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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Review originally posted at www.fictitiousdelicious.com on 10/29/14:
**I normally write spoiler-free reviews, but this one contains spoilers. I feel like it has to in order to proper explain why this story didn't work for me in the way I was hoping it would.**
When I pick up a book that contains subject matter like SOME BOYS does, I expect to feel a good amount of anger, frustration and empathy. But more than anything, really, I hope to see character growth since these kind of stories are so strongly character driven. So even though there are pieces of SOME BOYS that I enjoyed immensely, the lack of believable growth in these characters made me more angry than I should probably admit.
Grace is raped by a horrible boy named Zac. His actions and the fallout that poor Grace lives through because of this disgusting act is nicely written by Blount. The anger I felt for that boy was real and watching Grace be ostracized by even those closest to her felt, sadly, authentic. Blount is a gifted writer.
What didn't work for me in this story is the fact that Grace is "saved" by Zac's BFF, Ian. See, Grace and Ian could have very well been a couple before Grace was raped, but now that Zac has been with her, she's off limits to Ian. Plus, there's the fact that she's trying to ruin Zac's life by reporting their sexual act as rape. Just like everyone else, Ian doesn't believe that Grace was raped. He comes close to believing it a couple times, but never really gets there. HOWEVER. He does something important anyway. He sticks up for Grace during a scene in which Zac confronts Grace and is successful in getting him to back down. Kudos, Ian! But I wanted GRACE to be the one to push through and get to Zac. *shrugs* Maybe that just isn't possible in this case. I get it. That being said, my respect for Ian was lost almost immediately when he grovels back to Zac and the "cool kids" for forgiveness in sticking up for Grace. His wishy-washy-ness drove me (and Grace) to the brink of tears.
In the end, it takes video proof for Ian to believe that Grace was raped. Video proof. Not her side of the story. VIDEO. PROOF. Then he decides to proclaim his love for her. NO. Just...no. I wanted Grace to throw two strong words that rhyme with "truck flew" at Ian and walk away from him. A boy that loves you doesn't need video proof to believe that you've been violated. And NO WAY Grace should have opened her arms to him. I seriously wanted to throw my e-reader across the room when I finished this story. I was that upset.
But you know what? As a reader, I don't have to like the way a story goes. If someone picks up this book and finds strength in Grace's story then THAT is what matters. And based on some of the reviews I've read, people have identified with Grace and her story. That makes me so happy! I don't consider this a love story. It is Grace's story and she is strong. By herself.
**I normally write spoiler-free reviews, but this one contains spoilers. I feel like it has to in order to proper explain why this story didn't work for me in the way I was hoping it would.**
When I pick up a book that contains subject matter like SOME BOYS does, I expect to feel a good amount of anger, frustration and empathy. But more than anything, really, I hope to see character growth since these kind of stories are so strongly character driven. So even though there are pieces of SOME BOYS that I enjoyed immensely, the lack of believable growth in these characters made me more angry than I should probably admit.
Grace is raped by a horrible boy named Zac. His actions and the fallout that poor Grace lives through because of this disgusting act is nicely written by Blount. The anger I felt for that boy was real and watching Grace be ostracized by even those closest to her felt, sadly, authentic. Blount is a gifted writer.
What didn't work for me in this story is the fact that Grace is "saved" by Zac's BFF, Ian. See, Grace and Ian could have very well been a couple before Grace was raped, but now that Zac has been with her, she's off limits to Ian. Plus, there's the fact that she's trying to ruin Zac's life by reporting their sexual act as rape. Just like everyone else, Ian doesn't believe that Grace was raped. He comes close to believing it a couple times, but never really gets there. HOWEVER. He does something important anyway. He sticks up for Grace during a scene in which Zac confronts Grace and is successful in getting him to back down. Kudos, Ian! But I wanted GRACE to be the one to push through and get to Zac. *shrugs* Maybe that just isn't possible in this case. I get it. That being said, my respect for Ian was lost almost immediately when he grovels back to Zac and the "cool kids" for forgiveness in sticking up for Grace. His wishy-washy-ness drove me (and Grace) to the brink of tears.
In the end, it takes video proof for Ian to believe that Grace was raped. Video proof. Not her side of the story. VIDEO. PROOF. Then he decides to proclaim his love for her. NO. Just...no. I wanted Grace to throw two strong words that rhyme with "truck flew" at Ian and walk away from him. A boy that loves you doesn't need video proof to believe that you've been violated. And NO WAY Grace should have opened her arms to him. I seriously wanted to throw my e-reader across the room when I finished this story. I was that upset.
But you know what? As a reader, I don't have to like the way a story goes. If someone picks up this book and finds strength in Grace's story then THAT is what matters. And based on some of the reviews I've read, people have identified with Grace and her story. That makes me so happy! I don't consider this a love story. It is Grace's story and she is strong. By herself.
This book was amazing. From stories I've heard working in mental health, this is scarily accurate for girls who have experienced the aftermath of rape, especially when the perpetrator is someone who is beloved or idolized. I think this book should be a required text for teenagers. It teaches a really good lesson about standing your ground and standing up for what you believe in, even if it's easier to sit down. It teaches a good lesson about the price of being a blind follower, especially when that person has done the unthinkable. I think it also has the power to give a voice to people who have been victims of sexual assault.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
I don't usually write book reviews. Therefore, I don't know how to start this review without saying how amazing of a book this was. Grace is the strongest fictional character i've ever read about. She conquered her bullies and stood up for what is right, no. matter. what. This book inspired me. it made me laugh, cry, angry, and hope. This book taught me that there is light at the end of the tunnel. That you can find a way to make peace and find a way to be happy. Rape is a crime. This is a great book to read if you have or even if you haven't been sexually assaulted. I highly recommend this book to everybody.
3,5
Great message but unfortunately I’m no longer in the target age and it shows. If I had read this years ago I’d have loved it.
Great message but unfortunately I’m no longer in the target age and it shows. If I had read this years ago I’d have loved it.
Grace is great - she's strong, she's fierce, and she's dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault by someone she knew and trusted. That's not easy. Grace, her mom, and Ian's dad (I loved Ian's dad, actually) are the only reason this book gets two stars. Otherwise, I'd give it zero.
The rest of the characters, however, are shallow, fake, two-dimensional, and wishy-washy. Ian's the biggest dickhead I've encountered in recent literature, and Grace should NEVER have ended up with him. He only believes her after watching a 6 minute video of her being raped - THREE TIMES IN A ROW - then TEXTING it to his fucking coach of the lacrosse team! That's an invasion of privacy and I'd kill him if I were Grace.
Honestly I can't come up with a more coherent review than this. Save your time - don't read it unless you like strong characters ending up with patriarchal douche bros who tell women they "look better without makeup" every other chapter.
I've never reviewed a book on GoodReads, but I feel compelled to now because the characters were so awful. There are plenty of excellent books dealing with rape culture and high school sexual assault, but this is not one of them.
Also, I fucking hate Ian.
The rest of the characters, however, are shallow, fake, two-dimensional, and wishy-washy. Ian's the biggest dickhead I've encountered in recent literature, and Grace should NEVER have ended up with him. He only believes her after watching a 6 minute video of her being raped - THREE TIMES IN A ROW - then TEXTING it to his fucking coach of the lacrosse team! That's an invasion of privacy and I'd kill him if I were Grace.
Honestly I can't come up with a more coherent review than this. Save your time - don't read it unless you like strong characters ending up with patriarchal douche bros who tell women they "look better without makeup" every other chapter.
I've never reviewed a book on GoodReads, but I feel compelled to now because the characters were so awful. There are plenty of excellent books dealing with rape culture and high school sexual assault, but this is not one of them.
Also, I fucking hate Ian.
My original review of this title can be found here on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 3 stars! Some Boys gutted me in so many ways, from the realistic portrayal of rape culture and how a victim’s struggle is never over–that sometimes the battle after the ordeal can be more hurtful than the actual tragedy– to seeing how everyone else copes with learning about the biggest betrayal a girl can every experience. I think the author delivered some very important messages, but I was conflicted over how other things were handled, but that’s only my personal views.
♥ The Lowdown: Grace experiences something no person should every have to go through. After accusing the town’s golden boy of rape, everyone has their doubts because it’s classic he said versus she said. But when Zac, the alleged rapists, leaks a very incriminating video of Grace during the supposed moments of rape, everyone– friends, schoolmates, teachers, and even her dad– turns against her, blaming her or saying she asked for it. They call her a liar, a slut, a whore. Just when it’s starting to feel like she has no one to lean on, aside from her mom who also has her opinions about what led to her assault, she finds a friend in the most unlikely of places.
Ian, Zac’s best friend and teammate, has been crushing on Grace for years. Just when he had worked up the nerve to ask her out, Zac made his move and then when he had sex with her and she cried rape, she became totally off limits. But then when two separate instances land them with the same punishment, he gets to hear that there are two sides to every story, and no matter how much he fights Grace’s accounts of that night, she keeps getting under his skin. No matter how much he wants to deny that his best friend is capable of that kind of monstrosity, he can’t help but believe her.
But hardly any road to realization is smooth and easy, people are imperfect and make bad decisions, and Ian is capable of making horrendous ones. Told through alternating first person point-of-views between Grace and Ian, we watch two people struggle through betrayal, trust, and owning what’s right even if it’s the harder road to take.
♥ My Thoughts: Titles like Some Boys are always so difficult for me to review. I’m always caught somewhere in-between being furious at all the non-believers and slut-shamers (which inevitably ties into my rating even though I try really hard not to let it influence it) and how long it takes them to be slapped in the face without some type of evidence before they are ready to make amends/apologize and begrudgingly realizing that the timeline is somewhat realistic. However, there are usually someone besides a parent that is on the accusers side and it makes the brunt of the harsh words easier to bear. That was not the case with this novel. I absolutely loathed just about everyone in this book aside from the heroine– who was absolutely kick ass, but I’ll elaborate on that more in a bit– and her mom and Ian’s dad. At times, it felt like the author exaggerated the onslaught Grace had to face daily, especially when those weren’t met with any repercussions. No one, not even teachers or students, were really ever held accountable for what they did or said, and the apologies came too little too late for my taste.
Then there was Ian. He frustrated to be point that I was ready to toss my kindle at a wall and scream. I completely understand that a person caught in his position will waver and fail and rise to the occasion, but it was the extremes from which he bounced– I completely on your side, I believe you to when he was trying to save face in front of his friends If I eat that pizza, will I catch an STD? comments. (I’m paraphrasing a bit, but you get the gist.) It was maddening, and who cares if he did what was right in the end, he still didn’t deserve Grace if you ask me.
Now, let me get to the saving grace (heh, see what I did there?) of this novel and probably why my rating is as high as it is… Grace was the perfect example of a heroine, in my opinion. She was brave and vulnerable and a fighter and opinionated and when every chip was stacked against her, she still barreled forward, demanding to be heard. To be believed. I cheered her on. I fistpumped like crazy when she stuck it to people, both physically and mentally. My heart literally ached for her and I just seriously wanted to pull her into my arms and squeeze her. Her messages throughout spoke of true girl power, fighting against rape culture and turning the victim into someone to be persecuted, and I truly have to commend the author for incorporating that into this book. For speaking so outwardly about a real current issue plaguing the world and doing so in a positive manner.
Alas, I’ve come to the part where I have to talk about the ending, one which I felt was a little too perfect and cookie-cutterish. Maybe it speaks more about my character that I was a little outraged by how easily Grace forgave people. After experiencing such hurt, her willingness to lay down and forgive so many people after the truly horrific things they did, especially after she had so much fire and fight throughout the book, read too much like the author was trying to tie things up with bows and ribbon. It just felt a little uncharacteristic of Grace, but it’s not something that I can’t live with, it just disappointed me a little.
♥ Rec It? This definitely isn’t one that I can recommend to everyone. It was a tough read. The author doesn’t cut corners on the graphic nature of the rape, though it’s not recounted explicitly, nor does she hold back on the harsh words and cruel actions of people. I think it’s important that she tackled the issues she did and the manner in which she did them, but rape is a sensitive subject for most and I could understand their need to steer clear. That said, if you can handle the raw honesty of Blount’s delivery, I think she definitely addressed topics that should be discussed and pondered over.
♥ A very special thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest thoughts.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 3 stars! Some Boys gutted me in so many ways, from the realistic portrayal of rape culture and how a victim’s struggle is never over–that sometimes the battle after the ordeal can be more hurtful than the actual tragedy– to seeing how everyone else copes with learning about the biggest betrayal a girl can every experience. I think the author delivered some very important messages, but I was conflicted over how other things were handled, but that’s only my personal views.
♥ The Lowdown: Grace experiences something no person should every have to go through. After accusing the town’s golden boy of rape, everyone has their doubts because it’s classic he said versus she said. But when Zac, the alleged rapists, leaks a very incriminating video of Grace during the supposed moments of rape, everyone– friends, schoolmates, teachers, and even her dad– turns against her, blaming her or saying she asked for it. They call her a liar, a slut, a whore. Just when it’s starting to feel like she has no one to lean on, aside from her mom who also has her opinions about what led to her assault, she finds a friend in the most unlikely of places.
Ian, Zac’s best friend and teammate, has been crushing on Grace for years. Just when he had worked up the nerve to ask her out, Zac made his move and then when he had sex with her and she cried rape, she became totally off limits. But then when two separate instances land them with the same punishment, he gets to hear that there are two sides to every story, and no matter how much he fights Grace’s accounts of that night, she keeps getting under his skin. No matter how much he wants to deny that his best friend is capable of that kind of monstrosity, he can’t help but believe her.
But hardly any road to realization is smooth and easy, people are imperfect and make bad decisions, and Ian is capable of making horrendous ones. Told through alternating first person point-of-views between Grace and Ian, we watch two people struggle through betrayal, trust, and owning what’s right even if it’s the harder road to take.
♥ My Thoughts: Titles like Some Boys are always so difficult for me to review. I’m always caught somewhere in-between being furious at all the non-believers and slut-shamers (which inevitably ties into my rating even though I try really hard not to let it influence it) and how long it takes them to be slapped in the face without some type of evidence before they are ready to make amends/apologize and begrudgingly realizing that the timeline is somewhat realistic. However, there are usually someone besides a parent that is on the accusers side and it makes the brunt of the harsh words easier to bear. That was not the case with this novel. I absolutely loathed just about everyone in this book aside from the heroine– who was absolutely kick ass, but I’ll elaborate on that more in a bit– and her mom and Ian’s dad. At times, it felt like the author exaggerated the onslaught Grace had to face daily, especially when those weren’t met with any repercussions. No one, not even teachers or students, were really ever held accountable for what they did or said, and the apologies came too little too late for my taste.
Then there was Ian. He frustrated to be point that I was ready to toss my kindle at a wall and scream. I completely understand that a person caught in his position will waver and fail and rise to the occasion, but it was the extremes from which he bounced– I completely on your side, I believe you to when he was trying to save face in front of his friends If I eat that pizza, will I catch an STD? comments. (I’m paraphrasing a bit, but you get the gist.) It was maddening, and who cares if he did what was right in the end, he still didn’t deserve Grace if you ask me.
Now, let me get to the saving grace (heh, see what I did there?) of this novel and probably why my rating is as high as it is… Grace was the perfect example of a heroine, in my opinion. She was brave and vulnerable and a fighter and opinionated and when every chip was stacked against her, she still barreled forward, demanding to be heard. To be believed. I cheered her on. I fistpumped like crazy when she stuck it to people, both physically and mentally. My heart literally ached for her and I just seriously wanted to pull her into my arms and squeeze her. Her messages throughout spoke of true girl power, fighting against rape culture and turning the victim into someone to be persecuted, and I truly have to commend the author for incorporating that into this book. For speaking so outwardly about a real current issue plaguing the world and doing so in a positive manner.
Alas, I’ve come to the part where I have to talk about the ending, one which I felt was a little too perfect and cookie-cutterish. Maybe it speaks more about my character that I was a little outraged by how easily Grace forgave people. After experiencing such hurt, her willingness to lay down and forgive so many people after the truly horrific things they did, especially after she had so much fire and fight throughout the book, read too much like the author was trying to tie things up with bows and ribbon. It just felt a little uncharacteristic of Grace, but it’s not something that I can’t live with, it just disappointed me a little.
♥ Rec It? This definitely isn’t one that I can recommend to everyone. It was a tough read. The author doesn’t cut corners on the graphic nature of the rape, though it’s not recounted explicitly, nor does she hold back on the harsh words and cruel actions of people. I think it’s important that she tackled the issues she did and the manner in which she did them, but rape is a sensitive subject for most and I could understand their need to steer clear. That said, if you can handle the raw honesty of Blount’s delivery, I think she definitely addressed topics that should be discussed and pondered over.
♥ A very special thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest thoughts.
➳ 2 1/2 stars
All the stars for tackling such an important topic, but the execution left me wanting more, and certain arguments and sentiments could have been explored better, and more thoroughly.
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All the stars for tackling such an important topic, but the execution left me wanting more, and certain arguments and sentiments could have been explored better, and more thoroughly.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Bloglovin’
Однозначно must read! Просто нет слов, великолепная книга, великолепная героиня и великолепное послесловие от автора. Побольше бы таких книг.
If you've ever been assaulted.... Or if assault is a trigger....please skip this read. I beg you. It's not a story of overcoming. It's not a story of conquering. It's a story of a sexual assault and a girl who gets tormented and discredited.In the era of #metoo, this book will not age well.
I'm not dissing the author. I just feel very passionately about the toxic ideas this book presses. Patty took a difficult and sensitive topic...and went the wrong way with it, in my opinion.
What went wrong?
-The males in this book all have the same train of thought. It's Grace's fault that Grace got raped. It was said REPEATEDLY in this book that she draws attention to herself. Because her heels are too high. Her pants are too tight. She shows too much skin. Her goth makeup gives the impression that she's not a nice girl. Her dad went as far to suggest that if she dressed more like her stepmother, guys would think she's a nice girl then she wouldn't have had that problem.
This is SOOO TOXIC. I'd be willing to overlook this IF AND ONLY IF, the ideas were corrected by the end of the book. They weren't. The entirety of this book expresses this over and over and over.
-Immature writing. I'm willing to offer a little leniency here simply because these are high school students. If you think I'm being harsh here, Grace, a natural brunette, dyes her hair dark. Why? Because her stepmom has blonde hair and Grace can't have people comparing her natural brunette hair to her stepmom's blonde hair. Does that make any sense to you? It doesn't to me.
What else doesn't make sense?
Grace hoards the school's camera. She said she simply cannot return it. She has to prove what happened to her. That gives the impression that something on her camera will prove she was raped. There isn't. She STALKED HER RAPIST EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK to get a photo of his face. Why? Because his game practice face is "feral" and the last thing she remembers. So a picture of his feral face during lacrosse practice will prove she was raped.
Also, there's A GIANT PLOTHOLE NOBODY SEEMS TO ADDRESS.
Ian, boy love interest, finds Grace on the ground, bleeding and unconscious. He wakes her up. Takes her to the hospital because she said she's been raped. She names her rapist and he doesn't believe her. SHE SAID SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS WHEN SHE WAS RAPED, AND HIM, WHO WOKE HER UP, DIDN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS. What?
There was a weird scene were she thought wearing a makeshift burka would make her less appealing to men. So she said, "you're welcome" to every man because if she covers herself, she's preventing them from raping her and she took that burden away from them. But you know. You're welcome? All she did was offend an Afghanistan girl.
In the end, I guess there's an HEA? People finally believe her. She gets the boy. Her and her stepmom will attempt a relationship. Her dad assured her she was loved. The mean girls and boys apologized. All that went wrong got swept under the rug. The end.
I'm not dissing the author. I just feel very passionately about the toxic ideas this book presses. Patty took a difficult and sensitive topic...and went the wrong way with it, in my opinion.
Why do girls not get that there's a fine line between looking good and asking for it?This is just ONE example of the awful expressions in this book.
What went wrong?
-The males in this book all have the same train of thought. It's Grace's fault that Grace got raped. It was said REPEATEDLY in this book that she draws attention to herself. Because her heels are too high. Her pants are too tight. She shows too much skin. Her goth makeup gives the impression that she's not a nice girl. Her dad went as far to suggest that if she dressed more like her stepmother, guys would think she's a nice girl then she wouldn't have had that problem.
This is SOOO TOXIC. I'd be willing to overlook this IF AND ONLY IF, the ideas were corrected by the end of the book. They weren't. The entirety of this book expresses this over and over and over.
-Immature writing. I'm willing to offer a little leniency here simply because these are high school students. If you think I'm being harsh here, Grace, a natural brunette, dyes her hair dark. Why? Because her stepmom has blonde hair and Grace can't have people comparing her natural brunette hair to her stepmom's blonde hair. Does that make any sense to you? It doesn't to me.
What else doesn't make sense?
Grace hoards the school's camera. She said she simply cannot return it. She has to prove what happened to her. That gives the impression that something on her camera will prove she was raped. There isn't. She STALKED HER RAPIST EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK to get a photo of his face. Why? Because his game practice face is "feral" and the last thing she remembers. So a picture of his feral face during lacrosse practice will prove she was raped.
Also, there's A GIANT PLOTHOLE NOBODY SEEMS TO ADDRESS.
Ian, boy love interest, finds Grace on the ground, bleeding and unconscious. He wakes her up. Takes her to the hospital because she said she's been raped. She names her rapist and he doesn't believe her. SHE SAID SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS WHEN SHE WAS RAPED, AND HIM, WHO WOKE HER UP, DIDN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS. What?
There was a weird scene were she thought wearing a makeshift burka would make her less appealing to men. So she said, "you're welcome" to every man because if she covers herself, she's preventing them from raping her and she took that burden away from them. But you know. You're welcome? All she did was offend an Afghanistan girl.
In the end, I guess there's an HEA? People finally believe her. She gets the boy. Her and her stepmom will attempt a relationship. Her dad assured her she was loved. The mean girls and boys apologized. All that went wrong got swept under the rug. The end.
The only reason Grace went to the party that night was in the hopes of seeing Ian, but when too much drinking leads to her being raped by the school’s golden boy, she is called a liar and a slut. No one believes her, including her family. Through a series of unrelated events, Grace and Ian are given the punishment of cleaning the student lockers. Not only is Grace required to work side by side with her crush, Ian is also the best friend of the boy who raped her. Will Grace find friendship and healing?
Some Boys is told in alternating chapters between Grace and Ian. One of the interesting aspects of this book is when they both tell about events they both were present for. The reader discovers what happened to the first character and then when the next chapter is started, the reader has to back up in time to see it from a different point of view. I liked that we were able to know what each of these teens were thinking and feeling during these events. Blount’s writing style is easy to read and will be quickly devoured by teens and adults alike. Many deep and troubling truths are presented in this romance novel.
Some Boys is told in alternating chapters between Grace and Ian. One of the interesting aspects of this book is when they both tell about events they both were present for. The reader discovers what happened to the first character and then when the next chapter is started, the reader has to back up in time to see it from a different point of view. I liked that we were able to know what each of these teens were thinking and feeling during these events. Blount’s writing style is easy to read and will be quickly devoured by teens and adults alike. Many deep and troubling truths are presented in this romance novel.