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wtf
Two parties, six alternating points of view, and three letters that says it all--WTF!
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2009
61 people are currently reading
1244 people want to read
About the author
Peter Lerangis
153 books793 followersLerangis's work includes The Viper's Nest and The Sword Thief, two titles in the children's-book series The 39 Clues, the historical novel Smiler's Bones, the YA dark comedy-adventure novel wtf, the Drama Club series, the Spy X series, the Watchers series, the Abracadabra series, and the Antarctica two-book adventure, as well ghostwriting for series such as the Three Investigators, the Hardy Boys Casefiles, Sweet Valley Twins, and more than forty books in the series The Baby-sitters Club and its various spin-offs.[1] He has also written novels based on film screenplays, including The Sixth Sense, Sleepy Hollow, and Beauty and the Beast, and five video game novelizations in the Worlds of Power series created by Seth Godin.[2] As a ghostwriter he has been published under the name A. L. Singer.[3]
Lerangis is the son of a retired New York Telephone Company employee and a retired public-elementary-school secretary, who raised him in Freeport, New York on Long Island. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in biochemistry, while acting in musicals[4] and singing with and musically directing the a cappella group the Harvard Krokodiloes,[5][6] before moving to New York. He worked there as an actor[7] and freelance copy editor for eight years before becoming an author.[8]
In 2003, Lerangis was chosen by First Lady Laura Bush to accompany her to the first Russian Book Festival, hosted by Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina in Moscow.[9][10]Authors R. L. Stine (Goosebumps) and Marc Brown (the Arthur the Aardvark series) also made the trip with Bush.[9]
Also in 2003, Lerangis was commissioned by the United Kingdom branch of Scholastic to write X-Isle, one of four books that would relaunch the Point Horror series there.[11] A sequel, Return to X-Isle, was published in 2004.
In 2007, Scholastic announced the launch of a new historical mystery series called The 39 Clues, intended to become a franchise.[12] Lerangis wrote the third book in the series, The Sword Thief, published in March 2009.[13][14][15] On March 3, 2009, Scholastic announced that Lerangis would write the seventh book in the series, The Viper's Nest.[14][16]
Lerangis lives in New York City with his wife, musician Tina deVaron, and their sons Nick and Joe.[17]
Lerangis is the son of a retired New York Telephone Company employee and a retired public-elementary-school secretary, who raised him in Freeport, New York on Long Island. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in biochemistry, while acting in musicals[4] and singing with and musically directing the a cappella group the Harvard Krokodiloes,[5][6] before moving to New York. He worked there as an actor[7] and freelance copy editor for eight years before becoming an author.[8]
In 2003, Lerangis was chosen by First Lady Laura Bush to accompany her to the first Russian Book Festival, hosted by Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina in Moscow.[9][10]Authors R. L. Stine (Goosebumps) and Marc Brown (the Arthur the Aardvark series) also made the trip with Bush.[9]
Also in 2003, Lerangis was commissioned by the United Kingdom branch of Scholastic to write X-Isle, one of four books that would relaunch the Point Horror series there.[11] A sequel, Return to X-Isle, was published in 2004.
In 2007, Scholastic announced the launch of a new historical mystery series called The 39 Clues, intended to become a franchise.[12] Lerangis wrote the third book in the series, The Sword Thief, published in March 2009.[13][14][15] On March 3, 2009, Scholastic announced that Lerangis would write the seventh book in the series, The Viper's Nest.[14][16]
Lerangis lives in New York City with his wife, musician Tina deVaron, and their sons Nick and Joe.[17]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
November 11, 2009
When I first read the description for WTF, I thought it sounded like a fun, exciting read. You look at the cover, and see a cover that almost dares you to pick it up and in a way screams WTF. I love it. In WTF, Peter Lerangis never leaves you with down time, just throws more and more events at you. Though it was almost a bit too much thrown at you at times. As I was nearing the half way point of the book, I was just figuring out what had happened in the beginning of the book. Nonetheless, the plot was totally fun all along the way. The plot to me was about the only redemming aspect of the book.
The end is kind of abrupt. And following the ending, all you get is a short few sentence summary of what happens to each character in their next few years following the story. I really would've loved to know more of what happened to everyone, immediately and down the road.
I wasn't too crazy about the characters. The book is less than 300 pages, and there's 5 different POV going on. Each POV was so short and choppy I never really got a good idea of each characters story that night. In addition to that, you never really get to know any of the characters outside that night. I felt this really took away from the story. The characters just weren't very personable, and I couldn't connect with any aspect of them. And if I can't connect to the characters, how am I supposed to connect with their story?
Overall, WTF was a book that left me without much of an opinion. WTF deals with drugs, partying, injuries - all issues that should leave you with a reaction, but I was left with nothing. It had an enticing plot, mediocore writing, a shiny cover, and characters that really did nothing for me.
While WTF didn't appeal to me, as a reader, I can definately see how many other teens would love it. The teen rebellion going on in WTF would most likely appeal to a large group of teens. Characters are the biggest thing for me, and if I cannot connect with the characters in some way, it's really hard for me to get past that. Readers who are big on plot and action will definately enjoy WTF.
The end is kind of abrupt. And following the ending, all you get is a short few sentence summary of what happens to each character in their next few years following the story. I really would've loved to know more of what happened to everyone, immediately and down the road.
I wasn't too crazy about the characters. The book is less than 300 pages, and there's 5 different POV going on. Each POV was so short and choppy I never really got a good idea of each characters story that night. In addition to that, you never really get to know any of the characters outside that night. I felt this really took away from the story. The characters just weren't very personable, and I couldn't connect with any aspect of them. And if I can't connect to the characters, how am I supposed to connect with their story?
Overall, WTF was a book that left me without much of an opinion. WTF deals with drugs, partying, injuries - all issues that should leave you with a reaction, but I was left with nothing. It had an enticing plot, mediocore writing, a shiny cover, and characters that really did nothing for me.
While WTF didn't appeal to me, as a reader, I can definately see how many other teens would love it. The teen rebellion going on in WTF would most likely appeal to a large group of teens. Characters are the biggest thing for me, and if I cannot connect with the characters in some way, it's really hard for me to get past that. Readers who are big on plot and action will definately enjoy WTF.
October 27, 2011
"I met someone at the dogshow, she was holding my left arm, but everyone was acting normal so I tried to look nonchalant"
that quote has absolutely nothing to do with this book. no really nothing I just felt like putting it there. Just like I feel like putting this here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWmxNo-lA...
I just sent that to my ex and it made him cry. No I wasn't sending him a message he was saying a neon trees song made him sad and he asked me what it made me think on and the script song was my answer.
What does this have to do with the book? not much other than the hour I was 3/4 ignoring him while I read the book. He also just made a sweet potato cheesecake, karen perhaps you guys shoould become friends I have no use for sweet potatoes in my desserts, or cheesecakes that are conspicuously missing chocolate come on people really?
right so the point. the book.
the book is good it's definitely a high three, I can't explain why it isn't a four it just isn't, but I'd still recommend it. There are a lot of plots and a lot of narrators that aren't really terribly distinguishable even though they are described as very different types. apparently they are all geniuses, and they all are kids that mean well but got stuck in a bad place and they all have just about the same inner dialogue, I think the author might have been served well with a single narrator or a third person, probably best in third person. although the series of 3 word chapters about cam in the end is cool in the form.
the title doesn't really follow through to the book. It's kind of like a teen version of bret easton ellis but most of the fun of ellis is adult so you see the issue. It's like kids trying to be grown ups but in a totally illegal way. and then trying to be good people in a totally undefined way mostly to get laid. it's a fun read. and fast
that quote has absolutely nothing to do with this book. no really nothing I just felt like putting it there. Just like I feel like putting this here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWmxNo-lA...
I just sent that to my ex and it made him cry. No I wasn't sending him a message he was saying a neon trees song made him sad and he asked me what it made me think on and the script song was my answer.
What does this have to do with the book? not much other than the hour I was 3/4 ignoring him while I read the book. He also just made a sweet potato cheesecake, karen perhaps you guys shoould become friends I have no use for sweet potatoes in my desserts, or cheesecakes that are conspicuously missing chocolate come on people really?
right so the point. the book.
the book is good it's definitely a high three, I can't explain why it isn't a four it just isn't, but I'd still recommend it. There are a lot of plots and a lot of narrators that aren't really terribly distinguishable even though they are described as very different types. apparently they are all geniuses, and they all are kids that mean well but got stuck in a bad place and they all have just about the same inner dialogue, I think the author might have been served well with a single narrator or a third person, probably best in third person. although the series of 3 word chapters about cam in the end is cool in the form.
the title doesn't really follow through to the book. It's kind of like a teen version of bret easton ellis but most of the fun of ellis is adult so you see the issue. It's like kids trying to be grown ups but in a totally illegal way. and then trying to be good people in a totally undefined way mostly to get laid. it's a fun read. and fast
November 14, 2010
It all starts with a deer and a few under-aged teens from New York City. yeah, this is a very odd book. There are 3 teens in the car and some are a tad bit drunk and there's one that's driving without a license and they're all under-aged. They hit a deer on the way to a party in upstate New York. The two teens in the front are alive but they think that their friend in the back is dead. As the police begin to go towards the car crash, they put their friend in the driver's seat and flee from the scene. They go to the party to try to continue their friend's plan on selling asprin to other teens but telling them that it's a drug. The police come and try to get them.
I don't want to say too much about the story. This book revolves around drugs, death, friendship, love and hate/violence. i thought it was a very complicated book because it was told by 6 different characters. It was an odd book. I recomend this book to anyone. I don't think you can actually categorize this book into any genre because it contains so much random stuff. This book was really good but extremely weird. Reading this book will make you say "WTF?" on every page.
I don't want to say too much about the story. This book revolves around drugs, death, friendship, love and hate/violence. i thought it was a very complicated book because it was told by 6 different characters. It was an odd book. I recomend this book to anyone. I don't think you can actually categorize this book into any genre because it contains so much random stuff. This book was really good but extremely weird. Reading this book will make you say "WTF?" on every page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2016
WTF's description was a trap.
I mean, its description shouts mysterious, adventurous and fun, fun, fun but it wasn't. Regardless of that I enjoyed reading it. It was being told in different points of view. And what is happening in the story is very relative to the other which makes it a bit exciting somehow. Lastly, what amazes me most was that these characters weren't close at all! Their chemistry? It works! I give it that.
I mean, its description shouts mysterious, adventurous and fun, fun, fun but it wasn't. Regardless of that I enjoyed reading it. It was being told in different points of view. And what is happening in the story is very relative to the other which makes it a bit exciting somehow. Lastly, what amazes me most was that these characters weren't close at all! Their chemistry? It works! I give it that.
August 6, 2019
Entertaining from start to finish, utterly bonkers and fits the title to a T.
June 9, 2012
** spoiler alert ** I really liked this book alot.It had alot of acion in every chapter,suspense,drugs,money,possible murder,and car wrecks.This book was told from the point of view of many diffrent people.MC,Reina,Jimmy,Byron,Cam,Waits.Waits is the drug dealer who owes money to this mob boss.Jimmy,Byron,andCam getin to a car accident and think Cam is dead so they put his body in the front seat.Byron and Cam owe Waits money,MC helps Byron give the cash to Waits by selling drugs,Jimmy get's arrested and Reina takes...more I really liked this book alot.It had alot of acion in every chapter,suspense,drugs,money,possible murder,and car wrecks.This book was told from the point of view of many diffrent people.MC,Reina,Jimmy,Byron,Cam,Waits.Waits is the drug dealer who owes money to this mob boss.Jimmy,Byron,andCam getin to a car accident and think Cam is dead so they put his body in the front seat.Byron and Cam owe Waits money,MC helps Byron give the cash to Waits by selling drugs,Jimmy get's arrested and Reina takes What's left of Waits money and he goes looking for her.That's basiclly the whole book but there are alot more twists and turns.This book was awsome
August 4, 2010
This has been yet another "why did I read this?" expirience.
Not in an "I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked it Way" but rather, more in a "The ABCs of Kissing Boys" kind of way.
The book was an extremely fast read, and was actually pretty funny in parts.
When I heard the description of this book, I was expecting it to be much like "Party" which was another changing POV book about a party that "changed everything. Party had been a controversial-eqsue read that left me going "wow", whereas WTF was more like an okay comedy with a sub-par plot. Most of what happened was so ridiculous, that I was indeed left thinking, "WTF?" Basically, it's all big drug scandals, car stealing, getting chased by the cops, thinking your friend/partner in crime/boyfriend/whatever else is dead then BAM, he's not, getting mugged with a plastic knife, and a whole lot about a dead deer. I laughed out loud a lot, yes, but it doesn't change the fact that this book was super dumb.And yet, for some reason I liked it? What's up with that?
Not in an "I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked it Way" but rather, more in a "The ABCs of Kissing Boys" kind of way.
The book was an extremely fast read, and was actually pretty funny in parts.
When I heard the description of this book, I was expecting it to be much like "Party" which was another changing POV book about a party that "changed everything. Party had been a controversial-eqsue read that left me going "wow", whereas WTF was more like an okay comedy with a sub-par plot. Most of what happened was so ridiculous, that I was indeed left thinking, "WTF?" Basically, it's all big drug scandals, car stealing, getting chased by the cops, thinking your friend/partner in crime/boyfriend/whatever else is dead then BAM, he's not, getting mugged with a plastic knife, and a whole lot about a dead deer. I laughed out loud a lot, yes, but it doesn't change the fact that this book was super dumb.And yet, for some reason I liked it? What's up with that?
October 4, 2010
i liked because it was mostly about partys
I choose the book because I like NYC. The book is WTF and the author is Peter Lerangis. The book I read is realist fiction. The setting is taking place in New York City. There are six characters and the 1st is Jimmy the driver, the 2nd is Cam the connect, the, the 3rd is Byron and his the know it all, the 4th is waits the supplier, the 5th is Reina the conscience, and the 6th is mc the crasher.
The plot is the first party there lost. Then they r going to the second party.The cops start going after them then they ditch the car and go to the other party . The main conflit or problem is that the are being cased by the cops and drink all night and driving .
The problem was resolved by them running away form the cops. The book was good its was asome because the went to party in one night and was driving and runing from the cops.
I choose the book because I like NYC. The book is WTF and the author is Peter Lerangis. The book I read is realist fiction. The setting is taking place in New York City. There are six characters and the 1st is Jimmy the driver, the 2nd is Cam the connect, the, the 3rd is Byron and his the know it all, the 4th is waits the supplier, the 5th is Reina the conscience, and the 6th is mc the crasher.
The plot is the first party there lost. Then they r going to the second party.The cops start going after them then they ditch the car and go to the other party . The main conflit or problem is that the are being cased by the cops and drink all night and driving .
The problem was resolved by them running away form the cops. The book was good its was asome because the went to party in one night and was driving and runing from the cops.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2013
As I was going up and down the hopeless rows of books at Barns and Nobles, desperately searching for a decent book to read, I came across this and I said "WTF?". Yes, I read the title of the book and thought that this should be pretty great book. WTF is about a big misunderstanding over drugs and the whole night becomes a huge chaotic mess. It's a pretty confusing book and not a meaningful one. My favorite quote is when Jimmy thinks to himslef " It was chaos". I like this quote because it pretty much sums up the entire book. The author makes the book fit into one night and he changes characters at each chapter which is not something you see very often. He also narrates in third person but goes into the character's thoughts and he makes all the characters' stories come together. I didn't really like this book so i would not reccommend this book to anyone because its just very unexciting and pointless to read; there's also a very large amount of unneccessary profanity.
February 14, 2010
Im having trouble rating this book, because I was disappointed. First off the cover was very intriguing as well as the description, the problem was the before and after was kind of annoying. It would be in the present then go to before and then go to after and then present again and it was starting to become annoying...also a lot of what happened just didn't seem all that realistic and when the book ended it sort of left me confused saying "that's it" and leaving me feeling empty handed. I also didn't like the way the book was written, it wasn't as articulate as most books I've read from other authors. I felt like I could of written this novel. On the up side it was kind of funny, and the characters were somewhat interesting. So read at your own risk.
May 4, 2010
WTF is told from the point of view of Reina, Jimmy, Byron, Waits, and a little by Cam. There was also some stuff about MC but we didn't read it from her point of view. The whole thing happens in one night and it is so crazy. I laughed out loud so many times at all of the impossible situations these teens somehow managed to get themselves into. There was the jock, the nerd, the know it all, the conscientious girl, the dealer, and the crazy party crasher. It was a big group of people that you never would have thought to throw together and surprisingly, it worked. It was also pretty funny, how they all ended up connected on this one crazy night.
this book was pretty good. i enjoyed it.
: )
this book was pretty good. i enjoyed it.
: )
December 7, 2011
this book really caught my attention! if your really into books about "bad" or "rebellious" teens dealing with drugs all those things then this book is for you! its not like most books where its most about one character, well in this book its split up into 4 or 5 different characters and they are each talking about whats happening to them and all of the different chacaters are all friends which is the cool part. this book left me surprised at the end because you dont know what to expect which is also the best part about it!
October 10, 2013
It's about three guys going to a party while driving in the pouring rain, when a deer runs out in front of them causing an accident. Trying to get the deer off the car they forget about their friend and end up ditching him because the cops are coming and they don't want to get in trouble because of the drugs and no drivers license. The two guy end up tromping through the woods soaked with rain and blood, ending up at the party meeting some college students.
I don't really enjoy this book but there are bits and pieces that I am enjoying this book.
I don't really enjoy this book but there are bits and pieces that I am enjoying this book.
March 29, 2013
I like most teen books, but some just make me feel old, and this is one of them. I like the semblance of a Tennessee Williams play, but I'm glad my life does not at all resemble any character in this book. They all annoyed me.
February 28, 2016
Really very interesting title, immersive story line, just about anyone who lives in NYC can relate to this book. Serious and seriously funny, great ending.
August 18, 2017
What in the world did I just read? WTF is definitely an appropriate title for this book. What was even going on. It was a lovable frenetic mess, but a mess nevertheless.
While the myriad cast of characters helped to contribute to the charm of this book, the cast size also inhibited both plot and character development.
The story of this one crazy night is told in third person while following 5ish different perspectives. Jimmy is the reserved one, Cam is the jock druggie, Byron is the smart alek investor whiz kid, Waits is the drug supplier, and Reina is billed on the back of the book as “the conscience” -but I couldn’t even begin to understand why this was the moniker they decided to give her. Really, she just wants to party and this whole “plot” thing is getting in her way, but she’ll do her part to tenuously connect the disparate parts of this “plot” without getting to involved or really understanding what’s going on. MC doesn’t get or deserve a name or a perspective outside a single page, apparently. “MC” is short for “Mountain Chick.” She wants to party and serves to connect disparate parts of the “plot”, so let’s just say she’s the hick version of Reina. These are all humourous character traits and perspectives on their own, but when put together, they become muddy and shallow.
Having so many perspectives cuts harshly into the quality of the book’s structure. It’s all over the place. The first chunk of the book is all Jimmy. Then we step back in time to Waits. Then we sidestep back into the present with a bunch of Byron. Beyond that even more perspectives are introduced, and eventually the narrative jumps back way before the opening chapter for even more background information.
The end result is a lot of info dumps regarding character histories and connections, all of which happen too fast and inorganically because the sheer number of perspectives mean that we don’t have a lot of time to get to know any individual person. They’re all just walking character traits or programs following their core programing in isolation from one another.
Again, that’s not to say they aren’t interesting. Because the author never delves too deeply into any one character, it provides a lot of opportunities for levity in an otherwise extremely serious situation -someone may or may not be dead, teens are pedaling drugs (poorly), and massive amounts of property damage has been committed. So, the shallow main cast allows for much more palatable humor and a cast of absolutely baller background characters to populate the world.
However, all the same that same shallowness comes with a price. These characters don’t really learn much. Byron, the single character the story spends the most attention and time on, definitely experiences an atonement and change of heart by the end, but no one else has the time or weight to do the same. Everyone else is simply going through the motions and eventually everything just more or less neatly wraps up around them as all the threads of the plot dovetail together into one place.
Simple plot contrivance is the only thing holding this book together. If anyone actually talked about what was going on even once, things wouldn’t have ended like they did. If even one person had done the responsible thing and talked to the police or called an ambulance, none of this would have happened. I’m not against characters making poor choices. I think that making poor choices in YA is paramount for teaching development and personal growth. However, in WTF, there were simply no real, tangible consequences to give the story any real weight.
FML, one of the other books in this series, uses it’s multiple timelines/multiple perspectives to emphasize personal development and the consequences of our choices. However, when put up against that book, WTF is an anemic mess -thin, insubstantial, and largely meager on moral and developmental value.
This is a fun, short novel. However, there isn’t much to it. I’ll give it a 3/5 for the fun I had, but it’s really nothing special and not a book I’d actively recommend.
While the myriad cast of characters helped to contribute to the charm of this book, the cast size also inhibited both plot and character development.
The story of this one crazy night is told in third person while following 5ish different perspectives. Jimmy is the reserved one, Cam is the jock druggie, Byron is the smart alek investor whiz kid, Waits is the drug supplier, and Reina is billed on the back of the book as “the conscience” -but I couldn’t even begin to understand why this was the moniker they decided to give her. Really, she just wants to party and this whole “plot” thing is getting in her way, but she’ll do her part to tenuously connect the disparate parts of this “plot” without getting to involved or really understanding what’s going on. MC doesn’t get or deserve a name or a perspective outside a single page, apparently. “MC” is short for “Mountain Chick.” She wants to party and serves to connect disparate parts of the “plot”, so let’s just say she’s the hick version of Reina. These are all humourous character traits and perspectives on their own, but when put together, they become muddy and shallow.
Having so many perspectives cuts harshly into the quality of the book’s structure. It’s all over the place. The first chunk of the book is all Jimmy. Then we step back in time to Waits. Then we sidestep back into the present with a bunch of Byron. Beyond that even more perspectives are introduced, and eventually the narrative jumps back way before the opening chapter for even more background information.
The end result is a lot of info dumps regarding character histories and connections, all of which happen too fast and inorganically because the sheer number of perspectives mean that we don’t have a lot of time to get to know any individual person. They’re all just walking character traits or programs following their core programing in isolation from one another.
Again, that’s not to say they aren’t interesting. Because the author never delves too deeply into any one character, it provides a lot of opportunities for levity in an otherwise extremely serious situation -someone may or may not be dead, teens are pedaling drugs (poorly), and massive amounts of property damage has been committed. So, the shallow main cast allows for much more palatable humor and a cast of absolutely baller background characters to populate the world.
However, all the same that same shallowness comes with a price. These characters don’t really learn much. Byron, the single character the story spends the most attention and time on, definitely experiences an atonement and change of heart by the end, but no one else has the time or weight to do the same. Everyone else is simply going through the motions and eventually everything just more or less neatly wraps up around them as all the threads of the plot dovetail together into one place.
Simple plot contrivance is the only thing holding this book together. If anyone actually talked about what was going on even once, things wouldn’t have ended like they did. If even one person had done the responsible thing and talked to the police or called an ambulance, none of this would have happened. I’m not against characters making poor choices. I think that making poor choices in YA is paramount for teaching development and personal growth. However, in WTF, there were simply no real, tangible consequences to give the story any real weight.
FML, one of the other books in this series, uses it’s multiple timelines/multiple perspectives to emphasize personal development and the consequences of our choices. However, when put up against that book, WTF is an anemic mess -thin, insubstantial, and largely meager on moral and developmental value.
This is a fun, short novel. However, there isn’t much to it. I’ll give it a 3/5 for the fun I had, but it’s really nothing special and not a book I’d actively recommend.
December 30, 2018
I freely admit that some of my opinion is due to thwarted expectations—from what I read on the back, I thought this would be like, six teens from different backgrounds all contributing to a cool successful crime. But while the first part was right, it was a really messy and headache-giving crime that I just didn't like.
How would I describe this book? Like trying to combine the energies of The Godfather with The Outsiders and just making a mess.
The plot? It was confusing. I was at least halfway in before I started to get a handle on what the heck was going on. (Further: in the first scene, a character is in a car accident and we don't learn until that halfway point whether he is alive or dead. This, to me, felt like an inessential mystery. Even though it contributed to the end! The audience can know things that the characters don't know.)
The characters? Did not win my heart.
The writing? I will say that the writing was pretty swift and easy to blow through, which is cool, I guess. That aspect was overshadowed for me by the fact that excessive profanity, sexism and racism, and then just weird grossness (i.e. a character named Scrotum) were over-the-top. I can definitely see some dudebro arguing, "gritty realism!"—but here's the thing, bucko. I agree that profanity, sexism, racism, and even weird grossness can succeed at contributing to the worldbuilding of a novel, but the worldbuilding should not distract. I thought it was distracting. Further (spoiler for le profanity):
Also, I personally do not traffic drugs but this felt like, very hyped and somewhat unbelievable when it comes to drug dealer stories. IDK. I am an innocent of the world. It was just. suspicious.
Anyway. The book confused me, it distracted me, and it didn't convince me, which is too bad. Because I like The Outsiders, as a potential parallel. But it did nae fly.
How would I describe this book? Like trying to combine the energies of The Godfather with The Outsiders and just making a mess.
The plot? It was confusing. I was at least halfway in before I started to get a handle on what the heck was going on. (Further: in the first scene, a character is in a car accident and we don't learn until that halfway point whether he is alive or dead. This, to me, felt like an inessential mystery. Even though it contributed to the end! The audience can know things that the characters don't know.)
The characters? Did not win my heart.
The writing? I will say that the writing was pretty swift and easy to blow through, which is cool, I guess. That aspect was overshadowed for me by the fact that excessive profanity, sexism and racism, and then just weird grossness (i.e. a character named Scrotum) were over-the-top. I can definitely see some dudebro arguing, "gritty realism!"—but here's the thing, bucko. I agree that profanity, sexism, racism, and even weird grossness can succeed at contributing to the worldbuilding of a novel, but the worldbuilding should not distract. I thought it was distracting. Further (spoiler for le profanity):
Also, I personally do not traffic drugs but this felt like, very hyped and somewhat unbelievable when it comes to drug dealer stories. IDK. I am an innocent of the world. It was just. suspicious.
Anyway. The book confused me, it distracted me, and it didn't convince me, which is too bad. Because I like The Outsiders, as a potential parallel. But it did nae fly.
August 7, 2020
I found this to be one of the most confusing, disjointed, unrelatable messes of a novel I have read. Six points of view? Six story lines? Six characters who are pretty much unlovable and unbelievable. Not enough character development for any of them, to feel any empathy towards any of their situations.
Fake, forced, drawn out story - with no measurable or tangible desire for any of them to succeed, or not. Finished it only because I work in a high school library and it's one of the questionable titles that I had to evaluate. I will probably never recommend it to a single student but it will still get borrowed due to the title and cover... oh well....
I feel bad, though, because I've never read any of Lerangis' other works - hopefully they're better than this one.
Fake, forced, drawn out story - with no measurable or tangible desire for any of them to succeed, or not. Finished it only because I work in a high school library and it's one of the questionable titles that I had to evaluate. I will probably never recommend it to a single student but it will still get borrowed due to the title and cover... oh well....
I feel bad, though, because I've never read any of Lerangis' other works - hopefully they're better than this one.
September 15, 2017
easy read .. easy to follow .. six perspectives on one night of craziness .. cuss words and drug deal gone bad for younger 20 something year olds to enjoy reading .. some funny parts ... book to read if you just want a mindless evening of reading .. I read it as an in between book where my brain didn't have to think or get real into anything .. Just wanted a quick read and this fit the bill
November 23, 2018
I should’ve trusted the reviews on this book. In theory it sounded good; a crazy night told from the point of view of various people. But the story was so jumbled and unbelievable, it was tough to actually get what was going on. The epilogue, telling where the characters were in the indeterminate future, was ridiculous. At least, it was a very quick read. Don’t waste your time on this.
February 18, 2021
A little dated, especially considering portrayals of trans individuals but an interesting thrill ride that happens one night. Some moments it appeared scattered but it made sense in a way. The cliche ending was a little much, especially when you are talking or promise to talk about dark subject matters like drugs, gangs and death. All in all, not a bad read from a used bookstore.
July 17, 2017
This book is so funny. I was laughing the whole time about how crazy it seems. We have all had stories that people reading or listening to them would think were fake. The title is very fitting, WTF. Good movie-like epilogue with where are they now. Love the teaser book at the back:Never After.
November 29, 2017
Eh... I got this book at the dollar tree for a dollar. It was a quick read. I thought it would be better, like a crazy lifetime movie, or something, but it was a bit of a letdown. The writing wasn't awful or anything, but the story wasn't very memorable. It made a nice easy-read, though.
July 5, 2019
I remembered so much of the feeling I’ve had whilst reading this book. I rated it at 3 because it’s fun and it keeps you guessing but I’m sure there are lots of great books out there that you want to prioritize.
August 9, 2021
This had all the makings of my favorite movie, Go!, which immediately made me fall in love with it. So, so much packed into this book. Just further proof that one small decision, or many small decisions, can have such a huge ripple effect. LOVED IT!!!
October 10, 2021
This book was very entertaining from start to finish. Is it a masterpiece? No, but if you like YA novels that aren't typical romances or supernatural twists, you'll enjoy this. It reminds me of Party by Tom Leveen. I like books with different POVs, so that's part of what sold it for me.
July 15, 2017
What a waste of time & paper..,
August 18, 2017
good. fast paced.
January 16, 2019
Wasn't the best, but wasn't the worst.
January 5, 2020
What a stupid book. All the characters were annoying and storyline was blah. Best thing it had going for it was it was a short read.
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