Hello?

by Liza M. Wiemer

One HELLO can change a life. One HELLO can save a life.

Tricia: A girl struggling to find her way after her beloved grandma's death.
Emerson: A guy who lives his life to fulfill promises, real and hypothetical.
Angie: A girl with secrets she can only express through poetry.
Brenda: An actress and screenplay writer afraid to confront her past.
Brian: A potter who sets aside his life for Tricia, to the detriment of both.

Linked and transformed by one phone call, Hello? weaves together these five Wisconsin teens' stories into a compelling narrative of friendship and family, loss and love, heartbreak and healing, serendipity, and ultimately hope.

Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian).

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Mental Health, High School

417 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2015

About the author

My latest YA contemporary novel, The Assignment, was published by Delacorte Press and was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book, among other honors. I am also the author of Hello? and two non-fiction adult books, short stories, and newspaper and magazine articles. A pre-school to high school educator now conducting workshops and writing. I'm a Green Bay Packers fan and I love nature walks, rooftops, and fun socks.

Check out my TEDxTalk: Owning this will change your life https://youtu.be/rsyLf4d6Iuo

For school visits or speaking engagements, visit: http://www.LizaWiemer.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizamwiemer/

Unique "job" experiences: I spent a summer selling popcorn in a Koepsell's popcorn wagon while listening to awesome music on the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee. I also know my way around a fender and a quarter panel and under the hood of a car. I spent a few years driving to accident scenes, scrapyards, hospitals, auto repair shops as a claims adjuster for an insurance company.


Happy reading, Liza

Reviews

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Be the best imperfect you."

Storyline of Hello? simply cannot be summed up in couple of sentences or paragraphs. So instead of telling you about plot of this book, I’m going to give you four reasons why you should be reading this book right now:

#1 Not A Single Reader Will Stay Untouched

Hello? Is deeply moving and emotional story that will grip your heart with its moments of potent intensity. This isn’t fluffy or light story. But if you want to experience all the feels from grief, rage, fear, guilt, shame and desperation to love, hopefulness, forgiveness, kindness and courage to deal with stuff; Hello? is the book for you.

#2 Five Is More Than One

Five life-stories, five perspectives to experience this story from. I have always loved movies that feature multiple separate stories, only to be coincidentally connected by some sort of life-changing event. This is my first book which follows similar pattern and I truly enjoyed it.

#3 Unique Narrating

Five narrators, five different voices. Literally. While Tricia’s and Emerson’s chapters are in prose (Emerson also uses lists and plenty of inner monologue), Angie’s were in free verse. Than there were Brenda’s screenplay chapters and Brian’s drawings mixed with prose. All these unique narrations gave Hello? a personal vibe and helped me to easily distinguish between individual voices of characters. I loved it.

#4 Realistic Fiction At Its Best

Teenagers in this novels deal with a lot. Heaviness of responsibility, finding right place in the world, PTSD, death of loved one, jealousy, broken hearts, relationship struggles, bullying, self-consciousness...List goes on and on. Author didn’t sugarcoat anything and showed us real imperfect people with human’s struggles and believable problems. In Hello?, you won’t find over-the-top drama or flawless characters. This gem of a book is perfect example of YA realistic fiction and I believe that it holds power to affect readers and help people to find motivation for dealing with their own real-life problems.

*ARC provided by publisher as an exchange for honest review*

MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing

[Huntley Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello is an extraordinary book. I'm astonished that this is Liza M. Wiemer's YA debut. Graceful, tender, full of humanity, Hello? follows the lives of five teenagers, told in their own distinctive voices and styles through the events wrapped around a girl reaching out metaphorically in a moment of pain, and the boy who takes her hand in the dark, even though they have never met. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this for early review, and, though my plate was full of deadlines at the time, I read the entire book in one delicious gulp. When I was done, all I wanted was to know what happened next to each of the characters I'd come to care for. A must read.

[Andye.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm an answer, Frankie. Maybe you're an answer for me, too."

HELLO? is a captivating story about fractured families, authentic friendships, and the way lives connect, impact, and transform each other. This book is so originally crafted and beautifully executed that it will stay with you for a very long time.

Becca: So reading a book that a friend has written is always a daunting task. What if you don’t like it? What do you say to them? HOW do you say it? I was freaking out when I first picked it up, because I’ve been in such a slump this year with reading, but it turned out that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. HELLO? is the book that brought me out of that epic slump.

It. Blew. Me. Away.

Andye: TELL ME ABOUT IT!! I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared to read a book. Liza is a dear, dear friend of mine too, and I just thought, this could go horribly wrong. BUT, I had nothing to worry about. This was one of the most originally crafted books I’ve ever read in my life. Incredible.

When Liza told me that the story was going to be told by five different characters, and that those characters would tell their stories in different forms, from prose to screenplays, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

Becca: Yeah. That was my worry too. Sometimes when I read books like that, it just doesn’t work out. I had the same worry with Illuminae.

Andye: I was especially worried about the screenplay part. I mean, how does Liza know how to write a screenplay? And poetry? But it was SO COOL!!

B: She googled. Hahahaha. I don’t know. I’ve never read a screenplay or anything, but Liza needs to start writing all the time for movies or something, because SHE TOTALLY ROCKED IT. She’s a screenplay/poetry/fiction-writing GENIUS.

A: Agree. And how about that story! So many different threads to follow, and figure out how they all tie together. It was so awesome to see all the ways the lives of these five teens intersected. And at just the right moments. Fate?

B: This book made me believe in Fate. Destiny. Whatever. Truly incredible. I had no idea how this story was going to take off, but right away, from that very first page, I was HOOKED. Line and sinker.

A: Yeah, and the tension of WHEN IS EMERSON GOING TO SEE HER IRL???? Ugh. Just stab me in the heart.

B: THE FEELS! I feel like this would be translated really well in a movie. It just sounds like something I would want to go to the theatre and watch, ya know? I mean, what are the chances of you calling your dead grandmother’s old number, and a sweet, considerate, smoking-hot guy picks up that actually has a heart and talks to you? IT PUNCHED ME IN THE FEELS. And when they decide NOT to talk EVER again, and she wants him to CHANGE HIS NUMBER?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOOOOOOOOO. I may have wanted to cry at that moment. Or maybe I did cry.

A: YES! That was SO hard for me. I had to actually have a conversation with myself and tell myself that Tricia needed to find herself before she could be with another guy. Or else she’d never really heal (as much as possible) and grow. But, HOW? How do you let a guy like Emerson go, never knowing if you’ll ever talk to him again? I couldn’t do it.

B: I couldn’t either. She was going through so much, and she needed someone to talk to about it, without smothering her like Brian was doing all that time. But I think she was just scared. She finally found her way of expressing what she was feeling, and the one person who actually listens...and she pushes him away? I think that was a spur of the moment decision from being scared, because I could tell she questioned it afterwards. WHO WOULDN’T? It was just one of those things that she wasn’t expecting, and sometimes the things you least expect are some of the scariest, but also the best.

A: You said it perfectly! I wonder if she was scared of putting her trust in another guy, also, after the way Brian responded. And speaking of Brian, it was so interesting, seeing him through Tricia’s eyes, and being so annoyed with him. But then we get a chapter from him and I ended up really feeling for him. That was one of the things I loved most about this book. It’s really easy to judge a person, and assume things about him when you don’t know what’s going on in his head.


B: Agreed!! I’m not going to lie. I thought Brian was a total douche canoe at first. Haha. But then, we get the chance to jump inside his head and his feelings, and wow. I completely understood why he was acting the way he was. He was in a very difficult position, and he handled it the only way he knew how. It’s fascinating how much we start to judge a person by what someone else feels/thinks about them before we get their side of the story, and I felt like that was a great moral for the entire book.

A: I had the same reaction with Angie. I seriously hated that girl! And even though she still probably wouldn’t be my favorite person in real life, reading from her point of view softened my heart to her. And so many people have actually connected with her. It’s crazy!

B: Yes! I did too. She was one of those girls that just drives you nuts by the way she was acting. I understood that she knew she was losing Emerson, but all the things that she was doing to try to ‘save’ their relationship made me feel so bad for her. I would never do some of the things she did, but I remember being that age and feeling so out of control of a failing relationship that I was willing to do whatever crazy thing I could imagine to try to save it. I connected with Angie, but it took me a bit to get to that point.

A: It was also really amazing to see the different ways that different relationships develop. And how one person can basically be toxic in one relationship, but perfect for another. Especially if they’ve learned from the relationships that failed.

B: Totally agree! It was fantastic to watch that other relationship unfold, and I’m not going to lie, even though she wasn’t my favorite at the beginning, I totes shipped it.

A: ME TOO!!

Then there was the setting! I feel like it almost took on its own personality. I seriously want to visit and explore all the places that were in the book. The ferry, the lighthouse, and the entire town!

B: Yes!!! I loved all of it! I also loved how Tricia started transforming not only her emotions about everything after she talked with Emerson, but then she started on the house, and truly began to heal. Although, I’ll admit my heart broke for Brian when he saw that she was healing way better without him than she was with him. I almost wanted them to get back together because I wanted him to have his happy ending too, buuuuut they were toxic together, and Emerson is Happily Ever After material.

A: I have to say I didn’t even have a little tiny part of me that wanted Brian and Tricia to get back together. I was like GO AWAY AND MAKE ROOM FOR EMERSON! But I guess we can’t tell people how that worked out…

B: Yeah, no spoilers. Haha. But I said ALMOST wanted. That means only a teeny tiny part. Haha. I loved seeing him heal too, though. He stopped doing something he was incredibly passionate about to try to help Tricia, and all it did was cause destruction. I was glad that he was able to find his way back to himself, even if he wasn’t able to save who he cared the most about.

A: I loved all the different artistic interests that were presented in this story too. I mean Brian sculpts (there are pics of his art in the book), Brenda writes screenplays, Angie writes poetry, Emerson obviously reads. And the way each of these things were incorporated in the actual storytelling was so cool.

B: INCREDIBLY cool. I also personally loved all of the Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes at the beginning of every chapter. I think that just brought even more substance to the overall story, and I adore that Emerson’s mom named him after RWE.

A: *Sighs* I just want to read it all over again!

B: Same! It’s actually sitting on my desk, right in front of me, and taunting me to re-read. All of this discussion makes me want to drive to all of my local bookstores and put copies of Hello? in every single person’s cart. Because that’s how I roll. And EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD NEEDS TO READ THIS. It is a life-changing book.

A: Haha! I definitely want to do the SAME thing! If I love a book I’m constantly putting it out front for the world to see. I guess we have our mission. Let’s get busy!

B: Let me get my keys…..

A: WORLD! If you haven’t read this book yet, GET ON IT!

B: SECONDED. If you read ONE book this year, HELLO? NEEDS TO BE THAT BOOK.

A: Book Doppelgangers: ??

B: Hmmmm……

A: I did kind of think of WE WERE LIARS. But without the heart-ripping-out-ending.

B: I hated We Were Liars. haha. I was thinking maybe Everything, Everything because it has a WTF ending, and it has drawings, dictionary words with new meanings, etc. It tells the story in the exact vein that Liza incredibly pulls off with Hello? and they both rocked me to the core of my feels.

A: Oooh, yeah! That fits!

A: 6 Stars?

B: Without a doubt, it is definitely 6 SPARKLING STARS. If this conversation doesn’t make people want to read this phenomenal book, then I have no idea what will (besides them accidentally buying it because we pushed it into their book cart). bahahaha

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading a ton of wonderful reviews for this I decided it was time I break my dry YA contemporary spell and take the plunge and give it a go.

I am so very thankful that I did. This is one of those rare cases where the hype really did pay off. This wasn't a trumped up book that let me down or disappointed in the least. In fact, I was enamored with it from the very first chapter.

And let me tell you, I was nervous going into it because of all the different point of views I knew I was going to be getting and not only the different voices, but the different ways in which those voices would be portrayed.

Can I say this was done so beautifully?

A truly wonderful heartfelt read about grief, growing up, ad facing troubles challenges and horrors that sadly, a lot of young adults will see and experience in their life time and all of it, truly was relayed and spoken in a way that made all the characters relatable and lovable.

I'm so very thankful that I took a chance and got to experience this wonderful story. It truly was worth the time, energy, and emotion.


*An ARC copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jessica | Bookish Serendipity · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC received courtesy of the author. This doesn't affect my opinion or review*

Hello? is a unique novel about the power of human connection, complete with lyrical writing, a brilliant cast, and those heartbreaking moments found only in the best of literature. The unflinching honestly of Hello? will make you laugh, cry, and be inspired. One of my favorite reads this year.

When done right, I adore multiple POVs in novels, and Liza has clearly mastered this. The stories of five teens are woven together to create a heartbreaking, beautiful novel. The farther you get into this novel, the more intertwined their stories become. One of the main challenges I tend to have with novels that involve multiple perspectives is that it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish them, but this is not the case for Hello? Not only do the five protagonists have distinct voices, but the unique formatting also allows the reader to flip through the chapters without any confusion.

There are some novels out there that are just so rare and perfect that it can be difficult to describe how beautiful they are. Hello? is one of them. More than anything, Hello? will make you feel. Joy, anger, frustration, sorrow, disappointment--these are all emotions you will explore as you walk in the shoes of these characters. All of the characters have their own personal successes and failures, but you will be rooting for them the entire time.

Brian, Tricia, Emerson, Angie and Brenda--these are the five protagonists of Hello? They are all in their senior year of high school and have different plans for the the future. Brenda is going to NYC to study theatre and Emerson is off to university, but not everyone is so sure of what their futures hold. None of the characters are perfect. They make mistakes and they fail, but that's part of life. They are all searching for their place in the world, and are hoping for things to get better.

From the moment that Tricia called her deceased grandmother's phone number and Emerson picked up, it was almost as if these characters were destined to come into each other's lives. I loved reading about the relationships between these teens, and the way that that fate brought them together. Their stories were so fascinating, so real.

Liza's writing is beautiful. The vocabulary and phrasing is lovely, yes, but it's more than that. There's something about her style that makes you think, really think, about life, about the power of the human connection. This is a character-driven story, and the writing really enhances this element. I adored it.

Hello? is a beautifully written novel about love, loss and the journey of self-discovery. A powerful coming-of-age story, Hello? is certain to please. Hello, book. I love you.

[Martina Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave, beautiful, and wholly original, this story about tantalizing connections and heartbreaking relationships will haunt you, fill you with hope, and leave you smiling.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was damn near impossible to write since I adored this book so much. It's one of those situations where I just don't feel I have an adequate enough vocabulary to voice my feelings so I'll just fangirl it out for you. I DO NOT READ CONTEMPORARY YA. I just am kinda of past that point in my life and don't have much desire to revisit those years especially through the eyes of someone who ...well isn't me. I get frustrated when characters make stupid decisions and let's face it that is what teen years are made of (or mine were anyway). Where am I going with all this you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Hello? was the perfect example of a contemp that I would shove into the hands of other people like me! There is so much substance there that you can't help but love it. I was lucky enough to meet Liza at BEA after interacting with ehr through social media for quite some time. She is one of the most positive vivacious people I have yet to encounter and I just want to throw out there that my love for her has in no way affected my opinion of this book.

Hello? was able to bring me through many emotions but didn't leave me bereft at the end. The 5 different perspectives were well thought out and complimentary of each other. The thing that sold me on this book was how each distinct voice had a distinct narrative. There was narrative, free verse, screenplay and even some illustrations. This kept me interested and really helped add to each voice. I was able to connect with the character on a whole nother level. Tricia, a girl who just lost her grandmother struck a chord deep in me. I lost my mother and grandfather and those wound are still raw so I connected with her immediately and in turn was able to relate to Brian who was trying to help Tricia through things but has to really refocus on his own life. I liked the other characters  but these two stole the show for me.

That being said I could see a bit of myself in each of these characters. Especially Angie and her need for love. I wish we would have had some more narrative from her. she was very bold and in your face but it came from place of insecurity. I would love one day to pick Liza's brain at what her inspiration was for each of these characters. the plot seems almost secondary to me. It did weave the stories together in way that was both satisfying and clever.

This book...you guys THIS BOOK! If you are a character driven person who loves a good heart squeeze give this one a try. I promise you won't be disappointed!!This review was originally posted on Please Feed the Bookworm Click here to keep reading bout my feels!

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Sigh*

I read this book weeks ago, and honestly, this is the most difficult review I’ve had to write so far this year. Maybe that’s because this book is my FAVORITE book from 2015. Maybe it’s because I know my words will never do this book justice. Liza’s masterful writing brought this truly amazing and life-changing story to soaring heights. As you can see from its 4.5+ star rating on Goodreads, I’m not alone with the love I feel for this story. Each person that reads this story is touched by it differently, which to me is an indicator of a masterpiece. A story that will never be forgotten.

One HELLO? can change a life. One HELLO? can save a life.

Hello? is the story of five teenagers on their journey through life. These characters are all connected in one way or another, their lives intersecting at different points completely unexpectedly. The way this story was written was utter perfection. I cried. I smiled. I was filled with all the warm fuzzy feelings. This story took my emotions through the wringer! It was heartbreaking, even disturbing at times, but exceptionally hopeful and encouraging. The entire theme of Hello? is “Kindness. Compassion. Chain reaction”. It’s impossible not to be completely riveted by this touching story.

This gorgeous story is written through the alternating first-person points of view of five teenagers. Tricia’s and Emerson’s chapters are your typical first-person narrative. Brian, who is an artist, has drawings to accompany his voice within his chapters, which I found so enjoyable. Brenda’s chapters are told in a screenplay format, something I’ve never seen done before. And lastly there’s Angie, whose is free verse poetry. I adored the uniqueness of this writing style as it added so much to this story and to these characters individually. Never once was this story hard to follow or confusing with this format. On the contrary, having each character portray their unique personalities through the styling of their chapters added an exceptional depth to each one.

Don’t let the idea of five different narrators scare you in any way. If you’re like me, seeing this many points of view can be extremely intimidating. Trust me when I say this book is NOT the type of story that will leave you feeling lost on characters or time frame. There’s no bouncing between past and present tenses or flipping between characters carelessly. Each transition from one voice to another is done seamlessly, and each point of view is exceptionally unique to the point where you always know who is speaking at any given time.

“For what it’s worth, I believe we’re born imperfect, and perfection, whatever that may be, is unattainable by us mere human beings.”

This story also affected me on a personal level. I won’t go into major detail, but reading this story at the exact time I read it helped me more than I can express. I was struggling to cope with the death of a close loved one, and I truly believe I was meant to read this book at the exact moment that I read it. Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe fate? Surely a case of serendipity. Whatever it was, I was meant to find this book when I did… and for that, I will never be able to thank Liza enough for writing this little piece of heaven that forever changed my life. ♥

An exceptionally well-written YA contemporary that will bring your feels through the wringer, but will leave you smiling and hopeful, looking forward to a nicer tomorrow. Kindness and compassion can go such a long way, and reading this story truly made me want to be a better person. If you’re looking for a book that will floor you, leaving you breathless and reeling, overcome with both tears of joy and tears of sadness, this is definitely one you won’t want to miss.

If I had one night, I’d hold you in my arms,
Find redemption, no more contention,
Keeping you close. Too long, years gone,
Wasted away. One night, our night,
Remember this, I won’t forget you.
No, I won’t forget you.
-Red-Eyed Loons

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

[Heidi (yabibliophile) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an early version and absolutely loved it! Cannot wait to read the final product!!!!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this pre-submission and now again as final manuscript form, and I'm blown away. High school teachers especially, and WI teachers in particular, keep your eye out for Hello? this fall.

This is how I blurbed this book:
"Liza Wiemer's words evoke the heart of the Door County, WI setting and the teens who reside there with an honesty that will allow the story to resonate far beyond. Elements of faith, grief, family, memories, friendship, love, fear, and hope combine in a profound way that seems destined to be through the intertwining perspectives and formats of the five main characters. A remarkable YA debut."
-Jillian Heise, NBCT, Heise Reads & Recommends

[Hannah McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just as beautiful as the woman who breathed life into it. Brilliantly written, it owned my heart from the first page to the last. First book of 2015 to make me cry. <3

Full review to come closer to release.

[Kels · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I packed this book on my trip. The writing was top-notched, the characters were highly interesting, unique, and dimensional, and the plot was bold and riveting. What more could I have asked for?

[Becca Vaughn (PivotBookTotes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been in the most horrible reading slump lately. This PHENOMENAL book brought me out of it. If that doesn't spur you into reading it, I don't know what will.

Longer review to come.

[Jackie Ullerich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and unforgettable. Door County, Wisconsin is a wonderful setting. Loved the multiple, distinct voices!

[Lynn Sneyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read a debut novel that rocks your world, you want to share it with fellow readers, if for no other reason than to know that there is someone else out there who understands why you can't stop raving. Few authors are willing to take the risks that Wiemer took in this story, and few authors would be able to pull off what she so eloquently and cleverly did. HELLO? is the the story of 5 teens whose lives converge in Door County, Wisconsin. Throughout the book, the characters take turns speaking in first person. But rather than having 5 "typical" narrative voices, Wiemer incorporates unconventional formats. One character speaks solely through free verse poetry; another uses a movie script format. A third character includes drawings of his pottery. The transitions between these well-formed, complex characters is seamless. You can't help but have empathy for each one and deeply feel the ups and downs of their personal journeys. In addition, Wiemer pulls off the unexpected with perfect pacing that leaves you stunned. HELLO? is an absolute must-read for teens and adults. It is one of those novels that will be talked about - no, make that raved about - for years to come.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-stopping, real, and a breath of fresh air, Liza Wiemer's debut is the kind of story that captivates and sticks with you long after you turn the last page. Poignant relationships between family and friends will grab your attention while stunning writing and authentic characters will leave you unable to stop reading until the very end. Hello? is an absolute must read.

Full Review closer to publication on Swoony Boys Podcast.

[starryeyedjen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ARC of this title was gifted by the author. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.

Take the unique storytelling method of Illuminae, complete with five different perspectives, and add in a poignant story of grief, loss, love and hope, and you've got Hello? by Liza Wiemer. I was glassy-eyed and sniffling by page three, had the chills at page 23, and readying myself for an all-nighter by page 151. This is an extremely beautiful story, and I felt its loss whenever I had to be away from it.



I follow Liza Wiemer on social media, so I was familiar enough with the book when I won a copy from the author. (She sent the lovely package you see above, including an ARC, a Hello? bookmark, and cards featuring sights reminiscent of those in the book.) I was most intrigued by the format of the story. Using such varied means for each viewpoint gives you such insight into the characters. They're telling their side of the story the way they want to, and in this way, each character stood apart: in the way they see themselves and in the way they view each other.

When viewing Brian through Tricia or Emerson's eyes, I couldn't stand the guy. But when he was narrating or when reading Brenda's screenplay format was in use, I better understood him and his motivations. The same is true of all the characters, though. I normally don't prefer so many different points of view, but with so many perspectives in Hello? I felt that the characters were fuller, that I got to see the good along with the bad, the things they hid from others and even more importantly, the things they hid from themselves.



This story is about connections, coincidences and serendipity. I think from the beginning, I knew how the overall story would play out -- or at least how I wanted it to end -- but the lives of these five teenagers are so intertwined, their stories each so compelling, that I just couldn't stop reading. Not that I wanted to. ;) The narratives are so intricately woven that I forgot to worry about how everything would come to fruition and instead trusted that Liza knew what she was doing. (Spoiler: she does.)

The cast of characters was phenomenal. The writing and format were brilliant. Even the character interactions were perfection. It's agonizingly sad at times, but it's also unfailingly hopeful. There's not a single thing I didn't love about this novel...except maybe the fact that I still want to know what happens to each character and where life takes them. I might be a little too invested in the lives of these fictional characters. But that might be one of the best/worst #booknerdproblems to have. :D

If you were a fan of Illuminae's use of mixed media to tell the story but want to see a contemporary take on it, Hello? is your book. If you enjoy feeling the full spectrum of emotions while reading, Hello? is your book. If you just plain like reading extraordinary books, Hello? is your book. In other words, you should read this book.

GIF it to me straight:<

[Kristina McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

Liza Wiemer's Hello? is a poignant tale of friendship, love, loss, and resilience. Told from multiple points of view, the richly drawn characters offer a powerful example of how connected we all truly are. This book will compel readers to consider the existence of destiny. Hello? grabbed me from the first page and pulled me right through to the gorgeous ending.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even know how I'm going to begin to express how much I loved Hello? by Liza Wiemer. I honestly can't say it was a book that was on my radar to begin with, but something about the summary made me want to pick it up even though typically, even the hint of angst or multiple POVs is enough to chase me away from a book. To say that I'm incredibly happy I read the book would be one of the biggest understatements of the year. Hello? is a poignant and emotional story about 5 teenagers on the surface, told in prose, poetry and screenplays, but it runs much much deeper than that - it's an exploration of the human psyche, done phenomenally, and one that will gut readers in every way.

Tricia
Oh Tricia, how I wanted to hug you and reassure you that everything would eventually be okay.
Tricia's story was probably the most heartbreaking one in Hello?. Liza Wiemer did a fantastic job at portraying the shades of emotions that she went through, having recently lost the center of her life, her grandmother. Family has always been important to me, and I connected with Tricia because of her deep bond with her grandma. As expected, she was completely destroyed at her recent loss and having also lost her parents in the past, it was an incredibly difficult period for her, with thoughts of self harm and suicide frequently drifting to her mind. Watching her go through all these obstacles was tough for me as a reader and there were so many moments in her POV, I was overwhelmed with sadness. While grief, sorrow and survival's guilt were the primary themes of Tricia's POV, hers was also one brimming with hope. She's a character who grew throughout the book in the sense that she became accepting of her grandma's passing, striving to move on with her life and becoming a stronger person in the process.

Brian
As with Tricia's story, Brian's was also told in simple, but beautiful prose with addition of lovely pottery sketches. His story was the tamest when it came to emotional intensity in Hello?, but don't let that make you think that it was my least favorite. Brian's story for me, was all about letting go, and chasing after dreams. He and Tricia had been anchored for years and through Tricia's difficult moments, he stuck by her even though she showed no signs of improving. I loved how he was the strong one in their relationship and how he did it all without any complaints. Despite everything though, they were not a couple made for each other and when Brian did finally decide to make the right decision, I had nothing but mad respect for him because he did it so Tricia could finally grow. His love for pottery was also sweet and inspiring and I loved the sketches and how each sketch had a special meaning for him.

Emerson
I loved every point of view in Hello?, but I have to say that Emerson was the character that I was most invested in.  Named after the famous poet, Emerson's gentle soul, loveable personality and compassionate nature spoke to me. He was probably one of the most selfless characters that I have ever read about and it is what made me fall in love with him. He frequently had his name tarnished in the book thanks to his ex-girlfriend, but despite everything, he remained true to himself, never once trying to get back at his ex. He was a special character and he was someone who taught me something about life: it can be shitty at times, but always be kind to the people around you. Not to mention, one phone conversation with him saved Tricia's life. For Tricia, he was the light at the end of the tunnel and I thought Liza Wiemer conveyed that beautifully through his POV.

Angie
I was wary
of Angie's POV.

Especially after what she did
to my favorite character.
Poor Emerson.

But she won me over
because through her
I learned about
Love
Friendship
Hope
Honesty.

She is not the most likeable
Because
she makes mistakes,
so many mistakes,
like every human being.

This made her
So
Very
Relateable.

The verse
showcased her thought process,
her emotions
and the author's talent.

Not to forget,
it had a lovely, beautiful
romance
that made me feel
so much.

Brenda
Nick approaches Brenda's POV with a lot of wariness, as with Angie's POV. It is told in screenplay after all. And Brenda does not make a very good first impression.

Brenda: Let me throw a tantrum about my best friend, Angie, thinking that I am gay like it's the worst possible thing she could ever think. And I freak out every time I don't hear back from her and think that she doesn't love me and that Emerson is spreading rumors about me.

Nick: Hmm... Brenda, what are you hiding? Why are you so prickly? Do something to convince me that I should like you. Please stop being so fickle.

Liza Wiemer shares Brenda's story bit by bit. She manages to slay Nick's emotions.

Nick: I feel like a heart, cold soul. I take back every negative thought I had about her.

Throughout the book, Brenda proves Nick wrong. VERY VERY WRONG. She makes Nick realize that she shouldn't judge people before she knows their whole story. Nick is amazed by Brenda's wisdom, thoughtfulness and how in the end, she is the one who meshes all the characters together, in a beautiful union.

Concluding Thoughts
OK. So I tried really really hard to replicate what the book made me feel, but I might have failed with the free verse and the screenplay. But hey, at least I tried, right? Anyways, I don't know what more to say about Hello? to convince you readers. It's hard for me to believe that this was just Liza Wiemer's debut, but she is so talented and writes and expresses like a pro, but it makes me happy because I know I can expect stellar emotional books from her in the future. Hello? is unlike anything I've ever read before, and I want ALL of you to give it a try. Whether you are a teenager or an adult, this book can teach each and everyone of you something about life and I promise you this, by the end, you'll be bursting with hope.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many different openings I came up with to review Liza Wiemer’s miracle of a novel, “Hello?”, yet not one of them really works.

I thought of the REM song lyric, “Everybody hurts, sometimes.” In “Hello?”, everybody hurts at some point or another. Sometimes, it’s because of their own actions—a missed signal given or acted upon, a lie left to fester too long. Other times, the hurt comes from the death of a most-cherished loved one, or memories of long-ago wounds. Still others hurt because they don’t know how to relate to their loved ones’ pain—or when, simply, to give them the space and time they need to sort out their feelings.

I thought, too, of a really nasty curveball. In baseball, a great curveball comes out of the pitcher’s hand, and it looks so incredibly enticing—OMG, this guy made a mistake! I’m going to smash this into the cheap seats—then, right at the point the batter swings, the ball breaks sharply downward, and bat misses ball by a ridiculous margin. “Hello?” is full of curveballs. Liza Wiemer’s characters all have their secrets and scars (some scars metaphorical, others corporeal). When some of her characters think they know another’s truth, there’s the sharp break, and they’re off by a mile.

Similarly, as readers, we are kept back on our heels, as curveball after curveball leaps up at us from the page. Practically every time we know just what a person has been through or why they behave a certain way, there it is, and we’re left wide-eyed, wondering how we could’ve been so badly fooled.

This isn’t authorial trickery, though. It’s our own fault for expecting people—and characters—to be so easily predictable and shallow, that we can properly assume what lurks beneath their respective surfaces. We know the clichés: the good-hearted, nice-guy jock, the unruly party girl, the emo outsider, the emotionally stunted sad girl. We know them all so well, but “Hello?” chips through these veneers, and shows us what we so rarely see: the insecurities and desperation to be understood that lurks around dark corners in each of our hearts. It is a tribute to Ms. Wiemer that her writing peels back these layers, so we can see in her characters those same emotions and feelings most of us try to hide.

The image I finally settled upon as best representing “Hello?” is the Olympic Rings. Five rings, interconnected into one symbol.

Indeed, “Hello?” has five main characters, all of them high school seniors. There’s Tricia, who just lost her grandmother, her last surviving relative, and her only link to her past. Emerson is a popular jock and excellent student, whose heart holds a terrible guilt he’s incapable of releasing. Angie has secrets so dark she can only express her thoughts through her poetry journal. Brian is a potter, a hugely talented artist, who sets his own life aside for his best friend, a choice that hurts them both. Brenda is a brilliant actress and screenplay writer, who is most comfortable seeing herself in the third-person, as if she were a character in her own drama.
These five lives intersect in some ways that are predictable—students at the same small high school would obviously know each other, for example—but it’s the serendipitous way other circles connect that makes “Hello?” such a joy to read.

GOD, there are so many things I would love to write about “Hello?”, but spoilers. “Hello?” deserves for each reader to approach it without any preconceived notions, able to savor every nuance and twist with fresh eyes.

At the end of the day, The Universe has an odd way of working things out, and what begins with a tearful, late night, wrong number phone call, can somehow end up with a hugely satisfying resolution. The Universe has a bitch of a curveball. So does Liza Wiemer. “Hello?” is a beautiful, intelligent, unpredictable ride.

Take it.

Most Highly Recommended

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liza has written an amazing and unique story!! Full review to come

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My original review of this title can be found here on The Book Hookup.

**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.

♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4.5 shining stars! This novel was unlike anything I've read before. After two trusted bloggers politely pushed it on me (Thanks Lisa and Jen !) and I read so many five-star reviews for it, I went in with an unhealthy dose of high expectations, and just as much trepidation as there was excitement. Still, the story I was given was more than I realized I wanted, and yet nothing like what I expected either. It was collectively uplifting and heartbreaking, settling in all those emotional high-point nooks and crannies in-between as well.

Hello? was the touching journey of five teenagers, and how fate, the universe, or God placed them on a map of Life and chose the most opportune moments to have their paths intersect and then intertwine. It was an enduringly honest portrayal of all the beautiful and tragic, hurtful parts of humanity and the roles we fulfill in one another's lives, both directly and indirectly. It's a novel that I won't soon forget.

♥ The Lowdown: Like dominoes falling in to place, five teens unknowingly already on crossed paths become forever linked through one answered phone call that saved a life and set others into motion.

Tricia has been trudging through the last five months of her life after the death of her grandmother and that only living relative she had left. She's alive, but not really living. Her boyfriend, Brian, has been a constant at her side, but she only knows how to push him away, and now they both feel alone in the relationship. Elsewhere, Emerson is struggling in his own relationship with his girlfriend, Angie. Forever changed because of the afforded second chance at life he was given, he goes through each of his days trying to be the perfect person worthy of that blessing. Angie has her own story, too. She doesn't want to be a product of her parents' failures and short-comings, especially that of her abusive father locked away in prison. She once thought she could rely on a boy, but in the end, she knows she can only count on her best friend, Brenda. Brenda is busy shielding herself from her own demons, and her connection with Angie is the only reason she's having to battle them at all.

In this novel, each character will have to face the most broken parts of themselves to be able to move on with their life. It's in their shared connections of friendship and family that they all find that strength to start pushing forward, to start making those necessary changes to fix themselves and each other.

♥ Review: I'm not going to lie, I'm struggling to write this review. After I finished the book, the only words that kept coming to mind were "Wow!" and "What exactly did I just read?" If you've read any of the other countless five-star reviews that I read prior to requesting this novel, then you already know how exceptional and widely celebrated this book is throughout the blogosphere. I don't think anything that I can say will adequately do this powerful book any sort of justice, but alas I should try.

Wiemer has given us a stellar YA debut novel. It's a masterfully crafted book told in a unique style, delivered in alternating first-person narratives of all five main characters. However, if you're like me and often find that multiple POV's overwhelm you and the characters muddle in your head, don't let that tidbit scare you off. This author managed to accomplish a feat seldom ever do when tackling so many storylines, and not only that, but she completely knocked it out of the park. Ms. Wiemer allowed her characters the space to breath and fill up the page, to become as real to me as possible, by giving each a genuine voice and a perspective format that is distinct to each individual character. Tricia and Emerson are both written in standard narrative viewpoints, while Brian the artist is accompanied with drawings, aspiring actress, Brenda, is told in a screenplay format, and Angie's perspective is relayed through free verse poetry. She also didn't have random, frequent jumps between the point-of-views. Each perspective transition was smooth and consistent, giving us the perfect amount of allotted time with each character to really dig into the heart of these people you'll inevitably feel connected to, relate to, by the end.

With that said, it's how all these storylines intersect, come together, and interlace that will really leave you in complete wonder. I had an idea of how all this would unfold from early on, and even though I was right, I still raced through the pages and sat in stunned bewilderment at how it all fell into place. It's a poignant reminder of how we influence those close to us, and can even effect complete strangers. It shows us there's power in being kind and caring, and that sometimes the generosity of one person can ripple outward and affect others. Yes, you are only one person, but if you have an impact on another person and they pay it forward, then you indirectly have the ability to influence many other lives. That's significant and something that truly resonated with me. I needed that reminder and I appreciate that Wiemer offered that nudge via a very moving story.

However, I did have to deduct that half a star because there were some issues that drove me a little bonkers. Mainly, it had to do with Brian and Tricia. I can completely understand that life circumstances can have a major impact and often strain relationships, but I was a little baffled by how the demise of their relationship went down. For their love to have been so epic and long-lasting, I didn't believe Brian's cold-shoulder act. Even though I didn't know his character prior to those opening scenes, it was hard for me to put aside their love story, which I had already bought into, and sympathize with how cruel he was being. I can empathize with his hurt and feelings of betrayal, but for him to have invested so much into his relationship with Tricia, for him to have loved her so immensely, I couldn't fathom he'd ever have just dropped out of her life so quickly. Same goes for Tricia. For him to have been perceived as her one great, intended love and for him to have been begging her to see reason and to just try, I couldn't believe how quickly she moved on and how she was immediately making an effort the second he walked out the door. This one little hangup aside, everything else in the book worked so well for me.

♥ Rec It? Absolutely! Hello? is a lovely, yet heartbreaking tale of friends, families, and strangers. With a refreshing style of narrative and authentic characterizations, this book was a page-turner from start to finish. I can't wait to see what more this author has to offer because after this novel all her books will probably be an auto-read for me.

♥ A very special thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Kris Mauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys, it's hard for me to find the right words to explain to you how much I love this book.
The story was so unique - full of heartbreak and hope all at the same time.

"If you forget the past, you're doomed to repeat it.
I can't and won't forget my past."

It is a little slow paced, I mean the book only takes place within a week. I enjoyed this though - usually it becomes boring, especially when you hit the middle of the story and it begins to drag everything out.. but that was not the case in Hello?. The slow pace allows us to get to know our characters on a deeper level, and they are the most important part of this whole book.

There are five different POVs in Hello? - Tricia, Emerson, Brenda, Angie, and Brian.
We find each of these characters in a different point in their lives at the beginning of the story, and I was immediately drawn into each of their individual plots. The characters in this story are unique in their own way, and I found myself rooting for each of them.
Even though they were each inspiring in their own right, I was drawn to Tricia the most because like myself she was dealing with not only loss, but depression as well. As someone who dealt with depression as a teenager - I was intrigued while reading the real emotions of Tricia, and how she deals with everything in her life while suffering from this heartbreak and loss. It was such an honest point of view for me, and I think if I dealt with the struggles that the other characters dealt with then it would be just as honest as Tricia's point of view.

We see these characters develop in such a special way.
Each of them end up exactly where you hope they would end up and it leaves you completely emotional.
You are full of hope, heartache, unease, and love.



I'm usually apprehensive about having so many different POVs - but Liza Wiemer's writing is so beautiful, and done so well that it worked for Hello?. The character's lives weave together throughout the whole story, and each individual plot point only helps move the whole story along more. This never becomes confusing, and it never made me want to skim through a certain character's chapter - which is a huge plus! I was intrigued the whole time.

There is so much hope, love, and strength throughout this story.
It's hard to explain how that can be unless you read it yourself. It's beautiful to see how much inspiration and heart was put into this story. I hope when people finally get to read this story they find the power in Wiemer's words. I hope they see how powerful human connection is, and find a bit of themselves in this book. I don't think it matters if you've been in these character's shoes or not - if you've been lost or unsure of your future in any way then I truly believe this story will help you find a bit of yourself.

Overall, I loved Hello? - if you couldn't already tell.
The raw emotions, and the beautiful writing is more than enough for you to check this book out! I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good contemporary novel. It's full of love, friendship, and hope!

FULL REVIEW HERE

[Mary Books and Cookies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was also posted on my blog: http://books-and-cookies.tumblr.com/

Thank you NetGalley and Spencer Hill Contemporary for providing this ARC

Oh my gosh, guys, this book. It was absolutely magical and perfect and lovely and heartbreaking and beautiful. I read it in one sitting and I have absolutely no regret picking it up. At all. It was wonderful, extremely original and a delight to read.

It tells the story of five teenagers, each story being written in a different style: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian), all of them linked by one phone call. This is all I’m giving away, plot wise, because, trust me, it will be a million times better to find out for yourself what the story holds.

The writing was absolutely wonderful. It was poetic, it flowed amazing in all the different styles that were used and it managed to make me nostalgic for a place I’ve never seen before - a lighthouse on an island. The descriptions were stunning and Wiemer managed to weave such a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere, in which I felt soothed. I can’t express it properly. I just had the best time reading this.

Despite the multiple point of views and the multiple stories entwined, all the characters had their own personality, they were individuals part of the same story, each with their quirks and distinctive voice. I never felt like any of them was lost in another’s story. And I was able to empathize so easily with all of them, which is proof of Wiemer’s ability to write. I can’t believe that this was her YA debut, it’s an absolutely astonishing story.

It’s a story about friendship, about family, growing up, love, secrets that can only stay hidden for so long and about the intricacies of life and the way they can surprise us. It’s about the mysterious ways that we walk, sometimes connecting people in unexpected and quite miraculous ways. It’s a story filled with emotion, that will tug at your heart and will maybe leave you believing a bit more in something when you finish it. Please, please give this a try. And then come tell me what you thought :)

Favourite quote:

“One HELLO? can change a life.
One HELLO? can save a life.

★★★★★

To everyone who got this far, thank you for reading and have a wonderful day! Also, feel free to share your thoughts, comment or tell me anything :)

[Marcilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a saying/belief that certain people or things come into our lives for a reason. I believe that in the case of this novel, that belief completely applies. Not just for the characters within the story, but also for the reader. Hello? is the embodiment of all the many ups, downs, and life changing moments we all have experienced in our lives. Especially the transition as we cross that very unstable threshold between teen and adulthood. There are so many of us that have suffered through grief at an early age, and many others that have been hurt by those we should most be able to trust. Other times we have been in so much pain that we don’t know how to handle it. Everything begins to lose meaning and life has no purpose. We spiral out of control and into total darkness, we feel alone, scared, confused, unwanted, unloved, devastated and so many other emotions. It is upon moments and fractions of life like these that Hello? touches on, as well as the possibility of finding ourselves again, and of being happy with the help of our family, friends or something as simple as one “Hello”.

Hello? is the story of 5 high school seniors, whose lives are intertwined without any of them really knowing it yet. Tricia has already suffered the loss of her parents, and now an even bigger blow with the loss of her dear grandmother. Her boyfriend Brian has been trying his hardest to be a constant source of support for Tricia, but he doesn’t truly know how to deal with Tricia’s grief or understand that his way of trying to comfort her isn’t what Tricia needs at this moment. Tricia keeps pushing him away, resulting in both of them feeling confused, alone and empty. Emerson is dealing with his own inner demons. He is constantly trying to be perfect and worthy of having been given a second chance in life (he was almost killed when he was a small child). He is also struggling with his relationship with his girlfriend Angie. Angie is in desperate need of some self-love. There is plenty of family drama for Angie to deal with too especially because of her abusive father who is in jail. Angie doesn’t trust people and pretty much only confides in her best friend Brenda. Brenda is tortured by what happened to her when she was younger, something that is directly linked to Angie leaving Brenda unable trust or open herself up to anyone because of what she endured.

The book is written in the prospective of these 5 characters. I really liked the unique way Liza gives each of them their own voice and bit of personality by how she structures their individual chapters. Tricia and Emerson’s chapters are written the most traditionally, but you get artwork with Brian (he’s a sculptor/potter), poetry with Angie and a playwright format with Brenda’s chapters. I think that this allows for a deeper perspective on what maybe mere words on a page might not get through to a reader. For example, Brenda writes about her life as a play, as if she is a stranger looking in. She is distancing herself from her own reality. Angie writes free form poetry, giving her a depth that you might not think she has from how she is portrayed and spoken of by other characters. The story really starts to bloom for me when Tricia just can’t take it anymore and is about to go down a very dark path. She decides to make a phone call in her desperation, a call to her deceased grandmother’s cellphone. She wants a “sign”, guidance, a glimmer of light. The person that answers is Emerson. That phone call not only saves, but changes Tricia’s life. It also causes a domino affect that impacts everyone else in the story.

Liza Wiemer really captured the raw emotions of growing up. Liza writes from the heart, and creates a deeply emotional and unforgettable story about friendship, heartache, grief and everything in-between. I could not put this book down. The connections between all the characters reminded me very much of theories regarding how humans are all somehow connected, as well as the idea of soul-mates or past lives. Sometimes we might even walk by someone, be connected to them but only find out much further in the future, or sometimes we feel such a strong urge/draw to certain people and can’t hold back wanting to reach out and connect with them. I am a big believer in soul mates (not just in love, but also in friendship) and I can definitely say I have experienced this theory and sensation in my own life. It’s quite a beautiful thing to find people you connect with so deeply that it feels like you have known them all your life, like you are “coming home”. This is how I think Tricia and Emerson felt when they started talking during that fated phone call, probably one of my favorite parts of the book.

Liza Wiemer has written a gorgeous debut novel. It left me in total awe and wonder. She managed to perfectly keep all the perspectives interlaced and smoothly coming in and out of one another allowing the story to glide. I was moved to tears but also laughed and rejoiced with her characters as they each faced the darkest parts of themselves, pushed on ahead and conquered their own individual demons. This novel filled me with hope, it reminded me of my own personal struggles that I have experienced and also conquered. I loved reading Hello? and I if I could I would buy everyone a copy so they too could experience the journey that I went on while reading it. My love for this book is probably what made this review so hard to write. There just doesn’t seem to be enough words (or words that are worthy enough) to express how much I enjoyed this book. Hello? touches upon everything a person could want in a study of human emotion and connectivity. It shows us the power of human connection, friendship, family and love. It is honest and true. It doesn’t sugar coat anything and will cause the reader to FEEL, and I don’t mean like “the Feels” but actual gut-wrenching true FEELS. There is at least one subject matter if not many that at one point or another every reader has experienced in their own lives. It will TOUCH your soul in so many different ways.I love that the story inspires us to reach out to one another more, to check in with friends and family, to make that much-needed phone call. You never know what it could lead to, what it could stop or bring forth. The power and potential of one simple Hello.

You can find my entire review here at : http://www.readinginthetardis.com/boo...

[Xander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello

It’s me

I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet

(See what I did there)

Brenda. Angie. Emerson. Brian. Tricia.

Brenda is trying to find her place in the world. She is a screenwriter who is moving to New York soon for college.

Angie is waiting for her boyfriend to ask her to prom. She gets lost in her poetry.

Emerson wants to break up with his girlfriend, but is scared. He gets a call one night from an unknown number.

Brian is an artist who is taking care of his girlfriend. He doesn’t think he can stand it much longer.

Tricia is mourning her grandma’s passing. As a last resort, she calls her grandma’s old phone number.

Somehow, some way, these 5 Maine teens’ stories intertwine and mesh together. Liza Wiemer’s YA debut, HELLO? is sure to capture readers with its unique concept and fluid storytelling.

HELLO? is such an incredible story that, to be told well, has to be executed correctly. Guess what? This book was. The POVs in this book are unique and each new chapter brings an exciting perspective and an inspiring Ralph Waldo Emerson quote. (OMG is that why Emerson’s name is Emerson? *mind blown*) I love how Liza alternated between narrative, screenplay, and poetry to tell the stories of the characters based on their passions. Overall, HELLO? was a wonderfully played out book with great character development and writing. Would I recommend this? HELLO? What are you talking about? Yes I would!

[Gayle Rosengren · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELLO? is one of those stories that stays with you long after you close the covers of the book. Maybe that's because it has so much of value to say. Maybe it's because it is told by several teen voices. It's a bit like an orchestra with solos performances followed by duets and interactions between two or more instruments. There's some occasional dischord, a steadily increasing tempo, and ultimately some sweet harmony.
HELLO? has a unique and intriguing premise--all initiated by one desperate phone call. The various subplots are compelling underpinnings to the overall story and the message is one of hope. This is an important book for young adults. It mirrors their intense emotions and uncertainties. And it says, "You are not alone. You can get through this. Life has many twists and turns. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you feel lost and overwhelmed. Talk to someone. Reach out and say Hello." Highly recommended.
I received an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy Giuffrida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything I love in a YA read with the twist of multiple POV. Not only are there 5 very different voices telling their stories, Liza gave these characters even more room to tell their story. She uses free form poetry and script/screenplay writing to emphasize just how different these teens are.

And there are some series issues, which have been handled with beauty and hope. Never have I read something so beautiful and heart-wrenching.

[Dvora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Enlightening. Happy. Sad. Emotional. I can go on and on about all the feels from this book. I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen but I also didn't want it to end. It felt so real. The sadness and the dark clouds. The happiness and the genuine laughs of family and good friendships. I need more!!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That was fantastic. Although I was able to predict quite a bit of it, I was anxiously reading and waiting to see how everything unfolded. The epitome of unputdownable. I loved all the connections between everyone and the style each of their perspectives added to the story. So, so excellent.