"What To Say Next" June 2018 Book Club Pick Discussion!

Hi everyone! In June, we started a BookChats book club! For our first pick, we read What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum, the author of Tell Me Three Things, a novel we both adored! We didn’t want to write two separate reviews and be redundant, so we decided that this conversation-type format would be an interesting way for us to share our thoughts with you! This conversation will have spoilers! So make sure if you are interested in the book, read it first, and then check in on our thoughts!

Ellie: I had high hopes for this novel, as I really loved Tell Me Three Things. However, there were some things about this story that I did not enjoy. Kit as a character was someone that I truly did not like, and her whole storyline was based on her lying, not only to herself, but to David. This plot line really aggravated me, as David was only trying to help Kit, and was looking out for her when she couldn’t look out for herself, and all she was doing was lying to him. So, that being said, I didn’t love Kit. And when I don’t love a main character, it makes it really hard for me to love a story. What saved this novel for me, though, was David and his family. David’s character was so well developed, and the familial support that surrounded him was so beautifully done and I always fall for a good family plot line.

Annalise: Tell Me Three Things was one my favorite novels that I read last year, and was hoping that there was going to be a lot to enjoy in this novel as well. While there was, it did fall a little short for me! It was entirely character driven, and after about 25% of the book, the car crash plot line really fell into the background. It seemed more like a plot device to me, instead of an actual plot point. While it did come back to the front at the end of the novel, the whole middle was mostly deprived of its main plot and that didn’t really work for me. The characters, however, were really interesting. I liked David, and his family was a great addition to the novel. They provided contrast to both David and Kit, as well as Kit’s family. Kit I didn’t love. I think that she was a good juxtaposition to David, but I didn't like her nearly as much.

E: So, let’s chat! What was your favorite moment from the story?

A: I think my favorite part was actually the ending. I like how it was handled; that Kit didn’t immediately forgive David for being inadvertently unkind. I thought that it was a very real response to the events that preceded it. I was glad it didn’t wrap up quickly, and wasn’t something that was immediately forgotten. My favorite moment however was whenever David interacted with his sister. There was something very true-to-reality about it. They felt like dynamic siblings, not just like Buxbaum threw the sister in their for more dialogue.

E: I totally agree! I did love how real the ending was, as most normal people do stay angry and cautious for a time after a fight. So, total props for realness! And I also totally agree with loving David and his sister! They supported each other and teased each other, and I love that dynamic! Next, let’s talk least favorite moments. Mine was when David got a haircut and some new pants and then everyone became obsessed with him. That’s such a trope and never happens in real life and it bothers me so much!

A: Yes! I totally agree with that. It was such an ugly-girl-takes-off-glasses-and-suddenly-is-beautiful moment/trope, and I totally could’ve done without it. I think another least favorite moment was the scene in the diner. It was penultimate in the plot, and it was, in a way, the climax to this entire mystery. It also lead to the classic YA plot moment where everything seems to go to pot in a pretty epic and unrealistic way. While I appreciated the emotional impact of it all, the way that Kit responded to David’s accidental excitement and exposure of her secret was very aggressive, and I felt that maybe things were blown out of proportion - but then again, maybe not. As I said, I liked that the conflict wasn’t immediately resolved, but the way the conflict arose wasn’t my favorite.

E: I definitely agree! Kit was overly angry at David, and I think that she forgot all of what she knew about interacting with David. She spends the whole novel getting to know him, so she would’ve anticipated his reaction and how loud it was.

A: Buxbaum, as we saw in Tell Me Three Things, has a proclivity for twist endings. What was your immediate reaction to finding out that Kit was actually the one driving during the car crash that killed her father?

E: UM, it threw me for a loop! I knew something was up, because of how secretive she was, but I didn’t think that that was the twist! It was definitely shocking, so I give Buxbaum credit for that turn.

A: Me too, although, I think that she could’ve added more impact. I remember thinking, “wow, I did not expect that”, but the effect didn’t really last on me.

E: I agree, it felt like it had no implications other than that conversation where we find out. It’s a truth bomb that leaves no crater, if that makes any sense.

A: Yes exactly. In fact, I don’t think that it would’ve made a difference in the story whether she had been the one driving or not. I think that either there should’ve been more of a consequence or less of a deal made out of it at the end.

E: Absolutely!

A: What did you think about Kit and David’s relationship? They were really friends for the majority of the story, with some romantic bits mixed in, but at the end of the story, they are left on a pretense of maybe in the future. I felt that there was mixed emotions in the ending, like the author didn’t really want to wrap the story up, and I think the way that the relationship ultimately turned out was a result of Buxbaum parting with the story. How did you feel about it?

E: I definitely knew that the relationship aspect was coming, but I didn’t love the idea of it. I think Kit and David were best off as friends, so this was one relationship I didn’t enjoy. However; I do agree that it felt like Buxbaum didn’t want to wrap up the ending! We were left wondering whether or not they were together, and I truly dislike when books end like that. It feels a little like a cop out, where Buxbaum didn’t want to rush them back together into a relationship after the fight, but didn’t want to definitely say that they were not going to be together.

A: I agree that maybe they were better off as friends. I felt that she was straddling the line between platonic and romantic so much during the story, that while the romantic parts were cute, and getting to see David swell into the role of ‘boyfriend’ was sweet, I think that Kit and David were perfectly suited to stay just friends.

E: I definitely think that way, too. David was an adorable character to watch grow, but I’d have loved for him to grow into being his own confident self with Kit as just a friend. (Honestly, I just didn’t love Kit!)

A: Yes, in many ways their lives during this story were super codependent, which didn’t really seem particularly healthy for either of them. While their are YA stories that have problematic and unhealthy relationships a zillion times more apparent than Kit and David’s, I think it is important to recognize that they were always on the up and up, both as people who were just really learning to deal with their own complicated lives, and a boy and a girl who happen to find some solace in one another, but aren’t ready to be growing while intertwined with another individual. Also, Kit wasn’t my favorite character either. A) She was an unreliable narrator, and B) she was a bit stuck in her own head and was self-centered.

E: Yes! They were very codependent and I wish they had more independent growth. And yes, those are exactly the reasons as to why I didn’t love Kit!

A: Overall, I gave this book a 3.5/5 stars. While it wasn’t my favorite read, I thought that the idea was good, the writing was well executed, and the characters that I loved, I really loved. I will definitely be picking up more of Buxbaum’s books in the future, she has a talent for storytelling.

E: I gave this book a 3.5 stars as well! I also loved my favorite characters, and the dual perspective idea is one that I have started to love! Buxbaum is such a talented author, and, even though this story was not one of my favorites, I still love her writing!

Thanks for joining us for our first ever BookChats Book Club discussion!