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undecidedpersonality's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Car accident, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, and Trafficking
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
shaleen64's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At first it is a little difficult to get into the book due to the writing style, it’s not typically YA, just very different and imagery focused. However once you have a grasp of that, the characters are fully realised and relatable (each in a different way, but Noah has to be the favourite).
The changing of timelines/perspectives is engaging. The best way to describe this book is the fiction example of the invisible string theory. It will have you laughing, crying and believing in love and fate.
The changing of timelines/perspectives is engaging. The best way to describe this book is the fiction example of the invisible string theory. It will have you laughing, crying and believing in love and fate.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Outing
snipinfool's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
The story was told by a set of teenage girl/boy twins, Jude and Noah. They once had a very close relationship and often thought of themselves as NoahandJude. A multitude of events and misunderstandings put them at odds with each other and with whom they thought they were as people. Neither knew how to put their broken world back together, but they knew they needed to set things right to find their way back to each other.
Wow! That was good. Jandy Nelson did a very good job of writing teen angst and the feeling of the world being out of balance. I loved how Noah’s creativity was described as an ecstatic impulse. I would love to know what it would be like to have that feeling. I related a lot to Jude’s character, a teen wondering how to navigate boys, friends, and acting one way, but feeling another. Guillermo and Oscar were wonderful additions to the story and played their parts well. I could fully imagine what they looked like and how they reacted. There were times when I knew what was going to happen and hoped it didn’t and others when the story caught me completely by surprise. I loved that.
Wow! That was good. Jandy Nelson did a very good job of writing teen angst and the feeling of the world being out of balance. I loved how Noah’s creativity was described as an ecstatic impulse. I would love to know what it would be like to have that feeling. I related a lot to Jude’s character, a teen wondering how to navigate boys, friends, and acting one way, but feeling another. Guillermo and Oscar were wonderful additions to the story and played their parts well. I could fully imagine what they looked like and how they reacted. There were times when I knew what was going to happen and hoped it didn’t and others when the story caught me completely by surprise. I loved that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Homophobia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Bullying, Violence, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, Self harm, and Panic attacks/disorders
sophias_bookplanet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Although I wasn’t expecting Jandy Nelson to emotionally move my current self as she did with my seven years younger one, she surely did. It took me not even two pages to fall for Noah, but about two of Jude’s chapters to fall for her. Eventually, both of their perspectives drew me in and made my heart skip beats through their intense relationship to each other and to their individual love interests. With this, Jandy Nelson granted us another moving and important YA story about loss, family, hope, and love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Homophobia
zarfus211's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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
5.0
It wrecked me emotionally in the best way
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
pupaebug's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I just randomly checked this book out from the library a few days ago, because I recognized it from reading the back of the book at Barnes and Noble in my teens, but I never actually picked it up. I am so, so glad I finally checked this book out half a decade later. The writing style was beautiful, it really surprised me. The narrative style is compelling and it really drew me into the book. From the moment it was revealed that Noah didn't get into CSA, and that Jude and Noah's mother died, I knew this book wouldn't be what I expected, and I am so thankful for that. I absolutely loved the way the relationship between Jude and Noah was portrayed in the book. Their relationship was so compelling, and so heartbreaking to me. They really felt like two halves of a whole. Their motivations and their actions were all completely understandable given their situations and their feelings. They both felt so deeply human, with an incredibly fleshed out and imperfect relationship. I loved the exploration of their relationship with each other, and their different relationships with their mother. My only criticisms about this book are the romance aspect between Jude and Oscar, personally, I did not care for this much, as the real love story of the novel was Jude and Noah. I also thought Jude and Noah's father could have been fleshed out more. Throughout the novel, he became a more sympathetic character, but we never really got to learn about him. Despite these, I absolutely devoured this book in less than three days and I'm so glad I did. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Car accident, and Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia, Alcohol, Addiction, and Outing
Minor: Suicide attempt
delisouseyelids's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
It’s a gorgeously written book, nevertheless it’s unique. I find the writing strangely similar to my own pattern of thinking, with references and meaningful but weird descriptions. The family dynamics are unlike anything I’ve read and it absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Addiction, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Homophobia, Outing, and Rape
mxfloral_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Outing
servemethesky's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was quite pleasantly surprised by this book! I wasn’t expecting much, but it was full of beauty and hope and art and grief. It does feel very YA, so mentally prepare yourself if you’re an adult to be a little frustrated with the characters. Then remind yourself “damn, they’re only 13 or 16.”
I loved how this author wrote about art. Everything jumped off the page so vividly, from Jude’s sand sculptures to Noah’s murals. Just beautiful. And I loved the characters, like Guillermo and Oscar.
It was beautiful to see the twins work through their grief and unravel the truth eventually so they could be their truest selves. I wish my family could’ve healed and told the truth as much 2 years post our mom’s death as the family in this book did, damn!
It does feel melodramatic at times, which I somewhat expect of YA. Also, someone desperately need to tell this author it’s not okay to say “surftard” 100x in your novel.
I loved how this author wrote about art. Everything jumped off the page so vividly, from Jude’s sand sculptures to Noah’s murals. Just beautiful. And I loved the characters, like Guillermo and Oscar.
It was beautiful to see the twins work through their grief and unravel the truth eventually so they could be their truest selves. I wish my family could’ve healed and told the truth as much 2 years post our mom’s death as the family in this book did, damn!
It does feel melodramatic at times, which I somewhat expect of YA. Also, someone desperately need to tell this author it’s not okay to say “surftard” 100x in your novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Car accident, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
adam_ski's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.25
A beautiful book about all kinds of love and reigniting in the face of life-crushing events, lies, and mistakes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Car accident, Addiction, and Alcohol