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kim_j_dare's review
4.0
Happy that my daughter put this engaging and satisfying contemporary YA on my radar. I loved the nuanced exploration of Sophie’s and Peter’s codependent relationship. Secondary characters are all fully fleshed and add a lot to the story. If John Green’s fans haven’t discovered Rachel Lynn Solomon, they’re in for a treat.
wandaka's review
4.0
This book talked about chronic kidney illness, codependent relationships, one-sided love and so many other stuffs in such a way that made me feel so sad and also mad at the characters. I really loved the ending and it made me so happy seeing the character development in the last chapter. This was so different from the two books I’ve read from the author and it just made me feel even more excited to pick up her other books (that I haven’t read yet but hoping to do so soon).
shelbitedeschi's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
cyndi1966's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
Tonight, as our families talk about Judaism, I’m struck with curiosity.
“You met in Israel, right?” I say to Sophie’s parents.
They exchange grins. “We did. On Birthright.” Sophie’s dad dabs at his mouth with a napkin.
“Has Sophie never told you the story?”
I shake my head, and Sophie and Tabby roll their eyes.
“Believe it or not, Peter and I don’t usually discuss your love life,” Sophie says.
Sophie’s mom gently swats her arm from across the table. “He went with a group of friends from his synagogue, and I went with a group from Hillel. He was so shy!”
“And you were scarily outgoing,” Phil puts in, and then lets Becki continue the story.
“We sort of flirted on and off the entire trip—as much as I could get from him, at least—but it wasn’t until the last night, when we got separated from the group and spent hours wandering through Tel Aviv together, that we really connected. We stayed out all night.”
“Oy vey,” Tabby jokes. “Scandalous.” It’s Becki’s turn to roll her eyes . . . but she also doesn’t deny Tabby’s insinuation, which makes Sophie gasp and cover her ears. “That trip . . . It was incredible,” Becki says.
“Aside from meeting Sophie’s dad, it made me proud to be Jewish.”
That tugs at something inside me. Sophie doesn’t seem to care, and Tabby and Josh are preoccupied with Luna. But I wonder what it’s like to feel that. That sense of pride.
Rep: dyslexic cis fem main character, bi cis male love interest, Jewish main characters
Look, I already struggled with the premise of “we are best friends so let’s promise to lose our virginity to each other before high school graduation,” because the concept of “virginity” feels icky to me (like, really, I need you to interrogate what you believe about “virginity”)
However, I don’t know if the birthright trip or Israel will be challenged later on in the book, but with this passage, I just don’t know if I want to keep reading to find out. I love RLS’s other books, but I’m going to pass on this for now.
tinagardner's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I was not super impressed by this book. I knew going in it was YA, but it seemed to take too long to get to the point of the book that was easy to know the ending. I would not recommend this to a friend.
saraanneb3's review
3.0
Okay, so I did know this book was YA, but a lot of YA is marketed that way, but is actually for fully grown adults, so the premise intrigued me, and that’s why I bought it.
This is not a YA book secretly for older adults. This book is for teenagers. And so, in that vein, I give it 3 stars—I think I would have really liked this as a teenager, but it’s not really for me now. For me, now, the writing is simplistic and awkward and made it really hard to get into. Also, it is SO clear that the author knows next to nothing about music—SUCH a mistake to make a character a musician, then!
And yet, the book grew on me. It’s not for me, now, but it warmed my heart with nostalgia, remembering having friendships and relationships that intense, feelings that I thought were the deepest depth and would never end, and she captured that life situation well.
Also, the blurb about the book on most places makes SUCH a big deal out of the love aspect and sex and Sophie. What this book is really about is what happens in an insular relationship where one of the parties is sick and dependent, when the sick person gets well?
Anyhow, three, because good enough for 14 year old me, but not 34 year old me.
This is not a YA book secretly for older adults. This book is for teenagers. And so, in that vein, I give it 3 stars—I think I would have really liked this as a teenager, but it’s not really for me now. For me, now, the writing is simplistic and awkward and made it really hard to get into. Also, it is SO clear that the author knows next to nothing about music—SUCH a mistake to make a character a musician, then!
And yet, the book grew on me. It’s not for me, now, but it warmed my heart with nostalgia, remembering having friendships and relationships that intense, feelings that I thought were the deepest depth and would never end, and she captured that life situation well.
Also, the blurb about the book on most places makes SUCH a big deal out of the love aspect and sex and Sophie. What this book is really about is what happens in an insular relationship where one of the parties is sick and dependent, when the sick person gets well?
Anyhow, three, because good enough for 14 year old me, but not 34 year old me.
nklosty's review
5.0
Wow! Talk about an awkward or difficult situation. The generosity of individuals amaze me. The wonders of those people. The story hooked me and had me both liking and hating the characters. The relationships carry this book.
ktedder91's review against another edition
3.0
This book started off really sweet and I thought I was in line for a good cry. Instead it left me feeling very frustrated. When I realized that nobody was dying I wanted a happy ending for the two main characters that never came.