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Find Me #1
Find Me
“FIND ME."
These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.
Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.
Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?
Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.
But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.
Because it just got personal.
These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.
Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.
Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?
Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.
But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.
Because it just got personal.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2013
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July 18, 2013
How can we all just keep swimming along when some of us are drowning?
The main question running through my mind after finishing Find Me is this: would I have liked it more if I hadn't worked out exactly who the culprit was about 25% into the book? Perhaps I would. Perhaps the exciting tension, some fast-paced action scenes towards the end and the author's sometimes engaging style would have been enough. But, if I'm being honest, I doubt it. I think the book lacks a certain spark to set it apart from the overcrowded mystery/thriller genre - maybe a better protagonist? Maybe an interesting subplot? Maybe less badly-timed romance?
There are individual scenes that standout from the rest of the book, scenes that make me think I might want to check out the author's future work. But such scenes worthy of mention are few and far between, weakened by long spells of dullness and a romance that is thrown in because it's believed to be a necessary component of young adult novels. The entire creation of the love interest character feels like a last minute add-on that doesn't fit neatly with the rest of the plot. Not only is it out of place, but it also offers the same old cliches - he, of course, is your typical male YA love interest characterized by familiar "bad boy" traits. Plus, I found his habit of calling the MC "Wicked" instead of Wicket rather annoying, not cute or sexy which I'm guessing it was supposed to be.
I always like to give credit where it's due and I think Ms Bernard probably writes fantastic short stories. She really knows her way around a tense scene. Spooky noises and shadows creeping along outside your bedroom window... she masters these little details to keep you on the edge of your seat. It was the parts in between these bits that struggled to keep my attention (i.e. at least 80% of the novel). All the main elements of the plot reminded me of other books, most of which I have enjoyed immensely and the author wasn't strong enough to compete with them. The sadistic criminal for a father reminded me of the Jasper Dent books - I Hunt Killers, Game - but without Jasper's interesting struggle with his own demons and, though I've expressed my love in the past for stories where older siblings fight to protect younger ones - The Hunger Games, Angelfall, The 5th Wave - I think I'm just about getting tired of them.
Also: I still don't understand why adults weren't consulted when Wicket discovers that someone is after Lily. Or, at the very least, Lily herself. I tried to make excuses in my head for why things happened the way they did but I can't make sense of it. I appreciate that Wicket didn't trust the detective, but it's not as if he's the only police officer in the world. Her actions were so reckless that I just didn't believe it. I can assure you I wouldn't launch my own private investigation before getting professionals involved if it was MY little sister or brother that had been threatened by a child molester.
The ending acts as what could be a prologue to a second book called "Remember Me". Well, I think I'll give that a miss unless a LOT of reviews convince me to do otherwise.
December 4, 2013
There was no single element that was terrible about this book, but the plot and the characters just didn't combine to form a book that I found remotely plausible. The plot is weak, the main character is unlikeable, the mystery barely exists, because it was so predictable, the side characters are black-or-white. Beyond that, the best test for a book is my enjoyment...and I just didn't enjoy this book.
Summary: Wick Tate has had a hard life. Her mother is dead. Her father is a felon on the run (see what I mean about parents in YA novels? Dead or gone). Wick is 16, almost 17, and a skilled hacker. So skilled, it is pretty damn unbelievable. She is living with the perfect family. Truly, Wick and her little sister Lily, have lucked out as far as foster families are concerned. Todd and Bren are youngish foster parents, they are wealthy, they are caring, they are pillars of the community, and they provide for Wick and Lily in every way. Despite that, Wick has no faith in them. 16-year old Wick makes a living on the side with her hacking skills as a private investigator for disgruntled wives and girlfriends who want to check up on their significant others. She hacks into bank accounts. She looks for evidence of cheating through email and social accounts. She looks for their other jobs. She maintains her anonymity in all of this.
Meanwhile, a detective named Carson has been trailing Wick everywhere she goes. He is investigating her deadbeat father's case, and seems to have a personal vendetta for Wick. He thinks her, a 16 year old girl, capable of aiding and abetting her meth-lab-operating father in his disappearance. His intrusion is borderline stalking.
At school, a girl named Tessa Waye, has died. Suicide. Wick doesn't buy it, because someone mysteriously sent her Tessa's journal on the day she died. From then on, Wick begins the investigation into Tessa's death with the aid of a fellow student.
The Plot: This is a teenage amateur detective novel of the lightest order, because it really does not take a genius to figure out the "whodunnit." I thought I had it completely figured out 25% of the way in, and it turned out, I was right. This may be a quasi-detective novel, but it's no Agatha Christie. There's not much guesswork at play here. This is a problem for me, because in as much as I don't like a mystery novel where the ending comes fuck out of nowhere, I also like to be able to think a little for myself.
I like to play armchair detective. I like a little guesswork. I love mysteries, and part of that is my love of figuring things out, to follow subtly given clues and see if I made the correct guess.
There was no such subtlety in this book. The bad guy was so obvious that my 12-year old self reading The Baby Sitters' Club Mysteries could have figured it out. The villain was so blatant that it took away much of the enjoyment that a reader derives from reading a mystery.
The events rather stretch the boundaries a little bit. I'm willing to be flexible when it comes to fiction, but really, am I supposed to believe that at the age of 16, Wick has been a hacker/cyber investigator for 3-4 years? Let's go back in time. 3-4 years ago, Wick was being bounced around in foster homes. Her mother committed suicide when she was 11. Her father started his meth lab when Wick was 5.
Wick also has a younger sister, Lily, of whom she is overwhelmingly protective. Am I supposed to believe that during all this time, during her childhood full of abuse, living on tenterhooks because her father was a drug dealer, dealing with her mother's depression, trying to take care of her baby sister---somehow in the fuck of all this mess that is her life, Wick manages to also become a brilliant hacker at the age of 12? While being bounced around in foster homes?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that every single fucking adult in this book are idiotic, incompetent, completely incapable, as Wick does?
Am I supposed to empathize with a main character with a chip on her back the size of Russia? Who believes that the whole world and its' cousin in law is out to get her?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that a it's wise to leave a message on a dead girl's Facebook account, leaving the provocative message of "I know who killed me" and expect to stay nice and safe while she draws the killer out?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that a teenaged girl would kill herself and nobody---not even the police---would even think to look at her online accounts and emails and her life, given this day and age to see what went wrong?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that withholding evidence from the police is a wise idea because a kid can investigate the deaths so much better than professionals?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that the entire police department are stupid and corrupt, and one detective is so fiendishly evil that he would call Wick "trash" to her face? That he would believe a16 year old GIRL capable of such trickery and wiliness that he would tail her around constantly?
The answer is no.
Yes, I know the police can be corrupt. Humans are corrupt. Law enforcement officials are human. But it stretches my belief when everything is so black-and-white as Wick would see it. The overwhelming sense of this book is that because Wick BELIEVES everyone is incompetent and evil, it is true. Life doesn't work that way.
The Main Character: Wick is not a likeable heroine. The summary says it all: "Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare." It is wholly evident in the book. She sees herself as Robin Hood when she engages in hacking. I don't think she is quite so noble.
I didn't like Wick. She is selfish. She has no trust in authority figures, even when said authority figures are trying their very best to do right by her and her sister. According to Wick, the entire world is false. They smile at her with a Cheshire Cat's grin. She trusts no one but herself. Given her past, I can overlook her attitude and distrust, but only to a certain extent. Wick's overwhelming attitude can only be overlooked for so long before it grated on my nerves, and I found myself barely able to tolerate her.
Her evolution in the book for the better is seen only in that she stops being an asshole and somewhat ceases her bitchy commentary towards everyone in her life.
Wick is selfish. She has a good life, she won the fucking foster family lottery. Yet she seeks to endanger it at every turn by doing her highly illegal hacking jobs. It puts her and her sister in danger of losing their home with Todd and Bren. Lily, the wise 11-year old, sees it, and points it out to Wick. Wick doesn't give a crap, because she doesn't care, and she trusts no one but herself. Chip on her shoulders, indeed.
The Romance: The lurve hit me from out of nowhere. Really. Griff has been her classmate for years, they've barely spoken, then all of a sudden he breaks into her bedroom, and Wick thinks "Hey, he's not so bad after all," and then a few days later, this happens out of no-fucking-where:
The answer is no.
Summary: Wick Tate has had a hard life. Her mother is dead. Her father is a felon on the run (see what I mean about parents in YA novels? Dead or gone). Wick is 16, almost 17, and a skilled hacker. So skilled, it is pretty damn unbelievable. She is living with the perfect family. Truly, Wick and her little sister Lily, have lucked out as far as foster families are concerned. Todd and Bren are youngish foster parents, they are wealthy, they are caring, they are pillars of the community, and they provide for Wick and Lily in every way. Despite that, Wick has no faith in them. 16-year old Wick makes a living on the side with her hacking skills as a private investigator for disgruntled wives and girlfriends who want to check up on their significant others. She hacks into bank accounts. She looks for evidence of cheating through email and social accounts. She looks for their other jobs. She maintains her anonymity in all of this.
Meanwhile, a detective named Carson has been trailing Wick everywhere she goes. He is investigating her deadbeat father's case, and seems to have a personal vendetta for Wick. He thinks her, a 16 year old girl, capable of aiding and abetting her meth-lab-operating father in his disappearance. His intrusion is borderline stalking.
At school, a girl named Tessa Waye, has died. Suicide. Wick doesn't buy it, because someone mysteriously sent her Tessa's journal on the day she died. From then on, Wick begins the investigation into Tessa's death with the aid of a fellow student.
The Plot: This is a teenage amateur detective novel of the lightest order, because it really does not take a genius to figure out the "whodunnit." I thought I had it completely figured out 25% of the way in, and it turned out, I was right. This may be a quasi-detective novel, but it's no Agatha Christie. There's not much guesswork at play here. This is a problem for me, because in as much as I don't like a mystery novel where the ending comes fuck out of nowhere, I also like to be able to think a little for myself.
I like to play armchair detective. I like a little guesswork. I love mysteries, and part of that is my love of figuring things out, to follow subtly given clues and see if I made the correct guess.
There was no such subtlety in this book. The bad guy was so obvious that my 12-year old self reading The Baby Sitters' Club Mysteries could have figured it out. The villain was so blatant that it took away much of the enjoyment that a reader derives from reading a mystery.
The events rather stretch the boundaries a little bit. I'm willing to be flexible when it comes to fiction, but really, am I supposed to believe that at the age of 16, Wick has been a hacker/cyber investigator for 3-4 years? Let's go back in time. 3-4 years ago, Wick was being bounced around in foster homes. Her mother committed suicide when she was 11. Her father started his meth lab when Wick was 5.
Wick also has a younger sister, Lily, of whom she is overwhelmingly protective. Am I supposed to believe that during all this time, during her childhood full of abuse, living on tenterhooks because her father was a drug dealer, dealing with her mother's depression, trying to take care of her baby sister---somehow in the fuck of all this mess that is her life, Wick manages to also become a brilliant hacker at the age of 12? While being bounced around in foster homes?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that every single fucking adult in this book are idiotic, incompetent, completely incapable, as Wick does?
You see, adults mess things up even when they’re trying to fix them. No. Check that. They mess things up especially when they’re trying to fix them. I mean, think about how they tried to save us from our dad, how they tried to help my mom. Failure all the way around.The answer is no.
Am I supposed to empathize with a main character with a chip on her back the size of Russia? Who believes that the whole world and its' cousin in law is out to get her?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that a it's wise to leave a message on a dead girl's Facebook account, leaving the provocative message of "I know who killed me" and expect to stay nice and safe while she draws the killer out?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that a teenaged girl would kill herself and nobody---not even the police---would even think to look at her online accounts and emails and her life, given this day and age to see what went wrong?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that withholding evidence from the police is a wise idea because a kid can investigate the deaths so much better than professionals?
The answer is no.
Am I supposed to believe that the entire police department are stupid and corrupt, and one detective is so fiendishly evil that he would call Wick "trash" to her face? That he would believe a16 year old GIRL capable of such trickery and wiliness that he would tail her around constantly?
The answer is no.
Yes, I know the police can be corrupt. Humans are corrupt. Law enforcement officials are human. But it stretches my belief when everything is so black-and-white as Wick would see it. The overwhelming sense of this book is that because Wick BELIEVES everyone is incompetent and evil, it is true. Life doesn't work that way.
The Main Character: Wick is not a likeable heroine. The summary says it all: "Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare." It is wholly evident in the book. She sees herself as Robin Hood when she engages in hacking. I don't think she is quite so noble.
I didn't like Wick. She is selfish. She has no trust in authority figures, even when said authority figures are trying their very best to do right by her and her sister. According to Wick, the entire world is false. They smile at her with a Cheshire Cat's grin. She trusts no one but herself. Given her past, I can overlook her attitude and distrust, but only to a certain extent. Wick's overwhelming attitude can only be overlooked for so long before it grated on my nerves, and I found myself barely able to tolerate her.
Her evolution in the book for the better is seen only in that she stops being an asshole and somewhat ceases her bitchy commentary towards everyone in her life.
Wick is selfish. She has a good life, she won the fucking foster family lottery. Yet she seeks to endanger it at every turn by doing her highly illegal hacking jobs. It puts her and her sister in danger of losing their home with Todd and Bren. Lily, the wise 11-year old, sees it, and points it out to Wick. Wick doesn't give a crap, because she doesn't care, and she trusts no one but herself. Chip on her shoulders, indeed.
The Romance: The lurve hit me from out of nowhere. Really. Griff has been her classmate for years, they've barely spoken, then all of a sudden he breaks into her bedroom, and Wick thinks "Hey, he's not so bad after all," and then a few days later, this happens out of no-fucking-where:
Everywhere he’s touching and everywhere he’s touched is lighting up. I feel like I’ve swallowed the sun.Wha---what? How?! Do I believe that?
The answer is no.
September 10, 2013
Find Me has a fairly strong beginning with dashes of tense, well written scenes. This made me sure that it would be an entertaining read if nothing else, but unfortunately it ended up being mostly boring with too much of the same old same old.
My first problem with this book is character development - or the lack thereof. We're told Wick is this great hacker, a trait meant to impress but never felt genuine. All she does in this book is track an IP. Not only is the ability to dig up public information not hacking, the few examples we get are weak and some of it inaccurate. When you get a Facebook notification email, digging through the header would give you the originating IPs for the message's relay servers: Facebook numbers, not user IPs. This is just one example and something non tech-savy readers might not know, but it shows a lack of research, making the story unrealistic for those of us who do. The other "hacks" mentioned are not especially challenging, either.
Aside from these grand skillz, Wick is your average thriller/mystery character who stupidly takes things into her own hands. Of course, this backfires, but I bet you'll never see that one coming! *sigh* I understand she suspects one officer of being dirty, but I doubt a whole police station would ignore threats made on an 11 year old, or an address where a wanted criminal is hiding. This criminal in question - her dad - is not the mafia, it's just him and his partner alone in a house, so why is Wick not turning him in when he blackmails her? I don't even understand what made them so dangerous to begin with. Simply telling us someone is to be feared doesn't alarm me. Oh he cooked Meth, he must be some scary mother… Heisenberg is not your average meth cook persona, FYI. Also, where is the psychological side of this story? Being an abused criminal's daughter and everything… It might have added a layer of emotion to an otherwise dull plot.
The side characters - flat, flat flat; nothing but stereotypical personalities.
My second problem is with the romance. Firstly it felt forced, lacking any sort of spark. Secondly, the love interest blackmails Wick into kissing her - and not in any romantic, joking way - and then throws her in a pool when she outsmarts him. Next thing you know she's sleeping with him. Does this give you butterflies?
My third and maybe biggest issue is with the immense predictability of the plot. I knew who it was by page 50. Actually, I was thinking there was NO way it could be this guy, because it would have just been too easy. But nope. It was him. Making the least guilty looking character into the guilty is the oldest tactic in history! Maybe they were hoping adding a few overly suspicious looking characters would distract us?
I admit to being entertained until about halfway, and the writing itself is good - especially for this genre. It's the plot that's weakly executed, full of clichés and boring characters; empty of anything that would make it memorable. It might gather a better fan base from readers who are very new to the genre, but I've read too many thrillers to be one of them.
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
My first problem with this book is character development - or the lack thereof. We're told Wick is this great hacker, a trait meant to impress but never felt genuine. All she does in this book is track an IP. Not only is the ability to dig up public information not hacking, the few examples we get are weak and some of it inaccurate. When you get a Facebook notification email, digging through the header would give you the originating IPs for the message's relay servers: Facebook numbers, not user IPs. This is just one example and something non tech-savy readers might not know, but it shows a lack of research, making the story unrealistic for those of us who do. The other "hacks" mentioned are not especially challenging, either.
Aside from these grand skillz, Wick is your average thriller/mystery character who stupidly takes things into her own hands. Of course, this backfires, but I bet you'll never see that one coming! *sigh* I understand she suspects one officer of being dirty, but I doubt a whole police station would ignore threats made on an 11 year old, or an address where a wanted criminal is hiding. This criminal in question - her dad - is not the mafia, it's just him and his partner alone in a house, so why is Wick not turning him in when he blackmails her? I don't even understand what made them so dangerous to begin with. Simply telling us someone is to be feared doesn't alarm me. Oh he cooked Meth, he must be some scary mother… Heisenberg is not your average meth cook persona, FYI. Also, where is the psychological side of this story? Being an abused criminal's daughter and everything… It might have added a layer of emotion to an otherwise dull plot.
The side characters - flat, flat flat; nothing but stereotypical personalities.
My second problem is with the romance. Firstly it felt forced, lacking any sort of spark. Secondly, the love interest blackmails Wick into kissing her - and not in any romantic, joking way - and then throws her in a pool when she outsmarts him. Next thing you know she's sleeping with him. Does this give you butterflies?
My third and maybe biggest issue is with the immense predictability of the plot. I knew who it was by page 50. Actually, I was thinking there was NO way it could be this guy, because it would have just been too easy. But nope. It was him. Making the least guilty looking character into the guilty is the oldest tactic in history! Maybe they were hoping adding a few overly suspicious looking characters would distract us?
I admit to being entertained until about halfway, and the writing itself is good - especially for this genre. It's the plot that's weakly executed, full of clichés and boring characters; empty of anything that would make it memorable. It might gather a better fan base from readers who are very new to the genre, but I've read too many thrillers to be one of them.
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
January 4, 2016
Fafa's Book Corner (Wordpress)
Fafa's Book Corner (Blogger)
Beware spoilers ahead!
I first heard of this book in February 2015. It sounded interesting and I went through the reviews. Most of the one's I came across where unappealing. In December 2015 I decided to give it a try and added it to my shelf. After I put it on hold in the library I realized that this book may not be for me. But nonetheless I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this.
The book begins with Wick (short for Wicket) hearing some noises. She grabs a bat and heads downstairs to check it out. She runs into her sister Lily (9 years old) and they make their way down. Lily tries to reassure Wick that they have a wonderful life now and that Detective Carson does not mean any harm. She also tries to convince her Wick to stop hacking before she ruins their new life. Downstairs they see Detective Carson and he smiles at them.
Wick goes to check the door only to find Tessa Waye's dairy with the words 'Find Me' written on it. In the morning Wick assumes that the dairy being sent over must be a prank. Why on earth would be popular and happy Tessa send her dairy otherwise? Once she reaches school she soon discovers from her crush Griff that Tessa committed suicide by jumping off a building. Wick has a panic attack as she realizes that the dairy must have been sent for a reason. She gets excused to go home.
Wick and Lily have been in foster care for years. Their father is a criminal and their mother seeing no escape from her husband jumps off a building committing suicide. Their father was eventually sent to jail leaving the sisters in the system. In the book they seem to have found a good family in Bren and her husband Todd. But Wick doesn't trust it. She's extremely paranoid especially when it comes to adults. So on the side she does some hacking. Specifically looking into these women's boyfriends or husbands and they pay her quite a bit. She's saving the money just in case she and Lily need to run away from Bren and Todd.
Wick with the help of Griff decide to look into what caused Tessa to commit suicide, because the situation reminds Wick of her mother and that Lily is the man's next target.
If I'm going to be honest I am not that big a fan of murder mysteries. I do enjoy them but not as much as contemporary and fantasy books. Although I can agree with other reviews that around page 50 you can take a good guess as to who the murderer is. It's an old cliche but it is used in this book.
The only characters that I liked were Wick, Tessa, Bren (I really wish she came in more), and Lauren (Wick's best friend). In the book there are quotes from Tessa's dairy in every chapter. This was brilliant and you got to know Tessa's character a little bit more. Bren was sweet and a good foster mom. Lauren was this awesome best friend who knew everything about Wick and was still supportive of her. Wick was an interesting character and I didn't mind her paranoia with adults and authority. It made sense to me. It was really nice that Wick went through a lot of measures to keep Lily safe.
I didn't really like Lily and Griff. Lily barely came in the book and when she did it was to bite Wick's head off with her hacking. And to tell her that Wick would get them in trouble, and to give Bren and Todd a chance. There really didn't need to be romance in this book. Griff was a creepy love interest. He was obsessed with Wick and has been apparently stacking her for 3 years.
There were some plot holes with the mystery. It's never specified what exactly the man that Tessa was in a relationship with would do to Lily. You're just told that he had an interest in her and that was a bad thing.
Overall I didn't enjoy this book. It wasn't that good of a mystery book. I cannot recommend this.
Fafa's Book Corner (Blogger)
Beware spoilers ahead!
I first heard of this book in February 2015. It sounded interesting and I went through the reviews. Most of the one's I came across where unappealing. In December 2015 I decided to give it a try and added it to my shelf. After I put it on hold in the library I realized that this book may not be for me. But nonetheless I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this.
The book begins with Wick (short for Wicket) hearing some noises. She grabs a bat and heads downstairs to check it out. She runs into her sister Lily (9 years old) and they make their way down. Lily tries to reassure Wick that they have a wonderful life now and that Detective Carson does not mean any harm. She also tries to convince her Wick to stop hacking before she ruins their new life. Downstairs they see Detective Carson and he smiles at them.
Wick goes to check the door only to find Tessa Waye's dairy with the words 'Find Me' written on it. In the morning Wick assumes that the dairy being sent over must be a prank. Why on earth would be popular and happy Tessa send her dairy otherwise? Once she reaches school she soon discovers from her crush Griff that Tessa committed suicide by jumping off a building. Wick has a panic attack as she realizes that the dairy must have been sent for a reason. She gets excused to go home.
Wick and Lily have been in foster care for years. Their father is a criminal and their mother seeing no escape from her husband jumps off a building committing suicide. Their father was eventually sent to jail leaving the sisters in the system. In the book they seem to have found a good family in Bren and her husband Todd. But Wick doesn't trust it. She's extremely paranoid especially when it comes to adults. So on the side she does some hacking. Specifically looking into these women's boyfriends or husbands and they pay her quite a bit. She's saving the money just in case she and Lily need to run away from Bren and Todd.
Wick with the help of Griff decide to look into what caused Tessa to commit suicide, because the situation reminds Wick of her mother and that Lily is the man's next target.
If I'm going to be honest I am not that big a fan of murder mysteries. I do enjoy them but not as much as contemporary and fantasy books. Although I can agree with other reviews that around page 50 you can take a good guess as to who the murderer is. It's an old cliche but it is used in this book.
The only characters that I liked were Wick, Tessa, Bren (I really wish she came in more), and Lauren (Wick's best friend). In the book there are quotes from Tessa's dairy in every chapter. This was brilliant and you got to know Tessa's character a little bit more. Bren was sweet and a good foster mom. Lauren was this awesome best friend who knew everything about Wick and was still supportive of her. Wick was an interesting character and I didn't mind her paranoia with adults and authority. It made sense to me. It was really nice that Wick went through a lot of measures to keep Lily safe.
I didn't really like Lily and Griff. Lily barely came in the book and when she did it was to bite Wick's head off with her hacking. And to tell her that Wick would get them in trouble, and to give Bren and Todd a chance. There really didn't need to be romance in this book. Griff was a creepy love interest. He was obsessed with Wick and has been apparently stacking her for 3 years.
There were some plot holes with the mystery. It's never specified what exactly the man that Tessa was in a relationship with would do to Lily. You're just told that he had an interest in her and that was a bad thing.
Overall I didn't enjoy this book. It wasn't that good of a mystery book. I cannot recommend this.
July 11, 2013
This book was AHH-MAY-ZING!!!! BEA 2013 in NYC was one of the best experiences ever. FIND ME was one of the reasons for that. I was so excited to get a copy and meet Romily herself, she couldn't have been nicer! This was the first book I read as soon as I got home and I have been trying to put into words how I feel about this book ever since. What I realized is that I kinda can't! It is unlike anything I have ever read in the YA genre. I also cant describe the plot any further than it's summary without giving to much away and I wouldn't want to spoil it.. (for the record I try and avoid these kinds of reviews myself)
I really enjoyed Wick's character, I enjoyed Griff's nickname for her even more ;) and speaking of Griff (swooooon) man he was everything I like my leading guy to be! He was funny, rough and totally willing to throw himself in front of a bullet for her. They have really great chemistry, the pool party was one of my favorite scenes. Though I kinda had an idea who the big bad was, the ending was no less shocking.
Now lets talking about the writing.. it was amazing. It's hard to believe that Romily has never published a book before this one, maybe she has? I wouldn't be surprised! Although this book is only 300 pages, the story is so rich and flushed out so well that it doesn't need to be drawn out. When I read the first 3 chapters on RB's website I was so hooked!!! The suspense of the first scene alone had me biting my nails! I needed to read this one with the lights on. The best news? There will be more books in the FIND ME Universe and while there is a conclusion to the major plot line I definitely want to spend more time with these characters :)
IS it September yet?? Wait I have a copy, but I could always use another :)
I really enjoyed Wick's character, I enjoyed Griff's nickname for her even more ;) and speaking of Griff (swooooon) man he was everything I like my leading guy to be! He was funny, rough and totally willing to throw himself in front of a bullet for her. They have really great chemistry, the pool party was one of my favorite scenes. Though I kinda had an idea who the big bad was, the ending was no less shocking.
Now lets talking about the writing.. it was amazing. It's hard to believe that Romily has never published a book before this one, maybe she has? I wouldn't be surprised! Although this book is only 300 pages, the story is so rich and flushed out so well that it doesn't need to be drawn out. When I read the first 3 chapters on RB's website I was so hooked!!! The suspense of the first scene alone had me biting my nails! I needed to read this one with the lights on. The best news? There will be more books in the FIND ME Universe and while there is a conclusion to the major plot line I definitely want to spend more time with these characters :)
IS it September yet?? Wait I have a copy, but I could always use another :)
August 2, 2013
Woah. This book, guys. Find Me is a captivating and wholly fantastic read that is impossible to put down. This book packs a punch, and I loved every single minute of it.
Hacker murder mystery? Yes please! I was looking forward to Find Me ever since I saw that awesome cover and a synopsis that sounded phenomenal. And believe me, this book lived up to all of my expectations and more. You will never find a book like this one - not only is Find Me unique and original, the characters are so clever and epic. I've never experienced characters or a book like this before. Find Me is an absolute must-read - if you love fast-paced novels with edge-of-your-seat moments, you won't want to miss this gem.
Wick has easily become one of my favorite protagonists of all-time. Not only is she smart, but she's quick and incredibly developed. Romily Bernard created a protagonist that captured my heart and took me on a wild, insane ride; and I was so happy I got to experience that ride with Wick. Loyal, fierce, and determined, Wick gives Katniss Everdeen a run for her money. And of course, I can't leave out Griff and Tessa. The whole plot idea with Tessa was genius, and I love how we get snippets of her diary throughout Find Me! Griff was just awesome, plain and simple. Griff and Wick are two misfits, but when they come together, they are an incredible force. Oh my gosh, I can't explain how much I loved all of these characters!
I am determined that Romily Bernard is a master of suspense. Right from page one, we are thrown into the midst of an action scene, and the action never lets up. There is never a dull moment in Find Me, and I couldn't force myself to tear my eyes away from the page! That ending?! I stayed up long into the night, desperately turning pages to figure out how it would all end. Amazing, marvelous, genius. Do I need to explain my love for this book further? Find Me is a riveting, fantastic read that is one not to be missed!
Overall, I loved Find Me to pieces, and I never wanted it to end. This book needs to be on your radar - you won't regret it!
Hacker murder mystery? Yes please! I was looking forward to Find Me ever since I saw that awesome cover and a synopsis that sounded phenomenal. And believe me, this book lived up to all of my expectations and more. You will never find a book like this one - not only is Find Me unique and original, the characters are so clever and epic. I've never experienced characters or a book like this before. Find Me is an absolute must-read - if you love fast-paced novels with edge-of-your-seat moments, you won't want to miss this gem.
Wick has easily become one of my favorite protagonists of all-time. Not only is she smart, but she's quick and incredibly developed. Romily Bernard created a protagonist that captured my heart and took me on a wild, insane ride; and I was so happy I got to experience that ride with Wick. Loyal, fierce, and determined, Wick gives Katniss Everdeen a run for her money. And of course, I can't leave out Griff and Tessa. The whole plot idea with Tessa was genius, and I love how we get snippets of her diary throughout Find Me! Griff was just awesome, plain and simple. Griff and Wick are two misfits, but when they come together, they are an incredible force. Oh my gosh, I can't explain how much I loved all of these characters!
I am determined that Romily Bernard is a master of suspense. Right from page one, we are thrown into the midst of an action scene, and the action never lets up. There is never a dull moment in Find Me, and I couldn't force myself to tear my eyes away from the page! That ending?! I stayed up long into the night, desperately turning pages to figure out how it would all end. Amazing, marvelous, genius. Do I need to explain my love for this book further? Find Me is a riveting, fantastic read that is one not to be missed!
Overall, I loved Find Me to pieces, and I never wanted it to end. This book needs to be on your radar - you won't regret it!
February 17, 2013
Truth in advertising: I am Romily's critique partner, and I have had an incredible sneak peak at Find Me. This YA hacker story will absolutely blow you away... Romily as a way with words that will leave you stunned. Cannot recommend enough!
August 20, 2013
3.5 stars
Throughout the summer, I’ve been repeating that romance is pretty much the only thing that can hold my attention, but now I’m pretty sure I’ve been foolish not to include more psychological thrillers to my reading list. Find Me is almost ridiculously engaging, compulsively readable and well-written. While some predictability was certainly an issue, the details remained a mystery up until the very end, and the short chapters combined with an excellent pacing gave me no time to breathe at all.
The first thing you’ll probably notice about Find Me is how clear and resonant Wick’s voice is. Her personality jumps right off the page and in your face, and while she’s anything but a goody two-shoes, she is instantly likeable. The tough-as-nails teen hacker has a more vulnerable side, of course, but she’s not about to show it to anyone, not even her baby sister.
The romance didn’t take too much of the plot at all, but it was very sweet and completely believable. I enjoyed Wick and Griff’s interactions and how well they fit together. With everything else in her life in shambles, Wick needed someone like Griff to keep her balanced and support her through everything, but he was more than just a crutch for her to
I’ve mentioned before that predictability is an issue, and it is. The villain is so easy to recognize, it’s almost ridiculous. But the entire mystery is so utterly nauseating and awful that knowing the culprit makes it almost worse.
To be perfectly honest (and when am I not?), I doubt I’ll remember much of this book a few months from now, but not even that bothers me. Some books you read to carry with you always, and some you read to entertain you now, and the entertainment value of Find Me is very, very high.
The very last paragraph opens the story enough for a sequel to be entirely possible. I haven’t been able to find any information just yet, but I do hope there will be one eventually. I think these characters have a lot more to give.
Throughout the summer, I’ve been repeating that romance is pretty much the only thing that can hold my attention, but now I’m pretty sure I’ve been foolish not to include more psychological thrillers to my reading list. Find Me is almost ridiculously engaging, compulsively readable and well-written. While some predictability was certainly an issue, the details remained a mystery up until the very end, and the short chapters combined with an excellent pacing gave me no time to breathe at all.
The first thing you’ll probably notice about Find Me is how clear and resonant Wick’s voice is. Her personality jumps right off the page and in your face, and while she’s anything but a goody two-shoes, she is instantly likeable. The tough-as-nails teen hacker has a more vulnerable side, of course, but she’s not about to show it to anyone, not even her baby sister.
The romance didn’t take too much of the plot at all, but it was very sweet and completely believable. I enjoyed Wick and Griff’s interactions and how well they fit together. With everything else in her life in shambles, Wick needed someone like Griff to keep her balanced and support her through everything, but he was more than just a crutch for her to
I’ve mentioned before that predictability is an issue, and it is. The villain is so easy to recognize, it’s almost ridiculous. But the entire mystery is so utterly nauseating and awful that knowing the culprit makes it almost worse.
To be perfectly honest (and when am I not?), I doubt I’ll remember much of this book a few months from now, but not even that bothers me. Some books you read to carry with you always, and some you read to entertain you now, and the entertainment value of Find Me is very, very high.
The very last paragraph opens the story enough for a sequel to be entirely possible. I haven’t been able to find any information just yet, but I do hope there will be one eventually. I think these characters have a lot more to give.
February 10, 2020
Genç yetişkin tarzda bir psikolojik gerilim diyebiliriz. Yeni koruyucu ailelerinin yanına yerleşen Wick ve Lily iki kız kardeş. Wick hacker’lık yaparak aldatılan kadınlara yardım eden sorunlu bir kız. Annesi intihar etmiş ve babası polis tarafından aranıyor. Eskiden yakın olan bir arkadaşı intihar ediyor ve kendisini bu olayın ortasında buluyor.
Kitabın 99. sayfasına geldiğimde durdum ve tahminimi bir kenara yazdım. Bu benim genelde yaptığım bir şey. Ve genelde haklı da çıkarım. Yine bildim, yine bildim.
Kitabın genel havası biraz genç yetişkin aşkları ve ilişkileri gibi. Ama gerilim ve merak ettirme de var. Ben genel itibariyle sevdim. Çok bir seri katil havası yok ama arka kapak yazısında seri katil diyor. İkinci ve üçüncü kitapta bakalım. Zamanınızı güzel geçirebilirsiniz.
Kitabın 99. sayfasına geldiğimde durdum ve tahminimi bir kenara yazdım. Bu benim genelde yaptığım bir şey. Ve genelde haklı da çıkarım. Yine bildim, yine bildim.
Kitabın genel havası biraz genç yetişkin aşkları ve ilişkileri gibi. Ama gerilim ve merak ettirme de var. Ben genel itibariyle sevdim. Çok bir seri katil havası yok ama arka kapak yazısında seri katil diyor. İkinci ve üçüncü kitapta bakalım. Zamanınızı güzel geçirebilirsiniz.
August 14, 2013
Review goes live on the blog 9/20!
I don't want to jinx myself, but I've been having insanely good luck lately with Young Adult Thrillers. Before I began blogging, thrillers were my go-to reads, but I never thought to try them in a YA flavor.
Wick Tate doesn't have a whole lot going for her: her felon father is on the run, cops are trying to squeeze information out of her, she's on her fourth set of foster parents, and her best friend acts like Wick no longer exists. The two bright sides to Wick's life are her little sister Lily and her hacking business - women hire her to get the dirt on their cheating boyfriends/husbands.
The morning following a detective's usual late-night stakeout, Wick finds a diary on the doorstep. Flipping through she recognizes the handwriting of her former best friend, Tessa. Scrawled on the cover however, are the words find me. That day at school Wick learns Tessa died - jumped off a building - and Wick refuses to believe the story ends there. The diary entries talk of more: a man Tessa was seeing, someone who learns Wick picked up his scent and now he's after her.
YA Thrillers might just be my new favorite thing. Find Me captivated me from the very first page and didn't let go until well after I finished. There's a sense of foreboding throughout the novel that I found riveting and more than once my breath caught and I lost myself to the scene. When I read thrillers or mysteries, I like to guess at Who Did It and I tend to be right. The same can be said for Find Me, but the way the mystery was revealed was so expertly done that I didn't mind one bit! I had actually been hoping for a different character to be the killer and was disappointed I was wrong, but the truth came out and when it did I immediately changed my tune; the bad guy was truly awful and I began to panic and had to set the book down. Having your reader experience such intense emotions takes some serious talent and Ms. Bernard let hers shine.
As per YA there's a romance involved, but what sets Find Me apart is that there was NOT a love triangle nor was this a case of instalove. Their relationship blossomed over time and it was such a welcome sight. Even better: the romance didn't take center stage. In the hands of a lesser author, this book about a killer-going-after-the-younger-sister could easily have turned into a starcrossed romance with a hint of an actual plot. No so here!
That this is Ms. Bernard's debut novel both impresses and excites me! Find Me enveloped me in its mystery - Who was this man Tessa was seeing? Will he get to Wick's sister? - and its hold refused to give. I highly recommend this book and you can bet I'll be waiting to see what Romily Bernard writes next!
I don't want to jinx myself, but I've been having insanely good luck lately with Young Adult Thrillers. Before I began blogging, thrillers were my go-to reads, but I never thought to try them in a YA flavor.
Wick Tate doesn't have a whole lot going for her: her felon father is on the run, cops are trying to squeeze information out of her, she's on her fourth set of foster parents, and her best friend acts like Wick no longer exists. The two bright sides to Wick's life are her little sister Lily and her hacking business - women hire her to get the dirt on their cheating boyfriends/husbands.
The morning following a detective's usual late-night stakeout, Wick finds a diary on the doorstep. Flipping through she recognizes the handwriting of her former best friend, Tessa. Scrawled on the cover however, are the words find me. That day at school Wick learns Tessa died - jumped off a building - and Wick refuses to believe the story ends there. The diary entries talk of more: a man Tessa was seeing, someone who learns Wick picked up his scent and now he's after her.
YA Thrillers might just be my new favorite thing. Find Me captivated me from the very first page and didn't let go until well after I finished. There's a sense of foreboding throughout the novel that I found riveting and more than once my breath caught and I lost myself to the scene. When I read thrillers or mysteries, I like to guess at Who Did It and I tend to be right. The same can be said for Find Me, but the way the mystery was revealed was so expertly done that I didn't mind one bit! I had actually been hoping for a different character to be the killer and was disappointed I was wrong, but the truth came out and when it did I immediately changed my tune; the bad guy was truly awful and I began to panic and had to set the book down. Having your reader experience such intense emotions takes some serious talent and Ms. Bernard let hers shine.
As per YA there's a romance involved, but what sets Find Me apart is that there was NOT a love triangle nor was this a case of instalove. Their relationship blossomed over time and it was such a welcome sight. Even better: the romance didn't take center stage. In the hands of a lesser author, this book about a killer-going-after-the-younger-sister could easily have turned into a starcrossed romance with a hint of an actual plot. No so here!
That this is Ms. Bernard's debut novel both impresses and excites me! Find Me enveloped me in its mystery - Who was this man Tessa was seeing? Will he get to Wick's sister? - and its hold refused to give. I highly recommend this book and you can bet I'll be waiting to see what Romily Bernard writes next!
May 19, 2016
Wow.
Disclaimer time: I critique with Romily. But here's why I'm giving you the wow. I read this book before she had an agent and before she sold the book. It sunk it's teeth into me and didn't let go. I knew this book was going to sell. Last night, I told myself I was going to start the rereading process so I could write an awesome review.
About that.
Yeah, I had to read the whole book in one sitting. Again.
There's something about caustic Wick that I absolutely love. As a narrator, she's probably an acquired taste, but Bernard had me in stitches with things like "What can I say? I'm freaking sweetness and light." Or when Wick referred to herself as "Robin Hood with Kool-Aid colored hair" or my personal favorite "No me gusta bullshit."
For me, that's what makes this book. Sure, the pacing makes the story a page turner. Sure, the threat of harm to Lily keeps you hoping Wick can find the killer in time. Then there are all sorts of motives to sort out: Mr Waye, Carson the shady detective, Joe the master hacker, and even the Stepford stepparents Todd and Bren. Even when I figured out who the killer was, I kept flipping because I had to see how the whole story was going to play out and if everyone was going to make it out okay. (I'm not telling)
And then there's Griff. I love Griff. He's that easy cool we all want to be but not a jerk. His story has one twist after another, but you can't questions his feelings for Wick. You can only wonder if they'll be enough.
I love this book. I love the way Bernard writes. I love how Wick crams down her vulnerabilities to be tough on the outside and to do right by the people she loves. I love how Griff takes care of her without smothering her or wanting her to be someone else. Find me is, simply put, one helluva fun read.
Disclaimer time: I critique with Romily. But here's why I'm giving you the wow. I read this book before she had an agent and before she sold the book. It sunk it's teeth into me and didn't let go. I knew this book was going to sell. Last night, I told myself I was going to start the rereading process so I could write an awesome review.
About that.
Yeah, I had to read the whole book in one sitting. Again.
There's something about caustic Wick that I absolutely love. As a narrator, she's probably an acquired taste, but Bernard had me in stitches with things like "What can I say? I'm freaking sweetness and light." Or when Wick referred to herself as "Robin Hood with Kool-Aid colored hair" or my personal favorite "No me gusta bullshit."
For me, that's what makes this book. Sure, the pacing makes the story a page turner. Sure, the threat of harm to Lily keeps you hoping Wick can find the killer in time. Then there are all sorts of motives to sort out: Mr Waye, Carson the shady detective, Joe the master hacker, and even the Stepford stepparents Todd and Bren. Even when I figured out who the killer was, I kept flipping because I had to see how the whole story was going to play out and if everyone was going to make it out okay. (I'm not telling)
And then there's Griff. I love Griff. He's that easy cool we all want to be but not a jerk. His story has one twist after another, but you can't questions his feelings for Wick. You can only wonder if they'll be enough.
I love this book. I love the way Bernard writes. I love how Wick crams down her vulnerabilities to be tough on the outside and to do right by the people she loves. I love how Griff takes care of her without smothering her or wanting her to be someone else. Find me is, simply put, one helluva fun read.
June 2, 2013
That was AMAZING! Nonstop and what a page turner!! That was pure brilliant and the suspense... Wow. And for the record ... I KNEW IT I KNEW IT- kinda. If you like a mystery book with a kickass lead, this is your book.
I didn't know what to expect from this book and I was actually skeptical going in, but I was blown away. I started this book at 9 and probably finished at 11. I had to finish this and after I was done with the book, I was upset that it was over. That's when I messaged the author and she said there will be a sequel and I was very excited!
The way it's written is fantastic and full of suspense that leaves me hanging and wanting more. It's not boring, full of plot twists, mystery, and just amazingness.
Wick is a teenage foster child. After she ends up with Tessa's diary, she doesn't want any part of this or her death. Up until Tessa's sister tells Wick that her sister, Lily, is now the main target, she's doing whatever she can to find this killer.
Aside from the plot, there is a bit of romance between Wick and Griff. I loved Griff so much! Giff, like Wick herself, is a computer hacker and in the middle of the book, he starts to help Wick find the killer and then as the reader, we see their friendship and attraction start to grow.
For the ending -no spoilers of course- MY GOD! I knew it! Well sorta. I sorta knew it. After we found the killer and after all the crazy mess, there's a new story waiting for it to unravel and it just left me hanging. I cannot wait for the sequel in 2014!
This is a suspenseful page-turner that will make you read this nonstop, waiting to see who the killer is. I was actually creeped out and scared on some parts of the book. All the suspense and me theorizing made me go insane.
ARC provided by Edelweiss and HarperTeen
More of my reviews at http://www.bookyareviews.blogspot.com
I didn't know what to expect from this book and I was actually skeptical going in, but I was blown away. I started this book at 9 and probably finished at 11. I had to finish this and after I was done with the book, I was upset that it was over. That's when I messaged the author and she said there will be a sequel and I was very excited!
The way it's written is fantastic and full of suspense that leaves me hanging and wanting more. It's not boring, full of plot twists, mystery, and just amazingness.
Wick is a teenage foster child. After she ends up with Tessa's diary, she doesn't want any part of this or her death. Up until Tessa's sister tells Wick that her sister, Lily, is now the main target, she's doing whatever she can to find this killer.
Aside from the plot, there is a bit of romance between Wick and Griff. I loved Griff so much! Giff, like Wick herself, is a computer hacker and in the middle of the book, he starts to help Wick find the killer and then as the reader, we see their friendship and attraction start to grow.
For the ending -no spoilers of course- MY GOD! I knew it! Well sorta. I sorta knew it. After we found the killer and after all the crazy mess, there's a new story waiting for it to unravel and it just left me hanging. I cannot wait for the sequel in 2014!
This is a suspenseful page-turner that will make you read this nonstop, waiting to see who the killer is. I was actually creeped out and scared on some parts of the book. All the suspense and me theorizing made me go insane.
ARC provided by Edelweiss and HarperTeen
More of my reviews at http://www.bookyareviews.blogspot.com
August 13, 2013
I read FIND ME in one sitting. I began sometime after dark. While reading I became so engrossed with the story I knew there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to sleep until I finished the book. That said, I read until about 4 am and finished. I was completely sucked in the entire time and not once did I guess what happened. FIND ME was a refreshing novel to read because it's original and not like every other book that's out there right now. I definitely think everyone should read this action packed thriller. It won't disappoint.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
September 8, 2013
Find Me by Romily Bernard blends a great story that includes a bit of mystery and some great characters that have made it onto my favorites list. It kept me turning the pages trying to figure out what happened to Tessa but also because I wanted to see what was going to happen next for Wick. I won't go into a ton of detail around the mystery here because I don't want to give anything away. Just know that the story blends in a bit of hacking (Wick/Griff), some high school shenanigans, and a budding romance.
Wick is seventeen and hasn’t had the easiest life. She and her sister Lily have gone through 3 foster homes since her drug dealing father ran off to avoid the cops but now they are living with Bren and Todd. As a way to make some money…for just in case, Bren has been hacking. There are layers to this story and I don’t really want to give anything away but within the first few chapters, we find out that a girl that went to school with Wick has committed suicide (supposedly) but mysteriously, her journal is sitting on Wick’s porch addressed to Wick with a Post-it that says “Find me.” The main storyline here is Wick trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Tessa (Did she really commit suicide?) and also solve the mystery of who has now threatened Lily.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Wick is the main character. She is a nerdy, computer hacker who has a bit of a sarcastic edge. In addition, she truly cares about Lily and wants to do whatever she can to keep her safe and make Lily’s life better than what hers was at age 11. She struggles with adapting to living with Bren and Todd and I imagine any kid in foster care would have the same thoughts she does. That she doesn’t really belong with them, she needs to plan for the day things fall apart, and why bother unpacking…she will be moving on once they realize who she really is (her father’s daughter).
And although she has known him for a long time, Wick and Griff don’t really connect until the morning Wick finds out about Tessa. From that point on, they start to find out more about each other and it was great to see them become more to each other. They have two very different approaches to interacting with others which makes their approach to hacking very different. Griff also hasn’t had an easy life but where Wick has chosen to avoid others and put up walls, he has opted to blend in and become someone who can interact with anyone.
“He moves pretty easily through school. He’s funny, gets along with everyone and has even been known to save bullied band geeks.”
Griff has easily become a favorite of mine. He challenges Wick and where other guys might run in the other direction when she says certain things to him, he tells her he prefers her hard edges and she shouldn’t hold back.
“You’re the first girl I’ve ever met who’s smart and never plays stupid. You’re small but you don’t back down.”
He has been waiting for three years for Wick to notice him and his interest and he wasn’t going to let it pass – that is one of the things I loved about him. He was patient but he also wasn’t going to let a perfect opportunity pass by without getting her to see him. When he tells her he has wanted her since the moment he first saw her…..SWOON. When she finally does get it, Wick realizes she not only likes Griff, she needs his help.
The secondary characters were great too. I loved Lauren as Wick's best friend. I also thought the bad guys were done well. Wick's dad and his friend Joe...definitely bad guys. But Bernard also did a good job with the good guys...and making me wonder if they were really good...these are definitely not black and white characters. From the detective (Carson) to Tessa's dad (Mr. Waye) I was questioning just what their motives were and where they were supposed to fit.
As always, I love a good character driven story. The story here is definitely one that drew me in…right along with Wick and Griff I was trying to figure out who it is that Tessa wrote about in her journal and it did keep me guessing. The other part here though is the change in Wick. She goes from being this person who feels she can only rely on herself and it is up to her to keep Lily safe to eventually realizing that despite her life and circumstances, she can rely on others to help her…And trust that they will follow through. In the end, it is that trust that she puts in Griff that helps them all.
Definitely check this one out when you can. It is a great debut novel and I will be looking for more from Romily Bernard. She not only writes a solid story but gave me some characters I could care about and honestly, I want to read more about them.
Wick is seventeen and hasn’t had the easiest life. She and her sister Lily have gone through 3 foster homes since her drug dealing father ran off to avoid the cops but now they are living with Bren and Todd. As a way to make some money…for just in case, Bren has been hacking. There are layers to this story and I don’t really want to give anything away but within the first few chapters, we find out that a girl that went to school with Wick has committed suicide (supposedly) but mysteriously, her journal is sitting on Wick’s porch addressed to Wick with a Post-it that says “Find me.” The main storyline here is Wick trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Tessa (Did she really commit suicide?) and also solve the mystery of who has now threatened Lily.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Wick is the main character. She is a nerdy, computer hacker who has a bit of a sarcastic edge. In addition, she truly cares about Lily and wants to do whatever she can to keep her safe and make Lily’s life better than what hers was at age 11. She struggles with adapting to living with Bren and Todd and I imagine any kid in foster care would have the same thoughts she does. That she doesn’t really belong with them, she needs to plan for the day things fall apart, and why bother unpacking…she will be moving on once they realize who she really is (her father’s daughter).
And although she has known him for a long time, Wick and Griff don’t really connect until the morning Wick finds out about Tessa. From that point on, they start to find out more about each other and it was great to see them become more to each other. They have two very different approaches to interacting with others which makes their approach to hacking very different. Griff also hasn’t had an easy life but where Wick has chosen to avoid others and put up walls, he has opted to blend in and become someone who can interact with anyone.
“He moves pretty easily through school. He’s funny, gets along with everyone and has even been known to save bullied band geeks.”
Griff has easily become a favorite of mine. He challenges Wick and where other guys might run in the other direction when she says certain things to him, he tells her he prefers her hard edges and she shouldn’t hold back.
“You’re the first girl I’ve ever met who’s smart and never plays stupid. You’re small but you don’t back down.”
He has been waiting for three years for Wick to notice him and his interest and he wasn’t going to let it pass – that is one of the things I loved about him. He was patient but he also wasn’t going to let a perfect opportunity pass by without getting her to see him. When he tells her he has wanted her since the moment he first saw her…..SWOON. When she finally does get it, Wick realizes she not only likes Griff, she needs his help.
The secondary characters were great too. I loved Lauren as Wick's best friend. I also thought the bad guys were done well. Wick's dad and his friend Joe...definitely bad guys. But Bernard also did a good job with the good guys...and making me wonder if they were really good...these are definitely not black and white characters. From the detective (Carson) to Tessa's dad (Mr. Waye) I was questioning just what their motives were and where they were supposed to fit.
As always, I love a good character driven story. The story here is definitely one that drew me in…right along with Wick and Griff I was trying to figure out who it is that Tessa wrote about in her journal and it did keep me guessing. The other part here though is the change in Wick. She goes from being this person who feels she can only rely on herself and it is up to her to keep Lily safe to eventually realizing that despite her life and circumstances, she can rely on others to help her…And trust that they will follow through. In the end, it is that trust that she puts in Griff that helps them all.
Definitely check this one out when you can. It is a great debut novel and I will be looking for more from Romily Bernard. She not only writes a solid story but gave me some characters I could care about and honestly, I want to read more about them.
October 2, 2013
Thank you HarperTeen for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.
Find Me is one of those books that will keep you hooked throughout the whole book- despite a few minor flaws. The strong highlight definitely was in the characters however the romance was also a rather favourable aspect.
There is no point hiding it that I did make my expectations lower quite indeed-ly however I still believe that I would have enjoyed Romily's debut all the same. The story starts with Wick, a hacker, finding her ex-best friend's, Tessa Waye's diary on her front door step with the two words, "Find Me" written on it. Then the next day at school she finds out the Tessa is dead. Wick begins to assume that it is some big prank but after discovering that her sister, Lily, is the murderer's next target, Wick will do anything to save her. With her hacking skills coming into play, she also begins to find out that Griff, a friend has a few secrets of his own.
I fell in love with Wick on the first page. Her love for her sister is unconditional and she throws herself into the midst of a murder investigation to find out who is planning to take down Lily. Her character was arrogant at times, determined and witty. What's not to love? As for Griff, I thought he was a little odd but as the story goes by I really grew attached to him- he kept a smile on my face. The supporting characters like Wick's best friend were also likable, Lauren wasn't the typical oblivious drama queen that we usually have in YA novels, which I appreciated greatly. The romance was slightly hard to be convinced into. I felt it was a little forced and shaky, yet just like Griff's character, I ended up really liking it. Griff is kinda cute in a non-sweet way. I don't think that made any sense...
I feel like everyone has said it. The major flaw in this Find Me was the predictability. For once, I have actually guessed the culprit and the guess was made rather early on in the book. I still noticed Romily placed a few strings of misleading clues which was smart however once I decided who it was, I was quite certain I was correct- and I was. Nevertheless, a fun mystery that got pretty intense at the end. There's really more than meets the eye. Another annoyance for me was that we don't see Wick use her supposedly 'amazing hacking skills' she just tracks and embeds a few things; I would've appreciated more detail.
A nicely balanced novel, I recommend Find Me to people who are looking for a light mystery read with great characters and a sweet romance! Especially if you suck at predicting things.
Find Me is one of those books that will keep you hooked throughout the whole book- despite a few minor flaws. The strong highlight definitely was in the characters however the romance was also a rather favourable aspect.
There is no point hiding it that I did make my expectations lower quite indeed-ly however I still believe that I would have enjoyed Romily's debut all the same. The story starts with Wick, a hacker, finding her ex-best friend's, Tessa Waye's diary on her front door step with the two words, "Find Me" written on it. Then the next day at school she finds out the Tessa is dead. Wick begins to assume that it is some big prank but after discovering that her sister, Lily, is the murderer's next target, Wick will do anything to save her. With her hacking skills coming into play, she also begins to find out that Griff, a friend has a few secrets of his own.
I fell in love with Wick on the first page. Her love for her sister is unconditional and she throws herself into the midst of a murder investigation to find out who is planning to take down Lily. Her character was arrogant at times, determined and witty. What's not to love? As for Griff, I thought he was a little odd but as the story goes by I really grew attached to him- he kept a smile on my face. The supporting characters like Wick's best friend were also likable, Lauren wasn't the typical oblivious drama queen that we usually have in YA novels, which I appreciated greatly. The romance was slightly hard to be convinced into. I felt it was a little forced and shaky, yet just like Griff's character, I ended up really liking it. Griff is kinda cute in a non-sweet way. I don't think that made any sense...
I feel like everyone has said it. The major flaw in this Find Me was the predictability. For once, I have actually guessed the culprit and the guess was made rather early on in the book. I still noticed Romily placed a few strings of misleading clues which was smart however once I decided who it was, I was quite certain I was correct- and I was. Nevertheless, a fun mystery that got pretty intense at the end. There's really more than meets the eye. Another annoyance for me was that we don't see Wick use her supposedly 'amazing hacking skills' she just tracks and embeds a few things; I would've appreciated more detail.
A nicely balanced novel, I recommend Find Me to people who are looking for a light mystery read with great characters and a sweet romance! Especially if you suck at predicting things.
July 8, 2013
I desperately want a sequel!! It ended like there should be one! To kind of make this review a little long I have chosen to say a little more about this amazing book. This book completely through me across the room like a superman slap to the face. The killer ended up throwing me up a lot. I loved this book intensely and I love the hacker side of it. It is way better than The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo! Can't wait to read more from Romily!
November 14, 2013
Romily Bernard brings a fresh new voice to YA. I instantly fell in love with her main character Wick and was drawn into her world of hacking secrets. Bernard's crisp writing style makes her prose flow with ease from one scene to the next. I could not put it down!
August 13, 2013
Give me a couple days to review... I'm in so much awe over this book that I think it'll take me a couple days to write down why I loved it!
***UPDATE***
See my full review at Shaytasticbooks <>Like my Facebook Page
... ... .. I am speechless. I don't know how I can convey to you guys and Judith from ILoveYAFiction how amazing and truly worth while this novel is. I'm still in awe over it. I got to get my feelings out there though because this book CAN NOT pass you up. By the end of this review I better have convinced you to pick it up as soon as it releases. You will not be disappointed.
"No one has a right to be that happy without serious meds being involved. Its just annoying for the rest of us."
Wickett Tate. Wick Tate. Hacker. Whatever you want to call her. She is a fresh new face in the world of teen. She's real and smart and out to protect what's most important to her. Her sister. Nothing will stand in her way. She's just KICKASS!! When she receives the journal from a dead friend with "Find Me" written inside you have no idea what to think at first. Could it be her friend from the grave or a sick someone playing a trick on her. The story follows Wick trying to find the murderer of her old friend but along the way there are some real shady characters that leave you wondering who could it be???? Written with detail, feeling, and a sense of urgency, Find Me really pushes the limit on how much one can handle and shows us what good can come from the bad . FREAKING AWESOME!!
"I spent all last year kinda sorta maybe wanting him to give me that smile"
I loved Wick from the very beginning and not once did she piss me off or make me think she could be better because she was just herself and that's what you get. She doesn't change to fit in with what people expect her to be. She's smart enough to go with the flow but yet knows which small fights to pick. Being a hacker she runs on the darker side of life but she tries to help. I seriously loved the hacking side of her. It really shows a creepy side of life and makes me double think about leaving my laptop open. It's actually really freaking fun to read. Trust me Judith!!!
"His grin stretches wider.'I like it when your mean. Don't be a chicken, Wick. Hold on to me'"
Now to talk about Griff.. Can you say Yummy.. First...He's a good guy and I say that loosely. He's also extremely hot. He also is there for her exactly every time that she needs him. Its not a luck thing, or a happen to be there at the right time kind of thing. It's Griff caring deeply for her and knowing exactly what she needs and when she needs it. From the ride home to the picture outside her window I was swooning for him. Like seriously falling for him. I really can not wait to get more of him. Oh and did I mention that HE RIDES A MOTORCYCLE!!! Gosh darnit I love him!! Also I have to mention that for a teen relationship it was kind of hot. I love that.. Like seriously there wasn't a whole lot of romance in this book which for me is kind of uncommon in the books I read but Romily does such a good job when they are together in that way. There are a lot of little things that I noticed that really enhances their relationship above a lot of other teen relationships. Its filled with so much chemistry and emotion that the little encounters that we get are so enough! I can't wait to get more in the next book! Like freaking dying here!!
"I place my hands on his chest and he jerks, mutter "fuck" in a way that makes me smile, lets me know how much this costs him"
"His arms drag me close. We're sinking and were tangled and when we resurface, he's pulled my legs around his torso and I've tugger my fingers into his hair"
Ahhh theres so much to say!! I loved how there was a little mystery! There was a little romance. It had a lot of aspects that I love in a book and they were all done well. From her dad on the run threatening to show up any time and ruin everything, to the mystery man who is calling to Wick to come find him. There's not one point of the story that you will lose interest on. Wick just felt so real to me and I really was hoping that everything was going to turn out okay. I wanted her to know what it was like to be loved. I wanted her to know what it was like to not be alone. I just wanted her happy cause gosh darn-it she deserves that!
I also loved her friend(s), her sister, even her foster family. Each and every one added such a different side to the story and to Wick. You never knew what was going to happen around the corner, and there were a couple times where I could not put the book down. I would stay up late reading, and then pick it up again the next morning because I had to continue the story. I love Wick but I got to say I kept reading for Griff. He is definitely someone you would want in your corner. He can be in my corner any time he would like ;) .. or in my head eh Romily ;)
"At some point I must have smacked my head. But I do understand this: Griff came back for me"
I can not say enough good things about Find Me but I really hope that I have convinced you to at least go to the book store, pick it up and read the first page. If that isn't enough then I'm not sure what to do for you. You will be missing out on a very epic story if you pass it up. It was a thrilling ride and wonderful debut novel that I think will get most people hooked. I know I am.. Shay approves =)
"The judge's assistant was murdered. Stabbed to death. But before the killer dumped her body, he carved: Remember Me"
***UPDATE***
See my full review at Shaytasticbooks <>Like my Facebook Page
... ... .. I am speechless. I don't know how I can convey to you guys and Judith from ILoveYAFiction how amazing and truly worth while this novel is. I'm still in awe over it. I got to get my feelings out there though because this book CAN NOT pass you up. By the end of this review I better have convinced you to pick it up as soon as it releases. You will not be disappointed.
"No one has a right to be that happy without serious meds being involved. Its just annoying for the rest of us."
Wickett Tate. Wick Tate. Hacker. Whatever you want to call her. She is a fresh new face in the world of teen. She's real and smart and out to protect what's most important to her. Her sister. Nothing will stand in her way. She's just KICKASS!! When she receives the journal from a dead friend with "Find Me" written inside you have no idea what to think at first. Could it be her friend from the grave or a sick someone playing a trick on her. The story follows Wick trying to find the murderer of her old friend but along the way there are some real shady characters that leave you wondering who could it be???? Written with detail, feeling, and a sense of urgency, Find Me really pushes the limit on how much one can handle and shows us what good can come from the bad . FREAKING AWESOME!!
"I spent all last year kinda sorta maybe wanting him to give me that smile"
I loved Wick from the very beginning and not once did she piss me off or make me think she could be better because she was just herself and that's what you get. She doesn't change to fit in with what people expect her to be. She's smart enough to go with the flow but yet knows which small fights to pick. Being a hacker she runs on the darker side of life but she tries to help. I seriously loved the hacking side of her. It really shows a creepy side of life and makes me double think about leaving my laptop open. It's actually really freaking fun to read. Trust me Judith!!!
"His grin stretches wider.'I like it when your mean. Don't be a chicken, Wick. Hold on to me'"
Now to talk about Griff.. Can you say Yummy.. First...He's a good guy and I say that loosely. He's also extremely hot. He also is there for her exactly every time that she needs him. Its not a luck thing, or a happen to be there at the right time kind of thing. It's Griff caring deeply for her and knowing exactly what she needs and when she needs it. From the ride home to the picture outside her window I was swooning for him. Like seriously falling for him. I really can not wait to get more of him. Oh and did I mention that HE RIDES A MOTORCYCLE!!! Gosh darnit I love him!! Also I have to mention that for a teen relationship it was kind of hot. I love that.. Like seriously there wasn't a whole lot of romance in this book which for me is kind of uncommon in the books I read but Romily does such a good job when they are together in that way. There are a lot of little things that I noticed that really enhances their relationship above a lot of other teen relationships. Its filled with so much chemistry and emotion that the little encounters that we get are so enough! I can't wait to get more in the next book! Like freaking dying here!!
"I place my hands on his chest and he jerks, mutter "fuck" in a way that makes me smile, lets me know how much this costs him"
"His arms drag me close. We're sinking and were tangled and when we resurface, he's pulled my legs around his torso and I've tugger my fingers into his hair"
Ahhh theres so much to say!! I loved how there was a little mystery! There was a little romance. It had a lot of aspects that I love in a book and they were all done well. From her dad on the run threatening to show up any time and ruin everything, to the mystery man who is calling to Wick to come find him. There's not one point of the story that you will lose interest on. Wick just felt so real to me and I really was hoping that everything was going to turn out okay. I wanted her to know what it was like to be loved. I wanted her to know what it was like to not be alone. I just wanted her happy cause gosh darn-it she deserves that!
I also loved her friend(s), her sister, even her foster family. Each and every one added such a different side to the story and to Wick. You never knew what was going to happen around the corner, and there were a couple times where I could not put the book down. I would stay up late reading, and then pick it up again the next morning because I had to continue the story. I love Wick but I got to say I kept reading for Griff. He is definitely someone you would want in your corner. He can be in my corner any time he would like ;) .. or in my head eh Romily ;)
"At some point I must have smacked my head. But I do understand this: Griff came back for me"
I can not say enough good things about Find Me but I really hope that I have convinced you to at least go to the book store, pick it up and read the first page. If that isn't enough then I'm not sure what to do for you. You will be missing out on a very epic story if you pass it up. It was a thrilling ride and wonderful debut novel that I think will get most people hooked. I know I am.. Shay approves =)
"The judge's assistant was murdered. Stabbed to death. But before the killer dumped her body, he carved: Remember Me"
September 15, 2013
Anyone who follows my reviews will know that I don’t read many YA thrillers, because usually I find them sort of disappointing, but when I heard about Find Me I knew I had to give it a shot: how many YA books have you come across with a female hacker for the protagonist? Yep, that’s what I thought. Anyway, I’m pleased to say that Find Me was a great surprise all around.
Wicket Tate’s as unique as her name. She grew up on the bad side of town, abused by her dad the local criminal mastermind, and now at seventeen she’s in the foster care system – staying with squeaky clean parents Bren and Todd. The thing is Wicket knows nothing lasts forever, and when Bren and Todd wake up to who Wicket and her sister Lily really are, they’ll need money, so Wicket hacks. She investigates guys for concerned women – trolls through their emails, bank statements, mobile phone records, Facebook accounts, the whole nine yards. Then, on the day of Tessa Waye's suicide a diary arrives on her doorstep with the simple note ‘FIND ME’. And suddenly Wicket’s secret seems to be out – someone knows what she does with her external hard drive and her spare time. But who? And what really made Tessa Waye jump?
I think my favourite supporting character by far was Griff, I haven’t crushed so hard on a guy with a motorbike since Jesse met Rob in Meg Cabot’s When Lightning Strikes. Griff’s not your typical hunky quarterback either, he’s popular-ish sure, but he’s also wiry and intelligent and complicated… in a good way. I just hope there’s a sequel (which I’m currently anticipating would be called Remember Me thanks to a great last line) so we get to learn more about what a normal Wicket and Griff relationship would look like.
Now, onto the mystery. When did I figure out for sure who it was? Literally thirty seconds before Romily told us. Now that my friends, is a well written mystery. Also, I never could quite predict what was going to happen next chapter to chapter, which kept me flipping pages even when I should be doing other things like say, eating. I do have quite a busy life, but I still managed to read this in only three sittings – quite unusual for me. (I do work for a living!)
The best part of this novel for me was probably the dialogue and Wicket’s wicked wit. Every line gave me a great and consistent image of the character concerned – not something every author can achieve – and Wicket’s mental acuity made this a smart and entertaining read. I wish I’d had more friends like her in high school, it would have gone faster! The extracts from Tessa Waye's diary at the start of each chapter were great additions to the story as well and some of them literally sent shivers through me (I will never look at scrap booking the same way again, unfortunately).
So, if you want a intelligent, engaging YA mystery/thriller, with a large dollop of originality – that doesn’t punk out at the very end but rather increases its pace and ferocity – then check out Find Me, releasing September 24th from Harper Teen.
http://bookblather.wordpress.com/2013...
Wicket Tate’s as unique as her name. She grew up on the bad side of town, abused by her dad the local criminal mastermind, and now at seventeen she’s in the foster care system – staying with squeaky clean parents Bren and Todd. The thing is Wicket knows nothing lasts forever, and when Bren and Todd wake up to who Wicket and her sister Lily really are, they’ll need money, so Wicket hacks. She investigates guys for concerned women – trolls through their emails, bank statements, mobile phone records, Facebook accounts, the whole nine yards. Then, on the day of Tessa Waye's suicide a diary arrives on her doorstep with the simple note ‘FIND ME’. And suddenly Wicket’s secret seems to be out – someone knows what she does with her external hard drive and her spare time. But who? And what really made Tessa Waye jump?
I think my favourite supporting character by far was Griff, I haven’t crushed so hard on a guy with a motorbike since Jesse met Rob in Meg Cabot’s When Lightning Strikes. Griff’s not your typical hunky quarterback either, he’s popular-ish sure, but he’s also wiry and intelligent and complicated… in a good way. I just hope there’s a sequel (which I’m currently anticipating would be called Remember Me thanks to a great last line) so we get to learn more about what a normal Wicket and Griff relationship would look like.
Now, onto the mystery. When did I figure out for sure who it was? Literally thirty seconds before Romily told us. Now that my friends, is a well written mystery. Also, I never could quite predict what was going to happen next chapter to chapter, which kept me flipping pages even when I should be doing other things like say, eating. I do have quite a busy life, but I still managed to read this in only three sittings – quite unusual for me. (I do work for a living!)
The best part of this novel for me was probably the dialogue and Wicket’s wicked wit. Every line gave me a great and consistent image of the character concerned – not something every author can achieve – and Wicket’s mental acuity made this a smart and entertaining read. I wish I’d had more friends like her in high school, it would have gone faster! The extracts from Tessa Waye's diary at the start of each chapter were great additions to the story as well and some of them literally sent shivers through me (I will never look at scrap booking the same way again, unfortunately).
So, if you want a intelligent, engaging YA mystery/thriller, with a large dollop of originality – that doesn’t punk out at the very end but rather increases its pace and ferocity – then check out Find Me, releasing September 24th from Harper Teen.
http://bookblather.wordpress.com/2013...
September 23, 2013
This is a hard review for me to write. This could have been a really good book, however there were many things that were irritating to me as a reader and they diminished my enjoyment of the book.
First the Good: I liked how Tessa’s diary was incorporated into the narrative. This was, by far, my favorite part of the novel. You really get a feel for Tessa’s state of mind, her despair, and general lack of hope. I like how we slowly found out what happened to Tessa and why she committed suicide.
I also enjoyed the last third of the book. This part just flew by and I thought that it was pretty well paced.
Then, the Bad: I think that one of my primary irritants in this novel was the main character Wicket. Yes, Wicket is her name, or Wick for short. Who names their child Wicket? I can only imagine the bullying that child would endure at school. But I digress. Wick is an annoying character. Perhaps her lack of judgment could be ascribed to her background: criminal father and lack of a mother. But – and I say but – she and her sister Lily (a nice normal name, by the way) live with middle class foster parents who are ready and able to adopt both Wick and Lily.
Wick is a hacker. She has no remorse about using her computer talent to gather information about others. She realizes that what she is doing is illegal but continues as the money is good. It was really hard to relate to Wick or the situations she found herself in as she constantly took matters into her own hands. Instead of getting help, she uses herself as bait to catch a child predator using – get this – Tessa’s Facebook account. That, in itself, smacks of poor judgment. Why didn’t she just take the diary to the police and allow Detective Carson to do his job?
Wick’s father is evil incarnate. Well, pretty close to – OK, he’s a really bad guy. Why would Wick feel intimidated into working for him and his cronies? Her life with her foster parents Bren and Todd seems ideal. Again, why isn’t she asking for help?
As for love interest, there’s Griff. Griff is from Wick’s old neighborhood and he attends the same high school as her. I really didn’t like Griff that much. It felt like he was just using Wick. Oh, and I could not stand his nickname for Wick – Wicked. Just wrong.
Overall, this was an OK read for me. While the main characters did annoy me, I did enjoy the last third of the book.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for a review copy of this book.
Review also posted on Badass Book Reviews.
P.S. I love how Booklikes has 1/2 stars!
First the Good: I liked how Tessa’s diary was incorporated into the narrative. This was, by far, my favorite part of the novel. You really get a feel for Tessa’s state of mind, her despair, and general lack of hope. I like how we slowly found out what happened to Tessa and why she committed suicide.
I also enjoyed the last third of the book. This part just flew by and I thought that it was pretty well paced.
Then, the Bad: I think that one of my primary irritants in this novel was the main character Wicket. Yes, Wicket is her name, or Wick for short. Who names their child Wicket? I can only imagine the bullying that child would endure at school. But I digress. Wick is an annoying character. Perhaps her lack of judgment could be ascribed to her background: criminal father and lack of a mother. But – and I say but – she and her sister Lily (a nice normal name, by the way) live with middle class foster parents who are ready and able to adopt both Wick and Lily.
Wick is a hacker. She has no remorse about using her computer talent to gather information about others. She realizes that what she is doing is illegal but continues as the money is good. It was really hard to relate to Wick or the situations she found herself in as she constantly took matters into her own hands. Instead of getting help, she uses herself as bait to catch a child predator using – get this – Tessa’s Facebook account. That, in itself, smacks of poor judgment. Why didn’t she just take the diary to the police and allow Detective Carson to do his job?
Wick’s father is evil incarnate. Well, pretty close to – OK, he’s a really bad guy. Why would Wick feel intimidated into working for him and his cronies? Her life with her foster parents Bren and Todd seems ideal. Again, why isn’t she asking for help?
As for love interest, there’s Griff. Griff is from Wick’s old neighborhood and he attends the same high school as her. I really didn’t like Griff that much. It felt like he was just using Wick. Oh, and I could not stand his nickname for Wick – Wicked. Just wrong.
Overall, this was an OK read for me. While the main characters did annoy me, I did enjoy the last third of the book.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for a review copy of this book.
Review also posted on Badass Book Reviews.
P.S. I love how Booklikes has 1/2 stars!
September 20, 2013
OK When I first recieved an ARC of Find Me by Romily Bernard the first thing I noticed was the words at the top of the book...
"Come Out, Come Out,
Wherever You Are......"
I mean YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew immediately that this book was for me!! The cover is phenomenal. The words Find Me spread all over in a repeating fashion with the "image" of a young girl in the background. I love a good mystery and just looking at the cover told me that is what I was in for!
The first few chapters introduce you to Wick and her current situation. Wick and her sister, Lily are in the foster system and have been placed with new foster parents, Todd and Bren. They are trying to move on with their life after dealing with their Dad's arrest. Wick is very intelligent and great with computers. She even has a business on the side that where she hacks into peoples computers in order to get information for clients. No one but Lily knows this about her. Wick used her talent to help her father with his illegal activites which has caused her to be on the radar of Detective Carson, the detective who arrested her father.
Wick steps out one morning and discovers a envelope laying on the porch addressed to her. Wick opens the package and discovers a old water stained book with a single yellow post-it attached that states FIND ME. She then realizes that this is Tessa Waye's personal diary. Tessa is a old friend of Wicks that she hasnt spoken to in years.
"He said if I told anyone, he'd kill me. I believe him"
(Page 49 of Tessa Waye's Diary)
Little does Wick know but Tessa will be found dead later that day percieved as a victim of suicide but Wick knows better. Wick immediately worries that she or her little sister are next and begins to try and uncover the mystery.
Griff is a neighborhood kid who has always talked to Wick and begins to become closer to her as this story unfolds. Their romance is very sweet and perfectly fits into this story. Griff helps Wick to hunt down clues for the killer.
This is only the beginning of a wild, creepy, emotional, roller coaster ride! This book was phenomenal! At every turn of the page you get surprised again and again by new twists and turns. I could not put this book down. I wanted to know everything. Why this happened? Who was the killer? What caused all the events in this story? I mean it was just so awesome! The ending was the best ever! Talk about a page-turner!
If you like young adult books that are full of suspense and mystery with a little bit of romance on the side then this book is for you!! I will defintely be on the lookout for any other novels that Romily Bernard writes!!!!!
September 19, 2013
Find Me was a thrilling, unputdownable read! I loved, loved, loved it! I guarantee this novel will leave you mind blown with all it's suspense, action, and romance. Romily Bernard is top on my lists of authors to watch.
The beginning of the book is spectacular. We meet Wick, and already start to feel attached and invested in her story, and see the beginnings of an awesome plot unfold. There are many aspects: the suicide, Tessa, Wick's dad, Wick's new family, the "Find Me" note, and more! There is no slack in the beginning, just how I like it. Never a dull moment!
Wick Tate was a great character. Normally, I have little irritations with my main characters. Sorry, I'm just like that. However, Find Me was a totally different story. Wick felt real, and very likable in her unlikable and flawed way! Her voice is perfect and I love how she could make me want to smile or bang my fists against the wall. Her love for her sister is also very admirable. Overall, she is an A+ heroine.
Griff was another amazing character, who I can't wait to get to know better in the next book (yay!) He is intense, loyal, and has a few secrets of his own tucked up his sleeve. I wish I could have grasped at his personality a lot more in this book. The next big character, Lily, is a very sweet, vivid, optimistic, and lively character. I really felt bad for her during a lot of the book. The poor kid just wants to live safely and happily for a while! Lily Tate was a great addition to Find Me.
The plot and twists were too die for. I seriously applaud Romily Bernard. I. could. not. put. this. book. down. I fear I ignored my family for an hour finishing this book. Not only is the writing addicting, but the twists are masterful and there is the exact right amount of suspense and mystery.
Overall, you all need to read Find Me. It is calling to you "Find Me! Read Me!". Why not listen to the book's cries? Please? In all seriousness, this is an amazing book that will appeal to fans of thrillers, amazingly written heroines, and great twists.
4/5 Stars
The beginning of the book is spectacular. We meet Wick, and already start to feel attached and invested in her story, and see the beginnings of an awesome plot unfold. There are many aspects: the suicide, Tessa, Wick's dad, Wick's new family, the "Find Me" note, and more! There is no slack in the beginning, just how I like it. Never a dull moment!
Wick Tate was a great character. Normally, I have little irritations with my main characters. Sorry, I'm just like that. However, Find Me was a totally different story. Wick felt real, and very likable in her unlikable and flawed way! Her voice is perfect and I love how she could make me want to smile or bang my fists against the wall. Her love for her sister is also very admirable. Overall, she is an A+ heroine.
Griff was another amazing character, who I can't wait to get to know better in the next book (yay!) He is intense, loyal, and has a few secrets of his own tucked up his sleeve. I wish I could have grasped at his personality a lot more in this book. The next big character, Lily, is a very sweet, vivid, optimistic, and lively character. I really felt bad for her during a lot of the book. The poor kid just wants to live safely and happily for a while! Lily Tate was a great addition to Find Me.
The plot and twists were too die for. I seriously applaud Romily Bernard. I. could. not. put. this. book. down. I fear I ignored my family for an hour finishing this book. Not only is the writing addicting, but the twists are masterful and there is the exact right amount of suspense and mystery.
Overall, you all need to read Find Me. It is calling to you "Find Me! Read Me!". Why not listen to the book's cries? Please? In all seriousness, this is an amazing book that will appeal to fans of thrillers, amazingly written heroines, and great twists.
4/5 Stars
August 21, 2014
ok, i need a minute. im still kinda freakin out since i just finished this.
...
...
I'm a little better now. OH MY HOLY MOLY FREAKING HECK! that was suspenseful. I freaking knew it! I guessed right but then I didn't want to be right and when I was I was like I KNEW IT oh crap o.o whew
I won this in a first reads giveaway so yeey for winning stuff and YEEY for that stuff actually being good! I was a little worried at first because I didn't feel like much was happening but if you just stick with it it's definitely worth it. I think the only bad part of the whole story is the part where you realize it's over. That was all kinds of wrong. And maaaaybe the fact that it's a lot like you're watching a movie so it has all those cliche moments that movies are usually rife with. But you know what? Without those cliches people would be upset saying it was lame. I mean look at Cabin in the Woods.
Anyway is there going to be another? If there is I need it. Need IT!
4.5 starsssssssss
...
...
I'm a little better now. OH MY HOLY MOLY FREAKING HECK! that was suspenseful. I freaking knew it! I guessed right but then I didn't want to be right and when I was I was like I KNEW IT oh crap o.o whew
I won this in a first reads giveaway so yeey for winning stuff and YEEY for that stuff actually being good! I was a little worried at first because I didn't feel like much was happening but if you just stick with it it's definitely worth it. I think the only bad part of the whole story is the part where you realize it's over. That was all kinds of wrong. And maaaaybe the fact that it's a lot like you're watching a movie so it has all those cliche moments that movies are usually rife with. But you know what? Without those cliches people would be upset saying it was lame. I mean look at Cabin in the Woods.
Anyway is there going to be another? If there is I need it. Need IT!
4.5 starsssssssss
May 16, 2013
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book, and even though it is a little outside the realm of what I'd normally pick up, I tore through it in one sitting. Bernard's voice is flawless for older YA, her characters are spot-on and deeply layered, and her plot had me clicking my e-reader as fast as it would go. I started to highlight phrases to use in the review, but honestly, there were so many brilliant ones that I'd have to quote half the book. Fresh twists kept coming and had me unable to put this down all the way through.
Romily Bernard is an author to follow. I am hooked!
Romily Bernard is an author to follow. I am hooked!
Read
May 1, 2013Wow. That was a wild ride. I don't want to say anything about my feelings on the ending, because I don't want any spoilers, but WOW. I really loved our strong MC, Wick (called Wicked by Griff, which I think is super cute, as is Griff). This is a suspenseful page-turner that'll keep you up dying to know who the bad guy is!!!
July 19, 2013
Nose Graze — Young Adult book reviews
4.5 Stars
HACKING?!?! THIS IS SO AN ASHLEY BOOK!!
I seek out hacking/computer/nerd/programmer books like a moth to the flame. For me, it's like a bonding session with my fellow epic computer nerds. It's awesome. And Find Me was just like that, but it also had a super cool mystery element to it!
I've read a few reviews where people said they "saw the twist coming". I have to admit, I didn't. Maybe it's because I was in denial (see spoiler at the end).. but either way, I DID. NOT. SEE. IT. COMING! :| Throughout the whole book we know there's an evil douchebag predator out there preying on young girls. Or at least one young girl, and eying a second one. Although Wick didn't want to be involved, the situation has kind of been thrust into her lap so she takes it on and hunts for the psycho murderer, putting her hacking skills to good use!
Find Me has so many different elements to it, and when you put them together, you truly get an awesome book! We have the hacking, an intense thriller/mystery element, and a romance. I love how they all came together to form a really different book that stands out from so many of the others I've read. And although the romance certainly wasn't the focus of the story, I thought it complimented it nicely. It wasn't too overpowering, but it was still pretty awesome. ;) There were a few hot, swoony moments in there!
But above all, I like how Find Me kept me guessing and doubting. I enjoyed trying to figure everything out so much, that I found myself wishing the book would never end. I wanted to sit there longer and struggle over the pieces, trying to put them together. And some of my favourite parts were the quotes from Tessa's diary at the beginning of each chapter. They were a little morbid and creepy, but they were one of the things I tried to use to piece together who the creepy rapist guy was! I felt like I was the one solving the puzzle (and failing O_O).
Now I do have a few things to say about the ending...
I will mention that as a complete nerd, I do have a tendency to severely nit-pick at computer/technology books. If I read about computer/hacking things that aren't that realistic/feasible, they scream at me. I did find one thing that irked me, but I think only finding one thing is pretty darn good. :P
Embedding Trojans in e-mails is perfectly possible (and very common). But in Flickr accounts and YouTube links?? That's not happening. ONCE in a blue moon, for about 5 seconds, there might be a vulnerability on those sites.. but it's the kind of thing that happens so rarely, and when it does happen, they notice and patch it in like 2 seconds. It's certainly not something that someone could be doing frequently!
But when I pointed that out to Romily (actually she saw me telling someone else about it, which was slightly embarrassing because I felt bad!) she took it like a champ! Seriously, that girl pretty much rocks.
Overall, I loved this book! Find Me definitely kept me on the edge of my chair! It was a very hard book to put down, and it drew me in effortlessly! Plus the hacking stuff was AAAAWESOME!
4.5 Stars
HACKING?!?! THIS IS SO AN ASHLEY BOOK!!
I seek out hacking/computer/nerd/programmer books like a moth to the flame. For me, it's like a bonding session with my fellow epic computer nerds. It's awesome. And Find Me was just like that, but it also had a super cool mystery element to it!
I've read a few reviews where people said they "saw the twist coming". I have to admit, I didn't. Maybe it's because I was in denial (see spoiler at the end).. but either way, I DID. NOT. SEE. IT. COMING! :| Throughout the whole book we know there's an evil douchebag predator out there preying on young girls. Or at least one young girl, and eying a second one. Although Wick didn't want to be involved, the situation has kind of been thrust into her lap so she takes it on and hunts for the psycho murderer, putting her hacking skills to good use!
Find Me has so many different elements to it, and when you put them together, you truly get an awesome book! We have the hacking, an intense thriller/mystery element, and a romance. I love how they all came together to form a really different book that stands out from so many of the others I've read. And although the romance certainly wasn't the focus of the story, I thought it complimented it nicely. It wasn't too overpowering, but it was still pretty awesome. ;) There were a few hot, swoony moments in there!
But above all, I like how Find Me kept me guessing and doubting. I enjoyed trying to figure everything out so much, that I found myself wishing the book would never end. I wanted to sit there longer and struggle over the pieces, trying to put them together. And some of my favourite parts were the quotes from Tessa's diary at the beginning of each chapter. They were a little morbid and creepy, but they were one of the things I tried to use to piece together who the creepy rapist guy was! I felt like I was the one solving the puzzle (and failing O_O).
Now I do have a few things to say about the ending...
I will mention that as a complete nerd, I do have a tendency to severely nit-pick at computer/technology books. If I read about computer/hacking things that aren't that realistic/feasible, they scream at me. I did find one thing that irked me, but I think only finding one thing is pretty darn good. :P
I've embedded Trojans in Flickr accounts, YouTube links, and now, a simple email.
Embedding Trojans in e-mails is perfectly possible (and very common). But in Flickr accounts and YouTube links?? That's not happening. ONCE in a blue moon, for about 5 seconds, there might be a vulnerability on those sites.. but it's the kind of thing that happens so rarely, and when it does happen, they notice and patch it in like 2 seconds. It's certainly not something that someone could be doing frequently!
But when I pointed that out to Romily (actually she saw me telling someone else about it, which was slightly embarrassing because I felt bad!) she took it like a champ! Seriously, that girl pretty much rocks.
Overall, I loved this book! Find Me definitely kept me on the edge of my chair! It was a very hard book to put down, and it drew me in effortlessly! Plus the hacking stuff was AAAAWESOME!
January 17, 2016
“Too bad I don't believe in heroes, super or otherwise.”
Wicket (Wick) has had a hard life and she sees things a little differently than most, she has to be her own hero, and Lily's, (her little sister) instead of waiting for someone else to be. Her mom has committed suicide and her dad is a drug dealing felon who only wants to use her for her hacking skills. She has serious trust issues, and with reason.
Plot: 8/5 It was both intriguing and confusing to me. The aspect of throwing in the diary entries at the beginning of each chapter, threw me off course every time, until the last third of the book, then they finally started making sense to me. At that point, I went back and read them all and everything started clicking for me. The whole story is centered around Wick trying to find Tessa, but Tessa is dead not missing, so maybe the book should have been called “Find Him” since essentially it was about finding the one that pushed her to kill herself.
Characters: 8/5 Wick is intriguing, but I wanted to know her more, feel more connected to her. I really wanted to know more about Griff too.
The Feels: 3/5 I didn't really feel the relationship between Wick (interesting name) and Griff. It wasn’t really emphasized enough for me.
Theme: 5/5 The hacking aspect, is a little frightening to think about. I know it's out there, but most of the time I'm not forced to think about it.
Flow: 5/5 Rather choppy, hard to follow. It did improve as I got used to her writing style.
Book Cover: 5/5 This cover is awesome, best part of the book.
Sex Factor: No
Ending: 4/5 I was breathless by the time I got to the end, even if it was mostly predictable. Cliffhanger: No, this particular mystery is all wrapped up.
Will I continue the series? I’m not sure because the synopsis for the next book introduces a second guy who could be a romantic interest for Wick, a love triangle??? Not that I’m put off by love triangles, these things do happen, I just don’t know…
It can be difficult to write a mystery from a child's POV because most people cannot think, or wrap their head around a kid trying to solve a mystery when they should leave it to the professionals to solve. I think ultimately this story explained it well why Wick didn't feel she could trust anyone else to solve it. When you have no one in your life who you feel you can trust, you have to figure it out on your own.
Wicket (Wick) has had a hard life and she sees things a little differently than most, she has to be her own hero, and Lily's, (her little sister) instead of waiting for someone else to be. Her mom has committed suicide and her dad is a drug dealing felon who only wants to use her for her hacking skills. She has serious trust issues, and with reason.
Plot: 8/5 It was both intriguing and confusing to me. The aspect of throwing in the diary entries at the beginning of each chapter, threw me off course every time, until the last third of the book, then they finally started making sense to me. At that point, I went back and read them all and everything started clicking for me. The whole story is centered around Wick trying to find Tessa, but Tessa is dead not missing, so maybe the book should have been called “Find Him” since essentially it was about finding the one that pushed her to kill herself.
Characters: 8/5 Wick is intriguing, but I wanted to know her more, feel more connected to her. I really wanted to know more about Griff too.
The Feels: 3/5 I didn't really feel the relationship between Wick (interesting name) and Griff. It wasn’t really emphasized enough for me.
Theme: 5/5 The hacking aspect, is a little frightening to think about. I know it's out there, but most of the time I'm not forced to think about it.
Flow: 5/5 Rather choppy, hard to follow. It did improve as I got used to her writing style.
Book Cover: 5/5 This cover is awesome, best part of the book.
Sex Factor: No
Ending: 4/5 I was breathless by the time I got to the end, even if it was mostly predictable. Cliffhanger: No, this particular mystery is all wrapped up.
Will I continue the series? I’m not sure because the synopsis for the next book introduces a second guy who could be a romantic interest for Wick, a love triangle??? Not that I’m put off by love triangles, these things do happen, I just don’t know…
It can be difficult to write a mystery from a child's POV because most people cannot think, or wrap their head around a kid trying to solve a mystery when they should leave it to the professionals to solve. I think ultimately this story explained it well why Wick didn't feel she could trust anyone else to solve it. When you have no one in your life who you feel you can trust, you have to figure it out on your own.
September 3, 2013
Reviews: 3 1/2 out of 5 Stars
I was initially drawn to Find Me from the wonderful cover and intriguing synopsis, I love a good thriller/mystery and this seemed to be just the type of book I needed at this moment.
Computer hacker Wick Tate is a foster child living with her sister after the death of her mother and imprisonment of her criminal father. Now on the run after escaping prison, Wick fears his return and never really settles with her foster family despite their efforts to include and accept her.
Wick was witty and sarcastic and someone I felt quite sorry for; she was a loner with a past that was really quite sad and never really trusted anyone, I loved how caring she was towards her sister Lily and vice versa, she was a likeable character despite her wariness.
When Tessa Waye, Wick’s former friends diary lands on her doorstep with the words ‘Find Me’ written inside, she decides to investigate her death and comes to the realisation she was actually murdered rather than what was a believed suicide and with her superior hacking skills slowly draws out not only the person who left her the diary but also the killer and realises she may be in over her head when this person sets their sights on her sister.
Find Me was such a thrilling story that was mysterious, dark and had a sinister feel that kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next and guessing who the person was behind Tessa's death; I made a few guesstimates but oh boy was I wrong! the pacing for me was initially slow but around the half way mark it gained momentum and kept me riveted, the action sequences at the end really kept me flipping through the pages.
Helping Wick is Griff, a fellow hacker who I quite liked but we don’t really find out too much about him and his attraction to Wick; it’s just sort of there as was their new relationship but it’s definitely not at the forefront of the story.
Unfortunately for me there were a number of things which were difficult to believe or grasp such as the police involvement and their treatment of Wick, based on past history I wouldn’t have had faith in them as well, but I was also confused as to why she didn’t entrust an adult be it her foster parents or a teacher not only with Tessa’s diary but also with the work her father and his cronies were involving her with; I know it was difficult for her to rely on others but what she was doing and the trouble it could bring just didn’t sit right with me.
I did like Ms. Bernards detailed writing style which flowed well and kept me engaged and despite the few small issues I had with it, it was an enjoyable and entertaining read - the twist we are given was definitely not what I was expecting.
Overall, Find Me was filled with suspense, intrigue and likeable characters. It was a page turner which kept me wanting more.
Thank-you kindly to Harper Teen for the opportunity to read and review Find Me.
I was initially drawn to Find Me from the wonderful cover and intriguing synopsis, I love a good thriller/mystery and this seemed to be just the type of book I needed at this moment.
Computer hacker Wick Tate is a foster child living with her sister after the death of her mother and imprisonment of her criminal father. Now on the run after escaping prison, Wick fears his return and never really settles with her foster family despite their efforts to include and accept her.
Wick was witty and sarcastic and someone I felt quite sorry for; she was a loner with a past that was really quite sad and never really trusted anyone, I loved how caring she was towards her sister Lily and vice versa, she was a likeable character despite her wariness.
When Tessa Waye, Wick’s former friends diary lands on her doorstep with the words ‘Find Me’ written inside, she decides to investigate her death and comes to the realisation she was actually murdered rather than what was a believed suicide and with her superior hacking skills slowly draws out not only the person who left her the diary but also the killer and realises she may be in over her head when this person sets their sights on her sister.
Find Me was such a thrilling story that was mysterious, dark and had a sinister feel that kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next and guessing who the person was behind Tessa's death; I made a few guesstimates but oh boy was I wrong! the pacing for me was initially slow but around the half way mark it gained momentum and kept me riveted, the action sequences at the end really kept me flipping through the pages.
Helping Wick is Griff, a fellow hacker who I quite liked but we don’t really find out too much about him and his attraction to Wick; it’s just sort of there as was their new relationship but it’s definitely not at the forefront of the story.
Unfortunately for me there were a number of things which were difficult to believe or grasp such as the police involvement and their treatment of Wick, based on past history I wouldn’t have had faith in them as well, but I was also confused as to why she didn’t entrust an adult be it her foster parents or a teacher not only with Tessa’s diary but also with the work her father and his cronies were involving her with; I know it was difficult for her to rely on others but what she was doing and the trouble it could bring just didn’t sit right with me.
I did like Ms. Bernards detailed writing style which flowed well and kept me engaged and despite the few small issues I had with it, it was an enjoyable and entertaining read - the twist we are given was definitely not what I was expecting.
Overall, Find Me was filled with suspense, intrigue and likeable characters. It was a page turner which kept me wanting more.
Thank-you kindly to Harper Teen for the opportunity to read and review Find Me.
July 11, 2013
Okay, there are books and then there are BOOKS. This one is the kind of BOOK that deserves bold 72 point font. And maybe a parade and confetti and all that. I was grabbed from page one, and it never let me go. Sometimes terrifying, sometimes funny, always completely absorbing--Find Me is a remarkable debut.
Wick is a dynamic character--a brilliant mix of tough and smart, fierce and sweet. Her journey in Find Me will keep you on the edge of your seat and up way too late at night, because trust me, there is no way you're putting this book down.
In a word...Amazing.
Wick is a dynamic character--a brilliant mix of tough and smart, fierce and sweet. Her journey in Find Me will keep you on the edge of your seat and up way too late at night, because trust me, there is no way you're putting this book down.
In a word...Amazing.
September 11, 2012
I had the privilege of being a Golden Heart 2012 finalist with this author, and I can say definitively, Romily is one of the brightest, wittiest, most soulful authors I know.
No joke, every word she writes GLOWS!
Romily rocks the top of my auto-buy list!!!
BUY THIS BOOK!!!
No joke, every word she writes GLOWS!
Romily rocks the top of my auto-buy list!!!
BUY THIS BOOK!!!
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