Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

I can't decide how I felt about this book. If I enjoyed it. If I hated it. Because I kind of did both. I know for sure that I did not love the book, but I also enjoyed reading it. But some things made me angry. While the ending sort of made me happy. I can't decide. I wish the book had been longer, as I felt it was too short. I liked the writing, just didn't always like the way the characters were thinking. I will try to describe what I liked.

And what I didn't like. Which at the moment seems to be winning in my mind. But I also liked a few things about this book. And just. Agh. I cannot decide how I felt about it. Hoping it will become clear when I write this review, lol. But anyway. I do think people will enjoy this book. Because it is honest. Very, very honest. A bit dramatic at times. But I think I liked it.

The book is told from five different point of views. Though we only get the point of view of Alice in the last ten pages. That was depressing. I wish the whole book had been from her point of view. Sigh. But I did like getting to know what the other characters were thinking. There is Kurt, who is the biggest nerd in the school. I liked him. He's awkward and cute. I loved reading his point of view. Wish it had been more of it and more of him. Then there is Josh. I sort of liked him. I liked who he was. But I hated how he lied. How he never ever said that he lied. The book needed to be longer so that he could confess, lol. It wouldn't change anything, but I would have liked seeing him as a better person. Not sure I truly liked any of the characters in this book. Huh.

Then there is Alice's best friend, Kelsie. I did not like her. She dumped Alice so fast after all the rumors started. She didn't care for her at all. And I hated her for it. Truly did. Yeah, sure, I felt a little bit sorry for her when she shared some of her story. But there is no excuse for what she did to Alice. Just to be a popular girl. Yeah. Kelsie sucked. I'm sorry, but she did. She was awful. And I really truly hope that she and Alice never become friends again, because Alice deserves so much better than a crappy one like her.

There is also the point of view of Elaine. The popular girl in the school. I didn't like her either. We don't get to know all that much about her. But enough for me not to feel sorry for her. She also made things bad for Alice. Sure, she tries to make it better. Kind of. After a long time. But I would never forgive her. Also. She has this on-and-off relationship with Brandon, who died, who supposedly had sex with Alice and another guy. I did not approve of Elaine and Brandon having a relationship like that. Sigh. Not good.

There is a lot of things in this book. Most of them I did not like. Yet I was interested in reading the book. And I'm glad I did. Though my head is not the best place right now. I hated how everyone turned against Alice. Except for Kurt, whom Alice never would have spoken to if the rumors hadn't started. We get to know things about Alice. True things. And I didn't like it. I didn't like her. Probably because I did not do things like that at her age. Not even now. I liked her hair and lipstick, but not her clothes.

I'm just not sure how to describe it. I think I liked Alice. A little bit. I felt sorry for her, because something like this should never happen to anyone. I was bullied a lot in school. So I know what Alice went through. Kind of. But anyway. I did feel sorry for her; cause her mom sucked. As well as all her previous friends. Anyway. I think I liked the plot in this book. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't perfect either. I have a lot of mixed feelings. I wished there had been a bit more, but at the same time I didn't.

Huge thank you to Ksenia at Macmillan Kids for the print ARC of this book. <3 So glad I got to read and review it early. Though my ARC cover is different from that hardcover. Hmm. I might have to buy it, hih, despite not loving the book. Cause that cover is all kinds of pretty. I like it. Anyway. The Truth About Alice was a good book. It was interesting and real. Not perfect, but good enough, I think. And I've settled on a two star. But also a very weak three star. As I did enjoy this book a little as well. <3

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