Scan barcode
meggie82461's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
(Disclaimer: My ratings have become more discerning over the years, so know that a 3.5 now is NOT the same as a 3.5 from 2018. Now, it means what it is supposed to mean: a little better than average).
Let me start off by saying that the writing was damn near perfect in this book. I think I can maybe summarize my feelings in one sentence: It was a good BOOK, I just didn't love the STORY. I didn't feel it. I liked the characters, but I didn't love them. I liked the details, but I am not sure I loved the execution of the details. In other words, this could very well all be a ME thing and you shouldn't listen to a single word I say.
Darcy Jane Wells is a senior in high school and a self-proclaimed nerd. She is obsessed with books: she reads all the time, bookshelves cover her walls, and she works in a bookstore. She even can recite stories off the top of her head. She has a best friend named Marisol, a mother that is a hoarder, and a father that ran off to Thailand that she has never met. The story consists of her dealing with all of that, as well as the budding friendship- and eventual romance- with a boy named Asher Fleet. Asher has some demons himself: he was in a bad car accident that ruined his dream of flying in the Navy (or something to that effect; he loves to fly and I remember him saying that his pre-accident plans included him going to Annapolis). He has lingering physical health problems as well as mental ones that affect his mood and energy level. But Asher has a popular girlfriend, and besides, he would never want to be with anyone like Darcy... right?
The friendship between Darcy and Marisol was probably the best relationship of the story, because it had the most depth. This author definitely celebrates female friendships and let's be honest, that needs to happen a lot more in this genre. In fact, I would give this author another shot strictly because of the friendship she created. The romantic relationship between Darcy and Asher, though? It lacked... spark. Of course, not every love story has to be passionate and intense. But if it's not, I feel like there has to be something else, whether it's some fun banter or some sort of mysterious details about the love interest. Instead, it was just a tad... boring. And as for Darcy's mom and the hoarding storyline, well, let me just say this: I have watched TLC. I know that hoarding is an illness, that it masks some sort of trauma or a void in the person's life. Honestly, I have more sympathy than most when it comes to mental illness. The problem is that in this story, all we know of the mom is her hoarding. She has zero other personality traits (besides maybe stubbornness, since she is in denial that she even has a problem). I felt like a bad person because the second Darcy turned 18, I was like YOU'RE FREE! RUN! I mean, Darcy's mom made zero effort to actually BE a mom, whereas Darcy had the weight of the world on her shoulders before she even turned 18. So I already didn't like mom, and then the big secret was revealed and... IT GOT WORSE. The dislike turned into almost a hatred. Like, really? You made a bad choice for a few months and felt so guilty about it that you... spent years making even worse choices? This is harsh, and probably unpopular, but Darcy's mom wasn't a mother and she probably never should have been, either. She should've given Darcy up to a family that really wanted a child, to someone (or some people) that was stable and loving. Or even let her parents raise her. In other words, I was never convinced that she deserved Darcy's steadfast loyalty, so it just annoyed me every time Darcy chose her but her mom just chose more things instead. The girl lived in a two-bedroom apartment with goat tunnels. The very least a mom could've done was, like, buy groceries instead of bags of dog food that were on sale even though they didn't own a dog!
Again, it's possible I don't understand the mental illness that goes along with hoarding as much as I think I do. But at the same time, in my opinion, just because someone is mentally ill doesn't mean a loved one has to stand by them. It should be a give-and-take; the sick person should be (at the very least) open to getting help, to getting better. If not, loving and supporting can turn into enabling, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from codependency. I have seen it with my own two eyes: this kind of "support" can end very badly, whether it's an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or stuff. So, okay, maybe my dislike for this part of the story was a little personal. Maybe y'all should try the book for yourself. If you do, let me know if I'm just a heartless bitch. (You wouldn't be the first person to say as much!)
(Disclaimer: My ratings have become more discerning over the years, so know that a 3.5 now is NOT the same as a 3.5 from 2018. Now, it means what it is supposed to mean: a little better than average).
Let me start off by saying that the writing was damn near perfect in this book. I think I can maybe summarize my feelings in one sentence: It was a good BOOK, I just didn't love the STORY. I didn't feel it. I liked the characters, but I didn't love them. I liked the details, but I am not sure I loved the execution of the details. In other words, this could very well all be a ME thing and you shouldn't listen to a single word I say.
Darcy Jane Wells is a senior in high school and a self-proclaimed nerd. She is obsessed with books: she reads all the time, bookshelves cover her walls, and she works in a bookstore. She even can recite stories off the top of her head. She has a best friend named Marisol, a mother that is a hoarder, and a father that ran off to Thailand that she has never met. The story consists of her dealing with all of that, as well as the budding friendship- and eventual romance- with a boy named Asher Fleet. Asher has some demons himself: he was in a bad car accident that ruined his dream of flying in the Navy (or something to that effect; he loves to fly and I remember him saying that his pre-accident plans included him going to Annapolis). He has lingering physical health problems as well as mental ones that affect his mood and energy level. But Asher has a popular girlfriend, and besides, he would never want to be with anyone like Darcy... right?
The friendship between Darcy and Marisol was probably the best relationship of the story, because it had the most depth. This author definitely celebrates female friendships and let's be honest, that needs to happen a lot more in this genre. In fact, I would give this author another shot strictly because of the friendship she created. The romantic relationship between Darcy and Asher, though? It lacked... spark. Of course, not every love story has to be passionate and intense. But if it's not, I feel like there has to be something else, whether it's some fun banter or some sort of mysterious details about the love interest. Instead, it was just a tad... boring. And as for Darcy's mom and the hoarding storyline, well, let me just say this: I have watched TLC. I know that hoarding is an illness, that it masks some sort of trauma or a void in the person's life. Honestly, I have more sympathy than most when it comes to mental illness. The problem is that in this story, all we know of the mom is her hoarding. She has zero other personality traits (besides maybe stubbornness, since she is in denial that she even has a problem). I felt like a bad person because the second Darcy turned 18, I was like YOU'RE FREE! RUN! I mean, Darcy's mom made zero effort to actually BE a mom, whereas Darcy had the weight of the world on her shoulders before she even turned 18. So I already didn't like mom, and then the big secret was revealed and... IT GOT WORSE. The dislike turned into almost a hatred. Like, really? You made a bad choice for a few months and felt so guilty about it that you... spent years making even worse choices? This is harsh, and probably unpopular, but Darcy's mom wasn't a mother and she probably never should have been, either. She should've given Darcy up to a family that really wanted a child, to someone (or some people) that was stable and loving. Or even let her parents raise her. In other words, I was never convinced that she deserved Darcy's steadfast loyalty, so it just annoyed me every time Darcy chose her but her mom just chose more things instead. The girl lived in a two-bedroom apartment with goat tunnels. The very least a mom could've done was, like, buy groceries instead of bags of dog food that were on sale even though they didn't own a dog!
Again, it's possible I don't understand the mental illness that goes along with hoarding as much as I think I do. But at the same time, in my opinion, just because someone is mentally ill doesn't mean a loved one has to stand by them. It should be a give-and-take; the sick person should be (at the very least) open to getting help, to getting better. If not, loving and supporting can turn into enabling, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from codependency. I have seen it with my own two eyes: this kind of "support" can end very badly, whether it's an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or stuff. So, okay, maybe my dislike for this part of the story was a little personal. Maybe y'all should try the book for yourself. If you do, let me know if I'm just a heartless bitch. (You wouldn't be the first person to say as much!)
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
I really enjoyed this plot. I had this on my tbr for a while and I am happy to say it was worth it and time didn’t change how I felt about the book! I loved the daughters relationship with her mom, seeing how it was mended back together and there was truths that had been hiding. The reason why I didn’t give it five stars is because I felt like there could have been more.. or something. I can’t put my finger on it.
I really enjoyed this plot. I had this on my tbr for a while and I am happy to say it was worth it and time didn’t change how I felt about the book! I loved the daughters relationship with her mom, seeing how it was mended back together and there was truths that had been hiding. The reason why I didn’t give it five stars is because I felt like there could have been more.. or something. I can’t put my finger on it.
oliverocco's review against another edition
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? No
3.0
leschroniques_delea's review against another edition
3.0
Je suis un peu déçue de cette lecture pourtant le début était assez prometteur mais on tourne vite en rond et on s’ennuie.
La lecture en VO est assez accessible et le niveau n’est pas vraiment élevé ce qui permet de lire assez rapidement le roman, en plus les chapitres sont assez courts 10 à 15 pages maximum.
Les problèmes de la mère de Darcy sont intéressants on en apprend plus sur elle et on voit comment Darcy vit avec. Sa mère est une acheteuse compulsive à un degré assez élevé, elle achète vraiment tout et n’importe quoi, entasse tout dans leur maison et tient un inventaire de chaque chose avec une place bien précise.
Darcy le vit très mal et n’accepte qu’aucune de ses connaissances - à part sa meilleure amie - viennent chez elle et voit tout ça.
La romance est très minime et il ne se passe pas grand-chose entre Darcy et Asher, il n’y a quasiment rien pendant 270 et d’un coup ils sont ensemble (sachant que le roman fait 330 pages). J’en attendais peut-être un peu trop.
La lecture en VO est assez accessible et le niveau n’est pas vraiment élevé ce qui permet de lire assez rapidement le roman, en plus les chapitres sont assez courts 10 à 15 pages maximum.
Les problèmes de la mère de Darcy sont intéressants on en apprend plus sur elle et on voit comment Darcy vit avec. Sa mère est une acheteuse compulsive à un degré assez élevé, elle achète vraiment tout et n’importe quoi, entasse tout dans leur maison et tient un inventaire de chaque chose avec une place bien précise.
Darcy le vit très mal et n’accepte qu’aucune de ses connaissances - à part sa meilleure amie - viennent chez elle et voit tout ça.
La romance est très minime et il ne se passe pas grand-chose entre Darcy et Asher, il n’y a quasiment rien pendant 270 et d’un coup ils sont ensemble (sachant que le roman fait 330 pages). J’en attendais peut-être un peu trop.
becbec624's review against another edition
4.0
This book deals with a lot of coming of age topics like growing into your own person while still dealing with family issues and trying to do what is right for everyone.
Darcy, the main character was not my favorite main character ever, but she also was not the worst. I enjoyed her passion for reading and getting to experience that through her relating to her favorite stories. Other than that, she was a bit flat. Some of the other characters I think could've been really powerful if written differently (like Darcy's mom). Other characters were just fine.
I liked the story line and was engaged enough to finish the book and feel fulfilled upon the last page.
Darcy, the main character was not my favorite main character ever, but she also was not the worst. I enjoyed her passion for reading and getting to experience that through her relating to her favorite stories. Other than that, she was a bit flat. Some of the other characters I think could've been really powerful if written differently (like Darcy's mom). Other characters were just fine.
I liked the story line and was engaged enough to finish the book and feel fulfilled upon the last page.
headassena's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? N/A
5.0
chai_5090's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readerlatte's review against another edition
5.0
The Library of Lost Things sounded like your normal contemporary novel. But once I really started reading it I found that it was so much more. This is one of those titles that is full of the feels and it hits you right in the heart. The story opened with us learning a little about Darcy and her situation with her mom. The author did a great job creating this world of hoarding as well as the character of Darcy and her mom. So may YA titles make the parents there but not and although this one did that sort of, Darcy's mom was there in some respect.
Darcy was such a great character and I have to say that she was way stronger and nicer than I would have been, with her mom's hoarding. I think I most likely would have given up on my mom ages before that and moved in with my grams or something. I am not a clean freak but I do like things being put away. And this goat tunnel system was just insane. I almost wished this would have had pictures or artwork throughout the story just so you could picture it even more.
Side characters in this one were amazing!! Marisol was my spirit animal for anything dealing with clothes and I really need a book about her!!! I want to know what happens in her life past this title!! Then there is Asher, towards the end of the title he reminded me of a Middle Ages woman who was tired of dating and just wanted to settle down. I thought it was so funny that I thought of him this way. But that is just how he made me feel. I loved his character as well and his issues and he was just so grounded.
The writing in this title was phenomenal!! It flowed so well and it just drew you into the story in the best possible way. You just can't put it down because you're just so invested in what is going to happen next. This book is just full of love for authors and books and the only issue I had with it was that hate for ebooks. This debate has been going on forever and I know it won't stop but print books and ebooks are both amazing.
Overall, I would recommend this one to anyone who loves books and bookish things. As well as those who want a story about a girl just trying to not be invisible anymore.
Darcy was such a great character and I have to say that she was way stronger and nicer than I would have been, with her mom's hoarding. I think I most likely would have given up on my mom ages before that and moved in with my grams or something. I am not a clean freak but I do like things being put away. And this goat tunnel system was just insane. I almost wished this would have had pictures or artwork throughout the story just so you could picture it even more.
Side characters in this one were amazing!! Marisol was my spirit animal for anything dealing with clothes and I really need a book about her!!! I want to know what happens in her life past this title!! Then there is Asher, towards the end of the title he reminded me of a Middle Ages woman who was tired of dating and just wanted to settle down. I thought it was so funny that I thought of him this way. But that is just how he made me feel. I loved his character as well and his issues and he was just so grounded.
The writing in this title was phenomenal!! It flowed so well and it just drew you into the story in the best possible way. You just can't put it down because you're just so invested in what is going to happen next. This book is just full of love for authors and books and the only issue I had with it was that hate for ebooks. This debate has been going on forever and I know it won't stop but print books and ebooks are both amazing.
Overall, I would recommend this one to anyone who loves books and bookish things. As well as those who want a story about a girl just trying to not be invisible anymore.
booksconnectus's review against another edition
4.0
Audio. Throughly enjoyed this YP book. The writing was beautiful...kept wishing I was reading instead of listening because there were so many gems. Lots of mentions of other classic books and quotes. An all round enjoyable read.