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I just had this book recommended to me by a new acquaintance--I hate to say it but it might be an informal indicator of friendship potential. I need to keep an open mind though. Thanks for the response!

I hated it too, but I torn between giving it 1 or 2 stars, because I did want to see what happened at the end. It was cheesier than I imagined.

I hated it too.

Felt the need to comment...The author manages to capture the reader in both this book and My Sister's Keeper. She lays out some great ethical/moral question then takes a complete cop out (death, car accident, etc) and never gives you an answer. I can't stand it!!! When I find this in other books (The Shack) I call it the 'Jodi Piccoult moment'. I WILL NOT read another book by her.

I agree! Jodi Picolt is my favorite author but i was very disappointed with "The Pact" Everyone was saying it was sooo good.. but when I read it I was like this is terrible.. I didn't feel bad for the characters at all. I wouldn't recommend reading it.

i completly agree about The Pact. i hated this book with a passion. it seemed as if every other sentance was designed to make me mad at Emily. the whole suicide thing with Emily was completly unrealistic. if she had so many people around her that loved her they should've seen what was going on and helped her. even after i found out why Emily commited suicide i couldn't summon up much more sympathy than a feeling of "oh, that's so sad." overall i hated this book and it was a disapointment. i do however disagree about My Sister's Keeper, i really liked that book and that book was what propelled me into reading The Pact when a friend of mine suggested it.

When it comes to suicide, there are signs that people don't ordinarily see. I could understand how her parents thought that she couldn't be suicidal but my problem with this book is that Chris didn't say anything to anyone about Emily wanting to commit suicide. If he loved her that much, why wouldn't he say anything? Instead, he helps her shoot herself in the head because he feels that by not helping her he was going to hurt her more and the technical question that gets him off is "do you know if it was your finger or her finger who pulled the trigger?" And you mean to tell me that after all of the other evidence that was presented at the trial, the jury believes the sob story of the only witness that was left??? I have to admit, this book really had me going in the beginning and I only kept reading it because I was waiting for the "twist" at the end. I'm like the other comment poster where I was thinking that Emily was a bit exaggerated in her emotions. Truly feeling that there was no other way to deal with her hidden pregnancy and former sexual abuse. It just didn't seen real to me.

Thirza wrote: "When it comes to suicide, there are signs that people don't ordinarily see. I could understand how her parents thought that she couldn't be suicidal but my problem with this book is that Chris didn..."

You all sound so full of hate.
You do not understand Jodi's writing style. Perhaps no one here has any post degree education in literature or medicine.
I suggest some reseach, as you all seem to enjoy reading. You can go to webmd.com, depression for teens and adults, bipolar disorder for teens and adults, suicide for teens and adults, sexual assault or abuse for teens and adults and lastly anxiety disorder for teens and adults. I hope you read this as you have complained and this will answer many of your questions.
Before you use such hash words such as " hate" perhaps you may want to educate yourself on the topics that be as Jodi did while pain stakingly researching and wring all her books, only to have them cut down by uninformed angry people such as you.
We all need different opinions although well informed and knowledgable ones are the best. I hope you agree when writing your next review. Happy Reading! :)

Max wrote: "You all sound so full of hate.
You do not understand Jodi's writing style. Perhaps no one here has any post degree education in literature or medicine.
I suggest some reseach, as you all seem to enjoy reading. You can go to webmd.com, depression for teens and adults, bipolar disorder for teens and adults, suicide for teens and adults, sexual assault or abuse for teens and adults and lastly anxiety disorder for teens and adults. I hope you read this as you have complained and this will answer many of your questions.
Before you use such hash words such as " hate" perhaps you may want to educate yourself on the topics that be as Jodi did while pain stakingly researching and wring all her books, only to have them cut down by uninformed angry people such as you. "

I have to comment now....lol!!

I "hated" this book. NO I do not have a post degree education in literature or medicine. However, I have worked in health care, am educated on these topics, and have had experience with them. I won't claim to know everything there is to know about them but I will say I know a lot more about them than the general public! I still "hate" this book!!
I appreciate that a writer (or at least most) do a great deal of research and put A LOT of work into their books. For that reason, I tend not to make really negative comments.

I did feel the need to reply to your comment though.
I think your comments are offensive! You assume that because someone doesn't like the book they are uneducated and know nothing about the topic in the book? You don't like that people use the word hate, and think it is harsh?
How about a comment like " uninformed angry people such as you." ? That's a little harsh isn't it??

Actually, if you'll study how depression works (particularly in teens) you'll find that it is very plausible that Emily could see no way out. People who are suicidal do not simply need to get over themselves. They genuinely need help getting out of the emotional state they are in. The situation can be difficult for others to read (suicides often come as a surprise to the individuals' loved ones). It is true that Chris actually had knowledge of her intention, but at the end of the day he was a teenager with no prior instruction in suicide prevention. He did the wrong thing by not telling anyone, but I find it very plausible that he might have felt the need to keep her secret. There are probably many teens in the world who have done so.

I hated this book too - I had really hard time going through chapters because the story was ludicrous. So, I started skipping paragraphs, and what do you know! I didn't miss anything by skipping through those mundane boring repetitious thoughts of the characters... I wish I could have given this book a negative star.

You might not hate the book like you actually think. I hate the characters more than anyone could possibly hate anything (if that's possible) but I find the story socially relevant and quite unique - signature Picoult. I agree with all you put in this review of yours though. How can Emily (that's the name of the girl) put a person she "loves" so much in that situation?! I mean, ugh! I'd gladly kill her myself. Haha. The parents were annoying as hell too. The only characters that I liked were Kate and Thomas (and the presiding Judge - to some extent).

I started this book, but was not able to finish it. I found it too sad. I was surprised that I didn't like this book because I have really, really liked several other books by Jodi Picoult. Actually "Change of Heart" is one of my favourite books of all. You might like some other Jodi Picoult books.

Actually, I'm going to comment on this and be very open about it. My boyfriend recently committed suicide and I keep thinking back to this book. It's very plausible, it's what happened. He didn't know how to connect the dots, I think, just like Emily. With a "normal" mind you can't really understand the perspective. I have to imagine suicide through his eyes, Emily's eyes.

Thank you for sharing that. Sorry for your loss, Alicia.
I didn't read the whole book, but from reading about the first half, I do agree with you that it seemed plausible.

You arent the first to hate her books....Ive read 2 and cant stand them...It always sounds like shes trying to cash in on "social problems" of the middle class...with parents looking like fools and kids always looking like the noble heroes who have been "neglected" and must "exonerate themselves"...Gag...give me a break...I think shes a knock off of much better writers of the human drama and spirit like Alice Hoffman and Anita Shreve...I think alot of younger readers dont know about them and are drawn to Picoult because shes newer and younger....Not better IMO.

I also hated this book. I did not connect to any of the characters, and I also felt little sympathy for them despite their apparently difficult lives/situation. I will never read another Jodi Picoult book unless I'm on a 20 hour plane right with NOTHING else to do, but probably not even then. I don't understand the appeal of this author or her stories.

I also hated this book... And I don't really like her books to say the truth... I 've read 4 of them and I only liked the two, and not that much...

To Max:
I have masters degrees in psychology and social work so I have alot of education and even more professional and life experience...Jodi Picoult is a second rate knock off of much better writers like Alice Hoffman, Elizabeth Berg and Geraldine Brooks......Ive read 2 of her books and was totally turned off by her trying too hard and market sensationalism....I guess she markets to a younger crowd who need shock and awe......Shes a wanna be of those greats and tries to copy them by writing about "controversial subjects"....I suggest you read fictions by those writers who pioneered writing controversial subjects way before Picoult....Hoffman tackled AIDS back in the 80s... Please read up before saying people do not have "medical or research experience" when basing our opinions of Picoult..
Some of us have more than you know and base that on our opinion of Picoult.

I'm by no means defending Jodi Picoult as a writer because she is far from my fave but jeez, before you judge the girl so harshly walk a mile in her shoes. You don't know what it's like to be so depressed and suicidal that you're completely irrational. You don't know what it's like to be molested as a child. These things really affect a person.

I completley agree with your review! I read 'Handle with care' before this which is also by Jodi Picoult and to be honest, they were virtually the same book - point of book happpens, massive trial which probably takes up 3/4 of the book, then a bit of a rubbish ending. I really wanted to like this because it did sound interesting. But I just hated it!

I also didn't like this book although I hung in there until the end. I likened reading this book to binging on junk food - I was left feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled by the end of the book.

To Dylann - Actually I do and found this book to be highly unrealistic and really, unbelievable.

I agree that the girlfriend is an uncaring train wreck (albeit understandably) In fact almost none of the characters other than the boyfriend really came off as understandable. The girlfriends mother being an exception, the scene where she tries to turn him into road kill was pretty memorable but all in all the main reason I enjoyed the story at all (besides the writing style which I liked) is the fact that it was willing to go that dark turn. Was it amazingly plotted? no, did the characters really pull you in? no but the concept of a much more realistic Romeo and Juliet, to me, is why Picoult's work is so enjoyable.

I liked the other Jodi Picoult books I'd read. None were stellar, but a decent read. This was awful...and yes - I am a published author, who while academic, knows a good book when she sees one. There was no foreshadowing, no reason (I did not see clinical depression)and I am the mother of 4. I can assure you, no "good" or even "average" parent would not see these signs. This book felt like the perhaps the publisher was pushing her to meet a deadline and this is all she could muster. It's really, really bad.

I agree! Hated this book!!

Metoometoometoo!!!

Agree with Stephanie!

My friend loves Jodi Picoult and she talked me into reading it. I HATE this book with a burning passion. I thought all the characters were completely unlikable, especially Chris. I didn't feel bad for him one bit.

Totally agree, awful book! The flashbacks were pointless and served no purpose!

Thank you for saving me from reading that - I didn't think much of "MySister's Keepr" either but I was going to give Jodi Picolt another try.

Obviously people who don't under suicide or depression shouldn't read it. Get an education. And shut up

^^ Thank you.

I understand suicide. I gave the book 4 stars, but I totally understand your reasons for disliking this book. These people telling you to "get an education" themselves need to get a life if they can't realize that not every book speaks to every person in the way it did you. And that's okay. It doesn't make someone "uneducated" for not liking a book. You also don't need post doctoral degrees to know what you like or didn't like. I'm glad you were honest with your review! :)

Maggie wrote: "I understand suicide. I gave the book 4 stars, but I totally understand your reasons for disliking this book. These people telling you to "get an education" themselves need to get a life if they ca..."
I didn't say that she needed to be educated for not liking the book, thank you very much. I simply meant that if she wanted to bash the people for the choices they made, perhaps she ought to research it alittle bit. People with depression or who are suicidal don't see a way out.

Cait wrote: "Maggie wrote: "I understand suicide. I gave the book 4 stars, but I totally understand your reasons for disliking this book. These people telling you to "get an education" themselves need to get a ..."

Note.. she's not bashing any real person. She's bashing a FICTION book. Fiction. She didn't like it. She doesn't have to research anything to not buy into plausability or not find the motivations or actions of a character to be realistic. While Picoult, sure, researched a bit of her own to write this fiction, the rest is made up, and to a reviewer, it's contrived and not believable. Just because others find it believable doesn't mean their perspective is right or "researched" because they claim to know more about actual depression and suicide. This isn't about knowing facts about depression or suicide. That's irrelevant.

Cait wrote: "Maggie wrote: "I understand suicide. I gave the book 4 stars, but I totally understand your reasons for disliking this book. These people telling you to "get an education" themselves need to get a ..."

Dylann wrote: "I'm by no means defending Jodi Picoult as a writer because she is far from my fave but jeez, before you judge the girl so harshly walk a mile in her shoes. You don't know what it's like to be so de..."

You miss my point entirely....I criticize Picoult partly because I DO understand depression and suicide...I was a psychotherapist working directly with people for 20 years so Ive experienced hearing and witnessing a lot...Ive also been in therapy to address my own issues....IMO, she's trite, tries too hard and really doesn't get it at all while coming off as an expert on difficult topics.....Thats a turnoff for me....My point being please dont judge....I have read a lot of books and Picoult came around after others like Hoffman tackled painful subjects with more authenticity than her...I just dont like "McDonalds" books that are cranked out and mass produced to appeal to the emotions of the masses like candy , from Lifetime Original movies that are written to make a buck and "tailored" for women....That backfires on me....Been there, done that before
Picoult was probably out of high school.....And like others have said, leave me desiring more....But then again, I read thousands of books, both personally and professionally so my standards are quite high...I do get the feeling that this book appeals to certain young people and others for whom Picoult is the first author they have encountered who tackles difficult subjects into any detail and so they become amazed and infatuated with her, like its the new thing when it isnt..Others came long before her and wrote amazing books on very difficult topics...They are the masterpieces......Lovers of Picoult books remind me of someone who eats real food for the first time after years of consuming junk from our junk culture.. ....I would say to them, dig deeper and search harder for even better authors on these subjects....Look for the gourmet meal of books and dont settle for second rate just because its the first thing thats woken you up......You have only just begun the search.

I felt so emotionally exhausted and depressed after I read this book.

I hated this book so much.

hated ir as well.. too many pot holes... shouldnt he be charged with two murders?

I thought I was the only one. It dragged on and there were too many unanswered questions.

Ugh! I was so pissed when Chris opened his mouth, only to find myself even more angry when the jury came to a decision. Just awful

well,you're not the only one ... i hate it as well! :)

actually, i love jodi picoult's books,but that one was her worst, i think. i couldn't even finish :(

I hated it too! the boyfriend knows she's having these suicidal thoughts and instead of telling anyone about it he gets her the gun?! terribly stupid book

I think everyone is getting confused. you don't hate the book. its really well written actually, if you think about language features, the then and now and the metaphors, similes etc etc. its not a bad book. it has characters and situations and ideas that you don't like. just because you don't agree with how Chris ( the boyfriend) acted , it doesn't ,mean you should hate on Jodi picoult. did you ever stop to think that maybe she wrote that ending on purpose? that it was her intention all along to make you hate the character ? because that would get more hype, more publicity and more readers. just like 50 shades of Grey, its so controversial and 'bad' that everyone just has to read it.

NO you aren't. I hated it that much too.

Im not confused..I read her "favorite author" Alice Hoffman 's books way back in the 80s when Jodi was probably still in high school..Give me a break..Not "everyone just has to read "junk..50s shades of trash, included..lol

I hated this book too. It is a ridiculous manipulative story and an emotional rip off. This author deserves no respect .

I hate this book too...I loved the story of the kids being so close and the families being close but I couldn't wrap my head around the ending or why the boy wouldn't have asked for help...I think I might have hated it with the same "white hot hate" that Jackie spoke of!

I am finding it very interesting reading these comments.
Personally, I enjoyed this book.
But, I also understand while a lot of you didn't. It was frustrating and at times unbelievable (and you all probably have your own reasons that are more about your personal taste in novels) but the reason I think its good is because of those two things.
One of the things that comes to mind is the boyfriends decision not to tell anyone. He was so scared because if he tried to get someone to help her, he might ruin her trust and destroy their bond. That way if she wanted to kill herself, she would go around him. He thought he could stop her but time ran out - he tried to save her by himself.
I believe that if I was in that situation I would go get help, but I can see how he decided not to.How he felt like he didn't have an option.
The ending was the only part that annoyed me. But I can hardly ever find a book with a good ending.