authoralliesarah's review
4.0
“But he will always be Peter, and I will always be Sophie, and no matter who else we become, our history and our scars will always connect us.”
What I loved most about this book was that Rachel Lynn Solomon didn’t try to shove Peter and Sophie into a relationship. I saw cracks in their friendship from the beginning, and I really hoped that the two characters would recognize that it wasn’t healthy and distance themselves a little. And they did, and that’s my favorite part of the book. That both Peter and Sophie grew and realized that they could have lives outside of each other. People change. Relationships change. And that was acknowledged in this book, and it was really nice to see it represented.
What I loved most about this book was that Rachel Lynn Solomon didn’t try to shove Peter and Sophie into a relationship. I saw cracks in their friendship from the beginning, and I really hoped that the two characters would recognize that it wasn’t healthy and distance themselves a little. And they did, and that’s my favorite part of the book. That both Peter and Sophie grew and realized that they could have lives outside of each other. People change. Relationships change. And that was acknowledged in this book, and it was really nice to see it represented.
bayy245's review
4.0
This was an absolutely beautiful book that tackled so many important issues. This book didn't drag nor did you feel weighed down by all the heavy topics. Sophie and Peter have to navigate life after a transplant and what it really means to give and receive a kidney. There's a lot of talk on feeling guilty or indebted to someone because of what they've done for you. A kidney is a huge deal but there are everyday instances that could cause someone to feel this way too.
Sophie and Peter are inseparable, but they have to navigate high school and what it means now that Peter is "healthy". How do you go from being each other's everything to just being a part of their life? How do you set aside your romantic feelings for someone when they're all you've ever wanted?
Our MCs are messy and they make a lot of mistakes, but that's a part of being human. This whole situation is complicated and while Peter and Sophie hunt for the right answer they might just find there isn't one.
Another big topic in this that I absolutely adored was toxic friendships and friend breakups. One of the most important lines in the book is about when romantic relationships end, you can always fall back to being friends. But when a friendship ends, that's just the end.
Religion is a huge part of this book and I learned a lot about how Judaism works. I loved seeing it from so many characters perspective and watching our characters come to terms with religion and what being Jewish means to them. I think everyone has had a similar struggle in their lives and it was really refreshing and comforting to see similar struggles with religion in a YA novel. Also, I loved that Peter is unapologetically bi AND Jewish. I really want to see more of that. Being gay and religious is obviously a struggle but it isn't always THE struggle when it comes to questioning religion.
Overall, this was a beautifully written book that tackles difficult issues while pulling you into its world. These characters will find a place in your heart and you'll laugh and cry along with them.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Simon Pulse through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Sophie and Peter are inseparable, but they have to navigate high school and what it means now that Peter is "healthy". How do you go from being each other's everything to just being a part of their life? How do you set aside your romantic feelings for someone when they're all you've ever wanted?
Our MCs are messy and they make a lot of mistakes, but that's a part of being human. This whole situation is complicated and while Peter and Sophie hunt for the right answer they might just find there isn't one.
Another big topic in this that I absolutely adored was toxic friendships and friend breakups. One of the most important lines in the book is about when romantic relationships end, you can always fall back to being friends. But when a friendship ends, that's just the end.
Religion is a huge part of this book and I learned a lot about how Judaism works. I loved seeing it from so many characters perspective and watching our characters come to terms with religion and what being Jewish means to them. I think everyone has had a similar struggle in their lives and it was really refreshing and comforting to see similar struggles with religion in a YA novel. Also, I loved that Peter is unapologetically bi AND Jewish. I really want to see more of that. Being gay and religious is obviously a struggle but it isn't always THE struggle when it comes to questioning religion.
Overall, this was a beautifully written book that tackles difficult issues while pulling you into its world. These characters will find a place in your heart and you'll laugh and cry along with them.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Simon Pulse through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
rayraymakay's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ennitsud's review
5.0
i really admire the way rachel lynn solomon crafts a story about growth. with friendships, siblings, parents, and love. growing apart and bonding together and then interweaving religion—it’s all so well meshed.
reading about sophie and peter was utterly bittersweet. it reminded me a bit of my high school crush. the pain of seeing them with someone else, of being happy. but there was more to it. the bits of envy seeing people together and wanting so much to be a part of that group, trying to find your place in a group somewhere separate from what’s been familiar. seeing old friends go closer to others and feeling like they’re leaving you behind. getting close to someone new, someone you didn’t think you’d have much in common with. and realizing that sometimes we remember things as if we edited the parts that justify how we feel.
it was so so soft and even in college i still feel that way sometimes. the way rachel lynn solomon captures it makes me have hope—even though i’d be doing things four years later and with other people, but it makes me have hope.
i do have one question: sophie never did go to her monday appointment. was she okay?
reading about sophie and peter was utterly bittersweet. it reminded me a bit of my high school crush. the pain of seeing them with someone else, of being happy. but there was more to it. the bits of envy seeing people together and wanting so much to be a part of that group, trying to find your place in a group somewhere separate from what’s been familiar. seeing old friends go closer to others and feeling like they’re leaving you behind. getting close to someone new, someone you didn’t think you’d have much in common with. and realizing that sometimes we remember things as if we edited the parts that justify how we feel.
it was so so soft and even in college i still feel that way sometimes. the way rachel lynn solomon captures it makes me have hope—even though i’d be doing things four years later and with other people, but it makes me have hope.
i do have one question: sophie never did go to her monday appointment. was she okay?
rachelshubin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-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
5.0
Fantastic opening line and full of so much amazing prose. I genuinely didn’t expect to love this book or feel super emotional while reading it.
Unless you’ve read this book, you probably can’t understand this:You can’t root for Sophie and Peter to get what they both want because it just isn’t the same.
There are so many highlighted sentences and tabs in my copy, there was just so many moments where I wanted to write down my thoughts and at the same time hug both characters.
I was impressed with the ending too, because it’s not the kind of ending you’d typically expect. While it’s not my favorite of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books, it shows how incredibly good and powerful of a writer she is and has evolved since this book.
Unless you’ve read this book, you probably can’t understand this:You can’t root for Sophie and Peter to get what they both want because it just isn’t the same.
There are so many highlighted sentences and tabs in my copy, there was just so many moments where I wanted to write down my thoughts and at the same time hug both characters.
I was impressed with the ending too, because it’s not the kind of ending you’d typically expect. While it’s not my favorite of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books, it shows how incredibly good and powerful of a writer she is and has evolved since this book.
preciousugbo's review
3.0
This book was one hard pill to swallow. The storyline was frankly triggering. The fact that I finished it is frankly, a testament of how well written it was. I'm not going to give away too much of the plot, but if you like books with a stance on unpopular subject matter. Then you'd like this book.
toloveisdestroy's review
3.0
I hate you. I love you. I hate that I love you.
This book was devastatingly good. But golly be, the amount of me that wanted to scream at Peter. :)
Quite literally the boy is infuriating. On the other hand, I loved Sophie's perspective throughout the novel. Seeing her strong devotion, honestly reminded me of what high school loves genuinely felt like for me (& God am I glad I got out of that one).
Overall the book is really good. Just not something I see myself owning or wanting to re-read.
This book was devastatingly good. But golly be, the amount of me that wanted to scream at Peter. :)
Quite literally the boy is infuriating. On the other hand, I loved Sophie's perspective throughout the novel. Seeing her strong devotion, honestly reminded me of what high school loves genuinely felt like for me (& God am I glad I got out of that one).
Overall the book is really good. Just not something I see myself owning or wanting to re-read.
hensoava's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
rebonky's review
emotional
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
4.0