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Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now
“I've got seven days to come clean to my new dad. Seven days to tell the truth…”
For sixteen–year–old Tiffany Sly, life hasn't been safe or normal for a while. Losing her mom to cancer has her a little bit traumatized and now she has to leave her hometown of Chicago to live with the biological dad she's never known.
Anthony Stone is a rich man with four other daughters–and rules for every second of the day. Tiffany tries to make the best of things, but she doesn't fit into her new luxurious, but super–strict, home–or get along with her standoffish sister London. The only thing that makes her new life even remotely bearable is the strange boy across the street. Marcus McKinney has had his own experiences with death, and the unexpected friendship that blossoms between them is the only thing that makes her feel grounded.
But Tiffany has a secret. Another man claims he's Tiffany's real dad–and she has only seven days before he shows up to demand a paternity test and the truth comes out. With her life about to fall apart all over again, Tiffany finds herself discovering unexpected truths about her father, her mother and herself, and realizing that maybe family is in the bonds you make–and that life means sometimes taking risks.
For sixteen–year–old Tiffany Sly, life hasn't been safe or normal for a while. Losing her mom to cancer has her a little bit traumatized and now she has to leave her hometown of Chicago to live with the biological dad she's never known.
Anthony Stone is a rich man with four other daughters–and rules for every second of the day. Tiffany tries to make the best of things, but she doesn't fit into her new luxurious, but super–strict, home–or get along with her standoffish sister London. The only thing that makes her new life even remotely bearable is the strange boy across the street. Marcus McKinney has had his own experiences with death, and the unexpected friendship that blossoms between them is the only thing that makes her feel grounded.
But Tiffany has a secret. Another man claims he's Tiffany's real dad–and she has only seven days before he shows up to demand a paternity test and the truth comes out. With her life about to fall apart all over again, Tiffany finds herself discovering unexpected truths about her father, her mother and herself, and realizing that maybe family is in the bonds you make–and that life means sometimes taking risks.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
63 people are currently reading
4910 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
October 7, 2017
SPOILER ALERT: I wrote this!
It's been my dream to tell a story that travels out into the world and I'm thrilled to share seven days in the life of 16-year-old Tiffany Sly with all of you. Though Tiffany is dealing with some pretty heavy stuff, she's also got a lovable Spirit and a sense of humor that will (hopefully) make you laugh out loud. This inspirational, family story begs the question...what if what doesn't kill you DOESN'T make you stronger. What then? My hope is that through Tiffany discovering the answer to that question, you'll consider her a kindred Spirit and a reminder that sometimes what we truly need...is just a little help from our friends... and family too :)
It's been my dream to tell a story that travels out into the world and I'm thrilled to share seven days in the life of 16-year-old Tiffany Sly with all of you. Though Tiffany is dealing with some pretty heavy stuff, she's also got a lovable Spirit and a sense of humor that will (hopefully) make you laugh out loud. This inspirational, family story begs the question...what if what doesn't kill you DOESN'T make you stronger. What then? My hope is that through Tiffany discovering the answer to that question, you'll consider her a kindred Spirit and a reminder that sometimes what we truly need...is just a little help from our friends... and family too :)
May 26, 2019
4 stars!
This is one of those books you read, enjoy, and then wonder: why isn't this book more popular??? It's so good!!!
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is about a teenage girl whose mother dies, so she moves from Chicago to Simi Valley, CA to live with a father she never knew existed until just before her mom died. She also discovers a stepmother and four half sisters, all of which was a shock to her. On top of all of that, a man named Xavier is convinced he is Tiffany's real father, and in one week he will be demanding a paternity test. With her whole life ripping apart into many pieces, Tiffany finds a friend in the weird boy next door and his two moms.
A colleague recommended this book to me so I checked it out from the library. This is one of those books you blow through because it's so engrossing. I felt for Tiffany and her struggles, and love how despite her own issues she was kind to those around her. I wanted to punch her dad in the face, this girl just had her life upended and he was demanding a bunch of outrageous things from her, from any teenager in my opinion. This book didn't get a five star rating from me because I felt a lot was left unresolved, but I really enjoyed it and recommend more people read it.
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This is one of those books you read, enjoy, and then wonder: why isn't this book more popular??? It's so good!!!
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is about a teenage girl whose mother dies, so she moves from Chicago to Simi Valley, CA to live with a father she never knew existed until just before her mom died. She also discovers a stepmother and four half sisters, all of which was a shock to her. On top of all of that, a man named Xavier is convinced he is Tiffany's real father, and in one week he will be demanding a paternity test. With her whole life ripping apart into many pieces, Tiffany finds a friend in the weird boy next door and his two moms.
A colleague recommended this book to me so I checked it out from the library. This is one of those books you blow through because it's so engrossing. I felt for Tiffany and her struggles, and love how despite her own issues she was kind to those around her. I wanted to punch her dad in the face, this girl just had her life upended and he was demanding a bunch of outrageous things from her, from any teenager in my opinion. This book didn't get a five star rating from me because I felt a lot was left unresolved, but I really enjoyed it and recommend more people read it.
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June 5, 2018
3.5 stars
November 1, 2018
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
TW: Ableism, abuse of an autistic character, fatphobia, physical assault, homophobia, biracial erasure.
This book would have been an instant 5 stars if only, IF ONLY, it hadn't had some iffy content. Tiffany has anxiety and OCD and moves in with her super strict dad that she had no idea existed, his wife and their four daughters, and seeing her navigate all those relationships while also dealing with grief and her mental illness was absolutely amazing. I loved her journey and the exploration of faith, especially losing it, through her own struggles. But that was all ruined at some parts by a few things:
- A lot of ableism, besides the use of ableist language such as crazy and half mute, there were a couple instances where having tourette's was used as a throwaway comment, one describing Tiffany's sister who talks fast, and the other one, her dad who was tapping on his forehead (what?).
There was also abuse of an autistic toddler, which was called out in text many times, but very uncomfortable to read, and could possibly trigger autistic folks if they ever come to read this book.
-One fatphobic comment where Tiffany refers to a fat very minor characters as a pig.
- Last but not least, what affected me personally was the underlying tone all throughout the book that biracial people are less black or not really black at all and it's never challenged. There's a discussion around light skin privilege which is 100% valid, real and necessary, and while raising some important points, the execution of it was hurtfult. The constant invalidation of biracial folks was unnecessary. There's an instance where Tiffany's best friend tells her "but they're not really black" referring to her sisters, and one where Tiffany calls a black boy whose skin is described as honey brown as white (his dad is white and mom black). And… yeah, no. That absolutely ruined the book for me and made me uneasy.
TW: Ableism, abuse of an autistic character, fatphobia, physical assault, homophobia, biracial erasure.
This book would have been an instant 5 stars if only, IF ONLY, it hadn't had some iffy content. Tiffany has anxiety and OCD and moves in with her super strict dad that she had no idea existed, his wife and their four daughters, and seeing her navigate all those relationships while also dealing with grief and her mental illness was absolutely amazing. I loved her journey and the exploration of faith, especially losing it, through her own struggles. But that was all ruined at some parts by a few things:
- A lot of ableism, besides the use of ableist language such as crazy and half mute, there were a couple instances where having tourette's was used as a throwaway comment, one describing Tiffany's sister who talks fast, and the other one, her dad who was tapping on his forehead (what?).
There was also abuse of an autistic toddler, which was called out in text many times, but very uncomfortable to read, and could possibly trigger autistic folks if they ever come to read this book.
-One fatphobic comment where Tiffany refers to a fat very minor characters as a pig.
- Last but not least, what affected me personally was the underlying tone all throughout the book that biracial people are less black or not really black at all and it's never challenged. There's a discussion around light skin privilege which is 100% valid, real and necessary, and while raising some important points, the execution of it was hurtfult. The constant invalidation of biracial folks was unnecessary. There's an instance where Tiffany's best friend tells her "but they're not really black" referring to her sisters, and one where Tiffany calls a black boy whose skin is described as honey brown as white (his dad is white and mom black). And… yeah, no. That absolutely ruined the book for me and made me uneasy.
August 13, 2018
very conflicted.
March 13, 2018
I am an avid reader of YA sci-fi and fantasy. TIFFANY SLY is the very first YA contemporary novel I’ve ever read, and I am glad it was because I’m hooked. I have a newfound love for YA contemp thanks to this book!
Basic premise without spoilers: 16 y/o girl’s life is turned upside down after her mom dies and discovers the dad she goes to live with might not really be her dad.
I was so impressed with the writing. Dana L. Davis is such a powerful writer with a robust voice. She brought every character to vibrant life and made Tiffany a strong, likeable character. Despite that, she is vulnerable and has believable flaws.
There’s more folks. Not only are the voice and characters great, but the story is intense. I could not put this book down. The story is emotional, fast-paced, heart-wrenching, and satisfying. There was no romantic subplot, and the book was still very strong without one.
The author is so talented she even made the adult characters intriguing and fully-developed. Even though some characters had terrible flaws, I found myself cheering for them and seeing a clean, meaningful resolution to their arcs. My favorites turned out to be Marcus, his mom Jo (ooh that girl knows how to knock someone off their high horse!), and Margaret the stepmom. And even Anthony—I loved and hated him! Just like Tiffany did!
It doesn’t stop: good characters, great voice, good story and—and element of mystery and suspense? Good lord Ms. Davis, I’m sold. I really hope she continues to publish because she’s just earned herself a new fan. 5/5 stars
Basic premise without spoilers: 16 y/o girl’s life is turned upside down after her mom dies and discovers the dad she goes to live with might not really be her dad.
I was so impressed with the writing. Dana L. Davis is such a powerful writer with a robust voice. She brought every character to vibrant life and made Tiffany a strong, likeable character. Despite that, she is vulnerable and has believable flaws.
There’s more folks. Not only are the voice and characters great, but the story is intense. I could not put this book down. The story is emotional, fast-paced, heart-wrenching, and satisfying. There was no romantic subplot, and the book was still very strong without one.
The author is so talented she even made the adult characters intriguing and fully-developed. Even though some characters had terrible flaws, I found myself cheering for them and seeing a clean, meaningful resolution to their arcs. My favorites turned out to be Marcus, his mom Jo (ooh that girl knows how to knock someone off their high horse!), and Margaret the stepmom. And even Anthony—I loved and hated him! Just like Tiffany did!
It doesn’t stop: good characters, great voice, good story and—and element of mystery and suspense? Good lord Ms. Davis, I’m sold. I really hope she continues to publish because she’s just earned herself a new fan. 5/5 stars
June 3, 2018
This is an incredibly complex novel, and one that fits a lot into it's short timeframe, which was fully impressive. I loved Tiffany Sly and I love all the pieces of her that Dana L. Daviw uses for her story.
Above all this was a story about family (Grace, if you're reading this: there's no romance!). To Tiffanny, family has meant one thing: her mother and grandmother. Now, her mother is dead and her grandmother is in Chicago, and Tiffany has a new family and more questions than she's ever had before. Tiffanny's new dad seems like a good guy, but he's really strict, she has a bunch of sibilings by different mothers, and then she had another person who may or may not be her dad. Family is hard even for those of use lucky enough to have two biological parents who are living and still together. The situation is almost bsurd but never stops being believable, which is why the story is so compelling. Davis places Tiffany in a situation where she can ask questions about and to family, and uses that to create something really powerful. Family is so, so difficult, this book says; but that doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. It was actually painful to read this book at times, because it made me so sad--but there were angry and weird conversations, and then eventually there was healing. Not total healing, mind you, but still healing.
I loved the character of Tiffany. She felt fully authentic. I liked that she was courageous, even if she didn't always feel courageous, and prepared to stick up for the people who mattered her. She was still kind of dumb--but she is/was a teenager, and so am I, and so that can be forgiven. Her mental illness, and her understanding of it, was really well written, and I appreciated it. I liked how loal she was--to Marcus, of course, but also to her mum and London. She was just a really earnest character, who was figuring out where she fin in the world, and her growth over the story, as she figured out when to listen and when to be brave, was great.
I also loved the discussion of relifion in this book. Religion doesn't tend to play a big role in YA in general, so this was a real change, and worked really well imo. I don't know much about Mormonism, so it was interesting that those beliefs were explored a bit more in depth. I though that Marcus's beliefs about power and energy were also interesting, though wish that they'd been interrogated by the narrative a bit more. Tiffany's unbelief was good too--part of being a family is figuring out what beliefs you share and which ones you don't. I liked that this story had lots of conversations about the various natures of faith.
Dana L. Davis deals magnificently with many nuances of life, and belonging. I really appreciated the grace of this narrative, and resolution, which was open but not ridiculously open (if that makes sense, lol). Please read this book for courageous conversations about faith, race, belonging, sisterhood, friendship, and homecoming.
Above all this was a story about family (Grace, if you're reading this: there's no romance!). To Tiffanny, family has meant one thing: her mother and grandmother. Now, her mother is dead and her grandmother is in Chicago, and Tiffany has a new family and more questions than she's ever had before. Tiffanny's new dad seems like a good guy, but he's really strict, she has a bunch of sibilings by different mothers, and then she had another person who may or may not be her dad. Family is hard even for those of use lucky enough to have two biological parents who are living and still together. The situation is almost bsurd but never stops being believable, which is why the story is so compelling. Davis places Tiffany in a situation where she can ask questions about and to family, and uses that to create something really powerful. Family is so, so difficult, this book says; but that doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. It was actually painful to read this book at times, because it made me so sad--but there were angry and weird conversations, and then eventually there was healing. Not total healing, mind you, but still healing.
I loved the character of Tiffany. She felt fully authentic. I liked that she was courageous, even if she didn't always feel courageous, and prepared to stick up for the people who mattered her. She was still kind of dumb--but she is/was a teenager, and so am I, and so that can be forgiven. Her mental illness, and her understanding of it, was really well written, and I appreciated it. I liked how loal she was--to Marcus, of course, but also to her mum and London. She was just a really earnest character, who was figuring out where she fin in the world, and her growth over the story, as she figured out when to listen and when to be brave, was great.
I also loved the discussion of relifion in this book. Religion doesn't tend to play a big role in YA in general, so this was a real change, and worked really well imo. I don't know much about Mormonism, so it was interesting that those beliefs were explored a bit more in depth. I though that Marcus's beliefs about power and energy were also interesting, though wish that they'd been interrogated by the narrative a bit more. Tiffany's unbelief was good too--part of being a family is figuring out what beliefs you share and which ones you don't. I liked that this story had lots of conversations about the various natures of faith.
Dana L. Davis deals magnificently with many nuances of life, and belonging. I really appreciated the grace of this narrative, and resolution, which was open but not ridiculously open (if that makes sense, lol). Please read this book for courageous conversations about faith, race, belonging, sisterhood, friendship, and homecoming.
Read
April 30, 2018This was a really fast and absorbing read that pairs really nicely with HOME AND AWAY by Candice Montgomery, thematically. I loved the touch of their family being Jehovah's Witnesses, because that's really not something I've seen in YA (and now I'd really love to see a YA from the POV of a teen who actually is one, especially if they embrace and love it). Will definitely be picking up whatever Davis writes next.
April 8, 2019

Summary from Goodreads
For sixteen-year-old Tiffany Sly, life hasn’t been safe or normal for a while. Losing her mom to cancer has her a little bit traumatized and now she has to leave her hometown of Chicago to live with the biological dad she’s never known.
Anthony Stone is a rich man with four other daughters—and rules for every second of the day. Tiffany tries to make the best of things, but she doesn’t fit into her new luxurious, but super-strict, home—or get along with her standoffish sister London. The only thing that makes her new life even remotely bearable is the strange boy across the street. Marcus McKinney has had his own experiences with death, and the unexpected friendship that blossoms between them is the only thing that makes her feel grounded.
But Tiffany has a secret. Another man claims he’s Tiffany’s real dad—and she only has seven days before he shows up to demand a paternity test and the truth comes out. With her life about to fall apart all over again, Tiffany finds herself discovering unexpected truths about her father, her mother and herself, and realizing that maybe family is in the bonds you make—and that life means sometimes taking risks.
My thoughts
I listened to Tiffany Sly Lives here now on audiobook. I really enjoyed the narrator her voice was very soothing and I think she did a good job with the characters and the tone of the story.
I really enjoyed the story. I liked the lavish descriptions of the houses and places they went. I liked how Tiffany was trying to fit in and find herself in this new place.
This book was hilarious, I was laughing right off the bat. I almost cried reading it which I love. I loved the emotion in the story.
Overall
I really enjoyed this book and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Dana's work in the future!

Summary from Goodreads
For sixteen-year-old Tiffany Sly, life hasn’t been safe or normal for a while. Losing her mom to cancer has her a little bit traumatized and now she has to leave her hometown of Chicago to live with the biological dad she’s never known.
Anthony Stone is a rich man with four other daughters—and rules for every second of the day. Tiffany tries to make the best of things, but she doesn’t fit into her new luxurious, but super-strict, home—or get along with her standoffish sister London. The only thing that makes her new life even remotely bearable is the strange boy across the street. Marcus McKinney has had his own experiences with death, and the unexpected friendship that blossoms between them is the only thing that makes her feel grounded.
But Tiffany has a secret. Another man claims he’s Tiffany’s real dad—and she only has seven days before he shows up to demand a paternity test and the truth comes out. With her life about to fall apart all over again, Tiffany finds herself discovering unexpected truths about her father, her mother and herself, and realizing that maybe family is in the bonds you make—and that life means sometimes taking risks.
My thoughts
I listened to Tiffany Sly Lives here now on audiobook. I really enjoyed the narrator her voice was very soothing and I think she did a good job with the characters and the tone of the story.
I really enjoyed the story. I liked the lavish descriptions of the houses and places they went. I liked how Tiffany was trying to fit in and find herself in this new place.
This book was hilarious, I was laughing right off the bat. I almost cried reading it which I love. I loved the emotion in the story.
Overall
I really enjoyed this book and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Dana's work in the future!

June 25, 2018
THIS WAS SO GOOD! Read it in less than a day. Perfection. I laughed and cried. I'm declaring yhis my favourite YA read of 2018!
May 9, 2018
I’m having a hard time sorting out my thoughts about this book. I absolutely adore the main character, Tiffany Sly. She’s bold, she speaks her mind, she doesn’t let herself be bullied into following orders blindly, and she suffers from anxiety and OCD. Like Tiffany, the author is black and has anxiety, so the representation is of course great. I also appreciate that there wasn’t any romance in the novel!
However, this feels very much like the debut novel it is, and I found the plot hard to believe. The basic premise is that Tiffany’s mom dies and she’s sent to live with her biological dad, whom she’s never met, and her (surprise!) stepmom and sisters. Her dad is a horrible person, however, and that never really changes, despite the author’s half-hearted attempts to show that he’s slowing learning from his mistakes. That fact alone makes the whole book implausible in my mind. (I don’t want to say more about this because of spoilers.) Also, the two-year-old sister is autistic and is essentially abused by her parents, particularly by the dad. It’s never acknowledged as abuse, and left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall, this book was stressful to read in the sense that Tiffany suddenly has no control over her life, and that’s something I always find difficult to read about. Tiffany is such a great character, though, that the book is worth reading for her alone, as well as for a few other side characters I grew to love.
However, this feels very much like the debut novel it is, and I found the plot hard to believe. The basic premise is that Tiffany’s mom dies and she’s sent to live with her biological dad, whom she’s never met, and her (surprise!) stepmom and sisters. Her dad is a horrible person, however, and that never really changes, despite the author’s half-hearted attempts to show that he’s slowing learning from his mistakes. That fact alone makes the whole book implausible in my mind. (I don’t want to say more about this because of spoilers.) Also, the two-year-old sister is autistic and is essentially abused by her parents, particularly by the dad. It’s never acknowledged as abuse, and left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall, this book was stressful to read in the sense that Tiffany suddenly has no control over her life, and that’s something I always find difficult to read about. Tiffany is such a great character, though, that the book is worth reading for her alone, as well as for a few other side characters I grew to love.
September 20, 2018
Incredibly enjoyable. I loved Tiffany's character a whole heck of a lot!
June 14, 2020
I’m so conflicted about this – on one hand, I thought it was okay, maybe even good at some points, but on the other, there were some problematic bits that tainted my overall impression.
Tiffany Sly is a 16-year-old girl living in Chicago whose mother has just passed away from cancer. After her mother’s death, she moves to California to live with the man she believes to be her father, Anthony Stone, along with his wife, Margaret, and four other daughters: London, Naveah, Heaven, and Pumpkin. Before she moves, a man named Xavier shows up at her door in Chicago claiming to potentially be her father, and he wants a DNA test within the next 7 days to prove it. Tiffany is conflicted on what she should do, and who she wants to be her biological father – will it be Xavier, or will it be Anthony?
Okay, so I will begin with the things I liked:
• Anxiety/ OCD rep was done well- Tiffany has anxiety and OCD for which she takes medication. A lot of her anxiety has to do with death; she is scared to fly in an airplane, gets anxious when the car she is in is going over the speed limit, etc. I think her internal monologue in these situations was well written and well represented.
• Marcus- Tiffany’s neighbor and friend when she moves to California; he is such a sweet character and really added some feel-good moments to the book.
• Naveah- she was definitely my favourite Stone sister; she was hilarious and basically the kid that had no filter but in a very endearing way.
• How accepting Tiffany’s new stepmom is of her- I honestly thought Margaret was going to be the stereotypical ‘evil stepmother’, but if anything, I felt she had Tiffany’s back more often than Anthony did, and I liked that she was portrayed in a positive light.
The things I wasn’t too keen about:
• The way Anthony treated the family- he took away Tiffany’s anxiety meds; slapped her across the face; took away her phone for silly reasons; pretty much abused Pumpkin, his young autistic daughter, because he didn’t want to learn how to actually deal with her autism (which could be triggering for some to read); controlled who Tiffany could hang out with; barely took an interest in actually getting to know Tiffany at all in the 7 days this book took place… and I could probably go on, but I’m going to stop for my own sanity.
• The dialogue- some of it really did not sound believable. For example, the way that Tiffany’s half sister London was portrayed and the dialogue she spoke didn’t line up for me. There was a bit of a disconnect between the two that I could never quite get over. Not to mention, the way that Anthony spoke to his family in general was disgusting at times. I hated that he tried to hide behind his Jehovah religion to justify how he treated people. In addition, there were a few fatphobic comments, as well as a comment comparing one character’s movement to having Tourette’s, which I felt was inappropriate.
• The attempt at a redemption arc for Anthony- so Anthony does and says all these terrible things for the entire book, and then there comes a point where he shows a side of himself that actually seems human, and I think the reader is supposed to empathize and start to grow a soft spot for him, but I couldn’t. The redemption arc for Anthony could not be done by that point; I really didn’t care that he was nice that one time near the end, when for the other 300+ pages he was a complete asshole. I’m sorry, but too little, too late 🤷🏻♀️
I really wanted to like this, and at times, I did. But the negatives unfortunately overpowered the positives here which affected my overall view of the book.
Tiffany Sly is a 16-year-old girl living in Chicago whose mother has just passed away from cancer. After her mother’s death, she moves to California to live with the man she believes to be her father, Anthony Stone, along with his wife, Margaret, and four other daughters: London, Naveah, Heaven, and Pumpkin. Before she moves, a man named Xavier shows up at her door in Chicago claiming to potentially be her father, and he wants a DNA test within the next 7 days to prove it. Tiffany is conflicted on what she should do, and who she wants to be her biological father – will it be Xavier, or will it be Anthony?
Okay, so I will begin with the things I liked:
• Anxiety/ OCD rep was done well- Tiffany has anxiety and OCD for which she takes medication. A lot of her anxiety has to do with death; she is scared to fly in an airplane, gets anxious when the car she is in is going over the speed limit, etc. I think her internal monologue in these situations was well written and well represented.
• Marcus- Tiffany’s neighbor and friend when she moves to California; he is such a sweet character and really added some feel-good moments to the book.
• Naveah- she was definitely my favourite Stone sister; she was hilarious and basically the kid that had no filter but in a very endearing way.
• How accepting Tiffany’s new stepmom is of her- I honestly thought Margaret was going to be the stereotypical ‘evil stepmother’, but if anything, I felt she had Tiffany’s back more often than Anthony did, and I liked that she was portrayed in a positive light.
The things I wasn’t too keen about:
• The way Anthony treated the family- he took away Tiffany’s anxiety meds; slapped her across the face; took away her phone for silly reasons; pretty much abused Pumpkin, his young autistic daughter, because he didn’t want to learn how to actually deal with her autism (which could be triggering for some to read); controlled who Tiffany could hang out with; barely took an interest in actually getting to know Tiffany at all in the 7 days this book took place… and I could probably go on, but I’m going to stop for my own sanity.
• The dialogue- some of it really did not sound believable. For example, the way that Tiffany’s half sister London was portrayed and the dialogue she spoke didn’t line up for me. There was a bit of a disconnect between the two that I could never quite get over. Not to mention, the way that Anthony spoke to his family in general was disgusting at times. I hated that he tried to hide behind his Jehovah religion to justify how he treated people. In addition, there were a few fatphobic comments, as well as a comment comparing one character’s movement to having Tourette’s, which I felt was inappropriate.
• The attempt at a redemption arc for Anthony- so Anthony does and says all these terrible things for the entire book, and then there comes a point where he shows a side of himself that actually seems human, and I think the reader is supposed to empathize and start to grow a soft spot for him, but I couldn’t. The redemption arc for Anthony could not be done by that point; I really didn’t care that he was nice that one time near the end, when for the other 300+ pages he was a complete asshole. I’m sorry, but too little, too late 🤷🏻♀️
I really wanted to like this, and at times, I did. But the negatives unfortunately overpowered the positives here which affected my overall view of the book.
July 5, 2018
"What happens when God doesn't answer prayers?"
This is the question that Tiffany Sly asks herself after her mother succumbs to leukemia. On her sixteenth birthday Tiffany finds herself flying across the country to meet her father for the first time. When she arrives at his home she is greeted by her siblings and stepmother -- the family she never knew existed until now -- and finds herself at the mercy of her father's stringent house rules. It is enough of a struggle to confront the loss of her mother. But how is Tiffany expected to handle these new family dynamics that are rooted in an unfamiliar religion especially when she herself has lost faith in God? Matters are made worse by revelations that Anthony Stone may not be her father. Another man has stepped forward claiming that Tiffany is his daughter. Tiffany cannot reconcile his claims with the woman that she knew as her mother, even though she sees some of herself in this other man. She also cannot fathom the havoc that these revelations will have on her Grammy and her new family.
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is a complex YA novel about family, faith and belonging. Despite the fact that issues such as grief, mental disorders, and faith are woven into the fabric of the story, Tiffany Sly manages to be refreshing at its core. Dana L. Davis has written a wonderful debut novel that I am glad I had the pleasure to read. Big thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Teen and Dana L. Davis for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the question that Tiffany Sly asks herself after her mother succumbs to leukemia. On her sixteenth birthday Tiffany finds herself flying across the country to meet her father for the first time. When she arrives at his home she is greeted by her siblings and stepmother -- the family she never knew existed until now -- and finds herself at the mercy of her father's stringent house rules. It is enough of a struggle to confront the loss of her mother. But how is Tiffany expected to handle these new family dynamics that are rooted in an unfamiliar religion especially when she herself has lost faith in God? Matters are made worse by revelations that Anthony Stone may not be her father. Another man has stepped forward claiming that Tiffany is his daughter. Tiffany cannot reconcile his claims with the woman that she knew as her mother, even though she sees some of herself in this other man. She also cannot fathom the havoc that these revelations will have on her Grammy and her new family.
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is a complex YA novel about family, faith and belonging. Despite the fact that issues such as grief, mental disorders, and faith are woven into the fabric of the story, Tiffany Sly manages to be refreshing at its core. Dana L. Davis has written a wonderful debut novel that I am glad I had the pleasure to read. Big thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Teen and Dana L. Davis for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2018
4 stars
I definitely enjoyed reading this debut!
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is thoroughly real with its relatable and realistic main character, Tiffany Sly, who is funny and real and a little bit naïve, but thoroughly genuine.
I loved Tiffany Sly. I want to be Tiffany Sly's best friend. I want Tiffany Sly as my best friend. Her voice really shines through in this addictive debut, and I can honestly say that I found her to be a really interesting and fun narrator.
The one thing I really love about Harlequin Teen titles is how addictive they are--and Tiffany Sly is no exception. Her voice really shines through in a natural manner and it never feels awkward or stunted to read. I love how she has her quirks but Davis writes her in a way that gives you the impression that Davis is very comfortable in forming Tiffany's voice, which I thought was done very well.
She has these quirks, like listing happy items (Pixy Stix, Care Bears, etc.) when she's angry or stressed and it's not like a super huge deal, it's just part of her narrative. Davis incorporates this seamlessly and I loved reading that. (Especially because I am very fond of Care Bears, although I do feel like that was such a "back then" kind of thing that kids these days don't know what a Care Bear really is. Those neon ones are a disgrace, just saying.)
I sped through this novel, and I just really loved reading about Tiffany and her emotions and thoughts and feelings. You can really get into her head, which I greatly enjoyed doing, and although life is pretty sucky for her, she still finds the bright side in things, which I found really nice.
But, there were a few things that didn't completely float my boat.
One of the biggest was how this book strongly advertises "Two dads. Seven days." or "She only has seven days to get to know the dad she just met" or something like that, but it felt like this was very much underemphasized throughout the novel. When I read the tagline on the cover after reading, I was really confused for a minute because I didn't get what it was referring to.
Because although Tiffany Sly does have this problem, I didn't really recognize it as the very large, very important central idea of the book. So either the marketing was funky and a bit misleading, or the emphasis was weird. I just felt like the book didn't dedicate enough emphasis and time to that specific aspect of the plotline and the urgency behind that tagline to warrant the tagline's existence.
The other thing that I wasn't too fond of was the lack of resolution. I felt like there were a lot of loose ends in this novel that didn't really get cleaned up. I read a digital review copy, but I was approved after the pub date so I assume this is the same as the published edition?
But to me it felt like Tiffany barely got any closure. She got closure with her dad, her step mom, and maybe a couple other things, but I feel like she definitely didn't get closure with her sisters (and one of her sisters' mean girl friends), her struggling academics, the life she left behind, her grief over her mother, the guy she punched, etc.
I just feel like a lot of these plotlines weren't really wrapped up. And although life is messy and not necessarily wrapped up in a perfect bow, I do wish that it had more resolution at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now and absolutely loved the intersectionality of mental health and black girl representation, as well as other naturally-incorporated diverse characters. I'll be keeping an eye on Dana L. Davis for what she comes up with next!
If you like super diverse casts, an open and genuine narrator, family themes, and/or absolutely zero romance, then I definitely recommend you check out Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now!
Thank you so much to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!
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I definitely enjoyed reading this debut!
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is thoroughly real with its relatable and realistic main character, Tiffany Sly, who is funny and real and a little bit naïve, but thoroughly genuine.
I loved Tiffany Sly. I want to be Tiffany Sly's best friend. I want Tiffany Sly as my best friend. Her voice really shines through in this addictive debut, and I can honestly say that I found her to be a really interesting and fun narrator.
The one thing I really love about Harlequin Teen titles is how addictive they are--and Tiffany Sly is no exception. Her voice really shines through in a natural manner and it never feels awkward or stunted to read. I love how she has her quirks but Davis writes her in a way that gives you the impression that Davis is very comfortable in forming Tiffany's voice, which I thought was done very well.
She has these quirks, like listing happy items (Pixy Stix, Care Bears, etc.) when she's angry or stressed and it's not like a super huge deal, it's just part of her narrative. Davis incorporates this seamlessly and I loved reading that. (Especially because I am very fond of Care Bears, although I do feel like that was such a "back then" kind of thing that kids these days don't know what a Care Bear really is. Those neon ones are a disgrace, just saying.)
I sped through this novel, and I just really loved reading about Tiffany and her emotions and thoughts and feelings. You can really get into her head, which I greatly enjoyed doing, and although life is pretty sucky for her, she still finds the bright side in things, which I found really nice.
But, there were a few things that didn't completely float my boat.
One of the biggest was how this book strongly advertises "Two dads. Seven days." or "She only has seven days to get to know the dad she just met" or something like that, but it felt like this was very much underemphasized throughout the novel. When I read the tagline on the cover after reading, I was really confused for a minute because I didn't get what it was referring to.
Because although Tiffany Sly does have this problem, I didn't really recognize it as the very large, very important central idea of the book. So either the marketing was funky and a bit misleading, or the emphasis was weird. I just felt like the book didn't dedicate enough emphasis and time to that specific aspect of the plotline and the urgency behind that tagline to warrant the tagline's existence.
The other thing that I wasn't too fond of was the lack of resolution. I felt like there were a lot of loose ends in this novel that didn't really get cleaned up. I read a digital review copy, but I was approved after the pub date so I assume this is the same as the published edition?
But to me it felt like Tiffany barely got any closure. She got closure with her dad, her step mom, and maybe a couple other things, but I feel like she definitely didn't get closure with her sisters (and one of her sisters' mean girl friends), her struggling academics, the life she left behind, her grief over her mother, the guy she punched, etc.
I just feel like a lot of these plotlines weren't really wrapped up. And although life is messy and not necessarily wrapped up in a perfect bow, I do wish that it had more resolution at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now and absolutely loved the intersectionality of mental health and black girl representation, as well as other naturally-incorporated diverse characters. I'll be keeping an eye on Dana L. Davis for what she comes up with next!
If you like super diverse casts, an open and genuine narrator, family themes, and/or absolutely zero romance, then I definitely recommend you check out Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now!
Thank you so much to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!
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January 8, 2019
Even though I've taken a slight break from all things YA,I picked this up anyway because the cover is gorgeous. I enjoyed this book so much. I love that it captured the teen voice so well. I think what separates this book from other YA Contemporary is that it wasn't just teen angst and romance and a bunch of other nonsense my 31 year-old self could care less about. This dealt with grief, mental illness, sexuality, religion and more. I was very impressed. These themes were also put in well and not just to say the book was "diverse. The only person I hated throughout was Anthony, Tiffany's father. He was just an asshole the entire book. I'm glad I was wrong about everything I predicted would happen in this book!
March 5, 2021
tiffany sly lives here now follows our main character tiffany, who moves across the country to live with her estranged father, stepmother and four half-sisters after her mother has died of cancer. a story rich in themes of belonging, acceptance, mental illness, growth, family, and forgiveness, i genuinely really enjoyed the novel.
it's been a long time since i've read a book with such amazing anxiety rep. tiffany suffers from severe ocd and anxiety, and it's not just a label she has, but something that plays an active role in the story. for example, when she is stressed she'll list classically "happy" things, like pixy sticks care bears, etc. and other "quirks" that make up who she is. it was a genuine representation of mental illness, in that she is more than just her ocd, and it's not the only thing defining her on the page. tiffany is a dynamic character, and though she is sometimes naive, she is genuine and authentic. i loved reading from her and seeing her growth throughout the novel.
i really enjoyed ALL the characters we were given, as they were super dimensional and brought a lot to the page; special mentions to teachers like mr mills who i wish i had had growing up, and the amazing marcus (and family included) who were always there to give a hand to tiffany. i even grew to love most of tiffany's family and the growth in both character and relationship both her father and london experience in this novel were really great. margaret seemed like such a positive step-mother figure in tiffany, and i think having that for tiffany after experiencing the death of her mother was super important.
i do feel there were some issues regarding the autism rep. i'm glad the characters were able to grow and change their outlook, but seeing more from pumpkin and a little bit more development in this aspect could've been nice. we only get a passing line of "i tried this and it worked!" regarding choosing better methods to deal with sensory overload, and another passing line when tiffany is ranting to her father (and in that case it felt very overshadowed by the other things she was saying)
i also felt there was a lot of biracial erasure in the novel? all of the main family was biracial, as well as a few supporting characters in the story and the biracial erasure felt very icky? there was this constant underlying tone throughout the novel that biracial people are "less black" and it is NEVER challenged. i feel it was most often used to express light skin privilege but the way it went about expressing that wasn't the best. tiffany's best friend describes the rest of tiffany's family (who have a white mom) as "not really black". other problematic lines existed in the novel, and they made me very uncomfy how they were never challenged throughout the novel.
in general, i felt there was a few too many loose-ends in the book. everything magically gets better with like three heart to heart convos. the autistic toddler has a good day with new methods of taking baths and she's never talked about again (and we never deal with the fact that she was spanked?!) aric's whole punch plot-line... disappears? (a plot-line i felt was particularly interesting due to the racial stereotypes that were at play and i wanted to see how that went about). i feel we could've gotten fifty more pages to space everything out and fill in a few more of the gaps to make it all that much better.
overall i really enjoyed the novel! i think there were a few flaws that hindered me from loving it with all my heart, but i do think it is still a beautiful, authentic read that many will love.
it's been a long time since i've read a book with such amazing anxiety rep. tiffany suffers from severe ocd and anxiety, and it's not just a label she has, but something that plays an active role in the story. for example, when she is stressed she'll list classically "happy" things, like pixy sticks care bears, etc. and other "quirks" that make up who she is. it was a genuine representation of mental illness, in that she is more than just her ocd, and it's not the only thing defining her on the page. tiffany is a dynamic character, and though she is sometimes naive, she is genuine and authentic. i loved reading from her and seeing her growth throughout the novel.
i really enjoyed ALL the characters we were given, as they were super dimensional and brought a lot to the page; special mentions to teachers like mr mills who i wish i had had growing up, and the amazing marcus (and family included) who were always there to give a hand to tiffany. i even grew to love most of tiffany's family and the growth in both character and relationship both her father and london experience in this novel were really great. margaret seemed like such a positive step-mother figure in tiffany, and i think having that for tiffany after experiencing the death of her mother was super important.
i do feel there were some issues regarding the autism rep. i'm glad the characters were able to grow and change their outlook, but seeing more from pumpkin and a little bit more development in this aspect could've been nice. we only get a passing line of "i tried this and it worked!" regarding choosing better methods to deal with sensory overload, and another passing line when tiffany is ranting to her father (and in that case it felt very overshadowed by the other things she was saying)
i also felt there was a lot of biracial erasure in the novel? all of the main family was biracial, as well as a few supporting characters in the story and the biracial erasure felt very icky? there was this constant underlying tone throughout the novel that biracial people are "less black" and it is NEVER challenged. i feel it was most often used to express light skin privilege but the way it went about expressing that wasn't the best. tiffany's best friend describes the rest of tiffany's family (who have a white mom) as "not really black". other problematic lines existed in the novel, and they made me very uncomfy how they were never challenged throughout the novel.
in general, i felt there was a few too many loose-ends in the book. everything magically gets better with like three heart to heart convos. the autistic toddler has a good day with new methods of taking baths and she's never talked about again (and we never deal with the fact that she was spanked?!) aric's whole punch plot-line... disappears? (a plot-line i felt was particularly interesting due to the racial stereotypes that were at play and i wanted to see how that went about). i feel we could've gotten fifty more pages to space everything out and fill in a few more of the gaps to make it all that much better.
overall i really enjoyed the novel! i think there were a few flaws that hindered me from loving it with all my heart, but i do think it is still a beautiful, authentic read that many will love.
June 26, 2018
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now may be a little rough around the edges, but it's a gem of a book. This book is as messy as it comes, but that was what made it wonderful.
- About a girl, following the loss of her mother, and her life after she moves in with the father and family she never knew she had.
- I adored Tiffany Sly. Davis did an incredible job giving her an authentic and believable voice.
- Explores religion, faith, and tradition, and how the three can have such an influence on a family and how they live their lives.
- Also thoroughly explores grief, trauma, and coping. There were times where the latter made me sob - it elicited such a strong emotion out of me and I can't remember the last time a book did that.
- This book has PTSD, trauma, OCD, and anxiety representation. Though I can't speak for the first three, the anxiety rep here was really well done.
- Several issues: some parts of the book were left unresolved (however, it didn't make it less compelling) and there was some autism abuse that was extremely unpleasant to read even if it was challenged. Nonetheless, a great debut and I can't wait to read Davis's future books.
Trigger/content warnings:
- About a girl, following the loss of her mother, and her life after she moves in with the father and family she never knew she had.
- I adored Tiffany Sly. Davis did an incredible job giving her an authentic and believable voice.
- Explores religion, faith, and tradition, and how the three can have such an influence on a family and how they live their lives.
- Also thoroughly explores grief, trauma, and coping. There were times where the latter made me sob - it elicited such a strong emotion out of me and I can't remember the last time a book did that.
- This book has PTSD, trauma, OCD, and anxiety representation. Though I can't speak for the first three, the anxiety rep here was really well done.
- Several issues: some parts of the book were left unresolved (however, it didn't make it less compelling) and there was some autism abuse that was extremely unpleasant to read even if it was challenged. Nonetheless, a great debut and I can't wait to read Davis's future books.
Trigger/content warnings:
July 13, 2018
Tiffany meets her father for the first time after moving to California to be with him and his family. Her mother has just passed away, and instead of empathy, her father is full of rules. Most of the time he isn’t even physically there, leaving her to navigate her new life alone.
I thought this novel about loss and grief, identity, religion, and the difficulty of being true to yourself, to be beautifully unflinching. I got Tiffany Sly, deep down in my gut, and once I started reading, I was reluctant to stop. I loved how this book avoided common YA pitfalls - no love interest, no stereotypical evil stepmother. Even the characters I spent most of the book actively disliking turned out to be more complicated than they seemed. But mostly I loved Tiffany and her determined journey to make her life whole again.
I thought this novel about loss and grief, identity, religion, and the difficulty of being true to yourself, to be beautifully unflinching. I got Tiffany Sly, deep down in my gut, and once I started reading, I was reluctant to stop. I loved how this book avoided common YA pitfalls - no love interest, no stereotypical evil stepmother. Even the characters I spent most of the book actively disliking turned out to be more complicated than they seemed. But mostly I loved Tiffany and her determined journey to make her life whole again.
April 6, 2018
I really loved this story! Tiffany Sly Lives Here is full of humor, sad and relatable moments, a complex family situation, and interesting neighbors one might call crazy but I found it all refreshingly different. A wonderful novel from a great storyteller.
Tiffany has recently lost her mother to cancer and is preparing to leave her grandmother, best friend, and all that is familiar and safe behind to move in with a father she knows nothing about. But before leaving Chicago, another man comes forward claiming to be her real father. Fearing she might end up in an episode of Maury with paternity test drama, Tiffany keeps this to herself and still leaves her hometown, which I understand because that's a lot to deal with on top of her mother's death. To Tiffany's surprise, her rich father has a wife and four other children. No one prepared her for that, and she was certainly not expecting Anthony Stone to be so religious and controlling. His character had me rolling my eyes and shaking my head constantly. And every time he'd say something inconsiderate or just utterly off, I'd get frustrated with his wife and wish for Tiffany to tell him about her other father.
It was easy to hope one man was her real father, just for being so polar opposite to the other and being so much nicer and open. But even while Tiffany was having a hard time, she had a gut feeling who her real father was.
Aside from the two father drama of the story, I did like her younger siblings, even London. No matter how stuck-up she was. Her attitude was kind of understandable, being that she was the eldest for a while and here comes this other older daughter changing things up in her life. London's character was a story in itself and admittedly, I laughed when she ended up in that dilemma because of how she presented herself to the outside world.
There were other interesting aspects of the story that took us away from the family drama now and then. For instance, I liked the moments where Tiffany made an effort with her stepmother and was willing to help with her youngest sister. It always brought a smile to my face and I wished Anthony would make as much of an effort. And the Stones' neighbors and their son were such lovable people. Tiffany's connection with Marcus was a delight, accepting him in spite of his difference and how everyone else treated him. Marcus has a warm and polite nature. It was so sad learning about his problem, but I loved that he lived without fear and celebrated every moment with his family. More power to him and his mothers.
I don't want to give too much away. I'll just conclude by saying this story will have you laughing, clenching your fists in anger, and tearing up. And you go through these emotions from start to finish. It's one of those books you don't want to pass on. I highly recommend reading this one!
Tiffany has recently lost her mother to cancer and is preparing to leave her grandmother, best friend, and all that is familiar and safe behind to move in with a father she knows nothing about. But before leaving Chicago, another man comes forward claiming to be her real father. Fearing she might end up in an episode of Maury with paternity test drama, Tiffany keeps this to herself and still leaves her hometown, which I understand because that's a lot to deal with on top of her mother's death. To Tiffany's surprise, her rich father has a wife and four other children. No one prepared her for that, and she was certainly not expecting Anthony Stone to be so religious and controlling. His character had me rolling my eyes and shaking my head constantly. And every time he'd say something inconsiderate or just utterly off, I'd get frustrated with his wife and wish for Tiffany to tell him about her other father.
It was easy to hope one man was her real father, just for being so polar opposite to the other and being so much nicer and open. But even while Tiffany was having a hard time, she had a gut feeling who her real father was.
Aside from the two father drama of the story, I did like her younger siblings, even London. No matter how stuck-up she was. Her attitude was kind of understandable, being that she was the eldest for a while and here comes this other older daughter changing things up in her life. London's character was a story in itself and admittedly, I laughed when she ended up in that dilemma because of how she presented herself to the outside world.
There were other interesting aspects of the story that took us away from the family drama now and then. For instance, I liked the moments where Tiffany made an effort with her stepmother and was willing to help with her youngest sister. It always brought a smile to my face and I wished Anthony would make as much of an effort. And the Stones' neighbors and their son were such lovable people. Tiffany's connection with Marcus was a delight, accepting him in spite of his difference and how everyone else treated him. Marcus has a warm and polite nature. It was so sad learning about his problem, but I loved that he lived without fear and celebrated every moment with his family. More power to him and his mothers.
I don't want to give too much away. I'll just conclude by saying this story will have you laughing, clenching your fists in anger, and tearing up. And you go through these emotions from start to finish. It's one of those books you don't want to pass on. I highly recommend reading this one!
July 27, 2018
I feel like lately every book I finish I say "maaaaaaaybe 3.5 stars?" in the review but... like.... probably 3.5?? This was a very mixed bag. Absolutely worth it for the gems, though.
April 25, 2018
What stood out to me most in Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now were the characters/family dynamic and the themes. Both of these were sort of dark horse elements for me. I was expecting to fall in love with the plot. While it was still very interesting - I ultimately stayed for the themes and characters.
Tiffany instantly drew me in. She was polite, terrified, and intelligent. At the same time she was sassy, nuanced, and incredibly intelligent. Tiffany has severe anxiety and OCD. (She also has alopecia). In terms of representation, Tiffany also has a half sister who is on the Autistic spectrum and her family are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Tiffany is also black and she has so many conversations about what it means for her to grow up without representation, to wish she looked like 'other girls', those who pass as white, all the way to the stereotypes about her anger.
So a huge theme is family. Is family something we feel essentially? Something in our bones, a humming in our blood? What makes up a family and how do we become a parent? As someone who is adopted, I've always thought about this issue - if there was something I was missing because I didn't know my birth parents.
So bear with me while I try out this new rating system that I'm trying out. As this is a contemporary, I don't place as much emphasis on world building, because it's fairly straightforward. So if the rating isn't very high, it isn't because it's not good, it's just because it doesn't have particularly detailed descriptions - which isn't a ride or die for me in contemporary.
Characters: 4 Plot: 4 Writing/Themes: 4 World Building: 3
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Tiffany instantly drew me in. She was polite, terrified, and intelligent. At the same time she was sassy, nuanced, and incredibly intelligent. Tiffany has severe anxiety and OCD. (She also has alopecia). In terms of representation, Tiffany also has a half sister who is on the Autistic spectrum and her family are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Tiffany is also black and she has so many conversations about what it means for her to grow up without representation, to wish she looked like 'other girls', those who pass as white, all the way to the stereotypes about her anger.
So a huge theme is family. Is family something we feel essentially? Something in our bones, a humming in our blood? What makes up a family and how do we become a parent? As someone who is adopted, I've always thought about this issue - if there was something I was missing because I didn't know my birth parents.
So bear with me while I try out this new rating system that I'm trying out. As this is a contemporary, I don't place as much emphasis on world building, because it's fairly straightforward. So if the rating isn't very high, it isn't because it's not good, it's just because it doesn't have particularly detailed descriptions - which isn't a ride or die for me in contemporary.
Characters: 4 Plot: 4 Writing/Themes: 4 World Building: 3
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
May 28, 2018
What an emotional roller-coaster this book was! Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is the very definition of unputdownable: I inhaled it over the course of a few days and am now experiencing an extreme book hungover!
If you're after a clever, uniquely-voiced contemporary, Tiffany Sly is for you. The protagonist, Tiffany, will make you smile, laugh out-loud, fight alongside her against the injustices of the world and grieve with her. At its heart, this amazing debut is a story of a young woman coming into her own, learning not to trust snap judgement and assumptions made about people, and finding strength within her to be true to herself.
If you're after a clever, uniquely-voiced contemporary, Tiffany Sly is for you. The protagonist, Tiffany, will make you smile, laugh out-loud, fight alongside her against the injustices of the world and grieve with her. At its heart, this amazing debut is a story of a young woman coming into her own, learning not to trust snap judgement and assumptions made about people, and finding strength within her to be true to herself.
June 27, 2018
I’m going through lots of feelings right now... I love Tiffany as a character. She is awesome and so relatable. But I’m also sooo angry for her. She’s definitely a much better person... Good for u gal...
Ok now I’m just rambling... I need to think some more before I write something tat makes sense 😊
Ok now I’m just rambling... I need to think some more before I write something tat makes sense 😊
July 5, 2020
i really loved the main character Tiffany and i truly believe that she is the best part of this book
February 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It was so nice to read a contemporary YA for what feels like the first time in so long.
I didn’t really know what to expect when going into this book, and I’m kind of glad that I just saw it on Hoopla and decided to start listening. The writing was so effortlessly beautiful, and I felt like I knew Tiffany on a deep level from the second the book started. It was like listening to a close friend.
I really loved the conversations about faith, death, mental health, and family that were had in this book. It didn’t feel like everyone had to agree for things to be resolved, which was really nice.
I also was surprised that I enjoyed the fact that romance was pretty much nonexistent. I’ve been in a bit of a romance mood lately, but it was nice to read a book that was just about family and friendship.
Overall I totally recommend the audiobook! It was so beautifully done and really moved fast.
I didn’t really know what to expect when going into this book, and I’m kind of glad that I just saw it on Hoopla and decided to start listening. The writing was so effortlessly beautiful, and I felt like I knew Tiffany on a deep level from the second the book started. It was like listening to a close friend.
I really loved the conversations about faith, death, mental health, and family that were had in this book. It didn’t feel like everyone had to agree for things to be resolved, which was really nice.
I also was surprised that I enjoyed the fact that romance was pretty much nonexistent. I’ve been in a bit of a romance mood lately, but it was nice to read a book that was just about family and friendship.
Overall I totally recommend the audiobook! It was so beautifully done and really moved fast.
October 25, 2018
Finally I've finished yet another book about a young girl who loses someone close to her and now she's suddenly entered into a life of the unknown. Tiffany meets people in a whole new world in which she's not accustomed too. How will she adapt to these new people, new lifestyle and new world she's been thrown into without her consent.
March 28, 2018
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now
Dana L. Davis
Rating: 3.5/5
Note: Special thanks to Harper Collins for providing a copy for review.
There is so much more to this book than what the summary describes. There's a certain level of complexity here surrounding the characters' relationships, the plot, and dialogue that is rare in YA contemporaries.
This book incorporates OCD, anxiety issues, PTSD, autism, and psychosomatic induced alopecia into the storyline. At first, it feels like the author was trying a little too hard to cover as many mental health disorders as she could, but it did not distract from the story or challenges Tiffany was facing, and I was able to learn a bit about each of these conditions. Of course, this is not an official source for mental health, however I thought Davis did a great job interweaving these mental illnesses with the characters. We see the drawbacks of not doing proper research before interacting with a child on the autism spectrum, we see the challenges people with OCD and anxiety face daily, and we get an intimate look at how family members and friends can learn to assist people with mental illnesses.
There will be certain controversies surrounding this book due to its religious content, however, I'm hoping it will spark some interesting conversations amongst its readership instead. Without touching upon my own beliefs, one of the major religious themes of this book is atheism vs. faith (the focus is on Jehovah's Witness). For the most part, the characters do raise a few thoughtful questions about both believers and nonbelievers in religion, however it also seems to have taken a back seat to the story when it could have played a much larger part to the characters' interactions. Again, this is a sensitive topic that can't be addressed lightly without confusing or offending someone, so the author handled in that manner.
Anthony Stone is the only character I had continuously wished would disappear off the face of the pages. I had major issues with him.
He is incredibly thoughtless to everyone surrounding him; this includes all of his children and his very supportive wife. He's blind to everything and everyone except his religion and he doesn't see how his double standards affects his loved ones. There are moments in the book where he seems to have a change of heart, however it felt superficial and almost forced in order for him to get along with Tiffany. I'm not sure if this was the author's intention, but I didn't buy it. Tiffany and Anthony's relationship is contrived and fake, and continues to remain that way throughout the book. The way his character is written made the ending, when we find out whether he really is Tiffany's biological father or not, anti-climatic and ineffective.
Another character that made me uncomfortable was Mr. Mills, the over friendly AP Geography teacher. I understand he's supposed to be the hot unattainable crush for Tiffany, but his eagerness to help, constantly telling her she's "special," offering personal office hours and his email, incidents where he touches or brushes up against her (he's very touchy-feely) made me very uncomfortable.
I'm very sure this would not be appropriate at the school I work at. I can count maybe three scenes where he appears in the book, but after that, the author seems to have forgotten about him. There's no mention of him later on and it's as if his creepy self never existed in the first place. Sadly, this doesn't mean I can forget about those oddly written interactions between him and Tiffany.
What this book truly excels at is Tiffany's friendship with everyone else. I loved her interactions with Keelah, her new half-sisters (including London surprisingly), Margaret, the very kind McKinney's, and of course, Marcus. If it weren't for her precious connections with all of them, there would not be much else readers could root for. All of these characters were written with complex backstories and personalities. No one is perfect and they all had their own individual struggles. I really appreciated how real these characters felt. You could empathize with Margaret and her efforts in understanding Pumpkin's autism and balancing that with her religious beliefs, London's complicated relationship with her secret boyfriend, and of course Marcus' tragic and interesting back story.
This was still an easy and quick read. It's not quite your typical YA contemporary as it highlights issues and characters that are rarely seen. I would still recommend this to students.
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