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pantsreads's review against another edition
2.0
I was totally on board with this book until the end, when it went nearly completely off the rails.
juliiyyy's review against another edition
1.0
Don't read this. It's terrible. By reading the summary, I thought the premise was pretty good but the execution made me want to rip out my own hair. The characters are absolutely shallow and not really likeable, especially the main character. The plot is weird, full of plot holes and isn't really interesting. Books usually are character-driven, plot-driven, or world-driven and this story falls flat on all aspects.
silea's review
2.0
This book has an interesting premise. Dead mom, autistic brother, kidnapped dad, what's a girl to do? Oh, right, get mom's help because she communicates with the brother in his dreams.
But it goes off the rails, first in small ways and then in gigantic leaps that make the Transformers movies seem intricately plotted and entirely plausible.
The first time i really noticed it was when the girl is less upset about a random classmate basically moving into her house than she is about the fact that she apparently can't use the toilet with a non-family male in the house. Her dad's kidnapping bothers her less than her self-imposed constipation.
Then it becomes, quite frankly, nonsense.
I can't even imagine the target market for this book, except perhaps teenage girls who have toiletting issues.
But it goes off the rails, first in small ways and then in gigantic leaps that make the Transformers movies seem intricately plotted and entirely plausible.
The first time i really noticed it was when the girl is less upset about a random classmate basically moving into her house than she is about the fact that she apparently can't use the toilet with a non-family male in the house. Her dad's kidnapping bothers her less than her self-imposed constipation.
Then it becomes, quite frankly, nonsense.
I can't even imagine the target market for this book, except perhaps teenage girls who have toiletting issues.
mermaidmommy19's review
I could not keep reading the horrible stereotyping and negative views of autism. It was gross. Also, if I never see "autistic-spectrum" again, it'll be perfectly fine with me. It's just such a stupid way to refer to the autism spectrum.
I was skeptical going in due to the blurb, but I decided to give it a chance. I regret it. 0 stars.
I was skeptical going in due to the blurb, but I decided to give it a chance. I regret it. 0 stars.
herlifewithbooks's review
Straight-up mystery... but you know, a YA mystery. I really loved the goofy Libertarian Dad character, and thought Zoey was a really fun narrator with a really unique (and funny) voice.
trippalli's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Poorly written, Shakopee characters, pointless plot of people doing irrational things for no clear motivation. A real waste of my time and brain cells didn't trying to decider any purpose, character motivation or plot connections that don't really make sense. Plus casual assassin's, fills who want to eat their alpacas and do when they're juked by random meteorite, nilism might explain the plot or some ayn rand inspired plot lacking meaning and shallow people not connecting to anyone and each just in they're own personal confusions and the narrator is both unreliable and uninteresting. It's kind of like the worst finance you've ever read converted into a murder mystery. I'm don't trying to understand it, as it's probably just poorly written.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Damp Big Face
BFF Charm: Nope
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: Catch-12
Bonus Factor: Conspiracy
Relationship Status: Forget Me Yes
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Damp Big Face
BFF Charm: Nope
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: Catch-12
Bonus Factor: Conspiracy
Relationship Status: Forget Me Yes
Read the full book report here.
carley's review
1.0
I hate giving up on a book, but I couldn't make it through this Young Adult novel. I received this book months ago for review through Goodreads First Reads.
Save the Enemy centers on a girl called Zoey who recently moved to the D.C. area with her parents and brother, Ben. Shortly after they arrive, her mother is killed in a mugging while walking their dog, then her father is kidnapped. Zoey, only seventeen, now has the responsibility to take care of her brother and find a way to save her dad.
This type of story isn't a typical read for me, but the synopsis sounded interesting enough. However, when I received the book and started reading the first chapter or so, I questioned the writing. Coming back to the book months later, my opinion still hasn't changed. I made it through 100 pages of this book and didn't enjoy it.
It pains me not to finish a book. The writing just isn't strong enough for me to continue on with it. The main character, Zoey, isn't endearing. She is going through an existential crisis, while dealing with the loss of both parents, all the while judging EVERYONE around her and quoting German philosophers. I don't know if the ideas, presented in the book as Zoey's father's, reflect the author's own political agenda, but the majority of the portion I read centered on those views. All in all, this book is not for me, and I do not plan to finish it.
Save the Enemy centers on a girl called Zoey who recently moved to the D.C. area with her parents and brother, Ben. Shortly after they arrive, her mother is killed in a mugging while walking their dog, then her father is kidnapped. Zoey, only seventeen, now has the responsibility to take care of her brother and find a way to save her dad.
This type of story isn't a typical read for me, but the synopsis sounded interesting enough. However, when I received the book and started reading the first chapter or so, I questioned the writing. Coming back to the book months later, my opinion still hasn't changed. I made it through 100 pages of this book and didn't enjoy it.
It pains me not to finish a book. The writing just isn't strong enough for me to continue on with it. The main character, Zoey, isn't endearing. She is going through an existential crisis, while dealing with the loss of both parents, all the while judging EVERYONE around her and quoting German philosophers. I don't know if the ideas, presented in the book as Zoey's father's, reflect the author's own political agenda, but the majority of the portion I read centered on those views. All in all, this book is not for me, and I do not plan to finish it.
amiewilson's review
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyable, well-paced with a funny & lovable main character. My students are reading this for our Book Club right now. So far, good feedback.
therealestreya's review
2.0
A stream of consciousness book that reminds me a bit of (the better) "Going Bovine" by Libba Bray. It's very improbable but not too out there for the target audience of teenagers. Not one I'd want to read again just because it's not my favorite type of novel.
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