Scan barcode
morgandemming's review against another edition
4.0
This book provides a very real, refreshing view of diet culture with a supernatural twist. I especially enjoyed the cruise element. However, I wish the ending had been different which is why I gave it a 4 ⭐️ not a 5.
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
The story takes place on a cruise ship where you are promised weight loss thanks to this new artificial sweetener. Of course, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is! I really enjoyed this page turning suspenseful, creepy read. A truly new and unique storyline.
rebeshelton's review against another edition
Did not finish at 65%.
Yeah.
Usually I delete books that I don't finish because I don't want them clogging up my books. However, this one deserves a special review, because it made me so angry.
This is the last sentence that I read, 100 pages from the end, that made me close the book forever:
"We're kneeling together, clutching each other. I kiss him. His mouth and then his face, his cheeks, his forehead. I'm desperate to kiss him, suddenly. And I'm crying all over him."
Why is that sentence bad you ask? Because immediately before this make-out sesh they just watched people get killed, they're in the middle of some weird sugar-zombie apocalypse, and HELLO they've known each other for 5 days.
I'm incredibly disappointed that the author felt that there needed to be a romance element to this book. The premise was exciting and I really wanted to know how it ended but honestly all the scenes with Tom and Laurel made me want to throw up. Why oh why is there this insta-love trend in YA books?! Especially when it doesn't even fit in the story line. (Laurel, your best friend is in the middle of an angry, murderous mob and you take this moment to make-out with a guy you don't even know? What the crap?!).
By the way, I did read the last page so I guess I didn't miss much. So long, Sweet.
Yeah.
Usually I delete books that I don't finish because I don't want them clogging up my books. However, this one deserves a special review, because it made me so angry.
This is the last sentence that I read, 100 pages from the end, that made me close the book forever:
"We're kneeling together, clutching each other. I kiss him. His mouth and then his face, his cheeks, his forehead. I'm desperate to kiss him, suddenly. And I'm crying all over him."
Why is that sentence bad you ask? Because immediately before this make-out sesh they just watched people get killed, they're in the middle of some weird sugar-zombie apocalypse, and HELLO they've known each other for 5 days.
I'm incredibly disappointed that the author felt that there needed to be a romance element to this book. The premise was exciting and I really wanted to know how it ended but honestly all the scenes with Tom and Laurel made me want to throw up. Why oh why is there this insta-love trend in YA books?! Especially when it doesn't even fit in the story line. (Laurel, your best friend is in the middle of an angry, murderous mob and you take this moment to make-out with a guy you don't even know? What the crap?!).
By the way, I did read the last page so I guess I didn't miss much. So long, Sweet.
swah's review against another edition
1.0
Extremely cliche, boring, and simply ridiculous.
Sorry to anyone who liked this book, but I found the only thing I liked about this book to be the cover. Everything else sucked.
Sorry to anyone who liked this book, but I found the only thing I liked about this book to be the cover. Everything else sucked.
remlezar's review against another edition
3.0
Really great concept (a horror story on a cruise ship? Awesome.), and I like that it takes on body image issues within the scope of a schlocky survival book.
Unfortunately, the characters were poorly developed and unrealistic, to the point where it was tough to get through certain parts. For example, the female lead's best friend was dealing with something absolutely horrific (staying vague here to avoid spoilers), but the female lead still found the emotional wherewithal to fall in love with a dude who is sooooo cute! ^_^ It just felt ridiculous.
Still, I'll be recommending this one to some of my students. It's a fun, easy read, and the concept is enough to carry you through to the end.
Unfortunately, the characters were poorly developed and unrealistic, to the point where it was tough to get through certain parts. For example, the female lead's best friend was dealing with something absolutely horrific (staying vague here to avoid spoilers), but the female lead still found the emotional wherewithal to fall in love with a dude who is sooooo cute! ^_^ It just felt ridiculous.
Still, I'll be recommending this one to some of my students. It's a fun, easy read, and the concept is enough to carry you through to the end.
samreads_alot's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. My. Goodness.
The hype is real for this book ya’ll!
That ending that I just read..? Fantastic! This is such a crazy book, and I honestly don’t even know what to say about it! I read it so fast! I liked the love story involved the build up, suspense the action. A little bloody for my liking but the concept so insane. I’m definitely staying away from all artificial sweeteners after reading this haha!!!
The hype is real for this book ya’ll!
That ending that I just read..? Fantastic! This is such a crazy book, and I honestly don’t even know what to say about it! I read it so fast! I liked the love story involved the build up, suspense the action. A little bloody for my liking but the concept so insane. I’m definitely staying away from all artificial sweeteners after reading this haha!!!
shelvesofsecrets's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The concept was creepy and interesting and I enjoyed both the main characters.
Laurel was a rare case on the Cruise to Lose. A slightly overweight girl who wasn't dying to change her body. Plus bonus points for the fact that she had a hobby (classical guitar). Laurel was sweet, caring and shy, but also tough enough to survive when things got crazy. Plus she is a poster-child for body love, if that's something you would enjoy.
I found Tom to be an interesting character. A formerly overweight former child star trying to reinvent his image. He has dreams of being a film star, but is stuck going hosting gigs for entertainment shows and now the Solu Cruise to Lose. He's a rather serious guy, but very caring and always tries to be genuine, which is pretty rare on a ship full of minor celebrities and reality tv stars.
One thing that bothered me a bit was that I felt like the romance went too fast. It wasn't instalove, but I would have liked to see a bit more development there.
I liked the danger and building sense of something being wrong. I think Emmy Laybourne does danger and crisis well. Do I think something like this could happen in real life? No, not really, but I think the underlying theme of the dangers of untested 'supplements' is real.
Laurel was a rare case on the Cruise to Lose. A slightly overweight girl who wasn't dying to change her body. Plus bonus points for the fact that she had a hobby (classical guitar). Laurel was sweet, caring and shy, but also tough enough to survive when things got crazy. Plus she is a poster-child for body love, if that's something you would enjoy.
I found Tom to be an interesting character. A formerly overweight former child star trying to reinvent his image. He has dreams of being a film star, but is stuck going hosting gigs for entertainment shows and now the Solu Cruise to Lose. He's a rather serious guy, but very caring and always tries to be genuine, which is pretty rare on a ship full of minor celebrities and reality tv stars.
One thing that bothered me a bit was that I felt like the romance went too fast. It wasn't instalove, but I would have liked to see a bit more development there.
I liked the danger and building sense of something being wrong. I think Emmy Laybourne does danger and crisis well. Do I think something like this could happen in real life? No, not really, but I think the underlying theme of the dangers of untested 'supplements' is real.
linzer712's review against another edition
2.0
While this YA novel touches on many important issues such as media distortion, body image, and celebrity culture and I thought the plot was pretty engaging with likable enough characters, it was too crazy for my liking. Although a cool idea to mix fantasy (it turns almost into a zombie book) & reality, but I had a hard time caring about the characters. For a long-ish book it was a quick read, but the end fell flat for me.
ksa378's review against another edition
3.0
my first thriller book and it was very interesting
hoping solu never exists in our society
things to remember (not spoilers)
- skeletons skeletons skeletons
- fighting for solu and being thin
- lots of death
- laurel and tom
hoping solu never exists in our society
things to remember (not spoilers)
- skeletons skeletons skeletons
- fighting for solu and being thin
- lots of death
- laurel and tom