Scan barcode
mirandacasuga's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i kept falling asleep when i was listening to this audiobook so tbh the middles kinda a blur. i really loved olivia, she felt so real. i just wasn’t very invested, i couldn’t get into the whole music festival thing, but i like olivia and toni’s relationship, it felt realistic
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Mass/school shootings, and Sexual harassment
readwithrhys's review against another edition
3.0
I read the reviews before reading this and was like ‘hmmm I wonder if these reviews just make it seem like it’s insta love’ and I should’ve listened. I should’ve known it would 100000000% be insta love. I do not usually like insta love and lord this WAS EXACTLY insta love I don’t like. You’ve known each other for 3 FUCKING DAYS CHILL OUT
mostlykenny's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.75
plannedbibliophile's review
3.0
If you haven’t read Leah Johnson's debut book You Should See Me in a Crown, you absolutely should!
In the novel Rise to The Sun, we follow Toni and Olivia’s POV through a three-day span at a musical festival. Overall, this book is okay for me. I believe the timeline of three days was way too quick for true character development. However, I do believe this book can be important to some. Especially, Queer Black Girls. This book also tackle some very deep issues such as racism, gun violence, anxiety, grief and sexual harassment.
Overall, I just wanted more from this book. I truly enjoyed the beginning of the book but eventually, it became repetitive and I feel as if we weren’t getting anywhere. If you are into musical festivals and insta love tropes this book is for you.
In the novel Rise to The Sun, we follow Toni and Olivia’s POV through a three-day span at a musical festival. Overall, this book is okay for me. I believe the timeline of three days was way too quick for true character development. However, I do believe this book can be important to some. Especially, Queer Black Girls. This book also tackle some very deep issues such as racism, gun violence, anxiety, grief and sexual harassment.
Overall, I just wanted more from this book. I truly enjoyed the beginning of the book but eventually, it became repetitive and I feel as if we weren’t getting anywhere. If you are into musical festivals and insta love tropes this book is for you.
barnesbookshelf's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this novel. Toni and Olivia's relationship develops quickly but sweetly. I like how they are able to help each other grow. I also like the side relationship of Peter and Imani and the way everything gets revealed. Johnson's writing is just fantastic, and I look forward to her future YA novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia and Mass/school shootings
sierradewalt's review
3.0
Finally finished this one.
When I first started reading this, I found the writing cliché and the plot slow. I didn't like the characters much because they felt like they could be a number of teenagers out there.
It did get better. The gunshot elevated the story a little, brought some higher stakes which helped with sympathy for the characters and investment in the story arc. Overall, however, it was not redeemed for me. Some of the dialogue and narration just didn't seem true to life, to the teenagers I've known. I know I'm not a teenager anymore, but still. The texts between Olivia and the other girl whose photos were almost leaked (sorry I forgot her name!) felt unrealistic to me.
The romance was cute at times, but the writing of it felt too calculated for me to fully enjoy. Besides, the fact that she screwed Imani over and over again and Imani still forgives her easily and is okay with her running off to Toni right after the concert does not work for me. Imani was glossed over as a character for most of the book and we really don't know who she is or how she's feeling (beyond the few mostly plot-motivated arguments between her and Olivia). Imani deserved better.
When I first started reading this, I found the writing cliché and the plot slow. I didn't like the characters much because they felt like they could be a number of teenagers out there.
It did get better. The gunshot elevated the story a little, brought some higher stakes which helped with sympathy for the characters and investment in the story arc. Overall, however, it was not redeemed for me. Some of the dialogue and narration just didn't seem true to life, to the teenagers I've known. I know I'm not a teenager anymore, but still. The texts between Olivia and the other girl whose photos were almost leaked (sorry I forgot her name!) felt unrealistic to me.
The romance was cute at times, but the writing of it felt too calculated for me to fully enjoy. Besides, the fact that she screwed Imani over and over again and Imani still forgives her easily and is okay with her running off to Toni right after the concert does not work for me. Imani was glossed over as a character for most of the book and we really don't know who she is or how she's feeling (beyond the few mostly plot-motivated arguments between her and Olivia). Imani deserved better.
baileyyy's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
solly's review
2.0
So here we have a big case of "it's not you, it's me".
I loved the author's other book, so I picked this one up without hesitation, but I should have known it wasn't for me.
1. I have no love for live music, I'm too autistic for it and it overwhelms me in a bad way, so the whole live music theme didn't elicit any kind of emotional response from me, and it was so important to Toni's story line that I felt like I was missing out on a big part of the book.
2. I'm Very Aro. I like romance but it needs to be well developed and if possible, not too quick or insta-lovey. A romance in less than three days wasn't going to work for me.
I liked some stuff about it: Olivia's storyline around nudes and revenge porn was really good and well-handled, I liked Peter a lot, and the whole first third was fun.
I didn't like a lot more, though.
I didn't feel anything for the main characters most of the time, and sometimes couldn't understand their actions (I don't need characters to be relatable to enjoy a book btw, most characters aren't relatable to me as an autistic person, but sometimes in this book I genuinely couldn't wrap my head around why they did some stuff), the romance never worked for me at all (almost saying I love you like 24h after meeting someone... what in the alloromanticism is this)
Olivia was a bad friend the whole book. And it's addressed, but it still bothered me. Especially since there's then a big reveal the best friend was in love with her all along (she had plenty reasons to be mad at Olivia as friends, I don't know what the romantic feelings added, except Olivia seemed to take those more seriously? I wasn't a fan of the whole thing, but that's likely the aro talking once more).
Again, the whole live music setting wasn't for me. It was fun at times but when the characters got big feelings about it I was just like "sure, I believe you" haha
Nothing about this book was plain bad. I just probably shouldn't have picked it up for myself just because I enjoyed the author's other book. I usually avoid books with romance set over one day/a dew days, but I wanted to give this one a shot. It did not work out, I will remember that in the future.
I loved the author's other book, so I picked this one up without hesitation, but I should have known it wasn't for me.
1. I have no love for live music, I'm too autistic for it and it overwhelms me in a bad way, so the whole live music theme didn't elicit any kind of emotional response from me, and it was so important to Toni's story line that I felt like I was missing out on a big part of the book.
2. I'm Very Aro. I like romance but it needs to be well developed and if possible, not too quick or insta-lovey. A romance in less than three days wasn't going to work for me.
I liked some stuff about it: Olivia's storyline around nudes and revenge porn was really good and well-handled, I liked Peter a lot, and the whole first third was fun.
I didn't like a lot more, though.
I didn't feel anything for the main characters most of the time, and sometimes couldn't understand their actions (I don't need characters to be relatable to enjoy a book btw, most characters aren't relatable to me as an autistic person, but sometimes in this book I genuinely couldn't wrap my head around why they did some stuff), the romance never worked for me at all (almost saying I love you like 24h after meeting someone... what in the alloromanticism is this)
Olivia was a bad friend the whole book. And it's addressed, but it still bothered me. Especially since there's then a big reveal the best friend was in love with her all along (she had plenty reasons to be mad at Olivia as friends, I don't know what the romantic feelings added, except Olivia seemed to take those more seriously? I wasn't a fan of the whole thing, but that's likely the aro talking once more).
Again, the whole live music setting wasn't for me. It was fun at times but when the characters got big feelings about it I was just like "sure, I believe you" haha
Nothing about this book was plain bad. I just probably shouldn't have picked it up for myself just because I enjoyed the author's other book. I usually avoid books with romance set over one day/a dew days, but I wanted to give this one a shot. It did not work out, I will remember that in the future.
sarahjanespeedreading's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
These main characters (specifically Olivia) were kind of insufferable and the drama felt contrived and very middle school. Not my favorite, but readable.
ella_jorg333's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0