Cover Image: What to Say Next

What to Say Next

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Member Reviews

I loved Tell Me Three Things last year, so I was super excited for this book. It didn't disappoint at all! Popular girl Kit, who's just lost her father, befriends outcast David, who's on the spectrum. Buxbaum clearly did a lot of research, and it pays off. Kit and David are complex, and their relationship more so. This carried a lot of heavy themes, but had a lot of humor, and ultimately paid off with a feeling of hope. Buxbaum is quickly cementing herself as one of my favorite contemporary YA authors.

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I really think that Julie Buxbaum is the new Queen of cute - because while, yes, her novels deal with some super mega heavy topics, there is also something undeniably charming and sweet and adorable in how her characters meet and interact. I saw it in her debut, "Tell Me Three Things" and that was definitely the case here, in "What to Say Next." I can honestly say that I really liked both Kit and David and thought Buxbaum did an excellent job with the dual narrative. She was able to develop voices that were vastly different yet equally compelling, making every chapter matter. That can be hard to do and Buxbaum accomplished this with ease. I also really liked the twist. I can honestly say I didn't see that coming and that says A LOT! All in all, this is definitely worthy of a place in YA collections and those who enjoyed Buxbaum's YA debut, won't be disappointed.

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Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*

"Tell me three things" was one of the sweetest, funniest contemporaries I read on 2016. I was so, so happy to get the chance read yet another amazing book by Julie Buxbaum!

Kit has just lost her father. Wanting to escape her friends, who insist on making her choose between a too tight jeans and a new boyfriend, she goes and sit right next to David. From there a sweet story begins, moving between Kit's and David's POV.

On the outside, you may see this book as a known cliche where in an american high school you have the popular ones, the jocks, the mean girls and the outcasts. There is bullying and also the teenaged-hormone-filled mind doesn't quite have a grip on things.

Yet David is smart, has an amazing knowldge in math, physics and music and falls for Kit, even when she doesn't know it or when misunderstandings begin to gather. I liked how Kit's relationship with her mother moved. Also Kit is half Indian so you have a good part of diversity representation gathered here.

I can't say much, because it'll spoil you but you really need to give this sweet gem a chance. I truly would love to read more of Kit and David one day, if it'll ever happen!

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I loved the different views of Kit and David. I liked being in his head a bit more than Kit's. He is aspie and sits alone at a table. Kit is dealing with the loss of her dad and starts sitting with him. The ending made me cry but this book was so amazing. I loved that David was honest and kicked butt in a certain scene. I also loved his family

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Recommended for youth and adult readers who like a good mystery. Wonderful read.

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I loved Julie Buxbaum's Tell Me Three Things so I had high hopes for her new book What to Say Next... and she didn't disappoint! It's as well-written and as lovely! This book made me understand autism in a deeper level. It made me cry sad and happy tears. It me feel angry and hopeful. It made me feel a lot of things, making this book another unforgettable read by the same author. I highly recommend it!

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This is the first of Buxbaum's books I have read, though, I have a signed copy of Tell Me Three Things I've had since the 2016 NTTBF that I need to read. I've had the pleasure of meeting this lovely author a couple of times via NTTBF. She's a pleasure to chat with, and now I know she is a really wonderful writer too. She so beautifully portrayed Kit and David as fully realized, authentic sounding teens. Kit is recovering from the horrible tragedy of losing her father in a car accident, and David has struggled with fitting in as a teenage boy with Asperger's in a school filled with kids who haven't been particularly kind to him over the years. The book has such wonderful explorations of friendship between David and his older sister, the friendship that forms between David and Kit, Kit's friendship with her two female best friends, and even the "friendships" that form in high school because of proximity/convenience with people we may not even really like, but social norms dictate we must go through the motions. I have a daughter with Asperger's, so I really appreciate seeing books with realistic and thoughtful portrayals of kids on the spectrum, and David was just so lovely. While he wasn't just like my daughter, elements of him reminded me of her and others kids I've known on the spectrum. There is no set typical kid on the spectrum, and I love that Buxbaum recognizes that if you have met a kid on the spectrum, you've met one kid on the spectrum. She wasn't trying to portray or speak for all kids on the spectrum, yet she so beautifully captured this particular boy who is in an authentic way. Kit is lovely too, and she too reads like a teen girl I could imagine being a real person. The book is written in a dual POV, and both characters have such distinct voices, and you can't help but adore and root for them both. I very highly recommend this wonderful book!

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I really enjoyed this book. There are several books about Asperger's from a girl's point of view, but not many from a teen boy's. The alternating point of views also gave perspective, and the story itself was heartfelt and real.

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Characters were well developed and i liked the family dynamics. I appreciated that there was no sex in this book. I also liked how the chapters were told in alternative view points.

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I loved so much; this is going to my favorites list. The story about how difficult is to “fit in” when you are young. David is a boy who has Asperger's and Kit, just lost her dad in a car accident. The realism of David’s struggles was heartbreaking. How important is to have a family that love you no matter what. I highly recommend this book to everybody .

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I officially love anything Julie Buxbaum writes. Kit and David are two lovable characters, and I especially appreciated getting into the head (and heart) of David, who had high-functioning autism. A bittersweet ride of a book that I devoured in 1.5 sittings.

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