Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Flux
Series: Standalone
Genre: Teens & Young Adult, Literary Fiction, LGBTQ+
No. of Pages: 320 pages
Format: Kindle
Rating: ★★★☆☆
BUY: Book Depository / Amazon
Seventeen-year-old internet video star Fit is on a mission to become famous at all costs. She shares her life with her fans through countless videos (always sporting some elaborate tinfoil accessory), and they love her for it. If she goes viral, maybe she can get out of her small casino town and the cramped apartment she shares with her brother and grandpa. But there’s one thing Fit’s fans don’t know about her: when Fit was three-years-old, her mother, suffering from postpartum psychosis, tried to kill her.
Now Fit’s mother, River, has been released from prison. Fit is outraged that River is moving in with the family, and it’s not long before Fit’s video followers realize something’s up and uncover her tragic past. But Fit soon realizes that the only thing her audience loves more than tragedy is a heartwarming tale of a family reunion. Is faking a relationship with River the key to all Fit’s dreams coming true?
What I like:
First things first. The book cover of this novel is so appealing for me. It’s simple and yet attractive in its own way. The plot is interesting and the writing style is good and easy to understand. My first impression of this book is that it will give me a feeling of “light reading” and I’m wrong because it’s the opposite. It is heavy and thrilling for me.
I’ve had a hate-hate relationship with the main character, Fit/Jessica. I consider this one of the things that I like about this book because it gives me that mixed “intense” feelings towards the overall plot. It has riled my emotion to the point where I need to stop reading it for a while. Well, I must say, this type of emotion is what I like to get from the book I am reading. I want it to give me a roller-coaster ride of emotions and this book totally delivers!
Moreover, I definitely love seeing River’s point of view although it wasn’t enough. I am glad to see her efforts to win her daughter back and sometimes I just want to hug her and Fit while reading this book. On the other hand, I don’t have a problem with Dubs, sweet Frankie, and Fit’s friends. They all seem pretty normal for me except for the gambling and usage of drugs.
Lastly, I like how Erin Jones manifests the amazing, scary, and cruel side of social media.
“But the internet had changed her, betrayed her.”
Well, not in general, but it gives us a glimpse of what really is happening behind the scenes and that these famous people on the internet are also human and have their own troubles and issues. This book also shows that there is no perfect mother. They make mistakes too.
What I did not like:
I don’t like the usage of tantrums in this book. Fit is already a teenager and no longer a 4-year old child to throw tantrums every time there is a mention of her mom, River. It is so frustrating. I know and I understand where her pain is coming from but to address it as a ‘tantrum’ feels wrong for me. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but it feels really wrong for me. An example of the said tantrum is the following:
“A religious man, Dubs used to drag them to church every week, but when Fit got to high school she refused to go, throwing a tantrum at the mere mention of prayer.”
And another,
“River’s wink may have thrown Fit into a tantrum.
I also did not like the part where all the people around Fit, her family and friends, acted like the tragedy which happened years ago is something that should be taken lightly and forgotten already. I feel bad for Fit.
Furthermore, as interesting as the plot is, I don’t find it exemplified well. There are parts in the book where I am left hanging and questioning certain circumstances. For the characters, River’s point of view isn’t enough for me to complete the overall ‘feel’ of the book. It feels like there is a missing piece that I cannot point out. On the other hand, I don’t think River is the only person here that needs medical help.
Lastly, I did not like or even expect that kind of ending because, to be honest, I did hope for more reconciliation between Fit and River.
Overall:
I’m torn if I should rate it 3 stars or 4 stars because this book is not for ‘light reading’. It also did not reach my policy for a 4-star rating. So to sum it up, I just rated it in between 3 and 4. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book.
Recommend or not?
Yes. I can recommend it if you are into some heavy YA.
Thank you for reading! Have you read Tinfoil Crowns? What are your thoughts about it? Let me know in the comments below. 🙂
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Moreover, I received an e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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