PROS:

• well built and executed characters!

• lived and I mean loved the writing style

• i really enjoyed the pacing

• THE PLOT

• THE COVER?! 😘


CONS:

• wasn’t happy with the ending... :(

This book was not good.

The amount of sex jokes and scenes was unbearable. I don’t recommend for ages 14 or under. It was not good, and a waste of my time and yours.

Jesse, I expected better.

This book was too slow!

“WE’RE INVINCIBLE!”

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇᴅ:

The book was a solid read. It didn’t take me long to read (it only took me two days). Not because it was so enthralling, but because it was a quick, easy read.

The plot was really complex and I’m happy with the overall execution of this story. It wasn’t bad. It was done well and made decent sense.

The cover is also very pretty. It’s super shiny and super well done.



ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ:

I wasn’t a fan of the characters. They were really one dimensional and boring as hell. I would constantly be drifting away from the story because of how mind-numbing these characters are.

I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. I’m not sure why, but I just ended up finishing the book, shrugged, and then moved on to the next adventure.


OVERALL RATING: 2.5

hello. welcome to my TED talk.

*sigh* let’s start.

first, as always, things i liked:

• the romance.
where do i start? Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship was amazing. one of the best parts of the books. top three. boom.

why did i like the relationship? first of all, it wasn’t rushed AT ALL. the two took their time to warm up to each other. they slowly learned the small details about each other and slowly got comfortable around each other. it wasn’t insta-love or anything. Peter found out things he didn’t know about Lara Jean and Lara Jean found out things about Peter that she didn’t know in the first place. there was a huge sign above the two that read, ‘WORK IN PROGRESS’. plus, Peter = baby.

• Peter.
literally (probably/most likely) the best character of the whole entire book. he was a really genuine person who has made mistakes and tried his best to fix them. another thing i liked was that he wasn’t the typical ‘popular football guy’. he wasn’t making out with girls left and right. and with Lara Jean he took his time.

• the family aspect.
this one kind of speaks for itself, but let’s talk. we’re shown what it’s like to be in a family of just a father and three girls. we’re shown how close they are. what i really liked was that this book wasn’t just a romance book, but it was also really family focused.




now, what i didn’t like:

• Lara Jean’s personality.
straight off the bat, from Lara Jean, you get this “im not like other girls” bs. honestly. she walked around wearing her ‘quirky clothes’ and she actually cared about her family? she’s NOT addicted to drugs, alcohol, or vape? wow, i wish i was like that! LIKE NO. i can’t stand the vibe she gives off.

• straight up the ending.
to expand on this, the ending only ended the way it did so this book could expand into a trilogy. sorry to say it, but this could’ve been one book. two books at the most. but three? oh God no.

• Margot.
do i even have to explain? Margot was this cardboard-cut-our character who, every time she showed up on page, made me wanna put down the book.


OVERALL RATING: 3

"Whatever you do to the animals,
you do to yourself."

why. why why why why why. just—why. why does my school make me read this. why.

ok. maybe im over exaggerating a little bit.

if you haven't seen my rating yet, i have it a three. but, if im being honest, im debating changing it to a 2.5. aka a 2.

i don't even know where to start. maybe at the beginning? like all stories do? i guess ill give backstory.

it was a warm, bright autumn day. the air felt fresh, and crisp, crunchy leaves fell from trees to the ground below.

i sat in my ELA classroom, giving my (pretty freaking scary) ELA teacher my full attention as she announced we'd be getting our assigned reading books today.

i couldn't decide whether i was happy or not.

last year, there were only two good books we read out of the four. this year could be better...or worse. dun dun dun.

my teacher wasted no time handing out the books. i sucked in a breath when i heard my name being called. i stepped up and grasped the book in my hand.

'Touching Spirit Bear' was the title.

(horrible writing, i know, it's a joke, ok. stop being a sheep)

there. there's my stupid backstory. now, to the actual review.

i didn't read the book when i first got it. i stuffed it in my locker and didn't bother to touch it until my ELA teacher explained to us that we'd be taking the AR test on the book the next week.

so, reluctantly, i picked up the book and began to read.

and here, my friends, is where i will explain the highs and lows.

what i liked:

• character development
Cole's character development was great. he went from jerky mean kid to groovy guru.

Cole honestly scared me at the beginning of the book. i just thought to myself 'what is up with this kid?' as i turned the pages of this book.

he was terrifying. i get that he had anger issues, and was abused his whole life, and probably had bipolar disorder, but still.

and, even after Cole's character development, i still didn't have an ounce of sentiment for him.

i couldn't care less about Cole or what happened to him. he brought everything that happened to him upon himself.

i couldn't care less if the kid died.



• the reality
i mean,,,,,this stuff happens in real life, whether we like it or not.

there are people like Cole whether we like it or not.

periodt.





what i didn't like:

• the 'i actually have meaning'
if you don't know what this means, let me explain:

this book tries so, so, so hard to be a book that teaches you a lesson. it tries so hard to be the 'book that changed my life!' and i hate it.

it's trying to be some sort of preacher. the books that gives you WiSdOm and cHaNgE.

like, bruh.

honestly, if wanted to read a life-changing book i would've just hopped on over to 'The List' or 'Denis Ever After'.




•repetitive
do something bad
go to my cell thing place
talk w/ Garvey
get somewhat released
wallow in self-pity
repeat

that's it. that's the book. boom.



• snooze fest
i was lowkey bored for half the book.

something interesting happened every, like, what, 50 pages? it was boring! we got told for like 50 pages straight that Garvey, Edwin, and Cole danced. and for what? i kinda cringed reading that.




anyway, the book was ok. maybe if you read this genre then you’ll like the book more, who knows.

OVERALL RATING: 2.7