lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Realizing there's more to family than first imagined is something Ivy has to do in Wild Swans, which is a tender story about truly growing up.
Ivy has lived most of her life in a small town, where both she, and everyone else knows that her mom left her when she was very young. Since she was two, she's never seen her mom, but she's had a stable and good life with her grand-dad and some good friends. Wild Swans unfolds over the span of just a couple of weeks in the summer before Ivy's senior year at high school, and she has a lot of choices to make about her future. Alex, her best friend and the boy next door has showed her that he has more than just friendly feelings for her - but she just doesn't want anything to change. Then, her grand-dad throws a curve-ball her way, saying her mom needs to come home, with her two daughters so she can regroup.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of emotions in Wild Swans, and I thought Ivy dealt with those in quite a mature way! She wasn't the character who needed to grow up the most. Always striving to be good, to be better, to live up to her grand-father's expectations, Ivy was a hard worker for sure. And when her mother - whom she called Erica - came back with two girls, and pretended that Ivy was her sister rather than her daughter, things became more complicated and quite a bit ugly as well.
On top of having to deal with her mom and new sisters, she also had to live with her best friend not wanting to be around her anymore because he was in love with her. Also, falling in love with one of her grand-father's students, working on her grand-mother's poems and trying to forge a relationship with her younger siblings. Written in first person point of view, from Ivy's perspective and in present tense, the story unfolds in a way that makes each of Ivy's discoveries the reader's discovery at the same time. Definitely a solid read, and one I recommend to those who enjoy coming of age stories that are angled slightly differently than the norm.
Lightning hasn't split the sky yet, but I can taste it coming. The air's so thick I could swim through it.
Later, when he walked me to my door at three in the morning, he stopped and looked at me. Really looked, like I wasn't the Ivy he'd been looking at his whole life - or maybe I was, but I was also more. Ivy-plus.
No one is expecting him to be extraordinary. Except... I think he expects it of himself. I watch as he leans down, tripping his fingers lightly over those spines again, and he is so goddamn gorgeous I want to cry. He knows what he wants and he's going to make it happen.
Realizing there's more to family than first imagined is something Ivy has to do in Wild Swans, which is a tender story about truly growing up.
Ivy has lived most of her life in a small town, where both she, and everyone else knows that her mom left her when she was very young. Since she was two, she's never seen her mom, but she's had a stable and good life with her grand-dad and some good friends. Wild Swans unfolds over the span of just a couple of weeks in the summer before Ivy's senior year at high school, and she has a lot of choices to make about her future. Alex, her best friend and the boy next door has showed her that he has more than just friendly feelings for her - but she just doesn't want anything to change. Then, her grand-dad throws a curve-ball her way, saying her mom needs to come home, with her two daughters so she can regroup.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of emotions in Wild Swans, and I thought Ivy dealt with those in quite a mature way! She wasn't the character who needed to grow up the most. Always striving to be good, to be better, to live up to her grand-father's expectations, Ivy was a hard worker for sure. And when her mother - whom she called Erica - came back with two girls, and pretended that Ivy was her sister rather than her daughter, things became more complicated and quite a bit ugly as well.
On top of having to deal with her mom and new sisters, she also had to live with her best friend not wanting to be around her anymore because he was in love with her. Also, falling in love with one of her grand-father's students, working on her grand-mother's poems and trying to forge a relationship with her younger siblings. Written in first person point of view, from Ivy's perspective and in present tense, the story unfolds in a way that makes each of Ivy's discoveries the reader's discovery at the same time. Definitely a solid read, and one I recommend to those who enjoy coming of age stories that are angled slightly differently than the norm.
Lightning hasn't split the sky yet, but I can taste it coming. The air's so thick I could swim through it.
Later, when he walked me to my door at three in the morning, he stopped and looked at me. Really looked, like I wasn't the Ivy he'd been looking at his whole life - or maybe I was, but I was also more. Ivy-plus.
No one is expecting him to be extraordinary. Except... I think he expects it of himself. I watch as he leans down, tripping his fingers lightly over those spines again, and he is so goddamn gorgeous I want to cry. He knows what he wants and he's going to make it happen.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood was a book I was excited to get my hands on. I love her Cahill Witch Chronicles series so when I found out she was writing a Contemporary YA I immediately added it to my TBR shelf.
It’s the summer before Ivy’s senior year and she has plans to do whatever she wants for once. No classes or jobs or anything her granddad wants her to do so she can further find out what her “thing” is. This story immediately grabbed my interest and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished. I loved Ivy. She is smart but what got me was her story. She lives with her granddad and in a town where her last name comes with expectations and everyone know everyone else’s story. These are the biggest reasons that her mother left town.
This story really revolves around the relationships Ivy has with the people around her. There is a romance aspect as well but it’s the family and friends who surround Ivy that drive the story forward. Immediately a few things happen that completely change how Ivy’s summer will go but the biggest thing is the announcement from her granddad that her mother is going to be moving back in with them for a while.
I have to admit, most of the time I was reading this book I wanted to just give Ivy a hug. When Ivy finally comes face to face with her mother, she is devastated to find out that her mother was only a short way away and could have come to see her anytime. When she also finds out that she has two half-sisters, Ivy is clearly thrown. The other piece to this that really had me wanting to scream at her mother for her was that Ivy’s sisters have been told that Ivy is their aunt – not their sister – and neither of them know the real story. The fact that Ivy didn’t have a complete meltdown during this whole introduction speaks to the strength within her.
Outside of Ivy, I thought the secondary characters were well done. Spotswood builds a great cast of supporting characters to add to Ivy’s story and introduce some sensitive topics. All of these pieces add up to making this a wonderful book.
There’s no question in my mind that Ivy grows throughout this book and the change in her personality is for the better. When we first meet her she was willing to do whatever she needed to in order to make everyone around her happy but by the end she finally recognized she needed to stand up for what she wanted. I loved the relationship that Ivy creates with her younger sisters despite the challenges all three face having the mother that they have.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If there was one thing I wish it had it would be more closure. The ending felt very open-ended and somewhat incomplete to me – that could be because maybe I wanted to know more about how things would end up for Ivy but regardless…I’m hopeful that Spotswood will someday put an epilogue or something out telling me how things end up! If you like contemporary that includes some very real issues, definitely consider checking this book out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!
It’s the summer before Ivy’s senior year and she has plans to do whatever she wants for once. No classes or jobs or anything her granddad wants her to do so she can further find out what her “thing” is. This story immediately grabbed my interest and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished. I loved Ivy. She is smart but what got me was her story. She lives with her granddad and in a town where her last name comes with expectations and everyone know everyone else’s story. These are the biggest reasons that her mother left town.
This story really revolves around the relationships Ivy has with the people around her. There is a romance aspect as well but it’s the family and friends who surround Ivy that drive the story forward. Immediately a few things happen that completely change how Ivy’s summer will go but the biggest thing is the announcement from her granddad that her mother is going to be moving back in with them for a while.
I have to admit, most of the time I was reading this book I wanted to just give Ivy a hug. When Ivy finally comes face to face with her mother, she is devastated to find out that her mother was only a short way away and could have come to see her anytime. When she also finds out that she has two half-sisters, Ivy is clearly thrown. The other piece to this that really had me wanting to scream at her mother for her was that Ivy’s sisters have been told that Ivy is their aunt – not their sister – and neither of them know the real story. The fact that Ivy didn’t have a complete meltdown during this whole introduction speaks to the strength within her.
Outside of Ivy, I thought the secondary characters were well done. Spotswood builds a great cast of supporting characters to add to Ivy’s story and introduce some sensitive topics. All of these pieces add up to making this a wonderful book.
There’s no question in my mind that Ivy grows throughout this book and the change in her personality is for the better. When we first meet her she was willing to do whatever she needed to in order to make everyone around her happy but by the end she finally recognized she needed to stand up for what she wanted. I loved the relationship that Ivy creates with her younger sisters despite the challenges all three face having the mother that they have.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If there was one thing I wish it had it would be more closure. The ending felt very open-ended and somewhat incomplete to me – that could be because maybe I wanted to know more about how things would end up for Ivy but regardless…I’m hopeful that Spotswood will someday put an epilogue or something out telling me how things end up! If you like contemporary that includes some very real issues, definitely consider checking this book out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood is a thought-provoking journey of self discovery for seventeen year old Ivy Milbourn. A beautifully written, realistic young adult novel, many of the story’s underlying themes are sure to resonate with readers of all ages.
Ivy’s perfect summer comes to a screeching halt before it has even begun. Instead of the carefree summer she has planned, Ivy is stunned to discover her long absent mother Erica and her stepsisters, Isobel and Grace, are temporarily moving in with her and her beloved grandfather. Ivy has not seen Erica since she abandoned her when she was two years old and their reunion is fraught with tension. Reeling from her mother’s animosity and well-aimed barbs, Ivy is soon plagued with doubts and insecurities about her inability to live up to her grandfather’s expectations.
Despite her mother’s abandonment and the Milbourn women’s complicated legacy, Ivy is fairly happy and well-adjusted. She has a good relationship with her granddad but she feels like her best efforts are never good enough for him. Tired of always striving to reach unattainable (and unrealistic) goals, Ivy has convinced him to let her take the summer off from the many classes and extracurricular activities she is usually enrolled in. Erica’s reappearance resurrects Ivy’s unanswered questions about why her mother left her yet chose to raise her sisters.
Already feeling incredibly vulnerable and exposed, Ivy is distraught when her close friend Alex Garcia deserts her after she refuses to date him. Hurt and angry, he is deliberately cruel to her once he realizes she is interested in Connor Clarke, one of her granddad’s students. Understanding all too well the difficulties in stepping out from under the weight of family expectations, Connor encourages Ivy to be true to herself.
As the situation with Erica worsens, Ivy’s frustrations spill over into some very heated arguments. Although not indecisive, Ivy has a hard time speaking up for herself. Feeling pressured by her granddad and her mother, she finally works up the courage to tell Erica a few hard truths about how her poor decisions are affecting their family. She is finally honest with her granddad about her feelings of inadequacy in trying to live up to his high expectations. Most important, Ivy confronts Alex about his hurtful behavior and although her efforts do not have the outcome she hoped for, this is an important step in taking charge of her destiny.
Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood is a captivating novel that is remarkably free from angst or unnecessary drama. The characters are multi-faceted with relatable flaws and imperfections. The storyline is realistic with true to life issues and problems to overcome. Ivy’s frustrations with feeling inadequate are believable and I suspect many readers will empathize with her plight. I highly recommend this delightful young adult novel to readers of all ages.
Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood is a thought-provoking journey of self discovery for seventeen year old Ivy Milbourn. A beautifully written, realistic young adult novel, many of the story’s underlying themes are sure to resonate with readers of all ages.
Ivy’s perfect summer comes to a screeching halt before it has even begun. Instead of the carefree summer she has planned, Ivy is stunned to discover her long absent mother Erica and her stepsisters, Isobel and Grace, are temporarily moving in with her and her beloved grandfather. Ivy has not seen Erica since she abandoned her when she was two years old and their reunion is fraught with tension. Reeling from her mother’s animosity and well-aimed barbs, Ivy is soon plagued with doubts and insecurities about her inability to live up to her grandfather’s expectations.
Despite her mother’s abandonment and the Milbourn women’s complicated legacy, Ivy is fairly happy and well-adjusted. She has a good relationship with her granddad but she feels like her best efforts are never good enough for him. Tired of always striving to reach unattainable (and unrealistic) goals, Ivy has convinced him to let her take the summer off from the many classes and extracurricular activities she is usually enrolled in. Erica’s reappearance resurrects Ivy’s unanswered questions about why her mother left her yet chose to raise her sisters.
Already feeling incredibly vulnerable and exposed, Ivy is distraught when her close friend Alex Garcia deserts her after she refuses to date him. Hurt and angry, he is deliberately cruel to her once he realizes she is interested in Connor Clarke, one of her granddad’s students. Understanding all too well the difficulties in stepping out from under the weight of family expectations, Connor encourages Ivy to be true to herself.
As the situation with Erica worsens, Ivy’s frustrations spill over into some very heated arguments. Although not indecisive, Ivy has a hard time speaking up for herself. Feeling pressured by her granddad and her mother, she finally works up the courage to tell Erica a few hard truths about how her poor decisions are affecting their family. She is finally honest with her granddad about her feelings of inadequacy in trying to live up to his high expectations. Most important, Ivy confronts Alex about his hurtful behavior and although her efforts do not have the outcome she hoped for, this is an important step in taking charge of her destiny.
Wild Swans by Jessica Spotswood is a captivating novel that is remarkably free from angst or unnecessary drama. The characters are multi-faceted with relatable flaws and imperfections. The storyline is realistic with true to life issues and problems to overcome. Ivy’s frustrations with feeling inadequate are believable and I suspect many readers will empathize with her plight. I highly recommend this delightful young adult novel to readers of all ages.
bea12123123's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so complicated, but amazing. I wish I could read it again for the first time. I couldn’t put it down. The relationships between all the characters were so interesting and I didn’t know how to feel about so many of them. Erica, Grandad, Isobel, Alex. The characters were so well written, and Jessica really has a way with words. Usually, books like these aren’t my style, but I LOVED this one and will definitely reread it sometime.
girlreading's review against another edition
3.0
3.75* For some reason I expected this to be a mystery or paranormal. My expectations were proved wrong as this ended up being a lovely contemporary. There were some really brilliant messages within the plot regarding body image, gender, sexuality, mental health etc. It was great to read a book which touched on so many of these topics but dealt with them in such a positive, forward thinking way and didn't belittle or patronise the characters dealing with these issues. Although these things were not the main focus of the plot and were often quite subtle, I felt that they were some of the best parts.
Since there were so many elements to the story and its characters, I feel as though everyone will be able to relate to it in some way or another. I really enjoyed Ivy's character development. She was a strong character from the beginning but became stronger throughout the plot in a lot of ways which I really enjoyed. I thought the friendships in this were really lovely, as was the romance. The family relationships and dynamic was really interesting to read as there were so many dimensions to it. Overall, Wild Swans was a really lovely and enjoyable read which touched on some really important subjects in a sensitive, yet truthful way.
Since there were so many elements to the story and its characters, I feel as though everyone will be able to relate to it in some way or another. I really enjoyed Ivy's character development. She was a strong character from the beginning but became stronger throughout the plot in a lot of ways which I really enjoyed. I thought the friendships in this were really lovely, as was the romance. The family relationships and dynamic was really interesting to read as there were so many dimensions to it. Overall, Wild Swans was a really lovely and enjoyable read which touched on some really important subjects in a sensitive, yet truthful way.
kaylakaotik's review against another edition
3.0
I have pretty mixed feelings about Wild Swans. Some parts worked for me while others just fell flat.
I enjoyed the writing a lot. Even though I've got lukewarm feelings about this book, the writing was able to keep my attention. This is my first book by Jessica Spotswood and I'm sure it won't be my last.
The story line was interesting. This book had lots of potential (family drama, mental illness, romance), but I don't feel like anything was really fleshed out. Part of me feels like the book was just too short. I remember when I was about 85% into the book, I thought that there's just no way everything that "needs" to happen could happen before the end of the book. To top it all off, the ending felt too abrupt for my liking.
Also, being nitpicky here, I don't really get the title. I know that has little to nothing to do with how good a book is. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Wild Swans was good, but not great. There's good writing, story line full of potential, and pretty great characters. If it was longer and more developed, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
* This book was received from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
I enjoyed the writing a lot. Even though I've got lukewarm feelings about this book, the writing was able to keep my attention. This is my first book by Jessica Spotswood and I'm sure it won't be my last.
The story line was interesting. This book had lots of potential (family drama, mental illness, romance), but I don't feel like anything was really fleshed out. Part of me feels like the book was just too short. I remember when I was about 85% into the book, I thought that there's just no way everything that "needs" to happen could happen before the end of the book. To top it all off, the ending felt too abrupt for my liking.
Also, being nitpicky here, I don't really get the title. I know that has little to nothing to do with how good a book is. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Wild Swans was good, but not great. There's good writing, story line full of potential, and pretty great characters. If it was longer and more developed, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
* This book was received from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
abbyreads8's review against another edition
4.0
Wild Swans is a story of grit, self-discovery, and love. Readers are introduced to Ivy Milbourn, a teenage girl who lives with her grandfather in a tiny town where the Milbourn name is known-- both for the family's talents and knack for dying young and tragically. The story starts during the summer before Ivy's senior year in high school, and it doesn't look like her break will be the relaxing time she hoped it would. Instead, her mother Erica (to whom Ivy hasn't spoken to since she left her as a child) decides to return to the family home with two new daughters in tow-- a complete surprise to both Ivy and her granddad, whom Erica quite vocally dislikes. She goes as far as to tell her daughters that Ivy is their aunt, not their half-sister. And, to top it off, there's a massive love triangle between Ivy, her best childhood friend, and her granddad's best poetry student.
I'm so impressed with the level of character-building that Spotswood created in such a short novel. The main characters are intricately created with lots of backstory and unique personalities. I was especially intrigued with Erica, as her character was so captivatingly irritating. I found my blood pressure rising as I read scenes in which she was involved-- she was so cruel, but I also felt a distinct sympathy for her character.
While the familial situation was well-constructed, I felt as though something was missing from Ivy's love triangle. This pollen happened a bit too quickly for my taste, and I feel as though we were not given enough context or development for these relationships. I'm aware that I'm being vague on this point, but don't want to spoil anything!
Overall, I truly enjoyed Wild Swans. It was endearing and captivating-- but a bit shorter than I would have liked! 4 STARS!
Note: Sourcebooks Fire has provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so impressed with the level of character-building that Spotswood created in such a short novel. The main characters are intricately created with lots of backstory and unique personalities. I was especially intrigued with Erica, as her character was so captivatingly irritating. I found my blood pressure rising as I read scenes in which she was involved-- she was so cruel, but I also felt a distinct sympathy for her character.
While the familial situation was well-constructed, I felt as though something was missing from Ivy's love triangle. This pollen happened a bit too quickly for my taste, and I feel as though we were not given enough context or development for these relationships. I'm aware that I'm being vague on this point, but don't want to spoil anything!
Overall, I truly enjoyed Wild Swans. It was endearing and captivating-- but a bit shorter than I would have liked! 4 STARS!
Note: Sourcebooks Fire has provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
I love Jessica's books! They beautifully model egalitarian relationships between women and men. The romance is sexy, mutually consensual, and balanced (both women and men have a good time!). There are a few flaws to this book; I'd like Connor to be a little less perfect and some of the other characters to have a little more depth. However, I'm wildly enthusiastic about Jessica's work and will read anything she writes. Recommended for the teens in your house!