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buttongirl22's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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
4.5
It’s not necessarily something I would’ve picked if I wasn’t already familiar with Gayle Foreman, but I really enjoyed this story and the message of the book. A great young adult read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
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
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
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
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
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
3.0
I am so torn about this book. On the one hand, everything about being bookseller and connecting with books really resonated with me. However, the narrator wasn't the most likeable character. Like, there were moments that definitely made me cringe. It made sense for the story, I just didn't like him all that much.
There is some good rep in this book, with a Jewish main character and some other diverse side characters. The summary makes it seem like this is a love story, but it's definitely more focused on Aaron's journey of healing. There is a romance, but it really takes more of a backseat to the rest.
There is some good rep in this book, with a Jewish main character and some other diverse side characters. The summary makes it seem like this is a love story, but it's definitely more focused on Aaron's journey of healing. There is a romance, but it really takes more of a backseat to the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
grifgirl's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Excrement, and Car accident
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