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tasha5492's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
It made me cry! I did not expect it, but there I was, crying. Sometimes a good cry is good, it has been a while since my last.
Amelia was born with a liver disease, but it has never really affected here. Until her last year of HS when it gets worse. She needs a liver transplant.
I liked Amelia, she tried so hard to go on with her life. To do the things she loves, painting, hanging out with her bestie. Not to be the dying girl since she felt almost like before anyway. She does not want the pitying looks.
Her best friend Syb tries to rally people to sign up for organ donation. She wants to fight!
An old friend shows up and is a light in darkness, sometimes you need that one person that does not talk about it.
No romance. Just a girl trying to come to terms with the fact that she might not get the liver that she needs to live.
And it made me cry! I had to say that again. It felt so real, she was so real, so normal.
A good book, and about a subject that I have not really read about before. And I realised that so many die every day when they do not get the transplants they need, all because people do not sign up to be donors. It does feel like a real waste.
Narration
The narration did a great job with Amelia, I really was in her head. Her other voices were great too. She made me feel.
Amelia was born with a liver disease, but it has never really affected here. Until her last year of HS when it gets worse. She needs a liver transplant.
I liked Amelia, she tried so hard to go on with her life. To do the things she loves, painting, hanging out with her bestie. Not to be the dying girl since she felt almost like before anyway. She does not want the pitying looks.
Her best friend Syb tries to rally people to sign up for organ donation. She wants to fight!
An old friend shows up and is a light in darkness, sometimes you need that one person that does not talk about it.
No romance. Just a girl trying to come to terms with the fact that she might not get the liver that she needs to live.
And it made me cry! I had to say that again. It felt so real, she was so real, so normal.
A good book, and about a subject that I have not really read about before. And I realised that so many die every day when they do not get the transplants they need, all because people do not sign up to be donors. It does feel like a real waste.
Narration
The narration did a great job with Amelia, I really was in her head. Her other voices were great too. She made me feel.
lauravernon's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.75
jairehrn_'s review against another edition
Did not finish and have no current plan of reading sometime bc of the trope ππ i just canβt get through
kiperoo's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, if you're anything like me and have loved Jen Malone's fun, voicey books, but also prefer heavy, meaningful books, then this one is for you. No spoilers, but I will say I cried several times and I won't easily forget this story.
fionak's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful read with well-drawn characters and great pacing. Normally, I would rate a book like this 4 stars but I sense it's getting underloved because of which it doesn't deserve so I'm trying to compensate.
Spoiler
the sad endingella_e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
jutdwaehugs's review against another edition
4.0
This book gives off The Fault in Our Stars vibes, replacing the teenage relationship with a love between friends and family.
nikkihrose's review against another edition
4.0
Lia (Amelia) Linehan is a badass teenager in her senior year of high school. She takes on every chance that crosses her path, and pushes her obstacles aside β figuratively and literally through her roller derby team. It's her dream to attend Amherst College and compete for a state-wide derby team so as to not be pinned against her best friend, Sibby.
But all of this comes to a halt when a dormant illness from her childhood resurfaces, causing Lia to put her dreams, her lifestyle, and even her friends in perspective.
Living a brave life often results in not feeling as though it's okay to feel vulnerable. Fear of death and the unknown cloud Lia's mind, leaving her a girl that she hardly recognizes β inside, anyway. Because she won't let anyone know what's really going on with her. Not until she reaches her breaking point.
Her parents are afraid of the what-ifs, her brother is away at school, her best friend is on a Save-Lia mission, and her brother's best friend Will is the only person who manages to distract her from her own reality. And it's a distraction she greatly needs.
Balancing her job, her art, her roller derby team, her college aspirations, and her relationships, Lia becomes overwhelmed fairly quickly. It's just a matter of whether her illness or her mindset will be the final blow to her immune system.
Jen Malone beautifully crafts a heartbreaking story about a girl who cannot get luck on her side. But sometimes the ending isn't the luck that's needed β sometimes it's the people who join you and go along for the ride that's most important.
But all of this comes to a halt when a dormant illness from her childhood resurfaces, causing Lia to put her dreams, her lifestyle, and even her friends in perspective.
Living a brave life often results in not feeling as though it's okay to feel vulnerable. Fear of death and the unknown cloud Lia's mind, leaving her a girl that she hardly recognizes β inside, anyway. Because she won't let anyone know what's really going on with her. Not until she reaches her breaking point.
Her parents are afraid of the what-ifs, her brother is away at school, her best friend is on a Save-Lia mission, and her brother's best friend Will is the only person who manages to distract her from her own reality. And it's a distraction she greatly needs.
Balancing her job, her art, her roller derby team, her college aspirations, and her relationships, Lia becomes overwhelmed fairly quickly. It's just a matter of whether her illness or her mindset will be the final blow to her immune system.
Jen Malone beautifully crafts a heartbreaking story about a girl who cannot get luck on her side. But sometimes the ending isn't the luck that's needed β sometimes it's the people who join you and go along for the ride that's most important.
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
I received this as an eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Amelia is a take no prisoners feminist, who plays roller derby, and is an awesome artist. She is getting better and better at roller derby and has landed a prestigious art gig that allows her to paint a mural on the side of a restaurant. Life is going great, and even though she has always had a liver disorder, it will remain nothing like it has up to this point. Until, Amelia collapses in a bloody mess and learns that she needs a liver transplant. Her uncertain life changes all of her plans, but maybe if she doesn't think about it then it won't be happening. Even as her parents and friends are desperate for her to get a new liver. Amelia has trouble dealing with her own morality and trying to decide how she is going to react.
In my summary, I didn't talk about Will, the romantic interest, because truly this book isn't about Will or romance. It is about morality and deciding how to react or not react to difficult things in life. I liked the concept of Amelia, I liked what she was involved in, I liked how she interacted and explored her world, I just wish she was stronger in relation to her best friend. The best friend was the most challenging part of this book and many times I wanted to slap her, especially when she was being "bluntly honest," which came across as sanctimonious. I liked Will and I like him with Amelia. This was a solid novel that I will certainly recommend.
Amelia is a take no prisoners feminist, who plays roller derby, and is an awesome artist. She is getting better and better at roller derby and has landed a prestigious art gig that allows her to paint a mural on the side of a restaurant. Life is going great, and even though she has always had a liver disorder, it will remain nothing like it has up to this point. Until, Amelia collapses in a bloody mess and learns that she needs a liver transplant. Her uncertain life changes all of her plans, but maybe if she doesn't think about it then it won't be happening. Even as her parents and friends are desperate for her to get a new liver. Amelia has trouble dealing with her own morality and trying to decide how she is going to react.
In my summary, I didn't talk about Will, the romantic interest, because truly this book isn't about Will or romance. It is about morality and deciding how to react or not react to difficult things in life. I liked the concept of Amelia, I liked what she was involved in, I liked how she interacted and explored her world, I just wish she was stronger in relation to her best friend. The best friend was the most challenging part of this book and many times I wanted to slap her, especially when she was being "bluntly honest," which came across as sanctimonious. I liked Will and I like him with Amelia. This was a solid novel that I will certainly recommend.