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You in Five Acts
It’s always been you—you know that, right?
Five friends at a prestigious New York City performing arts school connect over one dream: stardom. For Joy, Diego, Liv, Ethan and Dave, that dream falters under the pressure of second semester, senior year. Ambitions shift and change, new emotions rush to the surface, and a sense of urgency pulses among them: Their time together is running out.
Diego hopes to get out of the friend zone. Liv wants to escape, losing herself in fantasies of the new guy. Ethan conspires to turn his muse into his girlfriend. Dave pines for the drama queen. And if Joy doesn’t open her eyes, she could lose the love that’s been in front of her all along.
Five friends at a prestigious New York City performing arts school connect over one dream: stardom. For Joy, Diego, Liv, Ethan and Dave, that dream falters under the pressure of second semester, senior year. Ambitions shift and change, new emotions rush to the surface, and a sense of urgency pulses among them: Their time together is running out.
Diego hopes to get out of the friend zone. Liv wants to escape, losing herself in fantasies of the new guy. Ethan conspires to turn his muse into his girlfriend. Dave pines for the drama queen. And if Joy doesn’t open her eyes, she could lose the love that’s been in front of her all along.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2016
40 people are currently reading
3050 people want to read
About the author
Una LaMarche
6 books196 followersUna LaMarche is a writer and amateur Melrose Place historian who lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, her son, and her hoard of vintage Sassy magazines. Una used to be a fancy magazine and newspaper editor before she had a baby and started writing from home, sometimes pantsless, for a living. Her first novel, Five Summers, is being released from Razorbill in May, and she’s currently in development on a second. She also writes for The New York Observer (of which she is a former managing editor), The Huffington Post, Vegas Seven, NickMom, and Aiming Low. Una continues to blog at The Sassy Curmudgeon, which she started in 2006 as a way to bring shame to her family. You can find her on Twitter under the handle @sassycurmudgeon. (If she’s not there, she’s probably trolling the internet for celebrity blind items or bulk candy.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
February 13, 2017
"It felt like our time had run out before it started."
Five friends belong to a posh ballet school; all are a little similar, all a little different. The book is divided into five acts, each told unconventionally in a blend of first and second person. The person narrating is in first person, and a different friend each act becomes the second person POV, constantly being called, "You" by the first-person narrator. This became easier to digest over time as I grew used to it, but it was still awkward for my reading brain. Artsy, sure. Workable? Sometimes. It gets easier after the first few chapters.
It does work to show alternating viewpoints of different characters in a fresh light each stage, though, so it's not all bad - just out there.
Ballet is fascinating, whether in the performing world or a school like this - the book takes as much time outside the studio as in it - but the setting still works.
A tragedy happening wasn't a surprise since each act ended with a preclude of what was to come, the ominous warning of pending disaster. Some of it felt a little rushed, and the story wasn't overly unique, but it was readable. The end tragedy DID surprise me though, I was figuring on the wrong thing happening to the wrong person. Not only was it sad, but it also pissed me off because of the injustice of it.
Definitely a story with feeling, but it could only keep my attention part of the time.
Received from First to Read in exchange for an honest review
Five friends belong to a posh ballet school; all are a little similar, all a little different. The book is divided into five acts, each told unconventionally in a blend of first and second person. The person narrating is in first person, and a different friend each act becomes the second person POV, constantly being called, "You" by the first-person narrator. This became easier to digest over time as I grew used to it, but it was still awkward for my reading brain. Artsy, sure. Workable? Sometimes. It gets easier after the first few chapters.
It does work to show alternating viewpoints of different characters in a fresh light each stage, though, so it's not all bad - just out there.
Ballet is fascinating, whether in the performing world or a school like this - the book takes as much time outside the studio as in it - but the setting still works.
A tragedy happening wasn't a surprise since each act ended with a preclude of what was to come, the ominous warning of pending disaster. Some of it felt a little rushed, and the story wasn't overly unique, but it was readable. The end tragedy DID surprise me though, I was figuring on the wrong thing happening to the wrong person. Not only was it sad, but it also pissed me off because of the injustice of it.
Definitely a story with feeling, but it could only keep my attention part of the time.
Received from First to Read in exchange for an honest review
July 11, 2016
THIS BOOK DESTROYED ME. I made the very bad decision of bringing this book with me in a cab and I ended up sobbing on Broadway.
I thought Una LaMarche couldn't outdo herself after finishing Like No Other. I was wrong. The writing in this book so real, the characters so much more than what they seem on the surface, and the storyline is brutal. Even so, I could not let myself put it down, while also not wanting to finish it. The format of this book is devastating, each perspective making it more and more clear how the story ends. The fact that everyone but me, the reader, knew what was about to happen was something that I loved in terms of how the story was told, but hated, because THE FEELS.
This book is so important, especially in light of everything that is happening in the United States. It paints a picture of something that we're all familiar with by now and destroys your heart in the process. It brings up things that we SHOULD be talking about - such as black representation in ballet, particularly as principal dancers.
This book is an absolute masterpiece, and everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, should pick this up when it comes out.
I thought Una LaMarche couldn't outdo herself after finishing Like No Other. I was wrong. The writing in this book so real, the characters so much more than what they seem on the surface, and the storyline is brutal. Even so, I could not let myself put it down, while also not wanting to finish it. The format of this book is devastating, each perspective making it more and more clear how the story ends. The fact that everyone but me, the reader, knew what was about to happen was something that I loved in terms of how the story was told, but hated, because THE FEELS.
This book is so important, especially in light of everything that is happening in the United States. It paints a picture of something that we're all familiar with by now and destroys your heart in the process. It brings up things that we SHOULD be talking about - such as black representation in ballet, particularly as principal dancers.
This book is an absolute masterpiece, and everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, should pick this up when it comes out.
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October 21, 2016Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
Overall, I really enjoyed You in Five Acts It's a combination of a Fame-inspired story (a group of high school students who attend an insanely competitive NYC arts school) and an issue book.
The narrative structure is a bit experimental and may not be for every reader. As the title would suggest, the book is narrated by five different characters. Normally, that's about three too many narrators for me, but I still thought it worked. Here's the unusual part: each character narrates in first person, but is speaking to another of the characters (a "you") so there's an unusual blend of "I" and "you" in each section. It took me few pages to figure who out the "you" was in each character's narration but then I had it down.
Okay, so I'm old, but I spend a lot of time around NYC teenagers, and I think that the author must too. Often I feel that YA characters either sound older ("I'm saving the world") or younger than the kids I know. The characters in this book felt real to me - the way they spoke, their worries, how they interacted with each other. There's Joy and Diego, both dancers. There's Liv and Dave, aspiring actors. And there's Ethan, a writer/director. I also liked that the diversity in this book felt organic and natural. Joy is African-American, a ballerina who worries that her dark skin and strong physique don't measure up to the Balanchine ideal. Dave is a former child star who's family has fallen on hard times and is trying to recapture his former success. Liv is Jewish-Puerto-Rican and gets hooked on prescription pills to manage her stress.
The one thing about the book that I had a an issue with was the ending. The book definitely hints at it, so I wasn't completely surprised, but to me it didn't completely fit the story. .There was an afterward that tried to quickly tie up some questions and loose ends, but that kind of made it worse for me that the book seemed to gloss over the issues that the ending raised.
But all in all, a great choice for those readers who like contemporary YA on the grittier side. Fans of performing arts themes should also definitely check it out!
Overall, I really enjoyed You in Five Acts It's a combination of a Fame-inspired story (a group of high school students who attend an insanely competitive NYC arts school) and an issue book.
The narrative structure is a bit experimental and may not be for every reader. As the title would suggest, the book is narrated by five different characters. Normally, that's about three too many narrators for me, but I still thought it worked. Here's the unusual part: each character narrates in first person, but is speaking to another of the characters (a "you") so there's an unusual blend of "I" and "you" in each section. It took me few pages to figure who out the "you" was in each character's narration but then I had it down.
Okay, so I'm old, but I spend a lot of time around NYC teenagers, and I think that the author must too. Often I feel that YA characters either sound older ("I'm saving the world") or younger than the kids I know. The characters in this book felt real to me - the way they spoke, their worries, how they interacted with each other. There's Joy and Diego, both dancers. There's Liv and Dave, aspiring actors. And there's Ethan, a writer/director. I also liked that the diversity in this book felt organic and natural. Joy is African-American, a ballerina who worries that her dark skin and strong physique don't measure up to the Balanchine ideal. Dave is a former child star who's family has fallen on hard times and is trying to recapture his former success. Liv is Jewish-Puerto-Rican and gets hooked on prescription pills to manage her stress.
The one thing about the book that I had a an issue with was the ending. The book definitely hints at it, so I wasn't completely surprised, but to me it didn't completely fit the story. .There was an afterward that tried to quickly tie up some questions and loose ends, but that kind of made it worse for me that the book seemed to gloss over the issues that the ending raised.
But all in all, a great choice for those readers who like contemporary YA on the grittier side. Fans of performing arts themes should also definitely check it out!
November 5, 2023
Interessante Geschichte, die echt viel Potenzial hat! Leider waren mir die angesprochenen Themen zu oberflächlich und ich habe mir noch etwas mehr erhofft. Zudem war das Ende etwas abrupt.
February 8, 2017
3.5 stars
In a lot of ways, You in Five Acts isn’t my sort of book. I mean, I’m all for ballet, and I am more likely to pick up a diverse book, but heavy books are a struggle for me. It’s typically hard enough for me to focus on positivity without reading stuff that depresses me. However, Una LaMarche thoroughly impressed me with both Like No Other and Don’t Fail Me Now, so much so that any of her books are must reads for me. You in Five Acts doesn’t disappoint, but, yeah, it’s definitely fucking sad.
Pulling off multiple first person points of view takes major talent, and LaMarche does it masterfully. Each perspective felt distinct, powerful, and real. Each one made me ache or rage in different ways, and that’s really amazing. I expected to be less into Liv’s or perhaps Ethan’s POVs, but You in Five Acts was nigh unputdownable. Each POV drops additional knowledge and pushes the story towards its inevitable and painful conclusion. Also, that’s not a spoiler because the book’s clearly counting down to bad shit from the very start. It’s clear from page one that’s it not likely to be an HEA.
Two things detracted from the feels for me. One is that, if it’s too obvious that things are not going to end well, I tend to pull away emotionally. My brain doesn’t like feeling pain, so the goal is to not get attached. I cared about everyone, but, because I knew something terrible was going to happen, I was able to keep my heart out of it enough to not be completely devastated or cry.
The writing style also pulled me out of the narrative. Each POV is written as though the character is talking to the person that he or she loves. So, for example, in Diego’s POV, when mentions “you,” that’s Joy. It’s a legit way to do things, but I really don’t like second person used in narrative, because it constantly reminds me that I’m reading fiction; I can’t get lost in the story the way that I usually can in a good book. Though the perspectives themselves were beautifully done and distinct, I had to do that constant mental math of who the fuck “you” was. I’m not entirely sure what this was supposed to add for me story-wise, and I also don’t really understand why the sections are written like the characters are reflecting after the fact .
I have thoughts about the ending, and I dropped my rating a bit as a result. But big super major spoilers.
LaMarche has so much talent, and I’ll read whatever she writes, despite the fact that this one hurt.
In a lot of ways, You in Five Acts isn’t my sort of book. I mean, I’m all for ballet, and I am more likely to pick up a diverse book, but heavy books are a struggle for me. It’s typically hard enough for me to focus on positivity without reading stuff that depresses me. However, Una LaMarche thoroughly impressed me with both Like No Other and Don’t Fail Me Now, so much so that any of her books are must reads for me. You in Five Acts doesn’t disappoint, but, yeah, it’s definitely fucking sad.
Pulling off multiple first person points of view takes major talent, and LaMarche does it masterfully. Each perspective felt distinct, powerful, and real. Each one made me ache or rage in different ways, and that’s really amazing. I expected to be less into Liv’s or perhaps Ethan’s POVs, but You in Five Acts was nigh unputdownable. Each POV drops additional knowledge and pushes the story towards its inevitable and painful conclusion. Also, that’s not a spoiler because the book’s clearly counting down to bad shit from the very start. It’s clear from page one that’s it not likely to be an HEA.
Two things detracted from the feels for me. One is that, if it’s too obvious that things are not going to end well, I tend to pull away emotionally. My brain doesn’t like feeling pain, so the goal is to not get attached. I cared about everyone, but, because I knew something terrible was going to happen, I was able to keep my heart out of it enough to not be completely devastated or cry.
The writing style also pulled me out of the narrative. Each POV is written as though the character is talking to the person that he or she loves. So, for example, in Diego’s POV, when mentions “you,” that’s Joy. It’s a legit way to do things, but I really don’t like second person used in narrative, because it constantly reminds me that I’m reading fiction; I can’t get lost in the story the way that I usually can in a good book. Though the perspectives themselves were beautifully done and distinct, I had to do that constant mental math of who the fuck “you” was. I’m not entirely sure what this was supposed to add for me story-wise, and I also don’t really understand why the sections are written like the characters are reflecting after the fact .
I have thoughts about the ending, and I dropped my rating a bit as a result. But big super major spoilers.
LaMarche has so much talent, and I’ll read whatever she writes, despite the fact that this one hurt.
March 23, 2017
Wow. I couldn't stop turning the pages and I hated taking breaks from reading this book... It's beautiful and powerful and heart-wrenching.
April 1, 2017
I did not like most of the characters. I did not enjoy the plot very much. Most importantly the ending sucked terribly. If it wasn't for this being a BR I would have abandoned it.
September 12, 2016
How I Came To Read This Book: The publisher sent me an ARC.
The Plot: The book is told in five different sections (technically six), each from the perspective of a different character attending a prestigious arts high school in New York City. It's actually told in a reminiscent perspective as the characters pull together their stories of the wheels that were set in motion, leading to a tragic incident in their lives (there's a Looking for Alaska-style countdown at the start of each chapter too) right as they're setting up the next chapter in their lives, via a school showcase of their talents. Joy is a black ballet dancer that's risking it all to reach her dreams, by dancing on an injured ankle. Diego is her partner, who has been hopelessly in love with her for years. Liv is a gorgeous, reckless actress that brings the drama wherever she goes. Ethan is a pretentious Staten Islander with a chip on his shoulder thanks to his perennial crush on Liv. And Dave is the new kid in school that shone bright in Hollywood years earlier but has lost considerable luster since then.
The Good & The Bad: At the end of reading this book, I felt an unexpected emotion - anger. Or maybe it was annoyance? Although I think the author portrayed things in a fair way, developing a scenario that very much could happen thanks to an unfortunate series of teenage melodramatic events, I still felt sort of...cheated, or let down, by the ending, even though I *knew* it was coming.
Let me rewind though. I've read books before where the author pulls off what I call a 'neat trick' by having all of the elements of the story fit perfectly together by the end (see: I'll Give You The Sun). This book technically fell into that same vein, only it was much more explicitly laid out, between the characters constantly highlighting the roles they did or didn't play in what ends up happening, the countdown at the start of every chapter, and even just the order of who is telling the story. The ending wasn't a surprise by any means for me, although the very specifics of how it went down felt like a reflection of current news headlines. While I get that not all books can have happy endings, it was weird / frustrating to have how this one goes so clearly telegraphed from the earliest pages. I like being surprised in a story, and the more surprising thing would have been to do a different ending.
Two other things that bothered me - one more than the other. First, the arts school setting was what got me really excited to read this book, but it was a total non-factor in the story. I mean, yes, it gave certain characters the opportunity to interact in more intimate ways (Dave and Liv in a scene together, Diego and Joy dancing, although their chemistry is largely reserved for their sections - they're a non-entity for most of the story which makes how their story ends less moving or impactful). But in reality, it felt like this particular story could have been told at any other school or setting and still gone the way it did. The most interesting aspect of the book to me, the thing I was looking forward to, was that setting - but it's basically just a backdrop to a typical 'teen gets mixed up in the wrong thing' story line, so that was disappointing.
The other thing that was distracting...but I'll admit I kind of liked it, or at least respected it, was the use of 'you'. Each of the characters has a 'you', so instead of referring to that character, they use 'you' in its place. For example, Joy's 'act' at the beginning never names Diego, it just says things like "you looked at me" or "you said" or "you smiled". It's *really* disorienting at the outset, and can be a bit confusing as you transition between acts as you puzzle out (quite quickly to be fair) which 'you' is the focus now, but it's worth noting that it sticks out as a unique aspect of how the book is written. By the end, as I said, I got used to it, and it did help in a weird way, to deepen the connection between the characters that we otherwise only see in fleeting glimpses in the other characters' stories.
I don't know. I oscillate between 2.5 and 3 with this one. It was written well and creatively, and the characters were all pretty decently developed, but it wasn't the fresh or exciting story I was hoping for based on the description. The ending also felt very rushed, particularly with the final epilogue chapter that summed things up nicely, almost too nicely. It took the sting out of the big event.
The Bottom Line: While well-written, the book didn't dazzle me - the ending was broadcasted too clearly to be particularly moving.
Anything Memorable?: No.
60-Book Challenge?: Book #38 in 2016
The Plot: The book is told in five different sections (technically six), each from the perspective of a different character attending a prestigious arts high school in New York City. It's actually told in a reminiscent perspective as the characters pull together their stories of the wheels that were set in motion, leading to a tragic incident in their lives (there's a Looking for Alaska-style countdown at the start of each chapter too) right as they're setting up the next chapter in their lives, via a school showcase of their talents. Joy is a black ballet dancer that's risking it all to reach her dreams, by dancing on an injured ankle. Diego is her partner, who has been hopelessly in love with her for years. Liv is a gorgeous, reckless actress that brings the drama wherever she goes. Ethan is a pretentious Staten Islander with a chip on his shoulder thanks to his perennial crush on Liv. And Dave is the new kid in school that shone bright in Hollywood years earlier but has lost considerable luster since then.
The Good & The Bad: At the end of reading this book, I felt an unexpected emotion - anger. Or maybe it was annoyance? Although I think the author portrayed things in a fair way, developing a scenario that very much could happen thanks to an unfortunate series of teenage melodramatic events, I still felt sort of...cheated, or let down, by the ending, even though I *knew* it was coming.
Let me rewind though. I've read books before where the author pulls off what I call a 'neat trick' by having all of the elements of the story fit perfectly together by the end (see: I'll Give You The Sun). This book technically fell into that same vein, only it was much more explicitly laid out, between the characters constantly highlighting the roles they did or didn't play in what ends up happening, the countdown at the start of every chapter, and even just the order of who is telling the story. The ending wasn't a surprise by any means for me, although the very specifics of how it went down felt like a reflection of current news headlines. While I get that not all books can have happy endings, it was weird / frustrating to have how this one goes so clearly telegraphed from the earliest pages. I like being surprised in a story, and the more surprising thing would have been to do a different ending.
Two other things that bothered me - one more than the other. First, the arts school setting was what got me really excited to read this book, but it was a total non-factor in the story. I mean, yes, it gave certain characters the opportunity to interact in more intimate ways (Dave and Liv in a scene together, Diego and Joy dancing, although their chemistry is largely reserved for their sections - they're a non-entity for most of the story which makes how their story ends less moving or impactful). But in reality, it felt like this particular story could have been told at any other school or setting and still gone the way it did. The most interesting aspect of the book to me, the thing I was looking forward to, was that setting - but it's basically just a backdrop to a typical 'teen gets mixed up in the wrong thing' story line, so that was disappointing.
The other thing that was distracting...but I'll admit I kind of liked it, or at least respected it, was the use of 'you'. Each of the characters has a 'you', so instead of referring to that character, they use 'you' in its place. For example, Joy's 'act' at the beginning never names Diego, it just says things like "you looked at me" or "you said" or "you smiled". It's *really* disorienting at the outset, and can be a bit confusing as you transition between acts as you puzzle out (quite quickly to be fair) which 'you' is the focus now, but it's worth noting that it sticks out as a unique aspect of how the book is written. By the end, as I said, I got used to it, and it did help in a weird way, to deepen the connection between the characters that we otherwise only see in fleeting glimpses in the other characters' stories.
I don't know. I oscillate between 2.5 and 3 with this one. It was written well and creatively, and the characters were all pretty decently developed, but it wasn't the fresh or exciting story I was hoping for based on the description. The ending also felt very rushed, particularly with the final epilogue chapter that summed things up nicely, almost too nicely. It took the sting out of the big event.
The Bottom Line: While well-written, the book didn't dazzle me - the ending was broadcasted too clearly to be particularly moving.
Anything Memorable?: No.
60-Book Challenge?: Book #38 in 2016
March 18, 2018
You In Five Acts GUTTED me!! By the last chapter I was flipping pages as fast as I could, given my fumbling fingers and ugly crying. It’s all I’ve been able to think about for the past few days and I both love and hate La Marche for this beautiful, devastating read that I can’t get out of my head.
Let’s back, up shall we? A couple years ago, I went through a phase where I seemed to keep finding YA books featuring girls with dreams who blew them off for boys. And I remember wondering why these were stories we wanted to tell? Were they supposed to be cautionary tales? I never did figure that out; all I know is that those books frustrated me.
You In Five Acts is also about young women with dreams. And young men with dreams. And love. But it’s also about perseverance and hope. For me, this book did everything right. The author nailed the level of detail needed at this performing arts school to bring these aspiring performers to life with incredible vibrancy.
There are five main characters and each one gets an act: a chance to narrate events. Each one is fully fleshed out with hopes and dreams and flaws. Some of them are darker than others, but all were entirely believable, warts and all.
At the centre of the book is an unnamed tragedy. The tension and urgency amps up with every chapter as more details are unveiled. At the start I whispered a hope that one particular thing wouldn’t happen, and so, obviously that was the tragedy. Though to be fair, I wasn’t certain because La Marche keeps us guessing with her deft writing. Also, these are teenagers so there is a plethora of bad decision-making that could have led to the tragedy.
She propelled me to incredible highs and unfathomable lows with this wonderful book. I’m still upset about it.
Read it.
Let’s back, up shall we? A couple years ago, I went through a phase where I seemed to keep finding YA books featuring girls with dreams who blew them off for boys. And I remember wondering why these were stories we wanted to tell? Were they supposed to be cautionary tales? I never did figure that out; all I know is that those books frustrated me.
You In Five Acts is also about young women with dreams. And young men with dreams. And love. But it’s also about perseverance and hope. For me, this book did everything right. The author nailed the level of detail needed at this performing arts school to bring these aspiring performers to life with incredible vibrancy.
There are five main characters and each one gets an act: a chance to narrate events. Each one is fully fleshed out with hopes and dreams and flaws. Some of them are darker than others, but all were entirely believable, warts and all.
At the centre of the book is an unnamed tragedy. The tension and urgency amps up with every chapter as more details are unveiled. At the start I whispered a hope that one particular thing wouldn’t happen, and so, obviously that was the tragedy. Though to be fair, I wasn’t certain because La Marche keeps us guessing with her deft writing. Also, these are teenagers so there is a plethora of bad decision-making that could have led to the tragedy.
She propelled me to incredible highs and unfathomable lows with this wonderful book. I’m still upset about it.
Read it.
April 2, 2025
3⭐️ I enjoyed it, it was fun. I liked how short the acts and chapters were. The representation of dance was a litte weird. There were certain steps named wrong which personally bothered me a little bit, but I can get past it. I only liked like 1 character, and of course the character I liked had to die at the end.. (of course) I also didn’t expect how mature it was I just took it off the library shelf seeing someone doing a firebird, the word act, and performing arts school. It was a little slow to begin with, and I could tell based on the subtle foreshadowing that Diego was gonna die, I just wasn’t expecting how. But yeah, I liked it and I would recommend for more mature readers!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2017
You In Five Acts tells the story of five teens in a school for the arts and how their compiled mistakes let up to a tragedy that they wished they had prevented. Joy is black. Joy is also a ballerina. Most people think that those two things are mutually exclusive and Joy wants to prove them wrong. Olivia has a problem, her parents don't care means she stops caring. She's got herself caught up in something she can't get out of. Diego has been in love with Joy his whole life, the only way he is able to show her is through dance. Ethan is in love with Liv---so in love with her that he wrote a play that only she could star in---but when he finally gets his chance with her it doesn't feel real. Dave is the new kid who was a one-hit wonder, how will he balance trying not to be a failure, and getting the girl he wants?
This book was amazing. It was so raw and honest. I love Una LaMarche's work. Her previous book Like No Other was refreshing and You in Five Acts is no different.
I loved that I got a point of view from each of the five characters. I was more invested in one romance in particular, but I enjoyed the others and loved how all their versions came together. They each had their own voice and they were so well-written that I felt everything. I felt their guilt, their heartbreak, their ecstasy. It was all intense and it was all beautiful. I couldn't put it down. Each of their experiences mattered and it contributed to the outcome in the end.
I especially love the fact that Ms. LaMarche is not shy of diversity in books. It's one of the reasons I admire her and her work so much. She may not be in their shoes, but she's not afraid to write as if she is. In line with that---the writing was brilliant. In every point of view the character refers to the person they're in love with as "you". At first it was annoying but I quickly fell into the patten of it and I now give an A+ to the concept.
The plot led up to something intense. Something that you have to prepare for as you hear the tragedy to come in all of the characters voices. No spoilers as to what it is, but it's something that needed to be written and I'm so glad she did write it. It left me emotional. As if I left my soul somewhere else and inside I was empty. It was that good.
"It's always been you, you know that right?"
This book was amazing. It was so raw and honest. I love Una LaMarche's work. Her previous book Like No Other was refreshing and You in Five Acts is no different.
I loved that I got a point of view from each of the five characters. I was more invested in one romance in particular, but I enjoyed the others and loved how all their versions came together. They each had their own voice and they were so well-written that I felt everything. I felt their guilt, their heartbreak, their ecstasy. It was all intense and it was all beautiful. I couldn't put it down. Each of their experiences mattered and it contributed to the outcome in the end.
I especially love the fact that Ms. LaMarche is not shy of diversity in books. It's one of the reasons I admire her and her work so much. She may not be in their shoes, but she's not afraid to write as if she is. In line with that---the writing was brilliant. In every point of view the character refers to the person they're in love with as "you". At first it was annoying but I quickly fell into the patten of it and I now give an A+ to the concept.
The plot led up to something intense. Something that you have to prepare for as you hear the tragedy to come in all of the characters voices. No spoilers as to what it is, but it's something that needed to be written and I'm so glad she did write it. It left me emotional. As if I left my soul somewhere else and inside I was empty. It was that good.
"It's always been you, you know that right?"
April 12, 2020
I’m a mess. This is such a sad story!
January 26, 2021
I had no expectations, but was somehow severely let down.
I loved the idea, I really did, but this book is marketed as “a eulogy to friendship” when it’s everything but that. Two of the main characters (Joy & Diego) were romantically paired up from the very start of the book, and the three other main characters (Liv, Ethan & Dave) were in this love-triangle-that-wasn’t-a-love-triangle. So, no, there wasn’t one element of healthy friendships in this book, as Liv and Joy were on-and-off friends and the only time all five of the characters were in the same place was in the very first chapter.
Character-wise, all five of them were incredibly boring and two-dimensional for the most part, but there were a few instances were Joy did seem quite fleshed out. Besides Joy, there was next to no character differentiation.
Ethan and Liv were two of the most annoying characters I’ve ever read. Just. Fucking. Communicate. Also, if Diego had, I don’t know, SAID SOMETHING ABOUT LIV’S DRUG ADDICTION TO LITERALLY ANYONE, nothing in the last chapters of the book would’ve happened. Just saying.
Speaking of the last chapters, I felt nothing. The hints that a character was going to die were over the top and just ruined it. It would’ve been so much better if it was completely unexpected. I’d predicted that someone was going to die because of police brutality before the party and the police chase chapters, but I thought it’d be Joy, not Diego.
The only positive thing that I can think about is the reference to the musical Rent. I wish I was joking.
I loved the idea, I really did, but this book is marketed as “a eulogy to friendship” when it’s everything but that. Two of the main characters (Joy & Diego) were romantically paired up from the very start of the book, and the three other main characters (Liv, Ethan & Dave) were in this love-triangle-that-wasn’t-a-love-triangle. So, no, there wasn’t one element of healthy friendships in this book, as Liv and Joy were on-and-off friends and the only time all five of the characters were in the same place was in the very first chapter.
Character-wise, all five of them were incredibly boring and two-dimensional for the most part, but there were a few instances were Joy did seem quite fleshed out. Besides Joy, there was next to no character differentiation.
Ethan and Liv were two of the most annoying characters I’ve ever read. Just. Fucking. Communicate. Also, if Diego had, I don’t know, SAID SOMETHING ABOUT LIV’S DRUG ADDICTION TO LITERALLY ANYONE, nothing in the last chapters of the book would’ve happened. Just saying.
Speaking of the last chapters, I felt nothing. The hints that a character was going to die were over the top and just ruined it. It would’ve been so much better if it was completely unexpected. I’d predicted that someone was going to die because of police brutality before the party and the police chase chapters, but I thought it’d be Joy, not Diego.
The only positive thing that I can think about is the reference to the musical Rent. I wish I was joking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2017
It's hard to put my finger on exactly what I disliked about this book. I thought the characters were well-done and realistic (except for maybe one, who I'll get to in a minute) and the book explored some real and important dilemmas. Especially thought the character of Ethan was well done.
I think what it comes down to is that I felt like there was something manipulative about the book. The over-the-top foreshadowing irritated me from early on, but that is a pet peeve of mine so I tried to set it aside.
I think what it comes down to is that I felt like there was something manipulative about the book. The over-the-top foreshadowing irritated me from early on, but that is a pet peeve of mine so I tried to set it aside.
September 27, 2016
I received an ARC copy of YOU IN FIVE ACTS from First to Read in exchange for my honest review.
Five students at a high school for the performing arts prepare for senior showcase.
YOU IN FIVE ACTS is told from the second person POV by each of the five students. The You for each POV is the object of the narrator's affections. While each character had a distinct background, I never felt like I got to know any of the characters on a deep level. I never felt their sorrow and pain.
My biggest criticism of this novel is that at times it was incredibly slow paced, particularly when characters were in play practice reciting lines from the play. We know that one of the friends dies from the get go, though what actually happens comes out of left field and almost feels like an afterthought.
I didn't hate YOU IN FIVE ACTS, but I didn't find it very memorable.
Five students at a high school for the performing arts prepare for senior showcase.
YOU IN FIVE ACTS is told from the second person POV by each of the five students. The You for each POV is the object of the narrator's affections. While each character had a distinct background, I never felt like I got to know any of the characters on a deep level. I never felt their sorrow and pain.
My biggest criticism of this novel is that at times it was incredibly slow paced, particularly when characters were in play practice reciting lines from the play. We know that one of the friends dies from the get go, though what actually happens comes out of left field and almost feels like an afterthought.
I didn't hate YOU IN FIVE ACTS, but I didn't find it very memorable.
July 25, 2018
I wanted so, so badly to love this. The premise is something that fits me so perfectly.... like fame, etc.
But, something about it was incredibly uneven. I felt the characters were not all treated fairly. I wanted more of Joy, Diego and Ethan. I wasn’t that interested in the Liv/Dave plot.
This is also I think the first time ever that a tragic ending has left a bad taste in my mouth. It was just so... out of nowhere? Didn’t ring emotionally true with the rest of the book. And we got no closure with it, which was very disappointing.
For a book about a friend group, these characters don’t really see one, and there are almost no scenes with all of them together.
I also did not like the second person narration.
But, something about it was incredibly uneven. I felt the characters were not all treated fairly. I wanted more of Joy, Diego and Ethan. I wasn’t that interested in the Liv/Dave plot.
This is also I think the first time ever that a tragic ending has left a bad taste in my mouth. It was just so... out of nowhere? Didn’t ring emotionally true with the rest of the book. And we got no closure with it, which was very disappointing.
For a book about a friend group, these characters don’t really see one, and there are almost no scenes with all of them together.
I also did not like the second person narration.
September 22, 2019
I love the concept of this book and how it was divided into five "acts" and "you" meant for someone they endear and love or obsessed upon. I needed a great, fast read, romance kind of thing that isn't as awful as "The Kissing Booth". This book gave me it. You somehow know something was going bad with all the good or that with all the bad, something was going to be good. Oh, how this book broke me. Thanks a lot!
September 20, 2016
I could have lived without Dave and Ethan's POVs, and even Liv's. But Joy's and Diego's? Loved.
Thanks to Penguin/Razorbill & Edelweiss for the ARC.
Thanks to Penguin/Razorbill & Edelweiss for the ARC.
December 23, 2017
The ending was so unexpected I thought I knew what was going to happen but boy was I wrong.
September 26, 2018
4.5/5
Reading this book is like watching a Korean soap opera - quite dramatic. But some parts are beautifully-written, they touch me and tear my heart out.
You in Five Acts is told from the 5 perspectives of a group of friends who studying at a prestigious performing arts school. Each act is a new person directly talking to someone they adress as "You". It takes me few chapters to figure out who is who, who is you. And then I come up with a conclusion that you is the one that person care about. With Dave, it's Liv - the girl he wants the most but already have had a boyfriend. With Diego, it's Joy - the one he doesn't have courage to let on and step out of the friend lane and vice versa. With Ethan, it's Liv - whom he worships and be obssessed with but her feelings for him just fade away. Lots of people hate Ethan, I have to admit that his love is toxic and possessive but I can't put all the blame on him. Ethan has had enough of the girl of his dreams always looking through him. I don't hate anyone in this star-crossed relationship: Ethan, Liv and Dave. If any character I can't relate to most, it must have been Liv. The story fails to explain clearly why Liv changes her mind and falls for Dave although she has dated Ethan for a long time.
Of all the five narrators, Joy and Diego were by far my favorite. I like how Joy always tries her best to be recognized as a serious contender for prima ballerina by her parents and teachers, despite despite the fact that the ballet world is often dominated by thin, white ballerinas. She is determined and passionate. I admire her efforts to break the stereotype and how she doesn't let commentary about her weight let her down. Diego's story is quite complicated, but he is always a good guy despite his background and environment. His fear of not landing a good job if he wouldn't be offered a position with a dance company somehow shows the pressure and hurdles of being a non-white ballerina. The ending of the story was tear-jerking :( They should be ended up happily and have a bright future ahead of them T.T
So I'll dance for both of us.
I'll go on stage every night and dance like i'm trying to blow the doors off the hinges.
I'll dance like we're still out on the broadway in coney Island, our hair blowing in the ocean breeze, grazing hands accidentally on purpose while music fills the darkening sky.
I'll dance like you just told me you loved me for the first time.
I'll be up there showing you I love you back.
P/s: I can see that art school students often go off the rails - because there are lots of temptations.
Reading this book is like watching a Korean soap opera - quite dramatic. But some parts are beautifully-written, they touch me and tear my heart out.
You in Five Acts is told from the 5 perspectives of a group of friends who studying at a prestigious performing arts school. Each act is a new person directly talking to someone they adress as "You". It takes me few chapters to figure out who is who, who is you. And then I come up with a conclusion that you is the one that person care about. With Dave, it's Liv - the girl he wants the most but already have had a boyfriend. With Diego, it's Joy - the one he doesn't have courage to let on and step out of the friend lane and vice versa. With Ethan, it's Liv - whom he worships and be obssessed with but her feelings for him just fade away. Lots of people hate Ethan, I have to admit that his love is toxic and possessive but I can't put all the blame on him. Ethan has had enough of the girl of his dreams always looking through him. I don't hate anyone in this star-crossed relationship: Ethan, Liv and Dave. If any character I can't relate to most, it must have been Liv. The story fails to explain clearly why Liv changes her mind and falls for Dave although she has dated Ethan for a long time.
Of all the five narrators, Joy and Diego were by far my favorite. I like how Joy always tries her best to be recognized as a serious contender for prima ballerina by her parents and teachers, despite despite the fact that the ballet world is often dominated by thin, white ballerinas. She is determined and passionate. I admire her efforts to break the stereotype and how she doesn't let commentary about her weight let her down. Diego's story is quite complicated, but he is always a good guy despite his background and environment. His fear of not landing a good job if he wouldn't be offered a position with a dance company somehow shows the pressure and hurdles of being a non-white ballerina. The ending of the story was tear-jerking :( They should be ended up happily and have a bright future ahead of them T.T
So I'll dance for both of us.
I'll go on stage every night and dance like i'm trying to blow the doors off the hinges.
I'll dance like we're still out on the broadway in coney Island, our hair blowing in the ocean breeze, grazing hands accidentally on purpose while music fills the darkening sky.
I'll dance like you just told me you loved me for the first time.
I'll be up there showing you I love you back.
P/s: I can see that art school students often go off the rails - because there are lots of temptations.
June 14, 2018
Woah, that was a read!
This book explored super powerful themes of perfectionism, drug abuse, depression etc. with strong, emotional characters who had a chance to share their voice and story throughout the five "acts". I definitely saw the ending from the start but it still was impactful and thought-provoking.
Overall 4/5 - if you're looking for a contemporary novel based around performing arts (specifically ballet and acting) with deep themes and a powerful message, this is a good book for you to read!
This book explored super powerful themes of perfectionism, drug abuse, depression etc. with strong, emotional characters who had a chance to share their voice and story throughout the five "acts". I definitely saw the ending from the start but it still was impactful and thought-provoking.
Overall 4/5 - if you're looking for a contemporary novel based around performing arts (specifically ballet and acting) with deep themes and a powerful message, this is a good book for you to read!
May 19, 2017
I found Una LaMarche's writing to be very beautiful and unlike something that I had never read before. But that wasn't enough to make up for her lackluster characters and slightly cliche story. I fell in love with Joy and Diego. I even felt enough sympathy for Dave to tolerate him, but I flat out hated Liv and Ethan. The story was also cliched, but it was different enough to keep me reading and keep me interested. All of that being said, I will definitely check out more of Una LaMarche's books.
January 29, 2018
This is easily one of the best books i’ve read in a long time, maybe ever. The characters all have amazing stories and despite everything, I felt myself really get attached to them. That made the ending absolutely DEVASTATING. This story takes place in a field that I love, which immediately drew me to it, but the characters and the plot and especially the writing style kept me engaged the entire time. 10/10 would read again and again and again.
September 17, 2017
Beautifully written, especially because it is written in 5 "acts" from each of the main characters points of view which was really amazing. I would definitely recommend oh my goodness. The whole book keeps dropping hints from the first page that it's leading up to something, which just made me want to read it more.
PS: I definitely cried a lot
PS: I definitely cried a lot
May 24, 2019
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
December 14, 2021
Omg what a plot twist
February 26, 2025
Einfach nur wow.Das Buch war deeper als gedacht
July 3, 2020
"i mean, everyone is somebody else's 'you', right?"
im so?????? sad????? im heartbroken. i literally sobbed and wailed like a baby. i'll never get over this book.
leave me alone let me be sad forever
im so?????? sad????? im heartbroken. i literally sobbed and wailed like a baby. i'll never get over this book.
leave me alone let me be sad forever
August 1, 2017
Warning: some untagged spoilers ahead.
Huh. So the 'you' of You in Five Acts rotates with each POV: each of the five POV characters has a you, one of the other characters for whom they have romantic or tumultuous or complicated feelings.
The story is structured like a play, but with a countdown to the end of the semester: senior showcase, which has the capacity to make or break dreams. It's less pressing for the actors of the group (Liv, Ethan, and Dave), perhaps, than for the dancers (Joy and Diego), as senior showcase can lead to job offers with ballet companies.
There's a love story and a love triangle and a lot of foreshadowing about a death at the end of the book. I wish the 'who' had been a little more of a surprise, but more than that I'm not sure about the death coming where it does (pretty much at the very end). Because...I can't help but think that that's when things really start to get messy, when so many of these lives are changed irrevocably. Oh, it's the big moment for sure, but...oh gosh. There's so much summed up in that last little bit. And I think: what kind of school is it, that they'll allow one student to fail to graduate because another decides at the last minute to substitute a monologue for a play? And how must Liv feel, knowing that her addiction led to the death of a friend trying to help her? Joy presents such a strong face at the end, but again: so much pain behind her.
Some good elements here, but I'm not sure how far beyond the norm it really goes.
Huh. So the 'you' of You in Five Acts rotates with each POV: each of the five POV characters has a you, one of the other characters for whom they have romantic or tumultuous or complicated feelings.
The story is structured like a play, but with a countdown to the end of the semester: senior showcase, which has the capacity to make or break dreams. It's less pressing for the actors of the group (Liv, Ethan, and Dave), perhaps, than for the dancers (Joy and Diego), as senior showcase can lead to job offers with ballet companies.
There's a love story and a love triangle and a lot of foreshadowing about a death at the end of the book. I wish the 'who' had been a little more of a surprise, but more than that I'm not sure about the death coming where it does (pretty much at the very end). Because...I can't help but think that that's when things really start to get messy, when so many of these lives are changed irrevocably. Oh, it's the big moment for sure, but...oh gosh. There's so much summed up in that last little bit. And I think: what kind of school is it, that they'll allow one student to fail to graduate because another decides at the last minute to substitute a monologue for a play? And how must Liv feel, knowing that her addiction led to the death of a friend trying to help her? Joy presents such a strong face at the end, but again: so much pain behind her.
Some good elements here, but I'm not sure how far beyond the norm it really goes.
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