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alexis_michelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
I saw a TikTok about this book and how it revolved around two twins who were separated as children with one growing up to have everything he ever wanted and his sister growing up feeling unloved, depressed, and trying to take her own life. I was definitely expecting more moments between the two siblings themselves, but maybe we will get that in the next book. I would have really loved to see more of their relationship in general. Colin is a very complex character, and I would have loved if the author delved deeper into him and his struggles. As readers, we could infer that his sister was going to die, but it wasnβt explicitly stated until close to the end. By that point, so much was happening with Lily that this revelation felt very rushed. I wish we could have seen more of Colinβs grief. Additionally, the climax for Lily didnβt seem as frantic as it should have been. Knowing that she was suicidal, and it was her last day she gave herself to live, I expected freak outs and rushing to be with her, but it just felt very slow paced. I did like that Lily decided to try to live though, and I especially like that she tried to live for herself, not someone else. I think this book could be great if it was edited, and really tried to flush out more of the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
val_readsbooks4fun's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
kayyylaaareaadsss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cancer
darknesslighttt's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
π ππππππ π
π§πΏπΌπ½π²π: friends to lovers, best friend brother, forced proximity, cinnamon roll hero, college, he falls first,
π§πΏπΆπ΄π΄π²πΏπ: suicide thoughts, emotional abuse, death, mental illness
I really liked this book. I was a bit reluctant at first since it was a recommendation from booktok.
Lily is sweet and adorable. She writes all her thoughts in a diary and the author portrayed very beautifully the depression and pain she was going through. She had no hope left, that is until Colin suddenly appears in her life and turns it upside down. Somehow his presence in her life also changed the way she talked, meaning she was both confused and relieved at the same time.
The book itself is a full roller coaster of emotions, so I suggest you have some napkins with you.
π§πΏπΌπ½π²π: friends to lovers, best friend brother, forced proximity, cinnamon roll hero, college, he falls first,
π§πΏπΆπ΄π΄π²πΏπ: suicide thoughts, emotional abuse, death, mental illness
I really liked this book. I was a bit reluctant at first since it was a recommendation from booktok.
Lily is sweet and adorable. She writes all her thoughts in a diary and the author portrayed very beautifully the depression and pain she was going through. She had no hope left, that is until Colin suddenly appears in her life and turns it upside down. Somehow his presence in her life also changed the way she talked, meaning she was both confused and relieved at the same time.
The book itself is a full roller coaster of emotions, so I suggest you have some napkins with you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
rippl3s's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Self harm and Terminal illness
moony_lilac's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
cutegrizzly1502's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Adored this book. HEAR ME OUT.
Colin is a sweetheart. The way you can feel his love for Lily just by the way he admires her is just beautiful. Lily may be stubborn, but you can see how she warms up to Colin. They show great care for each other in their actions.
I love Colin's personality. He is adorable. The nicknames he calls Lily are everything to me. And come on, who doesn't love a hispanic man? Lily has Colin wrapped around her finger. He would do anything she asks even if he doesn't want to.
Lily's character is relatable. She puts a smile on her face even though she doesn't feel like it. She is resilient even if she doesn't realize it. She works hard and genuinely cares for the people she loves.
Their love is so precious and sweet. Never failed to put a smile on my face. Made me feel what I like to call, "glitter pen."
If you are reading this amongst the several reviews, commenting on how this book romantizes suicide and suicidal thoughts and how it is unrealistic, here is my take on it; this story is realistic and doesn't romanticize these topics. People have a tendency to feel guilty, and with that guilt, they try and fix what they can fix when they can't fix what they did, like how Colin did with Lily. People also have a tendency to attach themselves to other people when they share moments in the darkness. It may look like Colin being Lily's saving grace and making her suicidal tendencies to fade away is unrealistic, but it really isn't. It happens. Not to everyone, but it does. And Lily didn't stop having those tendencies, not 'til way later anyway. If you read the other books, you'd see how other characters notice how sometimes she can't always put a smile on her face because she isn't there mentally. Colin swam with her in that pool of feelings and experiences she was in, and he made sure she didn't drown in it. He didn't pull her out of it completely. He just made sure she stayed afloat until she came to the conclusion that she needed to get out of that water.
Overall, I loved this book, and it's a great start to the series. I had good laughs with this book. (I also cried more times than I could count, but you know a book is amazing when there's tears falling down your cheeks whilst reading the last few pages.) I will defend this book with everything I have.
I would recommend this book to anyone over 18, especially if you've been down in the dumps and have been looking for a glimpse of hope.
Do check the trigger warnings as there are heavy topics that may trigger you.
Colin is a sweetheart. The way you can feel his love for Lily just by the way he admires her is just beautiful. Lily may be stubborn, but you can see how she warms up to Colin. They show great care for each other in their actions.
I love Colin's personality. He is adorable. The nicknames he calls Lily are everything to me. And come on, who doesn't love a hispanic man? Lily has Colin wrapped around her finger. He would do anything she asks even if he doesn't want to.
Lily's character is relatable. She puts a smile on her face even though she doesn't feel like it. She is resilient even if she doesn't realize it. She works hard and genuinely cares for the people she loves.
Their love is so precious and sweet. Never failed to put a smile on my face. Made me feel what I like to call, "glitter pen."
If you are reading this amongst the several reviews, commenting on how this book romantizes suicide and suicidal thoughts and how it is unrealistic, here is my take on it; this story is realistic and doesn't romanticize these topics. People have a tendency to feel guilty, and with that guilt, they try and fix what they can fix when they can't fix what they did, like how Colin did with Lily. People also have a tendency to attach themselves to other people when they share moments in the darkness. It may look like Colin being Lily's saving grace and making her suicidal tendencies to fade away is unrealistic, but it really isn't. It happens. Not to everyone, but it does. And Lily didn't stop having those tendencies, not 'til way later anyway. If you read the other books, you'd see how other characters notice how sometimes she can't always put a smile on her face because she isn't there mentally. Colin swam with her in that pool of feelings and experiences she was in, and he made sure she didn't drown in it. He didn't pull her out of it completely. He just made sure she stayed afloat until she came to the conclusion that she needed to get out of that water.
Overall, I loved this book, and it's a great start to the series. I had good laughs with this book. (I also cried more times than I could count, but you know a book is amazing when there's tears falling down your cheeks whilst reading the last few pages.) I will defend this book with everything I have.
I would recommend this book to anyone over 18, especially if you've been down in the dumps and have been looking for a glimpse of hope.
Do check the trigger warnings as there are heavy topics that may trigger you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide
caitlyn_23's review against another edition
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm
kk_123's review against another edition
2.0
a collage hockey captain finds a pretty girl crying in the arena after their game. when she leaves, she forgets her notebook there with a knowledge that will change his life. and so he convinces her to give him 9 days to show her life can be beautiful amongst the darkness.
having some mental health issues as well, it was a bit harder for me to read (hence why it took me a week to finish) but i really liked it.
i cried, i laughed, i wanted to live through some of the dates he has taken her to just so i could do the same things they did. everything.
although i did wish it would go into more detail about the depths of her depression. for being so long i felt like we only scratched the surface of it and we basically only knew she wanted to die (from my point of view). and then their family relationships. that past felt kind of rushed to me.
having some mental health issues as well, it was a bit harder for me to read (hence why it took me a week to finish) but i really liked it.
i cried, i laughed, i wanted to live through some of the dates he has taken her to just so i could do the same things they did. everything.
although i did wish it would go into more detail about the depths of her depression. for being so long i felt like we only scratched the surface of it and we basically only knew she wanted to die (from my point of view). and then their family relationships. that past felt kind of rushed to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
laurapatricia's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I didnβt like the ending but at the beginning i thought it was going to lead to something bigger/better plot
why did she had to pretend to be dead so they could get back together? like wtf
why did she had to pretend to be dead so they could get back together? like wtf
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide