Want a break from staring at your computer but can’t separate from YouTube?
Need a break from the text books? Can’t Look Away by Donna Cooner is the perfect quick read for you! Once you get sucked into the story of 14 year old beauty guru Torrey Grey, there is no stopping. When I was reading this book, I would sit on the couch without moving, and 2 hours felt like 15 minutes. Once I got started, it took all of a day to get to the final chapter and the end, although slightly predictable, was an excellent way to sum up the story.
When tragedy hits close to home, Torrey and her family move to a small town in Texas to be close to their extended family. While taking a break from her typical Vlogs about fashion and makeup, the comments on the Beautystarz15 (Torrey Grey) YouTube account go wild with thousands of hateful fans saying terrible things about Torrey. She tries to ignore this while dealing with her own personal drama in Texas with the hottie who’s family owns the funeral home. When her love life and her YouTube fame make school popularity even more complicated, she must learn a lesson that will change her forever.
You can tell when a book is good because you have mixed emotions about the characters. For most of the book, it was easy to sympathise with Torrey. However there were some parts where I wanted to jump into the story and slap her across the face because of stupid decisions and missed opportunities. Torrey’s cousin in Texas, Raylene, is loud-mouthed and annoying, yet darling and innocent. There are so many interesting people she meets in Texas that add so much to the story. The characters in this book are so fun.
All in all, Can’t Look Away, by Donna Cooner, pulls the reader in to the point of nonstop reading. What better way to get your YouTube fix in than to read about a famous YouTuber? It’ll sure make your parents happier than you sitting and staring at your laptop under a mass of blankets. (Although you still will have time for a little bit of that.) This book pulls on your heartstrings and makes you smile all at once. You should definitely read Can’t Look Away.
Written By Clare Larsen