Liz

For the most part I really enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting, the characters were well developed and relatable, and it kept just enough mystery throughout to keep you wondering.

My biggest issue with the book was the inclusion of the plot with the elderly neighbor. It just felt really unnecessary. It didn't add anything extra to the story except to be an extra depressing plot line. I'm not opposed to sad stories but in this case it just wasn't needed and I felt the book would have been a more enjoyable and satisfying read without it.

A little slow, very predictable but wasn't a terrible read.

I read this book in one day. I loved the dual perspective. I loved that the author chose to include both the perspective of the character who committed suicide and the perspective of someone who cared for her.

I know there is some criticism that Hannah's reasons behind committing suicide were too petty. And I agree to a point. Most of what happens in the book is not far outside of the high school norm. There's not one big, traumatic event but there doesn't have to be. Depression makes you see the world differently. One set of events can affect people so differently that I have to disagree with the criticism that Hannah's motivations are too petty or that they just characterize her as a hysterical woman. So although the 13 reasons why aren't what you would probably guess are motivations for suicide doesn't mean they couldn't be.

So many of my friends love Picoult so despite the fact that I've never loved one of her books, I keep picking them up to see if the next one will make me like her as much as others do. This is probably the best of hers that I've read. It was interesting, there were likable enough characters, but the story was a bit predicable and began to drag on after a bit.

This book was okay. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I enjoyed it a lot in the beginning but after her arrest I felt like it became repetitive and much less reflective. I often found myself wishing she would just get to the point. I think had she waited to write this book, given herself more time to gain perspective, and waited until her legal issues were 100% over then it would've been more intriguing.