Author(s): Corey Ann Haydu
Edition: ARC, 304 pages
Publisher: Katherine Teagan Books
Publication Date: May 14, 2014
Source: Inkwood Books (Blog ARCs)
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Inkwood Books
The Summary
Some secrets are too good to keep.
Tabitha might be the only girl in the history of the world who actually gets less popular when she gets hot. But her so-called friends say she’s changed, and they’ve dropped her flat.
Now Tab has no one to tell about the best and worst thing that has ever happened to her: Joe, who spills his most intimate secrets to her in their nightly online chats. Joe, whose touch is so electric, it makes Tab wonder if she could survive an actual kiss. Joe, who has Tabitha brimming with the restless energy of falling in love. Joe, who is someone else’s boyfriend.
Just when Tab is afraid she’ll burst from keeping the secret of Joe inside, she finds Life by Committee. The rules of LBC are simple: tell a secret, receive an assignment. Complete the assignment to keep your secret safe.
Tab likes it that the assignments push her to her limits, empowering her to live boldly and go further than she’d ever go on her own.
But in the name of truth and bravery, how far is too far to go?
My Opinion
I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting mix of contemporary with a little bit of mystery. I thought that the characters were portrayed as realistic, and I could totally relate to the concept of the secret sharing because when I was in 9th/10th grade I use to post to an anonymous forum where we would tell secrets and write poetry and be all "emotional". A little different, but a lot of the same feelings welled up in me when I read about Tab and her secret sharing. This is the best part of Life by Committee; Haydu has crafted a slice of life that feels real.
Tab is a teenager, so sometimes she's whiney, sometimes she's ungrateful, but at other times she's loving and insightful. Just like any young adult, she is trying to figure out her place in the world and she doesn't do it gracefully at all times. But this expansive emotional range is what I really love about teenagers; they have such big feelings because everything is so personal to them. Haydu captures this brilliantly. Of course I know some may find Tab annoying for this reason, with the whole "typical teen" attitude, but I loved her and found her very relatable.
As I mentioned above, the idea of secret sharing was very cool, and intrigued me. Can you imagine divulging some deep secrets and then allowing complete strangers to decide what you have to do in order for those secrets to stay secret? I don't think I'm either brave enough or reckless enough to do something like that. Of course, it could be freeing at the same time, which is the precipice Haydu works with. At any moment Tab's world could get so much more complicated than it already is, but that's what makes being a member of the Committee that much more enticing.
Overall, this is a fun contemporary that has both real feelings and humorous moments throughout. I think it is a good sophomoric follow up to Haydu's previous book OCD Love Story, and makes me want to pick up her next works. I would recommend it to readers who want a contemporary with a secret twist.
Extras
Other Books by Corey Ann Haydu
(Click on the images to go to Goodreads)
(Click on the images to go to Goodreads)
Final Rating
Book Cover: 4/5
Book Title: 4/5
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50: B
I really want to read this book! Sounds pretty good for a contemporary :)
ReplyDeleteps. I have a blog as well, both in Italian and in English. I'd love if you wanted to check that out! :D -> http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.com/