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desiree930 's review for:
Life Unaware
by Cole Gibsen
TW: Self-harm, suicidal thoughts/actions, bullying, anxiety
This book surprised me. It's been sitting on my shelves for awhile now. I'm trying to get my physical TBR down to a manageable number (it's out of control) and so I've been reaching for random books that I might not normally pick up in the course of a normal reading month.
I initially thought I would read 50 pages or so, dislike the book, DNF and ultimately un-haul it. I am so happy to be wrong. This book had layers and complexity that I wasn't expecting. It's not a perfect book, and the issues I had made it difficult for me to give it higher than 3 stars, but I think it actually hits more than it misses.
Synopsis:
Regan is a high school junior. She is the daughter of a Congresswoman. Her mother has very exacting standards and is very critical of her daughter in every way imaginable. As a result, Regan has developed an anxiety disorder and has resorted to bullyish tactics in order to maintain her position in her school's social hierarchy. That is, until all of her deceptions become public knowledge and she becomes a social outcast.
What I liked:
1. The discussion surrounding bullying. I thought this was done really well. I also think it's a very timely subject that was handled with sensitivity and care. I don't know that I've read many books where our main character is a bully. I knew going into the book that this was the case, which may have led to my low expectations. A protagonist doesn't have to be likable for me to enjoy the book, but I wasn't sure if there was going to be anything that would help me connect to this character. It could've gone so wrong, but I actually empathized with Regan's situation. I also liked that she takes responsibility for her words and actions. There is a redemption arc in this story that makes her a much more relatable character.
2. The discussion surrounding anxiety. As someone who has had panic attacks in the past and is close with someone who has also dealt with anxiety, this felt so authentic to me. I actually felt myself become anxious as Regan attempted to navigate the aftermath of her texts being leaked.
What I didn't like:
1. Predictability. There is a reveal near the end of the book that I guessed 42 pages into the story. I don't know that it was even foreshadowed very well. It felt like a very easy twist to figure out, to the point that I was surprised that Regan didn't realize it sooner. Although, to be fair, she was going through a lot of stress and drama so I can understand her not being able to figure it out. So nothing in this book really surprised me, which I was kind of hoping was going to happen.
2. Too-neat ending. I liked the ending of this for the most part. Without getting too spoilery, our protagonist learns her lesson. However, there are a few things that didn't quite strike me as believable. For example, there is one character who has been awful to Regan the entire way through the book, knowing all about Regan's anxiety, and at the very end this character does a complete 180. It just didn't feel true to me. I don't believe it. I wish there had been more groundwork laid down to redeem that character.
Other thoughts:
1. The romance was kind of cute, but it happened far too quickly. These characters have known each other for years, and their relationship has been antagonistic, to say the least. But just because they both end up being misfits, they fall in love with each other. It happens very quickly. One day she is bullying him, the next she is rejected by her peers, the next he's comforting her in a bathroom stall while she has a panic attack, and then she can't stop thinking about him. It was just too quick.
2. I don't understand how none of the teachers or faculty were aware of what was going on with Regan. Her texts and emails were printed out and plastered all over the school, yet not a single faculty member knew about it? Come on. It was little inconsistencies like this that made it hard for me to rate over 3 stars.
At the end of the day, I did enjoy this book. Far more than I thought I was going to. I am interested to look into more of Cole Gibson's work in the future.
This book surprised me. It's been sitting on my shelves for awhile now. I'm trying to get my physical TBR down to a manageable number (it's out of control) and so I've been reaching for random books that I might not normally pick up in the course of a normal reading month.
I initially thought I would read 50 pages or so, dislike the book, DNF and ultimately un-haul it. I am so happy to be wrong. This book had layers and complexity that I wasn't expecting. It's not a perfect book, and the issues I had made it difficult for me to give it higher than 3 stars, but I think it actually hits more than it misses.
Synopsis:
Regan is a high school junior. She is the daughter of a Congresswoman. Her mother has very exacting standards and is very critical of her daughter in every way imaginable. As a result, Regan has developed an anxiety disorder and has resorted to bullyish tactics in order to maintain her position in her school's social hierarchy. That is, until all of her deceptions become public knowledge and she becomes a social outcast.
What I liked:
1. The discussion surrounding bullying. I thought this was done really well. I also think it's a very timely subject that was handled with sensitivity and care. I don't know that I've read many books where our main character is a bully. I knew going into the book that this was the case, which may have led to my low expectations. A protagonist doesn't have to be likable for me to enjoy the book, but I wasn't sure if there was going to be anything that would help me connect to this character. It could've gone so wrong, but I actually empathized with Regan's situation. I also liked that she takes responsibility for her words and actions. There is a redemption arc in this story that makes her a much more relatable character.
2. The discussion surrounding anxiety. As someone who has had panic attacks in the past and is close with someone who has also dealt with anxiety, this felt so authentic to me. I actually felt myself become anxious as Regan attempted to navigate the aftermath of her texts being leaked.
What I didn't like:
1. Predictability. There is a reveal near the end of the book that I guessed 42 pages into the story. I don't know that it was even foreshadowed very well. It felt like a very easy twist to figure out, to the point that I was surprised that Regan didn't realize it sooner. Although, to be fair, she was going through a lot of stress and drama so I can understand her not being able to figure it out. So nothing in this book really surprised me, which I was kind of hoping was going to happen.
2. Too-neat ending. I liked the ending of this for the most part. Without getting too spoilery, our protagonist learns her lesson. However, there are a few things that didn't quite strike me as believable. For example, there is one character who has been awful to Regan the entire way through the book, knowing all about Regan's anxiety, and at the very end this character does a complete 180. It just didn't feel true to me. I don't believe it. I wish there had been more groundwork laid down to redeem that character.
Other thoughts:
1. The romance was kind of cute, but it happened far too quickly. These characters have known each other for years, and their relationship has been antagonistic, to say the least. But just because they both end up being misfits, they fall in love with each other. It happens very quickly. One day she is bullying him, the next she is rejected by her peers, the next he's comforting her in a bathroom stall while she has a panic attack, and then she can't stop thinking about him. It was just too quick.
2. I don't understand how none of the teachers or faculty were aware of what was going on with Regan. Her texts and emails were printed out and plastered all over the school, yet not a single faculty member knew about it? Come on. It was little inconsistencies like this that made it hard for me to rate over 3 stars.
At the end of the day, I did enjoy this book. Far more than I thought I was going to. I am interested to look into more of Cole Gibson's work in the future.