hannaecrook's review against another edition
5.0
i loved this book. it was so beautiful and heartbreaking and real. it reminded me why i love reading so much and the power in the right words. absolutely recommend.
emilychau's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
2.75
cbrown3333's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I listened to the whole audiobook on a long road trip. It was a page turner. I appreciated that this was a love story about sibling love too. I found the siblings’ relationships very interesting. Even though I was rooting for the couple the whole time, in the end their love story left me feeling unsatisfied.
I thought the racial and class aspects were underdeveloped, especially.
I thought the racial and class aspects were underdeveloped, especially.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Drug abuse
addelalauren's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gangxiety's review against another edition
4.75
Took a 3 month break in the middle of reading this and then finished it in one sitting today. Gonna be thinking about this book and these characters for a long time. So refreshing to read prose so unabashedly simple and honest - that shit hits!!!!
mariaologist's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
ldearing's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
starrwad's review against another edition
5.0
If you like character-driven stories, this one is for you. Nina LaCour! I love her. This one didn't grab me as much as We are Okay and Watch Over Me, but I still loved it. The characters are rich, and LaCour excels at character building. The prose is meaty--what does that even mean? But it perfectly explains her writing. Is she TRYING to make her readers cry? Because she always gets me. The audiobook narrator, Julia Whelan, did an absolutely fantastic job with all the different characters' voices. Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a copy of the ebook and audiobook!
karrative's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I remember seeing some hype online about this book and then requesting it from a local library. To me, it failed to deliver. The dialogues annoyed me (in particular one conversiation betweeen Emilie and Ulan when she quizzes him on the reasons of being the US, nobody talks like they do and the whole conversation feels so out of place). Also, the character development was constantly asserted but i never believed it actually happened. THe whole book was too on the nose as well with the inner feelings and motivations of the characters being broken down in the narrative. And the relationship between Emilie and Sara just felt so forced. I did not believe in the supposed chemistry they shared at all and it seems beyond bizarre they would want to continue their relationship (is that even the right term? THey chatted in a bar and hooked up) months (over a year?) Sara (without a word??? why????????) walked on Emilie to help out her brother.
But hey, it's romance too, what is at least hot and steamy? No, it wasn't even that.