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Drop
Nominated for the 2016 Carnegie Medal
I wasn’t always like this. I know what you’re thinking: druggie, junkie, wreckhead, trashbag. But I’m not sticking needles in my arm or sleeping on the streets, or stealing to feed the habit. I’m not one of those.
Carla has just moved to London and starts at yet another new school; she is desperate to fit in. Though she makes a couple of friends, she soon meets the charismatic, good-looking Finn and their whirlwind romance begins. Carla, an A student and gifted artist, lets her schoolwork slip as she enters Finn's world – a world of partying and drugs. Friends tells her that Finn is no good – even his brother, Isaac. But Isaac has an ulterior motive, doesn't he? Is either brother right for Carla?
I wasn’t always like this. I know what you’re thinking: druggie, junkie, wreckhead, trashbag. But I’m not sticking needles in my arm or sleeping on the streets, or stealing to feed the habit. I’m not one of those.
Carla has just moved to London and starts at yet another new school; she is desperate to fit in. Though she makes a couple of friends, she soon meets the charismatic, good-looking Finn and their whirlwind romance begins. Carla, an A student and gifted artist, lets her schoolwork slip as she enters Finn's world – a world of partying and drugs. Friends tells her that Finn is no good – even his brother, Isaac. But Isaac has an ulterior motive, doesn't he? Is either brother right for Carla?
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2015
5 people are currently reading
1060 people want to read
About the author
Katie Everson
1 book19 followersKatie Everson wanted to be an acrobat, but that's not what happened. She grew up in Milton Keynes and has lived in London and Sydney but is now back where it all began, the pull of home tugging her full circle. After side-lining acrobatics, she became a bookseller and realized all she wanted to do was make books. When characters began to talk among themselves in her head, she knew it was time to put finger to keyboard, and write. When Katie is not writing or being a professional design nerd in the publishing industry, she can be found enjoying big ol' family dinners with her parents, four older siblings and a multitude of nieces and nephews. Katie works as a designer at a leading London publisher. Drop is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 12, 2015
Loved this book!!!!
The writing style was amazing and I flew through this.
Really enjoyed the storyline and the message that the book gave came across clearly.
Really recommend this awesome contemporary.
Drugs. Romance. Friendship. Being true to yourself and sticking up for yourself.
The writing style was amazing and I flew through this.
Really enjoyed the storyline and the message that the book gave came across clearly.
Really recommend this awesome contemporary.
Drugs. Romance. Friendship. Being true to yourself and sticking up for yourself.
July 15, 2015
I first heard about this book at the Walker Blogger event in June and it well and truly sucked me in. I've never been a big reader of books that focus on drug and alcohol problems. It's just never something that's grabbed my attention. Once Katie Everson had read aloud a section of her book however, I knew that I had to read it asap. The storyline is so very addictive and real. I loved the way various events were conveyed - everything was so very real. Carla is used to flitting from school to school; she sees this final move as her chance to finally fit in and fall in with the 'popular' people and Drop shows how much teens are willing to sacrifice for that five minutes of attention.
Drop is a debut, but it most certainly doesn't read like one. Everson manages to convey the lengths to which teens go to in order to fit in. She shows the pressure that's on teens from various angles - it reminded me a lot of my time in school, particularly 6th form. Peer pressure is such a terrible but real thing and I felt that this book really conveyed that. Not only does it hold a lot of important moral messages, but it's also built some very real, emotional relationships. I found myself feeling as conflicted as Carla throughout the book - I knew she was making a lot of bad decisions but Finn was most certainly an alluring character and it's guaranteed that we all knew a guy like him!
Katie Everson has produced such a strong debut. I couldn't put Drop down. It's emotional, thought-provoking and addictive. I'm looking forward to read more books by this talented lady!
Drop is a debut, but it most certainly doesn't read like one. Everson manages to convey the lengths to which teens go to in order to fit in. She shows the pressure that's on teens from various angles - it reminded me a lot of my time in school, particularly 6th form. Peer pressure is such a terrible but real thing and I felt that this book really conveyed that. Not only does it hold a lot of important moral messages, but it's also built some very real, emotional relationships. I found myself feeling as conflicted as Carla throughout the book - I knew she was making a lot of bad decisions but Finn was most certainly an alluring character and it's guaranteed that we all knew a guy like him!
Katie Everson has produced such a strong debut. I couldn't put Drop down. It's emotional, thought-provoking and addictive. I'm looking forward to read more books by this talented lady!
April 21, 2020
CW: Drug use
The inner voice of teen worry and self doubt is captured really well in this book. I remember hearing almost exactly the same kinds of self-criticisms tumbling through my brain. If I’m honest, they still do the rounds in my head from time to time in social situations. This book is all about Carla losing herself to better fit in with the ‘popular’ group. This is a pretty common high school story line and this book doesn’t particularly stand out above the others. There is a lot of drug use but it isn’t a gritty foray into the world of drug addiction. It’s more of a dainty dabble into a teen drug users life. It is an important issue though, and as I mentioned earlier the inner monologue is quite authentic. It showed how easily you can get swept into this world with a few harmless ‘tries’. The only alarming part for me was when someone commented that Carla had lost weight. She was really pleased they had noticed and credited ‘stress and drug use’ as being slimming! I should have written down the exact quote but it was an audiobook and the pen and paper were over there *points to kitchen table*. Overall, the book is okay, although I did want to shake some sense into Carla a few times, but I hear that is frowned upon.
The inner voice of teen worry and self doubt is captured really well in this book. I remember hearing almost exactly the same kinds of self-criticisms tumbling through my brain. If I’m honest, they still do the rounds in my head from time to time in social situations. This book is all about Carla losing herself to better fit in with the ‘popular’ group. This is a pretty common high school story line and this book doesn’t particularly stand out above the others. There is a lot of drug use but it isn’t a gritty foray into the world of drug addiction. It’s more of a dainty dabble into a teen drug users life. It is an important issue though, and as I mentioned earlier the inner monologue is quite authentic. It showed how easily you can get swept into this world with a few harmless ‘tries’. The only alarming part for me was when someone commented that Carla had lost weight. She was really pleased they had noticed and credited ‘stress and drug use’ as being slimming! I should have written down the exact quote but it was an audiobook and the pen and paper were over there *points to kitchen table*. Overall, the book is okay, although I did want to shake some sense into Carla a few times, but I hear that is frowned upon.
July 27, 2015
So the 2nd half was mildly better than the first, for one thing, Carla grew some common sense. Even then, I loathed her. She's bright and knows what's wrong yet still convinces herself somehow to do the wrong thing.
Isaac was the saviour. I really liked him, he's cute and awkward despite being the older Masterson brother. Yeah, at times, his actions made me roll my eyes but he was the only real character I cared about. I guess there's a message about drugs behind the story but I couldn't get into it enough to care or understand which is a shame.
Isaac was the saviour. I really liked him, he's cute and awkward despite being the older Masterson brother. Yeah, at times, his actions made me roll my eyes but he was the only real character I cared about. I guess there's a message about drugs behind the story but I couldn't get into it enough to care or understand which is a shame.
June 22, 2021
i wonder why no one is talking about this book as much it deserves a lot of attention. I’ve read this in 2019 and now I don’t remember some parts exactly but oh my..I remember how the book made me feel because I finished the book in one sit with a few hours. All I know is I loved this and it blew my mind.
February 7, 2017
Wow!
This was pretty slow to begin with, but it picked up pace pretty quickly!!
Couldn't put it down!
This was pretty slow to begin with, but it picked up pace pretty quickly!!
Couldn't put it down!
September 17, 2017
Dear God, this was
painful
.
rtc
rtc
January 9, 2023
2.5*
Yeah no, I'm sorry but this really did not live up to my expectations (which weren't very high to begin with). Yes sure there's an important message about teenage drug abuse but the writing? Pass. If you want to read a book about substance abuse among young people, you'd probably have better luck elsewhere. The only thing I did like was the pacing and half the plot because you get the full experience watching the main character make bad decision after bad decision, and before you know it, the goodie-two-shoes girl you knew at the start of the novel is now snorting cocaine from a sticky toilet.
Favorite Quote: "But the thing is, you thought I needed help. Even without all the other issues, the fact that you thought I needed changing says enough."
Yeah no, I'm sorry but this really did not live up to my expectations (which weren't very high to begin with). Yes sure there's an important message about teenage drug abuse but the writing? Pass. If you want to read a book about substance abuse among young people, you'd probably have better luck elsewhere. The only thing I did like was the pacing and half the plot because you get the full experience watching the main character make bad decision after bad decision, and before you know it, the goodie-two-shoes girl you knew at the start of the novel is now snorting cocaine from a sticky toilet.
Favorite Quote: "But the thing is, you thought I needed help. Even without all the other issues, the fact that you thought I needed changing says enough."
September 16, 2017
The blurb made me think this would be more about a gradual drug problem but it was just a stereotypical teen fic. New girl at school, wants to reinvent herself and become popular. Goes out with popular guy. Gets into drugs. Grades go down other friends try and warm her etc. It wasn't bad but I've read it all before. The main character was an idiot like why would she think it was ok to just suddenly start doing loads of drugs all the time? Also her parents were shit how could they not tell she was on something?? So it wasn't an awful book but not very original and I didn't have any sympathy for the main character.
September 4, 2015
*4.5 stars*
Originally published at: http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....
I flew through Drop. I was captured by Carla’s struggle against what she wanted and what she needed and desperation to be a part of something.
With Carla’s mum being an up and coming journalist, desperate to make it into the big time, Carla has spent most of her school years moving around as her mum chases the next step of her career. She's finally made it and they’ve moved to London, just in time for Carla to do her A-levels and she’s determined that for her final school she’ll be someone. She won't skate along the side-lines, she won't just fit in, and she’ll be one of the popular crowd. These are urges every teenager, and most adults, feel a lot of the time, but Carla went down a dangerous route.
Arrogant, gorgeous and care-free Finn Masterson is the epitome of cool at Carla’s new school and she’s determined to have him. Her determination to be accepted into his crowd of friends, be admired by the rest of year 12 and have Finn pay attention to her is worth everything to Carla, even when it means taking pills and doing lines of coke while her brain is screaming warnings at her. It was a horrible mix of heartbreaking and fascinating to watch Carla descend into addiction, and surprisingly quick. The effect it had on the rest of her life was obvious and startling as the rest of the group seemed so at ease with it. It was difficult to watch, but it made her resolve to drag herself out the other side even more satisfying. All things considering, Carla got off pretty lightly and I’m really glad her story ended with hope and possibility and the life she was searching for from the beginning.
Drop is a wonderfully written and effortless to read debut about art, love, the desperate need to fit in and finding yourself. Katie Everson is definitely a name to watch.
Originally published at: http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....
I flew through Drop. I was captured by Carla’s struggle against what she wanted and what she needed and desperation to be a part of something.
With Carla’s mum being an up and coming journalist, desperate to make it into the big time, Carla has spent most of her school years moving around as her mum chases the next step of her career. She's finally made it and they’ve moved to London, just in time for Carla to do her A-levels and she’s determined that for her final school she’ll be someone. She won't skate along the side-lines, she won't just fit in, and she’ll be one of the popular crowd. These are urges every teenager, and most adults, feel a lot of the time, but Carla went down a dangerous route.
Arrogant, gorgeous and care-free Finn Masterson is the epitome of cool at Carla’s new school and she’s determined to have him. Her determination to be accepted into his crowd of friends, be admired by the rest of year 12 and have Finn pay attention to her is worth everything to Carla, even when it means taking pills and doing lines of coke while her brain is screaming warnings at her. It was a horrible mix of heartbreaking and fascinating to watch Carla descend into addiction, and surprisingly quick. The effect it had on the rest of her life was obvious and startling as the rest of the group seemed so at ease with it. It was difficult to watch, but it made her resolve to drag herself out the other side even more satisfying. All things considering, Carla got off pretty lightly and I’m really glad her story ended with hope and possibility and the life she was searching for from the beginning.
Drop is a wonderfully written and effortless to read debut about art, love, the desperate need to fit in and finding yourself. Katie Everson is definitely a name to watch.
September 9, 2016
It was okay, I quite liked it. But for me, stuff like Ballads of Suburbia hit me harder with this theme - this book felt... not exactly romance-focused, but
November 4, 2019
Wasn't really my cup of tea...
July 22, 2019
I enjoyed the book the characters were relatable, realistic and well written. The book is about a highly performing student and how her desire to become popular sent her completely off the rails. She has just moved to a new school and makes friends with two groups of people at opposite ends of the social stratosphere but she quickly discovers she cannot be friends with both groups. She enters the new school and makes friends with two "brainy plain girls" but quickly becomes obsessed with the most attractive boy in her year group. They begin to spend time together and at first it all appears to be going well then it quickly becomes obvious him and his friends want to bring her into their hard partying ways taking drugs and staying out all night. She begins to neglect her sensible friends and take drugs and party hard all weekend leading her to be hungover until she goes out the following weekend all out of fear of losing the attractive boy. The hard partying begins to take its toll and the killer hangovers cause her to fall behind at school. Eventually she comes to terms with this and demands her boyfriend and her stop taking the drugs although later she catches him dealing and cheating on her. She then proceeds to break up with him and becomes close to his brother. They then go on a trip to celebrate their AS level results where her drink is spiked by the girl her boyfriend has moved onto. At the end of the book she manages to pull herself together and seeks counselling and is planning to retake her failed AS levels in the following January. The stories that are told in the book are important it demonstrates how easy it is for someone to become caught up in a new relationship during your teenage years allowing your entire life to fall off the rails. It demonstrates the importance of making sure you are always comfortable and not ignoring the red flags within a relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2022
first of all, all i can say is i love this book !! but to be honest the flow of the story is kind of predictable also but yea i love how this author portrayed the drugs problem , how teenagers are thinking in about that age, the academic validation , the things between we want different kind of love , life . like its all are real bcs thats what i felt AHAhHHaha honestly again, idk why no one talk about this book. to me , this is a very fast paced book + short chapter are the best !! i also got this in a very much low price and its really worth it !!! pls read this book !!! katie everson is so awesome
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2020
Very well written but perhaps i’m getting older, I found the book very predictable and I don’t personally enjoy predictable plots since reading actually requires a lot of time.
I much appreciate the highlighting of drug exploration and abuse among young people though, I’ve never really seen it addressed in literature, especially not literature that’s supposed to appeal to the audience that the book is written about!
I much appreciate the highlighting of drug exploration and abuse among young people though, I’ve never really seen it addressed in literature, especially not literature that’s supposed to appeal to the audience that the book is written about!
June 8, 2025
party, drugs, mental health, best people, butterflies. i wish there were more of clara & her dad, clara & sienna + lauren and more of clara’s mom drama. i love isaac’s love & effort but he should’ve believed clara.
March 6, 2018
I loved this book so much!! I hope Katie Everson writes more in the future
June 2, 2018
It was a great read and delved really well into the issue.
August 11, 2019
bukas na antok nako e HHAHAHAKHAA
January 31, 2021
While I enjoyed this book, I often thought it was too young for me. Maybe I'm finally becoming an adult...
January 14, 2022
a great book that telling about teenage love
April 9, 2022
Best book I've read by far.
February 16, 2023
loving the use of metaphors; not loving the unresolved issues in the narrative (hello, resolution?)
June 25, 2016
Review can also be found here.
Drop is Katie Everson’s debut novel and unfortunately, there’s nothing inside the story that shouts “I’m unique! Read me! I’ll keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end!”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I like this book, overly-used clichés (because you can never, ever fully escape them anymore) and all, but there’s nothing special about it. The blurb at the back of the book was very intriguing and yeah, the narration is definitely honest. It’s subtle in parts, blunt in others and it’s certainly smooth in terms of staying in character/writing style, though I wouldn’t call it the “most compelling” because I found the writing rather flat. In fact, the entire time I was reading this, I was 99% ‘meh’ and 1% “OMG, Marvel/Harry Potter/Some-Literature-Book reference!”
Carla’s a rather relatable character—an awkward teenager wanting to fit in, to have some kind of normal life yet also not be the wallflower hidden from the public’s view anymore. But, of course, like almost every other contemporary YA I’ve ever read, she falls for the popular guy who of course, is trouble and he lures her into his popular group and makes her one of them as well. In this case, the boy’s called Finn Masterson and he apparently looks like “Thor or Hercules or I don’t know, Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man” (p.34). Score! Cause it’s RDJ! Boo! Cause the image of a messy-haired blonde guy with bright blue eyes sticks to my mind and every other description about his hair or eyes that may have popped up in the story completely flies over my head. Then, there just has to be the two-brothers-in-love-with-the-same-girl idea thrown in here and yes, Isaac Masterson is nice. I like him enough but does his presence make me like the book more? Naw. Honestly, I felt like I was reading a more bearable variation of Twilight at some point.
It doesn’t help that Carla gets excellent grades and is some kind of artistic genius too. Sure, she slips as she falls deeper into the lure of Finn, drugs, alcohol and wild parties despite her brain’s logical reasons telling her not to, and sure she has some sort of dysfunctional family, but do these points make her more special to me? Nope. Still sounds like a run-of-the-mill YA heroine. I’m pretty sceptical about how she doesn’t feel much side effects from stopping drugs as well. She couldn’t immediately kick smoking to the curb but drugs? Almost in snap. On top of that, after she finally realises how toxic Finn is to her, she dumps him…only to fall in love with Isaac Masterson almost immediately. Wow, Carla Carroll is so swift.
On the other hand, Isaac Masterson is also one of those too-good-to-be-true kind of guy. He’s the gem the majority of the real life girls are trying to find. He’s also part of the cause for many believing that their crush/lover/etc. is physic and can automatically do things (and go that extra mile) that will make them happy because hey, magic mind-reading has no need for actual talking. And, of course he likes reading. Of course. Where’s a guy like that in today’s modern world now? Where’s a guy like that in the societal branches I float around? He’s a needle in a haystack. Scratch that, a needle in a stack of needles. That’s more difficult to find.
Oh, and I have to mention that I find Sal (Carla’s cousin) an extremely likeable side character, and I have to question the lack of mentioning about Carla’s first two friends in her new high school for quite a number of pages in the middle of the story as well. Lauren and Sienna seemed to truly want to be Carla’s friend and they did react to Carla’s ditching them in the beginning of the book but they just disappear when the ditching continues. There were no reactions and all until Carla actually seeks their company again near the end of the story—odd because I feel that someone (especially teenagers) with genuine intentions would’ve been madder.
All in all, Everson did alright with her first ever published novel. The writing’s not as raw as I’d like it to be, but it still got whatever messages (I think the foremost one is that one has to always remember that there are consequences to your actions) Everson wants it to get across, across.
Drop is Katie Everson’s debut novel and unfortunately, there’s nothing inside the story that shouts “I’m unique! Read me! I’ll keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end!”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I like this book, overly-used clichés (because you can never, ever fully escape them anymore) and all, but there’s nothing special about it. The blurb at the back of the book was very intriguing and yeah, the narration is definitely honest. It’s subtle in parts, blunt in others and it’s certainly smooth in terms of staying in character/writing style, though I wouldn’t call it the “most compelling” because I found the writing rather flat. In fact, the entire time I was reading this, I was 99% ‘meh’ and 1% “OMG, Marvel/Harry Potter/Some-Literature-Book reference!”
Carla’s a rather relatable character—an awkward teenager wanting to fit in, to have some kind of normal life yet also not be the wallflower hidden from the public’s view anymore. But, of course, like almost every other contemporary YA I’ve ever read, she falls for the popular guy who of course, is trouble and he lures her into his popular group and makes her one of them as well. In this case, the boy’s called Finn Masterson and he apparently looks like “Thor or Hercules or I don’t know, Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man” (p.34). Score! Cause it’s RDJ! Boo! Cause the image of a messy-haired blonde guy with bright blue eyes sticks to my mind and every other description about his hair or eyes that may have popped up in the story completely flies over my head. Then, there just has to be the two-brothers-in-love-with-the-same-girl idea thrown in here and yes, Isaac Masterson is nice. I like him enough but does his presence make me like the book more? Naw. Honestly, I felt like I was reading a more bearable variation of Twilight at some point.
It doesn’t help that Carla gets excellent grades and is some kind of artistic genius too. Sure, she slips as she falls deeper into the lure of Finn, drugs, alcohol and wild parties despite her brain’s logical reasons telling her not to, and sure she has some sort of dysfunctional family, but do these points make her more special to me? Nope. Still sounds like a run-of-the-mill YA heroine. I’m pretty sceptical about how she doesn’t feel much side effects from stopping drugs as well. She couldn’t immediately kick smoking to the curb but drugs? Almost in snap. On top of that, after she finally realises how toxic Finn is to her, she dumps him…only to fall in love with Isaac Masterson almost immediately. Wow, Carla Carroll is so swift.
On the other hand, Isaac Masterson is also one of those too-good-to-be-true kind of guy. He’s the gem the majority of the real life girls are trying to find. He’s also part of the cause for many believing that their crush/lover/etc. is physic and can automatically do things (and go that extra mile) that will make them happy because hey, magic mind-reading has no need for actual talking. And, of course he likes reading. Of course. Where’s a guy like that in today’s modern world now? Where’s a guy like that in the societal branches I float around? He’s a needle in a haystack. Scratch that, a needle in a stack of needles. That’s more difficult to find.
Oh, and I have to mention that I find Sal (Carla’s cousin) an extremely likeable side character, and I have to question the lack of mentioning about Carla’s first two friends in her new high school for quite a number of pages in the middle of the story as well. Lauren and Sienna seemed to truly want to be Carla’s friend and they did react to Carla’s ditching them in the beginning of the book but they just disappear when the ditching continues. There were no reactions and all until Carla actually seeks their company again near the end of the story—odd because I feel that someone (especially teenagers) with genuine intentions would’ve been madder.
All in all, Everson did alright with her first ever published novel. The writing’s not as raw as I’d like it to be, but it still got whatever messages (I think the foremost one is that one has to always remember that there are consequences to your actions) Everson wants it to get across, across.
April 27, 2022
this is that sort of book that you pick up and you don’t need to be focussed to read it, but like when you pick it up you acc get immersed YGM! the characters were written so well, and man the main characters downfall just gets you like 🥲🥲 ACADEMIC VALIDATION AND MENTAL HEALTH TIED?! like hello?!!!, and the love interests were so good, it really shows the essence of secondary schools in UK and sixth forms, and on top of that i just loved it. however, i do wish there was a second book or even a series bc it was very severely cut-off, like you don’t even know what happens after the abrupt ending, so that’s why i gave it 4 stars, i need to know more 😁😁 AMAZING 1000000% RECC and i’ve read it twice so pls i need a new book
August 27, 2015
**4/4.5 stars**
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
I didn’t really know what I was about to read when I started Drop. I think only recently the second part of the synopsis was added, but all I had to go on was a vague paragraph that talked about drug usage. So yeah, that’s pretty much all I knew: that this was a book about drugs. I could obviously infer that the main character had made some bad decisions but was somewhat in denial. And that is literally IT. I went into this one pretty blind.
And I came out loving it.
Drop is one of those books that completely took me by surprise. I found myself not wanting to put this one down, and immediately picking it back up again, despite the recent decline in the amount of books I’ve been reading.
This is probably one of the only books I’ve read where I hated the main character and I was completely fine with it. Okay, “hate” is a strong word, but I definitely didn’t like Carla’s character very much. But that’s what made her story so much more powerful. I found myself rolling my eyes at the labels she gives herself and others. I’ve moved schools just as many times as she has–which is around 8 or 9 times–but I don’t feel the same way as she does. I do understand though the desire to change who you are with every move. But of course, you always tend to land up as you’ve always been with the same kind of people. Despite how much I disliked her attitude in the beginning and middle of the story, what I thought totally redeemed this was her growth. Her flaws were completely realistic, and I thought the author is a fabulous job with portraying them. She actually learns from her mistakes and moves on.
I haven’t read too many books on drug use, but this book was very scary. Honestly, I would have backed the eff away from the situation. Of course, though, it’s a very realistic possibility. I thought Everson’s take on it was very well done, and conveyed the consequences of using such substances, as well as the problems that can arise after taking these drugs, powerfully.
I absolutely MUST praise Katie Everson on her writing. It was probably the best thing about this book, on top of all the other amazing parts of this novel–the beautiful imagery (especially concerning butterflies) and the unique writing style really made reading this book a more profound and enthralling experience. Drop was raw, compelling, and sharp. Katie Everson’s debut is beyond impressive, and there’s no doubt that I’m eagerly waiting for her next book.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
I didn’t really know what I was about to read when I started Drop. I think only recently the second part of the synopsis was added, but all I had to go on was a vague paragraph that talked about drug usage. So yeah, that’s pretty much all I knew: that this was a book about drugs. I could obviously infer that the main character had made some bad decisions but was somewhat in denial. And that is literally IT. I went into this one pretty blind.
And I came out loving it.
Drop is one of those books that completely took me by surprise. I found myself not wanting to put this one down, and immediately picking it back up again, despite the recent decline in the amount of books I’ve been reading.
This is probably one of the only books I’ve read where I hated the main character and I was completely fine with it. Okay, “hate” is a strong word, but I definitely didn’t like Carla’s character very much. But that’s what made her story so much more powerful. I found myself rolling my eyes at the labels she gives herself and others. I’ve moved schools just as many times as she has–which is around 8 or 9 times–but I don’t feel the same way as she does. I do understand though the desire to change who you are with every move. But of course, you always tend to land up as you’ve always been with the same kind of people. Despite how much I disliked her attitude in the beginning and middle of the story, what I thought totally redeemed this was her growth. Her flaws were completely realistic, and I thought the author is a fabulous job with portraying them. She actually learns from her mistakes and moves on.
I haven’t read too many books on drug use, but this book was very scary. Honestly, I would have backed the eff away from the situation. Of course, though, it’s a very realistic possibility. I thought Everson’s take on it was very well done, and conveyed the consequences of using such substances, as well as the problems that can arise after taking these drugs, powerfully.
I absolutely MUST praise Katie Everson on her writing. It was probably the best thing about this book, on top of all the other amazing parts of this novel–the beautiful imagery (especially concerning butterflies) and the unique writing style really made reading this book a more profound and enthralling experience. Drop was raw, compelling, and sharp. Katie Everson’s debut is beyond impressive, and there’s no doubt that I’m eagerly waiting for her next book.
▪ ▪ ▪ Thank you so much to Sasha at Pansing for sending me a copy for review! ▪ ▪ ▪
August 28, 2015
Original Post: https://howtoreadbooks.wordpress.com/...
First off, please can we appreciate how breathtakingly beautiful the cover of this book is. It is completely relevant as well. Carla Carroll moves around a lot, because of her mother’s job as a scientific journalist. When her mother gets a promotion, the family permanently move to London. Here, Carla joins yet another new school. But she doesn’t just want to be bland and fit in; Carla wants to spread her glorious butterfly wings and be popular. This seems doable when she falls for the school ‘fittie’, Finn Masterson. Carla’s life is almost perfect, until drugs and exams are thrown into the mix.
‘Drop’ starts out like any other ordinary teenage girl ‘I want to be perfect and popular’ book. I guess this kind of irritated me at first, because it was not by far what in was expecting from the book. Carla kind of got on my nerves in this way too, because she just wanted to be perfect. What is perfect? Why does every teenage girl go to school and aspire to be perfect? I guess I was judging Carla’s character way too early, because she does undergo some extensive character development throughout the book. It kind of makes me think that Everson made Carla a bit shallow to start with on purpose.
The think, form what I have watched in documentaries and heard about in the news, that Everson presents a very real idea of drugs and the problems they can cause. For one, she clearly and accurately shows how easily and casually teenagers are getting hold of and doing drugs nowadays. It is kind of atrocious. Furthermore, Carla’s problems that are caused by the drugs seem like a very real threat. I think that this book could possibly be the wake up call for many young kids feeling rebellious and doing stupid things to their bodies with drugs.
My favourite character in this book has to be Isaac, because he has already undergone the character development Carla needs to. All he wants to do throughout the book is to protect the people he loves, even if that means putting his own neck on the line. The whole theme of butterflies in the book is beautifully symbolic. The change that a butterfly goes through in its life are immense and there are many characters in this book that undergo massive changes as well.
This book receives 4/5 stars – great!
First off, please can we appreciate how breathtakingly beautiful the cover of this book is. It is completely relevant as well. Carla Carroll moves around a lot, because of her mother’s job as a scientific journalist. When her mother gets a promotion, the family permanently move to London. Here, Carla joins yet another new school. But she doesn’t just want to be bland and fit in; Carla wants to spread her glorious butterfly wings and be popular. This seems doable when she falls for the school ‘fittie’, Finn Masterson. Carla’s life is almost perfect, until drugs and exams are thrown into the mix.
‘Drop’ starts out like any other ordinary teenage girl ‘I want to be perfect and popular’ book. I guess this kind of irritated me at first, because it was not by far what in was expecting from the book. Carla kind of got on my nerves in this way too, because she just wanted to be perfect. What is perfect? Why does every teenage girl go to school and aspire to be perfect? I guess I was judging Carla’s character way too early, because she does undergo some extensive character development throughout the book. It kind of makes me think that Everson made Carla a bit shallow to start with on purpose.
The think, form what I have watched in documentaries and heard about in the news, that Everson presents a very real idea of drugs and the problems they can cause. For one, she clearly and accurately shows how easily and casually teenagers are getting hold of and doing drugs nowadays. It is kind of atrocious. Furthermore, Carla’s problems that are caused by the drugs seem like a very real threat. I think that this book could possibly be the wake up call for many young kids feeling rebellious and doing stupid things to their bodies with drugs.
My favourite character in this book has to be Isaac, because he has already undergone the character development Carla needs to. All he wants to do throughout the book is to protect the people he loves, even if that means putting his own neck on the line. The whole theme of butterflies in the book is beautifully symbolic. The change that a butterfly goes through in its life are immense and there are many characters in this book that undergo massive changes as well.
This book receives 4/5 stars – great!
August 9, 2015
An addictive UKYA debut that offers an honest, moving and important look at drug abuse among teenagers and the desire we feel to fit in.
Originally posted on my blog Ashleigh Online
After hearing Katie read a few pages from this stunning debut novel at a blogger event in June, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in and read it. The snippet that she shared immediately captivated me, and I also couldn’t stop staring at that incredible cover (it might just be my favourite book cover ever).
So it didn’t surprise me that I raced through Drop and spent every moment I could wrapped up in its pages. I was totally addicted, which seems fitting when you consider the subject matter.
Drop is the only book I’ve ever read that honestly recounts what it’s like to be involved with drugs as a teenager, and gives an insight into why someone might end up in that situation in the first place. I’ve never taken drugs myself, but I still understood how real Drop was. I could feel everything that Carla was feeling – I felt high, then dizzy, then sick and paranoid and guilty, and that’s all down to Katie’s incredible writing style.
You would never know that this is Katie’s debut novel. Each sentence is beautifully crafted and conjures up detailed images through the use of meaningful metaphors that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the way the romance played out – it seemed a little bit rushed towards the end – but there’s much more to this novel than boys, so it didn’t take away too much from my overall amazing reading experience.
I think this book is really important. It could help anyone that is vulnerable avoid finding themselves in the same situation as Carla, and it could also help anyone who has been in a similar situation realise that they are not alone and that they have the opportunity to turn things around.
Katie Everson’s debut is one to watch, and I can envision it making its way onto the big screen. I can’t wait to read more from this powerful new voice in YA.
Originally posted on my blog Ashleigh Online
After hearing Katie read a few pages from this stunning debut novel at a blogger event in June, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in and read it. The snippet that she shared immediately captivated me, and I also couldn’t stop staring at that incredible cover (it might just be my favourite book cover ever).
So it didn’t surprise me that I raced through Drop and spent every moment I could wrapped up in its pages. I was totally addicted, which seems fitting when you consider the subject matter.
Drop is the only book I’ve ever read that honestly recounts what it’s like to be involved with drugs as a teenager, and gives an insight into why someone might end up in that situation in the first place. I’ve never taken drugs myself, but I still understood how real Drop was. I could feel everything that Carla was feeling – I felt high, then dizzy, then sick and paranoid and guilty, and that’s all down to Katie’s incredible writing style.
You would never know that this is Katie’s debut novel. Each sentence is beautifully crafted and conjures up detailed images through the use of meaningful metaphors that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the way the romance played out – it seemed a little bit rushed towards the end – but there’s much more to this novel than boys, so it didn’t take away too much from my overall amazing reading experience.
I think this book is really important. It could help anyone that is vulnerable avoid finding themselves in the same situation as Carla, and it could also help anyone who has been in a similar situation realise that they are not alone and that they have the opportunity to turn things around.
Katie Everson’s debut is one to watch, and I can envision it making its way onto the big screen. I can’t wait to read more from this powerful new voice in YA.
July 6, 2016
I thought this book was good, however I wasn't hooked by it like I am with other books. I thought the storyline was interesting and I enjoyed it. All the characters were realistic, especially Carla, Finn and Georgia, and I liked how they were all individual people but came together to share experiences. I also really liked the way that Carla was torn by two different friendship groups and realising the values of friendship like she did when Lauren and Sienna cared about her and stood by her whereas Violet, Finn and friends were happy enough to pressure her into drugs, drinking and smoking and not notice that it wasn't what she wanted.
Part of the reason I wasn't hooked by this book was because even though Carla was the main character, I didn't feel as though I could connect with her and understand her as well as I should have been able to. This wasn't all the time though, because at parts of the book I did understand how Carla was feeling and some parts were even relatable when it came to loving Finn.
The other part of the reason was because I feel like the storyline was slightly rushed, and how Carla was able to just stop taking and doing everything one day because she wanted to. In real life, it wouldn't happen like this, and I think that the author has tried to make a perfect happy ending for Carla, and it was unrealistic. I was a bit disappointed with the ending because I thought something dramatic and unexpected was going to happen, when in actual fact I was able to see what was going to happen a few chapters before the end.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book in my spare time, however I wasn't going out of my way to read it as a result of my lack of being able to connect with the book. It was well written and covers a range of emotions and experiences such as starting a new school, taking drugs, smoking etc. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys an interesting and quick storyline and likes realistic books.
Part of the reason I wasn't hooked by this book was because even though Carla was the main character, I didn't feel as though I could connect with her and understand her as well as I should have been able to. This wasn't all the time though, because at parts of the book I did understand how Carla was feeling and some parts were even relatable when it came to loving Finn.
The other part of the reason was because I feel like the storyline was slightly rushed, and how Carla was able to just stop taking and doing everything one day because she wanted to. In real life, it wouldn't happen like this, and I think that the author has tried to make a perfect happy ending for Carla, and it was unrealistic. I was a bit disappointed with the ending because I thought something dramatic and unexpected was going to happen, when in actual fact I was able to see what was going to happen a few chapters before the end.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book in my spare time, however I wasn't going out of my way to read it as a result of my lack of being able to connect with the book. It was well written and covers a range of emotions and experiences such as starting a new school, taking drugs, smoking etc. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys an interesting and quick storyline and likes realistic books.
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