Just Like That

by Marsha Qualey

When Hanna breaks up with her boyfriend of almost a year, she knows she's supposed to feel...something. Liberated, maybe? Sad? Instead, there's only one thing she feels for certain: She's in for a pretty dull winter. Well, there is her job in the swimwear department. What better way to spend her time than watching strangers squeeze into bikinis?

But then, in an instant, everything changes. Hanna finds herself the bearer of a major secret. She can't possibly tell her mother or her two best friends. She can't tell anyone. Even drawing and painting—always her therapy in the past—even these things aren't the recipe for the calm they once were. So when Hanna finds herself drawn to Will, the elusive boy she's noticed around town, the kind of boy who'd increase any girl's pulse, she doesn't hold back. Anything. What she learns about him will astonish her. But what she learns about herself—her friendships, her family, her life—will affect her far more.

Acclaimed author Marsha Qualey explores, with honesty and wit, the heart of a young woman coming to grips with her life and the people in it—and getting used to the fact that everything can, and will, change. Just like that.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit, Young Adult Romance

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2005

Reviews

[Jay H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I'm expecting too much out of a young adult book, but the whole book left much to be desired. The writing was bland and less than spectacular, there were rarely any time I could sit back and think "what great imagery" for example, and there were tons of places where the author could have been more descriptive but instead hit us with the hard facts. Instead of a sudden passage like "I walked in and [name] was sitting there. It took me a while to realize it was her," it would've been much more effective to describe the features of [name] that the narrator takes in so that we too can work to the conclusion of who it is with her. A lot of the book was like that, stripping the reader of what could have been very suspenseful scenes or at least nice images to paint in one's head. Other times, it would talk about things in such a way that the reader feels they missed something and might even be compelled to go back and look up a certain name or event. The author thought she was letting the reader piece together a mystery, but in reality it just felt like she shoved the reader into a soap opera after withholding the last few episodes because all of the "clues" to the mystery were in dialogue. What about the first person narrator? She hasn't been shy sharing her thoughts with the reader on every thing else she's been narrating - why can she suddenly provide no information for us and we have to rummage through tons of dialogue to clue ourselves in? It just didn't match up, and it was very confusing.

I felt very detached from all of the characters as I was reading: it seemed that I could not really connect with any of them. For a good first portion of the book, Hanna (the narrator) doesn't talk much at all about her connection with drawing and how it's meaningful to her - it just seems like a tidbit stripped from a character bio and thrown in every so often - lines with the same sentiment as "I draw sometimes" and "you know, because I draw". For that whole while, the act of drawing seemed to have no significance to her except as something that the author could wave around as if to say, "look, I've made a unique character; this is what makes her unique!" Only later did Hanna's artistic talents become not only important to the character, but critical to most of the book.

I could just barely empathize with Hanna's situation - not because I'm cold and heartless, seeing as her situation would rough anyone up, but because the writing was so lacking that I could never feel what she felt. I was just hearing a narration, and nothing more. I felt even less with Will, who got very few chances to make the reader feel his situation - and when he did, it was the same as Hanna's. I might as well have been reading a therapist's file on what shook him up. I did not feel like I was reading a novel - at least the kind with words that reach out and grip you and your very soul. No, I felt like I was reading a rushed, detached story about a girl who encounters sex, best friend betrayal, relationship drama, and death. Well ain't that just the perfect combination for the average gossip-hungry teenager who never quite learned how to read past a middle school level. I understand that somewhere is a cute little story about a boy and girl thrust into a similar situation that find each other (although it's not about them anymore by the second half of the book) and great themes such as coping and your true family. However the writing was not able to bring those themes/that cute little story alive.

[Shekaina · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok. really. but the way marsha qualey wrote it, it was not ok. it was poorly written. you don't know what the characters were talking about and why all of a sudden, a character is talking to this one when they barely knew each other. I felt lost while reading this. But then again, I pushed through the feeling and found some answers on few pages ahead. Just continue reading I told myself and bam, the answers were there.

[Krystle May · Rating 5 out of 5]

It surprised me how much I loved this book. Sure, the preview intrigued me, thus I took it out of my library, but there was so much more to the story. I loved how this had so many elements to it that just smoothly transitioned into each other, considering things happened 'just like that.' This book is about love, friendship, betrayal, tragety, laws, passion, and so much more. This isn't just a story of a girl, it's a story of Hanna's life! She was so much more than 'just another character,' she was so real! I cannot stress how much I love this book, even if I was yelling at the main character for some of her choices. And I absolutly enjoyed the ending. When it came down to the final chapters, I was so confused as to how it was going to end. When I finally finished the book, I was happy that a certain question was answered, and even though it left just enough to my imagination, it might have been better to see how Hanna's relationship progressed.
Also, I have to say I cannot believe how much my perception of one characters changed after we learned something about him. In my mind he was one way, and then my mental image of him changed for the rest of the book. It's funny how things do that to us.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I recomend this book to everyone, for it's truly rare to find a book this great. I was so absorbed with it that I actually read it in three and a half hours. =]
I hope everyone that reads this book enjoys it as much as I have!!!

[Tricy Candelario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

[April James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really makes you think. The story is sad, but makes you grateful for the little things in life. It could all be lost Just Like That.

[Britany · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Just Like That" this book is finished, and I still don't have a clue what story this author was trying to tell.

The format of this book is daunting. It basically allows the author to break up parts of consecutive days, periods of time, and make for very long chapters. I should be clear, I'm not opposed to a lengthy chapter, especially if it's getting you somewhere. However, this book never goes anywhere.

Even though the incident you think is going to set the tone for the storyline happens in chapter two, you quickly realize that what you thought this book was going to be about isn't right at all. Page 50 arrives, you begin to think that you're finally onto something and the story is going to really begin. Except, you're wrong again; by page 100 you're still asking yourself, "What is this book about"? Read on and by page 158 you're thinking, "Maybe this is where the story is going?" But then again, you've been wrong throughout over half of the book. Page 170, you decide that the book is simply going to continue on this way, and you've made it this far so you may as well finish. Once you do, you're just glad it's over since it was pretty much pointless.

The back of the book does say "But what she learns about herself - her friendships, her family, her life- will affect her far more". It seems like that one final sentence is what the book is really trying to be about. Though the main character, Hanna, never really seems to learn anything, and you aimlessly follow her along her rather dull days, and never really knowing why. As far as growth goes, Hanna goes on to remain her bland self and keeps on making rash decisions that just creates more drama for her life.

I don't know, maybe for some this book is "it", but for me its lackluster to say the very least.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was deeply engaged by the protagonist of this one. Hanna deals with her world through her paints, her pencils, her crayons. She's prickly and sensitive and awkward. I liked her a lot, and was grateful for the last chapter. The plot's complex and interesting, the characters quirky and real. I want to read everything Marsh Qualey ever wrote, right away.

[Tara Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this on a backroom shelf and couldn't put it down. Made me feel that it no matter how many challenges come your way, you can't focus on the negative and "wallow" in self pity. You have to move on and make the choices that are right for you.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought the paperback copy of this book and started reading it while I was at the office. My co-worker took off the thin plastic covering, thumbed through the pages and handed the book back to me. I noticed something different as soon as I touched it. The texture of the cover felt funny. It wasn't glossy like most book covers usually are but it wasn't exactly matte either. It felt kinda fuzzy. Do you know how it feels when you run your hands over a dusty table top? It sort of felt like that and I couldn't get over it. While I was trying to figure out what was different with it's texture, I was sitting on my desk, holding the book between my hands and was repeatedly running my palms on the front and back cover. When I got to the "dusty table" conclusion, I looked up and saw my co-worker looking at me funny. So I asked him what was wrong. He said that I had been "rubbing" (!!!) the book for about five minutes with my head cocked to the side and my forehead knotted in concentration. Not only that, he also saw me smelling the book at one point. Niiice. I know I must've looked like an idiot but I had to defend myself! So I told him (quite adamantly) that I wasn't "rubbing" the book (well, not like THAT!) and told him about the weird texture thing. He checked it out for himself but thought there was nothing weird about the cover's texture at all. BUT THERE IS!! The whole time he was squinting at me and he was probably thinking that I'm a nutcase. GAHH! How dare he question my sound-mindedness! And so we've come to this - To the Goodreads peeps out there who also have this book in paperback, will you please let me know what you think about the cover's texture? Doesn't it feel weird? Your responses would be much appreciated.

Moving on...

The story is about Hanna and how her life changed after an accident that happened to complete strangers - two teenagers she didn't know but with whom she exchanged a couple of words with on the night of said accident. I can't say anything more without revealing too much of the plot but I liked how the story unraveled. I got her connection with Will and was rooting for them though their relationship was doomed from the start. Will's family was intriguing, especially his sister Aerin. I thought the part where Hanna met Will moved way too fast but I realized it was necessary in order for the story to get going. There were times though when it felt there was too much happening with Hanna's friends, with her family and with Will's family all at the same time that the story became somewhat muddled. The ending was kind of open. I read someone's review here in GR and said that she's a hopeless romantic and she just knew things would work out but I disagree - too much time has passed. And if I learned anything from this book, it's that things can and will change, just like that.

[Cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Isn't that cover wonderful? How could we get a bad story from that? Well it happened. I actually was really into it in the beginning, but it seemed too dramatic. Can't say I could really relate to the main character. I actually would have rather read a book about Will's sister. I bet that would have been interesting.
The title is very fitting though, because before Hanna knows it things change instantly, which is how most things are. There is this sort of twist in it that really didn't set well with me, and I'm sure it won't bother some people but I just couldn't take it. One of the redeeming qualities of the book is that Hanna doesn't feel like she has to stay with her boyfriend she has in the beginning of the book. Glad to see some gumption, but still it felt like it was trying to be dramatic for the sake of being dramatic. Lots of girls will love this book, but it's just didn't speak to me.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whenever I hear someone say "Twilight is the worst book I've ever read!", I always look that them with envy. If only I had such a blessed life as that, that in all the books I've ever read for Twilight to be worse of them. Sadly, Twilight looks like fine, classic literature in comparison to this book.

The plot makes absolutely no sense, the characters are completely unbelievable, and when the main character says on the first page that people think she's a bitch, they aren't kidding. Honestly, I think the author had come up with about 10 pretty good book ideas and decided to shove them all into one book.

I regret the day that I ever picked up this book, however at least I now know the true definition of atrocious writing.

[Emilee Bonter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is unlike other books that I’ve read. I don’t really know how to explain it but it honestly was just a good wholesome read. Some interesting parts but other than that I liked it. Kind of hard to follow at times but a good message. Good ending too!!

[Vanessa McLean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bookshelf purge! Didn’t think I would like it, i was right. Writing not so good. Also 18yo slept with a 14yo…?

[Joan Barnett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t reviewed a book in awhile. This book made me want to say something. There were so many subplots that it was ridiculous. I guess I shouldn’t say subplots because I don’t think there was a main plot. At least the characters were somewhat tied up at the end and you could guess what happened to them. I read this for a couple of my challenges. At least it accomplished me reading a book title with a J and an authors name starting with a Q. I found it on a library shelf. I was interested in reading it to see if the author ever tied up what I thought the book would have been about.

[Joni Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hanna Martin has just broken up with her boyfriend of almost a year and is unsure how to feel about life. She knows she should feel sad or angry but instead she feels nothing. But then one midnight walk to clear her head changes everything about her life and makes her question her beliefs about love, friendship, and family.
I am so glad that I found this book in my local library. First off, the cover is beautiful. And I love the title, it is so thought provoking. Which describes the book as well, very thought provoking. I will admit that the writing style bugged me. The dialogue seemed a bit forced and just unnatural. But as a writer I understand how difficult dialogue is to write so I am looking passed that. Just throwing it out there as a warning.
Hanna comes across two couples on her midnight walk by the lake in her neighborhood. The first is a couple skiing and they warn her not to go out on the lake because although it is winter in Minnesota the ice is thin in some places. The second couple rides by on an ATV and they are laughing, celebrating their one year anniversary. They stop by and briefly talk to Hanna. And though she knows she should tell them not to ride on the lake, she doesn’t. Instead she lets them drive off and then she gets up and walks home. The next morning she finds out that the couple died. The ATV crashed through the ice and they were killed. Hanna is overcome by grief and guilt and cannot bring herself to talk to anyone about what happened. Until she meets Will, a boy who has secrets of his own.
This story idea is so original and it was like a breathe of fresh air after reading about five books in a row that I was able to predict the entire plotline about five pages into the novel. This one was different. I had no idea what to expect or where the story would go. I really like Hanna. She is down to earth and a very believable character. I also love the relationship between her and her mother, which is featured prominently in the book. They seem to have a near perfect relationship and I hope to have a similar one to my daughter when she grows up.
To get into the details that I loved about this book mean revealing basically the entire plotline. But to summarize, please read this book. Dig it out of your library’s YA section, request it through interlibrary loan, order it on amazon, do something. It’s an older book, written in 2005. But it’s too good to be forgotten about. It’s realistic, thought provoking, and has the right mix of intrigue, romance, mystery, angst-basically the recipe for the perfect teen novel. I will say that I plan on finding a copy on amazon and ordering ASAP. This book will definitely be added to my list of books that can be read over and over again. Read this book, you won’t regret it.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had an intriguing take on the involvment of art in an ordinary girl's life. Feeling like a scapegoat in an extremely awful incident that might have been somewhat avoidable, art is her only reprieve.
I think art was an interesting symbol to use to display a sense of belonging in a teenager's life. Feeling responsible for the deaths of two young people and carrying the burden of the secrets of the last moments of their lives is a hard thing to do.
This kind of concept reminds me of something we are learning about in American History. It is called escapsim and it is a form of entertainment (mostly books) read mainly during the Great Depression in order to escape the disasterous reality. I think that this is a really interesting concept, and one that can be very useful. Art and creativity fall in the same category as books and plays do, and that type of imagination can be very useful when one (like the protagonist of this novel) wishes to distract oneself from reality.
This was not the best book I have ever read, and was not written to impress, but had a couple of interesting factors to it, like the one i just discussed.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Review originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)

The premise of this book seemed interesting - but I found that I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

I did come to semi-appreciate our MC, Hanna, who is experiencing an incredible amount of change in her life. Qualey managed to convey most of the reactions and emotions that one would feel in Hanna's place quite accurately. I felt quite compassionate for her during some of the more crazy scenarios that occurred; there were also times however when I wanted to give her a shove and basically offer my own unsolicited advice.

What I felt turned me off of the book, however, was that, apart from occasionally feeling for Hanna, I just didn't really care about much of the story or the characters. I'm not heartless, but I felt like the story was just a bunch of dramatic events pieced together haphazardly. Some of the characters also, were a bit two dimensional.

All in all, this is a pretty average read for me.

[Aileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was kind of weird in the beginning and then it just got confusing, since you had no idea who people were or why they acted the way they did. This book could have been so much better, had there not only been a bit more detail but also some more information about the characters, since it was not until very late in the story did you realize why the characters had for example, tried to commit suicide, hid their identities, etc. This book was okay, but it's not one I would readily recommend, it was kind of like the entire beginning of the story was just filler for the ending. I think it could have been much better.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was compelling in the beginning until you get to about page 80 when you find out the main character just willing had sex with a minor. This book is so severely messed up I feel sorry for the author and anyone who actually had the stupidity to let this book be published and be read by children. People are so dirty minded these days it is sickening. I stopped reading as soon as I found out he was a minor. Sex out of marriage is not OK no matter what so this book should be unacceptable for any one to read let alone the kids who end up reading it.

[Hailey Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book overall was pretty good once I started reading it I could not stop and flew through it pretty quickly. The plot of the book was about a teenager named Hanna who was trying to find her way through her struggles with paintings with recently going through a breakup then thinking she could have stopped the 2 kids from dying.
I think one thing they could have left out was the whole friends part because they were in a fight for most of it then they would just randomly pop back up into the story out of nowhere. Also I didn't really see the need in mentioning Hannas ex Spencer that much in it because it was like he ever really affected her in it. This book was kinda worded weirdly and I think the author could have done a better job at trying to make the story flow together a bit better because it jumped around alot and was hard to keep up with sometimes.
Throughout the book the story was mainly focused on Will and Hanna's friendship and the struggles they went through within the past month because they had both seen the children that fell through the ice. Hanna and Will seemed to get close really quickly before they even knew that much about each other which led them to trouble. Hanna throughout the booked seemed to try and stay away from Will after finding out the news but she could not because she would see his family all over town or hear about them because they were a big deal in town.
I really did not like the ending It just skipped ahead like 4 or 5 years and left you wishing for more and wanting to know if Will and Hanna ever ended up together and if Aerin ever found love and was able to push through her past more and put herself back out there.
I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of 15 or 16 because there are pretty mature and triggering concepts discussed in this book even though it is marketed towards young teens.

[Juniper Shore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should be retitled Hanna's Parade of Bad Decisions. There are too many bad decisions to list here--roughly one every third page--but they all come from the same root: Hanna is a bitter, angry, depressed narrator, and spending hundreds of pages inside her head is more than anyone should have to put up with.

The plot, such as it is, revolves around a fatal accident which Hanna almost witnesses and might have been able to prevent. At least, that's where the book starts, but from then on it's just a lot of family drama, as deeply-traumatized people gather around the narrator like blowflies around a dead squirrel. The accident has very little to do with the rest of the book, and the story might actually have been stronger if it had been left out.

The main theme of the book is Hanna's relentless testing of everyone around her: her friends, her mother, her potential boyfriends, the pseudo-adoptive family she takes on as her own. Inevitably, people fall short of her expectations, and she cuts ties with them. The narrative cries out for someone to smack her upside the head and tell her to stop acting like she's two. I have a feeling that Aerin was meant to fill that role, but it's just not enough. I made it halfway through, then skimmed the rest.

Beyond the failings of a thoroughly unsympathetic narrator, the dialog is artificial and the coincidences pile up higher than the Empire State Building. The original impetus for the plot practically disappears under all the melodrama. The book never really develops any sense of purpose, much like Hanna herself.

Two stars for a narrative that needed a lot more character balance and editing.

[kazzz · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hate to say this but i couldn't even finish this book.
trust me it's a waste of your time.

hanna breaks up w her bf of 11 months bc she is not and was never attracted to him. these two teenagers die and they were found by mysterious jogger. aka, “boy w the yellow hat”. hanna draws a picture of said boy with yellow hat. boy with yellow hat finds hanna and they hang out. boy mentions he's a minor and he tells hanna that he's the one who found the corpses of the teens. hanna asks his age. he says he's not 18 YET, but doesn't specify. she assumes hes 17 and doesn't press further. they sleep together. her mom figures it out and worries that he may be too young (he's only in high school and he never specified his age). hanna finds his family and apparently his family has a history of problems with her family? then his dad tells her he's only 14. that's where i've left off. i will not read any further. sorry i just can't suffer thru more of that 😭 it doesn't make sense and it's just not pretty.

[kiki (Taylor’s Version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok, wouldn’t pick it up on my own. I got the book from my brother’s gf.

The only interesting character & part of the book was Aerin.

Her friends were terrible didn’t even apologize for what they did, they tried to gaslight her for shutting them out for 3 months. (Kelsey didn’t even apologize for getting with her bf at the time, doesn’t matter if they were drunk and Maura keeping that from Hanna but blabbing her secrets).

When they were looking into the walker’s missing grandma, I had three theories that would be more interesting:
1. Her mom’s mom and Will’s dad mom are the same person; which would be awkward considering she had s3x with her cousin, but she would have been given a bigger family.
2. Beth knew that was her grandmother and paid the older lady to keep quiet to her siblings, dad, and news.
3. The older lady was the sister and wanted to share why his mother left.

Since the author wanted her and will to end up together (even though she was 18 & he was 14) she should’ve written that Hanna transfer to USC and they bumped into each other.

[Cassidy Fairey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I’m conflicted within this review - the book was not well written but parts of the story did suck you in and kept you turning pages but maybe it was to figure out where the actual f it was going.
Almost like the author kept saying but wait there’s more and pulled another rabbit out the hat and before you could process that, out pops another rabbit.
The worst part of the story was the romance. Not only was it cringe but it also felt like two pages, not much reasoning but bam these two strangers mutually stalked each other and fell in love out of thin air.
The book got vastly better the second half and I wish it would have dominantly been focused there and maybe skipped the cradle romance.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters were kinda bad. Especially the first three chapters. There was things that could have been left out or worded differently. The middle I started getting more interested in then the end disappointed me.

It’s an easy to read book, flew through it in a few hours. I didn’t care for the way it was written.
The ending felt rushed and I wish I had gotten more closure. Did Hanna and Will end up together? Did Aerin finally find love and overcame her struggle?
I honestly can’t tell if I like the book or not.

Also, I hated the whole friendship thing. I really felt like they should have left it out or actually explain it more.

[Kat Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I like this book? Yes. Would I read it again? Probably not. I feel like this book is a little convoluted and in your head, and it is truly beautiful but I think you feel a little lost like the characters in the book. This is a coming of age for many of the characters within it; it's a time of forced introspection and change that is entirely necessary and not at all easy for any of the characters. I think that the author was very realistic when it came to the story, and that is not something everyone loves reading in a story. I loved the tidbit ending and it makes me believe in a realistic and happy ending for the characters. It gave me hope!

[Katherine Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had just a lot going on. Starts out where she feels like everyone thinks she's a snob, and then eventually she may be the reason of two deaths of these two teenagers. She meets this boy who she gets very connected with, and later on realizes she can't be with him because she's 18 and he's only 14. She tries to avoid him, but realize she cant because her family is just EVERYWHERE she goes. She fights with her friends, and she just does so much. I personally loved this book the moment I read the first sentence, I kept my face in the book and I couldn't stop reading.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not impressed with this novel at all, in fact, I only finished it, because I hate not finishing a book. The story line was okay, I enjoyed some parts, but I did not enjoy the writing. I felt that the writing made the story very difficult to follow and was awkward. The characters weren't very likable. The last chapter was randomly four years in the future--usually books write this as the epilogue. Overall, I read it. I would not read again, and it doesn't make me want to read anything by this author again.

[Gianna Parello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was good and enjoyable throughout reading. The book is about a girl who sees a couple pass by and coincidently ends up being the last person they saw before they died in the freezing winter water after the car they were in sunk through. Throughout the book Hanna, the main character, feels as if she should've warned them and blames their deaths on herself. She ends up meeting up with the boy who found the girls body and they both fall in love with one another. The main problem is that Hanna is 18 and the boy, Will is 14.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written. The plot was meandering at best. It started out as a romance maybe, come to find out she’s 18 and he’s 14 so she breaks it off. Then it’s a mystery. Who is the old woman and what connection does she have to the family. That gets answered then it’s just a bad drama with no drama. Even for YA this was bad. And plot holes. An actual sentence said…when he was 20 after he got out of the army. Like he joined when he was 16? This wasn’t set in the early 1900s. Ugh. Waste of a good reading Saturday.