haley_j_casey's review against another edition
5.0
[b:Leftovers|768192|Leftovers|Laura Wiess|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406816756s/768192.jpg|754256] Is still by far my favorite Laura Wiess book, but this one is a close second so I thought it deserved the five stars instead of the four I gave [b:How It Ends|5927595|How It Ends|Laura Wiess|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408047661s/5927595.jpg|6100027] (also amazing, but I liked this one more. Have to show it somehow!)
ac223's review against another edition
3.0
I liked Ordinary Beauty and finished it in one go, but cried for half. Great book but I hate crying, and it was too sad to avoid. I guess if there are a few lol moments with a few sad moments mixed in that's ok, but this was tragic from beginning to five pages before it ends.
theragereader's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In true Laura Weiss fashion, she crafts a heart-breaking tale of Sayre, a seventeen-year-old whose life has been full of hate, cruelty, fear, abuse, and lovelessness. She knows no kindness and struggles to survive the chaotic, narcissistic hurricane that is her addict mother and her mother's enabling and equally addicted best friend, Candy. We're brought along with Sayre's confusing, conflicting emotions when it comes to her dysfunctional, abusive mother and her dry, sad life currently.
Each event bleeds into the culmination of her mother's selfish behavior, coming to a head right before the start of the book. My heart broke for Sayre at the horrible situations she would be forced into due to her mother's selfishness, and I wanted to cry for such a smart, sweet young girl being abused and sneered at by her own mother. The saddest part, I think, was the small slices of happiness she was afforded only to be snatched cruelly away due to Sayre's mother's own jealousy and self-destructive behavior. I also loved Sayre's speech to Red about how forgiveness in regards to her mother (as someone with their own toxic parent.) and it was so cathartic to see all my own hurt and rage put into words I could never say.
My jaw would drop at the absolute apathy and ugliness of all the adults—Candy, Sayre's mother, Harlow—in Sayre's life. And Sayre finally getting to say her piece and give herself closure and striving to be better than her mother really warmed my heart.
Each event bleeds into the culmination of her mother's selfish behavior, coming to a head right before the start of the book. My heart broke for Sayre at the horrible situations she would be forced into due to her mother's selfishness, and I wanted to cry for such a smart, sweet young girl being abused and sneered at by her own mother. The saddest part, I think, was the small slices of happiness she was afforded only to be snatched cruelly away due to Sayre's mother's own jealousy and self-destructive behavior. I also loved Sayre's speech to Red about how forgiveness in regards to her mother (as someone with their own toxic parent.) and it was so cathartic to see all my own hurt and rage put into words I could never say.
My jaw would drop at the absolute apathy and ugliness of all the adults—Candy, Sayre's mother, Harlow—in Sayre's life. And Sayre finally getting to say her piece and give herself closure and striving to be better than her mother really warmed my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Addiction, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia
ilke_vb's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
4.0
I checked this book out from the library. Here is my honest review:
I can only describe this book as dark and painful but necessary. It's touching, personal, and very deep. Sayre has a lot of things to go through before she can feel free of her troubles. Her childhood was terrible, and it could have completely ruined her life. But as she's trying to get her life back together she finds out that her drug addicted, alcoholic mother is in the hospital, dying. Dianne has done a lot of wrong as a mother and person in general, but is it enough to keep Sayre from forgiving her? Read this one and find out!
This story is told from Sayre's POV in present tense, but she takes us through the past, story by story. She tells us everything she knows, and a lot of her childhood is disturbing. It's a sad, dirty, unlucky journey. Every turn made me feel worse and worse for Sayre. Once things are finally going right for her and her family, you know they're going to be ruined completely. These easily could have been some sob story taken too far, but Wiess did a great job of making this feel real and just about plausible. I haven't lived anything like this, but I can see it happening or being real.
I will say that I enjoyed the ending. By the final page, I was satisfied and felt whole again. The first pages rip you apart in order to prepare you for the depth and intensity of this novel, but I promise you'll feel better by the end. Oh, and get tissues ready. Enjoy!
I can only describe this book as dark and painful but necessary. It's touching, personal, and very deep. Sayre has a lot of things to go through before she can feel free of her troubles. Her childhood was terrible, and it could have completely ruined her life. But as she's trying to get her life back together she finds out that her drug addicted, alcoholic mother is in the hospital, dying. Dianne has done a lot of wrong as a mother and person in general, but is it enough to keep Sayre from forgiving her? Read this one and find out!
This story is told from Sayre's POV in present tense, but she takes us through the past, story by story. She tells us everything she knows, and a lot of her childhood is disturbing. It's a sad, dirty, unlucky journey. Every turn made me feel worse and worse for Sayre. Once things are finally going right for her and her family, you know they're going to be ruined completely. These easily could have been some sob story taken too far, but Wiess did a great job of making this feel real and just about plausible. I haven't lived anything like this, but I can see it happening or being real.
I will say that I enjoyed the ending. By the final page, I was satisfied and felt whole again. The first pages rip you apart in order to prepare you for the depth and intensity of this novel, but I promise you'll feel better by the end. Oh, and get tissues ready. Enjoy!
1tiffani1's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet Baby Jesus, this book was sad. I have a apprehension about reading things that will make my eyes water uncontrollably, but as soon as I started the book, I couldn't put it down. Sayre Bellavia, a 17 year old girl, gets the call that her mother is in the hospital. It wouldn't be so bad if she didn't have to HITCHHIKE to the hospital (Sayre and her mother live with unsavory characters.) It also wouldn't be bad if her mother was the epitome of Worst Mother of the Year. While hitchhiking to the hospital,she meets a boy while trying to take care of him after an accident and she tells him her story...and the waterworks ensue. Holy shit snacks. That's all I have to say. This story is memorable, and we find out WHY her mother is the way she is. I loved this story. Read it. I didn't want to spoil the book at all...and gush all the love for it.
sanderle's review against another edition
4.0
Laura Wiess has yet to disappoint. Her writing is beautiful and tragic and caused has me to burst into tears many times.
aqtbenz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Vomit, Grief, Death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Death of parent
caseey's review against another edition
5.0
A few of my heartstrings may have been severed whilst reading this book; Sayre's story, which is told as she reflects on her childhood after learning that her mother is finally about to lose her battle with addiction, was devastating and the fact she remained so sweet and kind despite all of the nightmares life threw at her made it all the more painful. I loved Sayre, from wanting to hug and take care of the little girl who was forced to fend for herself in a world where nobody loved her, to admiring the seventeen year old who was strong enough to have survived it all. Beautiful written, Ordinary Beauty doesn't shy away from providing a raw reminder of the horrific fact that there are children in the world who live in situations like Sayre's yet I felt it was also ultimately a tale of hope; I loved this book and I can't wait to read more by Wiess.