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viccerier's review against another edition
2.0
This book is as silly ad the first one. Oh, and sick in some way. I really don’t why why i decided to read the last one. I just want to know what will happen with Ollie and Mia. Maybe that’s the reasons.
marita_ls's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
sunnycherrybooks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hellokissesandwhiskey's review against another edition
5.0
You killed my favourite character:((
He deserved a happy ending!!
He deserved a happy ending!!
tatiannareads's review against another edition
3.0
Even When I'm Gone is the second book in [a:Nicole Fiorina|19241479|Nicole Fiorina|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1616977099p2/19241479.jpg]'s Stay with Me trilogy. It's a contemporary college romance that follows the same couple, so each book must be read in order.
Potential triggers: sexual and psychological trauma, mental health institutions, emotional dysregulation, blurred relationship lines, suicidal ideation, suicide.
I'll start by saying that there are parts of this book I absolutely loved, and I definitely intend to finish out the trilogy. Fiorina's prose continues to impress me, and Ollie and Mia's romance has left an impact despite me having some challenges with this story. The epilogue was my favourite part of this book, and i have to admit I am curious about the direction things are headed.
Note: usually my reviews are spoiler-free, but I do include some specific details int his one to explain what frustrated me.
In [b:Stay with Me|46201805|Stay with Me (Stay with Me, #1)|Nicole Fiorina|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561478128l/46201805._SY75_.jpg|71168748], aspects of the setting were somewhat unbelievable for me, but I was able to look past this because the writing was so insanely beautiful and the romance completely captivated me. In Even When I'm Gone, the need for me to suspend my belief about the setting continued and then some. Additionally, the plot went in an unexpected direction.
The security at Dalor is said to have been increased following the events of the previous book, but it's clear this is untrue. In fact, Mia becomes subject to very similar dangers that she experienced in the first book... because hardly anything has changed. I couldn't get past the fact that if there were surveillance cameras — like any modern psychiatric institution, especially one that has recently "increased security" — the mystery driving the plot would have been solved at the beginning.
I was anticipating this story to be heavily focused on Ollie's mental health journey, but unfortunately specific aspects of this felt rushed, glossed over, and anticlimactic. I assumed Mia's mental state would be fragile, having only recently started to heal, but she barely seems to struggle or experience any setbacks with what happens to Ollie. In fact, she seems to almost immediately give up and push him away rather than fight for their love the way he did for her. This totally undermined the whole "stay with me" motif that was so beautifully constructed in the first book.
I said in my review of the first book that the mental illness representation outside of the setting was pretty impressive and well-researched, but aspects of this were embellished in this one a little too much for me. Mia's ability to turn her "switch" on and off was an interesting plot point that seemed unrealistic. I understand this is fiction, but as someone who works in mental health, I am cursed to notice these things and unfortunately sometimes it dampens my reading experience.
I am hoping this book is just a bump in the road and the next book will close out the trilogy in a way that is satisfying and believable.
Potential triggers: sexual and psychological trauma, mental health institutions, emotional dysregulation, blurred relationship lines, suicidal ideation, suicide.
I'll start by saying that there are parts of this book I absolutely loved, and I definitely intend to finish out the trilogy. Fiorina's prose continues to impress me, and Ollie and Mia's romance has left an impact despite me having some challenges with this story. The epilogue was my favourite part of this book, and i have to admit I am curious about the direction things are headed.
Note: usually my reviews are spoiler-free, but I do include some specific details int his one to explain what frustrated me.
In [b:Stay with Me|46201805|Stay with Me (Stay with Me, #1)|Nicole Fiorina|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561478128l/46201805._SY75_.jpg|71168748], aspects of the setting were somewhat unbelievable for me, but I was able to look past this because the writing was so insanely beautiful and the romance completely captivated me. In Even When I'm Gone, the need for me to suspend my belief about the setting continued and then some. Additionally, the plot went in an unexpected direction.
The security at Dalor is said to have been increased following the events of the previous book, but it's clear this is untrue. In fact, Mia becomes subject to very similar dangers that she experienced in the first book... because hardly anything has changed. I couldn't get past the fact that if there were surveillance cameras — like any modern psychiatric institution, especially one that has recently "increased security" — the mystery driving the plot would have been solved at the beginning.
I was anticipating this story to be heavily focused on Ollie's mental health journey, but unfortunately specific aspects of this felt rushed, glossed over, and anticlimactic. I assumed Mia's mental state would be fragile, having only recently started to heal, but she barely seems to struggle or experience any setbacks with what happens to Ollie. In fact, she seems to almost immediately give up and push him away rather than fight for their love the way he did for her. This totally undermined the whole "stay with me" motif that was so beautifully constructed in the first book.
I said in my review of the first book that the mental illness representation outside of the setting was pretty impressive and well-researched, but aspects of this were embellished in this one a little too much for me. Mia's ability to turn her "switch" on and off was an interesting plot point that seemed unrealistic. I understand this is fiction, but as someone who works in mental health, I am cursed to notice these things and unfortunately sometimes it dampens my reading experience.
I am hoping this book is just a bump in the road and the next book will close out the trilogy in a way that is satisfying and believable.
haleyjurgs's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
maweweee's review against another edition
5.0
I'M FURIOUS! I'M EXTREMELY MAD AT NICOLE! HOW DARE SHE????
Ok, so I've taken a while to finish the book as I've been busy with university... but...
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE PLOT TWIST! WHAT THE F*CK!! I WAS NOT PREPARED!!!
I absolutely loved this book... Nicole's books never seem to be able to disappoint me. I will admit at the start of the book, I just wanted to wrap my arms around Mia and tell her how everything will be okay, while I wanted to heavily knock common sense into Jake and Ollie!
I was disappointed in Jake at first, but I'm glad he came to his senses later on. I wish I could have seen more of Jake and Mia though. Ollie, my boy... where do I begin? At first, as much as I wanted to hate Ollie, I couldn't. My heart wouldn't let me, because I knew that wasn't Ollie, that was the meds playing... I'm glad Dr Conway was able to help him while everyone was failing him... and I'm extremely happy, he was able to fight it against it.
Ethan... dude, he pissed me off! Especially on the scene where he started touching Mia... like boy, keep your hands to yourself! I'm glad he was there to protect her, when Ollie wasn't... but I seriously think he kinda went a bit too far sometimes... the last chapter... boy! That ALSO TOOK A TURN! Like, Ethan, dude, I get you are seeking revenge, eye for an eye but please let Mia go... I hope Ollie doesn't think Mia left him
Ok, so I've taken a while to finish the book as I've been busy with university... but...
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE PLOT TWIST! WHAT THE F*CK!! I WAS NOT PREPARED!!!
I absolutely loved this book... Nicole's books never seem to be able to disappoint me. I will admit at the start of the book, I just wanted to wrap my arms around Mia and tell her how everything will be okay, while I wanted to heavily knock common sense into Jake and Ollie!
I was disappointed in Jake at first, but I'm glad he came to his senses later on. I wish I could have seen more of Jake and Mia though. Ollie, my boy... where do I begin? At first, as much as I wanted to hate Ollie, I couldn't. My heart wouldn't let me, because I knew that wasn't Ollie, that was the meds playing... I'm glad Dr Conway was able to help him while everyone was failing him... and I'm extremely happy, he was able to fight it against it.
Ethan... dude, he pissed me off! Especially on the scene where he started touching Mia... like boy, keep your hands to yourself! I'm glad he was there to protect her, when Ollie wasn't... but I seriously think he kinda went a bit too far sometimes... the last chapter... boy! That ALSO TOOK A TURN! Like, Ethan, dude, I get you are seeking revenge, eye for an eye but please let Mia go... I hope Ollie doesn't think Mia left him
faythetraveler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
nwhittaker97's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25