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nooneyouknow's review against another edition
4.0
so incredibly sad. lots and lots of tears, but totally worth it. more like 4.5 stars. really captured what it was like to be 14 in 1987 - the mix of innocence, fear, the unknown and the becoming.
skynet666's review against another edition
4.0
Well I just dropped my mouse and accidentally erased my entire review! Grrr...so to make it short and sweet. I really enjoyed this book; put it in my queue based on a short magazine review; ditched that JK Rowling book for this one (so much more interesting); story was orginal; characters good; setting was just a few decades ago, but reminded me how much things have changed for the good (with respect to subject matter in the book).
foresturken's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
ebt137's review against another edition
4.0
Throughout most of the book, I had a hard time sympathizing with the narrator, and near the beginning the pacing felt slow and awkward. However by the end I was completely sold on everything. A beautiful and delicate first novel.
claire_dobson's review against another edition
4.0
A good solid read which addresses how AIDS was first perceived in the 80's. It also explores how emotions can cause people to hold unnecessary and unsubstantiated grudges. The story centres around an awkward teen who I immediately took to. Definitely a book that I'd recommend.
marie_adina's review against another edition
5.0
Was home sick and decided the cure was to read a book. I definitely enjoyed this novel! I loved how the story and characters unfolded. Everyone was beautifully complex.
epictetus's review against another edition
3.75
The conclusion being that Finn was June's first love seems weird. I was expecting something more along the lines "was it actually love or you loved him because he made you feel seem when no one did?"
jessplayin's review against another edition
2.0
"If my life was a movie, I would've walked out by now." There I've just saved you reading time because that is the best part of this book.
Absentee parents, obsession confused with love, and weird takes on human relationships abound here. Brunt says she is an organic writer and the story just takes her places. These are places I wished she'd spent more time honing here. The concept is interesting, the title is impactful but the book itself is a disappointment. Also the romantic love of June for her uncle is a little disturbing in spots particularly since he and his boyfriend are aware of it and encourage it.
It's good to write stories about uncomfortable subjects. I applaud her for trying but something was missing here.
Absentee parents, obsession confused with love, and weird takes on human relationships abound here. Brunt says she is an organic writer and the story just takes her places. These are places I wished she'd spent more time honing here. The concept is interesting, the title is impactful but the book itself is a disappointment. Also the romantic love of June for her uncle is a little disturbing in spots particularly since he and his boyfriend are aware of it and encourage it.
It's good to write stories about uncomfortable subjects. I applaud her for trying but something was missing here.