What do you think?
Rate this book
Albatross
What's so cool about nice guys?
Everyone at Tess's new school warns her that Micah is bad news—a heartbreaker. But she can't ignore her attraction to this brooding, brilliant, friendless emo hottie who can turn on the charm—or heart-shredding scorn—at a moment's notice. Starting over in a new town after her parents' split isn't easy for Tess, and Micah feels like her first real connection. But what happens when their bond suddenly feels like shackles? And Micah starts to remind Tess of her freakishly controlling father?
With Albatross, Josie Bloss takes her storytelling in a new direction by exploring the dark side of relationships.
Everyone at Tess's new school warns her that Micah is bad news—a heartbreaker. But she can't ignore her attraction to this brooding, brilliant, friendless emo hottie who can turn on the charm—or heart-shredding scorn—at a moment's notice. Starting over in a new town after her parents' split isn't easy for Tess, and Micah feels like her first real connection. But what happens when their bond suddenly feels like shackles? And Micah starts to remind Tess of her freakishly controlling father?
With Albatross, Josie Bloss takes her storytelling in a new direction by exploring the dark side of relationships.
229 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Josie Bloss
4 books59 followersJosie Bloss grew up in East Lansing, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan, where she was a member of the best college marching band in the country and a staff reporter for the Michigan Daily.
After obtaining a degree in Political Science, she tried to decide if she wanted to be a lawyer while wrangling paper in several large Chicago law firms that are attempting to take over the world. Finding herself uninspired by global domination, she decided to relocate to somewhere more quiet and write instead.
When not mining her high school journals for material and wishing there were marching band options for adults, Josie enjoys karaoke and acting in plays.
She lives in Bloomington, IN
After obtaining a degree in Political Science, she tried to decide if she wanted to be a lawyer while wrangling paper in several large Chicago law firms that are attempting to take over the world. Finding herself uninspired by global domination, she decided to relocate to somewhere more quiet and write instead.
When not mining her high school journals for material and wishing there were marching band options for adults, Josie enjoys karaoke and acting in plays.
She lives in Bloomington, IN
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 14, 2012
Here is what the press release that came with the book had to say about this title:
Despite pop culture's obsession with brooding, supernatural antiheroes like Edward Cullen, one of the most common critiques of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series is the unhealthy relationship between Bella and Edward - that Edward is a bully and Bella is a doormat. Yet teen girls thrive on this unbalanced relationship dynamic. Perhaps this is because they so rarely find an alternative in the literature of today.
As a response to this trend, young adult novelist Josie Bloss penned Albatross (Flux, February). A complete departure from her previous, lighthearted Band Geek books, Albatross is a dark and tense story of codependency and psychological abuse in teen relationships. The distinguishing element is that the ultimate message is one of hope, but not without some truly distressing poor decisions made on the part of the protagonist.
I have never read a release about a book that was so accurate it could have knocked a fly off of a cliff from 3 miles away. This book is everything Twilight needs to be. I read through this one in a day (would have been a sitting had I not had to work), I couldn't get enough of it, probably because I saw a lot of myself in the protagonist. While I didn't come from the same type of family situation save for the divorce (my dad is nowhere near a prick like Tess's is), I was of a similar temperament in high school. I dated guys that weren't good for me, that treated me like crap but I was so desperate for the attention that I took it and asked what I was doing wrong when something completely out of my control happened. It was eerie and at points I was actually nauseous, it hit that close to home.
It's funny how when you see such a prick of a character like Micah from a third person perspective, it really easy to see how much of an asshole he really is. And holy shit is he ever. But standing in Tess's shoes, and I can see myself doing this at her age, you eat it up. You want this unattainable person. Don't you always want what you can't have? He keeps himself distanced from Tess, taunting her, teasing her and leaving her wanting to come back for more. But while the secondary characters (mainly Tess's friends) say that Micah destroys any girls he touches, I think he just has a knack for attracting vulnerable girls. Or they're drawn to him, either way. Because they're so vulnerable (like Tess having to deal with a divorce and a schmuck for a father), and they're vying for attention, what he gives them, they take.
You can clearly see the Bella and Edward dynamic in Tess and Micah and I really hope anyone that reads this book that loved Twilight and loved Bedward's relationship will see how it really is and how destructive it is. It's easier to match symptoms when you have something to match them against. Being in it you may be blind to it but relating with Tess and seeing what she's going through, maybe it'll help some girls escape a destructive relationship that's been romanticized by current YA fiction.
The writing is simple yet poignant. It tells the story in Tess's words and how only she would see it. It hurts to be inside her head when she's struggling with her feelings for Micah. It'll make you want to shout at the book to drop him. You'll be right along with her inner voice telling her to run away and you'll get disgruntled when she caves yet again. The story rips at you and, hopefully, will make you evaluate your relationships a little more thoroughly. Is that guy of yours pushing and pulling at you? Maybe it's time to drop him. The parallels between Tess and her mother are scary but disturbingly true so many times yet so many fall to repeating history on a subconscious level.
The ending is very Lifetime movie but not sickly sweet. It's positive without being sappy and leaves you with a good feeling that everything will work itself out. There isn't a prince that saves Tess's day. Only Tess did that and that just reiterated the overwhelmingly powerful message this book has. No one else can get you out of it except you. You need the strength to do it. You just need to listen to that inner voice of yours.
I absolutely loved this book. If you're looking for an antithesis of Twilight, you will too.
Despite pop culture's obsession with brooding, supernatural antiheroes like Edward Cullen, one of the most common critiques of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series is the unhealthy relationship between Bella and Edward - that Edward is a bully and Bella is a doormat. Yet teen girls thrive on this unbalanced relationship dynamic. Perhaps this is because they so rarely find an alternative in the literature of today.
As a response to this trend, young adult novelist Josie Bloss penned Albatross (Flux, February). A complete departure from her previous, lighthearted Band Geek books, Albatross is a dark and tense story of codependency and psychological abuse in teen relationships. The distinguishing element is that the ultimate message is one of hope, but not without some truly distressing poor decisions made on the part of the protagonist.
I have never read a release about a book that was so accurate it could have knocked a fly off of a cliff from 3 miles away. This book is everything Twilight needs to be. I read through this one in a day (would have been a sitting had I not had to work), I couldn't get enough of it, probably because I saw a lot of myself in the protagonist. While I didn't come from the same type of family situation save for the divorce (my dad is nowhere near a prick like Tess's is), I was of a similar temperament in high school. I dated guys that weren't good for me, that treated me like crap but I was so desperate for the attention that I took it and asked what I was doing wrong when something completely out of my control happened. It was eerie and at points I was actually nauseous, it hit that close to home.
It's funny how when you see such a prick of a character like Micah from a third person perspective, it really easy to see how much of an asshole he really is. And holy shit is he ever. But standing in Tess's shoes, and I can see myself doing this at her age, you eat it up. You want this unattainable person. Don't you always want what you can't have? He keeps himself distanced from Tess, taunting her, teasing her and leaving her wanting to come back for more. But while the secondary characters (mainly Tess's friends) say that Micah destroys any girls he touches, I think he just has a knack for attracting vulnerable girls. Or they're drawn to him, either way. Because they're so vulnerable (like Tess having to deal with a divorce and a schmuck for a father), and they're vying for attention, what he gives them, they take.
You can clearly see the Bella and Edward dynamic in Tess and Micah and I really hope anyone that reads this book that loved Twilight and loved Bedward's relationship will see how it really is and how destructive it is. It's easier to match symptoms when you have something to match them against. Being in it you may be blind to it but relating with Tess and seeing what she's going through, maybe it'll help some girls escape a destructive relationship that's been romanticized by current YA fiction.
The writing is simple yet poignant. It tells the story in Tess's words and how only she would see it. It hurts to be inside her head when she's struggling with her feelings for Micah. It'll make you want to shout at the book to drop him. You'll be right along with her inner voice telling her to run away and you'll get disgruntled when she caves yet again. The story rips at you and, hopefully, will make you evaluate your relationships a little more thoroughly. Is that guy of yours pushing and pulling at you? Maybe it's time to drop him. The parallels between Tess and her mother are scary but disturbingly true so many times yet so many fall to repeating history on a subconscious level.
The ending is very Lifetime movie but not sickly sweet. It's positive without being sappy and leaves you with a good feeling that everything will work itself out. There isn't a prince that saves Tess's day. Only Tess did that and that just reiterated the overwhelmingly powerful message this book has. No one else can get you out of it except you. You need the strength to do it. You just need to listen to that inner voice of yours.
I absolutely loved this book. If you're looking for an antithesis of Twilight, you will too.
November 2, 2010
After reading a review of this, I requested it for the Peach Committee, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I felt compelled to finish the story in just a couple of my coffee-fueled morning reads. I think most teen girls, maybe some boys, will identify with the painful crush depicted here and may even discover tools to fight weak and insidious people who get off on hurting and undermining others.
Tess and her mother leave Chicago and a husband-father who ran their family, not with an iron fist but with an iron voice, a belittling one that leeched away self-confidence and happiness. Ironic that when Tess has a chance to remake herself without the pervasive negativity of her father, she gets hooked on an emo-boy who seems to treat her with the same on-again-off-again heroin that he feels for the petite but larger than life Daisy (any Gatsby connotations there?) with whom Micah is obsessed. On the side of sanity are new band friends including a nice boy--you know, the kind that doesn't end up making you apologize when HE says horrible things?
Readers will want to see who will survive the relationships that are trainwrecks, and there are several here for vicarious chills. And they will be hoping Tess can see the patterns that are destructive and move toward the light, dammit. Recommend to fans of Sarah Dessen, The Six Rules of Maybe, and North of Beautiful.
Tess and her mother leave Chicago and a husband-father who ran their family, not with an iron fist but with an iron voice, a belittling one that leeched away self-confidence and happiness. Ironic that when Tess has a chance to remake herself without the pervasive negativity of her father, she gets hooked on an emo-boy who seems to treat her with the same on-again-off-again heroin that he feels for the petite but larger than life Daisy (any Gatsby connotations there?) with whom Micah is obsessed. On the side of sanity are new band friends including a nice boy--you know, the kind that doesn't end up making you apologize when HE says horrible things?
Readers will want to see who will survive the relationships that are trainwrecks, and there are several here for vicarious chills. And they will be hoping Tess can see the patterns that are destructive and move toward the light, dammit. Recommend to fans of Sarah Dessen, The Six Rules of Maybe, and North of Beautiful.
June 3, 2010
After reading stories where everybody seems to think it's okay to be used by boyfriends (I'm looking at every single, crappy, generic romcom) or controlled by boyfriends (I'm glaring at you Twilight) under the guise of romance, passion, or whatever cliche riddled adjective people want to call it -- Albatross is a giant dose of empowering reality because in this story, those kinds of people -- the one who view you like an object instead of an actual person -- are not portrayed like Prince Charming.
This isn't really the type of book I'd ever read. It's young adult fiction with romantic themes -- stuff I usually stay away from because of the twisted gendered relationships that are so prevalent especially in this genre. However, someone I respect highly recommended it to me, so I decided to give it a shot.
In general, I liked the writer, even though I thought the theme/message was a bit heavy handed toward the end (as if the author was making sure readers got the message -- not that I can blame her with the terrifying popularity of controlling, manipulative boyfriends), but other than that, I thought the writing was really good. I was able to empathize with the narrator, even while I was thinking, why are you being such an idiot because, truth to tell, I could see myself maybe falling in the same vicious circle (not that I have been in this situation -- but I could see aspects of myself in the narrator, particularly her desire to have any kind of connection so that she could stop drifting).
I think my favorite part was the end. She broke up with the manipulative bastard -- and, even though there is a really nice boy who wants to be with her, she realizes that she needs time. She doesn't have to have that kiss of twue wuv or end with a happily ever after with someone else -- it's just fine to have a happily ever after by herself, self assured in her own person, her own skin.
I really appreciate that
This isn't really the type of book I'd ever read. It's young adult fiction with romantic themes -- stuff I usually stay away from because of the twisted gendered relationships that are so prevalent especially in this genre. However, someone I respect highly recommended it to me, so I decided to give it a shot.
In general, I liked the writer, even though I thought the theme/message was a bit heavy handed toward the end (as if the author was making sure readers got the message -- not that I can blame her with the terrifying popularity of controlling, manipulative boyfriends), but other than that, I thought the writing was really good. I was able to empathize with the narrator, even while I was thinking, why are you being such an idiot because, truth to tell, I could see myself maybe falling in the same vicious circle (not that I have been in this situation -- but I could see aspects of myself in the narrator, particularly her desire to have any kind of connection so that she could stop drifting).
I think my favorite part was the end. She broke up with the manipulative bastard -- and, even though there is a really nice boy who wants to be with her, she realizes that she needs time. She doesn't have to have that kiss of twue wuv or end with a happily ever after with someone else -- it's just fine to have a happily ever after by herself, self assured in her own person, her own skin.
I really appreciate that
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2010
This book really put destructive relationships into the forefront and how damaging they can be. This reminded me a lot of the destructive relationship in Twilight between Bella and Edward. That's one of the things I didn't like about the Twilight series. I felt their relationship was very destructive and not healthy at all. And a lot of young girls may believe that's what they want....
This book shows the appeal of guys like Edward, dark and brooding and controlling, but how that is really destructive.
Tess and her mother are new in town; they left Chicago and their father/husband behind. Not a nice guy who is controlling and mean. Tess becomes attracted to Micah who just happens to treat her just like her dad does, with disdain and control. She feels at home.
It was really hard to see her fall into this abusive relationship and to see how she felt she didn't even deserve this guy!
I think it was a bit trite in how she was able to overcome this destructive relationship. I think it would really take a lot more help from outside sources for her to get out of something like this. But I still think it's an important introduction into these type of relationships and how destructive they are. A wonderful antithesis to the misogyny in Twilight.
This book shows the appeal of guys like Edward, dark and brooding and controlling, but how that is really destructive.
Tess and her mother are new in town; they left Chicago and their father/husband behind. Not a nice guy who is controlling and mean. Tess becomes attracted to Micah who just happens to treat her just like her dad does, with disdain and control. She feels at home.
It was really hard to see her fall into this abusive relationship and to see how she felt she didn't even deserve this guy!
I think it was a bit trite in how she was able to overcome this destructive relationship. I think it would really take a lot more help from outside sources for her to get out of something like this. But I still think it's an important introduction into these type of relationships and how destructive they are. A wonderful antithesis to the misogyny in Twilight.
Read
February 17, 2013I don't even know where to begin with this book. I've heard ALBATROSS called the "anti-Twilight," and that makes sense. (Disclaimer: I totes loved Twilight.) But it takes that co-dependent, a bit unbalanced relationship and strips it of its paranormal bits and shows what a relationship with some of those characteristics might look like in the real world. The writing is clean and simple and the concept is all sorts of brilliant. The relationship is destructive and creepy and unsettling. And also, those things make it important to read....
June 21, 2025
A moment of appreciation for that early-2010s cover. It is beautifully cheesy and I love how terribad it is. I'm not even being mean. Seeing those badly Photoshopped covers fills me with so much nostalgia for the YA I greedily consumed as a teen because oh my GOD, have you seen what early-2000s YA covers looked like? I rest my case.
ALBATROSS was a book I'd never heard of before, but I'd just read FAKING FAITH by this author and while perusing my friends' reviews, I happened to notice that my GR friend, Donna, had mentioned that this book was even better in her review of FF. When I went to check out her review, I was SOLD. A realistic and gritty portrayal of an emotionally abusive relationship where the heroine is allowed to sometimes be a bad person? That sounds kind of amazing.
And this book IS amazing. Tess is a teenage girl whose life has been badly uprooted. She and her mom have just left her emotionally abusive dad and both of them are still kind of reeling from it, still unsure about what to do without the tight leash of his control. Tess is lonely and isolated: she has band, but misses her Chicago friends, and nobody in her new school has the kind of connection that years and years of friendship can give.
When she sees Micah, she's intrigued because he's a loner boy and a bit of an emo, and everyone in the school seems to think he's a bad person. Everyone except Daisy, his manic pixie dreamgirl girlfriend, who is regarded kindly by the rest of the student body as school slut. But when Tess starts talking with Micah, she learns that he doesn't really care all that much for Daisy, either. Even though he says he plans on marrying her one day, he refers to her, charmingly, as his "albatross."
Tess gets involved with Micah despite his girlfriend and she starts to really hate Daisy, even though Micah is the one who leaves her off-balance and emotionally reeling from his surprisingly cruel remarks. In fact, the way that he makes her feel is uncomfortably similar to how her dad's abusive tirades used to... and there's a voice in her head, getting louder all the while, telling her that she should get away.
I knew right from the beginning I was going to love this book. There's something super angsty about aughts-era YA. Maybe because we were all super miserable back then? I know I was. And the baby internet that existed back then left us all feeling way more isolated (although I don't know if that's better than the fishbowl that TikTok has plunged today's teens into). Like the heroine, I was also in band, and music was one of the few ways that I, as a super awkward teen, really felt like I was allowed to shine. I was also in a relationship that was kind of like the one she had with Micah (although nowhere near as bad), and I remember all the second-guessing and obsessing and hating of the other girl I did. So not feminist.
I'm giving this five stars because it did some amazing things. First, Tess's growth is just such a personal and deep read, and so uniquely tailored to her as a character, that I couldn't help but love it. Second, Tess does not end up with a boy, and the boy friend she does have does not act as her savior from Micah. The girl saves herself in this one-- and then, she saves somebody else. Third, she has some AMAZING lines. By the end of the book, I wanted to stand up in some bleachers, football game style, and scream into a megaphone "GO TESS." It was such a cathartic and satisfying moment.
It makes me sad that this author isn't getting more attention because she has such a knack for writing flawed and believable female characters, and boy, can she serve up the drama. Most of her books are either super cheap or on KU, too, so there's really no excuse for not checking them out.
4.5 stars
ALBATROSS was a book I'd never heard of before, but I'd just read FAKING FAITH by this author and while perusing my friends' reviews, I happened to notice that my GR friend, Donna, had mentioned that this book was even better in her review of FF. When I went to check out her review, I was SOLD. A realistic and gritty portrayal of an emotionally abusive relationship where the heroine is allowed to sometimes be a bad person? That sounds kind of amazing.
And this book IS amazing. Tess is a teenage girl whose life has been badly uprooted. She and her mom have just left her emotionally abusive dad and both of them are still kind of reeling from it, still unsure about what to do without the tight leash of his control. Tess is lonely and isolated: she has band, but misses her Chicago friends, and nobody in her new school has the kind of connection that years and years of friendship can give.
When she sees Micah, she's intrigued because he's a loner boy and a bit of an emo, and everyone in the school seems to think he's a bad person. Everyone except Daisy, his manic pixie dreamgirl girlfriend, who is regarded kindly by the rest of the student body as school slut. But when Tess starts talking with Micah, she learns that he doesn't really care all that much for Daisy, either. Even though he says he plans on marrying her one day, he refers to her, charmingly, as his "albatross."
Tess gets involved with Micah despite his girlfriend and she starts to really hate Daisy, even though Micah is the one who leaves her off-balance and emotionally reeling from his surprisingly cruel remarks. In fact, the way that he makes her feel is uncomfortably similar to how her dad's abusive tirades used to... and there's a voice in her head, getting louder all the while, telling her that she should get away.
I knew right from the beginning I was going to love this book. There's something super angsty about aughts-era YA. Maybe because we were all super miserable back then? I know I was. And the baby internet that existed back then left us all feeling way more isolated (although I don't know if that's better than the fishbowl that TikTok has plunged today's teens into). Like the heroine, I was also in band, and music was one of the few ways that I, as a super awkward teen, really felt like I was allowed to shine. I was also in a relationship that was kind of like the one she had with Micah (although nowhere near as bad), and I remember all the second-guessing and obsessing and hating of the other girl I did. So not feminist.
I'm giving this five stars because it did some amazing things. First, Tess's growth is just such a personal and deep read, and so uniquely tailored to her as a character, that I couldn't help but love it. Second, Tess does not end up with a boy, and the boy friend she does have does not act as her savior from Micah. The girl saves herself in this one-- and then, she saves somebody else. Third, she has some AMAZING lines. By the end of the book, I wanted to stand up in some bleachers, football game style, and scream into a megaphone "GO TESS." It was such a cathartic and satisfying moment.
It makes me sad that this author isn't getting more attention because she has such a knack for writing flawed and believable female characters, and boy, can she serve up the drama. Most of her books are either super cheap or on KU, too, so there's really no excuse for not checking them out.
4.5 stars
November 9, 2018
Five Stars
This story spoke volumns to what a relationship should not be. It tells the story of a mother and daughter and how they both handle the situations of a bad relationships.
This story spoke volumns to what a relationship should not be. It tells the story of a mother and daughter and how they both handle the situations of a bad relationships.
January 19, 2022
3.5 it honestly is a good book,and I enjoyed it very much I just loved how she got over Micah and finally listened to the “good” voice *i wish I had that* but the ending wasn’t that satisfying I wish Tess and Toby had there moment that they got together.
July 4, 2020
I read this in one evening, a gripping and easy read. What I liked about it was that it bucks the trend of a lot of teen (and adult) fiction that glorifies twisted and unhealthy relationship dynamics. What the book lacks in plot it makes up for in relationship exposé and inner dialogue. Wish I'd read this 10 years ago!
September 8, 2016
3.5
Mildly surprised that this was a good read. The incessant "Voice" bugged me sometimes, but overall the message is clear-cut and precise. This novel actually reminded me of the underrated Dreamland by Sarah Dessen, in which the protagonist struggled throughout the story to find her identity.
The heroine, Tess, started out annoying me (just a personal preference) but I think that that was the point of the story. She's this very meek heroine who inside is a very strong lady but just doesn't know how to show it, as she was afraid people would push her away if she acted true to herself. By people, I mean this emo dude named Micah (Micah is such a sexy name for a guy, I might borrow it someday) who HAHAHAHA is the author's obvious equivalent of Edward and Christian +10 points burn! LOL
Tess, upon seeing Micah for the first time, developed an insta-love: a lethal, unattractive virus that affects girls 10 years and above that robs them of their sanity and capacity for reason because dude, emo guys who know how to play the piano, who don't have any friends because they are soooo smart everyone is below their intellect level, who basically only know how to glare and smirk and spout obscure music references and quotes from random philosophers are soooo damn gorgeous. Figure that out.
Anyhow, Tess should thank THE MOST AMAZING and boring friends at school for never giving up on her, because frankly, I can't see anything interesting about her. Besides her occasional 'hmm' and 'okay' to about every question that is... ahm... well, interesting (?) probably to them, there's really nothing about her that may attract people to her. If she had been a good friend right from the start, I may come to understand it. But the start already involved Micah, so... I guess being new at school gives you a plus factor. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that there are amazing people out there who can see the invisible 'HELP ME I'M DROWNING' plaster card attached to your forehead, and they won't give up on you even though you can be an accomplished prick most of the time. It's these people around Tess that helped her stand back on her feet again after that disastrous phase with the emo dude.
Favorite Convo (Toby and Tess):
'I just don't get it'
'Get... what?'
'How assholes like Micah do it. How they get girls to fall in love with them, even when they act like dicks at every opportunity.'
'He's not always a--'
'I mean, what's wrong with nice guys,huh?'
'Nothing is wrong with nice guys--'
'Are you a masochist or something? Do you enjoy his bullshit?'
HERE TOBY TAKE MY 100000x LIKES. Also, don't mind Tess. She's just, you know, confusing creepiness with romance. Girls.
The payoff in the end was damn good and just about hit the right timing. Had the novel been 10 pages longer, I think I'd die of combustion. Luckily, the author was very smart, and I think that she played this very well. Once Tess made up her mind that she won't stand for anymore of Micah's crap, she walked away and never once looked back. Bravo, Tess.
It is very rare to find a book that just about screams profanities to the more popular "romantic" books (I'm looking at you, T and 50), and tells them off that possession doesn't equate romance. It's high time someone point this myth-fantasy of romance in print, and let every teenager realize that co-dependency is destructive.. There is NO WAY that anyone can change a person, especially when the person himself doesn't understand the problem in the first place. And why would you think highly of yourself, thinking that you have the capabilities of changing a person? I mean, srsly? Are you really that great? That's self-righteousness right there. You can only understand a person. But don't ever think that you can change him - only he has the key to doing it himself.
Mildly surprised that this was a good read. The incessant "Voice" bugged me sometimes, but overall the message is clear-cut and precise. This novel actually reminded me of the underrated Dreamland by Sarah Dessen, in which the protagonist struggled throughout the story to find her identity.
The heroine, Tess, started out annoying me (just a personal preference) but I think that that was the point of the story. She's this very meek heroine who inside is a very strong lady but just doesn't know how to show it, as she was afraid people would push her away if she acted true to herself. By people, I mean this emo dude named Micah (Micah is such a sexy name for a guy, I might borrow it someday) who HAHAHAHA is the author's obvious equivalent of Edward and Christian +10 points burn! LOL
Tess, upon seeing Micah for the first time, developed an insta-love: a lethal, unattractive virus that affects girls 10 years and above that robs them of their sanity and capacity for reason because dude, emo guys who know how to play the piano, who don't have any friends because they are soooo smart everyone is below their intellect level, who basically only know how to glare and smirk and spout obscure music references and quotes from random philosophers are soooo damn gorgeous. Figure that out.
Anyhow, Tess should thank THE MOST AMAZING and boring friends at school for never giving up on her, because frankly, I can't see anything interesting about her. Besides her occasional 'hmm' and 'okay' to about every question that is... ahm... well, interesting (?) probably to them, there's really nothing about her that may attract people to her. If she had been a good friend right from the start, I may come to understand it. But the start already involved Micah, so... I guess being new at school gives you a plus factor. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that there are amazing people out there who can see the invisible 'HELP ME I'M DROWNING' plaster card attached to your forehead, and they won't give up on you even though you can be an accomplished prick most of the time. It's these people around Tess that helped her stand back on her feet again after that disastrous phase with the emo dude.
Favorite Convo (Toby and Tess):
'I just don't get it'
'Get... what?'
'How assholes like Micah do it. How they get girls to fall in love with them, even when they act like dicks at every opportunity.'
'He's not always a--'
'I mean, what's wrong with nice guys,huh?'
'Nothing is wrong with nice guys--'
'Are you a masochist or something? Do you enjoy his bullshit?'
HERE TOBY TAKE MY 100000x LIKES. Also, don't mind Tess. She's just, you know, confusing creepiness with romance. Girls.
The payoff in the end was damn good and just about hit the right timing. Had the novel been 10 pages longer, I think I'd die of combustion. Luckily, the author was very smart, and I think that she played this very well. Once Tess made up her mind that she won't stand for anymore of Micah's crap, she walked away and never once looked back. Bravo, Tess.
It is very rare to find a book that just about screams profanities to the more popular "romantic" books (I'm looking at you, T and 50), and tells them off that possession doesn't equate romance. It's high time someone point this myth-fantasy of romance in print, and let every teenager realize that co-dependency is destructive.. There is NO WAY that anyone can change a person, especially when the person himself doesn't understand the problem in the first place. And why would you think highly of yourself, thinking that you have the capabilities of changing a person? I mean, srsly? Are you really that great? That's self-righteousness right there. You can only understand a person. But don't ever think that you can change him - only he has the key to doing it himself.
June 12, 2010
Summary: Tess has just moved to a new town with her mother, leaving behind her abusive dad. She feels lost and alone at school until she meets Micah, the brilliant and gorgeous guy who soon comes to consume her thoughts.
*Spoilers ahead*
Thoughts: I had seen several positive reviews of this throughout the blogosphere so when I noticed it at my library, I snatched it up and read it fairly quickly. It is not my usual type of book as it deals with relationship abuse; Tess's dad and Micah emotionally manipulate Tess and physical abuse seemed a definite possibility (actually Micah does bite Tess on the arm). This was actually a pretty hard book for me to read; I felt literally pained reading about her interactions with both of those males and I kept waiting for her to break free (she does!)
When I first saw the relationship of Micah and Daisy, explained by him, I saw them as sort of a Heathcliff and Cathy, definitely one of the most messed-up relationships in literature. But Micah was abusing her similarly to how he treated Tess and she was also able to break free of him. Yay!
My biggest problems were the quickness at which Tess became obsessed with Micah and the relative lack of information about all of the other people in her life. I thought her feelings about Micah could have been elaborated on more before she became so involved with him. I found him rather pretentious and, having read the summary, I could tell he was bad news. I guess I understand that the reader can't know too much about the friends as Tess pulls back away from them whenever they try to warn her about Micah but at the end, they still are ill-defined to me. The book also avoids putting her in a new relationship despite the presence of a new and very nice boy as Tess is mature enough to realize that she is not quite ready for another romantic entanglement and does have issues to work on before being able to be with someone.
*End spoilers*
Note: Albatross comes from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge, not the Monty Python sketch like my dad suggested when he saw me reading this.
Overall: 4/5. It was well-written but it is not really my type of book. I would still recommend it and I'm trying to get my sister, who usually prefers more serious books than me, to read it.
Cover: I'm not really a fan of real-life people on covers (I prefer cartoons) but I think the colors are good.
*Spoilers ahead*
Thoughts: I had seen several positive reviews of this throughout the blogosphere so when I noticed it at my library, I snatched it up and read it fairly quickly. It is not my usual type of book as it deals with relationship abuse; Tess's dad and Micah emotionally manipulate Tess and physical abuse seemed a definite possibility (actually Micah does bite Tess on the arm). This was actually a pretty hard book for me to read; I felt literally pained reading about her interactions with both of those males and I kept waiting for her to break free (she does!)
When I first saw the relationship of Micah and Daisy, explained by him, I saw them as sort of a Heathcliff and Cathy, definitely one of the most messed-up relationships in literature. But Micah was abusing her similarly to how he treated Tess and she was also able to break free of him. Yay!
My biggest problems were the quickness at which Tess became obsessed with Micah and the relative lack of information about all of the other people in her life. I thought her feelings about Micah could have been elaborated on more before she became so involved with him. I found him rather pretentious and, having read the summary, I could tell he was bad news. I guess I understand that the reader can't know too much about the friends as Tess pulls back away from them whenever they try to warn her about Micah but at the end, they still are ill-defined to me. The book also avoids putting her in a new relationship despite the presence of a new and very nice boy as Tess is mature enough to realize that she is not quite ready for another romantic entanglement and does have issues to work on before being able to be with someone.
*End spoilers*
Note: Albatross comes from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge, not the Monty Python sketch like my dad suggested when he saw me reading this.
Overall: 4/5. It was well-written but it is not really my type of book. I would still recommend it and I'm trying to get my sister, who usually prefers more serious books than me, to read it.
Cover: I'm not really a fan of real-life people on covers (I prefer cartoons) but I think the colors are good.
February 11, 2012
I finished this book in one day, and it would have been one sitting if life didn't interfere. I connected automatically with Tess. I guess I have a depression that I can't really shake and some of her words really struck a cord with me. I feel like I've lost some of the people I'm closest with, whether from death, moving away, or just drifting apart.
...I felt like I drifted through the day without ever actually connecting with anyone, like I was a ghost of myself?
There was also another quote where she said a drummer who was always laughing made her uncomfortable because she worried he was laughing at her.... I totally get that. I feel slightly on the outside with most people and worry that other people really don't like me or are talking about me. Also the way that even when included, she felt still outside of what was going on.
Reading that really made me feel more validated... like I'm not the only one, even if its a character in a book.
Micah is hot, brooding and mysterious, so in the beginning I liked him pretty much right away, but there is a darker side of him that I didn't really know what to make of. And his relationship with Daisy--his albatross--I wasn't quite sure what to make of, just like Tess. He is candid which sometimes is charming and unique, but other times leaves him looking like an ass. (I'll stop talking about anything further since I got this impression within first few chapters, but I don't want to spoil anything.)
The story of Tess' father slowly unravels through the story too, and I feel sorry for her having to deal with that. Never knowing what you're going to get from a person, jerk, good guy or just get ignored keeps you on your toes, and its exhausting to live that way.
I really like how Laura tries to be her friend, and Toby is the kind of guy that I want in real life--he reminds me of my husband--chill, protective and friendly.
This is a pretty edgy and dark story overall, and I found myself swept up in Tess' story, and able to truly see both "voices" of her mind--the little one that we ignore way too much, and the one that is overpowered by emotion. But it has a powerful ending, and I love how much Tess grew into herself, and how she was even able to help someone that she disliked for a long time in the process.
...I felt like I drifted through the day without ever actually connecting with anyone, like I was a ghost of myself?
There was also another quote where she said a drummer who was always laughing made her uncomfortable because she worried he was laughing at her.... I totally get that. I feel slightly on the outside with most people and worry that other people really don't like me or are talking about me. Also the way that even when included, she felt still outside of what was going on.
Reading that really made me feel more validated... like I'm not the only one, even if its a character in a book.
Micah is hot, brooding and mysterious, so in the beginning I liked him pretty much right away, but there is a darker side of him that I didn't really know what to make of. And his relationship with Daisy--his albatross--I wasn't quite sure what to make of, just like Tess. He is candid which sometimes is charming and unique, but other times leaves him looking like an ass. (I'll stop talking about anything further since I got this impression within first few chapters, but I don't want to spoil anything.)
The story of Tess' father slowly unravels through the story too, and I feel sorry for her having to deal with that. Never knowing what you're going to get from a person, jerk, good guy or just get ignored keeps you on your toes, and its exhausting to live that way.
I really like how Laura tries to be her friend, and Toby is the kind of guy that I want in real life--he reminds me of my husband--chill, protective and friendly.
This is a pretty edgy and dark story overall, and I found myself swept up in Tess' story, and able to truly see both "voices" of her mind--the little one that we ignore way too much, and the one that is overpowered by emotion. But it has a powerful ending, and I love how much Tess grew into herself, and how she was even able to help someone that she disliked for a long time in the process.
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
Tess was trying to make it work in her new town of Grand River, Michigan. She never wanted to move from Chicago, where her old life, boyfriend, and best friend remained. However, it was best for her mom after the divorce from her father.
Part of making it work, which in turn makes her mother happy, meant doing things that Tess would normally do if she was back in Chicago, like participating in the solo and ensemble competitions. Not the best French horn player, all Tess needed was someone to accompany her, to enter the competition with her. The name Micah was given to her by her director.
Micah, the seemingly weird guy who always stayed to himself, who Tess found rather intriguing. For some reason, Tess was drawn to him, even if she did find out about his weird relationship to Daisy, the girl with the gorgeous voice but a not-so-beautiful reputation. Tess gains the courage to talk to Micah, and soon enough she develops a little crush.
The crush would turn into affection, which would then turn into wanting his attention, which would unfortunately lead to abuse. Even if people warn Tess about Micah - people like Toby, the really cute, extremely nice drummer from band - or even when Tess' own mind warns her, for some reason she just doesn't want to listen. She allows it to continue, apologizing when she shouldn't, taking on the harsh words being thrown at her when she should stand up for herself.
As the story continues, the reintroduction to her past life that involves her father connects Tess to her current situation, and how it feels unusually "normal."
ALBATROSS is a powerful, insightful novel that centers on a problem in relationships that has unfortunately become all too common. Readers will feel like the people who witness those being emotionally abused in a relationship, and want to try so hard to tell that person to get away from the abuser, but are unable to fully control the situation. Josie Bloss constructs a realistic portrayal of such frightening yet truthful experiences of abuse that will exert a passion in readers to take action when they witness or are themselves in an abusive relationship.
Tess was trying to make it work in her new town of Grand River, Michigan. She never wanted to move from Chicago, where her old life, boyfriend, and best friend remained. However, it was best for her mom after the divorce from her father.
Part of making it work, which in turn makes her mother happy, meant doing things that Tess would normally do if she was back in Chicago, like participating in the solo and ensemble competitions. Not the best French horn player, all Tess needed was someone to accompany her, to enter the competition with her. The name Micah was given to her by her director.
Micah, the seemingly weird guy who always stayed to himself, who Tess found rather intriguing. For some reason, Tess was drawn to him, even if she did find out about his weird relationship to Daisy, the girl with the gorgeous voice but a not-so-beautiful reputation. Tess gains the courage to talk to Micah, and soon enough she develops a little crush.
The crush would turn into affection, which would then turn into wanting his attention, which would unfortunately lead to abuse. Even if people warn Tess about Micah - people like Toby, the really cute, extremely nice drummer from band - or even when Tess' own mind warns her, for some reason she just doesn't want to listen. She allows it to continue, apologizing when she shouldn't, taking on the harsh words being thrown at her when she should stand up for herself.
As the story continues, the reintroduction to her past life that involves her father connects Tess to her current situation, and how it feels unusually "normal."
ALBATROSS is a powerful, insightful novel that centers on a problem in relationships that has unfortunately become all too common. Readers will feel like the people who witness those being emotionally abused in a relationship, and want to try so hard to tell that person to get away from the abuser, but are unable to fully control the situation. Josie Bloss constructs a realistic portrayal of such frightening yet truthful experiences of abuse that will exert a passion in readers to take action when they witness or are themselves in an abusive relationship.
March 8, 2010
WOW....
4 Stars - It took me awhile to write this review after reading this book, because the story affected me so much. I still don't think this review does it justice. I think you'll need to read it to understand what I mean.
What's scary about this book? That there's people out there like this.... it gave me shivers and really made me think about how there are some cruel people out there, come big or small, old or young.
When Tess moves with her mother to a new town and starts at a new school, she's looking to fit in. She's told by a few people to stay way from Micah because he's not the nicest person around. Tess is thrown together with Micah and finds him interesting and wants to learn more about this cute boy. She ends up more then attracted to him - people repelling ways and all.
Bloss hit the nail on the head with these characters. It's amazing and scary just how close both Tess and Micah are to real people. The dark side of their relationship just takes hold and drives the story even further down a road that you don't want to see anyone go down. Even Scarier is the fact that there are guys like Micah and Tess's dad out there and girls like Tess fall for them, because it's all they know from their home lives or all they think they deserve.
The author has created a perfect mix of true life on both sides of the story - The girl who falls for the not so nice guy and doesn't see it until it's too late and the guy who's out to step on anyone he can along the way.
A story that is so believable that it had me shaking my head and wanting to yell at both Tess and Micah throughout the book. Bloss is an author that I'll be on the look out for her next book. She's got a knack for writing, without a doubt.
For more info and reviews please visit my Book Review Blog here - A Life Bound By Books
4 Stars - It took me awhile to write this review after reading this book, because the story affected me so much. I still don't think this review does it justice. I think you'll need to read it to understand what I mean.
What's scary about this book? That there's people out there like this.... it gave me shivers and really made me think about how there are some cruel people out there, come big or small, old or young.
When Tess moves with her mother to a new town and starts at a new school, she's looking to fit in. She's told by a few people to stay way from Micah because he's not the nicest person around. Tess is thrown together with Micah and finds him interesting and wants to learn more about this cute boy. She ends up more then attracted to him - people repelling ways and all.
Bloss hit the nail on the head with these characters. It's amazing and scary just how close both Tess and Micah are to real people. The dark side of their relationship just takes hold and drives the story even further down a road that you don't want to see anyone go down. Even Scarier is the fact that there are guys like Micah and Tess's dad out there and girls like Tess fall for them, because it's all they know from their home lives or all they think they deserve.
The author has created a perfect mix of true life on both sides of the story - The girl who falls for the not so nice guy and doesn't see it until it's too late and the guy who's out to step on anyone he can along the way.
A story that is so believable that it had me shaking my head and wanting to yell at both Tess and Micah throughout the book. Bloss is an author that I'll be on the look out for her next book. She's got a knack for writing, without a doubt.
For more info and reviews please visit my Book Review Blog here - A Life Bound By Books
March 5, 2010
I really had no idea what to expect when I started Albatross. I hadn't read any reviews and the summary didn't give much away. I kind of liked not knowing what was coming and in the end I really liked the book.
Tess is new in town. After a rough divorce she moves to a new town in Michigan with her mom, one where she knows no one and doesn't really care. All that changes when she meets Micah. He is unlike anyone Tess has ever known and she is immediately drawn to him. Despite everyone warning her against him, Tess begins to spend more and more of her time with him. Will Tess' friends warnings prove to be true or will things be different with Tess and Micah?
One of the drawbacks about Ablatross was that it didn't immediately capture my attention. It was only once I got about 60 pages in that I became interested in the story. The first part was background and it was a little boring. Once I got past that part I enjoyed the book and read it pretty quickly.
Tess wasn't a very strong heroine through most of the book and it bugged me. I hated how she acted with Micah and how she wasn't confident in herself at all. She finally grew as a character towards the end of the book and that was when I started to like her, when she got a backbone. And all I will say about Micah is that he was a dick. You will have to read the book to find out why.
Overall, Albatross was a really good book and really unique. It wasn't a happy book most of the time but it had me smiling at the end. I definitely plan on checking out Josie Bloss' other books.
Tess is new in town. After a rough divorce she moves to a new town in Michigan with her mom, one where she knows no one and doesn't really care. All that changes when she meets Micah. He is unlike anyone Tess has ever known and she is immediately drawn to him. Despite everyone warning her against him, Tess begins to spend more and more of her time with him. Will Tess' friends warnings prove to be true or will things be different with Tess and Micah?
One of the drawbacks about Ablatross was that it didn't immediately capture my attention. It was only once I got about 60 pages in that I became interested in the story. The first part was background and it was a little boring. Once I got past that part I enjoyed the book and read it pretty quickly.
Tess wasn't a very strong heroine through most of the book and it bugged me. I hated how she acted with Micah and how she wasn't confident in herself at all. She finally grew as a character towards the end of the book and that was when I started to like her, when she got a backbone. And all I will say about Micah is that he was a dick. You will have to read the book to find out why.
Overall, Albatross was a really good book and really unique. It wasn't a happy book most of the time but it had me smiling at the end. I definitely plan on checking out Josie Bloss' other books.
May 3, 2010
A disturbing novel about messed-up teenage relationships (and really not just teenage ones) without being as heavy and painfully depressing as some of the others out there. It was interesting/kind of scary watching Tess completely ignore all the warning signs in her relationship. And, in my limited experience (not personal, thank heavens!), it was very true to life. A woman in a relationship with a guy like Micah (who's a first-class manipulative, charismatic jerk) does exactly what Tess did--ignores friends, her inner voice, and all the warning signs, instead focusing on why everything is her fault and only on the guy's needs. (Note: I'm sure that this can also happen with a female being the manipulative one, but I've just seen more of the opposite.)
Anyway, I thought it did an excellent job without being completely awful and depressing (compare, for instance, Speak, which was good but significantly more painful). Just a little haunting. The only thing I think was a problem is that situations like that leave scars and baggage to deal with. And it felt like Tess may have pulled out of it unrealistically quickly. But maybe not. After all, the book did show her mom still struggling with her issues, so maybe that was the balanced view.
Rating: PG
Anyway, I thought it did an excellent job without being completely awful and depressing (compare, for instance, Speak, which was good but significantly more painful). Just a little haunting. The only thing I think was a problem is that situations like that leave scars and baggage to deal with. And it felt like Tess may have pulled out of it unrealistically quickly. But maybe not. After all, the book did show her mom still struggling with her issues, so maybe that was the balanced view.
Rating: PG
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2011
A book about a girl named Tess; her parents had a messy split and Tess was tossed around without any thought of her feelings. Tess now had a new life, a new school, new surroundings, and new boys to meet and friends to make.Tess was lurred in by a a bad boy named Micah. He was known as the heartbreaker through the grapevine, but Tess didn't take anyones advice. He first obsticle was to get Micah away from a girl named Daisy who acted like Micah was her own property. Though Tess didn't let this get in her way Micah was to alluring to her and his "Emo" cool guy status. He was a loner but not in the loser type of way, in the "I'm so cool I don't even need friends to make me survive." This book was an interesting look into the life of a girl who was thrown into a love triangle, and those always come with jealousy and an unhealthy dependence on someone who may not want you as much as you want them. This book showed you how becoming addicted to someone can make you lose yourself at least she found Toby in the end, someone to like her for who she is. I enjoyed this book and it is easy to relate to if youve ever been in a relationship, or if your that of the female heterosexual race.
December 21, 2013
Tess, whose parents are getting divorced, moves from Chicago to Michigan. She's off to a slow start in the friends department, but the mysterious boy Micah gives her something to obsess about. He's so interesting, and intense, and unavailable, especially as he already kind of has a girlfriend, Daisy. But he calls Daisy the albatross around his neck. So maybe, just maybe, if Tess keeps hanging on his every word and hoping he'll call her, he'll stop being mean and snotty and reciprocate her feelings.
Albatross felt very real to teen-aged emotions, and created some strong reactions in me as a reader, such as the desire to slap some sense into Tess, and a deep-seated hatred of Micah. It's not really a downer, though. (Not that I want to spoil anything.) Fans of young adult angst will probably really enjoy this one.
Albatross felt very real to teen-aged emotions, and created some strong reactions in me as a reader, such as the desire to slap some sense into Tess, and a deep-seated hatred of Micah. It's not really a downer, though. (Not that I want to spoil anything.) Fans of young adult angst will probably really enjoy this one.
July 10, 2010
I really had a hard time putting this book down, it was that good! Tess and Micah's relationship was completely dysfunctional and abusive. I was constantly rooting for Tess to finally stand up for herself and to put an end to the damage that Micah was afflicting on her emotionally and was so happy when she finally worked up the courage to do so.
I felt that the ending was very satisfying. Despite Tess's dislike for Daisy, the other girl in Micah's like, throughout the story, I was proud to see her able to put her past feelings aside to try to give Daisy the courage to end her abusive relationship with Micah, as well.
My only qualm with the story was the use of the word "Dude." I seriously cringed every time I read it!
I felt that the ending was very satisfying. Despite Tess's dislike for Daisy, the other girl in Micah's like, throughout the story, I was proud to see her able to put her past feelings aside to try to give Daisy the courage to end her abusive relationship with Micah, as well.
My only qualm with the story was the use of the word "Dude." I seriously cringed every time I read it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2010
Not all abusive relationships are physical. Some are all about head games. Albatross is a detailed look at one such relationship. New girl in town and all-around good-girl Tess falls hard for loner Micah...and she stays around even when he ignores her, insults her, guilt trips her, and hurts her feelings. Disturbing, in a way. I just can't understand why Tess, who is obviously smart, put up with Micah for nearly 200 pages when she should have kicked him to the curb after the first 10.
June 28, 2011
The author mentioned some good points about repressive, dominant and in the meantime possessive fathers and boyfriends. Another point was that Tess was attracted to a boyfriend (which is actually not a boyfriend) who bears some characteristic resemblances with his father. The author has analyzed well these factors with flashbacks to the relationship between Tess and his father. Maybe the book could be a little bit longer and detailed but that’s fine. It was a short and nice reading.
February 15, 2013
I read Albatross right after reading Faking Faith, partially to see if it would be equally unique in its approach and partially because I was in a reading rut and feeling uninspired. Albatross explores an emotionally abusive relationship through the eyes of Tess, who falls for brilliant, good-looking, and uber-creepy Micah. I guess the object of this book was to teach kids what an abusive relationship looks like so it can be avoided, and it certainly does that. Beyond that, it fell flat for me.
February 5, 2010
Interestingly, this is the first book I've read in which Facebook is a plot point. Bloss totally nails the potential angst in "friending" and IMing, as well as in high school relationships in general. I found the characters 100% unique and believable, and the sustained tension kept me reading. I finished this book in 24 hours. This woman can write!
March 10, 2010
[Won in a contest from Daphne Unfeasible (aka Kate Schafer Testerman of KT Literary):]
This was definitely not what I was expecting at first! I was imagining some kind of omg-he's-so-hot-and-perfect story. Really, it's about the twisted way people can make you feel and how you need to find your own strength to survive without them.
A book for anyone who has ever been in a bad relationship.
This was definitely not what I was expecting at first! I was imagining some kind of omg-he's-so-hot-and-perfect story. Really, it's about the twisted way people can make you feel and how you need to find your own strength to survive without them.
A book for anyone who has ever been in a bad relationship.
April 27, 2010
I felt such empathy for the main character and her mom. Suppressing your true thoughts because you're afraid someone will ditch you is so painfully true to high school that it was tough to take sometimes. Especially in boy/girl dynamics. Realistic and satisfying, easy to relate to, and I also felt such relief that I haven't been around any albatrosses of my own or others' making in many years!!
January 30, 2013
Wonderful to have a book like this added to the YA genre. Bloss gets at some real truths about male-female relationships. Even when a guy isn't abusive like Micah, girls often feel that they have to bend over backwards to be worthy of a guy. The end seemed a little to easy, but a fun, interesting read.
February 11, 2010
Ag, closing it and putting it away at the end of my lunch hour was brutal.
Really liked this one, even though reading it was horrifying at times. It's rough seeing someone make bad choices, tougher sometimes when you see how you could have been led to make the same one.
(read: 13)
Really liked this one, even though reading it was horrifying at times. It's rough seeing someone make bad choices, tougher sometimes when you see how you could have been led to make the same one.
(read: 13)
February 24, 2012
Wow. What an awesome book! These characters were so realistic! Micah scared the hell outta me! He was such a well written character! I cant get over how believable these characters are. The writing is top quality too! I enjoyed this much much more than faking faith.
December 16, 2013
Not bad. I was that sort of girl in high school, loving the boys who didn't love me back, although it was never as destructive as this. It was a pretty good story, a quick read. Hopefully it will empower some confused girls.
May 7, 2016
It was ok
It seemed very juvenile at best. It was okay. Not bad but not great either. I'm happy tess figured it all out though. I think this story could have been more interesting had the author made it a bit more dark. Just my opinion. This should appeal for for younger readers.
It seemed very juvenile at best. It was okay. Not bad but not great either. I'm happy tess figured it all out though. I think this story could have been more interesting had the author made it a bit more dark. Just my opinion. This should appeal for for younger readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews