kaagaard87's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
thaliaw's review against another edition
5.0
This book broke me into pieces and put me back together. The pain and the sorrow were so gut wrenching that it also made me deal with my own grief. All the characters made sense, there was not one that was unnecessary, they all felt like real people, Shaun David Hutchinson wrote them incredibly. I fell in love with the each and everyone of them and their storylines, and cried when they did and felt my heart reconstruct it self when theirs did. Honestly brilliant book, I will recommend it to anyone who will listen. A part from that the comic parts in the book for me showed perfectly what Andrew was going through. I can’t wait to read more books by Shaun David Hutchinson
_thedarkling's review against another edition
4.0
*Update*
I'm going to give this book 4 stars instead of 4,5*. I thought about it and I came to the conclusion that this deserved a better ending - there were a bunch of problems and then that happens and everything is alright again. It's still a wonderful book and I recommend it to all contemporary and lgbtq fans, it's just not as good as it could have been.
_________
This is such a sad book, but I found myself really happy for Andrew in the end. Even though I loved the parts and thoughts that I could relate to, I think the ones that are very dark and very Drew made this book even more special.
I'm going to give this book 4 stars instead of 4,5*. I thought about it and I came to the conclusion that this deserved a better ending - there were a bunch of problems and then that happens and everything is alright again. It's still a wonderful book and I recommend it to all contemporary and lgbtq fans, it's just not as good as it could have been.
_________
This is such a sad book, but I found myself really happy for Andrew in the end. Even though I loved the parts and thoughts that I could relate to, I think the ones that are very dark and very Drew made this book even more special.
weboughtazoo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
selinasc's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Ich verstehe echt nicht, warum niemand über dieses Buch spricht. Es war so emotional und schön, ich glaube ich habe noch nie so viel bei einem Buch geweint
Ich verstehe echt nicht, warum niemand über dieses Buch spricht. Es war so emotional und schön, ich glaube ich habe noch nie so viel bei einem Buch geweint
actual_hobbit's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Just... wow. Don't mind me; I'll just be over here, awe-struck and emotionally wrecked from this book.
crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
3.0
Andrew Brawley's life changed forever in one night. His parents and sister dead, he found his only choice to remain in the hospital--but not as a patient. Drew sleeps in an empty supply closet, works in the cafeteria (being paid under the table), and befriends many of the long-term patients. His cover story is that he's visiting his sick grandmother who is in a coma, and while many of the staff don't necessarily believe it, they let it slide. And as long as he can steer clear of a too-inquisitive social worker, he knows he could keep this going for a while. But one night when he sees a young man brought in to the emergency room, apparently set on fire by his classmates, Drew is immediately drawn to the new patient. Drew feels for him, and in some ways he sees a kindred spirit. As he learns more about Rusty's situation, and eventually gets to know him after he wakes him, Drew begins to wonder if there could be a potential future in which they might leave the hospital together. But before that can happen, Drew needs to face the demons that have kept him in the hospital in the first place--and those just might lead to the undoing of the life he has built.
I think the one word that stands out to me most after finishing this book would be "refreshing." Drew is far from perfect. And the author does not try to hide or mask that in any way during this book. There is a realness to it that I don't think I always get from young adult titles, and I found myself really connecting to the material and the characters as a result. An interesting and insightful read.
I think the one word that stands out to me most after finishing this book would be "refreshing." Drew is far from perfect. And the author does not try to hide or mask that in any way during this book. There is a realness to it that I don't think I always get from young adult titles, and I found myself really connecting to the material and the characters as a result. An interesting and insightful read.
leewicks's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars.
This was a much heavier read than I was anticipating, but I still really enjoyed it. I was able to burn through this book in a couple of sittings, mainly down to the fact I was just so intrigued about the main characters story, his mentality, and his journey. I didn't always like him though, but that's okay, as you see character development, though it is kind of sudden.
Also, the ending was a bit eh, but the comics ending was superb!
One of the reviews within the book neatly describes what I think of it.
"The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley broke my heart, then put it back together again."
This was a much heavier read than I was anticipating, but I still really enjoyed it. I was able to burn through this book in a couple of sittings, mainly down to the fact I was just so intrigued about the main characters story, his mentality, and his journey. I didn't always like him though, but that's okay, as you see character development, though it is kind of sudden.
Also, the ending was a bit eh, but the comics ending was superb!
One of the reviews within the book neatly describes what I think of it.
"The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley broke my heart, then put it back together again."
bellsbooksandwritings's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know how I'm supposed to rate this book. 4 stars? 4.5? 5?
If I compare it to my favourite books, it doesn't feel right to rate it 5 stars, but it's also incredibly brilliant and it was impossible to stop reading (and why did it have to end? I really need it to continue) and it made me feel so much.
Help me, I don't know what to do.
Okay, I will have to choose, so I'll go for 4.5 stars (rounding up to 5).
If I compare it to my favourite books, it doesn't feel right to rate it 5 stars, but it's also incredibly brilliant and it was impossible to stop reading (and why did it have to end? I really need it to continue) and it made me feel so much.
Help me, I don't know what to do.
Okay, I will have to choose, so I'll go for 4.5 stars (rounding up to 5).
kitrook's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book a couple of years ago and completely forgot about it until now. I remembered it existed today, and immediately started searching for it, googling things like "boy lives in hospital and boy who lit himself on fire" "teenage boy parents were killed and he lives in hospital" "boy who lives in hospital scared of doctor".... not to much luck, to no surprise. Eventually, though, I did find it. So immediately I got my hands on a copy and started reading it. I finished it in maybe an hour or two because I was so caught up in it.
It's probably worth a mention that I sobbed while reading this. My younger self, who had gone through fewer trials of life, definitely wasn't as touched by this book. It's a book about grief, moving on, accepting it, and the unfairness of death. It shows what big consequences your actions can have; checking your phone while driving, kissing a boy in a hospital bed, running away from who you are. Oh, how I cried after Lexi died. The exchange of Lexi and Trevors lives was something I had forgotten from my original read, and it hit me hard.
The truth is I could go on about what I just read for literal hours, but I don't think anyone wants to read that. So I'll end it here with a statement: This is a beautiful book, and I would recommend it to anyone who has ever lost someone they love.
It's probably worth a mention that I sobbed while reading this. My younger self, who had gone through fewer trials of life, definitely wasn't as touched by this book. It's a book about grief, moving on, accepting it, and the unfairness of death. It shows what big consequences your actions can have; checking your phone while driving, kissing a boy in a hospital bed, running away from who you are. Oh, how I cried after Lexi died. The exchange of Lexi and Trevors lives was something I had forgotten from my original read, and it hit me hard.
The truth is I could go on about what I just read for literal hours, but I don't think anyone wants to read that. So I'll end it here with a statement: This is a beautiful book, and I would recommend it to anyone who has ever lost someone they love.