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On Thursday Jan. 9th, David, Holly and I are starting a buddy read for Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris!

This buddy read is open to everyone who would like to join in!! There are no set chapters per day, we just read at our own paces and start each post with how far along you are, i.e., Chapter #, %, using spoilers where needed. Have fun!

Just found some extra content from the books you can read online!



This is all from Unbreakable, which is the sequel :)

Awesome, thanks Jenny!!! Can't wait, this book sounds awesome :)

Anyone start yet? I've read a fair bit, but I've been taking notes on my thoughts so you don't have to wait too long to read each spoiler :)

20% (view spoiler)[ I loved Janelle from the beginning and thought the story opened up really well. The whole idea of someone random bringing her back to life is so cool. No clue where this is all going, but it's awesome so far! (hide spoiler)]

45% (view spoiler)[ One of my favorite things about this is the quasi-investigation thing going on. I wouldn't mind a little more focus on that. But it's good to know Ben really did save her. At least that's solid. I'm just hoping it's not some superpower or alien thing. Please please please let it be something else! (hide spoiler)]

70% (view spoiler)[ YAY! I'm so glad it wasn't an alien or superpower thing. I like the idea of travelling from other universes and I like the randomness of his ability to control molecules being just a glitch of travelling through the wormhole. I'm quite happy with how this is all being pulled together.

But oh gosh, I was really sad about her dad, didn't see that coming at all. He seemed like a great guy. (hide spoiler)]

WOW, David, you speed reader you! At least on this book!

I started last night, but I fell asleep before getting too far. I'm at 13% at the moment! The only thing I want to say that doesn't need a spoiler is I LOVE Janelle! One of my favorite MC characters ever!!

You know, I just finished which has a similar premise. I have to say, though, I really did like Unraveling a lot better - which I read last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. When you read the sequel, be sure to go to Elizabeth Norris' website and read the alternate ending (which I liked much better than the book's) and the few paragraph "short stories" which expand on some of the events. The alternate ending gives you some closure and is a happy ending.

Unraveling was a fabulous book. I loved it.

Ah, sorry guys, I'm going to start it today!

LOL no worries, Holly, looking forward to your thoughts :)

I'm about 9% in, and I really like it so far! I'm so intrigued by what happened to Janelle and what Ben did. Can't wait to find out more. :)

Cool beans, glad you enjoyed the beginning too :)

I'm now up to 40% (view spoiler)[ I loved how I had absolutely no clue on where all this was going the first time I read it. I also love how freakin smart Janelle is, and I love her dad, Alex, and of course, Ben! Nick is such a dumbass. I better not say much more or I'll give it all away! (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, it's cool how all the characters make it cool to be smart. I think that's a good thing, and I enjoyed seeing them in a class environment and actually caring about learning.

I finished, by the way!! (view spoiler)[ Things got pretty crazy there at the end, I was completely shocked by the damage to Janelle's earth, brutal! By the end I was pretty tired of all the f-bombs, but I liked the story and Janelle was a funny MC. Ben was generally likeable too, although I couldn't stand his friends and guessed early on that Reid was the problem child of the three.

Oh and I think Struz was my favorite character, although Alex was a close second, hated to see that happen to him :( A lot of heartbreaks in this book. (hide spoiler)]

YAY, David!! I'm at 62% at the moment, I'm sure I'll finish today! (view spoiler)[ I knew you would be thrilled that it wasn't superpowers, or aliens. I really liked the whole concept of parallel worlds, too, and thought the whole thing was so clever! I didn't really notice a lot of F words, but I LOVED the one Janelle used when describing her perfect marriage proposal! I thought that was just hilarious!! And the teacher's reaction was priceless! (hide spoiler)]

Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other characters. And this mystery that her dad is investigating is really intriguing, especially since I have no clue where it's heading. I haven't been able to come up with any theories yet.

I'm definitely finishing this today! :)

Jenny wrote: "I'm now up to 40% [spoilers removed]"

I love all of these characters, aside from Ben's friends (still don't know whether they're good guys or not), and her mother. Oh, and I can't forget about Struz! He's got such a great personality. I really like how they all kind of complement each other. And I love how this book not only focuses on the mystery, but also on the characters and their lives.

Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other characters. And this mystery that her dad is investigatin..."

Awesome! Just you wait, the twist will hit you hard! Struz is my favorite, Holly! And I felt the same about Ben's friends, I really didn't like them at all. But I thought they were well-developed and complex, which I always appreciate.

Jenny wrote: "YAY, David!! I'm at 62% at the moment, I'm sure I'll finish today! [spoilers removed]"

LOL I'm very sensitive to swearing in books and movies, especially stuff intended for younger audiences, I've always been that way! Although personally I'd prefer most of it left out, I do understand why it's included as a lot of teenagers, as much as I'd like to think the contrary, have foul mouths LOL So in a way it's more realistic that way. Sometimes I just have to cringe and skim, like pretty much anytime Elijah opens his mouth LOL!!

David wrote: "Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other characters. And this mystery that her dad ..."

I'm at 67%. (view spoiler)[If you mean that the three guys are from a different universe and that the dead bodies are because of radiation from coming through a portal, then yes, I've hit the twist! It's so friggin' CRAZY! It has me worried, because I don't know how this is going to end. And I'm glad it wasn't aliens or superpowers. I like the whole concept of a multiverse. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, I always love complex characters. After finding out Ben, Elijah, and Reid's pasts, it makes me see them for much more than loners who don't care about life. (view spoiler)[I really love Ben and Janelle's relationship, so I'm torn up about them wanting to go back home. (hide spoiler)]

David wrote: "Jenny wrote: "YAY, David!! I'm at 62% at the moment, I'm sure I'll finish today! [spoilers removed]"

LOL I'm very sensitive to swearing in books and movies, especially stuff intended for younger ..."

LOL Yeah, I can see that. I'm not really fond of the F word or anything...but it really doesn't bother me much. I see your point, though! Although it does make it more realistic.

I'm the same with the the words "slut" or "whore" in YA. Nothing pisses me off more than that! I seriously just don't want those words anywhere near a teenager's vocabulary, boy or girl! I could rant and rave a long time on this, but its off topic, so I'll shut up now! :)

LOL I grew up in a very sheltered/over-protected environment, so I wasn't exposed to a lot of bad stuff. That made college a real eye-opener LOL!

Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other characters. And this mystery..."

Ahhhh!!! YES!! Hahaha, I loved the way you said that, Holly, made my giggle :) You definitely hit the twist! Yeah (view spoiler)[ how impossible a decision is it for Ben to decide, assuming he gets the chance, whether to leave Janelle to go back to his family or to stay with her? Personally I'd choose love, but I'm a hopeless romantic! (hide spoiler)]

David wrote: "LOL I grew up in a very sheltered/over-protected environment, so I wasn't exposed to a lot of bad stuff. That made college a real eye-opener LOL!"

My dad is very religious, and he has never said a bad word in his life! He couldn't stand it when I said "crap" or "suck" or something like that! So I never used to swear...

My mom however...she has a temper, and when she gets mad, every swear word flies loose! So as I got older and became a mom, I started to notice that I sounded way to much like her!

Okay, this is SO off topic, but its really hilarious, so I'm going to share!

When the kids were little, Darryl and I took them to Des Moines for a day, and we were in crazy busy traffic. Darryl was driving, but I have kind of road rage when I drive, and sometimes I cuss out other drivers when I'm annoyed with them. So we are in this heavy traffic, and all the sudden from the backseat Logan (who was 2 years old) pipes up, "F*cking cars!" Darryl just looked at me, because it was totally my fault! So yes, I taught my 2 year old how to swear! And then had to unteach him! I learned my lesson, though, kids repeat EVERYTHING you say when they are little!

Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other characters. And this mystery..."

I'm having so much trouble not giving away anything! So I'll just keep my lips zipped...

David wrote: "Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other characters. A..."

I have no clue how I would decide that. I'm a hopeless romantic too, but my family is so incredibly important to me. It's an impossible choice I'd never, ever want to make.

Also, I grew up being told that swearing is wrong. But now, personally it doesn't bother me. I don't mind it in a book, as long it's not excessive and used like five times on a single page, or in a single sentence.

Jenny wrote: "Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other characters. A..."

Haha, I'm hoping to finish very soon, so we can all discuss without worrying about spoiling anything. :)

keep those lips zipped Jenny! :)

Ha! Omg that story is too hilarious Jenny! LOL!!! Kids are like sponges, and they're so smart so young! Your dad sounds like my parents. I heard each of them only once, and they were D and H words, which most people barely even consider cursing these days! So I rarely swear, and when I do there's some big emotion behind it!

Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really like the other..."

Ooh, I bet you can really relate to Ben then! Not to say I don't love my family, I've just always been very independent of them (like leaving Pittsburgh to move to Australia LOL!). But I can always easily fly back. I don't have to open a wormhole to visit them!!

It's funny how everyone's background and upbringing is so different, but that's what makes life interesting!

I say gosh dangit a lot too, Layla! LOL

David wrote: "Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "David wrote: "Holly wrote: "Okay, guys, I'm at 33%. I love this book so far, especially Janelle's character. I connect with her so easily. I also really..."

Agreed! I love hearing how others were raised!

I am very independent of my parents now...wasn't when I was younger. Especially after I had 3 small children, I wanted my mom! A lot! Darryl's parents lived with us for a year when the boys were born to help out, and even though that was somewhat stressful, I was so grateful for their help! They were really great in-laws, very understanding! So both our parents helped us A LOT when the kids were young!

Just finished!!! This book was just... WOW! I'm honestly thinking about giving it 5 stars, because other than it being slow-paced for me, I loved everything about it. Janelle was an awesome heroine, very believable teenager who just wanted to feel alive, to not be burdened anymore. I really liked Ben, and her relationship with him. I thought the development of it was very well-done, so it made the ending much more heartbreaking even though I saw it coming. I loved the secondary characters, too. (view spoiler)[So sad about Alex and her father! (hide spoiler)] Also, Janelle's relationship with Jared was one of my favorite parts of this book. It reminded me a lot of mine and my little brother's. (view spoiler)[And the science and multiverse concept was so awesome. I thought it was played out really nicely. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I knew it wasn't Elijah. But I honestly did not see it coming with Reid. I don't know how I missed it, though. But I was thinking that it was someone different from the three, like maybe that boy they'd been friends with who didn't come through the portal with them. Anyway, very well-done on the suspense and mystery, I thought! (hide spoiler)]

Just, overall, I loved this book. :)

YAY, so glad you both liked it!!

I just finished my reread as well, and just as good the second time, if not more heartbreaking!

So, if you read the sequel, I must warn you its very different than the first one. The style and the writing is still the same, but the two MCs are Janelle and Barclay. Ben is a pretty bit part in it. But I loved it even better than Unraveling!

Layla wrote: "I swear :“gosh dangit", "heck" "that's barking ridiculous" and "oh my great gatsby"... ;)"

Hahaha! That cracked me up :) I use my made up curse words from Fire Country all the time lol!!

Ahhh Awesome Holly! I'm so glad you enjoyed it too! It was fun buddy reading with you, it seems like we're usually on the exact same page with our comments :)

And of course thank you Jenny for recommending this one and for re-reading along with us :) And thanks for the preview of the next book, that helps!

Next up is a buddy read of for some of us, I think. Then we'll have to work out what to read together next :)

You're welcome! Oh, and its NOT a love triangle ;) Mostly major action!