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Trouble Is a Friend of Mine
(Trouble #1)
by
Of course I didn’t like Digby when I first met him. No one does.
The first time Philip Digby shows up on Zoe Webster’s doorstep, he’s rude and he treats her like a book he’s already read and knows the ending to.
But before she knows it, Zoe’s allowed Digby—annoying, brilliant, and somehow…attractive? Digby—to drag her into a series of hilarious, dangerous, and only vaguely l ...more
The first time Philip Digby shows up on Zoe Webster’s doorstep, he’s rude and he treats her like a book he’s already read and knows the ending to.
But before she knows it, Zoe’s allowed Digby—annoying, brilliant, and somehow…attractive? Digby—to drag her into a series of hilarious, dangerous, and only vaguely l ...more
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Start your review of Trouble Is a Friend of Mine (Trouble, #1)
Jun 03, 2018
Cristina Monica
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
did-not-finish,
mystery
This story is absolutely ridiculous.
As are the characters. I kept waiting for them to warm up to me, or make me realize that they aren’t just characters from the author’s mind but actually real people that I can connect with and that could potentially, if I were a book jumper, become my friends.
That never happened. Digby is still, at the moment, an annoying and disrespectful son of a b*tch, and I understand Zoe doesn’t have many friends, but she’s letting herself be manipulated one too many tim ...more
As are the characters. I kept waiting for them to warm up to me, or make me realize that they aren’t just characters from the author’s mind but actually real people that I can connect with and that could potentially, if I were a book jumper, become my friends.
That never happened. Digby is still, at the moment, an annoying and disrespectful son of a b*tch, and I understand Zoe doesn’t have many friends, but she’s letting herself be manipulated one too many tim ...more
[4.5 Stars]
OMG IS THERE A SEQUEL???? I NEED A SEQUEL. I AM GOING TO BE UPSET IF THERE IS NO SEQUEL. GOODREADS IS NOT SHOWING ME THAT THERE'S A SEQUEL. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
OMG IS THERE A SEQUEL???? I NEED A SEQUEL. I AM GOING TO BE UPSET IF THERE IS NO SEQUEL. GOODREADS IS NOT SHOWING ME THAT THERE'S A SEQUEL. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I received this eARC from Penguin First To Read in exchange for an honest review
I hated this book. I loathed this book in its entirety, but I will bet all the Monopoly money I have that this book will be one of the most highly praised books I've ever seen. People will rave about how funny and likable the characters are and how brilliant the dialogue is and how the narrative flows so easily. This will undoubtedly become one of those over-hyped books that everyone will love.
And all because the mai ...more
I hated this book. I loathed this book in its entirety, but I will bet all the Monopoly money I have that this book will be one of the most highly praised books I've ever seen. People will rave about how funny and likable the characters are and how brilliant the dialogue is and how the narrative flows so easily. This will undoubtedly become one of those over-hyped books that everyone will love.
And all because the mai ...more
Jun 10, 2015
Sue (Hollywood News Source)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
authors-of-color,
young-adult,
books-i-own,
high-school,
mystery,
filipino-authors,
audiobook,
crime
Second read: November 23, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
I'm adjusting my rating because I realized I really really like this book despite its satire tone bordering offensive at some aspects. No book ever made me laugh as much as this series did and Crazy Rich Asians. I'm excited to read the sequel!
Initial read: August 3, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Trouble Is a Friend of Mine is not for everyone. The opening was slow, there is some concerning offensive content. In spite of its shortcomings, I still genuinely ador ...more
Rating: 4 stars
I'm adjusting my rating because I realized I really really like this book despite its satire tone bordering offensive at some aspects. No book ever made me laugh as much as this series did and Crazy Rich Asians. I'm excited to read the sequel!
Initial read: August 3, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Trouble Is a Friend of Mine is not for everyone. The opening was slow, there is some concerning offensive content. In spite of its shortcomings, I still genuinely ador ...more
With snappy dialog, off-beat teen characters, and a whip-smart high-speed plot, this book took me on a wild ride that I didn’t want to end, so the only thing that disappointed me was reading the last page which made me long for a sequel. I’m not sure if one is planned, but some questions are left hanging and the story could definitely continue.
Zoe Webster’s parents have just split up, forcing her to move to a small town with her mother, though she’s always been closer to her type-A father, and ...more
Zoe Webster’s parents have just split up, forcing her to move to a small town with her mother, though she’s always been closer to her type-A father, and ...more
Like a love child of Veronica Mars and John Hughes, TROUBLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE is a madcap mystery, a fresh coming-of-age, and an unlikely friendship story in one! After a divorce and ensuing custody battle finds Zoe reluctantly starting her junior year in upstate New York, oddball and outcast Phillip Digby appears on her doorstep, subsequently dragging Zoe into his search for a missing teenage girl. With fresh, infectious characters and a thrillingly zany plot, TROUBLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE is a
...more
This book you guys...couldn’t stop laughing. I have never read about such a smart, witty, yet annoying and loveable guy before. I too loved Zoe because she wasn’t the typical main character. Full review TK
That was just what I needed. Digby is a shit, but he's also an awesome one. Zoe is also awesome. Their banter is awesome. Idk I just really liked this one and am going to go and order the sequels stat (is it cool to say stat? I'm going for it. STAT. SEQUELS. Huzzah)
Now this doesn't mean I hated the book or didn't enjoy it in parts... I did for the most part. I loved Digby's wit and Zoe was awesome (Henry, so-so). There were quite a few moments of me laughing out loud in the break room at some of the stuff that was happening/being said.
So the rating? A "been there done that" type of feeling... I kept comparing (without really meaning to)this with Ellie Marney's series. At times I was successful at putting it out of my mind and going on with the story but st ...more
So the rating? A "been there done that" type of feeling... I kept comparing (without really meaning to)this with Ellie Marney's series. At times I was successful at putting it out of my mind and going on with the story but st ...more
I thought I reviewed this already! Finished sometime in September.
Main character -- Zoe -- was a bit dry at first, but I grew to love her! Digby was definitely a love-at-first-mention for me. And I'm glad he and Zoe became friends because they -- along with Henry -- have some crazy adventures involving attempting to solve the disappearance of a missing girl. There are a few twists near the end having to do with the missing girl as well as Digby's story. AND we see some great character growth fo ...more
Main character -- Zoe -- was a bit dry at first, but I grew to love her! Digby was definitely a love-at-first-mention for me. And I'm glad he and Zoe became friends because they -- along with Henry -- have some crazy adventures involving attempting to solve the disappearance of a missing girl. There are a few twists near the end having to do with the missing girl as well as Digby's story. AND we see some great character growth fo ...more
You know those books that are maybe not objectively the greatest but are still quite solid and tons of fun so whatever nothing’s perfect? Trouble Is a Friend of Mine is one of those books (for me at least, I’ve seen other reviews calling it both flawless and irredeemably awful so perspective and all of that).
Let’s get the negative out of the way first, shall we? I figured out the mystery within four chapters (something I am often times utter crap at), Zoe, the main character/narrator’s character ...more
Let’s get the negative out of the way first, shall we? I figured out the mystery within four chapters (something I am often times utter crap at), Zoe, the main character/narrator’s character ...more
1.5 stars
I'm not even sure what I just read. I loved the idea of it, the synopsis sounded exactly like my type of book and yet I'm sort of confused about the whole thing.
Zoe and Digby are interesting enough characters. She comes across as a people pleasing pushover and he seems super manic. There were some secondary characters who were mildly entertaining, but it's almost not even worth mentioning them.
For me, the plot was really repetitive and I don't even know what to say about the ending. ...more
I'm not even sure what I just read. I loved the idea of it, the synopsis sounded exactly like my type of book and yet I'm sort of confused about the whole thing.
Zoe and Digby are interesting enough characters. She comes across as a people pleasing pushover and he seems super manic. There were some secondary characters who were mildly entertaining, but it's almost not even worth mentioning them.
For me, the plot was really repetitive and I don't even know what to say about the ending. ...more
HMM I'm gonna say 2.5 ish rather than 2. This story was entertaining and all that but I just didn't enjoy it. I found the characters to be kind of annoying. Digby especially was just rude. Like I have the kind of friends who make fun of each other and all that, but there's a line and he just seemed to cross it. He would point out legitimate insecurities and think nothing of it. Like no man, that makes you a dick.
Some of the dialogue between characters was genuine and funny. I think my main probl ...more
Some of the dialogue between characters was genuine and funny. I think my main probl ...more
3.5 stars
The best way to describe this YA novel is cute and quirky. Filled with fun dialogue between a girl who moves to a new town, a new school, and runs into an unusual teen boy who is always up to no good as he's trying to solve the town's crimes. There are other teens, all different personalities - the good guy next door; the stuck up rich girl no one likes; the nerdy, small for his age boy who's a genius; the mom who tries to reclaim her daughter's affections; the distant and controlling d ...more
I wanted to love this book more. I really, truly did. I mean what book touted as a mashup of Veronica Mars, Sherlock Holmes & Ferris Bueller’s Day Off wouldn’t be amazing?
For me… it was this one.
It started out wonderfully, but as the story progressed I just found myself losing interest more and more.
What did I like? I thought that at times, this was actually really funny, and witty. I truly enjoyed most aspects of Zoe & Digby’s friendship and the development of their characters. I would probabl ...more
For me… it was this one.
It started out wonderfully, but as the story progressed I just found myself losing interest more and more.
What did I like? I thought that at times, this was actually really funny, and witty. I truly enjoyed most aspects of Zoe & Digby’s friendship and the development of their characters. I would probabl ...more
Jun 03, 2019
Vicky Again
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
myself
Recommended to Vicky Again by:
Rachel Strolle
I WANT THE SECOND BOOK SO BADLY MAIL MOVE FASTER PLS
this was SO much fun and I didn't realize I needed a comedy right now, but I really did. I legitimately laughed out loud on a couple of occasions (my mom was there and she was so curious as to why I was laughing)
it's definitely a good read for younger teen audiences too (or even middle school), although some of the jokes did feel very 2015 (when this was published) and gave off subtle not-like-other-girl vibes (but that's definitely not the wor ...more
this was SO much fun and I didn't realize I needed a comedy right now, but I really did. I legitimately laughed out loud on a couple of occasions (my mom was there and she was so curious as to why I was laughing)
it's definitely a good read for younger teen audiences too (or even middle school), although some of the jokes did feel very 2015 (when this was published) and gave off subtle not-like-other-girl vibes (but that's definitely not the wor ...more
Review originally posted on Heart Full of Books!
I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while, and that’s mostly because the Goodreads reviews shout that there needs to be a sequel. This can only mean there’s one heck of a cliffhanger, and I wasn’t ready to be unsatisfied…until I found out there’s a sequel, coming out in the week!
So, I was ready to dive into Trouble is a Friend of Mine, safe in the knowledge I could jump right over to the second book straight after. No guesses what I’m reading now. ...more
I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while, and that’s mostly because the Goodreads reviews shout that there needs to be a sequel. This can only mean there’s one heck of a cliffhanger, and I wasn’t ready to be unsatisfied…until I found out there’s a sequel, coming out in the week!
So, I was ready to dive into Trouble is a Friend of Mine, safe in the knowledge I could jump right over to the second book straight after. No guesses what I’m reading now. ...more
Have you ever tried to supress laughter because someone is sleeping ? It's painful ! You start to make weird noises and your eyes tear up. Your cheeks hurt from your smile and you just have to let it go and laugh. This is the book that makes you feel like that.
I can honestly say that I don't remember laughing harder with any other book. Trouble is a friend of mine was incredible. It has an incredible cast and the dialogue is swoon worthy in a really smart way. I can't say much, except that I wa ...more
I can honestly say that I don't remember laughing harder with any other book. Trouble is a friend of mine was incredible. It has an incredible cast and the dialogue is swoon worthy in a really smart way. I can't say much, except that I wa ...more
2.5 stars
“Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is EXACTLY on point with how I would define this book. I think people will flock to this book and totally love it! I think it will be a big hit! Sadly, for me that didn’t happen. I finished reading this book, put it down… and just kind of stared at the wall. What had I just read?
Zoe’s parents are recently divorced, causing her to relocate to a new school. Her father is urging her to go to a new preppy school, and she tends to ...more
“Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is EXACTLY on point with how I would define this book. I think people will flock to this book and totally love it! I think it will be a big hit! Sadly, for me that didn’t happen. I finished reading this book, put it down… and just kind of stared at the wall. What had I just read?
Zoe’s parents are recently divorced, causing her to relocate to a new school. Her father is urging her to go to a new preppy school, and she tends to ...more
WHAT EVEN. I was not expecting what I read.
I absolutely loved this!
I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Stephanie Tromly is a genius at witty, smart humour and this was the most perfect old-fashioned mystery/crime solving YA that I never knew I needed.
There was tropes that could have been dealt with better and the language was ableist at a few instances. So I hope Stephanie Tromly changed that in the sequel.
But overall, I adored this. Zoe and Digby are my new kids, I love them. (Digby remi ...more
I absolutely loved this!
I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Stephanie Tromly is a genius at witty, smart humour and this was the most perfect old-fashioned mystery/crime solving YA that I never knew I needed.
There was tropes that could have been dealt with better and the language was ableist at a few instances. So I hope Stephanie Tromly changed that in the sequel.
But overall, I adored this. Zoe and Digby are my new kids, I love them. (Digby remi ...more
2.5
Easy to read and fun.
Though filled with mysteries to uncover, adolescence and events both structured and random.... there as something missing with this book that won't quite allow me to give it a full 3stars, and I think it has to do with the main characters; Zoe. Her personality was all over the place and considering the book is told from her point of view she took a back seat to Digby - who is also a main character.
Described as "Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off" ...more
Easy to read and fun.
Though filled with mysteries to uncover, adolescence and events both structured and random.... there as something missing with this book that won't quite allow me to give it a full 3stars, and I think it has to do with the main characters; Zoe. Her personality was all over the place and considering the book is told from her point of view she took a back seat to Digby - who is also a main character.
Described as "Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller’s Day Off" ...more
Loved it! So unpredictable. I want more!
I saw this recommended for people who like Veronica Mars. It seemed interesting. The reviews seemed promising.
While I enjoyed the mystery, the character Digby drove me up a fucking wall and I really can't see them chemistry between him and Zoe. I feel that's the way it's going, since that ending happened (and my book had bits and pieces for the next installment..).
I loved the story. I love how mad-cap, zainy, hilarious and dark everything was at times. But honest to god, the romance/relationshi ...more
While I enjoyed the mystery, the character Digby drove me up a fucking wall and I really can't see them chemistry between him and Zoe. I feel that's the way it's going, since that ending happened (and my book had bits and pieces for the next installment..).
I loved the story. I love how mad-cap, zainy, hilarious and dark everything was at times. But honest to god, the romance/relationshi ...more
4.5 stars
Since Meg sent me a copy of Trouble Is a Friend of Mine with her recommendation, it should come as no surprise whatsoever that I enjoyed the shit out of this book. I devoured it like a bag of chips, though thankfully this doesn’t go directly to my thighs and stomach. Tromly’s debut impressed me so much in fact that I will definitely to read every single book she ever writes. Trouble Is a Friend of Mine is one of the banteriest books ever, deliciously funny, silly, and shippy.
Zoe Webster ...more
Since Meg sent me a copy of Trouble Is a Friend of Mine with her recommendation, it should come as no surprise whatsoever that I enjoyed the shit out of this book. I devoured it like a bag of chips, though thankfully this doesn’t go directly to my thighs and stomach. Tromly’s debut impressed me so much in fact that I will definitely to read every single book she ever writes. Trouble Is a Friend of Mine is one of the banteriest books ever, deliciously funny, silly, and shippy.
Zoe Webster ...more
I want to give this book 5 stars, but alas, I can't. It's not plausible. In fact, it's unbelievable! Also, one of the main characters named Digby, reminds me of a
manic pixie dream boy
with a little bit of Sherlock. It's plain (as vanilla) obvious that he's only around when things are fun. He also notices things that other people wouldn't normally notice. My other issue with Digby is that he's got problems (like the normal Sherlock in the show) and other issues too... You know, I love my per
...more
***This review has also been posted on Xpresso Reads
If you like your Sherlock re-tellings full of lots of wit, humor and fun; Trouble is a Friend of Mine is for you. This book was SO MUCH fun to read. I was giggling most of the time, I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I liked the relationships. This was a great brain candy book but my problem with the book was how ignorant and privileged the characters were.
We are constantly reminded that the characters live in a very white neighborho ...more
If you like your Sherlock re-tellings full of lots of wit, humor and fun; Trouble is a Friend of Mine is for you. This book was SO MUCH fun to read. I was giggling most of the time, I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I liked the relationships. This was a great brain candy book but my problem with the book was how ignorant and privileged the characters were.
We are constantly reminded that the characters live in a very white neighborho ...more
TROUBLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE is an incredibly fitting title. When Zoe Webster's parents divorce and she moves to a new town and school, her first new friend is the enigmatic Digby. Digby gets her into all sorts of trouble, including the sort that convinces her to run back into an exploding building (and that ends up on her permanent record).
TROUBLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE is a very over-the-top book. The personalities are large, the plot is fast paced, and the interweaving tales of sordid crime are t ...more
TROUBLE IS A FRIEND OF MINE is a very over-the-top book. The personalities are large, the plot is fast paced, and the interweaving tales of sordid crime are t ...more
Trouble is a Friend of Mine is ridiculous. The characters, the plot, the mystery? All ridiculous. The funny thing is that some of that ridiculousness really worked for me – especially when it came to the characters. But that also means that some of it didn’t work. Let’s break it down into strengths and weaknesses.
STRENGTHS
– The book is hilarious. I had A LOT of laugh out loud moments at the dialogue or characters.
– It’s well-written, easy to read, and fast-paced, which made it super enjoyable fo ...more
STRENGTHS
– The book is hilarious. I had A LOT of laugh out loud moments at the dialogue or characters.
– It’s well-written, easy to read, and fast-paced, which made it super enjoyable fo ...more
This book could be quite questionable at times, but was still oddly compelling and I confess that I rather adored major aspects of this book.
This is my second attempt at reading this, and surprisingly, after the hurdle of warming up to these characters, I am in love with them. Digby and Zoe are an oddly enthralling pair, and while I did not condone some of their actions, it was a zippy ride and I am glad that I gave this book a second chance.
I'm rather disappointed that there was a need for the ...more
This is my second attempt at reading this, and surprisingly, after the hurdle of warming up to these characters, I am in love with them. Digby and Zoe are an oddly enthralling pair, and while I did not condone some of their actions, it was a zippy ride and I am glad that I gave this book a second chance.
I'm rather disappointed that there was a need for the ...more
I enjoyed this book so much! I read part of it while traveling, and there were many moments in public places where I actually laughed out loud, which is rare for me.
Content warning: Lots of teenage boy humor... which I mostly found funny, but would make me hesitate recommending it to most of my goodreads friends. Also, cursing.
Content warning: Lots of teenage boy humor... which I mostly found funny, but would make me hesitate recommending it to most of my goodreads friends. Also, cursing.
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