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806: A Novel
Sibling 1 throws blenders and plays guitar. Sibling 2 is allergic to everything and is into magic. Sibling 3 is a varsity swimmer with a group of female fans. Enough said.
The only thing they have in common is their biological father, and the only thing they can agree on is that they all want to meet him.
With the help of a broken-down, “borrowed” Jeep, KT, Jesse, and Gabe make their way across the country evading police, trying their luck on the slots, and meeting a life-changing pig, all to track down Donor 806, their father. Any hope of success requires smarts, luck, and ingenuity. Good thing they have each other...even if they don't see it that way.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2018
7 people are currently reading
1394 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Weil
33 books40 followersCynthia Weil was a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann.
Weil was trained as an actress and dancer but soon demonstrated a songwriting ability that led to her collaboration with Barry Mann whom she would marry in August 1961. The couple has one daughter, Dr Jenn Berman, aka "Dr. Jenn." Weil became one of the Brill Building songwriters of the 1960s, and one of the most important writers during the emergence of rock and roll.
Weil was trained as an actress and dancer but soon demonstrated a songwriting ability that led to her collaboration with Barry Mann whom she would marry in August 1961. The couple has one daughter, Dr Jenn Berman, aka "Dr. Jenn." Weil became one of the Brill Building songwriters of the 1960s, and one of the most important writers during the emergence of rock and roll.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
March 7, 2018
I've been given an ARC by the editor and it had no influence whatsoever on my always honest opinion.
First I'd like to thank the editor for granting my wish on Netgalley.
A road trip between teenagers to discover their roots as in their biological father? Oh yes please!
I was really excited to read this story but sadly it did not meet my expectations.
I think it's also important that I got this book in a PDF format, not a MOBI one and ot made the reading experience on the Kindle somewhat difficult sometimes. Sentences were cut in the middle and went to the other line etc.
Anyway this read had an uneven quality.
Sometimes the characters sounded childish, immature and plain annoying with KT really despising her two other sibblings "Swimmy" alias "The Jock" and Gabe alias "The Nerd".
Other times we had depth in the story when Jimmy spoke with Gabe about being worthy.
What annoyed me the most really was KT's contempt about her sibblings. The teen angst was also too high for my liking (yet I have my own teenage drama queen at home). It also had many coincidences and some parts were hard to believe (surely it could not be so easy to enter a clinic and look into some files...).
I think this novel had its own humor that I missed somehow. Many will probably find it hilarious but sadly I could not relate.
What I loved though was how some of the characters entered a personal journey and developped into something more. The bond that grew among the siblings was also something really good to witness.
All in all a fast read that you may enjoy better than I did.
First I'd like to thank the editor for granting my wish on Netgalley.
A road trip between teenagers to discover their roots as in their biological father? Oh yes please!
I was really excited to read this story but sadly it did not meet my expectations.
I think it's also important that I got this book in a PDF format, not a MOBI one and ot made the reading experience on the Kindle somewhat difficult sometimes. Sentences were cut in the middle and went to the other line etc.
Anyway this read had an uneven quality.
Sometimes the characters sounded childish, immature and plain annoying with KT really despising her two other sibblings "Swimmy" alias "The Jock" and Gabe alias "The Nerd".
Other times we had depth in the story when Jimmy spoke with Gabe about being worthy.
What annoyed me the most really was KT's contempt about her sibblings. The teen angst was also too high for my liking (yet I have my own teenage drama queen at home). It also had many coincidences and some parts were hard to believe (surely it could not be so easy to enter a clinic and look into some files...).
I think this novel had its own humor that I missed somehow. Many will probably find it hilarious but sadly I could not relate.
What I loved though was how some of the characters entered a personal journey and developped into something more. The bond that grew among the siblings was also something really good to witness.
All in all a fast read that you may enjoy better than I did.
March 13, 2018
806 was a light, heart warming novel! This was a really quick coming of age story, about 3 teens searching to find their biological father. Their antics seemed extremely unrealistic, especially the manner in which the father eventually appeared, but they made for an enjoyable "ride". I do recommend this story, which is most suited to middle and high school readers.
Thanks to Net Galley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Net Galley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 15, 2018
Look at that blurb and tell me you don't want to read this book!
I had such high expectations!
I was expecting a soul searching, poignant, light but gut wrenching story instead what I got was a childish annoying , unnecessary teen drama filled book. maybe i'm just getting to old but the storyline was unrealistic, predictable, cheesy and too convenient.
806 was a fast paced book and to be honest, I did appreciate the 'idea' of bringing to the readers the concept of people having 'parents' in the most unconventional way.
Note: Reading this book through a pdf format for review was an experience I never want to experience again. It annoyed me to the point where I felt like pulling the hairs out of my head...I mean come on!You can't read a book in a pdf format!
For more ...
www.jemimajamir.com
April 8, 2018
The plot of 806 by Cynthia Weil sounded interesting. Three half-siblings take a road trip in search of their biological father, who, it turns out was a sperm donor for their respective mothers. The road trip presents a fun idea for a Young Adult read. Katie or "KT" as she prefers, is the protagonist who finds that her father was a sperm donor. Two other boys come to the same realization and decide to join forces to find their common donor. There are many amusing obstacles that prevent the kids from meeting dad for much of the book and during that time, and the sibling relationship is forged.
KT is quite an unlikable character, she is negative, rude and sarcastic. KT’s mother has had a series of relationships with men who always end up leaving her. The men are not written as abusive or horrible, it seems they simply tire of KT’s mother. KT’s mom has poor taste in men but she appears to love and care about her daughter. But KT uses her mother’s poor choices as justification for treating her horribly. KT’s half-brothers are fun characters, Gabe, a nerd, and Jesse, a jock, but both of them have more depth than their stereotypes. Both are kind boys, but KT treats them terribly as well. KT feels superior to them, in part because they eat meat and she is a vegetarian. When the three meet at a Fuddrucker’s hamburger joint, KT is shocked and disgusted that they order a burger and chicken. What did she think would happen at a Fuddrucker’s?
The character named Dylan also presented an issue for me. Dylan wants KT for a girlfriend and exhibits the behavior of a straight up stalker. He sits under KT’s window singing songs about her, follows her all over and even decides to follow her to Arizona on her road trip. KT initially has the right reaction, telling Dylan to get lost, but then somehow comes to sees his behavior as endearing or sweet. It’s an inappropriate message for young adult readers to be present Dylan as some besotted guy, who can’t help himself because he’s in love.
Some of the road trip is fun, and the anticipation builds as we wait to meet their father, but once again, the fun is somewhat diminished because KT feels the need to criticize almost everything that Gabe and Jesse do. She starts to come around about three quarters into the story.
I gave the book three stars for its originality and for the other characters in the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Tanglewood Publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC of 806.
KT is quite an unlikable character, she is negative, rude and sarcastic. KT’s mother has had a series of relationships with men who always end up leaving her. The men are not written as abusive or horrible, it seems they simply tire of KT’s mother. KT’s mom has poor taste in men but she appears to love and care about her daughter. But KT uses her mother’s poor choices as justification for treating her horribly. KT’s half-brothers are fun characters, Gabe, a nerd, and Jesse, a jock, but both of them have more depth than their stereotypes. Both are kind boys, but KT treats them terribly as well. KT feels superior to them, in part because they eat meat and she is a vegetarian. When the three meet at a Fuddrucker’s hamburger joint, KT is shocked and disgusted that they order a burger and chicken. What did she think would happen at a Fuddrucker’s?
The character named Dylan also presented an issue for me. Dylan wants KT for a girlfriend and exhibits the behavior of a straight up stalker. He sits under KT’s window singing songs about her, follows her all over and even decides to follow her to Arizona on her road trip. KT initially has the right reaction, telling Dylan to get lost, but then somehow comes to sees his behavior as endearing or sweet. It’s an inappropriate message for young adult readers to be present Dylan as some besotted guy, who can’t help himself because he’s in love.
Some of the road trip is fun, and the anticipation builds as we wait to meet their father, but once again, the fun is somewhat diminished because KT feels the need to criticize almost everything that Gabe and Jesse do. She starts to come around about three quarters into the story.
I gave the book three stars for its originality and for the other characters in the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Tanglewood Publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC of 806.
March 13, 2018
I requested this book on NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a really fun and amazing book. I loved the writing style and I was glad that it was a fast, light read.
I will start with the one thing that I did not like and that was Kate, one of the main characters. I found her very annoying and self-centered in the beginning because she was criticizing everybody, from her mother to her half-brothers. But the writer helped her develop and in the end she turned out to be a rather nice girl and protective sister.
Now, this book was full of things that I just loved. The dynamics between the three brothers was so great and seeing their relationship growing was so sweet and beautiful, making the story even more enjoyable. The way the author gave each one of them hidden traits that you were not suspecting them to have gave a nice touch to the all "finding more about eachother" concept.
Another nice aspect of the book was the journey itself, and how every time they were close to finding their father, a twist would appear and they would have to search deeper and in unsuspected places. Their adventures throughout the book gave the book the funny note i was expecting it to have, which made it a very enjoyable book that always made me laugh.
All of this being said, I happily recommend this book to whoever is looking for a fun, enjoyable book, but that would give you all the feels and teach you a beautiful lesson about finding yourself and learning about what family really is.
This was a really fun and amazing book. I loved the writing style and I was glad that it was a fast, light read.
I will start with the one thing that I did not like and that was Kate, one of the main characters. I found her very annoying and self-centered in the beginning because she was criticizing everybody, from her mother to her half-brothers. But the writer helped her develop and in the end she turned out to be a rather nice girl and protective sister.
Now, this book was full of things that I just loved. The dynamics between the three brothers was so great and seeing their relationship growing was so sweet and beautiful, making the story even more enjoyable. The way the author gave each one of them hidden traits that you were not suspecting them to have gave a nice touch to the all "finding more about eachother" concept.
Another nice aspect of the book was the journey itself, and how every time they were close to finding their father, a twist would appear and they would have to search deeper and in unsuspected places. Their adventures throughout the book gave the book the funny note i was expecting it to have, which made it a very enjoyable book that always made me laugh.
All of this being said, I happily recommend this book to whoever is looking for a fun, enjoyable book, but that would give you all the feels and teach you a beautiful lesson about finding yourself and learning about what family really is.
February 12, 2018
This was a delightful story of the search for a Dad that was present only at the sperm bank approximately eighteen years ago. Unique notion of an on line site attempting to join offspring conceived with the help of artificial insemination. Ky, Jesse, and Gabe find themselves half siblings on a road trip across the country on a mission to find their biological father. Puzzling This reminded me of the 2013 movie "Delivery Man" where a sperm donor was on the run from the many children he had created. Very impressed that author Cynthia Weil was also a song writer in the sixties of many farmiliar tunes. Great teen read that will appeal to adults. A copy of this book was provided by Tanglewood Publishing via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
April 30, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Sibling 1 throws blenders and plays guitar. Sibling 2 is allergic to everything and is into magic. Sibling 3 is a varsity swimmer with a group of female fans. The only thing they have in common is their biological father, and the only thing they can agree on is that they all want to meet him. With the help of a broken-down, “borrowed” Jeep, KT, Jesse, and Gabe make their way across the country to track down Donor 806, their father.
The short review...
This is a rather unusual contemporary... It's quite ridiculously funny! I LAUGHED OUT LOUD several times through the book... Most contemporary are so realistic, but this is quite absurd in a great way... It has this out of control ridonkulousness that is cute and fun and kept me reading no matter how outrageous the plot got. And the sibling power is YES! I LOVE her brothers who are enchantingly different and odd! This is about finding family you didn't choose yourself and loving them anyway.
I read this in one sitting! I don't tend to do that (and highly suggest NOT doing that as a reviewer) because many problems a book may have don't stand out because there's no time to think about what you've read. This time it worked in my favor since from the beginning I couldn't relate to KT. It was hard when she was being brutal to her mom and mean to the guys. This changed over time which is good but she's our main reason to read and the connection wasn't there... However there are many more reasons to read...(see my list below!)
Cover & Title grade -> A+
I quite adore the way the concept of the story comes out in the title! I was nodding my head through the story whenever a detail came up that supported that title. And its intriguing! And that interest in the title pays off in the story in the best ways!! The cover is also quite compelling. You know there is some whimsy in the story because of the drawn jeep on the realistic road... And you know right away that this is a roadtrip book! Really one of the most perfect covers for a story I've seen in a while...
Why does this book deserve to be read?
-Brothers and Dad win your heart...
There is this intriguing use of stereotypes in the brothers... Jesse is athletic and popular. Gabe is a nerd with tons of allergies. At first all KT can see are the stereotypes. As these boys become real to her through their crazy experiences of the road she starts to see they are more than the sum of their parts. Jesse and Gabe each have their own growth and maturity they get on their trip and their own happy endings that suits them. Their dad is outrageous but at the same time full of heart. Not matter who an adopted child finds on the other end of their search you want them to have the closure they need to have good relationships in the future.
-Strong Narrative Saves KT!
Yeah, I didn't like KT with her punk attitude, her ME against the world chip on her shoulder. That isn't to say she was flat or unrealistic. And we got all that personality in the narrative. The more you read the more you understood that she felt she has to protect herself from rejection. There were tons of moments I wanted to quote but this one showcases both her attitude in the beginning and how it has this punkish quality that is easy to read:
"Part of me wanted to make her cry hard for screwing up again, part of me wanted to find a way to make her feel better, and another part of me just wanted to get into my room so I could pick up my guitar, write a song, and forget what a dumb life I had in the family department."
-The Best 'Ridiculous' Plot, EVER!
This was my favorite part and the most winning aspect about the book. If the book was mush longer then this would have been what killed the book (crushed under the weight of the ridiculous) but since it was on the shorter side it actually became the book's strength! If you want a quite serious and realistic plot then you will probably be irritated with events... but I really liked how none of the siblings were perfect... no one had all the answers and no one made all the mistakes. They worked together and so were able to see each other shine and overcome obstacles... it made for a great example of how we all should approach life!!
As a Writer...
The story ends happily and totally unrealistically. The entire plot has been this way from the beginning so the narrative IS consistent, but as a consequence you may feel there isn't much of a point to the story. As a writer I want ALL readers to get a message or takaway from my story but in this case it may simply be a fun and delightful read (not a bad thing at all!) We start out with a rather unlikable protagonist, making it hard to root for her amidst such ridiculousness plot. A reader has more fun and heart with character WE LIKE and sympathize with. And KT was NOT that girl.
Despite not liking KT I did find her character had presence and personality... and it came out in a super funny and heartfelt road trip that was FUN and FUNNY personified!! 806 is ridiculous certainly but what a perfect way to get to know your brothers who are as different as night and day from yourself... (hint there is NO better way!)
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
BOTTOM LINE: Ridonkulously funny without a shred of romance... its all in the siblings!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
February 5, 2018
Well this book was a ride in the best and worst ways. It was so dramatic and kind of predictable in a way. I found it weird how the siblings hated each other one day then bam they are best friends? also the whole dad thing he accepted it waaaaaaaay to easily. it was a good book with an amazing idea i just think it could have been written a bit differently
March 1, 2018
Thank you BookishFirst for this win!
This was such a great book! KT is a sarcastic, grumpy, mad at the world type of girl. She is also lonely, feels like she is missing a part of herself, only has her music. KT's finds out she is a sperm donor child and find a website that help sperm donor children find their donors. She gets 2 mails from siblings, and she is excited. They meet and then she disappointed. She gets another e-mail from donor 806 saying he wants to meet his donor children and he gives his name and contact info. That's when the adventure begins for thee 3 unlikely, totally different half siblings.
This book gives a light hearted approach to an issue that can be very emotional. The journey these kids took may have started out as finding a bio dad, but they found so much much and the author conveyed that beautifully. The story is interesting and different. It has a great storyline with heat characters. Its funny and witty. Kudos to the author on this one!
This was such a great book! KT is a sarcastic, grumpy, mad at the world type of girl. She is also lonely, feels like she is missing a part of herself, only has her music. KT's finds out she is a sperm donor child and find a website that help sperm donor children find their donors. She gets 2 mails from siblings, and she is excited. They meet and then she disappointed. She gets another e-mail from donor 806 saying he wants to meet his donor children and he gives his name and contact info. That's when the adventure begins for thee 3 unlikely, totally different half siblings.
This book gives a light hearted approach to an issue that can be very emotional. The journey these kids took may have started out as finding a bio dad, but they found so much much and the author conveyed that beautifully. The story is interesting and different. It has a great storyline with heat characters. Its funny and witty. Kudos to the author on this one!
April 17, 2018
806 is a story that is different from any other I've read. I really enjoyed reading the story of the kids searching for their biological father "Donor 806". The book took many different turns than I expected and the story wasn't an easy one. I liked the ending and where it looks like things are going. I also thought the book was written very well. Content-wise, there were a few things I didn't like, but it wasn't too bad.
I'm glad I read this story and, if it sounds interesting to you, I think you will enjoy it.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy via NetGalley for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
I'm glad I read this story and, if it sounds interesting to you, I think you will enjoy it.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy via NetGalley for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
October 9, 2018
This is such a feel good story about three seventeen-year-olds finding themselves and learning to appreciate their families and life itself. This book made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions at the humorous trials and tribulations the characters face. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good happy ending, but I will say that parts of it were somewhat predictable.
January 17, 2019
806 is a bit far fetched for me. I found it sometimes confusing and weird. It was entertaining. I think young adult readers will enjoy it though. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2018
Cynthia Weil’s 806 was a joy to read during a period that’s been fairly heavy for me. This happily unrealistic road trip of a novel had me laughing and commiserating at the same time. Like KT/Katie, I didn’t meet my father until I was 18 so I can relate to her angst of not knowing and the curiosity that can hound you at times. I think that’s why I was drawn to this book.
While it was funny and cute, I definitely thought of 806 as a coming-of-age story, especially for KT. She goes through this very visual evolution of figuring out her own self-worth that all teenagers go through at some stage. She starts to learn about acceptance–particularly that of the people around her, and how they all tie together to create a family. Her relationship with her mother is fraught but changes drastically by the end. She dislikes her newfound siblings throughout the book but figures out there’s more that binds them together than doesn’t.
If I had one niggle about 806, it would be the book’s plausibility. I didn’t think it was at all believable – some of the things that happen during the road trip had me going “really?” with a bit of a groan. The ending was way too neat for the story as well. The whole novel is about how families are messy and complicated. It was a bit tied up with a bow at the end.
Even so, I really did enjoy 806. It was a nice break from heavy reading and a book I’d recommend if you’re looking for some lighthearted laughs with substance thrown in.
E-book copy generously provided by BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.
While it was funny and cute, I definitely thought of 806 as a coming-of-age story, especially for KT. She goes through this very visual evolution of figuring out her own self-worth that all teenagers go through at some stage. She starts to learn about acceptance–particularly that of the people around her, and how they all tie together to create a family. Her relationship with her mother is fraught but changes drastically by the end. She dislikes her newfound siblings throughout the book but figures out there’s more that binds them together than doesn’t.
If I had one niggle about 806, it would be the book’s plausibility. I didn’t think it was at all believable – some of the things that happen during the road trip had me going “really?” with a bit of a groan. The ending was way too neat for the story as well. The whole novel is about how families are messy and complicated. It was a bit tied up with a bow at the end.
Even so, I really did enjoy 806. It was a nice break from heavy reading and a book I’d recommend if you’re looking for some lighthearted laughs with substance thrown in.
E-book copy generously provided by BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2018
This YA novel is quite simply hilarious! When Katie discovers her biological father is not the man her mother has claimed he is, Katie decides to track down sperm Donor #806 when her mom finally admits to the truth. Using a donor website, she also learns she has two biological brothers whom she knows from high school--one a certified nerd and the other the stereotypical dumb jock. Together the three set off in search of their father. The adventure is both touching and so incredibly funny as they steal a car, thwart a robbery, and eventually find the answers they seek. A great coming-of-age story that proves you need to be happy with who you are as none of us are perfect and if you get to know someone before judging, you can be content in your own skin.
Thanks to Bookish First for this ARC!
Thanks to Bookish First for this ARC!
March 2, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars
When I read the synopsis for this book, I expected something sort of fun and at times, heartwarming, and I would say that 806 delivered.
This book reminds me of, and delivered the feelings I feel, when watching a sitcom. It was fun and sometimes a little silly, with these "aww-shucks" moments scattered throughout the plot. I found myself in an amused state throughout the story, and liked watching the three protagonists grow on their road trip, which was filled with ups and downs and plenty of twists and happy coincidences.
As in sitcom fashion, the tone of the book was kept light, though the topic was sort of serious, and the ending was the sweetest part with everything was tied up in a neat little bow.
When I read the synopsis for this book, I expected something sort of fun and at times, heartwarming, and I would say that 806 delivered.
This book reminds me of, and delivered the feelings I feel, when watching a sitcom. It was fun and sometimes a little silly, with these "aww-shucks" moments scattered throughout the plot. I found myself in an amused state throughout the story, and liked watching the three protagonists grow on their road trip, which was filled with ups and downs and plenty of twists and happy coincidences.
As in sitcom fashion, the tone of the book was kept light, though the topic was sort of serious, and the ending was the sweetest part with everything was tied up in a neat little bow.
February 21, 2018
A little cheesy, too many coincidences but a feel-good congenial search for identity
Three teenagers at the same high school discover that they are actually siblings, after learning they all share a donor father - number 806. Each for their own reason, they want to find their biological father.
Musician Katie (who insists on KT), jock Jesse and allergy-prone magic-fan Gabe 'borrow' a car and head off across the country, tracking down their father. They have nothing in common besides their shared heritage. At least, they don't think so...
You need to suspend disbelief repeatedly for this - the coincidences that allow this to happen are pretty far-fetched (how they obtain the information, the ease with which they 'find' certain necessary persons). But if you do, it's a diverting story with three appealing central characters.
There are many road movies that run along similar lines to this, many teenage 'how I grew up and found myself' stories, though the context of this is not as common (saying that I have read a book by Robin Benway recently about adopted siblings finding each other).
The threesome at the heart of this kept me reading, I liked KT and her 'brothers' though I found the story unbelievable.
This will be enjoyed by teenagers aged 13+.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
Three teenagers at the same high school discover that they are actually siblings, after learning they all share a donor father - number 806. Each for their own reason, they want to find their biological father.
Musician Katie (who insists on KT), jock Jesse and allergy-prone magic-fan Gabe 'borrow' a car and head off across the country, tracking down their father. They have nothing in common besides their shared heritage. At least, they don't think so...
You need to suspend disbelief repeatedly for this - the coincidences that allow this to happen are pretty far-fetched (how they obtain the information, the ease with which they 'find' certain necessary persons). But if you do, it's a diverting story with three appealing central characters.
There are many road movies that run along similar lines to this, many teenage 'how I grew up and found myself' stories, though the context of this is not as common (saying that I have read a book by Robin Benway recently about adopted siblings finding each other).
The threesome at the heart of this kept me reading, I liked KT and her 'brothers' though I found the story unbelievable.
This will be enjoyed by teenagers aged 13+.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
January 9, 2018
I received this novel from NetGalley
This novel was light, fast paced and gave a lighter edge to an otherwise controversial and heavy subject. The three thrown together protagonists are fun, individual and real, they are what brings the story together.
On a slightly lower note, this novel may be more suited to the younger end of the YA spectrum, as I found it a little young and predictable in parts. That being said, I can see it being quite popular.
This novel was light, fast paced and gave a lighter edge to an otherwise controversial and heavy subject. The three thrown together protagonists are fun, individual and real, they are what brings the story together.
On a slightly lower note, this novel may be more suited to the younger end of the YA spectrum, as I found it a little young and predictable in parts. That being said, I can see it being quite popular.
March 5, 2018
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book. It just didn't captivate or engage me at all and things seemed to happen way too quickly and also way too conveniently.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book. It just didn't captivate or engage me at all and things seemed to happen way too quickly and also way too conveniently.
March 10, 2018
Rating: 1 Star (though I'd rate it negative stars if possible)
CW: offensive comment relating to homophobia, stalker behavior
I think I have found my least favorite book since The To-Do List by J.C. Miller, which I reviewed last year. Not since then have I found a book that so made me want to heave my phone through a window, and that includes the books I've already DNF'd this year.
I could almost respect this book if it were a satire of other books of similar genres, but I don't think it is. It takes itself far too seriously for how badly I found it to be written. The characters start out badly and get worse the more of them are introduced. The pacing is all over the place. The plot was flimsy at best. There were so many head shaking moments I felt like I was getting a headache.
The best I could say about this book is that the author clearly loved putting in as many musical references as possible. KT was always picking up a guitar, even if she didn't play it at the moment, or talking about the title of a song. I didn't know at the time I picked this book up, but the author is apparently a famous songwriter, so that'd account for those details.
Now I'll go into detail on the problems I had with 806:
The Characters
Kim, KT's mom: is a throwaway parent that is disrespected at every turn. She makes some questionable romantic choices, but never any that seem to put her and her daughter in danger, simply ones that don't lead to commitment or seem good enough according to her or KT's standards. That alone doesn't make her a bad person, though it certainly seems so to KT. What does make Kim less than a desirable character/mother is that she is so flimsy. There's no depth to her as a person other than this love obsessed person who chooses one wrong guy after another.
Kim's biggest mistake, and the one that infuriated me the most, is her handling of the KT-and-her-"dad" situation. All KT's life her mom has told her that Max, KT's "dad", walked out before she was born and when at 17 KT demands to see him, Kim gives her a Yellow Pages advert for his place of work. Off KT goes to confront him only to find out that a( he never left and b) he's not her dad in any sense of the word, she's actually the product of a sperm donor/potential inheritance scam. Why the F*** would you send your daughter off to someone she's never met, who she thinks is her FATHER, knowing full well he's going to blow the biggest secret of her life? That was a terrible character decision and terrible development.
KT: herself had a really grating personality. She was a caricature of a brat, someone who assumed they knew better than everyone around them, especially their mother. While granted she did not have the best example both due to the writer's fault and the character's personality, I'm not willing to place all the blame on KT's mother. KT had no respect for either her mother or anyone else. She even turns on her friend and band mate, Sasha, when she thinks Sasha got a tattoo, then plays off her vile reaction like it's a joke that she had a say in what Sasha does with her body. The only person who might have deserved the level of bratty behavior that oozed out of KT was Dylan, the third part of the band who was little more than a harasser and a whole other problem in the book.
She has no filter regarding other people, whether it be their sexualities or their dietary practices. KT is vegetarian and makes comments about being ready to be rid of Jesse and Gabe, her biological siblings, after they order meat products at their first meeting at a Fuddruckers. She barely knows them beyond passing high school stereotypes because they apparently attend the same school, but sees that as a fit idea to have towards others.
Then there's a moment when Jesse tells the group that his moms are splitting and he has to choose which he'll stay with. Instead of being compassionate and offering sympathies, KT's first response? "Did one of them go straight?" What the hell, KT? What the hell, Author?
Her prejudice against her bio sibs based on their apparent carnivore tendencies and her careless homophobic comment made me dislike her all the more.
Dylan: one of the most irritating characters of the book. He was a harasser for the sake of being a harasser and served no purpose to the narrative. Every moment he spoke was a painful one from a reader's perspective, particularly when he became a stalker. He shows up outside her bedroom to sing her a song her wrote, he tries to follow her to Arizona, all of this after repeated rebuffs. And does the author get anyone to recognize this, much less KT? NO! KT thinks it's sweet and ends up dating this creep at the end, after he stalks her across the country with Jesse's help, no less! No, honey, that's some danger right there.
Gabe/Jesse: Honestly, there wasn't much to get from either of these characters. They had some basic characteristics. Gabe like magic tricks and had allergies. Jesse was a jock that was good at swimming. That was about it. They had nothing built upon this foundation and I couldn't really get any sense of personality from them.
The Plot
It rushes and takes no time to develop anything, which is an enormous pet peeve of mine. There were so many coincidences and easy outs that I was surprised that the donor dad didn't end up calling them and telling them his address.
The plot was flimsy at best and utterly unbelievable at worst. There were "developments", such as donor numbers being mixed up (806 is actually 908), that sounded absurd. The cross country trip, which could have been pretty interesting, was based on even flimsier evidence than the donor numbers. From St. Lois to Sedona to L.A, the hijinks were ridiculous and felt like plot points pulled out of a hat of tricks rather than a well thought out journey.
I get that KT, Jesse, and Gabe are teenagers, but when you call the contact info your bio dad left to follow up a lead who you thought went to Harvard and find out that a) the office sounds like a pet hoarder's home and there's Jerry Springer playing in the background and b) it wasn't Harvard but "Horvard University", home of the mail order degrees in the "Artistry of Auras" and "Working With Your Animal Allies", are you really going to steal a car and go to Arizona? That seemed really, really stupid.
Conclusion: I really can't understand why this book went to print. It felt very poorly done. While the concept had promise, I believe it would have benefited from a lot of heavy editing, both for time and for characterization. There's no enjoyment in this book, nothing to keep a reader engaged. It would be a waste to print physical copies in its current state, I'm sorry to say.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CW: offensive comment relating to homophobia, stalker behavior
I think I have found my least favorite book since The To-Do List by J.C. Miller, which I reviewed last year. Not since then have I found a book that so made me want to heave my phone through a window, and that includes the books I've already DNF'd this year.
I could almost respect this book if it were a satire of other books of similar genres, but I don't think it is. It takes itself far too seriously for how badly I found it to be written. The characters start out badly and get worse the more of them are introduced. The pacing is all over the place. The plot was flimsy at best. There were so many head shaking moments I felt like I was getting a headache.
The best I could say about this book is that the author clearly loved putting in as many musical references as possible. KT was always picking up a guitar, even if she didn't play it at the moment, or talking about the title of a song. I didn't know at the time I picked this book up, but the author is apparently a famous songwriter, so that'd account for those details.
Now I'll go into detail on the problems I had with 806:
The Characters
Kim, KT's mom: is a throwaway parent that is disrespected at every turn. She makes some questionable romantic choices, but never any that seem to put her and her daughter in danger, simply ones that don't lead to commitment or seem good enough according to her or KT's standards. That alone doesn't make her a bad person, though it certainly seems so to KT. What does make Kim less than a desirable character/mother is that she is so flimsy. There's no depth to her as a person other than this love obsessed person who chooses one wrong guy after another.
Kim's biggest mistake, and the one that infuriated me the most, is her handling of the KT-and-her-"dad" situation. All KT's life her mom has told her that Max, KT's "dad", walked out before she was born and when at 17 KT demands to see him, Kim gives her a Yellow Pages advert for his place of work. Off KT goes to confront him only to find out that a( he never left and b) he's not her dad in any sense of the word, she's actually the product of a sperm donor/potential inheritance scam. Why the F*** would you send your daughter off to someone she's never met, who she thinks is her FATHER, knowing full well he's going to blow the biggest secret of her life? That was a terrible character decision and terrible development.
KT: herself had a really grating personality. She was a caricature of a brat, someone who assumed they knew better than everyone around them, especially their mother. While granted she did not have the best example both due to the writer's fault and the character's personality, I'm not willing to place all the blame on KT's mother. KT had no respect for either her mother or anyone else. She even turns on her friend and band mate, Sasha, when she thinks Sasha got a tattoo, then plays off her vile reaction like it's a joke that she had a say in what Sasha does with her body. The only person who might have deserved the level of bratty behavior that oozed out of KT was Dylan, the third part of the band who was little more than a harasser and a whole other problem in the book.
She has no filter regarding other people, whether it be their sexualities or their dietary practices. KT is vegetarian and makes comments about being ready to be rid of Jesse and Gabe, her biological siblings, after they order meat products at their first meeting at a Fuddruckers. She barely knows them beyond passing high school stereotypes because they apparently attend the same school, but sees that as a fit idea to have towards others.
Then there's a moment when Jesse tells the group that his moms are splitting and he has to choose which he'll stay with. Instead of being compassionate and offering sympathies, KT's first response? "Did one of them go straight?" What the hell, KT? What the hell, Author?
Her prejudice against her bio sibs based on their apparent carnivore tendencies and her careless homophobic comment made me dislike her all the more.
Dylan: one of the most irritating characters of the book. He was a harasser for the sake of being a harasser and served no purpose to the narrative. Every moment he spoke was a painful one from a reader's perspective, particularly when he became a stalker. He shows up outside her bedroom to sing her a song her wrote, he tries to follow her to Arizona, all of this after repeated rebuffs. And does the author get anyone to recognize this, much less KT? NO! KT thinks it's sweet and ends up dating this creep at the end, after he stalks her across the country with Jesse's help, no less! No, honey, that's some danger right there.
Gabe/Jesse: Honestly, there wasn't much to get from either of these characters. They had some basic characteristics. Gabe like magic tricks and had allergies. Jesse was a jock that was good at swimming. That was about it. They had nothing built upon this foundation and I couldn't really get any sense of personality from them.
The Plot
It rushes and takes no time to develop anything, which is an enormous pet peeve of mine. There were so many coincidences and easy outs that I was surprised that the donor dad didn't end up calling them and telling them his address.
The plot was flimsy at best and utterly unbelievable at worst. There were "developments", such as donor numbers being mixed up (806 is actually 908), that sounded absurd. The cross country trip, which could have been pretty interesting, was based on even flimsier evidence than the donor numbers. From St. Lois to Sedona to L.A, the hijinks were ridiculous and felt like plot points pulled out of a hat of tricks rather than a well thought out journey.
I get that KT, Jesse, and Gabe are teenagers, but when you call the contact info your bio dad left to follow up a lead who you thought went to Harvard and find out that a) the office sounds like a pet hoarder's home and there's Jerry Springer playing in the background and b) it wasn't Harvard but "Horvard University", home of the mail order degrees in the "Artistry of Auras" and "Working With Your Animal Allies", are you really going to steal a car and go to Arizona? That seemed really, really stupid.
Conclusion: I really can't understand why this book went to print. It felt very poorly done. While the concept had promise, I believe it would have benefited from a lot of heavy editing, both for time and for characterization. There's no enjoyment in this book, nothing to keep a reader engaged. It would be a waste to print physical copies in its current state, I'm sorry to say.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2019
ARC Review: Received for free via Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
CW: ableist slurs
Nah, this wasn't the one for me.
I couldn't take this book seriously, I couldn't take the characters seriously. KT's narration is week and I wanted to scream more then anything. For most of the book I was considering DNFing, but it's a short book so I pushed through.
Celebrity name dropping bothers the heck out of me, and here it was so overdone, like I couldn't. And I felt like the “x looks like y-celebrity” was such a cop-out for me the writer to describe characters. I wasn't a fan of that kind of chatacyer description.
And I don't mind that KT loves old music, I really don't. But it feels more like the writer trying to preserve their love for music of their times then KT liking the music, I don't know why.
And the road trip. My gosh, the road trip! I. Couldn't!
Like I can see a few things going wrong in a road trip, I can believe the characters getting tricked and having their car stolen, but lmao, things were so convinent for them. Like, it felt like they were only in dramatic situations just to add drama to a bland plot. There was no reason for some of the things they went through.
And that 806 908 thing, laaaawardt no. The book is literally called 806 but that didn't even last half the book. The book would've been better called Lucky Sperm Club (I mean I know it can't actually be called that, but that would've been more appropriate). And the whole “I'm not your father but I met him randomly in the road”. Ha-kant!
And the ending was so predictable I wanted to roll my eyes. And Dylan is a creep and he really did a cross-country following a girl who already told him 100xs that she doesn't want him. NO LORD!
This book was bleg. And I know I sound angry, and I'm sorry, but I was so excited about this and didn't get what I was expecting and I suppose that that's my own fault. But yeah, I was really disappointed in this book!
CW: ableist slurs
Nah, this wasn't the one for me.
I couldn't take this book seriously, I couldn't take the characters seriously. KT's narration is week and I wanted to scream more then anything. For most of the book I was considering DNFing, but it's a short book so I pushed through.
Celebrity name dropping bothers the heck out of me, and here it was so overdone, like I couldn't. And I felt like the “x looks like y-celebrity” was such a cop-out for me the writer to describe characters. I wasn't a fan of that kind of chatacyer description.
And I don't mind that KT loves old music, I really don't. But it feels more like the writer trying to preserve their love for music of their times then KT liking the music, I don't know why.
And the road trip. My gosh, the road trip! I. Couldn't!
Like I can see a few things going wrong in a road trip, I can believe the characters getting tricked and having their car stolen, but lmao, things were so convinent for them. Like, it felt like they were only in dramatic situations just to add drama to a bland plot. There was no reason for some of the things they went through.
And that 806 908 thing, laaaawardt no. The book is literally called 806 but that didn't even last half the book. The book would've been better called Lucky Sperm Club (I mean I know it can't actually be called that, but that would've been more appropriate). And the whole “I'm not your father but I met him randomly in the road”. Ha-kant!
And the ending was so predictable I wanted to roll my eyes. And Dylan is a creep and he really did a cross-country following a girl who already told him 100xs that she doesn't want him. NO LORD!
This book was bleg. And I know I sound angry, and I'm sorry, but I was so excited about this and didn't get what I was expecting and I suppose that that's my own fault. But yeah, I was really disappointed in this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 10, 2018One thing you should know going in: KT is awful. Like, I have never wanted to punch a teenager so much in my life awful. Like, I almost stopped reading awful. But I loved the premise and I liked Gabe and Jesse (siblings 2 and 3) and I thought, "Well, she'll probably evolve, right?" (Spoiler: she did.)
I say all that to say that if you read this and you ALSO hate KT to the point where you want to stop reading, DO NOT STOP READING. She gets so much better.
This book is also a complete comedy of errors. Everything that could go wrong does, and every time they think they've found their dad, it turns out that they didn't and so the hunt continues.
There is a bit more magic than I generally go for (by which I mean people being in the exact right place at the exact right time) but to be fair, I think we also have at least one story of things working out the exact right way because of a coincidence, right? So I can deal with it.
I ended up really liking this book and really rooting for the siblings (even KT). I think maybe you would, too.
I say all that to say that if you read this and you ALSO hate KT to the point where you want to stop reading, DO NOT STOP READING. She gets so much better.
This book is also a complete comedy of errors. Everything that could go wrong does, and every time they think they've found their dad, it turns out that they didn't and so the hunt continues.
There is a bit more magic than I generally go for (by which I mean people being in the exact right place at the exact right time) but to be fair, I think we also have at least one story of things working out the exact right way because of a coincidence, right? So I can deal with it.
I ended up really liking this book and really rooting for the siblings (even KT). I think maybe you would, too.
May 5, 2019
#FirstLine ~ My mom, Kim, looks a lot like Reese Witherspoon, if Reese wore a Burger Boy manager's uniform.
This book is quite original and such fun. It was a light approach to a heavier topic. It was a quick read that kept me turning pages. I loved that these three siblings took to the road to find their Dad, making memories, creating shenanigans and having a crazy and outrageous adventure. It is a great book for younger readers looking for an out of the box, entertaining and one-of-a-kind read.
This book is quite original and such fun. It was a light approach to a heavier topic. It was a quick read that kept me turning pages. I loved that these three siblings took to the road to find their Dad, making memories, creating shenanigans and having a crazy and outrageous adventure. It is a great book for younger readers looking for an out of the box, entertaining and one-of-a-kind read.
June 1, 2018
DNF @ 41%
*I recieved a copy of this book through BookishFirst/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I just could not keep reading this book. All of the dialogue was super awkward, the plot was very convenient, and the characterizations are shallow at best.
Characters: KT is pretty awful as a character. She treats everyone around her pretty terribly including her mom. I get that it's supposed to be a "punk rock" thing, but really who talks to their mom like that?
One of her best friends, Dylan, is a guy who continually professes his undying love for her, sits outside of her bedroom window hoping to basically bask in her glory, and tried to secretly follow her on the road trip. In other words HE'S A CREEP, but the book treats this as if it's almost... endearing?
Plot: As mentioned before everything is just so convenient. To go on this road trip KT tells her mom she's just casually going to stay at her friends house FOR A WEEK the night before she leaves. And her mom is just okay with that? The reasoning for the road trip is also pretty weak, one of the characters wants to find their donor so they can attempt to stay with him?? What?? A sperm donor does not a dad make and I really hoped this book would explore that but from up to where I read it just didn't seem like it was going to do that.
Writing: Just... here are some quotes:
"'That is beyond cool,' I said. I've always considered lesbians to be the ultimate individualists"
Umm what.
"This is so crazy wonderful! We're biracial. I'm finally gonna be cool."
Again what (I think this is meant to be a joke but it's not funny).
"Dylan was following me to Arizona. I told myself that it was creepy, but somewhere way deep inside, I felt guilty for thinking that because it was really kind of sweet."
Yeah.. stalking. Real sweet.
Around the 25% mark I thought I could at least "hate read" my way through this but it was just too cringey (if you could see all the highlighting I did in this copy of just weird things that happened), and there are too many books in the world for me to spend more of my time reading a book I'm not enjoying.
*I recieved a copy of this book through BookishFirst/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I just could not keep reading this book. All of the dialogue was super awkward, the plot was very convenient, and the characterizations are shallow at best.
Characters: KT is pretty awful as a character. She treats everyone around her pretty terribly including her mom. I get that it's supposed to be a "punk rock" thing, but really who talks to their mom like that?
One of her best friends, Dylan, is a guy who continually professes his undying love for her, sits outside of her bedroom window hoping to basically bask in her glory, and tried to secretly follow her on the road trip. In other words HE'S A CREEP, but the book treats this as if it's almost... endearing?
Plot: As mentioned before everything is just so convenient. To go on this road trip KT tells her mom she's just casually going to stay at her friends house FOR A WEEK the night before she leaves. And her mom is just okay with that? The reasoning for the road trip is also pretty weak, one of the characters wants to find their donor so they can attempt to stay with him?? What?? A sperm donor does not a dad make and I really hoped this book would explore that but from up to where I read it just didn't seem like it was going to do that.
Writing: Just... here are some quotes:
"'That is beyond cool,' I said. I've always considered lesbians to be the ultimate individualists"
Umm what.
"This is so crazy wonderful! We're biracial. I'm finally gonna be cool."
Again what (I think this is meant to be a joke but it's not funny).
"Dylan was following me to Arizona. I told myself that it was creepy, but somewhere way deep inside, I felt guilty for thinking that because it was really kind of sweet."
Yeah.. stalking. Real sweet.
Around the 25% mark I thought I could at least "hate read" my way through this but it was just too cringey (if you could see all the highlighting I did in this copy of just weird things that happened), and there are too many books in the world for me to spend more of my time reading a book I'm not enjoying.
February 12, 2018
This is a cute, adventure, young adult book. It really makes you think about the children of sperm donors and how they feel about themselves.
KT, you feel for almost immediately when you hear about her mom and the life she has grown up in. You can see how she became a realist/a bit pessimistic at such a young age. Her feeling of being half whole is completely understandable.
Jesse seems to have the perfect life. He is the handsome jock and star of the swim team however, you soon realize that there is a lot more to the kid and being in that position is harder than you think. People don't expect much of jocks and with his lesbian moms, he has held on to quite a bit of doubt about who he is and just wants to find out what he wants in life besides swimming and being the golden boy.
Gabe is the nerdy magician with allergies. He is that gross kid in school that you feel sorry for. He seems to have the perfect, loving parents. They are understanding and supportive and love him with everything they have. So you don't really understand why he goes on this adventure at first even though he sort of says.
Throughout the book, you start understanding where all of these kids are coming from and why they are on this adventure to find their sperm donor dad. Each feels that they are missing a part of them and that missing piece is going to make them happier and whole. The whole adventure is a series of learning for these kids. They need each other for who they each are and did not have a clue about it even though they were all disappointed when they first met up.
Overall, this book is a great book and taught me some really great lessons about looking at the bright side of life. Because "You never know what amazing things can happen".
KT, you feel for almost immediately when you hear about her mom and the life she has grown up in. You can see how she became a realist/a bit pessimistic at such a young age. Her feeling of being half whole is completely understandable.
Jesse seems to have the perfect life. He is the handsome jock and star of the swim team however, you soon realize that there is a lot more to the kid and being in that position is harder than you think. People don't expect much of jocks and with his lesbian moms, he has held on to quite a bit of doubt about who he is and just wants to find out what he wants in life besides swimming and being the golden boy.
Gabe is the nerdy magician with allergies. He is that gross kid in school that you feel sorry for. He seems to have the perfect, loving parents. They are understanding and supportive and love him with everything they have. So you don't really understand why he goes on this adventure at first even though he sort of says.
Throughout the book, you start understanding where all of these kids are coming from and why they are on this adventure to find their sperm donor dad. Each feels that they are missing a part of them and that missing piece is going to make them happier and whole. The whole adventure is a series of learning for these kids. They need each other for who they each are and did not have a clue about it even though they were all disappointed when they first met up.
Overall, this book is a great book and taught me some really great lessons about looking at the bright side of life. Because "You never know what amazing things can happen".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2018
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I absolutely adored this book! When three kids find out they are donor kids, they find each other through a website aimed at kids finding their donor parents. While KT doesn't believe that her two siblings are two kids she knows from school, what she doesn't like is who they are; jock Jesse and nerd Gabe. When they decide to go on a road trip to find their donor father, they each go for their own reasons. Along the way, however, they find more than they thought they would.
Even though some of the events play out in unlikely ways, it adds a cute little element to the story especially after meeting Willard. He has a belief that everything will work out as it's supposed to. This book was a fun, quick read, but it was enjoyable throughout.
I absolutely adored this book! When three kids find out they are donor kids, they find each other through a website aimed at kids finding their donor parents. While KT doesn't believe that her two siblings are two kids she knows from school, what she doesn't like is who they are; jock Jesse and nerd Gabe. When they decide to go on a road trip to find their donor father, they each go for their own reasons. Along the way, however, they find more than they thought they would.
Even though some of the events play out in unlikely ways, it adds a cute little element to the story especially after meeting Willard. He has a belief that everything will work out as it's supposed to. This book was a fun, quick read, but it was enjoyable throughout.
March 27, 2018
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This review is also posted on THE LITERARY HUNTRESS
This book sounds like a fun coming of age stories, filled with road trips and finding-yourself-and-your-family moments and realizing things. And while it was a quick read and I flip through it in a breeze, I did that because there was no substance to the story. I’m sorry that this sounds so mean, but I honestly don’t understand the point of this book. It has such an interesting concept, but the execution was so bad. The plot was all over the place and none of them are fleshed out, the writing is mediocre at best, and the jokes fell flat. I can’t decide whether it’s a satire book or not because I feel like I’m missing some kind of joke here.
And the character, especially the main, is where things went really bad for me. I know I said that I had problems with a lot of book characters, but this one seemed to take the prize.
Overall? Other than how fast I finished this book, there are no positive things that I could say about this book. And I’m really sad because I can see the potential of this book and have high expectations for it.
This review is also posted on THE LITERARY HUNTRESS
This book sounds like a fun coming of age stories, filled with road trips and finding-yourself-and-your-family moments and realizing things. And while it was a quick read and I flip through it in a breeze, I did that because there was no substance to the story. I’m sorry that this sounds so mean, but I honestly don’t understand the point of this book. It has such an interesting concept, but the execution was so bad. The plot was all over the place and none of them are fleshed out, the writing is mediocre at best, and the jokes fell flat. I can’t decide whether it’s a satire book or not because I feel like I’m missing some kind of joke here.
And the character, especially the main, is where things went really bad for me. I know I said that I had problems with a lot of book characters, but this one seemed to take the prize.
Overall? Other than how fast I finished this book, there are no positive things that I could say about this book. And I’m really sad because I can see the potential of this book and have high expectations for it.
February 26, 2018
This is a feel good, happy to be on this adventure type of book. The story starts out kind of dark, though there is quite a bit of subtle humor throughout. However, it quickly goes into a more lighthearted adventure of the characters finding out who they are and figuring out what next once they find out the answers they were looking for.
The story follows three teens who are searching for their father and along the way, realize that they have more in common than they thought. They bring out the best in each other and by the end of the adventure, realize that families come in many shapes. Theirs may be odd, but it works for them. The kids also run into individuals that mirror each of the kids' personality in some way. This helps the kids deal with their own issues before they even get to meet their dad.
This story could have gone in many directions, but Weil decided to keep it upbeat for such a serious subject. This book brings to light that no matter who you are or who you come from, you can find family in the strangest of places.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own.
The story follows three teens who are searching for their father and along the way, realize that they have more in common than they thought. They bring out the best in each other and by the end of the adventure, realize that families come in many shapes. Theirs may be odd, but it works for them. The kids also run into individuals that mirror each of the kids' personality in some way. This helps the kids deal with their own issues before they even get to meet their dad.
This story could have gone in many directions, but Weil decided to keep it upbeat for such a serious subject. This book brings to light that no matter who you are or who you come from, you can find family in the strangest of places.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own.
March 3, 2018
*Disclaimer* I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
806, by Cynthia Weil, is a soul-searching, poignant, and funny story about a road trip to find the missing piece.
KT is a typical teenager living in St. Louis. She is in a band with her best friend, Sasha, and Dylan, who is in love with her, but KT has no interest. She just wants to play music, oh ya and find out who her dad is.
KT's mom always told her that her dad was an ex-boyfriend. When KT learns he is not actually her father, and that her father was actually a sperm donor, she goes online to do some research. Along the way she learns that she has two siblings. Together they go on an epic road trip to find out who Donor 806 is and along the way encounter many obstacles they need to overcome to complete their journey.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself cheering for the characters the whole time.
806, by Cynthia Weil, is a soul-searching, poignant, and funny story about a road trip to find the missing piece.
KT is a typical teenager living in St. Louis. She is in a band with her best friend, Sasha, and Dylan, who is in love with her, but KT has no interest. She just wants to play music, oh ya and find out who her dad is.
KT's mom always told her that her dad was an ex-boyfriend. When KT learns he is not actually her father, and that her father was actually a sperm donor, she goes online to do some research. Along the way she learns that she has two siblings. Together they go on an epic road trip to find out who Donor 806 is and along the way encounter many obstacles they need to overcome to complete their journey.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself cheering for the characters the whole time.
March 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this quick and entertaining read. I was especially impressed with the story. I thought it would be fairly straightforward but there were some unforseen twists in the plot that kept me turning the page. KT, Gabe and Jesse find out that they are all children of Donor 806 and want to find out who their dad is so they hit the road in a beat up Jeep to find out. Their journey takes them on a whirlwind adventure across the country from St. Louis to California. I was not a huge fan of KT, who was too emo and way too hard on her mother for her relationships with men and Jesse seemed like your stereotypical jock and Gabe was the poor outcast nerd. My first impressions of these characters were completely flipped upside down and I ended up loving all of these quirky characters. I loved the story and the characters and I would highly recommend this book to reluctant readers and teens that love music and light hearted family dramas and adventure in one fun story.
April 17, 2018
*I received an ARC from Netgalley through BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review*
806 is an awesome story of three kids from opposite high school cliques looking to find their place in the world and discover who they are by searching for their biological father. Who is the sperm donor? While they are all seemingly different at the outset, throughout their road trip (which happens to be both the physical and metaphorical journey), they face both ups and downs and grow as individuals and together as family. I felt as though I was reading a movie, as the story jumps to life with how the author, Cynthia Weil, has created these characters and the descriptions of their words, actions, and surroundings. Overall, this was a touching story with both humor and emotion. I would recommend this book to anyone!
806 is an awesome story of three kids from opposite high school cliques looking to find their place in the world and discover who they are by searching for their biological father. Who is the sperm donor? While they are all seemingly different at the outset, throughout their road trip (which happens to be both the physical and metaphorical journey), they face both ups and downs and grow as individuals and together as family. I felt as though I was reading a movie, as the story jumps to life with how the author, Cynthia Weil, has created these characters and the descriptions of their words, actions, and surroundings. Overall, this was a touching story with both humor and emotion. I would recommend this book to anyone!
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