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bfdbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. I’ve started shying away from books with such young characters. I’m glad I didn’t miss this one. The writing is really good…I felt every emotion these characters felt. The story is heavy…very heavy. Not only are these kids dealing with the normal coming-of-age stressors, they are dealing with suicide and a couple other bad situations that I don’t want to give away.
Both characters suffer from depression. Lane completely lacks self-confidence. Baron seems so confident at times and so broken at others. They feed off each other and become strong for each other when one of them is feeling weak. They balance each other perfectly and their two halves make a whole.
I hope we get more of their story…I so want to see where life takes them.
This is an absolute must read, even if you typically don't like NA books...
Both characters suffer from depression. Lane completely lacks self-confidence. Baron seems so confident at times and so broken at others. They feed off each other and become strong for each other when one of them is feeling weak. They balance each other perfectly and their two halves make a whole.
I hope we get more of their story…I so want to see where life takes them.
This is an absolute must read, even if you typically don't like NA books...
ktomp17's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
This book started off so great. Within the first 5 minutes I had tears in my eyes and had to stop reading in public for fear of having people see my ugly cry face. Lane’s best friend Rory commits suicide right before the story starts, and we see Lane trying to figure out how to cope and move forward. Lane was a quiet and shy person who only really let Rory in. As the story goes on, we find out about things Rory did without Lane knowing about or hid from Lane, and Lane struggles with how much he can’t believe Rory. The most important person in the world lied to him and kept things from him, and Lane struggled with believing anything anyone said to him.
Baron had become friends with Rory. He knew who Lane was and wanted to get to know him, and Rory was supposed to introduce them. Baron had a troubled past (sexual abuse) and previously attempted suicide. Lane also had issues with depression and suicidal attempt, so they had a lot in common when they got to know each other. Lane was very hesitant and afraid. They ended up with a very special connection, though. The boys were young (just turned 18 and getting ready to leave for college), so there was a bit of uncertainty for where the future would bring them. It wasn’t an easy road navigating the emotions and doubt and trauma from the past, but it was very well written. I thought all of the emotion portrayed was believable and honest. I thought the path the story took made so much sense, and they worked through so much together that I could imagine the two of them sitting side by side 50 years later.
I loved how the emotions that were written for Lane and Baron were not glossed over. Suicide is not an easy topic, and often people talk about the depression and sadness, but Lane went through his anger and it was refreshing to see. The emotions were written so well, and I was able to feel for both boys so deeply. Great story.
This book started off so great. Within the first 5 minutes I had tears in my eyes and had to stop reading in public for fear of having people see my ugly cry face. Lane’s best friend Rory commits suicide right before the story starts, and we see Lane trying to figure out how to cope and move forward. Lane was a quiet and shy person who only really let Rory in. As the story goes on, we find out about things Rory did without Lane knowing about or hid from Lane, and Lane struggles with how much he can’t believe Rory. The most important person in the world lied to him and kept things from him, and Lane struggled with believing anything anyone said to him.
Baron had become friends with Rory. He knew who Lane was and wanted to get to know him, and Rory was supposed to introduce them. Baron had a troubled past (sexual abuse) and previously attempted suicide. Lane also had issues with depression and suicidal attempt, so they had a lot in common when they got to know each other. Lane was very hesitant and afraid. They ended up with a very special connection, though. The boys were young (just turned 18 and getting ready to leave for college), so there was a bit of uncertainty for where the future would bring them. It wasn’t an easy road navigating the emotions and doubt and trauma from the past, but it was very well written. I thought all of the emotion portrayed was believable and honest. I thought the path the story took made so much sense, and they worked through so much together that I could imagine the two of them sitting side by side 50 years later.
I loved how the emotions that were written for Lane and Baron were not glossed over. Suicide is not an easy topic, and often people talk about the depression and sadness, but Lane went through his anger and it was refreshing to see. The emotions were written so well, and I was able to feel for both boys so deeply. Great story.
annmarief's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Believing Rory is a beautiful coming of age story featuring two high school seniors, Lane & Baron. They share a connection via a mutual friend, Rory, who committed suicide just prior to the story beginning. Lane is coping (poorly) with the suicide of his best friend. The funeral scene was heart-wrenching to read, but it’s where they meet for the first time. The two are seemingly polar opposites, Baron is a popular student and Lane is socially awkward, but they begin a friendship that develops into a romantic relationship as they struggle to build a relationship while dealing with personal demons.
I don’t read a lot of YA novels but I am very glad that I read Believing Rory. There is a lot of angst, more than typical because of the emotional problems each boy has. Suicide is a real option for both Lane and Baron, and the way that they help each other is wonderful. Baron was a little frustrating at times, like he was trying to sabotage the relationship, but he is a kid so making dumb mistakes shouldn’t be too surprising. Believing Rory was a very enjoyable book, highly recommended!
Believing Rory is a beautiful coming of age story featuring two high school seniors, Lane & Baron. They share a connection via a mutual friend, Rory, who committed suicide just prior to the story beginning. Lane is coping (poorly) with the suicide of his best friend. The funeral scene was heart-wrenching to read, but it’s where they meet for the first time. The two are seemingly polar opposites, Baron is a popular student and Lane is socially awkward, but they begin a friendship that develops into a romantic relationship as they struggle to build a relationship while dealing with personal demons.
I don’t read a lot of YA novels but I am very glad that I read Believing Rory. There is a lot of angst, more than typical because of the emotional problems each boy has. Suicide is a real option for both Lane and Baron, and the way that they help each other is wonderful. Baron was a little frustrating at times, like he was trying to sabotage the relationship, but he is a kid so making dumb mistakes shouldn’t be too surprising. Believing Rory was a very enjoyable book, highly recommended!
terriaminute's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story about suicide, all from 18-year-old Lane's point of view. We do not see his best friend's suicide, nor Lane attempted suicide, but we see all of the aftermath that dogs Lane. If this topic affects you badly, please don't read, but please do seek help if & when you need it. It's written by a person whose own teen years were challenging, as she says in her afterward. My only major point against it is Lane's attitude about his meds -- but that is so in Lane's character that I suspect it's deliberate on the author's part.
The shifts in attitude and mental health Lane goes through are messy and sometimes frustrating to read. I stomped off to read something else for awhile more than once. Some of it was the characters not talking, but some of it is the author glossing over things I consider important, like communication and failures of, and that cost her a star. But the end hits that perfect final note. This is a romance, but it is as much a coming of age story as a love story.
The shifts in attitude and mental health Lane goes through are messy and sometimes frustrating to read. I stomped off to read something else for awhile more than once. Some of it was the characters not talking, but some of it is the author glossing over things I consider important, like communication and failures of, and that cost her a star. But the end hits that perfect final note. This is a romance, but it is as much a coming of age story as a love story.
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