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A review by pagesofplatypus
I fell in love with hope by Lancali
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"Time, Disease, and Death are the greatest thieves in the world."
I Fell in Love with Hope is a beautiful, unique, and masterful exploration of death, grief, despair, loneliness, illness, and hope.
The story alternates between the now and before of our narrator, Sam. The now introduces us to chronically positive and passionate Sony, ill-tempered but deeply caring Neo, and endlessly kind and protective Coeur. Each tries in their own way to steal back everything time, disease, and death has and will take from them. The group eagerly welcomes in Hikari, a golden-haired, golden-eyed girl who battles her own demons.
"We spent our whole lives together pretending, but if you pretend for too long, reality reminds you one way or another that it doesn't like being insulted."
The writing is incredibly poetic and infused with such strong emotion as we come to love each character as deeply as Sam. Even as you know deep down these kids will not escape death's clutches, you do still cling to a hope. A hope that they will steal as much time and hope and love as they can.
I also love how much agency each character has. They break rules. They create. They don't let others tell how they're supposed be. They do steal from time, from the diseases, and even from death itself. They face limitations from their illnesses but they don't let it limit their hope or their love.
"You know you never wanted us to be happy, Sam. Happiness is a brittle,
fleeting thing.
You wanted us to feel loved, and we did."
I Fell in Love with Hope does such a good job showing what it means to love and be loved. That you don't have to find a cure. That to despair is not to be broken. That love can't stop death but it is vital.
I Fell in Love with Hope is a beautiful, unique, and masterful exploration of death, grief, despair, loneliness, illness, and hope.
The story alternates between the now and before of our narrator, Sam. The now introduces us to chronically positive and passionate Sony, ill-tempered but deeply caring Neo, and endlessly kind and protective Coeur. Each tries in their own way to steal back everything time, disease, and death has and will take from them. The group eagerly welcomes in Hikari, a golden-haired, golden-eyed girl who battles her own demons.
"We spent our whole lives together pretending, but if you pretend for too long, reality reminds you one way or another that it doesn't like being insulted."
The writing is incredibly poetic and infused with such strong emotion as we come to love each character as deeply as Sam. Even as you know deep down these kids will not escape death's clutches, you do still cling to a hope. A hope that they will steal as much time and hope and love as they can.
I also love how much agency each character has. They break rules. They create. They don't let others tell how they're supposed be. They do steal from time, from the diseases, and even from death itself. They face limitations from their illnesses but they don't let it limit their hope or their love.
"You know you never wanted us to be happy, Sam. Happiness is a brittle,
fleeting thing.
You wanted us to feel loved, and we did."
I Fell in Love with Hope does such a good job showing what it means to love and be loved. That you don't have to find a cure. That to despair is not to be broken. That love can't stop death but it is vital.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Medical content, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy