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Review: You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour & David Levithan



Blurb from Goodreads:
Who knows you well? Your best friend? Your boyfriend or girlfriend? A stranger you meet on a crazy night? No one, really?

Mark and Kate have sat next to each other for an entire year, but have never spoken. For whatever reason, their paths outside of class have never crossed.

That is until Kate spots Mark miles away from home, out in the city for a wild, unexpected night. Kate is lost, having just run away from a chance to finally meet the girl she has been in love with from afar. Mark, meanwhile, is in love with his best friend Ryan, who may or may not feel the same way.

When Kate and Mark meet up, little do they know how important they will become to each other -- and how, in a very short time, they will know each other better than any of the people who are supposed to know them more.
My Review:
Effortless is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about this book.  It took me no time at all to get into this and, before I knew it, I had finished it and loved it.  This is a book about the last days of high school, about falling in love with your best friend and how it feels when they don't love you back, about those moments when you realize you've moved on from a friend and, also, about the premise that you can trust your teenage heart -- that maybe it knows something true and real even if you're supposed to believe otherwise.  This book takes place over the course of the week and I loved the pacing.  The alternating POV between Kate and Mark were so well done, too -- completely seamless but each with their own voice.  The only thing I didn't like about this book was a scene toward the end that was supposed to be a sort of cataclysm of all the feelings and emotions running throughout the book up until that point; I'm not sure the scene was necessary or, really, that emotional compared to other genuine interactions.  All I know is that I would love to be friends with both Kate and Mark!  I've seen a lot of negative reviews of this one but I really liked it and know that I will read it again.  These two authors have yet to disappoint me in anything I've read by either of them and are quickly becoming must buys for me.

You Know Me Well is scheduled to be released today June 7, 2016, you can purchase HERE, and I loved it and definitely recommend to YA contemporary fans!
"Would you really fight for him?" I nod.   
But the nod isn't enough, so I go on.   
"In fact, I would tear through rubble with my bare hands to get to him.  I would lift cars.  I would wrestle down anyone who said we shouldn't be together.  I would stare down life and kick it in the ass if I had to.  Because if you want to know the truth -- if you really want to know the truth -- none of that could be nearly as hard as being in love with him and not being able to tell anyone about it.  Including him.  I have this thing inside me, and it's angry and it's scared and it's uncertain and most of all it's so completely in love with him, and it would do anything to keep him, even if it means things staying the way they are now."

Comments

  1. I'm really glad you loved this one, Eva. I have this one coming up and I'm looking forward to reading it. I love that the friendship is such a big part of the book. I can't wait to read it.
    Lovely review! :)

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    1. I definitely think you'll like it Nick! The friendship is incredible and it is just such a beautiful book while still feeling true

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  2. I am super excited for this one. So glad to see you loved it because I have also seen some of those negative reviews but I think it sounds like one I will enjoy. Great review!

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  3. I have yet to read one of his books, or her's for that matter. I really need to change that. Wonderful review!

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  4. YES! This sounds incredible. I really want to read this!!!! That's too bad that the ending kind of took away a bit for you. I can completely understand that. Fantastic review, lovely! I can't wait to read this one for myself!! :)

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    1. Thanks Lisa, I think you will love it! The friendship is just incredible!!

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  5. I also loved this book. I'm trying to remember the scene you're talking about. I must not have had the same feelings because it's not coming to mind. Mark and Kate were both such honest and genuine characters. Their struggles were real and relatable for any reader I think. I enjoyed the back and forth and their fast friendship. Great read!

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    1. I was thinking of the slam poetry -- while it was still well done, it seemed a bit over the top considering the poignancy of the rest of the book!

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  6. Awesome review Eva! Love your thoughts plus those quotes were some of my faves too.

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  7. I loved this one so much, the characters were all fantastic. Glad you enjoyed it! :)

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  8. Your review is really beautiful!! I just finished this and I definitely didn't love it as much as some of the authors other works, but I still thought it was a meaningful book. I also kind of loved the message of- you can trust your teenage heart. Everyone (me included) is always telling teens that they're too young to know what love is or to make those big important love decisions.... but maybe sometimes they're not. Maybe sometimes their hearts are just as wise as my 30-something heart!

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    1. Thank you so much Michelle -- it is easy to be hardened against the young heart when you are in your 30s (like I am) -- I am always thinking this when reading YA but this one made me think twice about my knee-jerk reaction

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  9. I love books that are like you described, effortless. Your review really makes me want to read this one, and I've never read a Levithan book before. *gasp* I know I should because I see his books recommended all over the place.

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  10. A lot of people are loving this one! So glad you enjoyed it. Love your review!

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  11. Yey! I'm glad you loved this one! I've seen some negative reviews for it as well, but also some really positive reviews. I definitely would like to read it sometime. Excellent review!

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  12. David Levithan is a crackup, both on the page and in person. Did you know he's Maggie Stiefvater's editor a lot? I've seen them at a signing together and laughed all the way through. Glad to hear this was a win for you. Wonderful review, Eva! :)

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  13. Aw, yay, I am SO glad you loved this! I read it and I also liked it. Not *quite* as much as you did, but still definitely enjoyed it. I agree that the pacing worked really well, and I very much enjoyed the main characters- and their friendship! Fabulous review :)

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  14. A lovely book :-) I didn't love it but it was a great way to spend a few hours! Doesn't take long to read at all.

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  15. This sounds so cute. Since the book takes place in a week, were you able to connect to the characters? Was there depth? I'm guessing yes because of you're rating haha But still want to know. I've definitely seen various negative reviews but I trust your word so I'm adding this on Goodreads. Great review!

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    1. I liked both of the characters -- it is definitely more introspective than plot driven but the friendship was just so good to me!

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  16. Hey, I am so glad you loved this one like I did! I loved the friendship in this book so much. Kate annoyed me a little, but I still loved it. I don't really get all the negative reviews either. You read my review and it was fairly positive. Some people were annoyed by the insta-friendship between Mark and Kate, but that was my favorite part!

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  17. AHH I need to get this one, I have picked it up so many times at the bookstore and just ended up putting it back, but after seeing that you liked it, I definitely need to get it :)

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