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2.88 AVERAGE
2.88 AVERAGE
Originally posted on Drunk On Pop
This was the worst book I’ver read this year. In fact, if it wasn’t for my Rated YA-MA reading challenge, I would have marked this as DNF around 25% through. Just absolutely horrendous for so many reasons, which we’ll get into. But first: I took a sentence out of the summary to make note of. The summary on Goodreads added this sentence, “The embarrassing photos of “Hayley” in her bathing suit reveal a birthmark on her back–a birth mark Hayley has never shown in public. . . .” This is something that did not even happen in the book. The summary also talks about a secret that Haley’s mom reveals – except she didn’t. The summary involves plot points that don’t even happen, so there’s just one tell that the contents of the book sucked.
This had a lot of potential. I was intrigued by the social media aspect of it and the fact it was part of a series of sorts with other social media related stories. Identity Theft/Catfishing/etc is something that is happening a lot on social media right now and had this been done well it could have been really enjoyable. For one, all of the characters sucked. The main character, Haley, (so unmemorable I had to look back to find her name) is supposed to be one of the smartest girls in school and yet throughout the entire story she acts like the dumbest person I have ever read about. Her, and all of the other characters, we all equally dumb and one-dimensional. Hayley kept blinding blaming people for things with no reason. Then re-made friends with people that have hated her for years. She just let things happen to her and apparently had never heard of the fucking screenshot button. Some characters and “plot points” were introduced with absolute no meaning. We could have gotten to the ending without going through some of these loops at all.
Which speaking about the ending, had the first 3/4 of the book been better the ending almost could have gotten this book a 1.5 or even 2 star rating. The twin that was introduced ended up being clever and sneaky but then all of a sudden the ending happened that made everything else a complete cop out. I am attempting to stay spoiler free here, but it really was one of the most wasted endings in a book. I don’t think I can come up with a more wasteful ending, I really can’t. Then major plot points, things that mattered so much to the main character were never addressed again. What could have been completely creepy and interesting was dumbed down to the point that it was irrelevant. Totally disappointing.
With all of that said, the entire premise of Identity Theft was completely ripped off of other books, specifically Pretty Little Liars. The way the main character was – totally Spencer Hastings. The twin angle is something that occurred in the PLL books, and even the whole stalking and putting people in danger. The way people acted, the way they talked, even things that the characters did – total and complete ripoffs. I would go so far as to say that this book HAS to be some sort of plagiarism. There’s nothing original about it at all. It’s one thing to borrow aspects of other books, but this was extreme and it wasn’t even good. I am very wary of reading the other Point Horror book that I received as an ARC. Blah.
For more reviews like this, visit Drunk On Pop!
This was the worst book I’ver read this year. In fact, if it wasn’t for my Rated YA-MA reading challenge, I would have marked this as DNF around 25% through. Just absolutely horrendous for so many reasons, which we’ll get into. But first: I took a sentence out of the summary to make note of. The summary on Goodreads added this sentence, “The embarrassing photos of “Hayley” in her bathing suit reveal a birthmark on her back–a birth mark Hayley has never shown in public. . . .” This is something that did not even happen in the book. The summary also talks about a secret that Haley’s mom reveals – except she didn’t. The summary involves plot points that don’t even happen, so there’s just one tell that the contents of the book sucked.
This had a lot of potential. I was intrigued by the social media aspect of it and the fact it was part of a series of sorts with other social media related stories. Identity Theft/Catfishing/etc is something that is happening a lot on social media right now and had this been done well it could have been really enjoyable. For one, all of the characters sucked. The main character, Haley, (so unmemorable I had to look back to find her name) is supposed to be one of the smartest girls in school and yet throughout the entire story she acts like the dumbest person I have ever read about. Her, and all of the other characters, we all equally dumb and one-dimensional. Hayley kept blinding blaming people for things with no reason. Then re-made friends with people that have hated her for years. She just let things happen to her and apparently had never heard of the fucking screenshot button. Some characters and “plot points” were introduced with absolute no meaning. We could have gotten to the ending without going through some of these loops at all.
Which speaking about the ending, had the first 3/4 of the book been better the ending almost could have gotten this book a 1.5 or even 2 star rating. The twin that was introduced ended up being clever and sneaky but then all of a sudden the ending happened that made everything else a complete cop out. I am attempting to stay spoiler free here, but it really was one of the most wasted endings in a book. I don’t think I can come up with a more wasteful ending, I really can’t. Then major plot points, things that mattered so much to the main character were never addressed again. What could have been completely creepy and interesting was dumbed down to the point that it was irrelevant. Totally disappointing.
With all of that said, the entire premise of Identity Theft was completely ripped off of other books, specifically Pretty Little Liars. The way the main character was – totally Spencer Hastings. The twin angle is something that occurred in the PLL books, and even the whole stalking and putting people in danger. The way people acted, the way they talked, even things that the characters did – total and complete ripoffs. I would go so far as to say that this book HAS to be some sort of plagiarism. There’s nothing original about it at all. It’s one thing to borrow aspects of other books, but this was extreme and it wasn’t even good. I am very wary of reading the other Point Horror book that I received as an ARC. Blah.
For more reviews like this, visit Drunk On Pop!
A fairly solid horror novel. Imperfect, and not necessarily scary, but quick and enjoyable.
2.5
It was okay. It was actually pretty good until the middle-ish and the end. At that point I found it to be kind of confusing and it just didn't make sense.
The storyline was sort of intriguing and at some points pretty creepy, but like I said, sometimes it was just flat out stupid and did not make sense.
Wouldn't really recommend it.
It was okay. It was actually pretty good until the middle-ish and the end. At that point I found it to be kind of confusing and it just didn't make sense.
The storyline was sort of intriguing and at some points pretty creepy, but like I said, sometimes it was just flat out stupid and did not make sense.
Wouldn't really recommend it.
"Identity Theft" was a quick read for me; I got sucked in!
This book has a little of everything: horror, suspense, romance, jealousy, and insanity. This usually isn't a book I gravitate towards, but I was glad I picked it up.
This book has a little of everything: horror, suspense, romance, jealousy, and insanity. This usually isn't a book I gravitate towards, but I was glad I picked it up.
Initial reaction: I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read "Identity Theft", considering it's among the kind of stories I usually enjoy. It took a while to find its stride and I think I was put off a little by the info-dumpish, pop culture dropping beginning, but once the story started rolling, it became rather entertaining, even if, admittedly, I've read quite a few stories like this before.
Full review:
Confession time: I've never read any of Anna Davies's books before now, but "Identity Theft" certainly encourages me to take a step forward. Reading this was a bit of a throwback to teen horror books I read in my youth from Scholastic Point, and I couldn't be more happy taking the trip back to memory lane. The difference is that this has a modern stamp written all over it, social media incriminations included. And dare I say that this was actually a fun horror story? Even if the heroine was likely the type who would choose the banana over the knife? It's a pretty cut and dry horror read, complete with a few twists that up the ante in a R.L. Stine Goosebumps kind of way.
The story revolves around a young woman named Hayley who is at the top of her school's food chain socially and academically. She's worked hard to vy for the chief editing position of her newspaper, and she's vying for a tough scholarship that will get her into the school of her choice, among other things. Yet that all comes crashing down when Hayley realizes that someone sets up a dummy Facebook profile of her (it's definitely not her considering her former friends chased her off back in the 9th grade). The profile features a girl who looks like her and has incriminating photos. Yet that's only the beginning as Hayley not only realizes the FB profile isn't simply a cruel photoshopping joke, but the start of something far more sinister.
Leave it to a long lost twin sister trying to steal your identity to muck things up. The twin sister really doesn't come into the picture until a good while into the book, so for those readers expecting "epic twin face-off" moment from the get-go, it'll take a bit (but believe me, it happens!). There were a few issues in the book in the beginning with info-dumping and pop culture references that might make the book a little dated as time passes, but once the story started with the manipulations, it was a smooth read to the end for me. I had fun with it, and I think it depends on how you approach it as to what your experience reading this will be like. I wouldn't say it's a story that's terrifying as much as it aims to keep you guessing what will happen next and expose many of the challenging moments Hayley has when discovering the existence of her twin, as well as the plot to invade her life.
And oh my word, that twist ending was probably right on point with what I come to expect from this genre. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I think if you don't mind a rather traditional teen horror romp, and can find interest in watching the ride despite its familiar troupes, this is a good story to go into. I enjoyed it very much and would be willing to pick up more of what's to come with Point Horror as well as Anna Davies' works with respect to this.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Scholastic.
Full review:
Confession time: I've never read any of Anna Davies's books before now, but "Identity Theft" certainly encourages me to take a step forward. Reading this was a bit of a throwback to teen horror books I read in my youth from Scholastic Point, and I couldn't be more happy taking the trip back to memory lane. The difference is that this has a modern stamp written all over it, social media incriminations included. And dare I say that this was actually a fun horror story? Even if the heroine was likely the type who would choose the banana over the knife? It's a pretty cut and dry horror read, complete with a few twists that up the ante in a R.L. Stine Goosebumps kind of way.
The story revolves around a young woman named Hayley who is at the top of her school's food chain socially and academically. She's worked hard to vy for the chief editing position of her newspaper, and she's vying for a tough scholarship that will get her into the school of her choice, among other things. Yet that all comes crashing down when Hayley realizes that someone sets up a dummy Facebook profile of her (it's definitely not her considering her former friends chased her off back in the 9th grade). The profile features a girl who looks like her and has incriminating photos. Yet that's only the beginning as Hayley not only realizes the FB profile isn't simply a cruel photoshopping joke, but the start of something far more sinister.
Leave it to a long lost twin sister trying to steal your identity to muck things up. The twin sister really doesn't come into the picture until a good while into the book, so for those readers expecting "epic twin face-off" moment from the get-go, it'll take a bit (but believe me, it happens!). There were a few issues in the book in the beginning with info-dumping and pop culture references that might make the book a little dated as time passes, but once the story started with the manipulations, it was a smooth read to the end for me. I had fun with it, and I think it depends on how you approach it as to what your experience reading this will be like. I wouldn't say it's a story that's terrifying as much as it aims to keep you guessing what will happen next and expose many of the challenging moments Hayley has when discovering the existence of her twin, as well as the plot to invade her life.
And oh my word, that twist ending was probably right on point with what I come to expect from this genre. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I think if you don't mind a rather traditional teen horror romp, and can find interest in watching the ride despite its familiar troupes, this is a good story to go into. I enjoyed it very much and would be willing to pick up more of what's to come with Point Horror as well as Anna Davies' works with respect to this.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Scholastic.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was a weird book and I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it.
For one thing, if you're expecting a creepy book, one that will keep you up at night, jumping at every noise...well, this is not the book for you. I read an advance copy and a few things in the synopsis weren't true in my book (no birthmark, for example) so I'm not sure if the synopsis is wrong or if a lot of things were changed for publication. (We'll go with that last one.)
My other huge problem with this was that for someone who's supposedly one of the smartest people in her school, Hayley does a lot of dumb things. For example, she's talking to her mom and her mom's boyfriend when she happens to look over at the refrigerator and see a picture of a child that looks just like Hayley but isn't. So clearly it's the twin, right? But she just freaks out. She doesn't show her mom. WHY?! If there is any one person who will recognize that that isn't a picture of you that is somehow in your home and share your concern, it's your mom, right? But instead, Hayley's like, "No! It's all great! You should go out with your boyfriend! Bye, Mom!"
But even though this is a run-of-the-mill book and I had serious credibility issues with a lot of the plot, this book still entertained me and I still kept reading to find out exactly what was going on. Since there is an excellent chance that things were changed, if this book sounds good to you, I can't advise against it. But maybe borrow it from the library before you buy it.
For one thing, if you're expecting a creepy book, one that will keep you up at night, jumping at every noise...well, this is not the book for you. I read an advance copy and a few things in the synopsis weren't true in my book (no birthmark, for example) so I'm not sure if the synopsis is wrong or if a lot of things were changed for publication. (We'll go with that last one.)
My other huge problem with this was that for someone who's supposedly one of the smartest people in her school, Hayley does a lot of dumb things. For example, she's talking to her mom and her mom's boyfriend when she happens to look over at the refrigerator and see a picture of a child that looks just like Hayley but isn't. So clearly it's the twin, right? But she just freaks out. She doesn't show her mom. WHY?! If there is any one person who will recognize that that isn't a picture of you that is somehow in your home and share your concern, it's your mom, right? But instead, Hayley's like, "No! It's all great! You should go out with your boyfriend! Bye, Mom!"
But even though this is a run-of-the-mill book and I had serious credibility issues with a lot of the plot, this book still entertained me and I still kept reading to find out exactly what was going on. Since there is an excellent chance that things were changed, if this book sounds good to you, I can't advise against it. But maybe borrow it from the library before you buy it.