Read Me Like a Book

Ash has never been the most dedicated student in the world. Between the cute mystery boy who just slipped her his number at her birthday party, her parents who can't seem to get through a single meal without fighting and whatever trouble her spunky best friend Cat is getting into this week, focusing on school is the last thing on her mind. That is, until Miss Murray arrives.Love is confusing at any age, but when it's new --- when you fall in love for the first time --- and with someone you never would have expected, it takes on a whole new level of confusing.READ ME LIKE A BOOK is a captivating, honest and almost surprisingly accurate peek into the mind of a teenage girl on her personal journey to figure out who she really is --- all while the universe seems to be throwing curveball after life-changing event, after dramatic altercation her way. Ash can't explain it, even to herself, but she finds solace in Miss Murray's english classroom. Or, is it in the way her eyes seem to sparkle and the room appears to light up when she smiles?Tackling a topic that, to some, may be controversial, and to others may be all too familiar, this book should should be eye-opening to all. Liz Kessler's ability to so accurately recall the uncertainties of young adulthood is a recognizable talent. I was also impressed with her precise depiction being young in the present culture of Snapchat stories and text message-breakups. I have always found that writers who make a conscious effort to create a realistic world that truly relates to its audience's day-to-day life far more appealing.Also noteworthy is how Kessler weaves anecdotal memories into Ash's story. Her narration and the creative analogies she uses to describe Ash's feelings of uncertainty and frustration are often interrupted by short side stories and memories of more comfortable, less confusing times in her life. These glimpses into Ash's old life and juxtapositions of the simplicity of her past are integral to the portrayal of a time and of feelings that, for most, seem impossible to put into words. While I did feel that the conclusion to the story was a bit abrupt and a little too clean, I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to navigate their life, and anyone who wants to reflect on how far they have come since that trying stage of life.As an adult, reading this book brought me back to the time in my life when I never seemed to be able to articulate my thoughts without second (third, fourth, fifth) guessing every decision I made. To younger readers, READ ME LIKE A BOOK is a reminder that everyone goes through a period of self discovery, everyone struggles with big life events, decisions, and overwhelming emotions and that is okay --- reading yourself like a book takes time, reflection, and a whole lot of patience. Kessler wrote a story that will surely guide many readers through writing and reading their own book.Reviewed by Terrell W. Orr

Ashleigh Walker's life is crumbling around her. Her parents are fighting constantly, she's not doing well in school, and her boyfriend, Dylan, doesn't exactly make her heart sing. Suddenly, the one bright spot in Ash's life becomes her new English teacher, Miss Murray. Young and hip, Miss Murray engages Ash in a way she's never felt before. She's even joined the debate club, for pete's sake, and started working hard on her English submissions. But there's more to it than that. Miss Murray makes Ash feel something else. If she really admits it, Miss Murray makes Ash feel what Dylan (and other boys) should. Is something wrong with Ash? And more importantly, Ash starts to think... does Miss Murray feel the same way?This is a lovely gem of a book. It's the perfect blend of heartbreaking and funny. Kessler, who, as I mentioned, has previously written a series of books for young teens, expertly captures the older teen voice in this novel (which was actually her first book, finally published and updated for the more modern, digital era). She creates a picture as she writes, allowing you to vividly imagine her multi-faceted and complicated characters. Ash is no one-dimensional teen: she's intricate and her own person. As she deals with the agony of her parents' own issues, plus her own inner angst about her love life, your heart goes out to the girl.Kessler easily paints the angst one feels when in love with a teacher, especially if LGBT - coupled with the delusion that comes with youth, no matter your sexual orientation. Ash's feelings are so real, so strong, and she seems so alone. It's an excellent portrayal of what young teens go through as they wrestle with their sexuality (believe me, I know; it took me back to some tough times in high school).If anything, some of the resolution is a little too easy, a bit quick and forced at times, but it really doesn't diminish from the force of the book. Watching Ash grow up before our eyes is rather magical. There are some excellent comedic portions from the novel to balance out the heaviness, coupled with a great supporting cast of characters, including Ash's best friend, Cat, and some other youth she meets via school, family, and friends. The novel is perfect for teens struggling with their own sexuality, or needing to see someone "like them" in print, and those looking to support a LGBT best friend, but should also be given to parents of those teens -- as Ash's parents play a role in the story as well.Overall, I found myself completely wrapped in Ash's coming of age (and coming out) tale. Books with a true to life, multi-dimensional lesbian heroine are still sadly hard to come by, it seems, but Kessler's novel certainly tries to change that.Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book. More information @ [...]

Só não foi melhor porque perdi um pouco por não ter podido comprar em prt, mas mesmo assim o livro é perfeito *-*

Ashleigh is a bright but wayward sixth-former, continually distracted from her work by her hedonistic best friend Cat, by her parents' growing marital problems and by her difficulties in achieving a satisfactory relationship. An unhappy experience losing her virginity to Dylan, a good-looking schoolmate, heightens her distraction, and threatens to jeopardize her A'Levels altogether. But salvation arrives in the form of Miss Annie Murray, her charismatic English teacher, who encourages Ash to read, debate and argue, and to make new friends such as the articulate and hard-working Robyn. Over the next few months, as Ash's parents' marriage collapses and she falls out with Cat, Miss Murray and her English lessons become a lifeline, and the prospect of university to read English begins to beckon. But then Ash becomes aware that her feelings for Miss Murray are more than gratitude towards a kind teacher, and may be telling her something rather important about herself.I thought the main topics of this book - a teenage girl being saved from dropping out of school by learning to love literature, and also coming to terms with the truth about her sexuality - were really promising, and could have made a great novel - and Kessler's story was certainly very readable. However, the story is substantially weakened by its rather 'stock' teenage characters and rather characterless adults (Miss Murray excepted) and certain aspects of the story aren't handled in sufficient depth. Ash, for example, came across at the start as a rather weak and petulant character, incapable of working out any sort of future for herself (why weren't her parents more worried about this, particularly her mother, who'd never had a chance at a career herself?) and depending far too much on bratty Cat, which made her sudden transformation into a Grade A English student and impassioned debater feel improbable. Ash's parents were rather thin creations - it was difficult to work out what the cause of their marital problems was, or why Ash's father Gordon preferred fussy, house-proud Elaine to his wife. Dylan was pretty uninteresting, only after one thing, and though I liked Robyn, both she and Taylor (who appeared rather conveniently towards the end of the book) could have had more depth too. And Kessler's depictions of teenage life were rather predictable - surely teenagers, particularly bright ones like Ash, do other things as well as clubbing, hanging around gossiping, shopping and occasionally doing schoolwork? I also felt Ash's 'coming out' was made to seem easier than it might have been, particularly for a girl from such a suburban background - though Kessler might have been right that some of Ash's anxieties were just in her head.But what I found most disappointing was how small a role English literature played in the book. The whole reason I bought 'Read Me Like a Book' was that I felt it would principally explore how Ash's deepening knowledge of literature changed her and enriched her life. But other than a couple of very brief mentions of 'Wuthering Heights', a couple of debating society scenes (and that's sociology rather than literature) and one Philip Larkin poem (yes, the one a lot of people know) we don't see Ash reading or talking about books at all. She just switches from being a rather self-involved teenager with no real interests to a passionately keen English student, from saying lethargically 'O well, I'll get a job shelf-stacking at Tesco's' to filling in university applications (at the last minute - is this possible, I remember mine taking hours) and getting top marks - with no reference as to how literature had made her change so much (surely it couldn't have all been Miss Murray's allure?). I felt Kessler had slightly skewed the Ash and Miss Murray story to concentrate too much on their sexual chemistry, and not enough on how Miss Murray transformed Ash into a top literature student - so that in the end a book that could have been about teenage sex and the power of literature became really yet another novel about teenage sex, with a few literary trimmings.There are good bits to the book - Ash's confusion after her parents' divorce and growing ambitions to go to university and get a degree, her new friendship with Robyn, her loyal, brotherly friend Luke, and some of the scenes between Ash and Miss Murray. It is an enjoyable read - I just felt that with the subject matter Kessler had, it could have been even better.

As a lesbian myself, albeit a bit younger than Ashleigh, as I read this book I was amazed at how relatable it was to me. Now I've been out as gay since I was 14 years old, and it's still so refreshing to find books that aren't centered on straight relationships. There are so many reasons that I loved and would fully recommend this book, and I'm going to list them because I love lists and this book. Here we go:- Despite her parents going through a difficult time, the end result was not 'I'm gay because of you guys'. As someone who watched her parents go through many breakups, I never once saw it as 'I'm gay because of them'. No. That's not how it works. I'm gay because I love girls, and I am so happy that that's how Asheligh's story was played out.- She was never invalidated by her previous relationship(s) with a boy. Do you know how many times I have had 'Oh but you dated that boy and pined over this other boy'. Yes. When I was 12. I am so fed up of the stereotype that queer people know they're queer from the moment they crawl from the womb. Some people know when they're young. Some people work it out like Ashleigh when they start crushing on someone unexpected. Some people are in their 20s. 30s. 40s. It's fine, however old you are.- One of my favourite lines was "it felt like coming home" when Ashleigh went to the gay bar. It really resonated with me because when you find yourself around other queer people that's what it's like. It's like finding family you never knew you had. After years of questioning and pushing boundaries and being told and reminded by every form of media that you are a minority, you areabnormal, you are suddenly surrounded by people who understand you.Overall, I would fully recommend this book to anyone. I will probably buy a copy and make my girlfriend read it. Wrap it up as a present for all of homophobic family members this Christmas. Throw it at random strangers in the streets. It was such an incredible and introspective read, and it's amazing to see more representation of people like me.

This book is absolutely amazing- I really wish I'd had this book when I was younger. It might have made life a little bit easier. Liz Kessler is an absolutely fantastic author and I can't wait to read more from her!

Sensitive, thought provoking and so 'real'. I have not read a book from start to end without stopping for years. I can whole heartedly recommend this fabulous book.