Take Me There

“Because if you take a risk, you just might find what you're looking for.”

This had a rocky beginning. Told from 3 different perspectives, it starts with Rhiannon. She is overly dramatic, annoying and sulking. Her boyfriend has broken up with her and she cannot understand why. Luckily, from there, you get a few more chapters and then it quickly switches to Nichole, her best friend. Through her POV, we see a few of the days from her perspective but we also see parts of the day where Nichole saw their classmates and friends in different situations and shares different secrets and knowledge. Finally, we get the POV of James, the other best friend. We see how complex all three of their lives are as they only function from their own POV, show more they see little of the drama and small things affecting each other's night and their families. It would be eye opening, I think, for a teen, but the story does feel dated. No one is texting or accessing any social media. Meh. it was okay but I'm not sure if it has aged well. show less

While Take Me There is written in the same honest tone Colasanti's readers have gotten so used to, there's just something a bit off about the whole thing. Other than Nicole's issue, which isn't revealed until the very end, it's all about the relationships. I don't want to read only about boy trouble! The characters were well-characterized, but they still didn't seem like well-rounded individuals with big concerns, again, with the exception of Nicole at the end of the book. Maybe if Nicole's problem had been the focus from the start, and it had begun with the confession, maybe that would have made a better book. Complaints aside, I am still head-over-heels in love with Colasanti's writing. I love how she can mention casual details (ex: show more Rhiannon & Nicole having a big fight last year) without massive elaboration, but adding so much to the characterization. Yes, they did have lives before the book, and they will have lives afterward, and this is just one moment, one tiny glimpse into their world, but not the whole story. I love that. Colasanti knows she has smart readers who can create their own characters, so she mentions these little things, not quite details, because they are important tidbits and not just extra nonsense, and she leaves it up to the reader to figure out the details. I'm a bit torn on the multiple points of view. Nicole's story did not really work with the other two until the very end, and I was disappointed by that. Her story bored me; it was underdeveloped and disconnected. On the other hand, I really liked reading James' parts, and Colasanti's take on a boy's thoughts was pretty interesting. The ending was fantastic, I just wish it had happened sooner. Not Colasanti's best work, but I'll take it regardless.

Rating: 4/5 show less

Originally Posted on Strawberry Splash Book Reviews

Rhiannon's boyfriend just broke up with her and she isn't quite sure why. All she knows is that she wants him back. Nicole just broke up with her boyfriend who is still in love with her. James' girlfriend just broke up with him because of Rhiannon. Taking place over an event filled week, the story is told from each of their perspectives.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I really liked her writing style. Trying to write like a teenager would talk is rarely a good idea but she did a really good job with it. I also really liked the three different perspectives of the same story. It was an interesting read.

The characters in this book were very relatable. I liked James' show more perspective the best seeing as I could relate to him more than I could to Nicole and Rhiannon. Nicole actually bothered me until I read her section but she grew on me.

The one thing that really bothered me in this book was the ending. It just seemed to end so suddenly. I think the story should have gone a little farther than it did. Other than that, I thought it was a really good book and I definitely recommend it. show less

This was probably my least favorite Susane Colasanti book I've read. I started reading it and couldn't get past the first few chapters, more than once. So finally, I sat down with it said I was going to finish it, just cause I wanted something to read. I'm glad I did.

When you're reading it it's like someone is actually saying the words. This is something that Colasanti excels at...talking like a teenager. :)

Basically it follows around three teenagers in a week's time, their stories overlap. The events of the week are told to us through these three teen's perspectives. It is neat how all the stories overlap, but they aren't really repetitive. Colasanti can write the same scene, yet make it feel new as well as giving new insight into what show more transpired.

The overall story is about Rhiannon, Nicole, and James.

Rhiannon's best friend is James, her best girl friend is Nicole, and her boyfriend, Steve, just broke up with her. So, she is dealing with the break-up throughout the book.

Nicole just broke up with Danny for no apparent reason. So, she is dealing with that, plus an obsession she has with a certain someone.

James is just dealing with his life in general and trying to be there for Rhiannon. He is also good friends with Danny.

It's really hard to say anything more without giving anything away, but like I said, the different perspectives overlap and come together nicely. The writing is fun to read, and once you get into the book...you'll want to finish it! :) show less

Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com

Rhiannon has just been dumped without a reason. She's miserable beyond belief. Nicole has just dumped her boyfriend with a reason. She's confused beyond belief. And James...James would do nearly anything to get Rhiannon to stop mooning over her ex and finally notice him as more than her buddy.

Over the course of a week, many things will happen to these three friends. There will be confessed secrets, messages on sidewalks, delivered flowers, a ton of photocopied notes, one awesome speech, and lots and lots of karma.

But in the end, will they discover what they truly want?

This realistically honest book told in three different points of view will blow you away. Ms. Colasanti has such a show more real talent for capturing the personality of teenagers, it's like she is one herself. Her plot is unique and her attention to delivery is grabbing.

Insightful, humorous, moving, and never dull, Colasanti's characters will feel like they're your best friends by the time you have finished this delightful novel. show less

This book is written from the perspective of three high school teens living in New York City. The story is told three times through each persons eyes. It tells of many high school relationships, broken romance, true love, taking chances, a guy falling for his female best friend, forbidden love for a teacher, how physical abuse can change a person, and the cruelty of sexual abuse. The drama is real and the heart warming way the story is told totally sucked me in from the beginning. The real victory was in the Karmic balance of the resident "mean" girl we all knew in school. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who believes love conquers all.(Michele, Fall 2009)

Rhiannon, Nicole, and James are three friends in New York City – three friends with problems. Rhiannon is having trouble getting over her recent breakup with her boyfriend Steve, and she’s desperate to get him back. Nicole is also getting over a breakup, but she was the one who instigated this one. The reason for this lies rooted in Nicole’s past and a secret she’s not ready to reveal. James’ love life is pretty bland. He’s got a hot girlfriend, but that girlfriend is insanely jealous of James’ close friendship with Rhiannon and thus dumps him. It takes a little prompting from an elderly neighbor for James to realize who he’s truly in love with. Together, these friends will battle mean girls, old demons, and find who show more they really love.

I loved Susane Colasanti’s writing style of alternate narrators in her first novel When It Happens, but in this one, I felt it was a little two much with the three narrators. It got a little confusing with three points of view of the same event occurring, especially because it was about 50 pages later. Another issue I had was that there was just a little too much going on in the novel. There were the boyfriend/girlfriend problems, the family problems, and the secrets. It was a little too much for me. However, even though there were a couple aspects of the novel I disliked, I loved the rest of it. The characterization of each friend is excellent, and I really felt I got to know Rhiannon, Nicole, and James. They each have a unique story, all of which I loved. Susane Colasanti has a way of weaving each of their stories together to create this fantastic novel.

Although I liked When It Happens better, I still loved Take Me There. Anyone who wants to read about perfect true love should definitely read Susane Colasanti’s novels and also look out for her upcoming novel, Waiting For You.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com show less