Review: Birdy
14:43
By Jess Vallance
Source: Borrowed from a friend, paperback
Genres: Young Adult, Thriller
Goodreads Synopsis:
Frances Bird has been a loner for so long that she’s given up on ever finding real friendship. But then she’s asked to show a new girl around school, and she begins to think her luck could finally be changing.
Eccentric, talkative and just a little bit posh, Alberta is not at all how Frances imagined a best friend could be. But the two girls click immediately, and it’s not long before they are inseparable. Frances could not be happier.
As the weeks go on, Frances finds out more about her new best friend – her past, her secrets, her plans for the future – and she starts to examine their friendship more closely.
Is it, perhaps, just too good to be true?
I was really looking forward to reading this book - there’s so much hype surrounding it at the moment, and the synopsis seemed right up my street, so I had high expectations. But for the majority of the book, I was highly disappointed: nothing was happening, and it looked like it was just going to be another boring high-school themed book. My opinions changed at the end, but for me, it was too little too late.
The characters were... okay, though really nothing special. I wasn’t overwhelmed by how original they were, but I quite liked Frances. At the start of the book she seemed quite relatable, but as the book progressed she made some very stupid decisions. She became irritating really quickly, and her narrative made me feel a bit ‘meh’.
The only thing that saved this book from a 2 star rating (or lower!) was the ending. I really wasn’t expecting it at all (usually I have my suspicions); my jaw actually dropped! It was so sinister and creepy, and I just couldn’t stop reading. The way it came as such a shock made it even more appalling - it completely saved the book.
It’s tricky for me to recommend this book - some elements will really appeal to some, but I found it to just be a flop. I think you'd enjoy this if you're a fan of the genre, but if this isn't really your thing, I don't think you'd enjoy persevering through the frustrating start. I found it to be somewhat enjoyable, but was disappointed in the end.
Rating:
Hello! I'm D - a dog-loving feminist from the UK. You'll probably find me with my nose in a book or playing my clarinet
2 comments
Oooo... sinister ending makes me curious about this book. I like surprising twists and I definitely feel like they can do a lot towards making one like the book better!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that even though so many things were meh about this book, the ending helped make the book a more memorable read!
Great review! :)
Rashika @ The Social Potato
Yes definitely, I really didn't see it coming. Even though the back of the book promised twists, I did not expect it at all! Thanks, Rashika :)
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