40 Things I Want to Tell You

by Alice Kuipers

40 Things I Want to Tell You is not a book that I would usually read.

It has one topic that I usually steer away from - cheating, one huge pet peeve - slut-shaming and a topic that I rarely read about - teen pregnancy.

The main character, Amy (also called Bird), is one of those characters who seem to have their life in order. She's predictable, practical and she has an online advice column where she gives advice to other teens. However, Amy is self-absorbed and doesn't really deal with what's going in her life. She makes a lot of mistakes, but she also ultimately owns up to them. However, I couldn't understand half of the decisions she makes because they seem out of character. An example is that I couldn't believe that Amy would sleep with Pete, someone who she's barely spoken to, in the park, without any planning or worrying about protection and contraception.

40 Things I Want to Tell You deals with a serious topic and I appreciate that this book isn't preachy. It shows real issues that teenagers face and explores different choices and options. The characters make mistakes, deal with the consequences and learn how to move forward.

However, I didn't enjoy reading 40 Things I Want to Tell You nor did I find the story engaging. I also didn't like the writing style. Amy is the only developed character and the other characters are one-dimensional. I also don't find Pete attractive or appealing.

40 Things I Want to Tell You has the potential to be an extremely compelling read, but it had so many elements that didn't work for me.