Over You

2.2 (2)

2.0 (2)

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Author(s)

Emma McLaughlin

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Nicola Kraus

Publisher

HarperTeen

Genre(s)

Contemporary

Age Range

14+

Release Date

August 21, 2012

ISBN

978-0061720437

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When seventeen-year-old Max Scott got her heart broken she didn't just sit at home sobbing into her ice cream and obsessing over her ex, Hugo's, latest Facebook postings. Well, actually she did. But she also decided that no girl should have to be tortured like that, so she read through all the psych books, Oprah transcripts, and historical precedents she could get her hands on and came up with a foolproof program to get over being dumped. These days, Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when Hugo shows up in her neighborhood, suddenly Max is so busy trying to avoid her own ex that she isn't able to help anyone else with theirs. As Hugo invades her life all over again, Max's carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients' hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over her ex once and for all.

Editor reviews

4 reviews

Overall rating

2.2

Plot

2.5(2)

Characters

2.0(2)

Writing Style

2.0(2)

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A(0)

Disappointed

June 19, 2012 (Updated: June 19, 2012)

Overall rating

2.0

Plot

N/A

Characters

N/A

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I had high hopes for this book but ended up really struggling with it. The first thing that stuck out was the how the characters spoke, they're American but sounded like they had vague British accents at times which was confusing.

There seemed to be too much unneeded banter back and forth between Max and Zach and the alternating points of view were hard to keep track of. I did like the concept of Max's system that encouraged clients to focus on that small window of euphoria each day because when you're dealing with a broken heart, that's hard to do.

Love and heartbreak rarely ever end up like a Hollywood movie and this book does a good job of pointing that out. Max's own story proves that despite your best efforts, no one is immune to heartache but there are always lessons to be learned from it.

The end fell flat for me and left me wanting more. It would've been nice to see where the characters were a year or two down the road.

Jen Top 10 Reviewer 415 reviews

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Wanted More

June 12, 2012

Overall rating

2.3

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OVER YOU wasn't what I thought it would be. I was hoping it would be a funny, light-hearted story about a girl helping other girls get over being dumped. The last part of that sentence was true, but I didn't find the funny or the light-heartedness I was looking for.

The story jumped around to different characters a lot...even in the middle of chapters which I found very confusing. In fact, I sometimes had to go back and reread pages because I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be following. Because of that, I never really felt like I got to know any of the characters all that well.

There were some good one-liners and if you can read between the lines I think you will see some good friendships there too. I wish I could have gotten to know the characters better and that they would have shown more depth. I didn't really hear the right voice with every character. At times I felt like Max was trying too hard to be grown-up and she didn't sound like a teen.

Overall, I liked the premise of the story. It just wasn't what I thought it would be.

Claire Johnson, Staff Reviewer Top 50 Reviewer 238 reviews

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User reviews

2 reviews

Overall rating

2.0

Plot

2.0(2)

Characters

2.5(2)

Writing Style

1.5(2)

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A Bit Too Shallow

August 25, 2012

Overall rating

3.0

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This book was a super light, fun read that was a bit too shallow for me.

So, I kinda liked Max? I have mixed feelings on her, which really could be a good thing. Very real to life, you know? She made stupid decisions. She had a tendency to be overbearing. She was also kind of creepy. But Max also meant well and wanted to be a good person. She wanted to reach her ultimate goal and I admire that.

The story was actually really interesting. There were a few points that annoyed me, a few I didn't see coming, and a few that made me happy. I really liked the ending. I went in expecting this light, fun story and I got something a bit deeper an darker than that, but otherwise largely what I thought it would be. Like a lot of contemp YA, there was some hidden depth to Over You.

However, I think this was also the major weak point for me. I was never drawn in and personally, I think way too much attention was paid to fashion and clothing. I don't need every detail or designer, you know? The voice was a bit off and I just couldn't get sucked in. But this is largely a personal thing, so it may not apply to everyone.

Over You is not the kind of book I'd normally read, but it was quick and entertaining and while not memorable or awesome, still a pretty good read.

Julie Top 100 Reviewer

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Not what I expected- in a bad way.

August 21, 2012

Overall rating

1.0

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So let me just start of by stressing how completely hysterical this book is. And just because I cannot get over this fact, here's one of my favorites (check against final copy):
"I want this Taylor downloaded to a memory stick as tiny as his you-know-what."

Plot: The plot sounds really exciting; I really liked the idea of it. Max has a perfected way to get girls over break ups, so she starts a company. Once you start reading, it seems really strange. Even if my best friend sent her to my house, I don't think I'd be taking pills from her the moment she walked in my door.

Her process is the same for everyone and it honestly didn't seem like it'd be a foolproof system. I liked the idea of the Moment, and it was obvious what that was leading up to.

As much as I thought this sounded like a really good plot, it just seemed a little off.

Characters: To be perfectly honest, I really didn't like Max. Like at all. It starts off almost right away telling us how she'd pretend to be different people to fit in as she switched to different schools around the country. This came off as very fake to me and as the book progresses I just get this vibe even more. She "borrows" (a.k.a. steals and returns) clothes from Teen Vogue's closet at night, and lies to even her best friends. When her facade starts to crumble I can't even feel sorry for her because she's felt so fake the entire book. I don't know if it's because she's older then the typical YA main character, or what, but you can't build a character on just what she says (which was pretty funny) she has to have a personality besides that too. And I don't feel like we ever get to know the real Max.

Ben, on the other hand, I feel completely sorry for. Max treats him like dirt and it doesn't seem to bother him. I thought it was interesting when we learn his relation to Bridget's case. Other than that, he was a pretty okay character.

Zach. Every word used with him in the book started with F. Zach flounced. With a flourish. Flaming. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing wrong with have a gay character. In fact, I loved Fabian and the girls (Sophie I think. I can't remember) in Being Friends with Boys and Frankie in The Fine Art of Truth or Dare. It was just overdone in my opinion. Being gay shouldn't be someone's defining characteristic. There's so much more to a person than that, but with Zach, there really wasn't.

There really wasn't much to Phoebe, Bridget or Taylor either. Even Hugo wasn't all that special. I felt like they were all pretty flat.

Overall: I wanted to like this book, I really did. I just couldn't. I didn't really like the writing style, and though the plot was okay, the characters were as flat as paper. I debated about giving this book a two because the plot was okay, but I really could not get into this book. I can't even believe I finished it in one day.

Which really, just because I didn't like it, doesn't mean it wouldn't be a nice light read for someone else. Just don't expect anything amazing.

Erica Coslop Top 500 Reviewer