briely's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol
Minor: Death
jessicafavor's review against another edition
4.0
This is What it Feels Like is the first YA contemporary I have read in a long, long time. There were no magic, monsters, or interstellar travel — just girls growing up, hurting each other and healing each other as they transitioned into adulthood. I was hurt and healed alongside them, and it was wonderful.
Our story centers Dia, a teen mom, as well as Jules, an out lesbian, and finally Hanna, a former alcoholic. All three used to be best friends and had a band together, but broke apart. They have just graduated high school when they receive the news that there is a big musical contest in their town with a cash prize of fifteen thousand dollars. What follows is Dia, Jules, and Hanna getting back together to win the contest, and how they reconcile and grow with each other.
This book manages to tackle so many tough topics while remaining infused with so much joy. Dia is dealing with the trauma of the death of her boyfriend, Elliot, and is at a loss for how to move on while also raising her two year old daughter. Jules is trying to understand what constitutes a healthy relationship after leaving a toxic one. And Hanna is struggling to find her identity after the losses of the band, her friends, and giving up alcohol. This could have been a very serious book, but instead it manages to give each of these subjects its due without either diminishing their importance or letting them take over the narrative.
One thing that I really loved about This is What it Feels Like is how romance doesn’t dominate the narrative. Both Dia and Jules’ arcs feature a romance, but relationships aren’t what spur either of these girls to grow as people — it’s their own will and their own drive that causes the change. All of the recovery that they and Hanna go through feels hugely well-earned. The characters all felt very real, well-crafted, and well-developed, and I loved the journey that each of the girls went through. The focus of the book is definitely on their collective friendship, and how this friendship and the contest spurs each of them to get out of their respective ruts and into their adult lives.
Overall, if you’re looking for a book with a focus on female friendship, about young women growing and changing and becoming better together, I cannot recommend This is What it Feels Like enough. Go read it. You won’t regret it.
Our story centers Dia, a teen mom, as well as Jules, an out lesbian, and finally Hanna, a former alcoholic. All three used to be best friends and had a band together, but broke apart. They have just graduated high school when they receive the news that there is a big musical contest in their town with a cash prize of fifteen thousand dollars. What follows is Dia, Jules, and Hanna getting back together to win the contest, and how they reconcile and grow with each other.
This book manages to tackle so many tough topics while remaining infused with so much joy. Dia is dealing with the trauma of the death of her boyfriend, Elliot, and is at a loss for how to move on while also raising her two year old daughter. Jules is trying to understand what constitutes a healthy relationship after leaving a toxic one. And Hanna is struggling to find her identity after the losses of the band, her friends, and giving up alcohol. This could have been a very serious book, but instead it manages to give each of these subjects its due without either diminishing their importance or letting them take over the narrative.
One thing that I really loved about This is What it Feels Like is how romance doesn’t dominate the narrative. Both Dia and Jules’ arcs feature a romance, but relationships aren’t what spur either of these girls to grow as people — it’s their own will and their own drive that causes the change. All of the recovery that they and Hanna go through feels hugely well-earned. The characters all felt very real, well-crafted, and well-developed, and I loved the journey that each of the girls went through. The focus of the book is definitely on their collective friendship, and how this friendship and the contest spurs each of them to get out of their respective ruts and into their adult lives.
Overall, if you’re looking for a book with a focus on female friendship, about young women growing and changing and becoming better together, I cannot recommend This is What it Feels Like enough. Go read it. You won’t regret it.
foleyzac's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
greengaybles's review against another edition
5.0
This is an absolutely gorgeous book full of messy and sharp girls loving and jamming and learning to trust each other. I devoured it and immediately wanted to start it again. It’s like it was written specifically for me.
rai's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Alcoholism
bookowl's review against another edition
4.0
This was GOOD. The representation was excellent. The emotions and the girls rang so true to me!
meghanlew_'s review
emotional
reflective
tense
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
thegraduatedbookwormblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Full review on thegraduatedbookworm.com
First, I want to thank HCC Frenzy for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review! This was definitely the kind of read that I think would be inspiring to young girls today!
First of all, hello diverse characters! Every girl in the novel had their own story to tell and boy were they all ever different, but that's one thing that I really enjoyed about the book. Every character had their own unique personality, it was easy to know which character you were reading.
What seems to have gotten me the most was that I couldn't connect fully in third person POV and I felt like it was a pretty slow start to dive into all the "good stuff" if you know what I mean. There is also a point of view that you don't read much of, and I found myself wondering if they were even important with the story line.
Overall, this was a really great read. The development between where the girls were in the beginning to how they got to the end was great! I don't want to spoil what happens with the contest, but it was my favourite part for sure! It was an inspiring and heart-warming book that would be a great read for anyone who loves music and books!
First, I want to thank HCC Frenzy for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review! This was definitely the kind of read that I think would be inspiring to young girls today!
First of all, hello diverse characters! Every girl in the novel had their own story to tell and boy were they all ever different, but that's one thing that I really enjoyed about the book. Every character had their own unique personality, it was easy to know which character you were reading.
What seems to have gotten me the most was that I couldn't connect fully in third person POV and I felt like it was a pretty slow start to dive into all the "good stuff" if you know what I mean. There is also a point of view that you don't read much of, and I found myself wondering if they were even important with the story line.
Overall, this was a really great read. The development between where the girls were in the beginning to how they got to the end was great! I don't want to spoil what happens with the contest, but it was my favourite part for sure! It was an inspiring and heart-warming book that would be a great read for anyone who loves music and books!
elyana's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler
Le livre se concentre sur 3 jeunes femmes de 18 ans :a_story_in_punk's review against another edition
5.0
I’m mildly heartbroken this book is over.
I absolutely fell in love with the Hannah, Jules and Dia.
The book was fast paced and truthfully left me dying for more when I finished it.
The book covered many things most books don’t actually touch like periods, sex, teenage motherhood and addictions, y’know taboo stuff.
It was written beautifully, I highly recommend this as a must read.
I absolutely fell in love with the Hannah, Jules and Dia.
The book was fast paced and truthfully left me dying for more when I finished it.
The book covered many things most books don’t actually touch like periods, sex, teenage motherhood and addictions, y’know taboo stuff.
It was written beautifully, I highly recommend this as a must read.