Scan barcode
A review by dlberglund
When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
4.0
Bittersweet story of Cleo and the mourning of her friendship with Layla. There were other complications, too, including her parents' divorce and a new cute boy, but it is mostly about finding people who like you and stick with you, or losing them. It's about someone who you think will always have your back, until you each find there are knives there instead.
At first, I sadly really related. I thought about intense friendships I had had that fizzled, or turned bitter. I thought of one particular high school friendship that soured and got nasty for no good reason that I can remember. I still feel vaguely guilty about it, and confused by how people can change and make assumptions and end up using all that precious friendship knowledge against each other. Cleo and Layla, who both seemed like decent people, were suddenly responsible for terrible rumor spreading. Is it really possible for teens to somehow text everyone in their whole school? How does one even do that?
Ultimately, Cleo has to reckon with her choices and decide how to communicate with and trust the people around her. She's a likable character, and I was with her. This book tells a good story that puts the importance of female friendship (and the devastation that can go with it) at the forefront. Both refreshing and sad.
At first, I sadly really related. I thought about intense friendships I had had that fizzled, or turned bitter. I thought of one particular high school friendship that soured and got nasty for no good reason that I can remember. I still feel vaguely guilty about it, and confused by how people can change and make assumptions and end up using all that precious friendship knowledge against each other. Cleo and Layla, who both seemed like decent people, were suddenly responsible for terrible rumor spreading. Is it really possible for teens to somehow text everyone in their whole school? How does one even do that?
Ultimately, Cleo has to reckon with her choices and decide how to communicate with and trust the people around her. She's a likable character, and I was with her. This book tells a good story that puts the importance of female friendship (and the devastation that can go with it) at the forefront. Both refreshing and sad.