Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Get a copy! Amazon
Goodreads description:
Best friends don’t lie.
Best friends don’t ditch you for a guy.
Best friends don’t post your deepest, darkest secrets online.
Bailey’s falling head-over-high-heels for Ryder West, a mysterious gamer she met online. A guy she’s never met in person. Her best friend, Meg, doesn’t trust smooth-talking Ryder. He’s just a picture-less profile.
When Bailey starts blowing Meg off to spend more virtual quality time with her new crush, Meg decides it’s time to prove Ryder’s a phony.
But one stupid little secret posted online turns into a friendship-destroying feud to answer the question:
Who is Ryder West?
My Thoughts...
TMI was an interesting and timely read that will appeal to many younger readers.
What I Liked:
The topic matter in this book is very timely and tackles important topics--Internet privacy, cyberbullying, and social networking. It hits home the idea that what you do on the internet can hurt others and that you can never truly know who someone else is online--both important messages for today's young teens.
I really enjoyed both Meg and Bailey as characters. They are both young women searching for their place in the bigger world and struggling with growing up (and growing apart). I liked Bailey's aspirations for video game design and her video game playing. It was a fun part of her personality that we don't always see attached to young women.
Less Adored Things:
The novel as a whole felt a little young, if that makes sense. I work with high school students and I felt like some of this friend drama seemed a little junior high. That's not to say that high school girls don't do mean things like this online--good heavens, do they ever! I think that the girls' reactions felt a little young. (Note: this is not really a BAD thing. I would love to see this book in junior high libraries.)
Overall...
This is a timely, important book that many young teens will find spot on with their experiences. I would highly recommend it for 8-9th grade readers especially.
1 comment:
I seen this book on Netgalley but I just couldn't get into the idea of it. I know what you mean about a book feeling young. I feel that way about The Barcode series. I think I may just pass on this one. Great review. New Follower :)
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