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kimbongiorno's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know how to exactly frame it, but there's something about this book that feels like a real 17yo girl's voice is telling us her story, and that story helps the reader see what it's like to be at the end of high school figuring out who you are, what you want, when so many people you deeply care about are influencing those things.
Corrine shares about a year in her life, from the day she realizes her secret girlfriend has died in an accident, then back-and-forth from points in time after it and before it. It is beauuutifully done. Moving. Insightful. Cringe-worthy. Realistic. Her fears and feelings and things she experiences at home, school, running meets, and more are so easily paralleled by the reader to things they (we!) have experienced, too. Her struggle with grief is a process that should be witnessed.
This book is the kind that builds empathy in its reader, makes us feel seen, and helps us understand we are not alone in the messiness that is that time period. Highly, highly recommend for ages 13+ (8th grade on up), on home bookshelves and school libraries.
Corrine shares about a year in her life, from the day she realizes her secret girlfriend has died in an accident, then back-and-forth from points in time after it and before it. It is beauuutifully done. Moving. Insightful. Cringe-worthy. Realistic. Her fears and feelings and things she experiences at home, school, running meets, and more are so easily paralleled by the reader to things they (we!) have experienced, too. Her struggle with grief is a process that should be witnessed.
This book is the kind that builds empathy in its reader, makes us feel seen, and helps us understand we are not alone in the messiness that is that time period. Highly, highly recommend for ages 13+ (8th grade on up), on home bookshelves and school libraries.
therecoveringbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism
n_kenzie247's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Not just the best sapphic book i’ve read but one of the best books in general, Corinne is such a relatable and complex main character. Got teary eyed a couple times. I need this to be a tv show but with me as the producer so everything is done correctly.
nkenzie247's review against another edition
5.0
Not just the best sapphic book i’ve read but one of the best books in general, Corinne is such a relatable and complex main character. Got teary eyed a couple times. I need this to be a tv show but with me as the producer so everything is done correctly.
noxeden's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Honestly this book could have been 100-150 pages shorter. It was such a difficult read because the main character was written to be so flat. The repetition of talking about how she lives in a small town and “needs to escape” was dreary, over done, and unimaginative at best. I finished it out of spite to be sure that it didn’t get better. The character’s main flaw of being concerned about what others think is very unimaginative as most teenagers care about what others think. This was a disappointment to read.
indiekay's review against another edition
4.0
This is a super depressing book, so do not go into this unless you're in the mood for a downer. The audiobook narrator did a great job in sounding like she was constantly holding back tears through the entire reading, and that must have been exhausting for her. And all the voices she did for side characters were fantastic.
There are some spoilers in this review.
There were a lot of points in this book where I was really frustrated with it -- but luckily I was really satisfied with the ending. Content Warnings: death of a loved one, biphobia, internalised biphobia, slut-shaming, a parent with alcoholism, characters trying to force the main character to come out before she's ready.
The audiobook app I used to listen to this had it marked as a romance, and I would not classify this as a romance. Corinne spends the entire book mourning Maggie (as is her right). Elissa actually has a VERY small roll in this story. Her and Corinne probably only talk like 3 times on-page before Corinne kisses Elissa, and then Elissa disappears for like a 3rd of the book. When she does contact Corinne again they decide to date, and most of that happens off-page before Elissa gives Corinne the ultimatum that she needs to come out or they won't date anymore -- which, OH MY GOD, I absolutely hate romances where people try and make their SO come out for them, and that happens TWICE in this book! NO! STOP IT!
Elissa was probably the weakest character in this book. It's wild to see a manic pixie dream girl in a Sapphic book written by a woman, but that's probably the best way to describe Elissa. She's got barely any personality outside of being hot and smoking a lot, and to call this book a romance around her and Corinne's brief fling is laughable.
That said, I liked a lot of other characters in this book. Corinne's friendship with Julie was lovely, and I loved how Julie came out as ace to Corinne - that was really well done. I also liked Corinne's friendship with Haley and Dylan. The friendships in this story were probably the strongest elements to it.
Corinne deals with a lot in this book, and it's really heavy. Her girlfriend died and she can't talk about it with anyone, she's terrified of coming out, her mom's an alcoholic, but none of them really talk about it, and everyone wants her to decide where to go to college, and putting pressure on her to run well so she can get a scholarship, and she doesn't even know if she WANTS to go to college.
I think the way all of Corinne's worries are aired out by the end of the book was well-done, and I'm satisfied with the ending. But woof, it was a rough ride to get there.
There are some spoilers in this review.
There were a lot of points in this book where I was really frustrated with it -- but luckily I was really satisfied with the ending. Content Warnings: death of a loved one, biphobia, internalised biphobia, slut-shaming, a parent with alcoholism, characters trying to force the main character to come out before she's ready.
The audiobook app I used to listen to this had it marked as a romance, and I would not classify this as a romance. Corinne spends the entire book mourning Maggie (as is her right). Elissa actually has a VERY small roll in this story. Her and Corinne probably only talk like 3 times on-page before Corinne kisses Elissa, and then Elissa disappears for like a 3rd of the book. When she does contact Corinne again they decide to date, and most of that happens off-page before Elissa gives Corinne the ultimatum that she needs to come out or they won't date anymore -- which, OH MY GOD, I absolutely hate romances where people try and make their SO come out for them, and that happens TWICE in this book! NO! STOP IT!
Elissa was probably the weakest character in this book. It's wild to see a manic pixie dream girl in a Sapphic book written by a woman, but that's probably the best way to describe Elissa. She's got barely any personality outside of being hot and smoking a lot, and to call this book a romance around her and Corinne's brief fling is laughable.
That said, I liked a lot of other characters in this book. Corinne's friendship with Julie was lovely, and I loved how Julie came out as ace to Corinne - that was really well done. I also liked Corinne's friendship with Haley and Dylan. The friendships in this story were probably the strongest elements to it.
Corinne deals with a lot in this book, and it's really heavy. Her girlfriend died and she can't talk about it with anyone, she's terrified of coming out, her mom's an alcoholic, but none of them really talk about it, and everyone wants her to decide where to go to college, and putting pressure on her to run well so she can get a scholarship, and she doesn't even know if she WANTS to go to college.
I think the way all of Corinne's worries are aired out by the end of the book was well-done, and I'm satisfied with the ending. But woof, it was a rough ride to get there.
haylsbookshelf's review against another edition
A-freakin-mazing! That's what this story was
book4grace's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
fast-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
3.75