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Things I'd Rather Do Than Die
Jade Fulton and Ethan Garrett are opposites in every sense of the word. Ethan is an all-American poster boy—a star athlete dating the most popular girl in school and a devout Christian. Jade keeps mostly to herself. She abhors joining “things,” hates everyone at their high school except her best friend, Gia, and considers herself agnostic.
When Ethan and Jade find themselves locked in an aerobics room overnight, their confinement forces them to push past the labels they’ve given each other. Jock. Loner. Jesus freak. Skeptic. Golden boy. Intellectual. Amid hours of arguing, philosophizing, and silly game playing, Ethan and Jade learn there's a lot more to the other person than meets the eye.
After that night, life returns to normal and each goes back to their regular lives. Still, neither one can shake the unexpected bond they formed and they can’t help but question what they’ve been taught to believe, who they want to be, and where their hearts truly lie.
When Ethan and Jade find themselves locked in an aerobics room overnight, their confinement forces them to push past the labels they’ve given each other. Jock. Loner. Jesus freak. Skeptic. Golden boy. Intellectual. Amid hours of arguing, philosophizing, and silly game playing, Ethan and Jade learn there's a lot more to the other person than meets the eye.
After that night, life returns to normal and each goes back to their regular lives. Still, neither one can shake the unexpected bond they formed and they can’t help but question what they’ve been taught to believe, who they want to be, and where their hearts truly lie.
300 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2018
12 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Christine Hurley Deriso
14 books73 followers“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”—William Wordsworth
One thing that strikes me about my writing is that the process has changed very little since I first started jotting down stories around age six. An idea fills my head and whines, cajoles, begs or bullies until I pay attention. Sometimes the ideas are so charming that I scoop them up in a hug. Other times, they’re so annoying that I snap, “What?” at their insistence. But either way, I can no more walk away from one than I could walk away from a child in need.
The ideas originate in my head, but they seem to have a mind, an essence, an existence of their own. I feel more like a vessel than an owner. Succumbing to these ideas’ insistence to flow through me is profoundly joyful, but also utterly involuntary. And that hasn’t changed since I was six.
What has changed, I hope, is my wisdom, my insight, my courage . . . my head’s ability to make enough sense of these ideas to shape them into something meaningful, even the ones that scare me. Especially the ones that scare me.
I’m guessing you’ll glean from my books that I love all words, any words.
Whether I’m writing for a young child, a tween, a young adult or a Ph.D., I try hard to move my reader . . . to make his world a little bigger or his heart a little fuller. Hopefully both.
So there you have it: I love words and I love ideas, and if I didn’t love them, they’d badger me anyhow.
Thanks for sharing the experience with me.
One thing that strikes me about my writing is that the process has changed very little since I first started jotting down stories around age six. An idea fills my head and whines, cajoles, begs or bullies until I pay attention. Sometimes the ideas are so charming that I scoop them up in a hug. Other times, they’re so annoying that I snap, “What?” at their insistence. But either way, I can no more walk away from one than I could walk away from a child in need.
The ideas originate in my head, but they seem to have a mind, an essence, an existence of their own. I feel more like a vessel than an owner. Succumbing to these ideas’ insistence to flow through me is profoundly joyful, but also utterly involuntary. And that hasn’t changed since I was six.
What has changed, I hope, is my wisdom, my insight, my courage . . . my head’s ability to make enough sense of these ideas to shape them into something meaningful, even the ones that scare me. Especially the ones that scare me.
I’m guessing you’ll glean from my books that I love all words, any words.
Whether I’m writing for a young child, a tween, a young adult or a Ph.D., I try hard to move my reader . . . to make his world a little bigger or his heart a little fuller. Hopefully both.
So there you have it: I love words and I love ideas, and if I didn’t love them, they’d badger me anyhow.
Thanks for sharing the experience with me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 14, 2024
The senior year of high school often starts with an almost-desperate desire to get through, get out and get on with life. Students have been sorted into pseudo-boxes; cliques are closed and relationships seem cemented. Passing classes, prom dates and plans for after high-school are the parts everyone knows about, but there are some adolescents who long for such simple problems to solve.
Perhaps the parental situation is such that a teen is pulled from practices to pick up his intoxicated dad. Or maybe evenings are spent sobering up a mom that is mostly numb. A fantastic father may fall ill, leaving his daughter to worry that she and her step-mother will be even less related, in his absence. Serious and secret situations can be a very real part of growing up and that is perfectly portrayed in Ms. Deriso’s Things I’d Rather Do Than Die.
Jade isn’t easily defined. She “…is “other” on every checklist,” and exists around the edges, with only her best bud by her side. Intelligent, with an obvious need for knowledge and openly agnostic, students see her as icy and unapproachable.
Everyone adores Ethan, though. The star quarterback that’s “…always organizing Jesus-y things at school” with his gorgeous girlfriend by his side seems to have a smile for everyone.
Immune to the A-lister’s charms, Jade seethes when Ethan dashes into the gym at closing time. Now, she has to work late so that he can work-out. But that will be the least of her worries.
Although an event may be life-changing, the differences are not instantaneous. One very long night of honest, albeit awkward, conversation nags Jade consistently, causing her to question her stringent beliefs and reexamine decisions. Even Ethan begins to question his faith—or at least the reasons it is so important to him.
I love tough topics being addressed with spot-on, diabolical dialogue that is simultaneously biting, humorous and thought-provoking. Although I have read about teens tangled in religion, it was always a battle between two different beliefs. I really enjoyed the unique, introspective spiritual consideration and the personal growth in this heart-wrenching, yet hopeful novel.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to North Star Editions for the Advance Review Copy.
Perhaps the parental situation is such that a teen is pulled from practices to pick up his intoxicated dad. Or maybe evenings are spent sobering up a mom that is mostly numb. A fantastic father may fall ill, leaving his daughter to worry that she and her step-mother will be even less related, in his absence. Serious and secret situations can be a very real part of growing up and that is perfectly portrayed in Ms. Deriso’s Things I’d Rather Do Than Die.
Jade isn’t easily defined. She “…is “other” on every checklist,” and exists around the edges, with only her best bud by her side. Intelligent, with an obvious need for knowledge and openly agnostic, students see her as icy and unapproachable.
Everyone adores Ethan, though. The star quarterback that’s “…always organizing Jesus-y things at school” with his gorgeous girlfriend by his side seems to have a smile for everyone.
Immune to the A-lister’s charms, Jade seethes when Ethan dashes into the gym at closing time. Now, she has to work late so that he can work-out. But that will be the least of her worries.
Although an event may be life-changing, the differences are not instantaneous. One very long night of honest, albeit awkward, conversation nags Jade consistently, causing her to question her stringent beliefs and reexamine decisions. Even Ethan begins to question his faith—or at least the reasons it is so important to him.
I love tough topics being addressed with spot-on, diabolical dialogue that is simultaneously biting, humorous and thought-provoking. Although I have read about teens tangled in religion, it was always a battle between two different beliefs. I really enjoyed the unique, introspective spiritual consideration and the personal growth in this heart-wrenching, yet hopeful novel.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to North Star Editions for the Advance Review Copy.
April 26, 2018
** I received an ARC from Netgalley and publisher Flux in exchange for an my honest review **
This novel starts out with Jade working overtime when Ethan asks for 20 minutes of a workout, and they end up getting robbed and locked in a room together.
Of course that interested me right from the start because it seemed like a cool plot line. But alas, when they were rescued the story went south.
-The robbery really was an irrelevant event to happen besides allowing Jade and Ethan to meet. It seemed like that idea was thrown away after it happened but it definitely should have continued on for much longer.
-We didn't really learn much about any of the characters besides the two main. There would be times that a character would be like "Oh yeah my mom's and alcoholic too" and it's kind of just like ?????
-I didn't like the portrayal of Ethan's parents. His mom was made up to seem very weak in my opinion and we didn't get more backstory on how bad Ethan's father is. Also, his grandma saying how his father is such a great guy but then having a scene where he is abusive and it just did not make sense to me.
-I hated Jade's best friend Gia. She just seemed like a little puppy dog that was annoying as F***
-It was quite boring I found myself skimming the book a lot because nothing really changed or excited me at all.
I can go on and on but I don't want to continue. I save my 1 stars for books I DNF so, that's why I am giving it 2.
This novel starts out with Jade working overtime when Ethan asks for 20 minutes of a workout, and they end up getting robbed and locked in a room together.
Of course that interested me right from the start because it seemed like a cool plot line. But alas, when they were rescued the story went south.
-The robbery really was an irrelevant event to happen besides allowing Jade and Ethan to meet. It seemed like that idea was thrown away after it happened but it definitely should have continued on for much longer.
-We didn't really learn much about any of the characters besides the two main. There would be times that a character would be like "Oh yeah my mom's and alcoholic too" and it's kind of just like ?????
-I didn't like the portrayal of Ethan's parents. His mom was made up to seem very weak in my opinion and we didn't get more backstory on how bad Ethan's father is. Also, his grandma saying how his father is such a great guy but then having a scene where he is abusive and it just did not make sense to me.
-I hated Jade's best friend Gia. She just seemed like a little puppy dog that was annoying as F***
-It was quite boring I found myself skimming the book a lot because nothing really changed or excited me at all.
I can go on and on but I don't want to continue. I save my 1 stars for books I DNF so, that's why I am giving it 2.
Want to read
April 16, 2018lmao I only found out that this is actually a christian book AFTER I got accepted on netgalley.
shit
shit
August 25, 2018
Two people who barely know each other held at gunpoint and locked in a gym overnight: I was so excited!
And it was really great, but it was essentially the only piece of plot in the entire book. So after all that great stuff, that was it. It was all downhill from there...
But even though nothing was really happening it was still not the most boring thing I've ever read. It was slow, but not terrible.
I felt that the dual narration was a bit unnecessary. I am not a fan of multiple narrators and this book was no exception for me.
Gia, the best friend, was alright, but just the way that she was written made me dislike her.
And Brianne, Ethan's girlfriend(ish) had a subplot that went on for WAY too long. It just kept dragging and you could see what was going to happen, but it just took forever and it was so yuck!
The MCs Jade & Ethan were okay, I liked them... But they are both completely oblivious to their surroundings and made some very silly decisions. They also are very indecisive, which I found annoying.
I thought this book is okay, but overall it is a very cutesy shallow read. Don't expect much more from it, because that's all it is. But for a nice summery read, it is quite good!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a review copy! All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2018
I received this eARC from North Star Editions on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book in any way.
Dnf'd at 31%
I would first like to say that the religious aspects of this book were not in anyway a flaw and anyone who believes otherwise needs to seriously reexamine themselves because they're hypocrites. A lot of the religious stuff was a little preachy sometimes but that was obviously intentional on the author's part.
This book was not, however, particularly good by any means. Honestly, everything after the two leads finally get rescued from the gym was extremely boring and I lost interest quickly. The book did what it was trying to do well enough but it's just not the kind of story (namely, a contemporary romance) that I enjoy by any means.
Dnf'd at 31%
I would first like to say that the religious aspects of this book were not in anyway a flaw and anyone who believes otherwise needs to seriously reexamine themselves because they're hypocrites. A lot of the religious stuff was a little preachy sometimes but that was obviously intentional on the author's part.
This book was not, however, particularly good by any means. Honestly, everything after the two leads finally get rescued from the gym was extremely boring and I lost interest quickly. The book did what it was trying to do well enough but it's just not the kind of story (namely, a contemporary romance) that I enjoy by any means.
July 21, 2018
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
At first I couldn’t really get into the story, I didn't like all the religious talks they were having and I was afraid it would be the major plot of the book. I'm happy to say it was not and that the book picked itself up after having a bit of a rocky start. The story deals with a lot of different themes, like for example race, loss, what family truly means. The whole Brianne’s subplot was dragged on a little too much for my taste but in the end this book truly was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
At first I couldn’t really get into the story, I didn't like all the religious talks they were having and I was afraid it would be the major plot of the book. I'm happy to say it was not and that the book picked itself up after having a bit of a rocky start. The story deals with a lot of different themes, like for example race, loss, what family truly means. The whole Brianne’s subplot was dragged on a little too much for my taste but in the end this book truly was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
April 3, 2018
A lovely feel-good YA!
April 6, 2018
I really liked this book despite it's mixed reviews here on GR. I do not think this was a "Christian" or religious book. One of the main characters, Ethan, has a very strong faith and believes in God which I thought was really wonderful because a) I hardly ever see a teen male portrayed that way in the many books I've read and b) he is a TEEN male with a strong faith...refreshing and different, and c) he does begin to question his faith after talking to Jade and reflecting on his life. Ethan and Jade know each other but not that well when together they encounter a dramatic traumatic situation. They bond over during the time period they are locked together but neither of them will admit it for most of the book. There is a lot going on in both of their lives and they try to deal with it as well as they can. Jade is a strong person who knows what she wants but is willing to make sacrifices for her family. I was tearing up at the end reading about Jade's father--an amazingly strong wonderful person who obviously loves his family so much, and raised very strong, compassionate children as well. It is a quick read as I read it in a couple of hours but I recommend it because it is different than your average YA romance novel. It really makes the reader think about faith and God and why bad things happen. Thanks so much for ARC NetGalley and Flux.
April 16, 2018
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THINGS I’D RATHER DO THAN DIE in exchange for my honest review.***
DNF at 8% I didn’t realize this was a christian book or I’d never have requested it. Also the premise of an armed robber choosing to rob a gym was a stretch.
DNF at 8% I didn’t realize this was a christian book or I’d never have requested it. Also the premise of an armed robber choosing to rob a gym was a stretch.
July 13, 2025
okay looking back now, i think i was trying to be nice (maybe a bit too nice) this was horrible. it was cringey asf and i can’t even think about how i managed to finish this borefest. they got robbed at a gym for god sakes. looking back, i actually hated it and was really really disappointed by it. the name makes it sound like it would be so much better.
there was no plot, bland cringey dialogue that even my 12 yr old sister would be able to write better in her sleep, the characters barely had any character development and then were suddenly in love after like three awkward interactions. i just realised while i was bitching about this that i definitely didn’t like it enough to give it 3.5 stars so the rating is going down because nice me is gone. they jumped around each other all the time which annoyed me. i didn’t enjoy it at all and what should’ve been a good fast, mindless read was full of cringe. i actually hate this book.
the characters actually pissed me off for too long. the love interest actually had a girlfriend already and he didn’t break it off when he started things up with jade. (so like CHEATING) he was always defending jade the love of his life (the ungrateful bitch) when she didn’t deserve it.
i was tired of the “edgy and different” thing the female main character had had going on. she was so bitter and determined that she was the only one suffering and that pissed me off. it was very main character of her. she was so self absorbed. it took her the whole book to finally admit her stepmother was better than her real mum. her dad had cancer but she was the one acting like she was the only one affected. she barely just barely got better with ethan. she had a great family and best friend that did not deserve to have to put up with her tantrums and be ignored.
“why are you telling me disgusting things?”
“i dunno. it’s kinda related. in the category of ‘things i’d rather die than do’”
“meaning you’d rather die than pee on a mat?”
ACTUAL CRINGE
there was no plot, bland cringey dialogue that even my 12 yr old sister would be able to write better in her sleep, the characters barely had any character development and then were suddenly in love after like three awkward interactions. i just realised while i was bitching about this that i definitely didn’t like it enough to give it 3.5 stars so the rating is going down because nice me is gone. they jumped around each other all the time which annoyed me. i didn’t enjoy it at all and what should’ve been a good fast, mindless read was full of cringe. i actually hate this book.
the characters actually pissed me off for too long. the love interest actually had a girlfriend already and he didn’t break it off when he started things up with jade. (so like CHEATING) he was always defending jade the love of his life (the ungrateful bitch) when she didn’t deserve it.
i was tired of the “edgy and different” thing the female main character had had going on. she was so bitter and determined that she was the only one suffering and that pissed me off. it was very main character of her. she was so self absorbed. it took her the whole book to finally admit her stepmother was better than her real mum. her dad had cancer but she was the one acting like she was the only one affected. she barely just barely got better with ethan. she had a great family and best friend that did not deserve to have to put up with her tantrums and be ignored.
“why are you telling me disgusting things?”
“i dunno. it’s kinda related. in the category of ‘things i’d rather die than do’”
“meaning you’d rather die than pee on a mat?”
ACTUAL CRINGE
April 26, 2018
I'll be honest, at a couple chapters in I wasn't too sure I was going to be able to get into this book. It didn't grab me from the start. However once I got about 5 chapters in or so it picked up for me. At that point I couldn't stop reading -- I just had to know what was going to happen. It was funny at times, sweet at others, and heartbreaking throughout. Jade was going through an awful lot and I really felt for her. This was Christian fiction but it wasn't so in your face that the religious stuff was all that it was about. There was so much more to it than that. I don't think you have to necessarily be a CF fan to enjoy this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
April 12, 2018
This was my first read from Christine Huley Deriso going into it I was a littler nervous given the title of the book. Things I'd Rather Do Than Die is a little misgiving of the book but once I read it I couldn't have given it a better title.
Ethan is very religious and depends on his Faith every single day, being a male teen this says a heck of a lot about his character and I absolutely adored him.
Jade she is hilarious and a go getter who know who she is and doesn't really care what people thing. She was a character I liked and she made me laugh at time.
When these two encounter a troubling experience they create a bond like no other and the connection they make can not be forgotten. These two have ups and down and I couldn't wait to see how everything would end up. When I turned to the last page my heart was not complete, but I knew I was going to be ok and have to say this book is a wonderful YA summer for anyone!
I am planning on reading more Christine Hurley Deriso in the near future,
Ethan is very religious and depends on his Faith every single day, being a male teen this says a heck of a lot about his character and I absolutely adored him.
Jade she is hilarious and a go getter who know who she is and doesn't really care what people thing. She was a character I liked and she made me laugh at time.
When these two encounter a troubling experience they create a bond like no other and the connection they make can not be forgotten. These two have ups and down and I couldn't wait to see how everything would end up. When I turned to the last page my heart was not complete, but I knew I was going to be ok and have to say this book is a wonderful YA summer for anyone!
I am planning on reading more Christine Hurley Deriso in the near future,
April 16, 2018
DNF at 5%
This book seemed promising - an armed robber. Excitement!
No.
It is really badly written (which must be saying something as I only made it 5% of the way through before giving up) and split between two characters. It DOES NOT work and the flow is not cohesive at all. The dialogue is 100% cringey at best and I was very disappointed.
The last straw was when one of the characters (did not care enough to learn his name) was like "Oh no! The gym's getting robbed!"
Really?? REALLY??
don't waste your time.
This book seemed promising - an armed robber. Excitement!
No.
It is really badly written (which must be saying something as I only made it 5% of the way through before giving up) and split between two characters. It DOES NOT work and the flow is not cohesive at all. The dialogue is 100% cringey at best and I was very disappointed.
The last straw was when one of the characters (did not care enough to learn his name) was like "Oh no! The gym's getting robbed!"
Really?? REALLY??
don't waste your time.
April 22, 2019
At first, I thought this book had potential, but I had the hardest time getting into it. I kept starting and stopping and starting and stopping. It had a nice message overall but just felt too contrived and preachy.
September 15, 2018
*2.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Right after getting this book from NetGalley, I read some reviews on Goodreads, none of them good. Mostly they were saying that this was a christian book and should have been tagged as such.
Being an atheist, I then dreaded reading this.
However, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.
There was mentions of God and Jesus and shit but it wasn't preaching like I thought it would.
Still, I didn't love the characters and the story didn't do much for me. I rolled my eyes a bunch of times and I couldn't feel the pain the characters felt.
It felt clichéd and predictable to me...
I found the characters all kind of annoying too...
But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be? And it was a fast read.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Right after getting this book from NetGalley, I read some reviews on Goodreads, none of them good. Mostly they were saying that this was a christian book and should have been tagged as such.
Being an atheist, I then dreaded reading this.
However, it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.
There was mentions of God and Jesus and shit but it wasn't preaching like I thought it would.
Still, I didn't love the characters and the story didn't do much for me. I rolled my eyes a bunch of times and I couldn't feel the pain the characters felt.
It felt clichéd and predictable to me...
I found the characters all kind of annoying too...
But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be? And it was a fast read.
August 30, 2018
"The main characters are both complex and delightful. An inspirational read that readers can appreciate." --Booklist
I don't think this book was for me, it doesn't have to do with the story or the characters I think my beliefs and perspective are different from the author. I have to be honest I DNF the book the first 100 pages because it’s not a bad book, it’s just not the book for me. Clearly it has good aspects and Booklist a major and respected company gave their praise for this book so my opinion is my own, if the synopsis interested you please give this book a try and form your own opinion.
I don't think this book was for me, it doesn't have to do with the story or the characters I think my beliefs and perspective are different from the author. I have to be honest I DNF the book the first 100 pages because it’s not a bad book, it’s just not the book for me. Clearly it has good aspects and Booklist a major and respected company gave their praise for this book so my opinion is my own, if the synopsis interested you please give this book a try and form your own opinion.
October 19, 2018
The book with a very interesting title.
Two very opposite perspectives - and not just because of their genders.
One night, many many things revealed that cannot be taken back.
This story makes you think about moments lived and moments that you might have lived but for some reasons didn't.
Good for parents of teenagers as well as teenagers themselves.
I received the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Two very opposite perspectives - and not just because of their genders.
One night, many many things revealed that cannot be taken back.
This story makes you think about moments lived and moments that you might have lived but for some reasons didn't.
Good for parents of teenagers as well as teenagers themselves.
I received the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2018
The title, cover and the plot all sounded very intriguing however I found it very bland and not really for me. It was a pretty quick read but I didn't really like execution as it fell flat for me.
September 4, 2018
Things I'd Rather Do Than Die by Christine Harley Deriso is a very interesting young adult love story that I enjoyed. Jade Fulton and Ethan Garrett are opposites, Ethan is star athlete and “Jesus freak”, and Jade is girl who would rather remain unseen. When these two are locked up together for hours, their way of thinking begins to change. I do not consider this to be a Christian book, I believe one of the characters deals with life by throwing himself into church. There are characters that are suppose to be Christians who do not act like it, similar to life. I enjoy watching these two students grow as people because of their friendship. I recommend this book for people who enjoy young adult books.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 22, 2018
Things I'd Rather Do Than Die
by Christine Hurley Deriso
Pub Date: 18 Sep 2018
Read courtesy of www.Netgalley.com
I recently reviewed Christine Hurley Deriso's All the Wrong Chords, which I loved. I really wanted to like Things I'd Rather Do Than Die as much, but alas, I give it 4 instead of 5 ⭐. I also read Deriso's Acknowledgment section of this novel, and I'm glad she took the advice of her editor; having the main characters tell their tale in alternating scenarios made this story more thoughtful than if it had been a one-sided story. Stereotypes of jocks, brains, Jesus freaks, popularity, race and ethnicity, financial status, family structures, and illnesses became something about which I wanted to contemplate rather than be swayed. I can picture my teen readers discussing this story.
However, it was those amount of topics Deriso tried to squeeze into this one novel that caused my rating to lose a potential star. Maybe teens with slightly shorter attention spans won't mind the topic hopping, but I found it a bit distracting. I think it will affect my ability to discuss and recommend the book to my students. Other than being able to remember the basic plot, it's the nuances that might be lost to what I usually try to relate with enthusiasm.
On the other hand, Deriso handled all of the sensitive topics well. She allowed the characters to present their different points-of-view just like 'real' teens would. Kudos to that!!
by Christine Hurley Deriso
Pub Date: 18 Sep 2018
Read courtesy of www.Netgalley.com
I recently reviewed Christine Hurley Deriso's All the Wrong Chords, which I loved. I really wanted to like Things I'd Rather Do Than Die as much, but alas, I give it 4 instead of 5 ⭐. I also read Deriso's Acknowledgment section of this novel, and I'm glad she took the advice of her editor; having the main characters tell their tale in alternating scenarios made this story more thoughtful than if it had been a one-sided story. Stereotypes of jocks, brains, Jesus freaks, popularity, race and ethnicity, financial status, family structures, and illnesses became something about which I wanted to contemplate rather than be swayed. I can picture my teen readers discussing this story.
However, it was those amount of topics Deriso tried to squeeze into this one novel that caused my rating to lose a potential star. Maybe teens with slightly shorter attention spans won't mind the topic hopping, but I found it a bit distracting. I think it will affect my ability to discuss and recommend the book to my students. Other than being able to remember the basic plot, it's the nuances that might be lost to what I usually try to relate with enthusiasm.
On the other hand, Deriso handled all of the sensitive topics well. She allowed the characters to present their different points-of-view just like 'real' teens would. Kudos to that!!
April 17, 2018
**Firstly I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for this book**
So I was a little unsure of this book after getting about 5% into it and realising that Christianity is mentioned quite a lot, only to then look at a few reviews and see other people had the same realisation as me. I also saw a lot of the reviewers DNF this book, which of course made me even more determined to finish it. Overall, I'm glad I did.
I found it quite hard to get into this book, but after a few chapters I managed to push aside my lack of faith and concentrate on the actual story. I like that Ethan never tried to push his faith on to anyone, and that he even had some doubts himself. He respected that Jade didn't completely share his faith and he never spoke badly of Gia who is very much an atheist.
I like how Jade and Ethan connect, but what I love is that it's not an instant teenage romance. They get to know each other and have an actual conversation, even though it was involuntary and I love that the contrast in their faith doesn't affect the friendship they build.
Full review is on my blog
So I was a little unsure of this book after getting about 5% into it and realising that Christianity is mentioned quite a lot, only to then look at a few reviews and see other people had the same realisation as me. I also saw a lot of the reviewers DNF this book, which of course made me even more determined to finish it. Overall, I'm glad I did.
I found it quite hard to get into this book, but after a few chapters I managed to push aside my lack of faith and concentrate on the actual story. I like that Ethan never tried to push his faith on to anyone, and that he even had some doubts himself. He respected that Jade didn't completely share his faith and he never spoke badly of Gia who is very much an atheist.
I like how Jade and Ethan connect, but what I love is that it's not an instant teenage romance. They get to know each other and have an actual conversation, even though it was involuntary and I love that the contrast in their faith doesn't affect the friendship they build.
Full review is on my blog
April 13, 2018
Lives of Jade and Ethan, two seniors whose paths - until then - had seldom intertwined, change forever after misfortunes befall them, they get locked up in a gym overnight and - oh my, wait for it! - talk, really talk and challenge each other's views.
Now, that sounds like something right up my alley because even though the characters have only ever been vaguely aware of each other (going to the same high school), they never really had a proper, meaningful conversation. Not that their 'friendly strangers' status prevents them from forming ideas about each other. Stereotypical labels never cease being useful, even in these so-called modern times. Therefore, she thinks him a holier-than-thou show-off with superiority issues and preachy attitiude. He thinks her... well, an ATHEIST (which made me roll my eyes and laugh a lot because this line of thought soon becomes a pattern he fails to lose for a long, long time).
Yes, and that's where these particular stairs became steep for me.
I was raised Catholic and because of that I think I can tap into Jude's mindset quite easily. See, my own issues with god-fearing believers come from that exact superiority Ethan exhibited. It continued to unnerve me to no end, as much as it infuriated her. She felt like she was being judged, like he didn't see her as a whole person because she wasn't religious. He acted like she was a lost, stray sheep and his duty, as God's servant, was to save her, convert her. That kind of behavior is hardly the way t0... not even win a girl over (after all he spent a lot of time trying to convince himself there was nothing romantic between them, even as a possibility) but to be a decent person!
Obviously, she wasn't Miss Perfect either. For all her talk of how superior he acted, she was the same, just failed to realize it at the time. She put on a pose of a person who was far better than those surrounding her, someone already way smarter, way out of everyone else's league. In short: hella judgemental and snotty (funnily enough, she uses the latter to describe Ethan's girlfriend Brianna).
That is not to say I dislike flawed personalities. That couldn't be further from the truth! I live for imperfect characters who continue to fail at owning up to their own mistakes (at least for a time being). People who are scared and err along the way are my kind of people. Who wants to read about perfection, am I right? There'd be nothing to read about!
However, I couldn't quite connect to these two. Jude I understood better because I had lived through that snotty, judgemental phase myself back in middle school. There were times when I wanted to shake her (if you don't feel it, girl, don't date it!) but all in all, she did her share of maturing, figuring things out, wisening up. She turned out really okay.
It's him I didn't quite get even though he ended up acknowledging his mistakes and generally became a better person for it. Could it be that I'm holding his faith against him? Gosh, I hope not. I don't want to be that person, even if he's only fictional! What does come to mind when I'm trying to think of a reason for my reluctance is that he didn't seem passionate for much of anything, except - maybe - for his faith and as much as I'd like to separate myself from this line of thought, I hardly deem that enough. Generally speaking, he just didn't leave a lasting impression on me, there was no twinkle in his eye I, as a reader, would feel and think to myself: 'oh I want to spend hours locked up in a room with him just talking about life'. He seemed passionless for me and I can't stand that, neither in fiction nor real life.
Part of this book I definitely did enjoy were the relationships within families, though.
Especially in Jude's case. She proved to be an excellent sister as well as (eventually, haha, there was a bump or two on that road) a thoughtful daughter. Her helping her younger sister to navigate the perilious waters of elementary school friendships was awesome. I was cheering them on so hard. Go sisterhood! Then Jude's anxiety over what the future holds for her and her brother Pierce once their dad will no longer be with them resonated with me deeply. I could understand where she was coming from. After all, she had every right to be scared as her step-mom wasn't really her mom as far as blood relations go. Then again, she was where it mattered and that was incredible. I genuinely loved that bit.
Ethan's family situation was, too, far from perfect but in a more long-term way. His desperation to prove to everybody and ANYBODY who could ever care that he wasn't his dad just sort of took over his life. It happened way before we meet him at the beginning of this book. I was glad for him that he acknowledged that and I can only hope he'll try to be his own person, not just someone defying the odds of becoming another drunk.
I don't want to categorize this as a read suitable only for Christian readers but as I was making my way through the story, there was that nagging thought at the back of my head, one that kept saying I can't fully tap into this story's potential because of my stance towards faith. Perhaps, despite my efforts to the contrary, it is true and someone more religious will benefit from this story in a far more profound way than I did.
Also! It is a 2.5 rating because:
a) second half of the book definitely saved it for me as things started unfolding at a faster pace,
b) towards the end there was that one scene that made me cry and well, it softened me up. I'm a sucker for things that can make me tear up (not that it's a rare occurance, I just consider it a well spent effort and job well done as far as the author's writing skills go).
**massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
Now, that sounds like something right up my alley because even though the characters have only ever been vaguely aware of each other (going to the same high school), they never really had a proper, meaningful conversation. Not that their 'friendly strangers' status prevents them from forming ideas about each other. Stereotypical labels never cease being useful, even in these so-called modern times. Therefore, she thinks him a holier-than-thou show-off with superiority issues and preachy attitiude. He thinks her... well, an ATHEIST (which made me roll my eyes and laugh a lot because this line of thought soon becomes a pattern he fails to lose for a long, long time).
Yes, and that's where these particular stairs became steep for me.
I was raised Catholic and because of that I think I can tap into Jude's mindset quite easily. See, my own issues with god-fearing believers come from that exact superiority Ethan exhibited. It continued to unnerve me to no end, as much as it infuriated her. She felt like she was being judged, like he didn't see her as a whole person because she wasn't religious. He acted like she was a lost, stray sheep and his duty, as God's servant, was to save her, convert her. That kind of behavior is hardly the way t0... not even win a girl over (after all he spent a lot of time trying to convince himself there was nothing romantic between them, even as a possibility) but to be a decent person!
Obviously, she wasn't Miss Perfect either. For all her talk of how superior he acted, she was the same, just failed to realize it at the time. She put on a pose of a person who was far better than those surrounding her, someone already way smarter, way out of everyone else's league. In short: hella judgemental and snotty (funnily enough, she uses the latter to describe Ethan's girlfriend Brianna).
That is not to say I dislike flawed personalities. That couldn't be further from the truth! I live for imperfect characters who continue to fail at owning up to their own mistakes (at least for a time being). People who are scared and err along the way are my kind of people. Who wants to read about perfection, am I right? There'd be nothing to read about!
However, I couldn't quite connect to these two. Jude I understood better because I had lived through that snotty, judgemental phase myself back in middle school. There were times when I wanted to shake her (if you don't feel it, girl, don't date it!) but all in all, she did her share of maturing, figuring things out, wisening up. She turned out really okay.
It's him I didn't quite get even though he ended up acknowledging his mistakes and generally became a better person for it. Could it be that I'm holding his faith against him? Gosh, I hope not. I don't want to be that person, even if he's only fictional! What does come to mind when I'm trying to think of a reason for my reluctance is that he didn't seem passionate for much of anything, except - maybe - for his faith and as much as I'd like to separate myself from this line of thought, I hardly deem that enough. Generally speaking, he just didn't leave a lasting impression on me, there was no twinkle in his eye I, as a reader, would feel and think to myself: 'oh I want to spend hours locked up in a room with him just talking about life'. He seemed passionless for me and I can't stand that, neither in fiction nor real life.
Part of this book I definitely did enjoy were the relationships within families, though.
Especially in Jude's case. She proved to be an excellent sister as well as (eventually, haha, there was a bump or two on that road) a thoughtful daughter. Her helping her younger sister to navigate the perilious waters of elementary school friendships was awesome. I was cheering them on so hard. Go sisterhood! Then Jude's anxiety over what the future holds for her and her brother Pierce once their dad will no longer be with them resonated with me deeply. I could understand where she was coming from. After all, she had every right to be scared as her step-mom wasn't really her mom as far as blood relations go. Then again, she was where it mattered and that was incredible. I genuinely loved that bit.
Ethan's family situation was, too, far from perfect but in a more long-term way. His desperation to prove to everybody and ANYBODY who could ever care that he wasn't his dad just sort of took over his life. It happened way before we meet him at the beginning of this book. I was glad for him that he acknowledged that and I can only hope he'll try to be his own person, not just someone defying the odds of becoming another drunk.
I don't want to categorize this as a read suitable only for Christian readers but as I was making my way through the story, there was that nagging thought at the back of my head, one that kept saying I can't fully tap into this story's potential because of my stance towards faith. Perhaps, despite my efforts to the contrary, it is true and someone more religious will benefit from this story in a far more profound way than I did.
Also! It is a 2.5 rating because:
a) second half of the book definitely saved it for me as things started unfolding at a faster pace,
b) towards the end there was that one scene that made me cry and well, it softened me up. I'm a sucker for things that can make me tear up (not that it's a rare occurance, I just consider it a well spent effort and job well done as far as the author's writing skills go).
**massive thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
April 9, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A quick read; a coming of age story, that revolves around 1 intense night - both kids have father issues, him, alcoholism; her, cancer.
I would recommend if you enjoy teen drama.
A quick read; a coming of age story, that revolves around 1 intense night - both kids have father issues, him, alcoholism; her, cancer.
I would recommend if you enjoy teen drama.
April 29, 2018
A poignant coming-of-age story, this novel addresses themes of race identity, social classes, faith, terminal illness, and family. I found this to be a truly heart-warming story with likeable MCs and a sweet yet wistful ending.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
May 26, 2018
3 Give This Book a Try Stars
Review by Sue
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Things I’d Rather Do Than Die by Christine Hurley Deriso is an interesting view and story of angst, prejudice, love and acceptance through the teenage perspective.
Ethan Garrett is confident, good looking as well as a quarterback and senior at Walt Whitman High School. He dates the head cheerleader, gets good grades, is a devout Christian and has always been ok with status quo.
One night with one quite different girl lead him to a journey of self discovery: Questioning his beliefs, his life as well as who he is and what he wants at his core.
Jade is a loner and feels separate from her classmates. Never quite feels like she belongs or fits in. One night with one caring and friendly boy has her wondering if she keeps herself at a distance on purpose.
During this fateful night, a friendship and kinship of sorts blooms and maybe even a kernel of love has been planted. But it is up to these teenagers to decide between taking the path well travelled and live a good life or taking the beaten path a have a chance at something extraordinary.
Ethan is a stand-up boy if not a little indecisive. I enjoyed seeing his character grow and change throughout this novel. I love that he makes mistakes and questions his faith, it made his character feel real to me. He did not make the expected or even the right decisions but, they were his.
Jade is an insecure girl who hides behind her sarcasm and snark. I loved seeing Jade’s subtle transformation.
I would have enjoyed the book a little more if the author would have shown us more of what the characters were feeling and going through during their difficult times. I found these scenes were cut off a little short and as result left me unable to completely connect with their pain.
Although Ethan is a devout Christian, this IS NOT a book about religion. It is a novel that reminds us to “never judge a book by its cover”. To make our own informed decisions on who someone is, not by who and what they present themselves to be but rather by who they actually are.
This book is told in dual POV and is well written. The pace was a little slow but all in all it was definitely worth the read.
**ARC provided by author for honest review**
Review by Sue
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Things I’d Rather Do Than Die by Christine Hurley Deriso is an interesting view and story of angst, prejudice, love and acceptance through the teenage perspective.
Ethan Garrett is confident, good looking as well as a quarterback and senior at Walt Whitman High School. He dates the head cheerleader, gets good grades, is a devout Christian and has always been ok with status quo.
One night with one quite different girl lead him to a journey of self discovery: Questioning his beliefs, his life as well as who he is and what he wants at his core.
Jade is a loner and feels separate from her classmates. Never quite feels like she belongs or fits in. One night with one caring and friendly boy has her wondering if she keeps herself at a distance on purpose.
During this fateful night, a friendship and kinship of sorts blooms and maybe even a kernel of love has been planted. But it is up to these teenagers to decide between taking the path well travelled and live a good life or taking the beaten path a have a chance at something extraordinary.
Ethan is a stand-up boy if not a little indecisive. I enjoyed seeing his character grow and change throughout this novel. I love that he makes mistakes and questions his faith, it made his character feel real to me. He did not make the expected or even the right decisions but, they were his.
Jade is an insecure girl who hides behind her sarcasm and snark. I loved seeing Jade’s subtle transformation.
I would have enjoyed the book a little more if the author would have shown us more of what the characters were feeling and going through during their difficult times. I found these scenes were cut off a little short and as result left me unable to completely connect with their pain.
Although Ethan is a devout Christian, this IS NOT a book about religion. It is a novel that reminds us to “never judge a book by its cover”. To make our own informed decisions on who someone is, not by who and what they present themselves to be but rather by who they actually are.
This book is told in dual POV and is well written. The pace was a little slow but all in all it was definitely worth the read.
**ARC provided by author for honest review**
April 17, 2018
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review*
I've seen a few reviews where people have stopped reading this book at the beginning due to some religious themes. I won't lie - I felt that way at first too as it almost seemed like the author was going to promote their religious beliefs, but seeing how I was only about 5% through I wanted to give it some more time. I'm glad I did! I'd give this novel an overall 3.5 stars. I wouldn't say I was immediately hooked, but overall I did enjoy the message it portrays.
This book follows the lives of Jade and Ethan. Jade and Ethan get locked in a gym together after being robbed at gun point. Never having really talked to each other prior to this event both characters have preconceived ideas regarding each other. Jade, a quiet girl with no real opinions in regards to faith, starts to bond with Ethan, popular football star whose faith plays a big role in his life. They challenge each other's ideas regarding faith and come to realize that everyone is not what they seem on the outside.
This novel is eye opening and heartwarming. I would describe this book as a pleasant read that makes you feel warm and happy at the end. In the beginning of reading this, I would say I was a lot like Jade. The second Ethan asks her to pray with him - I wanted to put it down. I don't want religion shoved down my throat and, also like Jade, I stuck it out and kept an open mind and learned some new things too.
I've seen a few reviews where people have stopped reading this book at the beginning due to some religious themes. I won't lie - I felt that way at first too as it almost seemed like the author was going to promote their religious beliefs, but seeing how I was only about 5% through I wanted to give it some more time. I'm glad I did! I'd give this novel an overall 3.5 stars. I wouldn't say I was immediately hooked, but overall I did enjoy the message it portrays.
This book follows the lives of Jade and Ethan. Jade and Ethan get locked in a gym together after being robbed at gun point. Never having really talked to each other prior to this event both characters have preconceived ideas regarding each other. Jade, a quiet girl with no real opinions in regards to faith, starts to bond with Ethan, popular football star whose faith plays a big role in his life. They challenge each other's ideas regarding faith and come to realize that everyone is not what they seem on the outside.
This novel is eye opening and heartwarming. I would describe this book as a pleasant read that makes you feel warm and happy at the end. In the beginning of reading this, I would say I was a lot like Jade. The second Ethan asks her to pray with him - I wanted to put it down. I don't want religion shoved down my throat and, also like Jade, I stuck it out and kept an open mind and learned some new things too.
July 26, 2018
Unfortunately, I have to rate this a 2 out of 5 stars. I was generously given a copy via NetGalley, but I read up to about half of it. I had not realized when I originally requesting to read it that it was Christian fiction. I had to DNF at 5% due to the writing style, not my favorite, and the religious aspect, I dont particularly enjoy Christian novels or read them. Jade, from what I had read seemed whiny and Ethan putting his life in the hands of God rubbed me the wrong way. The sentence structure seemed off to me as well as the voices of the characters.
March 11, 2023
This book was funny from the start and did not fail to make me laugh through the whole thing! I really didn't like all the relationship drama happening throughout the entire book. It was very repetitive and quite predictable. The main characters were also kinda ignorant - unrealistically so - thoughout the whole thing and that made it a little hard to get though. It was a sweet book though and one most of us can relate to in some way!
March 23, 2025
Thanks to my inability to read summaries, I didn't pick up on the fact that this was Christian fiction until it was too late.
October 11, 2019
review to come
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