Scan barcode
jenher's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
cpratreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was really well written, and I really liked the characters. The first half was so good and I loved it so much. The connection and friendship was so lovely and fun to read. But then it all started getting sad and that made it hard for me to want to keep reading. Maybe it was too sad for me or it might have been that I was just not in the mood for sad teenagers having a hard time lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
siobhancollierauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of this at the recent Young Adult Literature Convention in London Film and Comic Con. The publishers really rated the book, and had about twenty copies with them, despite the book not coming out in the UK yet. I'll try not to include spoilers in my review as a result of that.
I crave books with strong characters and an easy-to-follow plotline, and I think FOTIL has both of these things. I fell in love with Jeremy pretty quickly, but I was apprehensive about Mira and Sebby. I warmed to Mira as the story went along. As for Sebby ... I fluctuated between feeling so unbelievably sorry for him, and thinking that he was his own worst enemy.
I think some people are reading the blurb for this book and getting excited over the idea of a bisexual relationship, and then feeling disappointed when it turns out to be something else (although there is one scene where it's a definite possibility). I think I was lucky that the publishers stand told me more about the characters, and pleading with the editors that Jeremy wasn't going to get hurt halfway through (I read up to about the halfway mark during the convention, and went back to the stand to say pretty much the same thing). The story is more about Jeremy finding two people who he desperately wants to be friends with, the love is more about friendship than anything romantic. It was interesting to see the way in which Mira and Sebby reciprocated Jeremy's offer of friendship.
It was interesting to read the way the characters relate to each other, and with the other characters interacted with them. Everyone seemed to be well developed, with the possible exception of Nick. I think my only frustration came from the character Rose. She spends a lot of time with Mira and Jeremy at their school, they hang around with her in their free time, her on-off girlfriend's friend is an influence on Sebby, and yet she always seems secondary to the rest of the group. If not in terms of the action, then in terms of how they think of each other. I get that including her constantly in the group dynamic might have thrown some of the plotlessness off, but she was there constantly and she was so interesting, I felt bad that she was never considered as important as Jeremy, Mira and Sebby considered each other. Rose not being loved as much is the entire reason this book isn't getting a full five stars.
I think what I liked best was that this book ticks a lot of LGBTA and diversity/disability issues without coming across as preachy. Like in the scene where Mira is discussing summer school with her father and he cannot understand the nuances of her depression/chronic fatigue syndrome. Or where Jeremy discusses with his father and father's partner that he thinks he's gay and his stepfather's reaction is to ask "do you think you're gay, or do you think you're reacting to us being gay?"
There were some loose ends at the end, a lot of things were left up in the air, and I really hope that this is a sign there will be a sequel or an alternative perspective *coughs*Rose*coughs*
I crave books with strong characters and an easy-to-follow plotline, and I think FOTIL has both of these things. I fell in love with Jeremy pretty quickly, but I was apprehensive about Mira and Sebby. I warmed to Mira as the story went along. As for Sebby ... I fluctuated between feeling so unbelievably sorry for him, and thinking that he was his own worst enemy.
I think some people are reading the blurb for this book and getting excited over the idea of a bisexual relationship, and then feeling disappointed when it turns out to be something else (although there is one scene where it's a definite possibility). I think I was lucky that the publishers stand told me more about the characters, and pleading with the editors that Jeremy wasn't going to get hurt halfway through (I read up to about the halfway mark during the convention, and went back to the stand to say pretty much the same thing). The story is more about Jeremy finding two people who he desperately wants to be friends with, the love is more about friendship than anything romantic. It was interesting to see the way in which Mira and Sebby reciprocated Jeremy's offer of friendship.
It was interesting to read the way the characters relate to each other, and with the other characters interacted with them. Everyone seemed to be well developed, with the possible exception of Nick. I think my only frustration came from the character Rose. She spends a lot of time with Mira and Jeremy at their school, they hang around with her in their free time, her on-off girlfriend's friend is an influence on Sebby, and yet she always seems secondary to the rest of the group. If not in terms of the action, then in terms of how they think of each other. I get that including her constantly in the group dynamic might have thrown some of the plotlessness off, but she was there constantly and she was so interesting, I felt bad that she was never considered as important as Jeremy, Mira and Sebby considered each other. Rose not being loved as much is the entire reason this book isn't getting a full five stars.
I think what I liked best was that this book ticks a lot of LGBTA and diversity/disability issues without coming across as preachy. Like in the scene where Mira is discussing summer school with her father and he cannot understand the nuances of her depression/chronic fatigue syndrome. Or where Jeremy discusses with his father and father's partner that he thinks he's gay and his stepfather's reaction is to ask "do you think you're gay, or do you think you're reacting to us being gay?"
There were some loose ends at the end, a lot of things were left up in the air, and I really hope that this is a sign there will be a sequel or an alternative perspective *coughs*Rose*coughs*
etherealbk's review against another edition
5.0
This book physically hurt me or atleast it felt like it did.
laurad_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Wtf?! I didn't think this book was going to hurt that much? like ow, my heart. It had a bit of an "Eleanor and Park" x "The perks of being a wallflower" vibe and a bit of "How to build a girl" as well. And I was just not ready to be that involved and emotional that quickly. The books also had some marvellous quotes that I need to mark as soon as I get a copy of my own! I really liked the story in general but again a bit more painful than anticipated but not in a bad way.
As fellow Goodreads reviewer Sana*1 said (because when have I ever expressed myself very good without the help of others??):
"The book is fucked up in all the right places and I need to process all the fuckery because hot damn" True statement right there!
And as Goodreads reviewer paper fury*2 said: "The plot didn't really wrap up at the end. WHICH IS KINDA REAL-LIFE. But I think it had too many loose threads"
*1: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5862550-sana
*2: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11375137-cait-paper-fury
As fellow Goodreads reviewer Sana*1 said (because when have I ever expressed myself very good without the help of others??):
"The book is fucked up in all the right places and I need to process all the fuckery because hot damn" True statement right there!
And as Goodreads reviewer paper fury*2 said: "The plot didn't really wrap up at the end. WHICH IS KINDA REAL-LIFE. But I think it had too many loose threads"
*1: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5862550-sana
*2: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11375137-cait-paper-fury
manha10's review against another edition
5.0
In the beginning I was close to DNFING this book because the story line and the characters felt flat. But I gave it a chance and I’m SO glad I did. This story at a point pulled me in. I admit, it could have benefited by being a little shorter cutting out at least 50 or so pages. I related with these characters as they were sophomores and I’m a sophomore and just how broken they were. Why sebby did what he did at the end I just understood and I loved it. All the POVS were easy to read and It flowed very nicely.
riyamittal's review against another edition
i just can't seem to care about the characters, like at all. i am not enjoying this book, but i really wanted to complete it, since this book deals with all the issues i usually love reading about. but idk what is making this book so hard to read for me. maybe i just don't like the characters that much or maybe i don't like the writing style or tone of the author. or maybe i just picked it up at the wrong time.
i might come back to finish it someday, but for now, this is my first dnf.
i might come back to finish it someday, but for now, this is my first dnf.
brittmichell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nikkireadsstuff's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book! The idea of being young and in high school, where everything is so dramatic, is very refreshing. However, sorry to say, I got bored. It took me a long time to finish this book, and while the ending was beautiful and existential and exactly what I was hoping it would be...it was predictable.