babblinglib's review against another edition
4.0
I'm usually a little leery of teen angst books. They can be over the top, to the point where it can almost cross into parody. This title was a nice surprise. Gordie has something terrible happen to him, and he reacts in a very realistic and heartbreaking way. The author gives Gordie a lovely voice and captures how his pain is reflected in those closest to him. A short, thoughtful story.
zanm's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There’s a lot of things I could say about this book, but one of my praises is how accurate the depiction of PTSD and trauma coping is. As someone with my own traumatic childhood, Gordie’s struggles and distance from his peers hit home for me, and while his case was an extreme, the ending is an insane 10/10 depiction of how recovery feels. Absolutely I cried at the end and the pacing was also phenomenal! Thoroughly enjoyed this :)
Spoiler
where he’s not really “better” or “fixed” but implied that he can become more settled instead,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Suicide, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Self harm
momo1129's review
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was really good, I enjoyed it... But the last thirty-ish pages seemed very rushed. While the rest of the book was pretty evenly paced, and I enjoyed the ride, as it were, after the scene at the ice rink, everything just seems to dart for the finish line as quick as possible.
It was jarring, since the rest of the book was pretty well paced, and I liked the writing.
It was jarring, since the rest of the book was pretty well paced, and I liked the writing.
mary_do12's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
MY HEART IS IN PIECES
i didn’t think i would read something like this ever again. i didn’t know a book could make me feel so angry.
i didn’t think i would read something like this ever again. i didn’t know a book could make me feel so angry.
kirstynelaine's review
3.0
As someone who has epilepsy and has a child with PTSD, there was something about this book that I just didn't find believable. The voice did not feel authentic to me.
Part of that might have been due to the fact that I listened to this one on Audible, and the narrator did a lot of weird voices: every bad guy sounded like Derek Zoolander, the biological father sounded like Christian Bale's take on Batman, and the lawyer sounded like an extra from the movie Fargo.
Part of that might have been due to the fact that I listened to this one on Audible, and the narrator did a lot of weird voices: every bad guy sounded like Derek Zoolander, the biological father sounded like Christian Bale's take on Batman, and the lawyer sounded like an extra from the movie Fargo.
cewhisenant's review
5.0
"I'm really, really tired of the past"
Alright guys; time to admit something embarrassing. You know that feeling when you're book shopping on Amazon, and it's the wee hours of the morning, and you feel absolutely invincible? That's how I snagged a copy of this book. I binge bought books on Amazon at three am, and this book had caught my interest.
I am so freaking glad I did. This book did so many things right. It handled an array of dark and deep topic manners in a realistic way that wasn't romanticized. Even though I still enjoy YA with deep and dark themes that's romanticized, it's like a breath a fresh air when it isn't. There was nothing sugar-coated about what was happening to Gordie, and to be honest, I spent a lot of time squirming in my seat.
I'm going to keep this spoiler free, since I really want those of you who this interests to pick it up. I haven't read a novel that hits PTSD, anxiety, child abuse, mental illness, or makeshift families so realistically but fantastically in ages.
Please just read this. This book is so important and while it's not in the top ten teen reads lists yet, it should be.
Alright guys; time to admit something embarrassing. You know that feeling when you're book shopping on Amazon, and it's the wee hours of the morning, and you feel absolutely invincible? That's how I snagged a copy of this book. I binge bought books on Amazon at three am, and this book had caught my interest.
I am so freaking glad I did. This book did so many things right. It handled an array of dark and deep topic manners in a realistic way that wasn't romanticized. Even though I still enjoy YA with deep and dark themes that's romanticized, it's like a breath a fresh air when it isn't. There was nothing sugar-coated about what was happening to Gordie, and to be honest, I spent a lot of time squirming in my seat.
I'm going to keep this spoiler free, since I really want those of you who this interests to pick it up. I haven't read a novel that hits PTSD, anxiety, child abuse, mental illness, or makeshift families so realistically but fantastically in ages.
Please just read this. This book is so important and while it's not in the top ten teen reads lists yet, it should be.
rachels1127's review
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
yeah a female author writing a manic pixie dream girl kinda threw me off ngl story would've been better without her. Anyways I'm a whore for codependency let's go