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lisakerd's review
3.0
I wasn’t sure what I was suppose to get out of this book, it only marginally expanded on the synopses and probably would have been better suited as a short story.
It was difficult to connect with Frankie and her intense, life-long obsession with the poster. The story became so repetitive, and (trust me) you’re going to be sick of the poster phrase long before the book ends.
But—Kevin Wilson’s writing is so simplistically appealing. Like Quentin Tarantino’s film dialogue that can be so trivial but completely sucks you in. He writes in a way that the details make the characters and setting come to life. Also, the 90s nostalgia was fun.
It was difficult to connect with Frankie and her intense, life-long obsession with the poster. The story became so repetitive, and (trust me) you’re going to be sick of the poster phrase long before the book ends.
But—Kevin Wilson’s writing is so simplistically appealing. Like Quentin Tarantino’s film dialogue that can be so trivial but completely sucks you in. He writes in a way that the details make the characters and setting come to life. Also, the 90s nostalgia was fun.
erileyu's review
Kevin Wilson has this writing style that’s so relatable but so weird and freaky at the same time. I end up loving the characters so much and carrying them in my heart even though they’re all a little bit insane.
I loved this page (166):
"I hated being a teenager."
"I don't hate it," I said, feeling a little affronted.
"Well, I did," he told me, looking so sad. "Not because I thought something better was coming. I just never felt right inside my own body."
"I feel that sometimes," I admitted.
"And then I got older, and, guess what? I still never felt right inside my body. I don't think I ever will. I kind of flamed out everywhere I went, always got a little less than what I thought I'd get. But I guess that's okay. I think maybe it's necessary to feel like you're not quite settled, or maybe for some people it's necessary."
"Even if you do feel settled," I suggested, "something could happen to ruin it."
"Yeah, that's true," he said, laughing. "I guess I just mean that sometimes your mom says that things will be better for you in the future. And I think they will, Frankie. I think you're really smart and I think you'll do fine. But I also think it's not so bad if you never quite feel right in this world. It's still worth hanging around. You just have to look harder to find the things you love."
And:
I was protecting him because I guess I thought he needed it. And if I protected the person who hurt me, who had broken me, then I was stronger than he was and I was stronger than anyone who might try to hurt us more.
And maybe that would bring him back.
I'd made the decision that I would forgive him, and I wouldn't apologize for that. And I'm not apologizing now.
I loved this page (166):
"I hated being a teenager."
"I don't hate it," I said, feeling a little affronted.
"Well, I did," he told me, looking so sad. "Not because I thought something better was coming. I just never felt right inside my own body."
"I feel that sometimes," I admitted.
"And then I got older, and, guess what? I still never felt right inside my body. I don't think I ever will. I kind of flamed out everywhere I went, always got a little less than what I thought I'd get. But I guess that's okay. I think maybe it's necessary to feel like you're not quite settled, or maybe for some people it's necessary."
"Even if you do feel settled," I suggested, "something could happen to ruin it."
"Yeah, that's true," he said, laughing. "I guess I just mean that sometimes your mom says that things will be better for you in the future. And I think they will, Frankie. I think you're really smart and I think you'll do fine. But I also think it's not so bad if you never quite feel right in this world. It's still worth hanging around. You just have to look harder to find the things you love."
And:
I was protecting him because I guess I thought he needed it. And if I protected the person who hurt me, who had broken me, then I was stronger than he was and I was stronger than anyone who might try to hurt us more.
And maybe that would bring him back.
I'd made the decision that I would forgive him, and I wouldn't apologize for that. And I'm not apologizing now.
tlich's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
alli_oopsie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nzlisam's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Well, this sure was different!
It’s the summer of 1996, and sixteen-year-old Frances (Frankie) Budge is over the sameness of her small town of Coalfield, Tennessee. Her dad has left town and has a new daughter (who he has also named Frances) by another woman. Her mom is working all the time, and her older triplet brothers are off doing their own thing. She has no friends and spends her days at home bored out of her brain. Then she meets Zeke, who’s staying with his grandmother for the summer, and the two form an instant friendly romantic connection. On a whim they decide to create an artistic poster with a made-up, mysterious quote coupled with macabre drawings and plaster them all over town.
It was meant to be a fun joke, but soon the people of Coalfield are obsessed with the poster and finding out who’s behind it – rumours and conspiracy theories are rife – and by the end of the summer some people will even have died because of it.
Frankie and Zeke vow to keep their secret – and for twenty years they are successful. But then Frankie receives a phone call from someone who knows what she did…
Now is Not the Time to Panic was such a hard one for me to rate and review as I really struggled with the 1996 story arc. Some of it was hilarious, I laughed out loud several times, but most of it was utterly bizarre and out there. I get that was the author’s intention, but it didn’t work for me.
But then I loved Part 2 – the fallout and consequences – so I guess I was more invested in Part 1 than I realised because I really wanted to know what happened and was completely satisfied with where and how it ended. So, I’ve settled on 3.5.
An unusual read, but one that ended up surprising me in a good way.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Text Publishing, and Kevin Wilson for the e-ARC.
alixjack's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
torigray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
loloslibros's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kathrynshields's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This story is what you’d get if the protagonists from a John Green novel grew up and had to face their past. I especially appreciated that the story set in rural Appalachia that wasn’t about tragedy or poverty.
beanpod's review
4.0
I read Wilson’s Nothing to See Here and liked it, but didn’t see in it something that would stick with me. Now Is Not The Time To Panic has more of that feeling. I think it is because of the relatable depiction of feeling outside of everything looking in, and the importance of having someone who really sees you. Of the passion of the age, and the feeling of being ready for something (anything!) to happen.
I love the question about the responsibility of the artist (or author) for any negative events inspired by it. I love how it is addressed by different people with very different conclusions.
I find it interesting that once again Wilson writes from a female perspective. This is not a judgement! Just an observation I wish I had someone to talk about it with.
I love the question about the responsibility of the artist (or author) for any negative events inspired by it. I love how it is addressed by different people with very different conclusions.
I find it interesting that once again Wilson writes from a female perspective. This is not a judgement! Just an observation I wish I had someone to talk about it with.