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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to read this book because I wanted to read more work from authors that I've enjoyed previously. I enjoyed All the Bright Places and I’ve seen this book in bookshops and online that I thought I would give it a go. This book hurt my head and I didn’t really care for the main characters.
This book is based on Claudine Henry, and she wasn’t supposed to be spending her summer on this remote island off the coast of Georgia. She was supposed to be on a road trip with her best friend and spending every minute together before they go to college. But after her father makes a shock announcement, she is exiled with her shaken mother, with no phone service and no one she knows. She is completely cut off. Until she meets Jeremiah who is free spirited, mysterious and beautiful. Their chemistry is immediate and irresistible. They both know that whatever they have can only last the summer, but maybe one summer is enough.
My issue with this book is that nothing happens. Absolutely nothing interesting. It just sort of moves along, there are no twists, no turns. It was very predictable. Coming of age learns her father is a cheater and now she has daddy issues and she hates her mother for ruining her summer, she falls out with her best friend because her mother ruins their summer, she falls in love with the bad boy, they have sex, they fall out, get back together and then they leave to carry on with their lives. I wasn’t shocked or hooked, I was getting bored, and I had a headache from rolling my eyes too much. Claudine was annoying me for like 65% of this book, her thoughts were exhausting, and she was making everything sound like the end of the world. Miah was just shut off and then became too emotional when the flip was switched, I would’ve liked to see more of a slow change. The ending wasn’t the ending, because it felt like it was setting itself for a sequel that hasn’t happened.
Like most people, I liked the island aspect of it and I would have LOVED for this to be a self-growth journey for Claud rather than the fact that she spend 20% complaining about the fact that she was a virgin and wanted to sleep with someone else and then she loses her virginity and all of a sudden she’s not self-conscious or overthinking anything? Bullshit.
I just wanted more from this book, I think my expectations was way too high after All the Bright Places and I don’t know if I will be reading Holding Up the Universe after reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Death
ivulikkivulik's review against another edition
0.5
Yikes. Very unlikeable character(s). I am sorry to say that I hated this story so much when it is so personal to the author but the character was just not for me. Or the lovestory.
The audiobook of the narrator was also not the best.
The audiobook of the narrator was also not the best.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide
Divorcecarolinacortez's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Jennifer Niven nunca me decepciona, fácil le hubiera dado las cinco estrellas si hubiera sido su público target (adolescentes de 16-18 años), como cuando lo fui con all the bright places y holding up the universe, pero la verdad lo disfrute mucho, es una gran historia coming of age, claro que es de romance y claro que como cualquier libro de ella, te destroza el corazón.
An we are all this and almostness and maybe
All the scary stuff doesn't really compare to getting lost in your mind
I can be your floor
En serio esta mujer es experta en excribir personajes muy relacionables, ame a todos, y aunque claude (la protagonista) a veces me desesperaba un poco, con el tiempo te das cuenta que esto suele pasar por que es a la única a la que le lees el pensamiento, e incluso nosotros mismos a veces no nos caemos bien por que sabemos lo que pensamos, así que hay que ser un poco más comprensivos con las/les/los protagonistas de las historias.
Otra cosa en la que es buenísima es en escribir las notas de autor, lo que llore con esta nota, ufff no tienen ni idea, leer sus palabras, de ella, no de su protagonista siempre es bellisimo, y como siempre te muestra qué ella escribe sobre lo que conoce
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content
grace_p's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide
saher_sharieff18's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
cath_'s review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars
I wanted an easy, romantic read and this delivered. Like most romances, it was predictable.
Breathless did, however, feel like JN was trying to hit a word count. It dragged on in some sections but then strangely enough didn't conclude a lot of the plots.
It was clear one ofJN's intentions for this book was to address the construct of virginity, heteronormative sex ideals along with a few other mature topics which are relevant for young adults.
These discussions weren't seamlessly placed in dialogue. It was very obvious when JN wanted to insert a long paragraph of 'casual' conversation between friends to blatantly get her point across. It sometimes came across as preachy.
These discussions weren't seamlessly placed in dialogue. It was very obvious when JN wanted to insert a long paragraph of 'casual' conversation between friends to blatantly get her point across. It sometimes came across as preachy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Suicide
maple_dove's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
minimalistbibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicide
kajasversion's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book broke me.
I mean my heart is broken to pieces… and then this book took it and threw it on the floor and stepped on it.
The whole book was such a lovely story to read and i love how vulnerable the characters got with each other… but the ending… the ending had me bawling my eyes out.
There were moments so raw and intense you could tell the storyline was really close to the author.
I just finished reading the novel and i still can’t comprehend it. The quotes in this book are next level and the tension between the characters is just *chef’s kiss*.
I love how the characters are flawed and that’s what book mostly focuses on because it is an actual depiction of how people are.
I will definitely recommend it to everyone looking for a good summer read… just be warned about the ending.
I mean my heart is broken to pieces… and then this book took it and threw it on the floor and stepped on it.
The whole book was such a lovely story to read and i love how vulnerable the characters got with each other… but the ending… the ending had me bawling my eyes out.
There were moments so raw and intense you could tell the storyline was really close to the author.
I just finished reading the novel and i still can’t comprehend it. The quotes in this book are next level and the tension between the characters is just *chef’s kiss*.
I love how the characters are flawed and that’s what book mostly focuses on because it is an actual depiction of how people are.
I will definitely recommend it to everyone looking for a good summer read… just be warned about the ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide