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Miss Perfect oder Das Leben hält sich nicht an deine Pläne
40 Tipps für ein perfektes Leben – ›Sehen wir uns morgen?‹-Autorin Alice Kuipers mit einem neuen aufwühlenden Roman für alle, die erwachsen werden
Amy lebt ein perfektes Leben. Sie hat liebevolle Eltern, einen tollen Freund, eine wunderbare beste Freundin – und eine Zukunft an einer Eliteuniversität. Amy hat ihr Leben im Griff. Und dieses Knowhow teilt sie auf ihrer eigens konzipierten Ratgeber-Website mit anderen Jugendlichen, denen sie wertvolle Tipps gibt. Für jede Krise hat Amy eine Lösung. Als jedoch die Ehe von Amys Eltern zerbricht und ihr Freund sie immer mehr einengt, gerät die selbsternannte Miss Perfect ins Strudeln: sie begegnet Pete, der das komplette Gegenteil von ihr ist – lässig, wild und ohne Ziele. Ein kurzer schwacher Moment, der nicht hätte sein dürfen, zerstört all ihre großartigen Zukunftspläne. Amy ist schwanger …
Amy lebt ein perfektes Leben. Sie hat liebevolle Eltern, einen tollen Freund, eine wunderbare beste Freundin – und eine Zukunft an einer Eliteuniversität. Amy hat ihr Leben im Griff. Und dieses Knowhow teilt sie auf ihrer eigens konzipierten Ratgeber-Website mit anderen Jugendlichen, denen sie wertvolle Tipps gibt. Für jede Krise hat Amy eine Lösung. Als jedoch die Ehe von Amys Eltern zerbricht und ihr Freund sie immer mehr einengt, gerät die selbsternannte Miss Perfect ins Strudeln: sie begegnet Pete, der das komplette Gegenteil von ihr ist – lässig, wild und ohne Ziele. Ein kurzer schwacher Moment, der nicht hätte sein dürfen, zerstört all ihre großartigen Zukunftspläne. Amy ist schwanger …
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2012
25 people are currently reading
1854 people want to read
About the author
Alice Kuipers
27 books358 followers
Free Online Writing Course? Sign up here: eepurl.com/bA03lH
I was born in London, England, and I moved to Canada in 2003 when I fell in love with a Canadian. We live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which took a while for me to learn how to spell. I have four children, a girl and three boys.
My first novel, Life on the Refrigerator Door, was published in 29 countries, won several awards and was named as a New York Times book for the Teen Age. My second is called Lost For Words in the US, and The Worst Thing She Ever Did everywhere else. It won the Arthur Ellis Award, was shortlisted for the White Pine and Willow Awards, and was published in eight territories. 40 Things I Want To Tell You is my YA book published in 2012. The Death of Us, a CLA honour book, in 2014. My newest YA novel is Me (and) Me.
Violet and Victor Write the Best-Ever Bookworm Book is my first picture book. It was published with Little, Brown Books For Young Readers in December 2014, and the sequel Violet and Victor Write The Most Fabulous Fairy Tale is available now.
Find me at www.alicekuipers.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
December 10, 2013
Everyone is saying that they loved the book, but i found that it was such a disappointment!
When i read the back of the book i was so excited and had to read it right away(i love bad boy stories). When i started reading I loved the guy character and I thought this was going to be a great book!
WAS I EVER WRONG - SPOILERS AHEAD!!
The begining of the book doesnt start off too bad but -
you get further into the story the ideas and events are completely random!
One day when she walks out of school one day and she waits under a tree and he comes over(and its the first time they talk) and THEY MAKE OUT
and to add onto that
She went in to a forest and saw the guy that she HASNT EVEN HAD A CONVERSATION WITH and they have sex!
like where does that even come from!!
I could go on for along time about how this book was the biggest literature disappointment i've ever had up to date.
my advice to you: if you actually want to take the chance and read this - at least rent it from a library. DONT buy it before reading it.
I could barely get by this book, the anger i had once i was finished this book was unbelievable.
I have never been so disappointed.
All i could think of when i was done was "did i actually spend money on this?"
When i read the back of the book i was so excited and had to read it right away(i love bad boy stories). When i started reading I loved the guy character and I thought this was going to be a great book!
WAS I EVER WRONG - SPOILERS AHEAD!!
The begining of the book doesnt start off too bad but -
you get further into the story the ideas and events are completely random!
One day when she walks out of school one day and she waits under a tree and he comes over(and its the first time they talk) and THEY MAKE OUT
and to add onto that
She went in to a forest and saw the guy that she HASNT EVEN HAD A CONVERSATION WITH and they have sex!
like where does that even come from!!
I could go on for along time about how this book was the biggest literature disappointment i've ever had up to date.
my advice to you: if you actually want to take the chance and read this - at least rent it from a library. DONT buy it before reading it.
I could barely get by this book, the anger i had once i was finished this book was unbelievable.
I have never been so disappointed.
All i could think of when i was done was "did i actually spend money on this?"
March 31, 2012
I'm torn. Alice Kuipers' 40 Things I Want To Tell You didn't quite reach the level of expectation I had for it, sadly. Its a coming of age story about Amy (a.k.a. Bird), an organized, predictable, self-assured young lady with the grades, the drive, and an advice column on the side. She has everything planned - all the time. Except she's suddenly become tired of being herself, which compels her to do something utterly unthinkable, utterly wild. Unluckily, her one momentary stray into the promiscuous results in not freedom, but quite the opposite.
So, the problem. While I didn't find the actual story as engaging as I'd hoped it would be, it was more what it achieved in my mind, what it stood for, that I responded to. Amy's story is not sweet, or comforting. At first, it seems like a typical life of a quirky, systematical girl. Funny, entertaining with parties, and homework sessions. But it quickly turns, spirals. What I love about the UK (this is based in England), and I'm finding this in their television programs as well, is that there is no glamour. For being one of the fashion capitals of the world, and the cultural envy of many, they don't seem too preoccupied in selling themselves under guise of sweetly-coated lies. There's no sense of trying to live up to the expectations of our fantasies, or satiate our hunger for fancy. They deal with the real, and sod everything else. Bitter, but true. They don't concern themselves with fairy tales they know won't come true for most of us. These are hopes that are attainable. They want us to dream in this world, not some far off land that only exists when we close our eyes, cover our ears, and blanket our hearts from reality.
I say this because 40 Things deal with serious issues. And in the end, some get a happy ending, and some don't. Some may think it ended believably, some may think the author was being unnecessarily cruel. But life isn't always sentimental, is it? The universe doesn't always consider your happiness when its turning on its axis. Too many people on this planet to please. You must seek it yourself. You have to look for the good because it doesn't come as easily as the tragic. Its like shifting gear, or adjusting your eyes...and only then does the light come into view.
This was a good book, I only mean that what's between the lines is much more impressive. The point, rather than the structure. You get some genuinely good, likeable characters like boyfriend Griffin, and best friend Cleo. Pete, however, I found lacking. He was a complete mystery throughout, especially since he plays such a critical role; it was hard to soften up to him. There was no insight to his character, thus no growth. His decision in the end, what you might call his "attempt at redemption" was not at all an attempt at redemption. But again, some people might think its "real". And it is, you know. It happens. But I'm simply arguing that if he were real and standing in front of me and got me to swallow all that bull, I would've socked him in the face. Finally Amy, or Bird. She was an acceptable protagonist. There were times I applauded her and times when I was frustrated with her decisions, but what can you do? You only get what you have on the page.
Forgive this long non-review. I say give it a try...it doesn't take too much effort. I finished it in two days. And even though my expectations weren't exactly met, I certainly still count this as a success. It isn't always whether or not the story was your taste, sometimes its just about what you are left with once its finished. After all, that's what really lasts: the feeling, not the words.
So, the problem. While I didn't find the actual story as engaging as I'd hoped it would be, it was more what it achieved in my mind, what it stood for, that I responded to. Amy's story is not sweet, or comforting. At first, it seems like a typical life of a quirky, systematical girl. Funny, entertaining with parties, and homework sessions. But it quickly turns, spirals. What I love about the UK (this is based in England), and I'm finding this in their television programs as well, is that there is no glamour. For being one of the fashion capitals of the world, and the cultural envy of many, they don't seem too preoccupied in selling themselves under guise of sweetly-coated lies. There's no sense of trying to live up to the expectations of our fantasies, or satiate our hunger for fancy. They deal with the real, and sod everything else. Bitter, but true. They don't concern themselves with fairy tales they know won't come true for most of us. These are hopes that are attainable. They want us to dream in this world, not some far off land that only exists when we close our eyes, cover our ears, and blanket our hearts from reality.
I say this because 40 Things deal with serious issues. And in the end, some get a happy ending, and some don't. Some may think it ended believably, some may think the author was being unnecessarily cruel. But life isn't always sentimental, is it? The universe doesn't always consider your happiness when its turning on its axis. Too many people on this planet to please. You must seek it yourself. You have to look for the good because it doesn't come as easily as the tragic. Its like shifting gear, or adjusting your eyes...and only then does the light come into view.
This was a good book, I only mean that what's between the lines is much more impressive. The point, rather than the structure. You get some genuinely good, likeable characters like boyfriend Griffin, and best friend Cleo. Pete, however, I found lacking. He was a complete mystery throughout, especially since he plays such a critical role; it was hard to soften up to him. There was no insight to his character, thus no growth. His decision in the end, what you might call his "attempt at redemption" was not at all an attempt at redemption. But again, some people might think its "real". And it is, you know. It happens. But I'm simply arguing that if he were real and standing in front of me and got me to swallow all that bull, I would've socked him in the face. Finally Amy, or Bird. She was an acceptable protagonist. There were times I applauded her and times when I was frustrated with her decisions, but what can you do? You only get what you have on the page.
Forgive this long non-review. I say give it a try...it doesn't take too much effort. I finished it in two days. And even though my expectations weren't exactly met, I certainly still count this as a success. It isn't always whether or not the story was your taste, sometimes its just about what you are left with once its finished. After all, that's what really lasts: the feeling, not the words.
April 11, 2016
I had this notion that 40 Things I Want To Tell You was about a teenage overachiever who basically cheats on her boyfriend and she thinks her life is over. Well I was wrong because there was so much more to this book. Amy is your classic "do-gooder." She's also an honours student and is also dating her next-door neighbour and best friend Griffin. Things start to unravel in her life when gorgeous bad boy Pete walks into her history class and she starts to crush on him hard.
What I loved about this particular contemporary was that Amy doesn't understand what she's going through, yet she does everything in her power to fix it. She want to undo all the terrible things she has done. She's moral and has good intentions. I didn't like how much of a push-over she was. She needed to speak up for herself and stop trying to please everyone else. I think that was terribly difficult for Amy.
This is one contemporary read that I truly enjoy, and I'm even more proud to say the author is Canadian. Alice Kuipers has written such a realistic and touching story about a teenage girl who makes all the wrong mistakes, and has the strength to get herself out of it. Definitely a book that reminded me of my very own teen years. Great job Alice, I can't wait to read more of your novels.
What I loved about this particular contemporary was that Amy doesn't understand what she's going through, yet she does everything in her power to fix it. She want to undo all the terrible things she has done. She's moral and has good intentions. I didn't like how much of a push-over she was. She needed to speak up for herself and stop trying to please everyone else. I think that was terribly difficult for Amy.
This is one contemporary read that I truly enjoy, and I'm even more proud to say the author is Canadian. Alice Kuipers has written such a realistic and touching story about a teenage girl who makes all the wrong mistakes, and has the strength to get herself out of it. Definitely a book that reminded me of my very own teen years. Great job Alice, I can't wait to read more of your novels.
June 23, 2012
***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA and Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and news! ^___^
I first saw this book sitting on a bookshelf in Chapters, and although I didn't hear anything about it before, I was absolutely fascinated by the cover. At that time, I was waiting for my husband while he was running errands, bored out of my wits and trying to kill time. I picked it up, found a quiet corner and started reading. By the time my husband came back to get me, I was nearly 80 pages in and absolutely in love. I didn't want to leave the book store, I just wanted to sit there and continue reading. I needed to find out what happens next. Will Bird find the courage to end it with her boyfriend? Will she choose the troublemaker over her life-long trusted friend? Can she keep up with her on-line advance column? I felt an overwhelming need to keep on going, Kuiper's wonderful writing style had me hooked from page one. Did I finish the book right there, in the book store? No, unfortunately I didn't have enough time. I couldn't purchase it either, which made me extremely sad. Thankfully, a few days later, a friend of mine offered to give me her copy and I can't tell you how insanely happy I was to be able to get back to Bird and her life. I immediately jumped right back into the story and continued reading where I left off. What I didn't realize at that time, though, is just how meaningful this book would prove to be. What I initially assumed to be just a complicated love story, turned out to be so much more than just that. I was very surprised at some of the plot developments, I totally didn't anticipate most of the twists. 40 Things I Want To Tell you turned out to be quite an unpredictable read, and one that carried an important message. A message to always trust your heart, follow your dreams, and - once in every while - listen to your own advices. They're better than you might think.
Amy (a.k.a. Bird) is just a teenage girl, and, like most typical teenage girls, she has a loyal side-kick friend, and a wonderful, loving boyfriend. She is also running an on-line advice column for teenagers, where she offers tips on how to take control of one's life. But, as it turns out, our Ms-Take-Control-Of-Your-Life is far from being in control herself. She's stuck in a relationship with her life-long best-friend. She doesn't know how to tell him that she doesn't love him, not the way he loves her. When a new guy shows up at school, Bird is drawn to him, attracted by how wild and dangerous he seems. She knows that Pete is nothing but trouble, but she can't stay away from him. Things are quickly getting complicated and sticky, and before she knows it, Bird finds herself in serious trouble. Her life is about to change forever, will she ever be able to regain control of it?
First thing you need to know before picking this book up, is that you shouldn't expect sweet romance, spine-tingling make-out scenes, butterflies, sparkles and happy endings. It's not a dark read per se, but definitely one filled with profound life lessons, irreversible mistakes, regrets, pain and disappointment. A book of what-ifs and if-onlys. It's a melancholic read, full of sadder undertones. It's definitely not a love story, nor a love triangle. Yes, there is some teenage love-drama involved, but while its absolutely essential to the story, the plot is not built around it. This is not a story of Bird trying to figure out who she wants to be with, this is a story of Bird trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life. A tale of a girl trying to find her identity, her voice, and strength to do the right things. A story way more poignant and moving than what you'd assume from reading the blurb and looking at the cover.
While I appreciated the detailed and thorough character development, as well as Bird's undeniable character growth, I can't say that I instantly connected with her. She was a very interesting, well-drawn, three-dimensional protagonist, but one that was not easy to like. That, of course, is perfectly understandable, given the plot and every bad decision she made on the way. It's not that she was a mean, spoiled, insensitive person, not at all. In fact, she was too sensitive to other people's needs to ever assert her own will and follow her own needs. She was afraid of hurting others, so she tried to mold herself into something she wasn't. That didn't - couldn't - help though, so she ended up hurting everyone around her even more. She found herself in a perfect Catch-22 situation, and the worst part is her own actions and bad decisions got here there. As frustrating and disappointing as it was to watch her lie to everyone (including herself), it was also quite fascinating and eye-opening to see how she dealt with every difficult situation. Yes, she was lost, confused and weak-minded, but that only made her more human. Alice Kuipers created a very relatable, authentic character, and one that is sure to bring out all sorts of emotions in readers. You'll be angry with her, disgruntled with her actions, and frustrated with her emotional immaturity, but you'll also sympathize with her and, in the end, she'll probably grow on you. Just like she grew on me.
40 Things I Want To Tell you is a beautiful, heartbreaking tale of one girl's journey to self-discovery. It's a remarkably raw and real story of a girl that dreamt of flying, breaking free and feeling the wind in her hair. Emotionally affective, utterly convincing, and written with prose that tugs at your heart and conscience, it's a bittersweet treasure of a book. Take your time while reading it, savour every thought and emotion, and I'm sure this book will stay with you for a long, long time.
I first saw this book sitting on a bookshelf in Chapters, and although I didn't hear anything about it before, I was absolutely fascinated by the cover. At that time, I was waiting for my husband while he was running errands, bored out of my wits and trying to kill time. I picked it up, found a quiet corner and started reading. By the time my husband came back to get me, I was nearly 80 pages in and absolutely in love. I didn't want to leave the book store, I just wanted to sit there and continue reading. I needed to find out what happens next. Will Bird find the courage to end it with her boyfriend? Will she choose the troublemaker over her life-long trusted friend? Can she keep up with her on-line advance column? I felt an overwhelming need to keep on going, Kuiper's wonderful writing style had me hooked from page one. Did I finish the book right there, in the book store? No, unfortunately I didn't have enough time. I couldn't purchase it either, which made me extremely sad. Thankfully, a few days later, a friend of mine offered to give me her copy and I can't tell you how insanely happy I was to be able to get back to Bird and her life. I immediately jumped right back into the story and continued reading where I left off. What I didn't realize at that time, though, is just how meaningful this book would prove to be. What I initially assumed to be just a complicated love story, turned out to be so much more than just that. I was very surprised at some of the plot developments, I totally didn't anticipate most of the twists. 40 Things I Want To Tell you turned out to be quite an unpredictable read, and one that carried an important message. A message to always trust your heart, follow your dreams, and - once in every while - listen to your own advices. They're better than you might think.
Amy (a.k.a. Bird) is just a teenage girl, and, like most typical teenage girls, she has a loyal side-kick friend, and a wonderful, loving boyfriend. She is also running an on-line advice column for teenagers, where she offers tips on how to take control of one's life. But, as it turns out, our Ms-Take-Control-Of-Your-Life is far from being in control herself. She's stuck in a relationship with her life-long best-friend. She doesn't know how to tell him that she doesn't love him, not the way he loves her. When a new guy shows up at school, Bird is drawn to him, attracted by how wild and dangerous he seems. She knows that Pete is nothing but trouble, but she can't stay away from him. Things are quickly getting complicated and sticky, and before she knows it, Bird finds herself in serious trouble. Her life is about to change forever, will she ever be able to regain control of it?
First thing you need to know before picking this book up, is that you shouldn't expect sweet romance, spine-tingling make-out scenes, butterflies, sparkles and happy endings. It's not a dark read per se, but definitely one filled with profound life lessons, irreversible mistakes, regrets, pain and disappointment. A book of what-ifs and if-onlys. It's a melancholic read, full of sadder undertones. It's definitely not a love story, nor a love triangle. Yes, there is some teenage love-drama involved, but while its absolutely essential to the story, the plot is not built around it. This is not a story of Bird trying to figure out who she wants to be with, this is a story of Bird trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life. A tale of a girl trying to find her identity, her voice, and strength to do the right things. A story way more poignant and moving than what you'd assume from reading the blurb and looking at the cover.
While I appreciated the detailed and thorough character development, as well as Bird's undeniable character growth, I can't say that I instantly connected with her. She was a very interesting, well-drawn, three-dimensional protagonist, but one that was not easy to like. That, of course, is perfectly understandable, given the plot and every bad decision she made on the way. It's not that she was a mean, spoiled, insensitive person, not at all. In fact, she was too sensitive to other people's needs to ever assert her own will and follow her own needs. She was afraid of hurting others, so she tried to mold herself into something she wasn't. That didn't - couldn't - help though, so she ended up hurting everyone around her even more. She found herself in a perfect Catch-22 situation, and the worst part is her own actions and bad decisions got here there. As frustrating and disappointing as it was to watch her lie to everyone (including herself), it was also quite fascinating and eye-opening to see how she dealt with every difficult situation. Yes, she was lost, confused and weak-minded, but that only made her more human. Alice Kuipers created a very relatable, authentic character, and one that is sure to bring out all sorts of emotions in readers. You'll be angry with her, disgruntled with her actions, and frustrated with her emotional immaturity, but you'll also sympathize with her and, in the end, she'll probably grow on you. Just like she grew on me.
40 Things I Want To Tell you is a beautiful, heartbreaking tale of one girl's journey to self-discovery. It's a remarkably raw and real story of a girl that dreamt of flying, breaking free and feeling the wind in her hair. Emotionally affective, utterly convincing, and written with prose that tugs at your heart and conscience, it's a bittersweet treasure of a book. Take your time while reading it, savour every thought and emotion, and I'm sure this book will stay with you for a long, long time.
November 6, 2024
Βλέποντας στις νέες κυκλοφορίες των εκδόσεων Ψυχογιός το "Σαράντα Πράγματα Που Θέλω Να Σου Πω", γεννήθηκε μέσα μου μια ασυγκράτητη επιθυμία να το διαβάσω. Τι κι αν χαρακτηρίζεται ως εφηβικό, η περίληψη και μόνο, όπως και ο πολλά υποσχόμενος τίτλος, με έκαναν να πιστέψω πως πρόκειται για κάτι πραγματικά καλό που αξίζει μεγαλύτερης προσοχής. Πλέον, και αφού έχω ολοκληρώσει την ανάγνωσή του, δεν είμαι σίγουρη για το πως πρέπει να αισθανθώ απέναντί του. Έχει πράγματα που μου άρεσαν, έχει όμως και πράγματα που ένιωσα να με ενοχλούν σε διάφορα επίπεδα. Όχι γιατί ήταν κάτι διαφορετικό από αυτό που περίμενα αλλά γιατί δεν είμαι σίγουρη κατά πόσο είναι ένα από τα βιβλία εκείνα που ταιριάζουν στην δική μας ιδιοσυγκρασία. Και αυτό, δεν το λέω ως ενήλικη που διάβασε ένα εφηβικό μυθιστόρημα.
Η Έιμι, ή Μπερντ όπως την αποκαλούν οι δικοί της άνθρωποι, με αφορμή ένα περιστατικό από τα παιδικά της χρόνια, είναι μια 17χρονη έφηβη η οποία, θεωρητικά, έχει την τέλεια ζωή και είναι το κορίτσι πρότυπο. Είναι άριστη μαθήτρια, έχει πρόγραμμα για την ζωή και το μέλλον της, σκοπεύει να σπουδάσει στην Οξφόρδη, έχει θέσει υψηλούς στόχους, οι γονείς της την αγαπούν και την στηρίζουν, έχει ένα καταπληκτικό αγόρι και μια κολλητή φίλη που την ��τηρίζει στα πάντα ενώ παράλληλα, χειρίζεται μια ιστοσελίδα μέσω της οποίας δίνει συμβουλές σε άλλους έφηβους. Όταν όμως ένας νέος μαθητής, ο Πιτ, που κάθε άλλο παρά καλή φήμη έχει, έρχεται στο σχολείο της και εισβάλλει στη ζωή της, οι ισορροπίες της ανατρέπονται και νιώθει να χάνει τον έλεγχο. Παρασυρόμενη από μία και μοναδική στιγμή αδυναμίας, η Έιμι, μπλέκεται σε μια κατάσταση την οποία δεν θα μπορούσε να φανταστεί ούτε στα χειρότερα σενάρια που θα μπορούσε ποτέ να πλάσει το μυαλό της και εκείνη, όλο και πιο μπερδεμένη, δεν ξέρει πως θα ξεμπλέξει.
Η Alice Kuipers γράφει ένα βιβλίο το οποίο, για μένα, είναι αρκετά... αμερικανιά, παρά που διαδραμματίζεται στην Αγγλία. Τι εννοώ με αυτό... Όχι, σε καμία περίπτωση το βιβλίο δεν είναι κακό, ούτε μετάνιωσα που το διάβασα απλά έχω την αίσθηση πως, από την στιγμή που απευθύνεται κατ' εξοχήν σε έφηβους, δεν μπορεί πολύ εύκολα να αγγίξει τον Έλληνα έφηβο ο οποίος, αν έμπλεκε σε μια κατάσταση όμοια με αυτήν που έμπλεξε η Έιμι, θα είχε να αντιμετωπίσει διαφορετικά πράγματα και με αρκετά διαφορετικό θα έλεγα τρόπο. Δεν έχει να κάνει με την ιστορία αυτή καθ' αυτή αλλά, με την ιδιοσυγκρασία του εκάστοτε αναγνωστικού κοινού. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, είναι καλογραμμένο και ιδιαίτερα εύπεπτο, με τα μηνύματα που θέλει να περάσει να δίνονται ξεκάθαρα στον αναγνώστη, χωρίς μάλιστα να διστάζει, μέσω της πρωτοπρόσωπης αφήγησης που χρησιμοποιεί, να παραθέσει μια σειρά ρητών τα οποία, δεν λειτουργούν τελικά ως υποδείξεις αλλά, ως μια μορφή οδηγού καλύτερης διαβίωσης.
Πολύ θα ήθελα να σας αποκαλύψω τι ακριβώς συμβαίνει με την Έιμι όμως αυτό θα ήταν spoiler ολκής και έτσι, δεν θα το κάνω. Αυτό όμως που μπορώ σίγουρα να αναφέρω είναι το ότι η συγγραφέας, θέλει μέσα από τα μάτια της τέλειας Έιμι να μας κάνει να δούμε τους εαυτούς μας και ότι τελικά, ίσως να μην είναι τόσο τέλειοι όσο νομίζουμε. Ο καθένας μας μπορεί να κάνει λανθασμένες επιλογές και τελικά, να μάθει μέσα από αυτές. Δεν είναι παράνομο, δεν είναι... λάθος, είναι απλά κάτι που συμβαίνει και τελικά, μας κάνει να δούμε την ζωή μέσα από ένα διαφορετικό πρίσμα και καθορίζει, όχι ποιοι είμαστε αλλά το ποιοι θα γίνουμε στο μέλλον. Μπορούμε όσο θέλουμε να δίνουμε συμβουλές και να παριστάνουμε τους ειδικούς όμως αυτό δεν είναι τίποτα περισσότερο από μια ουτοπία που περιμένει να γκρεμιστεί, μέχρι να βρεθούμε εμείς στη θέση όσων συμβουλεύουμε. Παράλληλα, τονίζει ότι πρέπει να λαμβάνουμε την ευθύνη των πράξεών μας, να τα αντιμετωπίζουμε με γενναιότητα και να στηρίζουμε τις αποφάσεις μας με τόλμη, ακόμα κι αν πληγώσουμε κάποιον γιατί τα ψέματα, φέρνουν άλλα ψέματα και τελικά, η αλήθεια δεν θα μείνει για πάντα κρυμμένη και θα είναι πιο επίπονη όταν αποκαλυφθεί.
Άλλες φορές εκνευριστικό, άλλες συγκινητικό, το "Σαράντα Πράγματα Που Θέλω Να Σου Πω", είναι τελικά ένα βιβλίο που μιλάει για την αγάπη και για το πως πρέπει να στηρίζουμε τις επιλογές μας προκειμένου να την κρατήσουμε στη ζωή μας, όποια μορφή κι αν έχει, όπως κι αν εκφράζεται. Η Έιμι, μέσα από δύσκολες καταστάσεις που δεν περίμενε ποτέ ότι θα αντιμετωπίσει, καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει την απόρροια των επιλογών της, να ωριμάσει μέσα από τα γεγονότα που θα καθορίσουν το μέλλον της και τελικά, μέσα από την ωρίμανσή της αυτή, να καθορίσει τις προτεραιότητές της, να στηρίξει αυτά που πραγματικά θέλει, ακόμα κι αν φαντάζουν δύσκολα μα πάνω απ' όλα, να γίνει ο άνθρωπος που πραγματικά επιθυμεί να γίνει, μέσα από την ειλικρίνεια και την δοτικότητα, αφήνοντας πίσω της τον τέλειο, υποδειγματικό εαυτό της, υιοθετώντας την ταυτότητα εκείνη που πραγματικά θα την χαρακτηρίσει σε όλη την μετέπειτα πορεία της ζωή της, ξεχνώντας αυτά που οι άλλοι περίμεναν από εκείνη. Η ζωή, δεν ξέρουμε πως τα φέρνει καμιά φορά και αυτή είναι η γοητεία της. Δεν ξέρεις τι θα συναντήσεις αύριο στον δρόμο σου.
Η Έιμι, ή Μπερντ όπως την αποκαλούν οι δικοί της άνθρωποι, με αφορμή ένα περιστατικό από τα παιδικά της χρόνια, είναι μια 17χρονη έφηβη η οποία, θεωρητικά, έχει την τέλεια ζωή και είναι το κορίτσι πρότυπο. Είναι άριστη μαθήτρια, έχει πρόγραμμα για την ζωή και το μέλλον της, σκοπεύει να σπουδάσει στην Οξφόρδη, έχει θέσει υψηλούς στόχους, οι γονείς της την αγαπούν και την στηρίζουν, έχει ένα καταπληκτικό αγόρι και μια κολλητή φίλη που την ��τηρίζει στα πάντα ενώ παράλληλα, χειρίζεται μια ιστοσελίδα μέσω της οποίας δίνει συμβουλές σε άλλους έφηβους. Όταν όμως ένας νέος μαθητής, ο Πιτ, που κάθε άλλο παρά καλή φήμη έχει, έρχεται στο σχολείο της και εισβάλλει στη ζωή της, οι ισορροπίες της ανατρέπονται και νιώθει να χάνει τον έλεγχο. Παρασυρόμενη από μία και μοναδική στιγμή αδυναμίας, η Έιμι, μπλέκεται σε μια κατάσταση την οποία δεν θα μπορούσε να φανταστεί ούτε στα χειρότερα σενάρια που θα μπορούσε ποτέ να πλάσει το μυαλό της και εκείνη, όλο και πιο μπερδεμένη, δεν ξέρει πως θα ξεμπλέξει.
Η Alice Kuipers γράφει ένα βιβλίο το οποίο, για μένα, είναι αρκετά... αμερικανιά, παρά που διαδραμματίζεται στην Αγγλία. Τι εννοώ με αυτό... Όχι, σε καμία περίπτωση το βιβλίο δεν είναι κακό, ούτε μετάνιωσα που το διάβασα απλά έχω την αίσθηση πως, από την στιγμή που απευθύνεται κατ' εξοχήν σε έφηβους, δεν μπορεί πολύ εύκολα να αγγίξει τον Έλληνα έφηβο ο οποίος, αν έμπλεκε σε μια κατάσταση όμοια με αυτήν που έμπλεξε η Έιμι, θα είχε να αντιμετωπίσει διαφορετικά πράγματα και με αρκετά διαφορετικό θα έλεγα τρόπο. Δεν έχει να κάνει με την ιστορία αυτή καθ' αυτή αλλά, με την ιδιοσυγκρασία του εκάστοτε αναγνωστικού κοινού. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, είναι καλογραμμένο και ιδιαίτερα εύπεπτο, με τα μηνύματα που θέλει να περάσει να δίνονται ξεκάθαρα στον αναγνώστη, χωρίς μάλιστα να διστάζει, μέσω της πρωτοπρόσωπης αφήγησης που χρησιμοποιεί, να παραθέσει μια σειρά ρητών τα οποία, δεν λειτουργούν τελικά ως υποδείξεις αλλά, ως μια μορφή οδηγού καλύτερης διαβίωσης.
Πολύ θα ήθελα να σας αποκαλύψω τι ακριβώς συμβαίνει με την Έιμι όμως αυτό θα ήταν spoiler ολκής και έτσι, δεν θα το κάνω. Αυτό όμως που μπορώ σίγουρα να αναφέρω είναι το ότι η συγγραφέας, θέλει μέσα από τα μάτια της τέλειας Έιμι να μας κάνει να δούμε τους εαυτούς μας και ότι τελικά, ίσως να μην είναι τόσο τέλειοι όσο νομίζουμε. Ο καθένας μας μπορεί να κάνει λανθασμένες επιλογές και τελικά, να μάθει μέσα από αυτές. Δεν είναι παράνομο, δεν είναι... λάθος, είναι απλά κάτι που συμβαίνει και τελικά, μας κάνει να δούμε την ζωή μέσα από ένα διαφορετικό πρίσμα και καθορίζει, όχι ποιοι είμαστε αλλά το ποιοι θα γίνουμε στο μέλλον. Μπορούμε όσο θέλουμε να δίνουμε συμβουλές και να παριστάνουμε τους ειδικούς όμως αυτό δεν είναι τίποτα περισσότερο από μια ουτοπία που περιμένει να γκρεμιστεί, μέχρι να βρεθούμε εμείς στη θέση όσων συμβουλεύουμε. Παράλληλα, τονίζει ότι πρέπει να λαμβάνουμε την ευθύνη των πράξεών μας, να τα αντιμετωπίζουμε με γενναιότητα και να στηρίζουμε τις αποφάσεις μας με τόλμη, ακόμα κι αν πληγώσουμε κάποιον γιατί τα ψέματα, φέρνουν άλλα ψέματα και τελικά, η αλήθεια δεν θα μείνει για πάντα κρυμμένη και θα είναι πιο επίπονη όταν αποκαλυφθεί.
Άλλες φορές εκνευριστικό, άλλες συγκινητικό, το "Σαράντα Πράγματα Που Θέλω Να Σου Πω", είναι τελικά ένα βιβλίο που μιλάει για την αγάπη και για το πως πρέπει να στηρίζουμε τις επιλογές μας προκειμένου να την κρατήσουμε στη ζωή μας, όποια μορφή κι αν έχει, όπως κι αν εκφράζεται. Η Έιμι, μέσα από δύσκολες καταστάσεις που δεν περίμενε ποτέ ότι θα αντιμετωπίσει, καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει την απόρροια των επιλογών της, να ωριμάσει μέσα από τα γεγονότα που θα καθορίσουν το μέλλον της και τελικά, μέσα από την ωρίμανσή της αυτή, να καθορίσει τις προτεραιότητές της, να στηρίξει αυτά που πραγματικά θέλει, ακόμα κι αν φαντάζουν δύσκολα μα πάνω απ' όλα, να γίνει ο άνθρωπος που πραγματικά επιθυμεί να γίνει, μέσα από την ειλικρίνεια και την δοτικότητα, αφήνοντας πίσω της τον τέλειο, υποδειγματικό εαυτό της, υιοθετώντας την ταυτότητα εκείνη που πραγματικά θα την χαρακτηρίσει σε όλη την μετέπειτα πορεία της ζωή της, ξεχνώντας αυτά που οι άλλοι περίμεναν από εκείνη. Η ζωή, δεν ξέρουμε πως τα φέρνει καμιά φορά και αυτή είναι η γοητεία της. Δεν ξέρεις τι θα συναντήσεις αύριο στον δρόμο σου.
August 25, 2016
I had my eyes on this book for quite some time and today, because I wanted to read something easy, cute and quick, I said to myself why not. But I was kind of wrong about it, due to the fact that it turned out to be something else...
I mean it was YA/Contemporary but it also dealt with other serious issues which are kind of, kind of not, hinted in the synopsis. And honestly, to say from the beginning, I didn't care for any of the characters and when 'the thing' happened, I just told myself 'you fucking blew it, so called control freak'. I'm not saying that is not happening, but at the same time to be it seemed very forced, like unatural, keeping in mind that Bird was a control freak and had tons of lists. You can't have your whole future planned and care that much for it and work for it, and then just because life gets hard or you get mad at your friends or parents, or your parents divorce or I dunno, you fuck it up. Because if you do that, then it's your fault and not theirs, you're acting like a brat, and big hella news: you're hurting yourself and you're ruining your life and for sure they won't care!
The plot was very messy in my opinion, considering that And I'm sitting here, reading the book and wanting to strangle her. How can you be so stupid and throw your whole future out the window because you're angry on your parents? It happened and so what? That's not an excuse! She seemed so immature and childish to me and honestly, even after everyone find out and she was acting so bitchy and 'I'M THE BEST' EVEN THOUGH SHE FUCKED IT UP, BIG TIME.
She was so afraid of doing it with Griffin, who wanted to use protection and etc, and then bam Spare me!
As I said, for me none of the characters seem fleshed out, I don't remember much about them and I feel anything for them. Maybe just anger for Bird, because she stood out to be so stupid and immature, even though she seemed and she thought of herself as being mature, in control, knowing always what to say and what advice to give. And because of a thing did by her parents and a guy, plus her stupid decissions of moment, she blew it. I mean, in my opinion, because if you read the book and you get at the end, it's like she's happy and content, and she's not mad and she accepted her new life. Which I don't! If you want that as a teenager then just start right away and good luck!
I don't regret reading this book, but I don't have the desire to reread it like ever. Would I recommend it? Sure, if you want something to open your eyes and especially if you're a teenager. I think it would be a nice read and maybe you'll take good stuff out of it. Learn from others mistakes. Or you can read it as something easy, cheesy and fast and see how easy people fuck up their lives, without blinking an eye, then they bawl their eyes out, and in the end the accept the situation... or not.
I mean it was YA/Contemporary but it also dealt with other serious issues which are kind of, kind of not, hinted in the synopsis. And honestly, to say from the beginning, I didn't care for any of the characters and when 'the thing' happened, I just told myself 'you fucking blew it, so called control freak'. I'm not saying that is not happening, but at the same time to be it seemed very forced, like unatural, keeping in mind that Bird was a control freak and had tons of lists. You can't have your whole future planned and care that much for it and work for it, and then just because life gets hard or you get mad at your friends or parents, or your parents divorce or I dunno, you fuck it up. Because if you do that, then it's your fault and not theirs, you're acting like a brat, and big hella news: you're hurting yourself and you're ruining your life and for sure they won't care!
The plot was very messy in my opinion, considering that And I'm sitting here, reading the book and wanting to strangle her. How can you be so stupid and throw your whole future out the window because you're angry on your parents? It happened and so what? That's not an excuse! She seemed so immature and childish to me and honestly, even after everyone find out and she was acting so bitchy and 'I'M THE BEST' EVEN THOUGH SHE FUCKED IT UP, BIG TIME.
She was so afraid of doing it with Griffin, who wanted to use protection and etc, and then bam Spare me!
As I said, for me none of the characters seem fleshed out, I don't remember much about them and I feel anything for them. Maybe just anger for Bird, because she stood out to be so stupid and immature, even though she seemed and she thought of herself as being mature, in control, knowing always what to say and what advice to give. And because of a thing did by her parents and a guy, plus her stupid decissions of moment, she blew it. I mean, in my opinion, because if you read the book and you get at the end, it's like she's happy and content, and she's not mad and she accepted her new life. Which I don't! If you want that as a teenager then just start right away and good luck!
I don't regret reading this book, but I don't have the desire to reread it like ever. Would I recommend it? Sure, if you want something to open your eyes and especially if you're a teenager. I think it would be a nice read and maybe you'll take good stuff out of it. Learn from others mistakes. Or you can read it as something easy, cheesy and fast and see how easy people fuck up their lives, without blinking an eye, then they bawl their eyes out, and in the end the accept the situation... or not.
March 15, 2012
This is such a beautiful, breathtaking book. I can't recommend it enough! If you can track this one down, definitely get a copy!
Review copy received as part of an upcoming blog tour! Keep your eyes out for it! :)
UPDATE: actual review.
Amy just wants to fly; no matter what she has planned out for her perfect life, all she really wants is to learn to fly. To take that risk, jump, and realize that she can make it.
And don't we all want that? To finally break free of those things holding us back? The thing is though, that some times things don't work out the way we planned. And things don't turn out for Amy the way she thought they would. But her journey is lovely and oh-so-heartbreaking.
Oh and this cover is just so PERFECT for the book. Plus, it's really very pretty! I just love it :) It captures the story wonderfully.
Reasons to Read:
1.A truly impressive narrative:
Amy's voice shines right through the novel, and I liked how the advice letters to her had different voices to them as well. They were each written in a different style, appropriate to their author. We really get a good idea of the thought process Amy goes through, and I found it interesting that Alice Kuiper explicitly pointed out that writing from Amy's frame of mind was tricky because it was so different to her own. And even though I didn't really appreciate the narration until the end of the book, I thought it was brilliantly done.
2.Great secondary characters:
In my opinion, a well-rounded story involves a wide cast of characters who all add something to the story. Amy's friends and family accomplis exactly that and more. As much as the story is about Amy, so much of it happens because of her connections to and relationships with those around her.
3.A very real, and raw, story:
I couldn't help but relate to Amy. I saw so much of myself in her and her thoughts, her feelings, her decisions, her questions. But the scary part? That was how real and probable her story is. Things like it happen, and her story was presented in a likely way, one that I noticed I've seen happen to other girls in real life.
As much as I loved it, I still couldn't fully understand why Amy was making some of the choices she did and I would have have liked to have spent a chapter or two with her reflections on this because it didn't really seem to be covered. And in all honesty too, I wanted so much more from the ending for Amy. I mostly understood why things turned out the way they did, but there was one relationship with a guy that I was taken back by after reading the decisions he made and what he ended up choosing; it seemed rather uncharacteristic and I wasn't too sure what to make of it.
I was utterly impressed by this touching and remarkable story, and I honestly believe that it's one of those rare ones that will really stick with you and leave a lasting impression. I know this book might be a little harder to come by since it's published in Canada, but if you have a chance to read it then I hope you jump at the opportunity to do so!
Review copy received from HarperCollins Canada for blog tour
Review copy received as part of an upcoming blog tour! Keep your eyes out for it! :)
UPDATE: actual review.
Amy just wants to fly; no matter what she has planned out for her perfect life, all she really wants is to learn to fly. To take that risk, jump, and realize that she can make it.
And don't we all want that? To finally break free of those things holding us back? The thing is though, that some times things don't work out the way we planned. And things don't turn out for Amy the way she thought they would. But her journey is lovely and oh-so-heartbreaking.
Oh and this cover is just so PERFECT for the book. Plus, it's really very pretty! I just love it :) It captures the story wonderfully.
Reasons to Read:
1.A truly impressive narrative:
Amy's voice shines right through the novel, and I liked how the advice letters to her had different voices to them as well. They were each written in a different style, appropriate to their author. We really get a good idea of the thought process Amy goes through, and I found it interesting that Alice Kuiper explicitly pointed out that writing from Amy's frame of mind was tricky because it was so different to her own. And even though I didn't really appreciate the narration until the end of the book, I thought it was brilliantly done.
2.Great secondary characters:
In my opinion, a well-rounded story involves a wide cast of characters who all add something to the story. Amy's friends and family accomplis exactly that and more. As much as the story is about Amy, so much of it happens because of her connections to and relationships with those around her.
3.A very real, and raw, story:
I couldn't help but relate to Amy. I saw so much of myself in her and her thoughts, her feelings, her decisions, her questions. But the scary part? That was how real and probable her story is. Things like it happen, and her story was presented in a likely way, one that I noticed I've seen happen to other girls in real life.
As much as I loved it, I still couldn't fully understand why Amy was making some of the choices she did and I would have have liked to have spent a chapter or two with her reflections on this because it didn't really seem to be covered. And in all honesty too, I wanted so much more from the ending for Amy. I mostly understood why things turned out the way they did, but there was one relationship with a guy that I was taken back by after reading the decisions he made and what he ended up choosing; it seemed rather uncharacteristic and I wasn't too sure what to make of it.
I was utterly impressed by this touching and remarkable story, and I honestly believe that it's one of those rare ones that will really stick with you and leave a lasting impression. I know this book might be a little harder to come by since it's published in Canada, but if you have a chance to read it then I hope you jump at the opportunity to do so!
Review copy received from HarperCollins Canada for blog tour
March 14, 2017
I didn't like it to be honest.I gave it one star only because I liked the cover they gave for Greece(half star) and because today I' m in good mood(that's the other half star) There isn't much to tell really...the book is about a girl who gets pregnant and screws up her life.No big deal. I like books that can make me escape reality not to dig me deeper in it. Seriously if I wanted a dose of stupidity I would speak to girls from my school that manage to get themeselves knocked up every year rather than read a book about it. I know that the writer probably wants to warn us and give advises but there are other special books for that topic.
Anyway, to keep it brief, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone
(one more thing:I bought it because it said something about bad boy but he is way too smart to be with her...just saying)
Anyway, to keep it brief, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone
(one more thing:I bought it because it said something about bad boy but he is way too smart to be with her...just saying)
July 15, 2018
40 Things I Want to Tell You was such an easy and cute read. This book is not a romance novel, although the description on the back may lead you to think so. This is a realistic novel about finding the courage to do what's good for you when there are people all around you trying to force you to follow the path they chose for you. Sometimes things don't work out according to the plan. But, that doesn't mean that it won't turn out okay. Life can never be predictable no matter how hard we planned for it.
I enjoyed this book a lot and really liked the ending, not to forget that part of it was shocking. But it kinda changed my mind about the whole story.
I enjoyed this book a lot and really liked the ending, not to forget that part of it was shocking. But it kinda changed my mind about the whole story.
December 30, 2024
I’m sorry but everyone in this book annoyed the living daylights out of me omg
May 1, 2018
This was not the read for me. I wanted to read it for so long, and I finally got the book from the library app. This was a bad boy type of story. I love those types of stories. However, I was disappointed with the way the book turned out. The story started off okay, but then as the story continues I got more and more confused. The writing style was not that great. I did not really like the characters. There were times when I wanted to throw my phone. I was not a big fan of the book. Overall, a meh read.
July 9, 2025
Quelques longueurs par-ci par-là, mais j'ai bien aimé. J'étais loin de me douter que la vie d'Amy allait autant prendre le bord en rencontrant Pete. J'aurais aimé qu'elle s'ouvre aux autres plus tôt. Je ne la percevais pas comme snob, mais elle agissait ainsi par moments. J'ai trouvé que l'autrice mettait bien de l'avant le poids du mensonge et la culpabilité.
December 3, 2014
My Summary: Amy Finch - known as Bird to her family and friends - has everything under control.
She's a straight-A student, has a perfect boyfriend, perfect parents, and she knows how to take control of her life. Amy knows how to fix things, and she loves it: she runs a website where teens can go to get tips about how to take control of tricky situations.
But Amy feels herself losing control, and even though she keeps giving out advice on how to take control, she can't seem to follow any of it. How is this self-professed control-freak going to be able to fix everything after what she's done?
My Thoughts: I was enchanted by the cover. I saw it a few years ago and knew I had to get my hands on a copy eventually. Luckily, my local bookstore was having a bit of a sale and I snagged one of the last ones.
Kuiper's writing was absolutely captivating. I remember reading Life on the Refrigerator Door all in one sitting and crying my eyes out, so I expected nothing less from 40 Things. Bird was a very well-written character - I felt her stress and the way that everything began to overwhelm her. She made a few bad decisions but you could really understand what led her to make them, so it wasn't as frustrating as you would think.
I loved the advice column element, and the way that Amy opened up to her readers.
One thing that I feel like I need to clarify is the genre: this book is not a romance novel, although the description on the back may lead you to think so. This is a novel about finding the courage to do what's good for you when there are people all around you trying to force you to follow the path they chose for you.
This was not a very happy book, but one that wraps itself around your heart and doesn't let go.
Final Thoughts: I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary lit as well as realistic fiction.
She's a straight-A student, has a perfect boyfriend, perfect parents, and she knows how to take control of her life. Amy knows how to fix things, and she loves it: she runs a website where teens can go to get tips about how to take control of tricky situations.
But Amy feels herself losing control, and even though she keeps giving out advice on how to take control, she can't seem to follow any of it. How is this self-professed control-freak going to be able to fix everything after what she's done?
My Thoughts: I was enchanted by the cover. I saw it a few years ago and knew I had to get my hands on a copy eventually. Luckily, my local bookstore was having a bit of a sale and I snagged one of the last ones.
Kuiper's writing was absolutely captivating. I remember reading Life on the Refrigerator Door all in one sitting and crying my eyes out, so I expected nothing less from 40 Things. Bird was a very well-written character - I felt her stress and the way that everything began to overwhelm her. She made a few bad decisions but you could really understand what led her to make them, so it wasn't as frustrating as you would think.
I loved the advice column element, and the way that Amy opened up to her readers.
One thing that I feel like I need to clarify is the genre: this book is not a romance novel, although the description on the back may lead you to think so. This is a novel about finding the courage to do what's good for you when there are people all around you trying to force you to follow the path they chose for you.
This was not a very happy book, but one that wraps itself around your heart and doesn't let go.
Final Thoughts: I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary lit as well as realistic fiction.
January 27, 2016
3.5/5 stars
I found this book very hard to read for several reasons, including that one of the secondary characters reminded me of someone I know / a situation I have to deal with personally. If not for that, I might have liked it better.
Overall, I think the story is very realistic, and while some readers might negatively judge Bird's actions throughout the story, I think a lot of teens might not understand what they want out of life. They may promise forever and imagine a future with someone who really isn't the right person for them or may spend their entire life planning to attend one university / career path for the wrong reasons. It was hard to read about how the Bird's classmates (other than her friends) treated her after her situation became undeniable, but I also remembered comparable bullying happening to some students when I was in high school. I also liked that Alice Kuipers didn't tie up the story perfectly - there were things that Bird wanted, but didn't get, maintaining the realism of the story.
Toward the end, when I finally understood what the 40 things were and who they were directed toward, I started liking the novel more. I'll admit that Amy (aka Bird) was more relatable once she stopped judging people or relying on rumours about who they are rather than reality. It was definitely nice to see her grow in these ways.
I found this book very hard to read for several reasons, including that one of the secondary characters reminded me of someone I know / a situation I have to deal with personally. If not for that, I might have liked it better.
Overall, I think the story is very realistic, and while some readers might negatively judge Bird's actions throughout the story, I think a lot of teens might not understand what they want out of life. They may promise forever and imagine a future with someone who really isn't the right person for them or may spend their entire life planning to attend one university / career path for the wrong reasons. It was hard to read about how the Bird's classmates (other than her friends) treated her after her situation became undeniable, but I also remembered comparable bullying happening to some students when I was in high school. I also liked that Alice Kuipers didn't tie up the story perfectly - there were things that Bird wanted, but didn't get, maintaining the realism of the story.
Toward the end, when I finally understood what the 40 things were and who they were directed toward, I started liking the novel more. I'll admit that Amy (aka Bird) was more relatable once she stopped judging people or relying on rumours about who they are rather than reality. It was definitely nice to see her grow in these ways.
March 30, 2016
this books is basically a tremendous disappointment.
let's see,
plot : nonexistent.
events : disconnected and trivial, almost with no real purpose to the story.
charterers : okay. maybe.
Ending : I didn't bother to get there.
SPOILER ALERT:
Pete who was supposed to be one of the love interests for the antagonist, NEVER talked to her, not even a word. and on their first encounter they kiss? he never makes an appearance or any kind of conversation with bird. but somehow she knows he /wants/ her. BLUKH.
the only character I sort of liked was Griffin, although somehow the author managed to portray a perfect considerate sweet faithful boyfriend as needy and annoying, which really irritated me.
let's see,
plot : nonexistent.
events : disconnected and trivial, almost with no real purpose to the story.
charterers : okay. maybe.
Ending : I didn't bother to get there.
SPOILER ALERT:
Pete who was supposed to be one of the love interests for the antagonist, NEVER talked to her, not even a word. and on their first encounter they kiss? he never makes an appearance or any kind of conversation with bird. but somehow she knows he /wants/ her. BLUKH.
the only character I sort of liked was Griffin, although somehow the author managed to portray a perfect considerate sweet faithful boyfriend as needy and annoying, which really irritated me.
June 7, 2015
I expected too much for this book.
The story is kinda predictable, but i cried on the last few chapters!
I cant even imagine how painful it is to give birth!
The story is kinda predictable, but i cried on the last few chapters!
I cant even imagine how painful it is to give birth!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2017
For a teen book, this was pretty damn good. Parts made me angry and parts made me cry. I can’t remember the last time I cried when reading. It always makes it so damn hard to keep reading. This novel is forever a reminder that unprotected sex, even once, is a bad bad thing. It’ll ruin your life and if people know they can be so damn cruel.
February 12, 2022
THIS BOOK WAS SO BAD ??? the synopsis honestly piqued my interest but lorddd it was not what i was expecting at all. AND WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT?? those horny little shits couldn’t even use a condom? & on top of that they fucked in a PARK? on the GRASS? and why did griffin end up w her friend😭 AND THE FACT THAT HER AND HER BABY DADDY DIDNT EVEN END UP TOGETHER ?? nah this book is a mess
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2022
J’ai lu ce livre il y a 2 ans mais il était tellement mauvais que je devais mettre une review d’une étoile pour avoir la conscience tranquille
October 18, 2012
Amy's that girl. We all know her. She's good at school, she's pretty, she's got everything down, right to knowing where she wants to apply to school. People like to make a lot of jokes out of these girls, because they're so predictable, we know exactly where they're going to be in a few years. But Amy's sick of being that girl, and she struggles with some bad decisions to determining if that's just the role she's been filling, or if that's really who she is. We get to connect with her in such a rich way, through her sparkling voice and all of her daily worries.
See, Amy makes a lot of bad decisions. She runs a blog where she gives her classmates, and other girls, advice. She gives them pieces of advice, and they tie into what's she's dealing with in her life. From the boyfriend she's only got lukewarm feelings for, right down to the indiscretion she makes with a cookie-cutter bad boy who comes out of nowhere and falls in like with her. All the while, Amy pretends to be this completely put-together blogger, and it helps her deal with the crises in her life in some way. There's no real originality in the character types we see here -- the mother who just wants to get away, the dumbfounded Dad, the side-kick best friend, and the standard issue dull boyfriend. Amy's the real star, and while some people might not see her as spectacularly unique, her voice and story stood out to me like few protagonists do.
As for the story, well, I was incredibly disappointed. Not because of weak storytelling, because honestly, I love reading this book. Even though the writing is stunning, and there were cluttered passive sentences all over the joint pulling me away from Amy's perspective. I'm finding that's something it's hard to ignore when you're been revising your own work, but the further I get from it, the less it bugs me. See, I spent months looking for this book it on-line, searching for it on used book websites, and lurking for potential giveaways.
The reason this book went over so well with me was because we all make mistakes that shape our lives, who we are, what friends we keep, and what we become. Show me a person who didn't do something monumentally stupid in highs school. Really. Sometimes, if we make awful mistakes like Bird, we find that there's no coming back. But luckily for this sweet girl, the people in her life are more understanding and forgiving, which you can form your own opinions on.
I found myself disappointed because of how much potential this young girl had was immediately wrecked. She was a strong character from the start, but her choices break her down, and in the end, she makes a decision about her life that I had to shake my head at. Her ending is so abrupt, and it's such a let down for me, because I wanted to see her become so much more than she becomes. I wanted to see her flourish, but instead, she's packed into a neat little box, wrapped in an ugly "Look how "happy" I am" bow, and that's that.
Aside from her kind of boring friendships, Bird's parents are weird. Her Dad starts out great, but then in an instant he flips his lid and becomes unrecognizable. There are no traces of the nice, supportive, wacky Dad we were introduced to. Bird's Mom left the family because she wasn't happy, which she's entitled to do -- and she does request Bird come with her -- but I can help but glare at the woman for trying to make herself fit back into Bird's life so soon. But she's the girl's Mom, after all, and it doesn't take her more than a glance to know what's going on. Little moments like that are what breathe life into this book, and they're why I'd recommend it.
See, Amy makes a lot of bad decisions. She runs a blog where she gives her classmates, and other girls, advice. She gives them pieces of advice, and they tie into what's she's dealing with in her life. From the boyfriend she's only got lukewarm feelings for, right down to the indiscretion she makes with a cookie-cutter bad boy who comes out of nowhere and falls in like with her. All the while, Amy pretends to be this completely put-together blogger, and it helps her deal with the crises in her life in some way. There's no real originality in the character types we see here -- the mother who just wants to get away, the dumbfounded Dad, the side-kick best friend, and the standard issue dull boyfriend. Amy's the real star, and while some people might not see her as spectacularly unique, her voice and story stood out to me like few protagonists do.
As for the story, well, I was incredibly disappointed. Not because of weak storytelling, because honestly, I love reading this book. Even though the writing is stunning, and there were cluttered passive sentences all over the joint pulling me away from Amy's perspective. I'm finding that's something it's hard to ignore when you're been revising your own work, but the further I get from it, the less it bugs me. See, I spent months looking for this book it on-line, searching for it on used book websites, and lurking for potential giveaways.
The reason this book went over so well with me was because we all make mistakes that shape our lives, who we are, what friends we keep, and what we become. Show me a person who didn't do something monumentally stupid in highs school. Really. Sometimes, if we make awful mistakes like Bird, we find that there's no coming back. But luckily for this sweet girl, the people in her life are more understanding and forgiving, which you can form your own opinions on.
I found myself disappointed because of how much potential this young girl had was immediately wrecked. She was a strong character from the start, but her choices break her down, and in the end, she makes a decision about her life that I had to shake my head at. Her ending is so abrupt, and it's such a let down for me, because I wanted to see her become so much more than she becomes. I wanted to see her flourish, but instead, she's packed into a neat little box, wrapped in an ugly "Look how "happy" I am" bow, and that's that.
Aside from her kind of boring friendships, Bird's parents are weird. Her Dad starts out great, but then in an instant he flips his lid and becomes unrecognizable. There are no traces of the nice, supportive, wacky Dad we were introduced to. Bird's Mom left the family because she wasn't happy, which she's entitled to do -- and she does request Bird come with her -- but I can help but glare at the woman for trying to make herself fit back into Bird's life so soon. But she's the girl's Mom, after all, and it doesn't take her more than a glance to know what's going on. Little moments like that are what breathe life into this book, and they're why I'd recommend it.
April 27, 2013
Αφηγείται σε πρώτο πρόσωπο η Έιμι, ή αλλιώς Μπερντ, μια έφηβη που φαίνεται να έχει την τέλεια ζωή: οι γονείς της την αγαπούν, έχει ένα καταπληκτικό αγόρι, παίρνει άριστους βαθμούς... Γενικώς, έχει τα πάντα υπό έλεγχο. Έχει όνειρα και φιλοδοξίες για το μέλλον, είναι αποφασισμένη να κυνηγήσει και να πετύχει τους στόχους της. Όλα αυτά, όμως, ανατρέπονται, όταν ο Πιτ μπαίνει στην ζωή της. Ο Πιτ είναι το κλασσικό "κακό" αγόρι, επικίνδυνος, κακή επιρροή, άγριος. Η Έιμι ξέρει από την πρώτη κιόλας στιγμή ότι πρέπει να μείνει μακριά του. Δεν το κάνει, όμως, καθώς οι άνθρωποι δεν μπορούν να κάνουν το αντίθετο από αυτό που τους λέει η καρδιά τους. Μια στιγμή αδυναμίας αρκεί για να αλλάξει μια για πάντα η ζωή της Έιμι. Εκείνο το κορίτσι με την φαινομενικά υπέροχη ζωή, ξαφνικά, βρίσκεται σε μια κατάσταση την οποία δεν μπορεί να αντιμετωπίσει. Και όσες συμβουλές έδινε αυτή στους άλλους, τώρα πλέον αδυνατεί να τις ακολουθήσει.
Η γραφή της Κάιπερς είναι πολύ καλή. Απόλαυσα τις περιγραφές της και, κυρίως, τα αποφθέγματά της. Οι χαρακτήρες ήταν πολύ καλά ανεπτυγμένοι και καθόλου προβλέψιμοι, καθώς διαρκώς άλλαζαν γνώμες, έκαναν λάθη, μάθαιναν από αυτά, ξεπερνούσαν τον εαυτό τους. Συμπάθησα πολύ τον Πιτ από την πρώτη στιγμή και θα ήθελα να διαβάσω περισσότερο για αυτόν, όμως είμαι ικανοποιημένη και έτσι. Σε πολλά σημεία του βιβλίου, ιδιαίτερα προς το τέλος, βρήκα τον εαυτό μου έτοιμο να κλάψει. Από συγκίνηση, από χαρά, από λύπη, από κατανόηση. Δεν μπόρεσα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου ούτε στιγμή.
Θέλω, ακόμη, να πω πως αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι με τίποτα αυτό που περίμενα. Διαβάζοντας την περιγραφή και το απόσπασμά του, σκέφτηκα ότι θα ήταν καλό. Το "καλό", παρ'όλα αυτά, δεν αρκεί ούτε στο ελάχιστο για να περιγράψει αυτό το βιβλίο. "Δάσκαλε που δίδασκες και νόμο δεν εκράτεις" λέει μια παροιμία. Αυτή, λοιπόν, η παροιμία μου ήρθε στο μυαλό, διαβάζοντας για τις επιλογές της Έιμι. Ωστόσο, όχι με την κακή έννοια, διότι μπορούσα να τις δικαιολογήσω. Γιατί ο καθένας μπορέι να δείχνει πως έχει την τέλεια, την υπέροχη ζωή που όλοι θα ήθελαν, όμως τίποτα δεν είναι όπως φαίνεται. Έτσι και η Έιμι, από εκεί που πίστευε πως έχει τον πλήρη έλεγχο, βρέθηκε σε πολύ δύσκολες καταστάσεις. Είναι καταπληκτικό το πόσο αλλάζει και πόσο ωριμάζει μέσα στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, κάνοντας την μια "λανθασμένη" επιλογή μετά την άλλη, μαθαίνοντας, όμως, όλο και περισσότερα από τα "λάθη" της. Αυτό που θέλω να πω είναι πως το "Σαράντα Πράγματα Που Θέλω Να Σου Πω" δεν είναι ένα ακόμη βιβλίο που επικεντρώνεται σε μια χαζή ιστορία αγάπης, όπως πολλά που κυκλοφορούν. Αντιθέτως, είναι ένα βιβλίο που περνά ένα σημαντικό μήνυμα στον αναγνώστη και δείχνει πως τα πάντα μπορούν να αλλάξουν, όμως εμείς πρέπει να προσπαθούμε για το καλύτερο. Όταν ξεκίνησα το βιβλίο, ακόμη και όταν είχα φτάσει στην μέση, πίστευα πως ήξερα το τέλος του. Έκανα λάθος, όμως, γιατί δεν το περίμενα με τίποτα. Το τέλος ήταν εντελώς απρόβλεπτο και, ενώ θα μπορούσα να πω πως θα ήθελα να είναι διαφορετικό, ίσως δεν είναι έτσι τελικά.
Αν δεν το έχετε διαβάσει, πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να κάνετε μια προσπάθεια! Η Έιμι έχει πολλά να σας διδάξει, όπως διδάχθηκε και η ίδια.
Διαβάστε την κριτική στο ιστολόγιό μου: http://onlyforbooklovers98.blogspot.g...
Η γραφή της Κάιπερς είναι πολύ καλή. Απόλαυσα τις περιγραφές της και, κυρίως, τα αποφθέγματά της. Οι χαρακτήρες ήταν πολύ καλά ανεπτυγμένοι και καθόλου προβλέψιμοι, καθώς διαρκώς άλλαζαν γνώμες, έκαναν λάθη, μάθαιναν από αυτά, ξεπερνούσαν τον εαυτό τους. Συμπάθησα πολύ τον Πιτ από την πρώτη στιγμή και θα ήθελα να διαβάσω περισσότερο για αυτόν, όμως είμαι ικανοποιημένη και έτσι. Σε πολλά σημεία του βιβλίου, ιδιαίτερα προς το τέλος, βρήκα τον εαυτό μου έτοιμο να κλάψει. Από συγκίνηση, από χαρά, από λύπη, από κατανόηση. Δεν μπόρεσα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου ούτε στιγμή.
Θέλω, ακόμη, να πω πως αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι με τίποτα αυτό που περίμενα. Διαβάζοντας την περιγραφή και το απόσπασμά του, σκέφτηκα ότι θα ήταν καλό. Το "καλό", παρ'όλα αυτά, δεν αρκεί ούτε στο ελάχιστο για να περιγράψει αυτό το βιβλίο. "Δάσκαλε που δίδασκες και νόμο δεν εκράτεις" λέει μια παροιμία. Αυτή, λοιπόν, η παροιμία μου ήρθε στο μυαλό, διαβάζοντας για τις επιλογές της Έιμι. Ωστόσο, όχι με την κακή έννοια, διότι μπορούσα να τις δικαιολογήσω. Γιατί ο καθένας μπορέι να δείχνει πως έχει την τέλεια, την υπέροχη ζωή που όλοι θα ήθελαν, όμως τίποτα δεν είναι όπως φαίνεται. Έτσι και η Έιμι, από εκεί που πίστευε πως έχει τον πλήρη έλεγχο, βρέθηκε σε πολύ δύσκολες καταστάσεις. Είναι καταπληκτικό το πόσο αλλάζει και πόσο ωριμάζει μέσα στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, κάνοντας την μια "λανθασμένη" επιλογή μετά την άλλη, μαθαίνοντας, όμως, όλο και περισσότερα από τα "λάθη" της. Αυτό που θέλω να πω είναι πως το "Σαράντα Πράγματα Που Θέλω Να Σου Πω" δεν είναι ένα ακόμη βιβλίο που επικεντρώνεται σε μια χαζή ιστορία αγάπης, όπως πολλά που κυκλοφορούν. Αντιθέτως, είναι ένα βιβλίο που περνά ένα σημαντικό μήνυμα στον αναγνώστη και δείχνει πως τα πάντα μπορούν να αλλάξουν, όμως εμείς πρέπει να προσπαθούμε για το καλύτερο. Όταν ξεκίνησα το βιβλίο, ακόμη και όταν είχα φτάσει στην μέση, πίστευα πως ήξερα το τέλος του. Έκανα λάθος, όμως, γιατί δεν το περίμενα με τίποτα. Το τέλος ήταν εντελώς απρόβλεπτο και, ενώ θα μπορούσα να πω πως θα ήθελα να είναι διαφορετικό, ίσως δεν είναι έτσι τελικά.
Αν δεν το έχετε διαβάσει, πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να κάνετε μια προσπάθεια! Η Έιμι έχει πολλά να σας διδάξει, όπως διδάχθηκε και η ίδια.
Διαβάστε την κριτική στο ιστολόγιό μου: http://onlyforbooklovers98.blogspot.g...
March 31, 2012
In 40 Things I Want To Tell You, Bird (real name Amy) seems to have a perfect life, warm and caring parents, amazing grades at school, a loving boyfriend, and a bright future. Bird wants to go to Oxford, and she’s lined up her whole life so that she gets what she wants.
In her spare time, she writes an advice column for fellow teens, full of helpful tips and advice to ‘take control of your life’. But what Bird doesn’t know is that her parents’ marriage is falling apart, and when she gets tangled up with Pete, the town’s new bad boy, her whole life does too.
As Bird tries to gather the seams that were once her life, she’s faced with difficult decisions and a growing realisation that you can’t control everything. Sometimes you just have to let go.
Given the description, you probably might think this is a typical YA book: cute, innocent heroine who falls in love with the ‘bad boy’, even though he’s all wrong for her. I assumed the same, but I was wrong.
This book is about so much more than the relationship between the good girl and the bad boy, despite the description, and I just couldn’t put it down.
The cover is what drew me in first; its so beautiful and whimsical, exactly like the book.
The main reason I liked this book so much is because I could relate so much to Bird (aka Amy). She likes making lists and keeping on top of things. She exudes confidence and control. But underneath the surface, she’s losing it.
The plot of this book is what also kept me engaged. Like I mentioned, the story doesn’t follow the clichéd trajectory of boy meets girl, it goes further than that, and the story isn’t just about Bird’s failing relationship with Griffin, her loving but boring boyfriend, and her sudden realisation of her undying love for Pete.
Pete isn’t actual a main character, despite how the back cover describes it. He stands for something much more, for Bird’s ignorance of the people around her and of her projected opinions.
Something unexpected and big happens in the middle, something that you don’t really expect, something I don’t want to spoil. You don’t really think the story would go there, but it does and watching Bird grow during the process is really rewarding.
Its hard for me to describe this book, without spoiling it too much. Bird’s voice is real and honest, she’s not perfect and she the mistakes she makes are real and full of misunderstanding. The world from her eyes is a beautiful place, but full of ignorance and naivety. She tries her hardest to fix her mistakes, which only results in a bigger mess. Its only in the end, when she relinquishes her control, does she make amends.
So give this book a shot. You won’t be sorry you did.
4.5/5.
For more reviews, check out my blog: http://ikhlashussain.com/
In her spare time, she writes an advice column for fellow teens, full of helpful tips and advice to ‘take control of your life’. But what Bird doesn’t know is that her parents’ marriage is falling apart, and when she gets tangled up with Pete, the town’s new bad boy, her whole life does too.
As Bird tries to gather the seams that were once her life, she’s faced with difficult decisions and a growing realisation that you can’t control everything. Sometimes you just have to let go.
Given the description, you probably might think this is a typical YA book: cute, innocent heroine who falls in love with the ‘bad boy’, even though he’s all wrong for her. I assumed the same, but I was wrong.
This book is about so much more than the relationship between the good girl and the bad boy, despite the description, and I just couldn’t put it down.
The cover is what drew me in first; its so beautiful and whimsical, exactly like the book.
The main reason I liked this book so much is because I could relate so much to Bird (aka Amy). She likes making lists and keeping on top of things. She exudes confidence and control. But underneath the surface, she’s losing it.
The plot of this book is what also kept me engaged. Like I mentioned, the story doesn’t follow the clichéd trajectory of boy meets girl, it goes further than that, and the story isn’t just about Bird’s failing relationship with Griffin, her loving but boring boyfriend, and her sudden realisation of her undying love for Pete.
Pete isn’t actual a main character, despite how the back cover describes it. He stands for something much more, for Bird’s ignorance of the people around her and of her projected opinions.
Something unexpected and big happens in the middle, something that you don’t really expect, something I don’t want to spoil. You don’t really think the story would go there, but it does and watching Bird grow during the process is really rewarding.
Its hard for me to describe this book, without spoiling it too much. Bird’s voice is real and honest, she’s not perfect and she the mistakes she makes are real and full of misunderstanding. The world from her eyes is a beautiful place, but full of ignorance and naivety. She tries her hardest to fix her mistakes, which only results in a bigger mess. Its only in the end, when she relinquishes her control, does she make amends.
So give this book a shot. You won’t be sorry you did.
4.5/5.
For more reviews, check out my blog: http://ikhlashussain.com/
May 17, 2012
I don't even know how I feel about this book.... Other than the fact that I absolutely loved it!! So much, in fact, that I managed to finish it within SEVEN HOURS. That must be some new record for me, haha.
40 Thing I Want To Tell You is about a girl named Amy, called Bird by her friends and family, who has her whole life's plan worked out for her. Just when she's about to finishing thing up in her final year at high school, things start falling apart for Bird. Her parents are fighting more than not, things between her and her boyfriend who seems perfect for her aren't going so perfectly, and when the new boy arrives in town, everything begins crumbling down with one stupid mistake.
First things first, I absolutely LOVE the cover of this book! I can't tell you how amazing it is in looks, as well as how perfectly it matches the story it contains.
I absolutely love the voice of Bird on her online advice column. Her "Top Tips" were absolutely wonderful and struck very true, and I still can't believe that she managed to give all of those people such sound advice with everything that was going on in her life. The voice of Bird was so powerful that I even felt a tad depressed from reading her story - but in a good way - in a way that leave the readers head spinning long after they've finished Kuipers final chapter.
40 Things I Want To Tell You flowed very easily from page to page in such a way that I couldn't put it down once I had picked it up. You can really feel the wedge between Griffin and Bird right from the start, but just like Bird, I was unable to identify what had put that wedge there.
If anything, this book has taught me that not everything is set in stone, even if it may seem that way. One unexpected moment can change your whole life's plan, whether it be for the better or for the worse. The best thing you can do is hang on for the bumpy ride. :)
My one and only concern for this book was the price of it... I mean, $15 for a paperback? Sheeeesh. I'm not made of money, you know. However, did that price stop me from purchasing this truely amazing book? Clearly not, and it was so obviously worth it.
40 Thing I Want To Tell You is about a girl named Amy, called Bird by her friends and family, who has her whole life's plan worked out for her. Just when she's about to finishing thing up in her final year at high school, things start falling apart for Bird. Her parents are fighting more than not, things between her and her boyfriend who seems perfect for her aren't going so perfectly, and when the new boy arrives in town, everything begins crumbling down with one stupid mistake.
First things first, I absolutely LOVE the cover of this book! I can't tell you how amazing it is in looks, as well as how perfectly it matches the story it contains.
I absolutely love the voice of Bird on her online advice column. Her "Top Tips" were absolutely wonderful and struck very true, and I still can't believe that she managed to give all of those people such sound advice with everything that was going on in her life. The voice of Bird was so powerful that I even felt a tad depressed from reading her story - but in a good way - in a way that leave the readers head spinning long after they've finished Kuipers final chapter.
40 Things I Want To Tell You flowed very easily from page to page in such a way that I couldn't put it down once I had picked it up. You can really feel the wedge between Griffin and Bird right from the start, but just like Bird, I was unable to identify what had put that wedge there.
If anything, this book has taught me that not everything is set in stone, even if it may seem that way. One unexpected moment can change your whole life's plan, whether it be for the better or for the worse. The best thing you can do is hang on for the bumpy ride. :)
My one and only concern for this book was the price of it... I mean, $15 for a paperback? Sheeeesh. I'm not made of money, you know. However, did that price stop me from purchasing this truely amazing book? Clearly not, and it was so obviously worth it.
November 28, 2012
Amy Finch, known to everyone as Bird, is an ammeter advice columnist on the Internet, helping other teens take control of their lives. Bird appears to be able to do just that, balancing her schoolwork, her boyfriend Griffin and her best friend Cleo. But Bird begins to lose control when she meets Pete, the new kid in sixth form and someone a girl like Bird should not be interested in, even if she didn’t have the perfect boyfriend. In truth, Griffin and Bird went from being friends to dating so fast that there never was time for her to fall in love. While Bird has known Griffin forever, she barely knows Pete yet feels an attraction to him that she has never felt with Griffin. When choices Bird makes lead her life away from what she imagined it would be, she learns life doesn’t always follows your plans.
I really wasn’t going to finish this one, but as I was putting it in my bag to return to the library, I flipped through it and saw a spoiler that made me want to keep reading. I kept with this book because it was a quick read with some unexpected things in it, but I can’t say I enjoyed it. I didn’t like Bird, who is selfish and does so many stupid things, hurting everyone around her. She just makes things worst for herself throughout the novel by keeping secrets, and I also didn’t think her relationship with Pete was developed enough. I didn’t relate to her or understand the things she did. She also reminded me a lot of Hailey from The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook, which I also didn’t enjoy. At the same time, this was a quick read with some interesting twists. The story was taken somewhere I didn’t expect it to go, and without giving anything away this book deals with a lot of big issues, from sex to parental problems. I also liked the way the title tied into the novel. 40 Things I Want To Tell You has a beautiful cover that, for me, the book doesn’t live up to. However, this a fast moving story about losing control of your life and finding your way again.
2/5
I really wasn’t going to finish this one, but as I was putting it in my bag to return to the library, I flipped through it and saw a spoiler that made me want to keep reading. I kept with this book because it was a quick read with some unexpected things in it, but I can’t say I enjoyed it. I didn’t like Bird, who is selfish and does so many stupid things, hurting everyone around her. She just makes things worst for herself throughout the novel by keeping secrets, and I also didn’t think her relationship with Pete was developed enough. I didn’t relate to her or understand the things she did. She also reminded me a lot of Hailey from The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook, which I also didn’t enjoy. At the same time, this was a quick read with some interesting twists. The story was taken somewhere I didn’t expect it to go, and without giving anything away this book deals with a lot of big issues, from sex to parental problems. I also liked the way the title tied into the novel. 40 Things I Want To Tell You has a beautiful cover that, for me, the book doesn’t live up to. However, this a fast moving story about losing control of your life and finding your way again.
2/5
August 31, 2016
Wow. Words cannot describe how good this book was.
Alice Kuipers drew you into Amy story and her life plan that goes wrong after one night. She regrets, but also loves.
Amy is an interesting character. She had the perfect life, the boyfriend that she liked. Her own advice column. Then, she meets Pete. Suddenly, her life starts falling apart and her foundation starts to crack.
Amy, Amy, Amy. The things that she does, honestly, I can say that I understand some. Others, not so much. She gets so self absorbed in her problem when she doesn't realize that there are people there in front of her willing to help. Because of that, she starts to drag people down into her nightmare instead of doing what she was scared to do. Teenagers are like that. Some panic and don't know what to do. Others find the courage to do the impossible. Amy panicked and made some mistakes. Then tried to pretend like everything was normal.
The emotions that Amy goes through are so real. The way that this novel is written makes us see just how lost Amy is. It allows us to experience what she goes through. I can't imagine going through what she does. This book is a lesson. Follow you heart, not a plan. Take risk, but don't be pressured into something that you don't want to do. Most of all, don't be afraid to ask for help. You are never alone. There is always someone there whether it is your friend, parent or an advice column on the internet. You are never alone. Remember that.
This book was fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Sarah Dessen and similar authors. This one made me smile, cry and realize that sometimes things don't work out according to plan. But, that doesn't mean that it won't turn out ok.
Alice Kuipers drew you into Amy story and her life plan that goes wrong after one night. She regrets, but also loves.
Amy is an interesting character. She had the perfect life, the boyfriend that she liked. Her own advice column. Then, she meets Pete. Suddenly, her life starts falling apart and her foundation starts to crack.
Amy, Amy, Amy. The things that she does, honestly, I can say that I understand some. Others, not so much. She gets so self absorbed in her problem when she doesn't realize that there are people there in front of her willing to help. Because of that, she starts to drag people down into her nightmare instead of doing what she was scared to do. Teenagers are like that. Some panic and don't know what to do. Others find the courage to do the impossible. Amy panicked and made some mistakes. Then tried to pretend like everything was normal.
The emotions that Amy goes through are so real. The way that this novel is written makes us see just how lost Amy is. It allows us to experience what she goes through. I can't imagine going through what she does. This book is a lesson. Follow you heart, not a plan. Take risk, but don't be pressured into something that you don't want to do. Most of all, don't be afraid to ask for help. You are never alone. There is always someone there whether it is your friend, parent or an advice column on the internet. You are never alone. Remember that.
This book was fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Sarah Dessen and similar authors. This one made me smile, cry and realize that sometimes things don't work out according to plan. But, that doesn't mean that it won't turn out ok.
August 24, 2012
First of all, I love the cover of this book. It's definitely one of my favourite covers of 2012, along with This is not a test. It looks all vintage-y and I love the blue and the birds gahhh.
Secondly, this is the first book I've read by this author and I adored it. I love her writing style, so effortless and beautiful.
Third, I love the title of the book and the 40 things within the book didn't disappoint. I loved the idea of this book and how it was executed.
Fourth, I don't usually like books where cheating is involved. This was a rare exception, I guess. I thought the way it was done was masterful so I didn't mind.
So, I really enjoyed this one. Not a full 5-star for me but definitely a high 4. There was something little that kept me from loving it completely. Not sure what, exactly.
I would recommend it though. It definitely surprised me.
Secondly, this is the first book I've read by this author and I adored it. I love her writing style, so effortless and beautiful.
Third, I love the title of the book and the 40 things within the book didn't disappoint. I loved the idea of this book and how it was executed.
Fourth, I don't usually like books where cheating is involved. This was a rare exception, I guess. I thought the way it was done was masterful so I didn't mind.
So, I really enjoyed this one. Not a full 5-star for me but definitely a high 4. There was something little that kept me from loving it completely. Not sure what, exactly.
I would recommend it though. It definitely surprised me.
February 1, 2016
Σε μια στιγμη αυπνιας και θελοντας κατι αναλαφρο και δροσερο επιασα αυτο το εφηβικο βιβλιο ..με την εφηβικη λογοτεχνια εχω αριστη σχεση και αυτο το girly βιβλιο θεωρησα οτι ηταν ιδανικο για τις "μικρες"ωρες που ηθελα να διαβασω κατι χαλαρο ...Με απογοητευσε ωστοσο ..Αν και ερρε γρηγορα, η ηρωιδα ηταν "βαρετη" και μερικες φορες ενοιωθες σαν να παρακολουθουσες στιγμιοτυπα απο τα χτυποκαρδια στο μπεβερλι χιλς...Οποτε σαν τελικο συμπερασμα ??μια που το διαβασα και μια που τελειωσε ..nothing..
February 28, 2015
God bog, som handler om at man ikke altid kan kontrollere alt. Bogen mindede meget om tvserien "The secret life of a american teenager" og "Juno". Bogen foregår i et engelsk miljø, men på mange måder minder den om den amerikanske kultur i forhold til teenage mødre, abort osv.
October 8, 2015
Review Pending
May 31, 2017
Review on my Youtube channel - LivresAlexe
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