Title: Over You
Author: Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus
Release date: August 21, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher
Reading level: YA
After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.
I am sad to say that Over You is probably one of the most disappointing books I have read this year. Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus’ books have gotten so many rave reviews that I expected to adore this one. Sadly I was severely let down and I found myself trying so hard to get through the book without giving up.
Max is a hard girl to like. She has this company where she helps girls get over their exes but she has yet to get over her own. She is this huge hypocrite who falls all over her ex as soon as he comes back into the picture. And honestly when it comes down to it there is nothing spectacular about her ex. He’s an asshole who does whatever his daddy tells him to and Max deserves so much better. For some reason she can’t see that and she treats a truly good guy horribly. She made one bad choice after another and she never seemed to learn from things. She also had nearly no personality which didn’t help things.
The guys in the book were actually the only interesting characters. Ben, Zach, and even Hugo were more interesting to me than Max and the girls she supposedly helps move on. Ben is a lovable idiot who doesn’t know how to handle girls. His inner commentary is rather funny and helps move the story along. Zach is Max’s best friend who is a very flamboyant gay guy. (Is it just me or do there seem to be a lot of flamboyant gay best friends in YA these days?) He’s a bit of a goofball but he’s a total sweetheart and he’s super funny. Even Hugo had more personality than Max. He’s was a total jerk but he knew who he was and what he wanted. I can’t say the same for Max.
As for the writing it was just dull. From the very start I knew that I wouldn’t enjoy the writing but I hoped that the story would be enough to capture my interest. Sadly neither improved throughout the book. The writing was very descriptive and heavy. The story was slow and rather predictable. I read through the book rather quickly but that was only because I wanted to be done with it.
Overall, Over You is one book that I wouldn’t really recommend. If you enjoyed Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus’ previous books then this one may be for you but otherwise I suggest passing on this one.
What others are saying about Over You:
The concept is really fun – I mean, a way to help you get over being dumped? I’d sign up for that!!
Too bad though that the girl wasn’t a nice character with flaws that make you connect with her, and it would’ve been nice if she had learned from her being dumped, if she had grown into a more self-confident person instead of going right back to him. I’m sure that would’ve annoyed me while reading too, just like you.
It would’ve been nice if she’d been dumped because of something she did, if the boy had been nice and not a jerk, and if they both reconnect because they’ve grown into better people.
Lovely review 🙂