Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This was a great book.

sorry i didn't even get the time to download this book before it got archived ! Hence wasn't able to read and review it!

Jade Fulton and Ethan Garrett are complete opposites, he's a Christian jock and she prefers to keep to herself. Their paths rarely cross until the night they end up locked in a room together. Will they learn to see past each other's labels to who they really are?
The premise of this story seemed a lot like By Your Side by Kasie West. A boy and a girl who are complete opposites get locked together somewhere overnight. Although this one does involve a robber with a gun and a dad who has cancer. At first I thought this book was going to be a DNF for me since I was having trouble getting into it. So I put it aside til I decided to pick it up again recently. I did end up liking this book and the ending is very sweet.
I received an early ebook version of this book from NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. Sorry it's come months after the books release but I would recommend this book.

This book is full of standard romance tropes. They hate each other, so of course they discover one another's depths and fall in love. Of course his long term relationship is toxic. Of course her dying father urges her to live fully instead of taking care of him. There were a few redeeming points. The girlfriend reveals some depths in the final chapters and the initial portrayal of religion as hypocrisy and judgement is turned around as well.

The blurb seemed so exciting but the story fell short for me. Appreciated the attempt to cover all bases in terms of high school stereotypes and issues, but there were just too many that it compromised my 100% enjoyment of its entirety.

The book is nice and the family dynamics of the characters are well described. I did not take anything more because it seemed flat by about half, could no longer keep me glued to the pages.

This is the type of story that follows the formula of popular boy + invisible girl + emotional backstory. Writing a story that follows this type of formula is difficult nowadays because it is so overused. This types of stories must include something within it that capture its readers and unfortunately, this story did not have that something, for it took me extra lengths to finish this story. Though I understand where this novel is coming from it was not expressed effectively. There was a lack of character arc except for the main characters. I would have preferred if the diversity was spread more throughout the characters instead of having it all concentrated into Jade. The writing was a major reason why this story did not work for me. I understand that all authors have their own way of writing, but this type of writing was just plain and generic. It made the story hard to swallow and continue to read. The pacing was unbearable and sometimes the characters would say something that just made me think...???

Everything in this book came off organically as well it was visually pleasing to the eye and easy to read.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the story of Jade and Ethan, two teenagers on opposite ends of the social spectrum who forge an unusual friendship when they are locked in an aerobics room for hours at the gym where Jade works. They spend the night talking about everything — Ethan’s devout Christianity and Jade’s agnosticism, art, television, actors and actresses, and things they’d rather die than do. They bond over both of their incorrect assumptions about the other’s life, and once they are rescued, they continue to bond over their shared experience at the gym.

While this is a young adult book, and something I normally wouldn’t be drawn to, the idea of this story drew me in. I enjoyed learning about the characters family life and their differences, but about half way through the book it began to fall flat for me and I found myself struggling to finish.

The book with a very interesting title.
Two very opposite perspectives - and not just because of their genders.
One night, many many things revealed that cannot be taken back.
This story makes you think about moments lived and moments that you might have lived but for some reasons didn't.
Good for parents of teenagers as well as teenagers themselves.

DNF after 10%

I enjoy books that touch on different religions and beliefs, and I actually thought Ethan would offer a unique perspective we don't often see in YA books. However, I do have a problem when it feels like the religion or beliefs addressed in the story are being crammed down my throat. Jesus was mentioned every other sentence, and even Jade was voicing her opinions.

At one point, Ethan is trying to sneak up on the robber with a gun, but he's thinking about God. "He doesn’t know you’re going to sneak up on him. Plus, God is with you. He’ll be right by your side. 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.' You can do this, Ethan." I would have been okay with that, because maybe that's where his mind goes when he's afraid, but the entire robbery felt unrealistic. The robber barges into a building and doesn't check for other people before demanding money? Then there are a thousand mirrors in the gym, but Ethan remains invisible? How did the robber not notice him until the last minute?

After being robbed and nearly killed: "He looks at me and squeezes it gently [Jade's hand]. “He’s probably just a junkie looking for a quick fix. My church ministers to that type all the time.'"

Wanting to pray after a near-death experience: "Jade no doubt has me pegged as a Jesus freak and is way too cool for things like prayer. I think she and her weird friend Gia are atheists." (How judgey is he? Really?)

When Jade agrees to prayer: "Maybe this is a way to introduce her to Jesus. Maybe this is all part of His plan."

Some reviewers said the story improved after awhile, but it was just a bit too much for me. I understand that Christianity is a huge part of his identity, but I think it could have been presented a little more delicately. I felt like I was choking on a Bible.

I had a hard time connecting with this book. I couldn’t relate to the characters and although the story was interesting, I wasn’t convinced by the way it progressed nor by the way it’s narrated.

I couldn't get past the first pages. I'm sorry I requested it without reading more what it was about. I struggled a lot and decided to give up.

Dnf'd at 31%

I would first like to say that the religious aspects of this book were not in anyway a flaw and anyone who believes otherwise needs to seriously reexamine themselves because they're hypocrites. A lot of the religious stuff was a little preachy sometimes but that was obviously intentional on the author's part.

This book was not, however, particularly good by any means. Honestly, everything after the two leads finally get rescued from the gym was extremely boring and I lost interest quickly. The book did what it was trying to do well enough but it's just not the kind of story (namely, a contemporary romance) that I enjoy by any means.

I got way more than I was expecting from Christine Hurley Deriso’s novel Things I’d Rather Do Than Die. This novel is a perfect mix of romance, coming of age, with a little religion mixed in.

When I first started Things I’d Rather Do Than Die, I wasn’t expecting any religious aspect, but in the first few chapters it became apparent that religion would play a part in the story. The story follows Jade and Ethan as they deal with the after math of being robbed together and have a forever bond. However, they come from different sides of the tracks. Ethan, quarterback of the football team and strongly religious doesn’t run in the same circles as Jade, agnostic and non-joiner.

I loved these two characters. I did find Ethan to be a little more emotional than I tend to care for, but I understood his dilemma throughout the book. I liked the level of emotional buildup Deriso was able to write and found myself tearing up on more than one occasion.

Deriso was able to draw out emotions in me as a reader, which is always a perk in a book that makes you connect more. She has a very smooth writing style that makes the pages fly by and the story has so much going on that you don’t find yourself wanting to put it down.

Deriso has written a jam packed novel for just about anyone. I’ll definitely be picking up her next one and you should too.

*2.5 Stars*

Right after getting this book from NetGalley, I read some reviews on Goodreads, none of them good. Mostly they were saying that this was a christian book and should have been tagged as such.
Being an atheist, I then dreaded reading this.
However, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.
There was mentions of God and Jesus and shit but it wasn't preaching like I thought it would.

Still, I didn't love the characters and the story didn't do much for me. I rolled my eyes a bunch of times and I couldn't feel the pain the characters felt.
It felt clichéd and predictable to me...
I found the characters all kind of annoying too...
But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be? And it was a fast read.

I confess that I took this book because I saw in the synopsis that it brings religious thoughts of the characters. It is very difficult to find books that show the thoughts of young people in this sense. This is the great highlight of the book.
When Jade and Ethan get stuck in a room in the gym where she works, they begin to throw their thoughts about God, about prejudice, and about their families and ends up even unwittingly creating bonds. But when they leave the place, life seems to return to normal, each one with their own lives but they realize that they do not stop thinking about the conversation that they have that night and so many things change after that.
I liked too much how the writer treated the religious part ( 5/5 stars) but just did not like it much how she treated the romance itself. I thought there were less sweet moments left to make me connect with the couple and have so many idiot boys in the plot that irritates me so much ( 2/ 5 stars). I was sad until one moment that came and moved my structures. The end was so so so cute and full of beautiful and exciting moments that I even forgot my anger and I caught myself wiping the corner of the eye and getting a tight heart. OMG! Perfect moments...

4/ 5 stars

The story was very trope-y, and occasionally I felt like I was reading the author's dissertation on religion, but overall I think enjoyed reading it? Parts of it? I had a lot of problems with Ethan's character, like how he acted so badly to his girlfriend. Just don't take your girlfriend to a party that you are only going to because the other girl you like is going to be there. And I feel like the whole book was the same three conversations over and over and over again. Also please don't compare someone's eyes to Brussels sprouts in a positive manner.

Title: Things I’d Rather Do Than Die
Author: Christine Hurley Deriso
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

Jade Fulton is a senior in high school who only hangs out with her best friend. She spends time with her family: her brother, half-sister, stepmom, and her dad. She watches high school drama from the outside and can’t wait to go away to college. Until her father is diagnosed with aggressive cancer, and her world just doesn’t make sense anymore. Then she’s held hostage in the gym where she works, locked in a dressing room with Ethan Garrett.

Ethan is the star quarterback, popular, high-achieving, and a Christian. He has his life planned out: a scholarship to prove he’s not like his abusive, alcoholic father, life with his cheerleader girlfriend, and growing in his faith. But when he’s locked in the dressing room with agnostic Jade, he soon starts to ask himself questions he thought he already knew the answers to.

Their shared ordeal creates a bond between Ethan and Jade that lingers back in their regular lives. But those questions—and answers—they shared while locked in the dressing room cause them both to realize that what they always had in life is no longer good enough.

I’ve seen a lot of complaints and people marking this book as DNF…because it’s Christian, and they think Christians are too judgmental and close-minded. Which seems a bit hypocritical, considering they automatically refused to read it. And Christians are the ones who are judgmental? Right. Sure, some Christians are judgmental. Just like some people who aren’t Christians are judgmental. Judging an entire group by the actions of a few is never the right choice.

I was impressed that Ethan is a teenage boy with a strong faith. You don’t see that much. Here’s the thing: Ethan actually listens to Jade and starts asking himself and others questions as he learns from her remarks. He realizes he needs to make some changes to the way he thinks, especially about non-believers. I found his wishy-washiness with his girlfriend and the way he kept taking her back pretty annoying, but he’s a teenager. He’s still learning.

Jade has a sizable chip on her shoulder because of her family history, her experiences with racism, her feelings about religion, and her dad’s illness. She’s plenty judgmental, but she’s too close-minded to see it. She does some stupid things during the story, but she learns and attempts to grow from them.

Christine Hurley Deriso is a YA author. Things I’d Rather Do than Die is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Flux in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review
Title: Things I'd Rather Do Than Die
Author: Christine Hurley Deriso
Genre: YA/Romance
Rating: ***
Review: So, the premise of this novel is quite basic, two people who have ideas about the other are locked in a room together and are forced to confront their prejudices and each other. The opening to Things I’d Rather Do Than Die was great, we are introduced to Jade who is sick from what I gather and work at a gym as a part time job while being in school. Jace seems to be an outlier and doesn’t really fit in anywhere but she doesn’t stand out either. We are also introduced to Ethan who is the kind of guy you sit up and take notice of thanks to his good genes and charming personality.
Neither teenager really knows much about the other, but they are thrown together when the gym is robbed, and they end up getting trapped in a room together by the robber. Being locked in together with no way out until tomorrow morning when the manager returns Jade and Ethan decide to get to know each other but it starts with them basically trading insults and apologies for a while, but I have a feeling things are going to get much deeper as the novel progresses. As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, I was under the impression that the whole novel would be set during the lock in but by 3am the pair have been rescued by the police thanks to Brianne, Ethan’s girlfriend and now they have to return to their “normal” lives but after their conversations I don’t think that is going to be possible.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, Jade is struggling with her life as it turns out it is her father that is ill not Jade and that he has cancer. It is obvious that Jade was in denial but after her own brush with death she can’t think that way anymore. Ethan, on the other hand, takes his conversations with Jade to heart and begins questioning his relationship and his religion.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, it is clear to see something is growing between Jade and Ethan I am not sure what it is yet, but Brianne isn’t happy about it and Ethan doesn’t like her behaviour towards Jade. One of the best scene by far is watching Jade get drunk for what I assume is the first time and rush to Ethan’s defence when his father tries making him feel bad. It is strange to see two characters who have a lot in common in terms of their home life as Ethan’s dad is a drunk and Jade’s birth mother abandoned them when they were little so they both understand what is it like to only have one parent but Jade does have her step-mother.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, I don’t know what happened. One minute the budding relationship between the kind and devote Ethan and the cool and cynical Jade seemed so cute but now it seems so toxic. Between Brianne’s jealously and Jade’s coolness Ethan is questioning everything that he is but one thing they have in common is both feel more alone than every before, Ethan because he is questioning his religion and Jade because her only friend is becoming more social and is leaving her behind.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Ethan and Brianne finally break up when she kisses another boy while they’re still dating even after Ethan has tried his damn hardest to make their relationship work. Meanwhile, Jade isn’t happy with her relationship with Rob either, but she is still hung up on Ethan even if she can’t or won’t admit it to herself.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, I honestly felt the book would have been 100x better if all the back and forth between Ethan and Brianne was scraped, Ethan and Jade got together earlier and the epilogue was extended so we actually got to see the real impact her father’s illness had on Jade and her newfound relationship with Ethan.