Review: Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

Review:

Sarah Mlynowski has made my favorite authors list with just one book! Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) was a delightfully fresh and entertaining summer read. I went to her launch party and knew from the minute she began reading from the book that I was going to love it- and it’s true. I adored this book! With likable characters, realistic (and unrealistic) situations, and a highly original and fun premise Ten Things was a winner!

April was a character I liked from the start. She was an ordinary teenager that found herself in a tough situation. She was going to have to move over the winter break of her junior year. Leaving behind her boyfriend, best friends, and the home she’s always known. Luckily, she cooks up a plan with her good friend Vi. Vi’s mother is on the road starring in Traveling Mary Poppins and Vi (a senior) is living all alone. Of course April’s father would never let her live alone with Vi. Vi pretends to be her mother on the phone and soon April is packing her bags ready to move in with Vi for the rest of the school year. April’s father and stepmother move to another state, comfortable with the fact that April will be staying with Vi and her mother for the rest of the year. From there, hilarity, adventure, and, of course, ten things they did and probably shouldn’t have, ensues.

I loved how each chapter started with one of the ten things they did (and probably shouldn’t have). Everything that happened to Vi and April was crazy- from harboring a fugitive to buying a hot tub. They had some wild experiences and learned a lot about what it meant to live on your own. Each of the girls had some difficult experiences, but, all in all, they had an exciting and fun time living together.

Each of the characters was interesting and developed. From April’s father to next-door-Lucy. From Hudson to Donut. I loved all of them and seeing what role they played in April and Vi’s life. Vi was of course a great character. She was very different from April, but their friendship just worked. They were a good team and although they had to make some difficult decisions, Vi and April handled things well and, luckily, they had some great friends on their side from the get-go.

The plot moved at a rapid pace and there was never a slow moment. While some things were a little ridiculous or far-fetched, it only made the story that much better. I was frequently laughing out loud or grimacing or even near tears at times. Some mature issues were dealt with in Ten Things and I think Mlynowski handled them very well. Sex, drinking, and STDs were all mentioned in this novel.

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) has been on my radar for a long time and I’m so glad I finally had the chance to read it. Sarah Mlynowski has a winner on her hands and I can’t wait to share this with all my friends.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

June 7, 2011/HarperTeen/368 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Purchased

Other books by this author: Gimme a Call