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an_everyday_penguin 's review for:
By Your Side
by Kasie West
Actual Rating: 2.9
Ok I was really excited about this book when I read the summary. Being trapped in a library would be like a dream come true for me. Also, I usually stick to paranormal/fantasy type books, but every now and then I'll read realistic fiction. It's mostly been a relatively pleasant change in from the usual superpowers and stuff. So I figured I would like it.
I was wrong. At first, I really, really did not like this book. The MC was so annoying and whiny and self absorbed. I mean, when she first met Dax, she was all like 'I can get him to like me because everybody likes me.' And then he obviously just wanted to read and be left alone, and Autumn had this 'Oh my God he's such a jerk because he doesn't like me' train of thought. And I was like seriously? Not everybody has to like you, you know (no offense, but you can't please everyone. People are just like that). Also, she kept convincing herself that her friends were just mixed up and thought she went home or something and I was like 'uhh, seriously? What kind of friends don't realize you were there at all?' Maybe I'm wrong but it seemed like only her friends would be at the bonfire. Also, she specifically said that she needed to go to the bathroom, and then her friends just ditched her.. And the entire time she was in the library, she was complaining about not having anything to do and bothering Dax because she needed a distraction, and as a reader, I feel the need to point out: YOU ARE IN A LIBRARY SURROUNDED BY BOOKS SO WHY DON'T YOU PICK ONE UP AND JUST READ? I PROMISE YOU TIME WILL GO BY A LOT FASTER IF YOU DO THAT.
Later, I guess she was kind of getting better. And what's up with Jeff's mom? She was so strange. I get she needed . Also, her relationship with Dax seemed kind of strange. I don't really know why, it's just one of those feelings. Personally, I think he could have done better. Of course he has to end up with her because that's the way these books go, but I'm not changing my opinion that he could have done better. (I'm going to say that Dax and Autumn ending up together is not a spoiler because it's very obvious from reading the summary that they're going to end up together).
Also,.
. I don't understand why Autumn does basically anything, but whatever.
The ending wasn't too bad I guess. Very predictable (books like these always are, but I still enjoy them usually) and thankfully there was a lot of character growth. The amount of character growth was actually pretty astonishing I guess. To me, anyway. Or maybe that's because I don't really pay attention to character growth. I actually don't usually realize character growth happens because I get so caught up in the book so as they change I change to and I don't notice it because you don't notice you change until you look back. In By Your Side , I wasn't able to get that connection to Autumn at the beginning of the book, so I could clearly see how she changed. If Autumn was as whiny and annoying at the end of the book as she was at the beginning, I probably would have given this book like one and a half stars. But she wasn't and she was a lot more likable at the end, so 2.9 stars it is.
Ok I was really excited about this book when I read the summary. Being trapped in a library would be like a dream come true for me. Also, I usually stick to paranormal/fantasy type books, but every now and then I'll read realistic fiction. It's mostly been a relatively pleasant change in from the usual superpowers and stuff. So I figured I would like it.
I was wrong. At first, I really, really did not like this book. The MC was so annoying and whiny and self absorbed. I mean, when she first met Dax, she was all like 'I can get him to like me because everybody likes me.' And then he obviously just wanted to read and be left alone, and Autumn had this 'Oh my God he's such a jerk because he doesn't like me' train of thought. And I was like seriously? Not everybody has to like you, you know (no offense, but you can't please everyone. People are just like that). Also, she kept convincing herself that her friends were just mixed up and thought she went home or something and I was like 'uhh, seriously? What kind of friends don't realize you were there at all?' Maybe I'm wrong but it seemed like only her friends would be at the bonfire. Also, she specifically said that she needed to go to the bathroom, and then her friends just ditched her.
Spoiler
Her friends get better in the end, but I mean, seriously? You just left her?Later,
Spoiler
when she got out of the library (which I was totally not expecting because for some reason I kinda figured they'd be trapped in the library the entire book),Spoiler
some kind of hope after Jeff's accident, but I don't really understand why Autumn would be that hope and not like Dallin or someone else who Jeff is really close to. I know she explained her reasoning why she didn't want Dallin to see him, but it just didn't really make sense to me.Also,
Spoiler
I get that Autumn has anxiety and it can be really bad, but I don't get why she had to hide it from her friends. If you have anxiety issues and your friends treat you different or turn their backs on you because of it, you need to get new friends. I understood Dallin's point about Autumn always running off very well, but I don't get why she didn't just tell him. Like I said earlier, if they were going to treat her differently, she should get new friends. The whole point of friends is to be included and not feel so different from everyone elseSpoiler
Random point about the book: I really liked her brother. He was a side side side character and showed up like three times, but he seemed like a good guy. But again, I don't get why Autumn pushed him away. He's in college, she doesn't see him, and once he's home she just kind of ignores him, despite the fact that he basically went home just to see herThe ending wasn't too bad I guess. Very predictable (books like these always are, but I still enjoy them usually) and thankfully there was a lot of character growth. The amount of character growth was actually pretty astonishing I guess. To me, anyway. Or maybe that's because I don't really pay attention to character growth. I actually don't usually realize character growth happens because I get so caught up in the book so as they change I change to and I don't notice it because you don't notice you change until you look back. In By Your Side , I wasn't able to get that connection to Autumn at the beginning of the book, so I could clearly see how she changed. If Autumn was as whiny and annoying at the end of the book as she was at the beginning, I probably would have given this book like one and a half stars. But she wasn't and she was a lot more likable at the end, so 2.9 stars it is.