Sunday, March 1, 2020

What the Other Three Don't Know by Spencer Hyde {Review}

What the Other Three Don't Know by Spencer Hyde
Hardcover, 224 pages
Publication: March 3rd 2020 by Shadow Mountain 
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
 
 https://amzn.to/2TazUgq    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49733640-what-the-other-three-don-t-know
 
Will I still be loved if I show people who I really am?  

Four high school seniors. Four secrets about to be told.

If Indie had it her way, she would never choose to river raft with three other high school seniors, mostly strangers to each other, from her journalism class.

A loner, a jock, an outsider, an Instagram influencer. At first they can’t see anything that they have in common. As the trip unfolds, the unpredictable river forces them to rely on each other. Social masks start to fall as, one-by-one, each teen reveals a deep secret the other three don’t know.

One is harboring immense grief and unwilling to forgive after the death of a loved one. One is dealing with a new disability and an uncertain future. One is fearful of the repercussions of coming out. One is hiding behind a carefully curated “perfect” image on Instagram.

Before they get to the end of Hells Canyon, they’ll know the truth about each other and, more importantly, learn something new about themselves.

What the Other Three Don’t Know is a poignant and gripping YA novel about the unlikely friends who accept you for who you really are and the power of self-acceptance.
 
My Review: 3.5 Stars
 
Every single one of us has problems. Try and find someone who doesn't. In Spencer Hyde's new book, a group of teens are lumped together on an outdoor adventure to bond before school starts, and every single one of them has a hidden secret or issue. Even as an adult, it can be hard to let people see me as I really am--flaws and all. As stereotypes and judgements fall away, true friendships are formed and solidified in unimaginable ways.
 
The first part of this book was a little slow for me, much like the lazy swirls of a river, as the reader settles in and gets to know each character. I couldn't figure out who to like and who not to, as there was a lot of jostling going on. The story then hits a few bumpy rapids, as the group of unlikely teens tries to figure out how to meld. And we're finally treated to the climax of the river run, with it's tumultuous "rapids" that completely sucked me in. I couldn't help but to ponder on a few deep thoughts that were embedded in that last portion and completely loved the messages written on those pages. Forgiveness, acceptance, and love are key points to success in life and it was humbly to watch this rag-tag group of kids figure things out in relation to life and each other.
 
Content: mild+ violence/moments of peril; mild language

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