Monday, May 26, 2014

Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu


The Truth About Alice 
The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.


Publishes in US: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
Genre: YA contemp
Source: MacMillan via netgalley
Series? No

Buy it: Amazon IndieBound  Book Depository

Author stalk away: ~site


 
    I wanted to read this one because I wanted to know the truth behind what happened as well the motives to (possibly lie) and bring down Alice. 
     The way that Alice's stiffer was told was pretty unique, again a bullying story that sticks out because of the way it is presented. I think it would have been nice tho get more of Alice point of view but if we did then I think the story wouldn't have stood out just another in the sea of bullying tools from first perspective. And I know I might sound a little cold but don't get me wrong they are necessary and powerful stories but there are several and it makes it more challenging to me personally when I get to know some of the other characters involved because I know their motives and the hard things going on with then. Not that it gives then any excuse for talking negatively about another person and then trying to keep then down. 
         The first of the four characters that made an impression on me was Kelsie. I was always more of what Elaine described Alice as before the incidents, middle of the road, except instead of being on the edge of the popular gang, I felt I got in more with the outcasts or the other middle. So I had a lot of friends like Kelsie was before she moved. I honestly can't imagine moving and then spiking in popularity. But it was hard to hear his honest she was. While I did appreciate that she wasn't lying to herself butt if was hard to suggest that she used to be best friends with Alice and then assist the party knowing that Alice was being put down and it wasn't considered cool or okay when she got implicated in the car accident, Kelsie decided to side with the others at school. And through the story especially at the very end, she is also the character who I think grew the most. I understood more and more that she was so afraid and that effected every thing she did, and that made me be able tho get over the mean things she did and be able to relate to her. Well, I know I said get over what she did, I never forgot about it but I could see around it. 
     All of the other characters had their unique voice and way of seeing and relating tho Alice. At first I didn't quite get and appreciate each because I wanted tho get to the bottom of the story but as the plot got thicker I really saw the answers, through the lies tho the truth, no matter how ugly or hard.
      Josh was Brandons best friend, and through him we see the accident as well as some of the story behind what happened at the party and see Brandon through other' eyes. One thing I want sure of is if he was gay or bi. Some of his actions and the way he describes Brandon at times makes me wonder. Speaking of, the romances seem to all take a back seat. Though Josh talked about girls it was never a focus. It was more friendship and what that looked like. I loved when Josh was remembering Brandon and was able tho recognize his flaws but still see through them. It was also a carried over theme with Alice and kelsie, how they used tho be best friends and then the gradual dissolving of it. We also focus on ke'll kelsies relationship with her mom and how she wishes it was different. She wanted more from her... emotional support and physical comfort of a hug. From Elaine, who by the way was my least favorite of the four. I didn't hate her or anything, it is just harder for me to relate to her because she was always in the popular crowd. From her though we get her relationship with her mom. She wanted to be her friend but also pressured her to ssh hi things like weight watchers with her and Elaine had to learn to stand up for herself.
   And finally we get to Kurt. He was a boy genius and didn't really fit into their then. He was happy for the most part to be ignored and it gave him more time to read and study. He is the ultimate nerd and he stole my heart. He accepted people for who they were and he had a secret, knowing the truth behind one of the many lies about Alice through a semi friendship with one of the characters. It was mostly kept on the down low which is why no one would suspect he knew the truth. I love that befriends Alice when she was at a low and all of the rumors were at their highest. He had a crush on her for the longest time and I was cheering for him when he finally got up the courage to initiate. Through him we get sort of a view into how Alice is handling everything as their friendship grows. 
    I think that the ending was well shove. I plot down the book emotional but with a smile on my face. At several points I was pretty unsure how it was possibly going to wrap up in any way that would satisfy me but she managed it.  The story was paced very well and I didn't want to stop reading because it was a character driven story and I knew their would be events and things to make the characters realize more about themselves as well as uncovering the truth about Alice. 
 
   

Bottom Line: character driven story uncovering the truth about Alice through multiple perspectives.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Has anyone ever tools a lie about you ?  How did it turn out?
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39 comments:

  1. I am interested to read this one, I have it coming up. I like that it is done with multi POVs, I think that works well in a mystery for some reason.

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  2. I've been hearing a lot of good things about this book and I really want to check it out for myself. I'm kind of upset I didn't request it when I saw it on Netgalley. Great review :)

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  3. Aw, well maybe your library will have it

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  4. Yeah, it gave a lot of views of Alice as well as whole situation

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  5. Any book with a good mystery at the heart captures my attention. I'm totally curious about Alice's secret. Glad to hear the ending is a satisfying conclusion. Wonderful review, Brandi! :)

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  6. I don't think I have ever had people tell lies about me that spread so much I heard them. And if there were lies spreading I think my friends would've already squashed them. My mates have done it before after all ^.^ I've added this to my to be read list... it sounds like the good quality stuff!

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  7. Character driven contemporaries are the best! They are the quickest reads... plot wise this sounds great. This should be a recommended read for MG-HS students.

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  8. The Truth About Alice sounds like it was well done, and I like the different characters pov that you described. Glad you enjoyed it Brandi!

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  9. This one does sound interesting. I'm very curious about how things play out and I'm glad it had a good conclusion.

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  10. This was a good read! I enjoyed Kelsie and Kurt's chapters the most. Great review!

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  11. Now I'm curious about what really happened to Alice. The characters seemed interesting. I guess no one would enjoy being lied about but gossips were sometimes like wild fire. I usually do my best to stay far away. Lovely review, Brandi!

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  12. Kurt made me happy with his nerdiness

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  13. It was pretty unique, and all voices managed to stay distinct

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  14. I've never been in that position either

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  15. I thought I was gonna hate the book since there wasn't any romance it in. Basically the obvious bystanders were the ones telling the story, right? I was intrigued by how they were handling the problem they made, they had their own secrets and some of them were utterly shocking. I really enjoyed the book. lovely review!


    www.lite-rate-ture.com

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  16. Not my usual kind of read at all, but you're really selling it to me! I'll have to add it to my tbr.

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  17. It sounds like that you were able to connect well to the characters in this book. An emotional ride but a well written one. Great review!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  18. Andrea @The Bookish BabeMay 26, 2014 at 10:04 PM

    This seems like a book I would devour and love. I'm curious about the multiple POVs and how everything plays out.

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  19. I don't like to read books that make me emotional anymore, but I love it when I read a book and I finish or put it down with a smile on my face. That doesn't happen often, doesn't it? :)

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  20. I just know this one is going to be sad and depressing but it's like I HAVE to read it.

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  21. This is one of the few YA contemporaries that I have on my wishlist, so I'm glad to see you liked it. Ending with a smile is quite an accomplishment with a book like this, so that's definitely a good thing. As for someone lying about me, I know that they did, and I know that it was negative fun, but it's been so long that I honestly can't remember what it was about. SO grateful for that, LOL.

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  22. Oh man, yes gossip can spread so quickly

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  23. Yes, it was the ones involved. One was best friend of guy who died, one in love with Alice, one who used to be Alice's best friend

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  24. With the gossip and such, not necessarily my usual, but bullying is up my alley so

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  25. Yes, some I didn't like necessarily, but do appreciate their growth

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  26. It worked better than I thought. With 4 it could have been a disaster

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  27. Well, its usually the journey getting to the smile ending that is what drags us through the emotional mud

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  28. Yes, it does have that read me vibe and glad I listened.

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  29. Glad it didn't impact in such a way that its still effecting you

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  30. It's always wonderful when we want to keep reading a story like that. I didn't know this one but I'll have to keep an eye on it.

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  31. Jenea WhittingtonMay 27, 2014 at 2:13 PM

    I would like to read this one for sure. Great review. I have been stalking my library for it. No such luck so far.

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  32. This sounds good Brandi, and it sounds like it has some depth to it. So glad you closed this with a smile!

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  33. Maybe they'll buy it if you put on the pressure, :)

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  34. There is depth and neat getting the perspectives

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  35. kirstymariejonesstudioreadsMay 29, 2014 at 10:43 AM

    Yes! It's exactly why I wanted to read it, because if definitely seems so mysterious, and especially because it's about this girl, yet we aren't reading from her perspectives, brings in an insight of how this person-that version of Alice-that we get told about, is created on perceptions. It reminds me of Tease in that aspect- though it is different. But the main thing I loved about that was the other side of the story, there are always different ways other people perceive things that happen, and it's high school. It's the worst possible thing to happen when things get out of control. It's like Chinese whispers that way. Nobody has told a lie about me (at least I hope not) not that I've heard of anyway, haha.

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  36. Great review sweetie :D I am very glad you ended up enjoying this book. I liked it, but I also had a whole bunch of issues with it, lol :p But anyway. I get why you enjoyed it :) Thank you for sharing. <3

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