Saving Zoë

Reader reviewed by Nian

Since Zoës death a year ago, Echos family has been different. Her
father has turned into a workaholic and is never home, her mother has
taken to popping happy pills, and Echo is trying to deal with the
whisperings and sympathetic faces as she returns to school to start
freshmen year. Echo wishes she didnt have to deal with all of this,
especially when Zoës ex boyfriend Marc surprises her by bringing over
Zoës diary. At first, Echo doesnt think theres anything about Zoës
life that she doesnt know about, but eventually, curiosity overwhelms
her and soon, shes too immersed in Zoës secret life to determine
whats real and whats not.


Im always really impressed with Alyson Noels booksokay, so Laguna Cove was a disappointment, but just that onceand Saving Zoë
is no different. Noel tackles her stories with heart, wit and absolute
truthits amazing how someone can apply that to all her books and keep
her voice consistent.


Im particularly amazed by the terrific way this is written. Its
heartbreaking, but just about every moment of it is so true that it
makes me sigh. Finally theres an author who knows that there are
boundaries to writing. If youre confused, let me just explain. You
know how in practically every book youve read, it seems like the
authors has been brainwashed by Disney too because of the way
everything ends happily ever after? I mean, that is not realistic. Just
because your protagonist tackles one huge problemwith plenty of
obscene obstacles along the waydoesnt mean its the end of their
problems. Its technically just the end of the book, not the end of the
characters. Still, Im not much for dead zone/cliff hanger endings
eitherits suspenseful, but please, you just want your readers to buy
the next book, and seriously, a good novel doesnt need to tell me to
head to my bookstore in three months time for the latest installmentso
I usually like to set Sarah Dessen as an example. She is one of my all
time favorite authors, alongside J. K. Rowling and other worthy
mentionables (but I wont go there since Ill REALLY get sidetracked
talking about the magical world of Harry Potter or vampires as in Twilight). Her endings are spectacular: so blunt and yet so there.
She doesnt end her book with the female protagonist dating and so in
love with the male protagonist that theyre nauseatingly blah. Its an
ending that keeps you satisfied but still loose enough that it brings a
whole new meaning to girl power. Because I seriously believe that you
dont need a guy or romance in your life to be truly happy. And while
Sarah Dessen has romance, she doesnt make it a top priority in her
novels.


Which goes back to this book. Romance is clearly not a priority.
Yes, Echo goes through her moments with both Zach and Marc, but
ultimately, she doesnt become infatuated with a new guy or propose her
undying love for him. This novel is about finding yourself and coming
to terms with the death of a loved one. I just think its so much more
mature than everything I usually read about and its darn refreshing.
Its not like Im a pessimist eitherI believe in true love and
everythingand yes, romance is key to a good book, but I just hate that
that everything has to revolve around it. What happened to the best
friends that always sticks by your side, you know? Or the little life
lessons that protagonists learn on their 200-something page journey?
Thats the key stuff Im looking for. And some novels just really
disappoint in that area. Of course, its totally different if your book
is classified into a certain genrebut then Id be smart enough not to
make comments that contradict the facts.

Reader reviewed by Hannah

Saving Zoe is about a girl (Echo) who's older sister gets murdered. Zoe's old boyfriend found Zoe's diary and gave it to Echo to read. Echo finds herself really getting to know who Zoe was, even when she thought she already knew. Reading Zoe's diary helps Echo let go of Zoey and realize that instead of focusing on the fact that Zoe died, but celebrating the person she was. This book was absolutely amazing and I really reccomend it!

Reader reviewed by Jessica

This is another really great sister book. Be sure to pick this up if you want a really heart warming story. Be warned it says that it will make you laugh and cry and I did both. It's definitely not predictable. Echo is a really emotional character to read about. Not only was her sister murdered by some creep but now her friends are starting to move on without her. I really liked this book and how Alyson Noël writes. The only one who she can really talk to about her sister is Zoë's old boyfriend Marc. Marc gives Echo Zoë's diary that she left with him. At first Echo doesn't think there is anything in there she doesn't already know about. Let's talk about characters, I really liked Echo I felt as though I could really relate to her. No my sister isn't dead but they way that Alyson writes it almost made me think that I was Echo. Now the cover. Does anyone else feel like you've seen these girls before? I feel like I have seen them all in some show. I like this cover but why are there three girls on the cover? It's a cute cover and all, I just don't remember three main girl characters. Looking for more Alyson Noël? Good news she has written many books not only for teens but for adults too. Some of these books include: Kiss and Blog, The Immortal Series, Art Geeks and Prom Queens, and Faking 19. Once Echo starts reading it's like a good book you never want to end. Eventually though the book has to end and we have to get back to reality and live life to the fullest.

Reader reviewed by Amanda

I started this book with pretty high expectations and ended up only a little disapointed. I expected something a little more tragic. We don't get to find out what happend to Zoë until midway through the book but we are given small clues which practically gives it away. Besides everything being a bit downplayed I really enjoyed reading Saving Zoë. We get to feel Echo's emotion everytime she learns something new about her sister. As of right now I know that I don't know everything about my sister. She keeps secrets from me and that's okay, but Echo obviously thought she knew more about her sisters life then she really did. It felt so raw and real when Marc and Echo are together, and when Echo tries to be like Zoë. It brought tears to my eyes. Overall I think Saving Zoë was a pretty good read that brought some real emotion to the table.

Reader reviewed by Writer's Block Reviews

Echo is a 15 year old girl, living with the fact that her 16 year old sister, Zoë, was tragically murdered a year ago. Everyone is their town still blames Zoë's boyfriend Marc for the murder, because he has a shaky alibi. Echo's best friends, Jenay and Abby try to keep Marc away from her at school, but he manages to talk to her one day anyway. He lets her in on his secret, that he has Zoë's diary and he wants her to have it and read it, to really learn about her sister. Even thought she doesn't want to, because of privacy, she can't help but to read the diary. Secluding herself, Echo dives into the diary and starts piecing all of the parts together of Zoë's life, that ended in her death. With Marc along for the rind, Echo finds out more about her sister that she ever could have.



Saving Zoë is a engrossing and heartbreaking story about these two sisters that have nothing in common, but love for one another. This book will keep you turning the pages, just to see what it was that took Zoë's life and what really happened between her and Marc. When you read this one, you find yourself trying to hurry Echo up, so she can read the diary some more to find out what happened to this beautiful girl with big dreams.

Reviewed for http://writersblockreviews.blogspot.com

Reader reviewed by rachpaige11

Saving Zoe was one of the saddest books I've ever read. It was about a girl, Echo whose sister was murdered. Her sister's boyfriend tracks her down and gives her, her sister's diary. Echo takes it and reads it. Through it she learns who her sister really was.

This book was heartbreaking. I really and truly cried at the end. This is a great book. I recomend it completley.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

On Echos fourteenth birthday, she received the worst present ever: new of the disappearance and death of her older sister Zoë. This pain is hard for Echo to deal with, and she still struggles even a year later.

Echo is now fifteen and just starting high school with her best friends Abby and Jenay. The only hard thing about this is seeing Zoës old friends and Marc, Zoës boyfriend. Echo still isnt over the death of her sister. She feels pretty empty around her friends and her new boyfriend Parker. So when Marc gives Echo Zoës diary, Echo embraces this chance to better understand her sister before her death. Unfortunately, this also leads Echo to imagining she is Zoë, which only messed up her life even more.

Alyson Noël does an incredible job of incorporating Zoës journal and Echos high school experiences together and makes the story flow nicely. Echo is sometimes hard to understand, but everything is clarified later. While the story isnt edge-of-your-seat exciting, it is a high worthwhile read is you stick it through, and I was captivated as Echo discovered the truth behind the end of her sister Zoës life. The story provides a lot to think about involving sisterhood and love. Ive only read a couple of books that deal with death, but Saving Zoë is probably one that I will remember the most.

It is pure coincidence that I was listening to the song Light up the Sky by Yellowcard as I read the ending of this book, but I highly recommend you do this too. The song reminds me so much of Zoë and Marcs relationship, and it definitely heightens the emotions of the ending, as music often does in movies.

Saving Zoë appeals to a wide audience, but I suggest you read it only if you are up for an emotional ride. Fans of Sweethearts by Sara Zarr and The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman will understand the bonds of love between sister and friends presented in Saving Zoë. People who were moves by Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, and other books regarding dealing with death will also find this a very worthwhile read.