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How Ya Like Me Now
Since his dad died, Eddie's mom has spent all her time getting high on OxyContin, leaving Eddie to take care of himself. When Eddie's mom goes into rehab and his aunt and uncle take him away to Boston, everything changes. His new school, which he attends with his cousin Alex, is there's a CEO instead of a principal, classes are held in an office building, and the students, all sporting business-casual looks, are the only urban kids Eddie has ever seen outside of a rap video. As for Alex, it's bad enough that he has to share his bedroom with Eddie, but his parents are on his case about including his quiet cousin in his social life as well. Alex wants to do the right thing, but between talking to girls, playing video games, thinking about girls, laughing with his friends, and looking at girls, when is he supposed to find time to help Eddie and "work up to his potential" in school? Two boys find that they have a lot to learn from each other in this touching, funny novel about finding your place and looking out for your friends.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 17, 2007
7 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Brendan Halpin
20 books171 followersI grew up in Cincinnati, went to college in Philadelphia, and also lived in Taipei and Edinburgh along the way. I've lived in Boston since 1991.
I became a professional writer in 2000, writing about my late wife Kirsten's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Kirsten died in 2003, leaving me and our daughter Rowen. I married Suzanne in 2005 and got her kids Casey and Kylie in the deal too. Bargain! Suzanne and I live with our three kids and dog in the shadow of Franklin Park in Jamaica Plain, best neighborhood on earth.
I became a professional writer in 2000, writing about my late wife Kirsten's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Kirsten died in 2003, leaving me and our daughter Rowen. I married Suzanne in 2005 and got her kids Casey and Kylie in the deal too. Bargain! Suzanne and I live with our three kids and dog in the shadow of Franklin Park in Jamaica Plain, best neighborhood on earth.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this book!! It was a quick read which was just what I was in the mood for. I love how it is centered around a deep and upsetting topic but is extremely fun to read because of the characters and the humor. The dialogue has to be my favorite part, it sounds exactly like real teenagers talking. I appreciated the ending a lot because it pulled the loose plot together nicely.
November 29, 2018
I think that this book is very well pieced together for the length it is, the book is not very long at all but it jumps right into the story when you start to read. I can confidently say that I was engaged while reading this book at all times, I enjoyed processing the story being told to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who's growing up against the odds or kids that are different from what's considered regular.
January 31, 2012
After Eddie's father dies, his mom takes solace in drugs and alcohol rather than Eddie. Things get so bad that Eddie ends up taking care of himself, paying the bills, making dinner, all those things that adults are meant to be doing for their children. When Eddie's mom finally lands in rehab, he goes to live with an aunt and uncle and their son, who goes to a special urban private school. For Eddie this is a complete change from how he has lived his life and he finds it very difficult to learn how to be a teenager again.
What I thought:
I think what I appreciate most about Halpin's writing is his ability to create completely unique characters for each of his books. Even some of my most favorite authors (for example, Green) can't fully pull this off, but Halpin can. Every book I have read of his is completely different.
Who would I recommend this to: Good boy-realistic-fiction books are a rarity; librarians: put this one on your go-to list.
September 9, 2016
Another awesome YA book by Halpin - who seems able to channel 15 y.o. boys perfectly. And he doesn't do too badly with girls, either, but his characterization of boys is just unbelievable.
This is the story of two cousins - one a charming but lazy kid who lives in a loft in Boston with his vaguely hippy parents, who send him to an alternative hs; the other a suburban kid who works hard in an effort to disguise the fact that he's not ok - his mother is an addict, and he's still grieving the loss of father two years before. When the addiction finally comes to light, Eddie moves in with his cousin Alex and his parents and joins Alex's class at school.
It doesn't *sound* thrilling but it's funny, heartwarming, and the cover won't scare teenaged boys off - it's a PS2 controller.
This is the story of two cousins - one a charming but lazy kid who lives in a loft in Boston with his vaguely hippy parents, who send him to an alternative hs; the other a suburban kid who works hard in an effort to disguise the fact that he's not ok - his mother is an addict, and he's still grieving the loss of father two years before. When the addiction finally comes to light, Eddie moves in with his cousin Alex and his parents and joins Alex's class at school.
It doesn't *sound* thrilling but it's funny, heartwarming, and the cover won't scare teenaged boys off - it's a PS2 controller.
January 11, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it because of all of its mystery and all the action in the book. I would recommend it to anyone that wants a good book to read with a kind of high lexile. Also had a little bit of romance but not very much just your classic middle school drama.
September 29, 2020
I liked the story. It was believable and the characters thought and learned about the world around them. It dealt with real world issues and showed how you can rise above them with the right group of friends.
January 17, 2020
Good book for teens or parents of
April 5, 2023
A quick read that has some heartwarming moments. My score is biased because there are a lot of similarities between the main character and myself.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
HOW YA LIKE ME NOW by Brendan Halpin is the story of opposites. One boy - his father dead and his mother entering rehab to kick her OxyContin habit. Another boy - two caring parents and anything he needs and wants.
Eddie and Alex are cousins. They haven't seen each other much over the years, but that's all about to change.
Eddie's lost his dad unexpectedly, and he has found himself taking over for his mother more and more lately. She found that using his dad's leftover prescriptions helped dull her pain. Eddie hasn't had time to socialize. His focus is on keeping their home together and not falling behind in school. Unfortunately, her life spiraling out of control has left Eddie with the options of foster care or moving to live with relatives he barely knows.
Alex hears his cousin will soon be sharing his room. Used to being the only child in a pretty comfortable home environment makes Alex doubtful that the experience will be a pleasant one. Sharing is not something he is very accustomed to, including girls. Alex is gifted in the area of women. They gravitate toward him, so he's always with someone and is filled with quirky advice about how to make the right move to attract the right girl.
His relocation takes Eddie not only into a new home, but also into a new school setting. The school is a special private school with a focus on professionalism in every aspect of the students' lives. Although it is not what he is used to, Eddie finds that with the help and friendship of Alex, he becomes quite comfortable. In fact so comfortable, that when there is news his mother is recovering and wants to get in touch with him, Eddie battles mixed feelings about returning to his former life.
Told from alternating points of view, HOW YA LIKE ME NOW relates the inner feelings of both boys. The reader learns the inner workings of these two opposite characters. There are both serious moments and lighthearted comic relief. Most readers will choose a favorite character and cheer him on until the end.
HOW YA LIKE ME NOW by Brendan Halpin is the story of opposites. One boy - his father dead and his mother entering rehab to kick her OxyContin habit. Another boy - two caring parents and anything he needs and wants.
Eddie and Alex are cousins. They haven't seen each other much over the years, but that's all about to change.
Eddie's lost his dad unexpectedly, and he has found himself taking over for his mother more and more lately. She found that using his dad's leftover prescriptions helped dull her pain. Eddie hasn't had time to socialize. His focus is on keeping their home together and not falling behind in school. Unfortunately, her life spiraling out of control has left Eddie with the options of foster care or moving to live with relatives he barely knows.
Alex hears his cousin will soon be sharing his room. Used to being the only child in a pretty comfortable home environment makes Alex doubtful that the experience will be a pleasant one. Sharing is not something he is very accustomed to, including girls. Alex is gifted in the area of women. They gravitate toward him, so he's always with someone and is filled with quirky advice about how to make the right move to attract the right girl.
His relocation takes Eddie not only into a new home, but also into a new school setting. The school is a special private school with a focus on professionalism in every aspect of the students' lives. Although it is not what he is used to, Eddie finds that with the help and friendship of Alex, he becomes quite comfortable. In fact so comfortable, that when there is news his mother is recovering and wants to get in touch with him, Eddie battles mixed feelings about returning to his former life.
Told from alternating points of view, HOW YA LIKE ME NOW relates the inner feelings of both boys. The reader learns the inner workings of these two opposite characters. There are both serious moments and lighthearted comic relief. Most readers will choose a favorite character and cheer him on until the end.
July 16, 2012
I seriously considered giving this four stars, but it didn't quite meet my criteria for that. Does this have an unforgettable character, if not a MacBeth or Jean Valjean, then a Sherlock Holmes or Horatio Hornblower? Does it have a gorgeous prose style or unique voice that I feel writer's envy? Did I cry? Did it make me think? Show me a world I didn't know? Surprise me with an amazing plot twist? Make me laugh out loud? No.
But it did make me smile madly more than once and smile through a lot of passages. And if the teenaged Eddie and his cousin Alex aren't up there with the most memorable fictional characters, they are likeable and the voice and personalities do seem plausibly late adolescent. This young adult novel also did several things that pleased me. I liked how it built the bonds between the cousins and a group of young people that were relatable and that each had distinct personalities. I liked the low-key, low-angst take on race relations. (Eddie, a suburbanite, transfers into Alex's urban school.) As someone who spent three years in the area, I found it a pleasure to recognize the Boston setting. I liked that instead about being about the EVIL of American business, that in the subplot about the marketing class the book gives a glimpse of the adventure and creativity behind enterprise.
In other words, if I don't see this book as a keeper I'll be reading again and again, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this light, quick read. It's sorta guy-lit only for the teen set. A good, fun read.
But it did make me smile madly more than once and smile through a lot of passages. And if the teenaged Eddie and his cousin Alex aren't up there with the most memorable fictional characters, they are likeable and the voice and personalities do seem plausibly late adolescent. This young adult novel also did several things that pleased me. I liked how it built the bonds between the cousins and a group of young people that were relatable and that each had distinct personalities. I liked the low-key, low-angst take on race relations. (Eddie, a suburbanite, transfers into Alex's urban school.) As someone who spent three years in the area, I found it a pleasure to recognize the Boston setting. I liked that instead about being about the EVIL of American business, that in the subplot about the marketing class the book gives a glimpse of the adventure and creativity behind enterprise.
In other words, if I don't see this book as a keeper I'll be reading again and again, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this light, quick read. It's sorta guy-lit only for the teen set. A good, fun read.
May 23, 2014
How ya like me now, by Brendan Halpin, is about a young boy, named Eddie, who leaves his old life behind him due to his mom going into rehab and his dad passing away. He if fortunate enough to have his aunt and uncle allow him to stay with them. The author writes about Eddie's new life and how it affects him. The author's purpose in writing this book was to show how a kid can go through the worst yet still manage to not completely fall apart. To start off Eddie's journey, he moves into his new house with his aunt, his uncle, and his cousin Alex. Eddie transfers to Alex's school where he practically starts a new life. The main chunk of the book revolves around a big group project. Eddie is shy at first but begins to join in on things when he becomes more comfortable. There are several love conflicts that occur between Eddie and Alex. In the end, of course, they come back together. The unfortunate part about this is the fact that Eddie loves his new life a lot more than his old. His mom leaves rehab and the question is whether or not Eddie will go back to her. I would personally say the best part about this book is the dialogue. The conversations seem very real and flow nicely. Anyone who likes a comedic book about children and their everyday struggles would enjoy this book.
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July 13, 2011I love Brendan Halpin’s books! I don’t know how he manages to make teenagers suffering through terrible things interesting and relatable and not PEOPLE SUFFERING TERRIBLE THINGS but people, who are suffering terrible things. It seems like an excellent skill to have, especially if you are a writer!
This book is about (predictably) a teenager suffering terrible things; it’s about a boy whose mother goes to rehab and he has to go live with an aunt and uncle he barely knows. But that is kind of beside the point, because it has the best school ever, where everyone pretends they are at a business! Marketing class has a special place in my heart.
This book is about (predictably) a teenager suffering terrible things; it’s about a boy whose mother goes to rehab and he has to go live with an aunt and uncle he barely knows. But that is kind of beside the point, because it has the best school ever, where everyone pretends they are at a business! Marketing class has a special place in my heart.
August 5, 2007
Eddie is a teen with a dead father and a drug addicted mother. Alex is a wealthy teen with loving parents. These boys are cousins but different as night and day. Eddie is very studious, Alex is the class clown. Eddie’s never any luck with the girls and Alex has no problem meeting girls. The boys learn to overcome their differences and find out they have a lot to learn from each other.
The point of view in this story shifts throughout the text and it makes it difficult to know who is telling the story.
The point of view in this story shifts throughout the text and it makes it difficult to know who is telling the story.
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May 5, 2008The dead father/drug-addicted mother beginning makes it seem like a typical problem novel, but this YA book turned out to have some charm and humor, especially in depicting the friendships/relationships among the students at an inner-city Boston high school. It reminded me a lot of The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin, a good YA.
This book led me to ponder the question, though, of whether any middle school boys, or males at all, like to read realistic fiction. I don't see much at my school (or from observing my husband, a voracious reader).
wmslibrary: yes
This book led me to ponder the question, though, of whether any middle school boys, or males at all, like to read realistic fiction. I don't see much at my school (or from observing my husband, a voracious reader).
wmslibrary: yes
May 12, 2009
This is another wonderful fiction title by Brendan Halpin. He writes in an authentic voice that I've heard the kids who come into my library use. The scenes in the charter school remind me of when I visit a class at a charter school here and the way the kids interact with their teacher. This story is set in Boston but it could be anywhere because the story of a teen whose dad dies and his mom gets addicted to pain killers could happen anywhere. It could definitely be any teen's story but it's Eddie's story and I finished this book feeling like I knew him very well.
January 19, 2012
Brendan Halpin is quickly becoming a favorite author. A very welcome addition to books for boys about realistic subjects told with humor, understanding and intelligence.
After his father dies, Eddie's mother becomes addicted to pain killers. Eddie is managing everything okay, but he can't pay the bills and this leads to his mother going to rehab. Eddie goes to live with his cousin, aunt and uncle whose lives are really different from the life he's been living. This is a story about family, anger, change, love and friendship.
After his father dies, Eddie's mother becomes addicted to pain killers. Eddie is managing everything okay, but he can't pay the bills and this leads to his mother going to rehab. Eddie goes to live with his cousin, aunt and uncle whose lives are really different from the life he's been living. This is a story about family, anger, change, love and friendship.
July 14, 2012
On a serious note, this book helped me appreciate the value of acceptance. Eddy, one of the main characters in the story, recieved the cruelty of life's misfortune. Even though his dose of reality came at a young age, with determination he prospered. Young readers like myself depend on books like these with great morals.
December 12, 2012
I really like Brendan Halpin, but this wasn't my favorite of his books. It was still a great story with some heart, but I struggled keeping all of the characters straight for a good portion of the book. It wasn't always clear to me who was talking, but I still liked it enough to finish it with a smile.
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February 10, 2016Fifteen-year-old Eddie lost his dad to cancer and has now basically lost his mom to drugs. His life is turned upside down as he is forced to move. In a new house, at a new school, and surrounded by people he does not feel comfortable with, Eddie has to learn to cope. That is much easier said than done.
August 23, 2007
I've really enjoyed Halpin's memoirs, It Takes a Worried Man and Losing My Faculties. His fiction isn't bad either. This is more of a YA book, but it wasn't bad. He writes teen dialogue -- and teen angst -- very well.
January 23, 2017
this is about a person who follows a person to Chinatown and the person he follows is going back to eat some kinda spoiler alert Alex wanted to rescue Eddie but he wanted him to swim or drown on his own term.
September 14, 2007
i like any book that makes me laugh out loud in triumph during a dramatic video game sequence.
November 17, 2008
Grade 10 to 12 Great for Teen boys
March 17, 2009
Good read but not as good as the other Halpin books I've read. What I liked about it and Halpin's other books is how he focuses on the emotions of his characters. You feel for them and with them.
March 29, 2009
See my review here: http://yalitgoodbadugly.wordpress.com...
March 19, 2012
I enjoyed this book. It was a moving book with aspects of life, troubled times, successes, and growing up.
March 17, 2013
interesting...........
January 27, 2016
The cover doesn't do a good job of selling it but I really liked it.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews