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This Is How It Happened
“Somehow I’ve become a liar. A coward. Here’s how it happened.”
When Genevieve Grace wakes up from a coma, she can’t remember the car crash that killed her boyfriend Dallas, a YouTube star turned teen music idol. Genevieve knows she was driving, and that there was another driver, a man named Bradley Freeman, who everyone assumes is guilty. But as she slowly pieces together the night of the accident, Genevieve is hit with a sickening sense of dread—that maybe she had something to do with it all.
As the internet rages against Bradley Freeman, condemning him in a brutal trial by social media, Genevieve escapes across the country to her father’s house, where she can hide from intrusive reporters and spend the summer volunteering in beautiful Zion National Park. But she quickly realizes that she can’t run away from the accident, or the terrible aftermath of it all. At some point, she’ll have to deal with her role in what really happened, and the seemingly endless fallout for the man being blamed.
When Genevieve Grace wakes up from a coma, she can’t remember the car crash that killed her boyfriend Dallas, a YouTube star turned teen music idol. Genevieve knows she was driving, and that there was another driver, a man named Bradley Freeman, who everyone assumes is guilty. But as she slowly pieces together the night of the accident, Genevieve is hit with a sickening sense of dread—that maybe she had something to do with it all.
As the internet rages against Bradley Freeman, condemning him in a brutal trial by social media, Genevieve escapes across the country to her father’s house, where she can hide from intrusive reporters and spend the summer volunteering in beautiful Zion National Park. But she quickly realizes that she can’t run away from the accident, or the terrible aftermath of it all. At some point, she’ll have to deal with her role in what really happened, and the seemingly endless fallout for the man being blamed.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2017
31 people are currently reading
4556 people want to read
About the author
Paula Stokes
15 books1,145 followers*** Please contact me via the contact information on my website: authorpaulastokes.com ***
Paula Stokes is half writer, half RN, and totally thrilled to be part of the world of YA literature. She started out writing historical fiction under a pen name and is now branching out into other YA genres.
When she's not working (rare), she's kayaking, hiking, reading, or seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She's petted tigers, snuggled snakes, snorkeled with stingrays, and once enjoyed the suction-cuppy feel of a baby elephant's trunk as it ate peanuts from her palm. Her future goals include diving with Great White sharks, learning Krav Maga, and writing a whole slew of novels, not necessarily in that order.
Paula Stokes is half writer, half RN, and totally thrilled to be part of the world of YA literature. She started out writing historical fiction under a pen name and is now branching out into other YA genres.
When she's not working (rare), she's kayaking, hiking, reading, or seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She's petted tigers, snuggled snakes, snorkeled with stingrays, and once enjoyed the suction-cuppy feel of a baby elephant's trunk as it ate peanuts from her palm. Her future goals include diving with Great White sharks, learning Krav Maga, and writing a whole slew of novels, not necessarily in that order.
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July 17, 2017IMPORTANT NOTE FOR EARLY READERS/REVIEWERS:
Both the physical galley and first uploaded e-ARC to Edelweiss are missing the equivalent of a page. The e-ARC was updated on March 6th to include the missing material.
This book contains tweets and blog posts with comments, and one of the comment sections was accidentally omitted during typesetting. These comments are important for both characterization and advancing the plot, and without them there will be multiple disconnects (Wait? What? When did that happen?) as you read.
Here is a link to material that is missing between page 167 and page 168 in the physical ARC or at 46% (Kindle location 2106/4621 if you use those numbers) in the original e-ARC.
Thanks to Rashika the Book Owl for looking that up for me :) Email me: pstokesbooks [at] gmail [dot] com if you have questions. Thanks!
This is the book that's taking the place of Jack of Hearts, which is what my contract originally called for to be released in summer of 2017. I wrote 45,000 words of that book and then crashed hard on it. Some projects don't end up working and some do work but just not when you want them to. It's entirely possible I will go back to Jack of Hearts someday. But in the meantime, if you're interested in more background on this story, here's where the idea came from. My blog tour discusses fast drafting, including real places, incorporating the internet, why the book has a romance, and my personal challenges writing an issue book. Finally here's a link to the non-spoilery discussion guide I wrote for the novel.
Thanks, as always, for checking out my work :)
Both the physical galley and first uploaded e-ARC to Edelweiss are missing the equivalent of a page. The e-ARC was updated on March 6th to include the missing material.
This book contains tweets and blog posts with comments, and one of the comment sections was accidentally omitted during typesetting. These comments are important for both characterization and advancing the plot, and without them there will be multiple disconnects (Wait? What? When did that happen?) as you read.
Here is a link to material that is missing between page 167 and page 168 in the physical ARC or at 46% (Kindle location 2106/4621 if you use those numbers) in the original e-ARC.
Thanks to Rashika the Book Owl for looking that up for me :) Email me: pstokesbooks [at] gmail [dot] com if you have questions. Thanks!
This is the book that's taking the place of Jack of Hearts, which is what my contract originally called for to be released in summer of 2017. I wrote 45,000 words of that book and then crashed hard on it. Some projects don't end up working and some do work but just not when you want them to. It's entirely possible I will go back to Jack of Hearts someday. But in the meantime, if you're interested in more background on this story, here's where the idea came from. My blog tour discusses fast drafting, including real places, incorporating the internet, why the book has a romance, and my personal challenges writing an issue book. Finally here's a link to the non-spoilery discussion guide I wrote for the novel.
Thanks, as always, for checking out my work :)
July 11, 2017
Dallas didn’t survive. He’s dead. It’s like I have to keep replaying those words in order to believe them. I know the first stage of grief is denial, but I’ve always thought of that as an active thing, a violent refusal to accept reality. What I feel is just this passive shock, this numbness. Maybe it is just the medicine, like Dr. Chao said.
I knew this was a YA contemporary about the aftermath of an accident that took the life of seventeen year old Genevieve's boyfriend Dallas, who also happens to be the next big YouTube star. She has no memory of the accident, but feels immense guilt for being the one to survive when so many people loved her boyfriend. What I did not expect were the important lessons embedded in these pages: the consequences of cyberbullying, impaired driving, and .
The story itself begins with an online article reporting the accident. Throughout the story, additional online news articles, blog posts, and tweets are used to show the online community's opinions throughout. With a famous individual dying in the accident, it brings out plenty of trolls, fangirls, etc who have no issue saying whatever they want with no fear of consequences because people are pretty ballsy behind a computer screen. People speak out and say cruel things regarding the other driver in the accident who is in fact receiving the blame. For Genevieve, reading these comments and tweets only makes her feel worse about what happened.
It doesn't help matters that Dallas was such a big deal. The press is staked out at her house. His fan clubs seem to think they deserve something from Genevieve even going so far as to give out her email address to the fanbase. No thanks. I truly felt for Genevieve. The pain of having to learn her boyfriend was killed broke my heart. That's where the story is at it's strongest - where Genevieve is trying to piece together what happened.
My heart starts pounding. Images flicker through my brain: flashing lights, smoke, blood. But is any of it real? I’m not sure. For all I know, I’m still unconscious on a ventilator and this moment isn’t even real. I bite down on my bottom lip until the pain makes me eyes water.
The book does go back to the night of the incident as Genevieve's memory is recovered. I thought this would be what I cared about more than anything, but the writing kept me interested in the present day storyline which is good since the book doesn't go to the past much. It's maybe only 3 chapters total. The thing that bothered me is about halfway through...the book gets to a point where it just drags a bit. The change of setting wasn't the problem, though that's about where it happens. I can appreciate the family dynamics this opened up. I just don't think it really added anything to the story. It brought the pacing down and made me feel like I was dragging my way through. Some could argue, but the romance! I beg to differ. It wasn't necessary sort of feeling like it takes away from the more important messages in the book.
The real reason I would recommend this book is for the lessons throughout. Definitely an important read with such a powerful message. I appreciate what Paula Stokes was doing here.
The power of words. And cars, for that matter. Neither is worth ruining or losing a life so don't be reckless with either.
November 7, 2017
“Where does seeking justice end and seeking vengeance begin?”
I really enjoy books that offer a unique social commentary, especially when it’s relevant to modern times, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. It touches on cyber-bullying, the social media jury phenomenon, and more, as well as some ever-relevant morals, such as honesty and trust.
PLOT ➳➳
When Genevieve wakes up in a hospital, she’s told she’s been in a coma for a week – a coma caused by the car crash that killed her youtube sensation boyfriend, Dallas. A car crash that she was driving in. The journalists and reporters are all saying that the head-on collision is to blame on the other driver: Brad Freeman, a man who’s already got at least one drunk driving charge under his belt. This prior blame, coupled with Dallas’ rise to stardom briefly before his demise, leads the internet into a frenzy. Social media sites everywhere are full of comment threads of users wishing death upon Brad and his family, with the majority fully convinced that he must have been another reckless drunk driver, taking the life of poor, innocent Dallas.
The problem is, Gen is the only one who can testify for or against Brad… and she doesn’t remember the night of the accident, but something in her gut tells her that things aren’t what they seem.
WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
This was my first Paula Stokes book, and I really enjoyed her writing voice! Her style makes for a quick and easy read without being mediocre, and there was constantly this underlying theme that she was proving more than one important point to her readers, which I liked. Obviously, not every story needs a moral, but this book has them, and portrays them well.
I also found Gen to be a really solid, likeable MC. She’s made mistakes, and while some of them have been traumatic, it’s always clear that she’s not a “bad person”; the mistakes she’s made were things that anyone could do if they’re not being cautious or thinking carefully, which drives the point home that much further.
I also really loved the fact that we’re shown this perspective of her relationship with Dallas that easily explains how she can be interested in a new guy not long after his death; despite her own concerns that people will judge her for moving on too fast, I never felt like the progression was rushed or unnatural. Plus, the love interest in this book is a real catch, and his gay dads are so adorable you can’t help but love the entire little family.
WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
I actually don’t think there was much of anything I outright disliked about this book; it’s more than it wasn’t anything mind-blowing, so I couldn’t quite justify 5 stars. I don’t think that this book is the kind of story that will stick with me for long, because I didn’t just love it. I actually found it just a little bit difficult to relate to Gen and Dallas, with the whole brilliant-girl-genius and overnight-youtube-music-sensation vibe. Plus, both of Gen’s parents are surgeons and her step-mom is a boss at this fancy government park, so everything felt very… upper class and a little bit unapproachable, if that makes sense.
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
All in all, is this the kind of book that will stay with me for a long time to come? Probably not. Is this the kind of book that I might reread in the future? Debatable. Would I pick up other titles from Paula later on, though? Absolutely! I think she’s got a whole well full of potential and I can’t wait to see where she takes it.
Thank you so much to Paula Stokes and the lovely folks at HarperTeen for this ARC! All opinions expressed here are my own.
You can also find this review on my blog!
I really enjoy books that offer a unique social commentary, especially when it’s relevant to modern times, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. It touches on cyber-bullying, the social media jury phenomenon, and more, as well as some ever-relevant morals, such as honesty and trust.
PLOT ➳➳
When Genevieve wakes up in a hospital, she’s told she’s been in a coma for a week – a coma caused by the car crash that killed her youtube sensation boyfriend, Dallas. A car crash that she was driving in. The journalists and reporters are all saying that the head-on collision is to blame on the other driver: Brad Freeman, a man who’s already got at least one drunk driving charge under his belt. This prior blame, coupled with Dallas’ rise to stardom briefly before his demise, leads the internet into a frenzy. Social media sites everywhere are full of comment threads of users wishing death upon Brad and his family, with the majority fully convinced that he must have been another reckless drunk driver, taking the life of poor, innocent Dallas.
The problem is, Gen is the only one who can testify for or against Brad… and she doesn’t remember the night of the accident, but something in her gut tells her that things aren’t what they seem.
WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
This was my first Paula Stokes book, and I really enjoyed her writing voice! Her style makes for a quick and easy read without being mediocre, and there was constantly this underlying theme that she was proving more than one important point to her readers, which I liked. Obviously, not every story needs a moral, but this book has them, and portrays them well.
I also found Gen to be a really solid, likeable MC. She’s made mistakes, and while some of them have been traumatic, it’s always clear that she’s not a “bad person”; the mistakes she’s made were things that anyone could do if they’re not being cautious or thinking carefully, which drives the point home that much further.
I also really loved the fact that we’re shown this perspective of her relationship with Dallas that easily explains how she can be interested in a new guy not long after his death; despite her own concerns that people will judge her for moving on too fast, I never felt like the progression was rushed or unnatural. Plus, the love interest in this book is a real catch, and his gay dads are so adorable you can’t help but love the entire little family.
WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
I actually don’t think there was much of anything I outright disliked about this book; it’s more than it wasn’t anything mind-blowing, so I couldn’t quite justify 5 stars. I don’t think that this book is the kind of story that will stick with me for long, because I didn’t just love it. I actually found it just a little bit difficult to relate to Gen and Dallas, with the whole brilliant-girl-genius and overnight-youtube-music-sensation vibe. Plus, both of Gen’s parents are surgeons and her step-mom is a boss at this fancy government park, so everything felt very… upper class and a little bit unapproachable, if that makes sense.
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
All in all, is this the kind of book that will stay with me for a long time to come? Probably not. Is this the kind of book that I might reread in the future? Debatable. Would I pick up other titles from Paula later on, though? Absolutely! I think she’s got a whole well full of potential and I can’t wait to see where she takes it.
Thank you so much to Paula Stokes and the lovely folks at HarperTeen for this ARC! All opinions expressed here are my own.
You can also find this review on my blog!
February 8, 2018
“It won’t be easy and there are no guarantees, but I’m going to try anyway.”
I have so much appreciation for the messages of the book and I thank Ms. Paula Stokes for bringing these issues to people’s attention. Online shaming and hate culture for many people have somehow become a way of life. It’s as if people are always waiting for people to make mistakes just so they could release their unreasonable wrath with their hate comments online. It’s honestly exhausting and it’s also the same reason I don’t spend too much time on social media and social networks.
Opening the readers’ eyes about the consequences of the above mentioned is only one of the novel’s achievement because above these messages is actually a really good story of a teenage girl caught in an accident and later on buried in grief, guilt and fear over the implications of the things she did or did not do.
The plot is finely enveloped in mystery and psychological subtexts while the characters are well-portrayed. I liked that despite the atmosphere of sadness, there was still plenty of things to smile about including the romance, friendship and inspiration especially in the concluding pages of the book.
Everyone has his or her version of This is How it Happened and the story reminds us about being cautious in our words and judgment. A simple hate comment is enough to encourage the end receiver to feel worthless as a person or worse to end his/her life. Let’s not contribute to the cruelty of the world.
P.S. The American Ninja Warrior part really won me over. My mom and I watch it as if we’re relatives of the contestants. Sometimes I even dream about getting up that warped wall in my sleep. Lol!
I have so much appreciation for the messages of the book and I thank Ms. Paula Stokes for bringing these issues to people’s attention. Online shaming and hate culture for many people have somehow become a way of life. It’s as if people are always waiting for people to make mistakes just so they could release their unreasonable wrath with their hate comments online. It’s honestly exhausting and it’s also the same reason I don’t spend too much time on social media and social networks.
Opening the readers’ eyes about the consequences of the above mentioned is only one of the novel’s achievement because above these messages is actually a really good story of a teenage girl caught in an accident and later on buried in grief, guilt and fear over the implications of the things she did or did not do.
The plot is finely enveloped in mystery and psychological subtexts while the characters are well-portrayed. I liked that despite the atmosphere of sadness, there was still plenty of things to smile about including the romance, friendship and inspiration especially in the concluding pages of the book.
Everyone has his or her version of This is How it Happened and the story reminds us about being cautious in our words and judgment. A simple hate comment is enough to encourage the end receiver to feel worthless as a person or worse to end his/her life. Let’s not contribute to the cruelty of the world.
P.S. The American Ninja Warrior part really won me over. My mom and I watch it as if we’re relatives of the contestants. Sometimes I even dream about getting up that warped wall in my sleep. Lol!
May 18, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl involved in a fatal car accident.
Genevieve was quite a strong character, and I felt bad for her when she heard the news that Dallas was dead, and again when she realised her part in the accident. It was brave of her to do what she did in the aftermath though.
The storyline in this was about Genevieve waking up after the car accident which killed her boyfriend Dallas, and about her getting plagued by the media as Dallas was a You Tube star and had just released his first album. Initially the accident was blamed on the other driver, but as Genevieve slowly got her memories back, she began to realise that maybe he wasn’t to blame after all. This was quite a difficult story to read in places, as Genevieve struggled with guilt and not knowing what to do, and it was quite hard hitting.
The ending to this was pretty good, and things were wrapped up realistically.
7 out of 10.
“I’m sorry, honey. Dallas didn’t survive. He’s dead.”
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl involved in a fatal car accident.
Genevieve was quite a strong character, and I felt bad for her when she heard the news that Dallas was dead, and again when she realised her part in the accident. It was brave of her to do what she did in the aftermath though.
The storyline in this was about Genevieve waking up after the car accident which killed her boyfriend Dallas, and about her getting plagued by the media as Dallas was a You Tube star and had just released his first album. Initially the accident was blamed on the other driver, but as Genevieve slowly got her memories back, she began to realise that maybe he wasn’t to blame after all. This was quite a difficult story to read in places, as Genevieve struggled with guilt and not knowing what to do, and it was quite hard hitting.
The ending to this was pretty good, and things were wrapped up realistically.
7 out of 10.
June 8, 2022
Very engrossing and thought provoking!
Engrossing story about a couple in a car crash. The boy dies and the girl is in a coma for days with a head injury. The boy is an up and coming singer with many fans and the driver of the other car has alcohol on his breath and in his car and a DWI on his record. The girlfriend wakes from her coma remembering nothing about the accident, while on social media fans are bullying the other driver who also remembers nothing.
As the girl slowly starts to piece together the night, and online threats against the other driver get worse, she begins to think she might just be the driver that killed her boyfriend. But if she comes forward will those fans turn those threats on her?
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
Engrossing story about a couple in a car crash. The boy dies and the girl is in a coma for days with a head injury. The boy is an up and coming singer with many fans and the driver of the other car has alcohol on his breath and in his car and a DWI on his record. The girlfriend wakes from her coma remembering nothing about the accident, while on social media fans are bullying the other driver who also remembers nothing.
As the girl slowly starts to piece together the night, and online threats against the other driver get worse, she begins to think she might just be the driver that killed her boyfriend. But if she comes forward will those fans turn those threats on her?
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
April 10, 2021
This is another exceptional, hard-hitting YA novel from Paula Stokes.
Internet shaming is the main focus of this very well-written story: Genevieve and her boyfriend Dallas are involved in a terrible car accident, and Dallas is killed. When Genevieve comes out of her coma, she can't remember any details of the accident. The driver of the other car involved in the accident is blamed for Dallas's death, and he is hounded and vilified by the press and internet shamers. To Genevieve's horror, her memory starts to return and she realizes that all is not as the press has made the story seem. After seeing how the press and the internet shamers treated the other driver, Genevieve is now too afraid to come forward and set the record straight with the truth of what happened that fateful night: you will have to read this excellent story to discover what exactly that truth is.
The story is set in part in Missouri, then in Utah. The vivid, awe-inspiring descriptions of the Zion National Park make we want to jump on a plane and go see this natural wonder for myself.
(It would also be great if a cute and supportive park ranger like Elliott would be waiting at the gates to hold my hand and guide me through!)
One final comment: Paula Stokes has a tremendous talent for characterization and natural dialogue. Every time I read one of her books, I am convinced that she should take up screen writing because her characters and dialogue are so real and engaging.
This is a 4.5 star read: highly recommended.
Internet shaming is the main focus of this very well-written story: Genevieve and her boyfriend Dallas are involved in a terrible car accident, and Dallas is killed. When Genevieve comes out of her coma, she can't remember any details of the accident. The driver of the other car involved in the accident is blamed for Dallas's death, and he is hounded and vilified by the press and internet shamers. To Genevieve's horror, her memory starts to return and she realizes that all is not as the press has made the story seem. After seeing how the press and the internet shamers treated the other driver, Genevieve is now too afraid to come forward and set the record straight with the truth of what happened that fateful night: you will have to read this excellent story to discover what exactly that truth is.
The story is set in part in Missouri, then in Utah. The vivid, awe-inspiring descriptions of the Zion National Park make we want to jump on a plane and go see this natural wonder for myself.
(It would also be great if a cute and supportive park ranger like Elliott would be waiting at the gates to hold my hand and guide me through!)
One final comment: Paula Stokes has a tremendous talent for characterization and natural dialogue. Every time I read one of her books, I am convinced that she should take up screen writing because her characters and dialogue are so real and engaging.
This is a 4.5 star read: highly recommended.
October 13, 2017
Have you heard of this Thai movie called Bad Genius? It's a heist/spy thriller film set in high school. A high school honor student, who's dirt-poor, helps students cheat on their exams for money. She gradually graduates to the big leagues—a transnational operation for Thai STIC applicants.
The shit they come up with is baller. Finger taps mimicking piano chord snippets to indicate multiple choice answers. Pencils with tailored barcodes showing answers. Erasers sporting scrawled answers dropped in standard uniform shoes, then swapped.
All this greatness, however, culminates in a disappointingly cliche ending with the recognition that cheating is wrong under all circumstances. Our criminal prodigy turns herself in, selling out her entire crew, despite near certain havoc on her reputation and future career opportunities.
This is How it Happened is Bad Genius. It takes an awesome concept and turns it into a straightforward public service announcement.
I'll save you the trouble of reading it: Online bullying is bad.
ARC provided by Edelweiss
The shit they come up with is baller. Finger taps mimicking piano chord snippets to indicate multiple choice answers. Pencils with tailored barcodes showing answers. Erasers sporting scrawled answers dropped in standard uniform shoes, then swapped.
All this greatness, however, culminates in a disappointingly cliche ending with the recognition that cheating is wrong under all circumstances. Our criminal prodigy turns herself in, selling out her entire crew, despite near certain havoc on her reputation and future career opportunities.
This is How it Happened is Bad Genius. It takes an awesome concept and turns it into a straightforward public service announcement.
I'll save you the trouble of reading it: Online bullying is bad.
ARC provided by Edelweiss
July 13, 2017
I'm such a fan of Paula's words, I don't even read the synopsis anymore. I know I'll always be wowed by what she does. And this was no exception.
I really liked Genevieve. She's got a lot of things going on and dealing with a blank memory doesn't help, but she's stronger than she thinks. As things get revealed, it was easy to relate to how Gen reacted. Of course Elliott was adorable and I could have read a million pages of the two of them. Gen's dad is also fantastic. Supportive and positive parents is one of my favorite things to see in YA.
Plot wise, I loved the couple of "then" chapters that let things unfold so we got the full story. The social media exchanges were intriguing and heartbreaking because they were similar things that have probably been said about real people who exist.
Overall, I feel like this is a story everyone on social media should read. It's easy to feel like your online words don't have a voice because you're just one person, but you never know who is reading them. This is definitely a story I'll be reading again.
**Huge thanks to Harper Teen for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Genevieve. She's got a lot of things going on and dealing with a blank memory doesn't help, but she's stronger than she thinks. As things get revealed, it was easy to relate to how Gen reacted. Of course Elliott was adorable and I could have read a million pages of the two of them. Gen's dad is also fantastic. Supportive and positive parents is one of my favorite things to see in YA.
Plot wise, I loved the couple of "then" chapters that let things unfold so we got the full story. The social media exchanges were intriguing and heartbreaking because they were similar things that have probably been said about real people who exist.
Overall, I feel like this is a story everyone on social media should read. It's easy to feel like your online words don't have a voice because you're just one person, but you never know who is reading them. This is definitely a story I'll be reading again.
**Huge thanks to Harper Teen for providing the arc free of charge**
July 8, 2017
Trigger warning: mention of suicide attempt
I was excited to read THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED because Paula’s books are always something I enjoy. I thought this book was going to be somewhat of a thriller/mystery based upon the death of Dallas, Genevieve’s boyfriend, but it was so much more than that.
THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED follows the aftermath of a car accident involving Genevieve, Dallas, and Brad Freeman, the other driver who is viciously attacked and violently bullied online. It’s undeniable that this book spreads a very important and unavoidable message about online shaming and cyberbullying. Although I felt like the plot was more focused on Genevieve’s escape from her hometown to find solace in her father and stepmother’s town, I did find that the aftermath of the car crash still haunted Genevieve.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance (what????? Alice, not enjoying romance???), but hear me out. While I understand why Genevieve found comfort in another boy after the death of Dallas, I still feel like I would have liked Genevieve if she had taken more time focusing on the issues at hand—Freeman’s suicide attempt and her underlying guilt. But that’s just me! Everyone grieves differently, and I understand Genevieve’s choices.
Overall, I found THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED to be a much darker contemporary, exploring the consequences of impaired driving, online shaming, and cyberbullying—Paula also includes an Author’s Note at the end of the novel, detailing her journey in researching the aspects of this novel. I definitely think this is a book worth discussing and reading.
Thank you to HarperTeen & Paula for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED because Paula’s books are always something I enjoy. I thought this book was going to be somewhat of a thriller/mystery based upon the death of Dallas, Genevieve’s boyfriend, but it was so much more than that.
THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED follows the aftermath of a car accident involving Genevieve, Dallas, and Brad Freeman, the other driver who is viciously attacked and violently bullied online. It’s undeniable that this book spreads a very important and unavoidable message about online shaming and cyberbullying. Although I felt like the plot was more focused on Genevieve’s escape from her hometown to find solace in her father and stepmother’s town, I did find that the aftermath of the car crash still haunted Genevieve.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance (what????? Alice, not enjoying romance???), but hear me out. While I understand why Genevieve found comfort in another boy after the death of Dallas, I still feel like I would have liked Genevieve if she had taken more time focusing on the issues at hand—Freeman’s suicide attempt and her underlying guilt. But that’s just me! Everyone grieves differently, and I understand Genevieve’s choices.
Overall, I found THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED to be a much darker contemporary, exploring the consequences of impaired driving, online shaming, and cyberbullying—Paula also includes an Author’s Note at the end of the novel, detailing her journey in researching the aspects of this novel. I definitely think this is a book worth discussing and reading.
Thank you to HarperTeen & Paula for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
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July 4, 2017Genevieve is driving her famous YouTube musician boyfriend home from a party. The next thing she knows, she's lying in the hospital, just out of a coma, and her boyfriend is dead. The internet is going crazy with speculation about the accident and anger at the other driver, who had previous DUIs. Genevieve can't remember anything about the accident, but as things come back, she starts to panic, and flees her hometown of St. Louis to visit her dad and stepmom in Southern Utah.
At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this at all. For the first third of the book, I felt like I could see exactly where this book was going, and I was right in every way. I worried the book would just keep going on a predictable path. Plus, it feels tough to bring anything new to the table with a YA amnesia book.
But as I read, I liked the book more and more. I thought the execution of what I thought was going to be an eye-rollingly predictable story ended up being really very good. Once Genevieve got to Utah, she met an interesting cast of characters, spent time in Zion National Park, and began to come to terms with what happened. It was at this point that the story really took off and began to have a lot of heart. Adored the love interest and the great family relationships and the issues raised are important ones.
This took a while to get going but in the end, this book won me over!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics, follow me on Bloglovin, or check out my Bookstagram!
The FTC would like you to know that the publisher provided me a free advance copy of this book, that the fact the book was provided to me does not shape my opinion of it, and that other readers may disagree with my opinion.
At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this at all. For the first third of the book, I felt like I could see exactly where this book was going, and I was right in every way. I worried the book would just keep going on a predictable path. Plus, it feels tough to bring anything new to the table with a YA amnesia book.
But as I read, I liked the book more and more. I thought the execution of what I thought was going to be an eye-rollingly predictable story ended up being really very good. Once Genevieve got to Utah, she met an interesting cast of characters, spent time in Zion National Park, and began to come to terms with what happened. It was at this point that the story really took off and began to have a lot of heart. Adored the love interest and the great family relationships and the issues raised are important ones.
This took a while to get going but in the end, this book won me over!
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics, follow me on Bloglovin, or check out my Bookstagram!
The FTC would like you to know that the publisher provided me a free advance copy of this book, that the fact the book was provided to me does not shape my opinion of it, and that other readers may disagree with my opinion.
July 14, 2017
4.5/5 stars
This is How it Happened is a standalone YA contemporary novel.
The narrator is 17 year old Genevieve Grace. Genevieve is in her last few weeks as a high school senior when she wakes up in the hospital.
Genevieve and her rock star boyfriend were in a car accident and she has no memory of it. The book is a bit of a mystery with Genevieve trying to figure out what happened.
The book starts with a newspaper clipping about the accident. Then it goes to her waking up. Then it goes to a party 6 days before.
Genevieve lives in St. Louis with her mom. Her parents are divorced and they are both doctors.
I was hooked on this book right from the start. The story was interesting. And I was very curious to see what caused the accident and whether her memory would return.
i found this story captivating. I really liked the fact that Gen's boyfriend was an up and coming musician with crazy fans.
After Genevieve gets out of the hospital the media is relentless. She decides to go somewhere to get away from the media. And I absolutely loved everything about this part of the storyline. I especially loved all of the outdoor stuff.
Another main focus of the story is the driver of the other car involved in the accident. This was a very compelling part of the story.
I also really liked that this book dealt with real issues. One of them being internet bullying. People on the internet can be cruel hiding behind screen names. The book uses blog posts and message boards to really get this point across.
Overall the book had a more powerful message than I was expecting. Also Genevieve had many complex things to deal with, which I was not expecting. The book tackles so many different things: guilt, deceit and getting and giving second chances. This book is about a girl learning about herself. There is some romance. But the heart of the book is that it focuses on meaningful issues. I really enjoyed this book!
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.
This is How it Happened is a standalone YA contemporary novel.
The narrator is 17 year old Genevieve Grace. Genevieve is in her last few weeks as a high school senior when she wakes up in the hospital.
Genevieve and her rock star boyfriend were in a car accident and she has no memory of it. The book is a bit of a mystery with Genevieve trying to figure out what happened.
The book starts with a newspaper clipping about the accident. Then it goes to her waking up. Then it goes to a party 6 days before.
Genevieve lives in St. Louis with her mom. Her parents are divorced and they are both doctors.
I was hooked on this book right from the start. The story was interesting. And I was very curious to see what caused the accident and whether her memory would return.
i found this story captivating. I really liked the fact that Gen's boyfriend was an up and coming musician with crazy fans.
After Genevieve gets out of the hospital the media is relentless. She decides to go somewhere to get away from the media. And I absolutely loved everything about this part of the storyline. I especially loved all of the outdoor stuff.
Another main focus of the story is the driver of the other car involved in the accident. This was a very compelling part of the story.
I also really liked that this book dealt with real issues. One of them being internet bullying. People on the internet can be cruel hiding behind screen names. The book uses blog posts and message boards to really get this point across.
Overall the book had a more powerful message than I was expecting. Also Genevieve had many complex things to deal with, which I was not expecting. The book tackles so many different things: guilt, deceit and getting and giving second chances. This book is about a girl learning about herself. There is some romance. But the heart of the book is that it focuses on meaningful issues. I really enjoyed this book!
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.
April 17, 2017
It pains me to give such a low rating to this book, because - even though I did not enjoy the storyline and the main character as I should have - the message behind this book is incredibly powerful and important.
We live in a world where people hide behind their keyboards, throwing hate around like knifes. They cut deep into people's hearts and minds without giving their actions a second thought.
They are not held responsible for what they write and they think they are free to let it all out, so they simply don't care about the outcome.
And they hurt, they hurt badly, just because they can.
But that's not what freedom is.
You can be just as free without hurting everyone around. Without poisoning someone's mind, without killing someone's soul.
I've seen it in so many comments on the internet, even in the reviews (or particularly), there is so much anger and hate, there are so many mean people around. It saddens me really.
I am no innocent here, don't be fooled, I've wrote a couple of reviews I am not actually proud of, but for the very same reason I stopped... One has the right to dislike and to be upset, but does not have the right to be mean.
And I've been judged both by readers and publishers for choosing not to review the books I don't like (with very few exceptions, lately close to none). They said I am not impartial, that it looks like I enjoy all the books I read, which is completely untrue.
As this is why I do it.. Because words are smooth but also sharp, they can fill you with delight, but also with despair. And if I might not say them wisely, I prefer not to say them at all.
So be wise, my dears, you never know just how much pain you can cause with just a few simple words.
We live in a world where people hide behind their keyboards, throwing hate around like knifes. They cut deep into people's hearts and minds without giving their actions a second thought.
They are not held responsible for what they write and they think they are free to let it all out, so they simply don't care about the outcome.
And they hurt, they hurt badly, just because they can.
But that's not what freedom is.
You can be just as free without hurting everyone around. Without poisoning someone's mind, without killing someone's soul.
I've seen it in so many comments on the internet, even in the reviews (or particularly), there is so much anger and hate, there are so many mean people around. It saddens me really.
I am no innocent here, don't be fooled, I've wrote a couple of reviews I am not actually proud of, but for the very same reason I stopped... One has the right to dislike and to be upset, but does not have the right to be mean.
And I've been judged both by readers and publishers for choosing not to review the books I don't like (with very few exceptions, lately close to none). They said I am not impartial, that it looks like I enjoy all the books I read, which is completely untrue.
As this is why I do it.. Because words are smooth but also sharp, they can fill you with delight, but also with despair. And if I might not say them wisely, I prefer not to say them at all.
So be wise, my dears, you never know just how much pain you can cause with just a few simple words.
July 14, 2017
Rating: 4.5 stars
I confess, I am a Paula Stokes fangirl. I have enjoyed many of her previous books, and have always admired her ability to genre jump and do it well. This time Stokes brings us a contemporary that takes on two important issues, one being online shaming, a topic which really resonated with me.
This book begins shortly after Genevieve's boyfriend is killed in a car accident. The police have a suspect, but not the full story, as Genevieve has no memory of the crash. Immediately people flock to social media to share their thoughts. This aspect of the book really hit home for me, because I remember when things like this did NOT happen.
Once upon a time, when there was an accident, information would be released to a news outlet and then disseminated to the public. Now, in this digital age, a great deal of information is passed from the man on the street to the world at large. An amateur video, picture, or statement is Tweeted and moves across the earth like wildfire. Details are omitted to fit the author's narrative, and facts are not always verified. People's emotions heighten, and then they wage a war from behind their keyboards. We have seen this happen, and we have seen the results of online vigilante justice. Stokes did a great job capturing the fervor of these exchanges and used these Twitter threads and blog comments thoughtfully and wisely in this book.
This book is sort of split into two parts for me: before Genevieve remembers and after Genevieve remembers. As Genevieve begins to heal from the accident, bits and pieces of the events leading up to Dallas' death are revealed. I thought this part was done so well. I could feel Genevieve's fear as she would get these flashes. There was tension and doubt, and I found myself a little nervous as we approached the truth.
The after focused on dealing with the fallout. Genevieve was tried in the court of social media, while she was attempting to work though her own pain, grief, and guilt. My heart broke when she would deprive herself any enjoyment, because she had to worry what people she didn't even know would think. I really liked Gen, and admired the strength she showed on so many occasions, even if she did not always make the best decisions.
I must mention how much I loved the setting. I have never been to Utah, but now I feel as though I have. Stokes painted it with broad brushstrokes for me, and I can only assumed this is someplace she loves. I had a wonderful time along with Genevieve in the state park, and hope to visit there for real someday.
Aside from the beauty of Zion National Park, there were a lot of great things that happened in Utah. Genevieve grew so much during her time there, and not just with respect to the accident. The experience brought her father back into her life, and it made her appreciate her mother a little more. She opened her heart to a new group of people, and she was better for it. Right here and now, I will tell you that Stokes gave Gen a fantastic love interest. I adored Elliot so much! And his dads were fabulous too. I mean an American Ninja Warrior training gym? That's supercool.
In the afterword, Stokes thanks us fans for "genre jumping" with her. I will always follow, if Stokes continues to deliver books that are interesting, though provoking, and entertaining to me. I was throughly engrossed in this story, and look forward to more from Stokes.
**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.
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I confess, I am a Paula Stokes fangirl. I have enjoyed many of her previous books, and have always admired her ability to genre jump and do it well. This time Stokes brings us a contemporary that takes on two important issues, one being online shaming, a topic which really resonated with me.
This book begins shortly after Genevieve's boyfriend is killed in a car accident. The police have a suspect, but not the full story, as Genevieve has no memory of the crash. Immediately people flock to social media to share their thoughts. This aspect of the book really hit home for me, because I remember when things like this did NOT happen.
Once upon a time, when there was an accident, information would be released to a news outlet and then disseminated to the public. Now, in this digital age, a great deal of information is passed from the man on the street to the world at large. An amateur video, picture, or statement is Tweeted and moves across the earth like wildfire. Details are omitted to fit the author's narrative, and facts are not always verified. People's emotions heighten, and then they wage a war from behind their keyboards. We have seen this happen, and we have seen the results of online vigilante justice. Stokes did a great job capturing the fervor of these exchanges and used these Twitter threads and blog comments thoughtfully and wisely in this book.
This book is sort of split into two parts for me: before Genevieve remembers and after Genevieve remembers. As Genevieve begins to heal from the accident, bits and pieces of the events leading up to Dallas' death are revealed. I thought this part was done so well. I could feel Genevieve's fear as she would get these flashes. There was tension and doubt, and I found myself a little nervous as we approached the truth.
The after focused on dealing with the fallout. Genevieve was tried in the court of social media, while she was attempting to work though her own pain, grief, and guilt. My heart broke when she would deprive herself any enjoyment, because she had to worry what people she didn't even know would think. I really liked Gen, and admired the strength she showed on so many occasions, even if she did not always make the best decisions.
I must mention how much I loved the setting. I have never been to Utah, but now I feel as though I have. Stokes painted it with broad brushstrokes for me, and I can only assumed this is someplace she loves. I had a wonderful time along with Genevieve in the state park, and hope to visit there for real someday.
Aside from the beauty of Zion National Park, there were a lot of great things that happened in Utah. Genevieve grew so much during her time there, and not just with respect to the accident. The experience brought her father back into her life, and it made her appreciate her mother a little more. She opened her heart to a new group of people, and she was better for it. Right here and now, I will tell you that Stokes gave Gen a fantastic love interest. I adored Elliot so much! And his dads were fabulous too. I mean an American Ninja Warrior training gym? That's supercool.
In the afterword, Stokes thanks us fans for "genre jumping" with her. I will always follow, if Stokes continues to deliver books that are interesting, though provoking, and entertaining to me. I was throughly engrossed in this story, and look forward to more from Stokes.
**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. Quotes are from an ARC and may change upon publication.
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August 3, 2017
I can always count on Paula Stokes to write a socially relevant story that provides a message without being preachy and that’s what she does in This Is How It Happened.
Genevieve Grace wakes up from a coma with no memory of what happened in the car crash that killed her boyfriend Dallas. Dallas was an up and coming star who had just released his first album and having started his career on YouTube had a huge fan base. Genevieve knows a few minor details, she knows that there was another driver and she also knows that Dallas’s fans all are demanding justice and assuming that the other driver was at fault.
As the virtual world demands justice for Dallas, Brad Freeman, the other driver, has been tried and found guilty on social media, and as Genevieve slowly gets her memories of that night back, she starts to realize that maybe things didn’t exactly happen as everyone thinks.
I really enjoyed the way that Stokes tells this story… among the story itself she weaves in news articles, blog posts and tweets and really entrenches you in how social media and the internet can affect how a story gets told. And while impaired driving and cyberbullying are major themes here, one of the points, I think, was that people sometimes say and do things online that they just don’t realize may have consequences for other people.
In the second half of the book, Gen heads to Utah with her father to get away from the media circus and try to heal both physically and mentally. There she starts working at Zion national park and she slowly starts to mend… but that also means remembering the truth of that night. Stokes does an amazing job of really making friends and family a part of this story and yes, there is even some romance!
I think that Stokes really excels and writing stories that are thought provoking and interesting and relevant. She always has an important message in her stories and I appreciate that Paula stretches her wings a bit and doesn’t necessarily stay in the same lane with each of her books. Everything you read by her is so different than the last thing and I just love it!
If you’re looking for a timely book with interesting characters and a riveting storyline, then this is the read for you!
Genevieve Grace wakes up from a coma with no memory of what happened in the car crash that killed her boyfriend Dallas. Dallas was an up and coming star who had just released his first album and having started his career on YouTube had a huge fan base. Genevieve knows a few minor details, she knows that there was another driver and she also knows that Dallas’s fans all are demanding justice and assuming that the other driver was at fault.
As the virtual world demands justice for Dallas, Brad Freeman, the other driver, has been tried and found guilty on social media, and as Genevieve slowly gets her memories of that night back, she starts to realize that maybe things didn’t exactly happen as everyone thinks.
I really enjoyed the way that Stokes tells this story… among the story itself she weaves in news articles, blog posts and tweets and really entrenches you in how social media and the internet can affect how a story gets told. And while impaired driving and cyberbullying are major themes here, one of the points, I think, was that people sometimes say and do things online that they just don’t realize may have consequences for other people.
In the second half of the book, Gen heads to Utah with her father to get away from the media circus and try to heal both physically and mentally. There she starts working at Zion national park and she slowly starts to mend… but that also means remembering the truth of that night. Stokes does an amazing job of really making friends and family a part of this story and yes, there is even some romance!
I think that Stokes really excels and writing stories that are thought provoking and interesting and relevant. She always has an important message in her stories and I appreciate that Paula stretches her wings a bit and doesn’t necessarily stay in the same lane with each of her books. Everything you read by her is so different than the last thing and I just love it!
If you’re looking for a timely book with interesting characters and a riveting storyline, then this is the read for you!
September 1, 2017
REVIEW UPDATED BELOW
I have to confess, this is the first book after so many years that I hold myself from reading the ending. It's such an accomplishment that I did it! *pat myself at the back*
Anyway, straight to the review. This Is How It Happened (TIHIH) is the first YA book that I read in 2017 after so many years. It's refreshing to be able to read a simple and light writing, perfect for a perk me up. TIHIH is my first novel from Paula Stokes, and I can't say I'm already a fan, yet her style of writing is promising though. I feel like I need to read her other books as well to give a chance to build an author-reader relationship. You know what I meant?
TIHIH tells a story about a teen who faced a dilemma after involved in an accident that took her rising star boyfriend's life. Now that she recovers her full memories prior to the accident, she's battling with herself and the rest of the world (who is in the internet), whether to tell the truth and own up her mistakes. With the netizens posting death threat and typing evil words to the accused offenders, I'm pretty sure anyone who is in the main character's position will not dare to open up about the truth.
This novel perfectly summed up how harsh and mean the internet is nowadays. It's like everybody can write his or her opinions and try to make their thoughts stand out from the rest. The keyboard warriors, hiding behind an online persona do not even think twice about how their words and behaviours can play a deep impact to the said victim. They seek vengeance and revenge even though the actual accident does not even involved their own life or loved ones. Funny, isn't it?
Honestly, this kind of scenarios do happen every single day in our life. We log on into Facebook and there is a viral news that spread wildly, and before you know it, everyone have already penning down their thoughts even that is not necessarily so. Not to forget, our society obsessions with hashtags. It seems like a sentence is incomplete without a hashtag in it.
And to think that all of this happened just because a young celebrity died during the accident. This also reflects hard on our society where the majority favors a celebrity life better than a normal human being. It feels like if the boyfriend was a nobody, then people would not make a fuss about it at all. Then, it will be just like any other accidents which had happened before.
In a nutshell, TIHIH talks about real and current issues we faced now with our digital life, and how they affect badly to our actual life. I dare say that Paula Stokes is kind of Jodie Picoult, where she discusses on real issues through fictions. This is good, knowing that as TIHIH is targeted to Young Adults, perhaps they will learn a lesson or two from this story. Lastly, I recommend TIHIH to those who enjoy a good but light YA reading and not to forget, to all teenagers out there too.
I have to confess, this is the first book after so many years that I hold myself from reading the ending. It's such an accomplishment that I did it! *pat myself at the back*
Anyway, straight to the review. This Is How It Happened (TIHIH) is the first YA book that I read in 2017 after so many years. It's refreshing to be able to read a simple and light writing, perfect for a perk me up. TIHIH is my first novel from Paula Stokes, and I can't say I'm already a fan, yet her style of writing is promising though. I feel like I need to read her other books as well to give a chance to build an author-reader relationship. You know what I meant?
TIHIH tells a story about a teen who faced a dilemma after involved in an accident that took her rising star boyfriend's life. Now that she recovers her full memories prior to the accident, she's battling with herself and the rest of the world (who is in the internet), whether to tell the truth and own up her mistakes. With the netizens posting death threat and typing evil words to the accused offenders, I'm pretty sure anyone who is in the main character's position will not dare to open up about the truth.
This novel perfectly summed up how harsh and mean the internet is nowadays. It's like everybody can write his or her opinions and try to make their thoughts stand out from the rest. The keyboard warriors, hiding behind an online persona do not even think twice about how their words and behaviours can play a deep impact to the said victim. They seek vengeance and revenge even though the actual accident does not even involved their own life or loved ones. Funny, isn't it?
Honestly, this kind of scenarios do happen every single day in our life. We log on into Facebook and there is a viral news that spread wildly, and before you know it, everyone have already penning down their thoughts even that is not necessarily so. Not to forget, our society obsessions with hashtags. It seems like a sentence is incomplete without a hashtag in it.
And to think that all of this happened just because a young celebrity died during the accident. This also reflects hard on our society where the majority favors a celebrity life better than a normal human being. It feels like if the boyfriend was a nobody, then people would not make a fuss about it at all. Then, it will be just like any other accidents which had happened before.
In a nutshell, TIHIH talks about real and current issues we faced now with our digital life, and how they affect badly to our actual life. I dare say that Paula Stokes is kind of Jodie Picoult, where she discusses on real issues through fictions. This is good, knowing that as TIHIH is targeted to Young Adults, perhaps they will learn a lesson or two from this story. Lastly, I recommend TIHIH to those who enjoy a good but light YA reading and not to forget, to all teenagers out there too.
July 14, 2017
I’ve read quite a few books by Paula Stokes, but every time I pick up a new book by her, I’m surprised by just how versatile she is as an author. I went into This is How It Happened thinking it was an amnesia mystery/thriller book, but this wasn’t that at all. Sure the amnesia part is true, but it was more of thought-provoking contemporary novel that tackles some relevant and important topics.
The book opened up with an article discussing an accident that leaves Genevieve in a coma, and her famous Youtuber turned musician boyfriend dead. She wakes up with no recollection of what happened. As soon as we met Genevieve, I felt an immediate kinship to her. My heart hurt for her situation, and I just really felt for her, especially with her being in the media limelight thanks to her boyfriend’s fame – things were just extra difficult for her than it should have been. To get away from all the frenzy, she temporarily moves in with her dad in Utah. As the story progresses, bits and pieces of Genevieve’s memory returns to her, and she drowns with the guilt of her actions. She makes mistakes along the way, some that lead to some harsh consequences, especially once she figures out what happened that night and avoids opening up about it to the police and the media. But I found her actions understandable given her mindset and her circumstances. She doesn’t keep things to herself because she thinks she can get away with things, but because she truly is terrified for herself, and she constantly struggles with the guilt that comes with those decisions of hers.
I liked seeing her slowly recover, and work through her situation with new friends and family at the Zion National Park. The relationships here were icing on the cake. I especially enjoyed Genevieve’s relationship with the fellow park volunteers and her growing bond with her step-mother. Another thing I enjoyed about This is How It Happened was how involved the parents were in the story. I was a bit taken aback when a romance started budding between Genevieve and a fellow volunteer – it’s sweet and he’s a really great guy who helps her overcome her fears – but I just don’t think it was 100% necessary to this sort of story. Back to the park, Paula Stokes does a beautiful job at making the park come to life. By the end of the book, I was ready to plan a trip there even though nature and I don’t always mesh well together. The heart and soul of this book, however, were the discussions of cyber bullying and View Spoiler ». Internet culture, while incredibly beneficial, is also very toxic, and this is shown here through the vitriol the accused drunk driver in the case receives from Dallas’ fans. It’s really tough to read some of the stuff people can write through the safety of their screens. I also learned a lot about View Spoiler » through this book, and I have no doubts it will benefit a lot of teenagers as well.
In brief, Genevieve’s journey was an insightful and thought-provoking one. If you have any teens in your life, I urge you to get a copy of this one in their hands after you’re done reading it as well – it will prove very beneficial you and them.
November 22, 2018
Review to come ❤
July 12, 2017
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
4.5*
Oh, this is a lovely gem of a book. Thought provoking and quite full of life lessons, it ended up being an awesome read for me. It started a bit slow, but after awhile, I was definitely all in. So let's check out the good parts first, shall we?
An emotionally powerful yet flawed main character kept me invested. Genevieve was obviously sympathetic at the start of the book, because of course she was. Her damn boyfriend just died in a car accident, who would not like her? But things get... murky along the way. I won't get into it too much for the sake of spoilers (though it wasn't altogether surprising where the story was headed, it also didn't have an effect on my liking of the book), but Genevieve running away certainly didn't endear her to people. That is part of what makes the book so good for me though. The author does a fabulous job of making you feel for Genevieve even in the midst of some decisions that the reader may not agree with. Because honestly, does any of us know how we'd react in her shoes?
Super relevant and timely lessons in cyber bullying. We live in a world where the damn president is bullying people on Twitter, so this could not come at a better time. I loved that the author doesn't present this as a lecture of who is right and who is wrong, but in a very morally gray way. Initially, when people are ranting about the potentially intoxicated driver, no one bats an eye. But is it ever our right to attack someone? Even if we did know all the facts, what makes it okay? These questions are presented a lot throughout the story, and in a really fabulous and heart-wrenching way.
Such incredibly vivid description of the surroundings made the book feel so real and vibrant. When Genevieve goes to Utah, I didn't expect the lovely descriptions that I ended up getting. And when she went to volunteer at Zion... well, because of the author's amazing ability to make the park come to life, it's now on my bucket list. It was honestly an unexpected, but much welcomed surprise in a contemporary novel. And, it made me relate a lot more to Genevieve because I could so intensely picture what she was going through- both emotionally and physically. I dare say all contemporaries I read from here on out will be judged by a higher standard because of the vividness of Ms. Stokes's writing.
Genevieve's relationships were so incredibly authentic feeling. Her parents were flawed too, but it was abundantly clear that they loved her and would be there for her. Her relationships with them were messy at times, but they never wavered in having her best interests at heart. And for her part, Genevieve loved them too. She also had some really great friend relationships along the way, which I was so glad for. And yes, there is a bit of a romance, and I won't lie, I adored it.
The only thing that made me give this 4.5 instead of 5 full stars is that it did take me a little bit of time to get into the story. So if you happen to find yourself unsure about it, I urge you to push through a bit more, because for me it was completely worth it!
Bottom Line: Lovely, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking, this novel about trying to do the right thing and overcoming difficult obstacles hit me in the feels over and over.
*Copy provided for review
4.5*
Oh, this is a lovely gem of a book. Thought provoking and quite full of life lessons, it ended up being an awesome read for me. It started a bit slow, but after awhile, I was definitely all in. So let's check out the good parts first, shall we?
An emotionally powerful yet flawed main character kept me invested. Genevieve was obviously sympathetic at the start of the book, because of course she was. Her damn boyfriend just died in a car accident, who would not like her? But things get... murky along the way. I won't get into it too much for the sake of spoilers (though it wasn't altogether surprising where the story was headed, it also didn't have an effect on my liking of the book), but Genevieve running away certainly didn't endear her to people. That is part of what makes the book so good for me though. The author does a fabulous job of making you feel for Genevieve even in the midst of some decisions that the reader may not agree with. Because honestly, does any of us know how we'd react in her shoes?
Super relevant and timely lessons in cyber bullying. We live in a world where the damn president is bullying people on Twitter, so this could not come at a better time. I loved that the author doesn't present this as a lecture of who is right and who is wrong, but in a very morally gray way. Initially, when people are ranting about the potentially intoxicated driver, no one bats an eye. But is it ever our right to attack someone? Even if we did know all the facts, what makes it okay? These questions are presented a lot throughout the story, and in a really fabulous and heart-wrenching way.
Such incredibly vivid description of the surroundings made the book feel so real and vibrant. When Genevieve goes to Utah, I didn't expect the lovely descriptions that I ended up getting. And when she went to volunteer at Zion... well, because of the author's amazing ability to make the park come to life, it's now on my bucket list. It was honestly an unexpected, but much welcomed surprise in a contemporary novel. And, it made me relate a lot more to Genevieve because I could so intensely picture what she was going through- both emotionally and physically. I dare say all contemporaries I read from here on out will be judged by a higher standard because of the vividness of Ms. Stokes's writing.
Genevieve's relationships were so incredibly authentic feeling. Her parents were flawed too, but it was abundantly clear that they loved her and would be there for her. Her relationships with them were messy at times, but they never wavered in having her best interests at heart. And for her part, Genevieve loved them too. She also had some really great friend relationships along the way, which I was so glad for. And yes, there is a bit of a romance, and I won't lie, I adored it.
The only thing that made me give this 4.5 instead of 5 full stars is that it did take me a little bit of time to get into the story. So if you happen to find yourself unsure about it, I urge you to push through a bit more, because for me it was completely worth it!
Bottom Line: Lovely, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking, this novel about trying to do the right thing and overcoming difficult obstacles hit me in the feels over and over.
*Copy provided for review
October 17, 2017
”Our “protective bubbles”—our houses, our cars, our friends, our online identities—might make us feel secure, but most of it’s just an illusion. It’s easy to get hurt, just like it’s easy to hurt other people.”
This is How it Happened by Paula Stokes was a fast-paced book that not only tells an interesting tale, but sheds light on an important topic that’s incredibly relevant in today’s world - the power of words and how social media isn’t as innocuous as many believe it to be.
Genevieve Grace and her boyfriend, rising pop star Dallas Kade, were involved in a car accident that left Genevieve in a coma and Dallas dead. When Genevieve wakes, she’s dealing with memory loss caused by a brain injury and she’s left trying to piece together what happened. The tabloids and news outlets are presenting on story, and the bits and pieces she’s remembering paint an entirely different one.
This is a heavy story in terms of loss and grief and how to cope when your life moves on, but the life of the one you love doesn’t. It’s also a story with a message - there’s a social media aspect involved and it shows just how easily the truth can be manipulated and how easily and deeply words can affect someone, even if those words are simply words on a screen. Many, many people have been victimized through the use of social media, and I like how this book sheds quite a bit of light on such an important and relevant issue, and how they’re never just simply ‘words on a screen’. Words have power, social media has a tendency to attract bandwagon mentality, and it’s so incredibly easy to get caught up in a story, one that has damaging consequences, even if that story isn’t the true one.
Highly recommended. Pass it on to teens, read it for yourselves - there’s a message within these pages that anyone and everyone who uses social media can benefit from.
*Many thanks to Paula Stokes for sending me a copy of this book through a giveaway.
This is How it Happened by Paula Stokes was a fast-paced book that not only tells an interesting tale, but sheds light on an important topic that’s incredibly relevant in today’s world - the power of words and how social media isn’t as innocuous as many believe it to be.
Genevieve Grace and her boyfriend, rising pop star Dallas Kade, were involved in a car accident that left Genevieve in a coma and Dallas dead. When Genevieve wakes, she’s dealing with memory loss caused by a brain injury and she’s left trying to piece together what happened. The tabloids and news outlets are presenting on story, and the bits and pieces she’s remembering paint an entirely different one.
This is a heavy story in terms of loss and grief and how to cope when your life moves on, but the life of the one you love doesn’t. It’s also a story with a message - there’s a social media aspect involved and it shows just how easily the truth can be manipulated and how easily and deeply words can affect someone, even if those words are simply words on a screen. Many, many people have been victimized through the use of social media, and I like how this book sheds quite a bit of light on such an important and relevant issue, and how they’re never just simply ‘words on a screen’. Words have power, social media has a tendency to attract bandwagon mentality, and it’s so incredibly easy to get caught up in a story, one that has damaging consequences, even if that story isn’t the true one.
Highly recommended. Pass it on to teens, read it for yourselves - there’s a message within these pages that anyone and everyone who uses social media can benefit from.
*Many thanks to Paula Stokes for sending me a copy of this book through a giveaway.
June 22, 2018
"I know a lot of people aren't going to understand, but I don't have to defend my feelings."
"Maybe you think you're just one person. What you do doesn't really matter. You can read a few tweets or blog posts and then publicly render your judgement of a total stranger. Who cares? You're just one tiny voice in a huge ocean. But the thing about tiny voices is that when they band together they can be incredibly loud. Uncomfortably loud. Sometimes that's a good thing--a strong thing. A group of voices can wake people up to the truth. But a group of voices can be a bad thing too, because we're not always right."
Soundtrack: Open Up Each Other by Imaginary Future
"Maybe you think you're just one person. What you do doesn't really matter. You can read a few tweets or blog posts and then publicly render your judgement of a total stranger. Who cares? You're just one tiny voice in a huge ocean. But the thing about tiny voices is that when they band together they can be incredibly loud. Uncomfortably loud. Sometimes that's a good thing--a strong thing. A group of voices can wake people up to the truth. But a group of voices can be a bad thing too, because we're not always right."
Soundtrack: Open Up Each Other by Imaginary Future
November 28, 2017
Meh. I thought I would like this a whole lot better than I did. I love the "I can't remember" trope-- and I love the books that deal with the tough issues. This had both, but ended up feeling very bland to me. Genevieve was NOT a memorable character. She talked in her head way too much, and her emotion level was frigid. I get what the author was going for here, but the execution was not page-turning and was not giving me the feels.
July 10, 2017
Four and a half stars: A brilliant and thought provoking story that takes on two powerful and important topics. A must read, conversation starter.
When Genevieve Grace wakes in the hospital, she has no memory of the accident that injured her and killed her boyfriend Dallas, an up and coming music star and YouTube sensation. Fans have taken to the internet memorializing Dallas and vilifying Brad Freeman, the man who supposedly drove drunk and hit Genevieve and Dallas. Social media explodes with vicious accusations, rumors and slanderous remarks. Wanting to escape, Genevieve heads to Utah to stay with her father. While in Utah, she mends her relationship with her dad and gets to know her stepmother. She even takes on a volunteer job at Zion. Then something disastrous happens, Genevieve recovers her memories, and she remembers what really happened that night. Will Genevieve have the courage to do what is right?
What I Liked:
*Ms. Stokes has written a powerful and thought provoking book that dares to take on two tough topics. I loved that this book made me think and ponder things. This is an excellent book that will start a conversation. A must read book.
*The majority of the story centers around the damage that can happen to someone when social media begins to slander and shame. We have seen it occur over and over in our society, to the point where internet bullying goes so far as to ruin someone’s life, or worse yet, cause a suicide. This book exposes the horror and ugliness that can happen when people take to the internet with horrid accusations. This is a story that should make everyone sit up and realize how their words on a social media forum can have devastating consequences. This is a book that young people should read so they can understand the ramifications of internet shaming.
*I also loved that Ms. Stokes takes on another important issue, which I won’t disclose as it will provide spoilers to the story. Needless to say, it isn’t a topic that I had thought much on until I read this story. It is another issue that we all need to consider.
*I admired Genevieve and her courage. She is forced to make a big decision that takes a great deal of strength and bravery, especially knowing that she too could become the target of a vicious internet attack. I was proud of her for making the right choice, and for taking on the consequences. She is an admirable character, and I so admired her for her fortitude and her honesty.
*I appreciated the strong focus on family. At the beginning of the story, Genevieve had a somewhat prickly relationship with her mother, and she and her father weren’t speaking after her parents divorce. Thankfully, both parents are there for Genevieve when she needs them, and I liked seeing them support and love their daughter. I also liked that one of the characters was adopted and reared by two men. Loved the importance of family and friends in the story.
*The story ends in a good spot. I was happy to see where Genevieve ended up, and how she decided to move forward. I especially enjoyed reading the author’s notes at the end where Ms. Stokes discusses both the issues that she covered in the story. Don’t miss reading her afterword.
And The Not So Much:
*There is a romance in the story that I felt was unnecessary. Yes, it was sweet and nice, but it felt out of place. I think it was thrown in to appeal to YA readers. In all honesty, I don’t think a romantic relationship was the best choice for Genevieve at the time. I wish that perhaps it had stayed a friendship, and then developed down the road a few months. I also felt like the romance was hurried.
*I was disappointed in the reaction of Brad Freeman’s thirteen year old daughter. You would think after witnessing what her father went through that she would be a little more understanding, but then again, she is a young teenager. Still, I would hope that her parents would counsel her about her horrid words.
This is How it Happened is a moving and powerful story that shows the danger of internet shaming and how damaging it can be. This is a book that will make you think, and hopefully consider your words carefully before you take to the internet. This is a must read story for teenagers. I highly recommend reading this book and discussing it with the young adults in your life.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
When Genevieve Grace wakes in the hospital, she has no memory of the accident that injured her and killed her boyfriend Dallas, an up and coming music star and YouTube sensation. Fans have taken to the internet memorializing Dallas and vilifying Brad Freeman, the man who supposedly drove drunk and hit Genevieve and Dallas. Social media explodes with vicious accusations, rumors and slanderous remarks. Wanting to escape, Genevieve heads to Utah to stay with her father. While in Utah, she mends her relationship with her dad and gets to know her stepmother. She even takes on a volunteer job at Zion. Then something disastrous happens, Genevieve recovers her memories, and she remembers what really happened that night. Will Genevieve have the courage to do what is right?
What I Liked:
*Ms. Stokes has written a powerful and thought provoking book that dares to take on two tough topics. I loved that this book made me think and ponder things. This is an excellent book that will start a conversation. A must read book.
*The majority of the story centers around the damage that can happen to someone when social media begins to slander and shame. We have seen it occur over and over in our society, to the point where internet bullying goes so far as to ruin someone’s life, or worse yet, cause a suicide. This book exposes the horror and ugliness that can happen when people take to the internet with horrid accusations. This is a story that should make everyone sit up and realize how their words on a social media forum can have devastating consequences. This is a book that young people should read so they can understand the ramifications of internet shaming.
*I also loved that Ms. Stokes takes on another important issue, which I won’t disclose as it will provide spoilers to the story. Needless to say, it isn’t a topic that I had thought much on until I read this story. It is another issue that we all need to consider.
*I admired Genevieve and her courage. She is forced to make a big decision that takes a great deal of strength and bravery, especially knowing that she too could become the target of a vicious internet attack. I was proud of her for making the right choice, and for taking on the consequences. She is an admirable character, and I so admired her for her fortitude and her honesty.
*I appreciated the strong focus on family. At the beginning of the story, Genevieve had a somewhat prickly relationship with her mother, and she and her father weren’t speaking after her parents divorce. Thankfully, both parents are there for Genevieve when she needs them, and I liked seeing them support and love their daughter. I also liked that one of the characters was adopted and reared by two men. Loved the importance of family and friends in the story.
*The story ends in a good spot. I was happy to see where Genevieve ended up, and how she decided to move forward. I especially enjoyed reading the author’s notes at the end where Ms. Stokes discusses both the issues that she covered in the story. Don’t miss reading her afterword.
And The Not So Much:
*There is a romance in the story that I felt was unnecessary. Yes, it was sweet and nice, but it felt out of place. I think it was thrown in to appeal to YA readers. In all honesty, I don’t think a romantic relationship was the best choice for Genevieve at the time. I wish that perhaps it had stayed a friendship, and then developed down the road a few months. I also felt like the romance was hurried.
*I was disappointed in the reaction of Brad Freeman’s thirteen year old daughter. You would think after witnessing what her father went through that she would be a little more understanding, but then again, she is a young teenager. Still, I would hope that her parents would counsel her about her horrid words.
This is How it Happened is a moving and powerful story that shows the danger of internet shaming and how damaging it can be. This is a book that will make you think, and hopefully consider your words carefully before you take to the internet. This is a must read story for teenagers. I highly recommend reading this book and discussing it with the young adults in your life.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
July 5, 2017
4 stars out of 5
I would like to thank HarperCollins International for providing me with this ARC.
I have previously read P. Stokes “Liars INC.” and I very much enjoyed her writing as well as chatting with her as part of a book club at my local bookstore. With this in mind, I was excited to see that the ARC belonged to a familiar face.
This story brings forth the story of how relationships can fall apart and how they can come back together. Instead of focusing on the life of the typical rise to fame, “This is How It Happened” talks about the people who surround fame, the fans, and those who are victim of irresponsible online hate. The fact that this story is so accurate with how people turn to the aggressive in the conversation part of websites. When it comes to being part of a fandom, this is what I dislike most of how a community can be. The admiral of a celebrity/TVshow/movie can be fun in groups but even if that fact brings us together, a small discussion can tear the fandom apart!
The sad thing is that people still don’t understand the power of their words. In today’s world, our vocabulary has become less restrictive. Anything can be taken as sarcasm or as a joke. Sometimes we don’t really mean the things we say and don’t think about that until some gets hurt. Maybe it’s the fact that we can’t see exactly everyone we talk to online that we deem them less human and more like fictional characters. Feelings take over our senses. Fight or Flight.
This is the first contemporary I’ve enjoyed in a while because the voice of Genevieve was more realistic than others. So many topics were covered in this narrative that I’m surprised how much they all went perfectly with the story without straying too far from the main storyline. There were moments that I teared up as well as moments I would smile to myself. At first, I had believed that Genevieve was sort of melodramatic but when I put myself in her same position, I would justify most of her actions. As the story progressed, I was happy to always be able to look into the many thoughts that went through the main character’s mind and how the many questions can cause the eternal abyss that is overthinking.
Even with all the important and underrated messages that could be found in this story, the most important one would be the driving while drowsy which is scary. Our need to ignore our basic instincts of sleep just to get home is one I’ve kind of experienced myself. Why we do this will always be a mystery for me, well not really, particularly when we consider how stubborn humans can be… I’ve personally gone through this and it’s a scary experience. Hopefully this novel will bring up more discussions on the topic of driving irresponsibly as well as the other topics.
One thing I just couldn’t get through, (but this is merely a preference, is the constant “mental hashtagging”), she would label herself with because it would distract me from the writing and pull me out of thoughtful writing and bring me a weird obnoxious teen voice. There was also the fact that there were certain scenes of the novels that played out like cliches which kind hurt the moods, but if that's what was intended, she did a good job!
I would recommend this book for anyone looking for something on the current events that are unfortunately plaguing the internet.
Bonus Points: Can I have my own Elliot? He’s too cute...! Protect him~.
I would like to thank HarperCollins International for providing me with this ARC.
I have previously read P. Stokes “Liars INC.” and I very much enjoyed her writing as well as chatting with her as part of a book club at my local bookstore. With this in mind, I was excited to see that the ARC belonged to a familiar face.
This story brings forth the story of how relationships can fall apart and how they can come back together. Instead of focusing on the life of the typical rise to fame, “This is How It Happened” talks about the people who surround fame, the fans, and those who are victim of irresponsible online hate. The fact that this story is so accurate with how people turn to the aggressive in the conversation part of websites. When it comes to being part of a fandom, this is what I dislike most of how a community can be. The admiral of a celebrity/TVshow/movie can be fun in groups but even if that fact brings us together, a small discussion can tear the fandom apart!
The sad thing is that people still don’t understand the power of their words. In today’s world, our vocabulary has become less restrictive. Anything can be taken as sarcasm or as a joke. Sometimes we don’t really mean the things we say and don’t think about that until some gets hurt. Maybe it’s the fact that we can’t see exactly everyone we talk to online that we deem them less human and more like fictional characters. Feelings take over our senses. Fight or Flight.
This is the first contemporary I’ve enjoyed in a while because the voice of Genevieve was more realistic than others. So many topics were covered in this narrative that I’m surprised how much they all went perfectly with the story without straying too far from the main storyline. There were moments that I teared up as well as moments I would smile to myself. At first, I had believed that Genevieve was sort of melodramatic but when I put myself in her same position, I would justify most of her actions. As the story progressed, I was happy to always be able to look into the many thoughts that went through the main character’s mind and how the many questions can cause the eternal abyss that is overthinking.
Even with all the important and underrated messages that could be found in this story, the most important one would be the driving while drowsy which is scary. Our need to ignore our basic instincts of sleep just to get home is one I’ve kind of experienced myself. Why we do this will always be a mystery for me, well not really, particularly when we consider how stubborn humans can be… I’ve personally gone through this and it’s a scary experience. Hopefully this novel will bring up more discussions on the topic of driving irresponsibly as well as the other topics.
One thing I just couldn’t get through, (but this is merely a preference, is the constant “mental hashtagging”), she would label herself with because it would distract me from the writing and pull me out of thoughtful writing and bring me a weird obnoxious teen voice. There was also the fact that there were certain scenes of the novels that played out like cliches which kind hurt the moods, but if that's what was intended, she did a good job!
I would recommend this book for anyone looking for something on the current events that are unfortunately plaguing the internet.
Bonus Points: Can I have my own Elliot? He’s too cute...! Protect him~.
January 12, 2021
Buatku buku Paula Stokes kali ini terasa real banget, dan penyampaian pesan pun sangat pas apalagi di dunia serba media sosial. Bagaimana online shamming bisa merubah kehidupan orang dan membuat depresi panjang.
Perjalanan Gen untuk bisa mengetahui apa yg sebenarnya terjadi saat malam tabrakan yg menewaskan Dallas, pacarnya membuat dia menghentikan sosmed dan mencari lingkungan baru di tempat ayahnya tinggal. Jauh dari orang yg mengenal dirinya, menyembunyikan identitas dirinya.
Aku suka perjalanan healing atau Gen menerima kenyataan dan bagaimana dirinya mencoba untuk berani tanpa peduli judgement orang-orang di sosial media.
Selain dirinya dapat keberanian, cerita Gen membawa kita bahwa keluaga adalah rumah terbaik dan support terbesar saat kita down. Hubungan renggang Gen dengan ayah dan ibu tirinya mulai terjalain baik apalagi dia mengerti dibalik cerita yg kita tahu tidak selamanya itulab kenyataan. Adanya kebohongan untuk menutupi agar luka itu tidak perih dan mempengaruhi hidup orang lain.
Nice story 🙂
Perjalanan Gen untuk bisa mengetahui apa yg sebenarnya terjadi saat malam tabrakan yg menewaskan Dallas, pacarnya membuat dia menghentikan sosmed dan mencari lingkungan baru di tempat ayahnya tinggal. Jauh dari orang yg mengenal dirinya, menyembunyikan identitas dirinya.
Aku suka perjalanan healing atau Gen menerima kenyataan dan bagaimana dirinya mencoba untuk berani tanpa peduli judgement orang-orang di sosial media.
Selain dirinya dapat keberanian, cerita Gen membawa kita bahwa keluaga adalah rumah terbaik dan support terbesar saat kita down. Hubungan renggang Gen dengan ayah dan ibu tirinya mulai terjalain baik apalagi dia mengerti dibalik cerita yg kita tahu tidak selamanya itulab kenyataan. Adanya kebohongan untuk menutupi agar luka itu tidak perih dan mempengaruhi hidup orang lain.
Nice story 🙂
July 1, 2017
Original Post: http://booknauthors.blogspot.com/2017...
This book revolves around Genevieve Grace, girlfriend of the famous YouTube sensation, Dallas. A car accident results in death of Dallas but Genevieve survives. Charges are placed against Brad Freeman, whose believed to have caused this accident. Genevieve gets social media anxiety and joins her father away from her hometown. There she changes her identity and tries to forget her past but ends up tangled badly in the whole mess of Dallas' case when she regains her memory back.
This book was so slow yet so good. It is about the judgemental people on social media. How social media makes you lie due to the fear of being judged. How you don't get the courage to speak the truth. This book has a powerful message. Genevieve is a really strong character. Her character development was stupendous. The plot was really dragging and nothing happens until like 200 pages. The relationship development between her and her dad was beautiful. Her mom was really annoying and I really didn't like her. She was bossy but she really loves her daughter. Plus we get a slow torture cute romance. ♡
Overall, a really nice contemporary with a powerful message! A must read!
This book revolves around Genevieve Grace, girlfriend of the famous YouTube sensation, Dallas. A car accident results in death of Dallas but Genevieve survives. Charges are placed against Brad Freeman, whose believed to have caused this accident. Genevieve gets social media anxiety and joins her father away from her hometown. There she changes her identity and tries to forget her past but ends up tangled badly in the whole mess of Dallas' case when she regains her memory back.
This book was so slow yet so good. It is about the judgemental people on social media. How social media makes you lie due to the fear of being judged. How you don't get the courage to speak the truth. This book has a powerful message. Genevieve is a really strong character. Her character development was stupendous. The plot was really dragging and nothing happens until like 200 pages. The relationship development between her and her dad was beautiful. Her mom was really annoying and I really didn't like her. She was bossy but she really loves her daughter. Plus we get a slow torture cute romance. ♡
Overall, a really nice contemporary with a powerful message! A must read!
May 22, 2017
Paula Stokes has been on my auto-buy authors list for a while and books like this one is the reason why. Her ability to write characters that are easy to relate to, flawed and lovable, relationships that are sweet and believable, and plots that are addicting to read, is why she has become one of my auto-buy authors and when this book comes out in physical form, I will be buying it.
Gen was a character I found easy to relate to, not because I'd ever been in her situation, but because I could see myself having the same sort of reaction if I were to ever be in her situation. Her whole world had been flipped upside down with the accident and the loss of her boyfriend and with the media and his fans and everyone wanting answers, there was no time for her to really grieve his death. She was grieving and she was scared and the flashes of memories were leading her to a conclusion she had no idea how to deal with. She went through a lot and she grew a lot through the book.
The book dealt with grief but it also dealt with internet shaming and how easily it can destroy a person's life. The use of online articles and their comments section, the way people happily tore apart the guy accused of the accident even before all the evidence was in, was something to can be found online on most sites on any day. I found it very easy to understand why Gen would be terrified of her memories making her wonder if she was the cause of the accident, to have the online mob turn on her.
I also really appreciated the family dynamics in this book. Her parents were divorced and Gen hadn't really gotten to know her father's new wife so going out to stay with them to escape the media circus gave her the chance to warm up to her. Both her parents were doctors so she felt a lot of pressure to be perfect and it made admitted when she had made mistakes very difficult. It was very clear how much they did love each other though. I really loved her friendships with the two teens on her stepmom's team at the Zion National Park.
Paula Stokes has definitely done it again. Every time I read a new book by her, it's even better than the last. I didn't think it would happen this time with how much I loved Girl Against the Universe and those two are very, very close. It's definitely one of those situations where either could eek out top spot depending on my mood that day.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Gen was a character I found easy to relate to, not because I'd ever been in her situation, but because I could see myself having the same sort of reaction if I were to ever be in her situation. Her whole world had been flipped upside down with the accident and the loss of her boyfriend and with the media and his fans and everyone wanting answers, there was no time for her to really grieve his death. She was grieving and she was scared and the flashes of memories were leading her to a conclusion she had no idea how to deal with. She went through a lot and she grew a lot through the book.
The book dealt with grief but it also dealt with internet shaming and how easily it can destroy a person's life. The use of online articles and their comments section, the way people happily tore apart the guy accused of the accident even before all the evidence was in, was something to can be found online on most sites on any day. I found it very easy to understand why Gen would be terrified of her memories making her wonder if she was the cause of the accident, to have the online mob turn on her.
I also really appreciated the family dynamics in this book. Her parents were divorced and Gen hadn't really gotten to know her father's new wife so going out to stay with them to escape the media circus gave her the chance to warm up to her. Both her parents were doctors so she felt a lot of pressure to be perfect and it made admitted when she had made mistakes very difficult. It was very clear how much they did love each other though. I really loved her friendships with the two teens on her stepmom's team at the Zion National Park.
Paula Stokes has definitely done it again. Every time I read a new book by her, it's even better than the last. I didn't think it would happen this time with how much I loved Girl Against the Universe and those two are very, very close. It's definitely one of those situations where either could eek out top spot depending on my mood that day.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2017
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
This Is How It Happened is just isn’t what I had thought it would be. I don’t know if I’m the only one who got this impression from the blurb, but I had expected an emotional story that constantly has me at the edge of my seat because holy crap dead YouTuber star/boyfriend, girlfriend who may or may not be the cause of his death, and another driver who the public assumes is guilty sounds like the perfect cocktail for an anxiety-inducing and a fast-paced book. Instead, the actual story is mostly slow-paced, and it’s narrated by a girl who’s grief and guilt doesn’t sound sincere.
You see, by ‘a story that constantly has me at the edge of my seat’, I mean that I had expected a book that gradually reveals what happened on The Night Genevieve’s life changed—a book that neatly switches from present to past to present again like what the first three chapters do because it’s supposed to be about how it happened. However, the reality is that the reader gets the entire story of what happened on The Night from Genevieve in a handful of chapters while the bulk of the story is rather unnecessary romance that makes her grief and guilt feel disingenuous. Yeah, Dallas wasn’t a great boyfriend before The Night, and I’m all for Genevieve moving on and living her life. But, Genevieve is also a girl who was reluctant to break up with Dallas despite being unable to forget his mistake even though she has forgiven him. To read about her moving on to another guy so quickly just…cheapens makes her grief in a way—makes it shallow and insincere.
Moreover, due to my aforementioned expectations for the books, the romance also feels like a huge filler. It doesn’t add anything substantial to the story (in the sense that this whole book sounds like it’ll focus on The Night and how things got settled, not on Genevieve moving on), it drags the pacing down and it overshadows the important lessons embedded in the book. I do like Elliot and all, but I dislike it when things are being dragged out even more. Also, Genevieve’s conscience-hashtag-talk is something I never want to go through ever again. It looks cool on paper and once or twice is fine, but there are an increase in the hashtags in one of the chapters and just #ThinkingAboutHow #It’sMentallySaid #IsIncrediblyAwkward.
All in all, This Is How It Happened is more or less ‘meh’ for me. I thought that I finally found another character who I can relate to but as mentioned earlier, Genevieve’s grief and guilt feels too insincere. Nevertheless, I really love the idea for it, the issues it touches, and the diversity Stokes includes. It’s just that I don’t think they were executed effectively, particularly when it comes to the middle of the book. The beginning and ending were great, though!
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
This Is How It Happened is just isn’t what I had thought it would be. I don’t know if I’m the only one who got this impression from the blurb, but I had expected an emotional story that constantly has me at the edge of my seat because holy crap dead YouTuber star/boyfriend, girlfriend who may or may not be the cause of his death, and another driver who the public assumes is guilty sounds like the perfect cocktail for an anxiety-inducing and a fast-paced book. Instead, the actual story is mostly slow-paced, and it’s narrated by a girl who’s grief and guilt doesn’t sound sincere.
You see, by ‘a story that constantly has me at the edge of my seat’, I mean that I had expected a book that gradually reveals what happened on The Night Genevieve’s life changed—a book that neatly switches from present to past to present again like what the first three chapters do because it’s supposed to be about how it happened. However, the reality is that the reader gets the entire story of what happened on The Night from Genevieve in a handful of chapters while the bulk of the story is rather unnecessary romance that makes her grief and guilt feel disingenuous. Yeah, Dallas wasn’t a great boyfriend before The Night, and I’m all for Genevieve moving on and living her life. But, Genevieve is also a girl who was reluctant to break up with Dallas despite being unable to forget his mistake even though she has forgiven him. To read about her moving on to another guy so quickly just…cheapens makes her grief in a way—makes it shallow and insincere.
Moreover, due to my aforementioned expectations for the books, the romance also feels like a huge filler. It doesn’t add anything substantial to the story (in the sense that this whole book sounds like it’ll focus on The Night and how things got settled, not on Genevieve moving on), it drags the pacing down and it overshadows the important lessons embedded in the book. I do like Elliot and all, but I dislike it when things are being dragged out even more. Also, Genevieve’s conscience-hashtag-talk is something I never want to go through ever again. It looks cool on paper and once or twice is fine, but there are an increase in the hashtags in one of the chapters and just #ThinkingAboutHow #It’sMentallySaid #IsIncrediblyAwkward.
All in all, This Is How It Happened is more or less ‘meh’ for me. I thought that I finally found another character who I can relate to but as mentioned earlier, Genevieve’s grief and guilt feels too insincere. Nevertheless, I really love the idea for it, the issues it touches, and the diversity Stokes includes. It’s just that I don’t think they were executed effectively, particularly when it comes to the middle of the book. The beginning and ending were great, though!
September 5, 2018
GRADE: B-
3.5 STARS
Anyone who follows social media has seen internet trolls and knows of the prevalence of commenters to pass judgment without facts. Readers fashion themselves as police, judge, jury and executioner, thumping their chests calling for blood from alleged criminals having found them guilty by accusation, facts be damned. Nobody wants to be on the wrong side of The Internet know-it-alls.
Genevieve Grace wakes from a coma to learn the car she was driving crashed into a drunk driver, killing her boyfriend YouTube sensation and rock star Dallas Kade. She's thrust into the spotlight, but Gen can't remember the accident. To escape reporters, she flees to her father and stepmother's home in Utah. After beginning to volunteer at Zion National Park, she begins to remember, as the internet goes on a witch-hunt going after the drunk driver who killed Dallas.
The first half of THIS IS HOW IT ENDS thoroughly engrossed me. I love Paula Stokes' easy writing style. Genevieve was a likable narrator, making rooting for her easy. While she wasn't a profile in courage, her moral compass was strong. The second part of the book didn't hold up to the beginning. I never bought into Gen beginning to date so soon after she was driving the car that killed her long term boyfriend. Readers are smarter than buying into the trope love cures _______ (insert trauma or mental illness). Friendship would have been more realistic.
The ending felt corny and too convenient.
I'm glad Stokes broached the topic of internet mob-think, even if her approach was heavy handed.
3.5 STARS
Anyone who follows social media has seen internet trolls and knows of the prevalence of commenters to pass judgment without facts. Readers fashion themselves as police, judge, jury and executioner, thumping their chests calling for blood from alleged criminals having found them guilty by accusation, facts be damned. Nobody wants to be on the wrong side of The Internet know-it-alls.
Genevieve Grace wakes from a coma to learn the car she was driving crashed into a drunk driver, killing her boyfriend YouTube sensation and rock star Dallas Kade. She's thrust into the spotlight, but Gen can't remember the accident. To escape reporters, she flees to her father and stepmother's home in Utah. After beginning to volunteer at Zion National Park, she begins to remember, as the internet goes on a witch-hunt going after the drunk driver who killed Dallas.
The first half of THIS IS HOW IT ENDS thoroughly engrossed me. I love Paula Stokes' easy writing style. Genevieve was a likable narrator, making rooting for her easy. While she wasn't a profile in courage, her moral compass was strong. The second part of the book didn't hold up to the beginning. I never bought into Gen beginning to date so soon after she was driving the car that killed her long term boyfriend. Readers are smarter than buying into the trope love cures _______ (insert trauma or mental illness). Friendship would have been more realistic.
The ending felt corny and too convenient.
I'm glad Stokes broached the topic of internet mob-think, even if her approach was heavy handed.
November 12, 2017
"I don' t think you can choose to believe in God. You either do or you don't, and no matter what camp you're in, it would take something life-changing to truly lead you into the other one."
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