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August 05, 2014

Review: Some Boys by Patty Blount - Didn't deliver

Some Boys
Title: Some Boys
Author: Patty Blount
Publisher:
 Raincoast
Publication date: August 5, 2014
 
Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary)
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 352
Some boys go too far. Some boys will break your heart. But one boy can make you whole.

When Grace meets Ian she's afraid. Afraid he'll reject her like the rest of the school, like her own family. After she accuses the town golden boy of rape, everyone turns against Grace. They call her a slut and a liar. But...Ian doesn't. He's funny and kind with secrets of his own.

But how do you trust the best friend of the boy who raped you? How do you believe in love?
Some Boys had so much potential. I was hooked as soon as I read the synopsis. My friend was hooked too. I was expecting something very emotional and it did deliver… in the beginning. However the synopsis is very misleading and that kind of disappointed me. 
Some Boys talks about a girl who accused the most popular guy in high school of raping her. From here on out the synopsis reveals itself as misleading. Apparently he is/was her boyfriend (no excuses there but that's a reason why no one took her seriously or believed her. Also, it says in the synopsis that her parents didn't believe her… however they did.. they just were crappy parents who were in denial. Lastly, Ian didn't believe her.. it took him the whole novel (with evidence) to actually believe her. Also.. the men in this book? are all sexist douche bags. Every. Single. One. Including Ian himself. Let me type down some passages from the book that made my blood boil: 
"Why do girls not get that there's a fine line between looking good and asking for it? Okay, so now I get why she dresses like a heavy metal chick, but the high-heeled boots? the skin-tight clothes? there is no question that Grace is hot and noticeable. Why can't she just-I don't know-wear sweats and not wash her hair…..It's like the people who leave their doors unlocked and then cry when they're robbed."
Excuse me while I go throw up in the bathroom. 
oh, and there's more:
"She was wearing a short skirt and those boots, the ones she's wearing today. Her hair's all loose, and she smelled amazing. Why did she do all that, Russell? Why did she do the hair and the make up and the outfit and the perfume if she wanted me to keep away?" - Zach (i.e.: rapist)
That's a really good question. I don't have an answer for it either - Ian (i.e.: douche love interest) 
The above text was taken from an uncorrected proof. The final copy may be different. 
So ladies, no more make up or perfume or dressing up nice because you're basically asking for it ok? Don't look nice because men might take it the wrong way and think you want them. Dress like slobs, don't wash your hair and look as ugly as possible.. and even when you get harassed after all that.. well, you asked for it anyways. The sarcasm was heavy here if you didn't notice. 
This book disgusted me.. all the men in it. How could I root for this relationship when Ian himself thinks women who dress up nicely and get raped were actually asking for it and deserve it since it is deserving to get robbed when you leave your house door open. Bravo Ian, you really do make me breathe a sigh of relief thinking about the future of our humanity. 
Also, girls are the worst. Why do they love to gossip and put down other girls? I get they get jealous, but to the point of slut shaming and ruining someone's life? These teenagers are nasty and horrible and really make me scared of raising kids at all. Yes yes, the book has a happy ending, blah blah turns out Zach did rape and now everyone miraculously believes her and loves her. The author made the book wrap up too quickly, too sweetly. I really disliked the direction she took. Also, I would have loved to see Ian getting his butt kicked.. not becoming Grace's boyfriend.. when he has the exact same mentality as Zach. This book is all things wrong in our society but the problem with it is that it doesn't try to fix it or look for a solution… it just goes along with it. I can't.. I just can't. I am giving it one star just for some of the emotional parts I witnessed with Grace at the beginning of the novel.. everything after that was very disappointing. 

6 comments:

  1. It doesn't sound like I'd enjoy this one in the slightest. Although some of the points you mentioned do, sadly, reflect the harshness of reality, I always find it difficult to stomach things like this unless there is something else pulling me through. Thanks for the review. I hope your next book is much more to your liking!

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  2. I think I'd struggle to get through this book (especially since it sounds like it would be more tempting to throw it at a well considering a few of those quotations). Too bad it wasn't better!

    Thanks for your honest review!

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  3. Yea, I won't be reading this book. Sadly lots of the horrible/stupid things these boys are saying/thinking is what is happening in real life. It makes me sad tho that the ending (or any part of the book) didn't have a great showing of trying to defeat or change this wrong thinking in a good/powerful way. :(

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  4. Oh I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy this book Juhina, I had really high hopes for this one too, when I first read the blurb, but totally understand why aspects of this book were hugely frustrating! I hope your next book ends up being a lot more enjoyable! :)

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  5. Wow! I have this one on my TBR and I was really looking forward to it. I'm definitely not now. I completely hate the sound of Ian and Zach but Ian in particular. I can't imagine a worse love interest. I'm not sure I'm going to read this one but if I do I will definitely go in knowing what to expect.

    Thanks for the honest review!

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  6. What the fuck. This sounds like an AWFUL book :( I'm so glad I never read more about it, lol. Not a book for me :( So glad it wasn't a book for you either, lol. Amazing review sweetie :) Thank you so much for sharing and for being honest. You are awesome. <3

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