What do you think?
Rate this book
The F-It List
With her signature heart and humor, Julie Halpern explores a strained friendship strengthened by one girl’s battle with cancer.
Alex’s father recently died in a car accident. And on the night of his funeral, her best friend Becca slept with Alex’s boyfriend. So things aren’t great. Alex steps away from her friendship with Becca and focuses on her family.
But when Alex finally decides to forgive Becca, she finds out something that will change her world again—Becca has cancer.
So what do you do when your best friend has cancer? You help her shave her head. And then you take her bucket list and try to fulfill it on her behalf. Because if that’s all you can do to help your ailing friend—you do it.
Alex’s father recently died in a car accident. And on the night of his funeral, her best friend Becca slept with Alex’s boyfriend. So things aren’t great. Alex steps away from her friendship with Becca and focuses on her family.
But when Alex finally decides to forgive Becca, she finds out something that will change her world again—Becca has cancer.
So what do you do when your best friend has cancer? You help her shave her head. And then you take her bucket list and try to fulfill it on her behalf. Because if that’s all you can do to help your ailing friend—you do it.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2013
176 people are currently reading
8345 people want to read
About the author
Julie Halpern
16Ìýbooks428ÌýfollowersJULIE HALPERN is the author of five young adult novels and one picture book for young readers. Maternity Leave is her first novel for adults. Prior to her life as full-time mom and author, Julie was a school librarian. In her imaginary spare time, she enjoys traveling, watching television for grown-ups, and eating baked goods. Julie lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, author and illustrator Matthew Cordell, and their two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 665 reviews
September 26, 2013
I technically wanted to write a full review of this and have it say everything I want to say about "The F-it List", but this is going to be short and sweet because I don't think it's going to take much for me to reflect upon it.
Overall, I wasn't impressed with this novel because I think it tried to do so much within it that everything was just over the top. You have two girls: Alex and Becca, who are friends and the novel starts off with Alex being mad at Becca for sleeping with her boyfriend on the night of her father's funeral. She's all set to forgive her after a time, only to realize that Becca has cancer. Becca decides she wants to do everything she can do in something like a "bucket list", which they affectionately call the "F-it List." There's a lot of pop culture dropping, what with Alex's love for horror movies and media, and there's a bit of focus on Alex's growing love for Leo. But they all have to contend with their grief at some point.
Don't get me wrong, I think I could've appreciated the relationship between Alex and Becca a lot more if Becca had been more of a focus, but really this book had more to do with pop culture references (however endearing they might've been - even Bruce Campbell had a mention in here. Bruce Campbell! Though that shouldn't be surprising considering the links to horror movies). The sheer number of them pretty much overtook the novel after a time. While I was totally with the mentions of Hello Kitty, Polly Pocket, Battlestar Galactica, various horror movie mentions and trivia details (Bruce Campbell!), it felt like the rest of the story was lost in the sea.
This book also had more to do with graphic displays of sex, which normally if it had a purpose in the novel, I wouldn't be so squirmy about, but not only is this a YA novel (and people probably have different comfort zones with that mention - so this is definitely not a novel for young teens), but also the mentions of it overtook the novel I think, from its primary focus. Really, there were more focal points on Alex's sexual encounters with Leo than with dealing with Becca's cancer, though I understood there was focus in the story in Alex's attempts to deal with her father's grief, her grief over Becca's cancer, AND another grief story that surfaces in the details of the tale later on.
This book tried to be an overtly funny alternate version of "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl," but ultimately failed with that because the humor was too forced and the focal points were shallow in presentation. Some of it was funny, but the vast majority of the time - I wasn't laughing, mostly cringing.
Overall, this was my first experience with Julie Halpern's writing, but it's not a story I would recommend because it didn't really impress or grab me in the measures of what it offered. It had some moments, and I'll give it credit for those, but ultimately, it's not a story I would read again or want to return to. It was just too much and not well enough in its focus.
Overall score: 1.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
Overall, I wasn't impressed with this novel because I think it tried to do so much within it that everything was just over the top. You have two girls: Alex and Becca, who are friends and the novel starts off with Alex being mad at Becca for sleeping with her boyfriend on the night of her father's funeral. She's all set to forgive her after a time, only to realize that Becca has cancer. Becca decides she wants to do everything she can do in something like a "bucket list", which they affectionately call the "F-it List." There's a lot of pop culture dropping, what with Alex's love for horror movies and media, and there's a bit of focus on Alex's growing love for Leo. But they all have to contend with their grief at some point.
Don't get me wrong, I think I could've appreciated the relationship between Alex and Becca a lot more if Becca had been more of a focus, but really this book had more to do with pop culture references (however endearing they might've been - even Bruce Campbell had a mention in here. Bruce Campbell! Though that shouldn't be surprising considering the links to horror movies). The sheer number of them pretty much overtook the novel after a time. While I was totally with the mentions of Hello Kitty, Polly Pocket, Battlestar Galactica, various horror movie mentions and trivia details (Bruce Campbell!), it felt like the rest of the story was lost in the sea.
This book also had more to do with graphic displays of sex, which normally if it had a purpose in the novel, I wouldn't be so squirmy about, but not only is this a YA novel (and people probably have different comfort zones with that mention - so this is definitely not a novel for young teens), but also the mentions of it overtook the novel I think, from its primary focus. Really, there were more focal points on Alex's sexual encounters with Leo than with dealing with Becca's cancer, though I understood there was focus in the story in Alex's attempts to deal with her father's grief, her grief over Becca's cancer, AND another grief story that surfaces in the details of the tale later on.
This book tried to be an overtly funny alternate version of "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl," but ultimately failed with that because the humor was too forced and the focal points were shallow in presentation. Some of it was funny, but the vast majority of the time - I wasn't laughing, mostly cringing.
Overall, this was my first experience with Julie Halpern's writing, but it's not a story I would recommend because it didn't really impress or grab me in the measures of what it offered. It had some moments, and I'll give it credit for those, but ultimately, it's not a story I would read again or want to return to. It was just too much and not well enough in its focus.
Overall score: 1.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
June 12, 2018
"Sometimes it takes a bucket list to start living again."
This book was a total surprise. For some reason, this book has been getting pretty low ratings from some of my friends on Good Reads, but I've been wanting to read this book for a long time and I decided to give it a chance. I sat down a few hours ago and started reading this but in the back of my head I had this feeling like I probably wouldn't like it or I would end up not wanting to finish it. Here we are, a few hours later and I finished the entire book in one sitting. It was so good.
This book has one of the most gorgeous covers I've ever seen and I'm not gonna lie, that's what initially drew me in. Then I found out this book is about a girl named Alex who finds out her best friend Becca has been diagnosed with cancer, and Becca gives Alex a bucket list (fuck it list) of things she always wanted to do before she died and asks Alex to complete some of them. This was such a wonderful story, and a lot of people are saying they didn't like Ale as a main character but I would have to disagree. I thought she was hilarious, to the point where I laughed out loud at times. Sure, she can be rude at times or over the top, but she was really funny. I also loved Becca as her best friend and I thought their relationship was so cute. That's best friend goals right there. I loved Alex's relationship with this guy named Leo (I couldn't stop picturing Leo's character as a young Leonardo DiCaprio which made it even better haha). I loved all of the relationships between the characters. This story is really sad at times, I mean it begins with Alex's Dad dying and on the same day her dad died, Becca sleeps with Alex's boyfriend Davis. It obviously causes drama in their friendship but then not long after Becca is diagnosed with cancer, and that sort of brings the two of them back together. I love the idea of a bucket list, and I always find them really intriguing to read about. Some of the things on her list were not a big deal like eating a chili pepper, or prank call this boy she used to like. But some of them were more intense, like take a bath in someone else's house, touch Jamie Bomer's (an actor) butt, have sex with someone you love and who's in love with you, flash the homeschool boy next door, and sleep on a beach and watch the sun rise. It was all very fun to watch and I love anything that involves bucket lists and doing crazy things that you wouldn't typically do. I feel like this is also a realistic take on cancer because Becca is absolutely miserable throughout most of this book and she's always throwing up and it's really sad but it's really real too. I feel like some books try and sugar coat cancer but this book definitely doesn't.
I also loved that Alex really loves horror movies. I related to her so much when she says: "Nothing made someone more attractive than knowing they liked the same movies I did." It's sooo true. Someone becomes ten times more attractive if we like the same movies. I also like how Alex and Leo both have an obsession with horror movies and that's something that brings them together. Also, The Walking Dead is one of my favorite shows and I love how much it was brought up in this book. Leo's character is reading The Walking Dead comics in this book which is ironic because I'm also currently reading the comics. And, Becca has a huge crush on Norman Reedus and is always bringing up Daryl Dixon and his crossbow. As a huge fan of The Walking dead it made me really giddy and excited whenever it was mentioned.
This book reminded me a lot of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (even though I've never read the book but I saw the movie) because it's about a friendship between a film maker (Alex) and someone who is dying of cancer (Becca). It also reminded me of Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson because of the bucket list. in Since You've Been Gone it's the same idea where the best friend gives her friend a bucket list of things she has to do.
Overall, I just really loved this book and it really surprised me and if you decided not to read it because it's getting low ratings then you should give it a second chance. Lately I seem to be having extremely different opinions when it comes to liking books that other people don't seem to like. Like last month I read "Tonight The Streets Are Ours" and I loved it, but everyone seems to be hating on it. (I'm usually the complete opposite and I seem to hate books that everyone loves, I don't know what changed haha.) But yeah, this book was definitely a new favorite.
This book was a total surprise. For some reason, this book has been getting pretty low ratings from some of my friends on Good Reads, but I've been wanting to read this book for a long time and I decided to give it a chance. I sat down a few hours ago and started reading this but in the back of my head I had this feeling like I probably wouldn't like it or I would end up not wanting to finish it. Here we are, a few hours later and I finished the entire book in one sitting. It was so good.
This book has one of the most gorgeous covers I've ever seen and I'm not gonna lie, that's what initially drew me in. Then I found out this book is about a girl named Alex who finds out her best friend Becca has been diagnosed with cancer, and Becca gives Alex a bucket list (fuck it list) of things she always wanted to do before she died and asks Alex to complete some of them. This was such a wonderful story, and a lot of people are saying they didn't like Ale as a main character but I would have to disagree. I thought she was hilarious, to the point where I laughed out loud at times. Sure, she can be rude at times or over the top, but she was really funny. I also loved Becca as her best friend and I thought their relationship was so cute. That's best friend goals right there. I loved Alex's relationship with this guy named Leo (I couldn't stop picturing Leo's character as a young Leonardo DiCaprio which made it even better haha). I loved all of the relationships between the characters. This story is really sad at times, I mean it begins with Alex's Dad dying and on the same day her dad died, Becca sleeps with Alex's boyfriend Davis. It obviously causes drama in their friendship but then not long after Becca is diagnosed with cancer, and that sort of brings the two of them back together. I love the idea of a bucket list, and I always find them really intriguing to read about. Some of the things on her list were not a big deal like eating a chili pepper, or prank call this boy she used to like. But some of them were more intense, like take a bath in someone else's house, touch Jamie Bomer's (an actor) butt, have sex with someone you love and who's in love with you, flash the homeschool boy next door, and sleep on a beach and watch the sun rise. It was all very fun to watch and I love anything that involves bucket lists and doing crazy things that you wouldn't typically do. I feel like this is also a realistic take on cancer because Becca is absolutely miserable throughout most of this book and she's always throwing up and it's really sad but it's really real too. I feel like some books try and sugar coat cancer but this book definitely doesn't.
I also loved that Alex really loves horror movies. I related to her so much when she says: "Nothing made someone more attractive than knowing they liked the same movies I did." It's sooo true. Someone becomes ten times more attractive if we like the same movies. I also like how Alex and Leo both have an obsession with horror movies and that's something that brings them together. Also, The Walking Dead is one of my favorite shows and I love how much it was brought up in this book. Leo's character is reading The Walking Dead comics in this book which is ironic because I'm also currently reading the comics. And, Becca has a huge crush on Norman Reedus and is always bringing up Daryl Dixon and his crossbow. As a huge fan of The Walking dead it made me really giddy and excited whenever it was mentioned.
This book reminded me a lot of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (even though I've never read the book but I saw the movie) because it's about a friendship between a film maker (Alex) and someone who is dying of cancer (Becca). It also reminded me of Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson because of the bucket list. in Since You've Been Gone it's the same idea where the best friend gives her friend a bucket list of things she has to do.
Overall, I just really loved this book and it really surprised me and if you decided not to read it because it's getting low ratings then you should give it a second chance. Lately I seem to be having extremely different opinions when it comes to liking books that other people don't seem to like. Like last month I read "Tonight The Streets Are Ours" and I loved it, but everyone seems to be hating on it. (I'm usually the complete opposite and I seem to hate books that everyone loves, I don't know what changed haha.) But yeah, this book was definitely a new favorite.
November 11, 2013
3.5 stars
“Maybe not amazing, but we have to do what we want and not let conventional fear get in the way�.
There seems to be a certain trend with books dealing with bucket lists as of late. I find that I’m really an emotional reader, I seem to find myself gravitate towards books which deal with tough emotional subjects and ones which make me cry. So bucket list books were certainly books I couldn’t wait to dive into.
Despite me assuming that The F-it List would be a book which would solely focus on a friend complete her sick friends bucket List I’m pleased to say this story provided much more than this. The bucket list that Becca who had been diagnosed with cancer asked her friend Alex to compete was an integral part of the story. It was made even more important because Becca and Alex hadn’t been talking until Alex found out about Becca’s diagnosis. It was like it had become crucial to make up on the precious time the two friends had lost over the summer. But also Becca hadn’t just made this bucket list since she had found out about her cancer, but had worked on it for a long time, so helping Becca fulfil some of the dreams, even though some did sound lame was important to Alex.
Alex was a complicated character, she was still dealing with the loss of her dad and now her best friend had been diagnosed with cancer. She didn’t really know what to do. Alex was also one of those characters who because she was afraid, she wouldn’t allow herself to get close to anyone else. Some readers may find this characteristic in Alex annoying especially when they meet the lovely Leo, who seemed perfect for Alex. But when you get under Alex’s layers that she keeps so she won’t get hurt, you understand why she does this in the first place. At times there is a lot of faffing about and time lost between Alex and Leo, but the realisations that Alex comes to and the character which emerges in the end I think was worth some of the heartbreak.
Like I mentioned before The F-it List focuses on several different stories, some readers may have wished for more focus on the bucket list, but I liked how Halpern shifted the focus around a bit. And most importantly, with these individual stories coming together it resulted in a lot of character growth and overall a brilliant read.
This review can be found on:
“Maybe not amazing, but we have to do what we want and not let conventional fear get in the way�.
There seems to be a certain trend with books dealing with bucket lists as of late. I find that I’m really an emotional reader, I seem to find myself gravitate towards books which deal with tough emotional subjects and ones which make me cry. So bucket list books were certainly books I couldn’t wait to dive into.
Despite me assuming that The F-it List would be a book which would solely focus on a friend complete her sick friends bucket List I’m pleased to say this story provided much more than this. The bucket list that Becca who had been diagnosed with cancer asked her friend Alex to compete was an integral part of the story. It was made even more important because Becca and Alex hadn’t been talking until Alex found out about Becca’s diagnosis. It was like it had become crucial to make up on the precious time the two friends had lost over the summer. But also Becca hadn’t just made this bucket list since she had found out about her cancer, but had worked on it for a long time, so helping Becca fulfil some of the dreams, even though some did sound lame was important to Alex.
Alex was a complicated character, she was still dealing with the loss of her dad and now her best friend had been diagnosed with cancer. She didn’t really know what to do. Alex was also one of those characters who because she was afraid, she wouldn’t allow herself to get close to anyone else. Some readers may find this characteristic in Alex annoying especially when they meet the lovely Leo, who seemed perfect for Alex. But when you get under Alex’s layers that she keeps so she won’t get hurt, you understand why she does this in the first place. At times there is a lot of faffing about and time lost between Alex and Leo, but the realisations that Alex comes to and the character which emerges in the end I think was worth some of the heartbreak.
Like I mentioned before The F-it List focuses on several different stories, some readers may have wished for more focus on the bucket list, but I liked how Halpern shifted the focus around a bit. And most importantly, with these individual stories coming together it resulted in a lot of character growth and overall a brilliant read.
This review can be found on:
May 31, 2015
Oh my God, this was such a Dahlia book. Witty and irreverant MC *and* BFF? Check. Actual strong friendship that went through a ton of crap without crumbling, and remained consistently shown throughout the book instead of conveniently appearing at the beginning and the end with The Guy taking complete precedence in between? Check. Sex, including both solo and oral? Check. Kind of already wanna read it again? Checkmate.
August 18, 2013
The F It List is a laugh out loud, honest, witty and down to earth read. Even though the story revolves around cancer - every girl can relate to this story. Who hasn't had a fight with their best friend?
Alex and Becca have been best friends for practically forever so they have had tons of fights and make ups during their friendship. So when Becca basically does the WORST thing you can do to your best friend AND she did it on the day Alex had to bury her father; Alex is upset, but she figures she will forgive her at the start of the new school year. Alex has her reasons and she knows Becca was hurting that day too. Alex just needs some time to deal with her dad's death and not with Becca drama. On the first day of school when Alex shows up to tell Becca "all is forgiven" Becca isn't there. She finds out from another student that Becca was recently diagnosed with cancer. After school Alex heads over to Becca's house to find out if the rumor is true and to get her friend back.
It's true, Becca does have cancer and she wants Alex to help her with some things - First she wants Alex to shave her head - secondly, Becca has been working on a "bucket list" since she was younger - since she will be too sick to do some of the things, she wants Alex to "live them for her". Alex agrees but refuses to call it a bucket list (because of the meaning) - so, she calls it an F -It list instead. The list ranges from childish things like - write Rupert Grint a love letter to more mature issues. Alex & Becca start working on the list right away.
The banter between Alex and Becca had me laughing out loud, the storyline is about tragedies, mending a friendship and cancer but is very humorous. Most of the story really revolves around Alex coming out of a darker place in her life and learning to live and be happy again...because she is doing this stuff for Becca. It is stuff she wouldn't have done before, if Becca had not asked her to work on the list. Alex was probably my favorite character - she is dark, moody, confused about life and love. I really enjoyed watching her character grow throughout the story.
Some of the subject matter is for older teens. I would not have an issue letting my 14 yr old read the story (and then discussing it with her) but some parents may have issues with some things listed on the F it list.
Alex and Becca have been best friends for practically forever so they have had tons of fights and make ups during their friendship. So when Becca basically does the WORST thing you can do to your best friend AND she did it on the day Alex had to bury her father; Alex is upset, but she figures she will forgive her at the start of the new school year. Alex has her reasons and she knows Becca was hurting that day too. Alex just needs some time to deal with her dad's death and not with Becca drama. On the first day of school when Alex shows up to tell Becca "all is forgiven" Becca isn't there. She finds out from another student that Becca was recently diagnosed with cancer. After school Alex heads over to Becca's house to find out if the rumor is true and to get her friend back.
It's true, Becca does have cancer and she wants Alex to help her with some things - First she wants Alex to shave her head - secondly, Becca has been working on a "bucket list" since she was younger - since she will be too sick to do some of the things, she wants Alex to "live them for her". Alex agrees but refuses to call it a bucket list (because of the meaning) - so, she calls it an F -It list instead. The list ranges from childish things like - write Rupert Grint a love letter to more mature issues. Alex & Becca start working on the list right away.
The banter between Alex and Becca had me laughing out loud, the storyline is about tragedies, mending a friendship and cancer but is very humorous. Most of the story really revolves around Alex coming out of a darker place in her life and learning to live and be happy again...because she is doing this stuff for Becca. It is stuff she wouldn't have done before, if Becca had not asked her to work on the list. Alex was probably my favorite character - she is dark, moody, confused about life and love. I really enjoyed watching her character grow throughout the story.
Some of the subject matter is for older teens. I would not have an issue letting my 14 yr old read the story (and then discussing it with her) but some parents may have issues with some things listed on the F it list.
April 27, 2017
This book was so better than I was expecting it to be! I love lists, I love badass characters and I love beautiful covers! Alex was an amazing character even when she was speaking to fast and was hurting other people around her cause I can relate to that a lot! I loved the horror movies references in the book even If I haven't seen any of them.
December 4, 2015
Since I have been eyeing this book at the bookstore for the past few weeks, I decided to say f*** it (pun intended) and buy it. I am not sure if my interest in bucket and f***et lists came in to play or the fact that I was just excited about the title, but I had really high hopes for this book. I really enjoyed it and read it a few hours right after I had purchased it, but I can honestly say…not really what I was expecting. Let me explain:
The f*** It List (I am never going to get tired of saying that) starts out with our main character Alex dropping a royally f***ed up bomb about how her best friend Becca decided to screw Alex’s boyfriend…at Alex’s dads funeral. Ouch. After Becca explains to Alex what had happened between her and Alex’s boyfriend, Alex tells Becca that she needs a break from their friendship. But after a summer of not speaking, Alex returns to school and learns that Becca had just been diagnosed with cancer. As Alex puts her grudges for her best friend aside, Becca enlists Alex’s help in completing her bucket list for her. As Becca fights for her life, Alex starts to complete Becca’s list and do things she wouldn’t normally do…as well as start to develop feelings for a boy.
The characters of Becca and Alex are FRESH, FEISTY, and downright STRANGE but in the best kind of way. For seniors in high school, these girls have a very interesting outlook on life. Becca has a more positive way of thinking about the future and the present in comparison to Alex who keeps herself guarded and is more realistic about the world. I think both girls work perfectly together, and I love how easily their friendship comes back together after not speaking to each other for several months. The bucket list, F*** It List, that Becca writes and gives to Alex to complete is…interesting. Becca explains that many of the items were written when she was younger, but most of them have to do with something sexual. Be warned ladies and gents, Becca is a F-R-E-A-K. Not only is her f*** it list covered with sexual acts, but the girl is ALWAYS talking about something kinky and raunchy. Cover those virgin ears children, because this girl is sexually charged and HILARIOUS!!
As Alex is completing items off of Becca’s list, she starts to develop a…well…you know what I am honestly not sure what to call this “thing� she starts to have with the character of Leo. Their relationship starts out in the most bizarre way. Alex had been pinning after this guy for forever, and one day they end up smoking cigarettes on some grass, Leo kisses her, and then their strange overly sexual relationship starts. Maybe I’m weird, but was everyone in high school really this sexually driven?!? I was constantly finding myself scrunching up my face at this book, my scrunched up face turning into a confused smirk, and then my smirk moving my lips into saying “what in the f***�. Due to there being an abundance of this going on throughout the book, I found the writing style to be very different. I had a love and hate feeling towards the relationship between Alex and Leo, and I think it was because of how awkward the writing was. I didn’t feel a big connection to Leo at all, he was just kind of…there. I think a bit more could have gone into the character of Alex as well, especially since she is the main character. I loved her sarcasm and her quick remarks, but her feelings were all over the place for me. I still don’t quite feel like I connected with her completely.
Though this was more of a Mature YA book, I rather enjoyed it. I thought a lot of the items on the list were comical and cute, but I wish there would have been some more epic things that Alex had to do. I read this book in just a few hours, so it will definitely pull you in and get you hooked. The characters are witty and charming, and the overall story-line packs a great message to not waste time in your life. I recommend this to anyone who wants to read something new, as well as anyone who has ever thought about writing a bucket list. This is great inspiration to get yourself motivated and to do things you wouldn’t normally do.
The f*** It List (I am never going to get tired of saying that) starts out with our main character Alex dropping a royally f***ed up bomb about how her best friend Becca decided to screw Alex’s boyfriend…at Alex’s dads funeral. Ouch. After Becca explains to Alex what had happened between her and Alex’s boyfriend, Alex tells Becca that she needs a break from their friendship. But after a summer of not speaking, Alex returns to school and learns that Becca had just been diagnosed with cancer. As Alex puts her grudges for her best friend aside, Becca enlists Alex’s help in completing her bucket list for her. As Becca fights for her life, Alex starts to complete Becca’s list and do things she wouldn’t normally do…as well as start to develop feelings for a boy.
The characters of Becca and Alex are FRESH, FEISTY, and downright STRANGE but in the best kind of way. For seniors in high school, these girls have a very interesting outlook on life. Becca has a more positive way of thinking about the future and the present in comparison to Alex who keeps herself guarded and is more realistic about the world. I think both girls work perfectly together, and I love how easily their friendship comes back together after not speaking to each other for several months. The bucket list, F*** It List, that Becca writes and gives to Alex to complete is…interesting. Becca explains that many of the items were written when she was younger, but most of them have to do with something sexual. Be warned ladies and gents, Becca is a F-R-E-A-K. Not only is her f*** it list covered with sexual acts, but the girl is ALWAYS talking about something kinky and raunchy. Cover those virgin ears children, because this girl is sexually charged and HILARIOUS!!
As Alex is completing items off of Becca’s list, she starts to develop a…well…you know what I am honestly not sure what to call this “thing� she starts to have with the character of Leo. Their relationship starts out in the most bizarre way. Alex had been pinning after this guy for forever, and one day they end up smoking cigarettes on some grass, Leo kisses her, and then their strange overly sexual relationship starts. Maybe I’m weird, but was everyone in high school really this sexually driven?!? I was constantly finding myself scrunching up my face at this book, my scrunched up face turning into a confused smirk, and then my smirk moving my lips into saying “what in the f***�. Due to there being an abundance of this going on throughout the book, I found the writing style to be very different. I had a love and hate feeling towards the relationship between Alex and Leo, and I think it was because of how awkward the writing was. I didn’t feel a big connection to Leo at all, he was just kind of…there. I think a bit more could have gone into the character of Alex as well, especially since she is the main character. I loved her sarcasm and her quick remarks, but her feelings were all over the place for me. I still don’t quite feel like I connected with her completely.
Though this was more of a Mature YA book, I rather enjoyed it. I thought a lot of the items on the list were comical and cute, but I wish there would have been some more epic things that Alex had to do. I read this book in just a few hours, so it will definitely pull you in and get you hooked. The characters are witty and charming, and the overall story-line packs a great message to not waste time in your life. I recommend this to anyone who wants to read something new, as well as anyone who has ever thought about writing a bucket list. This is great inspiration to get yourself motivated and to do things you wouldn’t normally do.
March 9, 2016
I enjoyed The F- It List as much as I thought I would. It's a story featuring a young, strong female main character, Alex, who has to no choice but to deal with the different tragedies life throws at her. Her father dies, her best friend is diagnosed with cancer, and for the most part she manages to keep it all together. This is a story about completing a bucket list that wasn't made for you, although Alex treats it as her own since her best friend is that important to her. I enjoyed the moral of this story, cute easy read for all.
February 16, 2014
Hooray sick teenagers/bucket list trend?
This is a more mature YA take on the whole sick kids/"fulfill a list of things"...thing we're doing right now, apparently. On this book, it's Alex's friend Becca that has cancer, and Becca gives Alex her list to complete, or at least try to.
The book is ultimately fun and readable, but is so profane and so oversexualized that it really pulled me out of the story a bit. Perhaps there's a lot more realism here than I'm seeing, but it felt really unnecessary and out of place too often, providing the implication that everyone in this book is an oversexed teenager. That can't be right, and it loses any semblance of a message of any kind, whether it be about dealing with loss or the impact of illness and death on relationships or the strength of friendship.
In other words, this could have been more than it was. Might not be for everyone.
This is a more mature YA take on the whole sick kids/"fulfill a list of things"...thing we're doing right now, apparently. On this book, it's Alex's friend Becca that has cancer, and Becca gives Alex her list to complete, or at least try to.
The book is ultimately fun and readable, but is so profane and so oversexualized that it really pulled me out of the story a bit. Perhaps there's a lot more realism here than I'm seeing, but it felt really unnecessary and out of place too often, providing the implication that everyone in this book is an oversexed teenager. That can't be right, and it loses any semblance of a message of any kind, whether it be about dealing with loss or the impact of illness and death on relationships or the strength of friendship.
In other words, this could have been more than it was. Might not be for everyone.
March 8, 2014
Look. I didn't even finish this book. I couldn't. You see, I was in this post traumatized reading slump, and I picked up this book hoping it
l get me back into reading. It seemed cute, short and the thing about bucket list ya know. I wanted to read this. And like it. Ugh.
Don't get me wrong, I like my female protagonists to be badass and rebellious but Alex was just so...not? Yes she was "witty" and "badass" but to a laughable degree. She's so immature and the constant cursing got really annoying. I don't mind when people or books cuss but SERIOUSLY? Use curse words when there is a use for it. Say it with a reason. But when you regularly use it because of habit, in every single fking sentence it gets really fking annoying. Do you fking get me? Is this really fking annoying? I get how some people use it a lot, but ITS WITHIN REASON. You don't just go up to a tree or a banana and be like "fuck".
Overall, I didn't like the characters, the writing, (I can't really elaborate more because I returned the book already) and how the plot was executed. The plot itself had potential. If there were another book with the same plot line, I would read it. But how the plot in the book was portrayed, I didn't like it.
Recommendation: no.
l get me back into reading. It seemed cute, short and the thing about bucket list ya know. I wanted to read this. And like it. Ugh.
Don't get me wrong, I like my female protagonists to be badass and rebellious but Alex was just so...not? Yes she was "witty" and "badass" but to a laughable degree. She's so immature and the constant cursing got really annoying. I don't mind when people or books cuss but SERIOUSLY? Use curse words when there is a use for it. Say it with a reason. But when you regularly use it because of habit, in every single fking sentence it gets really fking annoying. Do you fking get me? Is this really fking annoying? I get how some people use it a lot, but ITS WITHIN REASON. You don't just go up to a tree or a banana and be like "fuck".
Overall, I didn't like the characters, the writing, (I can't really elaborate more because I returned the book already) and how the plot was executed. The plot itself had potential. If there were another book with the same plot line, I would read it. But how the plot in the book was portrayed, I didn't like it.
Recommendation: no.
March 8, 2014
The story of two crass, abrasive best girl friends? Sign me up.
Alex's dad died in a car wreck, and her best friend Becca slept with Alex's boyfriend. Alex needs a break from her friend to process all of the collisions going on in her life simultaneously, and she takes that break over the summer.
But when she returns to school, she gets the memo Becca's been diagnosed with cancer. Immediately horrified, Alex turns back to Becca, hoping they can continue the friendship they one had.
And they can.
Becca opens up about being diagnosed and what the course of treatment looks like, but more than that, she's eager to have Alex fulfill a bucket list (which they lovingly rename a fuck it list) that she's been building over the course of her life. If Becca can't indulge in those things because her life might be in jeopardy, than Alex should do it. This is darkly humorous, of course. Becca's sick, but she's not under the belief she's really going to die, and Alex isn't clouding her thoughts with it too. It comes up, and she grieves as she needs to to protect herself and work through the already massive loss she's experienced, but Alex agrees to the f-it list because she loves Becca and can do this list of things for her.
Through the course of completing the f-it list, she strengthens her friendship with Becca, finds an incredibly thoughtful, supportive, and real boyfriend, and connects to the things inside her she's forgotten about.
Alex is CRASS. Alex is ABRASIVE. And Alex and Becca are both hilarious. They're unashamed of themselves, of their lives, of their bodies, and of their interest in talking about and experiencing a variety levels of sexual interaction. Becca's f-it list includes items like masturbating, having sex with someone you love, making out, and more. Neither girl shies away from talking about these things nor enjoying them. And it's not that their careless jerks; it's that for Alex, it's a way to learn about herself and to "do something" for Becca. For Becca, it's about living and giving life to her best friend who, despite not being the one enduring chemo, has been there through thick and thin and who herself has been dealt an unfair hand of cards.
The story is never about fulfilling the list. It's about what that list is to the two girls as individuals and to them as best friends.
Alex is compelling and tough. She's got an exterior that's razor sharp, but as she works through the list and as she begins a relationship with Leo, we as readers see she's a softy inside. There's an excellent interaction near the end of the book where Alex allows herself to see this too -- thanks to her mother, who reminds her that even if she's not the one going through cancer, even if she's not the one who has been in a car wreck, that she's allowed to feel and experience the things she needs to to heal and deal. That's when her soft parts meet her hard parts and it's clear she's not one or the other. She's complex and dynamic.
This book is funny. There are times it is laugh-out-loud funny. I appreciated how the idea of the cancer victim being a character who is there to teach lessons and there to change perspectives is really CALLED OUT here, and we see that that idea is spun as darkly humorous. It's not belittling the disease in the least; instead, it's a perspective so rare to see in these kinds of books.
As mentioned, sex is a big topic here, and Halpern does not go lightly. Alex loves sex. Alex engages in sex -- both by herself and with Leo. She's open and upfront about what's going on and there's not fade-to-black here. But further, it's clear their sex is on both of their terms, and that when either of them says no, that's when things stop. Consent goes both ways here. Likewise, I read a trade review of this book that says there's never discussion of protection here (and it's worded in such a way that it suggests the GIRLS are to blame about it -- again, professional trade review, not a reader review). Actually, it comes up in two distinct places. I think from there it's clear that protection is in mind and that any further dwelling on the issue would take the sex scenes away from Alex and her experiences (which are So Rare to see spelled out in YA as openly as they are here anyway) and instead turn them into Messages About The Importance Of Using Condoms Or Other Forms Of Birth Control. You know she's taking care of that business. It doesn't need to be spelled out.
Also, Leo isn't a TOOL for Alex. He pushes back when it's necessary.
I loved Alex's whole arc in the story, and I loved her relationship with Becca. This is a refreshing look at the hows and wheres of friendship between two girls who, as it appears in the reviews, aren't particularly "likable."
Maybe not likable, but it's raw and honest and FUNNY.
Alex's dad died in a car wreck, and her best friend Becca slept with Alex's boyfriend. Alex needs a break from her friend to process all of the collisions going on in her life simultaneously, and she takes that break over the summer.
But when she returns to school, she gets the memo Becca's been diagnosed with cancer. Immediately horrified, Alex turns back to Becca, hoping they can continue the friendship they one had.
And they can.
Becca opens up about being diagnosed and what the course of treatment looks like, but more than that, she's eager to have Alex fulfill a bucket list (which they lovingly rename a fuck it list) that she's been building over the course of her life. If Becca can't indulge in those things because her life might be in jeopardy, than Alex should do it. This is darkly humorous, of course. Becca's sick, but she's not under the belief she's really going to die, and Alex isn't clouding her thoughts with it too. It comes up, and she grieves as she needs to to protect herself and work through the already massive loss she's experienced, but Alex agrees to the f-it list because she loves Becca and can do this list of things for her.
Through the course of completing the f-it list, she strengthens her friendship with Becca, finds an incredibly thoughtful, supportive, and real boyfriend, and connects to the things inside her she's forgotten about.
Alex is CRASS. Alex is ABRASIVE. And Alex and Becca are both hilarious. They're unashamed of themselves, of their lives, of their bodies, and of their interest in talking about and experiencing a variety levels of sexual interaction. Becca's f-it list includes items like masturbating, having sex with someone you love, making out, and more. Neither girl shies away from talking about these things nor enjoying them. And it's not that their careless jerks; it's that for Alex, it's a way to learn about herself and to "do something" for Becca. For Becca, it's about living and giving life to her best friend who, despite not being the one enduring chemo, has been there through thick and thin and who herself has been dealt an unfair hand of cards.
The story is never about fulfilling the list. It's about what that list is to the two girls as individuals and to them as best friends.
Alex is compelling and tough. She's got an exterior that's razor sharp, but as she works through the list and as she begins a relationship with Leo, we as readers see she's a softy inside. There's an excellent interaction near the end of the book where Alex allows herself to see this too -- thanks to her mother, who reminds her that even if she's not the one going through cancer, even if she's not the one who has been in a car wreck, that she's allowed to feel and experience the things she needs to to heal and deal. That's when her soft parts meet her hard parts and it's clear she's not one or the other. She's complex and dynamic.
This book is funny. There are times it is laugh-out-loud funny. I appreciated how the idea of the cancer victim being a character who is there to teach lessons and there to change perspectives is really CALLED OUT here, and we see that that idea is spun as darkly humorous. It's not belittling the disease in the least; instead, it's a perspective so rare to see in these kinds of books.
As mentioned, sex is a big topic here, and Halpern does not go lightly. Alex loves sex. Alex engages in sex -- both by herself and with Leo. She's open and upfront about what's going on and there's not fade-to-black here. But further, it's clear their sex is on both of their terms, and that when either of them says no, that's when things stop. Consent goes both ways here. Likewise, I read a trade review of this book that says there's never discussion of protection here (and it's worded in such a way that it suggests the GIRLS are to blame about it -- again, professional trade review, not a reader review). Actually, it comes up in two distinct places. I think from there it's clear that protection is in mind and that any further dwelling on the issue would take the sex scenes away from Alex and her experiences (which are So Rare to see spelled out in YA as openly as they are here anyway) and instead turn them into Messages About The Importance Of Using Condoms Or Other Forms Of Birth Control. You know she's taking care of that business. It doesn't need to be spelled out.
Also, Leo isn't a TOOL for Alex. He pushes back when it's necessary.
I loved Alex's whole arc in the story, and I loved her relationship with Becca. This is a refreshing look at the hows and wheres of friendship between two girls who, as it appears in the reviews, aren't particularly "likable."
Maybe not likable, but it's raw and honest and FUNNY.
September 6, 2013
This ARC was provided by the publisher for the purposes of review.
I feel like The F-it List is likely going to get some unfair comparisons to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Yes both books deal with cancer, love, and loss, but they couldn't be more far a part in a lot of their core values. Cancer is always a heavy handed topic and there are so many books out there that use it as a means to get a rise in emotion instead of showing HOW people actually fight it.
The F-it List is that story. Let me preface by saying this story hit a bit too close to home for me at times. I lost my dad to gastro-stomach cancer back in February, but he contracted cancer after my mother had just survived melanoma of the brain. My father knew he didn't stand a chance, and he created a bucket list for my mother and I to complete in his absence, something we've been slowly managing. The F-it List deals with a similar situation, only with best friends Alex and Becca at the helm of the narrative. Becca just slept with Alex's boyfriend during her father's funeral, and while Alex should be furious (despite the fact that she was going to break up with him), only she finds out her best friend has cancer and chooses to put differences aside.
What I loved about Julie Halpern's story is her characters. Alex is a complete sass mouth, Becca's a cancer-patient/perv, Caleb is a sweetly awkward boy in love with a young woman who flashed him and Leo... Leo is a guy trying to make amends. Each character is wonderfully fleshed out, exceptionally quirky, and downright funny. There's a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, some interjections of fandom, and cancer is seen as something that can be fought against.
My biggest issues with cancer stories is that sometimes they tend to be a bit disingenuous in how they are approaching the message. In a lot of cases, it's done for shock value, but not in this book. You get the sense that Alex genuinely cares about Becca, and in fact she spends a lot of the novel completing Becca's list because she know she physically can't. However, Alex, despite her crude and often sassy disposition, is very genuine and attuned to Becca's wants, needs and desires. Even in selfish instances, she treats herself pretty tough and even unforgiving. I saw myself in both Alex and Becca, and for me, I totally could see both their points of view about life, how shitty and rotten it can be, and how sometimes you just have to fought back because it's not worth taking its shit lying down.
That being said, this book is wonderfully crude. If you can't handle a crude sense of humor, don't read this book. It'll only anger you because the tone itself is very angry, kick-ass, and Halpern doesn't stop throwing the punches around. The novel has a great balance of being both humorous and serious, and it knows how to keep the reader's emotions in check without beating over the head that this is a novel about cancer. In fact, I REALLY appreciated that Halpern didn't beat the reader over the head because there's so much that is so genuine in this novel that I never lost enjoyment.
I couldn't get over how engrossed I was in this novel. Alex's narrative voice is perfect, with just the right amount of sensitivity. This is a book about trying to kick ass in situations where they may seem hopeless, and I adored how important friendship was between all the characters. This novel is fearless in its discussion, but for those who have ever been in a situation like Becca or Alex's, it hits even more close to home. I loved this novel, but I recognize it's not going to be an easy one to recommend considering the crude humor. Regardless, I loved it, quirks and all, and it definitely deserves more recognition for how it approaches cancer. Alex and Becca are true to each other, and they show that even in rough situations, their friendship cannot be broken.
I feel like The F-it List is likely going to get some unfair comparisons to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Yes both books deal with cancer, love, and loss, but they couldn't be more far a part in a lot of their core values. Cancer is always a heavy handed topic and there are so many books out there that use it as a means to get a rise in emotion instead of showing HOW people actually fight it.
The F-it List is that story. Let me preface by saying this story hit a bit too close to home for me at times. I lost my dad to gastro-stomach cancer back in February, but he contracted cancer after my mother had just survived melanoma of the brain. My father knew he didn't stand a chance, and he created a bucket list for my mother and I to complete in his absence, something we've been slowly managing. The F-it List deals with a similar situation, only with best friends Alex and Becca at the helm of the narrative. Becca just slept with Alex's boyfriend during her father's funeral, and while Alex should be furious (despite the fact that she was going to break up with him), only she finds out her best friend has cancer and chooses to put differences aside.
What I loved about Julie Halpern's story is her characters. Alex is a complete sass mouth, Becca's a cancer-patient/perv, Caleb is a sweetly awkward boy in love with a young woman who flashed him and Leo... Leo is a guy trying to make amends. Each character is wonderfully fleshed out, exceptionally quirky, and downright funny. There's a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, some interjections of fandom, and cancer is seen as something that can be fought against.
My biggest issues with cancer stories is that sometimes they tend to be a bit disingenuous in how they are approaching the message. In a lot of cases, it's done for shock value, but not in this book. You get the sense that Alex genuinely cares about Becca, and in fact she spends a lot of the novel completing Becca's list because she know she physically can't. However, Alex, despite her crude and often sassy disposition, is very genuine and attuned to Becca's wants, needs and desires. Even in selfish instances, she treats herself pretty tough and even unforgiving. I saw myself in both Alex and Becca, and for me, I totally could see both their points of view about life, how shitty and rotten it can be, and how sometimes you just have to fought back because it's not worth taking its shit lying down.
That being said, this book is wonderfully crude. If you can't handle a crude sense of humor, don't read this book. It'll only anger you because the tone itself is very angry, kick-ass, and Halpern doesn't stop throwing the punches around. The novel has a great balance of being both humorous and serious, and it knows how to keep the reader's emotions in check without beating over the head that this is a novel about cancer. In fact, I REALLY appreciated that Halpern didn't beat the reader over the head because there's so much that is so genuine in this novel that I never lost enjoyment.
I couldn't get over how engrossed I was in this novel. Alex's narrative voice is perfect, with just the right amount of sensitivity. This is a book about trying to kick ass in situations where they may seem hopeless, and I adored how important friendship was between all the characters. This novel is fearless in its discussion, but for those who have ever been in a situation like Becca or Alex's, it hits even more close to home. I loved this novel, but I recognize it's not going to be an easy one to recommend considering the crude humor. Regardless, I loved it, quirks and all, and it definitely deserves more recognition for how it approaches cancer. Alex and Becca are true to each other, and they show that even in rough situations, their friendship cannot be broken.
July 29, 2016
This was really meh. It was quick and a very easy read! The characters weren't anything special , same with the premise. I did like that our main character liked horror movies and stuff, I thought it was an interesting hobby.
This book does deal with swearing, sex, and drugs, which was one of the things I didn't like. It was just a bunch of teenagers acting like there 25 years old. I'm not a goody-goody but I hate reading about drugs when there done like this. All the talk about sex was also really cringe-worthy. It also felt really fake and like the author was really like REALLY trying to relate to teenagers.
It was tolerable this book, just not something I took very seriously. It does deal with cancer which I just couldn't buy. It should have gone deeper into the illness and how the victim feels and how a friend of the victim feels. This book overall just felt really fake. It was also super forgettable. Like in a couple days I probably won't be able to tell you what happened.
This book does deal with swearing, sex, and drugs, which was one of the things I didn't like. It was just a bunch of teenagers acting like there 25 years old. I'm not a goody-goody but I hate reading about drugs when there done like this. All the talk about sex was also really cringe-worthy. It also felt really fake and like the author was really like REALLY trying to relate to teenagers.
It was tolerable this book, just not something I took very seriously. It does deal with cancer which I just couldn't buy. It should have gone deeper into the illness and how the victim feels and how a friend of the victim feels. This book overall just felt really fake. It was also super forgettable. Like in a couple days I probably won't be able to tell you what happened.
dnf
August 23, 2017DNF: page 62
I might come back to this later... Like is the world has ended and I find this in a ditch and I have somehow magically finished every other book left in the world.
The cover. The cover is what drew me in. So. Freaking. Beautiful.
The blurb seemed well enough... Though, now I wish it had a preview button when I bought it. Because had I read it... Ha... ha... hahhahaah I would have stayed far far away.
The main character is a - oh there is a list coming - pathetic, self centered, cynical, loathsome, little twit.
I tried with this book and I just can't. If I force myself to read anymore, I will lose my sanity.
I might come back to this later... Like is the world has ended and I find this in a ditch and I have somehow magically finished every other book left in the world.
The cover. The cover is what drew me in. So. Freaking. Beautiful.
The blurb seemed well enough... Though, now I wish it had a preview button when I bought it. Because had I read it... Ha... ha... hahhahaah I would have stayed far far away.
The main character is a - oh there is a list coming - pathetic, self centered, cynical, loathsome, little twit.
I tried with this book and I just can't. If I force myself to read anymore, I will lose my sanity.
July 22, 2014
Another cancer book! But this was about dealing with loss, learning to open up, friendship, love, family, and self-efficacy.
I loved Alex's blunt, witty and sarcastic attitude. I loved her relationships and interactions, and her journey with grief. Leo and Becca were great characters as well. Becca wad kind and strong --- and hilarious. Leo made my face melt.
Overall, it was a very good book. I highly recommend it.
I loved Alex's blunt, witty and sarcastic attitude. I loved her relationships and interactions, and her journey with grief. Leo and Becca were great characters as well. Becca wad kind and strong --- and hilarious. Leo made my face melt.
Overall, it was a very good book. I highly recommend it.
September 22, 2013
Julie Halpern brings something new to the "YA cancer lit" subgenre with The F-It List... simply put, I love this book.
Most YA cancer novels feature either a teen who has cancer or who has a parent with cancer, but this is the first time I've seen that the main character is the best friend of someone with cancer. The fact that Alex is the best friend, not the patient, adds an entirely new perspective to the mix. When you consider the fact that Alex has recently lost her father (to a car accident), her boyfriend (after he slept with her best friend, Becca), and her life is now a complete and utter mess, then throw in Becca having cancer, you know that Halpern is going to steer readers towards some pretty heavy topics.. What you might not expect is that there will be plenty of laughter, plenty of hope, and even more living within the pages of The F-It List.
One of the defining elements of The F-It List was Alex and Becca's relationship. It isn't every day you come across best friends like these two. Sure, they've done some pretty horrible things to one another, but, honestly, what best friends don't find themselves in those situations? Becca, in a moment of misguided weakness, sleeps with Alex's boyfriend... the day of Alex's father's funeral. In response, Alex refuses to speak to or see Becca for the entire summer following the funeral and betrayal. But, the first day of the new school year, Alex goes in search of Becca... because they're best friends and people make mistakes sometimes and deserve to be forgiven. Best friends are sometimes selfish and sometimes entirely self-sacrificing: Alex and Becca have been both, they understand and accept one another, and they're stronger because of it.
For a "cancer" book, The F-It List, is surprisingly funny. It's easy to expect quirky and/or touching when it comes to "cancer lit," but I can't remember the last time I literally laughed aloud; there is usually a lot more crying than laughing happening. Alex and Becca, however, keep living, with the help of the f-it list, and never give into the cancer that threatens Becca's future. It's clear from the start, when Becca flashes her neighbor to fulfill a goal on the f-it list and decides to shave her head to beat the chemotherapy to taking the hair she's so proud of, that she isn't the type to go down without a fight.
In the midst of Becca's struggle, Alex has other things vying for her attention. Like the father she's recently lost, her mother and two brothers who feels broken without her father, and a mysterious and distracting boy, who should be the least of her worries with all the death and drama currently surrounding her days, but who somehow keeps inserting himself into the forefront of her mind.
I truly appreciated that Halpern never made Alex's issues seem less than Becca's. Instead, the two girls were a united front. They were each fighting battles, sometimes together and sometimes separate, but neither was more or less important.
I highly recommend Julie Halpern's The F-It List. It deals with difficult topics in a very real, alive sort of way. There are tears, but there is also laughter and real, genuine happiness because Alex and Becca refuse to stop living, no matter what life throws their way.
Most YA cancer novels feature either a teen who has cancer or who has a parent with cancer, but this is the first time I've seen that the main character is the best friend of someone with cancer. The fact that Alex is the best friend, not the patient, adds an entirely new perspective to the mix. When you consider the fact that Alex has recently lost her father (to a car accident), her boyfriend (after he slept with her best friend, Becca), and her life is now a complete and utter mess, then throw in Becca having cancer, you know that Halpern is going to steer readers towards some pretty heavy topics.. What you might not expect is that there will be plenty of laughter, plenty of hope, and even more living within the pages of The F-It List.
One of the defining elements of The F-It List was Alex and Becca's relationship. It isn't every day you come across best friends like these two. Sure, they've done some pretty horrible things to one another, but, honestly, what best friends don't find themselves in those situations? Becca, in a moment of misguided weakness, sleeps with Alex's boyfriend... the day of Alex's father's funeral. In response, Alex refuses to speak to or see Becca for the entire summer following the funeral and betrayal. But, the first day of the new school year, Alex goes in search of Becca... because they're best friends and people make mistakes sometimes and deserve to be forgiven. Best friends are sometimes selfish and sometimes entirely self-sacrificing: Alex and Becca have been both, they understand and accept one another, and they're stronger because of it.
For a "cancer" book, The F-It List, is surprisingly funny. It's easy to expect quirky and/or touching when it comes to "cancer lit," but I can't remember the last time I literally laughed aloud; there is usually a lot more crying than laughing happening. Alex and Becca, however, keep living, with the help of the f-it list, and never give into the cancer that threatens Becca's future. It's clear from the start, when Becca flashes her neighbor to fulfill a goal on the f-it list and decides to shave her head to beat the chemotherapy to taking the hair she's so proud of, that she isn't the type to go down without a fight.
In the midst of Becca's struggle, Alex has other things vying for her attention. Like the father she's recently lost, her mother and two brothers who feels broken without her father, and a mysterious and distracting boy, who should be the least of her worries with all the death and drama currently surrounding her days, but who somehow keeps inserting himself into the forefront of her mind.
I truly appreciated that Halpern never made Alex's issues seem less than Becca's. Instead, the two girls were a united front. They were each fighting battles, sometimes together and sometimes separate, but neither was more or less important.
I highly recommend Julie Halpern's The F-It List. It deals with difficult topics in a very real, alive sort of way. There are tears, but there is also laughter and real, genuine happiness because Alex and Becca refuse to stop living, no matter what life throws their way.
October 2, 2013
Alex and Becca's friendship is strained, to say the very least. While Alex is faced with the loss of her father, Becca comes forward and confesses to sleeping with Alex's boyfriend. A bit of time passes, and Alex's anger is all but forgotten when she hears that Becca has cancer. Becca asks Alex to complete her bucket list as she starts chemo, so that's exactly what Alex does- sets out to complete the renamed F- It list.
----
This book wasn't my cup of tea. I felt like it has a good base idea and concept, but tried to do too much.
-As my regular followers know, relatability to characters is something that is very important to me. Now, that doesn't mean I want all characters to think or act like I would were I in their shoes, but I at least need to be able to understand the choices that they make and why they made them. That wasn't the case with Alex. I found her unlikable and often questioned why she felt the need to behave as she did.
+The one aspect of Alex that I did like was that she is pretty much a walking encyclopedia of horror movie knowledge. I also have a love of all things spooky and macabre, so props to the author for including the references that she did.
+-That being said, if the reader has no previous knowledge of horror movies, I feel like the constant references will get old quickly.
-I was also pretty surprised at the amount of mentions of sex and obscene language. Keep in mind that I'm no prude, and in life away from the blog, I swear like a trucker. But I expected this book to be a more, well, young young adult than it was- it's from a children's publishing group after all. It threw me off guard, and while I personally don't have a problem with content of this sort, I know that other people will definitely be unhappily surprised with it.
+Another positive point is the cover. I'd definitely pick it up on a shelf. It looks edgy and very teen angst-y.
Overall, I think why I'm so disappointed is that I expected the story to be more focused on the pair of Becca and Alex as friends, and less Alex-centric. I wanted more story about Becca's battle with cancer and their friendship and less scenes between Alex and Leo. I am sure that a lot of people will enjoy this book. It's not badly written, and it has a great concept. But for me, this wasn't what I was expecting, and it left me disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for my copy. This review can also be found on my new blog, .
----
This book wasn't my cup of tea. I felt like it has a good base idea and concept, but tried to do too much.
-As my regular followers know, relatability to characters is something that is very important to me. Now, that doesn't mean I want all characters to think or act like I would were I in their shoes, but I at least need to be able to understand the choices that they make and why they made them. That wasn't the case with Alex. I found her unlikable and often questioned why she felt the need to behave as she did.
+The one aspect of Alex that I did like was that she is pretty much a walking encyclopedia of horror movie knowledge. I also have a love of all things spooky and macabre, so props to the author for including the references that she did.
+-That being said, if the reader has no previous knowledge of horror movies, I feel like the constant references will get old quickly.
-I was also pretty surprised at the amount of mentions of sex and obscene language. Keep in mind that I'm no prude, and in life away from the blog, I swear like a trucker. But I expected this book to be a more, well, young young adult than it was- it's from a children's publishing group after all. It threw me off guard, and while I personally don't have a problem with content of this sort, I know that other people will definitely be unhappily surprised with it.
+Another positive point is the cover. I'd definitely pick it up on a shelf. It looks edgy and very teen angst-y.
Overall, I think why I'm so disappointed is that I expected the story to be more focused on the pair of Becca and Alex as friends, and less Alex-centric. I wanted more story about Becca's battle with cancer and their friendship and less scenes between Alex and Leo. I am sure that a lot of people will enjoy this book. It's not badly written, and it has a great concept. But for me, this wasn't what I was expecting, and it left me disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for my copy. This review can also be found on my new blog, .
June 18, 2015
How could I ever resist to this beautiful cover? And just by reading the first page I was shocked enough to buy the book and push away all my TBR books and started reading this one. I was not disappointed! This is an honest story about friendship, romance, sex and cancer. What a mix?! Yeah, that's the kind of book I will totally put in my list.
Alex is a girl who likes gory horror films and dreams on becoming an Horror movie director. She's sarcastic, negative, sometimes say cruel comments and tries to be tough at any circumstance, the words "I love you" are totally out of her vocabulary. Her best friend, Becca, who wants to be an actress, has a gorgeous long hair and doesn't mind being romantic though is a total perv. Becca has cancer and she needs Alex to help her complete her Bucket List, one that Alex changes to the F- IT list. Alex is willing to help her friend, and in the process she do things she never planned doing and discover feelings she never expected to feel.
The F- It List made me laugh, made me sad, nervous and many other things. I loved it since the first page until the end. Is a very honest and far from clichés. This book have a lot of sex scenes and references to sex and drugs, I like when authors take the risk of writing about it in YA books like this. And these scenes are not there just because, they are part of Alex's journey to find the meaning of love and life. This book was very different from what I've read before and I am sure we can all relate to something about the characters. I loved this book, is the book I would love to read again.
The F- It List is about living; taking the things life gives you, good or bad, and just live. Be yourself and the right people will come to you.
Alex is a girl who likes gory horror films and dreams on becoming an Horror movie director. She's sarcastic, negative, sometimes say cruel comments and tries to be tough at any circumstance, the words "I love you" are totally out of her vocabulary. Her best friend, Becca, who wants to be an actress, has a gorgeous long hair and doesn't mind being romantic though is a total perv. Becca has cancer and she needs Alex to help her complete her Bucket List, one that Alex changes to the F- IT list. Alex is willing to help her friend, and in the process she do things she never planned doing and discover feelings she never expected to feel.
The F- It List made me laugh, made me sad, nervous and many other things. I loved it since the first page until the end. Is a very honest and far from clichés. This book have a lot of sex scenes and references to sex and drugs, I like when authors take the risk of writing about it in YA books like this. And these scenes are not there just because, they are part of Alex's journey to find the meaning of love and life. This book was very different from what I've read before and I am sure we can all relate to something about the characters. I loved this book, is the book I would love to read again.
The F- It List is about living; taking the things life gives you, good or bad, and just live. Be yourself and the right people will come to you.
December 20, 2020
"Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get better is to make them more sick? It’s like the world’s longest exorcism. It doesn’t make sense that I can chat with someone live on a tiny screen, that governments spend billions
of dollars on war and mayhem, that actors make millions of dollars to just look pretty and skinny, yet no one can fucking figure out how to cure cancer without torturing people."
"I have always kept a stack of library books next to my bed as a lifeline. If I ever woke in the middle of the night too scared to move or too sad to roll over, the books were my saviors."
This book was so good. Unputdownable. I had so many emotions. I laughed a lot. I cried. I got angry. I laughed some more. I cried some more. I raved and ranted about the way Alex treated people due to the fact she has no filter. I want ed to reach through the book half the time to throat punch her. Some of the things she said and did irked me to no it, but it's partly due to the fact she reminded me of myself. I tend to be a very blunt person. Although I never intend to hurt people's feelings with my bluntness and honesty, it does happen. More often than I care to admit. What I do like is that Leo accepts her for who she is and so does her best friend Becca, who was diagnosed with cancer. I'm not going to go into any details, because it will spoil the book for you. All I can say is to read it. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Oh Becca is a pervert just like me and Alex just encourages her by being perverted in return. 🤣 I loved every part of this story.
of dollars on war and mayhem, that actors make millions of dollars to just look pretty and skinny, yet no one can fucking figure out how to cure cancer without torturing people."
"I have always kept a stack of library books next to my bed as a lifeline. If I ever woke in the middle of the night too scared to move or too sad to roll over, the books were my saviors."
This book was so good. Unputdownable. I had so many emotions. I laughed a lot. I cried. I got angry. I laughed some more. I cried some more. I raved and ranted about the way Alex treated people due to the fact she has no filter. I want ed to reach through the book half the time to throat punch her. Some of the things she said and did irked me to no it, but it's partly due to the fact she reminded me of myself. I tend to be a very blunt person. Although I never intend to hurt people's feelings with my bluntness and honesty, it does happen. More often than I care to admit. What I do like is that Leo accepts her for who she is and so does her best friend Becca, who was diagnosed with cancer. I'm not going to go into any details, because it will spoil the book for you. All I can say is to read it. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Oh Becca is a pervert just like me and Alex just encourages her by being perverted in return. 🤣 I loved every part of this story.
August 7, 2016
Defiantly a solid 3.5 star book. There were multiple things that I really liked about this book but also others I found equally annoying. *insert rant about those things here* Overall the book was a fun fast read that in its own special way had you thinking about life, death, and all that comes in between. I do defiantly recommend it saying that this book is great for reading slumps, summer reads, and eventually rereads!! But I also do warn those to be at least 16 and up to read the book, not only does it deal with cancer, death, God (or lack there of), and foul language there is also multiple sex scenes and while I find it subdued it may be a shock to younger readers coming into the book blind.
I feel like I should end this review on the fabulous ending paragraph of the book: "I shook my arm, and the three bugs lazily flew away, on their way to accomplish great things in a short amount of time. Really, how we all should try to live our lives. No matter how long we've got."
Beautifully said. Beautifully said indeed.
I feel like I should end this review on the fabulous ending paragraph of the book: "I shook my arm, and the three bugs lazily flew away, on their way to accomplish great things in a short amount of time. Really, how we all should try to live our lives. No matter how long we've got."
Beautifully said. Beautifully said indeed.
September 18, 2013
YAY NEW JULIE HALPERN BOOK! Can't wait to read it!!
Edit 6/18/13: Just got my ARC of it. I may have to read it very soon. :)
9/18/2013: Just finished it and absolutely loved it. Full review to come!
Edit 6/18/13: Just got my ARC of it. I may have to read it very soon. :)
9/18/2013: Just finished it and absolutely loved it. Full review to come!
December 29, 2013
I really enjoyed this book but I guess I hoped it to be more emotional. But it's a nice contemporary read, full of horror movie related stuff for those who love the genre.
August 25, 2015
good book... however expected a little more....but I reallllllly loved Alex's personailty
December 25, 2013
A modern young-adult read. The protagonist is a teenage girl whose best friend develops cancer.
Written very informally in a first person point-of-view. Development of the story is average with a slow climax. Mature content including a multitude of swear words and sexual content.
Written very informally in a first person point-of-view. Development of the story is average with a slow climax. Mature content including a multitude of swear words and sexual content.
August 31, 2015
Gah, such a great book. Endless, perfectly-toned snark, laugh out loud, realistic portrait of grief and fear of death and losing, and sexual positivity.
November 26, 2023
2.5, my 2021 fanfiction was better written
May 20, 2017
This took me a longer time to read because I read this with a friend and agreed upon reading a certain amount each day.
Let me just say, if it wasn't for reading wth a friend, I don't think I could have finished this book in the next 3 months. Sure it was an ok read, but definitely not something you look forward to after along painful day of school or work.
It made me a little disappointed in the author. I recently read "Get Well Soon" and I loved it, I expected my feeling to be the same.
Not only did I deeply despise the main character, Alex ( and actually every character after that ), but just the whole plot and way the book was written was very messy. You would think it's an adventurous and friendship filled read, but in reality, it's about a selfish brat who barely cares about her dying friend.
In fact, my favorite part of this book is when she mentions she wishes Becca didn't have cancer (and that someone she knows wouldn't have died) so that her life wouldn't be so complicating. Damn, how low can you go?
Positives? I see where the author was attempting to get at, and it was a unique read. Maybe I don't think it was bad enough to be a 1 star rating, maybe a 1.5-2.
If you are reading this review to determine whether or not you want to read this book, prepare yourself for some messy ass cringe worthy shit coming your way if you actually decide to. (Excuse my language, but it was needed)
Let me just say, if it wasn't for reading wth a friend, I don't think I could have finished this book in the next 3 months. Sure it was an ok read, but definitely not something you look forward to after along painful day of school or work.
It made me a little disappointed in the author. I recently read "Get Well Soon" and I loved it, I expected my feeling to be the same.
Not only did I deeply despise the main character, Alex ( and actually every character after that ), but just the whole plot and way the book was written was very messy. You would think it's an adventurous and friendship filled read, but in reality, it's about a selfish brat who barely cares about her dying friend.
In fact, my favorite part of this book is when she mentions she wishes Becca didn't have cancer (and that someone she knows wouldn't have died) so that her life wouldn't be so complicating. Damn, how low can you go?
Positives? I see where the author was attempting to get at, and it was a unique read. Maybe I don't think it was bad enough to be a 1 star rating, maybe a 1.5-2.
If you are reading this review to determine whether or not you want to read this book, prepare yourself for some messy ass cringe worthy shit coming your way if you actually decide to. (Excuse my language, but it was needed)
Read
January 15, 2019Personal Response
I absolutely loved this book. It was very well written and thought out. I can relate to this book because of all the "teen topics," like bullying, sex, and going through rough things at home. I was very moved by this book because it's almost like you're in the book experiencing what the characters are. I've also experienced a loved one who's had cancer, so it's a very close topic.
Plot Summary
Alex's best friend Becca has cancer. Not knowing if she will make it, Becca asks Alex to do her a favor... complete her bucket list. Alex finds herself doing more than eating a chili pepper, like falling in love. Can Alex fall in love? Or will her life take a crash down?
Characterization
Becca is Alex's best friend, and until she has cancer, she is a very tough, rebellious high school student. Alex is the narrator of the book and Becca's other half, and takes down her bucket list, even if it means falling in love with a rebellious boy.. which also happens to be on the bucket list. Leo is a rebellious bad boy, who unexpectedly falls for Alex.
Recommendation
I recommend this book for mature high school aged students because there is a lot of swearing, sexuality, and jokes about very sensitive topics. So if you are sensitive to topics like sex, drugs, and cancer this book is probably not for you. Me being a high school sophomore had no shock as to what was in this book. Overall, it's a very suspenseful, exciting book, I think most anyone will enjoy it.
I absolutely loved this book. It was very well written and thought out. I can relate to this book because of all the "teen topics," like bullying, sex, and going through rough things at home. I was very moved by this book because it's almost like you're in the book experiencing what the characters are. I've also experienced a loved one who's had cancer, so it's a very close topic.
Plot Summary
Alex's best friend Becca has cancer. Not knowing if she will make it, Becca asks Alex to do her a favor... complete her bucket list. Alex finds herself doing more than eating a chili pepper, like falling in love. Can Alex fall in love? Or will her life take a crash down?
Characterization
Becca is Alex's best friend, and until she has cancer, she is a very tough, rebellious high school student. Alex is the narrator of the book and Becca's other half, and takes down her bucket list, even if it means falling in love with a rebellious boy.. which also happens to be on the bucket list. Leo is a rebellious bad boy, who unexpectedly falls for Alex.
Recommendation
I recommend this book for mature high school aged students because there is a lot of swearing, sexuality, and jokes about very sensitive topics. So if you are sensitive to topics like sex, drugs, and cancer this book is probably not for you. Me being a high school sophomore had no shock as to what was in this book. Overall, it's a very suspenseful, exciting book, I think most anyone will enjoy it.
October 13, 2017
The book that I read is called The F-it List by Julie Halpern. The main character is Alex. She is a normal senior girl that goes through some pretty bad situations. This book is about the main character and the struggles she goes thru after her dad died, and her best friend got cancer. She cares a lot about family and friends and she tries to be there for everyone. Alex tries to stay strong, helping her best friend Becca fight cancer. While Becca is in bed sick Alex goes off and tries to complete the bucket list.There is also some love interest in this book which make it a little bit more interesting.
This book is really entertaining. It really grabs the reader's attention from the first sentence to the end. I recommend this book for teenagers or young adults. The book does have some foul language and some sexual encounters, but it's a great read. If you likes drama and you like wondering what happens next, this book is definitely for you.
This book is really entertaining. It really grabs the reader's attention from the first sentence to the end. I recommend this book for teenagers or young adults. The book does have some foul language and some sexual encounters, but it's a great read. If you likes drama and you like wondering what happens next, this book is definitely for you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 665 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.