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High School Life by ratihfarida20

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Reviewed on 28.11.23
Reviewed by Itim_na_pluma

Opening Scene:
🔸The story is a typical teenager girls and yet very interesting. It begins perfectly and it make me wanna read more. The fact that it's base on real event is what makes it more exciting and intriguing. I love it! Another thing is; the story begins in a right place, on exactly the first day of school in their senior year. The girls are properly introduced and there's even a glimpse of backstory between the three girls which is Carissa, Leah, and Ariah.

Characterization & Motivation:
🔸This story was based on true event that's why the character appears to be realistic. The narration was good and it really gives a reader a vivid view of the scenarios. Also since this is a typical teenager story the characters are realists. The goal of the story is focused on the hardship of becoming a teenagers. Relationships, heartbreak, friendship is what the story is all about and it it's proactive enough even from the beginning of the story. The motivations are also believable and the emotions were appropriate with the scenes. Since this is lead by six girls, the rest of the characters are well-rounded and makes the story enhance even more. I think no once shoul be cut. Even the heartbreaker boys are acceptable. Lastly, the relationship between the characters are believable and not contrived.

Plot & Conflict:
🔸Each main character are clarified by the well defined conflicts which is very believable since they are a teenagers. They're characteristics inclined in reality. The tension aren't that exaggerated but the story flows accurately to it's genre makes it a page turner. Words and phrases are unique, tho' there are some cliche events but since this is base on true to life events, it is acceptable. Plot twist aren't that conflict but the story is about the typical struggle of teenagers. But this is an ongoing story so I'm looking forward for a bigger plot twist at the end of their journey. I'm also impressed on how the six girls acts differently base on the character they are presenting. Carissa as a sassy girl, Leah as a trying hard joker. The heartbroken Katie, a slightly slow Kenzie and the supportive friend Ariah and Alexis that is always willing to fix the friendship. They are literally the real life group of friends.

Pacing:
🔸The  scenes are realistic and compelling. Although the flow and transition is a little bit rapid  but every scenes are important part of the story. But I wish to read more details about Katie and her Brennan relationship journey, so that I can understand how he felt uncomfortable with Katie. And why suddenly wanna make friends with Kenzie. Since the scenes moves rapidly it jumped from Katie's introducing Brennan and then to where they broken up. But perhaps the author just want to justify only the stages of teenagers life which is mostly about love and brokenhearts and how there friendship deal with the problem. Tho' I think it's better if it's still consist of some calming scenes. Nevertheless, every chapter has a hook that makes me wanna read more. There problem is somewhat practical that can be relatable in each readers. Even an adult will be willing to read this book for it bring memories and relatable scenes in every teenagers life. The story cliche is revised and  unique in it's own way also, the story is free from information dumps.

Setting & Worldbuilding:
🔸The writer use third person point of view at the first scene in chapter one. It clarify the surroundings and characters image making the scences very vivid into readers imagination. The story details are proactive enough that helps to enhance and not to distract the flow of the story.

Dialogue:
🔸The dialogue/narrations are good but much better to enhance. The intent emotion on each scenes never fails to reach me. Also the dialogue move the story forward and reveal the characters compelling enough and effective. The characters voice are consistent and distinct. The author did a really good job on making each characters unique and presentable. Like I said, the story, narration, flows are good.

Craft:
🔸The writing "show" the scene with the senses, using "telling" only as appropriate.  Perhaps this is also the reason why the scenes seems so rapid; to make the scenes specific for what's appropriate with the title. The story can definitely draw readers. The tone is also appropriate and consistent. Aside from that, each point of view differentiate the characters. I can clearly see the sudden differences when another character is having the point of view.

Overall Impression:
The voice are unique, fresh and interesting even at the opening scenes. It is also started perfectly by introducing the girls and slightly background story about them, which is delivered enough and accurate. The breakup scene of Katie and Brennan are calm yet hurtful. Also the scene with Dante and Kenzie were heart touching. They seems to be an easy girls but that's the typical teenagers right? I honestly enjoy the story and I badly wants to read the next chapters to update soon.

Additional Questions for Comment:
🔸The past that's been informed in the first chapter about Carissa, Leah, and Ariah aren't cleared yet. And the sudden closeness of the three are odd since they happen to have misunderstanding during their junior year. But that doesn't distracted the flow, infact every section never take me out of the story. It is also appropriate for the stated genre. Talking about my favorite character, Kenzie got my attention first. Her slow mind is kinda funny and it makes her character shine through with kindness since she was illustrated as the most prettier among them, but it also makes her dumb and annoying especially when she started talking with Brennan which is Katie's ex boyfriend. She seems to be so easy with boys especially when she accepted Dante
Tho' I understand that her character is "the slow pretty girl" but in real life, a girl like her will be hated. Katie is kind enough to not over react the situation. On the other hand, Carrisa is the least of my favorite character at first. She seems moody and frank with her words. I doesn't like how she sometimes treated other girls. Tho' I understand that she's dealing with her problems that's why. But among them all, I find her really rude. But after the incident between Katie and Kenzie she's the only girl that didn't take sides. She's a typical silent girl that talks only when she wanted to but the fact that she didn't leave Kenzie is heart felting.

Listing the three things that works for me. First, is there friendship. Teenager might be hard to predict when come to decision making but they gives efforts and love with there group of friendship. Second, is how they manage broken heart. They always pulled everything into positivity and goodness. Last, is not about the characters but about the narration. I find it really good and error free (at least for me). Besides the unclear grudges of Carissa, Leah, and Ariah I haven't found any more least scenes. Most of it works for me.

Chapter by Chapter Questions
🔸What works well in this chapter? What did you enjoy most about this chapter, or what gave you the strongest personal reaction?
Chpater 1— This chapter starts really well. I love how the author use third person point of view to let the characters introduced properly. The tiny back story is intriguing and helpful for a reader to know.
Chapter 2— Is all about how they're friendship grew from strangers, classmates to best of friends. The cafeteria scene are good and funny especially every time Leah tried her best to crack a joke, that is never succeeded even once. There is always a one friend like that Lmao!
Chapter 3— This one is a heartbreaking chapter. This is where Katie broke up with Brennan. The scene is really something that hurt me. Imagine having a peaceful date and then after that, your supposedly man will gonna tear you apart. Brennan is bad, I hate him! But life's like that sometimes and people are confusing. Katie's goodness is beyond limit when she accepted his breakup peacefully. What she really wants is only the best for Brennan even it doesn't includes her. What a poor girl :(
Chapter 4— This chapter is the intriguing part. Kenzie appears to be a betrayer friend. Sadly, her insensitivity against everything makes it works. Brennan is a full time assh"le for offering friendship with Kenzie, (like duh! She's your ex girlfriend best friend tsk!).
Chapter 5—In this chapter, Brennan and Kenzie continues seeing together. Kenzie's character is dumb enough to not think of a possibility that Katie's might mistaken the situation. I feel bad about the two girls but just hope that one of their friends clarify the situation. Knowing that their friend Kenzie is slow, they should at least let them talk and clear things out.
Chapter 6— Okay! This chaoter is kinda irritating LOL. This time Kenzie finally figured out why the girls seems distant but she just stayed silent and still keep talking with Brennan. This scenes are getting to my nerves but it works since it really catch me from loving the scene even more.

🔹What didn't work in this chapter? What was confusing, misplaced, or otherwise felt "off" to you?
Chapter 1— Again I just want a tiny explanation about Carissa, Leah, and Ariah's past relationship since they seems to have a broken friendship before.
Chapter 4— Their lack of communication is confusing because they seems to be so close before the incident. I find it a simple problem that can be easily solved if they are really friends. The author might or not intended to do this but I really hope for some additional scenes that somehow lead to the same situation but not making their friendship questionable.
Chapter 5— Kenzie is a kind one but slow and dumb, i get it but to the point that she let the girls distant from her is annoying. She must be really dumb if she didn't know what to do. Again, I love her and her character but perhaps the scenes should be enhance? For example; she tried to approach the girls but something came up, or she started avoiding Brennan but this is man is just full of himself. Her insensitive is very off. The way she easily accept Brennan presence make her a real betrayer.
Chapter 6— The way Alex approach Brennan is so unfair. She could have ask Kenzie directly for what is going on between her and Brennan. I feel like she's even worsening the situation. Their friendship appears to be not that strong. If this is exactly the author's intended then I'll accept but if not, maybe it needs to revise.

🔸Besides my curiosity with Carissa, Leah, and Ariah's past, some improvement with the scenes, I have nothing to cleared out anymore. What I'm opt to look now is the coming next chapters LOL. But even tho' I want this story to work in it's own I'll leave a prediction for the next coming chapters. My prediction will be, Kenzie will be the first one to cleared things out with the girls but again, she'll misinterpreted Brennan's friendship offer. Dante will also become the jealous boyfriend that makes the twist more exciting.

Overall Review:
This book is simple yet satisfying. Some of the scenes were calming and pleasant but it is made exactly appropriate from the Title to it's genre. The author made a video that introduces the characters and even the time and place. On the video, it indicated that this story is base on true to life events. The words and phrases she used are good and improved as well. I can't say any suggestions for the next coming chapter cause I really wanna see how this is going to work on it's own. Tho' I'm looking forward for some scene to be clarify and if some scenarios should be improved then it's up to the author. But all in all, the story is good and catchy.

Note for the Author

Dear Author,

You may find this review valuable, you may not. However, this is one opinion on your work.

Your book is special as you have spent countless hours creating it from your creativity, hard work, and determination. If your book is a first draft, remember this will need to be edited.

No book, art piece is perfect. And, that's okay.

No one knows your story better than you do. As long as you feel proud of it, consider your book a success.

Reviews can only offer suggestions that could improve your book. Do not take this review to heart.

Trust yourself. You poured your heart and soul into this book, and that is something to be proud of.

Keep writing because one day your book will be someone's favourite.

From,
Liz Diongson