spearly's review
emotional
lighthearted
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
3.5
I did not like this book at first. The characters felt really young (and they were - grade 10), but since the novel takes place over a few years, I found the inner dialogue start to change the more I read, which is great.
Story wise, I loved this book. Isa and Alex had palpable chemistry from their first encounter, but I appreciated that Williams didn't write an insta-love situation. It's months later by the time the main relationship gets going, and it's a refreshing change of pace for a YA novel.
I also loved Alex and Isa as characters. I understood them, I never felt like anything that happened in the book, particularly in regards to them as a couple, was far-fetched. Sure, the obvious lack of communication ends up being the main conflict, but considering the characters are about 16/17, it felt believable. At that age, things like family and relationship drama can feel like the end of the world.
I also love Williams' focus on YA also tends to have a lot of alpha male MCs, so Alex was a refreshing change. I loved reading his POV. Honestly, I LOVE when authors do a split POV!
Most importantly, I loved how the novel tackled issues of race, of colorism, of mental health. I could feel the authenticity of it all as I read. My blood boiled with Alex. My mind raced with Merrit. My heart pounded with Isa. The way our MCs move throughout the world is so different from my own experience.
And I enjoyed the main setting of the novel - the story takes place over the course of 2ish years, with majority of the integral chapters taking place on a subway car. It's where Isa and Alex meet. And meet again. And have their first kiss. Their first make up. The big conflict.
My main issues came from the general writing style. Nearly every sentence started with a pronoun, and it came across pretty stilted at times. For example:
I stay where I am, next to the fountain that’s been drained for the season. I want to follow her. But I know I can’t. She’s like a bird, swooping with joy and life. I want to write about it. I take out my phone and snap a pic.
and
I’m on set three of four. The door opens. Robi comes down and sits on the steps. He was at the dining table, cutting hearts out of red construction paper when I came. In elementary school, I had to bring valentines for the class too. Only, I got mine from a box. I was going to tell Robi how cool it was he was making them. How his friends and teachers were going to be impressed. Papi closed a hand on my shoulder, steered me toward the basement before I could. He yelled out to Yaritza, asked why his son was playing with paper hearts when he could be watching his papi’s old games.
Those are just 2 of the many paragraphs I noticed when reading. It feels like an intentional writing choice, given how pervasive it is throughout the while novel, but it just wasn't my thing.
I was an interesting choice, however, since Alex's love of poetry was such an important point in the book. You'd think a book with such a poetic character would be a little more... poetic to read.
3.5, because 3 feels too low but I can't justify a 4 star rating.
Story wise, I loved this book. Isa and Alex had palpable chemistry from their first encounter, but I appreciated that Williams didn't write an insta-love situation. It's months later by the time the main relationship gets going, and it's a refreshing change of pace for a YA novel.
I also loved Alex and Isa as characters. I understood them, I never felt like anything that happened in the book, particularly in regards to them as a couple, was far-fetched. Sure, the obvious lack of communication ends up being the main conflict, but considering the characters are about 16/17, it felt believable. At that age, things like family and relationship drama can feel like the end of the world.
I also love Williams' focus on
Spoiler
Alex's writing. His sensitivity. His brotherly love.Most importantly, I loved how the novel tackled issues of race, of colorism, of mental health. I could feel the authenticity of it all as I read. My blood boiled with Alex. My mind raced with Merrit. My heart pounded with Isa. The way our MCs move throughout the world is so different from my own experience.
And I enjoyed the main setting of the novel - the story takes place over the course of 2ish years, with majority of the integral chapters taking place on a subway car. It's where Isa and Alex meet. And meet again. And have their first kiss. Their first make up. The big conflict.
My main issues came from the general writing style. Nearly every sentence started with a pronoun, and it came across pretty stilted at times. For example:
I stay where I am, next to the fountain that’s been drained for the season. I want to follow her. But I know I can’t. She’s like a bird, swooping with joy and life. I want to write about it. I take out my phone and snap a pic.
and
I’m on set three of four. The door opens. Robi comes down and sits on the steps. He was at the dining table, cutting hearts out of red construction paper when I came. In elementary school, I had to bring valentines for the class too. Only, I got mine from a box. I was going to tell Robi how cool it was he was making them. How his friends and teachers were going to be impressed. Papi closed a hand on my shoulder, steered me toward the basement before I could. He yelled out to Yaritza, asked why his son was playing with paper hearts when he could be watching his papi’s old games.
Those are just 2 of the many paragraphs I noticed when reading. It feels like an intentional writing choice, given how pervasive it is throughout the while novel, but it just wasn't my thing.
I was an interesting choice, however, since Alex's love of poetry was such an important point in the book. You'd think a book with such a poetic character would be a little more... poetic to read.
3.5, because 3 feels too low but I can't justify a 4 star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
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