kstericker's review
3.0
While I enjoyed Zarr's writing in The Lucy Variations and I appreciated how different the subject matter was from other YA books I've read recently, this book failed to keep me engaged throughout. Additionally, Lucy's relationship with Will made me increasingly uncomfortable as it developed--although he initially seems oblivious to Lucy's feelings for him, some of the behaviour he tolerates and the actions he takes towards the end indicate a mutual attraction between the two. It was frustrating that this clearly inappropriate dynamic was never explicitly addressed.
baancs's review
emotional
3.5
But sometimes, you could. Sometimes, you should be allowed a tiny bit of joy that would stay with you for more than five minutes. That wasn’t too much to ask. To have a moment like this, and be able to hold on to it. To cross that membrane, and feel alive.
numbuh212's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
libraryluna's review
4.0
First Mr.Charles. Then Gus. Then Will. Then Carson. SPOILER my heart was broken basically every time...
_bookishbella's review
4.0
Started slowly but after 40 or so pages I really started to enjoy it. Definitely looking forward to reading more of Sara Zarr's books! Review to come.
barbarajean's review
4.0
This was gorgeous. Beautiful writing & the audiobook did a wonderful job of incorporating music under the narration in just the right places. The story follows a 16-year-old former concert pianist prodigy as she seeks to reclaim herself and her music. I really enjoyed Lucy as a character—her depth and thoughtfulness. But I was conflicted about how the novel handles a teacher/student relationship. It didn’t quite cross the line, but for me, it skirted the edge of not-okay. It may be that I get more sensitive about that type of thing in a YA novel, and the resolution of that particular thread came through well in the end, but... like I said: conflicted.
susanarnoldbooks's review
3.0
Sara Zarr’s novel, THE LUCY VARIATIONS, is a coming-of-age story about a teenage girl struggling to decide who she wants to be in life; and how to get her family to understand and support her.
With an overly competitive grandfather who refuses to have things any other way than the way he wants them, a mother who always agrees with Lucy’s grandpa, and a father that tries to stay out of the middle, 16-year-old Lucy doesn’t know how to communicate her decisions to her family.
When death strikes, and her family hires new piano teacher, Will, for her brother, Gus, Lucy thinks that she finally finds somebody who understands. Someone who can help her.
THE LUCY VARIATIONS is a book that I believe every teenage girl should read. It helps the reader see that no matter what happens in your family, your family is always there for you; they’ll always come around in the end.
The book sort of made me think of Pretty Little Liars meets Arrow. In relation to PLL, Lucy is into older men (Don’t worry, nothing bad happens!) and the book starts out with a death that gets the ball rolling.
In relation to Arrow, there are flashbacks throughout the novel that help the reader understand where Lucy is in her life and why. If you’re sensitive to swear words I wouldn’t suggest reading this book, it’s based in high school, after all.
Overall I enjoyed the book and related to it in the sense of being shy to share my goals in life with my family. I completely fell in love with THE LUCY VARIATIONS and can honestly say that it’s now one of my favorite books!
With an overly competitive grandfather who refuses to have things any other way than the way he wants them, a mother who always agrees with Lucy’s grandpa, and a father that tries to stay out of the middle, 16-year-old Lucy doesn’t know how to communicate her decisions to her family.
When death strikes, and her family hires new piano teacher, Will, for her brother, Gus, Lucy thinks that she finally finds somebody who understands. Someone who can help her.
THE LUCY VARIATIONS is a book that I believe every teenage girl should read. It helps the reader see that no matter what happens in your family, your family is always there for you; they’ll always come around in the end.
The book sort of made me think of Pretty Little Liars meets Arrow. In relation to PLL, Lucy is into older men (Don’t worry, nothing bad happens!) and the book starts out with a death that gets the ball rolling.
In relation to Arrow, there are flashbacks throughout the novel that help the reader understand where Lucy is in her life and why. If you’re sensitive to swear words I wouldn’t suggest reading this book, it’s based in high school, after all.
Overall I enjoyed the book and related to it in the sense of being shy to share my goals in life with my family. I completely fell in love with THE LUCY VARIATIONS and can honestly say that it’s now one of my favorite books!
missprint's review
2.0
I have the overwhelming sense that this is a book I was supposed to love. That everyone in the book world community will love it; it will have a blurb in the NYT book review, and it'll be one of the spring It books for realistic fiction. But the truth is, reading it gave me this icky, slimy sensation, like tolerating a slug on my leg for an extended period of time.
I can't say what it was specifically. The relationship between Lucy and Will was definitely part of it: not only was it inappropriate, but the inappropriateness is never addressed. A lot of the relationships in the book are well built up - Lucy and Reyna, Lucy and Gus, Lucy and her grandfather and her mother - but it felt like Zarr sort of dropped the ball toward the end, in terms of emotional depth.
I can't articulate it in whole, but my feeling, overall, after reading this book was a big fat "blerg."
I can't say what it was specifically. The relationship between Lucy and Will was definitely part of it: not only was it inappropriate, but the inappropriateness is never addressed. A lot of the relationships in the book are well built up - Lucy and Reyna, Lucy and Gus, Lucy and her grandfather and her mother - but it felt like Zarr sort of dropped the ball toward the end, in terms of emotional depth.
I can't articulate it in whole, but my feeling, overall, after reading this book was a big fat "blerg."