For this book, it seems like you either love it or hate it. But honestly, I hate this book. To quickly summarize it, Hannah Baker creates a box of 13 tapes prior to her suicide, containing the people, or reasons, which made her do so. Eventually, Clay receives a package in the mail, containing the tapes which Hannah created.
The story had potential. I mean, a book about why someone committed suicide would be interesting and captivating, but only if it were executed well, and this was not. And maybe I would like it if the characters were likable, but they were horrid.
Hannah is a horrible person. Yes, I know she killed herself, but honestly, the premise of the whole book is her complaining and complaining about futile reasons of why she committed suicide. The majority of the reasons why she committed suicide aren’t even suicide-causing worthy. Yet, she blamed those people, who did nothing wrong, for her suicide and blamed a person who complimented her the same way as the person who raped another girl. Really?
She also complains about everything and expects the world to revolve around her. For example, she got a haircut, and she expected to think that people would think that she’s suicidal for her “sudden change in appearance.” She believes that she is privileged, and of course the world revolves around her, so, as a result, they should stalk her and notice any suicidal sign. Yet, no one knows of those thoughts except for Mr. Porter. Oh wait, this guy stalks her, so he must be a reason why.
In addition, half the characters are unrealistic. Like mentioned before, Mr. Porter, a counselor at her high school, is accused of causing her suicide because he didn’t help her. Counselors are professionally trained with a degree in psychology or human services, or anything else that is related to that. Mr. Porter gets paid to help people like Hannah. It shocks me that he allowed to get by with not helping Hannah with her suicidal thoughts. The rest of the characters who are the reasons are lifeless and dull. They essentially all act the same, give or take.
Also, it encourages suicide. In fact, some people were so inspired by Hannah’s story that they attempted to recreate it. A man committed suicide, and left behind 13 tapes, just like Hannah. Why? The entire book (and supposedly the tv show), shows how Hannah committed suicide and it worked out. Everything turned out fine, while she torments those people― those reasons why she did so. She complains endlessly about those people, which she only chose because she trusted them with passing on the tapes. This book is terrible; it is a terrible influence and it is just so boring overall.