Review: LIFE BY COMMITTEE by Corey Ann Haydu
Life in a small town is tough. It’s even tougher when your best friends turn on you for reasons you don’t understand. And when they insist on hanging around at the coffee shop your parents run? It makes the drama inescapable. But that’s how things are for Tabitha, the main character in Corey Ann Haydu‘s LIFE BY COMMITTEE. And it’s probably the reason that she joins the website Life By Committee, an online community that challenges its members to take chances and be more free-spirited.
Katherine Tegan Books, May 2014.
Sure, Tabitha has made some poor choices. But it’s not her fault that her body changed. And it’s not like it’s a terrible thing that, sometimes, she’d rather talk about guys than homework. And it’s not her fault that her guy friend is kind of hitting on her even though he has a (pretty popular) girlfriend. It’s when she acts on it that it becomes a problem. And, when Life By Committee challenges her to continue pursuing her crush despite the damage it could cause her relationships, Tabitha feels like she has no choice but to do what they ask. Because that’s the rules of LBC. To stay a member, you have to complete assignments. And if you don’t? Your secrets go public. And Tabitha has plenty of secrets. Her young parents are fighting over her father’s pot use, she’s definitely seeing a guy she shouldn’t be, and her only friend left in school is gay — and doesn’t want anyone to know. LBC seemed like a good thing. It pushed Tabitha to take risks and break out of her shell. But now Tabitha isn’t so sure her new friends are all such great people. And she’s in too deep to do anything about it.
Like a much more granola Pretty Little Liars, LIFE BY COMMITTEE is an unputdownable contemporary YA with a refreshingly realistic voice and a real sense of urgency. While there’s a romantic element, this is really a story about friendships and family, and the pressure we put on ourselves to please others. And while it tackles some heavy topics, this is a book with a sense of fun. This is a novel that readers who like their drama with a lot of heart will just love.
