Scan barcode
paigekrug45's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
3.5
This book displays grief in its rawest form. I liked this book overall but some of it was quite problematic. The main character catfishing the daughter of the man that murdered his mom was indeed one of them. I enjoyed the other characters, their stories, and what they offered to the story. Overall, I did enjoy this book despite some questionable thoughts and decisions made by the main character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
okafon's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Suicide
kisa_044's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts
planner5002's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don't really know how to review this book, because I felt so many different things throughout the story. At times, the story seemed hopeful. At other times, this book was really hard to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Gore, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Murder
Looking back, I wouldn't have started this book if I wasn't sure I would finish it. There's a lot of really heavy things to go through, and the resolution is a necessity.libscote's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would. Asher knows exactly how long ago his mother died as the victim of a drunk driver, and he still hasn't recovered. He starts going to various grief groups, and befriends three other people who seem to struggle like he does: Henry, an elderly man who misses his wife Evelyn greatly, Will, a boy who lost his younger brother to cancer, and Sloane, who lost her father to cancer as well. They find a connection to each other in their grief, which leads to a road trip to Memphis, Tennessee. Each has their own reason for going, which they aren't sharing with the others. Asher's is revenge--will he get it?
I know some have said they had issues with how repetitive Asher gets--I was okay with that. It felt like the ramblings of someone who is focused on their trauma and can't get out of their own way to me, or the way my anxiety spirals go. Parts of the road trip were a little unbelievable to me, but I haven't experienced grief in that way yet, so it could be something I am missing out on.
I know some have said they had issues with how repetitive Asher gets--I was okay with that. It felt like the ramblings of someone who is focused on their trauma and can't get out of their own way to me, or the way my anxiety spirals go. Parts of the road trip were a little unbelievable to me, but I haven't experienced grief in that way yet, so it could be something I am missing out on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, and Death
audreylee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Life is a miserable black hole and we're only here for the cookies". Thus starts Asher's experience with grief groups following the death of his mother in a drunk-driving accident. Asher is focused on revenge, not healing. He wants justice for his mom. Her murderer went free on a technicality and Asher can't move past the accident as long as "Jack Daniels" is free. As he forms attachments in the groups he attends and tries to protect his little sister from a myriad of dangers, he begins to feel empathy and appreciate community. Will these new connections be enough to turn him away from revenge? This feels like a very realistic portrayal of teen grief. The relationships are lovely and at times frustrating and you can feel the weight of grief and worry Asher's dad carries around every day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Alcoholism
tiredcath's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Oh my god, I was completely enthralled in this novel.
After a drunk driver kills his mother, Asher sets himself on a self-destructive path of revenge.
I cannot express how sincerely good this book is, how much it touched me, made me feel. The characters are honest, brutally honest. Kids dealing with death, an elderly man trying to live with a version of normalcy. Asher is a unique protagonist, where you're almost rooting for him to do the wrong thing because you feel his pain, you feel the guilt and confusion, and mostly, the frustration with death. Reilly does an incredible job at balancing the tragedy of grief, humor, and an adolescent reaction to a life they can't control.
The writing style isn't for everyone. it's repetitive (meaningful so) and like an endless stream of consciousness flowing from Asher's mind to the page. Dialogue is also somewhat structured oddly, but once you're invested you don't notice it anymore. I personally really appreciated the way the characters interacted and the way the plot slowly unfolded in front of you.
Didn't expect to love this as much as I did. There's so much heart, so much pain, and love between the characters. Asher, Solane and Will, Henry and Evelyn. Their stories are important. Their healing is important.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
After a drunk driver kills his mother, Asher sets himself on a self-destructive path of revenge.
I cannot express how sincerely good this book is, how much it touched me, made me feel. The characters are honest, brutally honest. Kids dealing with death, an elderly man trying to live with a version of normalcy. Asher is a unique protagonist, where you're almost rooting for him to do the wrong thing because you feel his pain, you feel the guilt and confusion, and mostly, the frustration with death. Reilly does an incredible job at balancing the tragedy of grief, humor, and an adolescent reaction to a life they can't control.
The writing style isn't for everyone. it's repetitive (meaningful so) and like an endless stream of consciousness flowing from Asher's mind to the page. Dialogue is also somewhat structured oddly, but once you're invested you don't notice it anymore. I personally really appreciated the way the characters interacted and the way the plot slowly unfolded in front of you.
Didn't expect to love this as much as I did. There's so much heart, so much pain, and love between the characters. Asher, Solane and Will, Henry and Evelyn. Their stories are important. Their healing is important.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent