saidtheraven's review against another edition
3.0
David Levithan really has a talent for writing books about real-life situations. There is a way in which he opens up his characters and makes the story feel raw, unique, but real. That off in some part of the world, there are two brothers going through the same strained troubles as Danny and Elijah
To be perfectly honest, I'm not really a fan of "real life fiction". Levithan has probably been one of the only one's that I really enjoy his style of writing. When I picked this book up, I was hesitant that I was actually going to enjoy it. Seeming as I don't have a brother and y relationship with my sister is not as strained as the main characters of this book where. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading it. It could have been the way the story was broken off, written almost like a free style poetry verse. Each little section jumping between the contrast of thought withing these two brothers and trying to find their balance in a foreign country. The plot, characters, writing was written in a flourish style but kept... simple. Levithan let the characters speak. Let them find their path, solve their troubles, in a most peculiar way. The book was actually, lovely. And may I add, endearing too. I like books written raw. Where the emotion in jumps from the page and you can feel it. "Are We There Yet?" certainly did that. It showed the strained relationship, the troubles or lack off that coursed through their mind, the way they actually grew up within their journey.
This book actually gets a 3.5. I cannot rave about how much the way it was actually written, that made this book better than it sounds. Basically, it's one of those books that leaves a resounding message at the end. A book that when you closed it, you know you learned something from it.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not really a fan of "real life fiction". Levithan has probably been one of the only one's that I really enjoy his style of writing. When I picked this book up, I was hesitant that I was actually going to enjoy it. Seeming as I don't have a brother and y relationship with my sister is not as strained as the main characters of this book where. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading it. It could have been the way the story was broken off, written almost like a free style poetry verse. Each little section jumping between the contrast of thought withing these two brothers and trying to find their balance in a foreign country. The plot, characters, writing was written in a flourish style but kept... simple. Levithan let the characters speak. Let them find their path, solve their troubles, in a most peculiar way. The book was actually, lovely. And may I add, endearing too. I like books written raw. Where the emotion in jumps from the page and you can feel it. "Are We There Yet?" certainly did that. It showed the strained relationship, the troubles or lack off that coursed through their mind, the way they actually grew up within their journey.
This book actually gets a 3.5. I cannot rave about how much the way it was actually written, that made this book better than it sounds. Basically, it's one of those books that leaves a resounding message at the end. A book that when you closed it, you know you learned something from it.
zombiegabby's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
3.0
2 brothers travel through italy (pre-smartphone era) and take lots of naps. manic pixie dream girl-like character appears. things mostly start picking up in the last third of the book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use
blyttgh's review against another edition
4.0
06/08/18 4.7/5 this is the kind of book that helps expand your sense of reality and helps understand yourself. It reminds me of Winger (boarding school), With Malice (traveling) and Perks of Being a Wallflower (teenage confusion). The writing was interesting and I really liked reading about the different places mentioned (NYC, Venice, Florence, Rome). I can also see this being adapted into a movie. I think it would be incredible.
bestdressedbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this, one of his better written novels.
marobbins's review against another edition
4.0
I could relate to this book because of the sibling themes. It was an enjoyable read, especially the parts about Europe.
wickedwitchofthewords's review against another edition
5.0
I luv all his books. This one is not an exception.
misssusan's review against another edition
5.0
Levithan is extraordinarily talented at depicting the relationships between family and how you can think you intensely dislike a sibling but love them anyways. I really loved that he didn't forget about why and how the conflict exists between the two brothers in trying to show the strength of their bond.
littleelfman's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful musing on the nature of brothers, travel and life.
cphaura's review against another edition
4.75
masterpiece.
never underestimate how having siblings impact all of your life.
the one thing worse than love triangle, is love triangles where two sibling are into the same person.
I want to highlight so many passages.
[To think that your parents raised you the same, and that your genes combined the same, and that the rest of what has happened is all your triumph … or failure.]
never underestimate how having siblings impact all of your life.
the one thing worse than love triangle, is love triangles where two sibling are into the same person.
I want to highlight so many passages.
[To think that your parents raised you the same, and that your genes combined the same, and that the rest of what has happened is all your triumph … or failure.]