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chasingholden's review
You Never Get it Back is a well crafted narrative with extraordinary attention to detail and characters that are developed fairly well. The story is set up as a sort of short story collection providing the reader with glimpses of the main character, Kate, at two different points in her life.; With all the segments coming together to create a true novel.
While there were some amazing aspects of this book, I do feel as though I left the book without truly getting to the core of Kate. Yes, we read a lot about her in vivid detail but it remains a summary of the character rather than encompassing the very core of her.
The plot is interesting enough to call to readers and have them stick though the story but I do feel as though most, like myself, will walk away from with ease, with no wow factor. I would recommend giving it a go, as you may feel differently about the character, which is the main issue I had with this book.
Thank you to netgalley and publishers for providing me an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest review. I am honored to share my opiinion's and hope you find it helpful
While there were some amazing aspects of this book, I do feel as though I left the book without truly getting to the core of Kate. Yes, we read a lot about her in vivid detail but it remains a summary of the character rather than encompassing the very core of her.
The plot is interesting enough to call to readers and have them stick though the story but I do feel as though most, like myself, will walk away from with ease, with no wow factor. I would recommend giving it a go, as you may feel differently about the character, which is the main issue I had with this book.
Thank you to netgalley and publishers for providing me an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest review. I am honored to share my opiinion's and hope you find it helpful
emmabussolotta's review
1.0
Okay my review was too harsh, so this is my redo:
This book: victim blames rape survivors, stigmatizes HIV, has lots of internalized misogyny, and racial stereotypes, and these are never brought up again or resolved.
This book: victim blames rape survivors, stigmatizes HIV, has lots of internalized misogyny, and racial stereotypes, and these are never brought up again or resolved.
furbae's review
4.0
It really does bother me that partial stars don’t compute because I dislike rounding up or down. Anyway, this collection was lush and absolutely rich in capturing the inner life of Kate Bishop and the people that surrounds her. Meeting loss at the beginning of the collection becomes a current that runs through each story as we follow Kate who is navigating the turbulent waters of young adulthood. This was an absolutely beautiful collection, so clear-eyed and precise in its insight and revelatory in how it shed light on cracks and fissures in seemingly banal moments. It absolutely left me breathless.
Admittedly, toward the end, there were some bits that felt more tedious but it was not at the expense of the work as a whole. I’ve not read Cara Blue Adams’ work before but I certainly will now.
Admittedly, toward the end, there were some bits that felt more tedious but it was not at the expense of the work as a whole. I’ve not read Cara Blue Adams’ work before but I certainly will now.
garleighc's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
shardai_smithh's review
4.0
Thoughts
- Kate is nearly unknowable as a full person but I think that's the point, and if it's not, then I prefer it that way. She's made up of instances, worries and doubts, trauma and success. She both fears and desires commitment, sacred to have it and fearful that she'll loose it all. I don't need to see her and guess "who she is." All I want is to peek inside of a person, see how they react to things, and wonder if I would react that way, too.
- I think the ending is a reminder that happiness is fickle and random and you can never prepare for it, just like you can't prepare for the saddness of life. I identify with Kate's fear of committing to Eli, and to all the other guys, and her fear of being without his comfort and love. To me, this is most human.
- I loved how complicated each of Kate's relationships were, but especially her relationships with Esme, Agnes, and her mother. None of these relationships feel satisfying but that's life. It's unpleasant and when it works, it just works.
- Kate is nearly unknowable as a full person but I think that's the point, and if it's not, then I prefer it that way. She's made up of instances, worries and doubts, trauma and success. She both fears and desires commitment, sacred to have it and fearful that she'll loose it all. I don't need to see her and guess "who she is." All I want is to peek inside of a person, see how they react to things, and wonder if I would react that way, too.
- I think the ending is a reminder that happiness is fickle and random and you can never prepare for it, just like you can't prepare for the saddness of life. I identify with Kate's fear of committing to Eli, and to all the other guys, and her fear of being without his comfort and love. To me, this is most human.
- I loved how complicated each of Kate's relationships were, but especially her relationships with Esme, Agnes, and her mother. None of these relationships feel satisfying but that's life. It's unpleasant and when it works, it just works.
sofiam012345's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
icarly's review
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.0
skyroamer's review
4.0
I got this digitally from the library on whim, and I’m glad I did. It’s less than two hundred pages, so not daunting, filled with short stories giving glimpses into the life of a young woman named Kate and how she, her family, and her friends change within the course of around 10-12 years (sorry I can’t recall the exact number).
The writing is accessible in that it’s like someone is really telling you their own story, like you’re their diary (it’s not written in diary format, I’m just saying), but it’s deeper than just being easy to read. It’s filled with realistic scenarios and emotions: overwhelmingly longing, fear, doubt, hope…so much so that I swear the author must’ve really lived through much of what was written within this collection. Ex. The details of her ex making specific pancakes, just all of the memories Kate recalled, longed for, tried to process - I’m convinced Adams must’ve put some personal influence in them, they were THAT realistic. I really felt what Kate felt, which isn’t always the easiest thing to write.
Here’s a passage about the pancakes, after pages of recounting the relationship’s highs and lows:
“Some days, I still think I need you. I want to make blueberry buckwheat waffles like the ones you made on rainy Saturday mornings and I don’t know how, and I pick up the phone and dial the first four digits of your number. But then I remind myself I can look up a recipe, and if it isn’t the right one, well, I can try again. That such things aren’t exclusively your domain.”
Maybe I’m a sap, but something about the way Adams writes gets to me. So simple in deliverance yet so effective in outcome.
I don’t want to go too much into detail about each story as each had its own charm, its own season in Kate’s life that conclude to a satisfying (to me) and hopeful (to Kate) end of the collection - where she finally marries the right guy, is pregnant, is finally in a good space with her mother and sister, and seems happy despite the past she carries.
Just read this book. It’s good.
This makes me very interested in what else Adams will write in the future.
The writing is accessible in that it’s like someone is really telling you their own story, like you’re their diary (it’s not written in diary format, I’m just saying), but it’s deeper than just being easy to read. It’s filled with realistic scenarios and emotions: overwhelmingly longing, fear, doubt, hope…so much so that I swear the author must’ve really lived through much of what was written within this collection. Ex. The details of her ex making specific pancakes, just all of the memories Kate recalled, longed for, tried to process - I’m convinced Adams must’ve put some personal influence in them, they were THAT realistic. I really felt what Kate felt, which isn’t always the easiest thing to write.
Here’s a passage about the pancakes, after pages of recounting the relationship’s highs and lows:
“Some days, I still think I need you. I want to make blueberry buckwheat waffles like the ones you made on rainy Saturday mornings and I don’t know how, and I pick up the phone and dial the first four digits of your number. But then I remind myself I can look up a recipe, and if it isn’t the right one, well, I can try again. That such things aren’t exclusively your domain.”
Maybe I’m a sap, but something about the way Adams writes gets to me. So simple in deliverance yet so effective in outcome.
I don’t want to go too much into detail about each story as each had its own charm, its own season in Kate’s life that conclude to a satisfying (to me) and hopeful (to Kate) end of the collection - where she finally marries the right guy, is pregnant, is finally in a good space with her mother and sister, and seems happy despite the past she carries.
Just read this book. It’s good.
This makes me very interested in what else Adams will write in the future.
marytruillo's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75