Book Review of 'Technically, You Started It' by Lana Wood Johnson

Premise: 

When a guy named Martin Nathaniel Munroe II texts you, it should be obvious who you're talking to. Except there's two of them (it's a long story), and Haley thinks she's talking to the one she doesn't hate.

A question about a class project rapidly evolves into an all-consuming conversation. Haley finds that Martin is actually willing to listen to her weird facts and unusual obsessions, and Martin feels like Haley is the first person to really see who he is. Haley and Martin might be too awkward to hang out in real life, but over text, they're becoming addicted to each other.

There's just one problem: Haley doesn't know who Martin is. And Martin doesn't know that Haley doesn't know. But they better figure it out fast before their meet-cute becomes an epic meet-disaster . . .

 

Review:

    This book starts with Haley receiving a text from one of the two Martins in her class (they’re both cousins), about a question about a class project. However, Haley accidently restarts the conversation a few days later and the short texts quickly morph into longer, daily, in-depth conversations.

    The main plotline revolves around Haley thinking she’s texting one Martin (“the good one”) while he’s really the other one (the “clown”, as she calls him). Martin continually meets Haley in person, but Haley thinks he’s the cousin of the person she’s texting. 

    Martin quickly figures out what’s going on, but Haley has no idea for most of the novel, and the readers are left in the in-between space. Haley’s friendship dramas and secrets are added into the mix, and Haley’s reluctance to agree to meet the Martin she’s texting irl heightens the dramatic tension.

The blurb made the book sound interesting, and while the actual story was a little less riveting, it was still an entertaining read. 
This book’s format is literally written through texts, not prose, so it’s easy to get through the book quickly, and the conversations between the two main characters were authentic, as if you had grabbed Haley’s phone and were scrolling through her message history. 

    But the entire book is only told through texts between Haley and Martin, and while the world was developed in a way that it felt like you knew Haley’s friends, it would have been much more interesting to also read text conversations between Haley and other people besides Martin. 

    The story explores the theme of mistaken identity, the humor is brilliant (it’s mostly in-the-moment, situational humor), and the uncertainty of a friendship online permeates the air. So, to wrap it up, I would recommend this light-hearted story to people who would enjoy reading a book in this format. This book is for ages 13-17 years, and I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

- Candria

Like my review on Goodreads!

Want to be kept updated on my posts? Follow my blog! (don't worry, no personal info is taken)