Thursday, November 7, 2013

Review: The f it list by Julie Halpern

The F- It List
The f it list by Julie Halpern
With her signature heart and humor, Julie Halpern explores a strained friendship strengthened by one girl’s battle with cancer.
Alex’s father recently died in a car accident. And on the night of his funeral, her best friend Becca slept with Alex’s boyfriend. So things aren’t great. Alex steps away from her friendship with Becca and focuses on her family.
But when Alex finally decides to forgive Becca, she finds out something that will change her world again--Becca has cancer.
So what do you do when your best friend has cancer? You help her shave her head. And then you take her bucket list and try to fulfill it on her behalf. Because if that’s all you can do to help your ailing friend--you do it.

”add

Publishes in US:  November 12th 2013 by Feiwel & Friends
Genre: YA Contemp
Source: Macmillan via netgalley
Series? No.

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble  IndieBound Book Depository

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~blog

    While this book is emotional for sure because of the inherent emotional responses, there is also romance, surprising amount of humor, and a main character that I fell for. Alex is caring and loyal, but she is one to deal with her emotions on the inside rather than the outside like her best friend Becca. She has this way of communicating that makes me smile because she is honest and to the point. While she has some self confidence, she knows that she has things to work on, and I just saw a lot of myself in her. Alex also has other things in her life that need her attention, she just lost her father, and her mom is having a hard time with most of her attention focused on Alex's younger twin brothers. 
    The friendship between Alex and Becca felt really authentic. As the synopsis says, Becca had slept with Alex's boyfriend, and although a huge trangression, Becca was mourning as well, and Alex wasn't deeply madly in love with the guy, so Becca had decided that friendship was more important, and was going to put it behind them when she found out that Becca has cancer. This is a pretty potent glue that drew them back together like nothing had happened negative, only the positive memories, loyalty and trust that had built through the years. 
    The F-It List was the central focus, and it really worked some character development as well as self realization into Alex through completing some of the items for Becca. 
    The writing is encompassing and I wanted to keep reading even when the outside world called my name. 
    Also, I will say that there is swearing and sexual references. I am wondering if this should be on the line of New Adult. But it didn't bother me, I think that it is something that kids in high school legitimately deal with, talk about, and therefore can be YA. I just know that some people expect only kissing and hand holding, and this might be a shock if not prepared. So, older and mature teens only. 
    I enjoyed the romance between Leo and Alex, and I think he is what helped Alex to feel like could still be happy and normal even in the midst of all of the tragedy. It is what makes life worth living, and is something to hold on to. 
    The ending is perfect in ways that I can't list without spoiling, but it was just right for the book. 

Bottom Line: Emotional, realistic journey with surprising humor and quirkiness from a strong and likable main character.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you have any sort of bucket list?
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28 comments:

  1. So glad to see that you enjoyed this too Brandi. I really did go into this expecting one thing and left with something completely different. Lovely review!

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  2. Wow what a crazy situation that Alex was put in. I can't even imagine what must be going through her head with all of this put on her at once.

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  3. This one sounds intense. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It would be so hard to deal with a friend having cancer at such a young age.

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  4. I'm really glad you liked it. Jenni loved it too and I can't wait to read it:)

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  5. These types of books only work for me if there is sufficient humor, otherwise I get anxious and sad. This one seems to be perfect for me, though.

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  6. I love that this felt real and that there was humor mixed into this tale. Wonderful review Brandi, and I would enjoy reading this one.

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  7. I do want to read this! I don't have a set bucket list, but there are things in my life I hope to do.

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  8. I wasn't excited about this book until reviews started popping up, and now I'm curious to read it. So glad to hear you liked it! Wonderful review. And no I don't have a bucket list officially, I feel like that is bad luck or something, even though that's irrational. :-)

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  9. I am sooo curious about the ending now

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  10. I want to read this one because I am a big fan of those quirky humor books that not everyone loves

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  11. I've been very curios about this book. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

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  12. This is so weird because my best friend calls me Alex ... and her name is Becca. Hopefully our story won't go this way lol!

    So happy this had a good ending! So often in YA endings try to hard to be abrupt or mysterious and it leaves me feeling cheated.

    - Allie @ Little Birdie Books

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  13. Aw, yay! I'm glad you loved it :) And that you thought the romance was good. <3 Haven't decided yet if I'm going to read it, but I hope to do so one day :)

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  14. This does sound like it would be an emotional read. With all the things going on around Alex, I can't imagine what it must be like. I love how you make Alex and Becca's friendship sound. I wasn't originally thinking about reading this book but I think I should now. Great review!

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  15. I haven't heard of this one but it sounds interesting. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Great review :)

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  16. Oh wow Brandi... Fantastic review! This book sounds so great and I'm sure it plays havoc with your emotions!!

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  17. Thanks for sharing your view - I wasn't really paying much attention to this one till I saw some great reviews (including yours) this week. I don't have any bucket list but I think it will be fun for me to see how Alex helped Becca to fulfill the list on her behalf.

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  18. I don't have to read this to say that I totally feel bad for Alex. I mean there's always beauty and grace to find in the most challenging moments but still, the C word left and right is brutal!

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  19. I've been seeing amazing things about this. I'm so glad you enjoyed!

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  20. Can't wait to read this one. I'm glad there was a reason for it. :)

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  21. oh a book you don't want to stop? that's always so great, mainly when there is a lot of emotions and a nice romance.

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  22. Eek, this one scares me. sounds so emotional. happy you enjoyed it though.

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  23. This sounds like one of those books that will rip your heart out, so I need to check it out! Great review!

    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives

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  24. I am glad that this has some humor in it, because the emotional aspect of it is a subject that I tend to stay away from. Great review.

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  25. I'm looking forward to this one. I'm happy to see a book deal honestly with friendships between girls.

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  26. Definitely agree that this is for more mature teens just based on some of the content. I loved the friendship pictured so much-definitely a book I will point to for those who want more books about friendship!

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  27. This one sounds so interesting! I'm glad their friendship feels authentic! The writing sounds enjoyable. I hope to pick it up sometime soon.

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  28. Wonderful review, Brandi. This does sound very emotional but it seems like the humor might make it more bearable. I'm sure I'd shed a few tears even so. I'm glad they moved past the whole sleeping with your best friend's boyfriend thing. That would be hard to swallow but knowing that her feelings were only tepid for the BF and the seriousness of Becca's situation are definitely reasons to put it behind you. :)

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