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Identity Crisis
Who does she think she is?
Annalise’s audacious freshman-year hookup with Cooper Franklin has a trio of friends thirsting for revenge. So they catfish Annalise by creating the perfect virtual guy, with Noelle playing along reluctantly only because her lifelong crush, Cooper, is in love with Annalise. As Annalise falls for it, even scoring tickets to the concert of the year for her and her mythical new guy, Noelle feels more and more guilty. Then, the whole thing blows up. Annalise must face her betrayers and decide whether or not she can ever forgive.
Annalise’s audacious freshman-year hookup with Cooper Franklin has a trio of friends thirsting for revenge. So they catfish Annalise by creating the perfect virtual guy, with Noelle playing along reluctantly only because her lifelong crush, Cooper, is in love with Annalise. As Annalise falls for it, even scoring tickets to the concert of the year for her and her mythical new guy, Noelle feels more and more guilty. Then, the whole thing blows up. Annalise must face her betrayers and decide whether or not she can ever forgive.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2015
3 people are currently reading
1123 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Schorr
3 books38 followersMelissa Schorr is the YA author of GOY CRAZY (Hyperion 2006) and IDENTITY CRISIS (forthcoming, Merit Press 2016), and a contributor to the YA anthology DEAR BULLY.
She is currently a contributing writer/editor to the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. Her freelance work has appeared in numerous publications, including GQ, People, Self, San Francisco magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
Melissa currently lives in Boston with her husband, her daughters, and her dog, Bailey.
Visit her website at http://www.melissaschorr.com
Find her at Twitter @melissaschorr
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Melissa-Scho...
She is currently a contributing writer/editor to the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. Her freelance work has appeared in numerous publications, including GQ, People, Self, San Francisco magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
Melissa currently lives in Boston with her husband, her daughters, and her dog, Bailey.
Visit her website at http://www.melissaschorr.com
Find her at Twitter @melissaschorr
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Melissa-Scho...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 15, 2016
Original post on Reading Addict
I went into this book without expectations, to be honest, because this genre is a hit or miss for me. And this time it was a hit!
This book kept me busy for few hours and I had so much fun reading it, trying to guess what was going to happen, and I failed, and I ended caring so much for the characters, even though I tried not to.
But I can't speak about the plot without giving you spoilers, so I'll shut up. But I can tell you that if you want a fun and easy read this is perfect. If you want something romantic and fluffy this is good. And also, if you like revenge stories and things that turn up completely different in the end then this is a good pick.
Identity crisis is a novel that deals with a ton of stuff, even if is short and you read it so fast, the tone is light and you have the impression that everything is pink and happy as the cover. But if you look closer and you read between the lines, more serious themes are discussed and really well, to be honest. Especially this read being a YA contemporary and you don't expect that to happen. I didn't. And also the fact that we have the insta-messages makes the lecture even more fun and full of suspense.
I wasn't expecting this book to keep me guessing and play with my mind, and hit me with so many twists and turns and I'm so glad that I've read it. It left me with a smile on my face and a warm feeling inside. This is a great book for young readers but also if you read other genres or you are older than the characters. Because putting the highschool life aside, you can feel the serious nuances and issues thrown in it, between funny and fluffy things. You can see the consequences of something that started just innocent and people paying for it. You can take this book both serious and entertaining, and I think that is a win-win for everyone.
You can read this if you want something easy, relaxing, with romance and drama, or you can read it if you want revenge, twists, action, suspense and more serious stuff. You can read it as a teenager or older and I think you'll have lots of fun! I did!
I went into this book without expectations, to be honest, because this genre is a hit or miss for me. And this time it was a hit!
This book kept me busy for few hours and I had so much fun reading it, trying to guess what was going to happen, and I failed, and I ended caring so much for the characters, even though I tried not to.
But I can't speak about the plot without giving you spoilers, so I'll shut up. But I can tell you that if you want a fun and easy read this is perfect. If you want something romantic and fluffy this is good. And also, if you like revenge stories and things that turn up completely different in the end then this is a good pick.
Identity crisis is a novel that deals with a ton of stuff, even if is short and you read it so fast, the tone is light and you have the impression that everything is pink and happy as the cover. But if you look closer and you read between the lines, more serious themes are discussed and really well, to be honest. Especially this read being a YA contemporary and you don't expect that to happen. I didn't. And also the fact that we have the insta-messages makes the lecture even more fun and full of suspense.
I wasn't expecting this book to keep me guessing and play with my mind, and hit me with so many twists and turns and I'm so glad that I've read it. It left me with a smile on my face and a warm feeling inside. This is a great book for young readers but also if you read other genres or you are older than the characters. Because putting the highschool life aside, you can feel the serious nuances and issues thrown in it, between funny and fluffy things. You can see the consequences of something that started just innocent and people paying for it. You can take this book both serious and entertaining, and I think that is a win-win for everyone.
You can read this if you want something easy, relaxing, with romance and drama, or you can read it if you want revenge, twists, action, suspense and more serious stuff. You can read it as a teenager or older and I think you'll have lots of fun! I did!
February 6, 2017
3.5 stars
Identity Crisis follows the story of a girl named Annalise whose high school career goes downhill when a rumor spreads about what happened between her and the boyfriend of the school's queen bee Eva at the Freshman Fling. It's a year later, but no one's forgotten about it, especially Eva and her minions, Tori and Noelle. When Noelle's crush Cooper starts flirting with Annalise (who is totally not interested!), Eva forms a plan to catfish Annalise to get revenge for the Freshman Fling and keep her away from Cooper for Noelle. But now Noelle, the quiet one in the group, is tasked with keeping up the facade of Declan, a super Brass Knuckles fan and Annalise's dream guy. The only problem? She starts to feel bad about it. And when she begins to learn the truth about what really happened between Annalise and Eva's boyfriend, she feels even worse.
This book flips between the perspectives of Annalise and Noelle and focuses on the issues of high school rumors, online bullying, Catfishing, speaking up for yourself, and doing the right thing despite what others may think. The story ends in a neat little package with loose ends tied and everyone ending up with who they're supposed to. This was a fun, quick read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories about high school drama and the Internet.
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Identity Crisis follows the story of a girl named Annalise whose high school career goes downhill when a rumor spreads about what happened between her and the boyfriend of the school's queen bee Eva at the Freshman Fling. It's a year later, but no one's forgotten about it, especially Eva and her minions, Tori and Noelle. When Noelle's crush Cooper starts flirting with Annalise (who is totally not interested!), Eva forms a plan to catfish Annalise to get revenge for the Freshman Fling and keep her away from Cooper for Noelle. But now Noelle, the quiet one in the group, is tasked with keeping up the facade of Declan, a super Brass Knuckles fan and Annalise's dream guy. The only problem? She starts to feel bad about it. And when she begins to learn the truth about what really happened between Annalise and Eva's boyfriend, she feels even worse.
This book flips between the perspectives of Annalise and Noelle and focuses on the issues of high school rumors, online bullying, Catfishing, speaking up for yourself, and doing the right thing despite what others may think. The story ends in a neat little package with loose ends tied and everyone ending up with who they're supposed to. This was a fun, quick read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories about high school drama and the Internet.
YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I really enjoyed Identity Crisis because I felt like it was a somewhat lighter take (though not too light) on what can be a very serious issue – and sometimes we need that. There are lots of “issue” books out there, and they’re all important, but they might not always feel accessible, especially to a younger YA crowd. This one does.
The synopsis describes the book pretty accurately, so I’m just going to jump straight into my review
What I enjoyed:
The issue of catfishing explored.
Unfortunately, in today’s age of technology, catfishing is a very real issue – it’s far too easy for a person to pretend to be someone they’re not. And bullying in this way is certainly not unheard of – some kids may see catfishing as a fun “joke” and others might be using it to be intentionally cruel – but either way it’s not a laughing matter. The fact is that being made a fool of in this manner is hurtful and leaves the victim feeling used and confused and more than a little sad. And, of course, then there are the cases where catfishing can be truly dangerous – where the perpetrator has harmful intentions. YA readers (and, really, all of us) need to be aware of these types of dangers and any book that helps them recognize the signs of this sort of situation is a positive, as far as I’m concerned.
Noelle and Annalise.
This book was written from the perspectives of both Noelle and Annalise. Noelle has felt pressured to go along with her friends’ actions and finds it nearly impossible to stand up for herself in the beginning of the book (we see lots of growth there, though!). I think that she embodies a lot of teenagers out there who know that certain actions are wrong, but they don’t feel strong enough to stand up to their peers – especially their friends. Noelle never feels comfortable with what she’s doing, but she ends up finding an actual bond with Annalise and holds onto the guise partially because of that. Annalise, on the other hand, was possibly a bit naive (there were signs that her online love interest wasn’t real that she chose to ignore – but that’s pretty much human nature), but she was a stronger person in general. She stood up for herself and didn’t let people walk all over her. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t hurt by the actions against her – after all, even strong people feel pain when people treat them badly – but she never let the mean girls at her school “win.” She never gave up her own sense of self-worth. I appreciated that an unlikely friendship that developed between Noelle and Annalise online – two very different girls who both felt alienated and needed someone to talk to. (I almost thought for a little while that the book was headed toward a romance between the two girls, but it didn’t go that way – which I was kind of glad about because the issue of sexuality seems a little too complex to cover in an online context – just because you connect with someone online doesn’t mean that you’re going to be attracted to them in person!)
The negatives:
Easy ending.
The only flaw with this book is that things were wrapped up a little too quickly and easily at the end. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of the actual repercussions of everything that happened. Still, I did feel like the happily ever after ending kept the book lighter – and, like I said, I appreciate a lighter take on these types of subjects sometimes!
I felt like this book took a serious subject and shed light on it without getting too heavy. It definitely fills void in YA fiction in that way. Just to set the expectations, I feel like I should mention that there’s barely a hint of romance in the book (unless you count the fact that Annalise thinks she’s starting to feel romantically toward someone who doesn’t exist – and there’s one other romantic angle, but it’s more of a side note than anything). Romance isn’t the point of this book, which I find kind of refreshing for YA. Overall, I give this one 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
I really enjoyed Identity Crisis because I felt like it was a somewhat lighter take (though not too light) on what can be a very serious issue – and sometimes we need that. There are lots of “issue” books out there, and they’re all important, but they might not always feel accessible, especially to a younger YA crowd. This one does.
The synopsis describes the book pretty accurately, so I’m just going to jump straight into my review
What I enjoyed:
The issue of catfishing explored.
Unfortunately, in today’s age of technology, catfishing is a very real issue – it’s far too easy for a person to pretend to be someone they’re not. And bullying in this way is certainly not unheard of – some kids may see catfishing as a fun “joke” and others might be using it to be intentionally cruel – but either way it’s not a laughing matter. The fact is that being made a fool of in this manner is hurtful and leaves the victim feeling used and confused and more than a little sad. And, of course, then there are the cases where catfishing can be truly dangerous – where the perpetrator has harmful intentions. YA readers (and, really, all of us) need to be aware of these types of dangers and any book that helps them recognize the signs of this sort of situation is a positive, as far as I’m concerned.
Noelle and Annalise.
This book was written from the perspectives of both Noelle and Annalise. Noelle has felt pressured to go along with her friends’ actions and finds it nearly impossible to stand up for herself in the beginning of the book (we see lots of growth there, though!). I think that she embodies a lot of teenagers out there who know that certain actions are wrong, but they don’t feel strong enough to stand up to their peers – especially their friends. Noelle never feels comfortable with what she’s doing, but she ends up finding an actual bond with Annalise and holds onto the guise partially because of that. Annalise, on the other hand, was possibly a bit naive (there were signs that her online love interest wasn’t real that she chose to ignore – but that’s pretty much human nature), but she was a stronger person in general. She stood up for herself and didn’t let people walk all over her. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t hurt by the actions against her – after all, even strong people feel pain when people treat them badly – but she never let the mean girls at her school “win.” She never gave up her own sense of self-worth. I appreciated that an unlikely friendship that developed between Noelle and Annalise online – two very different girls who both felt alienated and needed someone to talk to. (I almost thought for a little while that the book was headed toward a romance between the two girls, but it didn’t go that way – which I was kind of glad about because the issue of sexuality seems a little too complex to cover in an online context – just because you connect with someone online doesn’t mean that you’re going to be attracted to them in person!)
The negatives:
Easy ending.
The only flaw with this book is that things were wrapped up a little too quickly and easily at the end. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of the actual repercussions of everything that happened. Still, I did feel like the happily ever after ending kept the book lighter – and, like I said, I appreciate a lighter take on these types of subjects sometimes!
I felt like this book took a serious subject and shed light on it without getting too heavy. It definitely fills void in YA fiction in that way. Just to set the expectations, I feel like I should mention that there’s barely a hint of romance in the book (unless you count the fact that Annalise thinks she’s starting to feel romantically toward someone who doesn’t exist – and there’s one other romantic angle, but it’s more of a side note than anything). Romance isn’t the point of this book, which I find kind of refreshing for YA. Overall, I give this one 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
March 7, 2016
Identity Crisis is an adorable book that is so very high school. Annalise, a Brass Knuckles fangirl (think: Directioner), finds out she didn't get tickets to the band's one and only concert in Boston. Annalise isn't the most popular girl. Ever since 7th grade she's been receiving unwanted attention due to her overly developed chest. Everyone thinks she's lucky, but all the guys act like pigs around her, and all the girls think she's a slut.
Noelle is part of the popular clique. Her BFF Eva has had it out for Annalise ever since the incident that happened with Eva's boyfriend. When Noelle's crush starts showing interest in Annalise, Eva decides something must be done. She decides to make up a fake online profile to catfish Annalise away from Cooper. The thing is, Eva (the mastermind) leaves the dirty work up to Noelle who doesn't really want to do this at all. Along the way, Noelle finds out that there's more to Annalise than she thought. When things blow up, Noelle misses the bond she felt when talking to Annalise, while Annalise decides she's getting revenge.
Even though this book felt a tad young for me (a 30-something), I thought it was the perfect young people book. I loved the way the 2 narrators felt like they were talking directly to me. I felt an instant connection to both Annalise and Noelle. They both have a cute, honest sense of humor and two distinct personalities. Both sides of the story kept me reading. Some of the IM-ing conversations were a little irritating. I kind of don't like "teen talk". Okay, I really don't like "teen talk", especially if it sounds like an adult trying to mimic the way teens talk. There was some of that going on. But not too much. I also had a lot of cringing moments when Annalise talked of her crush on boy band member Viggo Witts. It was like visiting a One Direction or Justin Bieber fan page and reading comments from girls who think they are "so misunderstood" and "if they could just meet me, I know we'd have an instant connection". But I am reading YA here, so I will overlook that.
Throughout the book I felt terrible for Annalise. It made me think of all the things that teenagers deal with because of all the internets stuff. And YIKES!! I'm so glad that stuff wasn't possible for most of my childhood. The internet really wasn't a "thing" until I was in high school... and then it was all AOL chat rooms and IMs, until Facebook came in on it's demon train. I'm sure people were "catfished" (although that particular term didn't exist), but the online bullying and the invasion of privacy stuff wasn't happening much at all. I also feel so grateful that all my stupid mistakes from back then weren't documented for the world to see.
I love books that show issues like these. Catfishing someone is serious stuff. Making someone think that they're connecting with someone in order to humiliate them?? It's pretty sick and very sad. I thought this book did a good job at showing it, without glamorizing it.
OVERALL: I loved the way I connected with the writing and characters' voices. It deals with heavy issues, while also being completely adorable and fun. It's definitely a high school book with a high school feel. I would more recommend to high school age readers because of that.
My Blog:
Noelle is part of the popular clique. Her BFF Eva has had it out for Annalise ever since the incident that happened with Eva's boyfriend. When Noelle's crush starts showing interest in Annalise, Eva decides something must be done. She decides to make up a fake online profile to catfish Annalise away from Cooper. The thing is, Eva (the mastermind) leaves the dirty work up to Noelle who doesn't really want to do this at all. Along the way, Noelle finds out that there's more to Annalise than she thought. When things blow up, Noelle misses the bond she felt when talking to Annalise, while Annalise decides she's getting revenge.
Even though this book felt a tad young for me (a 30-something), I thought it was the perfect young people book. I loved the way the 2 narrators felt like they were talking directly to me. I felt an instant connection to both Annalise and Noelle. They both have a cute, honest sense of humor and two distinct personalities. Both sides of the story kept me reading. Some of the IM-ing conversations were a little irritating. I kind of don't like "teen talk". Okay, I really don't like "teen talk", especially if it sounds like an adult trying to mimic the way teens talk. There was some of that going on. But not too much. I also had a lot of cringing moments when Annalise talked of her crush on boy band member Viggo Witts. It was like visiting a One Direction or Justin Bieber fan page and reading comments from girls who think they are "so misunderstood" and "if they could just meet me, I know we'd have an instant connection". But I am reading YA here, so I will overlook that.
Throughout the book I felt terrible for Annalise. It made me think of all the things that teenagers deal with because of all the internets stuff. And YIKES!! I'm so glad that stuff wasn't possible for most of my childhood. The internet really wasn't a "thing" until I was in high school... and then it was all AOL chat rooms and IMs, until Facebook came in on it's demon train. I'm sure people were "catfished" (although that particular term didn't exist), but the online bullying and the invasion of privacy stuff wasn't happening much at all. I also feel so grateful that all my stupid mistakes from back then weren't documented for the world to see.
I love books that show issues like these. Catfishing someone is serious stuff. Making someone think that they're connecting with someone in order to humiliate them?? It's pretty sick and very sad. I thought this book did a good job at showing it, without glamorizing it.
OVERALL: I loved the way I connected with the writing and characters' voices. It deals with heavy issues, while also being completely adorable and fun. It's definitely a high school book with a high school feel. I would more recommend to high school age readers because of that.
My Blog:
May 21, 2016
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Identity Crisis cover a very important topic in this era of technology, the fact that a computer screen is easy to hide behind and that not everyone is who they say they are. This story alternates back and forth between the perspective of Annalise, a sophomore that has been wrongly accused of hooking up with Eva's (the most popular girl in school) boyfriend at the freshman fling, and Noelle, who is smart, shy and close friends with Eva.
Eva wants revenge for Annalise's "hookup" with her boyfriend and she suckers Noelle into her plan of Catfishing Annalise by saying it is the only way to keep Annalise from Cooper, the guy that Noelle has had crush on forever. Noelle ends up being put in charge of the catfishing and slowly after talking to Annalise she feels a connection and starts to feel bad for what her and her friends are doing to Annalise. When things start to go south Noelle panics that she will end up in serious trouble for what she has been doing.
Melissa Schorr did a wonderful job creating her characters and making them easy to relate to even if you are not in high school. I really connected with the emotions that the author was trying to get her readers to feel and this is one of the many things I enjoyed in this book.
I would definitely recommend this book to people that enjoy you adult fiction but I want to also point out that if you don't want to read something that revolves around high school drama then this is not the book for you. I really enjoyed this book and I am glad I was given the chance to enjoy it.
Identity Crisis cover a very important topic in this era of technology, the fact that a computer screen is easy to hide behind and that not everyone is who they say they are. This story alternates back and forth between the perspective of Annalise, a sophomore that has been wrongly accused of hooking up with Eva's (the most popular girl in school) boyfriend at the freshman fling, and Noelle, who is smart, shy and close friends with Eva.
Eva wants revenge for Annalise's "hookup" with her boyfriend and she suckers Noelle into her plan of Catfishing Annalise by saying it is the only way to keep Annalise from Cooper, the guy that Noelle has had crush on forever. Noelle ends up being put in charge of the catfishing and slowly after talking to Annalise she feels a connection and starts to feel bad for what her and her friends are doing to Annalise. When things start to go south Noelle panics that she will end up in serious trouble for what she has been doing.
Melissa Schorr did a wonderful job creating her characters and making them easy to relate to even if you are not in high school. I really connected with the emotions that the author was trying to get her readers to feel and this is one of the many things I enjoyed in this book.
I would definitely recommend this book to people that enjoy you adult fiction but I want to also point out that if you don't want to read something that revolves around high school drama then this is not the book for you. I really enjoyed this book and I am glad I was given the chance to enjoy it.
January 5, 2016
I definitely enjoyed this book, given the fact that it was fast-paced. It was written in two different point of view - Annalise and Noelle. This makes the story much more interesting as we get to see two different perspectives in which one of them is the bully, and the other is the victim.
Noelle was my favorite character by far, despite being the "bad" one in the book because I loved seeing her character develop, as she tried to battle between doing what she assumed was right, and doing what really is right. I actually had a love-hate relationship with her character, because I do admit that there were times when her actions made me wanna pull my hair out.
Annalise was basically the victim in this book, and I feel that her character gave a refreshing meaning to this book. It's like, she does want to get revenge, but at the same time, she doesn't want to stoop as low as her bullies. And I cheered for her, every time she stood up for herself, because for some weird reasons, main characters tend to not stand up for themselves.
Basically the whole story touches on the topic of cyber bully and self-identity, and I honestly think that this was one of the best 2016 books that I've read so far.
Noelle was my favorite character by far, despite being the "bad" one in the book because I loved seeing her character develop, as she tried to battle between doing what she assumed was right, and doing what really is right. I actually had a love-hate relationship with her character, because I do admit that there were times when her actions made me wanna pull my hair out.
Annalise was basically the victim in this book, and I feel that her character gave a refreshing meaning to this book. It's like, she does want to get revenge, but at the same time, she doesn't want to stoop as low as her bullies. And I cheered for her, every time she stood up for herself, because for some weird reasons, main characters tend to not stand up for themselves.
Basically the whole story touches on the topic of cyber bully and self-identity, and I honestly think that this was one of the best 2016 books that I've read so far.
March 29, 2016
This is a great book! I found myself completely engrossed in the characters and the story line. As the mother of two teens, I can tell you that this author nailed suburban high school teen life. The characters leap off the page, the drama is just right, and the parents feel as real as their kids. No one is all good or all bad--they're complex, as people are. I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling. This novel is perfectly plotted and paced.
Besides being an enjoyable read, this book speaks volumes to today's teens and the social media pressures they endure. You can be whoever you want behind your avatar, or you can more yourself than you are in person. The problem is this: How does anyone know if you're authentic or genuine?
This compelling novel explores online relationships, identities, and a modern phenomenon called catfishing. Catfishing is the crafting of a false identity to lure someone into a romantic relationship. This isn't just something that happens on dating sites, this happens in America's high schools too. This book is an excellent choice for teens, parents, and educators!
Besides being an enjoyable read, this book speaks volumes to today's teens and the social media pressures they endure. You can be whoever you want behind your avatar, or you can more yourself than you are in person. The problem is this: How does anyone know if you're authentic or genuine?
This compelling novel explores online relationships, identities, and a modern phenomenon called catfishing. Catfishing is the crafting of a false identity to lure someone into a romantic relationship. This isn't just something that happens on dating sites, this happens in America's high schools too. This book is an excellent choice for teens, parents, and educators!
January 10, 2016
I receive a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The internet is a scary place for many people. We hear a lot of things about a man selling something on Craigslist and then butchering people when they approach him for a sweet buy. We hear about mysterious scammers in Nigeria taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting individuals. But what we haven't heard is the emotional toll on these victims. And that is where Identity Crisis comes in.
Catfishing is a very serious crime. (Please don't think that this is a light prank. There is nothing light and funny about this prank.) Noelle and her friends cruelly decides to play a nasty "prank/joke" on Annalise by catfishing her. While Annalise thinks she is talking to this cute boy who likes the exact same things she likes, Noelle knows better. And shoving down most of her guilt, Noelle continues the prank her friends started. It's a cruel thing, and kids... are sometimes very nasty to one another.
The prank is almost bullying. Is bullying, actually.
From the very beginning, it is so clear that Noelle is doomed once Annalise finds out. Despite knowing the ending, I can't help but chew my nails out in anticipation and continue reading for the prank's inevitable downfall and its conclusion. Will Annalise forgive? Will Noelle feel regret? What will these two girls do now? It's an addicting storyline that shows the rise of the prank, the discovery, and the reconstruction of the girls' relationship.
Annalise is a character with less development when compared to Noelle. Of course, readers can't help but root for Annalise when she is being catfished and horribly humiliated. Then there is Noelle, who is wrangled into the entire conflict because of her friends. Noelle, who feels undeniably guilty for being a part of this, has a problem with her conscience, and she is unable to say a thing when Annalise discovers everything. Noelle (who is a narrator/character I strongly empathize and understand) gets into heaps of trouble, and she really does be better. Noelle is a far more complex and interesting character than Annalise.
The ending is perhaps the weakest part of the book. It rushes the story, and Annalise (too) quickly forgives Noelle for catfishing. It seems to be a huge letdown for angst. (It also makes this story for a little light reading, but I'm utterly disappointed that no one is punished. Catfishing... It's dangerous, not all fun and games.)
Overall, Identity Crisis is told from the perspective of two girls. It has an awesome and nail-biting plot, and the conflict is simply irresistible. Noelle is a character most readers can probably empathize with. The story is unique, and it's definitely for those who are looking for something out of the ordinary.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
The internet is a scary place for many people. We hear a lot of things about a man selling something on Craigslist and then butchering people when they approach him for a sweet buy. We hear about mysterious scammers in Nigeria taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting individuals. But what we haven't heard is the emotional toll on these victims. And that is where Identity Crisis comes in.
Catfishing is a very serious crime. (Please don't think that this is a light prank. There is nothing light and funny about this prank.) Noelle and her friends cruelly decides to play a nasty "prank/joke" on Annalise by catfishing her. While Annalise thinks she is talking to this cute boy who likes the exact same things she likes, Noelle knows better. And shoving down most of her guilt, Noelle continues the prank her friends started. It's a cruel thing, and kids... are sometimes very nasty to one another.
The prank is almost bullying. Is bullying, actually.
From the very beginning, it is so clear that Noelle is doomed once Annalise finds out. Despite knowing the ending, I can't help but chew my nails out in anticipation and continue reading for the prank's inevitable downfall and its conclusion. Will Annalise forgive? Will Noelle feel regret? What will these two girls do now? It's an addicting storyline that shows the rise of the prank, the discovery, and the reconstruction of the girls' relationship.
Annalise is a character with less development when compared to Noelle. Of course, readers can't help but root for Annalise when she is being catfished and horribly humiliated. Then there is Noelle, who is wrangled into the entire conflict because of her friends. Noelle, who feels undeniably guilty for being a part of this, has a problem with her conscience, and she is unable to say a thing when Annalise discovers everything. Noelle (who is a narrator/character I strongly empathize and understand) gets into heaps of trouble, and she really does be better. Noelle is a far more complex and interesting character than Annalise.
The ending is perhaps the weakest part of the book. It rushes the story, and Annalise (too) quickly forgives Noelle for catfishing. It seems to be a huge letdown for angst. (It also makes this story for a little light reading, but I'm utterly disappointed that no one is punished. Catfishing... It's dangerous, not all fun and games.)
Overall, Identity Crisis is told from the perspective of two girls. It has an awesome and nail-biting plot, and the conflict is simply irresistible. Noelle is a character most readers can probably empathize with. The story is unique, and it's definitely for those who are looking for something out of the ordinary.
Rating: Three out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
December 14, 2015
I was lucky to read an Advance Reader's Copy of IDENTITY CRISIS. A brief encounter with the boyfriend of a popular girl leads to Annalise's reputation being trashed. She finds escape in the online fandom of her favorite band. But the mean girls still have it out for poor Annalise. When queen bee Eva hatches her next plan to humiliate Annalise--posing as a guy fan online and seducing her--Eva assigns the dirty work to one of her lackeys, Noelle. But the longer Noelle chats with Annalise online--safe behind the avatar of the dream guy--the more she comes to question what they're doing. When you're in that deep, though, there's no easy way out.
This was a great, gripping story of mean girls with today's technology. But to say it's a mean girls story really sells the narrative short. Annalise is independent and resilient, despite being the target of a catfish prank. The story is told in dual narrative, so we also get a glimpse inside of Noelle's perspective. Even though Noelle is the main perpetrator of the online prank, her character is sympathetic, and a great example of how easy it is to get swept up in online bullying, particularly as part of a group. Adding in great teen voices and a fun overarching plot line about an of-the-moment band, IDENTITY CRISIS is a terrific read for teens and anyone enjoying relatively clean, contemporary YA.
This was a great, gripping story of mean girls with today's technology. But to say it's a mean girls story really sells the narrative short. Annalise is independent and resilient, despite being the target of a catfish prank. The story is told in dual narrative, so we also get a glimpse inside of Noelle's perspective. Even though Noelle is the main perpetrator of the online prank, her character is sympathetic, and a great example of how easy it is to get swept up in online bullying, particularly as part of a group. Adding in great teen voices and a fun overarching plot line about an of-the-moment band, IDENTITY CRISIS is a terrific read for teens and anyone enjoying relatively clean, contemporary YA.
March 3, 2016
Highly recommended. This is a very suspenseful story of a cat-and-mouse game between a clique of high school girls, led by nasty ringleader Eva, who are conspiring to trick a girl they're jealous of (Annalise) into thinking she has an online boyfriend. But the plan crumbles, leading to unexpected friendships and shifting alliances, when one of the clique decides what they're doing is wrong. You sure get a dose of the hazards of high school here. What a dangerous recipe, adolescence plus social media.
Read
November 8, 2015A chapter and a half.
That's as far as I got into Identity Crisis before I couldn't read anymore.
I'm sure if were reading this as a 14 year old, I would have loved it.
But the juvenile language ("puh-leeze", I rolled my eyes at this), the dissing of Kanye (even the god awful chick in Fangirl loved Kanye) and country (but have you SEEN Luke Bryan), was all too dramatic for me.
From what a read though, it seems like a mix between Mean Girls and Catfish and a One Direction concert.
That's as far as I got into Identity Crisis before I couldn't read anymore.
I'm sure if were reading this as a 14 year old, I would have loved it.
But the juvenile language ("puh-leeze", I rolled my eyes at this), the dissing of Kanye (even the god awful chick in Fangirl loved Kanye) and country (but have you SEEN Luke Bryan), was all too dramatic for me.
From what a read though, it seems like a mix between Mean Girls and Catfish and a One Direction concert.
August 17, 2016
I thought that it was an interesting topic and story line and that it had the potential to be a great book. I feel that the writing was mediocre I enjoyed the book but I feel it was executed poorly. It was a quick read and some parts were really sweet andI definitely shipped Noelle and Cooper, but I feel I would've enjoyed the book more if it was written in a different way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 23, 2015Light and easy read! Way past reading books about high school drama but enjoyed reading this one nonetheless.
Full review soon! :)
Full review soon! :)
July 14, 2017
Hmmm. This is a hard book to rate. On one hand it was good. It was interesting and entertaining from the very beginning, I didn't put the book down for a second since I started, which wasn't much of a problem because it was a short read and only took a little over 2 hours for me to finish. I was always satisfied with the ending, which is good because I HATE dissatisfying endings. And then there were a lot of likable characters, and interesting sub plots, and the author always managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. So that was great.
But I was expecting a light little chick - lit read. Something with petty girl drama and funny moments and boy troubles. But this book was actually a bit more serious than the cover and the blurb gave off. It dealt with issues including divorce, bullying, parent infidelity, parent job loss, etc. I felt really bad for Annalise throughout the story. My heart hurt for her. And ugh Eva was just so awful. I know the reader was supposed to hate her, but still. I couldn't stand her. That's part why I was so content with the ending. But yeah this book caused more sadness than happiness for me, and I didn't even get much out of it, so reading it felt like kinda a waste of time. And the plot seemed kind of like basic at times. Not the content of it, but the frame. With the POV switching between Annalise and Noelle, it started to feel a bit like a routine. It got pretty predictable, like because we knew what happened with Annalise, we'd know what was going to be happening in the next chapter with Noelle, and vice versa.
But these are just my personal opinions, and I know that I'm just overly sensitive so the book of course made me sad, which is why I only took off 2 stars. I know that this book was, to an extent, realistic and well written. And the character development was good. Overall the book was good, but it honestly wasn't great, and if I found out there wa a sequel to this, I wouldn't in the least bit be interested in reading it. So yeah, this book gets 3 stars.
But I was expecting a light little chick - lit read. Something with petty girl drama and funny moments and boy troubles. But this book was actually a bit more serious than the cover and the blurb gave off. It dealt with issues including divorce, bullying, parent infidelity, parent job loss, etc. I felt really bad for Annalise throughout the story. My heart hurt for her. And ugh Eva was just so awful. I know the reader was supposed to hate her, but still. I couldn't stand her. That's part why I was so content with the ending. But yeah this book caused more sadness than happiness for me, and I didn't even get much out of it, so reading it felt like kinda a waste of time. And the plot seemed kind of like basic at times. Not the content of it, but the frame. With the POV switching between Annalise and Noelle, it started to feel a bit like a routine. It got pretty predictable, like because we knew what happened with Annalise, we'd know what was going to be happening in the next chapter with Noelle, and vice versa.
But these are just my personal opinions, and I know that I'm just overly sensitive so the book of course made me sad, which is why I only took off 2 stars. I know that this book was, to an extent, realistic and well written. And the character development was good. Overall the book was good, but it honestly wasn't great, and if I found out there wa a sequel to this, I wouldn't in the least bit be interested in reading it. So yeah, this book gets 3 stars.
November 20, 2017
Review for Identity Crisis by Melissa Schorr
I read the book Identity Crisis by Melissa Schorr. Overall, I did not like this book very much because it was kind of basic and generic.
Annalise is a huge fangirl of a band called the Brass Knuckles. Her rumoured hook up with an it-girl boyfriend has Eva, the it girl, and her friends Noelle and Tori, all over Annalise, trying to make her life a living nightmare. Eva, Noelle, and Tori create a fake online account to trick Annalise. They use the name and picture of Eva’s cousin so it seems like a real person. They start chatting with her, making it seem like this person is meant for Annalise because they share all the same interests. Eva and Tori are busy with cheer, so Noelle sort of takes over and chats with Annalise.
Little does Noelle know, she is getting herself in some deep trouble, messing with Annalise’s emotions. When Annalise plans to meet up with the fake person, finding Eva's cousins house, everything goes wrong.
This book was not very good. It was very generic with the it girls and nerdy fangirl. The book itself was very boring because nothing much happens. Everything is exactly what you think is going to happen, no surprises or twists in the story. The writing is not powerful or anything, there is no big message. You can see how the author tried to make this a powerful and helpful novel but clearly failed because it was not at all moving or anything. The theme is to never trust someone you meet online but the author has a hard time displaying that throughout the story.
Overall, Identity Crisis did not leave much of an impression with me, especially because the ending was bad and didn’t relate to the overall theme of the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good book. You should only read this if you really need a book to read because you are running out of options.
I read the book Identity Crisis by Melissa Schorr. Overall, I did not like this book very much because it was kind of basic and generic.
Annalise is a huge fangirl of a band called the Brass Knuckles. Her rumoured hook up with an it-girl boyfriend has Eva, the it girl, and her friends Noelle and Tori, all over Annalise, trying to make her life a living nightmare. Eva, Noelle, and Tori create a fake online account to trick Annalise. They use the name and picture of Eva’s cousin so it seems like a real person. They start chatting with her, making it seem like this person is meant for Annalise because they share all the same interests. Eva and Tori are busy with cheer, so Noelle sort of takes over and chats with Annalise.
Little does Noelle know, she is getting herself in some deep trouble, messing with Annalise’s emotions. When Annalise plans to meet up with the fake person, finding Eva's cousins house, everything goes wrong.
This book was not very good. It was very generic with the it girls and nerdy fangirl. The book itself was very boring because nothing much happens. Everything is exactly what you think is going to happen, no surprises or twists in the story. The writing is not powerful or anything, there is no big message. You can see how the author tried to make this a powerful and helpful novel but clearly failed because it was not at all moving or anything. The theme is to never trust someone you meet online but the author has a hard time displaying that throughout the story.
Overall, Identity Crisis did not leave much of an impression with me, especially because the ending was bad and didn’t relate to the overall theme of the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good book. You should only read this if you really need a book to read because you are running out of options.
September 10, 2017
Although this book was a little high school and some of it selfish I did enjoy the message behind it..It was cute and I would recommend to grade schooler and high school kids or if you just want a cute drama fast read. .Gina Clabo..
July 1, 2017
4.5. I really liked how it showed the various points of view and how we can misinterpret actions.
November 8, 2018
It’s a cute little Catfish Story.
November 9, 2022
I felt warm-hearted after reading this book, it is very funny, at the same time educational. I end up liking all the characters, and was very touched by the story, the plot, and the issue about friendship and self identity.
February 17, 2016
Thank you so much, Merit Press, for sending me a review copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT MARTA'S BOOKSHELF - www.martasbookshelf.blogspot.com
SUMMARY AND SPOILER-FREE REVIEW:
Annalise Cooper has been the target for Eva, Tori and Noelle ever since she had something with Eva's boyfriend in freshman year. Now that Noelle's crush is falling in love with Annalise, she becomes the victim of the three friends' game as they create the perfect guy online to make her fall in love with him, and humiliate her.
I went into this book knowing I would enjoy it because the premise sounded modern and entertaining, but after reading it and having a couple hours to think about it, I feel like its premise is extremely poor and insufficient.
It is true that Identity Crisis focuses on cyberbullying, but it is so much more than that. It is a novel full of messages and inspirational attitudes, characters that make it easy to relate to and different scenarios that make you think.
This book is written in two different POVs: Annalise, the victim, and Noelle, one of the abusers. I found it very pleasant to read from both perspectives because it helped me understand the reason why all the characters did what they did. It made the book more interesting than I thought it would be, and it made me think a lot. I think it would have been incomplete if we would have known just one side of the story.
Reading from Annalise's POV was not hard. It was actually very fun and relateable, at least for me. I loved how she was in love with that band, Brass Knuckles. It was the thing that brought me extremely close to her, since I know firsthand what being a fangirl feels like.
Noelle's POV was the one that completely shattered and destroyed me. It was really tough to read from a bully's perspective, when in the first place, she didn't even know what she was doing and how it could affect not only Annalise, but herself as well.
I must admit, I liked Noelle's POV more than Annalise's for just one reason: I learnt a lot and felt so proud of some of her words.
Annalise went into the Internet for fun and accidentally found that person that made her feel safe, as if she could tell him anything and still wouldn't be judged for that. And it all turned out to be a prank built out or revenge and nonsense that broke her heart.
Noelle was a very controversial character, because even though the bullying she was being part of was awful and terribly wrong, she made me feel a lot. Her backstory, how she was played by her friends, how she terribly needed Annalise as much as Annalise needed that boy online... I don't even feel guilty for liking Noelle, because if you read the novel, I assure you you will feel the same exact way towards her.
Identity Crisis might be a story about cyberbullying, but I think it's overall a story about friendship. And family. And self esteem and self respect. And confidence. And love. And betrayal and forgiveness.
That is why I think it deserves a full 5 anchors. There was nothing, nothing, missing.
It talks about being in an abusive friendship and how it is possible to make it out , step up and be on your own. How one shouldn't let others tell them what to do and how to do it. This novel definitely teaches you to say stop whenever you want to stop, because you can stop.
It discusses family issues and how it is possible to survive them. It even shows how economy can affect a family.
It talks about how even the worst things we can be put through are possible to overcome if we try hard enough.
It shows how it is possible to believe in love again, after having gone through bad experiences and heartbreak more than once.
It talks about rumours and how they can destroy lives and how easy it is to let them do so. And how hard it is to make them stop once they're started.
It perfectly represents how the Internet might be tearing society apart and we are doing nothing to stop it.
If those aren't good enough reasons to go and pick this book up right now, then I really don't think you have actually read them.
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT MARTA'S BOOKSHELF - www.martasbookshelf.blogspot.com
SUMMARY AND SPOILER-FREE REVIEW:
Annalise Cooper has been the target for Eva, Tori and Noelle ever since she had something with Eva's boyfriend in freshman year. Now that Noelle's crush is falling in love with Annalise, she becomes the victim of the three friends' game as they create the perfect guy online to make her fall in love with him, and humiliate her.
I went into this book knowing I would enjoy it because the premise sounded modern and entertaining, but after reading it and having a couple hours to think about it, I feel like its premise is extremely poor and insufficient.
It is true that Identity Crisis focuses on cyberbullying, but it is so much more than that. It is a novel full of messages and inspirational attitudes, characters that make it easy to relate to and different scenarios that make you think.
This book is written in two different POVs: Annalise, the victim, and Noelle, one of the abusers. I found it very pleasant to read from both perspectives because it helped me understand the reason why all the characters did what they did. It made the book more interesting than I thought it would be, and it made me think a lot. I think it would have been incomplete if we would have known just one side of the story.
Reading from Annalise's POV was not hard. It was actually very fun and relateable, at least for me. I loved how she was in love with that band, Brass Knuckles. It was the thing that brought me extremely close to her, since I know firsthand what being a fangirl feels like.
Noelle's POV was the one that completely shattered and destroyed me. It was really tough to read from a bully's perspective, when in the first place, she didn't even know what she was doing and how it could affect not only Annalise, but herself as well.
I must admit, I liked Noelle's POV more than Annalise's for just one reason: I learnt a lot and felt so proud of some of her words.
Annalise went into the Internet for fun and accidentally found that person that made her feel safe, as if she could tell him anything and still wouldn't be judged for that. And it all turned out to be a prank built out or revenge and nonsense that broke her heart.
Noelle was a very controversial character, because even though the bullying she was being part of was awful and terribly wrong, she made me feel a lot. Her backstory, how she was played by her friends, how she terribly needed Annalise as much as Annalise needed that boy online... I don't even feel guilty for liking Noelle, because if you read the novel, I assure you you will feel the same exact way towards her.
Identity Crisis might be a story about cyberbullying, but I think it's overall a story about friendship. And family. And self esteem and self respect. And confidence. And love. And betrayal and forgiveness.
That is why I think it deserves a full 5 anchors. There was nothing, nothing, missing.
It talks about being in an abusive friendship and how it is possible to make it out , step up and be on your own. How one shouldn't let others tell them what to do and how to do it. This novel definitely teaches you to say stop whenever you want to stop, because you can stop.
It discusses family issues and how it is possible to survive them. It even shows how economy can affect a family.
It talks about how even the worst things we can be put through are possible to overcome if we try hard enough.
It shows how it is possible to believe in love again, after having gone through bad experiences and heartbreak more than once.
It talks about rumours and how they can destroy lives and how easy it is to let them do so. And how hard it is to make them stop once they're started.
It perfectly represents how the Internet might be tearing society apart and we are doing nothing to stop it.
If those aren't good enough reasons to go and pick this book up right now, then I really don't think you have actually read them.
January 13, 2016
'Identity Crisis' is an exciting young adult contemporary novel that fans of the genre will definitely want to get their hands on! It follows the story of Annalise - who turns into a curvy hottie right before freshman year. All of the girls in her class - friends and foes alike - are jealous of her and of her scandalous hookup that has them all mad. Three of these girls decide that it's time to get Annalise back and decide the perfect way is to "catfish" her by setting up a fake online profile for the seemingly perfect guy just to mess with her. Part of this group is the shy Noelle, who goes along with her friends plans even though she doesn't think it's a good idea. Soon enough, Annalise discovers that she's being messed with and decides to get her revenge. Noelle is left wishing she was never a part of this mess and attempts to smooth things over with Annalise.
If you've read my reviews before, you know that YA contemporary isn't one of my favorite genres and I rarely read any. This book sparked my interest because of the whole 'catfish' prank as well as the story's use of the Internet and other modern technology to complete the girls' goal. The novel deals with several incredibly relevant topics in today's society - friendship, regret, betrayal, bullying, romance, and the increasing use of technology to hurt others. Another aspect of the story that intrigued me was the alternating points of view. I'm a huge fan of first person POV, so the alternating views made it the book all the more fascinating for me. I was eager to see how the author would pull it off - if it would work in the story's favor or if it was going to be a tangled mess. Luckily, the author wrote it in such a way that it fit really well with the characters and story lines. Instead of just one character's perspective, we get to see multiple viewpoints - from both sides of this horribly mean hoax. Which is another fantastic use of multiple POVs that made the book all the more interesting and realistic to read.
All of the characters were well written, especially those of Annalise and Noelle. They both had distinct personalities with strengths, weaknesses, and individual quirks. The secondary characters were also well done, although some seemed a bit cliched at points. Both girls (Annalise and Noelle) were very realistic and easy to identify with right from the beginning. I was really shy and introverted in high school, so I was able to connect with Noelle early on in the book. I could also put myself in Annalise's shoes due to some pretty terrible things that happened to me in high school - it made it very easy to commiserate with her throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading from both character's points of view, along with watching them both change and grow throughout the novel as they realized the more important lessons in life - like friendship.
The plot was surprisingly refreshing for me. I normally don't read this genre because I feel that the majority of the novels have the same template with varying details filled in. However, this book was different and incredibly relevant in today's society. There are shows on television dealing solely with 'catfishing' others - so the concept fits in perfectly with our culture and today's world. I've never really known the details of the whole 'catfish' hoax, so reading about it in such depth and personal accounts made it very interesting for me. I loved that the author chose such a secular topic to center her book around and to teach lessons that readers today can learn from. Overall, this was an exciting YA contemporary novel and I highly recommend it for fans of the genre! It's a great story that breathes some fresh air into an already overflowing genre.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
If you've read my reviews before, you know that YA contemporary isn't one of my favorite genres and I rarely read any. This book sparked my interest because of the whole 'catfish' prank as well as the story's use of the Internet and other modern technology to complete the girls' goal. The novel deals with several incredibly relevant topics in today's society - friendship, regret, betrayal, bullying, romance, and the increasing use of technology to hurt others. Another aspect of the story that intrigued me was the alternating points of view. I'm a huge fan of first person POV, so the alternating views made it the book all the more fascinating for me. I was eager to see how the author would pull it off - if it would work in the story's favor or if it was going to be a tangled mess. Luckily, the author wrote it in such a way that it fit really well with the characters and story lines. Instead of just one character's perspective, we get to see multiple viewpoints - from both sides of this horribly mean hoax. Which is another fantastic use of multiple POVs that made the book all the more interesting and realistic to read.
All of the characters were well written, especially those of Annalise and Noelle. They both had distinct personalities with strengths, weaknesses, and individual quirks. The secondary characters were also well done, although some seemed a bit cliched at points. Both girls (Annalise and Noelle) were very realistic and easy to identify with right from the beginning. I was really shy and introverted in high school, so I was able to connect with Noelle early on in the book. I could also put myself in Annalise's shoes due to some pretty terrible things that happened to me in high school - it made it very easy to commiserate with her throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading from both character's points of view, along with watching them both change and grow throughout the novel as they realized the more important lessons in life - like friendship.
The plot was surprisingly refreshing for me. I normally don't read this genre because I feel that the majority of the novels have the same template with varying details filled in. However, this book was different and incredibly relevant in today's society. There are shows on television dealing solely with 'catfishing' others - so the concept fits in perfectly with our culture and today's world. I've never really known the details of the whole 'catfish' hoax, so reading about it in such depth and personal accounts made it very interesting for me. I loved that the author chose such a secular topic to center her book around and to teach lessons that readers today can learn from. Overall, this was an exciting YA contemporary novel and I highly recommend it for fans of the genre! It's a great story that breathes some fresh air into an already overflowing genre.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2016
Spoilers are included in my review. Do not read my review if you do not want to see spoilers.
I received this book for free from Merit Press via The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
This book tells a story of cyber bullying from two different views- the attacker and the victim. One of the good things about this book is all of the gray area. This is definitely the book for someone looking for something original that stands on its own.
What I liked
The characters are so great. Their lives are told beautifully throughout the book. You really get a glimpse into their worlds and it really pulls the story together seamlessly. As you read through each character's perspective, you gain so much insight into who they really are. It is clear when reading that the attacker is really just following the lead of someone else. She feels trapped and she is so unsure of herself throughout the book. You can feel her remorse and fear. It resonates so clearly from her. The victim's personality is just as transparent. She fell victim to gossip, that was sadly unwarranted, and became the talk of her school. She feels scrutinized in all she does, and has some self esteem issues that she is dealing with. She is vulnerable in a sense. The author does a superb job of displaying and developing their personalities as the story plays out.
The plot is played out so well. Everything really falls into place throughout the book, while not being totally predictable. Although, I wasn't a fan of the ending, I do have to say that it was a surprise to me. The story was engaging and the dialogue was spot on to high school kids. I connected a lot with Annalise in this because I had the same experiences with a boy band that she did. Reading it really brought me back to that time, and I have to say that her reactions and thoughts are pretty aligned with what I was feeling at the time.
What I didn't like
I did not like the "happy" ending. It did not seem realistic to me at all. I would wager an awful lot that a victim of catfishing would NOT become best friends with their attacker. No matter the circumstances. The ending really did not sit right with me at all. I am glad that Annalise got a happy ending, but I don't think that that her attacker should have been part of it. It is just bizarre and unrealistic. I would have really preferred to see her become friends with Amos than Noelle.
I also thought that the lack of legal action was kind of a cop out. I mean, it is against the law to target someone and harass them online. In the real world, legal action would have been taken against the attackers. The fact that they skirt free of any consequences not only makes me mad, but it disappoints me a little. The rest of the book was realistic...I just wish that this part could have been as well.
Would I Recommend It
Yes. This book touches on a topic that needs to be brought more to light. If you are in high school or middle school, then I would especially recommend this. Especially if you are into reading books with loads of drama. It may not the the book for older readers. I graduated high school a little over ten years ago, so I was able to connect with some of the things happening in this book. But while reading this book I did feel as though I did fully connect with it because the writing is so very in sync with a teenage mind. Even if you can't connect to the book on that level, it is still a good read with a great point.
I received this book for free from Merit Press via The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review.
This book tells a story of cyber bullying from two different views- the attacker and the victim. One of the good things about this book is all of the gray area. This is definitely the book for someone looking for something original that stands on its own.
What I liked
The characters are so great. Their lives are told beautifully throughout the book. You really get a glimpse into their worlds and it really pulls the story together seamlessly. As you read through each character's perspective, you gain so much insight into who they really are. It is clear when reading that the attacker is really just following the lead of someone else. She feels trapped and she is so unsure of herself throughout the book. You can feel her remorse and fear. It resonates so clearly from her. The victim's personality is just as transparent. She fell victim to gossip, that was sadly unwarranted, and became the talk of her school. She feels scrutinized in all she does, and has some self esteem issues that she is dealing with. She is vulnerable in a sense. The author does a superb job of displaying and developing their personalities as the story plays out.
The plot is played out so well. Everything really falls into place throughout the book, while not being totally predictable. Although, I wasn't a fan of the ending, I do have to say that it was a surprise to me. The story was engaging and the dialogue was spot on to high school kids. I connected a lot with Annalise in this because I had the same experiences with a boy band that she did. Reading it really brought me back to that time, and I have to say that her reactions and thoughts are pretty aligned with what I was feeling at the time.
What I didn't like
I did not like the "happy" ending. It did not seem realistic to me at all. I would wager an awful lot that a victim of catfishing would NOT become best friends with their attacker. No matter the circumstances. The ending really did not sit right with me at all. I am glad that Annalise got a happy ending, but I don't think that that her attacker should have been part of it. It is just bizarre and unrealistic. I would have really preferred to see her become friends with Amos than Noelle.
I also thought that the lack of legal action was kind of a cop out. I mean, it is against the law to target someone and harass them online. In the real world, legal action would have been taken against the attackers. The fact that they skirt free of any consequences not only makes me mad, but it disappoints me a little. The rest of the book was realistic...I just wish that this part could have been as well.
Would I Recommend It
Yes. This book touches on a topic that needs to be brought more to light. If you are in high school or middle school, then I would especially recommend this. Especially if you are into reading books with loads of drama. It may not the the book for older readers. I graduated high school a little over ten years ago, so I was able to connect with some of the things happening in this book. But while reading this book I did feel as though I did fully connect with it because the writing is so very in sync with a teenage mind. Even if you can't connect to the book on that level, it is still a good read with a great point.
March 1, 2016
Catfishing is when someone pretends to be someone they are not, online. This can be the forty-seven year old male talking to a thirteen year old girl, or three girls wanting to get back to someone. This is a highly illegal and extreme cases can be tried as identity fraud. No matter your excuse there is no good reason to catfish someone, no matter how much they have hurt you in the past.
Annalisa Bradley is a normal high school girl, from her love of the new rock band, studying for math tests, to her bright red curly hair. Everything is average except for her huge rack of boobs. Because of that she instantly becomes the center of attention from the eyes of boys, to the jealousy of girls. Yet the only thing Annalisa wants is to go to her favorite band, Brass Knuckles, concert. She and her best friend Maeve, were going together (even though Maeve wasn’t that big of a fan), and Annalisa knew she was going to be the one the lead singer pick to come up and sing a duet with. It was up to her mother to get the tickets, as Annalisa was stuck in math with Copper, who decided he would be her first boyfriend, waiting for the text from her mom. The text never came though as her mother got in a car crash (she’s okay though) and was unable to get the tickets. Annalisa then goes into crisis mode as she tries everything to get a set of tickets.
Noelle Spiers has it all. The perfect family, to being number three in a trio of friendship. It has been Noelle and Eva forever, then Tori joined them making them unstoppable. The only thing that would make her life better if her lifelong friend Copper would finally see her as someone to love. Yet he is too busy with Annalisa to notice her. Eva knows a way to fix that, after all Eva hates Annalisa after the freshman formal in which Annalisa allegedly hooked up with Eva’s longtime boyfriend Amos. Eva created Declan, an online boy who happens to share all of Annalisa likes and dislikes. Eva set him up on the Brass Knuckles fan page, and responded to Annalisa’s plead of not having tickets. Yet because she and Tori are busy with play rehearsals, it is up to Noelle to keep up the Declan online image. After weeks of late nights, discussing everything from petty high school drama, their favorite band, to the mysteries of life. Noelle realizes that Annalisa is not that bad of the person, where Eva was driving her nuts. Noelle realizes she needs to stop people from walking all over her, starting with Eva, Tori, Cooper and finally Annalisa.
Melissa Schoor wrote this amazing story, filled with revenge, drama, boy, love, and catfishing. It is divided into two points-of-views: Annalisa and Noelle. From Annalisa you get a great deal of family background, from her parent’s divorce, her and her old sister strain relationship, to how Maeve is her only real friend. Noelle has a different life than Annalisa, but struggles with her self-confidants, and her friends. You get to see how Noelle gets crushed by the power of Eva, and struggles to try to stand on her own two feet. Where the writing is fair in most places the storyline is unique as two people become friends, but only one knows, as the other is being catfishes.
Annalisa Bradley is a normal high school girl, from her love of the new rock band, studying for math tests, to her bright red curly hair. Everything is average except for her huge rack of boobs. Because of that she instantly becomes the center of attention from the eyes of boys, to the jealousy of girls. Yet the only thing Annalisa wants is to go to her favorite band, Brass Knuckles, concert. She and her best friend Maeve, were going together (even though Maeve wasn’t that big of a fan), and Annalisa knew she was going to be the one the lead singer pick to come up and sing a duet with. It was up to her mother to get the tickets, as Annalisa was stuck in math with Copper, who decided he would be her first boyfriend, waiting for the text from her mom. The text never came though as her mother got in a car crash (she’s okay though) and was unable to get the tickets. Annalisa then goes into crisis mode as she tries everything to get a set of tickets.
Noelle Spiers has it all. The perfect family, to being number three in a trio of friendship. It has been Noelle and Eva forever, then Tori joined them making them unstoppable. The only thing that would make her life better if her lifelong friend Copper would finally see her as someone to love. Yet he is too busy with Annalisa to notice her. Eva knows a way to fix that, after all Eva hates Annalisa after the freshman formal in which Annalisa allegedly hooked up with Eva’s longtime boyfriend Amos. Eva created Declan, an online boy who happens to share all of Annalisa likes and dislikes. Eva set him up on the Brass Knuckles fan page, and responded to Annalisa’s plead of not having tickets. Yet because she and Tori are busy with play rehearsals, it is up to Noelle to keep up the Declan online image. After weeks of late nights, discussing everything from petty high school drama, their favorite band, to the mysteries of life. Noelle realizes that Annalisa is not that bad of the person, where Eva was driving her nuts. Noelle realizes she needs to stop people from walking all over her, starting with Eva, Tori, Cooper and finally Annalisa.
Melissa Schoor wrote this amazing story, filled with revenge, drama, boy, love, and catfishing. It is divided into two points-of-views: Annalisa and Noelle. From Annalisa you get a great deal of family background, from her parent’s divorce, her and her old sister strain relationship, to how Maeve is her only real friend. Noelle has a different life than Annalisa, but struggles with her self-confidants, and her friends. You get to see how Noelle gets crushed by the power of Eva, and struggles to try to stand on her own two feet. Where the writing is fair in most places the storyline is unique as two people become friends, but only one knows, as the other is being catfishes.
February 9, 2016
View full review at Beatrice Learns To Read.
I don't know what enchantment Identity Crisis has but I'm totally charmed by this book. Okay wait, I think I do know. The excellent blend of the characters and the plot made this book the perfect read especially for young readers. I'm not overstating things but I really believe that EVERYONE needs to read this book. It's relevant, honest and a lot of different things you'd be glad to find in 1 book.
We get the gist of the story just by reading the synopsis; Noelle and her friends, Tori and Eva, create a fake online profile and uses it to side track Annalise from falling for Cooper Franklin, a boy Noelle has been crushing on. Things turn rather disastrous when Annalise discovers she's been catfished.
While the main plot was about Catfishing, there were also quite a few issues that this book addressed. First, it was about Annalise and how she's struggling with body image. Typical YA portrayals of character body issues are more inclined on weight problems, but in Identity Crisis, the character's struggle is about her cup size. It results in her being sexualized and bullied to the extent that she already has plans about having a reduction. It also has affected the way she thinks about herself. Then, we have Noelle and her struggle with peer pressure. Noelle's character is portrayed as someone who is afraid to stand up for herself, she's spineless and doesn't know how to say no. She often goes along with Tori and Eva's plans even if she doesn't want to because she's afraid to lose her friends. Both of these characters are genuine and relatable. I love how the author incorporated these issues through the characters, and not only through Annalise and Noelle but through minor characters as well.
Identity Crisis also did a good job on highlighting the role of social media on how we portray ourselves. There's a big difference on what we see on the internet and what we see in real life. How we identify ourselves online could be far different from what we really are. The "social media" bit of the book also shed it's light on online beauty pageants. Tori's #InstaHotorNot gives us a glimpse on how these online pageants can be brutal and offensive but still, people are entertained by such thing.
I honestly wasn't expecting a lot but the book handled the issue well and at the same time, it was eye-opening. The author took the issue lightly but made sure that it will make an impact. And it did.
The ending made sure that it's readers would be able grasp the message of the book. The author clearly made a point that it is in everyone's nature to judge other people's whole being based only on the outer appearance. I was really impressed with how the author ended the book.
All in all, I highly recommend Identity Crisis. There's no doubting how this book made my 2016 favorites list (it's never too soon to have one for the whole year) and it could be on yours too.
I don't know what enchantment Identity Crisis has but I'm totally charmed by this book. Okay wait, I think I do know. The excellent blend of the characters and the plot made this book the perfect read especially for young readers. I'm not overstating things but I really believe that EVERYONE needs to read this book. It's relevant, honest and a lot of different things you'd be glad to find in 1 book.
We get the gist of the story just by reading the synopsis; Noelle and her friends, Tori and Eva, create a fake online profile and uses it to side track Annalise from falling for Cooper Franklin, a boy Noelle has been crushing on. Things turn rather disastrous when Annalise discovers she's been catfished.
While the main plot was about Catfishing, there were also quite a few issues that this book addressed. First, it was about Annalise and how she's struggling with body image. Typical YA portrayals of character body issues are more inclined on weight problems, but in Identity Crisis, the character's struggle is about her cup size. It results in her being sexualized and bullied to the extent that she already has plans about having a reduction. It also has affected the way she thinks about herself. Then, we have Noelle and her struggle with peer pressure. Noelle's character is portrayed as someone who is afraid to stand up for herself, she's spineless and doesn't know how to say no. She often goes along with Tori and Eva's plans even if she doesn't want to because she's afraid to lose her friends. Both of these characters are genuine and relatable. I love how the author incorporated these issues through the characters, and not only through Annalise and Noelle but through minor characters as well.
Identity Crisis also did a good job on highlighting the role of social media on how we portray ourselves. There's a big difference on what we see on the internet and what we see in real life. How we identify ourselves online could be far different from what we really are. The "social media" bit of the book also shed it's light on online beauty pageants. Tori's #InstaHotorNot gives us a glimpse on how these online pageants can be brutal and offensive but still, people are entertained by such thing.
I honestly wasn't expecting a lot but the book handled the issue well and at the same time, it was eye-opening. The author took the issue lightly but made sure that it will make an impact. And it did.
The ending made sure that it's readers would be able grasp the message of the book. The author clearly made a point that it is in everyone's nature to judge other people's whole being based only on the outer appearance. I was really impressed with how the author ended the book.
All in all, I highly recommend Identity Crisis. There's no doubting how this book made my 2016 favorites list (it's never too soon to have one for the whole year) and it could be on yours too.
January 17, 2016
I decided to make my review a letter to the reader recommending this book
Dear Reader,
Have you ever been catfished? In the book I read, a girl got catfished by a bully. It is called Identity Crisis, and it was written by Melissa Schorr. It is a realistic fiction novel that will be published by Merit Press on January 18, 2016. There are 240 pages in my copies of this book. It was a just right read that was really interesting
Identity Crisis is about a girl named Annalise Bradley. When the mean girls in her sophomore class find out that she is flirting with one of their dream boys, they find a plan to try to play revenge. They set up an online account on a fanpage Annalise is active in, and make Noelle play the part of the fake boy. Noelle is one of the mean girls, but she still doesn’t want to trick Annalise. Their plan works, and Annalise makes good friends with “DelOcan”, the fake boy. But will this prank go too far?
This book reminds me of The Clique series by Lisi Harrison. They both deal with teenage girls and bullies. However, this book is unique in the way that it talks about a topic not mentioned much, cyberbullying. The theme of this book is that cyberbullying is bad and can have serious consequences. Actually catfishing, or making a fake online person, is illegal and is even subject to jail time. You have to be careful about what you do online. It is not usually as private as you think. Annalise is a teenage girl who is self-conscious. She doesn’t realize that she is pretty, and it takes “DelOcan” to make her realize that. She has good values and pretty good morals. Noelle is one of the “popular” kids who isn’t sure she wants to be popular if it means going against her values. Mauve, Annalise’s best friend, is a good friend who sometimes gets caught up in other things.
I liked how this book switched perspectives. The chapter titles showed who this chapter was about. I also enjoyed how some conversations are done via social media, and they show them like it is a chat screen. It says the username, and then the thing they wrote. That is very relatable. Switching perspectives made it way more interesting because I got to see both Noelle and Annalise’s perspectives. The point of view in this book was first person. It made me think about which person was talking. Another thing I thought was interesting was the fact that Annalise was a member of a band fan page, and that a lot of the story took place there. This is the age of social media, so it made it more relatable and also creative.
I give this book a four star. It was creative and interesting, yet it still had its flaws.
Sincerely,
BethLee
Dear Reader,
Have you ever been catfished? In the book I read, a girl got catfished by a bully. It is called Identity Crisis, and it was written by Melissa Schorr. It is a realistic fiction novel that will be published by Merit Press on January 18, 2016. There are 240 pages in my copies of this book. It was a just right read that was really interesting
Identity Crisis is about a girl named Annalise Bradley. When the mean girls in her sophomore class find out that she is flirting with one of their dream boys, they find a plan to try to play revenge. They set up an online account on a fanpage Annalise is active in, and make Noelle play the part of the fake boy. Noelle is one of the mean girls, but she still doesn’t want to trick Annalise. Their plan works, and Annalise makes good friends with “DelOcan”, the fake boy. But will this prank go too far?
This book reminds me of The Clique series by Lisi Harrison. They both deal with teenage girls and bullies. However, this book is unique in the way that it talks about a topic not mentioned much, cyberbullying. The theme of this book is that cyberbullying is bad and can have serious consequences. Actually catfishing, or making a fake online person, is illegal and is even subject to jail time. You have to be careful about what you do online. It is not usually as private as you think. Annalise is a teenage girl who is self-conscious. She doesn’t realize that she is pretty, and it takes “DelOcan” to make her realize that. She has good values and pretty good morals. Noelle is one of the “popular” kids who isn’t sure she wants to be popular if it means going against her values. Mauve, Annalise’s best friend, is a good friend who sometimes gets caught up in other things.
I liked how this book switched perspectives. The chapter titles showed who this chapter was about. I also enjoyed how some conversations are done via social media, and they show them like it is a chat screen. It says the username, and then the thing they wrote. That is very relatable. Switching perspectives made it way more interesting because I got to see both Noelle and Annalise’s perspectives. The point of view in this book was first person. It made me think about which person was talking. Another thing I thought was interesting was the fact that Annalise was a member of a band fan page, and that a lot of the story took place there. This is the age of social media, so it made it more relatable and also creative.
I give this book a four star. It was creative and interesting, yet it still had its flaws.
Sincerely,
BethLee
June 3, 2016
There aren't many books anymore that I am eager to buy the hard copy of, but 'Identity Crisis' by Melissa Schorr was a must after reading another of her novels, 'Goy Crazy,' a couple summers ago and loving it.
'Identity Crisis' delves into so many issues, from friends and crushes to in-fighting, bullying, and the ever popular problem of figuring out how to fit in when you sorely stick out. This is due in no small part to the spread of rumors that main character Annalise's enemies have inflicted on her.
Catfishing is the main topic of interest in this novel, and it is as prevalent and timely as can be. Cyberbullying is more and more of a problem with each new school year and each new crop of students, and Annalise finds herself the victim of it when she unwittingly spends time with Amos, another girl's boyfriend, during freshman year. When his girlfriend, Eva, gets wind of him spending time with Annalise, she and her friends make the rest of Annalise's freshman year almost unbearable for her. When sophomore year rolls around, the rumors are still swirling, and there is not much Annalise knows to do to make them stop. Little does she know that Cooper Franklin's interest in her will spark another emotionally scarring attack, spearheaded by Eva but brought to fruition by Eva's pal Noelle, who has a crush on Cooper and thinks that catfishing Annalise will somehow help her on her journey to win Cooper's heart.
When the whole catfishing scheme is turned on its head by Annalise, who little by little discovers the truth, nothing is as it seems anymore. With twists and turns that you wouldn't even expect, everyone, including the most unlikely of characters, finds themselves searching for their identities, or even losing them, as the novel progresses.
A gripping and sincerely telling tale of strength in the face of adversity and how realizing one's worth can be found in the unlikeliest places, 'Identity Crisis' leaves readers feeling immersed in the lives of characters who are trying to find themselves while at the same time facing the angst-ridden world of being teenagers.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen,' A Young Adult Novel
'Identity Crisis' delves into so many issues, from friends and crushes to in-fighting, bullying, and the ever popular problem of figuring out how to fit in when you sorely stick out. This is due in no small part to the spread of rumors that main character Annalise's enemies have inflicted on her.
Catfishing is the main topic of interest in this novel, and it is as prevalent and timely as can be. Cyberbullying is more and more of a problem with each new school year and each new crop of students, and Annalise finds herself the victim of it when she unwittingly spends time with Amos, another girl's boyfriend, during freshman year. When his girlfriend, Eva, gets wind of him spending time with Annalise, she and her friends make the rest of Annalise's freshman year almost unbearable for her. When sophomore year rolls around, the rumors are still swirling, and there is not much Annalise knows to do to make them stop. Little does she know that Cooper Franklin's interest in her will spark another emotionally scarring attack, spearheaded by Eva but brought to fruition by Eva's pal Noelle, who has a crush on Cooper and thinks that catfishing Annalise will somehow help her on her journey to win Cooper's heart.
When the whole catfishing scheme is turned on its head by Annalise, who little by little discovers the truth, nothing is as it seems anymore. With twists and turns that you wouldn't even expect, everyone, including the most unlikely of characters, finds themselves searching for their identities, or even losing them, as the novel progresses.
A gripping and sincerely telling tale of strength in the face of adversity and how realizing one's worth can be found in the unlikeliest places, 'Identity Crisis' leaves readers feeling immersed in the lives of characters who are trying to find themselves while at the same time facing the angst-ridden world of being teenagers.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen,' A Young Adult Novel
June 19, 2016
{My thoughts} – Annalise is a massive fangirl of a group called the Brass Nuckles. Anyone that knows her knows she’s in love with the band.
Noelle is a member of a trio of mean girls. She’s not necessarily a mean girl herself, but she goes a long with them whenever they do mean things.
Last year Annalise had made the mistake of trying to comfort the boyfriend to Eva the head mean girl after Eva had broken up with him. It seemed that she didn’t want to be humiliated in front of the whole student body so she spun it as Annalise had somehow caused him to cheat on her with her. That’s the story she’d told everyone and that caused everyone to shame Annalise.
Annalise had been trying to move on from all that, and a boy in her class named Cooper seemed to really be into her. However, Noelle was really into Cooper, but Cooper didn’t seem to notice her.
Together the three mean girls made a fake profile of a boy named Declan on Facebook to catfish Annalise with. Noelle was the one doing all the chatting, and she’d thought the purpose was to distract Annalise from Cooper. However, that wasn’t what Eva had in mind. They used all the info they could against Annalise to make her believe she was talking to the guy of her dreams.
I don’t know about you but the thought of thinking that it’s possible someone might try to catfish me, I’d not be very amused. I know that it’s unlikely for you to realize things until it’s too late, but still it don’t seem like it could be that great of a situation. I’d hate to have confides and trusted in someone only to find out that everything they had been saying to me were lies on top of lies and more lies.
I think this book is incredible because it allows for the reader to understand that there are consequences to poor actions. That when you steal someone’s identity and pretend to be them, you can get into some serious trouble. I think that it’s amazing how well thought out and pulled together this book is and that it’s able to get some really important points across to the reader. This is definitely one book I will be having all of my children read in the future.
Noelle is a member of a trio of mean girls. She’s not necessarily a mean girl herself, but she goes a long with them whenever they do mean things.
Last year Annalise had made the mistake of trying to comfort the boyfriend to Eva the head mean girl after Eva had broken up with him. It seemed that she didn’t want to be humiliated in front of the whole student body so she spun it as Annalise had somehow caused him to cheat on her with her. That’s the story she’d told everyone and that caused everyone to shame Annalise.
Annalise had been trying to move on from all that, and a boy in her class named Cooper seemed to really be into her. However, Noelle was really into Cooper, but Cooper didn’t seem to notice her.
Together the three mean girls made a fake profile of a boy named Declan on Facebook to catfish Annalise with. Noelle was the one doing all the chatting, and she’d thought the purpose was to distract Annalise from Cooper. However, that wasn’t what Eva had in mind. They used all the info they could against Annalise to make her believe she was talking to the guy of her dreams.
I don’t know about you but the thought of thinking that it’s possible someone might try to catfish me, I’d not be very amused. I know that it’s unlikely for you to realize things until it’s too late, but still it don’t seem like it could be that great of a situation. I’d hate to have confides and trusted in someone only to find out that everything they had been saying to me were lies on top of lies and more lies.
I think this book is incredible because it allows for the reader to understand that there are consequences to poor actions. That when you steal someone’s identity and pretend to be them, you can get into some serious trouble. I think that it’s amazing how well thought out and pulled together this book is and that it’s able to get some really important points across to the reader. This is definitely one book I will be having all of my children read in the future.
January 16, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
When I read the blurb of this book, I found myself quite intrigued by the plot… even though it’s not something I would necessarily choose to read normally.
Although I’m not very keen on dual first person perspectives, I did find this book to be fairly easy to read, despite getting confused over whose head I was in a couple of times. Both Annalise and Noelle were characters I found likable and easy to understand… and in this instance, I felt that having the dual first person perspective allowed me to get the full story of what was going on and both sides of what had happened in the past.
I felt a lot of sympathy for Annalise, even though I didn’t know everything that had happened between her and Amos in the past. It was interesting to see the conversations she had with the fake Declan and although I would have liked to see more details of the conversations, rather than so many of them being glossed over, it was easy to see the connection form between Annalise and the person on the other end.
I really didn’t like Eva or Tori as characters. It was hard to see either of them as very sympathetic. I did enjoy the opportunity to see both Annalise and Noelle interact with other members of their family and it was interesting to see how different their home lives were to each other.
It was easy to empathise with Annlise’s love for the singer, although I thought it was good that it wasn’t the only thing that defined her. It was also good to see her friendship with Maeve, even though there were problems between them at times. And although I did get confused with some of the minor characters at times, there were some really intriguing secondary characters.
I thought that this book was quite emotional to read. Although there were some sweeter moments towards the end, it was really quite intense and I read it a lot faster than I was expecting to. I’d definitely check out more books by this author in the future.
(This review may contain spoilers).
When I read the blurb of this book, I found myself quite intrigued by the plot… even though it’s not something I would necessarily choose to read normally.
Although I’m not very keen on dual first person perspectives, I did find this book to be fairly easy to read, despite getting confused over whose head I was in a couple of times. Both Annalise and Noelle were characters I found likable and easy to understand… and in this instance, I felt that having the dual first person perspective allowed me to get the full story of what was going on and both sides of what had happened in the past.
I felt a lot of sympathy for Annalise, even though I didn’t know everything that had happened between her and Amos in the past. It was interesting to see the conversations she had with the fake Declan and although I would have liked to see more details of the conversations, rather than so many of them being glossed over, it was easy to see the connection form between Annalise and the person on the other end.
I really didn’t like Eva or Tori as characters. It was hard to see either of them as very sympathetic. I did enjoy the opportunity to see both Annalise and Noelle interact with other members of their family and it was interesting to see how different their home lives were to each other.
It was easy to empathise with Annlise’s love for the singer, although I thought it was good that it wasn’t the only thing that defined her. It was also good to see her friendship with Maeve, even though there were problems between them at times. And although I did get confused with some of the minor characters at times, there were some really intriguing secondary characters.
I thought that this book was quite emotional to read. Although there were some sweeter moments towards the end, it was really quite intense and I read it a lot faster than I was expecting to. I’d definitely check out more books by this author in the future.
January 18, 2016
I received this book from Merit Press for me to review. As soon as I opened the package, I wasn't thrilled. The cover was nice, but I knew that if I hadn't been given it for free I would never have given this book a second glance. I as a reader am just not interested in this kind of book, because I live with high school drama already. Aside from that, I did enjoy the way the book was written. Some people have a problem with switching perspectives, but I kind of enjoy it. I would say my biggest problem over all was in the beginning of the book. I'm very confused over tan M&M's???? I have never encountered such a color in a package of M&M's. The only other problem I had was talking about a "Sorry Kitty" as being the way everyone apologizes. I have never used nor received them. Other than that, I felt Noelle was quite a relatable character. Everyone has at least knows an Eva and Tori, and can feel like they are getting walked all over. Annalise also did have some relatable qualities. She appeared to be the kind of girl I would befriend. Melissa Schorr created some relatable characters and I would love to see her try her hand at less-realistic fiction so I could get behind the story!
February 6, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the book blurb, I was expecting Annalise to be a nasty character. But she turned out to be a surprising twist in the story. The story is all about looking beneath the surface especially with teenagers.
I love the way the author has approached the subject of online identity theft and bullying. Noelle came across as a weak character but she grew on me and I was able to sympathise with her actions at times. As she did the right thing at the end, I was able to like her for it more. Cooper was a clueless hero and his sudden finding of Noelle was suspicious and didn't go with the flow. But it did tidy up the story towards the end.
I would have to liked to read more about the growing friendship between Annalise and Noelle. As far as I am concerned both are the main attraction in the book.
The writing style was easy to follow and it took me just a couple of hours to finish the book. I identified with the characters throughout the book. The realistic characters and the deft handling of the subject has made me look forward to reading more from the author.
When I read the book blurb, I was expecting Annalise to be a nasty character. But she turned out to be a surprising twist in the story. The story is all about looking beneath the surface especially with teenagers.
I love the way the author has approached the subject of online identity theft and bullying. Noelle came across as a weak character but she grew on me and I was able to sympathise with her actions at times. As she did the right thing at the end, I was able to like her for it more. Cooper was a clueless hero and his sudden finding of Noelle was suspicious and didn't go with the flow. But it did tidy up the story towards the end.
I would have to liked to read more about the growing friendship between Annalise and Noelle. As far as I am concerned both are the main attraction in the book.
The writing style was easy to follow and it took me just a couple of hours to finish the book. I identified with the characters throughout the book. The realistic characters and the deft handling of the subject has made me look forward to reading more from the author.
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