bellatora's review against another edition
4.0
First off, this takes place on the Oregon coast, which: AWESOMESAUCE.
This is a verse novel and one of the best ones I've read, mostly because I think I was actually interested in the plot. Really, what I was interested in was the sub-plot/background, but I was super intrigued and wish there was a whole book focusing on THAT, instead of just Amber running away from it.
The thing is, what I'm really interested in is a major spoiler. Amber is running away from...something...but the reader isn't sure what at first. And the whole mystery is part of the fun. So, quick meander into spoiler-tag territory:
I think the romance in this one was dull; Cade and Amber knew each other for less than 24 hours. Hell, Amber fell head over feet for him in less than an hour. Also, I think verse gives authors an excuse to do a lot of pointless meandering instead of things like plot and characters and dialogue. Instead, have the narrator ponder jellyfish and make random metaphors out of them!
This is a verse novel and one of the best ones I've read, mostly because I think I was actually interested in the plot. Really, what I was interested in was the sub-plot/background, but I was super intrigued and wish there was a whole book focusing on THAT, instead of just Amber running away from it.
The thing is, what I'm really interested in is a major spoiler. Amber is running away from...something...but the reader isn't sure what at first. And the whole mystery is part of the fun. So, quick meander into spoiler-tag territory:
Spoiler
The whole separated-from-birth-family-by-court-order-to-spend-6-months-with-her-biological-family-because-everyone-just-found-out-she-was-switched-at-birth-and-the-baby-she-was-switched-with-got-sick-and-died story is just a brilliant idea for a book. That Amber is the replacement for their dead daughter. That Amber really loves her (nonbiological) family, which is the only one she’s ever known, and deeply resents being torn from them. THAT is what I want to read about, in verse of otherwise.I think the romance in this one was dull; Cade and Amber knew each other for less than 24 hours. Hell, Amber fell head over feet for him in less than an hour. Also, I think verse gives authors an excuse to do a lot of pointless meandering instead of things like plot and characters and dialogue. Instead, have the narrator ponder jellyfish and make random metaphors out of them!
p0laris's review against another edition
3.0
I was surprised when I opened this book and found myself faced with chapters written in verse. I've never read a book like this before, so I wasn't sure what I would think of it all. In the end, I was surprised by how much I liked that it was written in verse. I thought that you couldn't possibly tell an entire story with so few words, but I was wrong. Schroeder was able to convey such deep emotion in these pages by choosing her words carefully and using clever placement. It is beautiful writing, and there are many passages that really spoke to me.
The characters are each dealing with rough issues in their lives and when they meet, these issues play a huge role in their relationship, allowing them to have a sort of understanding. The issues they face are ones that I haven't come across in my reading before. I would say something about them, but that would ruin half the book for you. Let me just say that I was completely surprised at each of the revelations, and every one of my guesses was wrong. They are very unique circumstances, making the story that much more interesting.
A few things didn't click for me, though, and I have to admit that I wasn't ever able to get emotionally invested in both characters. I didn't feel like I knew Cade well enough to sympathize with him, and I wasn't completely sold on the love story. I am usually able to accept insta-love enough to be okay with it, but for some reason I wasn't able to with this book...even despite the beautiful verses about it. After a certain point I didn't buy it, which made it hard when the big emotional passages came along. I did really like the way it ended, though. :)
The chapters are short since it is all written in verse, making it a very quick read. Overall, The Day Before has a unique story line with beautiful writing and some very clever parts that make it worth reading.
This book was originally reviewed on my blog: The Reading Fever.
I received an eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hidden, there,
behind the face of a beautiful boy,
I see you
The real you.
The you who flips a coin,
hoping to understand
how fate works:
this choice or that choice,
ultimately leaving you
no choice at all.
- Lisa Schroeder, The Day Before
(Quoted from an uncorrected galley)
The characters are each dealing with rough issues in their lives and when they meet, these issues play a huge role in their relationship, allowing them to have a sort of understanding. The issues they face are ones that I haven't come across in my reading before. I would say something about them, but that would ruin half the book for you. Let me just say that I was completely surprised at each of the revelations, and every one of my guesses was wrong. They are very unique circumstances, making the story that much more interesting.
A few things didn't click for me, though, and I have to admit that I wasn't ever able to get emotionally invested in both characters. I didn't feel like I knew Cade well enough to sympathize with him, and I wasn't completely sold on the love story. I am usually able to accept insta-love enough to be okay with it, but for some reason I wasn't able to with this book...even despite the beautiful verses about it. After a certain point I didn't buy it, which made it hard when the big emotional passages came along. I did really like the way it ended, though. :)
The chapters are short since it is all written in verse, making it a very quick read. Overall, The Day Before has a unique story line with beautiful writing and some very clever parts that make it worth reading.
This book was originally reviewed on my blog: The Reading Fever.
I received an eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
ilovereading_tn's review against another edition
5.0
Amber was switched at birth. Now that her biological parents know about the mix-up, they are awarded shared custody with each set of parents getting the 15 year old for six months at a time. It is the day before she leaves to meet her birth parents. She decides that she wants to spend her last day in Oregon at the beach alone.
While she is looking at the jellyfish in an aquarium, she meets a boy, Cade. He suspects who she is from all the news reports in the media, but they agree not to ask each other their problems cause Cade has something that is bothering him on his mind too.
They spend the day at the beach building sandcastles, talking about their interests and lives, going to dinner and falling for each other. Now that she's met Cade, she doesn't want to leave to go to Texas to meet her biological parents. When it comes down to leaving, will she be able to leave her family, friends and Cade or will she run away?
This was an easy read for me. It was written in verse, as all of Lisa Schroeder's books are that I've read. It took me less than two hours to read the whole book. Once I started, I was drawn into the characters' lives and didn't want to stop until I concluded their story.
I can't imagine being switched at birth. Amber's life is turned upside down when her biological parents start fighting for shared custody. Through their letters to Amber, we see that they really are loving and caring people whom are devoted to make Amber happy when she comes to stay with them. Sure, it might be a little scary at first, leaving everyone behind in Oregon, but Amber needs to see where they're coming from and at least give them a chance. It's not their fault there was a mix-up at the hospital.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The romance between Amber and Cade was really sweet. They both had something happening the next day and were able to bond over what was going on in their lives as well as comfort and understand each other. I was in suspense wondering what Cade's big secret was the whole time I was reading. So if you like moonlit campfires on the beach, family drama, kissing, and suspense that keeps you guessing the entire time- then look no further because this is the book that you're looking for. It's a fast and purely enjoyable read with a storyline that pulls you in and won't let you go and even days after you are finished, you will still be thinking about it.
While she is looking at the jellyfish in an aquarium, she meets a boy, Cade. He suspects who she is from all the news reports in the media, but they agree not to ask each other their problems cause Cade has something that is bothering him on his mind too.
They spend the day at the beach building sandcastles, talking about their interests and lives, going to dinner and falling for each other. Now that she's met Cade, she doesn't want to leave to go to Texas to meet her biological parents. When it comes down to leaving, will she be able to leave her family, friends and Cade or will she run away?
This was an easy read for me. It was written in verse, as all of Lisa Schroeder's books are that I've read. It took me less than two hours to read the whole book. Once I started, I was drawn into the characters' lives and didn't want to stop until I concluded their story.
I can't imagine being switched at birth. Amber's life is turned upside down when her biological parents start fighting for shared custody. Through their letters to Amber, we see that they really are loving and caring people whom are devoted to make Amber happy when she comes to stay with them. Sure, it might be a little scary at first, leaving everyone behind in Oregon, but Amber needs to see where they're coming from and at least give them a chance. It's not their fault there was a mix-up at the hospital.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The romance between Amber and Cade was really sweet. They both had something happening the next day and were able to bond over what was going on in their lives as well as comfort and understand each other. I was in suspense wondering what Cade's big secret was the whole time I was reading. So if you like moonlit campfires on the beach, family drama, kissing, and suspense that keeps you guessing the entire time- then look no further because this is the book that you're looking for. It's a fast and purely enjoyable read with a storyline that pulls you in and won't let you go and even days after you are finished, you will still be thinking about it.
private_reader's review against another edition
4.0
Another lovely novel in verse by Lisa Schroeder never goes astray. I really enjoyed the contained nature of this story and the backstories driving these characters. Were they a little too perfect? I think so, but Schroeder’s books are sort of antithetical to some of the dark and nasty YA that’s out there (which I also love, don’t get me wrong). A sweet story, very cleverly paced, romantic, light but a bit mysterious. It’s easy to see why Schroeder’s books are such a hit with young readers. This one went down like pink lemonade on a hot day.
philyra91's review against another edition
5.0
I love novels in verse and Lisa Schroeder is definitely becoming one of my favorite verse authors. Going into the novel, I had absolutely no idea what was happening and I had a feeling that "bad things" were going to happen. But early on, Schroeder gives you hints that helps make sense of everything and quite quickly, I think readers will just latch on to the beautiful and poetic verses.
I love how our two leads meet and have this one perfect day together. It's possible that others might scoff at this; after all, how can 2 teenagers just hit it off so well, to the point that it seems like they were in a relationship this whole time? THAT, I believe, is the mark of an exceptional writer and Schroeder is that person. The emotions, the beauty of the words, just unbelievable!
Bit by bit, both their stories come out and I bawled. I simply cried and cried and I was really afraid of the ending. I'm not going to spoil it for anyone, but just that, EVERYONE PLEASE READ, you won't be disappointed!
I love how our two leads meet and have this one perfect day together. It's possible that others might scoff at this; after all, how can 2 teenagers just hit it off so well, to the point that it seems like they were in a relationship this whole time? THAT, I believe, is the mark of an exceptional writer and Schroeder is that person. The emotions, the beauty of the words, just unbelievable!
Bit by bit, both their stories come out and I bawled. I simply cried and cried and I was really afraid of the ending. I'm not going to spoil it for anyone, but just that, EVERYONE PLEASE READ, you won't be disappointed!
faraziyya's review against another edition
4.0
You know the 'formula of meeting the one (stranger) that could change your life' moment? Like Before Sunrise? The Day Before has it (mungkin juga The Day Before ini adalah fussion Before Sunrise + Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist xD ). Amber merencanakan sebuah pelarian sebelum hari di mana ia akan menemui keluarga barunya (well, orangtuanya yang sebenarnya). Amber berlari ke pantai, tempat favoritnya dan kebetulan sekali (seperti destiny #uhuk) ia bertemu dengan Cade.
Mungkin Cade memantulkan kesepian, kepenatan, kemarahan, kesedihan yang bergumul dalam diri Amber hingga ia tak bisa menahan diri untuk ingin tahu lebih jauh tentang Cade. Kemudian disepakati, mereka menghabiskan waktu bersama di Newport tanpa pertanyaan sentimentil tentang kehidupan pribadi masing-masing. But it turns out, traveling with someone for certain amount of times will make you open up no matter what. continue reading
Why do I get the feeling
this boy is
lost at sea?
Just like me?
~radio for help. page.49
Mungkin Cade memantulkan kesepian, kepenatan, kemarahan, kesedihan yang bergumul dalam diri Amber hingga ia tak bisa menahan diri untuk ingin tahu lebih jauh tentang Cade. Kemudian disepakati, mereka menghabiskan waktu bersama di Newport tanpa pertanyaan sentimentil tentang kehidupan pribadi masing-masing. But it turns out, traveling with someone for certain amount of times will make you open up no matter what. continue reading
elvenavari's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I am not a big fan of books written in poetry form but these were written very well. It was fairly easy to follow the story. I just find it hard to get a real feel for the characters with this format.
hvomax99's review against another edition
4.0
First book that I've read written in verse. And I was not disappointed. This one was beautiful, lyrical and touching. Very easy to get through. A very enjoyable read.
reisemel's review against another edition
4.0
This was a beautiful book! Written in lyrical form, it's very easy to get through within a short time. It's a sweet, enchanting story that held me far after I was finished reading it. :)