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abbyreads2's review
3.0
This book was an in between for me. For the most part, I really liked it. The only part I didn't like was the whole cheating ordeal. I knew why she was with chris, but It was annoying because the relationship was one sided. Chris was left hanging in the end. I liked the issues mentioned in this book though. It was really sad. And I didn't like how the book ended. There wasn't any closure with her parents. I really wanted to know more. I wanted to see what happened with her parents. I feel like there was definitely something missing. It was kind of in between 3 stars and 4 stars for me. Again, I felt like the author didn't give us any information as to what happened later on with her parents. Did scott finally own up? Did she eventually forgive her dad? How did her mom deal with it? How did it change her relationship with her dad and her mom? Did she finally tell her brother? Did she get into Berkeley? So much question, and not many answers. It was a great read. I think everyone should at least give this book a try. I can't guarantee you'll like it but the issues tackled in this book are very important issues.
sahentig93's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Child abuse
littleyarngoblin's review
1.0
I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t. I’ll start with the positives.
The language at some points was pretty good. “Sebastian’s absence next to me was wrong; it felt more like a presence in itself.” And Sebastian himself, though he’s not seen very much, is really likeable. He’s funny, yet struggling to find where he belongs. He’s very down-to-earth, though he loves astronomy, and I wish I’d seen him more in the book overall, since he’s pretty much the cause of the inciting incident. I loved that there was a list of resources for help with sexual abuse, depression, and substance abuse. It’s one small, yet powerful way authors help readers.
Unfortunately, there are more negatives than positives in The Fix.
There are multiple scenes that are completely unnecessary to the story. There’s one where an animal pukes in the bushes outside Macy’s friend Rebecca’s house. They sort of banter about who will clean it up, and the scene ends with Rebecca threatening social blackmail if Macy didn’t clean the bushes. The action feels so, so forced. Besides various unnecessary scenes, Macy goes off on thought-tangents all the time, especially in the middle of weighty moments; it feels like her mind is wandering to shove pointless information at the reader, even though she should be focusing on the situation at hand.
Then there’s Macy herself. None of her actions make sense in the least. She takes a job at a country club she’s hated her entire life for no apparent reason than the “plot.” Macy’s interactions with her brother and mother are very stereotypical; she’s always teasing her brother about having a girlfriend and fighting with her mother over the smallest things or for no reason. Even her relationship with Chris, her long-time boyfriend, comes across as fake and baseless. I couldn’t figure out why they were together at all.
Stereotypes abound in Macy’s head. “I couldn’t even imagine a fourteen-year-old boy, or a boy of any age for that matter, turning down a chance for a sure-thing hookup.” The expectation for Gavin, Macy’s brother, to get together with his friend-who-is-a-girl is constant. Macy describes the girl as the plain, smart type, who she likes because the girl is a little sassy and notes how skinny the girl is.
The most issues, however, are with the plot. By page 110, nothing has happened except for Macy getting “dreadlocks” and picking a few fights with her mother. (I use quotes because her hair is not meant to healthily form dreadlocks.) While The Fix is marketed as dealing with issues like sexual abuse, depression, and substance abuse, these issues are largely ignored, even though they directly affect Macy. When the book reaches the part where Macy’s “secret” is revealed, it feels more like a lesson on the aftermath of sexual abuse than a book about a girl who was abused.
The romance aspect was painful to read. It’s used as a plot device/way to stir up drama between Macy and her boyfriend. Macy’s attraction to Sebastian is a perfect example of instalove. They have one conversation at a party (he’s high and she’s been drinking) and suddenly, Macy’s going around hanging out with Sebastian and shoving Chris to the side. And yet, Macy and Sebastian don’t have anything in terms of a relationship, aside from a childhood encounter when he was new to the neighborhood. Sebastian’s just a pawn in a terrible game of Plot. There’s a dialogue infodump about him but he doesn’t get much more development beyond that.
Overall, The Fix was a very disappointing read for me. I considered DNFing, but stuck it out to see if it would pick up in the end; it only felt like a rushed, sloppy ending to a slow and uneventful beginning.
The language at some points was pretty good. “Sebastian’s absence next to me was wrong; it felt more like a presence in itself.” And Sebastian himself, though he’s not seen very much, is really likeable. He’s funny, yet struggling to find where he belongs. He’s very down-to-earth, though he loves astronomy, and I wish I’d seen him more in the book overall, since he’s pretty much the cause of the inciting incident. I loved that there was a list of resources for help with sexual abuse, depression, and substance abuse. It’s one small, yet powerful way authors help readers.
Unfortunately, there are more negatives than positives in The Fix.
There are multiple scenes that are completely unnecessary to the story. There’s one where an animal pukes in the bushes outside Macy’s friend Rebecca’s house. They sort of banter about who will clean it up, and the scene ends with Rebecca threatening social blackmail if Macy didn’t clean the bushes. The action feels so, so forced. Besides various unnecessary scenes, Macy goes off on thought-tangents all the time, especially in the middle of weighty moments; it feels like her mind is wandering to shove pointless information at the reader, even though she should be focusing on the situation at hand.
Then there’s Macy herself. None of her actions make sense in the least. She takes a job at a country club she’s hated her entire life for no apparent reason than the “plot.” Macy’s interactions with her brother and mother are very stereotypical; she’s always teasing her brother about having a girlfriend and fighting with her mother over the smallest things or for no reason. Even her relationship with Chris, her long-time boyfriend, comes across as fake and baseless. I couldn’t figure out why they were together at all.
Stereotypes abound in Macy’s head. “I couldn’t even imagine a fourteen-year-old boy, or a boy of any age for that matter, turning down a chance for a sure-thing hookup.” The expectation for Gavin, Macy’s brother, to get together with his friend-who-is-a-girl is constant. Macy describes the girl as the plain, smart type, who she likes because the girl is a little sassy and notes how skinny the girl is.
The most issues, however, are with the plot. By page 110, nothing has happened except for Macy getting “dreadlocks” and picking a few fights with her mother. (I use quotes because her hair is not meant to healthily form dreadlocks.) While The Fix is marketed as dealing with issues like sexual abuse, depression, and substance abuse, these issues are largely ignored, even though they directly affect Macy. When the book reaches the part where Macy’s “secret” is revealed, it feels more like a lesson on the aftermath of sexual abuse than a book about a girl who was abused.
The romance aspect was painful to read. It’s used as a plot device/way to stir up drama between Macy and her boyfriend. Macy’s attraction to Sebastian is a perfect example of instalove. They have one conversation at a party (he’s high and she’s been drinking) and suddenly, Macy’s going around hanging out with Sebastian and shoving Chris to the side. And yet, Macy and Sebastian don’t have anything in terms of a relationship, aside from a childhood encounter when he was new to the neighborhood. Sebastian’s just a pawn in a terrible game of Plot. There’s a dialogue infodump about him but he doesn’t get much more development beyond that.
Overall, The Fix was a very disappointing read for me. I considered DNFing, but stuck it out to see if it would pick up in the end; it only felt like a rushed, sloppy ending to a slow and uneventful beginning.
kimching232's review
3.0
The Fix is an in-between book for me. I felt like the parts that I liked and didn't like were equal, thus I'm giving it 3 stars. It's very hard for me to describe or write a review for this book, so I'm going to do a list review instead.
What I liked:
• The issues tackled - abuse, drugs, mental ilness
• Rebecca - the ever-supportive friend
• The MC's relationship with Gavin, her little brother
• Darren and his observance
What I didn't like:
• The cheating, even though the main character doesn't own up to it.
• How things ended - her relationships with her parents and Chris were left out/hanging.
• The story was slow at times.
It's really hard to review this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I may or may not recommend this book, since I think that this isn't for everyone. If you think that the synopsis is something that intrigues you, then definitely try this out.
What I liked:
• The issues tackled - abuse, drugs, mental ilness
• Rebecca - the ever-supportive friend
• The MC's relationship with Gavin, her little brother
• Darren and his observance
What I didn't like:
• The cheating, even though the main character doesn't own up to it.
• How things ended - her relationships with her parents and Chris were left out/hanging.
• The story was slow at times.
It's really hard to review this book. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I may or may not recommend this book, since I think that this isn't for everyone. If you think that the synopsis is something that intrigues you, then definitely try this out.
ijuliasophie's review
3.0
Definitely made me cry. Loved reading it even though it was sometimes a little bit … idk how to put it - frustrating at some points?
But I think Sinel chose the right words to make me feel the feelings Macy was feeling throughout the story and this is what makes it worth reading. Loved it and I’m kind of sad I’ve finished it haha
But I think Sinel chose the right words to make me feel the feelings Macy was feeling throughout the story and this is what makes it worth reading. Loved it and I’m kind of sad I’ve finished it haha
robynryle's review
4.0
We need more books like this. Books about real kids facing real problems in heroic ways. I love Macy and Sebastian and the diverse community that surrounds them. I love that in the end, it's the women who save each other, the beauty of a solid and supportive female friendship. A mother who comes through in the end. I love that two married men raising their children are just a normal part of the landscape in this story. Great read and can't wait to pass it along to my daughter.
joliendelandsheer's review
3.0
Review first published on my blog The Fictional Reader
First of all, can I say I want that dress or skirt the person on the cover is wearing? That’s so beautiful… I requested this book when I was in a contemporary YA mood, and it seemed like an interesting read. And it definitely was very interesting. I just didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.
So this is the story of Macy and Sebastian, who both are battling certain memories or aspects from their pasts. Sebastian is a drug addict, and Macy… well, I don’t want to tell you yet. The point is that they meet at a party. They talk, but get interrupted and leave. The next day, Sebastian gets checked into a hospital by his mother and Macy starts to visit him.
I’ll start with what I liked. I liked that this book talked about addiction, depression, abuse, therapy and hospitals for teenagers. It’s important to discuss these things. I’m glad they showed therapy in a positive light, how it helped Sebastian. That’s something that should be mentioned in a positive light more -therapy still seems to be a sensitive topic to many. So I loved that part.
I also think the family dynamics in this book are complex and interesting especially in Macy’s case. She has a father who’s away more than he’s home, a mother she feels is too superficial, a younger brother she adores and a cousin who lived with them for years when his parents passed away. I loved how this book showed different aspects of a family’s relationships. Macy had a great relationship with her younger brother, and I think she was an incredible sister to him. She loved her father, even though he wasn’t there often. And her relationship with her mother… well, it was strained. I thought it was incredibly interesting to see why these relationships were the way they were, what events and emotions led to them.
I also think Sebastian’s past was interesting, though very tragic. However, while I’m writing this review I feel like his life was far less developed than Macy’s was. But I think he was an interesting guy. I liked how he “pushed” Macy to talk to someone, at the very least. To confront her feelings. To understand that it’s not okay, and to say so to someone.
Like I said, I enjoyed the issues this story addressed. I think they’re important. But if I separate that from the actual story, I can’t say I love both aspects as much. The story itself wasn’t very captivating to me. I saw most of it coming, aside from one twist at the end. It was all quite predictable, and included some tropes I’m really not a fan of. For example, the trope in which you meet someone who understands you immediately after one sentence, like no one else has. I understand you can feel an understanding and connection after talking to someone, but in this overblown way? Also, I hate cheating. There is no excuse whatsoever for it. Never.
Overall, I think the issues addressed were important but I didn’t love the actual story as much. It was a story I enjoyed, and so I gave it a 3-star rating. It was nice, but it didn’t blow me away.
First of all, can I say I want that dress or skirt the person on the cover is wearing? That’s so beautiful… I requested this book when I was in a contemporary YA mood, and it seemed like an interesting read. And it definitely was very interesting. I just didn’t love it as much as I wanted to.
So this is the story of Macy and Sebastian, who both are battling certain memories or aspects from their pasts. Sebastian is a drug addict, and Macy… well, I don’t want to tell you yet. The point is that they meet at a party. They talk, but get interrupted and leave. The next day, Sebastian gets checked into a hospital by his mother and Macy starts to visit him.
I’ll start with what I liked. I liked that this book talked about addiction, depression, abuse, therapy and hospitals for teenagers. It’s important to discuss these things. I’m glad they showed therapy in a positive light, how it helped Sebastian. That’s something that should be mentioned in a positive light more -therapy still seems to be a sensitive topic to many. So I loved that part.
I also think the family dynamics in this book are complex and interesting especially in Macy’s case. She has a father who’s away more than he’s home, a mother she feels is too superficial, a younger brother she adores and a cousin who lived with them for years when his parents passed away. I loved how this book showed different aspects of a family’s relationships. Macy had a great relationship with her younger brother, and I think she was an incredible sister to him. She loved her father, even though he wasn’t there often. And her relationship with her mother… well, it was strained. I thought it was incredibly interesting to see why these relationships were the way they were, what events and emotions led to them.
I also think Sebastian’s past was interesting, though very tragic. However, while I’m writing this review I feel like his life was far less developed than Macy’s was. But I think he was an interesting guy. I liked how he “pushed” Macy to talk to someone, at the very least. To confront her feelings. To understand that it’s not okay, and to say so to someone.
Like I said, I enjoyed the issues this story addressed. I think they’re important. But if I separate that from the actual story, I can’t say I love both aspects as much. The story itself wasn’t very captivating to me. I saw most of it coming, aside from one twist at the end. It was all quite predictable, and included some tropes I’m really not a fan of. For example, the trope in which you meet someone who understands you immediately after one sentence, like no one else has. I understand you can feel an understanding and connection after talking to someone, but in this overblown way? Also, I hate cheating. There is no excuse whatsoever for it. Never.
Overall, I think the issues addressed were important but I didn’t love the actual story as much. It was a story I enjoyed, and so I gave it a 3-star rating. It was nice, but it didn’t blow me away.
kbranfield's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
The Fix by Natasha Sinel is an emotional story of healing for main protagonist Macy Lyons. After a serious discussion one night with one of her classmates, Sebastian Ruiz, Macy can no longer hold her memories from a series of traumatic childhood events at bay. When she discovers Sebastian has been hospitalized for a drug problem, they strike up an unlikely friendship that is just the beginning of a series of changes for Macy.
On the surface, Macy seems to have it all. She is from a well to do family, she has a marvelous boyfriend and although her relationship with her mom is tense, she is close to her dad and younger brother. However, after her conversation with Sebastian, cracks begin to appear in her facade. Her life is thrown into further turmoil when their annual family vacation has been postponed and she begins working as a counselor with preschool age children. Macy's anxiety increases after learning her cousin Scott is returning for a visit and vague but somewhat disturbing flashbacks begin to hint at a dark secret from her not too distant childhood.
Macy is a strong young woman who appears to have it all together. She is planning for life after high school and working towards her goal of going to college on the west coast. She and her boyfriend, Chris, are childhood friends and she loves spending time with him and his family. Although her best friend, Rebecca, sometimes drives her crazy, she would do anything for her. But soon Macy is spending more time with Sebastian than Chris or Rebecca and her unexpected feelings for him become an added complication to her life.
While Macy and Sebastian initially concentrate on his recovery, he eventually turns the focus of their conversations to her. A delicate dance ensues as she deflects his questions, ignores his observations and redirects the discussion back to his problems. But when she is away from Sebastian, Macy's memories haunt her and she is very confused about her feelings regarding what happened to her when she was younger. As more information is revealed about her past, it becomes clear that Macy has been using unhealthy and risky behavior to cope with her unresolved feelings.
The Fix is a perfect blend of heartbreak and hope as Macy comes to terms with the trauma from her past. Natasha Sinel deftly handles very difficult subject matter with a great deal of sensitivity. Macy's flashbacks are never overly graphic but as the story progresses, her vague memories become more concrete and there is little doubt about what happened to her. I highly recommend this well-written, captivating young adult novel to teen and adult readers.
The Fix by Natasha Sinel is an emotional story of healing for main protagonist Macy Lyons. After a serious discussion one night with one of her classmates, Sebastian Ruiz, Macy can no longer hold her memories from a series of traumatic childhood events at bay. When she discovers Sebastian has been hospitalized for a drug problem, they strike up an unlikely friendship that is just the beginning of a series of changes for Macy.
On the surface, Macy seems to have it all. She is from a well to do family, she has a marvelous boyfriend and although her relationship with her mom is tense, she is close to her dad and younger brother. However, after her conversation with Sebastian, cracks begin to appear in her facade. Her life is thrown into further turmoil when their annual family vacation has been postponed and she begins working as a counselor with preschool age children. Macy's anxiety increases after learning her cousin Scott is returning for a visit and vague but somewhat disturbing flashbacks begin to hint at a dark secret from her not too distant childhood.
Macy is a strong young woman who appears to have it all together. She is planning for life after high school and working towards her goal of going to college on the west coast. She and her boyfriend, Chris, are childhood friends and she loves spending time with him and his family. Although her best friend, Rebecca, sometimes drives her crazy, she would do anything for her. But soon Macy is spending more time with Sebastian than Chris or Rebecca and her unexpected feelings for him become an added complication to her life.
While Macy and Sebastian initially concentrate on his recovery, he eventually turns the focus of their conversations to her. A delicate dance ensues as she deflects his questions, ignores his observations and redirects the discussion back to his problems. But when she is away from Sebastian, Macy's memories haunt her and she is very confused about her feelings regarding what happened to her when she was younger. As more information is revealed about her past, it becomes clear that Macy has been using unhealthy and risky behavior to cope with her unresolved feelings.
The Fix is a perfect blend of heartbreak and hope as Macy comes to terms with the trauma from her past. Natasha Sinel deftly handles very difficult subject matter with a great deal of sensitivity. Macy's flashbacks are never overly graphic but as the story progresses, her vague memories become more concrete and there is little doubt about what happened to her. I highly recommend this well-written, captivating young adult novel to teen and adult readers.
leyza052's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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? No
4.25
biz1214's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Accurate portrayal of some of the feelings that happen with CSA and addiction. There were some things that felt insensitive mostly with mental illness. I hate books that make what happened or who did the assault or abuse a mystery plot line and I thought that’s what was happening here but it wasn’t. I think the delay of the full story fits with the plot of going from repression to openness. Overall pretty cute and good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts