Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
A quick, cute book that was exactly what I needed reading-wise. I loved all the characters in this book, and I liked that they felt like real teenagers. So glad I finally got to read it.
I really only picked up this book because Shawn Johnson wrote it, but I'm glad I did.
I was a little concerned at first because I had tried to read it a couple times before and had never made it past the first couple chapters. However, this doesn't say much about the book itself - after all, the same thing happened with book one of Harry Potter - so although the beginning wasn't my favorite, it was necessary to set up the story and if you just push through it you'll probably be hooked.
One thing that made this book unique to me was its credibility. Yes, it was a fictional story, but it was hard to believe at times. Fitting in Olympic training and school with no one knowing? It was hard to believe. Since Shawn was an Olympic gymnast and understood not only the skills but also the hard work that goes into that, her writing made the story believable and easy to accept. There were other things in the story that were hard to believe, like the way things were wrapped up in the ending and the events leading up to it, but the idea behind the story and most of the plot were very believable.
It was also an enjoyable read. I felt myself really rooting for Charlie and feeling her joy, pain, and embarrassment, which is a marker of a good book for me. I could also connect to her friends and family as well, even when they had conflicting views, which I liked a lot.
The ending was also good. Although not the most realistic, I liked it and I think there's a good lesson to be learned, which I always look for at the end of a book. It wasn't super groundbreaking or something I think everyone needs to read right away, but as a book meant mostly as a fun read, I liked it quite a bit.
I was a little concerned at first because I had tried to read it a couple times before and had never made it past the first couple chapters. However, this doesn't say much about the book itself - after all, the same thing happened with book one of Harry Potter - so although the beginning wasn't my favorite, it was necessary to set up the story and if you just push through it you'll probably be hooked.
One thing that made this book unique to me was its credibility. Yes, it was a fictional story, but it was hard to believe at times. Fitting in Olympic training and school with no one knowing? It was hard to believe. Since Shawn was an Olympic gymnast and understood not only the skills but also the hard work that goes into that, her writing made the story believable and easy to accept. There were other things in the story that were hard to believe, like the way things were wrapped up in the ending and the events leading up to it, but the idea behind the story and most of the plot were very believable.
It was also an enjoyable read. I felt myself really rooting for Charlie and feeling her joy, pain, and embarrassment, which is a marker of a good book for me. I could also connect to her friends and family as well, even when they had conflicting views, which I liked a lot.
The ending was also good. Although not the most realistic, I liked it and I think there's a good lesson to be learned, which I always look for at the end of a book. It wasn't super groundbreaking or something I think everyone needs to read right away, but as a book meant mostly as a fun read, I liked it quite a bit.
I remember watching Shawn Johnson compete as a gymnast when I was younger. I had to remind myself that this was a YA book when reading it but overall was a good read.
It was a cute, fairly predictable read. But I picked it up because Shawn Johnson, so, you know, there's that.
As a fan of gymnastics, I really was excited to read this. The love interest is diverse, but I feel like the narrator is a bit naive.
This was a pretty light read. The characters didn’t have too much depth. The story tried to be serious and I suppose it was, but I wasn’t on the edge. I felt like a lighter read and I got what I was looking for.
**4.25 stars** It was a fun and quick read that I really enjoyed. Once you get past the unrealistic premise, it's a really cute book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a gymnastics fan, and I loved ABC Family's Make It Or Break It, and this book reminded me a lot of that show. It features Charlie Ryland, an elite gymnast who is weeks away from the Olympic trials. She's living dual lives. In the gymnastics world, she is Charlie, two time gold medalist on the beam. But at her public high school, she is Charlotte Ryland. She wants a place where she doesn't have to feel the pressure of gymnastics or face the criticism of the general public. Plus she wants to make friends because of who she is and not because she's famous.
I loved Charlotte/Charlie. She was a very down-to-Earth, fun teenage girl. She has two terrific best friends - Gwen, a fellow elite gymnast, and Zoe, her companion at school. Zoe is ready for boys and prom, and she encourages Charlotte to have a little fun. Gwen is all business and keeps Charlie in line at the gym. I loved the friendships in this story. The boys were pretty great too, but I won't give anything away.
There wasn't as much gymnastics as I would have hoped. And while the writing wasn't phenomenal - Charlie repeated her motivations too frequently - I couldn't put this book down. I felt a lot of emotions for Charlie, which is a sign that the author is doing something right for sure.
Content-wise, this book may appeal more to the younger side of the YA spectrum, but in general I think gymnastics fans of all ages should read it. And the timing of the release is perfect with the Olympics coming up this summer.
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/06/book-review-flip-side-ya.html
I loved Charlotte/Charlie. She was a very down-to-Earth, fun teenage girl. She has two terrific best friends - Gwen, a fellow elite gymnast, and Zoe, her companion at school. Zoe is ready for boys and prom, and she encourages Charlotte to have a little fun. Gwen is all business and keeps Charlie in line at the gym. I loved the friendships in this story. The boys were pretty great too, but I won't give anything away.
There wasn't as much gymnastics as I would have hoped. And while the writing wasn't phenomenal - Charlie repeated her motivations too frequently - I couldn't put this book down. I felt a lot of emotions for Charlie, which is a sign that the author is doing something right for sure.
Content-wise, this book may appeal more to the younger side of the YA spectrum, but in general I think gymnastics fans of all ages should read it. And the timing of the release is perfect with the Olympics coming up this summer.
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/06/book-review-flip-side-ya.html
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No