Reviewed by Leah on
1. The novel is told entirely by lists. Which might make it sound like a super-quick, awesome way of telling a story, but a lot of the lists include really, really long-winded explanation better served with a traditionally written novel (in my opinion anyway).
2. I’m not actually sure what I just read. I’m not sure what the plot was. Even the GoodReads synopsis doesn’t seem sure, because sure Darren goes to visit his brother, alone, but um, is that it? Was that the whole point of the novel, or did I entirely miss the point?
3. The absolutely best character in the novel – the super interesting Zoey is barely in it. Which made me want to cry. Because I really liked her. My interest would have held infinitely longer if she had been in more of the novel.
4. I also wasn’t a big fan of the whole Darren’s dad is gay plot. I don’t mind at all that Darren’s dad is gay, I minded the way Nate and Darren made it out to be like a joke. It was just the teensiest bit homophobic, and while I can understand Darren was probably messed up learning that his father is gay, I still didn’t think it was acceptable, in this day and age.
5. Overall, this one wasn’t for me. I loved the sound of it as soon as I read the synopsis, but the synopsis didn’t deliver what I was promised. The title is awesome (yes, it’s a mouthful, but I like it) but at the end of the day this was a little bit like reading a teenager’s diary. And not just an ordinary diary. A list-obsessed teenager’s diary, and it just wasn’t that interesting, to me. That just may be my tastes, and I was disappointed I didn’t enjoy it more.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 11 March, 2015: Finished reading
- 11 March, 2015: Reviewed