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katiebryl's review against another edition
2.0
I got this book for free from the publisher via a Goodreads giveaway.
It was an advanced readers copy, and I tried to read it as soon as I got it to give it a review before it published but that obviously didn't go to plan (heh). I really struggled to get through it.
It's not a bad book, it just wasn't really grabbing me.
It was an advanced readers copy, and I tried to read it as soon as I got it to give it a review before it published but that obviously didn't go to plan (heh). I really struggled to get through it.
It's not a bad book, it just wasn't really grabbing me.
eliza_k's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Zoe, Samira and Dahlia are all ready to forget school and go on a nice vacation with their respective friends. However, things don't exactly go as they expected them to and throughout the week they have to navigate many issues including romance, being dumped by their friends and college rejections. However, they're able to make new friends and new experiences throughout the week that, while not what they were looking forward to, still made their time on vacation memorable and fun.
I apologize for my sub-par summary writing
Can't Say It Went to Plan started off really slowly and rather confusingly as well. I didn't exactly know what was going on in it because it just dropped me into the story in each of the character's first chapters with no explanation about what's going on whatsoever. It also started right off the bat but was somehow really slow at the same time. The first few chapters after the first chapter were just the characters arriving at their different places to stay which wasn't that interesting and I found it rather repetitive given that there was a chapter from each of them for just settling in.
I was really nervous that the entire book would more or less just be the characters doing the same thing with different friend groups, but after the first few chapters, things really got going and I enjoyed seeing where each of their stories went. I liked how their paths crossed a few different times but I think I would have enjoyed it more if they actually all got to know each other and became friends. I feel like there was a lot of potential for this at times but it kept not happening.
I think one of my favorite parts about the entire story was
Overall, this was actually a very enjoyable book and I would recommend it to people.
Zoe, Samira and Dahlia are all ready to forget school and go on a nice vacation with their respective friends. However, things don't exactly go as they expected them to and throughout the week they have to navigate many issues including romance, being dumped by their friends and college rejections. However, they're able to make new friends and new experiences throughout the week that, while not what they were looking forward to, still made their time on vacation memorable and fun.
I apologize for my sub-par summary writing
Can't Say It Went to Plan started off really slowly and rather confusingly as well. I didn't exactly know what was going on in it because it just dropped me into the story in each of the character's first chapters with no explanation about what's going on whatsoever. It also started right off the bat but was somehow really slow at the same time. The first few chapters after the first chapter were just the characters arriving at their different places to stay which wasn't that interesting and I found it rather repetitive given that there was a chapter from each of them for just settling in.
I was really nervous that the entire book would more or less just be the characters doing the same thing with different friend groups, but after the first few chapters, things really got going and I enjoyed seeing where each of their stories went. I liked how their paths crossed a few different times but I think I would have enjoyed it more if they actually all got to know each other and became friends. I feel like there was a lot of potential for this at times but it kept not happening.
I think one of my favorite parts about the entire story was
Spoiler
when Zoe's sister showed up and they actually got to know each other better. Zoe had a lot of opinions about her sister, not all of which were good, and it was cool to see them actually begin to bond and get some time away from their parents together.Overall, this was actually a very enjoyable book and I would recommend it to people.
solvegetable's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.5
finally got around to reading this book that was gifted to me when it first came out in 2021, but i realise i probably should have not waited this long to read because i was probably the target audience (school leavers) back then in 2021, and now i feel i am too old for this book. I’m also not sure i would’ve enjoyed it that much back then anyway but that’s just me. i was beginning to get annoyed by the dialogue between the supposed year 12 teens not feeling very real to me either.
bellethequeen's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
it just wasn't that interesting and i genuinely don't care about any of the characters. but it was a quick read and felt light (even though subject matter wasn't always.)
it just wasn't that interesting and i genuinely don't care about any of the characters. but it was a quick read and felt light (even though subject matter wasn't always.)
celiapowell's review against another edition
3.0
This was just a bit too YA for me, unfortunately - I think I would have loved it as a teenager. A "Schoolies" story about a trio of characters who find out more about themselves over the course of a week that doesn't go to plan. There's some lovely, deep stuff here about coping with grief, and family dynamics, and friendships.
maggiesasha's review against another edition
3.0
It was a fun read but overall a bit disappointing. I was expecting the three main characters to have more interaction, but instead they each had their own story and as a result there were many underdeveloped characters.
2.5/5
2.5/5
zoz716's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
raebies_03's review against another edition
The way the characters talk to each other came across really clunky and unnatural. It didn't feel like the conversation flowed when there was two characters speaking.
luckies_universe's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me this ARC in exchange for a review.
To be one hundred percent honest, I wasn't feeling this book for the first fifty pages, and the writing overall was a little too simplistic for my taste, but it was the characters and their situations that kept me going and by the end, I very much enjoyed the story.
This story covers a range of topics concerning relationships (friendly and romantic), sexuality, loss, and mental health. It follows three characters who are working through their own issues, and I found myself quite attached to one of the girls in particular, as her main issue involved her being left out by a toxic friend group, and I could really relate to that from my high-school days!
All in all, it's a really simple and loveable teen story, with great Summer vibes.
To be one hundred percent honest, I wasn't feeling this book for the first fifty pages, and the writing overall was a little too simplistic for my taste, but it was the characters and their situations that kept me going and by the end, I very much enjoyed the story.
This story covers a range of topics concerning relationships (friendly and romantic), sexuality, loss, and mental health. It follows three characters who are working through their own issues, and I found myself quite attached to one of the girls in particular, as her main issue involved her being left out by a toxic friend group, and I could really relate to that from my high-school days!
All in all, it's a really simple and loveable teen story, with great Summer vibes.