Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Book Review: What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones





Title: What My Mother Doesn’t Know
Author: Sonya Sones
# Of Pages: 259
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 1, 2003
Level: Young Adult
Rating: 1 Heart






Synopsis

(From Amazon.com)

My name is Sophie.
This book is about me.
It tells
the heart-stoppingly riveting story
of my first love.
And also of my second.
And, okay, my third love too.

It's not that I'm boy crazy.
It's just that even though
I'm almost fifteen
it's like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don't seem to be able to agree
on anything.

My Verdict

I started one of Sones’ books in the past and didn’t even bother finishing it, but I’ve been hearing so many good things about her lately that I decided to give her another shot.

This time I picked up a copy of What My Mother Doesn’t Know and once again I was disappointed. I wouldn’t have even bothered finishing if it weren’t for the fact that I was trapped at work for seven more hours with no other source of entertainment.

Contrary to the blurb on the back of the book, Sophie IS boy crazy! She goes through three different guys in this short book, and whenever she’s not with one she’s dreaming about one. Heck, even when she has a boyfriend she’s dreaming of a different guy! I disliked Sophie from the very beginning, I found her immature, shallow and annoying. Her entire brain was about making out with boys and nothing more.

I didn’t feel like this book had a plot line at all. It basically just followed Sophie around during her dating escapades. At one point during the story Sophie considers breaking up with her “then” boyfriend rather than telling her best friends who he was because she was afraid they’d make fun of her. This just proved to me how shallow she really was; if you can’t even tell your so called “best friends” who you’re dating for fear they’ll make fun of you instead of be happy for you, then maybe they’re not really true friends.

While reading at work my co-worker looked over at me and said wow, you’re really not liking that book are you? Apparently I had quite the grimace on my face. It was while I was reading an awkward passage about girls popping each other’s zits at a sleepover (GROSS!) There were a lot of awkward passages like this scattered throughout the story.

Overall, I was unable to understand people’s interest in Sones’ books and did not find it worth my time. I won’t be reading anything more from this author.

10 comments:

  1. Oh, I'm sorry that you really disliked this book, Amanda! I read this book long time ago and I think the story is really strange. This book is actually one of my very first novel in-verse LOL! x) Sophie is immature, but I think her immaturity makes her more real sometimes. And the fact that she's thinking about boys all the time, I guess we can blame it to hormone? ;)

    Thank you for the honest, well-written review, Amanda! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The story was definitely bizarre, and totally pointless. I'm so glad you didn't give up on novels in-verse after this one! Have you read any of Lisa Schroeder's books yet? I think you would like them =) Sophie was rather young wasn't she? So I suppose we can blame here boy craziness on hormones, LoL ;)

      Delete
  2. Ugh, I don't like it when a book doesn't have a clear plot, and wow she is definitely boy crazy =\.
    I actually really love the title of this novel and always wanted to read it, but it being in verse sort of put me off, but now I honestly don't think I'll be reading it

    - Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for coming by Juhina! It's definitely disappointing when there isn't a strong plot-line. Sorry to crush your hopes for this one =/

      Delete
  3. Tee hee - tell us how you really feel. I like some of Sonya Sones's books quite a lot, and she was my first verse novel, but I hear you about annoying girls in YA books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of people really enjoy Sones's books, I guess I'm the odd one out here. Thanks for stopping by Gabrielle!

      Delete
  4. Wow, we had the opposite opinion. I really loved this book and thought it felt so real! Oh well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, the main reason I read it was because of your recommendation! I really wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the review! I am still laughing about the zit thing--that is gross. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Coleen! =) I literally cringe whenever I think of the zit thing, haha.

      Delete

What are you thinking? Let me know! I love hearing from you and read each and every comment. I always try to respond or visit your blog in return so leave a comment. I know you want to ;)