The Best Reader + Where it Began

Review: Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 6th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 384 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sometimes the end is just the beginning.

Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. But when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss… Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there.

And Billy's nowhere to be found.

All Gabby wants is to make everything perfect again. But getting her life back isn't difficult, it's impossible. Because nothing is the same, and Gabby's beginning to realize she's missed more than a few danger signs along the way.

It's time for Gabby to face the truth, even if it means everything changes.

Especially if it means everything changes.

Review:


I really enjoyed the way Where it Began starts out. It begins with us right in the action where Gabby is in the hospital and she doesn't really know why or what happened. Then, as the story progressed I mostly lost interest. The mystery behind the story is great and I did want to know what happened to Gabby, but Gabby's personality was really the major turn-off for me.

When Gabby wakes up in the hospital she is completely confused. The one thing she does know is that she has a boyfriend, Billy, and he is not there with her. She can't figure out why he doesn't visit her. As she heals, pieces of the puzzle come together for her but it is a slow process.

A lot of this book goes through Gabby's memories and the time right after she"changed". She had been an average girl but after her mother forces her to get a makeover, she gets much more popular and that is what originally gets the attention of the popular Billy Nash.

The plot of this book was okay but Gabby really annoyed me. She was very self-centered and a lot of the book just discusses her looks. I got tired of reading about her hair and clothes. I wanted her to focus more on the important things but that never really happened. Parts of the book really lagged for me and it drove me crazy when she kept worrying about Billy. I wanted to feel more attached to the characters but I didn't.

I would still pick up other books by Ann Redisch Stampler because her writing style is enjoyable. This book just fell short for me.
Recommended: Contemporary fans wanting something with a little mystery.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

3 stars, Ann Redisch Stampler, book, LIFE, review, Simon Pulse, TIME, and more:

Review: Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler + Where it Began