Reviews

I told myself i would love this book but would not get too emotionally attached. I was wrong. I cried like a grown woman, because are allowed to cry as much as we deem!! Beautifully beautifully written and crafted by the mind of a reader. This book is written like poetry; you could read it all in one sitting or space it over time and still cry at the ending. I highlighted so many quotes from this book, let’s start with the lighter ones and then go for the final blow:

“Remember, Maya: the things we respond to at twenty are not necessarily the same things we respond to at forty and vice versa. This is true in books and also in life”

“She was pretty and black which made her death a tragedy. She was poor and black, which means people saw it coming”

“We read to know we’re not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone. My life is in these books, he wants to tell her. Reads these and know my heart”

“We aren’t the things we collect, acquire, read. We are, for as long as we are here, only love. The things we loved. The people we loved.”

tanyamhudson's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

htrezise's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

Enjoyed this book and unique storytelling but probably wouldn’t reread. The characters are quirky and lovable.

careycarpenter's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved this audiobook. The reader was fabulous and the story was great. It’s a fast read. I enjoyed the characters and the fact that it is all set around a bookstore and books. So fun and a sweet story.

andr901p's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad 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

4.0

kvalks11's review against another edition

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3.0

Spoiler

3.0 Read it in a day, not because it wowed me but because it was both short and easy. Not exactly sure what I just read. Might be prose / love story to books. Can any bona fide bibliophiles weigh in please? From a “literary fiction” standpoint, i would have liked richer character development. I did not connect with the motivations of most characters. Starting with Amy and AJ falling in love. Maya was unbelievably (literally) precocious and I felt little toward her, which is sad. I did not cry in this book (yet Gabrielle Zevin ripped me apart in Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, so I know she has it in her). Maybe the book would be better is Zevin allowed it to be twice as long. The so-called plot “twists” were hardly compelling. Some parts took me straight out of it, like using the term “miscarriage” for pregnancy loss after 6mo (for a charter who endured a devastating # of losses) and also when AJ remarked narrated that there are “zillions of people in the world” when reflecting on why he doesn’t believe in The One. For such a persnickety guy, I don’t understand why he’s use hyperbole on an otherwise understood number.

ebhatia's review against another edition

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5.0

exactly the type of story you think it will be, but lovely for it

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