The Opposite of Invisible

Alice and Jewel are the same person. Best friends since they can remember, they are both outsider artists; everyone thinks Jewel is gay because Alice is the only person he ever talks to, and Alice just doesn’t talk at all to anyone else. They both like the same quirky, gory, and eccentric stuff that can be found in Seattle. They are never apart, and yet no one else sees them. They are invisible.

However, as a high school sophomore, Alice is beginning to want something more. She has a major crush on Simon Murphy, a popular and gorgeous football player who is clearly out of her league. So Alice can hardly believe it when Simon starts talking to her. Pretty soon they are apparently an item—the oddest, most incomprehensible item the show more school has ever seen, perhaps. There’s no pretense about Simon when he’s around her, though. He is a genuinely good and sincere guy who understands his popular crowd is not all that great sometimes and envies the artsy crowd—Alice included—for being able to be themselves.

But her budding relationship with Simon puts a strain on Alice and Jewel’s friendship, which was so close they were practically a couple. A week ago Alice had no prospects; suddenly she was stuck choosing between two. Either she begins a new life with the guy of her dreams and explore a new social life, or she remains with Jewel and continues to be invisible to the rest of the world.

Which one will Alice choose? Or can she have both?

I absolutely loved this book because all the characters are so real. There are no annoying stereotypes because it seems like every character defies them. There are no easy answers because, well, that’s life, and Liz Gallagher portrays it so very sweetly. This is a short and quick read, but it will linger with you. show less

It’s about a girl who is quiet and has one friend (who is a guy) and he likes her but she starts going out with a popular guy. The part where Alice was talking to Jewel and he said something about still liking her (this is after he broke up with Venessa) and Alice knew she had to break up with Simon. I was not disapointed because in the end Alice and Jewel became friends again. I loved the way the author made you always wondering what Alice was going to do next. AHS/EK

It’s so simple and real, but just the combination of words the author uses is so amazing. I liked that I could connect with the main character – she was caught in the middle and what she decided would affect everything. Short, sweet, and to the point, but it wasn’t show more abrupt. I’m glad this wasn’t a wishy-washy story about some preppy, popular girl and her jock/jerk boyfriend who breaks up with her and then she falls for a totally different guy. It wasn’t like that at all. The characters were different and I could really get into the main character’s head. AHS/EK

It is a light read, not too serious, but just deep enough to be worthwhile. The characters have a depth that makes them charmingly realistic. I had no previous expectations. AHS/JN show less

Alice has been best friends with Jewel for as long as she remembers. Jewel is her only friend. Alice doesn’t think there is anything special about herself. She doesn’t wear much make-up if any, likes to wear her hair in a pony tail and prefers jeans and a T-shirt. Even though she loves art and being creative, she doesn’t think she posses the abilities to be a good artist, like Jewel is. So Alice easily blends into the background of her school population, which makes her feel invisible.Alice talks to Jewel about everything, but she can’t find the courage to tell him about her crush on, popular and cute, Simon Murphy. At least she has her Dove Girl to confide in.To her surprise, Simon waves goodbye to her at school, and then he show more happens to be at the same concert. And he comes over to talk to her instead of standing with his friends! Things are starting to look up. Suddenly Alice doesn’t feel so invisible. Everything changes when Simon kisses her, because it just so happens that Jewels feelings may be more than just friendship, because he also happens to kiss her . Alice likes that she doesn’t feel invisible when she is with Simon, but she is worried that she will have to sacrifice her friendship with Jewel to stay that way. I loved The Opposite of Invisible, because I remember feeling the same way! I mean not necessarily the whole guy thing, but the invisible thing, yes! Alice’s character seemed so real to me, like she could be someone that I know. She struggles with things that any teenager would, like love, friendship, and self discovery. The message in this novel is that sometimes you just need to be yourself, even though you might not have it figured out who you really are yet.The Opposite of Invisible is a debut novel for author Liz Gallagher and I truly hope that it will not be her last. I encourage you to pick up your own copy. show less

Alice considers herself to be invisible at her high school. She's not one of the cool kids, she's not freaky enough to really be part of the art crowd... Her only friend is Jewel, a boy she's known since she was in preschool. Alice wants to get out of her little cocoon and see what the world has to offer. When football hunk Simon Murphy kisses her, Alice finds herself having to choose between her crush and her best friend.

I've never been to Seattle, but Liz Gallagher makes me feel as if I had. Her descriptions are so vivid that I felt like I was walking down the street with Alice and watching her create her art.

This book is a wonderful look at the life of Alice, a high school student living in Seattle. The author painted such vivid pictures of the city that I felt like I was walking along side Alice and her best friend Jewel (short for Julian) throughout the entire book. Alice is a believable teenager who is confused by hormones and the actions of her crush (Simon) and her best friend (Jewel). I loved how the author used dialogue. The teens in this book talk to each other like real teens do. I think high schoolers will identify with the Alice and her troubles. I would recommend this book to students looking for books on first relationships or dating.

Although not my particular interest to read, the story is enjoyably written. It's the struggle a teenage girl goes through deciding between her long-time boy best-friend and the intellectual football player who's smitten with her. The story kind of speeds through the timeline to me. There's a few suggestive items of discussion but it's dealt with in a pretty mature way. This one goes in the chick lit section :)

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Alice and Jewel (Julian). That's how it's always been. A seemingly invisible pair of sophomores at their high school. They've been friends for forever and are never without the other.

Until the day Simon Murphy acknowledges Alice.

Jewel jumps all over Alice, asking what it was about, but it wasn't anything, really. Was it? Then Alice and Jewel go to a concert and Simon comes over to Alice while Jewel is in the restroom, and stays with the two of them throughout the show. Simon went so far as to ditch his friends to be with Alice. Nothing happens, and it leaves Alice more confused than before.

Alice has wanted a boyfriend for ages, but she doesn't want to lose Jewel in the process. When things with show more Simon actually start working out, the distance between Alice and Jewel grows. After a confession from Jewel about his true feelings for her, the chasm seems insurmountable. Alice is finally coming out of her shell and making friends beyond Jewel, but losing her best friend leaves a void inside.

Alice has to struggle to figure out who she is and what she really wants. Is having a great guy like Simon as a boyfriend what it's all about? Or is having a best friend that knows every little thing about you more important?

All young adults have to struggle with an identity issue as they go through their teen years. Alice realizes that she needs more than just Jewel in her life, but soon learns that a best friend is next to impossible to replace.

Ms. Gallagher writes an honest book about the internal struggles of an insecure girl. We all have that same insecurity inside of us and can understand what Alice has to figure out on her own. Definitely a book that everyone can relate to from some point in their lives. show less