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Liked It “Quinn Hunt knows that her father can be childish and selfish but is finally driven to action when she discovers that he has systematically stolen items from the women he has had relationships with. She and her half sister from an earlier marriage band together to return these stolen treasures and...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Quinn Hunt knows that her father can be childish and selfish but is finally driven to action when she discovers that he has systematically stolen items from the women he has had relationships with. She and her half sister from an earlier marriage band together to return these stolen treasures and discover more about their father and his relationships.
Valerie C wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The writing reminds me of Sarah Dessen and Elizabeth Berg, Caletti is a great addition to the writers examining contemporary female lives and loves.”
“A really good book! It is young adult fiction book. an award winner I think and well deserved!”
Dee V wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“All her life, Quinn constantly warned by her mother, aunt and grandmother against falling in love with Mr. Wrong and getting her heart broken. Quinn believes there's a bit of exaggeration until she experiences a bad break up, and then she finds certain objects in her father's house, whom she recently reconnected with. Objects that Quinn is certain belonged to the women who used to be in his life. Teaming up with her sister and the half sister she's never gotten to know, Quinn is determined to return the objects in return for stories that piece together who her father really is.
Dazzling Mage wrote this review Thursday, November 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This book started out a little choppy and disconnected. I felt it didn't flow well at the beginning, and it dragged a little too. At first, the idea of "returning objects that were taken" didn't seem to weight that much, or fit that much into the idea od the popular perception of love among women. But the more I read, the more I enjoyed the journey these sisters took. I remembered what I liked about Caletti's writing, and that's the astounding amount of realism she puts into her stories. There's no "happy ending", but a believable tranformation and a valuable lesson. Definitely recommend it.”
“I LOVED this book! I want a guy like Jacob so bad it's not even funny!”
Grace B wrote this review Tuesday, October 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“How far would you go to get the truth about your father? ”
KR Library wrote this review Monday, October 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“i like how this book is not mushy gushy romantic like the Twilight series. ”
Rebecca Y wrote this review Tuesday, September 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved this! Quinn is such a realistic, understandable character; that even if you've never experienced divorce or bad relationships firsthand, you're be sure to get some insight and understanding from many characters. I loved that all the women of Barry's life had something to say about love- their own personal opinion, their own little analogy and experiences. I loved how all the women around Quinn were cynics, bad-mouthing love, and cautioning her, but yet they all secretly wished they could find real and true love. Frances Lee was hysterical. This was similar to Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, because of the love themes, and of course, the infamous road trip (if you read into the details, you'll notice a small mention of Miz June's car and gang...) Jake was also such a sweet character. I really loved this book, because it felt personal to me. I also thought it had a myriad of lessons of love, but the biggest one of all to me was that true, real love should be comfortable, it should fit, and feel perfect.”
Frantic Fangirl wrote this review Wednesday, August 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ I discussed this book with a few of the teens at my library, and none of us could really decide what we thought. Quinn is certainly a likable and well-rounded main character, and I thought the adult characters were exceptionally well done. Sprout seemed a bit young for eleven, but otherwise, this book is inhabited by people I wanted to read about. And the story, though slightly predictable since the act of returning items to Quinn's father's old girlfriends kind of lends itself to following a pr...more I discussed this book with a few of the teens at my library, and none of us could really decide what we thought. Quinn is certainly a likable and well-rounded main character, and I thought the adult characters were exceptionally well done. Sprout seemed a bit young for eleven, but otherwise, this book is inhabited by people I wanted to read about. And the story, though slightly predictable since the act of returning items to Quinn's father's old girlfriends kind of lends itself to following a pretty straightforward map, also appealed to me. It wasn't a book I could return without finishing.
Katie wrote this review Sunday, August 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
But when I did finish it, I was still left with some lingering doubts. In the first few chapters, I loved the italicized sections where each of the women appearing in the story gave her testimony to love gone wrong. But by the last third of the book, I found myself wondering how much more negativity about men I could handle. The stories all delivered the same message - don't let him own you, don't wait around for him, don't expect anything from him, don't let go, don't give in. And I agree, young women should be taught to be strong and stand on their own two feet. But I had a problem with the lack of balance. There were a couple of good guys thrown in, but not enough, for my taste. I think we could have done with a few fewer of those sections.
But all in all, say what anyone will about the story, Deb Caletti's writing is a treat. I had never read her before, but I read a review comparing her to Sarah Dessen, of whom I have been a fan since That Summer, and I knew I had to give it a shot. It was worth it. Would I recommend this book as the main resource by which teen girls should learn about relationships? No. Do I recommend it to girls who have just been dumped, or to girls who like a good female-centric novel? Absolutely. And to their moms, aunts, sisters, cousins, grandmas - and hey, even to their boyfriends - as well. ”
“ Reviewed by Amber Gibson for TeensReadToo.com
TeensReadToo.com wrote this review Saturday, July 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The Hoffman women have absolutely awful luck in the man department. At least that is what Quinn concludes after analyzing her mother, Aunt Annie, and Gram. All have their fair share of failed relationship experience, stories of young girls in love only to have their hearts shattered by unfeeling men.
After Quinn is spectacularly dumped, over the telephone, she develops her own jaded view of men. Daniel seemed so nice - polite, responsible, and respectful. But like mom says, it's the nice ones that you have to watch out for. They are apt to turn around and cheat on you when you least expect it.
Who can blame Quinn for her bleak outlook? She doesn't exactly have a role model father figure in her life. Her real father, Barry, vanished when she was younger and has only recently appeared back in her life. Now Quinn and her little sister, Sprout, visit him on weekends, where they eat takeout, play video games, and meet his younger girlfriends.
It is only after he dumps his latest conquest, Brie, whom they refer to as "the cheese," that Quinn uncovers a startling truth about her father. He has stolen something from every woman he has ever been involved with - and not just their hearts. Barry has the most prized possessions, from an African mask, to a statue originally belonging to Humphery Bogart, from each woman adorning his house. A twisted tribute to his womanizing ways.
In a karmic quest, Quinn, Sprout, and Frances Lee, the half-sister she hardly knows, set out to return the items their father stole from the women who loved him. Sure, Quinn's mom thinks that Quinn and Sprout are in Disneyland with their father (an advantage of having divorced parents is the ease of lying), but what she doesn't know won't hurt her.
It sounds crazy, but Quinn desperately hopes that this adventure will help her get to know her father a little better, and understand why he is the way he is. Even if he is completely narcissistic, inconsiderate and over-confident, in the end, he is still her father.
Just because a person is bad, doesn't necessarily mean that they are all bad, right?”
“Wow, I haven't read a book this good in a while. I was so drawn in when it finished there was this pause, a readjustment back into my life and out of Quinn's. I feel like I learned a lot and one of those things is that there is always more to learn when it comes to love and things cannot be decided unless experienced. I felt the tendrils of my heart wrap into the story and become involved. That pause when the story was over was those tendrils re-entering my body though some will always stay partially attached to the book. I think that is what makes a good book, when it ends there is a sense of continuation after the pages but also a sense of conclusion like after writing a good essay. The last words just flow from the pen and then there is that period. Everything is summed up and you can look back happily even though you know all the bases will never be covered. The thoughts and feeling that were experienced when reading were so new and yet some just so familiar, you think yeah I've been there I know what she means or your heart fills in the unknown feelings so right along side the character you know heart-ache she means or what flutters fill her stomach, the hesitation and the fear. This book was great, I think that author is really good at what she does, he writing is exquisite almost like a poem, it just flows...”
Rinn wrote this review Wednesday, June 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
