kappafrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The book's frenetic pace was a little frustrating at times, as it led to characters repeatedly losing the opportunity to convey important information to each other.
Spoiler
Then the ending had a lot of problems. I saw it coming from miles away that Wayne was going to be a tragic good guy instead of an evil one, but why was he leaving cryptic messages that said "I know"? That sinister action of his was never explained. The ramifications of the UFOs not being aliens at all could have been really interesting, but it was very rushed. Why do souls travel around in flying discs of gel? Why was Wayne taken away by the FBI?In conclusion, this book had great potential but needed a lot of edits to get its point across better. I was left feeling anxious about all the unresolved plot holes.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Abandonment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical trauma, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, and Medical content
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Cancer
nabecker13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Child death, Death, Abandonment, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Cancer
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
That being said, WOW, this is a massive leap from Emily Henry's contemporary romances! I added this book to my TBR in the first place because, in her author interviews and online events, she often mentions how this is the novel she's the proudest of. That immediately made me want to read it because I love seeing which books are an author's pride and joy.
I knew it would be different, because DUH, it's a sci-fi story reminiscent of Stranger Things, but I don't think I was prepared for the level of alien intensity. I mean, it's a whole "took over your body and gave you powers" kind of thing!
The plot as a whole was kind of interesting to me, but the more I read, the more I wanted to just know how it would end. It seemed like a really slow pace and I was expecting slightly more action from it. Towards the end, it delivered, for sure, but there was way more emphasis on the characters than the plot, which was unexpected.
Again, I would like to read this book in the future as a physical copy to see if maybe it grips me a little more. I'm hoping it was just the narration that threw me off, because I did see Henry's writing skills shine through, I just couldn't appreciate them in the way I wanted to.
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
boneloose's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, and Vomit
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Forced institutionalization
soppysays's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Death
Minor: Kidnapping