Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Something More by Jackie Khalilieh

22 reviews

madisonstarkov's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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hazelsnoot's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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merryfaith's review

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emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I can’t believe it took me so long to finally pick this book up. 

Something More chronicles Jessie Kassis, a fifteen year old girl and recently diagnosed autistic, as she goes through her first year of high school and navigating all the things that come with adolescence. If there’s ever a book I wished I had growing up, Something More would definitely be one of them. Somehow, Khalilieh was able to get me so wrapped up into the story that it made think about my time in high school as an autistic woman. Jessie felt like the friend I wished I had growing up and I really appreciated the time Khalilieh put into addressing Jessie’s character development as well as showing autistic people getting their own happy endings. 

If you’re looking for a fresh voice in the YA genre with Palestinian and autistic rep featuring a friends-to-lovers romance, you should definitely check out Something More.

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amberinpieces's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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lettuce_read's review against another edition

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  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0


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readingwithtemperance's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book fully encapsulated the high school experience. There was so much nostalgia and drama throughout. I love how real these teenagers are. 

I definitely felt for our MC. Friends/relationships and all of the social confusion that comes along with them can be hard to navigate, let alone on top of trying to keep your grades up AND your family happy. 

It made me happy that Jessie found her people in the end though. 

I absolutely saw my younger self in her. And this book really helped heal my inner teen a bit. 


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looseleafellie's review against another edition

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5.0

This YA contemporary novel follows Jessie, a ‘90s-obsessed Palestinian-Canadian teen who receives an autism diagnosis shortly before starting high school. Determined to fit in with her classmates, Jessie creates a list of goals for the school year, but the attentions of two boys make her go off script.

I’m usually a reader who needs a high concept to get interested in a contemporary novel, and I’m also not a big fan of love triangles. So imagine my surprise when this book pulled me in, made me feel every emotion under the Sun, and ultimately left me wishing I could create a time vortex back to 2015 and give this book to my younger self!

A huge reason I couldn’t stop reading was Jessie herself. She’s one of the most charming, charismatic, relatable characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. The plot itself held my interest, but I’d read a book about her going grocery shopping.

This book joins the very short list of love triangle stories that don’t annoy me, and it’s largely cause it fits the themes so well. Plus, it was fun to see Griffin and Levi embarrass themselves over Jessie. I won’t spoil who Jessie ends up with, but it was who I hoped she’d choose in the end!

Fun fact: I read the last few chapters of this book on my local library’s patio, and I was so engrossed in finding out where Jessie’s story would go that I forgot the patio closed at 5pm, so I had to vault unceremoniously over a large planter in order to get free. So if that doesn’t tell you how gripping this story is, I don’t know what does.

Long story short, if you’re interested in a YA novel full of authentic teenage feelings, an engaging protagonist, and two boys being embarrassingly pathetic over said protagonist, you need to check this out!

CWs: Anti-Arab racism, ableism, toxic relationships and friendships, bullying, cheating, relationship between a minor and an adult, death of a family member, and underage alcohol and cannabis use.

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kylosten's review

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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