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Reunited
1 Concert
2000 Miles
3 Ex-Best Friends
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.
Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.
But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.
Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.
Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.
But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?
2000 Miles
3 Ex-Best Friends
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.
Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.
But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.
Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.
Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.
But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?
325 pages, Hardcover
First published June 12, 2012
28 people are currently reading
6281 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Weisman Graham
1 book229 followersHilary Weisman Graham is an award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and novelist.
She lives in rural New Hampshire with her husband and son, roughly thirty minutes away from the nearest grocery store.
She lives in rural New Hampshire with her husband and son, roughly thirty minutes away from the nearest grocery store.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
May 18, 2015
Top 10 reasons to really LIKE this book:
1) Road Trip!
2) Friendship is the focus which is a refreshing change.
3) A story about fallout between friends.
4) We all have that one (*cough* or ten *cough*) bands from early (*cough* or late *cough*) teen-hood we crazily obsessed and made googly eyes over.
5) I happily searched the recesses of my music archives for pop bands from back in the day to play with the book.
6) I pretended that Level3 was Hanson.
7) Fan-girling in the book, lots of it!
8) This Scooby-Doo (1976 VW) bus
9) Concert fever
1) Road Trip!
2) Friendship is the focus which is a refreshing change.
3) A story about fallout between friends.
4) We all have that one (*cough* or ten *cough*) bands from early (*cough* or late *cough*) teen-hood we crazily obsessed and made googly eyes over.
5) I happily searched the recesses of my music archives for pop bands from back in the day to play with the book.
6) I pretended that Level3 was Hanson.
7) Fan-girling in the book, lots of it!
8) This Scooby-Doo (1976 VW) bus
9) Concert fever
July 10, 2014
I was going to give this a two-and-a-half-star rating, rounded up, but then saw the average rating here and decided to go with my first thought, which was to round down. Read this on the recommendation of someone I'd never taken a rec from before, because I liked the sound of a funny road-trip story with a broken friendship that gets repaired over the course of the road-trip/book. But. I thought the execution of the story was quite weak, with that sort of charactization that relies on over-the-top stereotypes to distinguish the three ex-friends. They *are* distinguishable, at any rate, but they never felt at all real. There could have been a lot more editing to get rid of repetitive lines that became quite annoying, like whoever's the one atm putting on "a bad Southern accent".
Alice, who owns the VW van in which the three head off across country, is supposed to be organised, good-girl, responsible - so organised she's a control-freak, in fact - which is a bit tired in itself, but also falls apart when she behaves in a highly irresponsible manner.
Here's where I go into full-on disapproving mode. I have NO idea whether it's as easy as it is in the book to find multiple bars in New Orleans that don't make any attempt to card obviously underage kids. I don't *like* the fact that teens in large numbers will get themselves shit-faced, in situations in which it's really, really less safe than it normally is to get so drunk you don't know what you're doing. But in this case, the three are clearly stupid enough not to have thought through the possible dangers of going out in New Orleans in order to drink (a lot), the night before they've another long highway drive ahead of them. And they won't even let Alice report that her bag's been stolen - though it's the bag with her driver's licence in it. Aaaand Alice gets up the next morning, throws up a lot, and gets in her van to drive - either towards home (1500+ miles, which she thinks they can make in 1 day) or to Texas (5 + hours' drive). Aaaand then when they decide to go on to Texas, they compound the driving drunk (chances of her being sober at this point are very, very slim) & stupid by deciding to make it on time for a contest, saying "screw the speed limit". This is NOT cool, and it's NOT cute. This is the kind of thing that kills people, and I'd hope that it's not only adult readers who'd notice and be disgusted at this.
I was also disappointed and irritated to see a bunch of nasty fat-slams apparently in there to contribute to the "funny". Had there been anything to indicate that the three teens were just showing their immaturity and cluelessness it might have been okay, but there was nothing of the sort. Making "jokes" like "Instead of a flat boat, they should have called it a fat boat" doesn't show a sense of humour - just a prejudice and willingness to join in society's abuse of fat people.
Yes, I did finish it, and this write-up is based on a reading from start to finish.
Alice, who owns the VW van in which the three head off across country, is supposed to be organised, good-girl, responsible - so organised she's a control-freak, in fact - which is a bit tired in itself, but also falls apart when she behaves in a highly irresponsible manner.
Here's where I go into full-on disapproving mode. I have NO idea whether it's as easy as it is in the book to find multiple bars in New Orleans that don't make any attempt to card obviously underage kids. I don't *like* the fact that teens in large numbers will get themselves shit-faced, in situations in which it's really, really less safe than it normally is to get so drunk you don't know what you're doing. But in this case, the three are clearly stupid enough not to have thought through the possible dangers of going out in New Orleans in order to drink (a lot), the night before they've another long highway drive ahead of them. And they won't even let Alice report that her bag's been stolen - though it's the bag with her driver's licence in it. Aaaand Alice gets up the next morning, throws up a lot, and gets in her van to drive - either towards home (1500+ miles, which she thinks they can make in 1 day) or to Texas (5 + hours' drive). Aaaand then when they decide to go on to Texas, they compound the driving drunk (chances of her being sober at this point are very, very slim) & stupid by deciding to make it on time for a contest, saying "screw the speed limit". This is NOT cool, and it's NOT cute. This is the kind of thing that kills people, and I'd hope that it's not only adult readers who'd notice and be disgusted at this.
I was also disappointed and irritated to see a bunch of nasty fat-slams apparently in there to contribute to the "funny". Had there been anything to indicate that the three teens were just showing their immaturity and cluelessness it might have been okay, but there was nothing of the sort. Making "jokes" like "Instead of a flat boat, they should have called it a fat boat" doesn't show a sense of humour - just a prejudice and willingness to join in society's abuse of fat people.
Yes, I did finish it, and this write-up is based on a reading from start to finish.
April 9, 2015
So refreshing to read a contemporary book where romance wasn't one of the main themes! It's all about these three girls and their ex-friendship and their misadventures as they are reunited for a road trip to see their fave band. Lots of crazy hilarious things happen and I just enjoyed reading! Was also surprised by the touching themes. I think it's a really fab read!
July 28, 2021
4.5 stars, the perfect YA read for the summer!
June 25, 2012
I wanted to love this book. The whole idea sounded like so much fun - I love road trip books, especially ones set in the summer after high school. And three ex-best friends reuniting to see their ex-favorite band perform is such a cool idea. Reunited sounded like a book I could love, but unfortunately, it didn't happen.
The unique concept caused for a fun plot, but I believe the characters suffered from it. To me, they fell flat. Alice is the brainy, control-freak-ish one; Tiernan is the troubled, rebellious one; and Summer is the misunderstood popular girl. Sadly, the character development doesn't go much deeper than that - the three girls pretty much just embody those cliches. I never really felt like I got to know them, aside from those cliches. The only times they showed some real personality were the scenes where they got whiny and annoying. The character growth was disappointing to me - I felt like they didn't change much over the course of the novel, except that they don't hate each other anymore at the end. I didn't love the characters, and for me, it's hard to love a book without loving the characters.
Surprisingly, the book felt too immature for me. I generally don't mind books that are for people a little younger for me, but because Alice, Summer and Tiernan are my age, I was expecting some more maturity. The attitudes of all three characters seemed more freshman-year than just-graduated-high-school. Maybe it's because they're being nostalgic and going back to middle school, back when they fangirled for their favorite band, and their attitude matches the way they were back then. Either way, the unnecessary drama and unwillingness to communicate felt more like younger YA to me. The reason I love older YA and new adult books is the uncertainty about life - I don't want younger YA, where the character doesn't need to think about what they'll do with their life, and I don't want adult books, where everything is already settled. I want books where the characters are trying to figure out their place in this world, characters that have some idea of what they'll do with their lives but aren't completely sure yet. And I didn't get any of that from Reunited - it's mentioned where each of the girls is going to college, but I have no idea what their plans are, what they're thinking of doing with their lives. The future isn't really mentioned all that much, which surprised me, since right now, for me and the people in my graduating class (as in, people the same age as Alice, Summer, and Tiernan), the future is what we're all about. That just added to the immature feel of the book.
Then there's the predictability and the cliched-ness of the plot. I'm sorry, but there's only so much unrealistic cheesy-ness I can take, and Reunited crossed the line. The unrealistic ending and all the too-good-to-be-true situations in the book bugged me. I was also annoyed by the constant mentions of the Winter Wonderland Dance - that frustrated me so much! Not a chapter goes by without a character hinting at the fallout the three best friends had at the dance their freshman year, but what really happened isn't revealed until the end. Sure, that's supposed to hook the reader and whatnot, but I didn't think that was necessary at all. The constant mentions and the underwhelming revelation at the end did nothing but annoy me.
But despite all of this, this book does cause for some fun, entertaining scenes. I did very much enjoy the road trip and all the crazy stuff they encounter along the way. A lot of the ridiculous stuff these girls get themselves into had me laughing out loud. I did enjoy Reunited, but I was disappointed by the lack of character development and the immature feel to the book. It's a fun, quick read, but don't go in expecting too much, like I did, or you'll end up disappointed.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
The unique concept caused for a fun plot, but I believe the characters suffered from it. To me, they fell flat. Alice is the brainy, control-freak-ish one; Tiernan is the troubled, rebellious one; and Summer is the misunderstood popular girl. Sadly, the character development doesn't go much deeper than that - the three girls pretty much just embody those cliches. I never really felt like I got to know them, aside from those cliches. The only times they showed some real personality were the scenes where they got whiny and annoying. The character growth was disappointing to me - I felt like they didn't change much over the course of the novel, except that they don't hate each other anymore at the end. I didn't love the characters, and for me, it's hard to love a book without loving the characters.
Surprisingly, the book felt too immature for me. I generally don't mind books that are for people a little younger for me, but because Alice, Summer and Tiernan are my age, I was expecting some more maturity. The attitudes of all three characters seemed more freshman-year than just-graduated-high-school. Maybe it's because they're being nostalgic and going back to middle school, back when they fangirled for their favorite band, and their attitude matches the way they were back then. Either way, the unnecessary drama and unwillingness to communicate felt more like younger YA to me. The reason I love older YA and new adult books is the uncertainty about life - I don't want younger YA, where the character doesn't need to think about what they'll do with their life, and I don't want adult books, where everything is already settled. I want books where the characters are trying to figure out their place in this world, characters that have some idea of what they'll do with their lives but aren't completely sure yet. And I didn't get any of that from Reunited - it's mentioned where each of the girls is going to college, but I have no idea what their plans are, what they're thinking of doing with their lives. The future isn't really mentioned all that much, which surprised me, since right now, for me and the people in my graduating class (as in, people the same age as Alice, Summer, and Tiernan), the future is what we're all about. That just added to the immature feel of the book.
Then there's the predictability and the cliched-ness of the plot. I'm sorry, but there's only so much unrealistic cheesy-ness I can take, and Reunited crossed the line. The unrealistic ending and all the too-good-to-be-true situations in the book bugged me. I was also annoyed by the constant mentions of the Winter Wonderland Dance - that frustrated me so much! Not a chapter goes by without a character hinting at the fallout the three best friends had at the dance their freshman year, but what really happened isn't revealed until the end. Sure, that's supposed to hook the reader and whatnot, but I didn't think that was necessary at all. The constant mentions and the underwhelming revelation at the end did nothing but annoy me.
But despite all of this, this book does cause for some fun, entertaining scenes. I did very much enjoy the road trip and all the crazy stuff they encounter along the way. A lot of the ridiculous stuff these girls get themselves into had me laughing out loud. I did enjoy Reunited, but I was disappointed by the lack of character development and the immature feel to the book. It's a fun, quick read, but don't go in expecting too much, like I did, or you'll end up disappointed.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
May 20, 2015
This book was everything you would expect a YA cute contemporary to be: it's funny, light, slightly predictable and entertaining.
If you ever had a band your group of friends worshiped and fangirled over this will 'cause you feels. If you haven't I'm afraid this will seem childish and boring to you.
It is certainly a fun ride, I didn't rate it higher 'cause I couldn't get over some stereotypes and the common place beginning.
If you ever had a band your group of friends worshiped and fangirled over this will 'cause you feels. If you haven't I'm afraid this will seem childish and boring to you.
It is certainly a fun ride, I didn't rate it higher 'cause I couldn't get over some stereotypes and the common place beginning.
April 19, 2012
Okay, first of all, we can't start this party off without a little mention of the cover. Just take a moment to scroll up and look at that. From the moment the ARC slipped out of the package and into my hands, the feeling I got was, "Summer is here, so slather on the sunscreen and let's get some beach reading done!"
I kid you not. That shade of yellow is definitely an eye-catcher.
Anyway, down to what's inside that pretty package. The story centers around Alice, Summer and Tiernan - three best friends and self-proclaimed biggest fans of the band Level3 (which, if you want to get a mental approximation, personally makes me think of a mixture of the Jonas Brothers - pre-"Joe the Hobo" stage - and One Direction). Unfortunately, when the band broke up, their friendship shattered right along with it.
Until now. High school graduation, getting ready to fall out of touch forever with the beginnings of their adult lives, and Alice just knows it's fate when Level3 announces a once-in-a-lifetime reunion show in Austin, Texas. So, does this girl go, "Oh, my gosh, our favorite band is getting back together? I should go and watch them by myself, for old times' sake!"
Puh-leeze. If she was that flat and boring (and...just not a teenager), we wouldn't have over three hundred words of plot, right?
No. Alice goes with her gut instinct and hits that Pay Now button - three tickets for three ex-best friends to see the band that made their friendship. Now, before we start linking arms and singing Kumbaya, remember that crucial word: ex. As in the guy with the weird toaster obsession that you'd rather take the long way home than face...or how about the co-worker who was always picking her nose? People you want to forget. People you don't expect will sit for hundreds of miles without fighting for shotgun or arguing over snacks or unplanned road trips.
You really can't blame Tiernan and Summer for wanting to avoid that hot mess, can you? In any case, due to their own ulterior motives, both girls jump on board - and you, the reader, are in on the most messed-up road trip of your summer vacation.
Ms. Graham has to be given kudos for a crucial aspect of writing YA that many would-be authors flounder on: she knows teenagers. True, many instances of the plot aren't really the escapades me or any of my besties would be caught doing (attempting to bury a reanimated squirrel? Going swimming with hippies of a suspicious nature? Parents, do you know where your daughters are tonight?), but the emotions and turbulence and uncertainty that come with leaving a certain stage of life behind ring true.
One complaint I always have about realistic fiction is the lack of happy endings - or at least, endings that fit my criteria for putting aside the book with a goofy smile on my face and a gentle pat on its glossy cover. I am happy to tell you that Reunited does end on a good note - in spite of the old resentments, and the lost concert tickets, and a particularly awful night in New Orleans.
Long story. I think you should just read it for yourself. As it is, I think my spoiler filter is being stretched to the max. Just, hang on until June - or better yet, plan a large road trip, kidnap one or two friends, and have a good excuse to read it for yourself.
Just...make sure they're willing victims. Or you'll find yourself in a big mess of your own.
Warnings (or, stuff that I would NOT pack in the backseat for that week-long road trip): A lot of innuendo. Personally, I think that could be taken out and spare the plot completely. Also, I think there are one or two instances of language, a mention of a philandering father - and a boyfriend - and some kissing.
I kid you not. That shade of yellow is definitely an eye-catcher.
Anyway, down to what's inside that pretty package. The story centers around Alice, Summer and Tiernan - three best friends and self-proclaimed biggest fans of the band Level3 (which, if you want to get a mental approximation, personally makes me think of a mixture of the Jonas Brothers - pre-"Joe the Hobo" stage - and One Direction). Unfortunately, when the band broke up, their friendship shattered right along with it.
Until now. High school graduation, getting ready to fall out of touch forever with the beginnings of their adult lives, and Alice just knows it's fate when Level3 announces a once-in-a-lifetime reunion show in Austin, Texas. So, does this girl go, "Oh, my gosh, our favorite band is getting back together? I should go and watch them by myself, for old times' sake!"
Puh-leeze. If she was that flat and boring (and...just not a teenager), we wouldn't have over three hundred words of plot, right?
No. Alice goes with her gut instinct and hits that Pay Now button - three tickets for three ex-best friends to see the band that made their friendship. Now, before we start linking arms and singing Kumbaya, remember that crucial word: ex. As in the guy with the weird toaster obsession that you'd rather take the long way home than face...or how about the co-worker who was always picking her nose? People you want to forget. People you don't expect will sit for hundreds of miles without fighting for shotgun or arguing over snacks or unplanned road trips.
You really can't blame Tiernan and Summer for wanting to avoid that hot mess, can you? In any case, due to their own ulterior motives, both girls jump on board - and you, the reader, are in on the most messed-up road trip of your summer vacation.
Ms. Graham has to be given kudos for a crucial aspect of writing YA that many would-be authors flounder on: she knows teenagers. True, many instances of the plot aren't really the escapades me or any of my besties would be caught doing (attempting to bury a reanimated squirrel? Going swimming with hippies of a suspicious nature? Parents, do you know where your daughters are tonight?), but the emotions and turbulence and uncertainty that come with leaving a certain stage of life behind ring true.
One complaint I always have about realistic fiction is the lack of happy endings - or at least, endings that fit my criteria for putting aside the book with a goofy smile on my face and a gentle pat on its glossy cover. I am happy to tell you that Reunited does end on a good note - in spite of the old resentments, and the lost concert tickets, and a particularly awful night in New Orleans.
Long story. I think you should just read it for yourself. As it is, I think my spoiler filter is being stretched to the max. Just, hang on until June - or better yet, plan a large road trip, kidnap one or two friends, and have a good excuse to read it for yourself.
Just...make sure they're willing victims. Or you'll find yourself in a big mess of your own.
Warnings (or, stuff that I would NOT pack in the backseat for that week-long road trip): A lot of innuendo. Personally, I think that could be taken out and spare the plot completely. Also, I think there are one or two instances of language, a mention of a philandering father - and a boyfriend - and some kissing.
June 14, 2012
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
Take three best friends from junior high with one giant misunderstanding that causes them to hate each other, mix in some musical love and give them four years to marinated and grow up and you will get this wonderful debut, Reunited. Alice, the brainy one, hears an advertisement for a reunion concert for the band Level3 and buys tickets thinking they could all reunite as well and road trip to the show. The trio of girls had seriously bonded over the group when they were in middle school but after a major fallout in their freshman year, stopped speaking to each other. Summer, had grown extremely popular, while Tiernan was shuttled off to boarding school after rebelling from her parents divorce.
The three have little in common anymore and each has their own reasons for agreeing to go with Alice in the Pea Pod, a now-restored green VW camper that they had used as a club house while growing up. Summer has a boyfriend that turns out to be a cheater while Tiernan is escaping from another grounding from a run in with her mother. Alice just wants to relive the friendship and bond that they once had. Of course, the trip is anything but smooth and each character shows strength and resources that help explain why they were once so close. They don't realize until the end that this has been the trip of a lifetime and when it is almost too late discover that their friendship is really true.
I just adored this sweet story. No guys, no sex, just wonderful female self discovery and girl power that keep everything real while being fanciful at the same time. It is full of adventure with each twist and turn of the road they travel in their last big hurrah after high school. I enjoyed how each made a major self discovery and remembered why they were once friends. This is well suited for older teens since there is once mention of alcohol which doesn't end well and some hooking up but nothing too graphic. This is chick lit for the younger set but one that adult should love as well.
LOVED IT
Take three best friends from junior high with one giant misunderstanding that causes them to hate each other, mix in some musical love and give them four years to marinated and grow up and you will get this wonderful debut, Reunited. Alice, the brainy one, hears an advertisement for a reunion concert for the band Level3 and buys tickets thinking they could all reunite as well and road trip to the show. The trio of girls had seriously bonded over the group when they were in middle school but after a major fallout in their freshman year, stopped speaking to each other. Summer, had grown extremely popular, while Tiernan was shuttled off to boarding school after rebelling from her parents divorce.
The three have little in common anymore and each has their own reasons for agreeing to go with Alice in the Pea Pod, a now-restored green VW camper that they had used as a club house while growing up. Summer has a boyfriend that turns out to be a cheater while Tiernan is escaping from another grounding from a run in with her mother. Alice just wants to relive the friendship and bond that they once had. Of course, the trip is anything but smooth and each character shows strength and resources that help explain why they were once so close. They don't realize until the end that this has been the trip of a lifetime and when it is almost too late discover that their friendship is really true.
I just adored this sweet story. No guys, no sex, just wonderful female self discovery and girl power that keep everything real while being fanciful at the same time. It is full of adventure with each twist and turn of the road they travel in their last big hurrah after high school. I enjoyed how each made a major self discovery and remembered why they were once friends. This is well suited for older teens since there is once mention of alcohol which doesn't end well and some hooking up but nothing too graphic. This is chick lit for the younger set but one that adult should love as well.
October 11, 2012
Reunited is one of those stories that stays with you for some time. I have read lot's of road trip books and I loved them all and when I read Reunited it reminded me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants how they all start out as best friends and then there are little things that build to big things and there is a fallout and the girls are no longer friends.
In Reunited Summer, Tiernan, and Alice are best friends who do everything together and even love the same band Level3. Then Freshmen year something happens and the girls are no longer friends. Summer is popular in school and Tiernan is shipped off to boarding school after she starts acting out because of her parents divorce then you have outgoing and easy going Alice. After graduating high school the girls find out Level3 is coming together for one last gig and they decide to go see them. The only thing is they will have to travel miles to see the band in the pea green VW that used to be their playhouse.
As the girls venture on this trip they will go through highs and lows and through it all discover who they are and where they want to be. This is an adventure where they will restore their friendship or leave it broken. This story is about facing what went wrong and learning to forgive and move on. Hilary does an excellent job of grabbing you and sucking you in so much so you don't realize your at the end of the story until you turn the page and there are no more pages. I truly loved this book and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT AS A BEACH READ!
In Reunited Summer, Tiernan, and Alice are best friends who do everything together and even love the same band Level3. Then Freshmen year something happens and the girls are no longer friends. Summer is popular in school and Tiernan is shipped off to boarding school after she starts acting out because of her parents divorce then you have outgoing and easy going Alice. After graduating high school the girls find out Level3 is coming together for one last gig and they decide to go see them. The only thing is they will have to travel miles to see the band in the pea green VW that used to be their playhouse.
As the girls venture on this trip they will go through highs and lows and through it all discover who they are and where they want to be. This is an adventure where they will restore their friendship or leave it broken. This story is about facing what went wrong and learning to forgive and move on. Hilary does an excellent job of grabbing you and sucking you in so much so you don't realize your at the end of the story until you turn the page and there are no more pages. I truly loved this book and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT AS A BEACH READ!
March 6, 2012
What an amazingly written book! Graham has done the very difficult job of capturing the distinct voices of three very different girls.
But what I found the most enduring is that Graham nails the crazy emotions of three ex-best friends struggling to find independence in the world surrounding them while trying to rebuild their friendship.
Friendships are never easy and, as we grow up, our insecurities can destroy ourselves and our relationships. Graham delves into this world, mastering the right moments to reveal each girl's insecurity and showing how their once strong friendship was destroyed.
I absolutely loved, that during the road trip, each girl discovered something about themselves that helped them become a stronger individual while at the same time helped them patch their friendship.
Well done! Very well done!
But what I found the most enduring is that Graham nails the crazy emotions of three ex-best friends struggling to find independence in the world surrounding them while trying to rebuild their friendship.
Friendships are never easy and, as we grow up, our insecurities can destroy ourselves and our relationships. Graham delves into this world, mastering the right moments to reveal each girl's insecurity and showing how their once strong friendship was destroyed.
I absolutely loved, that during the road trip, each girl discovered something about themselves that helped them become a stronger individual while at the same time helped them patch their friendship.
Well done! Very well done!
January 26, 2012
1. The squirrel scene will likely be the funniest thing I read all year. Hilar!
2. I love the serendipity of road trips and how anything can happen. Sure, this particular road trip has its share of mishaps, but they ALL result in excellent stories to tell the grandkids one day.
3. The way these three girls friendship revolved around a band and then imploded around the time the band broke up resonates, and its fitting that Alice believes the band's reunification means it's time to patch up the friendship.
4. Each of the girls feels very distinct and fleshed out. I could easily sympathize with all of them.
5. The ending surprises but is so very cool.
2. I love the serendipity of road trips and how anything can happen. Sure, this particular road trip has its share of mishaps, but they ALL result in excellent stories to tell the grandkids one day.
3. The way these three girls friendship revolved around a band and then imploded around the time the band broke up resonates, and its fitting that Alice believes the band's reunification means it's time to patch up the friendship.
4. Each of the girls feels very distinct and fleshed out. I could easily sympathize with all of them.
5. The ending surprises but is so very cool.
July 8, 2012
What an absolutely cute and heartwarming book!! This story takes us, the readers, on a road trip with three girls who USED to be friends; weird, huh? Alice Miller finds out that her favorite boy band is getting back together for a one time reunion show, so why can’t she and her two ex- best friends? Spontaneously she purchases $200 tickets to the one time concert in hopes that they will attend. Before she knows it Summer and Tiernan are riding alongside her in her newly refurbished van (that’s another story in itself) on a road trip halfway across the country to see a band that they all drooled over when they were thirteen.
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan have each taken different paths throughout the course of their high school years and they have seldom spoken to each other since the Winter Dance in middle school. This story line shocked me a little because I was like how is Hilary going to write this so that this trip halfway across the country is not awkward and unnerving for the girls. She fits their individual stories and their personalities in like small puzzle pieces! Each girl brings something different to the table. One has a sassy side, and one just doesn’t have a filter and will say anything at whim, while the other is Ms. Perfectionist! When all of their various personalities were jumping off of the page at me I was thinking how were you guys ever friends to begin with? The more I got to know them the more that I saw how much they really did appreciate the things that set each of them apart.
You may think it is strange for a friendship to form over a boy band, but theirs literally did. They were obsessed with the music and the boys and knew every song verbatim. This seems like such a minor detail when reading the story of even thinking about this out of context, but that one detail formed a strong bond between girls that brought them together after four years of not speaking to one another; now that’s good writing! This book is made up of so many small details, like the struggle that each girl is fighting within herself. If you like stories where you unravel more than one main character then this story is definitely one for you. Alice, Tiernan, and Summer each have a story within themselves and I believe those are the best kind of books.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed about this book is the fact that it took place the summer after their senior year. They were just graduating from high school when the book began and I believe that this, besides the actual college experience itself, is one of the most crucial that a teen goes through. Sometimes this is the time that you really start to uncover who you are and what makes your clock tick. Each girl took a journey within herself on that road trip and came out with some sort of revelation for a new beginning. They were gone from home for 10 days, but sometimes it only takes a day or two out of your normal schedule to clear your head and start afresh. They learned things about themselves that they might not have known otherwise.
So by the end of the novel the road trip, not the boy band, was the new detail that had bonded these three together once again. The story line sounds so simple at times; a road trip to see a one time reunited boy band. But the things that the girls witness and learn on this trip will change them forever. They went on the road trip with heavy hearts and mind, each of them stressing over one issue or another and they came back swearing to starting clean slates within their friendship and their relationships with others. This book is such an amazing summer read and made me want to take a road trip of my own if only NSYNC were reuniting for a one time concert in Austin, TX!!
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan have each taken different paths throughout the course of their high school years and they have seldom spoken to each other since the Winter Dance in middle school. This story line shocked me a little because I was like how is Hilary going to write this so that this trip halfway across the country is not awkward and unnerving for the girls. She fits their individual stories and their personalities in like small puzzle pieces! Each girl brings something different to the table. One has a sassy side, and one just doesn’t have a filter and will say anything at whim, while the other is Ms. Perfectionist! When all of their various personalities were jumping off of the page at me I was thinking how were you guys ever friends to begin with? The more I got to know them the more that I saw how much they really did appreciate the things that set each of them apart.
You may think it is strange for a friendship to form over a boy band, but theirs literally did. They were obsessed with the music and the boys and knew every song verbatim. This seems like such a minor detail when reading the story of even thinking about this out of context, but that one detail formed a strong bond between girls that brought them together after four years of not speaking to one another; now that’s good writing! This book is made up of so many small details, like the struggle that each girl is fighting within herself. If you like stories where you unravel more than one main character then this story is definitely one for you. Alice, Tiernan, and Summer each have a story within themselves and I believe those are the best kind of books.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed about this book is the fact that it took place the summer after their senior year. They were just graduating from high school when the book began and I believe that this, besides the actual college experience itself, is one of the most crucial that a teen goes through. Sometimes this is the time that you really start to uncover who you are and what makes your clock tick. Each girl took a journey within herself on that road trip and came out with some sort of revelation for a new beginning. They were gone from home for 10 days, but sometimes it only takes a day or two out of your normal schedule to clear your head and start afresh. They learned things about themselves that they might not have known otherwise.
So by the end of the novel the road trip, not the boy band, was the new detail that had bonded these three together once again. The story line sounds so simple at times; a road trip to see a one time reunited boy band. But the things that the girls witness and learn on this trip will change them forever. They went on the road trip with heavy hearts and mind, each of them stressing over one issue or another and they came back swearing to starting clean slates within their friendship and their relationships with others. This book is such an amazing summer read and made me want to take a road trip of my own if only NSYNC were reuniting for a one time concert in Austin, TX!!
May 25, 2012
Originally posted at The Teen Book Guru
**This review is based on an Advance Readers Copy (thank you S&S!)**
Hilary Weisman Graham's debut is a fun, bubbly and heartwarming coming-of-age story of friendship, love, and ultimately, finding yourself and being true to who you are --- no matter what. It's one of those books that has a little bit of everything, for everyone... one of my favorite YA Contemporary reads of 2012 so far!
Reunited was one of those books that I just loved from the very beginning, mostly because of the characters. There's Alice, the overachiever and nostalgic and sensitive kinda, lives in the past type of person, Summer, the misunderstood cheerleader/queen bee, who actually doesn't want to be popular, and Tiernan, funky, needle in a haystack, doesn't care what anyone thinks, kinda gal. I honestly loved every single one of them! Towards the end of the novel, I started feeling like I knew them personally... they became my three best friends for the four hours I was reading this book! And while they are a little cliche, sometimes, cliche works! It's only when it's too overdone that it starts becoming boring, and ordinary, and what-not.
A long time ago, in Middle School, Alice, Tiernan, and Summer used to be BFFs and Pop band Level3 worshippers. They considered themselves to be the band's biggest fans, and let me tell you, you will not know the whole meaning of 'obsession', and 'devotion', until you read this book. I mean, seriously! I have friends who are crazy IN LOVE and so infatuated with Justin Bieber, and, more lately, One Direction, but oh my gosh Alice, Summer and Tiernan make them look almost normal! It's scary (but in a good way!).
Anways, so it starts out with Alice, and things aren't really going well for her. It's almost graduation time, and she hasn't got everything worked out and as planned as she would have liked. Her summer trip with her friend was cancelled, her acceptance letter for the University she is dying to get in hasn't arrived yet, and she just feels pretty bummed. I don't blame her! I would too. And then, a bombshell. Level3, Alice's (and Summer and Tiernan's) old-time favorite band who broke up over three years ago (when that awful fight between Alice and Summer and Tiernan happened), are getting back together for ONE CONCERT. The only problem, is that it is over 2000 miles away. But still, she has the Pea Pod (basically the Level3 fan worship van), and she is sure that, as big as the fight was, and even though they barely even talk anymore, she is sure Summer and Tiernan would not be able to say no to the awesomeness of Level3.
And, it takes a lot of time, but Summer and Tiernan finally come around-- both for their own personal reasons, though, and Alice feels something she hasn't felt for a long time start to blossom inside her---hope. If Level3 can get back together, even for only one night, can't they? And so, they set out on the long road trip, with one question looming above all of them: will they come out of this friends, or enemies?
Reunited was the perfect break from all the heavy Paranormal books I've been reading (and admittedly, enjoying), and I'm so happy I got the chance to read it. Graham really WOW'd me with this touching debut, and I look forward to reading more of her books! A strong, powerful new voice in YA Contemporary!
**This review is based on an Advance Readers Copy (thank you S&S!)**
Hilary Weisman Graham's debut is a fun, bubbly and heartwarming coming-of-age story of friendship, love, and ultimately, finding yourself and being true to who you are --- no matter what. It's one of those books that has a little bit of everything, for everyone... one of my favorite YA Contemporary reads of 2012 so far!
Reunited was one of those books that I just loved from the very beginning, mostly because of the characters. There's Alice, the overachiever and nostalgic and sensitive kinda, lives in the past type of person, Summer, the misunderstood cheerleader/queen bee, who actually doesn't want to be popular, and Tiernan, funky, needle in a haystack, doesn't care what anyone thinks, kinda gal. I honestly loved every single one of them! Towards the end of the novel, I started feeling like I knew them personally... they became my three best friends for the four hours I was reading this book! And while they are a little cliche, sometimes, cliche works! It's only when it's too overdone that it starts becoming boring, and ordinary, and what-not.
A long time ago, in Middle School, Alice, Tiernan, and Summer used to be BFFs and Pop band Level3 worshippers. They considered themselves to be the band's biggest fans, and let me tell you, you will not know the whole meaning of 'obsession', and 'devotion', until you read this book. I mean, seriously! I have friends who are crazy IN LOVE and so infatuated with Justin Bieber, and, more lately, One Direction, but oh my gosh Alice, Summer and Tiernan make them look almost normal! It's scary (but in a good way!).
Anways, so it starts out with Alice, and things aren't really going well for her. It's almost graduation time, and she hasn't got everything worked out and as planned as she would have liked. Her summer trip with her friend was cancelled, her acceptance letter for the University she is dying to get in hasn't arrived yet, and she just feels pretty bummed. I don't blame her! I would too. And then, a bombshell. Level3, Alice's (and Summer and Tiernan's) old-time favorite band who broke up over three years ago (when that awful fight between Alice and Summer and Tiernan happened), are getting back together for ONE CONCERT. The only problem, is that it is over 2000 miles away. But still, she has the Pea Pod (basically the Level3 fan worship van), and she is sure that, as big as the fight was, and even though they barely even talk anymore, she is sure Summer and Tiernan would not be able to say no to the awesomeness of Level3.
And, it takes a lot of time, but Summer and Tiernan finally come around-- both for their own personal reasons, though, and Alice feels something she hasn't felt for a long time start to blossom inside her---hope. If Level3 can get back together, even for only one night, can't they? And so, they set out on the long road trip, with one question looming above all of them: will they come out of this friends, or enemies?
Reunited was the perfect break from all the heavy Paranormal books I've been reading (and admittedly, enjoying), and I'm so happy I got the chance to read it. Graham really WOW'd me with this touching debut, and I look forward to reading more of her books! A strong, powerful new voice in YA Contemporary!
June 3, 2012
*Genre* YA
*Rating* 4.0
*Review*
Four years ago, Alice Miller, Tiernan O’Leary, and Summer Dalton were best friends and Level 3 idolizers. They did almost everything together. They were so obsessed with the band that they covered the entire inside of a 1976 VW Camper (called the Pea Pod) with pictures of the band and themselves. Level 3 broke up at the beginning of their freshmen year because of family issues and shortly thereafter, after an incident at the Winter Wonderland Dance, a final wedge was put in the girl’s friendship.
Nearly 4 years later, Alice hears about Level 3 reuniting for a benefit concert in Austin, Texas. On a whim, Alice, the most put together of all three girls, not only purchases 3 tickets for the concert but then somehow talks Tiernan and Summer into going to Texas with her.
Alice‘s summer road trip with her best friend had been cancelled because she’s going to China for the summer instead. Alice still hasn’t heard from her first choice of colleges Brown, and time is getting short. On top of that, her parents refurbished the Pea Pod and give it to her for her graduation present instead of something more useful like a computer, or Ipad. Alice is normally the most level headed character of the bunch and knows exactly what she wants. On this trip, what she holds dear comes into question, and the possibility of love is definitely in the air.
Summer is part of the popular crowd who the rest of the school hates. She’s had more boyfriends than she can actually count, and her current BF is an asshat who is most likely cheating on her. On top of all that, he decides that he wants Summer to go on the road trip with Alice verses going to Martha’s Vineyard with him. So, on a whim, Summer decides to join Alice on the trip to Austin. Summer is a very good writer which goes to show you that you can't judge a book by it's cover.
Tiernan is the rebel with a clue. Her father left her for another woman, and her mother is so busy that she can’t see that Tiernan is rebelling against her authority with her blue hair, and combat boots. Tiernan is also the one person most responsible for breaking up the girl’s friendship after purposefully twisting Summer’s words around. Tiernan's claim to fame is that she's really good at photography and could make some real money if she took it seriously.
Reunited is a fun, yet poignant story about the three very distinct teenagers who used to be best friends, but life got in the way. It’s a story about growing up and owning your responsibilities while trying to have a great time and seeing your all-time favorite band play one more time.
Reunited is the debut novel of Hilary Weisman Graham.
Recvd 05/16/2012 *Participating in Southern Bloggers Tour for Book!
*Rating* 4.0
*Review*
Four years ago, Alice Miller, Tiernan O’Leary, and Summer Dalton were best friends and Level 3 idolizers. They did almost everything together. They were so obsessed with the band that they covered the entire inside of a 1976 VW Camper (called the Pea Pod) with pictures of the band and themselves. Level 3 broke up at the beginning of their freshmen year because of family issues and shortly thereafter, after an incident at the Winter Wonderland Dance, a final wedge was put in the girl’s friendship.
Nearly 4 years later, Alice hears about Level 3 reuniting for a benefit concert in Austin, Texas. On a whim, Alice, the most put together of all three girls, not only purchases 3 tickets for the concert but then somehow talks Tiernan and Summer into going to Texas with her.
Alice‘s summer road trip with her best friend had been cancelled because she’s going to China for the summer instead. Alice still hasn’t heard from her first choice of colleges Brown, and time is getting short. On top of that, her parents refurbished the Pea Pod and give it to her for her graduation present instead of something more useful like a computer, or Ipad. Alice is normally the most level headed character of the bunch and knows exactly what she wants. On this trip, what she holds dear comes into question, and the possibility of love is definitely in the air.
Summer is part of the popular crowd who the rest of the school hates. She’s had more boyfriends than she can actually count, and her current BF is an asshat who is most likely cheating on her. On top of all that, he decides that he wants Summer to go on the road trip with Alice verses going to Martha’s Vineyard with him. So, on a whim, Summer decides to join Alice on the trip to Austin. Summer is a very good writer which goes to show you that you can't judge a book by it's cover.
Tiernan is the rebel with a clue. Her father left her for another woman, and her mother is so busy that she can’t see that Tiernan is rebelling against her authority with her blue hair, and combat boots. Tiernan is also the one person most responsible for breaking up the girl’s friendship after purposefully twisting Summer’s words around. Tiernan's claim to fame is that she's really good at photography and could make some real money if she took it seriously.
Reunited is a fun, yet poignant story about the three very distinct teenagers who used to be best friends, but life got in the way. It’s a story about growing up and owning your responsibilities while trying to have a great time and seeing your all-time favorite band play one more time.
Reunited is the debut novel of Hilary Weisman Graham.
Recvd 05/16/2012 *Participating in Southern Bloggers Tour for Book!
July 13, 2012
Hilary Weisman Graham's Reunited takes a look at what really makes people friends and whether the past can be set aside in order to re-spark a previous friendship.
The story begins with disappointments and the high school graduation of three ex-best friends. After finding out that her summer abroad has been cancelled, Alice is hoping for a new laptop as a grad gift, but gets a refurbished 1976 VW camper van called the Pea Pod instead. While she's breaking in her new wheels, Alice hears her ex-favorite boy band, Level3, on the radio and reminisces about the good times she had with her fellow groupies and ex-best friends, Summer and Tiernan. When a Level3 reunion concert is announced that night, Alice knows that is more than just coincidence and buys a ticket for herself, Summer, and Tiernan.
Summer has problems of her own, however. Her boyfriend broke up with her at the graduation ceremony, breaking her heart and ruining their summer vacation plans. Taking up Alice's Level3 road trip offer gives her an excuse to get out of town. And rebel, Tiernan is stuck at home because she's grounded, so a 10-day break from her mother is very welcome. She jumps at the chance to see Level3 again--though she's not telling her mom about the trip until she's well on the way and can't be stopped.
Their trip starts off with a lot of bickering and a funeral, and the girls have trouble letting go of old resentments, but there are also a lot of funny moments to balance out the bad. Of course, various boys are involved in the trouble in one way or another and you will smile at some of the situations.
The Tiernan, Alice, and Summer are a nice change from the general female stereotypes of the sexy one, the smart one, and innocent/naive one. While the three girls are very different and it is easy to see why they grew apart, they all have well-developed personalities that keep them from being one dimensional--even Summer has more going on than just being the pretty, popular girl--and they continue to develop throughout Reunited.
The way Graham made up Level3 song lyrics and placed them between each chapter was a fun touch that reminded me of the lame boy band songs I used to run around singing (I was a major New Kids fan).
Reunited is an excellent girl power story about old friends helping each other find themselves before they go off to college. It's rated for ages 12 and older, but adults will also enjoy this fun coming-of-age story and its message.
The story begins with disappointments and the high school graduation of three ex-best friends. After finding out that her summer abroad has been cancelled, Alice is hoping for a new laptop as a grad gift, but gets a refurbished 1976 VW camper van called the Pea Pod instead. While she's breaking in her new wheels, Alice hears her ex-favorite boy band, Level3, on the radio and reminisces about the good times she had with her fellow groupies and ex-best friends, Summer and Tiernan. When a Level3 reunion concert is announced that night, Alice knows that is more than just coincidence and buys a ticket for herself, Summer, and Tiernan.
Summer has problems of her own, however. Her boyfriend broke up with her at the graduation ceremony, breaking her heart and ruining their summer vacation plans. Taking up Alice's Level3 road trip offer gives her an excuse to get out of town. And rebel, Tiernan is stuck at home because she's grounded, so a 10-day break from her mother is very welcome. She jumps at the chance to see Level3 again--though she's not telling her mom about the trip until she's well on the way and can't be stopped.
Their trip starts off with a lot of bickering and a funeral, and the girls have trouble letting go of old resentments, but there are also a lot of funny moments to balance out the bad. Of course, various boys are involved in the trouble in one way or another and you will smile at some of the situations.
The Tiernan, Alice, and Summer are a nice change from the general female stereotypes of the sexy one, the smart one, and innocent/naive one. While the three girls are very different and it is easy to see why they grew apart, they all have well-developed personalities that keep them from being one dimensional--even Summer has more going on than just being the pretty, popular girl--and they continue to develop throughout Reunited.
The way Graham made up Level3 song lyrics and placed them between each chapter was a fun touch that reminded me of the lame boy band songs I used to run around singing (I was a major New Kids fan).
Reunited is an excellent girl power story about old friends helping each other find themselves before they go off to college. It's rated for ages 12 and older, but adults will also enjoy this fun coming-of-age story and its message.
December 20, 2015
I'll make this a short review as I'm incredibly frustrated and sleep-eye tired from trudging on with this book.
As you can see from the start and finish dates of this book, I took a very very long time to read this book and it's mainly because Reunited was one of those books I had thrown on the sidelines because of how "dry" and disengaging the story was. It was clichéd, over dramatic and it certainly tried way to hard to appear like one of those quirky, heart warming tales you read about. It failed. Failed miserably. What saved the rating from a pitiful 2 stars was the fact that the 3 friends realise they're so obvious mistakes. Basically, it was a book that progressed slowly, giving us a glimpse into their cheerful pasts and diverging present.
While the premise sounded interesting, the writing style and lack of original plot threw me off. I couldn't really connect with any of the characters and feel some recognition. I mean I felt like the book was a series of events rather than the "proper" the oh-so-exciting blurb had promised. It reminded me of the over hyped Fangirl, which I also painfully had to give a 3 star rating too. I am however, definitely not cruel. Believe me.
July 20, 2012
LOVED this book! It was so quirky and original, with three totally wonderful and distinct narrators. I liked how it focused more on the relationship between Tiernan, Summer and Alice more than any sort of romance (though there is a bit-- what would a book be without it?!). Although they're each so different, the author really captured the essential base of their friendship and the chemistry between the three. I think each person who reads this book could connect with one of the girls in some way. My favorite was Tiernan-- she was absolutely hilarious and sarcastic and unique. She learns a lot about herself on the trip, and recognizes she made some mistakes that led to the girls' seperation. She has the guts to admit it though, which I really admire. Another thing that made this book so awesome was the song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter-- they give us a bit of foreshadowing and made me wish Level3 was a real band ( I actually checked-- how sad is that?). Definitely one of my fav road trip books, one I plan on re-reading!
June 22, 2013
Want a perfect YA book for the summer? REUNITED is it!!!!! The Pea Pod ( a pea green 1976 VW camper van) houses three ex-best friends, on a less than ideal, two thousand mile road trip to go back in time and see a one-time only reunion concert for their favorite middle school band, Level3. But sometimes, things that are less than ideal have a way of being the best things that ever happened. Take a ride with Alice, Summer and Tiernan--you won't regret it.
May 21, 2012
Check out my blog for a review!
lovepassionbooks.blogspot.com
lovepassionbooks.blogspot.com
May 20, 2018
This book would have been my favorite book in high school. Friends, Road Trip, Concert it's SO for me! I really liked it. It was a little bit over the top but overall it was a very good road trip book.
October 3, 2019
*sigh* what a giant let down.
i never have expectations w any book but i did w this and it disappointed me to another level.
and what a completely moronic end. whatever happened to never meet your heroes huh
i never have expectations w any book but i did w this and it disappointed me to another level.
and what a completely moronic end. whatever happened to never meet your heroes huh
April 12, 2024
this book would prolly be a 5 if i was in 8th grade!
May 12, 2015
So, you ever read a book that makes you want to go back to high school? No? Me either. But this makes me want to go back to the summer between graduation and college. It also makes me want to send this book to a best friend that I can no longer even call friend. The kind I've known since I was in first grade. The kind that was there when my first child was born. Then something bad happened and I walked away, but I miss her. That's what kind of book this is, it makes you miss those friends that really knew you when you were a kid all the way through high school. The kind that knew you in those God awful nerdy 7th grade awkward days with the braces and the terrible hair. Yep those friends.
That's the kind of friends Alice, Summer and Tiernan are or were until something happened at the Winter Wonderland Dance between Summer and Alice brought on by Tiernan and they all practically ran away from each other. They had been thick as thieves until high school. They used to hang out at Alice's house in the Pea Pod- The Green '76 Volkswagen Van up on blocks in the backyard. Level3 posters and collages covered the van. The girls knew the words to all the songs and even had dance routines. Then as a graduation present, Alice's parents fix the van up for her, leaving the insides alone, and hand her the keys. That's why on the spur of the moment Alice buys the tickets to the concert and invites both Tiernan and Summer. Neither are bit by the nostalgia bug but they have their own reasons for going.
The trip from the get go is tense and hilarious. From an ex-con to an introduction to kudzu to Bourbon street and the heat of the South, the girls experience a lot in the five days it takes them to get from Massachusetts to Texas. I enjoyed every moment of it and because I didn't know these girls that well, I never had friends like them (don't worry, I had friends) I couldn't predict what they would do. Because as the miles rolled away, the girls changed and grew. Each one was uniquely different. Alice, though she seems shy and nerdy, she's adamantly honest about how she feels. She gets it off her chest and then she's done with it. Tiernan, though she appears to be a rebel with blue hair and Doc Martens, has never really recovered from her parents divorce, her dad's desertion and her mom burying herself in her job. She just wants to be accepted somewhere, wherever she can find it. And Summer, she's the cheerleader type dating the football player, really popular, the kind that everyone hates behind her back, very pretty and looks really put together, like she's got it all made. But she really doesn't. She just wants some attention and she's probably in a relationship that ended a long time ago just so she wouldn't be alone. She writes poetry and plans to get the H out of Dodge as soon as she can. She's a cheerleader with layers. You really don't see that in YA. So these three girls are all anomalies to me. Maybe you've seen them before, not me.
But don't worry, this novel is meant to entertain as well as slip a little lesson in and the entertainment factor is high. I totally slipped away from my world and into that Pea Green VW Van traveling along the road listening to the GPS telling me to enter the motorway in 3/4 of a mile. I think I'll try the British voice on my GPS, they had such fun with theirs. Had to wipe the tears of laughter away a few times so I could continue reading. It's got a bit of romance but it's more about friendship. But you know girls when they get together, can't go ten minutes without talking about guys. So they're in there. It's a clean book, maybe a few mentions of something sexual, but not about sex itself. A couple of WTF and that's about it.
This was a great coming of age story, road trip story and contemporary YA fiction. I read an ARC thanks to the Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours, but I'll be buying my own copy. That special shelf is growing bigger all the time. But this is one I'll want to read again.
That's the kind of friends Alice, Summer and Tiernan are or were until something happened at the Winter Wonderland Dance between Summer and Alice brought on by Tiernan and they all practically ran away from each other. They had been thick as thieves until high school. They used to hang out at Alice's house in the Pea Pod- The Green '76 Volkswagen Van up on blocks in the backyard. Level3 posters and collages covered the van. The girls knew the words to all the songs and even had dance routines. Then as a graduation present, Alice's parents fix the van up for her, leaving the insides alone, and hand her the keys. That's why on the spur of the moment Alice buys the tickets to the concert and invites both Tiernan and Summer. Neither are bit by the nostalgia bug but they have their own reasons for going.
The trip from the get go is tense and hilarious. From an ex-con to an introduction to kudzu to Bourbon street and the heat of the South, the girls experience a lot in the five days it takes them to get from Massachusetts to Texas. I enjoyed every moment of it and because I didn't know these girls that well, I never had friends like them (don't worry, I had friends) I couldn't predict what they would do. Because as the miles rolled away, the girls changed and grew. Each one was uniquely different. Alice, though she seems shy and nerdy, she's adamantly honest about how she feels. She gets it off her chest and then she's done with it. Tiernan, though she appears to be a rebel with blue hair and Doc Martens, has never really recovered from her parents divorce, her dad's desertion and her mom burying herself in her job. She just wants to be accepted somewhere, wherever she can find it. And Summer, she's the cheerleader type dating the football player, really popular, the kind that everyone hates behind her back, very pretty and looks really put together, like she's got it all made. But she really doesn't. She just wants some attention and she's probably in a relationship that ended a long time ago just so she wouldn't be alone. She writes poetry and plans to get the H out of Dodge as soon as she can. She's a cheerleader with layers. You really don't see that in YA. So these three girls are all anomalies to me. Maybe you've seen them before, not me.
But don't worry, this novel is meant to entertain as well as slip a little lesson in and the entertainment factor is high. I totally slipped away from my world and into that Pea Green VW Van traveling along the road listening to the GPS telling me to enter the motorway in 3/4 of a mile. I think I'll try the British voice on my GPS, they had such fun with theirs. Had to wipe the tears of laughter away a few times so I could continue reading. It's got a bit of romance but it's more about friendship. But you know girls when they get together, can't go ten minutes without talking about guys. So they're in there. It's a clean book, maybe a few mentions of something sexual, but not about sex itself. A couple of WTF and that's about it.
This was a great coming of age story, road trip story and contemporary YA fiction. I read an ARC thanks to the Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours, but I'll be buying my own copy. That special shelf is growing bigger all the time. But this is one I'll want to read again.
January 24, 2016
Question: What is a sure-fire way to make me love a book?
Answer: Have it feature or be completely about a ROADTRIP!
What is it about road trips that I love so much? I think it all started back when I read Paper Towns by John Green and laughed my butt off at the road trip parts, but even before I'd read it my friends and I had been planning a post-graduation road trip for years.
This book was so much fun. So. Much. You know, sometimes I just have to ignore goodreads average ratings and my desire to read only books rated a 4 or higher because sometimes goodreads reviewers are just really snobby and can't enjoy a book for what it is. I don't look for amazing characters with layers and layers to their personalities and complex plot and beautiful writing in every book I read. Sometimes I want to have fun and read about best friends on a road trip with the exact, unrealistic ending I was praying for.
Reunited is the story of Alice, Summer, and Tiernan, 3 ex-best friends who get together after their high school graduation to see Level3's reunion concert. These girls were OBSESSED with level three back in middle school which is just too cute. I wish I had an obsession with my friends like these girls did/do because it sounds like tons of fun. Unfortunately, in my friend group of 4 there is 0 chance of all 4 of us being in love with the same band because we've all got different music tastes.
So Alice is the quiet-ish overachiever with great parents who is the mastermind behind the road trip.
Summer is the popular, pretty girl dating one of the hottest guys in school.
Tiernan is the combat-boots-loving rebel.
Let's take a moment to just enjoy this ginormous cliche for a sec, shall we? Anyone who has read that one book The Anti-Prom (I read it 2 or 3 times because it was so much fun)or Burn for Burn or pretty much any other book with a group of 3 girls will be familiar with these girls. Why is it always like this? Are there no options besides the normal one, the popular one, and the rebel? I've met tons of girls with different personalities, but I suppose these are just the easiest girls to write about.
Anyway, once on this road trip, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, right up until the very end. There are some really funny parts like with Michael the Archangel and the squirrel and I really enjoyed reading everything in this book.
My one complaint is the drinking. God, it's like impossible for me to read a YA book that doesn't include random drinking! I'm not a super Christian or anything (heck, I'm an atheist), but Jesus CHRIST do I hate reading about people drinking in books. I am 16 and I don't think me or any of my friends would ever go into a bar and get wasted! And also we would not be anywhere around to high guys and a random 22 year old who rides a motorcycle and wants to take us to a swimming hole. Which is probably why if we'd been in that book our road trip would have gone MUCH smoother and we would not have had the perfect ending that this book had.
Also, these girls are ridiculous and I pray for the day when people learn to be sensible and talk things out.
Answer: Have it feature or be completely about a ROADTRIP!
What is it about road trips that I love so much? I think it all started back when I read Paper Towns by John Green and laughed my butt off at the road trip parts, but even before I'd read it my friends and I had been planning a post-graduation road trip for years.
This book was so much fun. So. Much. You know, sometimes I just have to ignore goodreads average ratings and my desire to read only books rated a 4 or higher because sometimes goodreads reviewers are just really snobby and can't enjoy a book for what it is. I don't look for amazing characters with layers and layers to their personalities and complex plot and beautiful writing in every book I read. Sometimes I want to have fun and read about best friends on a road trip with the exact, unrealistic ending I was praying for.
Reunited is the story of Alice, Summer, and Tiernan, 3 ex-best friends who get together after their high school graduation to see Level3's reunion concert. These girls were OBSESSED with level three back in middle school which is just too cute. I wish I had an obsession with my friends like these girls did/do because it sounds like tons of fun. Unfortunately, in my friend group of 4 there is 0 chance of all 4 of us being in love with the same band because we've all got different music tastes.
So Alice is the quiet-ish overachiever with great parents who is the mastermind behind the road trip.
Summer is the popular, pretty girl dating one of the hottest guys in school.
Tiernan is the combat-boots-loving rebel.
Let's take a moment to just enjoy this ginormous cliche for a sec, shall we? Anyone who has read that one book The Anti-Prom (I read it 2 or 3 times because it was so much fun)or Burn for Burn or pretty much any other book with a group of 3 girls will be familiar with these girls. Why is it always like this? Are there no options besides the normal one, the popular one, and the rebel? I've met tons of girls with different personalities, but I suppose these are just the easiest girls to write about.
Anyway, once on this road trip, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, right up until the very end. There are some really funny parts like with Michael the Archangel and the squirrel and I really enjoyed reading everything in this book.
My one complaint is the drinking. God, it's like impossible for me to read a YA book that doesn't include random drinking! I'm not a super Christian or anything (heck, I'm an atheist), but Jesus CHRIST do I hate reading about people drinking in books. I am 16 and I don't think me or any of my friends would ever go into a bar and get wasted! And also we would not be anywhere around to high guys and a random 22 year old who rides a motorcycle and wants to take us to a swimming hole. Which is probably why if we'd been in that book our road trip would have gone MUCH smoother and we would not have had the perfect ending that this book had.
Also, these girls are ridiculous and I pray for the day when people learn to be sensible and talk things out.
August 13, 2020
I think there’s a line where “fun read” becomes “ridiculous read”, and Reunited most definitely crossed that line. Graham’s story about a three girls driving halfway across the United States to see their favorite band had a lot of potential, but the gimmicky, soap-opera style of storytelling was hard to stomach.
As I said, my biggest issue with Reunited was the plotline. It was very over the top, very clichéd, and to me felt very fake, almost like the author was trying too hard to write a quirky yet heartfelt story about friendship. If you’re the kind of reader who’s okay with spending an entire chapter dealing with a funeral for a road-killed squirrel, or is willing to view a creepy interlude with a potential rapist as comic relief…then this book just might work for you. Sadly, squirrel funerals and hilarious rapists are not things I particularly care for.
The difficult three-way friendship Graham deals with in this book left something to be desired as well. I thought the main characters, Alice, Tiernan, and Summer, had a very definite The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants vibe, in that they were unlikely friends who filled definite stereotypes. Over the course of high school, they drifted apart because of something terrible that happened freshman year. Anyway. I never really felt the connection between the girls. For me, I thought they were fun, interesting people, but their friendship seemed very stale and obvious. I thought perhaps the author was trying to force things.
I wasn’t too impressed with Graham’s writing either. It definitely could have used editing and polishing. I think the phrase “a bad Southern accent” was used no less than five times a chapter, which is excessive. I think this author’s prose is very dull, and that only served to further highlight to over the top stereotypes that Reunited is positively brimming with.
Really, this book is too wacky, relies on too many convenient coincidences, and didn’t deliver as far as characterization and friendship themes were concerned. I think Reunited is a decent attempt from a debut novelist, but there’s better material out there, so I’d be hesitant to recommend this to anyone in general.
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As I said, my biggest issue with Reunited was the plotline. It was very over the top, very clichéd, and to me felt very fake, almost like the author was trying too hard to write a quirky yet heartfelt story about friendship. If you’re the kind of reader who’s okay with spending an entire chapter dealing with a funeral for a road-killed squirrel, or is willing to view a creepy interlude with a potential rapist as comic relief…then this book just might work for you. Sadly, squirrel funerals and hilarious rapists are not things I particularly care for.
The difficult three-way friendship Graham deals with in this book left something to be desired as well. I thought the main characters, Alice, Tiernan, and Summer, had a very definite The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants vibe, in that they were unlikely friends who filled definite stereotypes. Over the course of high school, they drifted apart because of something terrible that happened freshman year. Anyway. I never really felt the connection between the girls. For me, I thought they were fun, interesting people, but their friendship seemed very stale and obvious. I thought perhaps the author was trying to force things.
I wasn’t too impressed with Graham’s writing either. It definitely could have used editing and polishing. I think the phrase “a bad Southern accent” was used no less than five times a chapter, which is excessive. I think this author’s prose is very dull, and that only served to further highlight to over the top stereotypes that Reunited is positively brimming with.
Really, this book is too wacky, relies on too many convenient coincidences, and didn’t deliver as far as characterization and friendship themes were concerned. I think Reunited is a decent attempt from a debut novelist, but there’s better material out there, so I’d be hesitant to recommend this to anyone in general.
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December 3, 2015
First Thoughts: This book brought me back to my high school days when I was crazy over bands and had friendship drama. Such a fun read!
(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)
Reunited made me nostalgic for my days in high school, and I wished (for the briefest of moments ) that I could jump back in time and experience it all over again. I was definitely one of those girls who loved boy bands in their big heyday, just as the three main characters of this book were, and I definitely shared my obsession with my best friends.
(On a completely different note, just so you guys know, I would totally jump on the NSYNC + Blue + Westlife bandwagon all over again in a heartbeat. But I’ll go into detail on that later!)
This book is primarily about friendship, not romance, and I found that utterly refreshing. Don’t get me wrong – I love a good romance. It was just nice, however, to have the romance relegated to the background in this book. Putting the focus on friendship was a charming idea, and I loved it because I think friendships are one of the most important relationships you’re going to have in your life!
The friendship that Summer, Alice and Tiernan share only exists in the past when the book begins. There are hints of a major event blowing their solid relationship apart, though we only find out what really happens nearly at the end of the novel. The story reminded me of how complicated friendships can be, especially in high school, but there’s always something to be said for a shared history and understanding of one another.
Obviously, apart from the friendship, I absolutely adored the fact that this is a road trip book. I have said, over and over again, how I love when a book involves a road trip. It was fun to tag along with the girls and be a part of all the crazy shenanigans they got involved in. The places they visited were definitely off-beat, but I think that just added to the charm of the entire novel.
I love the fact that Reunited left me with some strong feel good vibes, and the urge to give my own high school best friends a huge hug. It’s a very cute story, and I could totally see this being a summer read or something you’d read if you wish it were still summer. If you like music, road trips, good friends or all three, well, you’re definitely in for a treat.
(Originally posted on Alexa Loves Books)
Reunited made me nostalgic for my days in high school, and I wished (for the briefest of moments ) that I could jump back in time and experience it all over again. I was definitely one of those girls who loved boy bands in their big heyday, just as the three main characters of this book were, and I definitely shared my obsession with my best friends.
(On a completely different note, just so you guys know, I would totally jump on the NSYNC + Blue + Westlife bandwagon all over again in a heartbeat. But I’ll go into detail on that later!)
This book is primarily about friendship, not romance, and I found that utterly refreshing. Don’t get me wrong – I love a good romance. It was just nice, however, to have the romance relegated to the background in this book. Putting the focus on friendship was a charming idea, and I loved it because I think friendships are one of the most important relationships you’re going to have in your life!
The friendship that Summer, Alice and Tiernan share only exists in the past when the book begins. There are hints of a major event blowing their solid relationship apart, though we only find out what really happens nearly at the end of the novel. The story reminded me of how complicated friendships can be, especially in high school, but there’s always something to be said for a shared history and understanding of one another.
Obviously, apart from the friendship, I absolutely adored the fact that this is a road trip book. I have said, over and over again, how I love when a book involves a road trip. It was fun to tag along with the girls and be a part of all the crazy shenanigans they got involved in. The places they visited were definitely off-beat, but I think that just added to the charm of the entire novel.
I love the fact that Reunited left me with some strong feel good vibes, and the urge to give my own high school best friends a huge hug. It’s a very cute story, and I could totally see this being a summer read or something you’d read if you wish it were still summer. If you like music, road trips, good friends or all three, well, you’re definitely in for a treat.
July 23, 2012
My Thoughts:
I'm calling this one "The Perfect Summer Read"
This debut novel by Hilary Weiman Graham is funny as well as touching.
First let me tell you that I LOVE the cover of Reunited. It's eye catching yellow screams to be picked up. The girls holding the map yells adventure.
And it is! It's a road trip you will love being a part of.
Do you remember the friends you had in middle school? The all night giggle sessions? Making up award winning dances to your favorite boy bands in your living room? The promises made that you would be best friends forever? Alice, Summer and Tieran were inseperable-The BFF's.
Then high school happened-one drama filled night changes everything and the girls go in different directions.
Four years go by without a word between them-they graduate high school and everyone is going their separate ways forever.
In a crazy spontaneous moment Alice hears that the band the girls worshipped back in the day-Level3 are reuniting for one night only-a concert 2,000 miles away in Austin, Texas. She buys three tickets and invites her two ex-best friends for a road trip of a life time.
Can these girls put the past behind them and find their long buried friendship again? Can these now strangers find forgiveness in each other and themselves?
Two things that I loved about this book is-
1. The 1976 VW Camper the girls take on the road-it's called the Pea Pod and I want one!!!
2. The fact that Level3 is a real band and their lyrics are throughout the story-cool addition to story.
Three incidents that had me snort laughing while I read this book-
1.Squirrel
2. Michael the hitchhiker
3. Pea Pod door
Two thumbs up for Hilary Weisman Graham-
My thanks to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Now I would like to give the opportunity to read this little gem to someone else. This book is an ARC-An Advanced Reviewer Copy-Uncorrected Proof-read once by me. I give these away in hopes that the winner will read, enjoy and possibly review also. Share the love my friends!
This giveaway is open to followers of Mug of Moxie. Please leave your GFC name and contact info in the comment section below. This giveaway is international. The contest runs from July 20 to July 30. A winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted on July 31. The winner has 48 hour to confirm or another winner will be drawn. Good Luck!!!
I'm calling this one "The Perfect Summer Read"
This debut novel by Hilary Weiman Graham is funny as well as touching.
First let me tell you that I LOVE the cover of Reunited. It's eye catching yellow screams to be picked up. The girls holding the map yells adventure.
And it is! It's a road trip you will love being a part of.
Do you remember the friends you had in middle school? The all night giggle sessions? Making up award winning dances to your favorite boy bands in your living room? The promises made that you would be best friends forever? Alice, Summer and Tieran were inseperable-The BFF's.
Then high school happened-one drama filled night changes everything and the girls go in different directions.
Four years go by without a word between them-they graduate high school and everyone is going their separate ways forever.
In a crazy spontaneous moment Alice hears that the band the girls worshipped back in the day-Level3 are reuniting for one night only-a concert 2,000 miles away in Austin, Texas. She buys three tickets and invites her two ex-best friends for a road trip of a life time.
Can these girls put the past behind them and find their long buried friendship again? Can these now strangers find forgiveness in each other and themselves?
Two things that I loved about this book is-
1. The 1976 VW Camper the girls take on the road-it's called the Pea Pod and I want one!!!
2. The fact that Level3 is a real band and their lyrics are throughout the story-cool addition to story.
Three incidents that had me snort laughing while I read this book-
1.Squirrel
2. Michael the hitchhiker
3. Pea Pod door
Two thumbs up for Hilary Weisman Graham-
My thanks to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Now I would like to give the opportunity to read this little gem to someone else. This book is an ARC-An Advanced Reviewer Copy-Uncorrected Proof-read once by me. I give these away in hopes that the winner will read, enjoy and possibly review also. Share the love my friends!
This giveaway is open to followers of Mug of Moxie. Please leave your GFC name and contact info in the comment section below. This giveaway is international. The contest runs from July 20 to July 30. A winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted on July 31. The winner has 48 hour to confirm or another winner will be drawn. Good Luck!!!
June 11, 2012
What could be better than a cross country road trip with your three best friends, or ex-best friends, as the case may be? This book packs so much fun, mayhem, laughter, tears, and girlbonding into one amazing story. I love a book that can deliver unique, kick ass characters, crazy adventures, and music. Reunited delivers all of these in spades!
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are as different as any three girls could be, but they have two things in common, their love of the band Level3 and the fact that they used to be inseperable. High school, boys, and misunderstandings got in the way and the girls don't talk anymore. Until Alice finds out that Level3, the band they obssessed over when they were younger, is reuniting for one night only. Sure the concert is on the other side of the country, sure the girls haven't spoken in years, and sure a roadtrip in Alice's VW camper van seems like the craziest idea she's ever had, but when has anything been too crazy when it comes to Level3? So with the hopes of reconnecting with her former besties, Alice buys the tickets and sets the plan in motion.
I loved all three girls in this book. Alice was smart, organized, and so determined to make this all work out. Tiernan was sassy and more than a little rebellious. Summer is a rule follower, who also happens to be extremely popular, and a little bit sassy. Initially it's hard to see how the three of them were ever so close, but as the story goes on we learn more about them and their shared pasts, and you really start to see how much these girls cared for each other. And maybe, deep down, still do. I don't want to forget the Pea Pod, Alice's VW camper van, which is just as important a character as the girls. Their friendship, and Level3 obssession, blossomed and endured in that vehicle. And it carries the three of them on some awesome adventures along their trip.
There are a few cute boys thrown into Reunited as well, but it's not really what the story is about and I found myself enjoy the girls journey with each other, even more than I needed the romance. Okay, I'm going to share something that got me totally geeked while reading, feel free to laugh at me. One of the characters has the same name as me. First and last, which is so silly, but I loved it! Haha.
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are as different as any three girls could be, but they have two things in common, their love of the band Level3 and the fact that they used to be inseperable. High school, boys, and misunderstandings got in the way and the girls don't talk anymore. Until Alice finds out that Level3, the band they obssessed over when they were younger, is reuniting for one night only. Sure the concert is on the other side of the country, sure the girls haven't spoken in years, and sure a roadtrip in Alice's VW camper van seems like the craziest idea she's ever had, but when has anything been too crazy when it comes to Level3? So with the hopes of reconnecting with her former besties, Alice buys the tickets and sets the plan in motion.
I loved all three girls in this book. Alice was smart, organized, and so determined to make this all work out. Tiernan was sassy and more than a little rebellious. Summer is a rule follower, who also happens to be extremely popular, and a little bit sassy. Initially it's hard to see how the three of them were ever so close, but as the story goes on we learn more about them and their shared pasts, and you really start to see how much these girls cared for each other. And maybe, deep down, still do. I don't want to forget the Pea Pod, Alice's VW camper van, which is just as important a character as the girls. Their friendship, and Level3 obssession, blossomed and endured in that vehicle. And it carries the three of them on some awesome adventures along their trip.
There are a few cute boys thrown into Reunited as well, but it's not really what the story is about and I found myself enjoy the girls journey with each other, even more than I needed the romance. Okay, I'm going to share something that got me totally geeked while reading, feel free to laugh at me. One of the characters has the same name as me. First and last, which is so silly, but I loved it! Haha.
June 11, 2012
Being trapped in a 1976 pea-green Volkswagen bus with your two ex-best friends doesn't seem like the ideal summer vacation, but some how, it turns out to be so much more for Alice, Summer and Tiernan. When Alice gets the news that Level3 are having a reunion show, she jumps the gun and buys three tickets without thinking about what would happen if Summer and Tiernan said no. After all, once-upon-a-time, they were inseparable. In Reunited, we find out what split the girls apart in the first place and what sticky situations bring them back together in a way they never imagined.
Each of the girls were able to steal your heart from the moment they got into the cleverly named VW bus, The Pea Pod, and began their journey across the country. I imagine Level3 to be what *NSYNC was to me and I know if they were ever to get back together, I'd be there in a heartbeat. While Alice is just looking for a little summer fun and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Tiernan plans to break out of her bedroom where she's been condemned to until college begins, and Summer just wants to get away from her fresh break up, lies and heartache.
I enjoyed all three of their personalities. Each of the girls were completely different, but they were able to originally bond because of their love of this band. Alice seemed to be the level-headed, well-planned one, Tiernan was reckless (and in a way, her I-don't-give-a-sh*t personality saved them a few times) and Summer is the misunderstood popular girl that I wouldn't have thought I'd get so easily attached to. Besides the characters, the shenanigans that they got themselves into were hilarious. From the zombie squirrel to the possible murderer, the author made this story so fun that you just have to keep reading.
Yet not everything was smooth sailing. Nothing about this trip was easy for them and that's what helped them communicate and rekindle their friendship. I can't imagine having to go through everything the girls went through just for one special moment together again after spending 4 years apart, from the best times to the most upsetting ones. Reunited is an entertaining and light contemporary 2012 debut that will leave you grinning like a fool until the very last page.
Each of the girls were able to steal your heart from the moment they got into the cleverly named VW bus, The Pea Pod, and began their journey across the country. I imagine Level3 to be what *NSYNC was to me and I know if they were ever to get back together, I'd be there in a heartbeat. While Alice is just looking for a little summer fun and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Tiernan plans to break out of her bedroom where she's been condemned to until college begins, and Summer just wants to get away from her fresh break up, lies and heartache.
I enjoyed all three of their personalities. Each of the girls were completely different, but they were able to originally bond because of their love of this band. Alice seemed to be the level-headed, well-planned one, Tiernan was reckless (and in a way, her I-don't-give-a-sh*t personality saved them a few times) and Summer is the misunderstood popular girl that I wouldn't have thought I'd get so easily attached to. Besides the characters, the shenanigans that they got themselves into were hilarious. From the zombie squirrel to the possible murderer, the author made this story so fun that you just have to keep reading.
Yet not everything was smooth sailing. Nothing about this trip was easy for them and that's what helped them communicate and rekindle their friendship. I can't imagine having to go through everything the girls went through just for one special moment together again after spending 4 years apart, from the best times to the most upsetting ones. Reunited is an entertaining and light contemporary 2012 debut that will leave you grinning like a fool until the very last page.
October 25, 2015
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
MY THOUGHTS
This book didn't wow me, but I thought it was a very fun story about friendships, and non-friendships.
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan used to be best friends, obsessing over the band Level3. One they reached high school, the band broke up and so did the girls. Now the girls have graduated and a one time reunion concert from Level3 is happening many miles away. Alice automatically buys three tickets to the concert and decides to ask her ex-friends to come with her, hoping they can mend their old friendship on the road. Easier said than done.
This book has the prevalent plot of them traveling all the way to Texas for the concert. It is not easy at all. Not only do they have to deal with the fact that they are no longer friends, but the trip is a complete mess. They run into so much trouble along the way with just their car, the concert, and just the trip in general. Road trips are never easy aren't they? Add in three no-longer-friends who may still have a few problems with each other and are complete opposites and you have even more problems. So, you have a mess of drama, adventure, yet there's still some fun.
As I mentioned, this book is about the friendship. The three girls grow into getting along and figuring their problems out. That's what I really liked about it. I liked seeing these old friends get together ans stick with one another through this hard trip, yet still have fun and even become friends again. Also, from the start these ex-friends may have hard feelings for each other (except for Alice. She's the nice girl who tries to fix things), but you could tell that there's still something between them. Why else would they do this? I know I'm rambling, but I just found it oddly wonderful.
Also, there really isn't any romance in this book! There are some brief mentions, but they never take up the story!
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I liked this book. It's a really nice contemporary book with adventure, friends, and a very eventful road trip. If you enjoy books with road trips and friendships, this is the one for you!
MY THOUGHTS
This book didn't wow me, but I thought it was a very fun story about friendships, and non-friendships.
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan used to be best friends, obsessing over the band Level3. One they reached high school, the band broke up and so did the girls. Now the girls have graduated and a one time reunion concert from Level3 is happening many miles away. Alice automatically buys three tickets to the concert and decides to ask her ex-friends to come with her, hoping they can mend their old friendship on the road. Easier said than done.
This book has the prevalent plot of them traveling all the way to Texas for the concert. It is not easy at all. Not only do they have to deal with the fact that they are no longer friends, but the trip is a complete mess. They run into so much trouble along the way with just their car, the concert, and just the trip in general. Road trips are never easy aren't they? Add in three no-longer-friends who may still have a few problems with each other and are complete opposites and you have even more problems. So, you have a mess of drama, adventure, yet there's still some fun.
As I mentioned, this book is about the friendship. The three girls grow into getting along and figuring their problems out. That's what I really liked about it. I liked seeing these old friends get together ans stick with one another through this hard trip, yet still have fun and even become friends again. Also, from the start these ex-friends may have hard feelings for each other (except for Alice. She's the nice girl who tries to fix things), but you could tell that there's still something between them. Why else would they do this? I know I'm rambling, but I just found it oddly wonderful.
Also, there really isn't any romance in this book! There are some brief mentions, but they never take up the story!
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, I liked this book. It's a really nice contemporary book with adventure, friends, and a very eventful road trip. If you enjoy books with road trips and friendships, this is the one for you!
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