“Here are three things about this book: (1) It’s . . . funny and romantic; (2) the mystery at the heart of the story will keep you turning the pages; (3) I have a feeling you’ll be very happy you read it.” —Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
With the perfect mix of comedy and tragedy, love and loss, and pain and elation, the characters in Julie Buxbaum’s Tell Me Three Things come to feel like old friends who make any day better. This YA novel is sure to appeal to fans of Rainbow Rowell, Jennifer Niven, and E. Lockhart.
Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son, and to start at a new school where she knows no one.
Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?
In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?
More praise for TELL ME THREE THINGS
“Three Things about this novel: (1) I loved it. (2) No, really, I LOVED it. (3) I wish I could tell every teen to read it. Buxbaum’s book sounds, reads, breathes, worries, and soars like real adolescents do.” —Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Leaving Time and Off the Page
“The desire to find out whether Jessie’s real-life and virtual crushes are one and the same will keep [readers] turning the pages as quickly as possible.” —PW, Starred
“A heartfelt, wryly perceptive account of coming to terms with irrevocable loss when life itself means inevitable change.” —Kirkus
“Buxbaum’s debut is hard to put down because of its smooth and captivating text. The addition of virtual conversations through email and chatting adds to the exciting plot twist.” —SLJ
Quite the Novel Idea http://quitethenovelidea.com http://quitethenovelidea.com/liza-kind-of-reviews-tell-me-three-things-by-julie-buxbaum/Hi everyone! I have no idea why it took me so long to read Tell Me Three Things. I mean, it seems like absolutely everyone I know loved this book. As a matter of fact, Bee - one of my awesome co-bloggers - adored it too. Now, since Bee already did a stellar review (read it HERE), I will instead tell you the four top reasons why you should read it (although I'm sure everyone read it already!)
The characters - Are amazing. There is depth, growth, pain, happiness, love... So many changes and emotions that make Jessie, his dad, his new step-mother and step-brother's life chaotic, hard, and eventually better. There are mean girls, knights in shining armor, new and old friends, and then there's Somebody/Nobody (SN).
The story - Waffles, IM, email, moving to a new city, a new family, a new school, new work. Feelings of abandonment, friendship, love, bullying, bereavement, homesickness. The bright beacon that SN becomes in Jessie's life and her in his. I absolutely loved their banter, their exchanges, and their three things.
The writing - Is flawless, moving, engrossing, fluid, packed with emotion. In short, pure awesome.
The romance - Ah. Buxbaum masterfully introduces characters that seem like they could be SN, but there is no love triangles (or squares), we know who Jessie likes and grows to love above all other possible suitors. In her mind there is only one and I adore the ending of the book. It is truly amazing and masterfully done.
Overall? Go read Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next to your list ASAP.
Jorjeana Marie is one of my favorite narrators and she was stellar in Tell Me Three Things. Her voice acting is masterfully executed, the characters voice's distinctive from each other and carrying clear emotions. SO good.This review was originally posted on Quite the Novel Idea
