This is So Not Happening by Kieran Scott

July 20, 2012 / 5 Comments / Uncategorized

This is So Not Happening by Kieran ScottThis Is So Not Happening

Goodreads
Author: Kieran Scott
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication date: May 1st 2012

Ally and Jake put true love to the test in this “funny and sensitive” conclusion to the He’s So/She’s So trilogy that’s filled “with depth and wit” (Kirkus Reviews).
After their long summer apart, Ally and Jake were hoping for a drama-free senior year. Easier said than done.
Chloe is pregnant. And she says that Jake is the father. It was a one-time thing, and Ally and Jake can get through it, right? But Ally’s willingness to make it work is tested when Jake starts blowing her off to go to doctor’s appointments with Chloe, and Ally joins the school play—and meets a cute guy. After everything they’ve been through, can Ally and Jake get out of Orchard Hill with their relationship intact?
The gossip-fueled action of She’s So Dead to Us and He’s So Not Worth It comes full circle in this can’t-miss conclusion to a popular trilogy.

Someone else on Goodreads said that she knew she was going to dislike this book, but she read it anyway and love-hated it. I feel the same way. Kieran Scott really knows how to tug at your heartstrings, and how to realistically portray teenagers. This Is So Not Happening has one of the best portrayals of teen pregnancy I’ve ever read. It wasn’t from the perspective of the mother, which made it unique and interesting. I didn’t like it, I didn’t want to read about it, but Scott did a great job showing how people reacted, and how things changed with the friendships/relationships in the novel because of it. Jake is one of the most realistic male characters I’ve ever read – he’s an idiot who is controlled by his emotions, but has a good heart. Did I dislike him? Absolutely. Was he written that way? Definitely. Is Ally an idiot for staying with him? Totally, but it completely makes sense to me that she does. When you’re a teenager, sometimes love really does feel like it triumphs all, and even though you get hurt over and over again by someone, you can’t help but go back.

That said, I was angry at most of the characters throughout the entire book. I think Ally was pretty much a saint to let Jake walk all over her. I recognize that this is realistic, but I hope it makes teens think about whether they should be in a relationship that is that turbulent. There’s no need for that much drama in your lives, and the people you’re with should make you feel happy and in love. You shouldn’t need to pick up after other people’s problems all the time.

I wanted to give this 4 stars, but I just couldn’t because I was so annoyed. It took a lot for me to get through this book. I’m glad I finished the series, but it’s not one I’ll ever pick up again. Scott deserves kudos, though, for transforming this fluffy clique-tastic series into something more.

Overall score: 3.5/5 stars


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5 responses to “This is So Not Happening by Kieran Scott

  1. WOW… I thought this one was a light-hearted, cute book dealing with intense issues… but I guess I was wrong. Here's the thing about not liking characters – what if that's how people act in real life? What if that's how teenagers really are? I am a teen, and I can say that DOES sound like the foundations of a teenager, especially in that situation. Maybe the author is portraying the characters in a real way, not in an idealistic way. So, if you don't like the characters that much, it could be because you don't like the teenagers of today. This author is making the book real, not idealistic, and for that aspect, I totally respect the author. But this is just a theory. Great review!

  2. All I can say is that I think I will pass. Totally giving credit that the author writes a realistic portrayal of teens in this situation, but that alone isn't enough to make me want to read it. Especially when it annoyed you so.

  3. It's hard to like a book when the characters sometimes annoy/frustrate the reader. Gotta admit I'm kinda curious, but also not sure I'd want to invest the time ….. I normally don't have much patience for real OR fictitious characters who let others walk all over them lol Still, I'm putting this one on my list 'cos it still sounds like an interesting book! <3 🙂

  4. This sounds like one of those dramatic teen books. I'm glad the portrayal and reactions were realistic though! Huh, a different perspective then I thought it would be, interesting… Yikes these characters do sound annoying, especially Ally. Great review!

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