Blog Tour: I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Dear Best Friend,

I can already tell that I will hate everyone but you.
Sincerely,
Ava Helmer
(that brunette who won’t leave you alone)

We're still in the same room, you weirdo.
Stop crying.
G

So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two best friends will document every moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance?

I Hate Everyone But You, the debut novel by two emerging major talents in YA, Allison Raskin and Gaby Dunn, is a story about new beginnings, love and heartbreak, and ultimately about the power of friendship.

BUY LINKS

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | Indie Bound | Powells

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. No payments made between me and the publisher.

First of all, thank you for making me part of this blog tour, it's been fun reading I Hate Everyone But You. I haven't read anything like this before, I mean the format of it is new to me, I was actually waiting for the normal format of the book but I can't find any. LOL. Aside from that, I am curious with what will happen to the characters since they're best friends and they're living apart. Will they survive? Will they change? Who knows right? Also, to tell you honestly, the cover of that book is really cute! Simple yet pretty.

Being in a long distance relationship neither friendship nor lover is very challenging, it takes all the courage and patience to speak to a specific person. It takes time to wait for their reply and sometimes you'll panic when they're not messaging back. It takes some bravery too since you're willing to sacrifice things for them just like Ava and Gen, they are best friends. They live apart because of college. Both are trying to cope up with the new environment, new people and new friends. Both of them wants to experience the real college life and they just share those experiences via email or text messages. 

Other things that I love about this book is that, the story is simple and sometimes it feels like you're reading your own email exchange to someone else. The story is straight forward and the conversation exchange are enjoyable to read. You'll get the typical best friend stories, the secrets that only them can decipher. And you'll get the best friend kind of advice which I think is adorable. These two (Ava and Gen) really caught my attention. They're both lovely and they truly care for each other despite their distance. At this moment, I could say long distance is possible. 

Ratings

EXCERPT

THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)

Ava Helmer <AVA.HELMER@gmail.com>

to Gen

1)   Birth. I poop inside my mom’s womb. I obviously don’t remember this. But I do remember all the times my mom talked about it at family events.

2)   Kindergarten. I try to sit on the teacher’s lap during naptime. She tells me that is inappropriate. In front of the entire class.

3)   Third grade. Becky Olsberg and Laura Jenner invite me over for a playdate. We share secrets. I confess that sometimes I eat flowers. They tell everyone that I am secretly a horse trapped in a girl’s body.

4)   All of middle school.

5)   Jordan F. asks me to come over to his house to ask me about you. (Did I ever tell you this? I knew you hated.

Jordan F. so I might have kept that as a silent shame until now. Oh, no. What if you DIDN’T hate Jordan F. and I ruined your one shot at true happiness as well as any chance of you staying in California for college? He goes to Stanford. I love him so much.)

1)   Prom. You remember.

2)   Day 3 of rushing. When I find out that only 3 of 10 houses want me back. EVEN THOUGH THE AVERAGE IS 7! Only getting asked back to 3 houses in the second round is unheard of. I’m mortified.

a. One of those houses, Pi Phi, is like the COOLEST house on campus, so they have obviously just invited me back to be nice. Or as a cruel joke. (Please refer to

#3 above.)

I don’t even want to go back to rush. If I do, I’ll feel like I’m asking for it. (Not sexually; I know women can’t actually do that.)

I want to cry, but stupid Jessica won’t leave the room! A dead person, formerly known as Ava Beth Helmer

P.S. I’m already crying. Just really softly.

 

Re: THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)

Gen Goldman <GENX1999@gmail.com>

to Ava

Are you kidding me???? I could have been married to Jordan F. by now?

My last name could have been Facker?

I’m never speaking to you again after this utter betrayal.

Re: THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)

Gen Goldman <GENX1999@gmail.com>

to Ava

JK JK. You told me about that Jordan F. thing immediately after it happened. You cried on the way home and I bought you fro-yo. Honestly, I’m the most hurt you don’t remember the fro-yo. I asked for whipped cream and everything.

Take a deep breath and remember: college students are idiots. You wouldn’t trust these girls to make you a coffee, why would you trust their character assessment?

Also, you got asked back to 3 houses! And 1 is cool?! Which is a shock to me because I assumed all sororities are inherently UNCOOL!

Maybe this Pie Phi house is the coolest because they have the smartest girls, and those smart girls are about to see how insanely awesome you are. Ever thought of that? Harry Potter was rejected 8 timesbefore Bloomsbury published one of the greatest gifts to Muggle kind.

Never give up. Never surrender.

(Unless you realize sororities are lame and YOU don’t want to be a part of THEM.)

Gen

P.S. Now I really want fro-yo.

Allison Raskin & Gaby Dunn are two best friends who live in Los Angeles. They started the comedy YouTube channel Just Between Us in 2014 and have since then spent far too much time together. Gaby’s journalism has appeared in pretty much every major publication and Allison has written some really funny group texts with her family. They hope to die within one hour of each other so neither has to plan a funeral. I Hate Everyone But You is their debut novel.