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griEVE
I pick up the lavender-scented mauve paper. It is from the stationery set I bought for her last Christmas. The scent still lingers. I inhale deeply, breathing in hope and joy, and pleasure that she has finally used my gift.
Then I open it and the sweet smell of flowers turns sour. I feel sick. I want to vomit. The paper trembles in my hands. Is this a joke? My mother loves to joke, especially when she is the only one laughing.
When Eve’s mother disappears, Eve’s dad and aunt tell her there’s no point talking about it. It’s best if we don’t, her dad tells her. Not to anybody. People don’t need to know the details. So, though Eve longs to visit her mother, she doesn’t. Instead, she tries to carry on as normal, cleaning and cooking for her dad, and going to school. She makes a new friend, Summer, who shows her how to do things she would never have done before.
When her dad brings home his new girlfriend, Eve realises things are not going to return to normal. She finds ways of controlling the chaos around her and of controlling the mess her life has become. But will anything help?
griEVE is a powerful story about coping with loss. It deals with confronting topics such as self-harm, depression, and dysfunctional families in an absorbing storyline which will draw young readers in. Eve is honest with the reader, even while she is not being honest with herself, and the reader is able to recognise the truth behind many of the events which Eve refuses to understand.
This is the kind of novel which refuses to be put down, with the reader compelled to keep reading to find out what will happen to Eve, how she will find a way through the minefield of her life. Teenage girls especially will find it compelling.
Then I open it and the sweet smell of flowers turns sour. I feel sick. I want to vomit. The paper trembles in my hands. Is this a joke? My mother loves to joke, especially when she is the only one laughing.
When Eve’s mother disappears, Eve’s dad and aunt tell her there’s no point talking about it. It’s best if we don’t, her dad tells her. Not to anybody. People don’t need to know the details. So, though Eve longs to visit her mother, she doesn’t. Instead, she tries to carry on as normal, cleaning and cooking for her dad, and going to school. She makes a new friend, Summer, who shows her how to do things she would never have done before.
When her dad brings home his new girlfriend, Eve realises things are not going to return to normal. She finds ways of controlling the chaos around her and of controlling the mess her life has become. But will anything help?
griEVE is a powerful story about coping with loss. It deals with confronting topics such as self-harm, depression, and dysfunctional families in an absorbing storyline which will draw young readers in. Eve is honest with the reader, even while she is not being honest with herself, and the reader is able to recognise the truth behind many of the events which Eve refuses to understand.
This is the kind of novel which refuses to be put down, with the reader compelled to keep reading to find out what will happen to Eve, how she will find a way through the minefield of her life. Teenage girls especially will find it compelling.
371 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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424 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 21, 2012
There are no words to explain how this book made me feel.
Although this has a slow start, don't let it drive you away. When I first started, I was so confused with the plotline, I anticipated putting it down. Don't do it. This book is far too precious.
This isn't your typical novel. In fact, it starts off with a cliche: a perfect, loving family. Then the story dwells on the fact on what happens after it all breaks apart. This sets it apart from most other stories of the same genre.
I liked it so much better in contrast to Wilcock's debut novel, Losing It. This book didn't feel forced or had random dark things thrown in to create an "edge." This was raw; this was real.
The reason I didn't give it five stars was because of the angst. There was absolutely no light in the novel. Everything seemed creepy and I expected some axe-murderer to jump out of nowhere and go on an killing-spree -this conclusion isn't ridiculous when you've read the novel.
I don't recommend this to anyone under twelve. Then again, age doesn't represent a maturity level: just don't buy this book for somebody as a light-read.
September 1, 2016
Have you ever read a book where the main character endures so many horrifying instances, you read with one eye open? This was my entire experience as I sat down and read, in merely two sittings, griEVE by Lizzie Wilcock.
I, by no means, ever expected the story to have a happy-go-lucky theme or even a satisfying ending, but the exception dark story I was presented with was completely unexpected. This is a story where the girl experiences bullying, shoplifts due to peer pressure, a lost mother, depression, dysfunctional families –all in the same book.
The most horrifying part? How well these incidents were written. Although the book should seem melodramatic, maybe a little over-the-top at times, the writing stayed consistent and had enough happy moments (no matter how little and delusional) to even out the darkness. This is a pure example of a girl who is searching for her mother, but finds so much more, and only a minority is positive.
From the very beginning, I loved Eve and her tender, broken heart. I loved how she found happiness in other people, and found light in even the darkest characters. All of the people Eve befriends are the kind your parents warned you about. Yet, when we see these characters through Eve’s eyes, we experience a chilling perspective of the goodness in these kinds of people. The novel has no flat characters.
Along with the characters, the writing style accompanies the magnificent novel. Small actions reveal a lot about each character. The writing is concise, straight-forward, and extremely suited to a novel that is nothing less than honest, heartbreaking and blunt.
There is a lot of mystery. Prepare yourself for a thriller, for suspense, and the constant cheering you’ll do for Eve as you hope for her happy ending. If you are looking for a light-read, I wouldn’t recommend this. But if you are looking for a dark novel that explores YA issues in a non-judgemental perspective, then I invite you to read this wonderful book. This is a book in which I was disturbed, horrified, tearful… but above all, I felt honesty, which may be scariest of all.
September 29, 2010
When Eve’s mother disappears, Eve’s dad and aunt tell her there’s no point talking about it. It’s best if we don’t, her dad tells her. Not to anybody. People don’t need to know the details. So, though Eve longs to visit her mother, she doesn’t. Instead, she tries to carry on as normal, cleaning and cooking for her dad, and going to school. She makes a new friend, Summer, who shows her how to do things she would never have done before. When her dad brings home his new girlfriend, Eve realises things are not going to return to normal. She finds ways of controlling the chaos around her and of controlling the mess her life has become. But will anything help?
I found the first hundred or so pages to kinda drag on and were kinda boring. But after that it really picked up and I didn't want it to stop reading, let alone want the story to end. When I started this book I never imagined what it would lead into. I could never predict what was going to happen next.
I recommend this book to 13+
I found the first hundred or so pages to kinda drag on and were kinda boring. But after that it really picked up and I didn't want it to stop reading, let alone want the story to end. When I started this book I never imagined what it would lead into. I could never predict what was going to happen next.
I recommend this book to 13+
February 24, 2020
I borrowed this from the school library and it changed my life.
I starting reading it at a time in my life when I was going through a lot and I really connected with the character and could understand what she was feeling. Through reading this book it gave me hope.
The book itself was written in such a way I never realised the twist that was coming and I cried a little when I finally realised what was happening and what it all meant. I especially liked that throughout the book the main character found moments of happiness and eventually found love in an unexpected place.
I starting reading it at a time in my life when I was going through a lot and I really connected with the character and could understand what she was feeling. Through reading this book it gave me hope.
The book itself was written in such a way I never realised the twist that was coming and I cried a little when I finally realised what was happening and what it all meant. I especially liked that throughout the book the main character found moments of happiness and eventually found love in an unexpected place.
July 22, 2010
This novel is about 14 yr old girl that lives in the country in Australia.Her mother has left her & she is the only child of the family, she has no friends but later meets one.her dad & Eve (the protaginist) are living together, later..after that everything unwinds this book has everything you would want & except in a book ..this is a beautifully crafted novel,I didn't want it to end .I would recommend this book for 15+ ages
March 10, 2017
It makes me sad that this book in now out of print
January 4, 2018
I loved this book as a teen. I recommend it strongly to any teenagers struggling emotionally ect.
October 5, 2024
uh the ending was confusing but it was good
November 15, 2010
How does one describe a book such as this? Well, it is easily one of the darker books I've read of late, and personally I tend to find that I don't sit well with books which depict cutting or self-harm, however it impressed me the way in which Lizzie Wilcock has handled this, which actually didn't make me feel as ill in the stomach as I usually do when reading such scenes. I found this to be a very interesting and very sad book, although I did not cry it was the raw emotion that really just had me hooked right from the first page until the very last and it is clear, although I knew what would happen from the very beginning for some reason this did not at all ease the shock ending which would follow. In particular what I truly loved about this book was the way it was handled in such a way which kept you wanting to keep reading until the wee hours of the morning even when you could not. I personally find that to be one of the qualities I look for in a book, and not only that but it took me quite some time to click onto the fact that it was actually set in Australia! I can’t believe I missed that, although I did eventually click onto this, although I wish I had of sooner as I always love reading books with an Australian setting as I seem to find so few around in my school library and the public library nearest to me.
But perhaps, I should be best to discuss what I liked less about this novel, because in the end despite liking it I just couldn’t love it. It was handled well for such a dark subject matter but perhaps there were some things I really couldn’t overcome as a reader in terms of the plot which just made me question really where the whole story seemed to be going. The strange twist at the end, which involves Tommy and Sebastian just seemed a little strange to me, yes I could see how it all tied in but that entire plot line almost seemed rather odd, I preferred keeping my focus on how Eve was dealing with the disappearance of her mother which at times seemed to be the main thing which the reader should be focusing on. I also found Summer to be a truly strange character, I’m not sure if other readers picked up on it too, but nothing ever truly sat well with me in the way she behaved and acted, but then again, perhaps it was just me over analysing things as per usual. I have to say I saw how she would tie into the end from the beginning though and from the first few pages I knew how this would end.
Also what I found to be both disturbing about this novel is how quickly Eve takes a turn for the worst, and in some aspects it shows perhaps how quickly these sorts of things may creep up on a person. Although she is young I found it entirely bizarre that she would cut the hair from people in her class and glue it into her bible as some form of memory book to represent the things in her life which she did not want. It also seemed odd that someone so seemingly faithful could be so easily driven into crime even against the church which she believes within. It is clear that Eve is struggling but the most disturbing thing of all is how no-one is there to see it or save her from the waves that she seems to be drowning in. Which leaves you almost feeling sick as she turns to self-harm to escape her day-to-day life involving the marriage of her father to a young woman, moving to a small town, bullying and finally the birth of her step-sibling. It is these things which drive her to do what she does, and more importantly as she grieves for the loss of her mother in her life.
The ending will leave you shocked, even if you did see it coming. The writing is perfect and approaches the dark nature of the book well and in a way that makes it readable without going into too much or too little detail. The balance is perfect and it makes for a highly gripping read.
3 Stars.
But perhaps, I should be best to discuss what I liked less about this novel, because in the end despite liking it I just couldn’t love it. It was handled well for such a dark subject matter but perhaps there were some things I really couldn’t overcome as a reader in terms of the plot which just made me question really where the whole story seemed to be going. The strange twist at the end, which involves Tommy and Sebastian just seemed a little strange to me, yes I could see how it all tied in but that entire plot line almost seemed rather odd, I preferred keeping my focus on how Eve was dealing with the disappearance of her mother which at times seemed to be the main thing which the reader should be focusing on. I also found Summer to be a truly strange character, I’m not sure if other readers picked up on it too, but nothing ever truly sat well with me in the way she behaved and acted, but then again, perhaps it was just me over analysing things as per usual. I have to say I saw how she would tie into the end from the beginning though and from the first few pages I knew how this would end.
Also what I found to be both disturbing about this novel is how quickly Eve takes a turn for the worst, and in some aspects it shows perhaps how quickly these sorts of things may creep up on a person. Although she is young I found it entirely bizarre that she would cut the hair from people in her class and glue it into her bible as some form of memory book to represent the things in her life which she did not want. It also seemed odd that someone so seemingly faithful could be so easily driven into crime even against the church which she believes within. It is clear that Eve is struggling but the most disturbing thing of all is how no-one is there to see it or save her from the waves that she seems to be drowning in. Which leaves you almost feeling sick as she turns to self-harm to escape her day-to-day life involving the marriage of her father to a young woman, moving to a small town, bullying and finally the birth of her step-sibling. It is these things which drive her to do what she does, and more importantly as she grieves for the loss of her mother in her life.
The ending will leave you shocked, even if you did see it coming. The writing is perfect and approaches the dark nature of the book well and in a way that makes it readable without going into too much or too little detail. The balance is perfect and it makes for a highly gripping read.
3 Stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2013
This book kept me up all night, thinking. At first, it was a slow start, Mother goes missing, trying to cope lalala. No. By the middle of the book I couldn't stop turning the pages and wanting to know what happened. The only real reason I gave it four stars was because I wanted more. I wanted to know more about what happened when she got home, more of what happened with Nicolas, more of Sebastian, I mean, Shane. It was a little hard to tell reality from dreams so that got confusing. But the ending was amazing and as I started to connect the dots in my head, I couldn't help flipping through the book again and again.
I liked Eve, she was smart and she stood up for herself, if not a little unstable and creepy. I mean, the memories book? That made my stomach curdle with just the idea of hair and blood smeared across the pages. Yet it was different and interesting, and the author described it well. I loved Tommy though she was a bitch at first, I could see the friendship there. At first I was happy with the relationship with Summer, this was the point of the book where normally she would find a friend who would help cope. But this isn't your average book, so I grew a dislike to her after a while. I can read about gore and dead bodies, but when it comes to cutting, I feel sick to the stomach. Maybe because it's so real and easy to go out and harm yourself and that's what creeps me out. Yet, unlike most books, I liked the way she described it and the way it was written.
On the back of the book she said she found love and I thought that love was Dylan. I was wrong. That relationship also made me sick to the stomach. I guess you are thinking, how could you like this book if you always feel disturbed and grossed out be it? Well, because simply, it's a great book. Don't go thinking it's a 'light read', it's a dark and depressing book that doesn't really have any happiness or 'light' until the last sentence. But it's interesting, truthful and brilliantly written and I felt feelings of sorrow towards Eve and feelings of hate towards Deborah, which shows a greatly written book.
I liked Eve, she was smart and she stood up for herself, if not a little unstable and creepy. I mean, the memories book? That made my stomach curdle with just the idea of hair and blood smeared across the pages. Yet it was different and interesting, and the author described it well. I loved Tommy though she was a bitch at first, I could see the friendship there. At first I was happy with the relationship with Summer, this was the point of the book where normally she would find a friend who would help cope. But this isn't your average book, so I grew a dislike to her after a while. I can read about gore and dead bodies, but when it comes to cutting, I feel sick to the stomach. Maybe because it's so real and easy to go out and harm yourself and that's what creeps me out. Yet, unlike most books, I liked the way she described it and the way it was written.
On the back of the book she said she found love and I thought that love was Dylan. I was wrong. That relationship also made me sick to the stomach. I guess you are thinking, how could you like this book if you always feel disturbed and grossed out be it? Well, because simply, it's a great book. Don't go thinking it's a 'light read', it's a dark and depressing book that doesn't really have any happiness or 'light' until the last sentence. But it's interesting, truthful and brilliantly written and I felt feelings of sorrow towards Eve and feelings of hate towards Deborah, which shows a greatly written book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2013
GriEVE is just... woah.
After reading this book this thought came to my mind: I'm not sure whether this book is very popular, but I think it should!
At the start, I found this book a bit dark and depressing for my liking, (though, grieving books, in a way, should be written like that)but gradually I came to get really interested in what would happen next.
Summary
There's a lavender note. Then life continues. Eve knows that her mother is catatonic. Her dad is finding ways to cope with a sudden change in their lives. For Eve that means: changing schools, moving house, getting a new 'mum'... and ultimately, the destruction of Eve's life. But Eve is also finding... ways to cope. When Eve's life couldn't get any lower, to her surprise, it seems that it actually can.
Thoughts
Wilcock has written a powerful and thoughtful novel. She deals with troubling aspects of teenage life - moving, loss, grief, love... But I must say: I did get a bit put off by some bits... so if you plan to read this, make sure you can handle things maturely and are not easily disgusted. The book ended really nicely. A great story about grieving. And even though I haven't experienced it - grieving - and whether or not this book was realistic, this book is definitely on my favourites shelf.
Planning to read it?
Okay, good then. But make sure that you can cope with these:
1) Troubling teenage topics of today - grief, abuse, self-inflicting pain, 'love'
2) Mild language
Other notes about reading this:
3) It's a quick-semilong read.
4) Preferably for serious, mature readers. And readers who like stories about troubled teens and the harsher realities of life.
After reading this book this thought came to my mind: I'm not sure whether this book is very popular, but I think it should!
At the start, I found this book a bit dark and depressing for my liking, (though, grieving books, in a way, should be written like that)but gradually I came to get really interested in what would happen next.
Summary
There's a lavender note. Then life continues. Eve knows that her mother is catatonic. Her dad is finding ways to cope with a sudden change in their lives. For Eve that means: changing schools, moving house, getting a new 'mum'... and ultimately, the destruction of Eve's life. But Eve is also finding... ways to cope. When Eve's life couldn't get any lower, to her surprise, it seems that it actually can.
Thoughts
Wilcock has written a powerful and thoughtful novel. She deals with troubling aspects of teenage life - moving, loss, grief, love... But I must say: I did get a bit put off by some bits... so if you plan to read this, make sure you can handle things maturely and are not easily disgusted. The book ended really nicely. A great story about grieving. And even though I haven't experienced it - grieving - and whether or not this book was realistic, this book is definitely on my favourites shelf.
Planning to read it?
Okay, good then. But make sure that you can cope with these:
1) Troubling teenage topics of today - grief, abuse, self-inflicting pain, 'love'
2) Mild language
Other notes about reading this:
3) It's a quick-semilong read.
4) Preferably for serious, mature readers. And readers who like stories about troubled teens and the harsher realities of life.
March 31, 2016
One word I could use to describe this book? Disturbing. But, you know, in a good, this is seriously freaking me out way.
I always suspected what the deal was with Summer and even Eve's mum to an extent, but as things started happening I started thinking about it less and less. Some things left me confused at times, like what was a dream and what was reality, or a mix of both as it would seem at some points in the story. Some characters had abrupt appearances and abrupt departures which I figure is part of Eve's unraveling of the mind. Some elements of this book were really surprising, like the whole Deborah and such. I found the whole thing with finding 'Shane' a bit too easy but I cant complain, it was still interesting.
I really enjoyed the ending, with the whole unraveling of Eve's denial, or whatever you want to call it. Despite finding the ending to be a bit abrupt, what with Sebastian sort of just being there and all, but it did kind of wrap up nicely and I was left not as confused as I was before I read the final chapter. Another thing I would have liked was to have more of an insight into the Deborah/Tommy/Sebastian thing, knowing how that all went down and what happened after everything. I realise this is about Eve and her undoing and - redoing? - but I would've liked to have known how the rest worked out. Really good, if not confusing and disturbing at times, book.
I always suspected what the deal was with Summer and even Eve's mum to an extent, but as things started happening I started thinking about it less and less. Some things left me confused at times, like what was a dream and what was reality, or a mix of both as it would seem at some points in the story. Some characters had abrupt appearances and abrupt departures which I figure is part of Eve's unraveling of the mind. Some elements of this book were really surprising, like the whole Deborah and such. I found the whole thing with finding 'Shane' a bit too easy but I cant complain, it was still interesting.
I really enjoyed the ending, with the whole unraveling of Eve's denial, or whatever you want to call it. Despite finding the ending to be a bit abrupt, what with Sebastian sort of just being there and all, but it did kind of wrap up nicely and I was left not as confused as I was before I read the final chapter. Another thing I would have liked was to have more of an insight into the Deborah/Tommy/Sebastian thing, knowing how that all went down and what happened after everything. I realise this is about Eve and her undoing and - redoing? - but I would've liked to have known how the rest worked out. Really good, if not confusing and disturbing at times, book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2014
Amazing book, really. HOWEVER...if anyone has ANY idea what the f*ck happened at the end, please tell me.
I swear, I'm not even sure if she was ALIVE at the end!! Nothing made sense at all.
Sure, it was dark, emotional and slightly confusing from the beginning but something happened at the end...well a lot of things happened and i understand 1 of them...the book ended
I think the scale of confusing went from "I don't know if he knows, but I think he knows" to "I am an angel, we are all angels, but she is a devil, for thou god has forsaken her. let us be at peace in our torturous world"
I swear, I'm not even sure if she was ALIVE at the end!! Nothing made sense at all.
Sure, it was dark, emotional and slightly confusing from the beginning but something happened at the end...well a lot of things happened and i understand 1 of them...the book ended
I think the scale of confusing went from "I don't know if he knows, but I think he knows" to "I am an angel, we are all angels, but she is a devil, for thou god has forsaken her. let us be at peace in our torturous world"
August 14, 2015
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This book fucked me up back in the day when I first read it so many years ago. I read this the first time in year 8 (so about 8 years ago now) and it just left such an impression on me, the way you couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't. The self-harm and depression in this book also strongly effected me and where I was in that stage of my life. So when I found this book second-hand I was very drawn to it. It's disappointing re-reading it because I already knew the giant plot twist, but it's still such an emotional ride.
This book fucked me up back in the day when I first read it so many years ago. I read this the first time in year 8 (so about 8 years ago now) and it just left such an impression on me, the way you couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't. The self-harm and depression in this book also strongly effected me and where I was in that stage of my life. So when I found this book second-hand I was very drawn to it. It's disappointing re-reading it because I already knew the giant plot twist, but it's still such an emotional ride.
May 30, 2011
I first picked this book because I liked the cover. :P The first few chapters confused me, it kept skipping from present to past to dream, and I wasn't sure which was which. But towards the middle I got ahold of the story, and it was so hauntingly sad and it made me angry as well. It became gripping and a great story. >_<
July 13, 2012
This book... Oh wow. I felt so many emotions when I read this book and I absolutely loved it. I teared up a few times and words fail me how outstanding it was. The things Eve feels are phenomenal and I have read this book 3 times because I didn't get things the first time around, but that was what made it so brilliant.
Plus the author is from my city so I guess that counts for something too :P
Plus the author is from my city so I guess that counts for something too :P
November 7, 2010
Wow... I couldn't put the book down. Especially near the ending. I didn't expect the ending to be... like that. This is one of the very good books I've read that has a not-so-predictable ending. I had envisioned Eve meeting her mother and... that's it. But no. The ending was way different.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2011
was somewhat a confusing story to follow, especially in the beginning, always jumping back and fourth with no clear indicator when, although once the story gets going its a good read, i must admit, had to read it twice to fully understand!
October 24, 2012
I love this book. Although it is a bit brutal at times, it seems very real and is fantastic for showing another way of life, especially during an emotional struggle. It's a great, sad and terrible read all at once. Highly recommended
November 1, 2011
I didn't like it at all I was expecting to be great but really it just left me feeling kinda desolate(Go the power of the written word and all but I like prefer being left with something more than that).
December 19, 2012
Confronting, touching, brutal, tormented...a book that deals with the big teen issues, suicide, self-harm, mental illness, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, dysfunctional families, youth crime, bullying.
Definitely for age 15+
Definitely for age 15+
September 13, 2025
I read this in high school and it stuck with me right up to my 20s.
This is such a powerful adolescence book about grief and it helped me heal and understand my own.
Such a beautiful read. Powerful.
This is such a powerful adolescence book about grief and it helped me heal and understand my own.
Such a beautiful read. Powerful.
January 31, 2016
5 stars! This book was absolutely amazing, it is so relatable. I couldn't help but feel compassion for Eve. It was as devastating as it was mysterious, thought provoking and real. I would recommend this as a must read!
June 16, 2010
sad, but good...
could-not-finish
August 5, 2016hmmmmmmm I didnt finish this book, and I have no will power to pick it up again, which is sad considering I really wanted to like it. Sadly I cant stand characters that are mindless.
November 7, 2025
One of my favorites. I can't remember how many times I have read it but I loved it.
May 11, 2011
AMAZING. cuts straight to the heart.
July 8, 2012
Good book, lots of mystery. I feel a bit hanged on the ending, though. Aside from that, it was good.
January 23, 2013
This book is stunningly written. I literally couldn't put it down.
One of the best Australian books written. I recommend this to any Young Adult reader.
One of the best Australian books written. I recommend this to any Young Adult reader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews