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Where It Began
A teen's world comes crashing down in this compulsively readable YA debut that's as literary as it is commercial.
Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving and without a single memory of the accident that landed her there. But what she can recall, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the crash.
As Gabby describes her transformation from Invisible Girl to Trendy Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why has Gabby been left to take the fall?
As she peels back the layers of her life, Gabby begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.
Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving and without a single memory of the accident that landed her there. But what she can recall, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the crash.
As Gabby describes her transformation from Invisible Girl to Trendy Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why has Gabby been left to take the fall?
As she peels back the layers of her life, Gabby begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.
369 pages, Hardcover
First published March 6, 2012
96 people are currently reading
8764 people want to read
About the author
Ann Redisch Stampler
9 books232 followersAnn Redisch Stampler is the author of the young adult novels Afterparty and Where It Began as well as half a dozen picture books. Her work has garnered an Aesop accolade, the National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor honors, the Middle East Book Award, and Bank Street Best Books of the Year mentions. How to Disappear (Simon Pulse, 2016), her first young adult thriller, will be released in June. Ann lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband Rick.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
September 27, 2012
No. Just no. This book is really stupid, for lack for a more sophisticated term. Let me tell you why.
(Spoilers ahead.)
First of all, it is WAY too long. By a good 100 pages or something, in which nothing of consequence happens.
Second, there is zero character development. Everyone is one-dimensional--including the main character, whose head we're in! Oh sure, she's an 'artist.' Except that only gets mentioned here and there, instead of being fully shown or explained or reasoned. It's like the author was just trying to make her character seem deeper by giving her a 'passion.' (Which clearly the character is not very passionate about.) Don't forget the token non-white friend who just happens to possess every single stereotypical trait of people from that country. Classy!
Third, related to the first two, is that the character does nothing but think about her boyfriend. That is the impetus for the entire freaking story in this book. In more ways than one. But a good chunk of the book is her obsessing over him. Now, I understand that teenage girls are like that in real life. But a story is supposed to have an ARC--not a flat line of 'ooh Billy is so wonderful I wonder if he likes me eeee he likes me does he like me for me? he's so very dreamy! does he really like me? why is he looking at that other girl? oh he's IMing me and calling me his gf he likes me squee!' THAT'S NOT A PLOTLINE.
Fourth, I saw the 'twist' coming from a mile away More like, almost from the beginning. The asshole boyfriend did it! Well, duh, it was really obvious. Was it supposed to be obvious? Not sure.
Fifth, once she finds out that the asshole boyfriend is indeed an asshole who almost ruined her life, she is mad, BUT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. She's all, oh, there's no point, he'll just surf on by and no one will care. WHAT!? Someone else has to suddenly magically reveal the truth for it to come out. Because after a book's worth of pointless dithering about how pretty he is and how scary her life could be now, oh well, I guess it's not surprising that she wouldn't have any kind of spine, seeing as how she doesn't have any discernible personality either.
So you see, this book is stupid. The idea and the beginning are intriguing, and I think it could have been fascinating in the right hands and with an ACTUAL storyline. But the way it turned out? NO.
(Spoilers ahead.)
First of all, it is WAY too long. By a good 100 pages or something, in which nothing of consequence happens.
Second, there is zero character development. Everyone is one-dimensional--including the main character, whose head we're in! Oh sure, she's an 'artist.' Except that only gets mentioned here and there, instead of being fully shown or explained or reasoned. It's like the author was just trying to make her character seem deeper by giving her a 'passion.' (Which clearly the character is not very passionate about.) Don't forget the token non-white friend who just happens to possess every single stereotypical trait of people from that country. Classy!
Third, related to the first two, is that the character does nothing but think about her boyfriend. That is the impetus for the entire freaking story in this book. In more ways than one. But a good chunk of the book is her obsessing over him. Now, I understand that teenage girls are like that in real life. But a story is supposed to have an ARC--not a flat line of 'ooh Billy is so wonderful I wonder if he likes me eeee he likes me does he like me for me? he's so very dreamy! does he really like me? why is he looking at that other girl? oh he's IMing me and calling me his gf he likes me squee!' THAT'S NOT A PLOTLINE.
Fourth, I saw the 'twist' coming from a mile away More like, almost from the beginning. The asshole boyfriend did it! Well, duh, it was really obvious. Was it supposed to be obvious? Not sure.
Fifth, once she finds out that the asshole boyfriend is indeed an asshole who almost ruined her life, she is mad, BUT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. She's all, oh, there's no point, he'll just surf on by and no one will care. WHAT!? Someone else has to suddenly magically reveal the truth for it to come out. Because after a book's worth of pointless dithering about how pretty he is and how scary her life could be now, oh well, I guess it's not surprising that she wouldn't have any kind of spine, seeing as how she doesn't have any discernible personality either.
So you see, this book is stupid. The idea and the beginning are intriguing, and I think it could have been fascinating in the right hands and with an ACTUAL storyline. But the way it turned out? NO.
March 28, 2012
I was truly suffering from a brain funk after finishing Where it Began. It wasn’t that the book was complicated, so I had a lot to get my head around. But it was just the long winded path the book well more specifically the main character Gabby took to finally discovering the truth! Seriously Gabby kind of made your head spin in exasperated circles.
Gabby wakes up near the remains of her boyfriend Billy’s battered car with no recollection of how she got there, when in hospital she still can’t remember a thing, it takes her a while for things to slowly make sense. She was driving and ended up slamming into a tree and smacking her head. Her blood level showed she was way over the limit and consequently the smack to her head has left her with retrograde amnesia. The only thing that she remembers was that Billy Nash her boyfriend was with her in the car, but she doesn’t know what happened to him after that. Did he manage to escape? Is he hurt? Is he still alive? No one’s telling her anything, her mum just flips her off, and she won’t let her friends come to visit her either. She’s more concerned with making sure Gabby’s looking perfect physically, not the least concerned about her mental state. On top of all that Gabby also has the police breathing down her neck.
I really enjoy reading books dealing with memory loss, I’ve come across some okayish ones in the past but Where it Began started really well. You’re thrown head first into Gabby suffering from a head trauma, and you have all these questions flying all over the place, what are they not telling Gabby? Where’s Billy? Is the fact that he’s not got in contact with her and everyone’s tight lipped about him mean he’s dead? Why’s Gabby’s mum so selfish? Will we ever find out what really happened? Would Gabby get her memory back?
Despite starting off well, I had several problems with this book and thus my 2 star rating. Initially the book had the constant need to flit back and forward between time spans, so one minute you’re in hospital with Gabby, the next she’s recalling a memory of when she first started dating Billy and then you’re thrown back into the hospital and then back into the past, and so on, at times it was utterly mind boggling. I know it was there to establish the back story about Gabby’s huge make-over; finally becoming noticed, becoming part of the popular crowd and everything she remembered up until the accident. But at times I really wanted to shout would you please get on with it! I really didn’t give a toss about the back story; I just wanted to know what really happened. It was also hugely frustrating when Gabby kept constantly yammering off the point.
However what truly grated me about Gabby’s character was her infatuation with Billy. It’s like she had blinkers on throughout the entire book he was loving, caring, good-looking, everything he said was right, he was doing everything for her, basically she thought he was perfect. I don’t know if when Gabby banged her head that she knocked the part of her head which was for common sense too, but ugh some of the drivel she spouted about Billy I really wanted to slap some sense into her. Gabby’s parents were also another major annoyance in this book, like seriously does no child have decent parents anymore? Gabby’s mum Vivian honestly made my blood boil, first her daughter has suffered a major head trauma, she’s lucky to be alive, but all she’s concerned with is how she looks, instead of remaining by her bedside, she goes shopping whilst she’s in hospital for make-up so she can spruce her daughter. Obviously because that would be Gabby’s number one concern right now her appearance?
“You were so beautiful, you were”
“It kills me to see you like this.”
What a way to boost her daughter’s confidence, whilst she’s lying in bed cut off from her friends and the outside world, not having a clue what’s going on and suffering from a head trauma. Gabby’s dad was just the invisible parent, wandering aimlessly in the background making occasional appearances or just drinking himself away.
Basically Where it Began started off as a highly anticipated read but ended up being a big disappointment. The book went around in maddening circles and frustrated me to a no end with two faced and pathetic characters.
Favourite quote;
“I thought she knew” argghh!!”
This review and more can also be found on my blog: The Readers Den
Gabby wakes up near the remains of her boyfriend Billy’s battered car with no recollection of how she got there, when in hospital she still can’t remember a thing, it takes her a while for things to slowly make sense. She was driving and ended up slamming into a tree and smacking her head. Her blood level showed she was way over the limit and consequently the smack to her head has left her with retrograde amnesia. The only thing that she remembers was that Billy Nash her boyfriend was with her in the car, but she doesn’t know what happened to him after that. Did he manage to escape? Is he hurt? Is he still alive? No one’s telling her anything, her mum just flips her off, and she won’t let her friends come to visit her either. She’s more concerned with making sure Gabby’s looking perfect physically, not the least concerned about her mental state. On top of all that Gabby also has the police breathing down her neck.
I really enjoy reading books dealing with memory loss, I’ve come across some okayish ones in the past but Where it Began started really well. You’re thrown head first into Gabby suffering from a head trauma, and you have all these questions flying all over the place, what are they not telling Gabby? Where’s Billy? Is the fact that he’s not got in contact with her and everyone’s tight lipped about him mean he’s dead? Why’s Gabby’s mum so selfish? Will we ever find out what really happened? Would Gabby get her memory back?
Despite starting off well, I had several problems with this book and thus my 2 star rating. Initially the book had the constant need to flit back and forward between time spans, so one minute you’re in hospital with Gabby, the next she’s recalling a memory of when she first started dating Billy and then you’re thrown back into the hospital and then back into the past, and so on, at times it was utterly mind boggling. I know it was there to establish the back story about Gabby’s huge make-over; finally becoming noticed, becoming part of the popular crowd and everything she remembered up until the accident. But at times I really wanted to shout would you please get on with it! I really didn’t give a toss about the back story; I just wanted to know what really happened. It was also hugely frustrating when Gabby kept constantly yammering off the point.
However what truly grated me about Gabby’s character was her infatuation with Billy. It’s like she had blinkers on throughout the entire book he was loving, caring, good-looking, everything he said was right, he was doing everything for her, basically she thought he was perfect. I don’t know if when Gabby banged her head that she knocked the part of her head which was for common sense too, but ugh some of the drivel she spouted about Billy I really wanted to slap some sense into her. Gabby’s parents were also another major annoyance in this book, like seriously does no child have decent parents anymore? Gabby’s mum Vivian honestly made my blood boil, first her daughter has suffered a major head trauma, she’s lucky to be alive, but all she’s concerned with is how she looks, instead of remaining by her bedside, she goes shopping whilst she’s in hospital for make-up so she can spruce her daughter. Obviously because that would be Gabby’s number one concern right now her appearance?
“You were so beautiful, you were”
“It kills me to see you like this.”
What a way to boost her daughter’s confidence, whilst she’s lying in bed cut off from her friends and the outside world, not having a clue what’s going on and suffering from a head trauma. Gabby’s dad was just the invisible parent, wandering aimlessly in the background making occasional appearances or just drinking himself away.
Basically Where it Began started off as a highly anticipated read but ended up being a big disappointment. The book went around in maddening circles and frustrated me to a no end with two faced and pathetic characters.
Favourite quote;
“I thought she knew” argghh!!”
This review and more can also be found on my blog: The Readers Den
March 19, 2012
I was so excited to get this book in advance from Amazon Vine. It sounded interesting and I was in desperate need of a young adult book to bring back my passion for this genre. Unfortunately, this book was not as great as I was hoping it would be. I think I will be in the minority in saying that this book is not one that will live up to the hype, but this is only my opinion.
Gabby was not a character I enjoyed. I was to the point of wanting to rip her from the pages of the book and slap some sense into her. I just didn't like how the author portrayed her. At times, she was annoying and a pain in the butt, but then there were times when you wanted to give her a hug and a shoulder to cry on. While this could be an interesting combination for a character that would leave the reader interested in more, it left me frustrated and to the point of wanting to just put the book away. I can understand the confusion that the character goes through, but her attitude was not one I wanted to read about. You can tell that Billy is not someone to trust or want to be with, but naive Gabby doesn't seem to grasp this. Even a brain injury couldn't excuse the behavior of wanting this boy.
This book starts out great, but quickly falls into the trap of predictability, boredom and characters with shallow intentions. I felt that this book was a let down, but could have been better with further exploration of the characters and plot.
Gabby was not a character I enjoyed. I was to the point of wanting to rip her from the pages of the book and slap some sense into her. I just didn't like how the author portrayed her. At times, she was annoying and a pain in the butt, but then there were times when you wanted to give her a hug and a shoulder to cry on. While this could be an interesting combination for a character that would leave the reader interested in more, it left me frustrated and to the point of wanting to just put the book away. I can understand the confusion that the character goes through, but her attitude was not one I wanted to read about. You can tell that Billy is not someone to trust or want to be with, but naive Gabby doesn't seem to grasp this. Even a brain injury couldn't excuse the behavior of wanting this boy.
This book starts out great, but quickly falls into the trap of predictability, boredom and characters with shallow intentions. I felt that this book was a let down, but could have been better with further exploration of the characters and plot.
June 4, 2012
FIRST POSTED ON www.fiction-freak.blogspot.com
EDIT: I just re-read this and I realized how immature I was when it came to reviewing. Wow. Anyways, jsut needed to say I KNOW IT ISN'T VERY PROFESSIONAL.
So because I'm new to the whole blogging/book reviewing business, I don't receive ARC's. I just have to deal with whatever books I buy from Amazon or Barnes and Nobles, or library books. But, thanks to a certain giveaway on Goodreads, I finally managed to get my hands on Where it Began, which comes out in March. You have NO idea how much I was screaming when I found out
Yeah, basically. Anyways...this book is so similar to Stolen in so many ways, but so different in so many other ways. It warmed my heart. It broke my heart. It made me cry and made me smile. Gabby's the kind of girl who just wants the perfect, the safe, life to live. And so she becomes the picture of perfect and catches the eyes of Billy Nash. Or does she? Because when things are getting tough, when she can't remember anything about the accident that crashed Billy's car and took her memories, he's not there. And he only communicates with her through Instant Messaging. And in public? He's once again the boyfriend of the slu* of the school. But it's just an act, right? To protect her. That's what it is.
As much as I could connect with Gabby, I really didn't like her. She was blind in some situations, desperate in others, hostile when she shouldn't be, and consenting when she should've fought back. These were the things that stuck out, the things that I didn't like much. The things the irritate me. But then, how would you react if what happened to her happened to you? So I can't very well judge Gabby (especially since we were seeing things in her POV).
I can't say I was all-knowing when it came to the ending of the book, but I did suspect a few things. What actually happened though, shocked me out of my mind. It made me think. What happened in that book should never happen to anyone, but that stuff happens almost everyday without us knowing. It makes me think that sometimes the "perfect" life is the "fake" life, that there's not one single person who is perfect in all ways. But that's my philosophical side talking.
To be honest, it wasn't the summary that got my attention. It was the cover. I know, I know, we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but who hasn't? I entered the giveaway, not really expecting to win. But I DID!!! And I am so grateful that I did. So if you see this book in the bookstore and you don't think it sounds that great, read the first few pages, then judge. The blurbs don't always give you the full blow of a book.
Pages: 384
Series: Stand-alone Book
Genre: Realistic/Mystery-ish/Romance-ish
EDIT: I just re-read this and I realized how immature I was when it came to reviewing. Wow. Anyways, jsut needed to say I KNOW IT ISN'T VERY PROFESSIONAL.
So because I'm new to the whole blogging/book reviewing business, I don't receive ARC's. I just have to deal with whatever books I buy from Amazon or Barnes and Nobles, or library books. But, thanks to a certain giveaway on Goodreads, I finally managed to get my hands on Where it Began, which comes out in March. You have NO idea how much I was screaming when I found out
Yeah, basically. Anyways...this book is so similar to Stolen in so many ways, but so different in so many other ways. It warmed my heart. It broke my heart. It made me cry and made me smile. Gabby's the kind of girl who just wants the perfect, the safe, life to live. And so she becomes the picture of perfect and catches the eyes of Billy Nash. Or does she? Because when things are getting tough, when she can't remember anything about the accident that crashed Billy's car and took her memories, he's not there. And he only communicates with her through Instant Messaging. And in public? He's once again the boyfriend of the slu* of the school. But it's just an act, right? To protect her. That's what it is.
As much as I could connect with Gabby, I really didn't like her. She was blind in some situations, desperate in others, hostile when she shouldn't be, and consenting when she should've fought back. These were the things that stuck out, the things that I didn't like much. The things the irritate me. But then, how would you react if what happened to her happened to you? So I can't very well judge Gabby (especially since we were seeing things in her POV).
I can't say I was all-knowing when it came to the ending of the book, but I did suspect a few things. What actually happened though, shocked me out of my mind. It made me think. What happened in that book should never happen to anyone, but that stuff happens almost everyday without us knowing. It makes me think that sometimes the "perfect" life is the "fake" life, that there's not one single person who is perfect in all ways. But that's my philosophical side talking.
To be honest, it wasn't the summary that got my attention. It was the cover. I know, I know, we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but who hasn't? I entered the giveaway, not really expecting to win. But I DID!!! And I am so grateful that I did. So if you see this book in the bookstore and you don't think it sounds that great, read the first few pages, then judge. The blurbs don't always give you the full blow of a book.
Pages: 384
Series: Stand-alone Book
Genre: Realistic/Mystery-ish/Romance-ish
February 18, 2012
It started interestingly enough with a sense of confusion and not knowing that was conveyed quite effectively. Except the trip down memory lane was not a pleasant one because in the end all I felt was sorry for this girl who's a bit too used to describing herself as “sub regular.” And lost memory or not, her story was funny~ just not in a funny ha ha way. Her running commentary on being sub-regular and being the moon to Billy’s earth was in simple terms: off putting and quite disappointing. Yet, I finished this, holding (clinging?) to the hope that she’d realize how off she sounded when she voiced what little she thought of herself.
Point one. Props on being normal girl, non AP/academically inclined girl. Props on being sort-of funny and negative. But, and this important: the problem was how the negativity was always directed at her. She saw nothing good in herself. And from her POV, it seemed like her family was of no help there either. Because aside from being self-directed, the negativity seemed to come from her parents as well. And if Gabby’s thoughts were to be believed, I was half a mind to go, Now, me trying to be less than negative would concede to the fact that maybe, just maybe, her parents might have been saying that she had to make do with what she had. BUT this reverts back to the problem that she didn’t think she had anything going for her! Anyway, the consequence? A girl who refers to herself as “sub-regular” time and again. And, a consequence of that? Me, coming to loathe said term.
Point one and half. Like I said, the first time she made a funny at her own expense, well, it was (funny.) But the next time and the next time and the next time after that? Not so much! If her observations started out as funny- scathingly so, the repeated references on how non- smart she thought herself or how unappealing she found her looks all simply succeeded in frustrating me. My ‘ha- ha’s’ devolved in to a ‘Please, stop. It’s sad; you’re sad.’
Point two. Props on being aware how utterly sad you actually are, Gabby. She was all “Billy this and Billy that.” Again, it was so sad and so utterly frustrating how a good portion of Where it Began was all about her wanting him… because she saw him as the best thing there was about her. She saw herself as an extension of him
Point three. Recall how I praised that sense of confusion and not knowing effectively conveyed at book’s open? Well, come the end, I was almost wishing those feelings back. Then at least, this picture of self deprecating girl would not be in my mind. This girl who thought all she had going for her was a hot boyfriend. She’s sad and frustrating. And it's too bad that the good ended to soon because soon all that was what was revealed was a girl I felt too sorry for to even like. No wonder everyone
But wait! There is a reason (or two) for those stars you see up there. Namely... Thank you,God Huey! When everyone all could not, it was the one who stood apart who managed to say what was on everyone's mind... then sort of saves the day. Though, dear me, I do wish she’d saved it herself. So, there’s Huey to consider. Plus that one moment that I was in total agreement somewhere maybe two or three pages to the close, with this accurate exchange of,
Thank you S&S Galley Grab.
Point one. Props on being normal girl, non AP/academically inclined girl. Props on being sort-of funny and negative. But, and this important: the problem was how the negativity was always directed at her. She saw nothing good in herself. And from her POV, it seemed like her family was of no help there either. Because aside from being self-directed, the negativity seemed to come from her parents as well. And if Gabby’s thoughts were to be believed, I was half a mind to go, Now, me trying to be less than negative would concede to the fact that maybe, just maybe, her parents might have been saying that she had to make do with what she had. BUT this reverts back to the problem that she didn’t think she had anything going for her! Anyway, the consequence? A girl who refers to herself as “sub-regular” time and again. And, a consequence of that? Me, coming to loathe said term.
Point one and half. Like I said, the first time she made a funny at her own expense, well, it was (funny.) But the next time and the next time and the next time after that? Not so much! If her observations started out as funny- scathingly so, the repeated references on how non- smart she thought herself or how unappealing she found her looks all simply succeeded in frustrating me. My ‘ha- ha’s’ devolved in to a ‘Please, stop. It’s sad; you’re sad.’
Point two. Props on being aware how utterly sad you actually are, Gabby. She was all “Billy this and Billy that.” Again, it was so sad and so utterly frustrating how a good portion of Where it Began was all about her wanting him… because she saw him as the best thing there was about her. She saw herself as an extension of him
Point three. Recall how I praised that sense of confusion and not knowing effectively conveyed at book’s open? Well, come the end, I was almost wishing those feelings back. Then at least, this picture of self deprecating girl would not be in my mind. This girl who thought all she had going for her was a hot boyfriend. She’s sad and frustrating. And it's too bad that the good ended to soon because soon all that was what was revealed was a girl I felt too sorry for to even like. No wonder everyone
But wait! There is a reason (or two) for those stars you see up there. Namely... Thank you,
Gabby: “I am so lame.”
Lisa: “Totally pathetic.”
Thank you S&S Galley Grab.
March 26, 2012
How far would you go to cover for a friend? Would you allow your reputation to be torn to tatters? Gabby is the main character of this book. She doesn’t make the best choices, she is a fairly good student, and she has a boyfriend and friends. Overall, Gabby is a normal, everyday teenage girl. One wouldn’t think that underage drinking, suspensions from school, therapy sessions, etc… could happen to a normal, everyday girl.
One bad decision can lead to a lifetime of regret. For Gabby, this slightly clichéd statement turns out to be true. She is left with only her most loyal friends, her supposed boyfriend can only talk to her in secret, and her mother doesn’t appear to believe a word she says. Gabby is a sympathetic character, the reader will be rooting for her throughout the novel. Gabby can be a little hardheaded, but she is also loyal to a fault, honest for the most part, and likable. The secondary characters in the book will affect different readers in different ways. Some of the secondary characters are in the wrong place at the wrong time, others simply make bad decisions, while still others seem to only manipulate the ones they call friends.
The book was a page-turner; a reader will likely finish this sordid story in less than a few days. The plot is memorable, the characters are hard to forget, and the ending is unexpected. This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers, especially those who enjoy Gossip Girl and/or Pretty Little Liars.
One bad decision can lead to a lifetime of regret. For Gabby, this slightly clichéd statement turns out to be true. She is left with only her most loyal friends, her supposed boyfriend can only talk to her in secret, and her mother doesn’t appear to believe a word she says. Gabby is a sympathetic character, the reader will be rooting for her throughout the novel. Gabby can be a little hardheaded, but she is also loyal to a fault, honest for the most part, and likable. The secondary characters in the book will affect different readers in different ways. Some of the secondary characters are in the wrong place at the wrong time, others simply make bad decisions, while still others seem to only manipulate the ones they call friends.
The book was a page-turner; a reader will likely finish this sordid story in less than a few days. The plot is memorable, the characters are hard to forget, and the ending is unexpected. This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers, especially those who enjoy Gossip Girl and/or Pretty Little Liars.
August 7, 2012
It isn't very often that I sit down to start a book and have it finished about 4 hours later-- As much as I love reading, I'm pretty slow at it and I usually lose steam and need a few breaks in between. But every now and again, I get my hands on a book that I just cannot put down, that I just cannot get enough of, and end up devouring the whole dang thing in one day. Where It Began was one of those books...
Gabby Gardiner has what many people would call a "privileged life." She's grown up in the "Three B's" -- Bel Air, Brentwood and Beverly Hills-- she goes to a prestigious private school, and her mom just dumped a ton of cash to give Gabby a totally hot new makeover. But Gabby's life is far from perfect, and she feels completely out of place among the other rich and beautiful people at Winston High. The pressure is constantly on for her to be absolutely perfect, to get into an Ivy League school, and to not under any circumstances come across as being "regular," or God forbid-- a "sub-regular" freak who wants to go to art school.
It isn't until Gabby somehow miraculously catches the eye of the God-like Billy Nash that her life is saved from sub-regularity. For Gabby, Billy symbolizes the perfection she's supposed to attain-- her savior that rockets her into popularity and brings her new acceptance from everyone, including her parents. Unfortunately, Gabby's entire life ends up crashing down around her when she finds herself in the hospital after getting drunk and wrapping Billy's BMW around a tree. With no memory of what actually happened, Gabby now has to figure out how to pick up the pieces of her not-so-perfect life and somehow hold onto the guy who seems to give that life purpose.
So I thought that in Gabby, the author was able to create a main character who was flawed but who you just can't help loving to death and completely sympathizing with. She was smart and sarcastic, but she was also very innocent and susceptible to the world around her. She had a rather cynical outlook on life but at the same time she had a good heart. And even though she was lost and misguided throughout pretty much the whole book, I was still rooting for Gabby hardcore and wishing her a happy ending.
Now, as some of you may know, I absolutely hate when books portray female protagonists who are pathetically dependent and obsessive about their loser jerk-face boyfriends. But in this case, the dynamics between Gabby and Billy really worked marvelously with the whole plot of the story. Yes, Gabby has pretty much zero self-esteem and clung to Billy as if he were God himself, being completely unaware of what a creep he really was. But this insecurity and vulnerability in the main character didn't make me hate her at all or think that she was pathetic or crazy-- If anything, I felt sorry for her and could relate to her in many ways. As the reader, you could definitely understand why Gabby thinks and feels the way she does, and how she came to value superficiality over real love and a healthy relationship, due to the fact that her parents, her friends, and her whole school expects her to look and act a certain way. She was still likable and interesting, and her weaknesses only made her that much more likable and interesting.
The world-building was another plus in this book. I just adored how the author presented the world of Winston High and the society Gabby lives in-- from the jocks to the "Slutmuffins" to the doctors and nurses at the hospital, it was just one hilarious character sketch after another that had me giggling to myself throughout the book. Gabby gets just how ridiculously fake her world is, and life through her eyes was definitely entertaining to follow! There was clearly a tragicomedy feel to this book and I really loved that aspect of it.
Besides the main character and world-building, the other major thing that really struck me about this book was the writing. Narrated through Gabby's voice, it was both snarky and sarcastic, but also incredibly smart and heartfelt. Not to mention it flowed really well, which is probably why I couldn't put the book down and finished it in a day. The internal thoughts and emotions that are woven throughout the story not only revealed Gabby's life leading up to the car accident, but also worked perfectly to keep me totally wrapped up in what was going on. The twist at the end threw both Gabby and myself for a loop, but thanks to it, Gabby becomes much wiser and aware of what really matters-- and for me, that kind of character growth is what makes a book worth reading.
I am definitely giving 5 stars to Where It Began-- which I haven't done for a book in a really long time, since I very rarely pass out 5 stars. I thought this book was very real, the main character was really genuine, and I'm pretty sure that I laughed out loud at least three dozen times as I was reading. This was one awesome coming-of-age kind of story-- intelligent, but not taking itself *too* seriously. If you are thinking about reading a YA in the contemporary genre any time soon, I would definitely recommend this one to you-- trust me, it won't disappoint!
~Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
Gabby Gardiner has what many people would call a "privileged life." She's grown up in the "Three B's" -- Bel Air, Brentwood and Beverly Hills-- she goes to a prestigious private school, and her mom just dumped a ton of cash to give Gabby a totally hot new makeover. But Gabby's life is far from perfect, and she feels completely out of place among the other rich and beautiful people at Winston High. The pressure is constantly on for her to be absolutely perfect, to get into an Ivy League school, and to not under any circumstances come across as being "regular," or God forbid-- a "sub-regular" freak who wants to go to art school.
It isn't until Gabby somehow miraculously catches the eye of the God-like Billy Nash that her life is saved from sub-regularity. For Gabby, Billy symbolizes the perfection she's supposed to attain-- her savior that rockets her into popularity and brings her new acceptance from everyone, including her parents. Unfortunately, Gabby's entire life ends up crashing down around her when she finds herself in the hospital after getting drunk and wrapping Billy's BMW around a tree. With no memory of what actually happened, Gabby now has to figure out how to pick up the pieces of her not-so-perfect life and somehow hold onto the guy who seems to give that life purpose.
So I thought that in Gabby, the author was able to create a main character who was flawed but who you just can't help loving to death and completely sympathizing with. She was smart and sarcastic, but she was also very innocent and susceptible to the world around her. She had a rather cynical outlook on life but at the same time she had a good heart. And even though she was lost and misguided throughout pretty much the whole book, I was still rooting for Gabby hardcore and wishing her a happy ending.
Now, as some of you may know, I absolutely hate when books portray female protagonists who are pathetically dependent and obsessive about their loser jerk-face boyfriends. But in this case, the dynamics between Gabby and Billy really worked marvelously with the whole plot of the story. Yes, Gabby has pretty much zero self-esteem and clung to Billy as if he were God himself, being completely unaware of what a creep he really was. But this insecurity and vulnerability in the main character didn't make me hate her at all or think that she was pathetic or crazy-- If anything, I felt sorry for her and could relate to her in many ways. As the reader, you could definitely understand why Gabby thinks and feels the way she does, and how she came to value superficiality over real love and a healthy relationship, due to the fact that her parents, her friends, and her whole school expects her to look and act a certain way. She was still likable and interesting, and her weaknesses only made her that much more likable and interesting.
The world-building was another plus in this book. I just adored how the author presented the world of Winston High and the society Gabby lives in-- from the jocks to the "Slutmuffins" to the doctors and nurses at the hospital, it was just one hilarious character sketch after another that had me giggling to myself throughout the book. Gabby gets just how ridiculously fake her world is, and life through her eyes was definitely entertaining to follow! There was clearly a tragicomedy feel to this book and I really loved that aspect of it.
Besides the main character and world-building, the other major thing that really struck me about this book was the writing. Narrated through Gabby's voice, it was both snarky and sarcastic, but also incredibly smart and heartfelt. Not to mention it flowed really well, which is probably why I couldn't put the book down and finished it in a day. The internal thoughts and emotions that are woven throughout the story not only revealed Gabby's life leading up to the car accident, but also worked perfectly to keep me totally wrapped up in what was going on. The twist at the end threw both Gabby and myself for a loop, but thanks to it, Gabby becomes much wiser and aware of what really matters-- and for me, that kind of character growth is what makes a book worth reading.
I am definitely giving 5 stars to Where It Began-- which I haven't done for a book in a really long time, since I very rarely pass out 5 stars. I thought this book was very real, the main character was really genuine, and I'm pretty sure that I laughed out loud at least three dozen times as I was reading. This was one awesome coming-of-age kind of story-- intelligent, but not taking itself *too* seriously. If you are thinking about reading a YA in the contemporary genre any time soon, I would definitely recommend this one to you-- trust me, it won't disappoint!
~Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
February 9, 2012
*** Originally posted to: Bookish
SIDE NOTE: I'm currently hosting a giveaway for a gorgeous SIGNED finished copy of this book! Enter here: Guest Post + Giveaway with Ann Stampler (US/Canada, ends:MARCH 15th
Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler is one gorgeous and unforgettable book! Laced with humor, exceptional wit and powerful insight, this book gets you hooked right off from the start. It's intense, funny, heartbreaking, taut, mysterious and - most of all - so deliciously addictive! Ann Redisch Stampler did a fabulous job depicting high school relationships, with all their flaws and foibles. The MC's extremely amusing sarcastic tone makes for a great narrative voice that is sure to keep you turning the pages until you hit the back cover. It's a wonderful treat for everyone who appreciates a good contemporary novel.
This is how it starts: some helpless girl in a skanky tank top lying on her back in the wet grass somewhere in Hidden Hills. She is gazing at the stars through the leaves of a eucalyptus tree. The trunk of the eucalyptus tree is wrapped in Billy Nash's blue BMW. Midnight blue. The girl is trying to figure out what's going on, beyond the more obvious facts: a mouth lined with a sick combination of beer and stale vodka, a crunched-up car with black smoke pouring out of it, a night sky filled with glassy constellations and a big white moon.
Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed, wired to machines and clueless as to how she ended up there. Her face is smashed in, bruised and unrecognizable. She has a post-traumatic amnesia and her memory of the last night's car crash is gone. Wiped clean. Non-existent. All she knows is what others tell her: she's been at a party with her super-hot-and-rich boyfriend, Billy, and a bunch of his super-cool-and-rich friends. She drank too much. She got into Billy's car and drove it into a tree. And now she can't remember a single thing. Her face, and possibly whole life, is ruined - she's facing DUI charges, being expelled from school and maybe even some serious jail time. Worst of all? Her boyfriend is missing and no one wants to tell her where he is and why hasn't he come to visit her bruised up and miserable self yet. And that's not the only thing people are keeping from her...
Which is when it happens: when the story of my life starts to show up in mosaic splinter flashes in my head.
I was totally in love with this book from page one! The writing was beyond amazing. Witty, hilarious, smart and sexy! For me, Ann Redisch Stampler could write a 1000 pg long description of how to make blueberry waffles and I would probably enjoy every single word of it - that's how fantastic her writing style is. Gabby's narrative voice was - hands down - one of the most enjoyable narrative voices ever. I instantly connected with her, although we didn't really have anything in common (at all). Moreover, I genuinely cared about her and wanted everything to work out well for her. She was quite a complex character- strong yet sensitive, ready to work hard to achieve her goals yet sometimes very naive and impressionable. A typical teenage girl, with all her insecurities, hopes and dreams, longing to be noticed, appreciated and loved. It was really heartbreaking to watch her struggle to hold on to the happy little life she worked so hard to live, knowing all along what she didn't yet realized - that this life was never meant for her.
Gabby Gardiner, shake hands with your totally impossible, not-going-to-happen future.
There were quite a few twists and turns that I never saw coming. The plot line might seem a bit predictable at the beginning, but if you think you have it all figured out after the first 20 pages, well, then you're in for a surprise. All in all, it was a fascinating and compelling read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It got me emotionally engaged, it made me laugh, kept me guessing and frantically turning the pages, and in the end left me very satisfied and pleased with the way the whole thing unfolded. I couldn't ask for more. Make sure to add it to your TBR Pile and 2012 contemporary challenge!
SIDE NOTE: I'm currently hosting a giveaway for a gorgeous SIGNED finished copy of this book! Enter here: Guest Post + Giveaway with Ann Stampler (US/Canada, ends:MARCH 15th
Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler is one gorgeous and unforgettable book! Laced with humor, exceptional wit and powerful insight, this book gets you hooked right off from the start. It's intense, funny, heartbreaking, taut, mysterious and - most of all - so deliciously addictive! Ann Redisch Stampler did a fabulous job depicting high school relationships, with all their flaws and foibles. The MC's extremely amusing sarcastic tone makes for a great narrative voice that is sure to keep you turning the pages until you hit the back cover. It's a wonderful treat for everyone who appreciates a good contemporary novel.
This is how it starts: some helpless girl in a skanky tank top lying on her back in the wet grass somewhere in Hidden Hills. She is gazing at the stars through the leaves of a eucalyptus tree. The trunk of the eucalyptus tree is wrapped in Billy Nash's blue BMW. Midnight blue. The girl is trying to figure out what's going on, beyond the more obvious facts: a mouth lined with a sick combination of beer and stale vodka, a crunched-up car with black smoke pouring out of it, a night sky filled with glassy constellations and a big white moon.
Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed, wired to machines and clueless as to how she ended up there. Her face is smashed in, bruised and unrecognizable. She has a post-traumatic amnesia and her memory of the last night's car crash is gone. Wiped clean. Non-existent. All she knows is what others tell her: she's been at a party with her super-hot-and-rich boyfriend, Billy, and a bunch of his super-cool-and-rich friends. She drank too much. She got into Billy's car and drove it into a tree. And now she can't remember a single thing. Her face, and possibly whole life, is ruined - she's facing DUI charges, being expelled from school and maybe even some serious jail time. Worst of all? Her boyfriend is missing and no one wants to tell her where he is and why hasn't he come to visit her bruised up and miserable self yet. And that's not the only thing people are keeping from her...
Which is when it happens: when the story of my life starts to show up in mosaic splinter flashes in my head.
I was totally in love with this book from page one! The writing was beyond amazing. Witty, hilarious, smart and sexy! For me, Ann Redisch Stampler could write a 1000 pg long description of how to make blueberry waffles and I would probably enjoy every single word of it - that's how fantastic her writing style is. Gabby's narrative voice was - hands down - one of the most enjoyable narrative voices ever. I instantly connected with her, although we didn't really have anything in common (at all). Moreover, I genuinely cared about her and wanted everything to work out well for her. She was quite a complex character- strong yet sensitive, ready to work hard to achieve her goals yet sometimes very naive and impressionable. A typical teenage girl, with all her insecurities, hopes and dreams, longing to be noticed, appreciated and loved. It was really heartbreaking to watch her struggle to hold on to the happy little life she worked so hard to live, knowing all along what she didn't yet realized - that this life was never meant for her.
Gabby Gardiner, shake hands with your totally impossible, not-going-to-happen future.
There were quite a few twists and turns that I never saw coming. The plot line might seem a bit predictable at the beginning, but if you think you have it all figured out after the first 20 pages, well, then you're in for a surprise. All in all, it was a fascinating and compelling read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It got me emotionally engaged, it made me laugh, kept me guessing and frantically turning the pages, and in the end left me very satisfied and pleased with the way the whole thing unfolded. I couldn't ask for more. Make sure to add it to your TBR Pile and 2012 contemporary challenge!
June 2, 2012
Review originally posted to Words at Home June 7, 2012: http://www.wordsathome.ca/2012/06/whe...
Where it Began is an utterly compelling and poignant look into the life of a sub-regular turned, girlfriend-of-a-golden-god teenage girl. It is a completely addictive story and I guarantee that you will be glued to this book within the first few pages. Between Ann Stampler’s unique and utterly fabulous writing style, her incredibly three-dimensional characters and captivating plot she has become my favorite new contemporary author.
I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to summarizing this story, it was just brilliant and you simply must read it yourself. The story starts when Gabby wakes up in a hospital bed desperately trying to piece together how she got there. She is able to gradually recall scenes from her life before the accident but has no memory of the accident itself. The novel revealed Gabby’s history through a series of flashbacks as she remembered them during her recovery. It was difficult to stand on the sidelines and not be able to do anything to help Gabby as I could see that ending coming the whole time, although I never expected the full extent of what came to light. I was just waiting on pins and needles for the other shoe to drop and when it finally did it left me as shattered as Gabby.
I truly believe that Stampler has an unparalleled ability to not only get inside her characters heads, but to actually get the reader inside the character’s heads. I have never in my life been so invested in a story or character as I was with Gabby. And that is saying a lot considering I am always talking about how I am a character reader. The entire reason I read is to make a connections with a brilliant character. My heart broke continuously for Gabby as I was reading Where it Began. It was painful to listen to how she described herself as nothing but sub-regular before [her makeover] and her only worth to anyone other than her two besties came After [her makeover]. The way she divides her life into a before her makeover, After her makeover, and after-her-After (after the accident) evoked more emotion than event or conversation could have been. Listening to Gabby describe her life felt like talking with a girlfriend back in high school. At times I just wanted to shake her and get he to wake up, but given the way she was raised it was absolutely no surprise why she acted the way she did.
What about the writing you ask? Oh let me wax on about the writing for a minute please! I can’t even describe Ann’s writing style except to say it is nothing short of amazing. Ann Stampler is an absolute and certifiable genius when it comes to her way with words. And you will see what I mean tomorrow when you read her “deleted scene” guest post. Point in case:
“I want to be back in my After, and not in some weird after-After
Purgatory, waiting to find out if I am Saved or Damned.”
“And you can kind of see it: me sitting in a room with Olga Blau
and a big lump of clay, even if she is bat-shit crazy and I have a
scarlet F for failure stamped across my forehead. So what if what
I actually want to do makes everyone else wince? Because you
Have to figure, things would be looking up if I wasn’t the one wincing.”
I honestly could go on and one for days about Where it Began and I still wouldn’t do this brilliant novel justice! All you need to know is that if you are a fan of contemporary fiction you must run out right now and get this book. You will be thanking me in about 3 chapters I promise! The characters, the storyline, plotting and pacing are just out of this world and this is why Ann Stampler just became my contemporary fiction hero!
Where it Began is an utterly compelling and poignant look into the life of a sub-regular turned, girlfriend-of-a-golden-god teenage girl. It is a completely addictive story and I guarantee that you will be glued to this book within the first few pages. Between Ann Stampler’s unique and utterly fabulous writing style, her incredibly three-dimensional characters and captivating plot she has become my favorite new contemporary author.
I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to summarizing this story, it was just brilliant and you simply must read it yourself. The story starts when Gabby wakes up in a hospital bed desperately trying to piece together how she got there. She is able to gradually recall scenes from her life before the accident but has no memory of the accident itself. The novel revealed Gabby’s history through a series of flashbacks as she remembered them during her recovery. It was difficult to stand on the sidelines and not be able to do anything to help Gabby as I could see that ending coming the whole time, although I never expected the full extent of what came to light. I was just waiting on pins and needles for the other shoe to drop and when it finally did it left me as shattered as Gabby.
I truly believe that Stampler has an unparalleled ability to not only get inside her characters heads, but to actually get the reader inside the character’s heads. I have never in my life been so invested in a story or character as I was with Gabby. And that is saying a lot considering I am always talking about how I am a character reader. The entire reason I read is to make a connections with a brilliant character. My heart broke continuously for Gabby as I was reading Where it Began. It was painful to listen to how she described herself as nothing but sub-regular before [her makeover] and her only worth to anyone other than her two besties came After [her makeover]. The way she divides her life into a before her makeover, After her makeover, and after-her-After (after the accident) evoked more emotion than event or conversation could have been. Listening to Gabby describe her life felt like talking with a girlfriend back in high school. At times I just wanted to shake her and get he to wake up, but given the way she was raised it was absolutely no surprise why she acted the way she did.
What about the writing you ask? Oh let me wax on about the writing for a minute please! I can’t even describe Ann’s writing style except to say it is nothing short of amazing. Ann Stampler is an absolute and certifiable genius when it comes to her way with words. And you will see what I mean tomorrow when you read her “deleted scene” guest post. Point in case:
“I want to be back in my After, and not in some weird after-After
Purgatory, waiting to find out if I am Saved or Damned.”
“And you can kind of see it: me sitting in a room with Olga Blau
and a big lump of clay, even if she is bat-shit crazy and I have a
scarlet F for failure stamped across my forehead. So what if what
I actually want to do makes everyone else wince? Because you
Have to figure, things would be looking up if I wasn’t the one wincing.”
I honestly could go on and one for days about Where it Began and I still wouldn’t do this brilliant novel justice! All you need to know is that if you are a fan of contemporary fiction you must run out right now and get this book. You will be thanking me in about 3 chapters I promise! The characters, the storyline, plotting and pacing are just out of this world and this is why Ann Stampler just became my contemporary fiction hero!
March 11, 2012
Stampler's debut is amazing! The last few chapters changed EVERYTHING. Review to come!
FULL REVIEW
Where It Began was truly an amazing debut by Ann Redisch Stampler! The novel had many aspects that a contemporary fan would love.
Gabby was an interesting main character. Stampler portrayed her well enough for her readers to really understand what she was going through after her accident. I could really feel how hard it was for Gabby to deal without her memory of that night when the crash took place.
As I read more of the novel, I was surprised to see what kind of guy Billy Nash really was. I thought that he was amazing as Gabby thought he was but he’s no where near amazing. Billy was rude and incredibly selfish. I didn’t know whether to feel bad for Gabby or to be angry at her because reading about her being with Billy made me so angry!
The ending was what I expected, but satisfied me with what I needed to read. I was glad to read how Stampler concluded her novel!
If you like contemporary, a little bit of romance and mystery, then Where It Began is the book for you!
See more: http://teenagereader.com/where-it-beg...
FULL REVIEW
Where It Began was truly an amazing debut by Ann Redisch Stampler! The novel had many aspects that a contemporary fan would love.
Gabby was an interesting main character. Stampler portrayed her well enough for her readers to really understand what she was going through after her accident. I could really feel how hard it was for Gabby to deal without her memory of that night when the crash took place.
As I read more of the novel, I was surprised to see what kind of guy Billy Nash really was. I thought that he was amazing as Gabby thought he was but he’s no where near amazing. Billy was rude and incredibly selfish. I didn’t know whether to feel bad for Gabby or to be angry at her because reading about her being with Billy made me so angry!
The ending was what I expected, but satisfied me with what I needed to read. I was glad to read how Stampler concluded her novel!
If you like contemporary, a little bit of romance and mystery, then Where It Began is the book for you!
See more: http://teenagereader.com/where-it-beg...
April 7, 2012
Remember that time you fell for the wrong guy and were so blindly in love you couldn't see anything but the golden glow radiating from his Adonis-like body? Meet Gabby Gardiner the best anti-hero to grace the pages of a YA novel since well, I can't remember the last time I had such fun. Flawed? Check. Wrecked by love? Check. Strong and hilarious? Check. Gabby lives in the three B's of Los Angeles (Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Brentwood) where the pressure to be perfectly gorgeous and get into the perfect Ivy school leads her to refer to herself as "sub-regular." Who hasn't felt sub-regular among the popular Slutmuffins of the world? When her mom treats her to a makeover one summer, Gabby comes back to school able to attract the attention of Billy Nash, a guy she falls so blindly in love with it runs her into a tree and nearly kills her. This book is one car crash it's okay to rubber-neck.
April 17, 2012
All Gabby remembers after waking up in a hospital is her boyfriends car wrapped around a tree. Ever since that night when she supposedly stole her bf’s car and drove it after using alcohol, Gabby’s life turns upside down. She is sucked into a life of false beauty to cover up her bruises, lawyers and probation’s, and most of all a secret “love.” Through her whole ordeal Gabby tries to stay strong, but when she realizes her boyfriend is sleeping with other girls when he’s supposed to be in love with her she gets suspicious. But its when she learns the truth that she realizes how desperate love can make you.
For the rest if the review click Here!
For the rest if the review click Here!
December 31, 2011
This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.
Gabby wakes up in hospital with no memory of the night that put her there, but what happened was obvious. With the blood alcohol concentration of a keg and in her hand the keys to her boyfriend's car wrapped around a tree beside her, her future looks to be a blur of DUI charges, jail time, and perhaps the most daunting in her mother's eyes, a face mangled by the crash. In the aftermath, she'll question if the events of that night were really what they seemed.
Ann Redisch Stampler's YA debut gets under your skin. Far from the light contemporary the cover and blurb imply, you accompany Gabby through a difficult journey and through so many intense and complicated emotions and realisations -- that growing into the person she wants to be is more important than any relationship is perhaps the most profound of all.
Written in evocative prose in a voice inherently teenaged and inherently Gabby. The narration was so personal, Gabby felt real and like someone we really know. I felt as though in the shoes of a fourth member of their friend group -- another Lisa or Anita bringing board games to her house during her recovery and asking her to open up. Her personality is well realised and well portrayed such that her shortcomings are plausible and sympathetic rather than frustrating.
The characters are dynamic and realistic. I prefer to relate to my characters than to idealise them, so their well-conveyed angst and bias and jealousy and ignorance made them only more engaging. Their flaws and poor decisions bring them to life and make them real. The characterisation was superb, and the narrative voice so true and raw. Stampler creates characters which explore moral grey areas that you can learn things about yourself from.
Gabby's reflection and emotional turmoil pay off in the end, in a huge and unexpected and perfect complete turn around. The way she finds the strength to accept what happened to her free of any bitterness and pursue what she really needs rather than wants is inspiring, and also gives us the comfort of knowing she finds the peace she so deserves.
Where It Began tackles relevant issues in a non-preachy tone, making for a story we get more than a few hours of entertainment from. Characters well-written and are created with relatability prioritised over likeablility, to be affecting on a much deeper level. It's an upcoming, enriching contemporary any fans of the genre should definitely seek out in early March.
Gabby wakes up in hospital with no memory of the night that put her there, but what happened was obvious. With the blood alcohol concentration of a keg and in her hand the keys to her boyfriend's car wrapped around a tree beside her, her future looks to be a blur of DUI charges, jail time, and perhaps the most daunting in her mother's eyes, a face mangled by the crash. In the aftermath, she'll question if the events of that night were really what they seemed.
Ann Redisch Stampler's YA debut gets under your skin. Far from the light contemporary the cover and blurb imply, you accompany Gabby through a difficult journey and through so many intense and complicated emotions and realisations -- that growing into the person she wants to be is more important than any relationship is perhaps the most profound of all.
Written in evocative prose in a voice inherently teenaged and inherently Gabby. The narration was so personal, Gabby felt real and like someone we really know. I felt as though in the shoes of a fourth member of their friend group -- another Lisa or Anita bringing board games to her house during her recovery and asking her to open up. Her personality is well realised and well portrayed such that her shortcomings are plausible and sympathetic rather than frustrating.
The characters are dynamic and realistic. I prefer to relate to my characters than to idealise them, so their well-conveyed angst and bias and jealousy and ignorance made them only more engaging. Their flaws and poor decisions bring them to life and make them real. The characterisation was superb, and the narrative voice so true and raw. Stampler creates characters which explore moral grey areas that you can learn things about yourself from.
Gabby's reflection and emotional turmoil pay off in the end, in a huge and unexpected and perfect complete turn around. The way she finds the strength to accept what happened to her free of any bitterness and pursue what she really needs rather than wants is inspiring, and also gives us the comfort of knowing she finds the peace she so deserves.
Where It Began tackles relevant issues in a non-preachy tone, making for a story we get more than a few hours of entertainment from. Characters well-written and are created with relatability prioritised over likeablility, to be affecting on a much deeper level. It's an upcoming, enriching contemporary any fans of the genre should definitely seek out in early March.
July 5, 2012
[Cross-posted at my blog]
Where it Began opens with a fairly simple premise: a teenage girl wakes up in the hospital, having barely survived a car accident. She has no memory of the night in question, but she's certain she's to blame.
The narrative voice is fresh, crisp, and incredibly witty. I absolutely loved it. (Also, there is BILLY NASH. BILLY NAAAAAAAAAAAASH.)
What makes the book stand out so much? I shall tell you!
Narrative Voice
Gabby's narration is fabulously sarcastic. She considers herself a "sub-regular" at school, skill-less and destined for some crappy no-name college while her classmates head to Princeton and Stanford, but as readers we quickly realize she has an inaccurate, harsh view of herself. In truth, she's a talented artist, and an extremely witty young woman.
Check out how Gabby describes some of the people in her life:
Boyfriend Billy Nash, polo-playing golden boy of the school: "Billy sticks out his hand like a politician who is pretty damned sure he is going to get my vote. Then he flashes me The Grin. The smoldering, adorable grin. Like he knows that I'm going to race from precinct to precinct and vote for him over and over all day long."
Friend Lisa: "Lisa had been on a religious Outward Bound where she learned to survive if she ever gets stranded in Wisconsin with only dehydrated stew, a toothbrush, and a pocket Bible."
Mother Vivian (always Vivian; never Mom): "She is sitting in the corner on a green plastic chair, maybe too far away for me to see her clearly. Or maybe in her quest to look as if she's made of ten-years-younger, wrinkle-free plastic sheeting, my mother has found a way to get herself permanently, cosmetically airbrushed so nobody can see her all that clearly."
Use of Humor
I really like books that maintain a sharp, biting sense of humor amidst very real, very painful drama. Where it Began does this expertly, placing both elements in stark relief. Gabby has suffered through a terrible car crash; her face is bashed in; her boyfriend seems to have mysteriously abandoned her; and her alcoholic parents who live "in the lower dregs of Bel Air" have pinned all their hopes for social advancement on their daughter's continued attendance at the prestigious Winston School.
Despite the heartache and confusion that swirls around the story, and despite the increased evidence that poor Gabby has been left out to dry, the book is also deeply, darkly hilarious.
As part of his latest probation terms (it turns out Billy is anything but a golden boy), Billy is supposed to be counseling other teens at the Youth League shelter in Santa Monica. Of course, he has no intention of doing this. As Gabby puts it, "The only helpful counseling he could possibly be doing would have to be arriving by astral projection via the psychic cat that's always out there on the Third Street Promenade in a wizard hat making money for his half-zonked owner."
Use of Setting
Where it Began takes place in the Three B's (Bel Air, Brentwood, Beverly Hills), as well as the Valley, the West Side, and all of Los Angeles. Stampler clearly knows this world and fully immerses the reader in it.
Because Billy is easily bored, he takes Gabby all over the city in his beloved Beemer. "The best Pho 999 for Vietnamese noodles so far out on Sepulveda, it is almost at the far end of the Valley"; "hickory burgers on the red faux-leather stools at the counter at the Apple Pan on Pico"; "Versailles for Cuban plantains and black beans in Culver City"; "tacos at La Canasta, which is somewhere so far south and east of downtown that it looks like some whole other country"; "the Cajun place at the Fairfax Farmers' Market that has homemade yam potato chips fried up and ready to eat by ten a.m."
Having been to several of those places, I can attest to the accuracy of those descriptions. Yum.
Billy Nash
Speaking of Billy, he's an enviably well constructed, well written character, equal parts seductive, fascinating, and horrifying. As a reader, I wanted Billy around. Just like Gabby, I yearned for and anticipated his texts, instant messages, phone calls, and cameos. He's impossibly magnetic. He's also an appalling human being, and waiting for Gabby to arrive at this conclusion (as readers will probably do early on) fills the book with tension and occasional frustration, yet I understood completely why Gabby was in love with him and in thrall to him.
In short, I'm rather obsessed with this book.
Where it Began opens with a fairly simple premise: a teenage girl wakes up in the hospital, having barely survived a car accident. She has no memory of the night in question, but she's certain she's to blame.
The narrative voice is fresh, crisp, and incredibly witty. I absolutely loved it. (Also, there is BILLY NASH. BILLY NAAAAAAAAAAAASH.)
What makes the book stand out so much? I shall tell you!
Narrative Voice
Gabby's narration is fabulously sarcastic. She considers herself a "sub-regular" at school, skill-less and destined for some crappy no-name college while her classmates head to Princeton and Stanford, but as readers we quickly realize she has an inaccurate, harsh view of herself. In truth, she's a talented artist, and an extremely witty young woman.
Check out how Gabby describes some of the people in her life:
Boyfriend Billy Nash, polo-playing golden boy of the school: "Billy sticks out his hand like a politician who is pretty damned sure he is going to get my vote. Then he flashes me The Grin. The smoldering, adorable grin. Like he knows that I'm going to race from precinct to precinct and vote for him over and over all day long."
Friend Lisa: "Lisa had been on a religious Outward Bound where she learned to survive if she ever gets stranded in Wisconsin with only dehydrated stew, a toothbrush, and a pocket Bible."
Mother Vivian (always Vivian; never Mom): "She is sitting in the corner on a green plastic chair, maybe too far away for me to see her clearly. Or maybe in her quest to look as if she's made of ten-years-younger, wrinkle-free plastic sheeting, my mother has found a way to get herself permanently, cosmetically airbrushed so nobody can see her all that clearly."
Use of Humor
I really like books that maintain a sharp, biting sense of humor amidst very real, very painful drama. Where it Began does this expertly, placing both elements in stark relief. Gabby has suffered through a terrible car crash; her face is bashed in; her boyfriend seems to have mysteriously abandoned her; and her alcoholic parents who live "in the lower dregs of Bel Air" have pinned all their hopes for social advancement on their daughter's continued attendance at the prestigious Winston School.
Despite the heartache and confusion that swirls around the story, and despite the increased evidence that poor Gabby has been left out to dry, the book is also deeply, darkly hilarious.
As part of his latest probation terms (it turns out Billy is anything but a golden boy), Billy is supposed to be counseling other teens at the Youth League shelter in Santa Monica. Of course, he has no intention of doing this. As Gabby puts it, "The only helpful counseling he could possibly be doing would have to be arriving by astral projection via the psychic cat that's always out there on the Third Street Promenade in a wizard hat making money for his half-zonked owner."
Use of Setting
Where it Began takes place in the Three B's (Bel Air, Brentwood, Beverly Hills), as well as the Valley, the West Side, and all of Los Angeles. Stampler clearly knows this world and fully immerses the reader in it.
Because Billy is easily bored, he takes Gabby all over the city in his beloved Beemer. "The best Pho 999 for Vietnamese noodles so far out on Sepulveda, it is almost at the far end of the Valley"; "hickory burgers on the red faux-leather stools at the counter at the Apple Pan on Pico"; "Versailles for Cuban plantains and black beans in Culver City"; "tacos at La Canasta, which is somewhere so far south and east of downtown that it looks like some whole other country"; "the Cajun place at the Fairfax Farmers' Market that has homemade yam potato chips fried up and ready to eat by ten a.m."
Having been to several of those places, I can attest to the accuracy of those descriptions. Yum.
Billy Nash
Speaking of Billy, he's an enviably well constructed, well written character, equal parts seductive, fascinating, and horrifying. As a reader, I wanted Billy around. Just like Gabby, I yearned for and anticipated his texts, instant messages, phone calls, and cameos. He's impossibly magnetic. He's also an appalling human being, and waiting for Gabby to arrive at this conclusion (as readers will probably do early on) fills the book with tension and occasional frustration, yet I understood completely why Gabby was in love with him and in thrall to him.
In short, I'm rather obsessed with this book.
February 7, 2014
Such a good testament to teenage drinking and it's consequences. Gabby wakes up in the hospital broken and battered, in really bad shape and in between flyer mother hovering and nurses poking, are the police wanting to get her statement after she apparently drove drunk after stealing her boyfriends car and rammed it into a tree. She was found lying outside the car with the Keys in her hand. Problem is, she has absolutely no memory of any of it. Not the party, not getting into the car, not driving away and into the tree.
Gabby just goes among with everything she's been told because after all, everyone was at the party, they knew what happened and she didn't. Billy was more than grateful when she told him she told everyone she didn't remember, especially when he realized she really didnt remember. So life moves along, Billy says he can't see her publicly right now be side of her charges and his probation. She watches at school while be flirts and gets back together with an old girlfriend while swearing she's the one. She sees doctors and therapists and attends aa meetings and still goes to school where everyone knows what she's done while she insists she doesn't want to talk about it. Until she sees the pictures. A friend shows her pictures from the party and she realizes everyone has lied to her, and schemed, especially Billy. Everyone assumed she was the heroic one and knew all along.
How different would things be if she had known? She was Billy's girlfriend and pretty much would do anything to stay that way, even at her own expense. The cliques of high school show you where you belong and after her "makeover" her life changed. When she dated Billy she was important. Her mother made appearance such a priority that she easily fell in with the pretty mentality, she became Billy's puppet and she didn't know life outside of that. I kept waiting for her to wake up and see things as they really were. We as the reader could see the truth, but she, with the wonderful boyfriend could not. I was really angry when even after knowing the truth, was going to let all go without Making anyone else responsible.
While for the most part gabby's guilt or innocence of the accident itself was one issue but she is guilty of drinking so much that she put herself in that situation. Had that not happened, the whole story would be different. How many of us as teens did the same thing without any thought to the consequences? We were just luckier.
A great read depicting high school, teenage drinking, finding out who your friends really are. I am looking forward to reading "afterparty"
Gabby just goes among with everything she's been told because after all, everyone was at the party, they knew what happened and she didn't. Billy was more than grateful when she told him she told everyone she didn't remember, especially when he realized she really didnt remember. So life moves along, Billy says he can't see her publicly right now be side of her charges and his probation. She watches at school while be flirts and gets back together with an old girlfriend while swearing she's the one. She sees doctors and therapists and attends aa meetings and still goes to school where everyone knows what she's done while she insists she doesn't want to talk about it. Until she sees the pictures. A friend shows her pictures from the party and she realizes everyone has lied to her, and schemed, especially Billy. Everyone assumed she was the heroic one and knew all along.
How different would things be if she had known? She was Billy's girlfriend and pretty much would do anything to stay that way, even at her own expense. The cliques of high school show you where you belong and after her "makeover" her life changed. When she dated Billy she was important. Her mother made appearance such a priority that she easily fell in with the pretty mentality, she became Billy's puppet and she didn't know life outside of that. I kept waiting for her to wake up and see things as they really were. We as the reader could see the truth, but she, with the wonderful boyfriend could not. I was really angry when even after knowing the truth, was going to let all go without Making anyone else responsible.
While for the most part gabby's guilt or innocence of the accident itself was one issue but she is guilty of drinking so much that she put herself in that situation. Had that not happened, the whole story would be different. How many of us as teens did the same thing without any thought to the consequences? We were just luckier.
A great read depicting high school, teenage drinking, finding out who your friends really are. I am looking forward to reading "afterparty"
March 22, 2012
I loved this book. Mostly I loved the voice of Gabby Giffords, a girl who is growing up in the "Three B's" (Brentwood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills). Gabby just leaps off the page. Her voice is so believable that I was laughing out loud at her snarky, witty observations of her family (an absent-through-alcohol father and a you-can-find-happiness-through-shopping mother) and her fellow inhabitants of "The Three B's." I can still hear her in my head and wish I could call her up and talk to her. Actually, ALL of the dialogue is remarkable.
But deeper into Gabby's character you will find deeper meaning. Like, that kind of present-but-absent father could lead a girl to choose a boyfriend who remains tantalizingly out of emotional reach. And a mother who teaches her daughter to focus on her looks to win "the right" friends is not going to be trusted when the daughter is in trouble with those "friends" and needs to listen to her own instincts. Gabby knows something is very wrong with the situation she is in, but she has been given none of the skills required to face this test.
In the end, Gabby's journey, as difficult and painful as it is, doesn't just redeem herself, she finds herself, and in doing so, she teaches her parents a thing or two about life, inside and outside of "The Three B's."
But deeper into Gabby's character you will find deeper meaning. Like, that kind of present-but-absent father could lead a girl to choose a boyfriend who remains tantalizingly out of emotional reach. And a mother who teaches her daughter to focus on her looks to win "the right" friends is not going to be trusted when the daughter is in trouble with those "friends" and needs to listen to her own instincts. Gabby knows something is very wrong with the situation she is in, but she has been given none of the skills required to face this test.
In the end, Gabby's journey, as difficult and painful as it is, doesn't just redeem herself, she finds herself, and in doing so, she teaches her parents a thing or two about life, inside and outside of "The Three B's."
April 25, 2012
When I first heard about this book I can honestly say I wasn't sure. So I bought it brought it home and it sat for a few weeks before I found the courage to read it. Gabs is a normal girl going to a pricey school where just about everyone ignores her. Her mother forces a makeover on her during the summer and when school starts it all changes for her. She becomes popular, gets the hot jock, new "friends", and she thinks life is okay.
What I truly like about this book is that you feel you can actually be Gabs. The commentary in her head makes you experience everything she is and I can honestly say some authors just cannot get this right. They either go way to far or they do not go far enough. I'm actually donating this book to the library (when I usually hold every book dear and place it into my library for rereading down the road) but I want others in my area to be able to read this. Especially teens. I was a teen and in and seen similar situations. It has a good message and story.
What I truly like about this book is that you feel you can actually be Gabs. The commentary in her head makes you experience everything she is and I can honestly say some authors just cannot get this right. They either go way to far or they do not go far enough. I'm actually donating this book to the library (when I usually hold every book dear and place it into my library for rereading down the road) but I want others in my area to be able to read this. Especially teens. I was a teen and in and seen similar situations. It has a good message and story.
June 6, 2012
High school girl obsessed with her boyfriend wakes up after a car accident and is told she drunkenly drove boyfriend's car into a tree. However, she has no memory of the incident. An un-put-down-able novel!
March 5, 2012
My Rating: 5.0 / 5
First thoughts:
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2012 and wow, it definitely didn't disappoint. It's one of those books that you expect to be good, but that turn out to be amazing. I fell in love with Ann Redisch Stampler's style of writing, her witty and slightly obsessive main character and the story she created. I think I can already say that Where It Began is one of my favorite books of 2012.
More detailed:
Where It Began is everything I expected to be, and more. Don't let the pretty cover fool you and let me tell you that it's definitely not as light-hearted as it might seem to be. This novel deals with more than just one heavy topic - teen insecurities, alcoholism, crime and betrayal. And while I usually prefer to steer clear of heavy reads, I completely fell in love with this one.
One of the reasons for this is probably the amazing style of writing. The story is told from Gabby's point of view and she has a very unique and refreshing voice: she's witty, humorous and amazingly sarcastic. The mixture of this almost light-hearted narration and the serious subject matter creates a wonderful contrast that made it impossible to stop reading Where It Began.
Gabby has to endure a lot of awful things. Quite soon I was afraid that certain people, who seem to be helpful, are actually having their own agenda, which makes the whole situation even more complicated than it already is. I wanted to slap many characters and, at times, I wanted to shake Gabby and tell her to wake up and see the obvious, which turned Where It Began into a very emotional read for me.
I was told that certain things will be different in the finished version and I can't wait to find out how that will turn out. Even though I would have ordered a finished copy of Where It Began even without any changes, I'm really looking forward to re-read it, hopefully soon, and see what's different.
All in all, Where It Began is an amazing contemporary debut novel that you should at least add to your to-read lists or even pre-order immediately. Even though I already expected it to be a good novel, I was completely surprised by its awesomeness, which makes it deserve a place on my list of favorite books.
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I received an eARC of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
First thoughts:
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2012 and wow, it definitely didn't disappoint. It's one of those books that you expect to be good, but that turn out to be amazing. I fell in love with Ann Redisch Stampler's style of writing, her witty and slightly obsessive main character and the story she created. I think I can already say that Where It Began is one of my favorite books of 2012.
More detailed:
Where It Began is everything I expected to be, and more. Don't let the pretty cover fool you and let me tell you that it's definitely not as light-hearted as it might seem to be. This novel deals with more than just one heavy topic - teen insecurities, alcoholism, crime and betrayal. And while I usually prefer to steer clear of heavy reads, I completely fell in love with this one.
One of the reasons for this is probably the amazing style of writing. The story is told from Gabby's point of view and she has a very unique and refreshing voice: she's witty, humorous and amazingly sarcastic. The mixture of this almost light-hearted narration and the serious subject matter creates a wonderful contrast that made it impossible to stop reading Where It Began.
Gabby has to endure a lot of awful things. Quite soon I was afraid that certain people, who seem to be helpful, are actually having their own agenda, which makes the whole situation even more complicated than it already is. I wanted to slap many characters and, at times, I wanted to shake Gabby and tell her to wake up and see the obvious, which turned Where It Began into a very emotional read for me.
I was told that certain things will be different in the finished version and I can't wait to find out how that will turn out. Even though I would have ordered a finished copy of Where It Began even without any changes, I'm really looking forward to re-read it, hopefully soon, and see what's different.
All in all, Where It Began is an amazing contemporary debut novel that you should at least add to your to-read lists or even pre-order immediately. Even though I already expected it to be a good novel, I was completely surprised by its awesomeness, which makes it deserve a place on my list of favorite books.
---
I received an eARC of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 7, 2011
I think I felt every emotion possible while reading this book! In the end though, I was more shocked and angry than anything. The author did such a great job at making these characters real, and it was many of the characters that made me so angry and upset. These characters could be my circle of friends! I am a very trusting person, and it would very much sadden me if I had to go through what Gabby went through.
Gabby was in a terrible car accident that landed her in the hospital. She can't remember a single thing from the accident, but clues here and there help her put the picture together. She was completely wasted and was found with the car keys in her hand. Gabby is led to believe that she did it. And she really seems to believe that she did. However, the car she was driving was her boyfriend Billy's, and he would NEVER let anyone drive his car. But Gabby isn't one to get wasted either, so is it possible that she actually stole Billy's car? Gabby goes through several different scenarios and still cannot remember what actually happened. So she just does as she is told by her boyfriend and lawyer in hopes that everything will be all right in the end.
Gabby used to be a nobody. And then her mom found some reason to attempt to make Gabby a younger version of herself (to some extent). When Gabby goes back to school as her new self, she gets a lot more attention. Billy Nash even notices her. I didn't know much of Gabby before her makeover, but I didn't really like her after the makeover. She hated what she had become, but still didn't do anything to change it. She loved having Billy as her boyfriend, but I think it was all so fake. She wanted him because she was supposed to want him. Everyone else found him desirable, so she should too. I think Gabby gave up so much of herself and didn't actually find herself again until the very end of this book.
I would love to just let loose on all of the other characters! However, I can't without giving anything away. :) So I will just say that Gabby's "friends" weren't really friends. I think her two friends from before her makeover were closer to real friends than anyone else. But her new friends that she aquired when she began dating Billy weren't real at all. They were just kind of there.
I loved this book. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be this great, but it really was. It was so real, and I feel like I could really connect with Gabby as she was putting together all of the clues.
Gabby was in a terrible car accident that landed her in the hospital. She can't remember a single thing from the accident, but clues here and there help her put the picture together. She was completely wasted and was found with the car keys in her hand. Gabby is led to believe that she did it. And she really seems to believe that she did. However, the car she was driving was her boyfriend Billy's, and he would NEVER let anyone drive his car. But Gabby isn't one to get wasted either, so is it possible that she actually stole Billy's car? Gabby goes through several different scenarios and still cannot remember what actually happened. So she just does as she is told by her boyfriend and lawyer in hopes that everything will be all right in the end.
Gabby used to be a nobody. And then her mom found some reason to attempt to make Gabby a younger version of herself (to some extent). When Gabby goes back to school as her new self, she gets a lot more attention. Billy Nash even notices her. I didn't know much of Gabby before her makeover, but I didn't really like her after the makeover. She hated what she had become, but still didn't do anything to change it. She loved having Billy as her boyfriend, but I think it was all so fake. She wanted him because she was supposed to want him. Everyone else found him desirable, so she should too. I think Gabby gave up so much of herself and didn't actually find herself again until the very end of this book.
I would love to just let loose on all of the other characters! However, I can't without giving anything away. :) So I will just say that Gabby's "friends" weren't really friends. I think her two friends from before her makeover were closer to real friends than anyone else. But her new friends that she aquired when she began dating Billy weren't real at all. They were just kind of there.
I loved this book. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be this great, but it really was. It was so real, and I feel like I could really connect with Gabby as she was putting together all of the clues.
March 8, 2012
Gabby Gardiner has been in a terrible car accident. It has scarred her face and broken her body. Worse than that however is the fact that she can't remember a single thing about the accident or the events leading up to it. Her life seems to be falling apart as she faces potential jail time for driving under the influence, not to mention the loss of her looks, her status, and her boyfriend.
Gabby is an incredible protagonist. She is whip-smart and snarky, lending a humor to an otherwise horrific situation. But she's just like pretty much every other teenage girl in the world. She wants to fit in, and she wants the super cute/popular boy who was her boyfriend before the accident to want to be with her again. In fact, she'll do pretty much anything to ensure he continues to want her.
We've all done it. We've lied and told ourselves whatever we had to in order to pretend things were the way we wanted them to be. We've ignored everything else. Even common sense. But Gabby seems to take this almost to the extreme and I spent a lot of the book wondering when she was going to wise up and face the truth.
Ann Redisch Stampler's writing style is superb. It's fresh, exciting, and takes a story that could have been predictable and turns it into something unique. She perfectly captures the naivety and angst of a teenager who considers herself sub-par and unworthy, living in a world populated by the arrogant and over-privileged.
And in Where It Began she delivers a compelling story and a captivating protagonist. Gabby's story will hook you from page one and will definitely appeal to fans of the contemporary genre.
Gabby is an incredible protagonist. She is whip-smart and snarky, lending a humor to an otherwise horrific situation. But she's just like pretty much every other teenage girl in the world. She wants to fit in, and she wants the super cute/popular boy who was her boyfriend before the accident to want to be with her again. In fact, she'll do pretty much anything to ensure he continues to want her.
We've all done it. We've lied and told ourselves whatever we had to in order to pretend things were the way we wanted them to be. We've ignored everything else. Even common sense. But Gabby seems to take this almost to the extreme and I spent a lot of the book wondering when she was going to wise up and face the truth.
Ann Redisch Stampler's writing style is superb. It's fresh, exciting, and takes a story that could have been predictable and turns it into something unique. She perfectly captures the naivety and angst of a teenager who considers herself sub-par and unworthy, living in a world populated by the arrogant and over-privileged.
And in Where It Began she delivers a compelling story and a captivating protagonist. Gabby's story will hook you from page one and will definitely appeal to fans of the contemporary genre.
March 1, 2012
I love books that begin with a heavy dose of mystery. Anne Redisch Stampler does a fantastic job of throwing the reader in the deep end of the pool, but not drowning them. I love how she begins Where It Began, and the way she builds up the plot throughout the story.
Reading Gabby waking up was a lot like being Gabby. You have no idea who this girl is, where she’s from, or what the heck landed her in the hospital. The more I read about Gabby, the more I just came to love her. I wanted to protect her, but I also wanted to shake her at times. There were a few moments I felt she was being deliberately oblivious. It irritated me to a certain degree, but there’s just this likeability to the character I couldn’t escape.
There were only two negatives to this book: The first is that the writing sometimes lagged in places. I found myself skimming pages to see when things would pick back up. The other was a bit more personal in that I hate to be kept waiting too long for the answers. This book starts off intentionally confusing and broken as Gabby struggles to piece things back together, but as a reader I tend to get bored if I don’t get a conclusion in a timely manner. I felt there were places where the plot could have been sped up a bit.
This is a good contemporary novel, and I’m not sorry I invested the time reading it. I’m curious to see what Stampler will write next. I love her style and the way she pieces words together. Some people have a gift I call “sentence art” meaning they can put words together to create a masterpiece, and I felt that with Stampler’s writing.
Reading Gabby waking up was a lot like being Gabby. You have no idea who this girl is, where she’s from, or what the heck landed her in the hospital. The more I read about Gabby, the more I just came to love her. I wanted to protect her, but I also wanted to shake her at times. There were a few moments I felt she was being deliberately oblivious. It irritated me to a certain degree, but there’s just this likeability to the character I couldn’t escape.
There were only two negatives to this book: The first is that the writing sometimes lagged in places. I found myself skimming pages to see when things would pick back up. The other was a bit more personal in that I hate to be kept waiting too long for the answers. This book starts off intentionally confusing and broken as Gabby struggles to piece things back together, but as a reader I tend to get bored if I don’t get a conclusion in a timely manner. I felt there were places where the plot could have been sped up a bit.
This is a good contemporary novel, and I’m not sorry I invested the time reading it. I’m curious to see what Stampler will write next. I love her style and the way she pieces words together. Some people have a gift I call “sentence art” meaning they can put words together to create a masterpiece, and I felt that with Stampler’s writing.
April 11, 2012
Concept/Ideas: 4/5
Storyline/Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 2.5/5
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
Painful... This book was honestly painful. From the synopsis, it looks like a good read. Interesting concept, typical girl-teen novel.
But ugh, the book was so slow. I don't really know where to begin with the writing. Yes, the writing was okay, but I felt like the author added in a lot of random and unneeded words that weren't needed in a lot of the parts. Other than that, the author did have a somewhat of a witty way of writing, which I liked.
From the synopsis, like I said, it seems like an easy read (not in the sense of what it's about or anything), and like you could possibly find yourself immersed in the book. WRONG!
From the start, it was alright. I was thinking it was going to get better, but as the book wore on, it seemed to be the same stuff happening over and over, nothing new coming up. I feel like it was really hard to get to know the main character Gabby, and she didn't seem to have much depth to her. The book was really a lot about what Gabby was going to do with the police, what she should say, and just all this random crap about the law. I don't know, I expected more from the book through her thoughts, which didn't really come. By the end, she seemed perhaps a LITTLE less shallow, but still not enough to make me care for her.
Overall, not a great read. I would still say go for it, and form your own opinion though. I just found it slow, boring, and not very deep.
Storyline/Plot: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 2.5/5
Overall Rating: 2/5 stars
Painful... This book was honestly painful. From the synopsis, it looks like a good read. Interesting concept, typical girl-teen novel.
But ugh, the book was so slow. I don't really know where to begin with the writing. Yes, the writing was okay, but I felt like the author added in a lot of random and unneeded words that weren't needed in a lot of the parts. Other than that, the author did have a somewhat of a witty way of writing, which I liked.
From the synopsis, like I said, it seems like an easy read (not in the sense of what it's about or anything), and like you could possibly find yourself immersed in the book. WRONG!
From the start, it was alright. I was thinking it was going to get better, but as the book wore on, it seemed to be the same stuff happening over and over, nothing new coming up. I feel like it was really hard to get to know the main character Gabby, and she didn't seem to have much depth to her. The book was really a lot about what Gabby was going to do with the police, what she should say, and just all this random crap about the law. I don't know, I expected more from the book through her thoughts, which didn't really come. By the end, she seemed perhaps a LITTLE less shallow, but still not enough to make me care for her.
Overall, not a great read. I would still say go for it, and form your own opinion though. I just found it slow, boring, and not very deep.
September 7, 2012
Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler is a compelling story about a teenage girl, Gabby, who wakes up in a hospital after a horrific car accident. She is blamed for the accident but she has no recollection of the events that happened that night.
Ann puts the reader deep into Gabby’s head and exposes them to all of the intimate emotions that she feels after that night in question. The way Ann describes Gabby is convincing and real. She makes bad choices and can get into a bad mood at times. This realness she gives in Gabby will have readers relating to her.
Sometimes it is difficult to place humor inside a drama. However, Ann’s writing style maintains a cunning sense of humor in the middle of a very excruciating event. It is amazing to read a book that centers around heartache, confusion and abandonment, but yet still has wittiness.
It is quite evident that Ann is very familiar with the setting. She describes these southern California cities with precise details and precision. Even for readers who have never traveled to these famous cities, Ann’s descriptive text provides a clear picture.
Where it Began begins with a simple premise that seemingly includes a highly predictable ending. However, after a few chapters, readers will immediately realize that they are in for a surprise. The plot is truly compelling and will have readers emotionally engaged throughout. The unfolding of the events is satisfying. This contemporary debut novel proves that Ann will be a major player in that genre and it is certain that her next book will be a must-read.
Ann puts the reader deep into Gabby’s head and exposes them to all of the intimate emotions that she feels after that night in question. The way Ann describes Gabby is convincing and real. She makes bad choices and can get into a bad mood at times. This realness she gives in Gabby will have readers relating to her.
Sometimes it is difficult to place humor inside a drama. However, Ann’s writing style maintains a cunning sense of humor in the middle of a very excruciating event. It is amazing to read a book that centers around heartache, confusion and abandonment, but yet still has wittiness.
It is quite evident that Ann is very familiar with the setting. She describes these southern California cities with precise details and precision. Even for readers who have never traveled to these famous cities, Ann’s descriptive text provides a clear picture.
Where it Began begins with a simple premise that seemingly includes a highly predictable ending. However, after a few chapters, readers will immediately realize that they are in for a surprise. The plot is truly compelling and will have readers emotionally engaged throughout. The unfolding of the events is satisfying. This contemporary debut novel proves that Ann will be a major player in that genre and it is certain that her next book will be a must-read.
January 3, 2015
This book did not have a cliché ending; a romantic plot line where girl meets boy, falls in love with boy, faces challenges or opposition in the relationship with boy, and lives happily ever after with boy; or a strong female lead, but nonetheless, I loved this book. Maybe it was the writing that lured me in; or the realization that I probably would have made the same poor choices as Gabby if I were in her situation; or maybe it was recognizing that in my naïve mind, every teenage boy will ultimately be exactly like Billy in a relationship. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the idea that I understood Gabby so well. I understood her desire to be more popular, more pretty, more wanted, more this, more that. I understood her low self-esteem and her constant description of herself as sub-regular. I understood Gabby, and I related to her.
The writing was great, the characters were oh-so-relatable, and the plot was different. Yes, some things irked me throughout the book, but in all honesty, I really did enjoy it. I couldn't put my kindle down once I got into it; I even fell asleep and woke up thinking about Gabby and Billy and their relationship. I may have even dreamed about the characters.
If you want a book with a happily ever after, I would not recommend this to you. If you want a quick, but fantastic read (in my opinion), take a stab at it. Not everyone will enjoy this book as much as I did, I know that for sure.
The writing was great, the characters were oh-so-relatable, and the plot was different. Yes, some things irked me throughout the book, but in all honesty, I really did enjoy it. I couldn't put my kindle down once I got into it; I even fell asleep and woke up thinking about Gabby and Billy and their relationship. I may have even dreamed about the characters.
If you want a book with a happily ever after, I would not recommend this to you. If you want a quick, but fantastic read (in my opinion), take a stab at it. Not everyone will enjoy this book as much as I did, I know that for sure.
February 11, 2012
I’m not big on reading book summaries. I skim them when I first discover the book to decide whether or not I want to read it then I promptly forget it. So when I opened the pages of Where It Began I was very quickly intrigued. It definitely starts off with a bang and doesn’t let up. The author knows how to hook a reader. I had lots of different emotions while reading, but I never once wanted to put it down.
Gabby isn’t exactly the most likeable girl. She’s pretty self centered and super naive, but that’s just what happens when you have lead the kind of life she has. She may be a little unlikeable but she’s still a very sympathetic character. She’s in this horrible situation and you can’t help but feel for her…even if you want to shake some sense into her from time to time.
I think some readers will take issue with Gabby’s utter devotion to Billy Nash, but it seems perfectly realistic to me. I had an older boyfriend when I was a teen. He was popular and cute but a total jerk. I had that blind devotion too. So that whole aspect of the story was easy for me to relate to. Even if it was infuriating…in a good way though.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was a page turner and very unique. I’m looking forward to more from Ann Redisch Stampler in the future.
Gabby isn’t exactly the most likeable girl. She’s pretty self centered and super naive, but that’s just what happens when you have lead the kind of life she has. She may be a little unlikeable but she’s still a very sympathetic character. She’s in this horrible situation and you can’t help but feel for her…even if you want to shake some sense into her from time to time.
I think some readers will take issue with Gabby’s utter devotion to Billy Nash, but it seems perfectly realistic to me. I had an older boyfriend when I was a teen. He was popular and cute but a total jerk. I had that blind devotion too. So that whole aspect of the story was easy for me to relate to. Even if it was infuriating…in a good way though.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was a page turner and very unique. I’m looking forward to more from Ann Redisch Stampler in the future.
February 27, 2012
The cover and the beginning of the book reminded me a lot of Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall because of the girl's sideways head on the cover, the three word title, and the nebulousness (is that a word?) because the main character is not sure where she is. In this case, the narrator is not dead, but the victim of a drunk driving accident. I read this book in one day, and I enjoyed it because it had the aspects of YA books (clothes, hair, boys) as well as a main character that actually learned something and moved forward.
As an adult reviewer, I knew in the back of my mind as I was reading that Billy crashed the car and let Gabby take the fall. But I kept wondering when she was going to wake up and realize it. For a few seconds, I thought, "How could she be so stupid?", but then I thought back to high school and what I would have done if I had the "it" boyfriend and my mother was so proud of me, and I realized that my younger self would have probably felt the same way as Gabby.
I liked that life worked out for Gabby, but that it wasn't perfect. If there was real justice, it would not have been realistic after Billy's mother used her power and money to manipulate the situation.
As an adult reviewer, I knew in the back of my mind as I was reading that Billy crashed the car and let Gabby take the fall. But I kept wondering when she was going to wake up and realize it. For a few seconds, I thought, "How could she be so stupid?", but then I thought back to high school and what I would have done if I had the "it" boyfriend and my mother was so proud of me, and I realized that my younger self would have probably felt the same way as Gabby.
I liked that life worked out for Gabby, but that it wasn't perfect. If there was real justice, it would not have been realistic after Billy's mother used her power and money to manipulate the situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2017
Just a really short explanation on why I only gave Where It Began 1 star. I just feel like this book could have been so good but the super predictable plot and the characters just kind of ruined it. If you read the book's description I'm sure you can figure out the basis of what's going to happen. I know I did. To be honest, the description of this book was a lot more interesting than the ACTUAL book. :(
March 15, 2012
Stampler's debut YA novel is a heart-breaking portrayal of teenage loyalty and betrayal. Readers will undoubtedly identify with more than one character as Gabby's story unfolds. Serious readers will stick with the story through some slow parts, but I worry others may abandon it; hence four stars rather than five.
June 30, 2012
A fine debut young adult novel. Starts with a shocking discovery and does not let up. Do not let the cover speak for the novel. This is not a sappy romance. Great potential discussion on the power and influence of the elite class...scary, really.
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