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ma1vina's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t really cry for books but i cried in some scenes. I don’t know if its because i have an older brother, but it really made me feel his grief and was an amazing read!
matheo96gro's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.5
lonelyasfranz's review against another edition
4.0
Until the end, the book was beautiful and fantastically written, but it rushed to a close, and the healing of the end felt forced, going against what I felt to be the spirit of the book. Overall, though, it only felt slightly out of place, with the beauty of the words making up for most of it, so, admittedly, it was ultimately worth it.
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Hear Our Voices Book Tours and Scholastic Inc. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
After their older brother Ethan is killed by a reckless driver, Liam is left alone, confused, and angry. Without any closure or people who truly understand their pain, Liam must now navigate the world on his own as he deals with his insensitive friends and grieving parents. But when Ethan's friend Marcus comes into the picture, Liam starts to feel a bit less lonely in this big, big world.
This book stems from one of my favorite subgenres of literature, which is why I'm assuming this book won't be for everyone. The Ghosts We Keep is solely a character-based story, with almost no plot. Now, if you like character development, this isn't a bad thing at all. Deaver excels at delving into all the deep, dark corners of emotion in the most quiet, genuine way. Liam's grieving process is achingly messy and vulnerable, and although their actions and words may always be kind or justifiable, it gives the audience a better glimpse into the inner turmoil Liam is facing. I especially loved the portrayal of feeling lost and lonely. This is a book for those who have felt--or do feel--broken-hearted and powerless. It is for those who know what it's like to feel like they have no control over the world around them.
The relationships in this book were also fascinating. Deaver's portrayal of how circumstance can bring unlikely forces together is a complex yet reassuring layer. Each character felt whole and complicated, without taking too much of a deep-dive into their identities (regarding sexuality, gender, relationships, etc.), as that ended up not being a very important part to these rather temporary figures in Liam's life, who seem to be more sources of comfort and understanding rather than actual friends.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Ghosts We Keep to anyone who likes character-driven books that are on the quieter side. It's a short read--I finished it in one sitting--but it will leave you feeling heavy for days. Just be mindful of the trigger warnings!
TWs: death of a sibling, suicidal thoughts, self harm, panic attacks
4/5 stars
After their older brother Ethan is killed by a reckless driver, Liam is left alone, confused, and angry. Without any closure or people who truly understand their pain, Liam must now navigate the world on his own as he deals with his insensitive friends and grieving parents. But when Ethan's friend Marcus comes into the picture, Liam starts to feel a bit less lonely in this big, big world.
This book stems from one of my favorite subgenres of literature, which is why I'm assuming this book won't be for everyone. The Ghosts We Keep is solely a character-based story, with almost no plot. Now, if you like character development, this isn't a bad thing at all. Deaver excels at delving into all the deep, dark corners of emotion in the most quiet, genuine way. Liam's grieving process is achingly messy and vulnerable, and although their actions and words may always be kind or justifiable, it gives the audience a better glimpse into the inner turmoil Liam is facing. I especially loved the portrayal of feeling lost and lonely. This is a book for those who have felt--or do feel--broken-hearted and powerless. It is for those who know what it's like to feel like they have no control over the world around them.
The relationships in this book were also fascinating. Deaver's portrayal of how circumstance can bring unlikely forces together is a complex yet reassuring layer. Each character felt whole and complicated, without taking too much of a deep-dive into their identities (regarding sexuality, gender, relationships, etc.), as that ended up not being a very important part to these rather temporary figures in Liam's life, who seem to be more sources of comfort and understanding rather than actual friends.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Ghosts We Keep to anyone who likes character-driven books that are on the quieter side. It's a short read--I finished it in one sitting--but it will leave you feeling heavy for days. Just be mindful of the trigger warnings!
TWs: death of a sibling, suicidal thoughts, self harm, panic attacks
wbunnyberry's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
courtknee__vn's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is so heartbreakingly messy in the most real way. Grief is so complicated and painful and everyone deals with it differently and that is so honestly told with each of the characters in this story. Liam was the perfect narrator and having to see how much they were struggling with was devastating 😭 there were points in the story where I just didn’t like each characters but I think that was so important because there are always points in peoples lives where they are at their worst and if you’re not allowed to be unlikable while your grieving, I’m not sure when you can. Honestly, this is probably not a book I should’ve read right now when I’m personally not mentally at my best but making myself more sad when I’m down is something I’m way too good at 😅 but anyway, this book was beautiful but please check trigger warnings before picking it up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Self harm
mxmaxreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was powerful in that it deals head-on with the traumatic grief that comes with unexpectedly losing a loved one and queer/non-binary identity (but, refreshingly, the latter part is just a background theme and not the main focus for a LGBTQIA+ novel). I enjoyed the music and poetry parts especially. The author made me feel so connected to the characters and their language of music and the written word.
That being said, the only characters who aren’t white are portrayed as “toxic friends.” And the ending felt a bit rushed to me. This could have been a stronger read for me had there been more character development and more time for the plot’s direction to fully take form.
That being said, the only characters who aren’t white are portrayed as “toxic friends.” And the ending felt a bit rushed to me. This could have been a stronger read for me had there been more character development and more time for the plot’s direction to fully take form.
robbins_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ireadbooks_10's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
greenleafbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, although I had a few issues. The biggest one was that the middle section felt very slow and unnecessary in a way. The way grief was explored was very interesting though and there were lots of great and emotional moments, so that was a big plus.