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chrismap's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
gschroeder's review
hopeful
tense
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
4.0
shintaf's review
3.0
3.5 stars bcs i couldn't see the character development here along with the romance
klhtet's review
3.0
It's really cute and is a breezy, enjoyable read but other than that it's not a page-turner for me. I'll still read another book by same author because I like the writing style which is not too hard to get into. All in all, this was a perfect book for my book-gap.
afkehuldrike's review against another edition
sad
tense
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
4.0
finitha's review
5.0
I started reading this hoping for a light-hearted m/m romance and ended up agonising over the slipping grades and lack of time along with Ariel. Oof! So much for a laid back read. The powerful language will suck you into the story within no time and my tension was so apparent that my poor kindle must have reached a breaking point, thanks to the strenuous handgrip.
Romance plays just a subplot here, so I won't advise you to take this for a cute little love story. But this is a must read for all those who are in high school or even college because this is something most of today's generation goes through. It took me back to the days I struggled to get an admission in my favourite college which eventually led to the same realisation that Ariel comes to at the end. You are not defined by your grades or by the name of the institution you studies and until and unless you make peace with this fact, you will remain unhappy in spite of your hard won achievements.
So make time for things that you love, other credentials will follow you. Such a phenomenal read and I am sure this story is going to stay with me.
Romance plays just a subplot here, so I won't advise you to take this for a cute little love story. But this is a must read for all those who are in high school or even college because this is something most of today's generation goes through. It took me back to the days I struggled to get an admission in my favourite college which eventually led to the same realisation that Ariel comes to at the end. You are not defined by your grades or by the name of the institution you studies and until and unless you make peace with this fact, you will remain unhappy in spite of your hard won achievements.
So make time for things that you love, other credentials will follow you. Such a phenomenal read and I am sure this story is going to stay with me.
ceena's review
4.0
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
To start, I should say I really liked this book. It flew by me and I was done before I knew it. I sat down to start it, not expecting to finish it, not expecting to become invested so heavily in the characters, and yet when I noticed I was close to the end of the book I was shocked.
This book takes a heavy look at the stress and pressures we put on youth to be perfect and get into the 'best' universities. These pressures are real and while I don't think many youths are feeling the extent of the pressure listed here, that doesn't mean it isn't present or even thought of. Getting into colleges is getting increasingly difficult with all the expectations there are: not only good grades, but also volunteer experience, proof of school involvement, and extracurricular activities. There is a huge toll for getting into college and then on top of it, the cost of school is ridiculously high. The mention of scholarships and the needs to get THOSE is also mentioned, and honestly this book is heart-wrenching.
To get back to the book, this story revolves around Ariel, a high school senior who is aiming for valedictorian, first-chair violin, and all these other things in order to get into Harvard. We don't actually find out what he wants to do with his future, just that he wants to get into Harvard. I totally think the book could have gone into that mess (wanting to get into a "good" college, but having no idea for a major or future career), but that issue could be a whole other book (and probably is). One thing I thought was cool is that Ariel is bisexual, but it isn't his defining characteristic or something with a lot of drama. It is nice to read a book where people of various sexualities just exist and have to deal with normal problems.
So, Ariel is dealing with this pressure, it is stressful and we can see how it is affecting his mental health. Reading about some of his spirals is so painful, because all I wanted was for this kid to succeed, but everything was fighting against him.
Ariel is also Jewish. I feel like religion is always used as a antagonizing force these days, so it was refreshing to see Ariel get support from his religious leader and it is used as a support system, not an anchor.
There is a slight romance here, but it isn't the main focus of the story. It is cute, lovely, and oh so real. I really like how the progression of it and the problems were handled. Ariel's love interest, Amir, is Muslim and Amir's sister is an amazing college student. So, some even more positive diverse rep here.
Ariel isn't the only one with pressure placed upon him. All the supporting characters have something going on in their lives which just shows how it affects us differently and all the different types of stress high school students (and younger kids) deal with. There is also some mention on the stresses of college (which again, could totally be another book).
This is a slice-of-life book, character-driven and it might not seem like there is much of a plot. It works though, and flows so well. So, if you are looking for a character focused contemporary book with lots of positive diversity which doesn't focus on the romance, this is a book I'd recommend to you.
To start, I should say I really liked this book. It flew by me and I was done before I knew it. I sat down to start it, not expecting to finish it, not expecting to become invested so heavily in the characters, and yet when I noticed I was close to the end of the book I was shocked.
This book takes a heavy look at the stress and pressures we put on youth to be perfect and get into the 'best' universities. These pressures are real and while I don't think many youths are feeling the extent of the pressure listed here, that doesn't mean it isn't present or even thought of. Getting into colleges is getting increasingly difficult with all the expectations there are: not only good grades, but also volunteer experience, proof of school involvement, and extracurricular activities. There is a huge toll for getting into college and then on top of it, the cost of school is ridiculously high. The mention of scholarships and the needs to get THOSE is also mentioned, and honestly this book is heart-wrenching.
To get back to the book, this story revolves around Ariel, a high school senior who is aiming for valedictorian, first-chair violin, and all these other things in order to get into Harvard. We don't actually find out what he wants to do with his future, just that he wants to get into Harvard. I totally think the book could have gone into that mess (wanting to get into a "good" college, but having no idea for a major or future career), but that issue could be a whole other book (and probably is). One thing I thought was cool is that Ariel is bisexual, but it isn't his defining characteristic or something with a lot of drama. It is nice to read a book where people of various sexualities just exist and have to deal with normal problems.
So, Ariel is dealing with this pressure, it is stressful and we can see how it is affecting his mental health. Reading about some of his spirals is so painful, because all I wanted was for this kid to succeed, but everything was fighting against him.
Ariel is also Jewish. I feel like religion is always used as a antagonizing force these days, so it was refreshing to see Ariel get support from his religious leader and it is used as a support system, not an anchor.
There is a slight romance here, but it isn't the main focus of the story. It is cute, lovely, and oh so real. I really like how the progression of it and the problems were handled. Ariel's love interest, Amir, is Muslim and Amir's sister is an amazing college student. So, some even more positive diverse rep here.
Ariel isn't the only one with pressure placed upon him. All the supporting characters have something going on in their lives which just shows how it affects us differently and all the different types of stress high school students (and younger kids) deal with. There is also some mention on the stresses of college (which again, could totally be another book).
This is a slice-of-life book, character-driven and it might not seem like there is much of a plot. It works though, and flows so well. So, if you are looking for a character focused contemporary book with lots of positive diversity which doesn't focus on the romance, this is a book I'd recommend to you.
limelemon22's review
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
4.25
Very relatable book about the stresses of high school and what to do about it.
You can really feel the moments when Ariel is overstressed, but it's well-balanced with the happy moments he has with those around him.
Also, the book has quite a heavy Jewish element and (for me) it was a nice portal into a culture that I don't know much about.
Solid read!
You can really feel the moments when Ariel is overstressed, but it's well-balanced with the happy moments he has with those around him.
Also, the book has quite a heavy Jewish element and (for me) it was a nice portal into a culture that I don't know much about.
Solid read!
therese_nook68's review
4.0
Solid 4/5 stars!
I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick and easy read. I thought it was going to be a coming out story since the synopsis does come off as if there's going to be a coming out aspect and I was pleasantly surprised to see it wasn't a coming out story. But, I would have like the explanation that he was bisexual to have been brought up earlier in the story.
I related a lot to Ariel, having been in a similar situation as him when I went through high school. I loved seeing him learn to choose himself and see that he can have it both ways: be successful and still do things that he likes without compromising his health.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick and easy read. I thought it was going to be a coming out story since the synopsis does come off as if there's going to be a coming out aspect and I was pleasantly surprised to see it wasn't a coming out story. But, I would have like the explanation that he was bisexual to have been brought up earlier in the story.
I related a lot to Ariel, having been in a similar situation as him when I went through high school. I loved seeing him learn to choose himself and see that he can have it both ways: be successful and still do things that he likes without compromising his health.