The Healing Time of Hickeys

Haley Andromeda Trilogy #1

by Karen Rivers

Haley Andromeda is 16, and in her last year of high school - "The Greatest Year of My Life," or TGYML. Haley likes to think she's just a normal girl, plagued with all the normal doubts of a too-smart-for-her-own-good, slightly hypochondriac, hickey-prone teenager. But part way through the year, disaster Haley comes down with chickenpox; her best friend Jules won't speak to her; the object of her affections, a boy named J. T., won't even look at her; and worst of all, her harmless hippie Dad is in some mysterious trouble with the law. In desperation, Haley turns to the Ouija board and tries to communicate with the Other Side, but this leads to a further, unexpected Why does the dead boy she channels seem more attractive than the real boy who wants to spend time with her? The Healing Time of Hickeys, written in diary form, takes the reader on a compelling, wryly funny journey to discover the answer to this question, and several more that Haley thinks she keeps hidden from everyone.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2004

About the author

Karen Rivers is too thrown by the "Date of Death" drop down that has appeared below her name in the editing section of this page to actually write anything about her life. When she recovers, this box will be filled with imperative biographical information and may include SECRETS and probably also a few LIES. Now she is going to sit back and anxiously track that "Date of Death" box in case a date suddenly appears, foretelling her imminent doom.

Reviews

[Sade · Rating 4 out of 5]

so hilarious and fun. but most probably only hilarious and fun to teenage girls — Me!!! — and teenage girl-aligning. read if you’re feeling neurotic, definitely.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had taken this book out of the library before, but returned it because I really wasn't interested in reading it. But this time when I checked it out, I actually did sit down and read it. I really liked the plot, and overall I really enjoyed the story! Once again, it was written in diary form which I love. And I have never read a book where the main character was sick for most of the time (or obsessed with her health). The only thing I didn't like was that there was really no point to the story - the only character I really got to 'meet' was Hayley. But I will probably end up reading the sequel, because Hayley is hilarious! Overall, it was a pretty easy, light read but good nonetheless.

[Stefanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Self-involved teenager whines into her diary about her hopeless crush on a jerk, friends who she hates because they are as self-involved as her, a father who is actually the only funny thing about this book because he is such a stoner. Basically, everything that is wrong with teen fiction you can find in this book, with some surprising new twists like chicken pox turning into meningitis for no real reason other than filling pages, and other things that fail to advance the plot (mostly because the plot doesn't exist). No character development and a lack of actual humor make this book cringe-worthy in the extreme.

[TheSaint · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haley Andromeda Harmony is one seriously neurotic chick. Of course, who wouldn't be with a pot-growing hippie father, two gorgeous best(?) friends, and an absent mother who turns out to be a... well never mind what her mother is. You'll find that out at very nearly the end of The Healing Time of Hickeys by Karen Rivers. Actually, right about the same time you'll find out the answer to the titular question. This is escapist chick-lit at its best.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The start of reading all of the old books on my bookshelf begins! This wasn't one of my top favorites when I was younger by any means but I do remember reading it more than once. Quick, funny read.

[Chandni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haley Andromeda Harmony is neurotic! She is an extreme hypochondriac and worries about pretty much everything. I thought this book was decently written, but I really disliked Haley’s friends, Kiki and Jules. Throughout the entire book, Haley kept complaining about how she couldn’t stand them and how they were always making fun of her, and 10 pages later, she was friends with them again. Kiki actually ended up being a decent friend to Haley, but Jules wasn’t at all! I just don’t understand why a person would be friends with someone who didn’t respect them or treat them kindly. However, Haley was an authentic teenage character (albeit an overanxious one). This book was also written in epistolary format, which I’ve always loved. Cute, fluffy read.

[Rosalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book. When I first started reading it, I kind of saw a bit of Haley in me (the over analyzing/over complicating/over thinking). It bugged me how much she kept worrying about a disease or illness she had and it was mentioned in like every other sentence. I also didn't like how even though the guy she was crushing on was a major dick, she excused him for almost everything he did and couldn't like anyone else until later on in the book. Some things that I wish were resolved better were the Ghost on the Oujia board and if it was real/who was it, why Kiki got so mad easily and what for, and why Jules was the way she was. Other than that, I enjoyed the story and it was an easy read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Haley Andromeda would like to think she's just a normal high school senior, but during a disastrous time in her life, she turns to the Ouija board and tries to communicate with the Other Side, which only leads to further complications.

[Nothing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this all in one night. I lost needed sleep, but didn't mind. This was a great book. The charactors were believable/realistic, the plot was more realistic than most YA books (more true to how life is, IMO). I recommend this to anyone in need of a fun quirky book.

[Thyme Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like Bridjet Jones, she even says it's what inspired her. Well the character at least says it. It's a quick, easy, fun read.

[Is]

this book is creepy, but wonderful.