Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This is a construct we seem to love to explore - what people do when they know their time is limited. In this case, as in most narratives of this ilk, is a madcap road trip where the characters do things seemingly against their own natures. They take big chances, try things that they've always wanted, and get in all sorts of crazy mishaps. In this case it includes some truly odd details that are perhaps too strange if you overthink them. If you can roll with the plot as it happens it's suitably entertaining. There are certainly edifying messages to take away from it and it feels fairly tongue in cheek. So don't expect a real deep read but it is entertaining and has some reflection backing it up.

This is such a charming gem of a book! If you are looking for something to make you laugh and lift your heart, this is the one for you! Now look, it does require a bit of suspension of disbelief, but I promise, it is worth it. And here is why I say it did require some suspension of disbelief: why, just why, would you test a deadly entity without first making sure you could reverse its effects? That was my one gripe with the story, but I was able to put it aside and fully enjoy the book.

First, despite the whole "death imminent" bit, it was funny! The characters, and the writing style, were just very clever and amusing, and it made the reading experience so enjoyable. Hattie, our main character, is... well she's kind of a mess of a person? And she knows this about herself, and fully admits it, which is kind of refreshing. She's got a lot of unresolved issues, and frankly, a lot of them stem from her own behavior and choices. She also feels extra guilty because she takes responsibility for her mom's debt, which caused her mom to have to take a job she didn't want to take, which lead to the current debacle, but that's a whole other story. And one Hattie will have to figure out for herself (and you will have to read about!)

But Hattie isn't the only one who has maybe been infected! No, two other kids from her school, Carmen (wildly popular, class president, seemingly perfect life) and Albie (cancer survivor who can't seem to move past the "poor cancer kid" stage) have also been exposed. Hattie thinks it absurd for them to sit around in the hospital and wallow, so they set out on an adventure to live while they still can. And what an adventure it is! They steal and boat and head to Miami, where all kinds of entertaining shenanigans ensue.

And while all of their travels and adventures are quite fun to read about, the real gem of this book is the character development. We already know from the start that Hattie has a lot to work through, but it turns out that she isn't the only one. Albie and Carmen both have plenty of work to do themselves. It's really heartwarming to see them all navigate their own journey, as well as their relationships with each other and their families and friends who wait at home. And you simply cannot help but cheer them on while they do so!

Bottom Line: This is equal parts fun and heartwarming, and I loved every minute of Hattie and Company's adventures!

Thirty to Sixty Days by Alikay Wood, 320 pages. Amulet Books, 2023. $20. lgbtqia
Language: R (25 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Hattie, a compulsive liar; Albert, a cancer survivor; and Carmen, a perfectionist teacher’s pet, happened to be in the same wrong place at the same wrong time. They were exposed to a parasite with the potential to kill them in the next thirty to sixty days. They have to make the choice to either spend their last days being tested in the hospital or attempt escape and live while they still can.
From boat hijacking to turtle-napping to being pepper sprayed, these three teenagers really do live life to the fullest, though most of it is unintentional. The real life experience comes from their less exciting moments of working together, admitting truths, and asking for forgiveness. Life is all around us, just waiting for us to open our eyes and count the things that matter, a point that Wood conveys through this humorous story with surprisingly heartfelt moments.
Hattie is implied White, Albert is Chinese, and Carmen is Mexican. The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs and sex, underage drinking, criminal mischief, and illegal activity. The violence rating is for fistfighting.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I loved this book. The flawed yet funny characters will give all students someone to relate to, and the hijinx they got up to were original and kept me wanting more. Wood also walked the shaky line of writing realistic teenagers without making it too mature for pre-teens and younger teens.

(I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.)

Hattie is a compulsive liar. The only thing worse than that is that her mother doesn't *believe* the diagnosis. Despite the overwhelming evidence, her mother wants to see the best in her. Hattie can't stop lying, though, not even when another, much more serious, diagnosis falls into her lap. Along with two of her schoolmates, Hattie has been exposed to a deadly parasite. Which means they only have a month or two until they're done for. Now, why would they stay put in a hospital with only days left? It's time to break out and live life!

I actually really enjoyed this story. At first, I kind of hated the main character. It's hard to root for a compulsive liar. However, as the story went on, I got to know and care for Hattie and her classmates, the "sick kid" and of course, the "perfect student". I wanted to see what would happen to them, and found myself rooting for them in their journey.

All in all, I enjoyed most of the characters, and the plot/writing hooked me from the start. Would recommend this to other readers if you like a fast paced story with a somewhat unreliable narrator!

I didn’t have super high expectations for this book, solely because I don’t read a lot of YA anymore, but I was blown away. There’s something about the writing style that immediately draws you in and wraps you around it’s finger. It’s just such a cute, funny story and was a very refreshing read.

I found myself wishing that they ****did**** have the parasite and that one, if not more, of them would pass away from it, but I was pleasantly surprised with the ending regardless. I think my slightly morbid hopes can be accredited to the fact that I’ve read a lot of depressing, heart-wrenching books lately so the YA happy ending was a nice change lol!

I enjoyed the concept of three teens having to get to know each other under stressful circumstances and then working together to LIVE life.
I struggled a bit with the practicalities such as money, transportation, and the fact that their parents could probably ping their phones and know where the kids were at all times.
I also thought some of the adventures didn't make sense. There were several times when things were just too far-fetched for my taste.
That being said, I did enjoy the characters, their personalities, and the dialogue. So I'm sort of mixed about how I feel about the book.
I guess if you don't take it too seriously it is a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy. I needed a few days to process this one. I'll give it 3.5 stars for the solid writing and entertaining story. Given the premise of the book (an accidental infection by a killer parasite) and the timeline, I was expecting more hilarity and antics as the characters lived out their remaining days. I was disappointed that the whole adventure was over in a few days after a way-too-easy escape from the hospital. Still, the book is a fun read for a younger YA audience.

Thirty to Sixty Days is a fast-paced YA novel that is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. It's about living life for yourself and to the fullest, figuring out what really matters, and learning that sometimes getting into a little trouble is one of the best things you can do (and also that having an animal companion can make any adventure 10x better 😂). This is a great read for anyone who likes YA, coming-of-age stories, and slightly ridiculous adventures!

Thank you to Amulet Books and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of Thirty to Sixty Days in exchange for an honest review. Thirty to Sixty Days will hit shelves June 20, 2023!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amulet for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! First, the premise was so fresh and interesting. The writing really delivered and I felt drawn into Hattie's world from the very first page.
The quick pace and thoughtful dialogue kept me engaged and I liked the variety of characters. Hattie, Albie and Carmen really complimented each other and the story arc felt natural and believable (but with just a touch of Carl Hiaasen's ridiculous Miami flavor, which I love!)
I would definitely recommend this book for a fun and quick-paced YA read!

Fun, humorous, and sensitive novel about three teens who contract a manufactured parasite and have 30-60 days to live. They break out of the hospital and have a huge adventure, deciding to live fully before they die. Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.