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lagray27's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Ableism and Death
Minor: Car accident
zoiejanelle's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was an extremely charming, emotional, hilarious read about family, grief, anger, and friendships. i was surprised by how much i ended up loving this book.
Aaron (who is definitely ND/autistic-coded) is a lovable, unreliable narrator who was fun to explore. it really felt like he was a completely normal--albeit grumpy--guy dropped headfirst in a Hallmark movie, but that was definitely part of the charm. i thought the portrayal of his anger and resentment toward his brother was extremely realistic and human. the anger we feel when someone hurts us repeatedly and when that person dies or moves on without providing closure is something i'd like to read more about. Aaron's pain and resistance to evolution and change was extremely relatable, and i loved how the author captured all of that in this quick, digestible read.
not only was Aaron a believable human character, but this book was filled with unexpected diversity. the portrayal of Chad's disability was especially unique and enjoyable. his motivations also felt real and tangible, but he wasn't a stereotypical wheel chair user character. he was comic relief, yes, but he had his own complex storyline going on. i sort of wanted to dive deeper into that... (ALSO Chad coming to terms with being queer? slay, honestly.)
the portrayal of addiction was very empathetic. i personally struggle with my own views on addition and sobriety, so watching Aaron's growth over the course of the book was something i felt i could learn from. (SPOILERS!) i am also glad he and Hannah did not end up together, but i loved seeing her as an "inevitable" pillar in his life beyond a romantic relationship. some people are inevitable, but they don't have to fit one particular mold to be important in our lives.
shout out to the author for their music tastes, too. all of their "perfect songs" were impeccable, and the chapter titles (book titles!) were a really fun touch! This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads is an especially important song in my life, so i did get teary-eyed anytime it was mentioned.
overall, a fun and compelling read. i expected a classic YA rom-com, but the aged up protagonist and cast of characters made this book feel perfect for someone transitioning from YA to adult. i'd recommend for anyone looking to read more uplifting/light-hearted books about addiction and grief.
Aaron (who is definitely ND/autistic-coded) is a lovable, unreliable narrator who was fun to explore. it really felt like he was a completely normal--albeit grumpy--guy dropped headfirst in a Hallmark movie, but that was definitely part of the charm. i thought the portrayal of his anger and resentment toward his brother was extremely realistic and human. the anger we feel when someone hurts us repeatedly and when that person dies or moves on without providing closure is something i'd like to read more about. Aaron's pain and resistance to evolution and change was extremely relatable, and i loved how the author captured all of that in this quick, digestible read.
not only was Aaron a believable human character, but this book was filled with unexpected diversity. the portrayal of Chad's disability was especially unique and enjoyable. his motivations also felt real and tangible, but he wasn't a stereotypical wheel chair user character. he was comic relief, yes, but he had his own complex storyline going on. i sort of wanted to dive deeper into that... (ALSO Chad coming to terms with being queer? slay, honestly.)
the portrayal of addiction was very empathetic. i personally struggle with my own views on addition and sobriety, so watching Aaron's growth over the course of the book was something i felt i could learn from. (SPOILERS!) i am also glad he and Hannah did not end up together, but i loved seeing her as an "inevitable" pillar in his life beyond a romantic relationship. some people are inevitable, but they don't have to fit one particular mold to be important in our lives.
shout out to the author for their music tastes, too. all of their "perfect songs" were impeccable, and the chapter titles (book titles!) were a really fun touch! This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads is an especially important song in my life, so i did get teary-eyed anytime it was mentioned.
overall, a fun and compelling read. i expected a classic YA rom-com, but the aged up protagonist and cast of characters made this book feel perfect for someone transitioning from YA to adult. i'd recommend for anyone looking to read more uplifting/light-hearted books about addiction and grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Alcohol
embla_v's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder and Car accident
danibast's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Death
priarusby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
aus10england's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
O o f, what a disappointment.
Going into this, I was excited for: small town pacific northwest vibes, a wheelchair using character, bookstores/records.
With the things I did like, I enjoyed all the literary references, and it was nice having some handicap representation in a book, whether that was handled well is not for me to say.
And onto the bad, getting through this was a TRUDGE, I understand that not every story has to have likable characters, but the author really took this challenge on.
I thought they handled the topic of addiction pretty awfully, the main character made such baffling decisions, and the romance was just…… NOT it.
Overall, a bummer of a way to close out my reading month, onto the next one.
Going into this, I was excited for: small town pacific northwest vibes, a wheelchair using character, bookstores/records.
With the things I did like, I enjoyed all the literary references, and it was nice having some handicap representation in a book, whether that was handled well is not for me to say.
And onto the bad, getting through this was a TRUDGE, I understand that not every story has to have likable characters, but the author really took this challenge on.
I thought they handled the topic of addiction pretty awfully, the main character made such baffling decisions, and the romance was just…… NOT it.
Overall, a bummer of a way to close out my reading month, onto the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse
Moderate: Ableism and Death
Minor: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
lauramonika's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Drug use
blackveilbeccy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This started off slow, but got better as it went. It took quite a bit of time to warm up to many of the characters although I enjoyed the protagonist’s personal growth. I wasn’t a big fan of the love interest even though they didn’t end up together . The mood for this one was hopeful despite the bittersweet ending and the heavy themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Car accident
elyssam's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction and Death
jodierose14's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Death