Friday, December 27, 2013

Review: The F-It List by Julie Halpern

Title:  The F-It List
Author:  Julie Halpern
Genre:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Release Date:  November 12, 2013
File Size/Pages:  1398 KB/257 pgs
Source:  NetGalley

My Rating:  4/5

Summary:  Alex and Becca have always been best friends. But when Becca does something nearly unforgivable at Alex’s dad’s funeral, Alex cuts ties with her and focuses on her grieving family. Time passes, and Alex finally decides to forgive Becca. Then she’s hit with another shocker: Becca has cancer. It also turns out Becca has a bucket list, one she doesn’t know she’ll be able to finish now. That’s where Alex comes in, along with a mysterious and guarded boy who just may help Alex check a few items off her own bucket list. Julie Halpern writes about illness, loss, love, and friendship with candor and compassion. Here is an unforgettable book about living fully, living authentically, and just . . . living.

Review:  I received this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The novel tells the story of two best friends who lose their way, but finds their way back to each other when Becca is diagnosed with cancer! Alex, Becca's best friend, agrees to help Becca cross things off her F-It List, which is similar to a bucket list, and things only get more interesting and entertaining from there. At times, I felt as if Alex was trying to make everything about her, including Becca's illness, but the story ended up coming together well. One thing I enjoyed about this novel was Halpern's ability to write about an illness such as cancer. I really enjoyed the scene where Becca asks Alex to help her shave her head; I thought it was very realistic and could see myself doing the same thing if I were in Becca's shoes, and for the exact same reason that she did it. Overall, this was a good read!

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