shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Good story with a powerful message. Just wish we got more in the end. Seemed like once everything was out in the open the story was over. I would have liked more closure with the characters but it was still a good read.
bookwormbetty's review against another edition
5.0
I'm just going to start this review by saying 5 stars is NOT enough. What did I just read? My heart literally aches for the characters in this book. This was NOT what I expected when I picked this book to review, it is SO much more. I am literally at a loss for words when I think about this book, and the emotional pull it has. I really wish I was a writer and could wax poetic about this, but...I am just me and if you do one thing in your life, read this book, have your teenager read this book. There is no sex, there is talk of it and some making out, however if you let that be your focus you really lose the big picture. This book tackles some of the harshest realities kids face these days, and you will NOT be sorry you read this, of that you can be sure. This book is told entirely through India's point of view.
mandiluna's review against another edition
2.0
It’s enjoyable as a trashy read but honestly it’s has it’s problematic or annoying moments.
The love interest in my opinion was the typical bad boy which I hate. He was possessive of India, to the point wegre he got mad to her for having a guy that’s she did not like flirt with her. Like it’s like that thing where “ we’re not together but I’ll still get mad at you for having someone being interested in you” it’s so annoying like she can’t control what others do.
Also I found the thing about Eloise waiting for her friend to understand her and make up with her after outing Eloise was dumb. Like she outed her to whole school, why would Eloise want to make up with her?
dumb compliant but why was the main character named India????
Overall, this book is fun to read when you want a trashy book to read but is problematic at times and relies too much on common tropes in romance novels. It does cover serious topics at times, and does ok at that.
The love interest in my opinion was the typical bad boy which I hate. He was possessive of India, to the point wegre he got mad to her for having a guy that’s she did not like flirt with her. Like it’s like that thing where “ we’re not together but I’ll still get mad at you for having someone being interested in you” it’s so annoying like she can’t control what others do.
Also I found the thing about Eloise waiting for her friend to understand her and make up with her after outing Eloise was dumb. Like she outed her to whole school, why would Eloise want to make up with her?
dumb compliant but why was the main character named India????
Overall, this book is fun to read when you want a trashy book to read but is problematic at times and relies too much on common tropes in romance novels. It does cover serious topics at times, and does ok at that.
jennfgarcia's review against another edition
5.0
So so so good!! Great characterization. Most I loved and a few I hated with a passion, and I was supposed. The author did an amazing job at sucking me in and making me feel all the things. I need more!!
bestdressedbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This book hurt of read but i remember what some of these "the world feeling like it is ending" feelings in high school feet like. this just all felt so real, the friends at school that are not really friends, the choices you make because first love makes you feel like its the only shot you have at it, and the fear you have that your parents dont approve of you. I loved this.
katkinney's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first YA genre title I’ve read by Samantha Young. India Maxwell moves across the country when her mother marries a man from Boston and now has to contend with a new stepsister, Eloise, and her boyfriend, Finn. The relationship between Eloise and India particularly grew on me. In some ways it reminded me of Erin Watt’s Royals series. This is the perfect read if you love lots of drama, relationships and mean girls, galore.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
chroniclesofabookreader's review against another edition
5.0
**4.5 Stars**
The Impossible Vastness of Us is a wide-reaching, hard-hitting Young Adult novel that bravely takes on varying painful topics. It’s moving and powerful and simply told. One that hurts to experience, but the kind that mends your soul in a very romantic, but tough-love kind of way. That feeling will continue to resonate long after the book has closed.
From self-esteem issues to the intricacies of status and the teenage ego, this novel traverses much without feeling overwhelming or shallow on the issues at hand. I’ve yet to read a YA novel like this with such closely-knitted female characters fighting the odds against them in becoming more than what is expected of them as ‘rivals’ or non-equals. Young easily crafted an entire cast of characters who all played their parts perfectly. I usually love novels for their love stories, but I have to say that while I loved the love story here, I fell harder for the bond of family, blood or not, that radiated from this story. Each character brought such depth and vividness to this story, a kind of 3-D nature to it, that it was a joy to experience every aspect of it.
It’s easy to connect with a character like India, even if your experiences were nothing like hers. Young made her tough, but likable, a hardass, but a joyful smartass. She wasn’t a typical YA heroine; her compassion and inherent need for justice never wavered, instead consistently proving her selflessness and rationality even in moments where it benefited her in the least. There’s something powerfully magnetic about that, something we can admire. What made her an outsider radiated strength instead of weakness, and those like Finn and Eloise were drawn to that.
I originally fell for Young with her earlier YA series and have been hoping she’d venture back to the genre one day; I can tell you it came with the perfect story. A beautiful cover that matches the story within, one overflowing with the beauty of love, family, and, most of all, friendship, The Impossible Vastness of Us was a poignantly moving and compassionate tale of acceptance, hope, and self-love. Love comes in many forms as does what one can take away from this novel. I could’ve kept going and I do hope there comes a day when we meet these characters again.
**Received an early copy via the Publisher & voluntarily reviewed; this had no bearing on my opinions in any way**
The Impossible Vastness of Us is a wide-reaching, hard-hitting Young Adult novel that bravely takes on varying painful topics. It’s moving and powerful and simply told. One that hurts to experience, but the kind that mends your soul in a very romantic, but tough-love kind of way. That feeling will continue to resonate long after the book has closed.
From self-esteem issues to the intricacies of status and the teenage ego, this novel traverses much without feeling overwhelming or shallow on the issues at hand. I’ve yet to read a YA novel like this with such closely-knitted female characters fighting the odds against them in becoming more than what is expected of them as ‘rivals’ or non-equals. Young easily crafted an entire cast of characters who all played their parts perfectly. I usually love novels for their love stories, but I have to say that while I loved the love story here, I fell harder for the bond of family, blood or not, that radiated from this story. Each character brought such depth and vividness to this story, a kind of 3-D nature to it, that it was a joy to experience every aspect of it.
It’s easy to connect with a character like India, even if your experiences were nothing like hers. Young made her tough, but likable, a hardass, but a joyful smartass. She wasn’t a typical YA heroine; her compassion and inherent need for justice never wavered, instead consistently proving her selflessness and rationality even in moments where it benefited her in the least. There’s something powerfully magnetic about that, something we can admire. What made her an outsider radiated strength instead of weakness, and those like Finn and Eloise were drawn to that.
I originally fell for Young with her earlier YA series and have been hoping she’d venture back to the genre one day; I can tell you it came with the perfect story. A beautiful cover that matches the story within, one overflowing with the beauty of love, family, and, most of all, friendship, The Impossible Vastness of Us was a poignantly moving and compassionate tale of acceptance, hope, and self-love. Love comes in many forms as does what one can take away from this novel. I could’ve kept going and I do hope there comes a day when we meet these characters again.
**Received an early copy via the Publisher & voluntarily reviewed; this had no bearing on my opinions in any way**
whatcha_listening_to's review against another edition
4.0
Now normally I am not about drama, but wow did it work for this book. India gets thrust into a new world, she has some really deep scares and we learn of them and one of them is her mother. Who plucks India from her safe comfy popular world into an “uncontrollable” situation. New home new friends just everything is new.
Her mother is remarrying a man she has never met; she is getting a “stepsister”, a new high school. With all the new comes a lot of challenges and angst.
I can’t believe I am going to say this but I loved the angst I loved the drama. I liked getting to know India and how she was going to react because she never reacted like I thought she was going to.
Secrets play a big part in this book and how they come out.
I like that I thought things were going to go one way and they didn’t. I liked the connection each of these characters has with each other. New friendships are made in the unlikely of places.
This book really kept me guessing and it is probably one of the reason’s the drama and angst worked for me. It didn’t feel like it was put in there just to fill the pages. It was critical to the situation and how they deal with things.
Again the narration was fantastic, I have never not liked any of the narrators Samantha’s books have.
Her mother is remarrying a man she has never met; she is getting a “stepsister”, a new high school. With all the new comes a lot of challenges and angst.
I can’t believe I am going to say this but I loved the angst I loved the drama. I liked getting to know India and how she was going to react because she never reacted like I thought she was going to.
Secrets play a big part in this book and how they come out.
I like that I thought things were going to go one way and they didn’t. I liked the connection each of these characters has with each other. New friendships are made in the unlikely of places.
This book really kept me guessing and it is probably one of the reason’s the drama and angst worked for me. It didn’t feel like it was put in there just to fill the pages. It was critical to the situation and how they deal with things.
Again the narration was fantastic, I have never not liked any of the narrators Samantha’s books have.