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3.04 AVERAGE
3.04 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
2.5 stars, generously rounded up to 3. I'm a bit conflicted on this one. The story line was cute, if a bit predictable and rote. I read this book because i saw the movie preview on Netflix, and I'm a read-it-before-I-watch-it type of gal. I KNEW this book would be vapid and fluffy BUT it was the actual writing that got in the way of the story. When I started reading this book, i really believed that it was set in England. The language, idioms, etc all led me to believe the book was taking place there, which is fine...except that it's supposed to take place in LA? I don't know if i missed it or what...but after reading about her "trousers" and the girls "chittering" and boys "punching", it set a specific atmosphere for the book that didn't match the location. I've seen some people defend the author for her word choice and I get it, she's young and doesn't have to bend her writing to an American audience EXCEPT that it completely pulled me out of the story and i had to try to re-map everything in my head from another country about 60% in.
That being said, once i realized where the story was set and the acknowledged the disparity in the author's background, I couldn't help thinking that it was written from the perspective of a person who's just seen a lot of movies about "stereotypical" American teenagers, leaving us with a weird cultural blend. The parents are just cool with the SIXTEEN YEAR OLDS drinking frequently (legal age is 21 here) and have no reservations when they find out their children are sleeping together. (Nothing is graphic in the book). They also weirdly have all this time at school to wander around, fight, and skip class without consequences. The love interest also is a "serious bad-boy with a motorbike", gets into trouble - but also makes straight A's and gets into Harvard??? sure, sure, why not?
I've rounded to three stars because, it's likely i'll read the next book eventually. It was a quick, easy read. If you're willing to accept the unlikely premise of the story as the author gives it, it doesn't have any seriously objectionable content. I hope the writing improves as she grows into it. Someone let me know?
That being said, once i realized where the story was set and the acknowledged the disparity in the author's background, I couldn't help thinking that it was written from the perspective of a person who's just seen a lot of movies about "stereotypical" American teenagers, leaving us with a weird cultural blend. The parents are just cool with the SIXTEEN YEAR OLDS drinking frequently (legal age is 21 here) and have no reservations when they find out their children are sleeping together. (Nothing is graphic in the book). They also weirdly have all this time at school to wander around, fight, and skip class without consequences. The love interest also is a "serious bad-boy with a motorbike", gets into trouble - but also makes straight A's and gets into Harvard??? sure, sure, why not?
I've rounded to three stars because, it's likely i'll read the next book eventually. It was a quick, easy read. If you're willing to accept the unlikely premise of the story as the author gives it, it doesn't have any seriously objectionable content. I hope the writing improves as she grows into it. Someone let me know?
5/5 for the 17-year-old Beth Reekles!
But, if I didn't know that a teenage girl wrote this, it would just be 2/5. But I love Beth! (Fan-girling mode!)
But, if I didn't know that a teenage girl wrote this, it would just be 2/5. But I love Beth! (Fan-girling mode!)
Was looking for a light easy summer read and it was that I guess. But was also hoping it was somehow better than the Netflix movie and was very disappointed. The only thing I liked was Lee and Elle’s friendship. Too much unnecessary teenage drama
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Precis som filmen är historien egentligen inget speciellt men den är väldigt lättläst och mysig att läsa👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
This was a self-published book written by a 17 year old, but I was interested in a high school book written by a high school aged person. The problem I couldn't get past was the constant use of the word "overprotective" as a synonym for controlling and emotionally abusive. It never sat right with me how the book romanticizes the male lead character's tendency to tell the female lead she was too naive to make her own choices about men, to physically threaten anybody who looked at her, and to have him continue saying he just did it because he needed to look out for her. I kept reading for two reasons - 1) it's a super quick read and 2) I kept hoping someone would stand up and say "this dude is creepy and borderline abusive, run far and fast". I finished, but I wish I'd walked away and found a book with more positive portrayals of relationships instead.
Listening to an American say ‘they’re scrapping’ completely unironically was mildly traumatising