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Thirteen Reasons Why
by
You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret. . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her.
Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes-- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.
All through the nigh ...more
Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her.
Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes-- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.
All through the nigh ...more
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Paperback, 288 pages
Published
June 14th 2011
by Razorbill
(first published October 18th 2007)
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Graciela
This answer contains spoilers…
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of Thirteen Reasons Why

I'm one of the very few people who strongly disliked Thirteen Reasons Why, so maybe I should explain to you why.
I hate Thirteen Reasons Why. And here’s why.
Most of all, it glamorises suicide.
I'm putting this at the top because I can't believe I missed it in my original review. And this is a controversial point, because most of my Goodreads friends, whose opinions I would hold up as gospel, loved this book for its realistic and harrowing portrayal of teen suicide.
This book is one big glamorous m ...more
I hate Thirteen Reasons Why. And here’s why.
Most of all, it glamorises suicide.
I'm putting this at the top because I can't believe I missed it in my original review. And this is a controversial point, because most of my Goodreads friends, whose opinions I would hold up as gospel, loved this book for its realistic and harrowing portrayal of teen suicide.
This book is one big glamorous m ...more

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY I HATE THIS BOOK.
Note, 6/10/17: Tape #11 has been updated.
https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
Alright. I really thought I wasn't going to review this book. But a status sharing certain anti-anti 13 Reasons Why sentiments (did that make sense?) just came up onto my timeline, and I, to put it cordially, fucking snapped.
Let me preface this by saying: If this book or television show helped you in any way, this review is not for you. We all have our coping mechanisms, we all ...more
Note, 6/10/17: Tape #11 has been updated.
https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
Alright. I really thought I wasn't going to review this book. But a status sharing certain anti-anti 13 Reasons Why sentiments (did that make sense?) just came up onto my timeline, and I, to put it cordially, fucking snapped.
Let me preface this by saying: If this book or television show helped you in any way, this review is not for you. We all have our coping mechanisms, we all ...more

Nov 08, 2018
Miranda Reads
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2018-finer-books-club-reading-chall,
audiobook

Wow. What a b*tch.
But...But...Miranda...how can you not love, cherish and worship a suicide book? Hannah was so brave, she dealt with life the best way she could...Blah, blah, blah.
Are you sitting down?
Good, cause things are about to get ranty.
HUGE MOTHER-EFFING DISCLAIMER:...more
If you absolutely loved this book or if you think it really helped you through a tough time - I have absolutely no problem with that.
You are completely (and utterly) entitled to your opinion on this novel - just like I'm e

Sep 22, 2010
karen
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
and-so-this-is-grad-school,
why-yes-i-ya
oh god, somebody buy this girl some perspective! oh wait, you can't because she's dead. and i, for one, am glad of it because this character would have grown up to be a rotten judgmental schoolmarmy horrorshow of an adult. just horrible.
and people love this book like cookies!
backtrack. plot: a girl kills herself. but before she goes, she makes a series of audio cassettes and mails them to an individual, with instructions to pass them along to the next person mentioned on the tapes, which are a c ...more
and people love this book like cookies!
backtrack. plot: a girl kills herself. but before she goes, she makes a series of audio cassettes and mails them to an individual, with instructions to pass them along to the next person mentioned on the tapes, which are a c ...more

“When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything. . . affects everything.”
Sometimes it's hard to see why other people might dislike a book you enjoy, but with Thirteen Reasons Why, I can understand it perfectly.
It is told from the perspective of Clay, but is mostly about the life of Hannah - a girl who recently killed herself. After her death, Clay receives a set of cassette tapes on which Hannah explains the thirteen reasons why she decided ...more

WARNING: I did not like this book. If you did, and would hate it if someone (me) ranted and bitched about it, then DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW.
REVIEW: I don't know why this book is so popular. And I honestly don't know what all the rave is about. I heard so many great things about this novel, that's why I read it. While this was a good book, well written and all…the plot was just not good enough—no, the reasons leading to Hannah Baker killing herself were not believable enough for me. I mean sure, t ...more
REVIEW: I don't know why this book is so popular. And I honestly don't know what all the rave is about. I heard so many great things about this novel, that's why I read it. While this was a good book, well written and all…the plot was just not good enough—no, the reasons leading to Hannah Baker killing herself were not believable enough for me. I mean sure, t ...more

I figured this deserved a real review.
I'm a bipolar chick. I'm a girl who has struggled with suicidal thoughts since she was nine years old at the very latest. And I just do not buy 13RW's representation of a suicidal girl. The very premise of the book is flawed to me; you don't kill yourself for REASONS, you kill yourself because there is a bug in your brain gnawing at you and sucking out any valuable thought you've ever had, and I never saw that kind of bug in Hannah. I saw a girl who killed h ...more
I'm a bipolar chick. I'm a girl who has struggled with suicidal thoughts since she was nine years old at the very latest. And I just do not buy 13RW's representation of a suicidal girl. The very premise of the book is flawed to me; you don't kill yourself for REASONS, you kill yourself because there is a bug in your brain gnawing at you and sucking out any valuable thought you've ever had, and I never saw that kind of bug in Hannah. I saw a girl who killed h ...more

I REALLY REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK. I had heard very mixed things for some time and it seemed a lot of readers were very divided on this book, but I personally really loved it.
I do want to say I don't think this is 100% the best book in the world for depression/suicide, but I do believe it is an intersting narrative on how suicide impacts those affected, considering suicide is never a singular action. I also don't necessarily *agree* with the content of the book as guilting and blaming those who's ...more
I do want to say I don't think this is 100% the best book in the world for depression/suicide, but I do believe it is an intersting narrative on how suicide impacts those affected, considering suicide is never a singular action. I also don't necessarily *agree* with the content of the book as guilting and blaming those who's ...more

EDIT AND UPDATE, 2017:
I read this book back in 2014 when I was a teen and I hated it. I still hate it. My review is getting a lot of traffic atm so I'm just going to do a little update and leave you some links to better reviews that tell how problematic the story is:
Tweet thread on the problematic show.
Article on why it's dangerous.
Goodreads review on why it's seriously bad.
NOTE: I'm not responding to comments because wtf is going on in the comment section I have no idea. I'm sorry my r ...more
Tweet thread on the problematic show.
Article on why it's dangerous.
Goodreads review on why it's seriously bad.
NOTE: I'm not responding to comments because wtf is going on in the comment section I have no idea. I'm sorry my r ...more

Update 7/10/15: A Conversation From Yesterday...
Co-Worker: "My kid just read this book and loved it. You are a reader, right? If you haven't read it, you should read it."
Me: "What's it called."
CW: "'Thirteen Reasons' or something. It's about suicide."
Me: Hmmmm, yeah I think that sounds familiar. Hold on lemme check.
*checking GR and finding review*
CW: "You find it?"
Me: "Um, yeah."
CW: "So you like it?"
Me: "Um...sure..."

LMAO
Original (pre-gif discovery)Review:
I see that this book is pret ...more
Co-Worker: "My kid just read this book and loved it. You are a reader, right? If you haven't read it, you should read it."
Me: "What's it called."
CW: "'Thirteen Reasons' or something. It's about suicide."
Me: Hmmmm, yeah I think that sounds familiar. Hold on lemme check.
*checking GR and finding review*
CW: "You find it?"
Me: "Um, yeah."
CW: "So you like it?"
Me: "Um...sure..."

LMAO
Original (pre-gif discovery)Review:
I see that this book is pret ...more

Mar 17, 2008
stephanie
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE.
Recommended to stephanie by:
A.
eta 2: this is also the perfect book to listen to on audiotape. usually i am annoyed with audiobooks, but i enjoyed listening to this one almost as much as reading it, because i was hearing hannah while driving in my car, much the same way clay was. still love this book and it's boldness.
*
eta: for everyone that thinks hannah's suicide was unbelievable, or that the reasons were just stupid and petty, take a moment and think about how what happened could have been the impetus for suicide. it's no ...more
*
eta: for everyone that thinks hannah's suicide was unbelievable, or that the reasons were just stupid and petty, take a moment and think about how what happened could have been the impetus for suicide. it's no ...more

I absolutely loved this book. What an eye opener. In Thirteen Reasons Why we listen to audio tapes that was sent to 13 people by Hannah who committed suicide, to explain her reasons why.
First I want to mention that to all the reviewers who say that her reasons weren't "good enough" for her to kill herself, you're wrong. Everyone doesn't cope with situations the same way, and problems that may seem minimalistic to you, can send the next person into depression. We all have our own ways of working ...more
First I want to mention that to all the reviewers who say that her reasons weren't "good enough" for her to kill herself, you're wrong. Everyone doesn't cope with situations the same way, and problems that may seem minimalistic to you, can send the next person into depression. We all have our own ways of working ...more

Things that happened to make Hannah Baker kill herself:
1.) Someone made up a rumour that she let a boy put his hands under her shirt in a park. REPUTATION RUINED.
2.) Someone was taking pictures of her through her bedroom window and she reacted by posing with a friend as though they were giving each other sensual massages... with oils? PERFECTLY LOGICAL AND INTELLIGENT RESPONSE.
3.) Someone asked her to drive them to and from a party. HOW DARE THEY.
4.) Someone stole the compliments out of her comp ...more
1.) Someone made up a rumour that she let a boy put his hands under her shirt in a park. REPUTATION RUINED.
2.) Someone was taking pictures of her through her bedroom window and she reacted by posing with a friend as though they were giving each other sensual massages... with oils? PERFECTLY LOGICAL AND INTELLIGENT RESPONSE.
3.) Someone asked her to drive them to and from a party. HOW DARE THEY.
4.) Someone stole the compliments out of her comp ...more

When I tried to structure my thoughts to write this review, I discovered that it’s actually very hard to write something about a book I liked but didn’t love. I definitely have no hard feelings towards Thirteen Reasons Why but I also don’t really have anything to rave about. Which makes me feel a little conflicted about the rating. This book will stay with me for a while, it made me think, but it also had its flaws.
I thought the novel was based on an original and great concept. We have a simulta ...more
I thought the novel was based on an original and great concept. We have a simulta ...more

Oct 20, 2014
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
*******
(edited on 8/15/17 to add:)
My face, when everyone keeps coming on my review to tell me that my feelings about this book are "wrong."

A review is simply my opinion. I'm entitled to mine and you're entitled to yours and they don't affect one another in any way.
*******
(Original review from 10/20/14)

Hated it, hated it, hated it. DNFed at 30%.
Do you know people who are suicidal? Has anyone close to you tried to kill themselves or had someone close to them kill themselves?
My best friend growin ...more
(edited on 8/15/17 to add:)
My face, when everyone keeps coming on my review to tell me that my feelings about this book are "wrong."

A review is simply my opinion. I'm entitled to mine and you're entitled to yours and they don't affect one another in any way.
*******
(Original review from 10/20/14)

Hated it, hated it, hated it. DNFed at 30%.
Do you know people who are suicidal? Has anyone close to you tried to kill themselves or had someone close to them kill themselves?
My best friend growin ...more

I bought "Thirteen Reasons Why" after hearing so much about it on the internet - and from my 3 sons - and I just knew I had to find out what the hype was all about for myself.
Actually I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it very compelling so I'm a little apprehensive about leaving a positive review after reading so many negative comments about it, but I suppose it is only everyone's opinion.
I started reading this book at bedtime and whenever I woke up during the night and throughou ...more
Actually I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it very compelling so I'm a little apprehensive about leaving a positive review after reading so many negative comments about it, but I suppose it is only everyone's opinion.
I started reading this book at bedtime and whenever I woke up during the night and throughou ...more

growing up, my parents taught me that no one but myself is responsible for my decisions. they are mine and mine alone. and that is a belief i still hold today.
which is why i found it so difficult to empathise with hannah and her ‘thirteen reasons why’ she committed suicide - each reason/tape entirely placed the blame on someone else and she took none of the responsibility for her own actions.
thats not to say people dont suck. yes, people can be mean and cruel and hurtful. but hannah took no act ...more
which is why i found it so difficult to empathise with hannah and her ‘thirteen reasons why’ she committed suicide - each reason/tape entirely placed the blame on someone else and she took none of the responsibility for her own actions.
thats not to say people dont suck. yes, people can be mean and cruel and hurtful. but hannah took no act ...more

This book was very engrossing and suspenseful, but in the end it just pissed me off. I don't know how to put this in more delicate terms, so if I make my case rather bluntly or insensitively, I do so only because I don't want to tiptoe around what I really feel.
Basically, I understand why some people turn to suicide as the only option out. I understand the feeling of helplessness and misery that could make a person decide that taking herself out is the only way to stop the pain. But after experi ...more
Basically, I understand why some people turn to suicide as the only option out. I understand the feeling of helplessness and misery that could make a person decide that taking herself out is the only way to stop the pain. But after experi ...more

Jan 29, 2017
Christy
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2017-ya-challenge,
2017-audio

“You can't stop the futureThirteen Reasons Why is a book I’ve been meaning to read for about 5 years. My sister read it and told me I’d love it. I do love books that make me cry and since the book is being made into a Netflix series next month, I thought why not give it a go. As depressing as this one was, though- I didn’t shed one tear. I’m not sure what that says about me or the story. Honestly, I h ...more
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret
...is to press play.”

May 04, 2017
L A i N E Y
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
No one
Lord. This was even worse than I thought it would be.
Hannah, I know you've been treated unfairly and you wanted to get back at the people who wronged you. But I was totally dumbfounded by this roundabout way of doing so which actually includes you losing your own life in the process.
All those preparations and time and planning.
Such a waste.
And Asher's writing didn't help the matter either: not suspenseful enough.
...more
Hannah, I know you've been treated unfairly and you wanted to get back at the people who wronged you. But I was totally dumbfounded by this roundabout way of doing so which actually includes you losing your own life in the process.
All those preparations and time and planning.
Such a waste.
And Asher's writing didn't help the matter either: not suspenseful enough.
...more

I have seen a lot of mixed reviews on this book. The subject matter - suicide - is controversial. The show they made of this book is controversial. Because of that, I am going to avoid too much commentary on the subject matter and just say that the content of this book is serious and does affect teenagers in different ways. I didn't have the easiest if teenage years, but I made it through okay, so it would be easy for me to say that this story is an overreaction. But, I would be a fool to not un
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Nothing justifies suicide. Nothing.
This is the tenth anniversary edition of the novel which includes a new foreword by the author, along with some comments about the process of the original publication and even the original ending not used in the finished novel.
NOVEL V. NETFLIX: DAWN OF ADAPTATIONS
It’s not rare that if you haven’t read this novel before and now you’ll do it, it’s because the Netflix TV series, and that’s nothing wrong with that. Certainly films and TV series are great pr ...more
This is the tenth anniversary edition of the novel which includes a new foreword by the author, along with some comments about the process of the original publication and even the original ending not used in the finished novel.
NOVEL V. NETFLIX: DAWN OF ADAPTATIONS
It’s not rare that if you haven’t read this novel before and now you’ll do it, it’s because the Netflix TV series, and that’s nothing wrong with that. Certainly films and TV series are great pr ...more

Full disclosure: if you read this book and it helped you, don't read on. This is not for you.
This book has one of the most dangerous messages out there. It glorifies suicide. And I find that utterly disgusting.
I almost didn't review this book, because it's a sensitive subject: teen suicide. Or even just suicide in general. One of the saddest things ever is when someone so young feels like they have no way out other than taking their own life. It's never the right answer, but I still find it sad ...more
This book has one of the most dangerous messages out there. It glorifies suicide. And I find that utterly disgusting.
I almost didn't review this book, because it's a sensitive subject: teen suicide. Or even just suicide in general. One of the saddest things ever is when someone so young feels like they have no way out other than taking their own life. It's never the right answer, but I still find it sad ...more

I distinctly remember reading a review for this book and I said to myself, "I can see myself reading it." So now that I've read it, what's my impression on it?
Back when the term YA was not widespread, I used to read Christopher Pike books. This book reminded me a lot of Pike's books. Chain Letter was a masterpiece.
It's a sad story. My heart goes out to Hannah Baker initially. Her character arc made me sad and sentimental. The book is full of suspense but the human element is forever etched in my ...more
Back when the term YA was not widespread, I used to read Christopher Pike books. This book reminded me a lot of Pike's books. Chain Letter was a masterpiece.
It's a sad story. My heart goes out to Hannah Baker initially. Her character arc made me sad and sentimental. The book is full of suspense but the human element is forever etched in my ...more

“I guess that’s the point of it all. No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same.”
It felt wrong to dislike this book, given its subject and what it’s trying to say. A teenage girl commits suicide and, through the tapes recorded prior to it, tries to explain why, tries to have us see herself, tries to show how even insignificant events can start snowballing until it’s too late and you are looking fo ...more


Rating:

Review:
This novel was gripping since page 1. Even though I finished it like in 1 day and 2 sittings (I didn’t want to put it down) yet I am rating it 3 stars.
Hannah Baker was a newcomer in the town and school. Her reputation was tarnished by the guy (her senior) during her first days in the town. Later on, she was accused of betrayal by her new friend that she stole her guy (all three of them are classmates). That guy sort of used Hannah to make her ex jealous and to get back her ...more

I've owned this book for years but never felt drawn to read it until the recent hype surrounding the TV show. I want to recap the show for Snark Squad, but I wanted to start with the book so I could talk to how the show performs as an adaptation.
What I found here was a story that I don't think had bad intentions, necessarily. I found that I understand, for the most part, why the ideas here resonate with people. It's a story perhaps about the ways we treat people and how those small interactions ...more

update:
Instead of making fun of Hannah's motivations, you could consider the implications of calling a suicidal girl overdramatic for like, 2.5 seconds? Jesus. It's this thing called empathy.
“You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everyt...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Why its getting so many bad reviews? (not including me) | 2 | 16 | May 20, 2022 11:28AM | |
Goodreads Librari...: Please change the page numbering | 3 | 17 | Oct 20, 2021 10:03AM | |
Romanticisation of mental illness in teen literature | 2 | 37 | Sep 21, 2021 07:20PM | |
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Jay Asher was born in Arcadia, California on September 30, 1975. He grew up in a family that encouraged all of his interests, from playing the guitar to his writing. He attended Cuesta College right after graduating from high school. It was here where he wrote his first two children’s books for a class called Children’s Literature Appreciation. At this point in his life, he had decided he wanted t
...more
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“You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything. . . affects everything.”
—
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“No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same.”
—
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