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A Little Friendly Advice
A wonderful debut for any teen with friendship issues (i.e. all of them)
Ruby's turning sixteen . . . but the day doesn't turn out to be as sweet as it's supposed to be. Her long lost father shows up, and Ruby doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Instead, she wants to hang out with her friends - loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine, and gossipy Maria. They have plenty of advice for her - about boys, about her dad, about how she should look and what she should be feeling. But really, Ruby doesn't know what to think or feel. Especially when a new boy comes into the picture . . . and Ruby discovers some of her friends aren't as truthful as they say.
Ruby's turning sixteen . . . but the day doesn't turn out to be as sweet as it's supposed to be. Her long lost father shows up, and Ruby doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Instead, she wants to hang out with her friends - loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine, and gossipy Maria. They have plenty of advice for her - about boys, about her dad, about how she should look and what she should be feeling. But really, Ruby doesn't know what to think or feel. Especially when a new boy comes into the picture . . . and Ruby discovers some of her friends aren't as truthful as they say.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2008
40 people are currently reading
1361 people want to read
About the author
Siobhan Vivian
58 books1,595 followersSiobhan Vivian is the author of THE LAST BOY AND GIRL IN THE WORLD (April 2016), as well as THE LIST, NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, SAME DIFFERENCE, and A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE. She also co-wrote BURN FOR BURN series with her best friend JENNY HAN. She currently lives in Pittsburgh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
March 27, 2017
In this realistic YA book, boys takes a backseat to friendship. The whole story centers around the friendship Ruby has with her parents as well as each of her friends. Each relationship is imperfect and real. The characters are three dimensional and the problems are ones teens can relate to. Siobhan Vivian inserts humor, keeping the book light, fun and cliche free. Not everything is perfect and friendships might not work out the way you want.
April 23, 2019
This is a very sweet teen story that I found both realistic (the moods! the drinking!) and unrealistic (Beth's big secret). I liked its emphasis on true friends being good listeners instead of telling you what to do, and Ruby's enjoyment of vintage items.
Related to nothing: this book has been on my to-read list for 11 years and I finally got around to it, proving to myself that there is a point in keeping a ridiculously long to-read list. :)
Related to nothing: this book has been on my to-read list for 11 years and I finally got around to it, proving to myself that there is a point in keeping a ridiculously long to-read list. :)
July 1, 2009
A Little Friendly Advice is about Ruby, a girl who has just had a disaster of a sixteenth birthday party, despite the awesome vintage polaroid camera her mom bought her. The father she hasn't seen in six years arrives hoping that a bouquet of flowers will patch things up. Ruby avoids a conversation by screaming at her father and running off with her friends to party at a local park and get drunk for the first time. Ruby thinks she has found closure after six long years, but quickly learns that closing the door on one aspect of her life means opening 5 more. Now with the help of "loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine, and gossipy Maria" plus her new romantic prospect Charlie, a boy who spends his time making buttons with cute phrases on them, Ruby discovers that friendship and love aren't as black and white as she thinks.
I found myself stopping in the middle of reading A Little Friendly Advice several times to laugh and reminisce in memories similar to the action in the book. Much of what happens in Advice will ring true with those who have graduated from high school and those who are still toughing it out.
Each of Siobhan's characters have a distinct voice, home life, set of interests, and style that makes it almost impossible not to identify with one of the characters. And identity is a large part of Advice. Ruby has spent a long time defining herself by her closest relationships (who doesn't at some point?), letting others make her decisions for her, and must struggle to understand who she is when those relationships change.
As a narrator, Ruby is compelling because she makes things harder on herself by not calling people out on the injustices they've committed. Ruby's inner monologue, while at times a bit too rational for 16-year-old thoughts for me, treats readers to an observant mind. The mind of an artist, as Charlie points out. Ruby quickly recognizes people and situations for what they are, then waits and weighs her options before being acting.
Siobhan used a great technique when transitioning into memories. The book is written in the present tense, except for flashbacks. Instead of triggering a memory for Ruby every so often and pulling us out of the immediate action, Siobhan sections memories off into their own chapters. It let me leave one moment in time with ease and without abruptness. As Ruby's memories come back to her, she puts another piece of the Six Year Puzzle in place, and the audience can play along.
I was throughly impressed with how convincing the dialogue came off in Advice. Not once did I find myself saying "no way would a teenager ever say that," and the dialogue that comes from the adults is just as credible. You can lose yourself in the sincerity of this book! Not only is the dialogue a smooth read, the action is engaging the whole way through. These girls don't sit around talking each other to death. They shop at thrift stores, skip school to see art shows, and commit some Mischief Night mayhem.
Advice left me wanting to know more. While Ruby finds her resolution in the end, there are still many questions hanging in the air. I certainly wouldn't want all of the conflicts tied up in a little bundle with ribbon, but I wanted to see more of a change in Ruby's relationships with Maria and Katherine. I acknowledge that Ruby's most important relationships change and mature over the course of the narrative, but I feel that two developing relationships were given short shrift at the end of the story.
Advice is about learning what friends are for and what they are not for so I expected to see a greater change in the way Ruby viewed Maria and Katherine. She has a new view on what Beth means to her, but Maria and Katherine are not fleshed out enough even though they play important roles in the group dynamic. Siobhan is teaching my Writing Youth Literature class this upcoming semester, so maybe I can spend time convincing her to write a sequel.
I found myself stopping in the middle of reading A Little Friendly Advice several times to laugh and reminisce in memories similar to the action in the book. Much of what happens in Advice will ring true with those who have graduated from high school and those who are still toughing it out.
Each of Siobhan's characters have a distinct voice, home life, set of interests, and style that makes it almost impossible not to identify with one of the characters. And identity is a large part of Advice. Ruby has spent a long time defining herself by her closest relationships (who doesn't at some point?), letting others make her decisions for her, and must struggle to understand who she is when those relationships change.
As a narrator, Ruby is compelling because she makes things harder on herself by not calling people out on the injustices they've committed. Ruby's inner monologue, while at times a bit too rational for 16-year-old thoughts for me, treats readers to an observant mind. The mind of an artist, as Charlie points out. Ruby quickly recognizes people and situations for what they are, then waits and weighs her options before being acting.
Siobhan used a great technique when transitioning into memories. The book is written in the present tense, except for flashbacks. Instead of triggering a memory for Ruby every so often and pulling us out of the immediate action, Siobhan sections memories off into their own chapters. It let me leave one moment in time with ease and without abruptness. As Ruby's memories come back to her, she puts another piece of the Six Year Puzzle in place, and the audience can play along.
I was throughly impressed with how convincing the dialogue came off in Advice. Not once did I find myself saying "no way would a teenager ever say that," and the dialogue that comes from the adults is just as credible. You can lose yourself in the sincerity of this book! Not only is the dialogue a smooth read, the action is engaging the whole way through. These girls don't sit around talking each other to death. They shop at thrift stores, skip school to see art shows, and commit some Mischief Night mayhem.
Advice left me wanting to know more. While Ruby finds her resolution in the end, there are still many questions hanging in the air. I certainly wouldn't want all of the conflicts tied up in a little bundle with ribbon, but I wanted to see more of a change in Ruby's relationships with Maria and Katherine. I acknowledge that Ruby's most important relationships change and mature over the course of the narrative, but I feel that two developing relationships were given short shrift at the end of the story.
Advice is about learning what friends are for and what they are not for so I expected to see a greater change in the way Ruby viewed Maria and Katherine. She has a new view on what Beth means to her, but Maria and Katherine are not fleshed out enough even though they play important roles in the group dynamic. Siobhan is teaching my Writing Youth Literature class this upcoming semester, so maybe I can spend time convincing her to write a sequel.
September 3, 2009
A Little Friendly Advice has its ups and downs, but overall was a bit of a disappointment. If I had read this book by Siobhan Vivian first, I probably would have had a better impression, but having read Same Difference and knowing she's capable of great things, this was a letdown. The writing was fantastic, she really does know how to bring the masterful language, but the plot was pretty pathetic, not gonna lie. The situations were realistic, the dialogue was realistic, but the combination of the different plots just doesn't work. A lot of the emotions seem natural, but some seem extremely blown out of proportion. I'm also aggravated that there was even the need for a cliche love interest, and I feel it would have been a great book without that element. Family and friend issues are more than enough to deal with, but having that supportive boyfriend there, that's going too far. There is some obnoxious symbolism here, but I'm really not sure if it was intentional or not. I think what bothered me most was that a lot of this book was ridiculously shallow. Ruby has so much going on in her life, and how does she fix it? By getting drunk at age 16, of course. I'm not saying that's not realistic, I just don't think it was the best decision creatively. It is one of those scenes where I cringed the whole way through, and particularly upon seeing her mother's reaction. Other than that, plenty of flat characters that I had trouble caring about, not enough detail about the interesting characters and too much on the boring ones. The relationships are, with minor exceptions, extremely empty. Empty flirting, empty friendships, unfortunately accurate, but still empty. I was, for the most part, glad with the ending, although again, the love interest is just irritating. The plot twist at the end redeemed the book for me greatly, but I still greatly preferred Same Difference to this.
Rating: 2.25/5
Rating: 2.25/5
April 30, 2008
For Ruby, her friends are like her lifeline. First, there’s Beth, the girl who has been with Ruby through all of her family problems and is always there to offer good advice. There’s also Maria, who is the most experienced with boys and is very supportive. The latest addition to their group is Katherine, the bad girl, who is going through family problems of her own and seems to not like Ruby that much.
Things go askew when Ruby’s father, who abandoned her family many years earlier, shows up for her sixteenth birthday party. All the feelings and memories that Ruby has been trying to bury resurface. Ruby seems to have a fear of hooking up until she meets the new guy Charlie. But her mom is acting strangely as well as her best friend Beth. Things only get worse when Ruby finds out that Beth stole a letter her father left for her.
Throughout the story, Ruby realizes that she can’t always rely on her friends, because no matter how much she wants to think that they are always loyal, they are bound to let her down sometimes. Ruby also comes to terms with her mom, and the terrible secret that broke up her parents’ marriage so many years ago. Although her reunion with her father isn’t perfect, it is the best that can be expected under such conditions.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, especially because it was through Ruby’s perspective. It was easy to understand her point of view and feelings in most situations she was in. This novel was truly heartfelt, and I even cried at several points. I recommend this book to fans of Sarah Dessen, because the stories are similar in many aspects. I look forward to more books from Siobhan Vivian, because this debut novel was amazing.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Things go askew when Ruby’s father, who abandoned her family many years earlier, shows up for her sixteenth birthday party. All the feelings and memories that Ruby has been trying to bury resurface. Ruby seems to have a fear of hooking up until she meets the new guy Charlie. But her mom is acting strangely as well as her best friend Beth. Things only get worse when Ruby finds out that Beth stole a letter her father left for her.
Throughout the story, Ruby realizes that she can’t always rely on her friends, because no matter how much she wants to think that they are always loyal, they are bound to let her down sometimes. Ruby also comes to terms with her mom, and the terrible secret that broke up her parents’ marriage so many years ago. Although her reunion with her father isn’t perfect, it is the best that can be expected under such conditions.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, especially because it was through Ruby’s perspective. It was easy to understand her point of view and feelings in most situations she was in. This novel was truly heartfelt, and I even cried at several points. I recommend this book to fans of Sarah Dessen, because the stories are similar in many aspects. I look forward to more books from Siobhan Vivian, because this debut novel was amazing.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
January 10, 2010
The description of A Little Friendly Advice is a bit misleading. I was expecting there would be a lot of sitting around while the three other friends gave Ruby advice. Instead it felt much more normal. Beth, Ruby's best friend, helped her get through her father leaving and she likes to give advice so there's a lot of direct advice. Katherine and Maria have a few suggestions but not a lot. It's an enjoyable book, interesting enough topic that isn't explored as much in realistic fiction: whose advice to take.
I really liked the grayness of the story. Siobhan Vivian really captured that everyone has their own story and way of looking and reacting to things.
I must say I loved her boyfriend, Charlie. He didn't seem to have any flaws! (a little bit unrealisitc, but it did make him a great character)
**Spoiler**
I like how the ending wasn't really resolved. One thing that I didn't feel was addressed is how much should a child be told about a parent having an affair. Ruby's mom obviously didn't help Ruby get through the separation very well but at the end when she says "I should have told you I was having an affair" I'm not sure I really agree. Yes, she should have told her before she was 16 and found out on her own, but I'm not sure when she was ten was quite the right time. And I also didn't think that Maria protecting Ruby from that knowledge was so bad either. I can understand why she'd have wanted to protect her close friend at age 10 and in a way it wasn't her story her tell.
I really liked the grayness of the story. Siobhan Vivian really captured that everyone has their own story and way of looking and reacting to things.
I must say I loved her boyfriend, Charlie. He didn't seem to have any flaws! (a little bit unrealisitc, but it did make him a great character)
**Spoiler**
I like how the ending wasn't really resolved. One thing that I didn't feel was addressed is how much should a child be told about a parent having an affair. Ruby's mom obviously didn't help Ruby get through the separation very well but at the end when she says "I should have told you I was having an affair" I'm not sure I really agree. Yes, she should have told her before she was 16 and found out on her own, but I'm not sure when she was ten was quite the right time. And I also didn't think that Maria protecting Ruby from that knowledge was so bad either. I can understand why she'd have wanted to protect her close friend at age 10 and in a way it wasn't her story her tell.
October 7, 2011
First and foremost the description on the jacket of A Little Friendly Advice does it no justice. I picked it up thinking I'd read a cute YA book to prepare myself for the emotional doozy I planned to read next. Not even close!
Our MC Ruby has major abandonment issues stemming from her parents split years ago. She's close to her BFF Beth who she's been friends with since before her dad left, but has a hard time letting other people in (boys included-She's never been kissed). Her dads unexpected arrival on her 16th birthday, after disappearing years ago, rocks her world testing her relationships and what she thought was the truth about why he left. There's an unexpected twist which I won't give away, but seriously I had problems with both her parents (though one was worse than the other) and the closure Ruby was given was lacking! We were left with a sense of healing for Ruby and I was glad because she deserves it.
The friendships between Ruby and her 3 friends was really secondary to the true theme of the book (come to think of it, there wasn't much advice being thrown around either. Who named this?) and their personalities, though underdeveloped were fun. There was a cute scene of them in a second hand store shopping for Halloween costumes.
Vivian is a gifted writer and delivered another solid thought provoking book.
Our MC Ruby has major abandonment issues stemming from her parents split years ago. She's close to her BFF Beth who she's been friends with since before her dad left, but has a hard time letting other people in (boys included-She's never been kissed). Her dads unexpected arrival on her 16th birthday, after disappearing years ago, rocks her world testing her relationships and what she thought was the truth about why he left. There's an unexpected twist which I won't give away, but seriously I had problems with both her parents (though one was worse than the other) and the closure Ruby was given was lacking! We were left with a sense of healing for Ruby and I was glad because she deserves it.
The friendships between Ruby and her 3 friends was really secondary to the true theme of the book (come to think of it, there wasn't much advice being thrown around either. Who named this?) and their personalities, though underdeveloped were fun. There was a cute scene of them in a second hand store shopping for Halloween costumes.
Vivian is a gifted writer and delivered another solid thought provoking book.
August 14, 2016
Hum... A história em si até é interessante (se bem que muito cliché) e há inclusivé momentos de reviravolta total (um pouco previsíveis, apesar de tudo...), mas não gostei muito da personagem principal nem das amiguitas! A melhor delas, na minha opinião é capaz de ser Maria, e só porque não tem um papel muito ativo na estória :p
A Ruby (personagem principal) é um bocado estranha, parece-me que não tem uma personalidade muito definida ou vincada e não gosto da relação dela com a mãe (embora até compreenda...) O namorado dela, Charlie, até é fofo, mas também totó e um pouco bipolar... :s e a Rubes é um bocado mázita para ele... E por último a melhor amiga, Beth, é irritantezinha...
Enfim, não gostei muito, mas acho que é uma boa história para ler num fim de semana chuvoso, como foi este, pois lê-se fácil e rapidamente e nem é mau de todo...
A Ruby (personagem principal) é um bocado estranha, parece-me que não tem uma personalidade muito definida ou vincada e não gosto da relação dela com a mãe (embora até compreenda...) O namorado dela, Charlie, até é fofo, mas também totó e um pouco bipolar... :s e a Rubes é um bocado mázita para ele... E por último a melhor amiga, Beth, é irritantezinha...
Enfim, não gostei muito, mas acho que é uma boa história para ler num fim de semana chuvoso, como foi este, pois lê-se fácil e rapidamente e nem é mau de todo...
July 7, 2009
Vivian trusts her readers. It's refreshing to read a teen novel about a group of friends that doesn't shove their "types" in your face from page 1 and rely on them for characterization. No, she writes characters. This is a nuanced story about how weirdly frustrating friends can be and how stuff from the past can keep messing you up beyond your control (and how it can not seem to matter to anyone else). It also has a very sweet, realistic first crush. I only wish that Katharine would have connected more with me. I thought she was intriguing but I never got to know her as well as I wanted to.
November 27, 2008
I am reading this book it is like the most gossipiest book EVER!!!!!!!
January 6, 2009
Good book about a girls struggle with highschool and her dad leaving her and then coming back years later. but she gets through it all with her friends and her mom and Charlie
January 28, 2009
I havn't read this book yet...lolz but it looks really good
March 26, 2009
OMG LOVE IT SO FAR!!!!!!!!! IT WAS REALLY GOOOD!!!!!!!
February 15, 2009
I just finished this fabulous piece of fiction, and even though I promised a review of Looking for Alaska soon, it's gonna have to wait. Why? Because this book quite possibly changed my out look on YA Authors! I heart John Green works tremendously, but I really need to spread the word about Siobhan (pronounced shove-on for all you who didn't know)!
Book Flap Summary:
Ruby's turning sixteen . . . but the day doesn't turn out to be as sweet as it's supposed to be. Her long lost father shows up, and Ruby doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Instead, she wants to hang out with her friends - loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine, and gossipy Maria. They have plenty of advice for her - about boys, about her dad, about how she should look and what she should be feeling. But really, Ruby doesn't know what to think or feel. Especially when a new boy comes into the picture . . . and Ruby discovers some of her friends aren't as truthful as they say.
Ok, so you read the summary and you are thinking, cheesy, typical, teenage drama. I thought the same thing. I love reading the gossip influenced novel as much as any teen girl, but after a while it gets old. And as I transition into my 20's I am finding more and more that I am sick of reading something that leaves me feeling like my life sucks because I am not a super model who lives in New York, or a prep school brat, or some superficial teen beauty queen. Immediately after finishing A Little Friendly Advice I sat down and wrote this letter to Siobhan. Here it is the email (yeah I know I wanna stop with the emails, but this one was kinda unavoidable) and her response. I think it pretty much sums up the review I would give to the book. But in case you don't pick up on it, this is the first 5 star book I have read this year (a rating system is coming I promise).
My email:
Siobhan,
I finished A Little Friendly Advice and I was pleasantly surprised. You see I just finished taking an Intro to Fiction class where we dissected short stories and I haven't loved anything I read since. I am constantly picking books apart, which kinda takes the enjoyment factor out of reading for fun, but luckily your book helped me through my book picky-ness. I am not going to lie, this book has sat on the TBR pile for a while. I loved the cover, but the summary made it sound kinda cheesy, and as I am an older YA reader I tend to shy away from cheesy plots. However, I love giving new authors a chance before I shut them down, so when you left me that comment I knew I had to give you the benefit of the doubt.
The book grabbed me from the beginning with the Polaroid camera and the birthday party. My mom kinda doesn't understand what I like gift wise either and I felt totally like Ruby only with an annoying sister. My dad didn't leave me at an early age, but he doesn't live near me anymore, so I felt for Ruby and her mom. I know what it's like to just want your mom to be happy. After about the 3rd chapter I was thinking, jeez this is totally not the cheesy-ness the flap summary described. I loved the characters, the quirky nature of the setting and the Ruby point of view of the whole thing. Your descriptions of places, people and things seemed dead on. I could totally picture everything and it left me wanting to visit the thrift store, have a Halloween party, and make a Polaroid flip book. I am sick of the same old hang outs and junk with my friends, so maybe this book will give me some new ideas. The only thing I didn't get was why Beth hid the letter and why Ruby just didn't go see her dad. But then I thought back to when my dad left. I didn't speak to him for about a month and my sister didn't talk to him for about 4 months. So I guess I wouldn't have gone to see him either.
[Spoiler Alert: I don't divulge the entire ending but I give a few details in this paragraph]
The whole ending really got me. I was thinking, finally a YA writer who gets it! I love John Green and I feel he gets it too, but other than him I have had a hard time finding writers that can really jump into a teen's world. That doesn't mean I still don't like other author's work, but I wish they didn't leave me feeling crumby. While I want a somewhat happy ending, I want it to be real. Not some everything is perfect happily ever bullshit. Ruby knew things were going to continue to be rough, Charlie was leaving soon, Beth and her were better but not perfect, and her dad really didn't leave her with much to remember. She may have been upset still, but at least she was left with some hope that life would be ok, not perfect but a sort of abnormal normal. I think that's something most teen struggle with, wanting perfect. They see movie stars, models, and pretty people in general and they think, I want that perfect life. I used to feel that way too. So when books, the only release I had, ended all perfect I wanted to curl up and cry. It was like, man even these flawed book characters end up with perfect. While I have over come the life is not perfect factor since then, I was happy to see that this book didn't pull the perfect card. I would want my sister, my future students, and teens in general to see that. Life isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean you can't be happy and have some fun along the way.
Thanks again for writing this wonderful book. I can't wait to read Same Difference.
-Korianne
Now here is Siobhan's response, which I might add she replied to in the same day. Such a super author who takes the time to respond to her fans, this lady must do no wrong!
Hey Kori,
Umm, wow. Your email has left me practically in tears. I am so thrilled that you gave me a chance, and that you connected with the book. That means more than you know.
I feel exactly the same as you about the majority of YA books these day. It's all this hyper-reality of rich girls and the same old contrived plots, and watching characters move around without ever really feeling connected to them. It was always my goal to tell what I felt was a real, honest story...even if it meant bucking some of the more traditional story elements. Exactly like Ruby not seeing her dad right away. At first glance, you might be like...what the f? But then, exactly as you said from your own life, if you think about the character of Ruby as a Real Person, you kind of get it. I like that feeling. That you might not always understand why people do what they do, but there is something there that rings true.
And, as a student of writing for maaaaany years, I do the same thing as you...take myself out of the story and examine the plot, and the decisions a writer has made, in a critical way. I am glad I managed to suspend that while you read. That, to me, is the biggest compliment...that I can absorb and connect with a smart, critical thinker, such as yourself.
Now...I am very excited that you want to give Same Difference a shot. I think it's a much stronger book than ALFA. I learned a lot of lessons with ALFA, and I think I got better. The book just got a starred review from Kirkus, which is just thrilling. It's also a much more personal story for me. And it starts off (the first few paragraphs) in a very "typical, commercial" setting, which then is quickly turned on its ear. I really hope you like that one too.
Kori, thanks so much for taking the time to write this note. It means so very much. Truly.
Your friend,
Siobhan
Honestly, I couldn't be more happy with a book. Usually when I have suspicions I will not like a book I am not as pleasantly surprised as I was with this book. While I may like the book a bit more that I thought I would, the book probably won't jump to my favorites and I feel kinda so so about it. That is totally not the case. I can't get over how much this book makes me feel like being a real teen is totally ok. Great job Siobhan! I really can't wait for Same Difference!
To read more of my reviews visit my blog @ koriannespeaks.blogspot.com
Book Flap Summary:
Ruby's turning sixteen . . . but the day doesn't turn out to be as sweet as it's supposed to be. Her long lost father shows up, and Ruby doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Instead, she wants to hang out with her friends - loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine, and gossipy Maria. They have plenty of advice for her - about boys, about her dad, about how she should look and what she should be feeling. But really, Ruby doesn't know what to think or feel. Especially when a new boy comes into the picture . . . and Ruby discovers some of her friends aren't as truthful as they say.
Ok, so you read the summary and you are thinking, cheesy, typical, teenage drama. I thought the same thing. I love reading the gossip influenced novel as much as any teen girl, but after a while it gets old. And as I transition into my 20's I am finding more and more that I am sick of reading something that leaves me feeling like my life sucks because I am not a super model who lives in New York, or a prep school brat, or some superficial teen beauty queen. Immediately after finishing A Little Friendly Advice I sat down and wrote this letter to Siobhan. Here it is the email (yeah I know I wanna stop with the emails, but this one was kinda unavoidable) and her response. I think it pretty much sums up the review I would give to the book. But in case you don't pick up on it, this is the first 5 star book I have read this year (a rating system is coming I promise).
My email:
Siobhan,
I finished A Little Friendly Advice and I was pleasantly surprised. You see I just finished taking an Intro to Fiction class where we dissected short stories and I haven't loved anything I read since. I am constantly picking books apart, which kinda takes the enjoyment factor out of reading for fun, but luckily your book helped me through my book picky-ness. I am not going to lie, this book has sat on the TBR pile for a while. I loved the cover, but the summary made it sound kinda cheesy, and as I am an older YA reader I tend to shy away from cheesy plots. However, I love giving new authors a chance before I shut them down, so when you left me that comment I knew I had to give you the benefit of the doubt.
The book grabbed me from the beginning with the Polaroid camera and the birthday party. My mom kinda doesn't understand what I like gift wise either and I felt totally like Ruby only with an annoying sister. My dad didn't leave me at an early age, but he doesn't live near me anymore, so I felt for Ruby and her mom. I know what it's like to just want your mom to be happy. After about the 3rd chapter I was thinking, jeez this is totally not the cheesy-ness the flap summary described. I loved the characters, the quirky nature of the setting and the Ruby point of view of the whole thing. Your descriptions of places, people and things seemed dead on. I could totally picture everything and it left me wanting to visit the thrift store, have a Halloween party, and make a Polaroid flip book. I am sick of the same old hang outs and junk with my friends, so maybe this book will give me some new ideas. The only thing I didn't get was why Beth hid the letter and why Ruby just didn't go see her dad. But then I thought back to when my dad left. I didn't speak to him for about a month and my sister didn't talk to him for about 4 months. So I guess I wouldn't have gone to see him either.
[Spoiler Alert: I don't divulge the entire ending but I give a few details in this paragraph]
The whole ending really got me. I was thinking, finally a YA writer who gets it! I love John Green and I feel he gets it too, but other than him I have had a hard time finding writers that can really jump into a teen's world. That doesn't mean I still don't like other author's work, but I wish they didn't leave me feeling crumby. While I want a somewhat happy ending, I want it to be real. Not some everything is perfect happily ever bullshit. Ruby knew things were going to continue to be rough, Charlie was leaving soon, Beth and her were better but not perfect, and her dad really didn't leave her with much to remember. She may have been upset still, but at least she was left with some hope that life would be ok, not perfect but a sort of abnormal normal. I think that's something most teen struggle with, wanting perfect. They see movie stars, models, and pretty people in general and they think, I want that perfect life. I used to feel that way too. So when books, the only release I had, ended all perfect I wanted to curl up and cry. It was like, man even these flawed book characters end up with perfect. While I have over come the life is not perfect factor since then, I was happy to see that this book didn't pull the perfect card. I would want my sister, my future students, and teens in general to see that. Life isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean you can't be happy and have some fun along the way.
Thanks again for writing this wonderful book. I can't wait to read Same Difference.
-Korianne
Now here is Siobhan's response, which I might add she replied to in the same day. Such a super author who takes the time to respond to her fans, this lady must do no wrong!
Hey Kori,
Umm, wow. Your email has left me practically in tears. I am so thrilled that you gave me a chance, and that you connected with the book. That means more than you know.
I feel exactly the same as you about the majority of YA books these day. It's all this hyper-reality of rich girls and the same old contrived plots, and watching characters move around without ever really feeling connected to them. It was always my goal to tell what I felt was a real, honest story...even if it meant bucking some of the more traditional story elements. Exactly like Ruby not seeing her dad right away. At first glance, you might be like...what the f? But then, exactly as you said from your own life, if you think about the character of Ruby as a Real Person, you kind of get it. I like that feeling. That you might not always understand why people do what they do, but there is something there that rings true.
And, as a student of writing for maaaaany years, I do the same thing as you...take myself out of the story and examine the plot, and the decisions a writer has made, in a critical way. I am glad I managed to suspend that while you read. That, to me, is the biggest compliment...that I can absorb and connect with a smart, critical thinker, such as yourself.
Now...I am very excited that you want to give Same Difference a shot. I think it's a much stronger book than ALFA. I learned a lot of lessons with ALFA, and I think I got better. The book just got a starred review from Kirkus, which is just thrilling. It's also a much more personal story for me. And it starts off (the first few paragraphs) in a very "typical, commercial" setting, which then is quickly turned on its ear. I really hope you like that one too.
Kori, thanks so much for taking the time to write this note. It means so very much. Truly.
Your friend,
Siobhan
Honestly, I couldn't be more happy with a book. Usually when I have suspicions I will not like a book I am not as pleasantly surprised as I was with this book. While I may like the book a bit more that I thought I would, the book probably won't jump to my favorites and I feel kinda so so about it. That is totally not the case. I can't get over how much this book makes me feel like being a real teen is totally ok. Great job Siobhan! I really can't wait for Same Difference!
To read more of my reviews visit my blog @ koriannespeaks.blogspot.com
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July 8, 2025Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.
This was kind of just boring. To be fair, I kind of hate disappeared-dad arcs, so going into this one, my odds of enjoying it weren’t super high. But honestly I just thought this was dull. It really felt like a whole lot of nothing happened in this. I didn’t connect to the characters at all, I thought the romance was incredibly underwhelming, and the conflict is barely that. I didn’t even take any notes.
This is definitely one I’m going to be passing along in hopes of it finding a better home.
Representation: I don’t think so.
Content notes: Ruby gets drunk at one point but tbh not a lot happens in this one.
This was kind of just boring. To be fair, I kind of hate disappeared-dad arcs, so going into this one, my odds of enjoying it weren’t super high. But honestly I just thought this was dull. It really felt like a whole lot of nothing happened in this. I didn’t connect to the characters at all, I thought the romance was incredibly underwhelming, and the conflict is barely that. I didn’t even take any notes.
This is definitely one I’m going to be passing along in hopes of it finding a better home.
Representation: I don’t think so.
Content notes: Ruby gets drunk at one point but tbh not a lot happens in this one.
October 17, 2019
HUH? Basically my reaction throughout the whole book. Obviously, I did not like it but since there are lines I liked, I'm adding a star, which makes it a two-star read. I would have dropped this book and put it on dnf if it weren't for my goodreads challenge and uni life. I needed a read so bad! Things just got worse though, but at least I finished a book. This was badly written and scenes were everywhere. I did not like the writing style. I did not like the transition. It confused me. It made me bored.
December 31, 2024
I liked how the ending was both subtle and not; a bunch did happen but the way it was written didn’t make it completely out of place with the rest of the story, especially since the build up to that ending was fairly gradual but definitely relevant (nothing felt like it was sprung on). And it wasn’t an exact happily ever after but it wasn’t completely sad either. I don’t like how Charlie was a bit too quick to be abandoned in that breakup though. (It was like a week of knowing each other and two days of being official? — something like that but either way, the timing was short).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2018
I thought that this story was great for helping young adults to find out what can turn friends into enemies overnight. The events that happen in this story begin on the main character Ruby's sixteenth birthday. This story contains little secrets throughout it which lead up to the one big secret at the end of the story which explains why her daddy left her and her mother when Ruby was very young. There is a very slow start to this story but once it gets going it is full of action.
November 1, 2019
As a person that struggles with friends, this book was a perfect read. Towards the end, I wanted to yell at her friends and make them feel sorry for ever doubting her. I know what it feels like to lose friends or the people closest to you. This book really helped me realize that sometimes it is not my fault and that there are things that I need other people to help me go through besides the same person every time.
June 1, 2018
This is a realistic contemporary YA book. I really like it because of that, all the problems and the plot are relatable in real life, and don’t have any exaggeration. Ruby starts to believe in herself and be more careful at picking her friends. She really doesn’t care a lot about having a boy in her life, and i liked that that isn’t the most important thing in this book, instead is friendship.
January 3, 2018
Worth it to get to the end
Great for a high schooler probably. I got a little bored half way but overall worth reading. The end was good and I highlighted a few gems...I'm a deep thinker sometimes
Great for a high schooler probably. I got a little bored half way but overall worth reading. The end was good and I highlighted a few gems...I'm a deep thinker sometimes
September 7, 2018
I have tried 4 different times over the last 3 years to read and always end up with the same result, DNF by chapter 5...I don't know why, just something else always caught my interest a little bit more.
December 21, 2021
It wasn’t my favorite, but the author did a great job on character development. It was a pretty short book, so if you are looking for a quick read, or something to read on a plane, this book is the perfect length for that. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was still good.
September 16, 2022
Perfectly ordinary and fine, and simply told story with a clear beginning, middle and end.
Don’t really get the point of Katherine’s character she’s kind of a bitch 9/10 times and I wonder why the others even really bother.
Don’t really get the point of Katherine’s character she’s kind of a bitch 9/10 times and I wonder why the others even really bother.
June 9, 2023
I'm rating it 3.5 stars because the book itself shows different kind of lessons i learned. It shows that not all friendships works the way we wanted it or having relationship would work too I loved Siobhan's writing style as always ;)
July 11, 2018
A book about a young girl who’s dad left when she was young & her friends try to help her through being upset he popped back up.
October 11, 2018
just another chic flick book. 13-15 year olds would enjoy this one i guess
October 26, 2020
I wasn’t into it. I could never keep Maria and Katherine straight, Beth’s big secret failed to intrigue me, and damn that ‘relationship’ with Charlie was dumb and unrealistic.
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January 17, 2022i read this so many years ago i don't even know how i would rate it. given that i was 12 when i read it, i probably loved it
April 5, 2022
I love how she uses the main character as an artist . I am an artist so I love books like that
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