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Even When You Lie to Me
Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska as well as Lauren Oliver and Sarah Dessen will embrace this provocative debut novel, an exploration of taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school.
Charlie, a senior, isn't looking forward to her last year of high school. Another year of living in the shadow of her best friend, Lila. Another year of hiding behind the covers of her favorite novels. Another year of navigating her tense relationship with her perfectionist mom.
But everything changes when she meets her new English teacher. Mr. Drummond is smart. Irreverent. Funny. Hot. Everyone loves him. And Charlie thinks he's the only one who gets her.
She also thinks she might not be the only one with a crush.
In this stunning debut, Jessica Alcott explores relationships-and their boundaries-in a way that is both searingly honest and sympathetic.
Charlie, a senior, isn't looking forward to her last year of high school. Another year of living in the shadow of her best friend, Lila. Another year of hiding behind the covers of her favorite novels. Another year of navigating her tense relationship with her perfectionist mom.
But everything changes when she meets her new English teacher. Mr. Drummond is smart. Irreverent. Funny. Hot. Everyone loves him. And Charlie thinks he's the only one who gets her.
She also thinks she might not be the only one with a crush.
In this stunning debut, Jessica Alcott explores relationships-and their boundaries-in a way that is both searingly honest and sympathetic.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2015
About the author
Jessica Alcott
1 book70 followersJessica Alcott lives with her husband and their two cats. She graduated from Bennington College and has worked as a children's publisher in the UK.
Even When You Lie to Me is her first novel.
Even When You Lie to Me is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 573 reviews
August 14, 2016
The few chapters seemed great, but I quickly lost interest after pages and pages of tedious conversations and pointless encounters. The ending was at least marginally interesting/different, but the way it was executed left me impatient and indifferent.
For a book with a topic this controversial, this was almost criminally boring. And I still don't get why the blurb compares this to John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Lauren Oliver. Grrrr.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher.
For a book with a topic this controversial, this was almost criminally boring. And I still don't get why the blurb compares this to John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Lauren Oliver. Grrrr.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher.
September 11, 2014
I want to throw all the awards at this book (you can quote me on that). At least before it gets banned in like 20 states (for all the wrong reasons, natch).
The copy is wrong in some ways, but so right in others: It's comparable to John Green and Sarah Dessen when they're ON (Fault, Will Grayson and Truth about Forever), but still pales in comparison (and I enjoy both greatly). Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall (which is still her best book to date) is a close second, but this debut is beyond better than you could imagine.
The characters, namely Charlie, are so real that it hurts. Her relationships – with family, with friend(s) – are like a page out of an awkward teen's memory. Her crush on Drummond is so familiar but without any creepiness (it was masterfully written) but without really making you root for the underage girl to be seduced by the older man (this is not Pretty Little Liars) but BETTER because that's not just it. I can't talk it up enough, but I don't want to spoil it for you, either.
The copy is wrong in some ways, but so right in others: It's comparable to John Green and Sarah Dessen when they're ON (Fault, Will Grayson and Truth about Forever), but still pales in comparison (and I enjoy both greatly). Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall (which is still her best book to date) is a close second, but this debut is beyond better than you could imagine.
The characters, namely Charlie, are so real that it hurts. Her relationships – with family, with friend(s) – are like a page out of an awkward teen's memory. Her crush on Drummond is so familiar but without any creepiness (it was masterfully written) but without really making you root for the underage girl to be seduced by the older man (this is not Pretty Little Liars) but BETTER because that's not just it. I can't talk it up enough, but I don't want to spoil it for you, either.
June 13, 2015
2.5 stars
After finishing this novel I really don’t know how to feel. It wasn’t terrible, I didn’t hate it, no; however I didn’t like it either and I wouldn’t recommend it.
If you’re like me and have a slight obsession with teacher/student novels, I say skip this one. I feel like the author wanted to write something taboo, but was afraid to go too far. In general, basically nothing happens in this book. I kind of wanted more drama.
Now, the main reason this didn’t entirely work out for me is because I didn’t really like our MC, Charlie. That girl is so immature and insecure. At first I tried to empathize, as always when reading YA; I too was a teenager once, I remember how tough it was. But half-way through the book I was internally screaming: Get over yourself! Plainly stated, Charlie think she’s ugly, and yes I understand, body image is a very important issue in puberty; but listening to her constantly repeating how she’s ugly got real annoying real fast. It wouldn��t have been an issue had we witnessed some character growth, her overcoming her problems, accepting herself, realizing it doesn’t matter what society says, it’s all about how you feel about yourself. It may sound like a total cliché, but it’s true. Remember this, kids: in order for others to love/accept you, you first need to love and fully & entirely accept yourself. And that’s why teenage years are a bitch. You’re still too young to believe that.
At times I felt sorry for Charlie. She had a horrible mother. She basically told Charlie that she doesn’t think she’s beautiful and how she should get a boyfriend. WHAT?! What kind of mother is that? Her BFF Lila is not much better either. Don’t you just hate those kinds of people who are so bubbly and outgoing and think everyone else should be too. Some of us prefer to be left alone in our corner and read in peace. Gee.
In high school I was the kind of person who didn’t like going out much. When I went out, I’d think, I should’ve stayed home to read or something like that. I watched my friends and I wondered is there something wrong with me? Just like Charlie. Now, I know that we are all different but in high school when uniformity is imposed on you, it’s so easy to feel insecure. But you’re not final at 17. Neither are you at 22, but you’ve matured.
That’s what I want for Charlie. We didn’t see that in this novel; I wanted to see some improvement in regards to her perception of herself. But I’ll hope and imagine that she eventually got to that place. And out there, somewhere, there is a real Charlie and I wish her that too.
And I’m sorry if this review sounds too harsh. My intention is not to discourage anyone from reading it. If you feel you might like this, knock yourself out. I guess this book was not really for me, simply because I’m still not sure what kind of message was it trying to send. Some 17-year old girl, perhaps in a situation similar to Charlie’s, will read it and what will she take from it?
**Favorite quote**
“But there is no meaning really, is there? All our stories are just rationalizations. Making meaning where there isn’t any. You think there must be some significance behind why things happen the way they do—some moral or purpose—like that would justify your own idiocy or give it a point or elevate it beyond the stupid, petty bullshit you see every day. Why is it so easy to see that other people’s lives are random and pointless and so hard to see that your own is too?”
After finishing this novel I really don’t know how to feel. It wasn’t terrible, I didn’t hate it, no; however I didn’t like it either and I wouldn’t recommend it.
If you’re like me and have a slight obsession with teacher/student novels, I say skip this one. I feel like the author wanted to write something taboo, but was afraid to go too far. In general, basically nothing happens in this book. I kind of wanted more drama.
Now, the main reason this didn’t entirely work out for me is because I didn’t really like our MC, Charlie. That girl is so immature and insecure. At first I tried to empathize, as always when reading YA; I too was a teenager once, I remember how tough it was. But half-way through the book I was internally screaming: Get over yourself! Plainly stated, Charlie think she’s ugly, and yes I understand, body image is a very important issue in puberty; but listening to her constantly repeating how she’s ugly got real annoying real fast. It wouldn��t have been an issue had we witnessed some character growth, her overcoming her problems, accepting herself, realizing it doesn’t matter what society says, it’s all about how you feel about yourself. It may sound like a total cliché, but it’s true. Remember this, kids: in order for others to love/accept you, you first need to love and fully & entirely accept yourself. And that’s why teenage years are a bitch. You’re still too young to believe that.
At times I felt sorry for Charlie. She had a horrible mother. She basically told Charlie that she doesn’t think she’s beautiful and how she should get a boyfriend. WHAT?! What kind of mother is that? Her BFF Lila is not much better either. Don’t you just hate those kinds of people who are so bubbly and outgoing and think everyone else should be too. Some of us prefer to be left alone in our corner and read in peace. Gee.
In high school I was the kind of person who didn’t like going out much. When I went out, I’d think, I should’ve stayed home to read or something like that. I watched my friends and I wondered is there something wrong with me? Just like Charlie. Now, I know that we are all different but in high school when uniformity is imposed on you, it’s so easy to feel insecure. But you’re not final at 17. Neither are you at 22, but you’ve matured.
That’s what I want for Charlie. We didn’t see that in this novel; I wanted to see some improvement in regards to her perception of herself. But I’ll hope and imagine that she eventually got to that place. And out there, somewhere, there is a real Charlie and I wish her that too.
And I’m sorry if this review sounds too harsh. My intention is not to discourage anyone from reading it. If you feel you might like this, knock yourself out. I guess this book was not really for me, simply because I’m still not sure what kind of message was it trying to send. Some 17-year old girl, perhaps in a situation similar to Charlie’s, will read it and what will she take from it?
**Favorite quote**
“But there is no meaning really, is there? All our stories are just rationalizations. Making meaning where there isn’t any. You think there must be some significance behind why things happen the way they do—some moral or purpose—like that would justify your own idiocy or give it a point or elevate it beyond the stupid, petty bullshit you see every day. Why is it so easy to see that other people’s lives are random and pointless and so hard to see that your own is too?”
June 16, 2019
Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska as well as Lauren Oliver and Sarah Dessen will embrace this provocative debut novel, an exploration of taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school.
What a lie!Probably one of the disappointing books I've had my hands on this year. I couldn't stomach it. The main character, Charlie, was exceedingly immature (even for a teenager) and pathetic. She focused excessively on the fact she wasn't as pretty as her friend and she didn't have a swarm of guys fighting over her. This was brought up constantly. She was so jealous of her friend Lila for being beautiful that I don't see how their friendship was even possible.
Being in her head was beyond frustrating. Her issues went way beyond low self-esteem, every few pages I felt like yelling "would someone please get this girl into therapy!". Of course everyone wants to feel attractive and admired but there are so many other things to concern yourself with: family, school, friends, crushes, books, music, movies, other hobbies, social causes. She led a privileged life, she had loving parents who were supporting her to go to the college of her choice (her mom a little intense and annoying but it still doesn't justify her characterization), she had friends and an exciting extracurricular activity. It doesn't make any sense why being attractive was that important to her and why this would spiral into such an abysmally low self-esteem. Why was she so messed up in the first place?
And then she goes and develops this sickening obsession with her teacher until the point of stalking him and throwing herself at him every chance she got. Her teacher turned out to be a sick bastard and eventually gave in to those advances. And then he ran away before anyone found out about it. He was a terrible teacher even before the "encounters", so terrible that I find it hard to believe he would've still had his job after his behavior around students in general, the way he talked to them was far from appropriate. I am all in for a "cool teacher", a cool teacher has to convey professionalism nonetheless.
What was the point of this book exactly? It barely even suggests that what happened between them was wrong. The guy suffers no consequences. And Charlies doesn't come out of this experience any different. What. Was. The. Point? The book was provocative alright, but just for the sake of it. I couldn't detect any deeper meaning to it.
August 25, 2015
I never write reviews.
I put this down 5 times. I closed my eyes or got off the bed to pace for a while. It put a fire in my lungs, constricted my throat and burned my stomach.
I don't share everything with Charlie. There are enough differences to give me some space. But the similarities...god, to be reincarnated as a teenager would be hellish.
This novel encapsulates parts of adolescence that I so rarely see written without condemnation or condescension: humiliation, self-loathing, trust, jealousy, forgiveness, sexuality. It is a kick to the spleen, bruising and uncompromising. Yet maybe that's what we need. Not weak portraiture but a bracing examination of how painful (yet necessary) maturing can be.
As with most everything, I may be in the minority. But for what it's worth, give Alcott a try. This is not an easy read. I certainly stopped out of sheer disbelief. But nothing worth experiencing is ever easy.
I put this down 5 times. I closed my eyes or got off the bed to pace for a while. It put a fire in my lungs, constricted my throat and burned my stomach.
I don't share everything with Charlie. There are enough differences to give me some space. But the similarities...god, to be reincarnated as a teenager would be hellish.
This novel encapsulates parts of adolescence that I so rarely see written without condemnation or condescension: humiliation, self-loathing, trust, jealousy, forgiveness, sexuality. It is a kick to the spleen, bruising and uncompromising. Yet maybe that's what we need. Not weak portraiture but a bracing examination of how painful (yet necessary) maturing can be.
As with most everything, I may be in the minority. But for what it's worth, give Alcott a try. This is not an easy read. I certainly stopped out of sheer disbelief. But nothing worth experiencing is ever easy.
June 14, 2015
"The day after I turned eighteen was the day Mr. Drummond left for good."
This is one of your typical forbidden attraction between a teacher and a student. However, if you're looking forward to reading something sexy, hot and heavy - then this one will quite disappoint you. I'll recommend Unteachable instead. If you are looking for a fluffy student-teacher romance then go read Slammed. Because this book may be your typical taboo book but it's also kinda different from the others. I don't get it when they compared this book with those mentioned in the blurb because it's a far cry in my opinion.
"I was never a pretty girl. I knew it more from people's silences than from anything they said."
Welcome to my Pity Party. Love, Charlie. I guess the primary reason why some readers did not like this book was the fact that the main character was too invested on her self-pitying. Every chapter seemed like a pity party and it's not something that most readers would not enjoy. Charlie may not be popular and beautiful like her bestfriend, Lila, but she's incredibly smart and witty. And hello?! It's not just looks that's important. Anyway, Charlie began to accept herself slowly and though she's an introvert, finally decided to come out of her shell for the school year. A very eventful year indeed.
Slut-Shaming BFF. The friendship between Charlie and Lila is fantastic. It's really solid even if they go through lots of ups and downs. But gaaaaad, Lila is not a very lovable character. I'm impatient with her constant slut shaming and racist attitude.
Teenage Dirt Bag. Say hello to teenage angst. Welcome to the world of hormones and sexual tensions.
It's different from other student-teacher books because this one has more drama, more family issues and more mystery. It's kind of frustrating after the first half because it's clear that I wanted to find out some more about the two MCs but I got blue balls instead. However frustrating it was, the emotions are also raw and realistic. The woes of being a teen.
I terribly wished that it's more like Ezra and Aria's relationship but it's not.
Tom Drummond. He's smart, cute and somewhat demented. Yes. He's like that teacher you had a crush on during high school. I was debating whether I should love his character or should I hate him for doing all of those things he did.
The Ending . It's bittersweet. Deal with it.
July 11, 2015
Dear author,
You had this amazing story in your hands that you could have turned into this amazing book but you just went for the typical and dull YA novel instead. That pisses me off. It actually makes me want to punch myself in the face. Several times. How could you murder so much potential? I literally wanted to knee on and yell dramatically WHY?! at God because your book made me feel so frustrated. So yeah. I did not like your book. To be completely honest, I hated every minute of this read.
Sincerly,
Yonaily
I sometimes find myself wishing I was a writer so I could take books like Even When You Lie to Me and just make magic, you know? But unfortunely reality says that I'd end up with something much worse than this book. (My writing skills haven't shown up yet.) So life is better without me writing a book. But this book, ugh! The MC (Charlie) kept telling me how ugly and boring and unpopular she was. She would look at her gorgeous BBF and say things like "I will never be as pretty as she is" and "All the boys look at her as if she's a goddess and I'm her servant". I have no problem with insecure characters, but when they are pitying themselves in every damn page I just can't bring myself to care about the book anymore. But like in any other YA novel, a mysterious guy will show up and the MC will suddenly gain confidence in herself. Because he makes her feel special.
Let's take a look.
Please don't do that to yourself (and me).
You are begging to hate you, woman.
Oh, did I mention Charlie's crazy hormones?
There's nothing good about this book. Pretty much all the pages were wasted on superficial and irrelevant conversations, a bit of slut-shaming here and there, and the MC's pity party. Don't even bother reading it.
You had this amazing story in your hands that you could have turned into this amazing book but you just went for the typical and dull YA novel instead. That pisses me off. It actually makes me want to punch myself in the face. Several times. How could you murder so much potential? I literally wanted to knee on and yell dramatically WHY?! at God because your book made me feel so frustrated. So yeah. I did not like your book. To be completely honest, I hated every minute of this read.
Sincerly,
Yonaily
I sometimes find myself wishing I was a writer so I could take books like Even When You Lie to Me and just make magic, you know? But unfortunely reality says that I'd end up with something much worse than this book. (My writing skills haven't shown up yet.) So life is better without me writing a book. But this book, ugh! The MC (Charlie) kept telling me how ugly and boring and unpopular she was. She would look at her gorgeous BBF and say things like "I will never be as pretty as she is" and "All the boys look at her as if she's a goddess and I'm her servant". I have no problem with insecure characters, but when they are pitying themselves in every damn page I just can't bring myself to care about the book anymore. But like in any other YA novel, a mysterious guy will show up and the MC will suddenly gain confidence in herself. Because he makes her feel special.
Let's take a look.
She stripped off her shorts in one swift movement and turned her back as she lifted her shirt up. I couldn’t help looking. Her body was beautifully simple, an unbroken sine wave of curves. My skin didn’t fit the same way; it puckered and spilled out in places as if whoever had engineered me hadn’t bought enough fabric.
Please don't do that to yourself (and me).
“Who are you texting?” I asked, glancing at the wall clock. Two minutes till the morning bell. I pressed my hand against the bump on my head as if I were trying to stop it from spreading.
“What?” Lila said, looking up. “Oh, just some dudebro I gave my number to at ShopRite.”
This always happened to Lila. We didn’t talk about the fact that it didn’t happen to me.
Every time Lila hooked up with someone, I felt worse; another guy and her tally of conquests pulled further and further away from mine. It was particularly depressing because mine was zero. I knew I wasn’t supposed to mind. I didn’t want to mind. I pretended not to mind. I hoped someday I actually wouldn’t.
You are begging to hate you, woman.
Oh, did I mention Charlie's crazy hormones?
I thought about being alone with him, working on the newspaper at night, resting my head on his shoulder in frustration. He’d wrap his arm around me and rub my shoulder. I’d look down and notice he had a giant—
There's nothing good about this book. Pretty much all the pages were wasted on superficial and irrelevant conversations, a bit of slut-shaming here and there, and the MC's pity party. Don't even bother reading it.
Shelved as 'i-do-not-think-so'
June 9, 2015"Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska as well as Lauren Oliver and Sarah Dessen will embrace this provocative debut novel, an exploration of taboo love set against the backdrop of a suburban high school."
Nope,nope,nope,nopity,nope.
Nope,nope,nope,nopity,nope.
September 28, 2016
This. Book... This book... This... book! (Okay, I'll stop now. I just don't know where to start.)
This is Jessica's only novel and I can't wait until she comes out with more. She has gained a most devoted fan after reading this beauty of a story and I don't know where to go from here. I still can't believe just how much this book spoke to me. Not only was it about my favorite taboo trope ever but I also connected with the character in such a deep level that we minus well could've been the same person (for the most part). The prologue drove it home that this book was going to destroy my soul and, unfortunately, I was 10000% right.
I couldn't help but tear up and ache every time our main character, Charlie, tapped into her low self-esteem. I think we have all been there, and maybe still are, so it's not hard at all to sympathize with her. There were so many other things about her that struck a personal chord within me that I couldn't rate this book anything lower than what I did.
We follow Charlie during her Senior year in high school as she starts developing a crush on her new English teacher, Mr. Drummond. She's also trying to figure out her place in the world since she's always lived in her best friend's shadow. This is another part where I can relate to her immensely. I had a 'friendship' like this back in high school and this story took me back to those days that I tried so hard to leave behind me. It actually hurt to witness just how alike we were. Jessica did such an amazing job at making Charlie seem as genuine as a character can get. The journey from Charlie's mind and heart onto the pages seemed effortless and I couldn't get enough.
It took me a bit to get used to Mr. Drummond as the main love interest, but when I did, I couldn't let him go. I could definitely see how his attention reeled Charlie in. Often times I found myself flustered and awestruck because of him. I felt like *I* was the one capturing his attention and it wasn't a bad feeling at all. I was addicted to it and I could only imagine how Charlie felt about it too.
I loved how the humor was present from the very beginning without feeling forced. This book may have brought many smiles to my face but it also brought pain and so many tears.
I was completely and utterly terrified by the last chapter that I put off reading it as much as I could. Which was about an hour and I only lasted so long because I was driving at the time... Jessica gave me what I wanted in the end, but in a way that I was dreading. I wish this story had turned out differently and I will be in mourning every time I look at this book because of it.
This book deeply focuses on the complications and complexity of what it is to experience desire for someone. It focuses more on what is making Charlie feel a certain way than what she does about it. This story opened my eyes to some things I never imagined to experience and I'll be forever grateful. But on the other hand, it burst open a dam of emotions I kept buried for a reason that I am still having trouble keeping contained. I'm already knee deep in a reading/life slump and I only feel it getting worse because as I write this review.
This book was a tragedy to my soul.
6/5 stars.
This is Jessica's only novel and I can't wait until she comes out with more. She has gained a most devoted fan after reading this beauty of a story and I don't know where to go from here. I still can't believe just how much this book spoke to me. Not only was it about my favorite taboo trope ever but I also connected with the character in such a deep level that we minus well could've been the same person (for the most part). The prologue drove it home that this book was going to destroy my soul and, unfortunately, I was 10000% right.
I couldn't help but tear up and ache every time our main character, Charlie, tapped into her low self-esteem. I think we have all been there, and maybe still are, so it's not hard at all to sympathize with her. There were so many other things about her that struck a personal chord within me that I couldn't rate this book anything lower than what I did.
We follow Charlie during her Senior year in high school as she starts developing a crush on her new English teacher, Mr. Drummond. She's also trying to figure out her place in the world since she's always lived in her best friend's shadow. This is another part where I can relate to her immensely. I had a 'friendship' like this back in high school and this story took me back to those days that I tried so hard to leave behind me. It actually hurt to witness just how alike we were. Jessica did such an amazing job at making Charlie seem as genuine as a character can get. The journey from Charlie's mind and heart onto the pages seemed effortless and I couldn't get enough.
It took me a bit to get used to Mr. Drummond as the main love interest, but when I did, I couldn't let him go. I could definitely see how his attention reeled Charlie in. Often times I found myself flustered and awestruck because of him. I felt like *I* was the one capturing his attention and it wasn't a bad feeling at all. I was addicted to it and I could only imagine how Charlie felt about it too.
I loved how the humor was present from the very beginning without feeling forced. This book may have brought many smiles to my face but it also brought pain and so many tears.
I was completely and utterly terrified by the last chapter that I put off reading it as much as I could. Which was about an hour and I only lasted so long because I was driving at the time... Jessica gave me what I wanted in the end, but in a way that I was dreading. I wish this story had turned out differently and I will be in mourning every time I look at this book because of it.
This book deeply focuses on the complications and complexity of what it is to experience desire for someone. It focuses more on what is making Charlie feel a certain way than what she does about it. This story opened my eyes to some things I never imagined to experience and I'll be forever grateful. But on the other hand, it burst open a dam of emotions I kept buried for a reason that I am still having trouble keeping contained. I'm already knee deep in a reading/life slump and I only feel it getting worse because as I write this review.
This book was a tragedy to my soul.
6/5 stars.
August 15, 2016
Real rating 3.5
I remember when I was in ninth grade I had special attention from new German language teacher. He was young, may be in his late twenties or early thirties (at the time he seemed old) and easy going but he creeped me out. I understood that he somehow liked me and this attention of his must be flattering, but it wasn't to me, his compliments, his constant attention to me in class, sideway glances in my direction or overestimated grades just creeped me out. I couldn't stay in class alone with him and I tried to avoid him in corridors. Somehow I had this feeling that if I'd showed him some sympathy in return something would happen. And it creeped me out, I wasn't into older guys and I won't pretend that I understand Charlie's obsession but I understand when you see or think that you see a kindred spirit in someone. Yes, eventually Charlie acted on her feelings and Drummond gave in and I despised him for that, he was an adult and he violated Charlie knowing that she's just a confused teenager.
Drummond wasn't a bad guy and he actually stopped whatever was happening between them. But by that time Charlie already saw that everything was an illusion and she matured. I guess, wanting and having something is not the same. Also I feel sorry for Drummond, because I really believe he had feelings for Charlie and compared to Charlie he actually understood what he felt. I loved how this book was written, how many serious issues it touched. Through Drummond's literature lessons and well-known classics we learn authors opinion about religion, feminism (this one I especially loved because it was so true)
I enjoyed all the intellectual conversations in a class room. They made me think and look with new perspective on some of my favorite literature, it was nice to hear different opinions and find something new in the books I've thought I understood good enough.
Well, this book left me conflicted. From one side I absolutely loved it, from the other side I hated it a little. But this book made me feel and whether these feelings were good or bad it doesn't matter because it left it's mark on me.
From the summary this book sounds like a regular forbidden teacher-student romance, but it isn't - this book is actually a drama. MC Charlie is a typical teenager: she's shy, self-conscious, she thinks she's ugly especially compared to her beautiful confident friend, she has a very strained relationships with boys (what means no relations at all). Boys her age are mostly immature jerks and the ones who are really nice are too shy to talk to a girl freely. I know that we all accustomed to arrogant, brooding males in YA these days and I know that I like some of them, but let's be honest - they are not real, we read a fantasy, we enjoy it, I am even sure that somewhere there you can meet this kind of hero, but definitely not in a 17 year old boy. This book was good because it was realistic, it made me remember my teenage years and what insecurities I had and how funny they seem to me now. I sympathized our MC because I understood her - it's the best connection between reader and character. I admit, Charlie was overly dramatic sometimes, but she can be - she's a typical teenager and it's ok. This book is about forbidden relations between young teacher and his student but it's also about so much more: it's about trust and friendship, children and their parents, it' s also about growing up and taking responsibility for your actions. And as the forbidden part plays a great role in this book it's not the central. I already knew from the summary that this thing will not end good.
Charlie has a crush on her new english teacher, he is not hot or handsome (thank god) but he is easy going and funny and within days everyone loves him. He lets his students call him Drummond instead of Mr.Drummond, he permits swearing and swears himself, he compliments Charlie's intelligence, all this made for Charley easier to fall for him. He understands her, she's his favorite student, she feels this special connection and ect. As readers we understand that it's just a crush from Charlie's side, it's easy to imagine oneself in love when you connect with someone and especially if boys your age act mostly like horny assholes. But we also understand that Drummond can't act on Charlie's feelings - he's the adult one here and he understands his responsibilities. But does he? I think he was lost himself, his mistake was to let boundaries between teacher and student loosen, he sometimes acted like a teenager himself without realizing it.
I knew it would be wrong for him to feel anything toward me—and in a way I wanted him to feel something but not to allow himself to act on it, to be tortured and desperate but too noble to hurt me—but there was something even more appealing about the thought of him giving in: he’d have to want me so much he’d break the rules to act on it.
I remember when I was in ninth grade I had special attention from new German language teacher. He was young, may be in his late twenties or early thirties (at the time he seemed old) and easy going but he creeped me out. I understood that he somehow liked me and this attention of his must be flattering, but it wasn't to me, his compliments, his constant attention to me in class, sideway glances in my direction or overestimated grades just creeped me out. I couldn't stay in class alone with him and I tried to avoid him in corridors. Somehow I had this feeling that if I'd showed him some sympathy in return something would happen. And it creeped me out, I wasn't into older guys and I won't pretend that I understand Charlie's obsession but I understand when you see or think that you see a kindred spirit in someone. Yes, eventually Charlie acted on her feelings and Drummond gave in and I despised him for that, he was an adult and he violated Charlie knowing that she's just a confused teenager.
He put his forehead against mine and I sighed. “I don’t regret you. I regret what I’ve done to you. I hurt you. I broke your trust. This was a violation. It would’ve been a violation with anyone, but especially with you.”
Drummond wasn't a bad guy and he actually stopped whatever was happening between them. But by that time Charlie already saw that everything was an illusion and she matured. I guess, wanting and having something is not the same. Also I feel sorry for Drummond, because I really believe he had feelings for Charlie and compared to Charlie he actually understood what he felt. I loved how this book was written, how many serious issues it touched. Through Drummond's literature lessons and well-known classics we learn authors opinion about religion, feminism (this one I especially loved because it was so true)
“It’s like…it’s like a catch-22. Like how women are told not to care about male attention but also that they’re not worthwhile if they don’t get it. Or how they’re expected to wear makeup, but they have to look like they aren’t. Or how they’re allowed to have power as long as it’s sexual, but then if they use it, they get called sluts.” She glanced at Sean. “And if they don’t have sexual power, then they’re worthless. It creates a situation where the person in the double bind can’t win.”
I enjoyed all the intellectual conversations in a class room. They made me think and look with new perspective on some of my favorite literature, it was nice to hear different opinions and find something new in the books I've thought I understood good enough.
Even when you lie to me will definitely catch your attention, you don't have to love it, to like a book you don't have to agree with everything it says, but you will definitely appreciate what this book has to give you or may even teach you something. There's no happy ending, but is there any in life? This book felt real to me and it was a reason good enough for me to enjoy it immensely.
August 9, 2018
Normally I do not like novels that are more provocative and explore morally grey areas such as minors with adults. Pedophilia is not okay and neither is an adult manipulating a teen, I don't care if they're over sixteen or not, you're the adult not them.
But this book did a really good job of exploring the dangers of a minor and non-minor relationship, especially with the added taboo of a teacher, student relationship and emotional abuse and manipulation.
A very conflicting read.
Extreme content warning (needless to say).
But this book did a really good job of exploring the dangers of a minor and non-minor relationship, especially with the added taboo of a teacher, student relationship and emotional abuse and manipulation.
A very conflicting read.
Extreme content warning (needless to say).
July 11, 2019
So I actually really loved this book! I could see why some people might not enjoy it or have some issues with it but I thought the book beautifully dealt with a coming of age young woman just trying to figure out her way through life and figure out who she would become. There’s the obvious her and her teacher relationship that is dealt with in the novel but I saw it more as a catalyst for all of those other things previously mentioned! I would read another book by this author in a heartbeat!
Longer review coming soon! :)
Longer review coming soon! :)
January 5, 2016
1.5 stars!**
I've seen this book all over instagram so I looked it up and it sounded interesting and I like the cover so I was thinking about buying the physical copy (I got really into owning physical books again and let me tell, it's way too expensive..) and I'm so glad that I decided not to waste my precious space on my bookshelves and money I'd have to pay for the hardcover.
Because this book was such a disappointment. It's about a girl who's insecure, immature and selfish. Her BFF is loudmouthed and even more selfish than the heroine Charlie. Charlotte's parents, mostly her mother, horrible. Her mother keeps telling her to get boyfriend and start wearing make up all the time! She makes Charlie's insecurities even worse.
Then there is the teacher who's name I've forgotten. That's how big impact he made on me. I can't even be bothered to go and try to find out his name.
This book brought me nothing. There wasn't anything I could take from it. Usually when there's nothing to take from the book, it at least have HEA..
I've seen this book all over instagram so I looked it up and it sounded interesting and I like the cover so I was thinking about buying the physical copy (I got really into owning physical books again and let me tell, it's way too expensive..) and I'm so glad that I decided not to waste my precious space on my bookshelves and money I'd have to pay for the hardcover.
Because this book was such a disappointment. It's about a girl who's insecure, immature and selfish. Her BFF is loudmouthed and even more selfish than the heroine Charlie. Charlotte's parents, mostly her mother, horrible. Her mother keeps telling her to get boyfriend and start wearing make up all the time! She makes Charlie's insecurities even worse.
Then there is the teacher who's name I've forgotten. That's how big impact he made on me. I can't even be bothered to go and try to find out his name.
This book brought me nothing. There wasn't anything I could take from it. Usually when there's nothing to take from the book, it at least have HEA..
June 1, 2015
I would give this book 0 stars if I could.
I usually give a book 3 stars if I don't like it...so...
Anyways, this book needs to come with a warning label. It explores the painfully awkward story of a student-teacher relationship, even justifying the existence of one. This book...*shudders* will scar you, no matter how dirty you already are. It is extremely proactive, and I wouldn't even recommend it to high school students, much less middle schoolers.
I think that censorship is useless, because why would you ever skip over the bad, the reality of what's happening around us? Even so, there are some ideas that are not appropriate for any age, any maturity level. This book covers subjects so fundamentally wrong they just shouldn't ever be introduced to our minds, especially not a teen's where ideas like these hang around for quite some time.
Please save yourselves and avoid this book like the plague.
Props to the cover designer, tho.
I usually give a book 3 stars if I don't like it...so...
Anyways, this book needs to come with a warning label. It explores the painfully awkward story of a student-teacher relationship, even justifying the existence of one. This book...*shudders* will scar you, no matter how dirty you already are. It is extremely proactive, and I wouldn't even recommend it to high school students, much less middle schoolers.
I think that censorship is useless, because why would you ever skip over the bad, the reality of what's happening around us? Even so, there are some ideas that are not appropriate for any age, any maturity level. This book covers subjects so fundamentally wrong they just shouldn't ever be introduced to our minds, especially not a teen's where ideas like these hang around for quite some time.
Please save yourselves and avoid this book like the plague.
Props to the cover designer, tho.
May 28, 2016
WHAT DID I JUST READ?
I had expectations higher than Mt. Everest for this one, and I am dumbstruck by how badly I was misled by my expectations.
I mean, c'moooon. Drummond just does that and Charlotte just does that and that just happens and this book is a mess and I am a mess too for going into this with so high expectations and then being so disappointed like WUT?
I had expectations higher than Mt. Everest for this one, and I am dumbstruck by how badly I was misled by my expectations.
I mean, c'moooon. Drummond just does that and Charlotte just does that and that just happens and this book is a mess and I am a mess too for going into this with so high expectations and then being so disappointed like WUT?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2016
2.5 stars
Its hard to review a book where I have mixed feelings about.
But lets start with the positive okay?
Since that is always nicer!!
The writing was good. It was solid and consistently throughout the entire story. Never changed style or pacing.
There was a different kind of main girl –not the overconfident blond hair, model height beautiful cheerleader and super smart as well , of course!; but rather an apparently ugly not really thin girl. We also had the typical blond smart girl –she was the best friend, but still at least the main girl was slightly different.
There was lots of talk about books in this book and the main girl –Charlie- loved to read so much that she was known in both her local and school library by name and knew the librarians by name as well. So clearly lots of books in this book. Also there are English class moments so discussions about books in school settings take place as well.
There was a cute dog in this!
That’s it. That is all the positive I could find in this book.
Now on to the negative:
There is not really a actual relationship between teacher and student. Which might be a spoiler since that is what the book is basically marketed as. And yes there is some start of that but Alcott never actually got the nerve up to really do something with that.
Also kind of all the students seem to have a horrendous crush on that teacher?
Was I the only person that never had a crush or even nice feelings towards teachers in school? I never even liked most of my teachers! Let alone wanted to seek them out in my free time. So that was just very strange to me.
Other negative point was the friendship between Charlie and her “Best friend” because that was just… horrible! Lila –the best friend- is constantly more or less either ignoring Charlie or putting her down or making her feel ugly. Or making Charlie do things that she is clearly uncomfortable doing. Its just a horrible friendship. Very much the typical “ugly duckling –beautiful swan” kind of thing. Which is just… yeah lets just not do that please? Lets support positive –especially but not only- female friendships especially in YA books please!
And since I am already talking about the bad friendships… there is lots of bullying. Charlie is being constantly put down. Not only by her best friend but also by other students –she is really actually bullying and nobody ever does anything about it!- and even Charlie’s own mother doesn’t seem to have a positive word to say to her.
And since I am already talking about the mother… the book started out with a pretty nice parent relationship with Charlie… I mean the father seemed okay. But then he kind of became an asshole? And the mother just completely … lets just not talk about that. But horrible Parents. Which is just… I don’t even have words for that.
I also hated that Charlie clearly wasn’t stupid. But her best friend –the super pretty smart one because she has it all!- one that felt like reading Cosmopolitan was enough reading for a month! She apparently applied –and I am just guessing here- got into Stanford while Charlie the bookworm that was only bad in math, got into a state Uni. Huh? Was I the only one confused by that?
The teacher –who is the love interest here- nicknames Charlie (already a nickname for Charlotte!) who is already the laughing stock of the class apparently, before even ever talking to her or actually meeting her “Chuck” because apparently that “fits her better”. Just what?
And the last thing… we never actually got a good description of Charlie. We only ever hear that she finds herself ugly, that she isn’t the best looking, that she is oddly proportioned apparently but we never actually get a good description! NEVER! Which I just didn’t like. If I hear that a girl is apparently so ugly that she gets bullied for that? Give me a freaking detailed description! I want to know what makes that girl so ugly. Because it can’t be that she doesn’t have a flat stomach. Or that she doesn’t like sport.
So clearly all in all this book wasn’t the best for me. Not the worst. But definitely not the best.
I expected something else, I got a lot of mixed messages from this book. I liked some things but really didn’t like others.
I think the entire book is marketed wrong and that the author should have focused on the “ugly” girl learning that that doesn’t always matter, and that maybe the teacher is who gives her confidence because he shows her that looks doesn’t always matter and that the bullying will stop or you will stop caring about it. That would have made the book better.
And even losing Lila as a friend would have worked wonders!
But sadly Alcott didn’t do that. And since she didn’t even really go through with a “relationship” between teacher and student… yeah this book was just not what I expected.
And overall a disappointing.
That doesn’t mean it was horrible. And if you think it sounds interesting, read it. See for yourself what you think. Maybe you read it and think Alcott wrote a wonderful forbidden love story between a teacher and a student! Maybe you love the friendship between Lila and Charlie. Read it and see what you think!
Its hard to review a book where I have mixed feelings about.
But lets start with the positive okay?
Since that is always nicer!!
The writing was good. It was solid and consistently throughout the entire story. Never changed style or pacing.
There was a different kind of main girl –not the overconfident blond hair, model height beautiful cheerleader and super smart as well , of course!; but rather an apparently ugly not really thin girl. We also had the typical blond smart girl –she was the best friend, but still at least the main girl was slightly different.
There was lots of talk about books in this book and the main girl –Charlie- loved to read so much that she was known in both her local and school library by name and knew the librarians by name as well. So clearly lots of books in this book. Also there are English class moments so discussions about books in school settings take place as well.
There was a cute dog in this!
That’s it. That is all the positive I could find in this book.
Now on to the negative:
There is not really a actual relationship between teacher and student. Which might be a spoiler since that is what the book is basically marketed as. And yes there is some start of that but Alcott never actually got the nerve up to really do something with that.
Also kind of all the students seem to have a horrendous crush on that teacher?
Was I the only person that never had a crush or even nice feelings towards teachers in school? I never even liked most of my teachers! Let alone wanted to seek them out in my free time. So that was just very strange to me.
Other negative point was the friendship between Charlie and her “Best friend” because that was just… horrible! Lila –the best friend- is constantly more or less either ignoring Charlie or putting her down or making her feel ugly. Or making Charlie do things that she is clearly uncomfortable doing. Its just a horrible friendship. Very much the typical “ugly duckling –beautiful swan” kind of thing. Which is just… yeah lets just not do that please? Lets support positive –especially but not only- female friendships especially in YA books please!
And since I am already talking about the bad friendships… there is lots of bullying. Charlie is being constantly put down. Not only by her best friend but also by other students –she is really actually bullying and nobody ever does anything about it!- and even Charlie’s own mother doesn’t seem to have a positive word to say to her.
And since I am already talking about the mother… the book started out with a pretty nice parent relationship with Charlie… I mean the father seemed okay. But then he kind of became an asshole? And the mother just completely … lets just not talk about that. But horrible Parents. Which is just… I don’t even have words for that.
I also hated that Charlie clearly wasn’t stupid. But her best friend –the super pretty smart one because she has it all!- one that felt like reading Cosmopolitan was enough reading for a month! She apparently applied –and I am just guessing here- got into Stanford while Charlie the bookworm that was only bad in math, got into a state Uni. Huh? Was I the only one confused by that?
The teacher –who is the love interest here- nicknames Charlie (already a nickname for Charlotte!) who is already the laughing stock of the class apparently, before even ever talking to her or actually meeting her “Chuck” because apparently that “fits her better”. Just what?
And the last thing… we never actually got a good description of Charlie. We only ever hear that she finds herself ugly, that she isn’t the best looking, that she is oddly proportioned apparently but we never actually get a good description! NEVER! Which I just didn’t like. If I hear that a girl is apparently so ugly that she gets bullied for that? Give me a freaking detailed description! I want to know what makes that girl so ugly. Because it can’t be that she doesn’t have a flat stomach. Or that she doesn’t like sport.
So clearly all in all this book wasn’t the best for me. Not the worst. But definitely not the best.
I expected something else, I got a lot of mixed messages from this book. I liked some things but really didn’t like others.
I think the entire book is marketed wrong and that the author should have focused on the “ugly” girl learning that that doesn’t always matter, and that maybe the teacher is who gives her confidence because he shows her that looks doesn’t always matter and that the bullying will stop or you will stop caring about it. That would have made the book better.
And even losing Lila as a friend would have worked wonders!
But sadly Alcott didn’t do that. And since she didn’t even really go through with a “relationship” between teacher and student… yeah this book was just not what I expected.
And overall a disappointing.
That doesn’t mean it was horrible. And if you think it sounds interesting, read it. See for yourself what you think. Maybe you read it and think Alcott wrote a wonderful forbidden love story between a teacher and a student! Maybe you love the friendship between Lila and Charlie. Read it and see what you think!
March 12, 2017
I don't know what to think about this book. It was okay, but it didn't go the way I expected it to go and I'm kind of disappointed by that. I expected a more risque student/teacher romance but nothing really happened until the end and even that was kind of a let down. Not to mention the main character, Charlie, never got the character development she so desperately needed. The only enjoyable characters in this book are Asha and Dev and there honestly wasn't enough of them in this novel. (I even kind of felt a little love for Mike even though she "hated" him). Over all it was a okay read. The writing style was good and it was interesting enough to get me to finish it without forcing myself. However, I would not go out of my way to recommend it to anyone.
August 28, 2016
Plot - 17/20
Characters - 17/20
Creativity - 17/20
Writing - 15/20
Pace - 8/10
Ending - 7/10
82/100 = B+
4/5 stars
I HAVE FINISHED A BOOK! it's been what? 2 weeks? WHAT. EVEN. this is the kind of result school has on you. I'm glad that this book was able to pull me out of this slump and that I had enough will power to begin it in the first place cus man I was struggling! I started out this book not liking it. about 100 pages in the story started to get more intense to a point I didn't want to stop reading! (missed that feeling) so i ended up finishing this book instead of doing my chores... hopefully my mom dosen't get TOO mad when she finds out haha. I think I'd recommend this primarily to the people who enjoy Jenny Han's books :)
Characters - 17/20
Creativity - 17/20
Writing - 15/20
Pace - 8/10
Ending - 7/10
82/100 = B+
4/5 stars
I HAVE FINISHED A BOOK! it's been what? 2 weeks? WHAT. EVEN. this is the kind of result school has on you. I'm glad that this book was able to pull me out of this slump and that I had enough will power to begin it in the first place cus man I was struggling! I started out this book not liking it. about 100 pages in the story started to get more intense to a point I didn't want to stop reading! (missed that feeling) so i ended up finishing this book instead of doing my chores... hopefully my mom dosen't get TOO mad when she finds out haha. I think I'd recommend this primarily to the people who enjoy Jenny Han's books :)
September 11, 2015
Crushes on teachers? I remember those days... *sigh*
In the story of my life, this far, I had two crushes on my teachers. One was in High school, with my civics teacher and another one in college with my English teacher. They were both sweet and very handsome. But one was stupid and the other one had a girlfriend, so...
Anyhow, to the book....
I don't know what to say about it.The story between a student having a crush on a teacher and acting on it, has been a fantasy of mine, but then letting go? there's where I say, WHAT?! especially when you are senior going to college, like, it won't matter if you are together, but whatever, not my story to tell.
Having a crush completely blinds you, it consumes you to the point of staying up late at night thinking about certain person, and is frustrating because you can't stop it. And you can't act on it either, mostly because of fear of rejection, or embarrassment. Sometimes it is the reality of it coming true, how about if it never was what you thought it would be, so you think that the dream of having that person is better than the reality of being with them.
I know, I've been through that many times, and is terrible, but what can we do other than roll with it, right?
Please give it a try, is not as bad as it looks. and it doesn't look bad at all. so go ahead and submerge yourself into a story of an impossible stupid love...
In the story of my life, this far, I had two crushes on my teachers. One was in High school, with my civics teacher and another one in college with my English teacher. They were both sweet and very handsome. But one was stupid and the other one had a girlfriend, so...
Anyhow, to the book....
I don't know what to say about it.The story between a student having a crush on a teacher and acting on it, has been a fantasy of mine, but then letting go? there's where I say, WHAT?! especially when you are senior going to college, like, it won't matter if you are together, but whatever, not my story to tell.
Having a crush completely blinds you, it consumes you to the point of staying up late at night thinking about certain person, and is frustrating because you can't stop it. And you can't act on it either, mostly because of fear of rejection, or embarrassment. Sometimes it is the reality of it coming true, how about if it never was what you thought it would be, so you think that the dream of having that person is better than the reality of being with them.
I know, I've been through that many times, and is terrible, but what can we do other than roll with it, right?
Please give it a try, is not as bad as it looks. and it doesn't look bad at all. so go ahead and submerge yourself into a story of an impossible stupid love...
July 17, 2015
Well, that was anti-climactic. If it wasn't for the enjoyable prose, I wouldn't have pursued the book at all. But hey, it's about the journey not the destination and all. 4stars.
June 27, 2015
Grade: B+
EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME is not the story you will expect, after reading the blurb.
It is not a novel about a predatory teacher who takes advantage of a vulnerable student.
It is not the story of a blameless victim, who nobody understands.
EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME isn't even most about a student in a teacher.
Charlie has issues. She has a chip on her shoulder. She feels like an outsider in school and at home, but fails to see her contribution to her situations. An introvert, she's mismatched with her extroverted best friend Lila. Charlie feels like a victim, but she is often more unkind in thought, words and actions, to Lila than Lila is to her. In fact, Charlie isn't very kind to any of her classmates who try to befriend her, or to her well-meaning mother who tries and miserably fails to connect with her. She claims to feel close to her father, though she consistently manipulates him. I had a lot of empathy for her in the beginning of the novel, but instead of growing and learning, Charlie seemed to regress and become more obstinate and immature, justifying her poor behavior. I liked her in chapter one, but nearing the end of the book I only rooted for someone to force her to see how she mistreated others, then drag her to a therapist to help her figure out how to interact with others.
To me Charlie's relationship with herself was even more central to EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME than her relationship to Mr Drummond or Lila or her parents.
Rarely do I like a book, particularly a first person narrative, when I dislike a main character, but I did enjoy EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME. It made me think.
Mr Drummond flirted with all his students. In some ways, his classes were more reminiscent of the way college professors interact with adult students, than high school students. Drummond tried to be the Cool Teacher, allowing his students to get away with too much. He didn't treat Charlie differently than the others, but she was vulnerable for validation and attention. He knew this, maybe too late, but once he realized, instead of putting up stronger boundaries, crossed the line repeatedly with Charlie. Whenever he lamely said no, she tried harder. This is when he needed to be teacher, rather than friend.
My biggest criticism about EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME is how Jessica Alcott addressed masturbation through Charlie's Puritanical perceptions that normal, healthy self-pleasure was shamefully sinful. My other critique is not really Alcott's fault, but MCs who love literature, English class, English teachers are becoming clique. Maybe that's because writers, in general love English and literature, as do many readers. I like characters who favor English, but some diversity of interests, even if that means writers researching other subjects like math or science or a foreign language.
Bottom line: EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME is about a high school senior who has a crush on a teacher and difficult relationships with everyone, especially herself.
EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME is not the story you will expect, after reading the blurb.
It is not a novel about a predatory teacher who takes advantage of a vulnerable student.
It is not the story of a blameless victim, who nobody understands.
EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME isn't even most about a student in a teacher.
Charlie has issues. She has a chip on her shoulder. She feels like an outsider in school and at home, but fails to see her contribution to her situations. An introvert, she's mismatched with her extroverted best friend Lila. Charlie feels like a victim, but she is often more unkind in thought, words and actions, to Lila than Lila is to her. In fact, Charlie isn't very kind to any of her classmates who try to befriend her, or to her well-meaning mother who tries and miserably fails to connect with her. She claims to feel close to her father, though she consistently manipulates him. I had a lot of empathy for her in the beginning of the novel, but instead of growing and learning, Charlie seemed to regress and become more obstinate and immature, justifying her poor behavior. I liked her in chapter one, but nearing the end of the book I only rooted for someone to force her to see how she mistreated others, then drag her to a therapist to help her figure out how to interact with others.
To me Charlie's relationship with herself was even more central to EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME than her relationship to Mr Drummond or Lila or her parents.
Rarely do I like a book, particularly a first person narrative, when I dislike a main character, but I did enjoy EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME. It made me think.
Mr Drummond flirted with all his students. In some ways, his classes were more reminiscent of the way college professors interact with adult students, than high school students. Drummond tried to be the Cool Teacher, allowing his students to get away with too much. He didn't treat Charlie differently than the others, but she was vulnerable for validation and attention. He knew this, maybe too late, but once he realized, instead of putting up stronger boundaries, crossed the line repeatedly with Charlie. Whenever he lamely said no, she tried harder. This is when he needed to be teacher, rather than friend.
My biggest criticism about EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME is how Jessica Alcott addressed masturbation through Charlie's Puritanical perceptions that normal, healthy self-pleasure was shamefully sinful. My other critique is not really Alcott's fault, but MCs who love literature, English class, English teachers are becoming clique. Maybe that's because writers, in general love English and literature, as do many readers. I like characters who favor English, but some diversity of interests, even if that means writers researching other subjects like math or science or a foreign language.
Bottom line: EVEN WHEN YOU LIE TO ME is about a high school senior who has a crush on a teacher and difficult relationships with everyone, especially herself.
April 1, 2021
2021 3 Star Review
This was an alright read. Not the best student-teacher relationship book that I have read, but I have read worse. I did find the story still okay this time around, but I like it a bit more because I took my time with the story to see the things I missed the first time. It was just okay for me. I thought the story dragged in some areas. However, I thought all characters were good this time around, but just needed more depth and characterization. I did love Developed and Asha the most. Also, I thought the romance was good, but it could have been better. It seemed more like an obsession than love and that also kind of ruined the story for me. Overall, an okay read.
July 2016 2.5 Star Review
This was a decent read. It was classified as a student-teacher romance book. However, I did not feel like it was a student-romance but more of a student obsessed with her teacher book. The story was okay. I thought some parts could have been taken out as it tended to drag out the story. The characters were okay. I really liked Developed and Asha. I also liked Mr. Drummond. However, I really dislike Lila.
I was wondering how to feel about Charlie as she was neither a good or bad character. She was just okay. She sometimes did do some annoying things which made me dislike her character a bit. However, I think this book was very slow. It did feel a bit more stalkerish as I kept reading. The ending was not that good as well. As it didn't provide as much excitement as I hoped it would. Overall, an okay read.
This was an alright read. Not the best student-teacher relationship book that I have read, but I have read worse. I did find the story still okay this time around, but I like it a bit more because I took my time with the story to see the things I missed the first time. It was just okay for me. I thought the story dragged in some areas. However, I thought all characters were good this time around, but just needed more depth and characterization. I did love Developed and Asha the most. Also, I thought the romance was good, but it could have been better. It seemed more like an obsession than love and that also kind of ruined the story for me. Overall, an okay read.
July 2016 2.5 Star Review
This was a decent read. It was classified as a student-teacher romance book. However, I did not feel like it was a student-romance but more of a student obsessed with her teacher book. The story was okay. I thought some parts could have been taken out as it tended to drag out the story. The characters were okay. I really liked Developed and Asha. I also liked Mr. Drummond. However, I really dislike Lila.
I was wondering how to feel about Charlie as she was neither a good or bad character. She was just okay. She sometimes did do some annoying things which made me dislike her character a bit. However, I think this book was very slow. It did feel a bit more stalkerish as I kept reading. The ending was not that good as well. As it didn't provide as much excitement as I hoped it would. Overall, an okay read.
March 22, 2017
Definitely top 5 for most I've laughed at a main character's wit; absolutely loved Charlie's sense of humor, which is something I'm obsessed with loving in books but rarely, rarely do. This wasn't at all what I was expecting the book to be, which was a really emotional and soul-searching journey featuring a predatory teacher, and I'm not sorry about it. It dipped into something exceptionally real without having to push skin-crawling* boundaries for it (*for most; I'm a total junkie for student/teacher romances, so none of it really skeeves me out as long as the student is of legal age, if I'm being honest here), and I thought that was a cool and surprisingly rare approach.
May 5, 2023
Charlie feels ugly, undesirable. She's smart, but unapproachable and generally socially awkward. So, when this very smart, charismatic, only slightly older guy gives her attention, she becomes absolutely infatuated. It's funny how infatuation can make you notice the most small specific details about a person. How long his eyelashes are. The twitch of muscles when he raises his arms. The glimpse of his bare torse through his button up shirt. This infatuation takes up all the space in her mind.
And this teacher, Drummond, is exactly what I imagine every attractive teacher to be: popular among students, casually flirtatious, smart (maybe woke), and only older by a handful of years. Unfortunately, I see myself in Charlie, because at one point I was absolutely infatuated with a teacher. I'm cringing sooo hard at my younger self. The same way Charlie was embarrassingly obvious, so was I.
I feel like Jessica Alcott scooped out the memories of 15 year old me, and slapped them onto the pages of this book. Well done, awkward, and honest.
And this teacher, Drummond, is exactly what I imagine every attractive teacher to be: popular among students, casually flirtatious, smart (maybe woke), and only older by a handful of years. Unfortunately, I see myself in Charlie, because at one point I was absolutely infatuated with a teacher. I'm cringing sooo hard at my younger self. The same way Charlie was embarrassingly obvious, so was I.
I feel like Jessica Alcott scooped out the memories of 15 year old me, and slapped them onto the pages of this book. Well done, awkward, and honest.
June 12, 2015
3.5
From the moment that my friend recommended this to me, I couldn't wait to read it. Once I got it, I jumped right in. I loved the story. I loved the slow build of it, how they got to know each other. I liked the characters (except the horrible best "friend" that should have been pushed off a cliff).
What I hated was the ending. I guess, in a sense, there's a happy ending. But it wasn't the happy ending I wanted! For me, there was no HEA. And I have a huge problem with that. I read romance novels for the HEA. I want, no, NEED that HEA. And it pissed me off when I got to the end and all there was, was a goodbye.
The end itself lost the book a star. And since I'm pissed at the book, I knocked off another 1/2 for the horrible best friend.
From the moment that my friend recommended this to me, I couldn't wait to read it. Once I got it, I jumped right in. I loved the story. I loved the slow build of it, how they got to know each other. I liked the characters (except the horrible best "friend" that should have been pushed off a cliff).
What I hated was the ending. I guess, in a sense, there's a happy ending. But it wasn't the happy ending I wanted! For me, there was no HEA. And I have a huge problem with that. I read romance novels for the HEA. I want, no, NEED that HEA. And it pissed me off when I got to the end and all there was, was a goodbye.
The end itself lost the book a star. And since I'm pissed at the book, I knocked off another 1/2 for the horrible best friend.
January 11, 2016
Alrighty! I'm going to confess something to you... I have an obsession with student/teacher relationships. It's not that I want one for myself (god no) but in books it's just so exciting!
and that's how I picked this one up
In the end I sort of got what I wanted. There was tension, a build up, a life beside the tension going on, but...
it just didn't go anywhere. All the pain just didn't matter, the final give in to the feelings was waaaaaaaay too short. If you build up all this tension, you can't just let it explode in almost the last chapter at the end of the book.
It was all just so pointless. I didn't like the mc's best friend and to be honest I didn't like mc too much either.
mc didn't like Jane Eyre. I SHOULD TAKE ONE STAR FOR THAT INSULT! Of course she liked Jane fucking Austen BUT NO SHE HAD TO HATE MY PRECIOUS!!
3 stars for the tension, but Vampire Academy holds the crown for best student/teacher relationship
and that's how I picked this one up
In the end I sort of got what I wanted. There was tension, a build up, a life beside the tension going on, but...
it just didn't go anywhere. All the pain just didn't matter, the final give in to the feelings was waaaaaaaay too short. If you build up all this tension, you can't just let it explode in almost the last chapter at the end of the book.
It was all just so pointless. I didn't like the mc's best friend and to be honest I didn't like mc too much either.
mc didn't like Jane Eyre. I SHOULD TAKE ONE STAR FOR THAT INSULT! Of course she liked Jane fucking Austen BUT NO SHE HAD TO HATE MY PRECIOUS!!
3 stars for the tension, but Vampire Academy holds the crown for best student/teacher relationship
July 5, 2016
I was expecting much more out of this.
Charlie was an annoying character. She was excessively shy (with no apparent reason), and didn't really make an effort to change it. Overall, she is not someone I'd like to be friends with. She is selfish in several moments, which really doesn't help her case.
In fact, come to think of it, this book was full of annoying characters.
Plotwise, this was also frustrating. It could have been so much more. Instead, it just peters out. This book's only saving grace is the writing, which is pretty good.
Charlie was an annoying character. She was excessively shy (with no apparent reason), and didn't really make an effort to change it. Overall, she is not someone I'd like to be friends with. She is selfish in several moments, which really doesn't help her case.
In fact, come to think of it, this book was full of annoying characters.
Plotwise, this was also frustrating. It could have been so much more. Instead, it just peters out. This book's only saving grace is the writing, which is pretty good.
February 4, 2017
Really enjoyed this one, but I wasn't desperate to finish it (obviously given how long it took me to finish it). 4 stars. Haven't fully decided yet. I felt a kinship with Charlie quite a bit. Kind of hated Lila and Charlie's mom.
August 2, 2018
This is probably the most pointless book I have ever read. I simply cannot find a single reason for this to exist.
Simply adding things in for shock value doesn’t help the story, nor does it engage the reader.
Book 1 for Booktubeathon 2018
Simply adding things in for shock value doesn’t help the story, nor does it engage the reader.
Book 1 for Booktubeathon 2018
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