Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) – Sarah Mlynowski
“Saturday, March 28
THE MORNING AFTER
I bolted awake. A siren.
The police were outside my house. Ready to arrest me for
underage partying, excessive flirting, and an overcrowded hot tub.
underage partying, excessive flirting, and an overcrowded hot tub.
But Wait.
My brain turned on. No, not the cops. Just my phone – my dad’s
ringtone.”
ringtone.”
Aprils dad has moved to Cleveland. Leaving her to live in
the basement of her friend Vi’s house. Of course he thinks Vi’s mum will be
there too, but what he doesn’t know wont hurt him. Left to live out the rest of
the school year parentless and free the girls embark on various shenanigans
that they realise might not be the best idea… Buying a hot tub and throwing a
crazy party are just two of the ten things they did, and probably shouldn’t have.
the basement of her friend Vi’s house. Of course he thinks Vi’s mum will be
there too, but what he doesn’t know wont hurt him. Left to live out the rest of
the school year parentless and free the girls embark on various shenanigans
that they realise might not be the best idea… Buying a hot tub and throwing a
crazy party are just two of the ten things they did, and probably shouldn’t have.
I want to start this review by saying that this book isactually called Ten Things We shouldn’t Have Done and has a completely
different cover in the UK. My reasons for spending extra on the US hardback (or
making my boyfriend buy me this one instead) are explained here.
I knew as soon as I had heard the synopsis of this book
that I was going to love it. It sounded exactly like the type of book that I
enjoy, a good contemporary story which has a bit of craziness, a bit of
laughter and a lot of growing up. I loved the story so much and though yes,
some people would say its a little unrealistic but I could actually see it
happening, even by accident. April lying to her dad about Vi’s mum being around
was just well thought out, I would have loved to have thought up that one at
school!
that I was going to love it. It sounded exactly like the type of book that I
enjoy, a good contemporary story which has a bit of craziness, a bit of
laughter and a lot of growing up. I loved the story so much and though yes,
some people would say its a little unrealistic but I could actually see it
happening, even by accident. April lying to her dad about Vi’s mum being around
was just well thought out, I would have loved to have thought up that one at
school!
The way the book is written is actually realy pretty
cool. You get a bit that actually happens towards to end of the story, first.
So April waking up to her dad calling on her birthday starts it off but you go
back to three months earlier after the first page and kinda go from there, with
a few flashbacks in between the chronological story. It was done in a really
clear way and I loved the little headings above paragraphs of flashbacks and
even parts of the main story. Each chapter is on of the thigns that April and
Vi did, in numerical order, but obviously that makes for kinda long chapters so
each one is broken up by the headings. I thought it was a really good tactic
and actually kept everything really simple, which is good with a book which has
flashbacks!
cool. You get a bit that actually happens towards to end of the story, first.
So April waking up to her dad calling on her birthday starts it off but you go
back to three months earlier after the first page and kinda go from there, with
a few flashbacks in between the chronological story. It was done in a really
clear way and I loved the little headings above paragraphs of flashbacks and
even parts of the main story. Each chapter is on of the thigns that April and
Vi did, in numerical order, but obviously that makes for kinda long chapters so
each one is broken up by the headings. I thought it was a really good tactic
and actually kept everything really simple, which is good with a book which has
flashbacks!
There was a lot of growing up in this book, and I mean a
lot. I think it handles stuff really well, from first time sex, to discovering certain
feelings, STDs and family relationships. This book had all the bases covered
and I really loved that nothing was too dramatic, it felt really real. April
handled a lot of stuff exactly like I would have in that situation and though
she was, understandably, a bit messed up; I thought she was a brilliant
character.
lot. I think it handles stuff really well, from first time sex, to discovering certain
feelings, STDs and family relationships. This book had all the bases covered
and I really loved that nothing was too dramatic, it felt really real. April
handled a lot of stuff exactly like I would have in that situation and though
she was, understandably, a bit messed up; I thought she was a brilliant
character.
The characters throughout the book were fantastic and
even though Vi might appear a bit hot-headed and control-freak-like I loved her
the most. She was a strong character who in her own way tried to do the best
and be the best for her friends. She did remind me of the kind of secondary
best-friend characters you see in movies and books along this genre but I liked
that. The guys in the book were hilariously funny and I liked how amazingly
real they could be, you got some of the jerky behaviour but you also got some
of the kind, not in it for whatever they can get, stuff too.
even though Vi might appear a bit hot-headed and control-freak-like I loved her
the most. She was a strong character who in her own way tried to do the best
and be the best for her friends. She did remind me of the kind of secondary
best-friend characters you see in movies and books along this genre but I liked
that. The guys in the book were hilariously funny and I liked how amazingly
real they could be, you got some of the jerky behaviour but you also got some
of the kind, not in it for whatever they can get, stuff too.
I thought that Noah came across as pretty jerky a lot of
the time to be honest but I put it to the back of my mind because he and April
did appear to have the perfect relationship. I liked that you did see their
relationship develop, especially through the flashbacks, and though he was
annoying some of the times I could tell why April felt the way she did about
him. I love it when minor characters have their own side stories and this meant
that the mystery surrounding Hudson and what actually become apparent about him
was brilliant for me… Hudson was by far my favourite character and I well
want to hear more about him!! I wish there was a spin off story from Hudson’s
point of view, I’d well read that!
the time to be honest but I put it to the back of my mind because he and April
did appear to have the perfect relationship. I liked that you did see their
relationship develop, especially through the flashbacks, and though he was
annoying some of the times I could tell why April felt the way she did about
him. I love it when minor characters have their own side stories and this meant
that the mystery surrounding Hudson and what actually become apparent about him
was brilliant for me… Hudson was by far my favourite character and I well
want to hear more about him!! I wish there was a spin off story from Hudson’s
point of view, I’d well read that!
All in all, Ten Things We Did was a brilliant stroy that
I would recommend to anyone, especially thosxe in their mid to late teens,
read. It teaches you responsibilities and lessons by encountering things from
someone else’s life and I couldn’t put it down. Also now that I have read the
book, I stand by what I said and think that the US title and cover, is by far
the better one and the one which makes the most sense, especially the title.
I would recommend to anyone, especially thosxe in their mid to late teens,
read. It teaches you responsibilities and lessons by encountering things from
someone else’s life and I couldn’t put it down. Also now that I have read the
book, I stand by what I said and think that the US title and cover, is by far
the better one and the one which makes the most sense, especially the title.
Ten Things we Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) was
published in the US by Harper teen and released on June 7th, the UK publisher
was Orchard Books and the release date was August 4th. My copy was a gifted to
me.
published in the US by Harper teen and released on June 7th, the UK publisher
was Orchard Books and the release date was August 4th. My copy was a gifted to
me.
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7 Comments
Bella
I just finished this, and it was really good! I thought the way it was written with the subtitles for paragraphs was a really good way of developing the story too, though it did confuse me at times… :L Great review!
Cait
This sounds really good! Not my thing but if I saw it at the library I’d definitely pick it up.
Great review!
The Cait Files
Liz. R
Love the sound of this one! Sounds really fun and hilarious, I think I’d definitely enjoy it. Glad you liked it, thanks for the review!
Luisa at Chicklish
I really want to read this! Thanks for the great review.
Karen @ Book Light Graveyard
I LOVED this book and totally recommended it to pretty much everyone I know 🙂 I agree that it does a great job at dealing with growing-up issues, and I thought the headings were genius!
The Story Queen
I loved this one too! I was pleasantly surprised that it covered those tougher issues – like STDs – when I thought it would just be fun (which it still was!). I loved April, but Hudson was my favourite – definitely wish there had been more of him. I loved his “secret” too LOL. Great review! 🙂
Stephanie
I just ordered this book for my birthday next week 🙂 Can’t wait for it to arrive! I’ve added your button to my page. http://ya-reader.blogspot.com/