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A review by trisha_thomas
Cracked Up to Be by Khristine Hvam, Courtney Summers
3.0
I'm a little torn with this book.
I thought the main character, Parker, was very well done. Angsty, struggling and imperfect. And she's really going through something - and you are there with her. Through her horrific attempts to make everyone leave her alone, her drinking and these flashbacks to a party and her panic attacks (for anyone that hasn't had one, this book does a very good job of giving some of the nitty-gritty about having them). And Parker's break - it all makes sense. I understand her as the book goes on and I sympathize and don't hate her at all. Her angst and anger is forgivable. Her cruelty - well, I don't know but everyone seems awfully quick to be okay with it...
The only thing I didn't like about this book....I didn't understand Jake. I understood Chris. There was history there. He still loved Parker - but not because she is Parker and is so great but because he knew who she was before AND because he was willing to go through whatever with her. He'd always wanted more of her- and to know what was going on. He loved the whole package and was ready to go through hell and back with her (if that's what it took).
But, she always sounded like a rough person to like - perfectionist that DEMANDS perfection from everyone, not just herself. And Chris had already put up with that (she certainly wasn't nice, she must have been VERY pretty.....)
Except Jake. He's new on the scene. He doesn't see the cool cheerleader girl. He sees the totally spastic one that snaps her fingers all the time, won't answer questions without sarcasm or complete cruelty (and he's a stranger here!)and goes full days without even speaking to Jake even when he tries to talk to her!!!! and YET - he just keeps going back to her, over and over - trying humor, trying to talk to her, trying to follow her...I mean REALLY?!
I just kept thinking 'Why Jake? Why are you taking this from her? How on earth can she be the only hot girl in your school for you to take this abuse?!' I remember high school boys - I don't think he would have tried that hard.
I thought the main character, Parker, was very well done. Angsty, struggling and imperfect. And she's really going through something - and you are there with her. Through her horrific attempts to make everyone leave her alone, her drinking and these flashbacks to a party and her panic attacks (for anyone that hasn't had one, this book does a very good job of giving some of the nitty-gritty about having them). And Parker's break - it all makes sense. I understand her as the book goes on and I sympathize and don't hate her at all. Her angst and anger is forgivable. Her cruelty - well, I don't know but everyone seems awfully quick to be okay with it...
The only thing I didn't like about this book....I didn't understand Jake. I understood Chris. There was history there. He still loved Parker - but not because she is Parker and is so great but because he knew who she was before AND because he was willing to go through whatever with her. He'd always wanted more of her- and to know what was going on. He loved the whole package and was ready to go through hell and back with her (if that's what it took).
But, she always sounded like a rough person to like - perfectionist that DEMANDS perfection from everyone, not just herself. And Chris had already put up with that (she certainly wasn't nice, she must have been VERY pretty.....)
Except Jake. He's new on the scene. He doesn't see the cool cheerleader girl. He sees the totally spastic one that snaps her fingers all the time, won't answer questions without sarcasm or complete cruelty (and he's a stranger here!)and goes full days without even speaking to Jake even when he tries to talk to her!!!! and YET - he just keeps going back to her, over and over - trying humor, trying to talk to her, trying to follow her...I mean REALLY?!
I just kept thinking 'Why Jake? Why are you taking this from her? How on earth can she be the only hot girl in your school for you to take this abuse?!' I remember high school boys - I don't think he would have tried that hard.