Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo

6 reviews

lybrarie's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

When I picked this book up, I did not expect it to be the emotional sucker punch it ended up being. I definitely didn't think that when I first started it either. In all honestly the first 50 pages or so I wasn't even sure whether I liked it. But once the mystery properly picked up and everything else started becoming apparent I was completely sucked in. 

This book covers some heavy topics, and I would definitely recommend looking at the trigger warnings if you are considering reading this. But I think they were handled in such a truthful way, it's fiction but it could very well have been true. Jo is not a character I am going to forget very quickly. 

I certainly enjoyed the reading experience, any book that can bring out any kind of true emotion in me is always going to get a high rating. I'm very interested to see what Adamo does next. 
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dkamada's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“I’ve never been very good at describing Not Like Other Girls. Seriously, my go-to line used to be, “oh, yeah, it’s a fun little mystery with fake dating,” which is technically true but not totally accurate…This is a book about a friend breakup between two teenage girls and how navigating that loss is so distinctly devastating. This is a book about first love. It’s a book about being seventeen and restless in your hometown. It’s a book about privilege and power and entitlement. It’s a book about sexual assault”
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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book has quite a bit going on, which isn't always a bad thing, but I do think it made this book longer than it needed to be. For me, part of it was the pacing; at times, I felt too bogged down by the details that it took away from the main mystery in the plot. 

That being said, the cast of characters were well done, and I appreciated the overall message of the book, especially for a teen audience. The relationships and connections Jo makes throughout felt real and authentic, and those are what brought me back to the story. 

All in all, not a bad mystery/thriller, but maybe one that moves at a bit slower pace.
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kencil's review against another edition

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4.25

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natboyd's review

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

This gut-wrenching YA novel spotlights how teen girls are so often used, manipulated, exploited, and disregarded by society. Jo-Lynn Kirby is learning how to navigate her world after facing cruelty and rejection by her peers along with disappointment and dismissal by the adults in her world. Her confusion is exacerbated by the sudden disappearance of her former best friend. Did she run away, or did something bad happen to her? Jo refuses to follow the community in writing her off, which leads to a suspenseful mystery. But the real story is in how Jo-Lynn learns to accept responsibility for her own actions, and to place blame on those who have hurt and abused her. 
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karynreads's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Books like these remind me why I love YA lit.

Jo deeply stressed me out at times, but I couldn't help but care and root for her (and deeply hate every adult in her life who failed her). This book had such a strong voice, and I haven't been so engrossed in a book in a long time. I wish I had this book in high school, and I'm so excited to add this book to my library's collection. I hope it finds someone who needs it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, and to Meredith for sharing this with the world.
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