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tantrum_books's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
lpriebe26's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse and Drug use
gracegooglymoogly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I do love this one -- I think it's my favorite Dessen novel. There's just so much here: reconciliation, maturing, resonation, empathy... The themes in this one are heavier than other Dessen novels, but I always appreciate that.
This is a homerun! The characters are wonderful, flawed, and slowly wisened up throughout the book. The romance is different from other Dessen romances, and a refreshing spin (albeit a sad one). It's wonderful
This is a homerun! The characters are wonderful, flawed, and slowly wisened up throughout the book. The romance is different from other Dessen romances, and a refreshing spin (albeit a sad one). It's wonderful
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment
missjenn94's review against another edition
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, and Alcohol
rebelbooks101's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TW: emotional and physical abuse, and infertility
This book follows Ruby who’s been taken by social services to live with her sister and her husband after her mom has abandoned her.
For the most part, I really liked this book. I can’t tell if it’s me feeling burnt out on Sarah Dessen or the reading slump that made this book feel really long to get through.
I really enjoyed the plot and I loved seeing the growth of the protagonist throughout the story. I loved how she started to embrace the loving family she had with her sister and Jamie. I really enjoyed the individual dynamics that they had with her. I also loved the friendship she started to develop with one of her classmates as well.
While I really enjoyed the first half, the second half is where it fell a little flat for me. While I understand the ending, I can’t say it was necessarily how I wanted the story to wrap up. It definitely had both good and bad to it.
Something that fell a little flat with that was the romance between Nate and Ruby. Nate was someone I really loved as a character so I was looking forward to seeing him and Ruby getting together but instead of being this thing that left the reader satisfied, it just sort of happened.
Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable read that I’m glad to have read but the second half kind of left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
This book follows Ruby who’s been taken by social services to live with her sister and her husband after her mom has abandoned her.
For the most part, I really liked this book. I can’t tell if it’s me feeling burnt out on Sarah Dessen or the reading slump that made this book feel really long to get through.
I really enjoyed the plot and I loved seeing the growth of the protagonist throughout the story. I loved how she started to embrace the loving family she had with her sister and Jamie. I really enjoyed the individual dynamics that they had with her. I also loved the friendship she started to develop with one of her classmates as well.
While I really enjoyed the first half, the second half is where it fell a little flat for me. While I understand the ending, I can’t say it was necessarily how I wanted the story to wrap up. It definitely had both good and bad to it.
Something that fell a little flat with that was the romance between Nate and Ruby. Nate was someone I really loved as a character so I was looking forward to seeing him and Ruby getting together but instead of being this thing that left the reader satisfied, it just sort of happened.
Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable read that I’m glad to have read but the second half kind of left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, and Physical abuse
amandakaycurry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
johns6ka's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Classism
elyssam's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Classic Sarah Dessen, can’t really complain. There were some dated terms, but the story wasn’t too bad for being 14 years old.
Ruby works to find a definition of family as both an assignment from school and as a way to accept her own new life.
I listened to the audiobook so it was more or less a simple read for me. So,e dark elements but overall hopeful.
Ruby works to find a definition of family as both an assignment from school and as a way to accept her own new life.
I listened to the audiobook so it was more or less a simple read for me. So,e dark elements but overall hopeful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
ladygoodgreen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
spoopywife's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse and Infertility