40 Things I Want to Tell You

Jun 22, 2012 Evie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-contemporary, 2012-ya, contemporary, freaking-awesome, finished-copy

***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA and Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and news! ^___^

I first saw this book sitting on a bookshelf in Chapters, and although I didn't hear anything about it before, I was absolutely fascinated by the cover. At that time, I was waiting for my husband while he was running errands, bored out of my wits and trying to kill time. I picked it up, found a quiet corner and started reading. By the time my husband came back to get me...more ***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA and Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and news! ^___^

I first saw this book sitting on a bookshelf in Chapters, and although I didn't hear anything about it before, I was absolutely fascinated by the cover. At that time, I was waiting for my husband while he was running errands, bored out of my wits and trying to kill time. I picked it up, found a quiet corner and started reading. By the time my husband came back to get me, I was nearly 80 pages in and absolutely in love. I didn't want to leave the book store, I just wanted to sit there and continue reading. I needed to find out what happens next. Will Bird find the courage to end it with her boyfriend? Will she choose the troublemaker over her life-long trusted friend? Can she keep up with her on-line advance column? I felt an overwhelming need to keep on going, Kuiper's wonderful writing style had me hooked from page one. Did I finish the book right there, in the book store? No, unfortunately I didn't have enough time. I couldn't purchase it either, which made me extremely sad. Thankfully, a few days later, a friend of mine offered to give me her copy and I can't tell you how insanely happy I was to be able to get back to Bird and her life. I immediately jumped right back into the story and continued reading where I left off. What I didn't realize at that time, though, is just how meaningful this book would prove to be. What I initially assumed to be just a complicated love story, turned out to be so much more than just that. I was very surprised at some of the plot developments, I totally didn't anticipate most of the twists. 40 Things I Want To Tell you turned out to be quite an unpredictable read, and one that carried an important message. A message to always trust your heart, follow your dreams, and - once in every while - listen to your own advices. They're better than you might think.

Amy (a.k.a. Bird) is just a teenage girl, and, like most typical teenage girls, she has a loyal side-kick friend, and a wonderful, loving boyfriend. She is also running an on-line advice column for teenagers, where she offers tips on how to take control of one's life. But, as it turns out, our Ms-Take-Control-Of-Your-Life is far from being in control herself. She's stuck in a relationship with her life-long best-friend. She doesn't know how to tell him that she doesn't love him, not the way he loves her. When a new guy shows up at school, Bird is drawn to him, attracted by how wild and dangerous he seems. She knows that Pete is nothing but trouble, but she can't stay away from him. Things are quickly getting complicated and sticky, and before she knows it, Bird finds herself in serious trouble. Her life is about to change forever, will she ever be able to regain control of it?

First thing you need to know before picking this book up, is that you shouldn't expect sweet romance, spine-tingling make-out scenes, butterflies, sparkles and happy endings. It's not a dark read per se, but definitely one filled with profound life lessons, irreversible mistakes, regrets, pain and disappointment. A book of what-ifs and if-onlys. It's a melancholic read, full of sadder undertones. It's definitely not a love story, nor a love triangle. Yes, there is some teenage love-drama involved, but while its absolutely essential to the story, the plot is not built around it. This is not a story of Bird trying to figure out who she wants to be with, this is a story of Bird trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life. A tale of a girl trying to find her identity, her voice, and strength to do the right things. A story way more poignant and moving than what you'd assume from reading the blurb and looking at the cover.

While I appreciated the detailed and thorough character development, as well as Bird's undeniable character growth, I can't say that I instantly connected with her. She was a very interesting, well-drawn, three-dimensional protagonist, but one that was not easy to like. That, of course, is perfectly understandable, given the plot and every bad decision she made on the way. It's not that she was a mean, spoiled, insensitive person, not at all. In fact, she was too sensitive to other people's needs to ever assert her own will and follow her own needs. She was afraid of hurting others, so she tried to mold herself into something she wasn't. That didn't - couldn't - help though, so she ended up hurting everyone around her even more. She found herself in a perfect Catch-22 situation, and the worst part is her own actions and bad decisions got here there. As frustrating and disappointing as it was to watch her lie to everyone (including herself), it was also quite fascinating and eye-opening to see how she dealt with every difficult situation. Yes, she was lost, confused and weak-minded, but that only made her more human. Alice Kuipers created a very relatable, authentic character, and one that is sure to bring out all sorts of emotions in readers. You'll be angry with her, disgruntled with her actions, and frustrated with her emotional immaturity, but you'll also sympathize with her and, in the end, she'll probably grow on you. Just like she grew on me.

40 Things I Want To Tell you is a beautiful, heartbreaking tale of one girl's journey to self-discovery. It's a remarkably raw and real story of a girl that dreamt of flying, breaking free and feeling the wind in her hair. Emotionally affective, utterly convincing, and written with prose that tugs at your heart and conscience, it's a bittersweet treasure of a book. Take your time while reading it, savour every thought and emotion, and I'm sure this book will stay with you for a long, long time.(less)

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Mar 15, 2012 Brenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, review-copies, book-tours, blog-tour, harpercollins

This is such a beautiful, breathtaking book. I can't recommend it enough! If you can track this one down, definitely get a copy!

Review copy received as part of an upcoming blog tour! Keep your eyes out for it! :)

UPDATE: actual review.

Amy just wants to fly; no matter what she has planned out for her perfect life, all she really wants is to learn to fly. To take that risk, jump, and realize that she can make it.

And don't we all want that? To finally break free of those things holding us back? Th...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Ashley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult

40 Things I Want to Tell You was a challenging book for me to get through. Bird is the golden child. She gets straight As, is dating her best friend, is planning on attending Oxford and even has an internet advice column set up. Overall, she's the kind of kid every parent dreams of. But then Pete comes into the picture. He's the new guy at school, kicked out of his previous schools so the rumours say. Bird can't help it. She's drawn to him and as the back cover says, one mistake can change every...more 40 Things I Want to Tell You was a challenging book for me to get through. Bird is the golden child. She gets straight As, is dating her best friend, is planning on attending Oxford and even has an internet advice column set up. Overall, she's the kind of kid every parent dreams of. But then Pete comes into the picture. He's the new guy at school, kicked out of his previous schools so the rumours say. Bird can't help it. She's drawn to him and as the back cover says, one mistake can change everything.

Now I don't know how spoilery the rest of this review is going to be, but if you don't want to know anything that's not on the back cover stop reading now.

I don't think it's giving too much away when I tell you that Bird and Pete sleep together one night and that's that. Bird's pregnant and her life begins to fall apart. The rest of this book is really about dealing with the consequences. Teenage pregnancy is a difficult subject to portray in the media. I think this book did a commendable job, it wasn't perfect, but it was thoughtful.

Bird isn't exactly the most likable character in this book. She's judgmental and manipulative. She hides things from her boyfriend, the father, her own parents and manages to drive away those closest to her. It was difficult to read. However, I thought that it was fairly accurate. I believed that that was how this particular character would react to an unexpected pregnancy. It was difficult to read and there were times when I really felt for Bird and times when I just wanted to shake some sense into her. Kuipers did an excellent job creating a real character with flaws and individual reactions.

I didn't love this book and it took me awhile to get through, but I think that was partially due to the head space I was in when I picked it up. It's a bittersweet book and by the end I had a tear in my eye. Give it a shot because while I didn't love it, if you're into character driven books with lots of drama this might be the book for you. (less)

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May 16, 2012 Lex (Eyes on the Pages) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't even know how I feel about this book.... Other than the fact that I absolutely loved it!! So much, in fact, that I managed to finish it within SEVEN HOURS. That must be some new record for me, haha.

40 Thing I Want To Tell You is about a girl named Amy, called Bird by her friends and family, who has her whole life's plan worked out for her. Just when she's about to finishing thing up in her final year at high school, things start falling apart for Bird. Her parents are fighting more than...more I don't even know how I feel about this book.... Other than the fact that I absolutely loved it!! So much, in fact, that I managed to finish it within SEVEN HOURS. That must be some new record for me, haha.

40 Thing I Want To Tell You is about a girl named Amy, called Bird by her friends and family, who has her whole life's plan worked out for her. Just when she's about to finishing thing up in her final year at high school, things start falling apart for Bird. Her parents are fighting more than not, things between her and her boyfriend who seems perfect for her aren't going so perfectly, and when the new boy arrives in town, everything begins crumbling down with one stupid mistake.

First things first, I absolutely LOVE the cover of this book! I can't tell you how amazing it is in looks, as well as how perfectly it matches the story it contains.

I absolutely love the voice of Bird on her online advice column. Her "Top Tips" were absolutely wonderful and struck very true, and I still can't believe that she managed to give all of those people such sound advice with everything that was going on in her life. The voice of Bird was so powerful that I even felt a tad depressed from reading her story - but in a good way - in a way that leave the readers head spinning long after they've finished Kuipers final chapter.

40 Things I Want To Tell You flowed very easily from page to page in such a way that I couldn't put it down once I had picked it up. You can really feel the wedge between Griffin and Bird right from the start, but just like Bird, I was unable to identify what had put that wedge there.

If anything, this book has taught me that not everything is set in stone, even if it may seem that way. One unexpected moment can change your whole life's plan, whether it be for the better or for the worse. The best thing you can do is hang on for the bumpy ride. :)

My one and only concern for this book was the price of it... I mean, $15 for a paperback? Sheeeesh. I'm not made of money, you know. However, did that price stop me from purchasing this truely amazing book? Clearly not, and it was so obviously worth it.(less)

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Mar 30, 2012 K. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ok-fine-its-ya, own, 21st-cent, identity-and-psychology

I'm torn. Alice Kuipers' 40 Things I Want To Tell You didn't quite reach the level of expectation I had for it, sadly. Its a coming of age story about Amy (a.k.a. Bird), an organized, predictable, self-assured young lady with the grades, the drive, and an advice column on the side. She has everything planned - all the time. Except she's suddenly become tired of being herself, which compels her to do something utterly unthinkable, utterly wild. Unluckily, her one momentary stray into the promiscu...more I'm torn. Alice Kuipers' 40 Things I Want To Tell You didn't quite reach the level of expectation I had for it, sadly. Its a coming of age story about Amy (a.k.a. Bird), an organized, predictable, self-assured young lady with the grades, the drive, and an advice column on the side. She has everything planned - all the time. Except she's suddenly become tired of being herself, which compels her to do something utterly unthinkable, utterly wild. Unluckily, her one momentary stray into the promiscuous results in not freedom, but quite the opposite.

So, the problem. While I didn't find the actual story as engaging as I'd hoped it would be, it was more what it achieved in my mind, what it stood for, that I responded to. Amy's story is not sweet, or comforting. At first, it seems like a typical life of a quirky, systematical girl. Funny, entertaining with parties, and homework sessions. But it quickly turns, spirals. What I love about the UK (this is based in England), and I'm finding this in their television programs as well, is that there is no glamour. For being one of the fashion capitals of the world, and the cultural envy of many, they don't seem too preoccupied in selling themselves under guise of sweetly-coated lies. There's no sense of trying to live up to the expectations of our fantasies, or satiate our hunger for fancy. They deal with the real, and sod everything else. Bitter, but true. They don't concern themselves with fairy tales they know won't come true for most of us. These are hopes that are attainable. They want us to dream in this world, not some far off land that only exists when we close our eyes, cover our ears, and blanket our hearts from reality.

I say this because 40 Things deal with serious issues. And in the end, some get a happy ending, and some don't. Some may think it ended believably, some may think the author was being unnecessarily cruel. But life isn't always sentimental, is it? The universe doesn't always consider your happiness when its turning on its axis. Too many people on this planet to please. You must seek it yourself. You have to look for the good because it doesn't come as easily as the tragic. Its like shifting gear, or adjusting your eyes...and only then does the light come into view.

This was a good book, I only mean that what's between the lines is much more impressive. The point, rather than the structure. You get some genuinely good, likeable characters like boyfriend Griffin, and best friend Cleo. Pete, however, I found lacking. He was a complete mystery throughout, especially since he plays such a critical role; it was hard to soften up to him. There was no insight to his character, thus no growth. His decision in the end, what you might call his "attempt at redemption" was not at all an attempt at redemption. But again, some people might think its "real". And it is, you know. It happens. But I'm simply arguing that if he were real and standing in front of me and got me to swallow all that bull, I would've socked him in the face. Finally Amy, or Bird. She was an acceptable protagonist. There were times I applauded her and times when I was frustrated with her decisions, but what can you do? You only get what you have on the page.

Forgive this long non-review. I say give it a try...it doesn't take too much effort. I finished it in two days. And even though my expectations weren't exactly met, I certainly still count this as a success. It isn't always whether or not the story was your taste, sometimes its just about what you are left with once its finished. After all, that's what really lasts: the feeling, not the words.
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Mar 21, 2012 Christie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Amy, or Bird as she is called by those nearest and dearest, is a list maker. She’s super organized and has her future planned down to the last detail.

Read chapter for History

Essay for English.

Start “Top Tips” Section

Tidy room and pack bag for school tomorrow

Bird is 16 and lives with her mother and father in a London suburb. From her bedroom window, she can look over into Griffin’s bedroom window. Bird and Griffin have been best friends since they were kids and Griffin and his family moved into t...more Amy, or Bird as she is called by those nearest and dearest, is a list maker. She’s super organized and has her future planned down to the last detail.

Read chapter for History

Essay for English.

Start “Top Tips” Section

Tidy room and pack bag for school tomorrow

Bird is 16 and lives with her mother and father in a London suburb. From her bedroom window, she can look over into Griffin’s bedroom window. Bird and Griffin have been best friends since they were kids and Griffin and his family moved into the house next door. Recently, though, their relationship has morphed into something more romantic.

Bird seems to have it all together – so together, in fact, that she runs an advice column on a website. There are cracks though: in her relationship with Griffin, in her parents’ marriage, in her own life. And Bird is about to learn that the best laid plans… Meet Pete Loewen.

I raised my gaze to see a guy lounging against the open doorway. I couldn’t help but notice that he was really hot. …He was older than us. He wore jeans and a black shirt with the words Born to Die scrawled over it. His sandy blond hair hung slightly long, like he hadn’t got round to cutting it, and he had stubble on his jaw line. he managed to look like he didn’t care about his appearance at all, and yet he was one of the – No, he was the most gorgeous man who’d ever walked into our school.

40 Things I Want To Tell You worked on many levels. Bird is engaging and intelligent. Pete is mysterious and, well, hot. When Bird’s world starts to careen off course, her problems are realistic and relate-able.

But one thing about this book did not work for me and that was the relationship between Bird and Pete. It’s not that I didn’t buy their instant attraction. It’s not that I didn’t buy where that attraction led them (*use your imagination*). It’s just that nothing about Pete’s story is fleshed out. There are all sorts of rumours swirling around about him, but we’re not privy to any of his back-story, and neither is Bird. Are we supposed to believe that Bird gives herself over to Pete because of raging hormones? I mean, really, other than being pretty is he really worth it? We know so little about him, it makes it hard to care for him, especially because he acts like a jerk to her. And then he doesn’t. Then Bird acts like a jerk. But the problem is, I couldn’t ever root for them to be together – although perhaps I wasn’t supposed to.

That said – I gobbled up 40 Things I Want To Tell You pretty quickly and I will happily add it to my class library. I am sure my female students will love it.(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

The biggest thing going for 40 Things I Want to Tell You is its realism: Bird is put through the ringer before a glimpse at a happy future is shown. Her decisions come back to haunt her, and her friends don’t let her get away with her self-indulgence. And when the biggest mistake of her life changes her life forever, you know there’s no going back. Some of Bird’s decisions left me frustrated or confused, and the odd European slang choice threw me for a loop, but I mostly found myself enjoying 40...more The biggest thing going for 40 Things I Want to Tell You is its realism: Bird is put through the ringer before a glimpse at a happy future is shown. Her decisions come back to haunt her, and her friends don’t let her get away with her self-indulgence. And when the biggest mistake of her life changes her life forever, you know there’s no going back. Some of Bird’s decisions left me frustrated or confused, and the odd European slang choice threw me for a loop, but I mostly found myself enjoying 40 Things I Want to Tell You, despite its flaws.

Bird was a hard protagonist to like. Her online alias, “Miss-Take-Control-Of-Your-Life,” was the exact opposite of who I envisioned Bird to be: other than writing a few to-do lists at the beginning of 40 Things I Want to Tell You, and being told by her best friend how predictable she was, Bird was never in control. She was oblivious to the growing tension between her parents, oblivious to the missing chemistry between herself and her boyfriend, Griffin, and oblivious to what it means to truly be someone’s friend. She lied – to everyone – under the pretence of not wanting to hurt anyone, and then would head home and give advice to a teen about being honest! She was judgmental, basing her opinions of Pete off of the gossip floating around school, and she had no backbone, letting everyone walk all over her. It wasn’t until she was abandoned by her friends and disowned by her father, with her lies having finally caught up to her, that I began to feel any type of connection toward Bird.

BUT despite my inability to connect with Bird for much of 40 Things I Want to Tell You, I found myself captivated by her story because of how real it seemed. Every time Bird made the decision to withhold the truth about Pete from Cleo, every time she kissed Griffin and thought about kissing Pete, every time she ignored her mother’s calls, I cringed, knowing that so many teens – myself at her age included – were just like Bird: too scared to be honest, for fear of the repercussions. So while I berated most of Bird’s choices, I can’t honestly say I wouldn’t have done the same thing in her situation (except for the park scene; I mean, really?).

The pacing for 40 Things I Want to Tell You was okay; I wasn’t flying through the pages, but I also wasn’t putting it down in boredom. What bothered me though, was it’s hints at being European; the characters seemed quite Westernized until out of the blue, they would use a European word, like “knickers” or “mum.” (view spoiler) For as much as I’ve congratulated 40 Things I Want to Tell You for its realism, this was a moment where I was pulled out of the story completely, because of it’s seeming inaccuracy.

Fortunately, Bird’s ending was almost perfect. While she was able to wrap up all the loose ends of her fractured life quite conveniently, it was also done in a way that showed her growth as a character, which I appreciated. She confessed to her mistakes and tried to repair the relationships that she had damaged with her dishonesty. Best of all, her friends did what friends do best: they reminded her that their relationships weren’t ever going to be the same, but that they were willing to move past everything that happened, and forgive her. But it wasn’t all rainbows for Bird; there’s one person who she didn’t come clean to in time, and…you’ll just have to read the book to find out what happens (less)

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Mar 31, 2012 Ikhlas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-ya

In 40 Things I Want To Tell You, Bird (real name Amy) seems to have a perfect life, warm and caring parents, amazing grades at school, a loving boyfriend, and a bright future. Bird wants to go to Oxford, and she’s lined up her whole life so that she gets what she wants.

In her spare time, she writes an advice column for fellow teens, full of helpful tips and advice to ‘take control of your life’. But what Bird doesn’t know is that her parents’ marriage is falling apart, and when she gets tangled...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was torn between 3 or 4 stars, but in the end I went with three because I just didn't really like Bird/Amy.
This book was NOT what I was expecting (view spoiler) but it is really touching and emotional. It was so close to being really good, but it just missed the mark for me. I feel like because it was told in first person we never really saw Amy accept how the way she treated people was the root of so much of her trouble. She...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Lilysbookblog rated it 3 of 5 stars

The old saying says ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ but in the case of 40 Things I Want To Tell You by Alice Kuiper you have my permission to do so. The beautiful simple cover of the book (which was what originally caught my eye at chapters) is filled with an equal beautiful story of a seemingly perfect girl named Amy who with one decision, one really bad decision her future is quickly undone.
Amy has her own advice column online which dedicates itself to help other teens take control of their...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Ali rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I picked it up randomly one day because the cover had caught my attention. This book deals with real life situations in many different ways. Bird (Amy) writes an advice column online and has her whole life planned out for her. Bird has a couple unexpected twists thrown her way and begins to find it difficult to always be the girl that her parents expected. This book had me so wrapped in it that I could not put it down. I would definitely recommend this book to YA lovers or any...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Emma rated it 2 of 5 stars

Amy Finch, known to everyone as Bird, is an ammeter advice columnist on the Internet, helping other teens take control of their lives. Bird appears to be able to do just that, balancing her schoolwork, her boyfriend Griffin and her best friend Cleo. But Bird begins to lose control when she meets Pete, the new kid in sixth form and someone a girl like Bird should not be interested in, even if she didn’t have the perfect boyfriend. In truth, Griffin and Bird went from being friends to dating so fa...more Amy Finch, known to everyone as Bird, is an ammeter advice columnist on the Internet, helping other teens take control of their lives. Bird appears to be able to do just that, balancing her schoolwork, her boyfriend Griffin and her best friend Cleo. But Bird begins to lose control when she meets Pete, the new kid in sixth form and someone a girl like Bird should not be interested in, even if she didn’t have the perfect boyfriend. In truth, Griffin and Bird went from being friends to dating so fast that there never was time for her to fall in love. While Bird has known Griffin forever, she barely knows Pete yet feels an attraction to him that she has never felt with Griffin. When choices Bird makes lead her life away from what she imagined it would be, she learns life doesn’t always follows your plans.

I really wasn’t going to finish this one, but as I was putting it in my bag to return to the library, I flipped through it and saw a spoiler that made me want to keep reading. I kept with this book because it was a quick read with some unexpected things in it, but I can’t say I enjoyed it. I didn’t like Bird, who is selfish and does so many stupid things, hurting everyone around her. She just makes things worst for herself throughout the novel by keeping secrets, and I also didn’t think her relationship with Pete was developed enough. I didn’t relate to her or understand the things she did. She also reminded me a lot of Hailey from The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook, which I also didn’t enjoy. At the same time, this was a quick read with some interesting twists. The story was taken somewhere I didn’t expect it to go, and without giving anything away this book deals with a lot of big issues, from sex to parental problems. I also liked the way the title tied into the novel. 40 Things I Want To Tell You has a beautiful cover that, for me, the book doesn’t live up to. However, this a fast moving story about losing control of your life and finding your way again.

2/5(less)

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Apr 27, 2013 Maraki M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazing-covers, contemporary, love-triangles, ya

Αφηγείται σε πρώτο πρόσωπο η Έιμι, ή αλλιώς Μπερντ, μια έφηβη που φαίνεται να έχει την τέλεια ζωή: οι γονείς της την αγαπούν, έχει ένα καταπληκτικό αγόρι, παίρνει άριστους βαθμούς... Γενικώς, έχει τα πάντα υπό έλεγχο. Έχει όνειρα και φιλοδοξίες για το μέλλον, είναι αποφασισμένη να κυνηγήσει και να πετύχει τους στόχους της. Όλα αυτά, όμως, ανατρέπονται, όταν ο Πιτ μπαίνει στην ζωή της. Ο Πιτ είναι το κλασσικό "κακό" αγόρι, επικίνδυνος, κακή επιρροή, άγριος. Η Έιμι ξέρει από την πρώτη κιόλας στιγμ...more Αφηγείται σε πρώτο πρόσωπο η Έιμι, ή αλλιώς Μπερντ, μια έφηβη που φαίνεται να έχει την τέλεια ζωή: οι γονείς της την αγαπούν, έχει ένα καταπληκτικό αγόρι, παίρνει άριστους βαθμούς... Γενικώς, έχει τα πάντα υπό έλεγχο. Έχει όνειρα και φιλοδοξίες για το μέλλον, είναι αποφασισμένη να κυνηγήσει και να πετύχει τους στόχους της. Όλα αυτά, όμως, ανατρέπονται, όταν ο Πιτ μπαίνει στην ζωή της. Ο Πιτ είναι το κλασσικό "κακό" αγόρι, επικίνδυνος, κακή επιρροή, άγριος. Η Έιμι ξέρει από την πρώτη κιόλας στιγμή ότι πρέπει να μείνει μακριά του. Δεν το κάνει, όμως, καθώς οι άνθρωποι δεν μπορούν να κάνουν το αντίθετο από αυτό που τους λέει η καρδιά τους. Μια στιγμή αδυναμίας αρκεί για να αλλάξει μια για πάντα η ζωή της Έιμι. Εκείνο το κορίτσι με την φαινομενικά υπέροχη ζωή, ξαφνικά, βρίσκεται σε μια κατάσταση την οποία δεν μπορεί να αντιμετωπίσει. Και όσες συμβουλές έδινε αυτή στους άλλους, τώρα πλέον αδυνατεί να τις ακολουθήσει.

Η γραφή της Κάιπερς είναι πολύ καλή. Απόλαυσα τις περιγραφές της και, κυρίως, τα αποφθέγματά της. Οι χαρακτήρες ήταν πολύ καλά ανεπτυγμένοι και καθόλου προβλέψιμοι, καθώς διαρκώς άλλαζαν γνώμες, έκαναν λάθη, μάθαιναν από αυτά, ξεπερνούσαν τον εαυτό τους. Συμπάθησα πολύ τον Πιτ από την πρώτη στιγμή και θα ήθελα να διαβάσω περισσότερο για αυτόν, όμως είμαι ικανοποιημένη και έτσι. Σε πολλά σημεία του βιβλίου, ιδιαίτερα προς το τέλος, βρήκα τον εαυτό μου έτοιμο να κλάψει. Από συγκίνηση, από χαρά, από λύπη, από κατανόηση. Δεν μπόρεσα να το αφήσω από τα χέρια μου ούτε στιγμή.

Θέλω, ακόμη, να πω πως αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι με τίποτα αυτό που περίμενα. Διαβάζοντας την περιγραφή και το απόσπασμά του, σκέφτηκα ότι θα ήταν καλό. Το "καλό", παρ'όλα αυτά, δεν αρκεί ούτε στο ελάχιστο για να περιγράψει αυτό το βιβλίο. "Δάσκαλε που δίδασκες και νόμο δεν εκράτεις" λέει μια παροιμία. Αυτή, λοιπόν, η παροιμία μου ήρθε στο μυαλό, διαβάζοντας για τις επιλογές της Έιμι. Ωστόσο, όχι με την κακή έννοια, διότι μπορούσα να τις δικαιολογήσω. Γιατί ο καθένας μπορέι να δείχνει πως έχει την τέλεια, την υπέροχη ζωή που όλοι θα ήθελαν, όμως τίποτα δεν είναι όπως φαίνεται. Έτσι και η Έιμι, από εκεί που πίστευε πως έχει τον πλήρη έλεγχο, βρέθηκε σε πολύ δύσκολες καταστάσεις. Είναι καταπληκτικό το πόσο αλλάζει και πόσο ωριμάζει μέσα στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, κάνοντας την μια "λανθασμένη" επιλογή μετά την άλλη, μαθαίνοντας, όμως, όλο και περισσότερα από τα "λάθη" της. Αυτό που θέλω να πω είναι πως το "Σαράντα Πράγματα Που Θέλω Να Σου Πω" δεν είναι ένα ακόμη βιβλίο που επικεντρώνεται σε μια χαζή ιστορία αγάπης, όπως πολλά που κυκλοφορούν. Αντιθέτως, είναι ένα βιβλίο που περνά ένα σημαντικό μήνυμα στον αναγνώστη και δείχνει πως τα πάντα μπορούν να αλλάξουν, όμως εμείς πρέπει να προσπαθούμε για το καλύτερο. Όταν ξεκίνησα το βιβλίο, ακόμη και όταν είχα φτάσει στην μέση, πίστευα πως ήξερα το τέλος του. Έκανα λάθος, όμως, γιατί δεν το περίμενα με τίποτα. Το τέλος ήταν εντελώς απρόβλεπτο και, ενώ θα μπορούσα να πω πως θα ήθελα να είναι διαφορετικό, ίσως δεν είναι έτσι τελικά.

Αν δεν το έχετε διαβάσει, πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να κάνετε μια προσπάθεια! Η Έιμι έχει πολλά να σας διδάξει, όπως διδάχθηκε και η ίδια.

Διαβάστε την κριτική στο ιστολόγιό μου: http://onlyforbooklovers98.blogspot.g...(less)

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Oct 22, 2012 Giselle at Book Nerd Canada rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, canadian

I had this notion that "40 Things I Want To Tell You" was about a teenage overachiever who basically cheats on her boyfriend and she thinks her life is over. Well I was wrong because there was so much more to this book. Amy is your classic "do-gooder." She's also an honours student and is also dating her next-door neighbour and best friend Griffin. Things start to unravel in her life when gorgeous bad boy Pete walks into her history class and she starts to crush on him hard.

What I loved about t...more

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May 06, 2012 Yj rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 18, 2012 Kayla rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

I'm having a tough time deciding how I felt about this book. I came into it not knowing very much about it and not really expecting anything much from it. I thought the cover was cool and the title was nice and it seemed like such a popular book at my library so I thought I should give it a chance and see what it was all about. The thing is.... I was not expecting what this book was about AT ALL. (view spoiler)...more I'm having a tough time deciding how I felt about this book. I came into it not knowing very much about it and not really expecting anything much from it. I thought the cover was cool and the title was nice and it seemed like such a popular book at my library so I thought I should give it a chance and see what it was all about. The thing is.... I was not expecting what this book was about AT ALL. (view spoiler) To be honest, I'm not sure I would have picked up this book to read knowing what I know now about it. It doesn't really appeal to me. I will give this book some respect though for dealing with it nicely. I didn't feel like it got very preachy or anything, which is good! It was a nice portrayal of one girl dealing with the aftermath of one bad decision and how it affects everything around her.

My main problem with this book? I got bored reading it to be honest. I don't know why. Some parts were great, yet some parts left me wanting to pick up a different book to read instead. I think part of the problem was Amy or Bird (her nickname) who is the main character. I found her so unrelatable (which is funny, because at the beginning I thought her making lists and stuff made her VERY relatable... but no, we are quite different.) I was so annoyed with how she treated the people around her. Her boyfriend, the other guy in her life, her mom, everyone... I just wish she would have treated people better. I have to be vague so I don't spoil anyone who hasn't read the book, but if you want a better explanation and/or don't mind being spoiled feel free to click the spoiler tags. (view spoiler)

Alice Kuipers wrote a nice book, I just couldn't feel any compassion for the main character. That's the reason my rating for this book is so low. I think if you don't mind the main character acting super frustrating and lying (because top tip 4: sometimes you're lying when you say nothing at all... page 55) then you'll probably enjoy this book better than me. I guess I just found it boring reading a book that solely focused on a character I didn't like much and her BIG problem which could have been prevented with some common sense.

I honestly wish I had liked this book better, but oh well. As for my rating, the 2 stars means exactly what goodreads says it means: it was okay. It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't appeal to me the way I had hoped or expected it to.(less)

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Oct 18, 2012 Meagan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Amy's that girl. We all know her. She's good at school, she's pretty, she's got everything down, right to knowing where she wants to apply to school. People like to make a lot of jokes out of these girls, because they're so predictable, we know exactly where they're going to be in a few years. But Amy's sick of being that girl, and she struggles with some bad decisions to determining if that's just the role she's been filling, or if that's really who she is. We get to connect with her in such a...more Amy's that girl. We all know her. She's good at school, she's pretty, she's got everything down, right to knowing where she wants to apply to school. People like to make a lot of jokes out of these girls, because they're so predictable, we know exactly where they're going to be in a few years. But Amy's sick of being that girl, and she struggles with some bad decisions to determining if that's just the role she's been filling, or if that's really who she is. We get to connect with her in such a rich way, through her sparkling voice and all of her daily worries.

See, Amy makes a lot of bad decisions. She runs a blog where she gives her classmates, and other girls, advice. She gives them pieces of advice, and they tie into what's she's dealing with in her life. From the boyfriend she's only got lukewarm feelings for, right down to the indiscretion she makes with a cookie-cutter bad boy who comes out of nowhere and falls in like with her. All the while, Amy pretends to be this completely put-together blogger, and it helps her deal with the crises in her life in some way. There's no real originality in the character types we see here -- the mother who just wants to get away, the dumbfounded Dad, the side-kick best friend, and the standard issue dull boyfriend. Amy's the real star, and while some people might not see her as spectacularly unique, her voice and story stood out to me like few protagonists do.

As for the story, well, I was incredibly disappointed. Not because of weak storytelling, because honestly, I love reading this book. Even though the writing is stunning, and there were cluttered passive sentences all over the joint pulling me away from Amy's perspective. I'm finding that's something it's hard to ignore when you're been revising your own work, but the further I get from it, the less it bugs me. See, I spent months looking for this book it on-line, searching for it on used book websites, and lurking for potential giveaways.

The reason this book went over so well with me was because we all make mistakes that shape our lives, who we are, what friends we keep, and what we become. Show me a person who didn't do something monumentally stupid in highs school. Really. Sometimes, if we make awful mistakes like Bird, we find that there's no coming back. But luckily for this sweet girl, the people in her life are more understanding and forgiving, which you can form your own opinions on.

I found myself disappointed because of how much potential this young girl had was immediately wrecked. She was a strong character from the start, but her choices break her down, and in the end, she makes a decision about her life that I had to shake my head at. (view spoiler) Her ending is so abrupt, and it's such a let down for me, because I wanted to see her become so much more than she becomes. I wanted to see her flourish, but instead, she's packed into a neat little box, wrapped in an ugly "Look how "happy" I am" bow, and that's that.

Aside from her kind of boring friendships, Bird's parents are weird. Her Dad starts out great, but then in an instant he flips his lid and becomes unrecognizable. There are no traces of the nice, supportive, wacky Dad we were introduced to. Bird's Mom left the family because she wasn't happy, which she's entitled to do -- and she does request Bird come with her -- but I can help but glare at the woman for trying to make herself fit back into Bird's life so soon. But she's the girl's Mom, after all, and it doesn't take her more than a glance to know what's going on. Little moments like that are what breathe life into this book, and they're why I'd recommend it. (less)

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Apr 28, 2012 Christa (More Than Just Magic) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, blog-tour, coming-of-age, genre-contemporary

Originally reviewed at Christa's Hooked on Books

Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of 40 Things I Want to Tell You or Alice Kuipers. Once it was put in my radar, however its gorgeous cover and intriguing synopsis were more than enough to bump it to the top of my to-read pile.

40 Things I Want to Tell You is a fairly straightforward contemporary novel but with a really interesting and fun narrative style. Amy (or Bird) is a blogger who offers advice to teens who write in. A mixture of blog po...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Michelle (FabbityFabBookReviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-young-adult

*Some plot reveals ahead*

I have read and enjoyed Kuipers' other YA works, Life on the Refrigerator Door and The Worst Thing She Ever Did. Those novels both packed an emotional punch and 40 Things I Want to Tell You is no different.

When I finished reading the last sentence of this novel, I just sat there. And then I immediately needed to talk about this book. (Sadly, neither my husband nor my guinea pigs have read it). There is a lot of depth to this book; I found it a very emotional, if not sli...more
*Some plot reveals ahead*

I have read and enjoyed Kuipers' other YA works, Life on the Refrigerator Door and The Worst Thing She Ever Did. Those novels both packed an emotional punch and 40 Things I Want to Tell You is no different.

When I finished reading the last sentence of this novel, I just sat there. And then I immediately needed to talk about this book. (Sadly, neither my husband nor my guinea pigs have read it). There is a lot of depth to this book; I found it a very emotional, if not slightly difficult read. Not because it is not well-written. I thought it was beautifully written- but it is such an affecting read.

The novel's protagonist, Bird, starts off as a relatively unassuming British teen. She has her own issues, but she appears grounded. She is a very good student, studies hard, and is prepping herself to apply to Oxford University. Bird also runs an online teen advice blog; though while her advice to strangers is usually solid, she herself doesn't always follow her own good advice. As we get into the novel, Bird's problems start to bleed to the surface. She doesn't feel physically attracted to her best friend and boyfriend, Griffin. Griffin is (and has been) patient with Bird's hesitation to take their relationship to the next physical level, but Bird keeps avoiding any talk about it. Bird starts to notice kinks in her mother's behavior and in her parents marriage. And then Pete, brooding, dangerous Pete enters the picture. New to school, Pete immediately catches everyone's attention. Bird is both terrified yet electrified by Pete and discovers that Pete may be attracted to her.

Then Bird does something she never thought could or would happen to her.

I can't give away much more here, I'm afraid. I thought I knew which direction Kuipers was going to take the story, but then it builds and twists into something much more- much more uncompromising and gritty. And I think it will leave you with a lot to think about. This novel (and Kuipers' other works) might appeal to readers who like more intense contemporary YA, or for those who like Nick Hornby, Amy Efaw, or Laurie Halse Anderson. Recommended reading to all.
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Aug 27, 2012 Kori rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 24, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, feels, y-a, beautiful

First of all, I love the cover of this book. It's definitely one of my favourite covers of 2012, along with This is not a test. It looks all vintage-y and I love the blue and the birds gahhh.
Secondly, this is the first book I've read by this author and I adored it. I love her writing style, so effortless and beautiful.

Third, I love the title of the book and the 40 things within the book didn't disappoint. I loved the idea of this book and how it was executed.

Fourth, I don't usually like books...more

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May 02, 2012 Naomi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian-authors, families-fiction, young-adult, romance

I loved how Kuipers dealt with casual sex, abortion, adoption and friendship issues. She also shows Amy how dysfunctional her parents marriage is but Amy chose to pick sides and didn't see her Father's shortcomings. Many complex issues are dealt with in the book but the author is not prachy! Well done and very realistic!

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Aug 18, 2012 Beaniebop added it

Recommended to Beaniebop by: Goodreads

Shelves: teen-pregnancy, books-i-want-to-buy, beautiful-cover, books-that-should-become-series-i-t, teen-like, romancyish-or-sadish

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 23, 2012 Amie rated it 3 of 5 stars

my friend reccommended me this bok and it was pretty good. The writing style wasnt my favourite but the story was quite good .

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Sep 07, 2012 Jazz Age Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars

great book for young adults. short, but not sweet. heavier issues dealt with, but a creative and unexpected plot :)

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Jul 10, 2012 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian, books-i-own, ya

Super engaging and well-written story of Amy (a.k.a. Bird) a teenage girl who thinks she has her life all figured out, but in fact that couldn't be further from the truth. Kuipers takes a seemingly common coming-of-age tale and adds divorce, mental disorders, and teenage pregnancy into the mix for a twisty-turny novel that wraps together very well by the end, and not in all the ways you might expect. The biggest downsides for me were some fairly frequent over-the-top metaphors, and a really unne...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

I dont know if i enjoyed the ending or not... If you think realistically then the ending makes sense but i just wish bird and pete got together.

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Mar 20, 2012 Angel rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Angel by: Me :)

Shelves: books-i-own, gorgeous-swoon-worthy-men

Oh. Wow.
I just can't. My emotions.
This book is absolutely amazing....and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed the writing and Amy is so like me it was actually scary *_*

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May 08, 2013 Renia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing...!

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Apr 08, 2013 Breena rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book devastated me, and I think that's a good thing. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I'd probably recommend this more for teenagers but I definitely got sucked into it.

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