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Rating: 
Summary: One of the better new books I read in 2004
Review: All in all, a pretty impressive debut. Hyland's Lou is compelling: intelligent and observant, but impetuous. While other reviewers have claimed that the ending lacks resolution, I found that aspect particularly evocative: life often lacks resolution. I'm interested in seeing what Hyland does next.
Rating: 
Summary: Not all it's cracked up for...
Review: Alright... normally I find the 'coming-of-age' genre of novels to be very fun reads. This one, on the other hand, was not what I was expecting. Perhaps it is my fault for basing a book on it's cover, but I was looking for something darker, bolder, more imaginative. While the author surely means well, and I will probably purchase her future releases as her style is sure to grow, I still found it forced in places and the plot-line lacking. I won't give anything away by whining about it, but I will say sometimes things just happen to "pop up" out of nowhere, or other things seem less developed than they should. The foreshadowing leaves no doubts to what will happen. The other major gripe I have is the ending. It is just left so wide open, without any real form of closure (in my opinion). I'm sure others will disagree with my review, but so be it. Given that I could finish it, and the cover photo is soo damn sexy, I'll give it 3 stars. Good for a day at the beach, but not much more.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Great
Review: I was looking forward to reading this book. It had a promising summary and seemed as though it would be a great read. When I actually started reading it, I realized that it was not pulling me in the way good books usually do. I kept reading, thinking that after a while it would become interesting. It never did.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-written, compelling...I loved it.
Review: I'm not sure if it was the writing style or the fact that I identified with Lou quite a bit, but this novel sucked me in. I read it in one night. The way that Hyland writes really captures the reader, and, while the novel's plot sometimes gets to be a bit slow or tedious (things just come out of nowhere sometimes), the book as a whole is worth reading.
While the book is said to be a "coming of age" novel, I found it to be more of a very intense portrait of a confused teenager. Lou doesn't really "come of age," as the novel takes place over less than a year, but it's a very interesting tale nonetheless. The characters are well-written and developed, and, while the novel does have its flaws, I'm certain anybody who enjoys darker, more obscure novels will at enjoy this novel to some extent or another.
Rating:
Summary: Utterly Compelling protagonist
Review: Lou, the central charater and narrator of the book has a slightly askew view of the world - as if she were new to it. And despite her desperate longing for acceptance and escape from her crappy background, cannot help but find fault with those around her. Although this turns out to be a somewhat destructive trait, most of the time you can't help but agree with her. The book ultimately charts Lou's all-too human trait of f**cking up, of knowing what you should be doing but not quite being able to do it, of knowing what is right but failing to live up to your ideals.I read in an otherwise positive review somewhere (can't remember where)that Lou's intelligence and the profoundity of her observations were unrealisitic for a sixteen year old - this makes me wonder what these people were doing when they were teenagers. I don't know about anyone else, but when I was a teenager I was always thinking about the wold, puzzling out life, etc. That and getting drunk. With so much time on your hands (no job, family, etc) what else is there to do? I highly recommend this - especially to those who liked Catcher in the Rye or The Bell Jar.
Rating:
Summary: Lively style, no plot
Review: The author had a good, lively writing style which was easy to read and kept me interested - but there was no plot to this book. I got tired of the protagonist's endless whining, and all the tearful hugs and confessions and talk in the host family seemed way of touch with reality. The ending was too open-ended, and did not fit the book. The author does have a good style, so I'll probably try her next book to see if it improves on this one.
Rating:
Summary: The kind of book that can force you to finish it in one nite
Review: This is a book that comes from the gut. It directly hits the confusion and beauty of being young. It's the feeling of knowing that there are reasons for living, that there is incredible beauty in the world, but all you can see in others is what you dislike about yourself. The feeling of growing up, knowing that you are a square peg and all you can find right now are the round holes.
The plot is the plot. It is not particularly important, other than providing the protagonist situations to bounce off of. And that it does very well.
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