cupcakegirly's review against another edition
3.0
I had a feeling this book was going to break my heart, and it did. Tallie's grief for her brother Nate is palpable. It consumes every facet of her life until it's all she can feel. When she decides to go looking for the recipients of her brother's organs, you know it's not going to end well (for her), but all you can do (as a reader) is hang on for the ride.
Tallie eventually crashes and burns, and it's heartbreaking to read. But she is not without hope. Surrounded by a support system of people who love and care about her, and who want to see her heal and move on, Tallie begins the process of piecing her life back together again.
"Sometimes bad things happen, and we are not the same when they are over."
And that's okay.
Read it.
Tallie eventually crashes and burns, and it's heartbreaking to read. But she is not without hope. Surrounded by a support system of people who love and care about her, and who want to see her heal and move on, Tallie begins the process of piecing her life back together again.
"Sometimes bad things happen, and we are not the same when they are over."
And that's okay.
Read it.
cnstamper's review
2.0
The premise of this book is really intriguing, but the protagonist's descent into trauma and depression is not fully unpacked and is wrapped up in a neat bow way too quickly.
lazygal's review
2.0
Unclear whether the theme was teen guilt or some statement on organ donation.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
krissyronan's review
3.0
A good book. I particularly enjoyed the music references but somehow the plot unraveled and wrapped up quite suddenly near the end. It felt rushed, not intentional.
kmjones's review
3.0
4.75 stars
I loved this book. As someone who understands the grief that Tallie goes through in the book, I think that Barnaby portrayed it amazingly. If you liked [b:All the Bright Places|18460392|All the Bright Places|Jennifer Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404331702l/18460392._SY75_.jpg|26113532] I would totally recommend this book. Spoiler--
I loved this book. As someone who understands the grief that Tallie goes through in the book, I think that Barnaby portrayed it amazingly. If you liked [b:All the Bright Places|18460392|All the Bright Places|Jennifer Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404331702l/18460392._SY75_.jpg|26113532] I would totally recommend this book. Spoiler--
Spoiler
However I wished that the l0ve Mel had for Tallie had gone more in depth.Spoiler
I recommend this book for dramatic YA lovers.annabi's review
3.0
its hard for me to explain how I felt about this book. I didnt dislike it. I just dont think I ever connected emotionally to any of the characters. tallie confused me a lot of the time. like of course I will never understand what she was going through on a deeper level, but I can generally understand why people react in certain ways. I couldn't ever read tallie; her character was capricious. OH I think a thing that kept me from connecting from the book was bc I didnt quite understand WHY him being an organ donation was so important to her. like she explained it to us but I guess I just couldn't Feel it.
chase was cool I guess but didn't really develop as a character. the reason I read this book is because my librarian read it before it was published and was like "MEL IS EXACTLY LIKE YOU!!!!" which I could see in some way bc ya know she does her own thing. spoiler: I WAS SO FJDKFJDM THO THE CONFESSION AT THE END WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP/WRAPPED UP AFTER IT HAPPENED I SCREAM
but ok yeah I don't have much left to say :/ it was fine
chase was cool I guess but didn't really develop as a character. the reason I read this book is because my librarian read it before it was published and was like "MEL IS EXACTLY LIKE YOU!!!!" which I could see in some way bc ya know she does her own thing. spoiler: I WAS SO FJDKFJDM THO THE CONFESSION AT THE END WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP/WRAPPED UP AFTER IT HAPPENED I SCREAM
but ok yeah I don't have much left to say :/ it was fine
jengennari's review
5.0
A moving depiction of living with grief. Tallie's brother has died, and the way if affects her friends and family feels completely authentic. I particularly liked the end of her friendship with Amy, the wackiness of Mel, and the attraction with Chase.