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Forever ME
Forever Me is considered YA and NA.
Inspired by True Events
Hannah Richards isn't your typical 16 year-old at Wichita Falls High. Fashions, trends, cosmetics and style are unimportant to her. An avid reader, guitar player, classic movie and television buff, Hannah marches to the beat of her own drum. Visible only to her Father the town Sheriff, and her two best friends. Hannah lives a simple, un-pampered life as an "Eastie."
After coming to the aide of Taylor Monroe, a popular member of the ultra snobby "Stilettos" at school, Hannah's life beings spiraling out of control. As she starts spending more time with Taylor, her best friends abandon her, after a series of misunderstandings, causing Hannah to re-invent herself.
Hannah quickly gets caught up in a life much different than the one she knows, where status, glamour, makeup, appearance and acceptance become her masters. And what of the dark secret that haunts the streets of Wichita Falls?
Can Hannah survive the lies, deceit, jealousy and rage that are now waiting for her behind every corner? Will she succumb to the pressures of popularity? Or will she be crushed under the heels of the "Stilettos"?
~High school is hard enough just being yourself, let alone being someone you're not~
Inspired by True Events
Hannah Richards isn't your typical 16 year-old at Wichita Falls High. Fashions, trends, cosmetics and style are unimportant to her. An avid reader, guitar player, classic movie and television buff, Hannah marches to the beat of her own drum. Visible only to her Father the town Sheriff, and her two best friends. Hannah lives a simple, un-pampered life as an "Eastie."
After coming to the aide of Taylor Monroe, a popular member of the ultra snobby "Stilettos" at school, Hannah's life beings spiraling out of control. As she starts spending more time with Taylor, her best friends abandon her, after a series of misunderstandings, causing Hannah to re-invent herself.
Hannah quickly gets caught up in a life much different than the one she knows, where status, glamour, makeup, appearance and acceptance become her masters. And what of the dark secret that haunts the streets of Wichita Falls?
Can Hannah survive the lies, deceit, jealousy and rage that are now waiting for her behind every corner? Will she succumb to the pressures of popularity? Or will she be crushed under the heels of the "Stilettos"?
~High school is hard enough just being yourself, let alone being someone you're not~
490 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2012
2 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Amo
8 books172 followersThomas Amo has been writing since he was a boy. His dream was always to write for the movies, television, theatre. In the late 1990's he began a career as a full time theatrical producer and while running his own theatre company began writing plays for the stage. In 2000 his first novel was published. It would be another decade before he published again. In August of 2012 he finished epic YA novel, "Forever ME." April 4, 2014 marked the release of his horror novel. "Midnight Never Ends."
When not writing you can find Tom on Radio Rock 92.6 The Blitz where he is DJ, Tom Slick, playing indie music and shouting out fellow indie authors, filmmakers and musicians!
Follow me on Instagram @RealTomSlick
or connect with me Radio Rock 92.6 The Blitz
Tune In on & hear me Mon-Fri 9-11amPST
http://www.926theblitz.rocks
Cheers Thomas Amo
When not writing you can find Tom on Radio Rock 92.6 The Blitz where he is DJ, Tom Slick, playing indie music and shouting out fellow indie authors, filmmakers and musicians!
Follow me on Instagram @RealTomSlick
or connect with me Radio Rock 92.6 The Blitz
Tune In on & hear me Mon-Fri 9-11amPST
http://www.926theblitz.rocks
Cheers Thomas Amo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 27, 2013
Review and Author Interview @ Say It With Books blog
When I first signed up for an ARR copy of Forever Me, I was like...
HMM.. THIS SOUNDS INTERESTING
And you know what, it really is! It's a highly recommended read for teenagers out there who think that popularity, money, fame and power are the things you need in order for you to survive high school.
As what you can see from the blurb, there's this popular group of girls in Wichita Falls High called the "Stilettos" and they consist of Shelby Farrell, Courtney James, Vanessa Chezwick, Madison Winthrop and Taylor Monroe. They are your typical 'mean but popular' kind of girls in school...
...seriously, I imagined Mean Girls the movie while reading about the Stilettos. Haha!
And then, there were the Clubbers and the Easties, the Clubbers were the powerful ones and all, you get the idea right? :) At first I thought that this will be just another typical story about a high school girl and her desire to be the most popular girl in school, but no, let me make it clear to you that this is not your typical kind of story, just like Hannah, who isn't your typical 16 year-old girl.
Well anyway, may I just say, I love Hannah Richards, the protagonist in the story. She is someone who stands up for herself and doesn't mind what other people think. While some girls feel pressured to dress like a doll or be super rich just to be in the spotlight, Hannah's just doing whatever she wants to do. Hanging out with her best friends, talking to her dad, taking care of her dog, just normal things that a normal teenager would do.
Hannah is someone that a teenager can easily relate to. There were also ups and downs for her but she didn't let those bad decisions change who she really is. Even if she has done something wrong, she immediately apologizes for it and acknowledges her mistakes. And Taylor, one of the Stilettos, will also play a big role in this story, yes, there is a pretty interesting change of heart with her.
Okay, this can be a little bit of a spoiler, but I love the lines in the book, I mean, come on, hooray for Thomas, he really knows what goes on in the minds of young teenage girls! Haha! Some lines from Hannah and Taylor were so funny, you would really crack up!!
On a more serious note, another thing that I loved about the novel is the twist in the end, I can't say it here, but it has something to do with Kenny, an officer in town, who is friends with Jacob Richards, Hannah's dad, the town sheriff.
And, I absolutely love what Hannah said in the end, "My name is Hannah Richards, and I’m not a Stiletto, a Fab Four, an Eastie, or a Clubber. I am, like Lauren, from this day forward, simply—Forever, me." And it pretty much sums up everything. :-)
4 out of 5 stars for FOREVER ME.
Wonder why I gave it a 4 and not a 5? Well, here..
I think that in the end, the transition with some of the characters were too fast, and some of the characters were not mentioned in the end, it would have been better if there was an epilogue for the continuation.
If you want a spoiler-free explanation, read below.
QUOTES I LOVE FROM FOREVER ME
"A pretty face can sometimes hide an evil mind.”
"The pure love of his child holding him, in the weakest moment of his life had changed him forever."
"Sometimes you really are too close to see your situation. Only when you are away from it, can you see things for how they truly are."
In the end of the novel, you will see "A Word From The Author" and there, you can see why he wrote this novel for young girls out there. :-)
Good job, Tom.
*I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, however, did not influence my review in any way.*
When I first signed up for an ARR copy of Forever Me, I was like...
HMM.. THIS SOUNDS INTERESTING
And you know what, it really is! It's a highly recommended read for teenagers out there who think that popularity, money, fame and power are the things you need in order for you to survive high school.
As what you can see from the blurb, there's this popular group of girls in Wichita Falls High called the "Stilettos" and they consist of Shelby Farrell, Courtney James, Vanessa Chezwick, Madison Winthrop and Taylor Monroe. They are your typical 'mean but popular' kind of girls in school...
...seriously, I imagined Mean Girls the movie while reading about the Stilettos. Haha!
And then, there were the Clubbers and the Easties, the Clubbers were the powerful ones and all, you get the idea right? :) At first I thought that this will be just another typical story about a high school girl and her desire to be the most popular girl in school, but no, let me make it clear to you that this is not your typical kind of story, just like Hannah, who isn't your typical 16 year-old girl.
Well anyway, may I just say, I love Hannah Richards, the protagonist in the story. She is someone who stands up for herself and doesn't mind what other people think. While some girls feel pressured to dress like a doll or be super rich just to be in the spotlight, Hannah's just doing whatever she wants to do. Hanging out with her best friends, talking to her dad, taking care of her dog, just normal things that a normal teenager would do.
Hannah is someone that a teenager can easily relate to. There were also ups and downs for her but she didn't let those bad decisions change who she really is. Even if she has done something wrong, she immediately apologizes for it and acknowledges her mistakes. And Taylor, one of the Stilettos, will also play a big role in this story, yes, there is a pretty interesting change of heart with her.
Okay, this can be a little bit of a spoiler, but I love the lines in the book, I mean, come on, hooray for Thomas, he really knows what goes on in the minds of young teenage girls! Haha! Some lines from Hannah and Taylor were so funny, you would really crack up!!
On a more serious note, another thing that I loved about the novel is the twist in the end, I can't say it here, but it has something to do with Kenny, an officer in town, who is friends with Jacob Richards, Hannah's dad, the town sheriff.
And, I absolutely love what Hannah said in the end, "My name is Hannah Richards, and I’m not a Stiletto, a Fab Four, an Eastie, or a Clubber. I am, like Lauren, from this day forward, simply—Forever, me." And it pretty much sums up everything. :-)
4 out of 5 stars for FOREVER ME.
Wonder why I gave it a 4 and not a 5? Well, here..
I think that in the end, the transition with some of the characters were too fast, and some of the characters were not mentioned in the end, it would have been better if there was an epilogue for the continuation.
If you want a spoiler-free explanation, read below.
QUOTES I LOVE FROM FOREVER ME
"A pretty face can sometimes hide an evil mind.”
"The pure love of his child holding him, in the weakest moment of his life had changed him forever."
"Sometimes you really are too close to see your situation. Only when you are away from it, can you see things for how they truly are."
In the end of the novel, you will see "A Word From The Author" and there, you can see why he wrote this novel for young girls out there. :-)
Good job, Tom.
*I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, however, did not influence my review in any way.*
December 13, 2012
This review and more at Sab The Book Eater
I have mixed emotions about this book. I enjoyed this book a great deal because of the thought and wit put into the dialogues but I wasn't able to grasp a few parts in the book.
WRITING
The first thing I noticed when I started was how it was written. It was written in the 3rd person point of view but I felt like I was watching a TV show/movie. Which sort of makes sense (in my mind) because it was originally a screenplay idea. (I read the acknowledgments, I'm cool like that) All throughout the book you can see what the other characters are doing or how they're feeling without necessarily taking the focus off of Hannah. Plus, you won't have to spend an entire chapter just reading about another character. I actually liked this even if it took some time getting used to. I enjoyed feeling like I'm reading a TV teen drama. You'll get it when you read it. *wink wink*
The downside however is that some parts felt a bit "jumpy." For example, in chapter 47, the characters are shown waking up or preparing for school at 5AM without so much as a smooth transition from character to character. If this was a movie, I think the beginning of chapter 47 would be a montage - and it would most definitely work. But if you use that in a book, you kind of lose momentum.
I also liked the lines/dialogues. Not only were they witty and funny, they were also realistic. I could totally imagine hearing some of the lines or doing some of the things in it. I actually laughed several times while reading the book and felt the need to tell my siblings about it!
One of funniest moments, to which my siblings also laughed:
"Can I at least shower and put my face on?" inquired Taylor.
"Uh-yeah, I don't need the neighbors thinking I'm hanging with the help."
Taylor held the phone away from her face and gave it the finger.
Call me shallow but that is funny!
CHARACTERS
One of the other things I was able to enjoy in the book was the protagonist herself. I absolutely love Hannah! She's so relatable because of her personal style and the way she speaks. I especially love her relationship with her dad. Their morning chitchat kept me smiling because I can totally imagine how they'd tease each other before going to school or to work. I also enjoyed reading about the Stilettos, and how pretentious they all are with their fashion and bullying. Even the minor characters felt alive because their personality's so real. Even though sometimes I felt like Lauren's and the Stilettos' bullying and Kyle's douchebaggery (I love that word) was a bit overkill (or not. Bullies are relentless - I should know), I think Thomas Amo did a great job at moulding the characters because they affected my emotions. I felt Dylan's frustration towards his mother, I felt as annoyed at Lauren just as Hannah was, and I got all riled up when Taylor was framed!
CONFLICT
Now I'll try to avoid giving off any spoilers at this point, even if most of what I have to say about this part has the potential to be a spoiler
I didn't really see the clear connection between the characters and the events, i.e. clique-wars & the murder mystery (me saying there's a murder mystery is not a spoiler) as well as everyone involved in it. While I enjoyed both parts of the story and I could see how certain things could cause what (UGH! This is so hard without spoilers!), I had a hard time trying to really bring the two together.
OVERALL
Even though some parts were a bit blurry for me, I'd still recommend this book. The story kept me entertained enough to finish it faster (it was kind of long) than I normally would have. The characters were great, the lines were humorous, and the switching perspectives made the reading experience quite enjoyable. ;-)
***I received an e-copy of this book for review.***
This review is based solely on my opinion and is not influenced at all by the author's niceness.
Tee hee. Hey, Thomas!
I have mixed emotions about this book. I enjoyed this book a great deal because of the thought and wit put into the dialogues but I wasn't able to grasp a few parts in the book.
WRITING
The first thing I noticed when I started was how it was written. It was written in the 3rd person point of view but I felt like I was watching a TV show/movie. Which sort of makes sense (in my mind) because it was originally a screenplay idea. (I read the acknowledgments, I'm cool like that) All throughout the book you can see what the other characters are doing or how they're feeling without necessarily taking the focus off of Hannah. Plus, you won't have to spend an entire chapter just reading about another character. I actually liked this even if it took some time getting used to. I enjoyed feeling like I'm reading a TV teen drama. You'll get it when you read it. *wink wink*
The downside however is that some parts felt a bit "jumpy." For example, in chapter 47, the characters are shown waking up or preparing for school at 5AM without so much as a smooth transition from character to character. If this was a movie, I think the beginning of chapter 47 would be a montage - and it would most definitely work. But if you use that in a book, you kind of lose momentum.
I also liked the lines/dialogues. Not only were they witty and funny, they were also realistic. I could totally imagine hearing some of the lines or doing some of the things in it. I actually laughed several times while reading the book and felt the need to tell my siblings about it!
One of funniest moments, to which my siblings also laughed:
"Can I at least shower and put my face on?" inquired Taylor.
"Uh-yeah, I don't need the neighbors thinking I'm hanging with the help."
Taylor held the phone away from her face and gave it the finger.
Call me shallow but that is funny!
CHARACTERS
One of the other things I was able to enjoy in the book was the protagonist herself. I absolutely love Hannah! She's so relatable because of her personal style and the way she speaks. I especially love her relationship with her dad. Their morning chitchat kept me smiling because I can totally imagine how they'd tease each other before going to school or to work. I also enjoyed reading about the Stilettos, and how pretentious they all are with their fashion and bullying. Even the minor characters felt alive because their personality's so real. Even though sometimes I felt like Lauren's and the Stilettos' bullying and Kyle's douchebaggery (I love that word) was a bit overkill (or not. Bullies are relentless - I should know), I think Thomas Amo did a great job at moulding the characters because they affected my emotions. I felt Dylan's frustration towards his mother, I felt as annoyed at Lauren just as Hannah was, and I got all riled up when Taylor was framed!
CONFLICT
Now I'll try to avoid giving off any spoilers at this point, even if most of what I have to say about this part has the potential to be a spoiler
I didn't really see the clear connection between the characters and the events, i.e. clique-wars & the murder mystery (me saying there's a murder mystery is not a spoiler) as well as everyone involved in it. While I enjoyed both parts of the story and I could see how certain things could cause what (UGH! This is so hard without spoilers!), I had a hard time trying to really bring the two together.
OVERALL
Even though some parts were a bit blurry for me, I'd still recommend this book. The story kept me entertained enough to finish it faster (it was kind of long) than I normally would have. The characters were great, the lines were humorous, and the switching perspectives made the reading experience quite enjoyable. ;-)
***I received an e-copy of this book for review.***
This review is based solely on my opinion and is not influenced at all by the author's niceness.
Tee hee. Hey, Thomas!
November 3, 2012
Thomas Amo's Forever Me caught me from the beginning. The characters are well rounded and Extremely likeable! It is addictive and exciting and so much more.
Bullying is an epidemic, spreading insidiously across the world. I know this. You know this. If you've ever been bullied or known someone who has you NEED to read this book. Or you are a teenager or young adult you NEED to read this book. If you are the parent or grandparent you NEED to read this book.
ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRING HOPE!
Bullying is an epidemic, spreading insidiously across the world. I know this. You know this. If you've ever been bullied or known someone who has you NEED to read this book. Or you are a teenager or young adult you NEED to read this book. If you are the parent or grandparent you NEED to read this book.
ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRING HOPE!
March 24, 2013
E-book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
So... when I read the blurb I thought: "Sounds interesting... somewhat like Mean Girls (a movie that I do not tire of watching, why? Probably because of Tina Fey), maybe I should give it a try"
Give it a try was all that I needed, because from the prologue, I could already tell I would love it.
This story is about Hannah, but it isn't at the same time. It revolves around a myriad of characters that live in Wichita Falls. It explores the relationships between "easties" (the "poor" people) and "clubbers" (the socialists) and what would actually happen if people actually cross that invisible boundary line. This story is, in a way, a psychological narrative into what teenagers actually go through in high school.
I was surprised at how accurate this was. It's nice to see that the author didn't overuse the stereotypes that plague high school.
This book had it all:
-humor: there were many laugh out loud moments, and just quirky situations in which the characters made you smile in spite of everything.
-mystery: through the whole book, I was questioning myself over and over again "is it him?" "why is he acting that way?" "what's going on?" and it was refreshing, because it spiked my interest more.
-romance: the romance here is mild, but still freaking adorable.
-angst: Oh Lord, there was so much angst! This novel was practically dripping in teen angst! And you see, normally, I would have hated it, but it was because of all the angst that I kept reading. It was so freaking addicting.
-scandals, lies and betrayals: so many plot twists that left my head spinning even after I finished the book.
Other than all these little details, I found that the best part of the book was the characterization. I found that this story was mainly character driven, because without them there would have been literally nothing going on. And all the characters here were amazing.
Hannah was the protagonist, and she was completely relatable. Strong willed, outspoken and independent, she's exactly what a main heroine should be. I loved her witty remarks and the way she could stand up for herself, and also for others. Whenever she committed a "fault" she realized this, and immediately tried to fix the problem she created. Hannah was in all ways, a mature adult.
Another thing I really liked about Hannah, was her relationship with her father. With most YA novels, the parental figure is mostly absent, and almost never influences the story. Here, her father is present in most of the book, and also has an important voice. Their relationship was actually really nice.
My favorite character of the book has to be Taylor. At first, Taylor is the typical snobby popular girl, but as the story progresses, she transforms into a wonderful character. I really love when a story presents character growth and that is exactly what I got with this. Taylor was in many ways, the "allegorical" character, the character that always had her eyes wide open. Taylor is one of the most quotable characters of the book, for example:
How can you NOT love Taylor?
I also want to take this review to admire the amazing job the author did when creating this story. In the author's note, we get to see what really inspired him to write this book and I find that it's an amazing cause.
Also, there's something that's been bothering me ever since I finished this book. It's the fact that in the blurb here it says that "Suggested reading age is 14+" and... when I was 14, I never got the opportunity to read books as good as these. I hate the fact that my most substantial books at that age were probably Twilight or Vampire Academy . I wish that this book would have been around when I was an insecure 14 year old.
Overall, this book should be read by many teenage girls, because it gives out the most important message: To always be yourself.
5 stars.
So... when I read the blurb I thought: "Sounds interesting... somewhat like Mean Girls (a movie that I do not tire of watching, why? Probably because of Tina Fey), maybe I should give it a try"
Give it a try was all that I needed, because from the prologue, I could already tell I would love it.
This story is about Hannah, but it isn't at the same time. It revolves around a myriad of characters that live in Wichita Falls. It explores the relationships between "easties" (the "poor" people) and "clubbers" (the socialists) and what would actually happen if people actually cross that invisible boundary line. This story is, in a way, a psychological narrative into what teenagers actually go through in high school.
I was surprised at how accurate this was. It's nice to see that the author didn't overuse the stereotypes that plague high school.
This book had it all:
-humor: there were many laugh out loud moments, and just quirky situations in which the characters made you smile in spite of everything.
-mystery: through the whole book, I was questioning myself over and over again "is it him?" "why is he acting that way?" "what's going on?" and it was refreshing, because it spiked my interest more.
-romance: the romance here is mild, but still freaking adorable.
-angst: Oh Lord, there was so much angst! This novel was practically dripping in teen angst! And you see, normally, I would have hated it, but it was because of all the angst that I kept reading. It was so freaking addicting.
-scandals, lies and betrayals: so many plot twists that left my head spinning even after I finished the book.
Other than all these little details, I found that the best part of the book was the characterization. I found that this story was mainly character driven, because without them there would have been literally nothing going on. And all the characters here were amazing.
Hannah was the protagonist, and she was completely relatable. Strong willed, outspoken and independent, she's exactly what a main heroine should be. I loved her witty remarks and the way she could stand up for herself, and also for others. Whenever she committed a "fault" she realized this, and immediately tried to fix the problem she created. Hannah was in all ways, a mature adult.
Another thing I really liked about Hannah, was her relationship with her father. With most YA novels, the parental figure is mostly absent, and almost never influences the story. Here, her father is present in most of the book, and also has an important voice. Their relationship was actually really nice.
My favorite character of the book has to be Taylor. At first, Taylor is the typical snobby popular girl, but as the story progresses, she transforms into a wonderful character. I really love when a story presents character growth and that is exactly what I got with this. Taylor was in many ways, the "allegorical" character, the character that always had her eyes wide open. Taylor is one of the most quotable characters of the book, for example:
"Don't let the makeup turn you into someone you're not. It's really not worth it."
How can you NOT love Taylor?
I also want to take this review to admire the amazing job the author did when creating this story. In the author's note, we get to see what really inspired him to write this book and I find that it's an amazing cause.
Also, there's something that's been bothering me ever since I finished this book. It's the fact that in the blurb here it says that "Suggested reading age is 14+" and... when I was 14, I never got the opportunity to read books as good as these. I hate the fact that my most substantial books at that age were probably Twilight or Vampire Academy . I wish that this book would have been around when I was an insecure 14 year old.
Overall, this book should be read by many teenage girls, because it gives out the most important message: To always be yourself.
5 stars.
April 5, 2013
Remember high school? Forever Me by Thomas Amo will take you back to those days, not the bright glittery side, but the day to day drama that often went on. Hannah Richards isn't your typical 16 year-old high school girl, she is an independent thinking, strong-willed teen who also happens to be the daughter of the town sheriff. Hanna also isn’t part of the “in” crowd with their stereotypical snobbishness, glitz, glamor and daddy’s money. Pretty much, she is a ‘nobody’ at school, just like 99% of the kids. When Hanna steps up and helps one of the popular girls, Taylor Monroe, she finds she has fallen into a rabbit hole of epic proportions as she becomes entangled in the world of the popular crowd where being yourself isn’t as important as the façade of perfection. Is this what she really wants? Is it worth the price of her own integrity, individuality, or losing her best friends? What about the lies, deceit and secrets being kept?
In an over-the-top way, Thomas Amo has drawn the dark side of being a teen, especially a teenaged girl. Not being a follower and “drinking the Koolaid” can be emotionally lethal at a time when you aren’t quite an adult and you can’t pull the too young to know better card out when you screw up. Some of the violence seemed overdone, and the language, while not surprising that teens swear, I think that often, the choice of words was particularly derogative, but, as a creative tool to demonstrate how not to be, it was fitting. The fact that even some adults did not come out unscathed, looking more like middle-aged teens trying to hold on to the “glory days” made an impressive statement in itself against the shallowness of trying to force fit the mold, instead of creating your own. Okay, enough being a grandma here, Forever Me was an intense, well-crafted, often chuckle-worthy read!
In an over-the-top way, Thomas Amo has drawn the dark side of being a teen, especially a teenaged girl. Not being a follower and “drinking the Koolaid” can be emotionally lethal at a time when you aren’t quite an adult and you can’t pull the too young to know better card out when you screw up. Some of the violence seemed overdone, and the language, while not surprising that teens swear, I think that often, the choice of words was particularly derogative, but, as a creative tool to demonstrate how not to be, it was fitting. The fact that even some adults did not come out unscathed, looking more like middle-aged teens trying to hold on to the “glory days” made an impressive statement in itself against the shallowness of trying to force fit the mold, instead of creating your own. Okay, enough being a grandma here, Forever Me was an intense, well-crafted, often chuckle-worthy read!
December 10, 2012
Beneath the Moon and Stars review
This book would make the most amazing movie. It focuses on some real every day problems in nowadays teenage world. I think this is one of those books people just need to read. I took so much from it. I have no doubt others will too. It was a super great read.
Hannah was a great main character. I really liked her. It was easy to relate to her. I loved how she really made an impact on the world around her. I loved how strong she was. I loved that she could accept anyone even people she never saw herself associating with. She was genuinely a good person. There was tons of secondary characters. I really liked how people Hannah never thought she would be friends with we're better friends to her than her best friends. You don't have to be exactly like someone to get along with them. For the most part Hannah was the bigger person. She had a little but of a downfall but she got back up there. I liked how all the Stilettos became good friends with Hannah. I liked the tension between characters. All the characters were very well done and I enjoyed reading about them.
I think one of the best parts of this book was how relatable it was. I think it's perfect for teenagers. I loved the storyline. It was pretty fast paced. The characters were great. I've never really read a book that I could compare to the world around me. Everything was so well done. I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this one. It surprised me. I found it impossible to put down. I had to know where the story was going to go. Overall I'm so glad I got the chance to read this one. I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this one, I think a lot can be taken from it.
This book would make the most amazing movie. It focuses on some real every day problems in nowadays teenage world. I think this is one of those books people just need to read. I took so much from it. I have no doubt others will too. It was a super great read.
Hannah was a great main character. I really liked her. It was easy to relate to her. I loved how she really made an impact on the world around her. I loved how strong she was. I loved that she could accept anyone even people she never saw herself associating with. She was genuinely a good person. There was tons of secondary characters. I really liked how people Hannah never thought she would be friends with we're better friends to her than her best friends. You don't have to be exactly like someone to get along with them. For the most part Hannah was the bigger person. She had a little but of a downfall but she got back up there. I liked how all the Stilettos became good friends with Hannah. I liked the tension between characters. All the characters were very well done and I enjoyed reading about them.
I think one of the best parts of this book was how relatable it was. I think it's perfect for teenagers. I loved the storyline. It was pretty fast paced. The characters were great. I've never really read a book that I could compare to the world around me. Everything was so well done. I wasn't sure what to expect when starting this one. It surprised me. I found it impossible to put down. I had to know where the story was going to go. Overall I'm so glad I got the chance to read this one. I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend this one, I think a lot can be taken from it.
December 28, 2012
When I was contacted by the author to review "Forever Me" I was excited, I love reading teen books about the pressures of popularity and glamour. "Forever Me" is a book I highly recommend. It was well written with a great message to the teen audience. It isn't often that a book will bring tears to my eyes but Thomas Amo did a fabulous job capturing the character's emotions.
Hannah is the Sheriff's daughter and a very normal, down to earth kind of girl. She is an Eastie, meaning she isn't from the rich side of town. When she becomes friends with Taylor (a Stiletto) and Dylan, both popular and rich, she is introduced to a whole new life style. Will the new clothes, make-up, and newfound popularity change her attitude.
I have to give a thumbs up to Thomas Amo on this one. Too many girls feel pressured to look and act a certain way. They are so busy trying to please the popular crowd they forget how to just be themselves.
Hannah is the Sheriff's daughter and a very normal, down to earth kind of girl. She is an Eastie, meaning she isn't from the rich side of town. When she becomes friends with Taylor (a Stiletto) and Dylan, both popular and rich, she is introduced to a whole new life style. Will the new clothes, make-up, and newfound popularity change her attitude.
I have to give a thumbs up to Thomas Amo on this one. Too many girls feel pressured to look and act a certain way. They are so busy trying to please the popular crowd they forget how to just be themselves.
November 8, 2012
Forever Me by Thomas Amo
Reviewed by Nanette Bradford
YATR Review Panel
Date read: 7 November 2012
First off I want to say that I was pleasantly surprised on how much I loved this book. I don’t typically read books by male authors. Not that I am biased I’ve just
had so many bad experiences where they just don’t get a girls perspective and the book was hard to grasp. This book however is so wonderful. Not only
did Thomas get the girls point of view to a “T” he also made these girls strong and I found myself rooting for each of these characters.
yes this is a story of high school and all the different clicks within it. there are the Jocks and the Goths and of course that one set of girls who think they are better than everyone else just because they live on the right side of the tracks and have lots of money. well their parents do anyways..
These girls are horribly mean and obnoxious tormenting everyone at the school who isn’t them. One of the things I enjoyed the most about this book is that
its not based solely on these horrible girls but on the girls who chose to stick up for themselves and against them.
Hannah is the daughter of the town Sheriff. She’s kind, sweet and down to earth. Not only that but she doesn’t put up with anyone’s crap let alone the so called “Stilettos Girls”. She sticks up for herself throughout the book and she’s really feisty. I love how strong her character is. Yes, she’s not perfect. She’s only 16 for gosh sakes but at least she when she did something that was wrong and out of character for her she owned up to it.
A couple of the original Stilettos girls realized that popularity is not worth all the pain they were enduring for it and chose to leave the group. Taylor, Vanessa, Monique, and Hannah became fast friends and once they did things began to change for all of them. This is a group of 4 girls that, according to the society of high school, shouldn’t be seen with each other let alone friends. They don’t care and are proving to everyone that things need to change.
They have a lot to deal with still with the queen bee of the Stilettos Shelby. She’s not going to let the girls take away what belongs to her. Find out what she does to get even with them and the rest of the school..
thank you Thomas Amo for writing such a great book with wonderful and strong set of female characters. You have a new fan in me.
if you have teen age girls please have them read this. I'm giving it to my daughter today. such a great message in this book and a great read.
Reviewed by Nanette Bradford
YATR Review Panel
Date read: 7 November 2012
First off I want to say that I was pleasantly surprised on how much I loved this book. I don’t typically read books by male authors. Not that I am biased I’ve just
had so many bad experiences where they just don’t get a girls perspective and the book was hard to grasp. This book however is so wonderful. Not only
did Thomas get the girls point of view to a “T” he also made these girls strong and I found myself rooting for each of these characters.
yes this is a story of high school and all the different clicks within it. there are the Jocks and the Goths and of course that one set of girls who think they are better than everyone else just because they live on the right side of the tracks and have lots of money. well their parents do anyways..
These girls are horribly mean and obnoxious tormenting everyone at the school who isn’t them. One of the things I enjoyed the most about this book is that
its not based solely on these horrible girls but on the girls who chose to stick up for themselves and against them.
Hannah is the daughter of the town Sheriff. She’s kind, sweet and down to earth. Not only that but she doesn’t put up with anyone’s crap let alone the so called “Stilettos Girls”. She sticks up for herself throughout the book and she’s really feisty. I love how strong her character is. Yes, she’s not perfect. She’s only 16 for gosh sakes but at least she when she did something that was wrong and out of character for her she owned up to it.
A couple of the original Stilettos girls realized that popularity is not worth all the pain they were enduring for it and chose to leave the group. Taylor, Vanessa, Monique, and Hannah became fast friends and once they did things began to change for all of them. This is a group of 4 girls that, according to the society of high school, shouldn’t be seen with each other let alone friends. They don’t care and are proving to everyone that things need to change.
They have a lot to deal with still with the queen bee of the Stilettos Shelby. She’s not going to let the girls take away what belongs to her. Find out what she does to get even with them and the rest of the school..
thank you Thomas Amo for writing such a great book with wonderful and strong set of female characters. You have a new fan in me.
if you have teen age girls please have them read this. I'm giving it to my daughter today. such a great message in this book and a great read.
February 27, 2013
One thing I have learned about Thomas Amo is that he takes things to extremes. In Let’s Get Lade he took slap-stick humor and just plain silliness to the extreme. In An Apple for Zoe he took a murder investigation to such an paranormal extreme that I’m still reeling from the outcome (and not so patiently waiting for the next installment of The Forsaken series.) For those reasons, the extreme twists, turns, betrayal and life changing events that the characters experienced in Forever Me shouldn’t have surprised me in the least, but they did. I’m not sure what I expected from this teen drama, but I definitely got more than I bargained for.
Hannah was basically an average teen. She wasn’t overly popular, but she had friends and everyone knew who she was because she was the Sheriff’s daughter in a fairly small town. She was the kind of girl that anyone would want for a friend. Then one seemingly insignificant incident turned almost everyone’s world upside down.
Wichita Falls was a town that was saturated with prejudice. The prejudice wasn’t about color or race as much as it was the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. Those lines were drawn in every aspect of their small society and the lines didn’t cross. Hannah was on the side of the ‘have nots’ and she inadvertently crossed it. Not because she wanted what the others had or because she thought she was better than anyone else but because she reached out to help someone who needed it. That one act escalated into a chain of events that turned everyone’s world upside down.
I’m not going to give anything away, because it’s something that you are going to have to experience as a reader all on your own. Let’s just say that nothing is as it seems and Hannah came to the same realization during the course of this book.
The bad guys were beyond bad, the parents were mostly over the top clueless or cruel (there were a few exceptions, especially Hannah’s Dad who I loved) and the ‘Stilettos’ were a group of girls that I hope and pray no high school is ever subjected to. Yeah, they were that bad… *shivers* Lessons were learned… some very hard lessons… hearts were broken and fences were broken and mended, but all of it came with a price. Did Thomas Amo take this teenage coming of age story to too much of an extreme? Maybe, but sometimes the extreme is what it takes to get people’s attention.
Hannah was basically an average teen. She wasn’t overly popular, but she had friends and everyone knew who she was because she was the Sheriff’s daughter in a fairly small town. She was the kind of girl that anyone would want for a friend. Then one seemingly insignificant incident turned almost everyone’s world upside down.
Wichita Falls was a town that was saturated with prejudice. The prejudice wasn’t about color or race as much as it was the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. Those lines were drawn in every aspect of their small society and the lines didn’t cross. Hannah was on the side of the ‘have nots’ and she inadvertently crossed it. Not because she wanted what the others had or because she thought she was better than anyone else but because she reached out to help someone who needed it. That one act escalated into a chain of events that turned everyone’s world upside down.
I’m not going to give anything away, because it’s something that you are going to have to experience as a reader all on your own. Let’s just say that nothing is as it seems and Hannah came to the same realization during the course of this book.
The bad guys were beyond bad, the parents were mostly over the top clueless or cruel (there were a few exceptions, especially Hannah’s Dad who I loved) and the ‘Stilettos’ were a group of girls that I hope and pray no high school is ever subjected to. Yeah, they were that bad… *shivers* Lessons were learned… some very hard lessons… hearts were broken and fences were broken and mended, but all of it came with a price. Did Thomas Amo take this teenage coming of age story to too much of an extreme? Maybe, but sometimes the extreme is what it takes to get people’s attention.
March 23, 2013
Also posted on my blog http://betweenthelinesisanendlessstor...
True rating 3.5 stars. I had problems rating this but decided it was fairer to round up to 4 stars rather than down to 3, it's a better reflection on what I thought about Forever Me. Mostly because it contains such an important message for teenagers and everyone really about how to "Judge nothing by the appearance. The more beautiful the serpent, the more fatal the sting."
Hannah is your normal, everyday teenager with her head well screwed on. She lives with her Dad (the local Sherrif) and has 2 best friends, she doesn't care about appearances, loves music, being barefoot, her dog Dude and gets on ok with everyone in general in high school. Now the school, *shudder*. All the cliques and gangs, all the rules of what to do, who to talk to, what to wear to stay popular. Or even not just to be popular to avoid being bullied. It's all so shallow, depressing and frighteningly real. My main thought was "Thank God my school days are over!".
I was afraid at the start that Hannah was too much of a goody, goody and I wouldn't like her. But no, she is well written and developed, she makes plenty of mistakes, she is loveably flawed and so feels real. She gets a touch of popularity and it sends her down a totally different path which makes for a fun storyline.
There was lots going on in the book to hold my attention; murder (I know, unexpected! but it happens), blackmail, teenage jinks. Hannah's new gang of friends taking on 'The Stilletos' the top-of-the-heap pack of mean girls. Lots going on to keep me quickly turning pages and made this a fun, entertaining read.
A few minor issues - a few editing problems and the last few chapters the book takes on a totally different angle. It felt a little too out of sync with the rest of the story. It didn't lose me though, it just felt a little like I was reading a different book.
I would recommend Forever Me if you are a teenager or even a parent of a teenager. It's more than worthy of your time for the important message it portrays.
Thanks to the Author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
True rating 3.5 stars. I had problems rating this but decided it was fairer to round up to 4 stars rather than down to 3, it's a better reflection on what I thought about Forever Me. Mostly because it contains such an important message for teenagers and everyone really about how to "Judge nothing by the appearance. The more beautiful the serpent, the more fatal the sting."
Hannah is your normal, everyday teenager with her head well screwed on. She lives with her Dad (the local Sherrif) and has 2 best friends, she doesn't care about appearances, loves music, being barefoot, her dog Dude and gets on ok with everyone in general in high school. Now the school, *shudder*. All the cliques and gangs, all the rules of what to do, who to talk to, what to wear to stay popular. Or even not just to be popular to avoid being bullied. It's all so shallow, depressing and frighteningly real. My main thought was "Thank God my school days are over!".
I was afraid at the start that Hannah was too much of a goody, goody and I wouldn't like her. But no, she is well written and developed, she makes plenty of mistakes, she is loveably flawed and so feels real. She gets a touch of popularity and it sends her down a totally different path which makes for a fun storyline.
There was lots going on in the book to hold my attention; murder (I know, unexpected! but it happens), blackmail, teenage jinks. Hannah's new gang of friends taking on 'The Stilletos' the top-of-the-heap pack of mean girls. Lots going on to keep me quickly turning pages and made this a fun, entertaining read.
A few minor issues - a few editing problems and the last few chapters the book takes on a totally different angle. It felt a little too out of sync with the rest of the story. It didn't lose me though, it just felt a little like I was reading a different book.
I would recommend Forever Me if you are a teenager or even a parent of a teenager. It's more than worthy of your time for the important message it portrays.
Thanks to the Author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
March 12, 2013
Girls are mean. Vicious even. Far worse than boys. We females all know it. Your friends aren't friends and your enemies are cruel. This is why when I was in high school I hung out with mostly boys and even that gets you labeled. What I don't understand is how a MAN was able to write a book about the torturous life of a teenage girl living the delicate balance between her heart and her mind while enduring the social politics of girl world. But, to my surprise, that's exactly what the author did.
This book is your classic mean girl story. You've got the unpopular girl, Hannah, all of a sudden thrown into the lion's den of popularity. She now has a rich best friend, the attraction of the most popular jock in school, designer clothes, all the bells and whistles. Glamor and popularity always comes at a price, in her case it's losing her life long friends and gaining her new enemies, the Stilettos. Throw in a murder mystery and you've got yourself one dramatic book, with an emphasis on drama.
Now, to be honest, the book needed some serious editing. There were a ton of mistakes with grammar and several words were missing, like 'you' or 'the'. Considering I am the queen of simple mistakes and poor grammar, run-on sentences, etc., it must have been habitual for me to notice it. That being said, it didn't take away from the story for me. A good story is a good story and make no mistake, Forever Me is a good story. Even the murder mystery was good, though at first I was like - Why does the book need this?- but then, I ended up excited to see how it played out.....of course, I did secretly want a certain, um, unpleasant, um, someone else to have been the bad bad guy, but you know, you can't always get what you want. In the end, I think it all turned out for the best and the hard lessons were learned.
Did I like the book? Yes
Would I recommend the book? Yes
Overall Rating: Really Good
Favorite Quote: "In my fantasy, she's fat, just let me have that okay." Hannah
This book is your classic mean girl story. You've got the unpopular girl, Hannah, all of a sudden thrown into the lion's den of popularity. She now has a rich best friend, the attraction of the most popular jock in school, designer clothes, all the bells and whistles. Glamor and popularity always comes at a price, in her case it's losing her life long friends and gaining her new enemies, the Stilettos. Throw in a murder mystery and you've got yourself one dramatic book, with an emphasis on drama.
Now, to be honest, the book needed some serious editing. There were a ton of mistakes with grammar and several words were missing, like 'you' or 'the'. Considering I am the queen of simple mistakes and poor grammar, run-on sentences, etc., it must have been habitual for me to notice it. That being said, it didn't take away from the story for me. A good story is a good story and make no mistake, Forever Me is a good story. Even the murder mystery was good, though at first I was like - Why does the book need this?- but then, I ended up excited to see how it played out.....of course, I did secretly want a certain, um, unpleasant, um, someone else to have been the bad bad guy, but you know, you can't always get what you want. In the end, I think it all turned out for the best and the hard lessons were learned.
Did I like the book? Yes
Would I recommend the book? Yes
Overall Rating: Really Good
Favorite Quote: "In my fantasy, she's fat, just let me have that okay." Hannah
February 13, 2013
Have you ever read a book that was so amazing that you felt like you needed to tell other people about it as soon as you are done with reading it? If not then you need to read this book. Then you will understand
December 27, 2012
Wow. Not what I was expecting. It took a while to get through but the large cast of characters and the changes they went through made it very fun to read about. Mean girls meets Veronica Mars set on Texas.
April 14, 2013
I received an ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review can be found at Life of a YA Girl
This is a bit long, sorry!
I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical about reading this given that it was about a teenage girl but was written from a male. There's first loves, family drama, friend drama, teenage angst and frustration, and trying to figure oneself out. Would Mr. Amo really be able to accurately portray what being a 16 year old girl was like? The answer is YES. He did a fantastic job, I might add. I was so pleasantly surprised and could relate with Hannah on so many levels. I can remember saying "OMG. SO TRUE." multiple times as I reminisced about my high school days. Thomas Amo really did his research.
Forever ME is about Hannah Richards, the daughter of the Wichita Falls sheriff, and her transformation from the plain jane to the girl she's secretly always wanted to become. What starts off as a normal day-to-day story, Hannah finds herself breaking up a fight between one of the Stilettos (the 5 most popular--and richest--girls in school) and an Eastie (those who do not live in the posh country club neighborhood). Unknowingly, this one event changes the course of Hannah's life. Her best friends become jealous, she becomes best friends with one of the Stilettos (one who she NEVER would have imagined being friends with), she starts talking to a gorgeous guy (a Clubber-gasp!), and she slowly finds her self taking down the Stilettos and becoming the new "it" girl. Unfortunately, what do you end up losing in the process? Hannah starts to find out the hard way. Amid all this typical high school drama, a teenage girl murderer is on the loose and nobody knows who his next target will be. Wichita Falls is starting to fall apart, in more ways than one, and Hannah ends up being right in the middle of everything. As it says in the summary: "high school is hard enough just being yourself."
I really enjoyed reading this book! As the story went along, I found it harder and harder to put it down. The last 100 pages or so, yeah good luck being able to stop!--or being able to go to sleep afterward. I loved reading about Hannah's transformation. I can remember wanting to branch out and do something different when I was her age. The things she thought and felt, were extremely realistic and I'm sure I'm not the only one who can relate to it! I think every high school girl should read this book. Aside from the murder part, everything in the novel describes EXACTLY what goes on in the halls of a high school. The populars vs. the non-populars, boys, friend drama, the pressures of being in a relationship, everything. The issues brought up are super important and relevant, and the lessons Hannah and her friends learned from them are spot on. I'm so glad there is an author out there who is not afraid to bring these issues to light and allow his characters to work through them, the same way that real high school teenagers would. No matter how much your parents tell you, you have to go through these things first hand and learn to deal with them yourself. I think this is what makes me love Hannah and Taylor so much. They are very real, make mistakes, learn from them, and end up righting them.
Now on to the actual writing, itself. Sometimes I did find the dialogue and language to be a bit too mature for 16 year olds. Some of the wording didn't seem like something I would think of when I was that age. I was smart for my age but I didn't use bigger words that you would find in a thesaurus. I spoke like how all of my friends spoke and how characters on my favorite tv shows talked. It wasn't like this the whole time in the novel, though! There were only just a couple of times when I thought "would my 16 year old self really call a fight a scuffle?" The text lingo the characters used was spot on. The way some of the immature boys, like Kyle specifically, talked were spot on. Hannah's sassy, witty, and sarcastic comebacks seriously had me rolling. They were great! Yet another reason why I connected with her. I'm the same way! The author captured this so well. Kudos to you, Mr. Amo! Also, the ability to throw in such a huge twist in the story kept my attention and had me guessing the whole time. I felt chills and could feel my blood running cold, everything. I was never once expecting this story to end up being a murder mystery on top of everything else going on. I thought this added so much to the story. It's like you are getting a two for one deal! The ending of the novel was beautifully written and moved me to tears--a lot of them.
And now to my final paragraph: why you should read FOREVER ME. At the end, Thomas Amo writes a little "Word From The Author" about why he wrote this novel. To sum it up: there is a group in Texas called "Redefining Beautiful" which aims to bring awareness to all girls that makeup and clothes do not make a person beautiful, it's simply being themselves. This novel is all about reinventing yourself and then realizing that you don't need money, to have only the best of everything, and to be popular. It's all about accepting yourself the way you are. As I said already, I think every girl should read this! Another good reason: murder mystery! It'll keep you on your toes! You'll seriously find yourself questioning everyone, and I do mean everyone. You definitely won't be expecting who actually did it! This book has everything you all love about a YA novel: friendships, drama, love, suspense, and witty writing. You'll like it, I promise!
This review can be found at Life of a YA Girl
This is a bit long, sorry!
I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical about reading this given that it was about a teenage girl but was written from a male. There's first loves, family drama, friend drama, teenage angst and frustration, and trying to figure oneself out. Would Mr. Amo really be able to accurately portray what being a 16 year old girl was like? The answer is YES. He did a fantastic job, I might add. I was so pleasantly surprised and could relate with Hannah on so many levels. I can remember saying "OMG. SO TRUE." multiple times as I reminisced about my high school days. Thomas Amo really did his research.
Forever ME is about Hannah Richards, the daughter of the Wichita Falls sheriff, and her transformation from the plain jane to the girl she's secretly always wanted to become. What starts off as a normal day-to-day story, Hannah finds herself breaking up a fight between one of the Stilettos (the 5 most popular--and richest--girls in school) and an Eastie (those who do not live in the posh country club neighborhood). Unknowingly, this one event changes the course of Hannah's life. Her best friends become jealous, she becomes best friends with one of the Stilettos (one who she NEVER would have imagined being friends with), she starts talking to a gorgeous guy (a Clubber-gasp!), and she slowly finds her self taking down the Stilettos and becoming the new "it" girl. Unfortunately, what do you end up losing in the process? Hannah starts to find out the hard way. Amid all this typical high school drama, a teenage girl murderer is on the loose and nobody knows who his next target will be. Wichita Falls is starting to fall apart, in more ways than one, and Hannah ends up being right in the middle of everything. As it says in the summary: "high school is hard enough just being yourself."
I really enjoyed reading this book! As the story went along, I found it harder and harder to put it down. The last 100 pages or so, yeah good luck being able to stop!--or being able to go to sleep afterward. I loved reading about Hannah's transformation. I can remember wanting to branch out and do something different when I was her age. The things she thought and felt, were extremely realistic and I'm sure I'm not the only one who can relate to it! I think every high school girl should read this book. Aside from the murder part, everything in the novel describes EXACTLY what goes on in the halls of a high school. The populars vs. the non-populars, boys, friend drama, the pressures of being in a relationship, everything. The issues brought up are super important and relevant, and the lessons Hannah and her friends learned from them are spot on. I'm so glad there is an author out there who is not afraid to bring these issues to light and allow his characters to work through them, the same way that real high school teenagers would. No matter how much your parents tell you, you have to go through these things first hand and learn to deal with them yourself. I think this is what makes me love Hannah and Taylor so much. They are very real, make mistakes, learn from them, and end up righting them.
Now on to the actual writing, itself. Sometimes I did find the dialogue and language to be a bit too mature for 16 year olds. Some of the wording didn't seem like something I would think of when I was that age. I was smart for my age but I didn't use bigger words that you would find in a thesaurus. I spoke like how all of my friends spoke and how characters on my favorite tv shows talked. It wasn't like this the whole time in the novel, though! There were only just a couple of times when I thought "would my 16 year old self really call a fight a scuffle?" The text lingo the characters used was spot on. The way some of the immature boys, like Kyle specifically, talked were spot on. Hannah's sassy, witty, and sarcastic comebacks seriously had me rolling. They were great! Yet another reason why I connected with her. I'm the same way! The author captured this so well. Kudos to you, Mr. Amo! Also, the ability to throw in such a huge twist in the story kept my attention and had me guessing the whole time. I felt chills and could feel my blood running cold, everything. I was never once expecting this story to end up being a murder mystery on top of everything else going on. I thought this added so much to the story. It's like you are getting a two for one deal! The ending of the novel was beautifully written and moved me to tears--a lot of them.
And now to my final paragraph: why you should read FOREVER ME. At the end, Thomas Amo writes a little "Word From The Author" about why he wrote this novel. To sum it up: there is a group in Texas called "Redefining Beautiful" which aims to bring awareness to all girls that makeup and clothes do not make a person beautiful, it's simply being themselves. This novel is all about reinventing yourself and then realizing that you don't need money, to have only the best of everything, and to be popular. It's all about accepting yourself the way you are. As I said already, I think every girl should read this! Another good reason: murder mystery! It'll keep you on your toes! You'll seriously find yourself questioning everyone, and I do mean everyone. You definitely won't be expecting who actually did it! This book has everything you all love about a YA novel: friendships, drama, love, suspense, and witty writing. You'll like it, I promise!
March 26, 2013
I signed up for an ARR copy of this book and the author, Thomas Amo, sent me a copy.
I didn't know much about the book before receiving it, because I do enjoy being surprised and boy was I surprised!!!!
This book talks about the rivalry that is so common in high schools between popular and unpopular students, which in this case focused more on where you had the fortune or hazard of living:
"The only segregation that seemed prevalent at Wichita High was the one between the Clubbers and the Easties. Clubbers were the young adults whose families belonged to the country club. ( ...) To translate into pop culture terms, Easties were Mudbloods.
There was one group at Wichita Falls High that commanded its own tile, and it belonged to a small band of girls known as the Stilettos."
And here the plot begins. The Stilettos are the typical group of mean girls who think they rule the world just because they have the looks and money to pull it off. They enjoyed bullying others just for fun.
Hannah is the main character. She is an intelligent and witty sixteen year old girl, whose father is the town’s sheriff. I really loved her easiness and how funny she was!! She got me from the start:
"Hannah didn't care she was considered an Eastie by the Stilettos or the Clubbers. She was happy with who she was."
However, one day everything changes, when she stands up for a girl who was humiliated by the Stilettos. Surprisingly, her actions lead to several events that would change her life forever. She helped Taylor, one of “mean girls” who turned out to be a completely different person we thought she was and her best friends turned on her, accusing her of wanting to become a Clubber.
Hannah’s world started to crumble and it got worse when Dylan, the most wanted and popular single guy in town and also Shelby’s (Stilettos leader) ex-boyfriend became interested in Hannah:
“Well, I would like to be friends, Hannah and I’m not prepared to let others decide who I’m friends with. Are you?”
Will Hannah be able to stand tall and survive this world of glamour and appearances waving at her?
This book truly gives people a lesson, showing how important it is to stay true to ourselves and how can young girls get caught up with a fantasy to become popular, wear label clothes and feel admired.
Moreover, the plot thickens when a girl is found unconscious at school, while another one is found dead. This will also change everything, as the girls will have to fight for their lives to survive this vicious killer!
I truly recommend the book. It was super entertaining, funny and surprising! I laugh so hard with Hannah and Taylor! They were amazing and it was great to see their characters changing throughout the story.
“Real men don’t so it in the backseat, Kyle. And the only way you’re ever going to get any action out on me, is when I cut off that ‘Vienna sausage’ of yours and pound it up your ass, since that’s where most of you jocks like it anyway.”
(…)
“ C’mon, Hannah, all you Easties know how to fight, right? Teased Taylor.”
“Oh yeah, it’s a weekly event at the local trailer park; they keep a pit of mud ready, just in case any of the girls need to, you know- settle things.”
The suspense the author built along the way was fantastic and the ending left me with tears! Don’t even make me talk about Dude!!! It was nerve racking!
May 23, 2013
For more of my reviews visit my blog: Diary of a Wimpy Teen Girl
When I first saw this book, I knew I'm going to enjoy it. I'm currently obsessed with YA contemporary romance book and I am always happy to read a high school drama book, since I'm a high school student myself. I was very excited to read this book and I wasn't disappointed!
I'll start by saying that as a teenager, I could relate to everything that happened in the book. Cliques exist in real life. Every school, everywhere in the world, has those "popular" kids who consider themselves better than the rest. Bullies and mean kids will always exist, and that's why teens must know how to deal with them in order to prevent them from affecting their self-image and confidence. This book sets a great example (that is also based on real-life experiences) of how to stand up for yourself against bullies and I think it makes it important for teen readers!!
Hannah is just the ordinary teenage girl, but she had a special strength inside her that I just adored. Most teens are seriously affected by peer pressure, but Hannah was different. She always tried to be the best person she could and never let bullies hurt her. She never listened to rumors and never judged people by their reputations. I liked how she always gave a second change to everyone - that showed what a good heart she had. She sets a great example for teen girls.
Another character I really liked was Taylor. First of all, I love her name because it remind my of Taylor Swift. lol. Taylor was the bravest girl ever. She has managed to turn her back on the Stilettoes and to start a new life in which she decides for herself. She was a great, supportive friend to Hannah and their relationship was totally to die for! They completed each other. I wished soooo badly, during the whole book, that I was best friends with them, too.
The first 40% of the book were slow paced as I got to know the characters and the relationships between them. That part was dragged a little bit too much and contained too many details and names I couldn't memorize. I think that the author could've skipped a lot of these details because most of them weren't important to the plot anyway... As the book progressed and things started to happen, it became much more interesting. It became much more of a thriller, because one of its main incident was a mysterious murder of a teen girl. I enjoyed reading about the police investigation. I was trying to guess who the murderer is the whole book, but I just couldn't. I found out who it was only at the end and it was a big surprise!
This book was very well written and I liked the writing style - the author told the story each time from a different POV - Hannah's, her father's, Dylan's, Taylor's... I liked how I could get inside the head of many characters, and that helped me understand the story much better and feel connected to the characters.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. It was well written and suspenseful and also had a strong positive massage. I think it will appeal to teen girls and to people who enjoy reading about life in high school.
A review copy was provided by the author for review purposes. Thank you so much, Thomas!!
When I first saw this book, I knew I'm going to enjoy it. I'm currently obsessed with YA contemporary romance book and I am always happy to read a high school drama book, since I'm a high school student myself. I was very excited to read this book and I wasn't disappointed!
I'll start by saying that as a teenager, I could relate to everything that happened in the book. Cliques exist in real life. Every school, everywhere in the world, has those "popular" kids who consider themselves better than the rest. Bullies and mean kids will always exist, and that's why teens must know how to deal with them in order to prevent them from affecting their self-image and confidence. This book sets a great example (that is also based on real-life experiences) of how to stand up for yourself against bullies and I think it makes it important for teen readers!!
Hannah is just the ordinary teenage girl, but she had a special strength inside her that I just adored. Most teens are seriously affected by peer pressure, but Hannah was different. She always tried to be the best person she could and never let bullies hurt her. She never listened to rumors and never judged people by their reputations. I liked how she always gave a second change to everyone - that showed what a good heart she had. She sets a great example for teen girls.
Another character I really liked was Taylor. First of all, I love her name because it remind my of Taylor Swift. lol. Taylor was the bravest girl ever. She has managed to turn her back on the Stilettoes and to start a new life in which she decides for herself. She was a great, supportive friend to Hannah and their relationship was totally to die for! They completed each other. I wished soooo badly, during the whole book, that I was best friends with them, too.
The first 40% of the book were slow paced as I got to know the characters and the relationships between them. That part was dragged a little bit too much and contained too many details and names I couldn't memorize. I think that the author could've skipped a lot of these details because most of them weren't important to the plot anyway... As the book progressed and things started to happen, it became much more interesting. It became much more of a thriller, because one of its main incident was a mysterious murder of a teen girl. I enjoyed reading about the police investigation. I was trying to guess who the murderer is the whole book, but I just couldn't. I found out who it was only at the end and it was a big surprise!
This book was very well written and I liked the writing style - the author told the story each time from a different POV - Hannah's, her father's, Dylan's, Taylor's... I liked how I could get inside the head of many characters, and that helped me understand the story much better and feel connected to the characters.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. It was well written and suspenseful and also had a strong positive massage. I think it will appeal to teen girls and to people who enjoy reading about life in high school.
A review copy was provided by the author for review purposes. Thank you so much, Thomas!!
May 15, 2013
I’ve had a great streak so far with books. I don’t think I’ve picked up a book I haven’t liked lately. I just had the privilege of reading Mr. Thomas Amos’ new YA novel Forever ME, and it was to say the least amazing. It definitely puts some things in perspective, and it is one that EVERY girl needs to read no matter how old they are.
I love how the book is set in Texas. Being a Texas girl myself I love reading stories that take place in my own backyard. I haven’t been out of high school very long, and this book definitely got me thinking to my times back then. I knew there was always the “mean girls” that attended every school, and I’m sure most of us have endured some bullying at one time or another. This book tackles all of those issues and then some.
Our heroine in the story is named Hannah. She is such a kind hearted person, and is wise beyond her years. She is classified as one of the “Easties” which is the unpopular white trash of the town. Hannah is nowhere near white trash. She has two friends that have been her friends through grade school and they pride themselves for not being snobs like the “clubbers” who live in the gates of the local country club. Everyone knows there are cliques in high school, but I don’t think it registers until after you are done and look back on the experience. I enjoyed this book for several reasons. The message is clear – Stay true to yourself and don’t let anyone or anything change who you are.
This book brings to light that even though you leave high school, high school never really leaves everyone. There are some adults in this book that act just as bad if not worse than the kids do. There is a level of superiority that these adults have that drives me insane. I love that this book could make me laugh, cry, and get completely angry. The issues that are dealt with will have you in complete awe. Mr. Amo did a fantastic job with the story, characters, and overall feel of the novel. I was captivated from the moment that I started it, and as I expressed to Mr. Amo, I was also lacking sleep because I just had to find out what happened and sacrificed sleep in order to read this fabulous story.
Everyone who is part of the bookish things and more family needs to read this book. It will open your eyes to some real issues, and touch your heart so that we can all try to stop bullying and accept people for who they are. I give this book 5 out of 5.
I love how the book is set in Texas. Being a Texas girl myself I love reading stories that take place in my own backyard. I haven’t been out of high school very long, and this book definitely got me thinking to my times back then. I knew there was always the “mean girls” that attended every school, and I’m sure most of us have endured some bullying at one time or another. This book tackles all of those issues and then some.
Our heroine in the story is named Hannah. She is such a kind hearted person, and is wise beyond her years. She is classified as one of the “Easties” which is the unpopular white trash of the town. Hannah is nowhere near white trash. She has two friends that have been her friends through grade school and they pride themselves for not being snobs like the “clubbers” who live in the gates of the local country club. Everyone knows there are cliques in high school, but I don’t think it registers until after you are done and look back on the experience. I enjoyed this book for several reasons. The message is clear – Stay true to yourself and don’t let anyone or anything change who you are.
This book brings to light that even though you leave high school, high school never really leaves everyone. There are some adults in this book that act just as bad if not worse than the kids do. There is a level of superiority that these adults have that drives me insane. I love that this book could make me laugh, cry, and get completely angry. The issues that are dealt with will have you in complete awe. Mr. Amo did a fantastic job with the story, characters, and overall feel of the novel. I was captivated from the moment that I started it, and as I expressed to Mr. Amo, I was also lacking sleep because I just had to find out what happened and sacrificed sleep in order to read this fabulous story.
Everyone who is part of the bookish things and more family needs to read this book. It will open your eyes to some real issues, and touch your heart so that we can all try to stop bullying and accept people for who they are. I give this book 5 out of 5.
September 2, 2013
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really found this book to be not only wonderful, but it also contains a powerful message for all of us. The story goes way beyond two kids from opposite sides of town falling in love and creates a great story with twists and turns that made it impossible to put the book down.
Hannah is the sweet teenage daughter of the town sheriff, whose mom had passed away a few years earlier. Other than missing her mom, life is pretty good for Hannah. The only thing marring her life is the presence of the Stilettos, the truly horrible group of popular girls that think they run the high school. Hannah usually stays out of their way but an incident forces her to stand up to them. Suddenly Hannah’s life is out of control. Enemies are friends, friends are enemies, and she is in a relationship with the most popular boy in school. I don’t want to give any spoilers so let’s just say that things get really crazy.
The author does such a great job with his character development. I fell in love with Hannah and was completely drawn in to her life. From the crazy mean Stilettos, to the drunken past beauty queen, and everyone in between, all of the characters in this book were so realistic and you are able to really feel what the characters are going through. I must say that the Stilettos are certainly terrifying.
There is some swearing in the book and some disturbing violence, like PG-13 type stuff, so I would definitely recommend that parents use discretion before letting your kids read this book. I do feel like the message is so great that it would be ok to let some of the things slide so that all high school girls could read this book. Even if the message only reached a few girls this book has done its job. In a society where media has almost no positive messages I give kudos to this author for putting out something that is both entertaining and positive.
I really found this book to be not only wonderful, but it also contains a powerful message for all of us. The story goes way beyond two kids from opposite sides of town falling in love and creates a great story with twists and turns that made it impossible to put the book down.
Hannah is the sweet teenage daughter of the town sheriff, whose mom had passed away a few years earlier. Other than missing her mom, life is pretty good for Hannah. The only thing marring her life is the presence of the Stilettos, the truly horrible group of popular girls that think they run the high school. Hannah usually stays out of their way but an incident forces her to stand up to them. Suddenly Hannah’s life is out of control. Enemies are friends, friends are enemies, and she is in a relationship with the most popular boy in school. I don’t want to give any spoilers so let’s just say that things get really crazy.
The author does such a great job with his character development. I fell in love with Hannah and was completely drawn in to her life. From the crazy mean Stilettos, to the drunken past beauty queen, and everyone in between, all of the characters in this book were so realistic and you are able to really feel what the characters are going through. I must say that the Stilettos are certainly terrifying.
There is some swearing in the book and some disturbing violence, like PG-13 type stuff, so I would definitely recommend that parents use discretion before letting your kids read this book. I do feel like the message is so great that it would be ok to let some of the things slide so that all high school girls could read this book. Even if the message only reached a few girls this book has done its job. In a society where media has almost no positive messages I give kudos to this author for putting out something that is both entertaining and positive.
February 1, 2013
LOVED this book, and I'm not a big fan of YA. It was so much more than the drama of teens in high school and how they're bullied and the struggles they face. There were many times while reading this that I thought, "wow. I felt just like that back in the day, or wow, I hear the kids in the psych hospital complaining of these same issues all the time." Bullying is no joke and it's not just by other kids that teens get bullied by. Kids feel helpless, hopeless and frustrated with their lives. High school is a time for self discovery, awareness, and growth that doesn't need the added stress of being bullied, teased, or ignored. Thomas connects with each stereotype in this novel and portrays them accurately and full of emotion.
I couldn't put Forever Me down. It was a fantastic read! I was connected with Hannah and her struggles with her friends, her budding relationship, and the journey she went on to discover herself. It really is true, you don't have to feel bad about simply being you. As Hannah says, I too shall be "Forever Me." <3
I couldn't put Forever Me down. It was a fantastic read! I was connected with Hannah and her struggles with her friends, her budding relationship, and the journey she went on to discover herself. It really is true, you don't have to feel bad about simply being you. As Hannah says, I too shall be "Forever Me." <3
March 31, 2013
I received this book for an honest review.
This book was written for the age range of 14+. I needed to remind myself of that a couple of times
Overall, I really did enjoy this book with a couple of exceptions. I liked Hannah and most of the characters. The beginning was a bit odd. To me, it read a bit like an adult trying to get the virginity point, waiting till marriage, being your own person message out there. It also seems like he said something about being respectful of your parents too. Well, after I got done rolling my eyes & read on, the book was good. I kept thinking this was a nice teen book then BAM! Some one was murdered, our main girl is being stalked, people are losing their virginity (although they seem to regret it), underage drinking, close call rape, another murder, AND an attempted suicide. It was enthralling, I found it exciting and the writing was good.
This book was written for the age range of 14+. I needed to remind myself of that a couple of times
Overall, I really did enjoy this book with a couple of exceptions. I liked Hannah and most of the characters. The beginning was a bit odd. To me, it read a bit like an adult trying to get the virginity point, waiting till marriage, being your own person message out there. It also seems like he said something about being respectful of your parents too. Well, after I got done rolling my eyes & read on, the book was good. I kept thinking this was a nice teen book then BAM! Some one was murdered, our main girl is being stalked, people are losing their virginity (although they seem to regret it), underage drinking, close call rape, another murder, AND an attempted suicide. It was enthralling, I found it exciting and the writing was good.
April 9, 2013
*I recieved this from the author, for an honest review. In no way did it influence my rating.*
Forever me starts of like a teenage highschool drama, with it's own clique of mean girls. I can guarantee though, this story is more! It's an inspiring read with a message ever girl should listen too. Makeup doesn't matter. What's on the outside doesn't matter. It's what's on the inside that holds your true beauty.
I really liked Hannah too, our main character. She wasn't perfect. She made mistakes and she grew from them. Hannah was very realistic. Someone who a lot of teenage girls can relate too.
Besides the editing, which needs some work, and starting off a bit slow, I really enjoyed this book. It's got teenage angst, mystery, romance, and inspiration. Like I said it's got a strong message, girls, teenage ones especially, really should hear. I defiantly recommend this one.
Forever me starts of like a teenage highschool drama, with it's own clique of mean girls. I can guarantee though, this story is more! It's an inspiring read with a message ever girl should listen too. Makeup doesn't matter. What's on the outside doesn't matter. It's what's on the inside that holds your true beauty.
I really liked Hannah too, our main character. She wasn't perfect. She made mistakes and she grew from them. Hannah was very realistic. Someone who a lot of teenage girls can relate too.
Besides the editing, which needs some work, and starting off a bit slow, I really enjoyed this book. It's got teenage angst, mystery, romance, and inspiration. Like I said it's got a strong message, girls, teenage ones especially, really should hear. I defiantly recommend this one.
April 29, 2013
YA fiction; The characters weren’t my favorite, but they did have great voices. I just didn’t connect with them (probably younger people would). Setting—a Texas high school that has two groups—the Clubbers (the rich who live in country club) and the Easties (those on the other side of the tracks). This story deals with friends (fights and new friendships between unlikely kids from both sides), hierarchy in the high school, popularity and revenge. The writing was great, the story held my interest...but I just didn’t connect with the characters. I liked the ending and the moral, but wished Hannah hadn’t so easily gone to the ‘dark side’ that one time with the wacko mom. That part didn’t seem consistent with her character.
May 31, 2013
A good book for young adults teaching them to be theirselves and love their own. It also teaches us to not judge a person by their looks and by the way they dress. Respect,discipline,friendship,truthfulness,obedience, and honesty are also some of the points being taught in the book. A little chaotic,dramatic, and heavy on the last part but that became the highlight. Nice read.
March 28, 2013
I was given a free copy in return for an honest review. This book was a fun read and just when i thought i had it all figured out i was thrown by a super crazy twist!! Towards the end I thought it was kind of dragging but then the twist came and it pulled me back in and blew my mind. Good read, Great ending!
April 28, 2014
"We all say and do things we regret, but it’s never too late to change, apologize and become a better person"
Page turner. I seriously didn't expect to get swept away.
Thank you so much Mr. Thomas Amo for giving me the opportunity to read this.
Page turner. I seriously didn't expect to get swept away.
Thank you so much Mr. Thomas Amo for giving me the opportunity to read this.
May 30, 2013
3.5/5
Amazing ending. Dragged a little. Shocking. Fantastic characters. Memorable.
Amazing ending. Dragged a little. Shocking. Fantastic characters. Memorable.
February 20, 2015
This is such a wonderful book. I don't know why but I think this book would make a great film
January 30, 2013
I was asked by the author to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Forever Me by Thomas Amo stars Hannah, a girl who is "unpopular," but doesn't seem to care that she is. The Stilletos, a band of mean girls, rule the school with an iron fist. One of the girls gets in a fist fight with one of Hannah's friends, and suddenly, the dynamics in the school turn upside down. At the same time, Dylan, the arm candy boyfriend of the head Stiletto, Shelby, has apparently realized she has a lima bean for a brain and a mean streak as large as the universe, dumped her, and now is interested in Hannah. Other plot twists happen, which I will not detail.
I enjoyed reading the first 80% of this book. There's just something so interesting about high school dynamics that even though this treads familiar ground (see the movie Mean Girls for the best example), Hannah is a nice girl, and we as readers like her. I also liked descriptions of the Stilletos and how things start falling apart.
There were issues along the way, even in the first 80%. This book really needs a good editor-- there are so many commas missing that it really distracted me. Half of the time, I had to reread a conversation because there were no commas identifying that a person was being spoken to, not spoken about. I also think that this book was trying to accomplish too much. On the one hand, it wanted to be another Mean Girls. But then that story line kind of falls apart in the last 20%, and it feels as if the plot just dissolves into a Lifetime movie and forgets what it is about or is confused as to what it is about. For that matter, it is kind of bizarre to me that Hannah doesn't know how high school works-- it's not like she lived in the jungle for her whole life like the chick in Mean Girls. Then, there are a ton of fist fights between girls. Really? Lastly, I just felt that this novel tries too hard to be current and young-- I felt like the pop culture references were almost heavy handed.
Overall, I think that this book has promise, but it needs to focus more with better plotting and have more editing.
Forever Me by Thomas Amo stars Hannah, a girl who is "unpopular," but doesn't seem to care that she is. The Stilletos, a band of mean girls, rule the school with an iron fist. One of the girls gets in a fist fight with one of Hannah's friends, and suddenly, the dynamics in the school turn upside down. At the same time, Dylan, the arm candy boyfriend of the head Stiletto, Shelby, has apparently realized she has a lima bean for a brain and a mean streak as large as the universe, dumped her, and now is interested in Hannah. Other plot twists happen, which I will not detail.
I enjoyed reading the first 80% of this book. There's just something so interesting about high school dynamics that even though this treads familiar ground (see the movie Mean Girls for the best example), Hannah is a nice girl, and we as readers like her. I also liked descriptions of the Stilletos and how things start falling apart.
There were issues along the way, even in the first 80%. This book really needs a good editor-- there are so many commas missing that it really distracted me. Half of the time, I had to reread a conversation because there were no commas identifying that a person was being spoken to, not spoken about. I also think that this book was trying to accomplish too much. On the one hand, it wanted to be another Mean Girls. But then that story line kind of falls apart in the last 20%, and it feels as if the plot just dissolves into a Lifetime movie and forgets what it is about or is confused as to what it is about. For that matter, it is kind of bizarre to me that Hannah doesn't know how high school works-- it's not like she lived in the jungle for her whole life like the chick in Mean Girls. Then, there are a ton of fist fights between girls. Really? Lastly, I just felt that this novel tries too hard to be current and young-- I felt like the pop culture references were almost heavy handed.
Overall, I think that this book has promise, but it needs to focus more with better plotting and have more editing.
March 17, 2013
The author doesn't know teenage girls well enough to write about them. The characters are so exaggerated that it feels like he is making fun of them.
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