Title: Tell Me When You Feel Something
Author: Vicki Grant
Publication: June 15, 2021
Publisher: Penguin Teen
Genre: Teens & YA
Pages: 336
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
It seemed like a cool part-time program — being a simulated patient for med school students to practice on. But now vivacious, charismatic Viv lies in a very real coma. Cellphone footage just leads to more questions. What really happened? Other kids suspect it was not an intentional overdose — but each has a reason why they can’t tell the truth.
Through intertwining and conflicting narratives, a twisted story unfolds of trust betrayed as we sift through the seemingly innocent events leading up to the tragic night. Perhaps simulated patients aren’t the only people pretending to be something they’re not . . .
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I was very excited about this book because the description was intriguing and sounded unique. I had never read anything by author Vicki Grant and was ready to dig in.
Unfortunately I have to say from the start that I was not a big fan of this book. I also want to give full disclosure that I did not finish the book. I read 32%, which is about where I require myself to read if I am struggling with a book. I feel that if the book isn’t pulling me in by 30%, there is a bigger problem and I am likely not going to like it either way.
With that said, let’s talk about why I didn’t love it. From the beginning, the story was very broken and all over the place. It did give a timeline of “4 days after the party” or “36 days before the party”, but it jumped between a few different characters. The story was very confusing and what had happened wasn’t really all that clear. That was a big turnoff.
From there, I found that I was expecting a mystery novel based on the description, but found I was reading more about a teenager with an alcohol problem. That was the primary focus of the story. It was really dark and depressing and kind of unnerving to think there were no adults who noticed the issues. There was no real mystery aside from what came to transpire at the party, but it wasn’t the focus of the story. By the time I reached the 30% I required myself to attempt if a book was just not catching me at all, I still had no real mystery set before me and the story mainly focused on a drunk teenager struggling with life issues. There was no real fluid storyline and it was very broken and convoluted.
I really wanted to enjoy this story, but it was just too confusing, didn’t flow smoothly, and did not click well. That does not mean others will not like it, and I always encourage you to try a book for yourself and be the judge. I will check out more from author Vicki Grant to see if more of her stories interest me more than this one.
STAR RATING: 1/5
Pick up your copy of Tell Me When You Feel Something by Vicki Grant on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or check your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can check out more from author Vicki Grant on her website HERE.
