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A review by booksrlush_
The Anti-Virginity Pact by Katie Wismer
3.0
3.5
We follow Meredith the preacher’s daughter who is going through a hard time, she struggling with her belief and about how to tell people then, she’s got pretty bad anxiety which I have to say is depicted well but I think that is a personal opinion cause not everyone with anxiety experience in the same way.
‘Not that I should be surprised – my anxiety has always been an unwanted but expected houseguest. I can usually anticipate it long before it starts to manifest, but no matter how hard I try to prepare or reason with my body, it still reacts as if the millions of times before haven’t taught it this is not a life or death situation. That it is, in fact, only making things even more difficult than necessary.’
She made a pact with her best friend Jo that they’d both lose their virginity before the end of senior year. Then Meredith gets worried when Jo decides she wants Mr. Graham, her teacher to be her first. I did like how it showed Meredith voicing her concerns about the idea, I just wish she never caved on what she thought was wrong, Because nothing good comes out of these situations. There was more talk of religion and believing or not believing that I thought was a really good undertone to have. It didn’t take up the full narrative but it went a long way in helping build the background of the character showing us why Meredith is the way she is when the book starts, and there were some good points where made.
I feel like the experience reading this book is like watching a TV show like Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl. I love these shows and find them entertaining which is exactly what I found in this book. This book is not a light or easy read it covers things like: Bullying, Religion, Sexual Assault, Animal Abuse, Substance abuse, Anxiety, and trauma. It is however addicting and keeps you glued to the pages wanting to find out what happens.
‘Eyes will zero in on my read cheek and the beads of sweat in my hairline. I’ll try to speak. My blood will thunder so loudly in my ears I’ll barely even hear my own voice as it comes out thin and shaky – a dead indicator to everyone around me of just how nervous I am over something completely simple and stupid like getting called on in class. They’ll all know in a panicked, shaky mess.’
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the sisters. I found Mare and Harper’s relationship quite endearing and totally realistic, especially towards the end of the novel. I think the whole book came off as quite realistic, it has some important message and the writing was solid. It really did feel like an appropriate narrative the characters sounded and acted their age. The writing of the characters came across as genuine. I didn’t have any expectations going into this. I watch Katie Wismer’s book tube channel and was excited to get approved for an arc from NetGalley but I went in expecting nothing and came out with a book I enjoyed.
We follow Meredith the preacher’s daughter who is going through a hard time, she struggling with her belief and about how to tell people then, she’s got pretty bad anxiety which I have to say is depicted well but I think that is a personal opinion cause not everyone with anxiety experience in the same way.
‘Not that I should be surprised – my anxiety has always been an unwanted but expected houseguest. I can usually anticipate it long before it starts to manifest, but no matter how hard I try to prepare or reason with my body, it still reacts as if the millions of times before haven’t taught it this is not a life or death situation. That it is, in fact, only making things even more difficult than necessary.’
She made a pact with her best friend Jo that they’d both lose their virginity before the end of senior year. Then Meredith gets worried when Jo decides she wants Mr. Graham, her teacher to be her first. I did like how it showed Meredith voicing her concerns about the idea, I just wish she never caved on what she thought was wrong, Because nothing good comes out of these situations. There was more talk of religion and believing or not believing that I thought was a really good undertone to have. It didn’t take up the full narrative but it went a long way in helping build the background of the character showing us why Meredith is the way she is when the book starts, and there were some good points where made.
I feel like the experience reading this book is like watching a TV show like Pretty Little Liars or Gossip Girl. I love these shows and find them entertaining which is exactly what I found in this book. This book is not a light or easy read it covers things like: Bullying, Religion, Sexual Assault, Animal Abuse, Substance abuse, Anxiety, and trauma. It is however addicting and keeps you glued to the pages wanting to find out what happens.
‘Eyes will zero in on my read cheek and the beads of sweat in my hairline. I’ll try to speak. My blood will thunder so loudly in my ears I’ll barely even hear my own voice as it comes out thin and shaky – a dead indicator to everyone around me of just how nervous I am over something completely simple and stupid like getting called on in class. They’ll all know in a panicked, shaky mess.’
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the sisters. I found Mare and Harper’s relationship quite endearing and totally realistic, especially towards the end of the novel. I think the whole book came off as quite realistic, it has some important message and the writing was solid. It really did feel like an appropriate narrative the characters sounded and acted their age. The writing of the characters came across as genuine. I didn’t have any expectations going into this. I watch Katie Wismer’s book tube channel and was excited to get approved for an arc from NetGalley but I went in expecting nothing and came out with a book I enjoyed.