I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn, Allison Raskin Pages: 352
Published by Wednesday Books on September 5, 2017
Genres: Young Adult, contemporary
Dear Best Friend,I can already tell that I will hate everyone but you.Sincerely,Ava Helmer(that brunette who won’t leave you alone)
We're still in the same room, you weirdo.Stop crying.G
So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two best friends will document every moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance?
I Hate Everyone But You is a story about the friendship between two girls that go away to different colleges. It is written by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin, two girls that have a popular YouTube channel. I have not personally watched their youtube channel but I am all about this trend of influencers writing novels. It was really easy for me to put the two main characters in Gaby and Allison’s shoes. I have no idea if they meant for that to happen, but I have seen in a few other reviews that their characters are really similar to the two girls on their youtube channel.
What I liked the most about I Hate Everyone But you was the format it was told in. These two best friends move away from each other and go to different colleges. I love how relatable that is. We have all had friends that we have to physically leave at some point or another, whether it’s for school or for a job etc. So it was really cool to see all the different things that go along with that, and trying to stay in touch and trying to maintain your friendship. I loved all the themes explored in this book. And I really love that it was told in texts and emails. It was very fresh and modern.
What I didn’t love so much were the two main characters. I did like them overall, but there were more than a few times that each of the girls annoyed me. But in a way that just made them feel even more real to me. Real life people will annoy you sometimes. Especially if you are of the mindset that you don’t like or get along with most people. So this book was an interesting perspective for me to read about. It is a fast and fun read that you will be able to breeze through. I really enjoyed I Hate Everyone But You. It felt fresh and interesting.
Ava Helmer <AVA.HELMER@gmail.com>
to Gen
1) Birth. I poop inside my mom’s womb. I obviously don’t remember this. But I do remember all the times my mom talked about it at family events.
2) Kindergarten. I try to sit on the teacher’s lap during naptime. She tells me that is inappropriate. In front of the entire class.
3) Third grade. Becky Olsberg and Laura Jenner invite me over for a playdate. We share secrets. I confess that sometimes I eat flowers. They tell everyone that I am secretly a horse trapped in a girl’s body.
4) All of middle school.
5) Jordan F. asks me to come over to his house to ask me about you. (Did I ever tell you this? I knew you hated
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44 / GABY DUNN & ALLISON RASKIN
Jordan F. so I might have kept that as a silent shame until now. Oh, no. What if you DIDN’T hate Jordan F. and I ruined your one shot at true happiness as well as any chance of you staying in California for college? He goes to Stanford. I love him so much.)
6) Prom. You remember.
7) Day 3 of rushing. When I find out that only 3 of 10 houses want me back. EVEN THOUGH THE AVERAGE IS 7! Only getting asked back to 3 houses in the second round is unheard of. I’m mortified.
a. One of those houses, Pi Phi, is like the COOLEST house on campus, so they have obviously just invited me back to be nice. Or as a cruel joke. (Please refer to
#3 above.)
I don’t even want to go back to rush. If I do, I’ll feel like I’m asking for it. (Not sexually; I know women can’t actually do that.)
I want to cry, but stupid Jessica won’t leave the room! A dead person, formerly known as Ava Beth Helmer
P.S. I’m already crying. Just really softly.
-1—
0—
+1—
I HATE EVERYONE BUT YOU / 45
Re: THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)
Gen Goldman <GENX1999@gmail.com>
to Ava
Are you kidding me???? I could have been married to Jordan F. by now?
My last name could have been Facker?
I’m never speaking to you again after this utter betrayal.
Re: THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)
Gen Goldman <GENX1999@gmail.com>
to Ava
JK JK. You told me about that Jordan F. thing immediately after it happened. You cried on the way home and I bought you fro-yo. Honestly, I’m the most hurt you don’t remember the fro-yo. I asked for whipped cream and everything.
Take a deep breath and remember: college students are idiots. You wouldn’t trust these girls to make you a coffee, why would you trust their character assessment?
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46 / GABY DUNN & ALLISON RASKIN
Also, you got asked back to 3 houses! And 1 is cool?! Which is a shock to me because I assumed all sororities are inherently UNCOOL!
Maybe this Pie Phi house is the coolest because they have the smartest girls, and those smart girls are about to see how insanely awesome you are. Ever thought of that? Harry Potter was rejected 8 times
before Bloomsbury published one of the greatest gifts to Muggle kind.
Never give up. Never surrender.
(Unless you realize sororities are lame and YOU don’t want to be a part of THEM.)
Gen
P.S. Now I really want fro-yo.
CREDIT: From I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin. Copyright © 2017 by the authors and reprinted by permission of Wednesday Books.
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About Allison Raskin
Allison Raskin & Gaby Dunn are two best friends who live in Los Angeles. They started the comedy YouTube channel Just Between Us in 2014 and have since then spent far too much time together. Gaby’s journalism has appeared in pretty much every major publication and Allison has written some really funny group texts with her family. They hope to die within one hour of each other so neither has to plan a funeral. I Hate Everyone But You is their debut novel.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Jenea's Book Obsession
It sounds good, but maybe not a read that I would pick up. But I do think my daughter would like it a lot. 🙂
Sam@WLABB
I have a copy of this and was really looking forward to it because I love a good epistolary book.
Fatina Mudz
This sounds interesting and your review has made want to know more about the whole book. *adding it in my TBR list*
Fatina Mudz | http://www.theinfinitywords.blogspot.com
Pure Natural Cream
Very interesting points you have mentioned, regards for putting up.