Just Finished Reading … Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless
by Liz Czukas
To be published by Harper Teen
on December 9, 2014
Source: eARC from the publisher
Synopsis from Goodreads: Top Five Things That Are Ruining Chloe’s Day
5) Working the 6:30 a.m. shift at GoodFoods Market
4) Crashing a cart into a customer’s car right in front of her snarky coworker Sammi
3) Trying to rock the “drowned rat” look after being caught in a snowstorm
2) Making zero progress with her crush, Tyson (see #3)
1) Being accused—along with her fellow teenage employees—of stealing upwards of $10,000
Chloe would rather be anywhere than locked in work jail (aka the break room) with five of her coworkers . . . even if one of them is Tyson. But if they can band together to clear their names, what looks like a total disaster might just make Chloe’s list of Top Ten Best Moments.
My take: Since this book is about a girl who makes lists, I will make my Top Ten points about this book:
1) I always like YA books in which the teen characters have real (non-exciting) jobs. I worked jobs like this in high school, and this story really brought me back to those times.
2) I liked that this book took place around the holidays, which is a weird time to work at a store. The endless loop of holiday music is enough to drive you insane, all the while you are supposed to act all merry and jolly.
3) I loved the lists. I make lots and lots of lists.
4) Yes, this did feel a bit like a PG-rated Breakfast Club, with the five kids locked in the breakroom toward the middle of the book, but at that point the book got a bit dialogue-heavy.
5) Not so much romance in this one. It started off seeming that there’d be romance, but not really.
6) Without the romance, I was hoping for a bit more of a mystery.
7) Without romance and mystery, it was more of a friendship book. A really-getting-to-know-people-you -were-kind-of-judgey-toward book. That took a while to kick in, but once it did, I liked that aspect.
8) I thought the fact that Chloe was a diabetic was interesting, and I wished her feelings about that had been incorporated more into the story rather it than seeming like a “ticking clock” for plot purposes.
9) To me, this book felt on the very young side of YA. It had a bit of a Disney Channel feel. Not that that’s a bad thing, but just saying. It would be a great pick for tween readers.
10) All in all, a contemporary YA on the young side that emphasizes friendship over romance and mystery.
You know, it's funny. I can get into a book with very little to no romance, but when it comes to contemporary fiction, I tend to expect one. I hope that wouldn't be a deterrence for me if I ever do decide to read this book.
Great review, Jen!
I'm completely fine with no romance — way more than most YA readers seem to be. I guess it's just that the book started out with the MC seriously crushing on this guy, so I sort of expected that romance would be a major part of the book.
Sorry it took a bit for the friendship aspect to fit in, but some will love the disney channel feel I am sure
Definitely! I didn't mean that as an insult at all. We're both moms, and it's actually really hard to find good books for tweens.
This one rang "tweens" for me the minute I saw the cover and read the blurb but I love how the friendship aspect was very strong and present in this one. Makes me want to recommend this one to my little sister. It's hard finding these types of reads for her. Not crazy about the "Disney channel" feel of the book but for younger reads this one might just work. Lovely review Jen 🙂
This still sounds like fun even if there's not much romance which I'm a sucker for haha. Thanks for your list, I hope I'll be making my own soon 😀
I am reading this one right now, and I'm about 60% in, and so far I agree with everything you said. I was hoping there would be a romance though, and actually I was waiting all the time to get something, but now I see there won't be much. I also have to agree with you, the book really got a bit dialogue heavy around the middle, I just hope it won't stay that way. But all in all, it's a cute book, but definitely younger YA. Oh, and I love how you made your review in lists!
I'm reading this book and i"m excited for it. It sounds so freaking cute and adorable!
Love the Breakfast club. I'm down for this one.
I've been wanting to get myself an ARC of this… no such luck. I'm still looking forward to reading it. I'm glad there's an emphasis on friendship, though. That's always a plus in YA books. 🙂
Erin @ The Hardcover Lover
Looks super cute-I am also a list maker so I love when that element is incorporated (makes it feel more epistolary 🙂 I am glad for the warning about slightly younger though as I've felt misled at times on that point.
I'll add it to my TBR list, since I also love lists! But I'm not sure if it would be completely my thing 🙂
Hmm. The more reviews I see of this, the less interested I become in reading it. I want more romance and/or mystery. Who am I kidding? I just want more romance. I didn't like this author's previous book, so I'm not too hopeful.
Ya, it doesn't peak my interest either….but I do think the cover is kind of awesome.
Love the review idea, Jen! Anyway, personally, I thought this one was a really fun read. I actually liked that it focused more on the friendship between all of the characters. But I agree with the diabetic thing. It could have been a better, major aspect of the book.
Sounds cute, but I don't think it is for me.
Hm, I really liked the title and cover for this one so it is on my TBR. But it does sound a bit simplistic and young where there are themes mentioned that could've been delved deeper into but weren't. I also like the sound of list making… I am someone who does that a lot myself as well.