A review by ohlittleowl
Next Year, for Sure by Zoey Leigh Peterson

3.0

This was a strange read. I spent a lot of it feeling heartbroken, and then kinda happy at Kathryn's arc, but mostly unsatisfied. I kept going, even though I reached a point I thought I would stop. I was invested enough to keep on, even though I felt like the characters were really underdeveloped, and especially in regards to anything outside of their being in relationships. But I mean, that's what the book is about, so.

Spoiler

But like Moss? What do we know about him except he's a weirdo and quiet and bearded? For all of the things that we learn about Emily, I felt like he was the most "body here to serve a purpose and nothing more" type of character. For Kathryn to be so developed, it was tough to suddenly pair her with such an enigma.

There were these brief, deeply relatable and really resonant moments though, and I think that's what propelled me through. Even though I was aware of it at times, I liked the present tense and dropping of quotation-dialogue -- it wouldn't work for every book, but I thought it did here. It fit the tone.

Bonus: a book that mentions Annie Dillard multiple times... that at least counts for half a star (that I can't give on goodreads, alas).