iovreads's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I so enjoyed the descriptions of this book’s settings (both the setting of a college and the summer in Sweden) but overall this was not for me. The characters sucked and the story was very confusing and dare I say a bit pointless?
The first ~50 or so pages were the best but unfortunately it was downhill from there
The first ~50 or so pages were the best but unfortunately it was downhill from there
lovealwaysadi's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Blood, Car accident, Mental illness, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing and Pregnancy
mermaidmoonqueen's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
iamyouurdad's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
bradijo's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
readers_block's review
4.0
this book made me cry. it wasn’t the greatest storyline i ever read, or the best written, or the best characters, but it was powerful. it was one of those books where you just feel good at the end. sated. it’s emotional and raw, but the author does a great job with it. i loved the depictions of swedish culture and sweden. it reminded me a lot of being in norway on the days the sun doesn’t set.
a_noveltime's review
3.0
I’ve given this book a 3 because I have a very neutral reaction towards it. I can’t say I generally enjoyed it but I don’t dislike it either.
The themes of grief and friendship and memory are all right up my ally but the plot was just not engaging to me. There is some truly magical imagery throughout the novel (the description of the broken kimchi jar is a favorite).
I enjoyed the very neat wrap up at the end but different aspects of the plot really fell flat for me-things like Lauren and Magnus’s dynamic, the role Siri’s friends played in the plot, and Birgit’s reactions to different situations. Each character just felt only half-way illuminated which I wouldn’t have had a problem with maybe if it was told from a different perspective than Lauren’s.
Overall I found the writing itself engaging but with plot and characters that fell flat I walked away with a love for the themes and imagery themselves but no real connection with Lauren or her experiences.
The themes of grief and friendship and memory are all right up my ally but the plot was just not engaging to me. There is some truly magical imagery throughout the novel (the description of the broken kimchi jar is a favorite).
I enjoyed the very neat wrap up at the end but different aspects of the plot really fell flat for me-things like Lauren and Magnus’s dynamic, the role Siri’s friends played in the plot, and Birgit’s reactions to different situations. Each character just felt only half-way illuminated which I wouldn’t have had a problem with maybe if it was told from a different perspective than Lauren’s.
Overall I found the writing itself engaging but with plot and characters that fell flat I walked away with a love for the themes and imagery themselves but no real connection with Lauren or her experiences.
shelf_inspiration's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
“The only thing more intoxicating than being with someone you long to be is to be with someone who feels like the misunderstood parts of you.”
Lauren Cress teaches writing at a small college outside of Washington, DC. In the classroom, she is poised, smart, and kind, well-liked by her students and colleagues. But in her personal life, Lauren is troubled and isolated, still grappling with the sudden death of her parents ten years earlier. She seems to exist at a remove from everyone around her until a new student joins her class: charming, magnetic Siri, who appears to be everything Lauren wishes she could be. They fall headlong into an all-consuming friendship that feels to Lauren like she is reclaiming her lost adolescence. When Siri invites her along on a trip home to Sweden for the summer, Lauren impulsively accepts, intrigued by how Siri describes it: “Everything will be green, fresh, new, just thawing out.” But once there, Lauren finds herself drawn to Siri’s enigmatic, brooding brother Magnus. Siri is resentful, and Lauren starts to see a new side of her friend: selfish, reckless, self-destructive, even cruel. On the last night of her trip, Lauren accompanies Siri and her friends on a seaside camping trip to celebrate Midsommar’s Eve, a night when no one sleeps, boundaries blur, and under the light of the unsetting sun, things take a dark turn.
Another beautiful cover that is just perfect for spring! This is another book I have had for some time now, and decided to pull out to read last month. At first, I didn’t know where the story was going to take me but I was surprised! While there were some parts of the story I enjoyed more than others, overall I liked this book! I also particularly liked how the author incorporated Swedish language, culture, and traditions into the novel. I felt like I learned a lot and felt that it really enhanced the book. It gave me a similar perspective to the main character, new to this world and trying to find my way among the magic of Sweden! I definitely thought this was well-written and I would read another title by this author in the future.
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
“The only thing more intoxicating than being with someone you long to be is to be with someone who feels like the misunderstood parts of you.”
Lauren Cress teaches writing at a small college outside of Washington, DC. In the classroom, she is poised, smart, and kind, well-liked by her students and colleagues. But in her personal life, Lauren is troubled and isolated, still grappling with the sudden death of her parents ten years earlier. She seems to exist at a remove from everyone around her until a new student joins her class: charming, magnetic Siri, who appears to be everything Lauren wishes she could be. They fall headlong into an all-consuming friendship that feels to Lauren like she is reclaiming her lost adolescence. When Siri invites her along on a trip home to Sweden for the summer, Lauren impulsively accepts, intrigued by how Siri describes it: “Everything will be green, fresh, new, just thawing out.” But once there, Lauren finds herself drawn to Siri’s enigmatic, brooding brother Magnus. Siri is resentful, and Lauren starts to see a new side of her friend: selfish, reckless, self-destructive, even cruel. On the last night of her trip, Lauren accompanies Siri and her friends on a seaside camping trip to celebrate Midsommar’s Eve, a night when no one sleeps, boundaries blur, and under the light of the unsetting sun, things take a dark turn.
Another beautiful cover that is just perfect for spring! This is another book I have had for some time now, and decided to pull out to read last month. At first, I didn’t know where the story was going to take me but I was surprised! While there were some parts of the story I enjoyed more than others, overall I liked this book! I also particularly liked how the author incorporated Swedish language, culture, and traditions into the novel. I felt like I learned a lot and felt that it really enhanced the book. It gave me a similar perspective to the main character, new to this world and trying to find my way among the magic of Sweden! I definitely thought this was well-written and I would read another title by this author in the future.