Steph L
Written on Sep 1, 2017
From the author of Lucky Few comes a “refreshing” (Booklist, starred review) teen novel about Internet fame, peer pressure, and remembering not to step on the little people on your way to the top!
After a shout-out from one of the internet’s superstar vloggers, Natasha “Tash” Zelenka suddenly finds herself and her obscure, amateur web series, Unhappy Families, thrust in the limelight: She’s gone viral.
Her show is a modern adaptation of Anna Karenina—written by Tash’s literary love Count Lev Nikolayevich “Leo” Tolstoy. Tash is a fan of the 40,000 new subscribers, their gushing tweets, and flashy Tumblr gifs. Not so much the pressure to deliver the best web series ever.
And when Unhappy Families is nominated for a Golden Tuba award, Tash’s cyber-flirtation with a fellow award nominee suddenly has the potential to become something IRL—if she can figure out how to tell said crush that she’s romantic asexual.
Tash wants to enjoy her newfound fame, but will she lose her friends in her rise to the top? What would Tolstoy do?
- ISBN10 1481489356
- ISBN13 9781481489355
- Publish Date 6 June 2017
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Simon & Schuster
- Imprint Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 384
- Language English
Reviews
shannonmiz
Written on Apr 15, 2017
I really enjoyed the author's debut, Lucky Few, and was quite looking forward to this one. And it definitely did not disappoint! Tash (Natasha, but Tash for short) had created a web series called "Unhappy Families". At first, it was just something she did for funsies, with her best friends and some new friends she found to act in the show. But then the series suddenly goes viral, and Tash has to face the ramifications of being pretty famous.
What I Liked:
- The characters. Tash was a very relatable main character, and I really felt for her when the stress of going viral got to her. I imagine I would have felt the same, excited, yet overwhelmed. Luckily, Tash has awesome friends, especially her best friend Jack and her bother Paul. (But sidenote, why is everyone's name 4 letters? That confused me a bit, especially in the beginning.) Her parents also seemed like actual parents, which was great. They were protective, and supportive, and you know, present.
- The relationships Tash had with her friends. She went through a lot of growth especially in terms of being a better friend. She kind of takes her friends for granted sometimes, and I like that she had to navigate how to keep a friendship going when times are hard. It was just very realistic, I feel like it is something everyone goes through, and I loved the way the author handled it all.
- The asexuality rep! Tash is asexual heteroromantic, which means that she does have romantic feelings for guys, but is not necessarily attracted to them sexually. In this case, she has some feelings for a fellow YouTuber, Thom, who... well he is the actual worst, honestly. But that's for you to read about.
- The plot was really great. I loved the concept of the show, and how it is based on Anna Karenina. I kind of want to watch it, basically. And I loved how the cast and crew bonded, that was probably my favorite part. I also liked stuff that happened toward the end which obviously I cannot discuss. But know that there were things I approved of very much ;) And of course, the evolution of the show from unknown to being really popular, and how Tash and the others handled it was great.
What I Didn't:
- The aforementioned moderate confusion, especially in the beginning. Luckily this cleared up as the story went on, but in the beginning, I was confusing Jack with Paul and George with Paul and I felt like everyone had these same one syllable names and I was just lost. But again, this got better.
- I actually kind of wanted to know more about the show! I know this might have been nearly impossible with so much going on in the book, but still, I wanted a bit more of the show, and even the cast.
Bottom Line: Definitely a fan! I loved the story, and the asexual rep. Tash grew so much as a character, too, and I enjoyed reading about her journey.
layawaydragon
Written on Sep 28, 2016
I liked:
-->Tash's heteroromantic asexual depiction.
-->Tash. Mostly.
-->Her family's origins, how it effects them, and make it work
-->Jack. Mostly.
-->Paul. Mostly.
-->The logistics and stuff with filming a web series. Pretty cool.
-->The cast and they're dynamics.
--> Easy to read. Liked the flow.
Things I didn't like:
-->I wish the term allosexual was used instead of "normal" etc.
-->The ending...I don't get Tash's sudden rush. Maybe I'm just more like Jack. You already left so...
-->Tash's "oh I don't want to talk about weight, I know I'm 30 pounds overweight per Cosmopolitan" UGH
-->Tash's "Oh I was confused and now I'm lazy and suck at religion." UGH.
-->Something about Jack's portrayal bugs me but I can't pinpoint it. She doesn't feel real or fit exactly. Most of the blog plot moving forward is because of her, not Tash and it ends up seeming...convenient? IDK. I just feel like there's a missing piece or whole extra story behind her.
-->I don't like not understanding what is going on with Klaudie.
-->And I'm sorry but I've been reading Tash like ash the WHOLE time. Didn't even realize her full first name was Natasha until the end and can't read it like "tosh" now.
-->The cover using old Tolstoy and not the one on her poster. (Personal preference is all.)
Quotes from Reading:
Sometimes directing is like babysitting preschoolers--it requires a lot of patience, a sturdy set of lungs, and the ability to coax egomaniacs into doing what you want.
Jack's never really cared what anyone thinks, to the point that whenever she suspects someone like a teacher actually has a good opinion of her, she'll sabotage herself by cussing in class or purposefully failing a test.
----->Tash, THAT BEHAVIOR DOESN'T MEAN WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS. Fuck man, help your friend!
The remains of the Pop-Tart I ate for breakfast sprouts wings and take flight in my large intestine.
"No, I get that. I've never had the urge to stand in a public square and say, 'I wanna do the dirty with menfolk."
To throw out my lack of sexuality when Jay is getting harangued every day for the expression of his own? It seems so insensitive. It's not like people are telling me I can't get married or that I'm going to hell.
-------->Okay, I get this but at the same time I have to say shits fucked up for aces too like they deny your existence or think you're just confused or try to fix you, which happens a lot to others in the QUILTBAG community so....
We've ordered four boxes of extra large Papa John's pizzas.
------------>Well, this hasn't aged well at all. FUCK PAPA JOHNS. Just saying.
"Look, I can't get mad at you for effing up up coming out when I've never had to do it myself."
----------->Trying to say something here, Jack?!?
"All I mean is you're doing everything you can to help, and I'm kind of glad you can't do more. "