Michelle Falkoff

The mention of The Breakfast Club is what sold me on this one right away. The title itself felt like the perfect read considering the current state of everything. I was expecting a sort of dystopian novel, and it definitely isn't, but I think I like it better this way. It was a quick read that I found myself invested in from the start.

The main character, Amina, was relatable, which made it easy to connect with her. I loved Wyatt and Jo, but I had mixed feelings on Hunter and Chloe; they were tolerable at times and frustrating at others. I also liked Brianna, Amina's roommate, but we didn't see too much of her. The two get off on the wrong foot straight away, and though they do reconcile in the end, it felt forced and rushed.

I loved the friendship and romances the group formed over the course of the book. There was constant drama amongst the Eucalyptus group, and it was easy to get swept up in that. The chemistry between the characters, both platonically and romantically, felt natural and realistic. I did guess who would end up together in the beginning, but I'm fairly pleased with it either way.

Though there's not much of a mystery other than the pranks, the idea is still present. It didn't feel like the main focus of the book until the very end, but I often found myself trying to figure it out. The revelation was also pretty predictable, but I still enjoyed the ending.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via iRead Book Tours. This did not influence my opinion in any way.… (mehr)

Ever since an attack on her synagogue, Amina becomes obsessed with anti-Semetic behavior and has begun to live in fear with recurring nightmares. When a scholarship position to the prestigious Gardner Academy opens up, Amina's parents send her in order to change her mindset. Amina is very unsure about Gardner, but attends a pre-orientation game night where an interesting question in Would You Rather captures her interest. The question leads to a gathering of five people from the game night: Wyatt, Hunter, Chloe, Jo and Amina. Amina finds that she has plenty in common with the group, they all have fears. More so, she finds a group of friends that she is comfortable with. However, someone seems to be targeting their small group with very personalized attacks and Amina has a new set of fears to deal with.

How to Pack for the End of the World is a contemporary Young Adult fiction that deals with a lot of issues in a unique way. None of the issues become too heavy and none of the characters are designed around their fear, social standing, sexuality or mental health. They are all just regular teens dealing with everyday issues. Each character was well developed and unique. While their backstories and challenges weren't all divulged at once, this added another layer of mystery to the story. I loved the idea of the Eucalyptus Group and how each game they played helped them develop more as well as get to know one another. The personal attacks were another added layer that almost seemed like a side story to me but were really more at the heart. It was difficult for me to forget that this story took place at a high school and involved kids that were 16 to 17 years old as some of the situations felt more at a college level and classwork seemed to take a back seat. Overall, an entertaining young adult story with amazing characters.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (mehr)