Reviews

(Don't You) Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn

lillyvannilly's review against another edition

2.0

I hate giving a book 3 stars, 2 for me is almost unheard of. I’ve been pushing off reading this book for around 2 years now and I can see why. While the book had an interesting concept it fell very short for me. The characters were not likable or relatable. I had no one to root for. Any sort of plot twist didn’t shock or move me and many times I was annoyed with the main protagonist. Unfortunately I did not enjoy this read.

kaeliwolf's review against another edition

Technically, I just skimmed the book. It was so boring. I read the first couple pages and the last chapter and I felt fulfilled with reading this awful book.

graysonahrensbennett's review against another edition

4.0

As a longtime magical realism fan, I'm always excited to see YA entries into the genre. That said, this book was quite different in tone or substance from most other magical realist stories. It was a few shades grittier and more grounded than, say, All the Crooked Saints or The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender- hey, what is up with these long-ass magical realism titles? Anyhow, this book teeters right on the edge of being a paranormal horror, and honestly, I think that's great.

More important than the genre are the characters and their relationships, which were beautifully rendered. Skylar, our utterly unreliable narrator, is wonderful in that her relationship with every person in her life is utterly unique. This is something that many authors struggle to portray, but just like any real person, Skylar reacts to the way others behave. Trustworthiness earns her trust; weakness earns her pitying disinterest; cruelty earns her loathing. And the glorious complexity of her relationship with her sister Piper is truly the highlight of the novel.

All in all, a fantastic and multilayered read that will suck you into a dark world, then gift you with surprising bits of light to bring back with you.

beastreader's review against another edition

2.0

This is the second book I have read by this author. I am seeing a pattern in these books. The author likes to draw out little bits and pieces of the character and story she is telling and have the reader follow her on a journey as she slowly reveals the final product of the puzzle. Only this book had me on the fence about it. On the one hand I liked the uniqueness of Gardnerville and was intrigued by all of the secrets it held. Like the fact that every four years people go missing. Thus the town has lost it's fun appeal. It no longer holds its annual parade as there is nothing to celebrate. Skylar's older sister, Piper is one of those people who went missing. Skylar can not stop thinking about Piper and where she might have disappeared to. She is on a mission to find her. This is where things should have gotten interesting and the story should have picked up some. It did not really pick up or maybe it was just me and I did not get it. The uniqueness wore off on me. I would be reading and go "ok that was alright" or " yeah that was fine" but nothing like "Yes, I really liked that" or "Did I just read that". Again because I thought it was just me. I had walked away from the book for a while and came back and randomly flashed forward and read for a bit and then skipped forward again to the ending and was like nope it was not me. I just did not like this book.

go_maggs_go's review against another edition

4.0

The last time I read a book that got under my skin like this, it was All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry.
I loved almost everything about this, most especially that the novel seems to start out in the middle of the story and then we have to, along with Skylar, figure out what led us to that point and where it's going from there.

justlily's review against another edition

3.0

I read Kate Karyus Quinn's book Another Little Piece a couple years ago and it blew me away. After I finished it, I said I'd read every book she ever published. Finding genuinely creepy and truly unique YA horror books is super rare--and she pulled it off with that one.

This one not so much. It takes a good 60% of the book before anything really happens, and then when it does, it left me feeling very-- Meh? I didn't feel like I got all my questions answered. I also felt like she could have done so much more with the idea of Gardnerville. However, her story to tell so who I am to say. I guess it just wasn't what I thought I was going to get.

I also couldn't stop being annoyed by the fact that the love interest's name was Foote. Like yeah, I got the reference and it made sense but... Who wants to kiss a guy named Foote? Hard pass.

So it was okay. Not good, not bad, just there in the middle. But I'll still read everything Kate Karyus Quinn ever publishes.

sleepysamreads's review against another edition

3.0

There's something so refreshing about reading a book that's completely unique. And that's what this book is- unique. The writing is fantastic, and I really did enjoy the story. That being said, something about this book just didn't feel right to me. I can't even put my finger on exactly what it is, though. I definitely don't regret reading it and I'm going to check out other books by the author.

theillumiletty's review

1.0

I read this entire book and still have no clue what it was about. This displeases me greatly.

marleyhoggatt's review against another edition

4.0

I’m not sure what I just read, but I think I liked it?

leahka89's review against another edition

1.0

I tried. I really tried. I saw all the awesome reviews on GR and just knew this book would be awesome. Unforunately, I can't make it any further than pg100. I hate not finishing a book, but sorry book, I'm breaking up with you.

For my full review check out my blog