked to just throw more in there. Not a big fan.
supermomcrazytown's review against another edition
4.0
I could not put this book down! This is such a real thing and this exact thing happens all the time. I am embarrassed to say, I have done something almost identical to a girl once who I thought deserved it (I know now, that wasn't the case and thankfully nothing bad ever came of it)... I was furious with the parents of this book! I will make sure both my daughters read this when the time is right!
talya_'s review against another edition
3.0
The book was better than I expected, but I don't exactly love it either. I'll admit that it wasn't bad and it was written in a way where we're able to learn about different characters and learn their motivations behind certain things.
There are a few POVs in the book, but I think the author did it well.
We have Lara, the girl who tried to kill herself.
There's Sydney, Lara's sister and we see how Lara's actions directly effect her and her family
There's also Bree, the reason Lara tried to kill herself and we see her thoughts as she did what she did, but also how she was effected after people found out.
Liam is Bree's brother and we see how what Bree did effects him and his family and how he struggles to forgive her, but feels bad for her at the same time.
I like how we were given insight to each character in a way that makes the reader feel a mix of emotions concerning all the issues at hand. I couldn't feel any sympathy for Bree, though, she deserved everything she got. She's a bitch, plain and simple, and never stops being one.
3 stars for this one as it was kind of boring.
There are a few POVs in the book, but I think the author did it well.
We have Lara, the girl who tried to kill herself.
There's Sydney, Lara's sister and we see how Lara's actions directly effect her and her family
There's also Bree, the reason Lara tried to kill herself and we see her thoughts as she did what she did, but also how she was effected after people found out.
Liam is Bree's brother and we see how what Bree did effects him and his family and how he struggles to forgive her, but feels bad for her at the same time.
I like how we were given insight to each character in a way that makes the reader feel a mix of emotions concerning all the issues at hand. I couldn't feel any sympathy for Bree, though, she deserved everything she got. She's a bitch, plain and simple, and never stops being one.
3 stars for this one as it was kind of boring.
abbiky's review against another edition
4.0
It was a pretty good read-- as summer reading books typically go, this was one of the best.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
I guess this really happens, right? Social Media used to inflict harm by a person who doesn't figure on the consequences.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story unwound. The plot kept me interested, each perspective told in turn.
Good book for a serious discussion topic.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way this story unwound. The plot kept me interested, each perspective told in turn.
Good book for a serious discussion topic.