BOOK REVIEW: TELL ME THREE THINGS BY JULIE BUXBAUM

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum 
Published by Delacorte Press, Random House Kids on April 2016 
Genres: Romance, Young Adult 
Format: hardcover 
Source: bought
Purchase Links: Amazon US | Barnes and Noble 
Goodreads 
 

What if the person you need the most is someone you’ve never met?
Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

REVIEW:  I love all the characters in the book. Buxbaum has done a beautiful job at giving all her characters substance. Even supporting characters are rounded and given enough detail to make them real. Many characters have moments of growth, which just adds a more realistic aspect to the novel. Jessie is strong, independent, brave, funny, and most importantly she knows who she is and doesn’t let others define her. She doesn’t pretend to be someone else or conform to the likes of her peers (In this case, rich private school kids). For a sixteen-year-old she is extremely mature, an old soul as her dad says.

This book is sad at times, laugh out loud funny, thoughtful, and sweet. Beyond dealing with her family life, Jessie also experiences her first crush. While watching Jessie engage in the trials of high school romance, I couldn’t help but think of my own awkward experiences.

I loved how this book started. The idea of a random student emailing her to offer help navigating her new environment was so cute, especially since you know at some point they will develop feelings for each other. The anonymity allowed them to reveal more about themselves than they probably would have face to face.

Tell Me Three Things is truly memorable novel. Buxbaum writes a beautiful note at the end of the story, detailing her inspiration to write this piece and I have to say that I am thankful that she wrote this. I’m so glad I bought this book. I truly loved every minute of it, especially the ending. So with that being said, I recommend this book as your top summer reads. HAPPY READING J