Drop Everything And Read discussion

Thoughts?

I've just put up my review, so I'm just going to paste it here :)

First of all, I felt like there were a lot of clichés in this novel. I was okay with some of them, but some of them were unnecessarily unrealistic. Perhaps I would've liked it better if it were a movie, as some of the scenes seemed like they were written for a romantic comedy that's cheesy but you love it anyway. Also, it might sound odd but the absence of ALL the parents at the right moments seemed far-fetched to me.

Nonetheless, I really, really enjoyed the story. I like the idea of going on a quest in general and this was a satisfying journey to witness.

Emily annoyed me quite a bit in the beginning but as the story progressed, she started growing on me as well as the other characters. She's done things most people wouldn't dare and I felt so proud every time she checked things off the list. I ended up wishing she was my friend! And I have to say - Collins is bae! (Frank too)

All in all, a good book. I flew through it, but I don't see myself picking it up to re-read.

I enjoyed it, though I was a bit bored at the beginning. But then the story picked up quite nicely and before I knew it, I was hooked :) A predictable plot, but I liked it.

I just finished it, and I didn't like it whatsoever. I guess it isn't my cup of tea.

Requested this book from the library and finally received it. At 28 pages in (and STILL in the first chapter-ugh!), I haven't been impressed yet. The only points of remote interest so far are three over-the-top words protruding from the protagonist's blasé blather (ensorcelled, vertiginous, and peripatetic). Puzzled over why I feel so strongly antagonistic. Maybe because the protagonist starts out so spineless and shallow? I assume she will change...

Katie, I felt the same way throughout the book.

Hallie wrote: "Katie, I felt the same way throughout the book."

Ouch! Throughout the whole book? Hmmm. I don't often skip through a book and sneak a peek at the ending, but I decided to do so on this one. Looks as if the writing does improve somewhat by the end, but I just don't know that I'm going to be able to stomach reading the whole thing.

There's just too much floundering to wade through. While Emily seems to have gained some insight by the end, I wasn't convinced she could stand on her own two feet without Frank. So is there really improvement? A sliver, yes. She's found a sliver of insight about friendship, but still no real purpose in life.

Did you feel Frank had purpose? What makes him tick? Is it just the thrill of having a cool girlfriend who does the outrageous things on her list?

Just finished it, I have to agree there where several clichés and pushed plots but I liked the overall story, the book divided according to the list of things and the main characters growing from merely acquaintances to friends to more.
However, I must agree that in the beginning I wished that Emily would get a backbone, which she did a little by the end, and also to get to know Frank more, something that unfortunately didn’t happen.
In short, I liked it, but I don’t think I will read it again or recommend it.

I was so happy to see Chapter 18

I only joined this group very recently and when I saw what you guys were reading, for some reason I picked up another Matson book first. So this one had to compete with Amy & Roger and then The Unexpected Everything, which might have put it at a disadvantage because I loved both of those (will definitely re-read). Anyway, this story never really came to life for me. I disliked Sloane from the start, in part because of her manic pixy ways but also because the disappearing friend trope is so rarely well done. Large portions of the ending felt unfinished (e.g. Dawn and Collins, Lissa, Emily's parents), while several other parts of the book dragged. However, I really did love Frank, Beckett and Collins, and got to like Emily as well by the end. And I really enjoy spotting Matson's references to other books/characters! I would still very much recommend any of Matson's books (will soon start Second Chance Summer) but this one maybe not so much.

Unfortunately, I don't like it as much as I love Amy & Roger. The first couple of chapters are quite boring. Something about Emily that makes me feel 'uugghhh'. It gets better when Frank comes in the picture though.

Very happy to read this book.