A review by geo_ix
Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
4.0
Hmm what to say what to say. My reasoning from deducting one star from a book I loved, and took no time at all to read? THE FUCKING ENDING! Just when I fell in love with Caleb, he does something like THAT?!? Anyway, I feel like, it shouldn't have been like that! I mean, they barely fell in love! Why didn't she tell him what she remembered before he left?
My favourite character? The old lady! She was a cheeky old thing! Always trying to mend things that were broken. Like Maggie. That girl was seriously feeling sorry for herself. She wished Caleb never came back from Juvi, that his life was hard once he was back, that he couldn't play sports because she couldn't. Once she comes to her senses, and falls back in love with Caleb, she realises how stupid she was. It isn't until she confronts his ex girlfriend who is talking shit about her, that she finally becomes herself again, she grows her back bone, and goes to town on the girl, giving her a piece of her mind. What I think is funny, is all of her progress, is thanks to Caleb. Granted, the old lady helps out, but because of Caleb jumping back into her life, and him sticking up for her – even though she leaves herself guessing if she is the reason for all his fights – and even when she thinks he's joining in on her bullying, it makes her grow up, and see that the world is the same, but different, and nothing is going to get better in her life, when she just sits around waiting.
She only ever did things to please people, and was so consumed by anger all the time. It was lovely to see her growth as a character, but it ended too soon for me and left me aching for more. One day, when I read book two, I hope its just as good as this one, but with a damn better ending between her and Caleb.
The main object of this story, is not for her to forgive Caleb, but to forgive everything and everyone, even herself. It's a story of growth, and finding yourself again after being in the dark.
My favourite character? The old lady! She was a cheeky old thing! Always trying to mend things that were broken. Like Maggie. That girl was seriously feeling sorry for herself. She wished Caleb never came back from Juvi, that his life was hard once he was back, that he couldn't play sports because she couldn't. Once she comes to her senses, and falls back in love with Caleb, she realises how stupid she was. It isn't until she confronts his ex girlfriend who is talking shit about her, that she finally becomes herself again, she grows her back bone, and goes to town on the girl, giving her a piece of her mind. What I think is funny, is all of her progress, is thanks to Caleb. Granted, the old lady helps out, but because of Caleb jumping back into her life, and him sticking up for her – even though she leaves herself guessing if she is the reason for all his fights – and even when she thinks he's joining in on her bullying, it makes her grow up, and see that the world is the same, but different, and nothing is going to get better in her life, when she just sits around waiting.
She only ever did things to please people, and was so consumed by anger all the time. It was lovely to see her growth as a character, but it ended too soon for me and left me aching for more. One day, when I read book two, I hope its just as good as this one, but with a damn better ending between her and Caleb.
The main object of this story, is not for her to forgive Caleb, but to forgive everything and everyone, even herself. It's a story of growth, and finding yourself again after being in the dark.