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safcsue13's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.75
carrieemoran's review
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. I love David Levithan, and think he is one of the most creative and unique authors in our modern world. I loved the format of the book - emails between (mostly) the two protagonists, and the story was compelling. I felt deeply for Ezra and Bea, and felt sad when the book ended. A must read for Levithan or YA fans!
grclnntt's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Felt a little rushed at the end imo
jai_meow's review
4.0
Everything about this book was amazing, I cried a bunch and couldn’t put it down. Which is why I’m sitting here writing a review for a book that I started 3 hours ago. Please read this book my heart hurts for every character in it, but this book also healed my hurting heart. The writing is simply amazing.
bellethequeen's review
4.0
it was really good, very fast-paced and fairly engaging. it was written in the format of emails entirely which was unique but came together well. my main problem with this was that there was a lot, and I mean a lot, of swearing.
secret_lives_of_fiction_lovers's review
5.0
I really like the fact that this was written in the style of emails between two siblings, Bea and Ezra (for the most part), instead of the more traditional chapter style. It made it easy to follow and easy to dip in and out of when you had to be pulled back into real life.
At first I felt that Bea was selfish for running away and leaving her brother but as you read on, as the story unfolds, you learn more about their life and the awful abuse and gaslighting that her and Ezra had suffered from the hands of their mum and stepdad. You realise that Bea wasn't being selfish, she getting out and finding a new life and hoped Ezra could join her when the timing was right. She was also in search of someone which then leads on to a shocking twist. I'm still not over it.
The story was so sad at times but ultimately it was about hope and finally being strong enough to walk away from the abuse, to stop believing the lies and being told they were never good enough, to finally taking charge of their own life, believing in themselves and achieving everything they want to achieve. It was a beautiful and powerful story which I hope will give strength to those who need it.
At first I felt that Bea was selfish for running away and leaving her brother but as you read on, as the story unfolds, you learn more about their life and the awful abuse and gaslighting that her and Ezra had suffered from the hands of their mum and stepdad. You realise that Bea wasn't being selfish, she getting out and finding a new life and hoped Ezra could join her when the timing was right. She was also in search of someone which then leads on to a shocking twist. I'm still not over it.
The story was so sad at times but ultimately it was about hope and finally being strong enough to walk away from the abuse, to stop believing the lies and being told they were never good enough, to finally taking charge of their own life, believing in themselves and achieving everything they want to achieve. It was a beautiful and powerful story which I hope will give strength to those who need it.
mehsi's review
5.0
A fantastic, emotional book written in emails between brother and sister. Love it!
I wasn’t at first sure if I would like this one, I took it along because it looked awesome, and boy I am happy I did because this was one rollercoaster ride.
It wasn’t an easy book to read, Ezra and Bea both experience and have experienced abuse at the hands of their mom and stepfather. This wasn’t just emotional abuse by making them feel unwelcome/unsafe and other emotional bad things (like threats), but also by violence. By hitting them. By breaking their belongings. By breaking presents. And with each page we get see more and more in the home they grew up in. And then there is a big banger when they find out about their real dad. About what really transpired between their mom and their dad. It is a hard book, but one that is definitely worth reading.
This book is written 100% by emails, though I have to be honest and say that at times it didn’t feel like emails. Haha. I am not sure they just felt long and more like a story in a mail than a true mail. Plus, I have not seen anyone mail like this before. I have written some long-ass mails in the beginning of my relationship with my now husband, but nothing in any way like this one. I still enjoyed the format though, I don’t think the story would have worked the same way as it did now if it was just normally written.
In this one we read mails from Ezra to Bea and Bea to Ezra. Along the way we also get mails from Bea to other people or other people to Ezra/Bea. I just adored reading the mails from Bea and Ezra, loved how we found out more about their lives now and then. How Bea is doing now that she has run away from a dangerous home and all she experiences and all she finds out (not just about her parents or her house but also about herself and what she wants to do). How Ezra is doing now that Bea is not there, we read how he has to leave house and stay with friends because it isn’t safe for him at home now. We read about romance (Terrence x Ezra, Bea x Joe and later someone else), we read about families, and more. There are some heartbreaking moments, moments that I just wanted to step in and punch Darren’s lights out (and I am normally very peaceful).
I wasn’t too sure about Joe. We do learn some things about him and he shows that he has a good heart for most, but throughout the book he made some questionable decisions and had some weird ideas. While I get that he is hurt, with his actions he also hurt others.
I have to say that when we find out that Bea left home for a boy… I was considering dropping the book. Thankfully, things do change regarding that and we get the truth, but I was still not happy that Bea would do that to her brother. Plus, she almost graduated. It just seemed dumb.
I love the cover, it is so stunning!
The ending was fantastic. I was delighted for both Ezra and Bea for finding the courage and strength they needed to figure out the things they needed to do and make big decisions.
All in all, I could probably talk about this book some more but I will end it with that I would recommend this one to all. Be prepared for lots of emotional punches.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I wasn’t at first sure if I would like this one, I took it along because it looked awesome, and boy I am happy I did because this was one rollercoaster ride.
It wasn’t an easy book to read, Ezra and Bea both experience and have experienced abuse at the hands of their mom and stepfather. This wasn’t just emotional abuse by making them feel unwelcome/unsafe and other emotional bad things (like threats), but also by violence. By hitting them. By breaking their belongings. By breaking presents. And with each page we get see more and more in the home they grew up in. And then there is a big banger when they find out about their real dad. About what really transpired between their mom and their dad. It is a hard book, but one that is definitely worth reading.
This book is written 100% by emails, though I have to be honest and say that at times it didn’t feel like emails. Haha. I am not sure they just felt long and more like a story in a mail than a true mail. Plus, I have not seen anyone mail like this before. I have written some long-ass mails in the beginning of my relationship with my now husband, but nothing in any way like this one. I still enjoyed the format though, I don’t think the story would have worked the same way as it did now if it was just normally written.
In this one we read mails from Ezra to Bea and Bea to Ezra. Along the way we also get mails from Bea to other people or other people to Ezra/Bea. I just adored reading the mails from Bea and Ezra, loved how we found out more about their lives now and then. How Bea is doing now that she has run away from a dangerous home and all she experiences and all she finds out (not just about her parents or her house but also about herself and what she wants to do). How Ezra is doing now that Bea is not there, we read how he has to leave house and stay with friends because it isn’t safe for him at home now. We read about romance (Terrence x Ezra, Bea x Joe and later someone else), we read about families, and more. There are some heartbreaking moments, moments that I just wanted to step in and punch Darren’s lights out (and I am normally very peaceful).
I wasn’t too sure about Joe. We do learn some things about him and he shows that he has a good heart for most, but throughout the book he made some questionable decisions and had some weird ideas. While I get that he is hurt, with his actions he also hurt others.
I have to say that when we find out that Bea left home for a boy… I was considering dropping the book. Thankfully, things do change regarding that and we get the truth, but I was still not happy that Bea would do that to her brother. Plus, she almost graduated. It just seemed dumb.
I love the cover, it is so stunning!
The ending was fantastic. I was delighted for both Ezra and Bea for finding the courage and strength they needed to figure out the things they needed to do and make big decisions.
All in all, I could probably talk about this book some more but I will end it with that I would recommend this one to all. Be prepared for lots of emotional punches.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
itaby's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
thisism3trying's review
2.0
I didn’t enjoy the writing style of this book. It was a little hard for me to follow. I enjoyed the overall plot and theme of the book. Im not sure if I would recommend this book or not.