One of my favorite books ever. Kept me reading until late at night. This book kept me on the edge of my seat franticly flicking the pages over in desire to find out what happen next! Honestly I wasn't sure if I would like it after reading the first chapter, however after like the third chapter I was submerged in the book and couldn't put it down until I was finished.

A beautiful story of how people with different personalities, that hated each other, can come together to help each other out. Four completely different teenagers speeding down a highway in a stolen police car after using the car to kill a police officer... what more can you ask for?! This book has it all: excitement, tension, love, crime, humor... everything an excellent book should have.

I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone wanting a book jam packed with action and excitement. ( )

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Goodreads Giveaways. This is an honest review.*

This book was a rollercoaster! It started off strong and didn’t let go until the very end. Through each of the character’s stories, you get a whole lot to deal with: addiction, guilt over the past, abandonment issues, etc. They all have their demons, and, boy, are their demons large and scary. While this book is action-packed, I found it largely character-driven, with each character facing their issues during their journey and trying to find peace within themselves. The plot itself is pretty crazy and not realistic, but for me, it wasn’t so much about what was actually happening as it was about what the characters were going through.

It was a fast read for me, especially since there are a bunch of surprises and turns that stack atop one another. This book is different than what I thought it was going to be, but it turned out it was different for the better. It’s hard to give specifics without ruining the twists, but suffice to say, this Rebel Bully Geek Pariah kept me on my toes and I just kept turning the pages to see what would happen next.

I think the comparison to The Breakfast Club is a bit difficult, since that movie is so much quieter than this book. In the sense that you get to scratch the surface of these different characters and they get to respect each other’s struggles, the comparison is apt. In every other sense, it really is nothing like The Breakfast Club. Despite that, I would recommend it if you’re willing to put reality aside for a bit and just tag along for the ride. I can see reluctant readers being super into this because of how much suspense there is and how fast-paced the action is.

Also posted on Purple People Readers. ( )

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Emily Reads Everything

I love John Hughes movies. Really, all 80's movies. I'm an 80's child and a movie buff. It's impossible to pick my favorites but the Breakfast Club is up there in the top. I love the ensemble cast of characters. I love the relationships in the movie. They start out as enemies or they completely ignore each other. But as the movie goes on, they bond thought a shared experience. They slowly get to know each other and become friends. They share something special even though they are only together for day. If you haven't seen it, go watch it. It might be an 80's movie but the themes are timeless.

Rebel, Bully, Geek, Pariah is billed as a modern, high stakes reboot of the Breakfast Club. I can see it. Kind of. There are definite similarities. I can see why that comparison would be made. However, in my opinion, I would compare this book more to I Know What You Did Last Summer. There is a mystery component to this book that I wasn't expecting. It's still not an exact comparison, so don't be shouting about spoilers. It's a story about strangers getting to know each other and discovering things about each other and themselves.

The relationships in this story were great. I liked how Sam, York, Boston and Andi slowly got to know each other. I really liked the different perspectives and flash backs. There are flash backs and I enjoyed them. I didn't think that they were disruptive to the story. Instead they built the narrative. Still, on the whole, this story was meh for me. I like the premise. The characters were fine. Nothing was wrong with it. I rarely hate books but there are times that I just don't connect with them. This was one of those.

Nothing is wrong with this book. I still didn't think it was all that great. ( )

If the kids from Breakfast Club spent their time on the lam instead of in detention, that might explain the vibe of this book. Sam is fresh off getting fired from her part-time job and stops at a pawn shop to buy back her mom's violin. She runs into Andi and Andi steals the violin. Sam follows Andi into the park when they encounter Boston and York leaving a party. This is when things really go off the rails for the group. They encounter two groups of police officers in the woods, are shot at, steal a car, and find a stash of drugs in the trunk. After heading to a cabin in Wisconsin, the group bonds as they try to figure out their next moves. ( )