weatherstained's review against another edition
2.0
I had great hopes for this book - the blurb seemed A+ and I do love anything involving time travel - but although it started off great, I grew tired of it by 3/4 of the way through. I didn't particular care for the romance (Virgil was great, it just felt a little shoehorned in) and I was there had been more of a focus on how Andi recovered from the events of the book, rather than a 'one year later' epilogue.
segza's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this story until the genre abruptly changed from historical-fiction to ...fantasy? ...magical realism? (I don't even know) in the last 5th of the book. I was expecting it, because it is mentioned in the summary on the jacket but since it took so long to happen it felt disconnected to the earlier story-telling and I had a hard time suspending reality and going with it. It's a really interesting story, though -- I just wish I could've stayed immersed in it and not so distracted by the genre change!
scarlet_frost's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler alert, there will be a few spoilers in this review. This book also contains major triggers for people struggling with depression.
I genuinely enjoyed this book, but it is a bit problematic.
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. The rich Brooklyn pretentious teenager trope bugs me a lot, but I'm glad I stuck it out because this book was actually really good.
The beginning drags a bit, the author shows that Andi is a very depressed and suicidal teen. This could be triggering for people who suffer from depression because her thoughts are very dark and she contemplates suicide several times and is about to act on many occasions in this book. I would not recommend this for young people.
Also, Andi is kind of a bit of an arse to people in her life, even those who she likes, she's very sarcastic and says mean things which she explains her therapist called a defence mechanism, but it still in some ways makes her kind of hard to like in the beginning.
We know from early on in the book that Andi's younger brother died, and she feels personally responsible for this, but the author does not discuss what happened to him until almost the end of the book. I get that this was intentional, and there are a few hints throughout but when she explains to Virgil what happened, I was like "Whoa! I was not expecting that!"
The whole book really picks up when she goes to Paris, this is when she finds the diary of Alex and we get to see an awesome first-hand account of Alex's life in 1800s France during the French Revolution. I personally thought Alex was more of a fleshed out character than Andi and probably enjoyed her parts the most.
Overall, in just reading the authors bibliography at the end of this book, I could see the vast amount of research that was put into this book. She really learned about her subject matter and conveyed it very well. Everything from musical theory, the revolution, puppeteering, clothing of the 1800s. It very much showed in her writing this novel that she knew what she was writing about.
I don't often like when writers use a character's depression as a form of character development and this one took it very far, especially with how suicidal Andi is. There were parts where I wanted to scream at her! "Don't do that! WTF are you doing!?!" But I understand that in the context of complicated grief, this in some way makes sense.
I did not like how the author writes Andi as having a strong hatred for the psychologists, hospitalization, and medication (despite abusing hers frequently). I feel that may send the wrong message to teenagers about these subjects who are already hesitant to get help for mental health concerns. I also think that considering how triggering the character arc of Andi is, there is explicit talk of suicide and abusing medications in this book, there should be some kind of a warning at the beginning. I also think there should have been some kind of information for people struggling with depression at the end of this book, which I was hoping to find but didn't.
I genuinely enjoyed this book, but it is a bit problematic.
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. The rich Brooklyn pretentious teenager trope bugs me a lot, but I'm glad I stuck it out because this book was actually really good.
The beginning drags a bit, the author shows that Andi is a very depressed and suicidal teen. This could be triggering for people who suffer from depression because her thoughts are very dark and she contemplates suicide several times and is about to act on many occasions in this book. I would not recommend this for young people.
Also, Andi is kind of a bit of an arse to people in her life, even those who she likes, she's very sarcastic and says mean things which she explains her therapist called a defence mechanism, but it still in some ways makes her kind of hard to like in the beginning.
We know from early on in the book that Andi's younger brother died, and she feels personally responsible for this, but the author does not discuss what happened to him until almost the end of the book. I get that this was intentional, and there are a few hints throughout but when she explains to Virgil what happened, I was like "Whoa! I was not expecting that!"
The whole book really picks up when she goes to Paris, this is when she finds the diary of Alex and we get to see an awesome first-hand account of Alex's life in 1800s France during the French Revolution. I personally thought Alex was more of a fleshed out character than Andi and probably enjoyed her parts the most.
Overall, in just reading the authors bibliography at the end of this book, I could see the vast amount of research that was put into this book. She really learned about her subject matter and conveyed it very well. Everything from musical theory, the revolution, puppeteering, clothing of the 1800s. It very much showed in her writing this novel that she knew what she was writing about.
I don't often like when writers use a character's depression as a form of character development and this one took it very far, especially with how suicidal Andi is. There were parts where I wanted to scream at her! "Don't do that! WTF are you doing!?!" But I understand that in the context of complicated grief, this in some way makes sense.
I did not like how the author writes Andi as having a strong hatred for the psychologists, hospitalization, and medication (despite abusing hers frequently). I feel that may send the wrong message to teenagers about these subjects who are already hesitant to get help for mental health concerns. I also think that considering how triggering the character arc of Andi is, there is explicit talk of suicide and abusing medications in this book, there should be some kind of a warning at the beginning. I also think there should have been some kind of information for people struggling with depression at the end of this book, which I was hoping to find but didn't.
natureinspired's review against another edition
5.0
Andi is a complicated girl. Or rather, the world she lives in is complicated. Her father is a world-renound scientist and is never home. He says that DNA is everything we are, everything we know. Andi knows him to be wrong. DNA doesn't tell you who you are, and more importantly, it doesn't tell you how to get through your life. If it did, perhaps her brother would still be alive and she wouldn't be such a screwup. The only thing that Andi lives for is the music. It's what keeps her alive and going, though sometimes it seems that even the music isn't enough.
After a fight with her dad, Andi is forced to go to Paris where she is supposed to finish her thesis to graduate. Paris is a crazy town, but the people are far more crazy. But in this crazy mess, Andi finds some secrets behind the closed doors of the French Revolution. Door that perhaps, should have stayed closed.
After a fight with her dad, Andi is forced to go to Paris where she is supposed to finish her thesis to graduate. Paris is a crazy town, but the people are far more crazy. But in this crazy mess, Andi finds some secrets behind the closed doors of the French Revolution. Door that perhaps, should have stayed closed.
mokey81's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this so much more than I expected to, especially at the start. The main character was not all that likable at first. It is clear that she’s been through something, but because we aren’t privy to the full story, it’s hard to feel for her. She comes off childish and selfish.
The historical fiction part of this book is where the story really shines. And the last 100 pages we an amazing carnival ride I never wanted to end.
This is a story of grief, music, love, and the French Revolution. I picked it up because it was only $1.99 at the bookstore. I’m glad I did.
The historical fiction part of this book is where the story really shines. And the last 100 pages we an amazing carnival ride I never wanted to end.
This is a story of grief, music, love, and the French Revolution. I picked it up because it was only $1.99 at the bookstore. I’m glad I did.
corbear's review against another edition
3.0
I think this was a bit too angsty for me - the main character was an insufferable brat throughout the entire book.
0rland0's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Mental illness, War, Genocide, and Death
Moderate: Injury/injury detail and Cursing
Minor: Medical content, Alcohol, and Drug use
jst1morechapter's review against another edition
4.0
A modern day tale with a historical twist about a troubled teenaged girl who finds a diary written by a fictional character from 1700's Revolutionary France... it was very well written and detailed beautifully... I loved the story and even though Historical Fiction isn't my favourite genre it was interesting enough to still keep me reading...
it did take me a while to get through it as there were some parts that had me a little bored... well, I wouldn't say bored, just not compelled to pick it up all of the time if you know what I mean...
Anyhoo... 4 stars for a very good book... I'll keep an eye out for this author in future...
it did take me a while to get through it as there were some parts that had me a little bored... well, I wouldn't say bored, just not compelled to pick it up all of the time if you know what I mean...
Anyhoo... 4 stars for a very good book... I'll keep an eye out for this author in future...
kelliepalmer's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed reading this book. I felt bad for both Andi and Alex and was rooting for them the while book. I realized while reading this book that I have such limited knowledge of the French Revolution.