Alice Kuipers

It’s Lark’s seventeenth birthday, and although she’s hated to be reminded of the day ever since her mom’s death three years ago, it’s off to a great start. Lark has written a killer song to perform with her band, the weather is stunning and she’s got a date with gorgeous Alec. The two take a canoe out on the lake, and everything is perfect—until Lark hears the screams. Annabelle, a little girl she used to babysit, is drowning in the nearby reeds while Annabelle’s mom tries desperately to reach her. Lark and Alec are closer, and they both dive in. But Alec hits his head on a rock in the water and begins to flail. Alec and Annabelle are drowning. And Lark can save only one of them. Lark chooses, and in that moment her world splits into two distinct lives. She must live with the consequences of both choices. As Lark finds herself going down more than one path, she has to decide: Which life is the right one? Alice Kuipers, the award-winning author of 40 Things I Want to Tell You and Life on the Refrigerator Door, is an expert chronicler of the teenage heart, and she takes her work to new heights here. A riveting, high-concept novel with heart, Me and Me is about what it feels like to be torn in pieces, and about finally finding out who you really are.

Me and Me

allie

1 star. 

unfortunately, this book was a bit of disappointment for me. tbh it feels like a classic example of a great idea that suffers from poor execution. when i first read the premise of this book, i was so hooked. i've always been fascinated with the idea of parallel lives and alternate realities and i was ready for this book to become one of my favorites. but unfortunately this didn't happen. 

from the start, none of the characters resonated with me. each of them, including the main character, lark, felt boring, flat, and overall unmemorable. i didn't truly care about any of them and i found myself rolling my eyes at almost every character interaction, and every scrap of dialogue. 

the writing in this book is my biggest issue. most of this book is written in quite a straightforward and to the point manner, which wouldn't usually be a problem if it didn't cause the dialogue and overall story to be so choppy. i'm choosing to believe that it was written this way in order to cater to a younger audience and to be honest, thirteen year old me probably would have enjoyed this book; nineteen year old me does not.

A mind-bending novel from Alice Kuipers, expert chronicler of the teenage heart. Itês a perfect day for Larkês dream date with Alec from school. Blue skies, clear water, a canoe on the lake. Alec even brought flowers for Larkês birthday. Everything is just right Ä until they hear screams from the edge of the water. Annabelle, a little girl Lark used to babysit, is struggling in the reeds. When Lark and Alec dive in to help her, Alec hits his head on a rock. Now Annabelle and Alec are both in trouble, and Lark can only save one of them. With that split-second decision, Larkês world is torn in two, leaving her to cope with the consequences of both choices. She lives two lives, two selves. But which is the right life, and which is the real Lark? Me and Me is about how it feels to be torn in pieces, and how to make two halves whole again.

Jelke Lenaerts

I RECEIVED A GALLEY OF THIS THROUGH NETGALLEY

I enjoyed my time reading this book but it was nothing that really stood out to me. I do feel that at some points this book was a bit underdeveloped.

Belle Ellrich

[I WAS PROVIDED WITH A PHYSICAL ARC IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW BY THE PUBLISHER]

Alice Kuipers is a new favorite author of mine, and I am determined to find out what she will be writing next.

It was no wonder that Me and Me was going to be an amazing book. The synopsis was a dead giveaway of that! However, I was shocked when I reached the ending, completely and utterly transfixed by everything that had occurred.

Lark (love that name!) is a character a lot of wish we could be; she's in a band as the lead singer and songwriter, is going out on a date with a crush, and seems to have a generally nice life. However, this all shifts during her date with Alec, when the little girl she used to babysit is face down in the water. Upon diving in with her, Alec hits his head and starts to drown.
She's got one choice to make, and she doesn't know which to choose.

This is when we are introduced to the dual perspectives. We have Lark chooses Alec, and we have Lark chooses Annabelle. Both options give her a fate that has good and bad turns, with plot twists galore.

"I turn back. I'm halfway between Annabelle and Alec. I have to save them."

You know how some quotes give you the feels? Yeah, that was this quote right here. Rip out my heart, why don't you!

I loved the characters in this book and how they developed. However, I felt some of them—Lucy, for example—were overlooked. And while I get that supporting characters usually don't get much of an appearance in books, I felt like, as Lark's best friend, she should have been in the story more than she was.

Other than that, the rest of the book was great. The plot flowed together nicely, and everything made sense. I loved how everything turned out in the end and would definitely read it again. I do suggest that you pick up this book if you haven't already.

I rate this book 4.5/5 stars.

Me and Me

Reviews