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okafon's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book could have been good if it was way shorter and actually had a plot. I almost dnf’ed it. Decided to just finish it. Nothing really happens in this book. The lists are cool I guess.
lauragellison's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I got this book ages ago, like many people, because I thought the list structure sounded cool - and it is. The ‘mark’ thing was kind of cute, and the music theme throughout had its moments. But it is largely plotless and I had no sense of time while reading it. There is no character development, or maybe even negative development, and I don’t have much hope for Darren at the end. I don’t doubt that his changing family situation is very hard, but he is just so nasty to the people around him and I found it hard to get through. If he wasn’t so shallow and judgemental, he might have more friends. Maybe that’s the point, I don’t know.
It’s also classic MPDG trope - Darren just wants the weird girl to fix him and also become less weird (ie grow her hair, wear colour and take her piercings out), never mind the very real problems Zoey is probably facing off the page (she is only on a few of them anyway). Rachel also deserves to get angry at him.
Plus, he keeps saying he’s a vegetarian, but he eats fish. Maybe that shouldn’t bother me as much as it does.
I do want to visit Chicago, though.
It’s also classic MPDG trope - Darren just wants the weird girl to fix him and also become less weird (ie grow her hair, wear colour and take her piercings out), never mind the very real problems Zoey is probably facing off the page (she is only on a few of them anyway). Rachel also deserves to get angry at him.
Plus, he keeps saying he’s a vegetarian, but he eats fish. Maybe that shouldn’t bother me as much as it does.
I do want to visit Chicago, though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Animal death
dr_tree's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I picked this up because I thought a story told entirely in lists was an interesting way to tell a story and I think it works for this book (but wouldn't work for many!) because it is essentially told from the perspective of a teenager going through a period of angst. Much like Catcher in the Rye, I could appreciate the authentic voice but still not really like the story. It's just sometime hard to love characters that are so self-centered and whiny despite that essentially being a true representation of the teen experience. So kudos to the author for capturing it, now on to the next story.
tovetott's review against another edition
I'm gonna do myself a favor and dnf this jsjsjdjd
This is a re-read anyway, and I have way more books on my shelves that I really WANT to read, and knpwing I "have to finish" this one is not helping me get out of the reading slump I'm currently in 💀
I originally got this book because of the lists because I thought it was a really cool way of telling a story, and I still think it is, but the problem is that the story of this one is just not that enjoyable and Oh So Slow.
I don't care enough about the (homophobic) characters enough to continue (I don't remember it getting any better either tho tbh) and I feel bad about Darren's poor dad who's just trying his best.
We'll see how long I keep it on my shelves, but know it will be purely because of the lists. Not so much because of the story, sadly.
This is a re-read anyway, and I have way more books on my shelves that I really WANT to read, and knpwing I "have to finish" this one is not helping me get out of the reading slump I'm currently in 💀
I originally got this book because of the lists because I thought it was a really cool way of telling a story, and I still think it is, but the problem is that the story of this one is just not that enjoyable and Oh So Slow.
I don't care enough about the (homophobic) characters enough to continue (I don't remember it getting any better either tho tbh) and I feel bad about Darren's poor dad who's just trying his best.
We'll see how long I keep it on my shelves, but know it will be purely because of the lists. Not so much because of the story, sadly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Homophobia
dahldahlbills's review against another edition
3.0
Frankly this book was too all over the place to properly enjoy. It wasn’t really about anything??? It was just the mc and his random thoughts that didn’t really serve a purpose. I’d give this 2.5 stars for being somewhat entertaining every few pages and for a unique way of storytelling. As for the story itself, it really wasn’t that great. Kinda disappointed
acrickettofillthesilence's review against another edition
3.0
The list style worked surprisingly well in this book, but it also hid the fact that there wasn't much of a plot. The author's sardonic sense of humor made me chuckle a number of times, especially when he used the title of a list to play off of the list itself. Then again, Darren, the main character, has practically no character growth through the course of the 640 page book, which is pretty impressive.
louiselibrary's review against another edition
2.0
This book was picked up on a whim solely because it was written in lists. This book unfortunately did not live up to my expectations. In honor of this book, my review will be written in list form:
1. The characters were mediocre and they were very bland. Darren was annoying and whiny (he is 15 though). The characters just did nothing for me
2. It is written in third person which I think should be written in first. It would be more personal.
3. There wasn't really a plot. It dragged on forever and ever.
Overall this book wasn't for me. 2/5
1. The characters were mediocre and they were very bland. Darren was annoying and whiny (he is 15 though). The characters just did nothing for me
2. It is written in third person which I think should be written in first. It would be more personal.
3. There wasn't really a plot. It dragged on forever and ever.
Overall this book wasn't for me. 2/5
isabella1018's review against another edition
3.0
This was very differnt and special and I loved it.
christiana's review against another edition
1.0
I came for the lists but I'm not sure why I stayed. This book is LONG (don't let the lists fool you!) and I can't think of a single person I could give this to. I was hopeful near the beginning of kind of a Winger/Fat Kid Rules the World type readalike BUT NO. Maybe adults would like this better than teens?