dbooknerd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Possible spoilers. Tried not to have them.
I love, LOVE this book! Wooh! I am a woman of a certain age who literally broke out in tears two or three times while reading this! I don’t know where to start!
First, I’m so excited to have read a book that was just pure. No cussing (if there was any, it was very little), not graphic in content, not trauma focused, but just a good well-told story.
Second, it is an awesome coming of age story. You have Dylan, the main character, grappling with trying to fit in as a young black woman in predominately white spaces; questioning her beauty; feeling insecure; trying to juggle school, work, friendships, and trying to get into Juilliard. Sometimes I got slightly irritated with her self-doubt, however, I had to remember she is a teen. I’ve experienced the same things and to be honest, experience them now! Then there was Legend, not the main character but still the author does an excellent job of us seeing him come into his own as a young man. Sometimes I felt he was rude but again, it showed his youth and room for growth.
Third, it is a tear jerking love story. This story has my heart something fierce! <The chemistry between Dylan and Legend and the not so perfectness of it just resonated. The ups and downs and twists in this were amazing. >
Fourth, I love the books uniqueness. The author does a brilliant job of showing the diversity of black people. I love that the characters had interests that some might not see as what black people would really like (when in reality we are multifaceted). The classical music, the pastimes, the diverse friendships, etc. were awesome.
This is hands down one of the best, if not the best, book I’ve read this year!
I love, LOVE this book! Wooh! I am a woman of a certain age who literally broke out in tears two or three times while reading this! I don’t know where to start!
First, I’m so excited to have read a book that was just pure. No cussing (if there was any, it was very little), not graphic in content, not trauma focused, but just a good well-told story.
Second, it is an awesome coming of age story. You have Dylan, the main character, grappling with trying to fit in as a young black woman in predominately white spaces; questioning her beauty; feeling insecure; trying to juggle school, work, friendships, and trying to get into Juilliard. Sometimes I got slightly irritated with her self-doubt, however, I had to remember she is a teen. I’ve experienced the same things and to be honest, experience them now! Then there was Legend, not the main character but still the author does an excellent job of us seeing him come into his own as a young man. Sometimes I felt he was rude but again, it showed his youth and room for growth.
Third, it is a tear jerking love story. This story has my heart something fierce! <The chemistry between Dylan and Legend and the not so perfectness of it just resonated. The ups and downs and twists in this were amazing. >
Fourth, I love the books uniqueness. The author does a brilliant job of showing the diversity of black people. I love that the characters had interests that some might not see as what black people would really like (when in reality we are multifaceted). The classical music, the pastimes, the diverse friendships, etc. were awesome.
This is hands down one of the best, if not the best, book I’ve read this year!
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
2.5
I would like to thank NetGalley and Skyscape for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
All Dylan Woods wants to do is practice and get ready for the biggest audition of her life for a spot at Julliard. However, Dylan gets a flashback to the past after her family finds out that the world famous R & B artist and Dylan’s former best friend, Langston (Legendary), is staying with them for a couple of weeks. But Langston, who brings up the bucket list he and Dylan created before he left for Los Angeles, Dylan considers if it’s worth giving him another chance.
From when I was reading the book description for Somebody That I Used to Know, I was fascinated to read this book. However, after reading this title, I didn’t really meet my expectations for what this book could be and I was only able to read a little over 50% before skimming the rest of the book.
When I first read this book, I didn’t feel sucked in. It kind of felt like I was just there watching in the background and not like I was with them (if that makes any sense). Additionally, reading into the plot more, it almost sounded like something I read before but they changed the circumstances around the characters’ backstories and the book’s plot. Yes, I know that it’s part of how tropes work, but there wasn’t anything new added to it. I just wished that there was something in the book that would make it more original and not so trope-y or cookie cutter.
I also didn’t like how Dylan’s parents were portrayed in the book. They seemed so weirdly obsessed with Legendary, even though they knew him for years before he got big, and wanted the entire family to spend time with him while he was living with them. Even if it meant making Dylan compromise her dreams of meeting world-famous violinists who could help her get into Juilliard. That being said, it was definitely something that irked me about the book.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some parts that I liked about this book. I loved having Dylan as a main character for this book. It was comfortable getting to know her and reading her perspective as you go throughout the book. I also felt some of the side characters were good and helped balance out the cast of characters for Somebody That I Used to Know.
I just don’t think that this was the book for me. Maybe if you’re an avid classical musician who likes to go on adventures you might like this book, but it’s not something I would recommend and there are probably other reviewers who have much better insights about the book than me.
All Dylan Woods wants to do is practice and get ready for the biggest audition of her life for a spot at Julliard. However, Dylan gets a flashback to the past after her family finds out that the world famous R & B artist and Dylan’s former best friend, Langston (Legendary), is staying with them for a couple of weeks. But Langston, who brings up the bucket list he and Dylan created before he left for Los Angeles, Dylan considers if it’s worth giving him another chance.
From when I was reading the book description for Somebody That I Used to Know, I was fascinated to read this book. However, after reading this title, I didn’t really meet my expectations for what this book could be and I was only able to read a little over 50% before skimming the rest of the book.
When I first read this book, I didn’t feel sucked in. It kind of felt like I was just there watching in the background and not like I was with them (if that makes any sense). Additionally, reading into the plot more, it almost sounded like something I read before but they changed the circumstances around the characters’ backstories and the book’s plot. Yes, I know that it’s part of how tropes work, but there wasn’t anything new added to it. I just wished that there was something in the book that would make it more original and not so trope-y or cookie cutter.
I also didn’t like how Dylan’s parents were portrayed in the book. They seemed so weirdly obsessed with Legendary, even though they knew him for years before he got big, and wanted the entire family to spend time with him while he was living with them. Even if it meant making Dylan compromise her dreams of meeting world-famous violinists who could help her get into Juilliard. That being said, it was definitely something that irked me about the book.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some parts that I liked about this book. I loved having Dylan as a main character for this book. It was comfortable getting to know her and reading her perspective as you go throughout the book. I also felt some of the side characters were good and helped balance out the cast of characters for Somebody That I Used to Know.
I just don’t think that this was the book for me. Maybe if you’re an avid classical musician who likes to go on adventures you might like this book, but it’s not something I would recommend and there are probably other reviewers who have much better insights about the book than me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Car accident
fitz_the_fish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
evolvingwilds's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jaydionne's review
5.0
This was THEE cutest young love story. I had my eyebrow raised the first chapter but once I kept reading I was very happily with the direction the story went.
luvekelsey_'s review against another edition
5.0
Ex Childhood Friends to Lovers? ✅
RnB Super Star? ✅
Black female violinist ✅
Black female and male lead? ✅
Bucket list from their childhood ✅
Dylan dreams of attending Juilliard and moving to New York but she definitely did not expect her ex childhood friend Legendary who’s now an RnB superstar to return back into her life.
I could go on and on about how this book is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. This book is slow burn but in a really good way that kept me on my toes until the very last page.
Dylan and Legend were just so… amazing. Their chemistry was off the charts and not forced at all and their reunion was fun to watch
RnB Super Star? ✅
Black female violinist ✅
Black female and male lead? ✅
Bucket list from their childhood ✅
Dylan dreams of attending Juilliard and moving to New York but she definitely did not expect her ex childhood friend Legendary who’s now an RnB superstar to return back into her life.
I could go on and on about how this book is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. This book is slow burn but in a really good way that kept me on my toes until the very last page.
Dylan and Legend were just so… amazing. Their chemistry was off the charts and not forced at all and their reunion was fun to watch
menachris87's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.0
allthestories08's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ecamp213's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent