What do you think?
Rate this book
Friend Me
What happens when an online friend becomes a real-life nightmare?
Roisin hasn't made a single friend since moving from Ireland to Massachusetts. In fact, she is falling apart under constant abuse from a school bully, Zara. Zara torments Roisin in person and on social media. She makes Roisin the laughingstock of the whole school.
Roisin feels utterly alone... until she bonds with Haley online. Finally there's someone who gets her. Haley is smart, strong, and shares anti-mean-girl memes that make Roisin laugh. Together, they are able to imagine what life could look like without Zara. Haley quickly becomes Roisin's lifeline.
Then Zara has a painful accident, police investigate, and Roisin panics. Could her chats with Haley look incriminating?
Roisin wants Haley to delete her copies of their messages, but when she tries to meet Haley in person, she can't find her anywhere. What's going on? Her best friend would never have lied to her, right? Or is Haley not who she says she is...
With twists, turns, and lightning-fast pacing, this is a middle-grade thriller about bullying, revenge, and tech that young readers won't be able to put down.
Roisin hasn't made a single friend since moving from Ireland to Massachusetts. In fact, she is falling apart under constant abuse from a school bully, Zara. Zara torments Roisin in person and on social media. She makes Roisin the laughingstock of the whole school.
Roisin feels utterly alone... until she bonds with Haley online. Finally there's someone who gets her. Haley is smart, strong, and shares anti-mean-girl memes that make Roisin laugh. Together, they are able to imagine what life could look like without Zara. Haley quickly becomes Roisin's lifeline.
Then Zara has a painful accident, police investigate, and Roisin panics. Could her chats with Haley look incriminating?
Roisin wants Haley to delete her copies of their messages, but when she tries to meet Haley in person, she can't find her anywhere. What's going on? Her best friend would never have lied to her, right? Or is Haley not who she says she is...
With twists, turns, and lightning-fast pacing, this is a middle-grade thriller about bullying, revenge, and tech that young readers won't be able to put down.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2020
28 people are currently reading
8903 people want to read
About the author
Sheila M. Averbuch
2 books130 followersSheila M. Averbuch is a former journalist who's interviewed billionaires, hackers and would-be Mars colonists. She co-founded SCBWI Scotland and is author of the middle-grade thriller FRIEND ME (Scholastic 2020) and PITCH YOUR BOOK (ENNclick Editions 2025). She holds a 2019 New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
Read
July 19, 2025This is my sixth manuscript and I couldn't have done it when I first started learning to write for middle-grade. I hope you like it! It's a thriller about a seventh-grader who's badly bullied and, when her bully has a bad accident, she begins to worry that her new best friend -- who she's only met online -- might have caused the accident. It's got twists and tech both current (social media, online bullying, phones galore) and near-future (bullet trains, Alexa-like AI, a robotic cat who is nothing if not eerie). Enjoy!
November 3, 2020
Thriller junkies, rejoice! This is a full dose of adrenaline in a juvenile fiction package. It has culturally diverse characters, cute and engaged big brothers, bullying, AI, social media dilemmas, and more. Our main character, Roisin (Rosheen), is newly immigrated from Ireland to the Boston area. She is tired of being bullied at school and enters a study to try a new social media app in exchange for cash. Her newest friend on the app, Haley, seems to be just what she needs. Then Roisin gets a chance to meet Haley IRL and things really start to fall apart. This story makes us all examine our online habits and comments as we see a chain of events swallow up entire families in the tense situation that unfolds. Everything is connected!
Thank you to Scholastic and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Scholastic and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2020
I was hooked. What an entertaining, intriguing read which leads into a thrilling storyline. The characters so relatable, the descriptions fabulous. I felt like I was both reading a book and watching an inner movie. And great to have Roisin an empowering young lass at the heart of it all. Middle Grade readers and beyond, you are in for such a treat!
February 18, 2021
Sheila Averbuch's debut middle grade novel FRIEND ME is a roller coaster ride – in the best way.
Roisin is newly transplanted from Ireland to an American middle school. Her older brother Michael is kind, but he's busy studying for his SATs. Her scientist mother is too engrossed in her research at MIT to notice how miserable Roisin's life has become. Roisin is being bullied in person and online by Zara. When the bullying escalates and becomes physical, Roisin finds comfort in her new online friend – Haley.
I read the book jacket FOR FRIEND ME before I began the novel. By the halfway mark, I was cockily confident that I knew where it was heading. Turns out, like a roller coaster, this novel was traveling straight up before dropping me at breakneck speed, then hurtling me through unexpected and exhilarating twists and turns. I think readers are going to love this!
Roisin is newly transplanted from Ireland to an American middle school. Her older brother Michael is kind, but he's busy studying for his SATs. Her scientist mother is too engrossed in her research at MIT to notice how miserable Roisin's life has become. Roisin is being bullied in person and online by Zara. When the bullying escalates and becomes physical, Roisin finds comfort in her new online friend – Haley.
I read the book jacket FOR FRIEND ME before I began the novel. By the halfway mark, I was cockily confident that I knew where it was heading. Turns out, like a roller coaster, this novel was traveling straight up before dropping me at breakneck speed, then hurtling me through unexpected and exhilarating twists and turns. I think readers are going to love this!
November 22, 2020
Highly recommend this for young teens who cannot be without their phones. Well crafted and gripping from start to finish.
June 10, 2020
This book is about a girl called Roisin. She moves to Massachusetts from Ireland. She gets bullied at her new school but meets Hailey online who helps her get through it all. But suddenly on a school trip her bully has a bad accident and Hailey is acting suspicious.
The Main Characters:
Roisin- Roisin is Irish and gets bullied in the USA. She has a bully called Zara and a best friend called Hailey. She is quite lonely. She also has a big brother called Michael.
Lily- Roisin’s online friend before she came to the USA, and now her real friend.
Hailey- The girl Roisin meets online But isn’t quite what she seems.
Zara- Roisin’s bully, who has a bad accident.
They live in Massachusetts Where there is big and tall buildings and long streets. They also go to Old Orchard Beach which is a sandy town with lots of old buildings.
My favourite parts were the end because I thought it was very interesting and gripping, I also liked the bit at the museum because its where everything starts getting suspicious. My favourite character was lily because she was really nice to Roisin all through the book. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I think it’s a book that all ages can enjoy. I think it teaches you to be careful who you trust on social media because Roisin trusted Hailey and she wasn’t who she thought. I like how its set in the future but it feels like its now. I think its nice that Roisin has someone to talk to when she’s getting bullied because it must be very hard and upsetting. I think its very relatable in general because you see so many people getting bullied. Its relatable to me because I know people who get bullied. I think it’s a really good book and you should definitely read it.
The Main Characters:
Roisin- Roisin is Irish and gets bullied in the USA. She has a bully called Zara and a best friend called Hailey. She is quite lonely. She also has a big brother called Michael.
Lily- Roisin’s online friend before she came to the USA, and now her real friend.
Hailey- The girl Roisin meets online But isn’t quite what she seems.
Zara- Roisin’s bully, who has a bad accident.
They live in Massachusetts Where there is big and tall buildings and long streets. They also go to Old Orchard Beach which is a sandy town with lots of old buildings.
My favourite parts were the end because I thought it was very interesting and gripping, I also liked the bit at the museum because its where everything starts getting suspicious. My favourite character was lily because she was really nice to Roisin all through the book. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I think it’s a book that all ages can enjoy. I think it teaches you to be careful who you trust on social media because Roisin trusted Hailey and she wasn’t who she thought. I like how its set in the future but it feels like its now. I think its nice that Roisin has someone to talk to when she’s getting bullied because it must be very hard and upsetting. I think its very relatable in general because you see so many people getting bullied. Its relatable to me because I know people who get bullied. I think it’s a really good book and you should definitely read it.
November 16, 2020
Moving to a brand-new country can be difficult at any age, but more so when you are a teenage girl. Teenagers and especially females can be nasty and it doesn't help if you are a little different and have an accent too. Roisin has moved to Massachusetts from Ireland and finding it hard to make friends. The one person she thought could have been her friend, stood her up the first chance she got and to make matters worse, there are a handful of bullies making her life feel like hell. They moved as her mother is an inventor and works with technology. In Friend Me, Roisin's family have a smart system similar to Alexa and Siri. Their house is a technology lover dream but in Friend Me, Roisin is about to discover the dangerous side of technology as she signs up for a study to use a new social media site. On the site she meets a girl called Hayley and the pair continue to chat. Soon Hayley is Roisin's only friend and she can talk to her about everything. What will happen though when strange things start to happen to those who are bullying her and it looks like the technology might be the cause? Roisin is about to discover a world of the downsides of technology when her new friend starts to bring harm to not only those who have bullied her but her family and anyone that stands in the way of her and Roisin's connection. If you love social media and technology but wanting to catch a glimpse of when technology goes wild, then check out Friend Me by Sheila M. Averbuch today. Perfect for ages 12- 16+.
January 22, 2021
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one! It's a technothriller aimed at middle grade with some unexpectedly nuanced messages about forgiveness, surviving bullies, and online safety. I do have two hesitations for recommending it to kids on the younger side of middle grade. One, the bullying Roishin experiences gets pretty intense and was a little hard to read at some points . Two, there are some mature references to suicide and violence . For middle schoolers I think kids come in contact with worse stuff in their schools than what was in the book and I think 6th+ will be fine with it, but it might be a little harsh for 5th grade depending on the kid. That being said, it was super exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat, while still exploring positive thought-provoking messages and even included a helpline at the end for kids experiencing bullying.
December 13, 2020
Tenser than a Viking fan during play-offs and as jittery as a procrastinator waiting for an expressly shipped Christmas package - Sheila M. Averbuch had me sitting right on the edge of my seat with her debut novel: Friend Me.
This psychological thriller builds on the low points of social media and the danger of distracted parenting as Roison, a new student from Ireland, adjusts to life in America while wrestling a particularly mean girl at school. Readers will be compelled to consider what makes a true friend in this heart-racing thriller.
Friend Me is a middle-grade novel that has a Peg Kehret vibe. Readers will experience a couple of violent scenes and a scattering of language as they move through the story. Through Roison, we experience the mental health issues involved in being bullied - and the danger involved in finding an online stranger to befriend when searching for comfort and support. The action in the story resolves with a critical lesson for today's students.
With a Lexile measure of 630, Friend Me is recommended for readers in grades 3-7. I might be a little hesitant to share it in third grade, but a pre-read will help adults make that choice for themselves!
Friend Me
This psychological thriller builds on the low points of social media and the danger of distracted parenting as Roison, a new student from Ireland, adjusts to life in America while wrestling a particularly mean girl at school. Readers will be compelled to consider what makes a true friend in this heart-racing thriller.
Friend Me is a middle-grade novel that has a Peg Kehret vibe. Readers will experience a couple of violent scenes and a scattering of language as they move through the story. Through Roison, we experience the mental health issues involved in being bullied - and the danger involved in finding an online stranger to befriend when searching for comfort and support. The action in the story resolves with a critical lesson for today's students.
With a Lexile measure of 630, Friend Me is recommended for readers in grades 3-7. I might be a little hesitant to share it in third grade, but a pre-read will help adults make that choice for themselves!
Friend Me
March 3, 2021
I thought this was going to be another book about cyberbullying. It was... sort of. It turned into so much more than just that. The twists and turns kept me guessing. I won't admit how late I stayed up to figure out how it would end.
December 27, 2020
I listened to the first 10% of this as an audiobook and the voice actress completely sucked me in with her wonderful Irish accent and the sense of humor she infused in narrating Averbuch's story. Finished it off as an e-book (since my drive-time got cut to nothing with the second-wave shelter-in-place order).
A thriller is not my typical MG reading fare but I'm so glad I read this because ultimately it's a story about the effects of bullying and how they can ripple in middle school settings. I honestly think this would have been a much more traumatizing read without Averbuch's expert storytelling and her ability to infuse light humor into the narration around some instances of truly horrific bullying. The bullying scenes felt realistic, with a mix of in-person and online harassment that I think many kids will be able to relate to. And main character Roisin comes off as sweet but not a pushover or victim by any means. She felt like a three-dimensional character throughout the story.
When our heroine, Roisin, connects with who she assumes is another middle schooler online who's also experienced bullying, I related so hard. I didn't deal with bullying in school to the extent Roisin did, but, being autistic, I often felt isolated from my schoolmates. I had an especially hard time with facial and body expression when combined with expectations of verbal communication. The internet offered me a refuge, one where I could think through what I wanted to say before I put it out there. So I could relate a lot to how quickly Roisin started relying on her internet friend, Haley, when her classmates upped the intensity of their bullying. There's also a nicely nuanced take on popular girl, Lily, who is friends with Roisin's bully but also seems to be interested in being Roisin's friend.
And the mystery/thriller component was done so well. Some adults may think it was a little too out-there, but I think it works fine for the target demographic of readers and also adds an exciting climax to an engaging (and at times creepy/nerve-wracking to read) story.
I'm really excited to see what Averbuch writes next. It's clear she's a talented storyteller with a knack for creating expert threads of suspense. I'd definitely recommend this book to friends (and their kids).
A thriller is not my typical MG reading fare but I'm so glad I read this because ultimately it's a story about the effects of bullying and how they can ripple in middle school settings. I honestly think this would have been a much more traumatizing read without Averbuch's expert storytelling and her ability to infuse light humor into the narration around some instances of truly horrific bullying. The bullying scenes felt realistic, with a mix of in-person and online harassment that I think many kids will be able to relate to. And main character Roisin comes off as sweet but not a pushover or victim by any means. She felt like a three-dimensional character throughout the story.
When our heroine, Roisin, connects with who she assumes is another middle schooler online who's also experienced bullying, I related so hard. I didn't deal with bullying in school to the extent Roisin did, but, being autistic, I often felt isolated from my schoolmates. I had an especially hard time with facial and body expression when combined with expectations of verbal communication. The internet offered me a refuge, one where I could think through what I wanted to say before I put it out there. So I could relate a lot to how quickly Roisin started relying on her internet friend, Haley, when her classmates upped the intensity of their bullying. There's also a nicely nuanced take on popular girl, Lily, who is friends with Roisin's bully but also seems to be interested in being Roisin's friend.
And the mystery/thriller component was done so well. Some adults may think it was a little too out-there, but I think it works fine for the target demographic of readers and also adds an exciting climax to an engaging (and at times creepy/nerve-wracking to read) story.
I'm really excited to see what Averbuch writes next. It's clear she's a talented storyteller with a knack for creating expert threads of suspense. I'd definitely recommend this book to friends (and their kids).
August 12, 2020
Friend Me is about a girl called Roisin who moved from her home in Ireland to the US with her mum and big brother because of her mum’s work. Roisin’s mum works long hours and hardly ever spends time with her children. Roisin feels she does not quite fit in at school and is being bullied by the mean girl in her class, Zara. When Roisin meets Haley online, she finally feels she has someone to talk to that understands her, but when Zara nearly died because of an accident at the museum, Haley’s lies start to unfold.
I thought Sheila developed the characters really well throughout the book. You have to read the whole book before you can make up your mind about the characters because the way Sheila develops them, you don’t know until then. So, my favourite character was Lily but at first I was unsure about her. I guess that’s a bit of the lesson in the book – to not judge people before you get to know them.
I am a teenager and some of the messages in this book about bullying and online safety really came through, making me think of the seriousness of it all.
There were some moments when I was reading the book that I actually shouted out “No!!! This can’t be happening.” Poor Roisin. I am not going to tell you all the detail but look out for the bathroom scene, the museum scene, the train scene. Those parts stand out in my mind as so believable and a little scary. I could imagine what the characters would have been feeling, like a clear picture in my mind.
This book was unputdownable!!!!! I read it with my Mum and my brother, we all enjoyed it and we were devastated when we had to stop reading and go to bed. We kept trying to workout what was going to happen next and who Haley was, but we got it wrong every time. Friend me is so well written I give it a 5 star rating
I am going to buy the book when it comes out and I have told all my friends to do so too. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who has not read it, but I recommend you clear your schedule because you won’t be able to put it down.
Duncan
I thought Sheila developed the characters really well throughout the book. You have to read the whole book before you can make up your mind about the characters because the way Sheila develops them, you don’t know until then. So, my favourite character was Lily but at first I was unsure about her. I guess that’s a bit of the lesson in the book – to not judge people before you get to know them.
I am a teenager and some of the messages in this book about bullying and online safety really came through, making me think of the seriousness of it all.
There were some moments when I was reading the book that I actually shouted out “No!!! This can’t be happening.” Poor Roisin. I am not going to tell you all the detail but look out for the bathroom scene, the museum scene, the train scene. Those parts stand out in my mind as so believable and a little scary. I could imagine what the characters would have been feeling, like a clear picture in my mind.
This book was unputdownable!!!!! I read it with my Mum and my brother, we all enjoyed it and we were devastated when we had to stop reading and go to bed. We kept trying to workout what was going to happen next and who Haley was, but we got it wrong every time. Friend me is so well written I give it a 5 star rating
I am going to buy the book when it comes out and I have told all my friends to do so too. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who has not read it, but I recommend you clear your schedule because you won’t be able to put it down.
Duncan
October 8, 2020
Friend Me is a story about online bullying that provides tweens with a much-needed window into how they can protect themselves and reach out for help.
Roisin struggles to find friends and her “new normal” after her move. When a bully posts humiliating pictures of her online, finding any sense of normal seems impossible.
Roisin’s story morphs from a contemporary warning about the risks of social media to a fast-paced thriller when Rosin’s bully, Zara, has a dreadful accident and almost dies. And Roisin’s phone shows she had motive for causing the accident. If she can’t find the real culprit, she could face charges.
The threat of online conversations being exposed and used against you is all too real with the way teens (and in fact, everyone) speaks freely on social media today. It made me think twice about what I say in private online forums and texts.
As someone who has moved between countries, I also connected with Roisin’s search for friendship start of the story. I think anyone who has moved and found themselves feeling dislocated and alone could connect with her.
But her worries about who Haley is and how to find her are also sobering.
Friend Me has pitch-perfect middle grade voice and will resonate with anyone who has worried about their most embarrassing moment being caught on video and uploaded on social media, anyone who worries they’ve said too much in online chats, and/or anyone who has put too much trust into someone they only know online.
Highly recommended.
At TheWingedPen.com we have dozens of reviews of middle-grade, young-adult and #ownvoice books. Check out our reviews at:
thewingedpen.com/category/books/
or just click on Book Recommendations on our home page where you can search by category!
Roisin struggles to find friends and her “new normal” after her move. When a bully posts humiliating pictures of her online, finding any sense of normal seems impossible.
Roisin’s story morphs from a contemporary warning about the risks of social media to a fast-paced thriller when Rosin’s bully, Zara, has a dreadful accident and almost dies. And Roisin’s phone shows she had motive for causing the accident. If she can’t find the real culprit, she could face charges.
The threat of online conversations being exposed and used against you is all too real with the way teens (and in fact, everyone) speaks freely on social media today. It made me think twice about what I say in private online forums and texts.
As someone who has moved between countries, I also connected with Roisin’s search for friendship start of the story. I think anyone who has moved and found themselves feeling dislocated and alone could connect with her.
But her worries about who Haley is and how to find her are also sobering.
Friend Me has pitch-perfect middle grade voice and will resonate with anyone who has worried about their most embarrassing moment being caught on video and uploaded on social media, anyone who worries they’ve said too much in online chats, and/or anyone who has put too much trust into someone they only know online.
Highly recommended.
At TheWingedPen.com we have dozens of reviews of middle-grade, young-adult and #ownvoice books. Check out our reviews at:
thewingedpen.com/category/books/
or just click on Book Recommendations on our home page where you can search by category!
March 4, 2020
When I first heard about FRIEND ME, I thought, (Wow!), an MG thriller! It's not a genre you find often in this age group. So I was definitely curious to give it a read. Well, it surely did not disappoint. I felt a sort of kinship to the main character Roisin, who has just moved to the US from Ireland. It is a difficult age to transition to a new country and new school, (I have experienced it first hand), so I definitely felt connected to her struggles of not fitting in. Early on, she experiences bullying from the "mean girls" at school. The scenarios in which she is bullied, are quite believable, especially in today's age of social media. Additionally, the characters' voices are age appropriate and genuinely sound like MG aged kids. I discovered that the author, Shelia M. Averbuch, has worked for many years as a writer for tech news, and it shows. All the "techie" details in the story are well written, and clearly well researched. Without spoiling too much, I'll say that there is a really nice plot twist, and an action packed scene on a train, which will definitely make readers turn those pages faster. This is definitely a great introduction to the thriller genre, and I look forward to seeing what Ms. Averbuch writes next!
January 17, 2021
I bought this book a month or so ago and it’s been in my queue. I finally got to it yesterday and couldn’t put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s a fast paced, easy read. A thriller with lots of twists and turns.
The main character, Roisin, is completely relatable as an Irish immigrant who moves to America and becomes the subject of middle school bullying. At various points in the book, it is difficult to tell who Roisin’s real friends are and the author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing.
Averbuch is as adept at writing deeply tender characters as she is at writing high action. Technology is woven into the plot in frightening and scary ways that make this near-future thriller all too realistic. I highly recommend!
The main character, Roisin, is completely relatable as an Irish immigrant who moves to America and becomes the subject of middle school bullying. At various points in the book, it is difficult to tell who Roisin’s real friends are and the author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing.
Averbuch is as adept at writing deeply tender characters as she is at writing high action. Technology is woven into the plot in frightening and scary ways that make this near-future thriller all too realistic. I highly recommend!
December 5, 2020
I wish I had this book ten years ago when my girls were teenagers and one was being bullied in such a vile and cunning way when online bullying was in its infancy. The writing is brilliant and the voice authentic. The plot is cracking and I could feel the New England vibe all the way (pass the lobster roles please!) This book has a place in every school, every home and in every library. It’s MG but I’d recommend it from MG upwards, through teen and to any parent.
December 15, 2020
Wow this was intense ! I started it in the middle of the night when I woke up and couldn’t sleep. I don’t recommend this because it was very addicting and upsetting and fast paced. I think it kept me awake longer !
So this was Black Mirror for middle schoolers— a cautionary thriller about the dangers of technology and social media.
Lots of fun. Kids will love it I think.
So this was Black Mirror for middle schoolers— a cautionary thriller about the dangers of technology and social media.
Lots of fun. Kids will love it I think.
February 7, 2021
I saw this described as a mix between Mean Girls and Black Mirror... high praise! And I wasn't disappointed. It was gripping and moving with a powerful storyline I thoroughly enjoyed. Show me a female who hasn't encountered mean girls and I'll show you a liar! It was a trip down memory lane with more tech and the perspective of age! I'm in my 30's and I'm looking forward to sharing this with my teenage nieces and my techie husband. A story this rich is for everyone.
February 1, 2021
Friend Me is a tech thriller with unexpected twists and suspense and involves online bullying. But it is so much more than a story - it provides much-needed insights into people and teens can protect themselves and reach out for help with bullying. Highly recommended!
January 25, 2021
Roisin and her family have moved from Ireland to the USA. It’s not easy leaving your friends behind and having to learn how to fit in. It’s even harder when you’re immediately bullied at your new school. Social media can be a friend and a foe.
I loved the AI theme exploring a whole new world of possibilities.
This book is a real page turner. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. I was caught up in Roisin’s world and raced to read to the end.
November 8, 2020
Roisin just moved from Dublin to Massachusetts. She is having a problem with being bullied at school. Her older brother, Michael does not think its a big deal. Dad is still in Ireland and mom is always at work. Roisin turns to social media to find help. Her new friend, Haley, gives great advice, is always available and even helps with homework. She's almost too perfect.
Opinion
To say I loved this story would be an understatement. I was first attracted to it because my brother and his family live in Ireland and my nephew is about the age of Roisin. Throughout the book, there were terms that the Irish use that Americans do not and it felt authentic to me.
The story of getting bullied is an age old one. However, Averbuch takes on a completely different twist with what she has written to help Roisin solve her issue. Even though it is ultimately solved, the story goes down a few twists that I certainly could not have expected.
Children today live in a new, different world than adults ever dreamed of. This story helps to show teens the dangers of this new world. One can only hope that what happened in the end will never happen in real life.
Many thanks to Edelweiss+ for providing me with an ARC of this book for review purposes.
Opinion
To say I loved this story would be an understatement. I was first attracted to it because my brother and his family live in Ireland and my nephew is about the age of Roisin. Throughout the book, there were terms that the Irish use that Americans do not and it felt authentic to me.
The story of getting bullied is an age old one. However, Averbuch takes on a completely different twist with what she has written to help Roisin solve her issue. Even though it is ultimately solved, the story goes down a few twists that I certainly could not have expected.
Children today live in a new, different world than adults ever dreamed of. This story helps to show teens the dangers of this new world. One can only hope that what happened in the end will never happen in real life.
Many thanks to Edelweiss+ for providing me with an ARC of this book for review purposes.
October 8, 2020
I loved the main character Roisin, and everything she was going through being a new girl at school and bullying was really terrible for her, but really interesting and believable. It was exciting from the start, it keeps you interested and reading all the way until the end (I finished it in two days, because I just had to find out what happens next), which was even more exciting and really heart racing. It was even more enjoyable than I thought it would be, and I really wanted to read the book, so you can imagine. I have recommended it to my friends, and think everyone should try it. I just started reading it again for the second time. I wanted to say more but I don't want to spoil things!
October 17, 2020
Thank you to the publisher & Edelweiss for this eARC of Friend Me. A fast-paced read, full of diverse characters, Friend Me is a plot-driven middle grade suspense novel. Hand it to your readers who love a suspenseful mystery.
I enjoyed the local (for me!) setting of Boston suburbs and Maine, as well as the Irish back story. I also enjoyed that I didn’t pick up the ending straight away! Astute readers will figure it out, but everyone will stick with it until the end.
Will definitely pick this up for my library.
I enjoyed the local (for me!) setting of Boston suburbs and Maine, as well as the Irish back story. I also enjoyed that I didn’t pick up the ending straight away! Astute readers will figure it out, but everyone will stick with it until the end.
Will definitely pick this up for my library.
July 16, 2020
Thank you to Scholastic for providing me with an eARC! All opinions are my own.
I can't even put into proper words how much this book blew my mind. It was, in short, brilliant. Now I want a whole slew of MG thrillers just like it. Friend Me also has one of the most intense third acts I've ever read. It gave me goosebumps. Get this book, y'all. Read it. I cannot wait to buy the finished copy in November.
I can't even put into proper words how much this book blew my mind. It was, in short, brilliant. Now I want a whole slew of MG thrillers just like it. Friend Me also has one of the most intense third acts I've ever read. It gave me goosebumps. Get this book, y'all. Read it. I cannot wait to buy the finished copy in November.
November 12, 2020
I bought and finished this book in less than 24 hours, ignoring all distractions because of a searing need to find out what was going on. Sheila's prose is clean, her characters well-rounded, but it is her gift of storytelling and page turning pace that really stand out in this amazing book about what makes a real friend. Highly recommended for the middle schooler in your life.
June 10, 2020
Friend Me by Sheila Averbuch is an amazing book full of twists and turns, action and drama. I think that Roisin is a very smart character that just isn't seen at the right angle by her classmate. I loved it and would 100% recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 10-16.
December 15, 2020
Tense, twisty and compelling
I foresee many readers reading this by torchlight under the covers because they just have to know how it turns out.
I foresee many readers reading this by torchlight under the covers because they just have to know how it turns out.
November 29, 2020
MAJOR SPOILERS to explain the one star.
FRIEND ME starts off slow, as Irish transplant Roisin deals with Zara, a middle school bully. Roisin befriends, Haley, an online friend who seems to understand her troubles.
Sheila Averbuch seems to have attempted to tell a different kind of bully story but I never felt like she had a read handle on American middle school kids or day-to-day life for privileged kids like Roisin. Averbuch did a decent job inserting diversity into the story and making females the breadwinners and scientists.
The story devolves into the ridiculous as it turns out Haley isn’t real but a murderous for or Artificial Intelligence (AI) trying to be sympathetic and supportive to Roisin.
The overall message of bullying in FRIEND ME is a good one, but bland writing and an absurd plot make this book a hot mess.
FRIEND ME starts off slow, as Irish transplant Roisin deals with Zara, a middle school bully. Roisin befriends, Haley, an online friend who seems to understand her troubles.
Sheila Averbuch seems to have attempted to tell a different kind of bully story but I never felt like she had a read handle on American middle school kids or day-to-day life for privileged kids like Roisin. Averbuch did a decent job inserting diversity into the story and making females the breadwinners and scientists.
The story devolves into the ridiculous as it turns out Haley isn’t real but a murderous for or Artificial Intelligence (AI) trying to be sympathetic and supportive to Roisin.
The overall message of bullying in FRIEND ME is a good one, but bland writing and an absurd plot make this book a hot mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2020
I love the cover of this book. It tells you exactly what's going to happen in it. If you've read or seen any American media for this age group, you'll have an idea, though Zara is one of the worst I've read about.
This fast paced read mashes up bullies, middle school and social media with tech advances to make something pretty unique. The author did a good job with Roisin's Irish heritage, too; the only thing that really tripped me up is when she referred to 'language camp in Connemara'. No Irish person would call it that, but maybe she was trying to avoid confusing other readers.
I enjoyed the story overall. There are plenty of red herrings and the pace keeps up relentlessly throughout. The ending is satisfactory as well. I can't decide if I want a Jeeves or not; he sounds brilliant, but then if things go like this one...
An excellent read overall.
This fast paced read mashes up bullies, middle school and social media with tech advances to make something pretty unique. The author did a good job with Roisin's Irish heritage, too; the only thing that really tripped me up is when she referred to 'language camp in Connemara'. No Irish person would call it that, but maybe she was trying to avoid confusing other readers.
I enjoyed the story overall. There are plenty of red herrings and the pace keeps up relentlessly throughout. The ending is satisfactory as well. I can't decide if I want a Jeeves or not; he sounds brilliant, but then if things go like this one...
An excellent read overall.
November 9, 2020
Oh this was good! I don't want to say too much, but the combination of cyber (and in person) bullying and advanced AI helpers turns into a literal train wreck. There are so many good twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, frantically turning the pages. This was a thrilling new take on middle school mean girls. Highly recommended for grade 5 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews