Nany
Written on Jun 15, 2017
Ethan, from Ivy's class, seems like the perfect match. It's unfortunate that his older brother, David, is one of Chloe's least favourite people, but Chloe can deal, especially when she realises that David is just as devoted to Ethan as she is to Ivy. Uncommonly honest and refreshingly funny, this is a story about sisterhood, autism, and first love. Chloe, Ivy, David, and Ethan, who form a quirky and lovable circle, will steal readers' hearts and remind us all that it's okay to be a different kind of normal.
- ISBN10 0544829697
- ISBN13 9780544829695
- Publish Date 28 March 2017
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 15 November 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Mariner Books
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 320
- Language English
Reviews
whisperingchapters
Written on Mar 24, 2017
Chloe is one of the popular girls at her school but it's not because she tries. It's because she doesn't try that people admire her and like her. She's even dating the most popular guy at school and everything seems okay. But at home, Chloe takes care of her older sister Ivy who is Autistic. Chloe is already used to taking care of Ivy and being there for her, so when Ivy starts asking questions about kissing and relationships, Chloe sets out to pair her up with Ethan, a boy from her school who's also Autistic. What Chloe doesn't know is that Ethan is David's brother, the annoying and insufferable guy from school who she can't stand. But by going on Ivy's and Ethan's dates, Chloe and David start to see a new side of each other that they hadn't seen before.
I know I just made it seem (as well as the synopsis) that this is a book focused on romance and that Autism takes a backseat. I'm here to tell you that's not the case. I was quite surprised when I realized that yes, there's a cute romance, but it's not the focus at all. In this case, Autism takes the full front and passenger seat. I don't know if the author wrote this story from experience but it felt so real. The characters came to life before my eyes, especially Ivy and Ethan. I mean, we see Chloe and David struggling with their siblings because they don't understand normal cues. They get loud if something upsets them, ask more questions than normal because they aren't able to get what's up, they are brutally honest, they can be extremely quiet or talk non-stop. The list goes on and on, and because of it, these characters made me see Autism in a new light.
I'm her younger sister, but I can't remember a time when I didn't feel like I needed to protect and take care of her.
I loved how flawed Chloe was and how her reactions were very normal in the sense that she would get upset, mad irritated because her sister wouldn't understand things. At the same time, she's always there for Ivy and is always giving her advice and motivating her to try new things in life. With David, his reactions towards Ethan are actually calmer and more soothing. We see how it affects David and his family that Ethan has Autism. One thing I loved about David was how open he was about his feelings towards this situation, to the point of even crying, which broke my heart. Chloe and David are teens handling a tough situation because their parents aren't really there to help and it's sad to think that it happens nowadays and how ignorant a lot of us are to this Mental Health.
People can have nothing but good intentions and still sometimes makes you want to kill them.
This story is so important to read! Not only that, it also tackles another important topic and the way it was handled was great and it made me so happy! I can't say because it's a major spoiler, so you guys will just have to read it :D One thing I did find negative of the story was the fact that there are various topics thrown in the story and I wish some had been fleshed out more.
Things I Should Have Known is an impressive, wonderful story that tackles Autism in a realistic way, as well as family dynamics, especially sisterhood.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
Sam@WLABB
Written on Feb 17, 2017
Things Chloe Knew: Her sister, Ivy, was lonely. Ethan was a perfect match. Ethan's brother, David, was an arrogant jerk.
Things Chloe Should Have Known: Setups are complicated. Ethan could be a perfect boyfriend...but probably not for Ivy. David might be the one person who really gets Chloe.
I went into this book thinking that it was a romance, but it was so, so much more. This story is told from Chloe's point of view, and she is an attractive, smart, popular girl dating one of the most popular and attractive boys at school. From the outside, you would think Chloe has it all, but her home life is far from perfect. Her stepfather is overbearing, her mother is needy, and her sister autistic. Chloe puts on a good front, but her home life leaves her feeling isolated, as her friends just cannot relate or understand.
"You have a great boyfriend and you do well at school and everyone likes you," she said to me when she was explaining her theory. "You're even blond. So of course your family situation is a little, you know...challenging. That's life keeping things in balance."
Chloe feels obligated to be there for her sister, but yearns to live her own life. From there, an idea is born to find a friend for Ivy. The idea of putting Ivy and Ethan together seems perfect, until Chloe finds out that Ethan's brother is her nemesis, David.
"I don't mind coming along."
"Even if you have to hang out with the most hated member of your class?"
"Don't flatter yourself," I say. "No one cares enough about you to hate you."
I don't know where to start, so I will start with David and Chloe. I loved these two. I found the verbal sparring from the early chapters delicious, and the honest, deep discussion in the later chapters quite touching. These two carried a lot on their shoulders. They both had siblings with autism, who they felt they needed to care for and protect, because their parents were not quite up to the challenge. They found comfort in each other, and gave each other the type of support only those in the same situation could. They both struggled with their own wants and needs, and the needs of their siblings. Finding that balance was difficult, and came at a cost.
"You're a good brother," I say.
"I make up for that by being a horrible human being in every other way."
I absolutely adored LaZenik's writing. It was full of wit, humor, affection, and honesty. There was such an ease to it, and the story just flowed naturally. When reading the afterword, I was not surprised to find out that this book was written by a person who loves someone with autism, as Ivy and Ethan were portrayed honestly and respected in the story. LaZenik show the good, the bad, and the ugly that is out there. How the world can seem to those with autism, how poorly some people react to those with autism, and how wonderful someone on the spectrum can be. I appreciated how she brought me in their world, and thank her for her candor and honesty.
It's like people have a place in their brain for normal, and they have a place in their brain for something obviously wrong, but they can't deal with something a little bit different.
There is quite a bit of lovely romance going on in this book. I found it all quite adorable, and loved every minute of it. I have feels over and over again. It was fantastic.
This book sort of had everything I look for in a great YA contemporary: well thought out characters, great dialogue, honest portrayals, and growth. Growth is really important to me, as I always want my characters to have changed for the better, and LaZebnik gave me that.
Overall: A wonderful story of love, compassion, understanding, and acceptance filled with things that put a smile on my face and a pitter-patter in my heart.
**I would like to thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for the advanced copy of this book
Full review and others can be found on We Live and Breathe Books
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