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yolo
One day. One party. One motto: you only live once. In the tradition of wtf and fml, a crazy story of three friends and a road trip gone wrong right.
Emily and her best friends, Ana and Brandon, know it should only take half a day to get to the mountains, where the Stein twins are hosting a massive Spring Break party at their parents’ mansion. The road trip should be a breeze; the driving itinerary even includes several stops along the way, the first being a bite to eat at a real, classic roadside diner.
And that’s where everything falls apart.
Throw in a couple of criminals, an accidental thief, and a miniature drug lord, and suddenly the half-day trip is gonna take a little longer. Add a Chihuahua, some crazy grandparents, and a hot pool-hall boy named Chris...and maybe the journey to the party will end up being better than the party itself…
Emily and her best friends, Ana and Brandon, know it should only take half a day to get to the mountains, where the Stein twins are hosting a massive Spring Break party at their parents’ mansion. The road trip should be a breeze; the driving itinerary even includes several stops along the way, the first being a bite to eat at a real, classic roadside diner.
And that’s where everything falls apart.
Throw in a couple of criminals, an accidental thief, and a miniature drug lord, and suddenly the half-day trip is gonna take a little longer. Add a Chihuahua, some crazy grandparents, and a hot pool-hall boy named Chris...and maybe the journey to the party will end up being better than the party itself…
- GenresYoung Adult
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
5 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 20, 2025
It’s Spring Break and Jacob and Madison Stein are hosting a gigantic party at their house in the mountains, a half day drive. Emily O’Brien is looking forward to this party because the twins sure know how to throw one and she can’t wait to have fun and loosen up after all the stress from school. But her best friends Ana and Brandon broke up not long ago and they’re not talking to each other anymore. Emily thought that their bickering would be the hardest part of their road trip, but when they make a stop to a classic roadside diner along the way and get caught in the middle of a robbery, their journey takes a crazy turn.
Crazy is definitely a good choice of word because this book is totally crazy. In a very bad way. It’s one crazy and unrealistic scene after another. One bad decision after another. One wtf reaction after another like:
"When she realized that she was standing on the seat, a few other things also became clear to her:
1. She was holding a handgun.
2. She and her friends could very well die if she didn’t do something right now.
3. If they were all dead, there would be no way to get to the party.”
I know that while in high school, parties could be a big deal like many things when you’re a teenager, but wtf… You’re in a robbery and you could very well die and all you can think of is your stupid party?
"It takes more than one idiot to mess up a road trip this badly.”
Ana said that quote at one point and she couldn’t be more right. The three main characters were so stupid, it was ridiculous. I think this explains why I didn’t like this book. The plot could have been good, but the dumb characters ruined it for me. The beginning was in fact really promising. You have Emily, always on schedule and a little bit up-tight, Ana, the beautiful Latina party girl and Brandon, the funny one. But at some point, they just started acting so stupid. Not one decision was the slightest bit smart. Nothing made sense and Emily, the only one with some brain, was so easily influence by her friends. I don’t understand how someone with a minimum of judgement could think that everything will be ok if you help criminals or things like that. And the characters couldn’t even stick to their roles… Suddenly in the middle of the book, we see Emily starting to act all YOLO and Brandon becoming the responsible one. It was so weird.
I know this book was probably supposed to be silly and not something serious, but it didn’t work at all for me and I almost gave up 3 times, the only thing that made me finish it was to see how it would end. I don’t recommend this book. The end was disappointing, the characters were annoying and the overuse of the acronym YOLO was irritating. The only interesting character was Chris and he was only introduced at the end.
Crazy is definitely a good choice of word because this book is totally crazy. In a very bad way. It’s one crazy and unrealistic scene after another. One bad decision after another. One wtf reaction after another like:
"When she realized that she was standing on the seat, a few other things also became clear to her:
1. She was holding a handgun.
2. She and her friends could very well die if she didn’t do something right now.
3. If they were all dead, there would be no way to get to the party.”
I know that while in high school, parties could be a big deal like many things when you’re a teenager, but wtf… You’re in a robbery and you could very well die and all you can think of is your stupid party?
"It takes more than one idiot to mess up a road trip this badly.”
Ana said that quote at one point and she couldn’t be more right. The three main characters were so stupid, it was ridiculous. I think this explains why I didn’t like this book. The plot could have been good, but the dumb characters ruined it for me. The beginning was in fact really promising. You have Emily, always on schedule and a little bit up-tight, Ana, the beautiful Latina party girl and Brandon, the funny one. But at some point, they just started acting so stupid. Not one decision was the slightest bit smart. Nothing made sense and Emily, the only one with some brain, was so easily influence by her friends. I don’t understand how someone with a minimum of judgement could think that everything will be ok if you help criminals or things like that. And the characters couldn’t even stick to their roles… Suddenly in the middle of the book, we see Emily starting to act all YOLO and Brandon becoming the responsible one. It was so weird.
I know this book was probably supposed to be silly and not something serious, but it didn’t work at all for me and I almost gave up 3 times, the only thing that made me finish it was to see how it would end. I don’t recommend this book. The end was disappointing, the characters were annoying and the overuse of the acronym YOLO was irritating. The only interesting character was Chris and he was only introduced at the end.
June 25, 2018
What the crap is wrong with YOLO?!
I don’t. I…
When did the last train into stupid town go off the rails and into the bottomless pit of crazy? This book is an affront to basic sense.
At first I was mildly put off by this book's manipulative and irritating characters, but then the laws of morality and common sense got thrown out the window alongside a number of actual laws when the cast decides to actively support a pair of criminals in their endeavors and accept payment from purloined cash for no real reason.
It’s like the characters simply forgot there were rules against this stuff. What the hell?
I didn’t finish this book. I got a quarter of the way through, and I just cannot put myself back into these pages.
This isn’t so absurd it’s funny. This isn’t cleaver or interesting or hilarious or anything. It’s just stupid.
Geezus, how did this loose-knit collection of books get so bad? FML is a beautiful masterpiece. WTF is a dumb but more or less readable work. But YOLO is a garbage fire. I suffered through WTF out of respect for the great Peter Lerangis, but YOLO can get straight out of my life.
I don’t. I…
When did the last train into stupid town go off the rails and into the bottomless pit of crazy? This book is an affront to basic sense.
At first I was mildly put off by this book's manipulative and irritating characters, but then the laws of morality and common sense got thrown out the window alongside a number of actual laws when the cast decides to actively support a pair of criminals in their endeavors and accept payment from purloined cash for no real reason.
It’s like the characters simply forgot there were rules against this stuff. What the hell?
I didn’t finish this book. I got a quarter of the way through, and I just cannot put myself back into these pages.
This isn’t so absurd it’s funny. This isn’t cleaver or interesting or hilarious or anything. It’s just stupid.
Geezus, how did this loose-knit collection of books get so bad? FML is a beautiful masterpiece. WTF is a dumb but more or less readable work. But YOLO is a garbage fire. I suffered through WTF out of respect for the great Peter Lerangis, but YOLO can get straight out of my life.
June 30, 2014
This is probably one of the shortest books I've ever read
June 3, 2018
I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy this book. It was basically me skimming through the story just for the sake of finishing it. The whole story looked like it was some teenager's dream to write a novel kind of story. Nothing that was happening made actual sense in real life. I am not sure how a person of sane mind would agree to five lift to two complete strangers that too criminals. (And later on doing criminal activity just for the sake of fun, YOLO) In all honesty, the term YOLO was over used and it made me feel irritated. I am sure I don't want to hear someone say YOLO again for a while. At least.
July 14, 2017
Far-fetched tale of young kids trying to get to a party.
November 29, 2014
A lot of reviews on this book don't really explain why they rated it the way they did, so I feel the need to justify my rating.
I'm all for fun, exciting, 'out there' books, but I felt like the reasoning behind why the characters were doing what they were doing just wasn't strong enough. It's not like this book is meant to be believable, but I felt that if the author would've just given the characters more backstory and reasoning as to why they were doing all the 'yolo' things, it would've given the book a push that could've made it into a 4 star book.
The characters were nice. I love how they all three were supposed to be different, but I wish that the author would've made them keep their roles (Emily stay the responsible one, Brandon keep wanting to go through with the yolo moments). Chris was a really nice character that I wish would've been introduced into the story earlier so he could develop more.
I also feel like the ending was kind of crappy. I think it should've left the reader feeling a sense of 'I can do anything because yolo' but it didn't really provoke any emotion from me. Honestly, it was kind of hard for me to finish this book. I like the plot, and this book did have a lot of potential, but it just didn't measure up to my expectations. ESPECIALLY, after reading 'wtf' which I really, really loved, by the way.
I'm all for fun, exciting, 'out there' books, but I felt like the reasoning behind why the characters were doing what they were doing just wasn't strong enough. It's not like this book is meant to be believable, but I felt that if the author would've just given the characters more backstory and reasoning as to why they were doing all the 'yolo' things, it would've given the book a push that could've made it into a 4 star book.
The characters were nice. I love how they all three were supposed to be different, but I wish that the author would've made them keep their roles (Emily stay the responsible one, Brandon keep wanting to go through with the yolo moments). Chris was a really nice character that I wish would've been introduced into the story earlier so he could develop more.
I also feel like the ending was kind of crappy. I think it should've left the reader feeling a sense of 'I can do anything because yolo' but it didn't really provoke any emotion from me. Honestly, it was kind of hard for me to finish this book. I like the plot, and this book did have a lot of potential, but it just didn't measure up to my expectations. ESPECIALLY, after reading 'wtf' which I really, really loved, by the way.
April 6, 2016
Not my typical read. This was shorter and not steeped in romance and not deep, like, at ALL. However, it WAS fresh, fun, and funny. I will tell you now, this is not an author trying to be different, this is an author who is writing something fairly down-to-earth and interesting. I'll say right now that I have a problem with reading quote unquote romances or girl POV's written by men. I find that it comes off as stereotypical and uncomplicated and entirely too quirky and boyish for my taste. However, if Sam Jones is a guy (I can't figure it out!) then he hit the nail on the head with Emily and Ana. He must spend a lot of time around and understanding women. The plot isn't fast or insanely exciting or insanely juvenile - it's simply a well-thought out, well-crafted chain of events from the time Ana and Emily and Brandon hit the highway to when they finally make it to the party.
If you're looking for a fun, flirty, interesting and somewhat unbelievable read right now, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
If you're looking for a fun, flirty, interesting and somewhat unbelievable read right now, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
December 10, 2014
"C'mon, Em. YOLO, right?"
I have a teen and a pre-teen. "YOLO" is a phrase that is mocked in my house. It isn't even said un-ironically. It's just straight up mocked.
So, the dad in the beginning - horribly painful and kind of groan-worthy funny.
From there, this was just silly. It didn't hold any reality in it, from the diner experience to every. single. thing. after. And I didn't find it to be funny silly or even cute silly. It was just one eye-rolling and groan-with-frustration moment after another. Even Eva and Brandon's bicker flirting got old.
I do love the cover though - which is what drew me to give it a chance even with the horrible title. For some, this one might work. Just not for me.
I have a teen and a pre-teen. "YOLO" is a phrase that is mocked in my house. It isn't even said un-ironically. It's just straight up mocked.
So, the dad in the beginning - horribly painful and kind of groan-worthy funny.
From there, this was just silly. It didn't hold any reality in it, from the diner experience to every. single. thing. after. And I didn't find it to be funny silly or even cute silly. It was just one eye-rolling and groan-with-frustration moment after another. Even Eva and Brandon's bicker flirting got old.
I do love the cover though - which is what drew me to give it a chance even with the horrible title. For some, this one might work. Just not for me.
May 10, 2015
I expected better from this book despite the title. It was supposed to be similar to fml, which I did find iffy at first, but loved by the end. I did like some not so grand parts like their "buffet" and the dog, but much like I think of the 'word' YOLO, the characters were really stupid in this book. They did stupid things and made stupid decisions. Even Emily, the supposedly smart/logical one.
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November 19, 2015It was the worst book I have ever read. This book had a terrible plot that had nothing intriguing or interesting. It seems like it was a book that was written in a rush. The plot is not deep, it is very shallow and boring, I do not recommend this book to anyone it was so bad. There was no life lessons learned, the thoughts were also very scattered, as it was written out of order. If you want to read someone that has a deeper meaning or a book that you finish with the feeling you have accomplished something, or have learned something important, do not read this book.
March 14, 2015
I've read 70 pages and I can't stomach the idea of making myself barrel through to see if it has any redeeming qualities. Poor writing and a completely pretentious main character with an absurdly teenaged plot replete with plenty of foul language in Spanish and English, underage drinking, and sexual innuendo, all gratuitous. I'm not at all prudish but this one is obviously for an audience with low expectations.
June 10, 2014
This book is utterly ridiculous. It's one stupid decision after another. I want to shake the teens and ask them WTH was wrong with them. I finished it, which is saying something, but you have to completely and utterly suspend believability for this one to work even a tiny bit once you get past the first 30 pages or so.
September 22, 2014
I liked the book didnt love it. It was a nice change from my books. It had alot of plot twists that were fun to a follow some were a little predictable. SPOILER! Near the end of the book a new charater came into play. I really liked it cause I didnt expext it to happen but he needdd to be devolped more. The author had good ideas but needed to devolpe them more. SPOILER OVER THE END!!!
July 15, 2014
This book was a fun,action packed adventure with some crazy characters but the three main characters were stupid at times and got themselves in to more trouble but it is a quick read that is really fun!
November 15, 2014
I liked the story line of this book but if I were Emily, I would get pretty frustrated with my friends and I wasn't completely sure why she started to go along with them but overall, the story was alright. I recommend this if you like to read books where people get into lots of trouble.
November 7, 2013
Great book!
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May 23, 2014yoloschwagmaster 3000 over here buitchas so betta dont mess with tha yologod love ya <3
August 5, 2014
Entertaining and funny. I liked it.
August 18, 2014
It is COMPLETLY MY FAVORITE BOOK IT HAD So much suspense and like OMG what gonna happen next stuff I suggest u read it. But I had one question did Ana and Brandon get back together?
December 5, 2014
It was a fun quick read. Crazy things happened at once. It sure isn't realistic, but the whole book defines what 'you only live one' means.
September 17, 2015
Well, what else should I say to this book. It's fun.
That's right. It's a fun and quick read. YOLO is actually my first book in 2015.
That's right. It's a fun and quick read. YOLO is actually my first book in 2015.
February 12, 2016
A great little contemporary book. It started off kind of slow, but it quickly led from one wild adventure to the next! I liked it a lot!
August 27, 2015
No.
No no no no no.
No no no no no.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews