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Losing It
- GenresYoung AdultContemporary
314 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
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221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 24, 2010
Alright, so losing it where to start. I must admit to having extremely mixed feelings about it. I did like it; the story was captivating with life long lessons in it. But on the other hand I am disgusted with it; I was completely freaked out and disturbed on a thousand levels.
So when I first saw losing it the first word I thought of was “chick lit” I wanted something light and bouncy to read, that I could read and not feel thing, I was looking forward to a predictable book about a boy girl relationship that well meant nothing. But what I found was quite different! Rape, love, hate, hormones, drugs, shoplifting, drinking, sex, these were just some of the issues that were brought up in the novel, I am used to reading about love, hate, and some of the others but some parts of this book I was not prepared for. The rape aspect of this book made me want to cry with fury, I don’t really know what I was thinking but all I know is that I felt like slamming the book down and screaming “You poor girl, you shouldn’t have to deal with this.” The same goes for the drinking and drugs.
This book really showed me how easy it is to lose yourself for others. I have learnt heaps from it (even if I had to cringe while doing so.) It really showed me how ugly our generation is, I mean the girl is only fourteen of God’s sake, she shouldn’t be getting drunk or getting into drugs, *shudder* I will never forget this book.
So when I first saw losing it the first word I thought of was “chick lit” I wanted something light and bouncy to read, that I could read and not feel thing, I was looking forward to a predictable book about a boy girl relationship that well meant nothing. But what I found was quite different! Rape, love, hate, hormones, drugs, shoplifting, drinking, sex, these were just some of the issues that were brought up in the novel, I am used to reading about love, hate, and some of the others but some parts of this book I was not prepared for. The rape aspect of this book made me want to cry with fury, I don’t really know what I was thinking but all I know is that I felt like slamming the book down and screaming “You poor girl, you shouldn’t have to deal with this.” The same goes for the drinking and drugs.
This book really showed me how easy it is to lose yourself for others. I have learnt heaps from it (even if I had to cringe while doing so.) It really showed me how ugly our generation is, I mean the girl is only fourteen of God’s sake, she shouldn’t be getting drunk or getting into drugs, *shudder* I will never forget this book.
February 17, 2019
This starts out light. By the end, like you've been hit with a sledgehammer.
Serious issues are there, but I also feel that no closure was given.
Themes: incest, suicide, secrecy, lies, family, adolescence.
Read it but don't expect a happy ending.
Serious issues are there, but I also feel that no closure was given.
Themes: incest, suicide, secrecy, lies, family, adolescence.
Read it but don't expect a happy ending.
October 5, 2024
Finally got my hands on a copy of this book again - loved it as a teenager!
And very happy to say it still held up to how good my memory thought it was.
Coming of age, struggles of being a teenage girl, it’s very relatable.
The only downside is the ending is a bit rushed and I would’ve loved to have seen how a few things panned out, but otherwise I love this book.
And very happy to say it still held up to how good my memory thought it was.
Coming of age, struggles of being a teenage girl, it’s very relatable.
The only downside is the ending is a bit rushed and I would’ve loved to have seen how a few things panned out, but otherwise I love this book.
August 15, 2023
3.5 stars.
I thought this was going to be a light and fluffy read but it actually deals with some dark issues.
I thought this was going to be a light and fluffy read but it actually deals with some dark issues.
November 26, 2014
I did not like this book. At all.
I like to give books a good go and will always try and see the positive side, but with this book just no.
The main character Gabbieflaunts is confident with herself, the way she is and her perspective on life. I'm sorry but in my personal opinion I believed that from the start Gabbie's life was just too good to be true. That is why I think I found this book very hard to relate to.
Seriously.
How many teenagers can talk to their parents about anything, change best friends so easily and also get a boys to like them that quickly?
Let alone claim that she is in love with that certain boy when she has had barely one conversation with him.
It just does not work out.
From the start it seemed blatantly obvious what was going to happen sooner or later between Gabbie and someone . I don't think anyone could easily state that they did not see the climax in the book coming. Which kind of leads me to say that no-one can really pick up the book and presume it is a "light-hearted read" if they bothered to read the blurb.
Also, I don't know if it is just me but does half of the stuff occurring in this book actually happen in eighth grade?
Okay, I am going to try and cut this short because I could, if I wanted to, probably rant about this book for quite a while.
The character development in this story was quite huge but minor with some people in the book and that is one of the things I found hard to understand and relate to.
The plot, hmm, really was not that exciting or dramatic when you think about it. There was no big lead up to anything but when something happened you kind of saw it coming...
Though, I think what mostly shaped my negative outlook on this book was the ending. It may have summed one problem but there were certainly a lot of doors left wide open.
Overall, the book was heavy but it was just too unrealistic for me to read and enjoy.
I understood this book but I did not believe it.
I like to give books a good go and will always try and see the positive side, but with this book just no.
The main character Gabbie
Seriously.
How many teenagers can talk to their parents about anything, change best friends so easily and also get a boys to like them that quickly?
Let alone claim that she is in love with that certain boy when she has had barely one conversation with him.
It just does not work out.
From the start it seemed blatantly obvious what was going to happen sooner or later between Gabbie and someone . I don't think anyone could easily state that they did not see the climax in the book coming. Which kind of leads me to say that no-one can really pick up the book and presume it is a "light-hearted read" if they bothered to read the blurb.
Also, I don't know if it is just me but does half of the stuff occurring in this book actually happen in eighth grade?
Okay, I am going to try and cut this short because I could, if I wanted to, probably rant about this book for quite a while.
The character development in this story was quite huge but minor with some people in the book and that is one of the things I found hard to understand and relate to.
The plot, hmm, really was not that exciting or dramatic when you think about it. There was no big lead up to anything but when something happened you kind of saw it coming...
Though, I think what mostly shaped my negative outlook on this book was the ending. It may have summed one problem but there were certainly a lot of doors left wide open.
Overall, the book was heavy but it was just too unrealistic for me to read and enjoy.
I understood this book but I did not believe it.
December 20, 2011
Seriously. I'm hyperventilating.
Shivers. Goosebumps. Rape. Suicide. Friends. High School. Parties. Lies. Perfection. Strive. Reputations. Pictures. Love. First-Love. Realistic. Dialogue. Gossip. Suspense. Mystery. Horror. Puberty. Pain. Torment. Torture. Grieve.
It's all there.
This is no light read, just putting it out there. This is nowhere near a light read. Some of the stuff in this story is far too graphic for some of the eight-graders I know (seeing as I'm in eight grade as well) and they probably wouldn't be able to get through this book without taking it seriously.
But honestly. There is no word to describe how disturbed and insecure I'm feeling this very second. I've shivering. And trust me, it's definitely not from the cold.
When I was told on Goodreads this was a very dark book, it didn't seem like it from looking at the first page, which was pretty comic with Gabbie and her mother discussing "puberty," and then giving us some quirks about her mother. Come to think of it, I didn't think it was going to be very dark at all. But at the end --the painful, horrifying end-- I felt like my entire world was flipped upside down.
I will never recommend it for people who haven't had experience with these kinds of books. This is pretty much the most darkest things that can happen to an eight-grader, but they have more impact on me than, let's say, murder. You know why? Because every single thing in this book can happen to me this very second. I'm not going to reveal anything, but the reality of this book is so disturbing.
It's impossible to take your eyes off this book. A chilling read I will never forget.
Definitely not for the easily-sickened.
Shivers. Goosebumps. Rape. Suicide. Friends. High School. Parties. Lies. Perfection. Strive. Reputations. Pictures. Love. First-Love. Realistic. Dialogue. Gossip. Suspense. Mystery. Horror. Puberty. Pain. Torment. Torture. Grieve.
It's all there.
This is no light read, just putting it out there. This is nowhere near a light read. Some of the stuff in this story is far too graphic for some of the eight-graders I know (seeing as I'm in eight grade as well) and they probably wouldn't be able to get through this book without taking it seriously.
But honestly. There is no word to describe how disturbed and insecure I'm feeling this very second. I've shivering. And trust me, it's definitely not from the cold.
When I was told on Goodreads this was a very dark book, it didn't seem like it from looking at the first page, which was pretty comic with Gabbie and her mother discussing "puberty," and then giving us some quirks about her mother. Come to think of it, I didn't think it was going to be very dark at all. But at the end --the painful, horrifying end-- I felt like my entire world was flipped upside down.
I will never recommend it for people who haven't had experience with these kinds of books. This is pretty much the most darkest things that can happen to an eight-grader, but they have more impact on me than, let's say, murder. You know why? Because every single thing in this book can happen to me this very second. I'm not going to reveal anything, but the reality of this book is so disturbing.
It's impossible to take your eyes off this book. A chilling read I will never forget.
Definitely not for the easily-sickened.
June 30, 2015
I picked up this book in the sense that it would be a nice light read addressing current teenage struggles about growing up and romance.
My goodness I really don't think this should be a "light read" for Year 8 and 9
This book is probably, no definitely, one of the darkest book I have ever read. I mean don't get me wrong. I have nothing against this book. I think the author has done such a good job and portraying a modern story line that young woman can follow by and learn to keep safe, whilst making it an addictive read at the same time. I’m glad there are authors out there doing this.
To all parents or young people reading this I strongly advise you are at least 15 or an extremely mature reader before you read this. As a 9 year old harry potter and twilight reader this was nothing new, but for a character MY age going through such dark and disturbing things. It made me feel so uncomfortable. My main worry was for people my age just getting into mature reading or reading in general. At my school most people have only just started reading mature classics like HP and THG, but hey let’s start off your first reads in the young-adult section with people our age drinking, watching porn, shoplifting, supporting a friend who’s completely loose and dodging rape.
Overall, really great addicting read if you’re a mature reader, but I think this book is a little too deep and disturbing to be a "chick hit" read for year 8 and 9s. Id rate it a M14+ for course language, drug reference and strong sexual references
September 10, 2015
This was probably one of the most disturbing books I read as a twelve year old, and I only owned about 15 books when I was twelve so I was re-reading this constantly. I was a very naive twelve year old (I don't think I properly learned what sex was until I was about fourteen, late bloomer and what have you) so while I understand now that the assault was probably only included for shock value as a twelve year old it just confused and upset me (I don't think I really understood what was going on until I re-read it later). I really did enjoy this book though, I liked the characters and storyline a lot. I haven't re-read it in about three years so I don't know how my present self would enjoy it but I rate books on the enjoyment I had the first time I read it, not the critical opinion I'd have now, that's why it's a five star book and I'll definitely return to it at some point in my life.
March 16, 2014
Apart from some clunky writing - and keeping in mind it was probably aimed at readers younger than me - I liked the mixture of fairly benign teenage dramas alongside the more serious issues that don't touch everyone, but are common enough to be wary about. The fact that the main character experienced these without, maybe, dealing with them in the best way possible is more realistic, too, than some novels that portray the protagonist as the hero who gets everything right in the end, maybe to put across the message of how to deal with these sorts of things.
March 26, 2023
Where do I even start?!? It’s a great book with lots of life lessons in it. But it’s definitely the most disturbing book I’ve ever read in my entire life. The thing that I compare it too the most is Elizabeth Olsen movie: Martha Marcy May Marlene.
It’s one of those novels that ends just like that, there should be more. But you don’t want there to be more you know? TW- it covers topics such as suicide, Sexism, Rape & Abuse. Some of the less disturbing topics it covers is teenage love, high school life, depression, just what a life in the average teenager.
It’s one of those novels that ends just like that, there should be more. But you don’t want there to be more you know? TW- it covers topics such as suicide, Sexism, Rape & Abuse. Some of the less disturbing topics it covers is teenage love, high school life, depression, just what a life in the average teenager.
April 21, 2011
Losing it, was a shocking novel for me, particurly when Gabbie was raped by Uncle Daryl. It had the shock factor and it was really graphic and I was just so shocked when I finished reading it.
The ending, when Gabbie tells her parents was a bit of a letdown, to be honest, for me. A better ending and/or sequel would have beniftted it greatly. A good, well written book, well done to Lizzie Wilcock!
The ending, when Gabbie tells her parents was a bit of a letdown, to be honest, for me. A better ending and/or sequel would have beniftted it greatly. A good, well written book, well done to Lizzie Wilcock!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2018
This book had me hooked from the beginning, and I think it is because Gabbie has an attitude similar to mine.
I would give this book a full 5 stars, but there are issues in my opinion. For personal reasons, I couldn't give 5 stars because of the rape scene, which was graphic enough.
It is difficult to speak about the book because of the bad memories - but Gabbie is a strong young lady.
I would give this book a full 5 stars, but there are issues in my opinion. For personal reasons, I couldn't give 5 stars because of the rape scene, which was graphic enough.
It is difficult to speak about the book because of the bad memories - but Gabbie is a strong young lady.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2010
One of the first books i read, so i was still a newb when it came to readngs.
And i remember i was at school and i couldnt wait to get home to figre out what was happening to her.
I remember thinking, what is wrong with me its a book for god sake...changed my life for good.
And i remember i was at school and i couldnt wait to get home to figre out what was happening to her.
I remember thinking, what is wrong with me its a book for god sake...changed my life for good.
April 16, 2014
This was one of the most disturbing books I'd read when I was in my early teens. I'm not entirely sure if I would think differently now that I'm exposed to many many other interesting things like incest (thanks, GRRM).
October 3, 2009
I really liked this book. Lizzie could really show what it's like for 14 year olds. The part where her uncle tried to rape her was just gross though.
April 6, 2010
brilliant, couldn't put it down.
July 15, 2013
Such an intense young adult novel. But really great.
April 13, 2012
Loved it! so many bits to this book that make you wanna keep reading! A great book for any teenager!
Read
May 30, 2012Read it... Twice, I think that's saying something.
June 25, 2012
it was ok, though i think that the book would appeal to girls aged 14, 13 or 12 (girls closer to the age of the protagonist)
September 2, 2012
Fantastic Lizzie s such a great author
September 9, 2012
Was sort of waiting for the end part to happen and when it did it felt a bit rushed. Otherwise really enjoyed it
October 31, 2012
OMG the rape scene scared me !!!!!
March 7, 2013
Scary, scary, scary book.
Don
t read if under 14. It is just scary. I don't know what else to say.
Don
t read if under 14. It is just scary. I don't know what else to say.
Read
March 8, 2013dfvdfgfbg
July 31, 2014
Loved it. It is the only book that I have read more then once.
February 2, 2015
One of the best coming of age books around! A must read for teenage girls!
Read
July 18, 2017This is a really good book about a girl who doesn't want to grow up. Her friends have all grown up before her and are going through puberty while she is 10 paces behind and slowly getting there even though she doesn't want to.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews