Cover Image: "Truly, Madly, Amy"

"Truly, Madly, Amy"

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book focuses on family and friends with a touch of romance. I really enjoyed the character development. It wasn’t my favorite by the author but was worth reading.

Was this review helpful?

"We become the people we choose to be, and that's what matters. It's not who we are at the beginning, it's who we are at the end."

Who doesn't remember the first time they fell in love hard? Their first summer of semi-independence? Truly, Madly, Amy while marketed as a YA romance, to me was much more of a coming-of-age novel, with a romance component. In it we meet Joe (in 1999), who spends his summer as a summer camp counselor, where he meets Amy, a fellow camp counselor, a girl who will have a big impact on the choices he makes that summer. Joe is trying to figure out what happens after summer, trying to find a way to handle his mother's depression and his sister moving out, and just in many ways, trying to figure out what this life thing is all about.

I absolutely loved the scene setting in this book. The summer camp vibes were strong, and brought me back to my own summers at camp. Nostalgia! I also liked how the relationship between Amy and Joe developed, though I needed a bit of time to find Amy as charming as Joe seemed to find her. More so than the romance storyline, I loved seeing Joe grow. Finding his way in his somewhat difficult home situation, as well as figuring out which of his friendships were good and not so good for him. Unfortunately, the pacing in this book was up and down to me, but overall the writing style made this into an easy enough read. I liked how the story wrapped up in the present, so we could see some of the long-term impact on Joe.

Truly, Madly, Amy is nothing earth-shattering, but I think the pleasure in reading this book is exactly in that familiarity of finding one's place in the world.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture Audio, and #NetGalley for this audiobook ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

CW for the book: death, grief, depression, suicide, drinking/alcohol, drug use, classism, COVID (most of this book is set in the late 90's with a jump to present day towards the end)

Truly, Madly, Amy follows Joe Miller as he leaves high school and navigates a world of grief, anger, and the unknown future. And, of course, getting to know Amy.
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, and felt captivated by the sweet sadness of Joe and the side characters. This is a slower story, and most definitely not just a romance, but I think a lot of people will find it relatable. The story explores the dichotomy between wealth and poverty from the perspective of a boy struggling to see his future. It's a lot for a young person to take on, but it's what so many kids deal with every day. And that's just one of the facets of the book, without getting into spoiler territory. This is a contemplative coming-of-age story that felt very real. I could relate to several layers of this story, growing up fast and wanting to bask in summer just a little longer. I think that's where a lot of the nostalgia lies for me.
I also enjoyed Joe Jameson's reading of the story, and thought he was a great fit for the audio.

Thank you again for the chance to read this novel!
4 out of 5 stars

Was this review helpful?

Truly Madly Amy by Kerry Wilkinson. The story begins at the start of the summer after Joe graduates from high school. He has no real future plans. Ends up getting talked into by his sister being an assistant counselor at a children's camp for the summer. That is where he would meet and fall in love with Amy. Amy grew up in a different town with a different set of problems growing up. Her parents never worried about money the way that Joe's family did. I loved how their relationship grew organically and that they didn't care what their parents did, it was just them and how they enjoyed each other's company. The person Joe was at the beginning of the summer was not the same Joe at the end of the summer. Truly a wonderful story of coming to age and how a lot of growing up can happen that summer after graduating high school.

I rated this 5 stars because Kerry did a great job bringing it all together with the family aspects and different friendships.

This book was published on July 21st, 2022

Thank you Bookouture for the gifted audiobook.

Was this review helpful?

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Truly, Madly Amy' by Kerry Wilkinson.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 21st July 2022.

This is the fifth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Child Across The Street', 'The Party At Number 12', 'The Boyfriend', 'The Child In The Photo' which I would also recommend reading.

I was originally drawn to this book by its cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Mike Gayle, and anyone who remembers the carefree days of being just sixteen, when the world was full of possibility.' I am a huge fan of David so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Kerry and if this is as good as 'The Child Across The Street' 'The Child In The Photo', 'The Party At Number 12' and 'The Boyfriend' it is sure to be an excellent read. I am also excited to see what his writing style is for a completely different genre to what I'm used to with his psychological thrillers. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 55 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in England, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited England on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that Kerry has based the book on.

This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Joe Miller. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.


Well, well, well Wow!!! What an absolute cracker of a book!!! This book sucked me straight in from beginning to the extremely emotional ending. It was extremely well written with excellent descriptions which put me straight into the storyline making me feel like a teen again. The blog and the cover suited the book perfectly.

I must say that when I originally seen this book and then seen the author I most definitely had to do a double take!!! You know when you know an author for one genre, you have read several of their books and then BOOM you've gone from psychological thriller to coming-of-age teen, it takes quite a while to get over the shock!!! So, I did my research, discovered That YES this IS the same Kerry Wilkinson that has set my heart racing and put me on the edge of my seat and filled with tension. I am then a bit dubious and concerned wondering whether this man who can keep me up worrying if my door is locked at night can really make a successful romance. Well, I had absolutely nothing to worry about whatsoever!! Kerry is obviously a man of many talents and absolutely smashed romance just as well as he does psychological thrillers!! Congratulations Kerry that is an absolutely fantastic achievement!!!! Anyway, moving on....

I absolutely love, love, LOVED the storyline!!! I have never actually read a book that is based around a summer camp, or one that is set in 1999, when I would have been in my terror thirtweens!!! Oh God what an age!!! I'm sure if there was a local summer camp then my parents would have been the first to sign me up to it!!! I absolutely loved the fact that the chapters weren't just boring numbers but titles that related to the chapter. Kerry set the atmosphere of a summer camp absolutely perfectly and I had a feeling he had been to one even before reading the authors notes as he describes them extremely well from what I have seen on TV.

I read approximately half of this book on kindle and listened to approximately half on audio book. I must also give a huge congratulations to the narrator Joe Jameson who not only brought the storyline to life by really portraying the emotions through his voice but by doing absolutely fantastic impressions of males and females with different accents so a HUGE congratulations Joe. I cannot imagine that this was anywhere near an easy feat!!! I am looking forward to discovering more books read by yourself as you definitely have a perfect "book" voice!! I sometimes struggle to absorb the storyline through an audio book but if you are the same as me I can promise you will not have that problem with this amazing narrator!!

DON'T EVEN CHECK THE FIRST PAGE OUT AS IT SUCKED ME STRAIGHT IN UNTIL I GOT TO THE VERY LAST WORD IN THE AUTHORS NOTES!! AN ABSOLUTE SUCCESS!!

Dont be put off by the genre change with Kerry as I can promise you he has absolutely smashed it and is even better than some of the books I have seen where the author had only focused on romance!!

The storyline took me straight back to 1999 and Savage Garden with 'Truly Madly Deeoly', I absolutely LOVE that song. It is absolutely rammed with different emotions from happiness to guilt, sadness to anger, love to hate. It completely captures the intensity of love, mental health, grief and the stresses of every day life! I loved that at the end Kerry mentions Covid and the restrictions happening which was intriguing as it took me straight back into lockdown times and made me even more grateful that things have seemed to start slowly calming down.

Beautiful and bittersweet. Make sure you have the ejvhhbbb::bb~

I completely blew through this book in a day. This book will take you back to your first love and your first kiss regardless of how old you are. Watching Joe join summer camp, meet Amy, fall in love, grow up and so much more was very emotional as you see so much7> change in him from the start of the book to the very last page. I absolutely loved both Joe and Amy and became completely and watching them meet and go through so much while Joe is struggling with his Mum who is also going through hell was beautiful. I felt honoured to be there to see this happen and some of the events that they went through, well I think most of us Brits can say we have likely done at least one!! That is the other thing I love about this book is that it is so realistic it makes the author believe they are reading a diary rather than a fictional book. It wasn't just Joe and Amy I became invested in but Joe's Mum and sister Michelle, Joe's friends such as Mark, Pete, Ian, Dan and Luke, Sarah's friend Gem, the absolutely amazing George and the sweet Charlotte. My heart absolutely broke when I read about a certain character, absolutely gutting 😭. I really can't say any more about that event. I couldn't stand Charlotte's mother who I thought should have showed much more support to her and give her more time. You can't love everyone though and whether you love them or hate them this absolutely fantastic group of realistic characters come together to make this storyline one that will stay wait you for a very long time!!! "

Please make sure you read the authors note at the end. I really enjoyed reading it and I'm sure you will also find it exciting and intriguing!!"

This book was an absolute breath of fresh air! I thoroughly enjoyed this coming-of-age tale and
recommend everyone read the Author's note. I would also love see what became of Joe and Amy, along with yourself Kerry 😉

CONGRATULATIONS KERRY ON YET ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE PAGE TURNER!!!! THIS IS WHY YOU ARE ONE OF MY TOP 5 MALE AUTHORS!!! HERE'S TO YOUR NEXT SUCCESS 🥂

Overall a am absolutely stunning, bittersweet page turning that will keep you hooked and wantong more is his books.

Genres covered in this novel include Coming-Of-Age Fiction, Humorous Literary and Romance Literary amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of David Nicholls, Mike Gayle, and anyone who remembers the carefree days of being just sixteen, when the world was full of possibility.

390 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#TrulyMadlyAmy #Bookouture #KerryWilkinson #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@KerryWilkinson @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86

https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhitlock86/

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34299953-kirsty-bookworm86

Was this review helpful?

First of like to thank Bookouture for this very heartfelt book .

first love , deals with mental health issues due to grief .

Plot:: Its 1999, for Joe who has just finished school , has know idea what to do with his life now and is dealing with grief from losing his dad , everything a bit up in the air for him , he ends up reluctantly takes a job at a local summer camp , he almost quits after a bunch of ten year olds are should I say acting up a bit ! . hen in comes this wonderful girl Amy ,and well the rest you will need to read I cant give everything away .


My Thoughts : I felt it was very much like how things would be in real life Kerry was very good at telling you the story of first love and how young and old deal with grief of a loved one .

the love story between joe and Amy gives you all the butterfly , I love how you see Amy help joe in her own way to see the good in life .


I think that even though this was about first love ,but also very much about joe finding his feet and dealing with grief , I thought Kerry did this so delicately as I feel myself joe was suffering P.T.S.D from grief , I know myself how hard that is so to write about it and being very raw and honest i think Kerry it a great job .

Over all I thought it was a great feel good read but also very raw and honest , it gave you all the feels I think you need from a book like this . that life can move forward and we grow even with so much going on as a young person .


I rate this 5 stars

Was this review helpful?

This is the coming of age story of Joe, a teenage boy trying to find his true identity while struggling with family issues, grief, first love, rocky friendship.
I really liked this book, it had the perfect mix of adventure, self reflection and romance to peak my interest, and it is also written incredibly well.

Was this review helpful?

Tragic yet sweet. Truly, Madly, Amy captures the moments and connections that prompted irreversible change and growth for Joe. Joe, now an adult, narrates the story set primarily in the summer of 1999.

The 16-yr-old Joe we meet at the beginning of that summer is the product of tragedy. It’s been two years since his father died, leaving his grieving mother in a state of deep depression. Joe’s older sister does everything she can to keep them afloat, and Joe struggles to imagine what path he should take now that school is over. He has no real ambitions.

Then Joe’s sister volunteers him for work at a local summer camp run by teens, and that six-week experience changes everything.

First love, true friendship, forgiveness, intellectual growth, learning to trust, believing in yourself, processing grief, healing emotional wounds—this novel takes you through Joe’s experience with both humor and honesty. It’s a bittersweet story that resonates with my memories of high school and early college relationships.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the chance to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a tad too slow for me. I kept picking it back up but nothing really drew me in. It is less of a romance story and more about growing up with grief and roles of friendship at a young age. The narrator for the audio was on point. I felt like the eclipse storyline went on for too long.

Was this review helpful?

Have you ever read (or listened) to a book by a brand new author and it completely blows your mind? An unknown gem? Well this is one of those books for me. There’s some content warnings that some readers may want to know more about - check out at the end for more information.

This is a unique YA in that it’s told with a male point of view (and also written by a man). Billed as a reflection on how your first love affects your life, for me this was so much more. It was definitely Joe’s coming of age story, as he realises that his group of friends aren’t really all they seem, how that first love can affect your future life, but also it’s about the power of reaching out for help when you need it the most, of sharing your troubles.

Whilst a YA, it does cover some heavy subjects (check out the CW at the end), but it’s handled beautifully. Joe Jameson does a cracking job at giving the fictional Joe his voice.





⚠️ Content warning: includes reference to mental health, bereavement and suicide.

Was this review helpful?

Heart-warming, hilarious, nostalgic, and bittersweet, Truly, Madly, Amy explores first loves, last chances, and the summers that shape us. Loved it!!!!

Was this review helpful?

This book was really feel good and I really liked the main characters. It's an exploration of first love and made me feel really nostalgic.

This book started slow but it really picked up and I grew more connected with the characters as the book went on. Joe, especially, developed really well and grew as a person and character.

I wouldn't class this as a romance- the romance was short lived but it has definitely got a real nostalgic vibe to it. For me this is a book about growing up and life's challenges.

Was this review helpful?

Coming of age, Kerry Wilkinson style! This book was different than the other books I have read by him, but just as good! Wilkinson takes readers back to the summer of 1999 when school is out, and memories are made. It's nostalgic, heartwarming and bittersweet just as they synopsis said it would be. This book was a breath of fresh air! I thoroughly enjoyed this coming-of-age tale and recommend everyone read the Author's note.

Summer 1999- School is over and Joe has taken a job at a local summer camp. He hopes to figure out what he wants to do with his life. He is still reeling from missing his dad and has had issues at school. Maybe watching ten-year old's is not the best plan and yet, it changes everything for him.

He is ready to throw in the towel until he sets eyes on Amy. Falling in love for the first time, Joe can't believe he has met someone like her. Bring on the Nostalgia!! Joe has so many emotions and goes through so many things during the summer. Joe changes and grows, and readers get to be fly on the wall when he does. This also had me thinking of my summer after school was out, that feeling of one part of your life being over while the next is yet to begin. That being in flux while life goes on and you experience it. Wilkinson has captured that feeling perfectly.

This was such an enjoyable book that had me looking back while feeling the feels. Summer, first love, friendship, family, and growth are all explored in this book.

Heartwarming, nostalgic, and hard to put down! The perfect book for summer!

Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

The premise of the book, along with the choice of the narrator (love Joe Jameson), but I just couldn't get into the story. It felt slow, which made it difficult for me to get into.

Perhaps if I had read it, versus listening it might have been a different story.

Unfortunately I chose to not finish the audio.

Was this review helpful?

I was thrilled to see this title from Kerry Wilkinson, the author who wrote one of my favourite books, <u>Ten Birthdays</u> I was so blown away by this author's first effort, detailing ten successive birthdays in the life of a young girl who had just lost her mother to cancer. Wilkinson turned to writing thrillers, and while I have read quite a few of those titles, I was eager to read something along the lines of his first book, outside the thriller genre. I am pleased to report that my patience was very much rewarded!

In <u>Truly, Madly Amy</u>, Joe feels that he is well and truly out of his league when he meets the love of his young life, Amy.

Joe is still reeling from his father's recent death. His grieving mother has retreated from life, leaving the running of the household to Joe's older sister, Michelle. When Joe took a job at a local summer camp as general help, little did he know that his life would be changed forever. I was totally charmed, once again, by Wilkinson's ability to portray adolescents so realistically.

I listened to an audiobook ARC of this engrossing and often hilarious review of Joe's teenage traumas and growing pains. The budding relationship between Amy and Joe reminded me so much of my own youthful crushes. These two had so much life ahead of them. Would their love endure past the summer? I encourage you to find out for yourself!! This would be suitable reading for all ages, although there are a few slightly explicit intimate scenes.

My thanks to the author: Kerry Wilkinson, publisher: Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC of this highly entertaining audiobook, which was ably performed by Joe Jameson. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

It is the end of school and Joe has been offered a job at the local summer camp. Life at home hasn't been so great for young Joe since the passing of his father. His mother is suffering from depression, and her "bad" days outweigh the good days.

Although the job at camp is "uncool" and doesn't pay much money, it is an escape from hope and an escape from boredom.

Jo meets Amy at the camp, and it's love and first sight. Witnessing Joe fumble his way through asking her on a date, and trying to impress her are quite entertaining, and as a reader I felt I was reminiscing with my own summer childhoods.

This book is a light easy read, and extremely enjoyable. The perfect book to read to fill in some downtime. Jo the main character had me laughing and crying alongside him, it was very well written.

5 Stars: It was amazing. It was compelling, well-researched, entertaining and/or moving and often complex. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for my advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Please visit my Facebook page and blog to see all of my past and future book reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/kyliesbookad...
https://kyliesbookaddictreviews.blogs...

Was this review helpful?

A heartfelt and heartbreaking story about first love, the summers that can change your life, family obligations and second chances. This was great on audio narrated by Joe Jameson and an easy listen. I couldn't help rooting for Amy and Joe to find their way back together as this story is told over the course of many years - from their intitial meeting to their later reunion. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Truly, Madly, Amy
By Kerry Wilkinson
⭐⭐⭐⭐🌑

[Blurb] this is the summer Joe will grow up. But when he looks back decades later, will he be ashamed of his choices? And will Amy still be by his side?

[Quote]
I was a few chapters in when I realized I was actually enjoying it.
I always thought books and reading were for weirdos and snobs…
It wasn't about the book itself, it was about the story within. Reading was fun.

[Review]
There's something magical about this book. Something innocent and true. This is one of the few books that has rung true for me for a first love. That all encompassing love. That love that you think will save you from everything. It's so pure and honest. I know in the author's note at the end, there's a comment about the underage drinking. And while that wasn't what I did (I was the *good* kid) all my friends did. So that part didn't shock me. This book felt so real to me. The shy first touches. The summer camps. Everything.

I went to summer camp to escape my house for years. Much like Joe camp became a beacon of hope even though I didn't want to be there, and I didn't know it would be. Also, like Joe, Reading became my escape.

I'm so in love with these characters.
The only reason for the 4 stars vs 5 stars is it's an extremely slow build. It's worth it, but if you don't have the patience for a genuinely pure love story. This might not be the book for you.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC copy of this audiobook. Thank you, Kerry Wilkinson, for writing such a true and authentic young love story. And a huge thank you to Joe Jameson for giving voice to these characters and bringing these books to life.

Was this review helpful?

Truly,Madly,Amy by Kerry Wilkinson

This is a book about falling in love for the first time and all the things that come with it. I loved this book a lot it was beautiful watching Joe change through the story. Joe doesn't always deal with things in the right way sometimes his emotions take over and take charge in a way that does him no good. The first time Joe lays his eyes on Amy he is falling in love. Amy is smart and talented in her own right nothing like Joe. Joe thinks that she is out of his league and did not think he could even date her.

This was a very clean romance novel it is one that makes you feel warm all inside. It reminded me of my first time falling for someone and that feeling inside. Joe is a complex young man dealing with a lot of things like what to do going forward after graduation. This book stirred so much in me I did not want the book to end it was like a sprinkle of sunshine on a gloomy day.

I did not know I needed this book but I did it was a book I could relate too. Joe and his anger that boils up inside him I could relate to being frustrated and raging at the world for the wrongs. It was powerful and moving watching him and Amy grow together over the summer at camp.

Joe Jameson did a great job bringing the characters to life. This was a 5 star read for me. If you are a fan of clean, powerful, meaningful romance then this romance novel is for you. I highly recommend it. It should remind you of the first time you fell in love being young and falling for someone through the summer. How that first love changes you and no one comes close to the first person you fall for.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for a free audio version of the book for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

INTRODUCTION:
I'm reaaally dissapointed right now. I was expecting a lot from this book and is kinda sad the way nothing that I expectec actually happened. Truly, Madly, Amy isn't in any form a "bad book", it just lacks originallity and any relatability from the characters.

PLOT:
99's summer for Joe means a lot of things, especially because he's finishing school and has to determine what he's going to do with his life. Reluctantly, he takes a job of councellor at a local summer camp, and he's life changes when he meets Amy, a girl that will impact his decisions throught the summer. With the unknown future just around the corner, he'll start to discover what destiny holds for him.

CHARACTERS:
My main issue with the characters in the book is that they do not seem the age they're supposed to actually have. Joe, Amy and their friends act like they're 20 but their thoughts seem to come from a 6 year-old. Especially Joe, his decisions and the way he reacts to things are DEFINITELY NOT things a 16-year-old would do. Why do I know that? Because right now I'm 16, and even though I've always bragged about acting like I'm older (which sounds stupid, I know) I don't see ANYONE around me that would act like that. It has to be taken into consideration the fact that this book is placed in 1999 and the access to information was poorer, but I was cringing at the way the characters spoke, and it was a line that Joe said that went something like this:

"They were actual boobs in front of me".

YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN??? THIS PEOPLE ARE STUPID.

Now, another thing that I really disliked was the fact that NOBODY had any empathy for Joe's mom. I know, her attitude was bad and the mistreatmet to her children are not something that should be excused, but the woman went through a damn widowhood and nobody cared about how she felt. If that woman was in therapy sooner at least someone would've shown her some empathy, cause damn.

WRITING-STYLE:
Oh boy, bear with me. I found a lot of the metaphors used in the book so weird? I don't know what is about them but I don't like how the author uses them. I don't like at all when every chapter ends in a cliffhanger. It is like forcing interest in the reader, and I know the author comes from writing thriller, but in YA it doesn't really work that way. Saying things like:

"Next time I saw a police car, I would be sitting in the back seat of it". (again I don't remember the exact quote but it was pretty similar).

Theses kind of phrases end with every chapter and make boring the twists, cause you already have a clue of what's gonna happen.

Also, some of the dialogues seem dummy. I don't think anyone would actually speak that way, and I would understand dialogues being weird if we're in a specific time period, but 1999? No.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
Every time I thought the book was going to get better something came to make it worse. I hated most of the characters and their relationships grow so fast with absolutely no reason to do so. It's almost insta-love how Amy and Joe become 'something', but still pisses me off the way authors keep writing teens like we're stupid.

I'm from Colombia and I'm (clearly lol) not straight, so I wasn't really expecting to relate to this book in a situational context, but none of the emotions the characters feel seem relatable or something a friend of mine would actually feel. I know the future is scary but right now it isn't such a big deal. Maybe it's our type of education, but mostly around me I see people actually excited to get over the school-phase and go to college or start working on the things they actually want to do.

In addition, the book had actually some misogynistc commets throught the book. WHAT'S A "MAN'S JOB" SUPPOSED TO BE??? C'mon, 1999 wasn't that far away for people to excuse this comments as "normal".

SHOULD YOU READ IT?
No. I don't think it actually represents the age-group it is supposed to and the characters have like 1 trait each.

CONCLUSION:
I wanted to like this book. I was really excited to do so, but then I was really dissapointed. As I said in the beggining, this isn't a "bad book", it just wasn't for me. I feel like even though it is written about teens it isn't FOR teens. I just wanna say with due respect that Wilkinson should stick to thriller, and I like when writers try new things, but for me this just didn't work.

Was this review helpful?