I would give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars

Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I found the writing to be disjointed and hard to follow at points. The book lives up to the title, while I appreciate what the author was trying to accomplish, for me this was just kind of dull.

I tried hard to like this book but it wasn’t for me. A lot of the times when I don’t like books I read other people’s review to get an aspect of what they thought and sometimes it changes my mind to see the novel from their point of view and it did. I’m not too sure which review it was but the reviewer had the analogy of a novel either being a ‘window’ book or ‘mirror’ book. A window book is one where you are on the sidelines watching, never experiencing. A ‘mirror’ book is the type that you live or the events that happen in the book can 99.9% chance happen in your life. So Nothing by Annie Barrows is a ‘mirror’ book.

As much as I hate to say it, I don’t like my life all too much, it is bland and not much happens, much like Nothing. I will always want to read a ‘window’ book because that is what reading is all about, being able to transport your real life to a fantasy you can pretend to live it, to give hope for all of our lost souls.

The plot was bland and it didn’t have any high points but the ending was good. I found the book to be extremely cringy and embarrassing. I didn't enjoy it and the characters were bad in general. Then again it is a mirror book and my life is a cringe-fest, yet I could not relate to this book which was strange but I could see girls in my grade acting like the characters in this book. It was kind of train wreck.

To summarise, I didn’t like it but I finished it and if you are looking for a mirror book, give it a try.

1.5/5

DNF at 51%.
I told myself I would read this book at least 50% through to see if it would get better, it didn't. The entire premise of this book is a teenage girl writing about her high school life and the fact that nothing happens, and this is literally all the book is about. I kept waiting for something to happen, either for me to click with the narrator, or for an event to take place that would keep me intrigued, but neither of these happened.
I get what Barrows is trying to do here, YA books can sometimes be written around this premise and be engaging, cute and entertaining but I found the two girls in this book to be unlikeable, the way they speak made me roll my eyes more than once, and I did not care about their every day lives at all.
A friend and I were recently lamenting the fact that it is hard to find strong, female characters in YA books these days (think Looking for Alibrandi and Tomorrow When the War Began female characters) and this book certainly didn't provide.

I quite enjoyed this - true to the title, nothing much really happens in the course of this book. Written in alternating viewpoints between Charlotte and Frankie, Nothing is a book about friendship, and about the day-to-day lives most people lead - where apart from a few special moments, nothing much (much less novel worthy) does happen.

Finally! A book that comes with its own cover story!

"What are you reading?"

"Nothing."

The banter between Frankie and Charlotte hooked me before they'd even finished their first conversation. I loved their friendship! They were both fluent in sarcasm, were self-deprecating and funny. They got frustrated with one another. They knew each other so well and supported each other, even when supporting meant tough love. They were real! The way Frankie and Charlotte talked and thought reminded me of a rapid fire Gilmore Girls script. I could definitely imagine a teenage me being friends with these girls.

Nothing unfolded through alternating chapters. Charlotte's first person written account of how nothing interesting ever happens to them was followed by third person prose that focused more on Frankie. This type of format can be hit and miss, but this time it worked for me. There weren't gaping holes in the narrative where you needed to catch up and the changeover between first and third person didn't feel disjointed.

I don't exactly know how the author managed it but this book about nothing and how boring it is that nothing ever happens is actually quite interesting and very entertaining. Between the nothingness and the boredom, there are friendships (obviously), families, first kisses, parties, a road trip, drugs, alcohol, school, mobile phones, swearing, a stick figure, driving lessons, and plenty of ridicule aimed at YA book clichés, although not in that order.

The style had me believing that this could easily have been written by a teenager. Not in a condescending 'ugh' way, but in a 'the author captured the teenage experience, including the way they talk' way. I'd happily sign up for another instalment of the nothingness and boredom of these girls' lives.

I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback. I'll be checking out the author's back catalogue and will be on the lookout for future releases.