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Hannah Both Ways
A devastating Twitter prank yanks Hannah out of the popular crowd and turns her into the high school’s best bad joke. Determined to finish the year and graduate, Hannah must keep the humiliating details from her impulsive mother—who just might pack up their belongings and move. Again.
Hannah hovers below the radar by submersing herself in a new routine. Post-it notes, Dewey Decimal numbers and carefully planned trips to the library are her refuge. That is, until a persistent new student invades her space. Lucas has complete disregard for Hannah’s cynicism and snark, and he seems to know the bullies who targeted her. Can Hannah trust him, or is he part of another ploy to torment her?
Hannah hovers below the radar by submersing herself in a new routine. Post-it notes, Dewey Decimal numbers and carefully planned trips to the library are her refuge. That is, until a persistent new student invades her space. Lucas has complete disregard for Hannah’s cynicism and snark, and he seems to know the bullies who targeted her. Can Hannah trust him, or is he part of another ploy to torment her?
218 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2015
1 person is currently reading
516 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Greenway
1 book54 followersROSIE GREENWAY is a Canadian author whose passions include books, art, music, film, good food and great wine. Rosie is blessed with many wonderful friends and a zany but loving family.
HANNAH BOTH WAYS is her first YA novel.
You can find ROSIE on Twitter @Rosie_Greenway
HANNAH BOTH WAYS is her first YA novel.
You can find ROSIE on Twitter @Rosie_Greenway
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 20, 2020
Hard to believe this is Rosie Greenway's first novel. Hannah and Luke seemed so real to me. We've all been Hannah or Luke at some point in our lives, overcoming bullying and other adversities the best way we know how. I do hope Rosie Greenway writes another book soon. Hannah was a lovable curmudgeon. Lucas was the sweetest, most supportive boyfriend a prickly girlfriend could ask for, and, boy, did they share some pretty hot chemistry down in his aunt's basement! Oh, to be young again - actually, not really! But I do enjoy reading these intricate and emotionally -involving coming of age stories where two messed up kids find each other and support each other across Life's 5K finish line. Makes me realize I did have a pleasant (if somewhat boring) teen experience in comparison.
A really enjoyable and timely read by a fellow Canadian. Highly recommended!
A really enjoyable and timely read by a fellow Canadian. Highly recommended!
December 31, 2015
Imagine being in highschool and the subject of a Twitter prank gone horribly wrong. Imagine being ostracized as a result. How would you cope with being shunned? Would you trust the new hot guy who seemly see through your hurt and snark? Would you give him a chance? Is he being genuine or just another bully?
These are the questions asked and answered in Rosie Greenway's debut novel. Hannah Both Ways is a cautionary tale, a romance, and a coming of age book. It will capture you from the first sentence.. Greenway has created a strong, feisty, resilient lead character. You'll be mad about Hannah, and mad for Hannah.
Greenway knows her way around prose, witty dialogue and teenage angst. She's destined to become one of the greats in the YA genre. This is a must read for anyone who loves the well written.
These are the questions asked and answered in Rosie Greenway's debut novel. Hannah Both Ways is a cautionary tale, a romance, and a coming of age book. It will capture you from the first sentence.. Greenway has created a strong, feisty, resilient lead character. You'll be mad about Hannah, and mad for Hannah.
Greenway knows her way around prose, witty dialogue and teenage angst. She's destined to become one of the greats in the YA genre. This is a must read for anyone who loves the well written.
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May 11, 2016Oh. My. Goodness. I honestly do not know if I can adequately express in words my mad love for this book. Seriously. My vocabulary is quite extensive, but I really don’t think it’s going to be enough to explain to you just how amazing this book is and how stunned I was reading it. I felt like I was emotionally touched – like Ms. Greenway reached in my chest and squeezed my heart, like she set free little butterflies in my stomach, like she was in my head as I read and knew precisely what I wanted to see happen and she somehow made it so. No, really!!! Okay, let me start from the beginning…
I saw this book pop up as a tour option in an email from MaryAnn at Chapter by Chapter (to whom I give loads of credit for pushing me outside my comfort zone on both reading and reviewing! So, thank you!), and even though I am not one who usually reaches for contemporary reads, something about Hannah caught my eye. Okay, if I’m being honest, it was the mention of Dewey Decimal numbers and the library as a refuge for Hannah. (Yes, I should have followed my heart and gone to library school at the same time I got my law degree! I would’ve been happier!) When I saw that Hannah has a compulsion to bring order to her otherwise disordered, messy, lonesome life, which she satisfies each night by picking a new Dewey Decimal number to look up in the library at lunch the next day, I was instantly intrigued. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I asked to join the tour; I hate to think I could’ve missed out on this incredible book and possibly never even known! Further, I was surprised one day when I opened my mail and found a print copy of Hannah, sent from Rebelight Publishing for purposes of this review. Wow! I am not a big-time blogger by any means, so I assumed I’d be reviewing an e-book (which I’m totally fine with). But they took the time and spent the money to send me a physical book, which most definitely endeared me to them, I’m not gonna lie :) I am always happy to hold a book in my hands! I’d like to publicly say “thank you!” to Rebelight Publishing for this extra touch. I feel blessed to have had this reading experience, and I hope I can do justice to this amazing book.**
So, on to the book itself! Hannah has lived an unusual life by the time we meet her, with a mother, Leanne, who has made a career out of being a cocktail waitress working very late hours and, often, bringing home random guys from her job in the wee hours of morning. Hannah may go days without seeing her mom face-to-face; often they don’t get to speak in person until the weekends when Hannah doesn’t have to be at school. You can imagine the strain this would put on a mother-daughter relationship. On top of that, Hannah is 17, and her mother is 34, having been only 17 herself when Hannah was born. Hannah’s father left them when she was only 5, and since then it’s just been Hannah and her mom. To make things even more difficult, they have moved around very frequently, at the drop of a hat (twice because Leanne discovered the man she’d been fooling around with was married, so she confronted the man’s wife and outed the cheater!), and Hannah has only been at her current high school since the start of her senior year, about 5 months ago. This all combines to make for a very unusual and stressful life for a 17-year-old, don’t you think? Well, it gets even worse.
Soon after she arrived at this new high school for her senior year, Hannah was taken under the wing of the most popular girl in school, Allison, and her lackey, Marla. Hannah joins these two on the cheer squad, and throughout the fall she holds a position at the top of the high school social hierarchy. However, by the time we meet her in March, something has clearly happened to send Hannah to the depths of despair, shunned by pretty much everyone at school. You know how it is, even those who are mocked by the top dogs will mock any top dog who’s thrown out by the others, right? So Hannah has been bullied and tormented by Allison and Marla and the in-crowd, and also shunned and whispered about by those in the middle of the pack. I’ll let you discover just what happened that resulted in this reversal of fortune, but I feel pretty confident you’ll be as disgusted by it as I was. Sadly, I think it is something that is all too common in high schools (maybe even middle schools) these days, and the whole idea of the bullying that takes place makes me cringe when I think about my own son growing up and having to face the horror that is middle school and high school (ugh, not such fond memories there!!).
So Hannah is basically persona non grata at her high school, and no one wants to talk to her except her teachers and the administrative staff (and I was really pleased with how the adults in Hannah’s school life did not give up on her or assume that the stories about her were true). Then, one day as she sits in the library with her Dewey Decimal pick of the day, Lucas struts into her space. Oh, Lucas. Lucas, Lucas, LUCAS. I just….okay, if I weren’t old enough to be his mother, and if I weren’t married, and if, ya know, he was actually REAL… well, if all those things were true, it’d be safe to say I fell head over heels for Lucas. Words cannot describe just how awesomely incredible and nerdily sexy Lucas is!!! Phew! However, Hannah is so used to fiercely guarding her heart, her feelings, her space, that she tries to shut Lucas down from the moment he comes near her. Lucas is nothing if not persistent, but my goodness Hannah definitely gives him a run for his money. In fact, she’s been so betrayed that she’s unsure if anything Lucas says is even true. She wonders if he’s been put up to being nice to her by Allison and her crowd, just so he can spectacularly and publicly drop her once she opens herself up. Wouldn’t it be terrible to reach such a point? I felt so awful for what Hannah went through and everything she had to deal with, and all I could think about is what I would do as a parent – of the bullied, of the bully, or of the bystanders.
I won’t spoil anything, as I want you to be able to experience whether or not Hannah learns to trust Lucas and whether Lucas earns that trust or if he is in fact out to torment her. It takes a while for Hannah to decide, and being on that journey of discovery with her is part of what’s so special about this book. The characters are also wonderful, and to top it off there’s a bombshell that’s dropped that I didn’t see coming from a mile away! It all combines just beautifully into one incredible read, one of the best contemporaries I’ve read this year, to be sure. I absolutely loved Hannah Both Ways, and I truly hope you will, too! I enthusiastically and wholeheartedly give this 5 stars!
**I received a copy of this book for purposes of an HONEST review for the blog tour. This in no way affected my rating or review, which is based solely on the experience I had reading the book itself.
I saw this book pop up as a tour option in an email from MaryAnn at Chapter by Chapter (to whom I give loads of credit for pushing me outside my comfort zone on both reading and reviewing! So, thank you!), and even though I am not one who usually reaches for contemporary reads, something about Hannah caught my eye. Okay, if I’m being honest, it was the mention of Dewey Decimal numbers and the library as a refuge for Hannah. (Yes, I should have followed my heart and gone to library school at the same time I got my law degree! I would’ve been happier!) When I saw that Hannah has a compulsion to bring order to her otherwise disordered, messy, lonesome life, which she satisfies each night by picking a new Dewey Decimal number to look up in the library at lunch the next day, I was instantly intrigued. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I asked to join the tour; I hate to think I could’ve missed out on this incredible book and possibly never even known! Further, I was surprised one day when I opened my mail and found a print copy of Hannah, sent from Rebelight Publishing for purposes of this review. Wow! I am not a big-time blogger by any means, so I assumed I’d be reviewing an e-book (which I’m totally fine with). But they took the time and spent the money to send me a physical book, which most definitely endeared me to them, I’m not gonna lie :) I am always happy to hold a book in my hands! I’d like to publicly say “thank you!” to Rebelight Publishing for this extra touch. I feel blessed to have had this reading experience, and I hope I can do justice to this amazing book.**
So, on to the book itself! Hannah has lived an unusual life by the time we meet her, with a mother, Leanne, who has made a career out of being a cocktail waitress working very late hours and, often, bringing home random guys from her job in the wee hours of morning. Hannah may go days without seeing her mom face-to-face; often they don’t get to speak in person until the weekends when Hannah doesn’t have to be at school. You can imagine the strain this would put on a mother-daughter relationship. On top of that, Hannah is 17, and her mother is 34, having been only 17 herself when Hannah was born. Hannah’s father left them when she was only 5, and since then it’s just been Hannah and her mom. To make things even more difficult, they have moved around very frequently, at the drop of a hat (twice because Leanne discovered the man she’d been fooling around with was married, so she confronted the man’s wife and outed the cheater!), and Hannah has only been at her current high school since the start of her senior year, about 5 months ago. This all combines to make for a very unusual and stressful life for a 17-year-old, don’t you think? Well, it gets even worse.
Soon after she arrived at this new high school for her senior year, Hannah was taken under the wing of the most popular girl in school, Allison, and her lackey, Marla. Hannah joins these two on the cheer squad, and throughout the fall she holds a position at the top of the high school social hierarchy. However, by the time we meet her in March, something has clearly happened to send Hannah to the depths of despair, shunned by pretty much everyone at school. You know how it is, even those who are mocked by the top dogs will mock any top dog who’s thrown out by the others, right? So Hannah has been bullied and tormented by Allison and Marla and the in-crowd, and also shunned and whispered about by those in the middle of the pack. I’ll let you discover just what happened that resulted in this reversal of fortune, but I feel pretty confident you’ll be as disgusted by it as I was. Sadly, I think it is something that is all too common in high schools (maybe even middle schools) these days, and the whole idea of the bullying that takes place makes me cringe when I think about my own son growing up and having to face the horror that is middle school and high school (ugh, not such fond memories there!!).
So Hannah is basically persona non grata at her high school, and no one wants to talk to her except her teachers and the administrative staff (and I was really pleased with how the adults in Hannah’s school life did not give up on her or assume that the stories about her were true). Then, one day as she sits in the library with her Dewey Decimal pick of the day, Lucas struts into her space. Oh, Lucas. Lucas, Lucas, LUCAS. I just….okay, if I weren’t old enough to be his mother, and if I weren’t married, and if, ya know, he was actually REAL… well, if all those things were true, it’d be safe to say I fell head over heels for Lucas. Words cannot describe just how awesomely incredible and nerdily sexy Lucas is!!! Phew! However, Hannah is so used to fiercely guarding her heart, her feelings, her space, that she tries to shut Lucas down from the moment he comes near her. Lucas is nothing if not persistent, but my goodness Hannah definitely gives him a run for his money. In fact, she’s been so betrayed that she’s unsure if anything Lucas says is even true. She wonders if he’s been put up to being nice to her by Allison and her crowd, just so he can spectacularly and publicly drop her once she opens herself up. Wouldn’t it be terrible to reach such a point? I felt so awful for what Hannah went through and everything she had to deal with, and all I could think about is what I would do as a parent – of the bullied, of the bully, or of the bystanders.
I won’t spoil anything, as I want you to be able to experience whether or not Hannah learns to trust Lucas and whether Lucas earns that trust or if he is in fact out to torment her. It takes a while for Hannah to decide, and being on that journey of discovery with her is part of what’s so special about this book. The characters are also wonderful, and to top it off there’s a bombshell that’s dropped that I didn’t see coming from a mile away! It all combines just beautifully into one incredible read, one of the best contemporaries I’ve read this year, to be sure. I absolutely loved Hannah Both Ways, and I truly hope you will, too! I enthusiastically and wholeheartedly give this 5 stars!
**I received a copy of this book for purposes of an HONEST review for the blog tour. This in no way affected my rating or review, which is based solely on the experience I had reading the book itself.
December 10, 2015
This book was originally reviewed with my lovely blog mate, Christina! To see the full review check out The Book Hookup!
Despite, or maybe because of, their quirks I fell in love with both Hannah an Lucas early on in the book and continue to root for them until the very end!
But I do have to share with you a very unusual thing that happened to me while reading this book. It’s never happened before and I imagine that it might never happen again. The very first sentence in the second chapter grabbed me and, from that point on, the characters and the story did not let go. I know you’re thinking “that’s not very strange”…but it is. You see, I fell in love with the characters in chapter 2 after not connecting with them in the first chapter. Strange, huh?! I thought so too. Normally, if I don’t connect right away I can’t overcome that. But, thankfully, that was not the case here. This book is a great read.
Hannah was a wonderful character. Someone who’d experienced heartache and had built a wall around herself filled with structure and consistency in order to survive. Her last few months of high school were destined to be solitary ones and she was OK with that. She wanted to fly under the radar and had set a plan in motion that guaranteed it would happen. But, you know what they say about best laid plans…they often go awry! And, in this case, it’s Lucas who shakes things up. I loved Lucas right from the beginning. He was tenacious, smart and intriguing. His desire to get to know Hannah broke down my barriers much faster than it did hers because I knew immediately that this was going to be good. Their banter was wonderful and their inner monologues were both heartfelt and, at time, humorous. These characters and their situations felt real. They felt like kids I might have known back in school and it made me take a step back to wonder how we might have treated them. Their relationship was both romantic and sweet, a slow burn that was so worth the wait! And, even though this is ultimately a romance, this book dealt with other issues such as bullying and learning disabilities in a very respectful and realistic way. I really enjoyed it!
Despite, or maybe because of, their quirks I fell in love with both Hannah an Lucas early on in the book and continue to root for them until the very end!
But I do have to share with you a very unusual thing that happened to me while reading this book. It’s never happened before and I imagine that it might never happen again. The very first sentence in the second chapter grabbed me and, from that point on, the characters and the story did not let go. I know you’re thinking “that’s not very strange”…but it is. You see, I fell in love with the characters in chapter 2 after not connecting with them in the first chapter. Strange, huh?! I thought so too. Normally, if I don’t connect right away I can’t overcome that. But, thankfully, that was not the case here. This book is a great read.
Hannah was a wonderful character. Someone who’d experienced heartache and had built a wall around herself filled with structure and consistency in order to survive. Her last few months of high school were destined to be solitary ones and she was OK with that. She wanted to fly under the radar and had set a plan in motion that guaranteed it would happen. But, you know what they say about best laid plans…they often go awry! And, in this case, it’s Lucas who shakes things up. I loved Lucas right from the beginning. He was tenacious, smart and intriguing. His desire to get to know Hannah broke down my barriers much faster than it did hers because I knew immediately that this was going to be good. Their banter was wonderful and their inner monologues were both heartfelt and, at time, humorous. These characters and their situations felt real. They felt like kids I might have known back in school and it made me take a step back to wonder how we might have treated them. Their relationship was both romantic and sweet, a slow burn that was so worth the wait! And, even though this is ultimately a romance, this book dealt with other issues such as bullying and learning disabilities in a very respectful and realistic way. I really enjoyed it!
December 4, 2015
Hannah Both Ways is a story of one high school student who is a victim of cyber-bullying and how she deals with the aftermath of social media bashing and untrue nasty rumors.
I really admired Hannah because even though her world was crumbling, she stayed strong and resilient. The most admirable aspect of Hannah is she never gave up – she realized that this was a temporary problem in her life and did not even contemplate a more permanent solution. I also loved her snarky words, her wittiness, and most of all her social awkwardness. Hannah is a character that I truly liked and rooted for until the very end. Her ritual with the Dewey Decimal System was ingenious and I thought it was a great way for her to have a goal for each day.
Lucas was indeed a God-send that came at the perfect time in Hannah’s life and I was so happy that he had the patience of a saint when it came to dealing with Hannah’s cynical and untrusting ways. These two made the perfect duo and rounded out the story perfectly.
Reading this book took me back to my high school days and reminded me that kids can be cruel and heartless – it seems some things never change. Add the social media outlets and I am beyond thankful that these outlets weren't around in my day. Some kids have no idea how their hateful actions affect others or if they are aware, they flat out just don’t care. This story depicted verbal/written bullying perfectly and I applaud the author for creating an outstanding story that deals with a very difficult subject.
I would absolutely recommend Hannah Both Ways not only to young adults but older ones as well. It’s a great way of bringing cyber-bullying to light and showing a positive outcome to a dismal situation.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really admired Hannah because even though her world was crumbling, she stayed strong and resilient. The most admirable aspect of Hannah is she never gave up – she realized that this was a temporary problem in her life and did not even contemplate a more permanent solution. I also loved her snarky words, her wittiness, and most of all her social awkwardness. Hannah is a character that I truly liked and rooted for until the very end. Her ritual with the Dewey Decimal System was ingenious and I thought it was a great way for her to have a goal for each day.
Lucas was indeed a God-send that came at the perfect time in Hannah’s life and I was so happy that he had the patience of a saint when it came to dealing with Hannah’s cynical and untrusting ways. These two made the perfect duo and rounded out the story perfectly.
Reading this book took me back to my high school days and reminded me that kids can be cruel and heartless – it seems some things never change. Add the social media outlets and I am beyond thankful that these outlets weren't around in my day. Some kids have no idea how their hateful actions affect others or if they are aware, they flat out just don’t care. This story depicted verbal/written bullying perfectly and I applaud the author for creating an outstanding story that deals with a very difficult subject.
I would absolutely recommend Hannah Both Ways not only to young adults but older ones as well. It’s a great way of bringing cyber-bullying to light and showing a positive outcome to a dismal situation.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2015
This book...you know, I enjoy YA books, but they can be so hard to categorize. And some books in this category you either love or they really just fall short of hitting the mark. I really enjoyed this book! I asked the author if it made sense that I thought of this book as a mix between "Juno" and "Anna and the French Kiss". What I mean by that is our heroine, Hannah is cynical about most everything. She is a creature of routine, snarky, witty and as much as she might not want to admit it, a normal teenage girl. We learn it isn't just the events of the past year that have made her so world weary, but really the events of her life. Thanks to her last set of "friends", she's not sure she can trust anyone.
Enter the new boy, Lucas.
Oh, bless it. He really is swoony. But I knew he would be. I desperately wanted more interaction with Lucas in the earlier chapters, but since we only get Hannah's POV in this novel, it really helps us as the audience to feel what she's feeling; the curiosity, the confusion, and finally the crushing. He is so precious. I'm so glad he could show Hannah a new normal.
If you are looking for a quick, feel-good read during the holidays, I highly suggest picking up Hannah Both Ways. There is laughter and banter (my favorite), sweet romance, and even a few twists. I hope Rosie Greenway will give us more in this genre.
Enter the new boy, Lucas.
Oh, bless it. He really is swoony. But I knew he would be. I desperately wanted more interaction with Lucas in the earlier chapters, but since we only get Hannah's POV in this novel, it really helps us as the audience to feel what she's feeling; the curiosity, the confusion, and finally the crushing. He is so precious. I'm so glad he could show Hannah a new normal.
If you are looking for a quick, feel-good read during the holidays, I highly suggest picking up Hannah Both Ways. There is laughter and banter (my favorite), sweet romance, and even a few twists. I hope Rosie Greenway will give us more in this genre.
December 2, 2015
Full disclosure. Greenway and I share the same publisher, Rebelight. Curiosity brought me to this book. I wanted to read what else my publisher is publishing. Our books both came out in November.
Well, this book was really, really good. Rebelight's motto is "Crack the Spine and Blow your Mind." This book blew my mind. I couldn't put Greenway's book down. Her protagonist, Hannah, was so complex and real and smart and lovable. Greenway's writing was completely fresh and dynamic. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary writing. The language is a bit strong, in places, which startled me, but then maybe I'm just a wuss. Older YA, for sure.
I especially enjoyed the first half,where the romance develops. Of course, the reader knows where this is heading, and yet I was so intrigued with how skillfully the author played this game of hide and seek. Possibly my favorite lines, "...I know the word is there, suspended in the silence like a pinata waiting to be bashed to pieces. I have a bat at the ready, but I don't have the time to swing it. ..."
Well, this book was really, really good. Rebelight's motto is "Crack the Spine and Blow your Mind." This book blew my mind. I couldn't put Greenway's book down. Her protagonist, Hannah, was so complex and real and smart and lovable. Greenway's writing was completely fresh and dynamic. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary writing. The language is a bit strong, in places, which startled me, but then maybe I'm just a wuss. Older YA, for sure.
I especially enjoyed the first half,where the romance develops. Of course, the reader knows where this is heading, and yet I was so intrigued with how skillfully the author played this game of hide and seek. Possibly my favorite lines, "...I know the word is there, suspended in the silence like a pinata waiting to be bashed to pieces. I have a bat at the ready, but I don't have the time to swing it. ..."
November 25, 2015
Review soon!
December 8, 2015
Very cute. Hannah had spunk & Lucas had swoons. Together, they were pretty freaking adorable.
I reviewed this title with one of my co-bloggers, Ana. Our original joint review of this book can be found here on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for our honest review during this blog tour. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating:
~ Ana: 4 Stars!! Despite, or maybe because of, their quirks I fell in love with both Hannah an Lucas early on in the book and continue to root for them until the very end!
~ Christina: 4 stars! With realistic teen voices, a girl wrapped in fiery spunk and a boy with a penchant for swoons and pushing people's buttons, it was easy to fall for Hannah Both Ways and the romance it contained. Greenway did a stellar job of catching today's youth and some struggles that many go through in a really believable, authentic way.
♥ Ana's Review: I have to share with you a very unusual thing that happened to me while reading this book. It's never happened before and I imagine that it might never happen again. The very first sentence in the second chapter grabbed me and, from that point on, the characters and the story did not let go. I know you're thinking "that's not very strange"...but it is. You see, I fell in love with the characters in chapter 2 after not connecting with them in the first chapter. Strange, huh?! I thought so too. Normally, if I don't connect right away I can't overcome that. But, thankfully, that was not the case here. This book is a great read.
Hannah was a wonderful character. Someone who'd experienced heartache and had built a wall around herself filled with structure and consistency in order to survive. Her last few months of high school were destined to be solitary ones and she was OK with that. She wanted to fly under the radar and had set a plan in motion that guaranteed it would happen. But, you know what they say about best laid plans...they often go awry! And, in this case, it's Lucas who shakes things up. I loved Lucas right from the beginning. He was tenacious, smart and intriguing. His desire to get to know Hannah broke down my barriers much faster than it did hers because I knew immediately that this was going to be good. Their banter was wonderful and their inner monologues were both heartfelt and, at time, humorous. These characters and their situations felt real. They felt like kids I might have known back in school and it made me take a step back to wonder how we might have treated them. Their relationship was both romantic and sweet, a slow burn that was so worth the wait! And, even though this is ultimately as romance, this book dealt with other issues such as bullying and learning disabilities in a very respectful and realistic way.
♥ Christina's Review: If you're one that prefers not to wade through two reviews back-to-back, I can say that my thoughts easily aligned with Ana's opinions--minus her not being pulled in by the first chapter, I was intrigued from the beginning--and you can call it a day. If you're looking for a little more of a push, I can easily tell you why I liked this novel. For me, I like when characters are the heart of a story and an author can deliver their voice so clearly, and Hannah came across the page so effortlessly. I felt like I knew her, related to her and her story, without really having to read chapters upon chapters before I made that connection. It was almost instantaneous and that's not something that happens too often for me. I feel like for some readers, she'll definitely rub them the wrong way because she doesn't care that she's snark and spitfire, that she'd rather frown and spew venom immediately rather than give them an opportunity to prove her wrong about screwing her over first. However, I guess that was something that I appreciated about her character. Given her situation and past experiences, I think it was believable that she'd build walls and keep people at arm's reach. Furthermore, I like when she was pushed to make changes about herself, she was pliable about things and firm on others. In all, she didn't let love or a new relationship change who she was at her most center. In fact, she outright said that this is who she was, and she wasn't planning on changing any time soon. Being that stubborn but also self-aware doesn't happen that much in YA. Then there's sweet, adorable, persistent Lucas. I really enjoyed his character, too. He was very much a doer, a person active in his own life and others, and that was a rare quality to find in YA and something I hope to see more of in the future. I loved how he pushed Hannah (and his cousin, Nancy) out of her comfort zone and how he didn't give up on her when she didn't immediately give in. Throughout the book, he made my heart swell more times than not. He also had dyslexia, and I liked how the distinction about learning abilities not equating to intelligence level was so thoroughly discussed throughout the book.
There were also many more things about this novel that I really enjoyed. First up is the excellent dialogue exchanges and effortless banter. It made the characters jump off the page. Secondly, I liked how the author tackled bullying, both face-to-face and cyber bullying, and how the authority figures took it so seriously and held the proper parties responsible. Regardless of the decade, I think this is something that all teens have faced, both directly and indirectly, and it doesn't hurt to have that reminder about how it affects the victims. I also appreciated the realistic approach to teen sexuality, and how it was discussed in a manner that brought safety and being smart about it to the forefront without coming across as a lecture. Lastly, I liked the closer look and bit of a spotlight that was shown on various disabilities, like those in Spec Ed with varying levels of autism and the like, and how it tackled common misconceptions about them. Lucas's cousin, Nancy, was a real gem and I liked getting to see the side of her Aspergers that people don't usually notice.
Finally, I'd like to talk about my few little issues with the book that had me deducting a star. My biggest "complaint" (which really isn't much at all) is that I really wish we would have gotten a little more growth from certain characters, but especially Hannah and her mother. I was missing that big transition, but the small changes were enough to leave me satisfied. I also really wanted some of the secondary characters to have been more fleshed out. Aside from their "pinhead"ed-ness and small brains, I would have loved to have witnessed them being more rounded out and have them be more than just the mean girls and asshole boyfriends, especially considering the short length of the book. Lastly, I felt like their were a few conflicts left dangling, and I would have appreciated more expansion or closure on some of those things, particularly the situation with Lucas's uncle and the whole Dallyn aspect- his home life, the drug dealing, and why he was so caught up in Hannah. However, I was very content with where the story ended and these things weren't really enough to effect my overall enjoyment of the book.
♥ Rec It?
~ Ana: So, what's my bottom line? Go read this book! The writing is wonderful...the characters are charming...the story is great! You can't ask for anything else!! Except maybe for more books by Ms. Greenway!! :)
~ Christina: Yes, I would! This author delivered a solid story, believable characters, and a romance I could easily get behind. Sometimes it's as simple as that. If you're looking for a quick read that sticks it to the feels hard and often, definitely give this one a go.
♥ A very special thanks to our tour host, Chapter by Chapter, the author, Rosie Greenway, and Rebelight Publishing Inc. for allowing us to participate in this tour.
I reviewed this title with one of my co-bloggers, Ana. Our original joint review of this book can be found here on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for our honest review during this blog tour. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating:
~ Ana: 4 Stars!! Despite, or maybe because of, their quirks I fell in love with both Hannah an Lucas early on in the book and continue to root for them until the very end!
~ Christina: 4 stars! With realistic teen voices, a girl wrapped in fiery spunk and a boy with a penchant for swoons and pushing people's buttons, it was easy to fall for Hannah Both Ways and the romance it contained. Greenway did a stellar job of catching today's youth and some struggles that many go through in a really believable, authentic way.
♥ Ana's Review: I have to share with you a very unusual thing that happened to me while reading this book. It's never happened before and I imagine that it might never happen again. The very first sentence in the second chapter grabbed me and, from that point on, the characters and the story did not let go. I know you're thinking "that's not very strange"...but it is. You see, I fell in love with the characters in chapter 2 after not connecting with them in the first chapter. Strange, huh?! I thought so too. Normally, if I don't connect right away I can't overcome that. But, thankfully, that was not the case here. This book is a great read.
Hannah was a wonderful character. Someone who'd experienced heartache and had built a wall around herself filled with structure and consistency in order to survive. Her last few months of high school were destined to be solitary ones and she was OK with that. She wanted to fly under the radar and had set a plan in motion that guaranteed it would happen. But, you know what they say about best laid plans...they often go awry! And, in this case, it's Lucas who shakes things up. I loved Lucas right from the beginning. He was tenacious, smart and intriguing. His desire to get to know Hannah broke down my barriers much faster than it did hers because I knew immediately that this was going to be good. Their banter was wonderful and their inner monologues were both heartfelt and, at time, humorous. These characters and their situations felt real. They felt like kids I might have known back in school and it made me take a step back to wonder how we might have treated them. Their relationship was both romantic and sweet, a slow burn that was so worth the wait! And, even though this is ultimately as romance, this book dealt with other issues such as bullying and learning disabilities in a very respectful and realistic way.
♥ Christina's Review: If you're one that prefers not to wade through two reviews back-to-back, I can say that my thoughts easily aligned with Ana's opinions--minus her not being pulled in by the first chapter, I was intrigued from the beginning--and you can call it a day. If you're looking for a little more of a push, I can easily tell you why I liked this novel. For me, I like when characters are the heart of a story and an author can deliver their voice so clearly, and Hannah came across the page so effortlessly. I felt like I knew her, related to her and her story, without really having to read chapters upon chapters before I made that connection. It was almost instantaneous and that's not something that happens too often for me. I feel like for some readers, she'll definitely rub them the wrong way because she doesn't care that she's snark and spitfire, that she'd rather frown and spew venom immediately rather than give them an opportunity to prove her wrong about screwing her over first. However, I guess that was something that I appreciated about her character. Given her situation and past experiences, I think it was believable that she'd build walls and keep people at arm's reach. Furthermore, I like when she was pushed to make changes about herself, she was pliable about things and firm on others. In all, she didn't let love or a new relationship change who she was at her most center. In fact, she outright said that this is who she was, and she wasn't planning on changing any time soon. Being that stubborn but also self-aware doesn't happen that much in YA. Then there's sweet, adorable, persistent Lucas. I really enjoyed his character, too. He was very much a doer, a person active in his own life and others, and that was a rare quality to find in YA and something I hope to see more of in the future. I loved how he pushed Hannah (and his cousin, Nancy) out of her comfort zone and how he didn't give up on her when she didn't immediately give in. Throughout the book, he made my heart swell more times than not. He also had dyslexia, and I liked how the distinction about learning abilities not equating to intelligence level was so thoroughly discussed throughout the book.
There were also many more things about this novel that I really enjoyed. First up is the excellent dialogue exchanges and effortless banter. It made the characters jump off the page. Secondly, I liked how the author tackled bullying, both face-to-face and cyber bullying, and how the authority figures took it so seriously and held the proper parties responsible. Regardless of the decade, I think this is something that all teens have faced, both directly and indirectly, and it doesn't hurt to have that reminder about how it affects the victims. I also appreciated the realistic approach to teen sexuality, and how it was discussed in a manner that brought safety and being smart about it to the forefront without coming across as a lecture. Lastly, I liked the closer look and bit of a spotlight that was shown on various disabilities, like those in Spec Ed with varying levels of autism and the like, and how it tackled common misconceptions about them. Lucas's cousin, Nancy, was a real gem and I liked getting to see the side of her Aspergers that people don't usually notice.
Finally, I'd like to talk about my few little issues with the book that had me deducting a star. My biggest "complaint" (which really isn't much at all) is that I really wish we would have gotten a little more growth from certain characters, but especially Hannah and her mother. I was missing that big transition, but the small changes were enough to leave me satisfied. I also really wanted some of the secondary characters to have been more fleshed out. Aside from their "pinhead"ed-ness and small brains, I would have loved to have witnessed them being more rounded out and have them be more than just the mean girls and asshole boyfriends, especially considering the short length of the book. Lastly, I felt like their were a few conflicts left dangling, and I would have appreciated more expansion or closure on some of those things, particularly the situation with Lucas's uncle and the whole Dallyn aspect- his home life, the drug dealing, and why he was so caught up in Hannah. However, I was very content with where the story ended and these things weren't really enough to effect my overall enjoyment of the book.
♥ Rec It?
~ Ana: So, what's my bottom line? Go read this book! The writing is wonderful...the characters are charming...the story is great! You can't ask for anything else!! Except maybe for more books by Ms. Greenway!! :)
~ Christina: Yes, I would! This author delivered a solid story, believable characters, and a romance I could easily get behind. Sometimes it's as simple as that. If you're looking for a quick read that sticks it to the feels hard and often, definitely give this one a go.
♥ A very special thanks to our tour host, Chapter by Chapter, the author, Rosie Greenway, and Rebelight Publishing Inc. for allowing us to participate in this tour.
December 8, 2015
The original joint review of this title can be found
here
on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for our honest review during this blog tour. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating:
~ Ana: 4 Stars!! Despite, or maybe because of, their quirks I fell in love with both Hannah an Lucas early on in the book and continue to root for them until the very end!
~ Christina: 4 stars! With realistic teen voices, a girl wrapped in fiery spunk and a boy with a penchant for swoons and pushing people's buttons, it was easy to fall for Hannah Both Ways and the romance it contained. Greenway did a stellar job of catching today's youth and some struggles that many go through in a really believable, authentic way.
♥ Ana's Review: I have to share with you a very unusual thing that happened to me while reading this book. It's never happened before and I imagine that it might never happen again. The very first sentence in the second chapter grabbed me and, from that point on, the characters and the story did not let go. I know you're thinking "that's not very strange"...but it is. You see, I fell in love with the characters in chapter 2 after not connecting with them in the first chapter. Strange, huh?! I thought so too. Normally, if I don't connect right away I can't overcome that. But, thankfully, that was not the case here. This book is a great read.
Hannah was a wonderful character. Someone who'd experienced heartache and had built a wall around herself filled with structure and consistency in order to survive. Her last few months of high school were destined to be solitary ones and she was OK with that. She wanted to fly under the radar and had set a plan in motion that guaranteed it would happen. But, you know what they say about best laid plans...they often go awry! And, in this case, it's Lucas who shakes things up. I loved Lucas right from the beginning. He was tenacious, smart and intriguing. His desire to get to know Hannah broke down my barriers much faster than it did hers because I knew immediately that this was going to be good. Their banter was wonderful and their inner monologues were both heartfelt and, at time, humorous. These characters and their situations felt real. They felt like kids I might have known back in school and it made me take a step back to wonder how we might have treated them. Their relationship was both romantic and sweet, a slow burn that was so worth the wait! And, even though this is ultimately as romance, this book dealt with other issues such as bullying and learning disabilities in a very respectful and realistic way.
♥ Christina's Review: If you're one that prefers not to wade through two reviews back-to-back, I can say that my thoughts easily aligned with Ana's opinions--minus her not being pulled in by the first chapter, I was intrigued from the beginning--and you can call it a day. If you're looking for a little more of a push, I can easily tell you why I liked this novel. For me, I like when characters are the heart of a story and an author can deliver their voice so clearly, and Hannah came across the page so effortlessly. I felt like I knew her, related to her and her story, without really having to read chapters upon chapters before I made that connection. It was almost instantaneous and that's not something that happens too often for me. I feel like for some readers, she'll definitely rub them the wrong way because she doesn't care that she's snark and spitfire, that she'd rather frown and spew venom immediately rather than give them an opportunity to prove her wrong about screwing her over first. However, I guess that was something that I appreciated about her character. Given her situation and past experiences, I think it was believable that she'd build walls and keep people at arm's reach. Furthermore, I like when she was pushed to make changes about herself, she was pliable about things and firm on others. In all, she didn't let love or a new relationship change who she was at her most center. In fact, she outright said that this is who she was, and she wasn't planning on changing any time soon. Being that stubborn but also self-aware doesn't happen that much in YA. Then there's sweet, adorable, persistent Lucas. I really enjoyed his character, too. He was very much a doer, a person active in his own life and others, and that was a rare quality to find in YA and something I hope to see more of in the future. I loved how he pushed Hannah (and his cousin, Nancy) out of her comfort zone and how he didn't give up on her when she didn't immediately give in. Throughout the book, he made my heart swell more times than not. He also had dyslexia, and I liked how the distinction about learning abilities not equating to intelligence level was so thoroughly discussed throughout the book.
There were also many more things about this novel that I really enjoyed. First up is the excellent dialogue exchanges and effortless banter. It made the characters jump off the page. Secondly, I liked how the author tackled bullying, both face-to-face and cyber bullying, and how the authority figures took it so seriously and held the proper parties responsible. Regardless of the decade, I think this is something that all teens have faced, both directly and indirectly, and it doesn't hurt to have that reminder about how it affects the victims. I also appreciated the realistic approach to teen sexuality, and how it was discussed in a manner that brought safety and being smart about it to the forefront without coming across as a lecture. Lastly, I liked the closer look and bit of a spotlight that was shown on various disabilities, like those in Spec Ed with varying levels of autism and the like, and how it tackled common misconceptions about them. Lucas's cousin, Nancy, was a real gem and I liked getting to see the side of her Aspergers that people don't usually notice.
Finally, I'd like to talk about my few little issues with the book that had me deducting a star. My biggest "complaint" (which really isn't much at all) is that I really wish we would have gotten a little more growth from certain characters, but especially Hannah and her mother. I was missing that big transition, but the small changes were enough to leave me satisfied. I also really wanted some of the secondary characters to have been more fleshed out. Aside from their "pinhead"ed-ness and small brains, I would have loved to have witnessed them being more rounded out and have them be more than just the mean girls and asshole boyfriends, especially considering the short length of the book. Lastly, I felt like their were a few conflicts left dangling, and I would have appreciated more expansion or closure on some of those things, particularly the situation with Lucas's uncle and the whole Dallyn aspect- his home life, the drug dealing, and why he was so caught up in Hannah. However, I was very content with where the story ended and these things weren't really enough to effect my overall enjoyment of the book.
♥ Rec It?
~ Ana: So, what's my bottom line? Go read this book! The writing is wonderful...the characters are charming...the story is great! You can't ask for anything else!! Except maybe for more books by Ms. Greenway!! :)
~ Christina: Yes, I would! This author delivered a solid story, believable characters, and a romance I could easily get behind. Sometimes it's as simple as that. If you're looking for a quick read that sticks it to the feels hard and often, definitely give this one a go.
♥ A very special thanks to our tour host, Chapter by Chapter, the author, Rosie Greenway, and Rebelight Publishing Inc. for allowing us to participate in this tour.
Ana & Christina's Review:
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for our honest review during this blog tour. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating:
~ Ana: 4 Stars!! Despite, or maybe because of, their quirks I fell in love with both Hannah an Lucas early on in the book and continue to root for them until the very end!
~ Christina: 4 stars! With realistic teen voices, a girl wrapped in fiery spunk and a boy with a penchant for swoons and pushing people's buttons, it was easy to fall for Hannah Both Ways and the romance it contained. Greenway did a stellar job of catching today's youth and some struggles that many go through in a really believable, authentic way.
♥ Ana's Review: I have to share with you a very unusual thing that happened to me while reading this book. It's never happened before and I imagine that it might never happen again. The very first sentence in the second chapter grabbed me and, from that point on, the characters and the story did not let go. I know you're thinking "that's not very strange"...but it is. You see, I fell in love with the characters in chapter 2 after not connecting with them in the first chapter. Strange, huh?! I thought so too. Normally, if I don't connect right away I can't overcome that. But, thankfully, that was not the case here. This book is a great read.
Hannah was a wonderful character. Someone who'd experienced heartache and had built a wall around herself filled with structure and consistency in order to survive. Her last few months of high school were destined to be solitary ones and she was OK with that. She wanted to fly under the radar and had set a plan in motion that guaranteed it would happen. But, you know what they say about best laid plans...they often go awry! And, in this case, it's Lucas who shakes things up. I loved Lucas right from the beginning. He was tenacious, smart and intriguing. His desire to get to know Hannah broke down my barriers much faster than it did hers because I knew immediately that this was going to be good. Their banter was wonderful and their inner monologues were both heartfelt and, at time, humorous. These characters and their situations felt real. They felt like kids I might have known back in school and it made me take a step back to wonder how we might have treated them. Their relationship was both romantic and sweet, a slow burn that was so worth the wait! And, even though this is ultimately as romance, this book dealt with other issues such as bullying and learning disabilities in a very respectful and realistic way.
♥ Christina's Review: If you're one that prefers not to wade through two reviews back-to-back, I can say that my thoughts easily aligned with Ana's opinions--minus her not being pulled in by the first chapter, I was intrigued from the beginning--and you can call it a day. If you're looking for a little more of a push, I can easily tell you why I liked this novel. For me, I like when characters are the heart of a story and an author can deliver their voice so clearly, and Hannah came across the page so effortlessly. I felt like I knew her, related to her and her story, without really having to read chapters upon chapters before I made that connection. It was almost instantaneous and that's not something that happens too often for me. I feel like for some readers, she'll definitely rub them the wrong way because she doesn't care that she's snark and spitfire, that she'd rather frown and spew venom immediately rather than give them an opportunity to prove her wrong about screwing her over first. However, I guess that was something that I appreciated about her character. Given her situation and past experiences, I think it was believable that she'd build walls and keep people at arm's reach. Furthermore, I like when she was pushed to make changes about herself, she was pliable about things and firm on others. In all, she didn't let love or a new relationship change who she was at her most center. In fact, she outright said that this is who she was, and she wasn't planning on changing any time soon. Being that stubborn but also self-aware doesn't happen that much in YA. Then there's sweet, adorable, persistent Lucas. I really enjoyed his character, too. He was very much a doer, a person active in his own life and others, and that was a rare quality to find in YA and something I hope to see more of in the future. I loved how he pushed Hannah (and his cousin, Nancy) out of her comfort zone and how he didn't give up on her when she didn't immediately give in. Throughout the book, he made my heart swell more times than not. He also had dyslexia, and I liked how the distinction about learning abilities not equating to intelligence level was so thoroughly discussed throughout the book.
There were also many more things about this novel that I really enjoyed. First up is the excellent dialogue exchanges and effortless banter. It made the characters jump off the page. Secondly, I liked how the author tackled bullying, both face-to-face and cyber bullying, and how the authority figures took it so seriously and held the proper parties responsible. Regardless of the decade, I think this is something that all teens have faced, both directly and indirectly, and it doesn't hurt to have that reminder about how it affects the victims. I also appreciated the realistic approach to teen sexuality, and how it was discussed in a manner that brought safety and being smart about it to the forefront without coming across as a lecture. Lastly, I liked the closer look and bit of a spotlight that was shown on various disabilities, like those in Spec Ed with varying levels of autism and the like, and how it tackled common misconceptions about them. Lucas's cousin, Nancy, was a real gem and I liked getting to see the side of her Aspergers that people don't usually notice.
Finally, I'd like to talk about my few little issues with the book that had me deducting a star. My biggest "complaint" (which really isn't much at all) is that I really wish we would have gotten a little more growth from certain characters, but especially Hannah and her mother. I was missing that big transition, but the small changes were enough to leave me satisfied. I also really wanted some of the secondary characters to have been more fleshed out. Aside from their "pinhead"ed-ness and small brains, I would have loved to have witnessed them being more rounded out and have them be more than just the mean girls and asshole boyfriends, especially considering the short length of the book. Lastly, I felt like their were a few conflicts left dangling, and I would have appreciated more expansion or closure on some of those things, particularly the situation with Lucas's uncle and the whole Dallyn aspect- his home life, the drug dealing, and why he was so caught up in Hannah. However, I was very content with where the story ended and these things weren't really enough to effect my overall enjoyment of the book.
♥ Rec It?
~ Ana: So, what's my bottom line? Go read this book! The writing is wonderful...the characters are charming...the story is great! You can't ask for anything else!! Except maybe for more books by Ms. Greenway!! :)
~ Christina: Yes, I would! This author delivered a solid story, believable characters, and a romance I could easily get behind. Sometimes it's as simple as that. If you're looking for a quick read that sticks it to the feels hard and often, definitely give this one a go.
♥ A very special thanks to our tour host, Chapter by Chapter, the author, Rosie Greenway, and Rebelight Publishing Inc. for allowing us to participate in this tour.
January 21, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this one. I thought there were some things that could have been more thoroughly explained but I enjoyed my read of this one. So let's break it down:
What Worked
Hannah. I liked Hannah. I liked that she had her quirks and ways of dealing with the trauma. I also liked that she was trying to move on but knew she needed to open up to someone and learn to trust again. I also really liked the way that she said what was on her mind and didn't shy away from being overly rude. It was obviously a defence mechanism after everything she had been through. There were some things she said that I wasn't fond of, especially with the mentally challenged people she encountered. But I did like that she learned along the way that they weren't any different than her. That was a nice touch.
Lucas was pretty good too. I really liked that he worked hard to be with Hannah even though she was constantly being defensive. Especially since he knew what happened, I liked that he didn't write her off as someone not worth the fight to be with. Because that is what you want, people. You want someone who will do everything they can to be with you. Which is the difference between him and Dallyn in this instance. (Well, one of the differences) Because it is obvious that Dallyn likes Hannah, but he cares more about his reputation than her and that is a big no-no. Don't be with someone who cares more about appearances than you.
The story. I thought it was really plausible that something like this happened. Stuff like this happens all the time in high school. And I thought it was really well handled. I also really liked that it was more about Hannah dealing with the aftermath of this and coming to terms with being able to open up again rather than "oh now I have met this guy and want to go to university but what if we don't go to the same university!!" that a lot of Senior Year Contemporary books seem to be about.
And I absolutely loved the swearing, the make out sessions, and the safe sex promotion. That was all SO GOOD. More of this in YA!
What Didn't
Tbh, not much didn't work for me. I just didn't like that the pacing felt off (probably because the book was short, only 216 pages). I thought there could have been a bit more to the story to flesh it out to give the reader more time to spend with Hannah and see her inner turmoil about some of the decisions she made at the end of the story. I felt a little disconnected from Hannah near the end of the book because it was moving so quickly and she was making quick decisions that she didn't really mull over so the reader never got to mull over them with her.
I really wanted Hannah to resubmit her portfolio with her story from that night. Or at least finish it. I felt like we got to see what happened, but I would have liked her to have completed that assignment with the events of that night so it would feel more real. I didn't like that it started to be done that way and then switched to Hannah having flashbacks to it. I thought it was so creative to have Hannah write it out as a play -- and while I agree she probably would have stopped where she did because it was traumatic -- I would have liked her to eventually continue it and complete it, for both the reader and for herself.
This is one I really recommend to people. It had so much good stuff in it that the aspects of it I didn't like, I could overlook. Since it wasn't that long, I will probably reread it soon. I liked it that much.
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I really enjoyed this one. I thought there were some things that could have been more thoroughly explained but I enjoyed my read of this one. So let's break it down:
What Worked
Hannah. I liked Hannah. I liked that she had her quirks and ways of dealing with the trauma. I also liked that she was trying to move on but knew she needed to open up to someone and learn to trust again. I also really liked the way that she said what was on her mind and didn't shy away from being overly rude. It was obviously a defence mechanism after everything she had been through. There were some things she said that I wasn't fond of, especially with the mentally challenged people she encountered. But I did like that she learned along the way that they weren't any different than her. That was a nice touch.
Lucas was pretty good too. I really liked that he worked hard to be with Hannah even though she was constantly being defensive. Especially since he knew what happened, I liked that he didn't write her off as someone not worth the fight to be with. Because that is what you want, people. You want someone who will do everything they can to be with you. Which is the difference between him and Dallyn in this instance. (Well, one of the differences) Because it is obvious that Dallyn likes Hannah, but he cares more about his reputation than her and that is a big no-no. Don't be with someone who cares more about appearances than you.
The story. I thought it was really plausible that something like this happened. Stuff like this happens all the time in high school. And I thought it was really well handled. I also really liked that it was more about Hannah dealing with the aftermath of this and coming to terms with being able to open up again rather than "oh now I have met this guy and want to go to university but what if we don't go to the same university!!" that a lot of Senior Year Contemporary books seem to be about.
And I absolutely loved the swearing, the make out sessions, and the safe sex promotion. That was all SO GOOD. More of this in YA!
What Didn't
Tbh, not much didn't work for me. I just didn't like that the pacing felt off (probably because the book was short, only 216 pages). I thought there could have been a bit more to the story to flesh it out to give the reader more time to spend with Hannah and see her inner turmoil about some of the decisions she made at the end of the story. I felt a little disconnected from Hannah near the end of the book because it was moving so quickly and she was making quick decisions that she didn't really mull over so the reader never got to mull over them with her.
I really wanted Hannah to resubmit her portfolio with her story from that night. Or at least finish it. I felt like we got to see what happened, but I would have liked her to have completed that assignment with the events of that night so it would feel more real. I didn't like that it started to be done that way and then switched to Hannah having flashbacks to it. I thought it was so creative to have Hannah write it out as a play -- and while I agree she probably would have stopped where she did because it was traumatic -- I would have liked her to eventually continue it and complete it, for both the reader and for herself.
This is one I really recommend to people. It had so much good stuff in it that the aspects of it I didn't like, I could overlook. Since it wasn't that long, I will probably reread it soon. I liked it that much.
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December 15, 2015
Do you remember how when you were in high school the smallest thing could get blown out of proportion and your entire social life could be destroyed? Or, if you are in high school now, how anything that you post onto Facebook, Twitter, etc is some how known by everyone in seconds?
Well, poor Hannah was the victim of such an event. Something go posted onto Twitter that turned her whole world upside down. It destroyed her social life, leaving her to hide herself away in the library every day during lunch. She had her entire school schedule redone to avoid running into certain people. She even had to quit the cheerleading team. All because of a stupid prank.
If that wasn't bad enough, she is constantly the subject of mockery because her mom has been known to sleep around....a lot. And instead of facing any of her problems head on, her mom decides that when things get too tough that they need to pack up and move to a new place, a new town.
Hannah Both Ways takes place after the Twitter incident. It has been a couple of months since it happened and she thinks that she has mostly adjusted to life with no friends. She barely sees her mom who works a lot of nights at the bar and usually gets home late with who ever she happened to meet that night. She gets to school early and goes straight to her math class to wait for class to start and then when lunch time rolls around she goes into the library to read a book that the roll of a dice has determined.
She thinks that she is adjusted to this life. She doesn't tell her mom anything that happens at school because she doesn't want her to decide that they should just pack up their life and move (again). She doesn't want to run away, she just wants to get to graduation.
Then one day she meets a boy and her world goes crazy again.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It read a bit slower than I am used to a young adult reading, but that was okay. The story kept me pulled in and interested.
This book deals a lot with bullying, both cyber and not. I think a good message could be derived from it.
Something else that this book deals with is learning and other disabilities. Most notably - Autism and Dyslexia. I really like the parts of the book that dealt with these subjects.
However, what I did not like was how I felt Lucas treated Hannah sometimes. There were points that I felt that he was trying to fix her. I don't really like the idea of anyone trying to "fix" anyone else. To me this ruined their weird relationship a little bit.
All in all though, I liked it. I do recommend this book to others. I think that there are some good lessons in this one too for teens.
This review is based on a copy provided by Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
Well, poor Hannah was the victim of such an event. Something go posted onto Twitter that turned her whole world upside down. It destroyed her social life, leaving her to hide herself away in the library every day during lunch. She had her entire school schedule redone to avoid running into certain people. She even had to quit the cheerleading team. All because of a stupid prank.
If that wasn't bad enough, she is constantly the subject of mockery because her mom has been known to sleep around....a lot. And instead of facing any of her problems head on, her mom decides that when things get too tough that they need to pack up and move to a new place, a new town.
Hannah Both Ways takes place after the Twitter incident. It has been a couple of months since it happened and she thinks that she has mostly adjusted to life with no friends. She barely sees her mom who works a lot of nights at the bar and usually gets home late with who ever she happened to meet that night. She gets to school early and goes straight to her math class to wait for class to start and then when lunch time rolls around she goes into the library to read a book that the roll of a dice has determined.
She thinks that she is adjusted to this life. She doesn't tell her mom anything that happens at school because she doesn't want her to decide that they should just pack up their life and move (again). She doesn't want to run away, she just wants to get to graduation.
Then one day she meets a boy and her world goes crazy again.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It read a bit slower than I am used to a young adult reading, but that was okay. The story kept me pulled in and interested.
This book deals a lot with bullying, both cyber and not. I think a good message could be derived from it.
Something else that this book deals with is learning and other disabilities. Most notably - Autism and Dyslexia. I really like the parts of the book that dealt with these subjects.
However, what I did not like was how I felt Lucas treated Hannah sometimes. There were points that I felt that he was trying to fix her. I don't really like the idea of anyone trying to "fix" anyone else. To me this ruined their weird relationship a little bit.
All in all though, I liked it. I do recommend this book to others. I think that there are some good lessons in this one too for teens.
This review is based on a copy provided by Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
January 24, 2016
A bully is a bully is a bully and teenage girls seem to excel at it. Most of the time it is a perceived insult or threat to their "status quo". Sometimes, the tormentor just enjoys the pain and anguish they can inflict on their victim. Hannah is the unfortunate recipient of this treatment after her abilities in the all-important world of high school surpass those of the queen bee of the popular crowd. Ouch! "Ouch" as in this was painful to read. We all have stories from school, be it our own, our friend's or our children's that bring back unpleasant memories. Most don't go to the level that Hannah's tormentor's did. New Year's Eve. Party. Liquor. Mean girls. Plot. Camera. Twitter. Suddenly, Hannah's teenage life is in the toilet and she is handling it the only way she knows how...by trying to become invisible for the few months she has left at school. She is doing a good job of it too until the new guy...the hot, new guy...takes an interest in her and the spotlight is suddenly focused back on her. Having his own set of problems and no stranger to haters himself, Lucas sees Hannah, really sees her, and likes what he sees. Slowly, he whittles away at her walls and brings her out of her self-imposed exile into the land of the living.
"Hannah Both Ways" was a wonderful, painfully realistic view of teenage drama and the effects bullying has on young lives. Add cyber-bullying into the mix and it increases the pain exponentially as the "event" is now universal knowledge and not just local. I loved the realism. Ms. Greenway did not solve all of these teenagers problems but provided a "possibility" and a wonderful, uplifting finish to the delightful story.
"Hannah Both Ways" was a wonderful, painfully realistic view of teenage drama and the effects bullying has on young lives. Add cyber-bullying into the mix and it increases the pain exponentially as the "event" is now universal knowledge and not just local. I loved the realism. Ms. Greenway did not solve all of these teenagers problems but provided a "possibility" and a wonderful, uplifting finish to the delightful story.
January 2, 2016
More like 3.5.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this story. Hannah has suffered through a very believable mistake where something is posted to Twitter that makes an enormous impact on her life. This is the sort of thing that could, and probably does, happen to teens all the time. It's kind of scary to think about. As a result of this, she's been bullied, both in a cyber aspect and in person as well. In order to cope, she's completely isolated herself. She doesn't even have parents to turn to, as she has only a mother, and one who isn't the best role model out there, and one who thinks moving from place to place and running from problems is the best method for dealing with things. So Hannah gets this honestly. It didin't escape my irony scope that Hannah's method for dealing with her circumstances is to withdraw, which is also a form of running isn't it.
I thought Hannah was a very well-crafted character. She is one I felt very badly and strongly for. She has isolated herself entirely at school by avoiding people, classes, and other things, eating her lunch in the library, and being generally unapproachable. Until a new guy comes along. One that I loved because he was sweet and patient, and slowly but surely tore down Hannah's walls.
The romance was a very nice, slow progression which was gratifying and satisfying at the same time. The story was poignantly and beautifully written, and had some wonderful themes and messages in it. I have to applaud the author for taking on some of these themes and handling them so well. A very good read.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this story. Hannah has suffered through a very believable mistake where something is posted to Twitter that makes an enormous impact on her life. This is the sort of thing that could, and probably does, happen to teens all the time. It's kind of scary to think about. As a result of this, she's been bullied, both in a cyber aspect and in person as well. In order to cope, she's completely isolated herself. She doesn't even have parents to turn to, as she has only a mother, and one who isn't the best role model out there, and one who thinks moving from place to place and running from problems is the best method for dealing with things. So Hannah gets this honestly. It didin't escape my irony scope that Hannah's method for dealing with her circumstances is to withdraw, which is also a form of running isn't it.
I thought Hannah was a very well-crafted character. She is one I felt very badly and strongly for. She has isolated herself entirely at school by avoiding people, classes, and other things, eating her lunch in the library, and being generally unapproachable. Until a new guy comes along. One that I loved because he was sweet and patient, and slowly but surely tore down Hannah's walls.
The romance was a very nice, slow progression which was gratifying and satisfying at the same time. The story was poignantly and beautifully written, and had some wonderful themes and messages in it. I have to applaud the author for taking on some of these themes and handling them so well. A very good read.
December 6, 2015
Hannah Both Ways by Rosie Greenway
Rebelight Publishing
November 15, 2015
4 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with a paperback copy for an honest review.
Hannah Both Ways is book that will touch you, and make you think about real social issues teens are struggling with. Rosie managed to address several different issues in this story, some were being bullied due to not being normal and others were being bullied because of someone else trying to get what they wanted. This is all happening more and more, and was written beautifully. The characters were believable and I really liked the story.
FULL REVIEW GO TO:
http://takemeawaytoagreatread.com/201...
Rebelight Publishing
November 15, 2015
4 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with a paperback copy for an honest review.
Hannah Both Ways is book that will touch you, and make you think about real social issues teens are struggling with. Rosie managed to address several different issues in this story, some were being bullied due to not being normal and others were being bullied because of someone else trying to get what they wanted. This is all happening more and more, and was written beautifully. The characters were believable and I really liked the story.
FULL REVIEW GO TO:
http://takemeawaytoagreatread.com/201...
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April 2, 2016This was a good one. I liked the characters and the story... could not put this book down! The writing has a certain tone to it that you feel like you are a part of the story. One of the best books that I have read in awhile (and I read a lot).
December 7, 2015
Truly enjoyed this book. Great characters, no sugar coating. They were flawed and engaging. I loved that bad decisions did not always translate into bad people.
December 19, 2015
Loved This.
I can relate to this story in so many ways.........
I can relate to this story in so many ways.........
January 10, 2016
You can read my full review here.
January 7, 2025
3.5 stars.
December 5, 2015
Review to come.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews