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She's the Worst
Sisters April and Jenn haven’t been close in years. Jenn’s too busy with school, the family antique shop, and her boyfriend, and April would rather play soccer and hang out with the boy next door.
But when April notices her older sister is sad about staying home for college, she decides to do something about it. The girls set off to revive a pact they made as kids: spend an epic day exploring the greatest hits of their childhood and all that Los Angeles has to offer.
Then April learns that Jenn has been keeping a secret that could rip their family—and their feuding parents—apart. With only one day to set things right, the sisters must decide if their relationship is worth saving, or if the truth will tear them apart for good.
But when April notices her older sister is sad about staying home for college, she decides to do something about it. The girls set off to revive a pact they made as kids: spend an epic day exploring the greatest hits of their childhood and all that Los Angeles has to offer.
Then April learns that Jenn has been keeping a secret that could rip their family—and their feuding parents—apart. With only one day to set things right, the sisters must decide if their relationship is worth saving, or if the truth will tear them apart for good.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
About the author
Lauren Spieller
2 books119 followersLauren Spieller is a literary agent who lives in New York with her husband. When she isn’t writing, she can be found drinking lattes, pining for every dog she sees, or visiting her native California. YOUR DESTINATION IS ON THE LEFT is her debut novel. Follow her on Twitter @laurenspieller.
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Shelved as 'not-released-tbr'
July 22, 2019She really is...
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October 6, 2019
This entire book is the worst.
She's the Worst is about two sisters named April and Jenn. One summer day, April notices her sister Jenn is sad about how her boyfriend Tom is leaving for college. So April decides to cheer her up by taking her around LA to different places from their childhood, only things don't go as planned. When April learns a secret Jenn has been keeping, it could tear their family apart.
What I wanted out of this book: two sisters who drifted away rebonding and having fun but working out their issues with a trip down memory lane through iconic LA. What I actually got: terrible characters screaming and bitching at each other for 300 pages and never resolving ANY of their issues. Their super special day is so short and unimportant and just more bitching. And no fun.
Ughhh ALL of the characters in this book actually suck. April and Jenn are both selfish in their own ways and their parents? Jesus fuck their parents. Reading about a couple that does nothing but argue and fight in every scene they were in was SO annoying and exhausting. They only care about one (1) of their daughters and only because she helps run their store and does nothing else. Even at the end of the book, nothing changes between them??
Jenn wants to go away to college but her parents said no, but she never canceled and is still leaving. Her parents are like, no you are staying and Jenn then says she's 18 and doesn't need their permission. They pull out the uno reverse card and say she can't afford it herself so she can't. Jenn just cries and then doesn't even consider the fact that she can get a job until the very end of the book and THAT is her solution to going to college! She's seriously like, omg wait I can get a job!! And everyone is like, oh shit that's a game changer and this just might work. Then that's the end of it like it was some hidden magical answer to everyone's problem. What kind of privileged shit is this where a job is the last resort?
Everyone in this book was so whiny and annoying, and everyone loved invalidating each other. If I had to hear SoCcEr iS jUsT a HoBbY!! from someone to April and having to read her screaming and crying and saying it's her life, I was going to lose it. Almost all the arguments in here felt like people just bringing up the same shit again and again, and EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK existed because no one would actually talk to each other. I can deal with miscommunication when I have to but this book was Miscommunication: the novel.
I just want to not ever think about this book again and I would like to thank my library for taking their book back so I don't have to yeet it off a bridge.
She's the Worst is about two sisters named April and Jenn. One summer day, April notices her sister Jenn is sad about how her boyfriend Tom is leaving for college. So April decides to cheer her up by taking her around LA to different places from their childhood, only things don't go as planned. When April learns a secret Jenn has been keeping, it could tear their family apart.
What I wanted out of this book: two sisters who drifted away rebonding and having fun but working out their issues with a trip down memory lane through iconic LA. What I actually got: terrible characters screaming and bitching at each other for 300 pages and never resolving ANY of their issues. Their super special day is so short and unimportant and just more bitching. And no fun.
Ughhh ALL of the characters in this book actually suck. April and Jenn are both selfish in their own ways and their parents? Jesus fuck their parents. Reading about a couple that does nothing but argue and fight in every scene they were in was SO annoying and exhausting. They only care about one (1) of their daughters and only because she helps run their store and does nothing else. Even at the end of the book, nothing changes between them??
Jenn wants to go away to college but her parents said no, but she never canceled and is still leaving. Her parents are like, no you are staying and Jenn then says she's 18 and doesn't need their permission. They pull out the uno reverse card and say she can't afford it herself so she can't. Jenn just cries and then doesn't even consider the fact that she can get a job until the very end of the book and THAT is her solution to going to college! She's seriously like, omg wait I can get a job!! And everyone is like, oh shit that's a game changer and this just might work. Then that's the end of it like it was some hidden magical answer to everyone's problem. What kind of privileged shit is this where a job is the last resort?
Everyone in this book was so whiny and annoying, and everyone loved invalidating each other. If I had to hear SoCcEr iS jUsT a HoBbY!! from someone to April and having to read her screaming and crying and saying it's her life, I was going to lose it. Almost all the arguments in here felt like people just bringing up the same shit again and again, and EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK existed because no one would actually talk to each other. I can deal with miscommunication when I have to but this book was Miscommunication: the novel.
I just want to not ever think about this book again and I would like to thank my library for taking their book back so I don't have to yeet it off a bridge.
Shelved as 'to-read-so-bad-it-hurts'
February 24, 2018I'm always saying how we need more books about sisters and this happens :prayer hands emoji:
September 3, 2019
In an effort to reconnect with her older sister, April plans a little walk down memory lane filled with various L.A. locations, which she thought were meaningful in their shared history. April may have missed the mark, but the outing resulted in something positive for these two after all.
I love a good sister story, and this one delighted me.
Jenn and April were like night and day, but once upon a time, they were thick as thieves. I was really rooting for these two to mend those fences and renew the bond they once had, because with the way their parents were, they sort of only had each other to rely on. Like with most relationships, this one was messy, but it was salvageable. I didn't feel as though either sister did anything bridge-burning to the other. They just sort of grew apart as their interests diverged, and they developed other meaningful relationships outside of their family.
I thought the the all-in-one-day adventure the girls embarked on was great. Spieller not only made each stop on the itinerary fun and interesting, but she also used it as an opportunity for these young women to examine their relationship and themselves.
There are definitely going to be people, who will declare, that all of this could have been avoided had they communicated better, but this happens in the real world. People let those important to them drift out of their lives, because they don't like to confront uncomfortable realties, and those people can fade from their lives, permanently. Spieller did a great job helping me understand all the emotions involved in this situation. She explained how and when the breakdown occurred, and why they hadn't done anything previously to remedy the situation. Because of all those things, I understood and therefore, accepted the situation.
Though, I am not going to pretend like I didn't enjoy the romantic drama (there was one romance I was all in on), I wish, perhaps that that time was used differently. I would have liked a little more closure/attention regarding the parental situation. Their troubled marriage played a big role in the story, yet, I am left worrying about their future together.
Regardless, I enjoyed seeing these two sisters try and heal their broken bond. It was fantastic seeing the sights with them, and I was extremely pleased with the resolutions they reached, both with respect to their relationship with each other and their individual issues.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I love a good sister story, and this one delighted me.
Jenn and April were like night and day, but once upon a time, they were thick as thieves. I was really rooting for these two to mend those fences and renew the bond they once had, because with the way their parents were, they sort of only had each other to rely on. Like with most relationships, this one was messy, but it was salvageable. I didn't feel as though either sister did anything bridge-burning to the other. They just sort of grew apart as their interests diverged, and they developed other meaningful relationships outside of their family.
I thought the the all-in-one-day adventure the girls embarked on was great. Spieller not only made each stop on the itinerary fun and interesting, but she also used it as an opportunity for these young women to examine their relationship and themselves.
There are definitely going to be people, who will declare, that all of this could have been avoided had they communicated better, but this happens in the real world. People let those important to them drift out of their lives, because they don't like to confront uncomfortable realties, and those people can fade from their lives, permanently. Spieller did a great job helping me understand all the emotions involved in this situation. She explained how and when the breakdown occurred, and why they hadn't done anything previously to remedy the situation. Because of all those things, I understood and therefore, accepted the situation.
Though, I am not going to pretend like I didn't enjoy the romantic drama (there was one romance I was all in on), I wish, perhaps that that time was used differently. I would have liked a little more closure/attention regarding the parental situation. Their troubled marriage played a big role in the story, yet, I am left worrying about their future together.
Regardless, I enjoyed seeing these two sisters try and heal their broken bond. It was fantastic seeing the sights with them, and I was extremely pleased with the resolutions they reached, both with respect to their relationship with each other and their individual issues.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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August 18, 2019
3.5 stars
April's sister Jenn is leaving for college...tomorrow. Well, she would be leaving, except she's staying home to go to community college after getting declined from Stanford. Noticing that her sister has been sad, April plans a Sister Fun Day to give Jenn the best of LA before she starts school. And maybe to connect...except they've been apart for so long that rekindling their friendship might be harder than expected.
What can I say except—I loved how April and Jenn were written. They were both so distinct and had such clear motivations and outlooks that I got whiplash trying to figure out who to root for.
They were both kinda the worst?
But also completely human, with their own reasons for acting the way they did.
And with parents like that, it's not hard to imagine that both tried to deal with the situation in the best ways that they could. I completely emphasized with April, who was treated like the irresponsible spoiled brat that she wasn't, and who's achievements in soccer were completely ignored by her asshole parents (and also sister, who treated soccer like a hobby instead of April's life).
Also, there is an adorable childhood-friends-to-lovers trope that I was absolutely rooting for (there's a lot going on in the friends department that I wish had been explored a little more thoroughly as well).
However, while this book was tracking at a solid four stars throughout the entire book because it flew by and I connected with both April and Jenn (in completely separate ways), and because this beautifully showed how complicated family can be, I was underwhelmed by the ending.
It was too easily resolved.
Years of anger and complications and emotional abuse are not fixed by one confrontation. The hurt and anger run too deep, and damage like that lasts for a long time—and relationships aren't healed so simply, particularly when things have been bad for years.
And also the college thing, which was...um what now? No way in hell is that going to solve it.
However, up until 97% I was 100% on board with this story.
But if you're looking for a story about two sisters trying to reconnect, this is definitely a good book to try.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
April's sister Jenn is leaving for college...tomorrow. Well, she would be leaving, except she's staying home to go to community college after getting declined from Stanford. Noticing that her sister has been sad, April plans a Sister Fun Day to give Jenn the best of LA before she starts school. And maybe to connect...except they've been apart for so long that rekindling their friendship might be harder than expected.
What can I say except—I loved how April and Jenn were written. They were both so distinct and had such clear motivations and outlooks that I got whiplash trying to figure out who to root for.
They were both kinda the worst?
But also completely human, with their own reasons for acting the way they did.
And with parents like that, it's not hard to imagine that both tried to deal with the situation in the best ways that they could. I completely emphasized with April, who was treated like the irresponsible spoiled brat that she wasn't, and who's achievements in soccer were completely ignored by her asshole parents (and also sister, who treated soccer like a hobby instead of April's life).
Also, there is an adorable childhood-friends-to-lovers trope that I was absolutely rooting for (there's a lot going on in the friends department that I wish had been explored a little more thoroughly as well).
However, while this book was tracking at a solid four stars throughout the entire book because it flew by and I connected with both April and Jenn (in completely separate ways), and because this beautifully showed how complicated family can be, I was underwhelmed by the ending.
It was too easily resolved.
Years of anger and complications and emotional abuse are not fixed by one confrontation. The hurt and anger run too deep, and damage like that lasts for a long time—and relationships aren't healed so simply, particularly when things have been bad for years.
And also the college thing, which was...um what now? No way in hell is that going to solve it.
However, up until 97% I was 100% on board with this story.
But if you're looking for a story about two sisters trying to reconnect, this is definitely a good book to try.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
July 29, 2019
1.5/5
First of all, idk where all the positive review for this book came from. I literally did not like anything about this book. The 1.5 is solely because I like the idea of exploring messy sister relationships and exploring LA.
This entire book could have been solved if the family talked to each other. Like if they sat down and had a mediated conversation, there would be no plot. I wish they had talked in the first 10 pages and I did not have to suffer through this.
The parents are such bad parents that it does not even seem like they are real parents. It feels like they woke up one day and suddenly had teenage daughters. They don't pay their daughter who literally is at their beck and call and they legit ignore the other one and are extremely dismissive of her passion.
Both sisters are THE WORST and think they are suffering while the other "has it easy". Again, if they talked everything would become clear. Literally they just complain about the other the WHOLE book, until the last couple of chapters. This isn't even like a slow change, they legit are mad and saying the same things over and over for the entire book until then.
Overall, I might be too old to read this, but it still was a struggle getting through this. All of my notes for this book look something like this:
"The parents suck", "Why won't they talk to each other", "This is so YA", "Please talk to each other so I can go home" etc.
*Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
First of all, idk where all the positive review for this book came from. I literally did not like anything about this book. The 1.5 is solely because I like the idea of exploring messy sister relationships and exploring LA.
This entire book could have been solved if the family talked to each other. Like if they sat down and had a mediated conversation, there would be no plot. I wish they had talked in the first 10 pages and I did not have to suffer through this.
The parents are such bad parents that it does not even seem like they are real parents. It feels like they woke up one day and suddenly had teenage daughters. They don't pay their daughter who literally is at their beck and call and they legit ignore the other one and are extremely dismissive of her passion.
Both sisters are THE WORST and think they are suffering while the other "has it easy". Again, if they talked everything would become clear. Literally they just complain about the other the WHOLE book, until the last couple of chapters. This isn't even like a slow change, they legit are mad and saying the same things over and over for the entire book until then.
Overall, I might be too old to read this, but it still was a struggle getting through this. All of my notes for this book look something like this:
"The parents suck", "Why won't they talk to each other", "This is so YA", "Please talk to each other so I can go home" etc.
*Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*
September 9, 2019
The full review can be found on Artsy Draft.
She’s the Worst was a fun family-oriented story. The dynamic characters combined with the adventurous one-day plot could be a huge potential if the writer didn’t use ineffective communication and manipulation as the ultimate source of the problems. There were many aspects that Spieller could use to spark more drama within this story without making everyone always screams at everyone.
Thank you to the author and The FFBC Team for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | RedBubble
///
Me and my last two brain cells witnessing everyone's being very mean to each other:
Me and my last two brain cells when everyone's finally being a bit calmer:
Full review to come on my blog tour's stop which hosted by The FFBC!
She’s the Worst was a fun family-oriented story. The dynamic characters combined with the adventurous one-day plot could be a huge potential if the writer didn’t use ineffective communication and manipulation as the ultimate source of the problems. There were many aspects that Spieller could use to spark more drama within this story without making everyone always screams at everyone.
Thank you to the author and The FFBC Team for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | RedBubble
///
Me and my last two brain cells witnessing everyone's being very mean to each other:
Me and my last two brain cells when everyone's finally being a bit calmer:
Full review to come on my blog tour's stop which hosted by The FFBC!
September 5, 2019
(3.5 stars)
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Admittedly, I had a massive moment of weakness when it came to She's the Worst and its design. I loved the pose of the cover, the typography and the dazed pastel pink. So, fine, I totally judged a book by its cover, but it's fine. I'm the worst.
Which is oddly fitting. One of the more prominent themes featured within She's the Worst is that sometimes, we all have a knack for passing judgment on our loved ones. In the case of two very different, very human, sisters, the tension of doing so is almost unbearable and has certainly driven a wedge between what was once a close friendship. Now, as one prepares to depart for her first year of college, their misunderstandings and lack of compassion for what one another feels, things seem to truly be coming to a conclusion.
The first thing you should know is that She's the Worst portrays a very specific type of sisters and girlhood. Jenn and April are both complex and flawed individuals that are pretty much opposites in terms of personalities. The one thing that ties them together is not their shared blood, it is their lack of understanding and communication towards one another. This pigheadedness is very well suited and realistic--they are both so young and given their parents behavior (or lack thereof) it felt right that they were so... selfish and immature about one another.
What becomes clear to the reader, after switching between the minds of both Jenn and April, is that they are both products of how they were raised. And that their parent's are, in fact, the ones who are "the worst". She's the Worst is the perfect example of petty sibling relationships that are rooted in some sort of miscommunication; that could have been solved long ago, if not for sheer biased stubbornness.
I remember feeling that emotional snowball effect throughout the course of She's the Worst and found myself hoping that these two would work things out and see the error of their judgment and was so relieved at how Lauren Spieller not only portrayed teenagers, but how she allowed them to grow in a way that felt organic. While there were many moments where I wanted to shake both April and Jenn, there were even more moments where I wanted to just scoop them up and cheer them up.
And then there were the moments I wanted to yell at their parents and tell them to grow the heck up. While they weren't inherently abusive towards their children, they were verbally abusive toward each other and blatantly selfish, immature and insufferable. I am not going to lie--they were the worst part of the novel.
Still, it was in their ignorance and obliviousness that eventually lead us straight into the repairing of one sisterly bond. She's the Worst is a short timeline, both in terms of how long it takes to read it and how long the novel is set, but it has a superb amount of development that gave me the warm and fuzzies by its conclusion.
Ultimately, I loved the development that we got to see. This is a story about sisters who have lost their way from each other, but in the end are able to find--and understand--each other. I'm always, always fond of stories that have sisterly relationships at its center, and while She's the Worst has moments of romance (friends to dating) and friendship in it, it is undeniably about two sisters coming of age.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Admittedly, I had a massive moment of weakness when it came to She's the Worst and its design. I loved the pose of the cover, the typography and the dazed pastel pink. So, fine, I totally judged a book by its cover, but it's fine. I'm the worst.
Which is oddly fitting. One of the more prominent themes featured within She's the Worst is that sometimes, we all have a knack for passing judgment on our loved ones. In the case of two very different, very human, sisters, the tension of doing so is almost unbearable and has certainly driven a wedge between what was once a close friendship. Now, as one prepares to depart for her first year of college, their misunderstandings and lack of compassion for what one another feels, things seem to truly be coming to a conclusion.
The first thing you should know is that She's the Worst portrays a very specific type of sisters and girlhood. Jenn and April are both complex and flawed individuals that are pretty much opposites in terms of personalities. The one thing that ties them together is not their shared blood, it is their lack of understanding and communication towards one another. This pigheadedness is very well suited and realistic--they are both so young and given their parents behavior (or lack thereof) it felt right that they were so... selfish and immature about one another.
What becomes clear to the reader, after switching between the minds of both Jenn and April, is that they are both products of how they were raised. And that their parent's are, in fact, the ones who are "the worst". She's the Worst is the perfect example of petty sibling relationships that are rooted in some sort of miscommunication; that could have been solved long ago, if not for sheer biased stubbornness.
I remember feeling that emotional snowball effect throughout the course of She's the Worst and found myself hoping that these two would work things out and see the error of their judgment and was so relieved at how Lauren Spieller not only portrayed teenagers, but how she allowed them to grow in a way that felt organic. While there were many moments where I wanted to shake both April and Jenn, there were even more moments where I wanted to just scoop them up and cheer them up.
And then there were the moments I wanted to yell at their parents and tell them to grow the heck up. While they weren't inherently abusive towards their children, they were verbally abusive toward each other and blatantly selfish, immature and insufferable. I am not going to lie--they were the worst part of the novel.
Still, it was in their ignorance and obliviousness that eventually lead us straight into the repairing of one sisterly bond. She's the Worst is a short timeline, both in terms of how long it takes to read it and how long the novel is set, but it has a superb amount of development that gave me the warm and fuzzies by its conclusion.
Ultimately, I loved the development that we got to see. This is a story about sisters who have lost their way from each other, but in the end are able to find--and understand--each other. I'm always, always fond of stories that have sisterly relationships at its center, and while She's the Worst has moments of romance (friends to dating) and friendship in it, it is undeniably about two sisters coming of age.
September 3, 2020
As a SoCal native, I’m always excited to read a story set in Los Angeles, and this book read like an appreciation letter to the city while simultaneously exploring the complexities of family relationships. ☀️ She’s the Worst follows the perspectives of April and Jenn, two sisters who spend a day together touring their hometown in hopes of restoring their relationship before Jenn leaves for college. While this book flew by as a quick and entertaining read, I did think that it lacked a certain spark to make me completely fall in love.
In terms of writing, this book flew by, and I found myself engrossed in page after page. From the sisterly relationship to the romantic subplot on the side, I wanted the best for the characters, and Lauren Spieller’s writing made it the story read like a movie, or at least a quick LA-based TV show. ✏️ Additionally, although Los Angeles primarily served as a backdrop to the greater story of family and sisterly friendship, April and Jenn’s magical sister day bucket list made me feel so nostalgic for my hometown.
As an only child, I couldn’t relate 100% to the sister dynamics within the story, but based on my friendships with sisters, I feel as if the story did a pretty great job of showing the simultaneous headstrong arguments yet desire to be close friends. Of course, every relationship is different, so it’s probably not representative of everyone’s relationships of fighting and friendship. 💞 A primary focal point of this story was how each sister thought the other person “had it better” in terms of relationships with parents and overall life, but throughout the story, we see how their time together dissolves those misconceptions, leading to a greater appreciation for each other.
One of the primary reasons I didn’t love this book was because I was continuously frustrated by the family dynamics since no one would communicate with each other, yet at the same time, I could understand why it was important to be written into the story because miscommunication or lack of communication is a reality for many families. 😔 The author did a really great job of showcasing how the effects of parents fighting have trickle-down effects on their children when they get caught in the crossfire. However, I would warn that if you are not a fan of ineffective communication as a major focal point of the plot, this book may not be for you.
Overall, this story was fast-paced and entertaining, but I was craving for more in order to completely love the entire story. The LA-references spoke to my heart, and the character development in sisterly relationships made me happy to watch unfold. This is the second Lauren Spieller contemporary that I’ve read, and I found that while they’re short, fun reads, they’re just short of being a stellar read. Still, I’m excited to see more of her future works, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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In terms of writing, this book flew by, and I found myself engrossed in page after page. From the sisterly relationship to the romantic subplot on the side, I wanted the best for the characters, and Lauren Spieller’s writing made it the story read like a movie, or at least a quick LA-based TV show. ✏️ Additionally, although Los Angeles primarily served as a backdrop to the greater story of family and sisterly friendship, April and Jenn’s magical sister day bucket list made me feel so nostalgic for my hometown.
As an only child, I couldn’t relate 100% to the sister dynamics within the story, but based on my friendships with sisters, I feel as if the story did a pretty great job of showing the simultaneous headstrong arguments yet desire to be close friends. Of course, every relationship is different, so it’s probably not representative of everyone’s relationships of fighting and friendship. 💞 A primary focal point of this story was how each sister thought the other person “had it better” in terms of relationships with parents and overall life, but throughout the story, we see how their time together dissolves those misconceptions, leading to a greater appreciation for each other.
“People in LA want something out of this city so badly they’re willing to put up with all the traffic to get to it”
One of the primary reasons I didn’t love this book was because I was continuously frustrated by the family dynamics since no one would communicate with each other, yet at the same time, I could understand why it was important to be written into the story because miscommunication or lack of communication is a reality for many families. 😔 The author did a really great job of showcasing how the effects of parents fighting have trickle-down effects on their children when they get caught in the crossfire. However, I would warn that if you are not a fan of ineffective communication as a major focal point of the plot, this book may not be for you.
Overall, this story was fast-paced and entertaining, but I was craving for more in order to completely love the entire story. The LA-references spoke to my heart, and the character development in sisterly relationships made me happy to watch unfold. This is the second Lauren Spieller contemporary that I’ve read, and I found that while they’re short, fun reads, they’re just short of being a stellar read. Still, I’m excited to see more of her future works, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
// buddy read with Lili! 💞
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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May 14, 2020
DNF at 34% I can't. I just can't force myself to finish this book because I hate every single character. They are the worst and like every review said--if they had just talked there would be no conflict. Can we also talk about how everyone is so selfish??? Like think about the other person for once instead of thinking the worst of them. Moving to the parents--GET A DIVORCE YOU GUYS ARE AWFUL PEOPLE.
August 20, 2019
Read with Rachel for Friends with ARCs!
I am always on the hunt for new sister stories, and I think She’s the Worst felt like a particularly good example of how complicated sister relationships can get.
I am always on the hunt for new sister stories, and I think She’s the Worst felt like a particularly good example of how complicated sister relationships can get.
October 10, 2019
Oh dear where to start. I really enjoyed the debut novel from the author and this one fell flat.
So 99 % of the problems in this book could have been solved if the characters just talked to each other more. Like the miscommunication pissed me off so much.
The characters were all one sided. I saw no real diverse character personality types. I kept forgetting what sister I was reading the POV from.
Not to mention how selfish every person in their family unit was being.
And for fucks sake those toxic ass parents need to get a divorce already.
Hopefully her 3rd book wins me back cause I was dissatisfied with this one.
So 99 % of the problems in this book could have been solved if the characters just talked to each other more. Like the miscommunication pissed me off so much.
The characters were all one sided. I saw no real diverse character personality types. I kept forgetting what sister I was reading the POV from.
Not to mention how selfish every person in their family unit was being.
And for fucks sake those toxic ass parents need to get a divorce already.
Hopefully her 3rd book wins me back cause I was dissatisfied with this one.
June 22, 2019
Official blurb: "Part sister story, part romantic comedy, SHE'S THE WORST spotlights two bold, ambitious girls trying to rebuild their fractured relationship. I devoured this love letter to summer, sisterhood, and Los Angeles."
September 9, 2019
i received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all opinions below are my own.
my sister’s two years younger than me, and sometimes i just can’t help thinking – she’s the worst. the absolute worst. i always get annoyed by the littlest things she does, and reading this story from the perspective of the younger sibling was such a refreshing experience – i understood that sometimes things are not what they seem on the surface, and that to maintain a good relationship with my sister, i should sometimes put myself into her shoes instead of judging her for everything she does.
while some parts were entertaining to read, i couldn’t really relate to april and jenn. my sister and i are pretty close with each other and talk all the time, so i don’t know what it’s like to be completely estranged from your sister to a point that makes hanging out with her awkward and intolerable. jenn also annoyed me at times and i didn’t like how she keeps hiding things from her family.
and the ending felt a bit rushed, to be honest. the whole story takes place in the span of twenty four hours and most of the book just drags on and on, while the final parts are whirred past. i wondered how april and jenn can visit so many places in a single day and then suddenly just go back to normal after hours of fighting. it seemed like the author was trying to piece the time together in weird ways to fit their schedule and i didn’t like how that turned out.
other than that, a large portion of the book involved people being mean to each other, and it was reaaaaaaallly annoying. and i’m not talking about the regular sibling level of mean. i’m talking about ditching your sister to go eat lunch with some other people, and being petty and tattletaling on each other kind of mean. the whole thing’s so stupid, i found it a bit hard to believe that jenn got into yale.
overall i’d give this three stars out of five, based solely on its entertainment value. i was hoping for a relatable read about a (balanced) love-hate relationship between sisters, but what i got was a (10%) love-(90%) hate relationship, and i was disappointed. but although the sibling relationship in this book doesn’t really resemble mine, i’m pretty sure that some people out there will be able to relate to it or find it interesting, so go pick this up if it seems like something you’d enjoy!
my sister’s two years younger than me, and sometimes i just can’t help thinking – she’s the worst. the absolute worst. i always get annoyed by the littlest things she does, and reading this story from the perspective of the younger sibling was such a refreshing experience – i understood that sometimes things are not what they seem on the surface, and that to maintain a good relationship with my sister, i should sometimes put myself into her shoes instead of judging her for everything she does.
while some parts were entertaining to read, i couldn’t really relate to april and jenn. my sister and i are pretty close with each other and talk all the time, so i don’t know what it’s like to be completely estranged from your sister to a point that makes hanging out with her awkward and intolerable. jenn also annoyed me at times and i didn’t like how she keeps hiding things from her family.
and the ending felt a bit rushed, to be honest. the whole story takes place in the span of twenty four hours and most of the book just drags on and on, while the final parts are whirred past. i wondered how april and jenn can visit so many places in a single day and then suddenly just go back to normal after hours of fighting. it seemed like the author was trying to piece the time together in weird ways to fit their schedule and i didn’t like how that turned out.
other than that, a large portion of the book involved people being mean to each other, and it was reaaaaaaallly annoying. and i’m not talking about the regular sibling level of mean. i’m talking about ditching your sister to go eat lunch with some other people, and being petty and tattletaling on each other kind of mean. the whole thing’s so stupid, i found it a bit hard to believe that jenn got into yale.
overall i’d give this three stars out of five, based solely on its entertainment value. i was hoping for a relatable read about a (balanced) love-hate relationship between sisters, but what i got was a (10%) love-(90%) hate relationship, and i was disappointed. but although the sibling relationship in this book doesn’t really resemble mine, i’m pretty sure that some people out there will be able to relate to it or find it interesting, so go pick this up if it seems like something you’d enjoy!
August 19, 2019
Thank you to the publishers and author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sisters April and Jenn haven’t been close in years. Jenn’s too busy with school, the family antique shop, and her boyfriend, and April would rather play soccer and hang out with the boy next door. But when April notices her older sister is sad about staying home for college, she decides to do something about it. The girls set off to revive a pact they made as kids: spend an epic day exploring the greatest hits of their childhood and all that Los Angeles has to offer. Then April learns that Jenn has been keeping a secret that could rip their family—and their feuding parents—apart. With only one day to set things right, the sisters must decide if their relationship is worth saving, or if the truth will tear them apart for good.
I thought the sister relationship was very real. I've seen a lot of people say the bickering is annoying but as a sibling, I thought it was pretty spot on. You always think your sibling only cares about themselves but at the end of the day, they do care about you and they will have your back. Another relationship I enjoyed was April and Nate, I firmly believe the best relationships are based in friendship.
I also liked the idea of having a "Special Sister Day" especially to cheer up your sister when you notice she is struggling. The setting of the book really helped keep things moving and the POV changing let us see what both girls were going through.
Some things I wasn't the biggest fan of in this book were April's first boyfriend and that the ending was too neat and clean and never would have worked out. I feel bad saying it but the first boy had no meaning other than to cause unnecessary friction between the sisters. The parents (thought I know they were meant to be) were so horrible and self centered.
All in all, this book was pretty good. Three out of five stars is an enjoyable read though not one I might pick up again for a while. If you liked sister relationships, spontaneous adventure and a little bit of family drama, this book might be for you.
A review will be posted to devourbookswithdana.home.blog on release day.
Sisters April and Jenn haven’t been close in years. Jenn’s too busy with school, the family antique shop, and her boyfriend, and April would rather play soccer and hang out with the boy next door. But when April notices her older sister is sad about staying home for college, she decides to do something about it. The girls set off to revive a pact they made as kids: spend an epic day exploring the greatest hits of their childhood and all that Los Angeles has to offer. Then April learns that Jenn has been keeping a secret that could rip their family—and their feuding parents—apart. With only one day to set things right, the sisters must decide if their relationship is worth saving, or if the truth will tear them apart for good.
I thought the sister relationship was very real. I've seen a lot of people say the bickering is annoying but as a sibling, I thought it was pretty spot on. You always think your sibling only cares about themselves but at the end of the day, they do care about you and they will have your back. Another relationship I enjoyed was April and Nate, I firmly believe the best relationships are based in friendship.
I also liked the idea of having a "Special Sister Day" especially to cheer up your sister when you notice she is struggling. The setting of the book really helped keep things moving and the POV changing let us see what both girls were going through.
Some things I wasn't the biggest fan of in this book were April's first boyfriend and that the ending was too neat and clean and never would have worked out. I feel bad saying it but the first boy had no meaning other than to cause unnecessary friction between the sisters. The parents (thought I know they were meant to be) were so horrible and self centered.
All in all, this book was pretty good. Three out of five stars is an enjoyable read though not one I might pick up again for a while. If you liked sister relationships, spontaneous adventure and a little bit of family drama, this book might be for you.
A review will be posted to devourbookswithdana.home.blog on release day.
November 30, 2019
Actual rating 4.5
E-arc provided by netgalley
This was such a heartwarming and unique contemporary. I loved how it focused on family and sibling dynamics above all else. And then little romance that was present only served to strengthen the book.
All the good aside though I did find the ending to be a little too convenient for my liking but that was such a minor negative amidst all of the great parts of this book. Overall I highly recommend this unique contemporary!
Booktalk - https://youtu.be/3uCwmwuGZRA
E-arc provided by netgalley
This was such a heartwarming and unique contemporary. I loved how it focused on family and sibling dynamics above all else. And then little romance that was present only served to strengthen the book.
All the good aside though I did find the ending to be a little too convenient for my liking but that was such a minor negative amidst all of the great parts of this book. Overall I highly recommend this unique contemporary!
Booktalk - https://youtu.be/3uCwmwuGZRA
August 11, 2019
If you enjoy heartwarming sister stories, bingeable books, and novels where the setting is truly a character, then you will love SHE’S THE WORST! This is easily a one-sitting read that will keep you hooked from start to finish. There’s also an adorable romance subplot that I, of course, loved. This is a must-read for YA contemporary fans.
September 7, 2019
Review is also found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
4.5 Stars
April is the black sheep of her family, seen as the irresponsible younger sister, but in reality she works hard at soccer and even may have a future due to her skills. Jenn is the diligent, hard working older sister who just can't deal with her parent's fighting anymore- and has a secret looming over her. April knows that something is bothering Jenn but since they are not close anymore she has no idea what. Instead, she decides to make a special day for Jenn, a day that goes horribly wrong- in the best of ways.
I can't remember the last book I read that had a positive or important sibling relationship in it. Actually, I can't remember the last book that had any kind of sibling relationship. Usually, siblings either do not exist or are briefly mentioned as world building, not as real people which is pretty unrealistic if you think about the story as real life. That being said, I was really excited when I heard about She's the Worst and it was a book that was predominantly about the love hate thing between two sisters. And sure there are other topics like growing up and a cute unexpected romance, but the focus of the book was the up and down relationship dynamic between Jenn and April and I was so there for that!
Overall I really liked getting to know April and her spunk and Jenn and her steadfastness- but I absolutely could not stand the parents in the story. This was my first book by Lauren and I loved her writing style and pacing, she was able to get me to read "just another chapter" until I had finished the book without being able to put it down. I will gladly read more from her in the future. I highly recommend She's the Worst if you are a fan of YA contemporary, relationship drama, cute blossoming romance and coming of age stories.
4.5 Stars
April is the black sheep of her family, seen as the irresponsible younger sister, but in reality she works hard at soccer and even may have a future due to her skills. Jenn is the diligent, hard working older sister who just can't deal with her parent's fighting anymore- and has a secret looming over her. April knows that something is bothering Jenn but since they are not close anymore she has no idea what. Instead, she decides to make a special day for Jenn, a day that goes horribly wrong- in the best of ways.
I can't remember the last book I read that had a positive or important sibling relationship in it. Actually, I can't remember the last book that had any kind of sibling relationship. Usually, siblings either do not exist or are briefly mentioned as world building, not as real people which is pretty unrealistic if you think about the story as real life. That being said, I was really excited when I heard about She's the Worst and it was a book that was predominantly about the love hate thing between two sisters. And sure there are other topics like growing up and a cute unexpected romance, but the focus of the book was the up and down relationship dynamic between Jenn and April and I was so there for that!
Overall I really liked getting to know April and her spunk and Jenn and her steadfastness- but I absolutely could not stand the parents in the story. This was my first book by Lauren and I loved her writing style and pacing, she was able to get me to read "just another chapter" until I had finished the book without being able to put it down. I will gladly read more from her in the future. I highly recommend She's the Worst if you are a fan of YA contemporary, relationship drama, cute blossoming romance and coming of age stories.
July 27, 2019
Full review to come as a part of the FFBC blog tour! My review will be up on September 1st!
Initial thoughts: that was WILD. Though the secret wasn’t what I was expecting, this was truly an intense experience! A real rollercoaster of emotion!
Initial thoughts: that was WILD. Though the secret wasn’t what I was expecting, this was truly an intense experience! A real rollercoaster of emotion!
September 18, 2019
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who has just one younger brother (who I get along with great, just FYI), I have always wondered what life would have been like if I had a sister. I had friends who had various levels of closeness with their sisters and have always been fascinated by the sisterly dynamic. I guess that’s why I also enjoy reading books/watching shows (or movies) that also focus on this unique sibling bond and was really excited for She’s the Worst.
She’s the Worst takes place over the course of a few days, from the perspectives of sisters April and Jenn. April plans a day of touring their hometown (Los Angeles) in hopes of rehabbing their relationship before Jenn leaves for college elsewhere in their state. There’s a few side characters (being a few boys and Jenn’s friends, Katie and Shruthi), but for the most part, the focus is on April and Jenn (and their parents).
This is a really cute and quick read and overall, I really enjoyed it. Both April and Jenn felt real and their struggles were both personal and easily relatable. A lot of both girls’ personalities and decisions are influenced by the toxic relationship between their still married parents. Their parents are constantly arguing, in front of Jenn and April, as well as their antique store customers, which causes April and Jenn to react in different ways. This leads to resentment between the sisters that I feel would have not been between the sisters otherwise.
Unfortunately, their broken relationship is based on a lot of external forces and lack of communication between them. They have separate interests, but as April attempts to pick landmarks throughout LA, she hopes to show Jenn how much they had in common and repair years of damage.
I’m certainly not from LA, but considering I vacation there just a few months ago, I definitely knew a few of the landmarks, which was enjoyable. I’m sure it’s even better for those more local to the area.
The reasons I took away a star are fairly mild: 1.) As much as I liked both girls, I did find both of them to be a bit immature, which was frustrating at various points of the story. There’s a lot miscommunication, which just continues to make things worse. And while I understand the family dynamics were so royally messed up, I still would have liked a bit more growth and maturity from each sister, considering there are some other heavy topics mentioned in the book. And 2.) The romance angle for April felt a bit jammed in. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the boy April ends up with and enjoyed what he added, but for a book that was very much focused on a sisterly relationship taking place over a very short time frame, I’m just not sure a big romance for April was needed in the book. I would have liked it to take a little more a backburner approach to this plotline.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of great themes about the unique bond between sisters, dealing with negative family dynamics, shouldering expectations from those closest to us, and the importance of communicating intentionally and honestly with those you love. It was perfectly wrapped up and I was satisfied with the book overall. This was my first Lauren Spieller novel and I look forward to what she writes next!
As someone who has just one younger brother (who I get along with great, just FYI), I have always wondered what life would have been like if I had a sister. I had friends who had various levels of closeness with their sisters and have always been fascinated by the sisterly dynamic. I guess that’s why I also enjoy reading books/watching shows (or movies) that also focus on this unique sibling bond and was really excited for She’s the Worst.
She’s the Worst takes place over the course of a few days, from the perspectives of sisters April and Jenn. April plans a day of touring their hometown (Los Angeles) in hopes of rehabbing their relationship before Jenn leaves for college elsewhere in their state. There’s a few side characters (being a few boys and Jenn’s friends, Katie and Shruthi), but for the most part, the focus is on April and Jenn (and their parents).
This is a really cute and quick read and overall, I really enjoyed it. Both April and Jenn felt real and their struggles were both personal and easily relatable. A lot of both girls’ personalities and decisions are influenced by the toxic relationship between their still married parents. Their parents are constantly arguing, in front of Jenn and April, as well as their antique store customers, which causes April and Jenn to react in different ways. This leads to resentment between the sisters that I feel would have not been between the sisters otherwise.
Unfortunately, their broken relationship is based on a lot of external forces and lack of communication between them. They have separate interests, but as April attempts to pick landmarks throughout LA, she hopes to show Jenn how much they had in common and repair years of damage.
I’m certainly not from LA, but considering I vacation there just a few months ago, I definitely knew a few of the landmarks, which was enjoyable. I’m sure it’s even better for those more local to the area.
The reasons I took away a star are fairly mild: 1.) As much as I liked both girls, I did find both of them to be a bit immature, which was frustrating at various points of the story. There’s a lot miscommunication, which just continues to make things worse. And while I understand the family dynamics were so royally messed up, I still would have liked a bit more growth and maturity from each sister, considering there are some other heavy topics mentioned in the book. And 2.) The romance angle for April felt a bit jammed in. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the boy April ends up with and enjoyed what he added, but for a book that was very much focused on a sisterly relationship taking place over a very short time frame, I’m just not sure a big romance for April was needed in the book. I would have liked it to take a little more a backburner approach to this plotline.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of great themes about the unique bond between sisters, dealing with negative family dynamics, shouldering expectations from those closest to us, and the importance of communicating intentionally and honestly with those you love. It was perfectly wrapped up and I was satisfied with the book overall. This was my first Lauren Spieller novel and I look forward to what she writes next!
October 26, 2019
Spieller's debut, Your Destination Is on the Left, was a fantastic, voice-driven contemporary novel that I enjoyed the hell out of, despite it not being thematically my usual sort of read. I'm thrilled to report that that same skill for voice and character is readily apparent in She's the Worst. The story centers on two sisters who are no longer particularly close, and that relationship is the crucial one to the novel. There is an adorable romance in here, too, which obvs I was into, but, really, what I loved about this book was the complex characters. As with her debut, Spieller has massive talent in writing emotions that are realistically complicated, leaving the reader with a mix of joy and sadness but in a way that's highly satisfying. Can't wait to see what she does next.
October 10, 2019
REVIEW FOUND ON BLOG
https://emilythebooknerdxo.blogspot.c...
*Thank you to The FFBC, Lauren Spieller, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me an advance copy of She's the Worst!*
I love books that center around family. As a little girl, I always wanted a sister. Sadly, I don't have one. However, I always use books to live vicariously through. Immediately, after picking up She's the Worst, I became fully immersed in the story. It had everything going in a novel that I look for when picking up a book. Centering on two sisters that come from a family that thrift and own an antique shop! Heck yes! For once, I had no idea where the plot was going in this novel. Not the least bit predictable.
The fights amongst the mother and father were very hard to read for me. Coming from a family of divorce, it was almost cringe-worthy and triggering for me. This is the only reason why I couldn't give the novel five stars. Also, the whole secret in the book was not what I was expecting. This girl was hoping for some huge plot twist! I leave five-star ratings for my favorite books. Otherwise, the book was very entertaining. If you want a rollercoaster kind of book of emotion then you have to pick this one up!
The sister relationship/sibling relationship was very well developed. It was believable in every single way. I loved the way sibling rivalry was portrayed. The book is told in dual perspective and this totally made the novel that much better. Getting to see that there are two sides to every story. I loved how different Jenn and April are but still love each other immensely. The book shows the importance of family. The grandmother is always supportive and checking in throughout the book. This made me think of my own grandma.
Set in Los Angeles, the girls visit a bunch of iconic spots throughout the book. This made me smile as visiting California and all it has to offer is a highlight of my memories. They visit a lot of my favorite beaches and more. It gave me all the California feels and is now making me want to go back to visit! Set in the Summer, the book became very atmospheric. If you want a good easy contemporary read with some depth you have to check this one out!
https://emilythebooknerdxo.blogspot.c...
*Thank you to The FFBC, Lauren Spieller, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me an advance copy of She's the Worst!*
I love books that center around family. As a little girl, I always wanted a sister. Sadly, I don't have one. However, I always use books to live vicariously through. Immediately, after picking up She's the Worst, I became fully immersed in the story. It had everything going in a novel that I look for when picking up a book. Centering on two sisters that come from a family that thrift and own an antique shop! Heck yes! For once, I had no idea where the plot was going in this novel. Not the least bit predictable.
The fights amongst the mother and father were very hard to read for me. Coming from a family of divorce, it was almost cringe-worthy and triggering for me. This is the only reason why I couldn't give the novel five stars. Also, the whole secret in the book was not what I was expecting. This girl was hoping for some huge plot twist! I leave five-star ratings for my favorite books. Otherwise, the book was very entertaining. If you want a rollercoaster kind of book of emotion then you have to pick this one up!
The sister relationship/sibling relationship was very well developed. It was believable in every single way. I loved the way sibling rivalry was portrayed. The book is told in dual perspective and this totally made the novel that much better. Getting to see that there are two sides to every story. I loved how different Jenn and April are but still love each other immensely. The book shows the importance of family. The grandmother is always supportive and checking in throughout the book. This made me think of my own grandma.
Set in Los Angeles, the girls visit a bunch of iconic spots throughout the book. This made me smile as visiting California and all it has to offer is a highlight of my memories. They visit a lot of my favorite beaches and more. It gave me all the California feels and is now making me want to go back to visit! Set in the Summer, the book became very atmospheric. If you want a good easy contemporary read with some depth you have to check this one out!
July 24, 2019
I was lucky enough to receive this arc from Lauren in exchange for an honest review.
So first things first, Thank You Lauren for giving me the chance to read your story!! I stumbled upon the description and thought it would be a fun summer read. I absolutely adored this book but it wasn't quite the "fun summer" read I thought it would be. You know what they say about judging a book on the cover? They were right, this super cute cover had me fooled in the best way. How quickly I realized this was not going to be the fluff read I expected. I wasn't expecting the raw real feelings this book would bring out of me or the very real story of 2 sisters who have 1 day to reconnect. Full of family angst, a dash of romance, a pinch of comedy and a heartwarming bond between sisters, April the youngest and Jenn the eldest. Though the sisters had drifted apart over the years this is a story about a sisters bond and how a day can change everything. There were points in the story where my eyes got watery and I could relate to so much of what the sisters went through. I really enjoyed the way the story stayed light and fun while touching on real life issues we have with family. If y'all are looking for a fun, sweet, fast read this is the book to read! She's the Worst hits shelves this fall, September 2019!!!
♡
♡
Sisters April and Jenn haven’t been close in years. Jenn’s too busy with school, the family antique shop, and her boyfriend, and April would rather play soccer and hang out with the boy next door.
But when April notices her older sister is sad about staying home for college, she decides to do something about it. The girls set off to revive a pact they made as kids: spend an epic day exploring the greatest hits of their childhood and all that Los Angeles has to offer.
Then April learns that Jenn has been keeping a secret that could rip their family—and their feuding parents—apart.
So first things first, Thank You Lauren for giving me the chance to read your story!! I stumbled upon the description and thought it would be a fun summer read. I absolutely adored this book but it wasn't quite the "fun summer" read I thought it would be. You know what they say about judging a book on the cover? They were right, this super cute cover had me fooled in the best way. How quickly I realized this was not going to be the fluff read I expected. I wasn't expecting the raw real feelings this book would bring out of me or the very real story of 2 sisters who have 1 day to reconnect. Full of family angst, a dash of romance, a pinch of comedy and a heartwarming bond between sisters, April the youngest and Jenn the eldest. Though the sisters had drifted apart over the years this is a story about a sisters bond and how a day can change everything. There were points in the story where my eyes got watery and I could relate to so much of what the sisters went through. I really enjoyed the way the story stayed light and fun while touching on real life issues we have with family. If y'all are looking for a fun, sweet, fast read this is the book to read! She's the Worst hits shelves this fall, September 2019!!!
♡
♡
Sisters April and Jenn haven’t been close in years. Jenn’s too busy with school, the family antique shop, and her boyfriend, and April would rather play soccer and hang out with the boy next door.
But when April notices her older sister is sad about staying home for college, she decides to do something about it. The girls set off to revive a pact they made as kids: spend an epic day exploring the greatest hits of their childhood and all that Los Angeles has to offer.
Then April learns that Jenn has been keeping a secret that could rip their family—and their feuding parents—apart.
September 8, 2019
I adore sister books. I am so close to mine that when there are books about sister’s I try to make sure to read them. This one is no exception in showing the complicated relationship that two sisters can have during their teen years.
April and Jenn remind me of my relationship with my sister during my high school years. I was busy working and going to school and with three years between us we hadn’t walked the same hallways in years. We weren’t close but we did have great parents who supported and loved us. I can’t say the same for April and Jenn’s parents. They are the reason why this book is four stars instead of five. It was a struggle for me when it came to their parents so you’ve been forewarned.
April avoids her parents at all costs either with soccer or hanging out with neighbor, and best friend, Nate. She comes off as the spoiled younger sibling who never has to deal with the responsibility of keeping their parents under control. Her love of soccer has a scout coming to her upcoming games with the possibility of gaining a scholarship. Now that her sister is going to be busy with community college she decides to plan a day full of fun activities to help reconnect. I really enjoyed April’s character the best out of the two sisters and you really get to see how much her parent’s and older sister pay little attention to her. Jenn sees her as non-caring but April just feels like the petulant child that no one cares to deal with at all. By the end she decides that she will be heard.
Jenn was the rougher character of the two for me. She’s miss perfect grades, keeps her room clean, works at the family antique store, and turned down the biggest opportunity of her life. Or so everyone thinks. Deep down Jenn feels that the only thing keeping her family together is her. She needs control and when things start to catch up with her, the secret she’s been keeping for months, she realizes that sometimes things need to go out of control for them to get back on track. When she agrees to her sisters plans on a whim to get out of working at the store she doesn’t know that her whole world is about to change. She definitely had the most distinct character arc out of the two sisters and I really liked how much their relationship grew by the end.
My mom always told my sister and I that friends will come and go but sisters will always be there. When we were teenagers we never felt that way but as we grew older, and became the adults we are now, we couldn’t imagine living without each other.
April and Jenn remind me of my relationship with my sister during my high school years. I was busy working and going to school and with three years between us we hadn’t walked the same hallways in years. We weren’t close but we did have great parents who supported and loved us. I can’t say the same for April and Jenn’s parents. They are the reason why this book is four stars instead of five. It was a struggle for me when it came to their parents so you’ve been forewarned.
April avoids her parents at all costs either with soccer or hanging out with neighbor, and best friend, Nate. She comes off as the spoiled younger sibling who never has to deal with the responsibility of keeping their parents under control. Her love of soccer has a scout coming to her upcoming games with the possibility of gaining a scholarship. Now that her sister is going to be busy with community college she decides to plan a day full of fun activities to help reconnect. I really enjoyed April’s character the best out of the two sisters and you really get to see how much her parent’s and older sister pay little attention to her. Jenn sees her as non-caring but April just feels like the petulant child that no one cares to deal with at all. By the end she decides that she will be heard.
Jenn was the rougher character of the two for me. She’s miss perfect grades, keeps her room clean, works at the family antique store, and turned down the biggest opportunity of her life. Or so everyone thinks. Deep down Jenn feels that the only thing keeping her family together is her. She needs control and when things start to catch up with her, the secret she’s been keeping for months, she realizes that sometimes things need to go out of control for them to get back on track. When she agrees to her sisters plans on a whim to get out of working at the store she doesn’t know that her whole world is about to change. She definitely had the most distinct character arc out of the two sisters and I really liked how much their relationship grew by the end.
My mom always told my sister and I that friends will come and go but sisters will always be there. When we were teenagers we never felt that way but as we grew older, and became the adults we are now, we couldn’t imagine living without each other.
September 20, 2019
I had read the author's debut book, "Your Destination Is On the Left" and almost immediately after (maybe even before) finishing it, I looked up any other books she had coming out and immediately added this one to my list. I was thankfully able to get a sneak at the first couple of chapters before getting a physical advanced copy at YallWest.
If you are a fan of "Your Destination Is On the Left", then you should definitely pick up this one. Even though this book is not a sequel to her prior one, it still has a sort of travel theme to it; in this one, the two female leads travel around Los Angeles as appose to a new town.
I enjoyed that April and Jenn's relationship and family life isn't perfect with the sisters not getting along how they used to and their parent's constant bickering. I loved traveling with them around their town. The only things I didn't like about the book were the cuss words and the parents' selfishness, but the book was still enjoyable.
I recommend this book if you're in the mood for some disfunction that's not your own, if you like books with some travel involved, a fan of the author (obviously), or even if you want to see the relationship between two out-of-touch-with-each-other sisters develop back (hopefully) to what it was before.
If you are a fan of "Your Destination Is On the Left", then you should definitely pick up this one. Even though this book is not a sequel to her prior one, it still has a sort of travel theme to it; in this one, the two female leads travel around Los Angeles as appose to a new town.
I enjoyed that April and Jenn's relationship and family life isn't perfect with the sisters not getting along how they used to and their parent's constant bickering. I loved traveling with them around their town. The only things I didn't like about the book were the cuss words and the parents' selfishness, but the book was still enjoyable.
I recommend this book if you're in the mood for some disfunction that's not your own, if you like books with some travel involved, a fan of the author (obviously), or even if you want to see the relationship between two out-of-touch-with-each-other sisters develop back (hopefully) to what it was before.
November 3, 2019
This review and more can be found at The Heart of a Book Blogger.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off meets 10 Things I Hate About You in Lauren Spieller’s latest novel, She’s the Worst! She’s the Worst follows two sisters, April and Jenn, who haven’t been close in many years but try to reconnect on the eve of Jenn heading off to college. I loved the sisters’ messy relationship! Even though I don’t have a sister, I could definitely relate to some of the bickering with my younger brother who has a very different personality than I do. Each of their relationships with their parents are also very complicated in different ways. Above all though, this novel is a total love letter to LA and I loved seeing the different places April and Jenn visit! It would be fun to follow their tour in real life!
*This ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.*
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off meets 10 Things I Hate About You in Lauren Spieller’s latest novel, She’s the Worst! She’s the Worst follows two sisters, April and Jenn, who haven’t been close in many years but try to reconnect on the eve of Jenn heading off to college. I loved the sisters’ messy relationship! Even though I don’t have a sister, I could definitely relate to some of the bickering with my younger brother who has a very different personality than I do. Each of their relationships with their parents are also very complicated in different ways. Above all though, this novel is a total love letter to LA and I loved seeing the different places April and Jenn visit! It would be fun to follow their tour in real life!
*This ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.*
August 14, 2019
I think this one had such a great premise and so much potential, but somehow... it lacked something. I missed depth in the sisters and their relationship overall, which made me a little sad, because the premise as a whole was such a fantastic idea. That being said, She's the Worst was still a fun, quick and very entertaining read I'd recommend for fans of YA contemporary, looking for a quick read :)
Thank you to the author & NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influenced my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bloglovin'
Thank you to the author & NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influenced my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bloglovin'
August 31, 2019
I really liked this! It just felt super real for a sister relationship (not reflective of my own at all, but felt like it could be so true for others - constantly feeling like the other had the "better" situation at home and not seeing the other person's point of view). I loved their day exploring LA and getting to know each other again. The parents were the FUCKING WORST. Some of my least favorite I've ever read, probably. This covered a lot of different things but managed to balance everything quite well IMO. I would totally read more about April and Nate though please and thanks.
October 4, 2019
The book was easy to read with good writing style. I liked that it was the kind of calm story but I got frustrated. The whole idea of the book depended on miscommunication. I hated the parents with passion and hated April most of the time. I actually completed this for Nate and Jenn. I needed more Nate.
Jenn's friends ❤❤ . I didn't know why all the good situations (happy or sad) happened so late in the story.If the whole story was like , I would have loved it.
I really wanted to enjoy this more because I love contemporary books about sisters and always want to love them but anyway, I loved the beginning and the ending so that was a thing at least.
September 9, 2022
Fighting parents who obviously favor their precious golden child? OBVIOUSLY I COULD NOT RELATE TO THIS AT ALL 😅😅😅😭😭😭
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