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gpfot's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
karly_ackley's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I know this came out in 2008, so I’m definitely late to the game (to be fair I was 9), but wow this book blew me away. I haven’t been moved by a book in this way in I don’t even know how long and I know it’s one I’m going to be thinking about for a long time.
I think what really hit me was how realistic and raw it was. We saw from the perspective of both girls/women and we really got to learn them and how they became who they are. They are flawed and messy and real and I fell in love with them both.
For anyone wanting to read about friendship and hardship and navigating life, I cannot recommend this enough! Also I feel like I have to call my mom now, idk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Rape, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: War
readingwithmeredith's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, and Pregnancy
mekholm's review
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Rape
mary_xx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use
julierambaeck's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
This book. It is between a 4 and a 4.5. I think this was a wonderful depiction of life, of grief, of love and of family and friends.
The characters were very realistic - meaning quite stupid and annoying from time to time.
It is a book that really makes you think about life, how important relationships are, dreams and wants, and how fragile it all is.
The last 30 pages I was sobbing my eyes out... and I definitely think the last 100 or 150 pages were the strongest in the book.
I will be reading the second book, but I need some time to recover from this first...
The characters were very realistic - meaning quite stupid and annoying from time to time.
It is a book that really makes you think about life, how important relationships are, dreams and wants, and how fragile it all is.
The last 30 pages I was sobbing my eyes out... and I definitely think the last 100 or 150 pages were the strongest in the book.
I will be reading the second book, but I need some time to recover from this first...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Terminal illness, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Pregnancy
jacss's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Not me reading an almost 500 page book in 1,5 day. Also not me bawling my eyes out for the last 80 pages.
I had watched the series when it came out and really enjoyed it, so that got me buying the book. Because I watched the series first though, I couldn't really imagine the characters to be anything other than they were in the series, which always feels like a bummer.
All in all, a story that is entertaining enough without becoming to deep. I doubt that I would've picked it up before having seen the series though, but it was better than expected.
I had watched the series when it came out and really enjoyed it, so that got me buying the book. Because I watched the series first though, I couldn't really imagine the characters to be anything other than they were in the series, which always feels like a bummer.
All in all, a story that is entertaining enough without becoming to deep. I doubt that I would've picked it up before having seen the series though, but it was better than expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Rape
bxnnny's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this was a touching story about two very different girls who become best friends and go through the trials of life together into womanhood. at times, the story could get repetitive, particularly during tully's parts, and at other times, i felt like i was getting whiplash by how quickly the story moved forward. i kept anticipating when and what the big betrayal would be and it would never be what i thought it was going to be. issues would be brought up throughout the story but they would each ultimately be resolved by the next chapter and we'd be moving on to the next thing. that being said, i could appreciate the book moving so quickly considering the size of the book.
i really did not like tully. i felt sympathy for her at the beginning because i knew she had a troubled relationship with her mother, but as she grew up and became more and more selfish and ungrateful and emotionally stunted, i couldn't stand her. i feel like she had more potential but ended up just being extremely annoying and unlikeable and her sections of the story because repetitive fast. i was way more invested in kate's story and really just wanted her to be able to have the life she hoped for. but, alas...
i would say i overall enjoyed the book and shed some tears in those final chapters. BUT it could definitely be cliché and cheesy and over-the-top at times, it moved comically fast, and the big betrayal was... underwhelming.
i really did not like tully. i felt sympathy for her at the beginning because i knew she had a troubled relationship with her mother, but as she grew up and became more and more selfish and ungrateful and emotionally stunted, i couldn't stand her. i feel like she had more potential but ended up just being extremely annoying and unlikeable and her sections of the story because repetitive fast. i was way more invested in kate's story and really just wanted her to be able to have the life she hoped for. but, alas...
i would say i overall enjoyed the book and shed some tears in those final chapters. BUT it could definitely be cliché and cheesy and over-the-top at times, it moved comically fast, and the big betrayal was... underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction
haileybunde's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Throughout the book, I enjoyed it but felt like the whole plot was centered around such a cliche - that woman have to choose between a family or a career, and that’s all there is to life. It was hard for me to get past sometimes, as well as how genuinely dumb Tully could be. She was such a selfish, bad friend at times it wasn’t even believable
However there are a few redeeming factors for me in this book that ultimately had it good:
I think how she wrote about Kate and Marah’s relationship was beautiful and real and heartbreaking, and I ultimately think this book is about motherhood. And the last 50ish pages of this book really strengthened it for me - how she wrote about grief and cancer and death was so well done and poignant and devastating
However there are a few redeeming factors for me in this book that ultimately had it good:
I think how she wrote about Kate and Marah’s relationship was beautiful and real and heartbreaking, and I ultimately think this book is about motherhood. And the last 50ish pages of this book really strengthened it for me - how she wrote about grief and cancer and death was so well done and poignant and devastating
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Rape
sandysmith's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records. In January 2021, I kick-started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children only reading when on holiday, having previously being an avid reader. About love loss and friendship, between two wonderful women Tully and Kate. I loved this one, and enjoy this authors writing style. I'll certainly consider reading more of her books and I notice there is a sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Rape