Take Me There

by Susane Colasanti

In one short week . . . three lives change.

Rhiannon is devastated after the breakup with her boyfriend and wants him back. Nicole's ex is still in the picture, but she can't help having a new crush. James and Rhiannon are just friends, though he may try to take it to the next level. Will their desire to take a mean girl down a notch bring these three friends what they want . . . and more?

Set during one life-altering week and told in three realistic perspectives, this engaging, witty novel by the author of When It Happens shows the ups and downs of love, friendship, and karma.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit, Teen, High School

290 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2008

About the author

Susane Colasanti is the bestselling author of When It Happens, Take Me There, Waiting for You, Something Like Fate, So Much Closer, Keep Holding On, All I Need, Now and Forever, and the City Love trilogy. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from New York University. Before becoming a full-time author in 2007, Susane was a high school science teacher for ten years. She lives in New York City.

You can connect with Susane on her Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

Reviews

[Jenni Arndt]

I can't do it. Page 104. I give up.

"She's like "how was the party?"
And I'm all "fine"
And she's like "who was there?""

No no no. I can't do this anymore. No. No.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alright. I didn't really see the point to it though since there was no important life lesson, or at least none that I could see. Both the girls voices sounded pretty much the same, but I guess that made sense because we usually talk like the people we hang around. That's another thing though, some of the language was over the top type teen slang. I'm not sure if I'm hanging with the dorks who don't use the latest teen slang, but we don't talk like that. Some of the slang sounds kinda old and outdated. Maybe they talk like that in New York. I don't know. I didn't particularly like any of the characters to be completely honest. The boy seemed to be the only one with a brain. The two girls acted like morons for most of the book. At the end there's a "secret" that's revealed, but since it's mentioned at the very end it just seems like it's stuck in there for dramatic effect with no follow up or real resolution. There were a few funny moments and I enjoyed the revenge part of the story (very satistfying). It's not enough to save the story for me though. I read the rest just to see the ending, even though it was what I predicted it would be. Younger readers and native New Yorkers might enjoy it more and understand some of its charm. Kind of entertaining but you're not missing anything if you skip it.

[Arianna_lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could barely finish this book.
Being a teen myself, I found it SO unrealistic and I had a lot of issues with it.
-What Rhiannon did to try and win Steve back (the message on the sidewalk), was actually hard to read. I cringed. What teenager would willingly do that? It seemed cheesy and over-the-top.
-I don't know any teens that talk the way the three charcters in this book did. One thing that bothered me was how every single character said "I can't even with that." What in the world does that mean? I've never heard that.
-The author was HORRIBLE at writing like a boy. I didn't believe it at all. Here's a hint Susane Colasanti: Boys do not think and act the same as girls. The only difference between the two sexes is not the word "yo."
-I don't see how "Three lives changed..." within the week. Rhiannon broke up with her boyfriend, and started dating James. James dates Rhiannon. Nicole has a crush on a teacher. The only life-changing thing was Nicole admitting to being sexually abused, and we don't even know what happens! It was such a bad ending.

Overall: Horrible book. It didn't really have a point, and I didn't like reading the same story three time to find out what happened next. I won't read this book again and will never pick up another Susane Colasanti novel. Don't waste your time.

[H · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this completely pointless.

Really, what was the point of this?

It began really great, but things went downhill from the middle of the story. I finished it like two or three days ago and I already have forgotten the plot keys so I'll be very vague.

I think Colasanti lost her idea somewhere near the end, because things simply happened. And so? What else?

The romance wasn't even that good. I felt like smacking Ree's head half of the time 'cause she's so thick to not notice John's (was it John? my point)hints.

And the voices weren't even that obvious. When I stopped reading into someone's narrative and went back to reading it later, I won't have a clue to who is speaking until I turn the page back to where the names are.

Plus the whole story spanned over less than a week. Gosh it was so repetitive to read every single day from every one's narrative. BORING!!

And I liked John's narrative best. I'd love to meet him in real life.

The slang terms were totally out of hand. I was annoyed by: he was all like, like, he was all. I know teens (like me) use them in real life but it's pissing me off to read these phrases for a whole book.

I think I'm avoiding them for a while. There's the invention word that's called: said.

I'm pretty disappointed in Colasanti 'cause this is my second book of hers that I read, and I loved the first one.

I'm giving her one more chance, I'll be reading another one next some time soon.

[C.J. Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book surprised me. Reading other people's revies, I was a bit wary of reading it, but I got it free at the library, so I said "what the heck?" The characters, to me, were extremely relateable. I could tell why they did the things they did and they all seemed like they would make great friends.
One of the things I didn't like was the switching of the point of views. Now, I do like reading other characters' perspectives, but I didn't like how everything was repeated. Like you'd hear the same day three times in a row so nothing was surprising. You knew what was going to happen. But then again, it did have its advantages. You got to know why characters did what they did.
Overall, this book was pretty realistic and fairly enjoyable. The one thing I didn't like was Nicole's relationship with her teacher, but then again, stuff like what could have happened always freaks me out.
So, I would reccomend this book to just about any body. But just be warned: You will hear the same day three times, just by different people's perspectives.

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very realistic story, but that's where it got lost on me. There really wasn't a whole lot happening within the plot. It followed the lives of everyday teenagers, their heartbreak, and really, that's about it.

Let me just say, though, the three entwining perspectives were unique in their own way of highlighting different romantic dilemmas, while also staying connected in a really clever way. And although the romance was a little lackluster for me, the friendships were such a positive aspect of the story.

It was such a great thing to see two female characters talk so highly of each other. These girls had each other's backs no matter the circumstance. I only wish they weren't so spiteful with their actions towards others.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

With every teen/young adult book I read, I feel like I'm growing out of the books, but not the genre itself.

I started this book yesterday and got about 70 pages in before I just got so completely and utterly bored.

I’m not sure I’m going to last the entire book because

a)Both Nicole and Rhiannon are so desperately boring and obsessed with being different.

b)Soooooo much name dropping and references to movies etc in so little time. It’s distracting.

c)Rhiannon has been with this steve guy for 4 months and her world is falling apart because he dumped her? Ugh if they were together longer I would have cared but no.

d)They talk about so many different people as if I’m meant to know who they are. Who are all these people and what the hell do they have to do with anything? So confused.

e)I wish they would stop describing every little thing in such excruciating detail.

I read some reviews by other people and basically I don't see anything that has happened that I would find worthwhile reading. I was looking forward to reading this book but it's just been a waste of time.

Perhaps someone younger would enjoy it, maybe girls aged 13 to 16. Being almost 20 now, I just didn't have the patience for it.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly states the everyday lives of modern day high schooler's agendas and relationships. It takes place from the point of view of three different people's perspectives that are all best friends. Every few chapters it switches points of views and tells the same story from different people's way of seeing it. This book gives examples of all stages of young relationships. One girl is suffering from sudden heartbreak when her boyfriend dumps her for the most popular/hated girl in school. Meanwhile, her best friend breaks up with her boyfriend who loves politics and everyone in school looks up to. Throughout the book she can't really figure out why she dumped him in the first place. The last point of view is from their best guy friend's point of view. He recently went through a break up and is secretly in love with one of his girl best friends, though he tries to hide it. I personally love this book. It shows the true emotions that many teenagers go through at some point or another. I like how real the situations are and they allow you to relate to the characters and see how others may feel about a certain situation. I reccomend this book to any teanage girl looking for a realistic novel to be able to relate to. I give this book five stars, no doubt.

[kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colasanti does a great job of telling a story in first person, in this case through three separate first person accounts and each voice is unique with different ways of expressing themselves. I really enjoy the way she crafts her stories.
Rhiannon is pining over the loss of her boyfriend, Steve and is consumed with trying to understand why he dumped her and how to get him back.
James, her best friend, is busy trying to console her and his girlfriend dumps him because he tends to put Rhiannon before their relationship and although James doesn't like being dumped, he's also a bit relieved by the breakup.
Nicole has just broken up with her boyfriend, Danny and he is confused, but they are continuing their friendship.
There are surprises along the way, things I really didn't expect and growth by each of the characters as they figure out what they want. My only negative is that the ending feels just a bit abrupt and I'd have liked to have a few more chapters about what happens after, but what we're given is a satisfying conclusion.

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Because if you take a risk, you just might find what you're looking for.”

This had a rocky beginning. Told from 3 different perspectives, it starts with Rhiannon. She is overly dramatic, annoying and sulking. Her boyfriend has broken up with her and she cannot understand why. Luckily, from there, you get a few more chapters and then it quickly switches to Nichole, her best friend. Through her POV, we see a few of the days from her perspective but we also see parts of the day where Nichole saw their classmates and friends in different situations and shares different secrets and knowledge. Finally, we get the POV of James, the other best friend. We see how complex all three of their lives are as they only function from their own POV, they see little of the drama and small things affecting each other's night and their families. It would be eye opening, I think, for a teen, but the story does feel dated. No one is texting or accessing any social media. Meh. it was okay but I'm not sure if it has aged well.

[Molly Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Rhiannon who's boyfriend (Steve) just broke up with her for no reason. She keeps trying to go after him, then discovers that he is dating this like basic white girl named Gloria. She also has a friend named James who realizes he likes her and they eventually end up together.

This story is written from 3 different POV's. There is Rhiannon, Nicole, and James. In this aspect I think it was good because when they switched POV's they did label it well and always used 1st person.

Overall I gave this book 4 stars because I did enjoy this book, the only problem was that I would have liked to see more of Rhiannon and James at the end.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part about Colasanti books are the genuine voice of adolescence in them. I mean, seriously, you have all the "likes" "ums" "uhs" etc in the right places. All the conversations seem believable between two teens and you don't doubt that teens would talk about the topics they do talk about. BUT that's what also drives me insane, it's almost like Colassanti takes the average teen and writes about him/her--so the dialogue is just....annoying. Of course not all teens speak with tons of likes and so forth, but when we're talking about average, we're talking about majority. So, you can't blame Colassanti completely. Plus, she makes up with chemistry between the characters (Sorry, it's been awhile since I've finished the books so I can't remember the names. Sorrysorrysorry)

There's nothing super great about Take Me There. Plot is a little weird, romance is cute, but nothing special. It's average, but it's still a fun read. I read it in a day(not a hard read) and when it ended I remember looking at my clock and thinking, "Why did I stay up so late for this?" (It's the cute romance, that's why.) Anyways, if you're looking for a cute, high school romance, well you're looking in the right place.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take Me There by Colasanti is probably my least favorite of her books that I’ve read thus far. It’s told in the form of three alternating POVs, including Rhiannon (how do you even pronounce that?), Nicole and James.

Part I and II of the book covers the span of 6 days total and each POV recounts the same days and events in detail. I found it unnecessarily redundant and repetitive, and the book took about 75 pages to finally take off. When I’d start the next POV, I consistently felt back at square one, when I just wanted to make progress with the events. Overall, the constant recounts were cumbersome, and the number of characters referenced in each perspective was hard to keep track of for quite some time.

However, Colasanti’s writing style seems to be improving with time as she didn’t overkill on the “He goes” and “She’s like.” Thank goodness. I understand some people may talk like that, but reading it can be annoying. In summary, Take Me There is just an okay read, her other books are better IMHO.

[J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I had already read the worst book I had ever read, and then I read Take Me There. I know teenage girls utilize obnoxious language, but that doesn't mean we (adults) should pander to that base level of communication. Let me elaborate with a hypothetical example of text from this "novel"...

So I was like, "No way."
And he was all, "Yeah."
And she goes, "Seriously?"

And she GOES? This book was painful. And as a once teenage girl, who may or may not have spoken in this fashion, I most certainly did not want to read books written with this language.

If you're looking for a book for a young teenager to relate to, get Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT read this book.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ✨

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Books Worth Remembering

Question: Why haven’t I read a Susane Colasanti book before now? (A little reference for all of y’all who haven’t read this yet – P.S. Go read it now!)

Everything about Take Me There ticks all my boxes, alternative perspectives, realistic characters and wonderful writing. It’s moreish and addictive and I think a perfect example of a great contemporary book. Contemporary in general is underestimated. I, like many people am guilty of underestimating it but when something like Take Me There comes along it just changes my whole perspective on the genre.

Take Me There is a far cry from most contemporary books I have read, I loved that it was set in New York which gave it a distinctly different feel (I’m sorry to say I’m a little bit bored of small towns) and I cannot recall reading one a contemporary that has been set in there.

As I mentioned before the book has alternating perspective, which is one of my favourite things, I love hearing from both sides of the story, but what was more unique about Take Me There was that it was set over one week with each character going through what happened on those days. You may be thinking that that isn’t all too interesting or might slow the plot down – it doesn’t, it fills in all the blanks right at the very last minute. I found myself devouring Take Me There all in one sitting. Also aesthetics wise I loved how each character’s section had a different font and had a symbol, reflective of them, that was used instead of an asterisk, small style details such as this just enhance your experience as a reader.

One of the greatest things about this book is the realistic teenage voice, all three teenagers , Nicole, Rhiannon and James, had unique styles but also how the writing was less like prose and more like normal speech. I know that some people find that to be a turn off but, like I usually do, but this was different and more subtle than usual. Just little things like the characters saying ‘she was like’ so it felt more like they were telling you the story not filtered to sound totally out of character.

Despite them sounding more like real teenagers they didn’t lose some of the profoundness that characters normally have in YA, that you question to be only the writer’s imaginings of teenagers – I myself hate when teenagers are dumbed down because people think they wouldn’t be capable of creating a well thought out arguments or questioning more important things than the latest goings on in their favourite celebrity’s life. So the look on karmic retribution was something I found really interesting; we’ve all wished ‘what comes around goes around’ to be true towards our enemies.

Like I said before Take Me There is just incredibly realistic, Eames academy, their school, with it’s beat up feel, lack of chairs and money for photocopies felt real and more plausible than most high school used in YA that seem only to serve as a setting in which the writer can place their characters, not much thought is usually put into it’s description. Also I loved that the characters talked about and interacted with other students – another incredibly annoying thing that happens in YA is how the main protagonist only ever speaks to either one or maybe two other people. This made these secondary characters seem more than just plot devices – I found myself cheering for Danny or thinking how we all know a Jackson or a Gloria.

So I cannot stress how authentic all these touches made these characters and it was this believability that made it so enjoyable, it made me hopeful for the characters and really care what happened to them; a thoroughly realistic and enjoyable standalone that is definitely worth the read.

So in conclusion,
Question: What are you waiting for? Go read Take Me There right now!

[Jessica (Goldenfurpro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd

MY THOUGHTS
It took me awhile to get into this book, but I ended up enjoying it!

This book is from the perspective of three characters: Rhiannon, Nicole, and James.
Rhiannon's boyfriend just broke up with her, without explanation, and wants him back
Nicole broke things off with her boyfriend, and is now chasing after a crush...on her math teacher.
And James has always been best friends with Rhiannon, but does he feel for more?
These characters will overcome challenges, as well as have some fun.

I read this in audiobook format while I was at work, so I basically listened to it for a few weeks. This fact made the book feel slow, but to be honest, the first part has a very slow pace. This especially worsens with the unusual formatting. You start with Rhiannon telling you what happened from her perspective in the first half of the week, then Nicole will give her perspective of the same days, then James. Then the process repeats itself for the last half of the week. It's a very interesting perspective, and I'm torn at how I feel about the same days being repeated. On one hand, it was repetitive. On the other, It added so much more depth and let me understand the lives of all the characters.

As for characters, I was meh about them at first. Rhiannon was especially irritating because of how she was hanging onto her ex-boyfriend, who is an a-hole. I was mostly upset by her moping and how I just knew that things would come back and bite her. Eventually, the characters grew on me and, in the span of only a week, they grew as well!

IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I did end up liking this book, even though it took awhile. The format is hard to get used to and the pacing was a bit slow at first, but the last half really picked up and I loved the growth of the characters. To be honest, I think I would have liked this book more if I read it in traditional form rather than audiobook, but I still liked it. This was a very realistic read and great for fans of contemporary!

[Amanda (Good Choice Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a bit of a half and half relationship with Colasanti’s books. Some I enjoy, others I do not. Take Me There was a pleasant read.

I liked the three separate points of view, and I think Colasanti did a decent job of making the three voices unique in their own ways. There were moments when Rhiannon and Nicole kind of blurred together, but each of them had their own personal issues that did separate them. I liked all of the characters well enough.

I love the friendships in this story. The four main characters (why didn't Danny have a voice?) were genuinely good friends to each other, and I loved that they had each others' backs.

I have two small issues with this book. First, the slang was a bit much. This book was released in 2008, which means I was technically still a teen, and I don’t recall anyone ever talking the way these kids do. The only times some of these words were used where I’m from is when someone was just joking around. No one (again, around here) used these words in serious conversations or confrontation. That said, I definitely think she captures the essence of being a teenager very well. While I don’t necessarily agree with the dialogue, I do think she’s spot on with what teenagers are concerned about on a regular basis.

My second issue is the serious issues the book handled. I’m all for serious issues, but in Take Me There, I didn’t really feel as if they were addressed. They were there, but there wasn’t enough time spent on them to really understand them enough to make a difference. I don’t think there’s anything someone who was in a similar situation themselves could have learned from the story.

Those things aside, Take Me There was a lot of fun. I did enjoy it. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted and enjoyable read, Take Me There may provide.

[Nora Janzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three high school friends on a quest for love stop at nothing to find it. Through heartbreak and some tough times James and Rhiannon find love with in each other. Nicole rekindles one of her old flames she realized she should have never put out. Together they tough out the dramas in high school, and form and even stronger bond.

In my opinion "Take Me There" was a great read. Some of the things I thought that were very interesting and entertaining about the book were as follows. I thought the way the author went back and forth between the 3 main characters (Rhiannon, James, and Nicole) in first person was a very clever idea. It gave me a great sense of how each character was feeling behind the scenes of the story. I also loved the plot of the story. I found it very intriguing and well put together. Every time I finished a chapter I was left wanting more and kept reading.

That leads me to my next few points on what I disliked about the book. Although I did like the plot of the story and how everything fit together, the ending is what got me. I didn't really understand the ending and how the author went into these different sets of diaries, letters, and recordings of the characters. They sort of explained the after math of the story but not as well as I had hoped. Another thing that I didn't seem to enjoy was the way the author started the story. I just found it hard to want to read it since it wasn't that exciting.

Over all I loved the book, it was just those few minor things that I disliked. I would definitely recommend this book for someone who wants an exciting love story to read.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take Me There by Susane Colasanti tells three intertwined stories: Rhiannon, Nicole and James.

Rhiannon has just been dumped by her boyfriend. She is completely devastated and will do anything (read: ANYTHING) to get him back.

Nicole is Rhiannon’s best friend. Her and her boyfriend Danny have just broken up, but he is still in love with her. However, Nicole is in love with someone else…an older man.

James is Rhiannon’s other best friend. They’ve known each other forever. James’s girlfriend just dumped him because of his close friendship with Rhiannon.

All three friends live and go to high school in New York City. The book takes place during one week of their lives and each chapter is told through each of the three main character’s viewpoints.

Like in Colasanti’s debut novel When It Happens, Take Me There is also intriguing and exciting because you get to hear the story from three unique perspectives. The timing is really interesting because the book only takes place during one week, but you hear about each day from each character which is exciting.

I loved the dynamic of three main characters because I really fell in love with Nicole, Rhiannon’s best friend. Normally, the main character’s best friend sort of takes on a secondary backseat role, but in this book, she is a main character herself. I really enjoyed her storyline.

Like I said in my last review of When It Happens, Colasanti is just so real. She writes like she really understands what is going on in a teenager’s head. She inspires me to do the kind of writing I’ve always wanted to do!

[Erica (storybookend) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've only read Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti, besides now this one, and I fell in love with that book. It was sweet, and had such deep emotion with teenagers who were real and endearing. I was excited to read all of her other books, hoping that they would all have that same type of feeling. Sadly, Take Me There didn't possess that quality. The writing felt so off, it was overly simple and juvenile, (which honestly isn’t all bad, as I loved the juvenile voice in Waiting For You, just here, I didn’t quite like it). It had lots of run on sentences, and dialogue that went like this:
He’s like..
I’m all like..
And he’s all..
I go..
He goes..
I get that Colasanti was going for a teenager voice, and I suppose they do kind of think along the lines of that, I just didn’t care to have it overly used in a novel. There was no real plot, which I realize isn’t always the point in realistic fiction. It’s more about the emotional journey the characters go through, or just their journey of going through their life, which I love reading about. But that’s the thing, I didn’t feel any emotion reading this book, more boredom than anything (maybe some annoyance at the writing). I did like the part where Rhiannon and James are dancing to his ipod. But I just felt like the execution of the story was lacking, and it could have had more emotion.

Content: some sexual content and swearing

[Sakinah Al Taleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

4.5 stars
If it isn't for the ending I wouldn't give it 4 and half.
I liked the ending the most .. very pleasent ending. it maid me smile a big smile.
it was like giving me a new hope especially when the old women wrote that litter for Jams.
in general the story was good but unfortunately, I couldn't feel it so much .
there is something missing but iam not qite sure what it is.
Thanks again to my frien Doha ^^

[bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot, but I did NOT like the end. It was really weird. She was doing a really good job, skiing right down the plot mountain, but then the book suddenly ended at the most random spot, like she gave up and the skier got pummeled by an avalanche. Besides the ending, I thought it was really good!!

[Paras]

Why are such books written, again?

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a huge fan of the format/pov changes in this book but the story itself wasn't bad so I'm settling for a middling rating.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea of alternating perspectives is interesting, but I have two issues with it:

1) All three characters basically sounded the same. I could barely tell them apart from one another.

2) It gets tiring reading about the same events three times.

Also, the ending was really abrupt. There was a big reveal at the end—literally, the last few lines—, and it was really unsatisfying ending on that note.

[Jessica Boumajnaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked reading the book Take Me There by Susan Colasanti because it reminded me of a dramatic and entertaining movie. It was all about these characters in high school who have their own problems trying to get through it. They all go through tough relationships, whether their romantic or friendly. Ether they end in a terrible disaster or they never fulfill their dreams of happening. I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories about the high school life of craziness.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it had a lot going on and a lot oh drama in it. Its relatable if someone has broken up with you and if you've been in a relationship. The story was pretty much about how she deals with it and gets through it.

[Stella_bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring 😑😑😑 karakter2nya kurang menarik, rasa nya ceritanya sendiri agak garing..

[Carmendlm · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5