Scan barcode
danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
So, I admittedly went into this one not realizing it's YA, which is not my genre. That said, considering this as a YA book, I think it's an important read about teenage addiction and its impact on families that many teenagers are going to feel seen in.
I was also heartened by its brave ending that refused to give easy answers, and even further heartened by the author's note explaining her own addiction and sobriety journey, which is most certainly a big part of why, for me, as someone who also has a history of addiction and several years sober at this point, the narrative felt so honest.
Sometimes it did feel like that YA thing where an adult author is imagining what kids these days are like and it's not quite right.
But overall, a good read and I think an important YA entry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Car accident, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
junzoin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Holy shit man, this book was amazing and honestly hits really hard as someone who goes through similar things as Joey and the rest of his family. However, I think that the ending was dragged out a bit too long, but nonetheless I was still very content with it. It's been so long since I've read this book so I definitely don't have much to say but I will reread it!! All I vividly remember was reading this in one day LOL
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, and Bullying
hellb_nny's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think I expected more after really enjoying Girl in Pieces. it's a good book don't get me wrong but I did expect to enjoy it more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Cancer and Sexual content
arianne7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Car accident
Moderate: Death, Bullying, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
wishyouweresober's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
This book broke my heart in so many ways. Justice for Emory and Joey...they just deserve to be happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Sexism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
This book deals with A LOT of triggering things. So please check the warnings before reading.alanadriggers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
kaitlynellataylor's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Mental illness, and Car accident
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Cancer
agchalle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I think the premise of this book has a lot of potential. A story about how addiction can shape a family is powerful, and the parts of the book that touch on that are good and moving. Emmy's family's stress and anxiety around Joey's addiction, the way they try to cope with death and pain, and Emmy's deep love for Joey feel very raw and real.
However, the rest of the book falls flat. The characterization of Emmy's high school experience is incredibly trite. Every character seems almost like a stereotype. Emmy hating the girl that has one interaction with her, maybe two lines of dialogue all together, because she is pretty and likes the same popular boy Emmy likes? Come on. The parts about shoplifting and The Portrait of a Lady seem to be out of place/not well used as compelling parts of characterization. I found the introduction to Emmy's former best friend to be clunky - all you know is Emmy's mother ended the friendship and the reader is left to wonder if the wealthy, strict, appearance-focused mother is also racist or if something else happened. You don't find out the truth until ~100 pages later, but the way it's left wide open does not do Emmy and her family any favors for sympathy.
A lot of potential, but several times throughout the book I thought things weren't necessary or wondering how much longer the book was going to go on. If Emmy's interactions with her siblings was kept, and 70% of the other material was cut/reworked, it wouldn't have been so flat.
However, the rest of the book falls flat. The characterization of Emmy's high school experience is incredibly trite. Every character seems almost like a stereotype. Emmy hating the girl that has one interaction with her, maybe two lines of dialogue all together, because she is pretty and likes the same popular boy Emmy likes? Come on. The parts about shoplifting and The Portrait of a Lady seem to be out of place/not well used as compelling parts of characterization. I found the introduction to Emmy's former best friend to be clunky - all you know is Emmy's mother ended the friendship and the reader is left to wonder if the wealthy, strict, appearance-focused mother is also racist or if something else happened. You don't find out the truth until ~100 pages later, but the way it's left wide open does not do Emmy and her family any favors for sympathy.
A lot of potential, but several times throughout the book I thought things weren't necessary or wondering how much longer the book was going to go on. If Emmy's interactions with her siblings was kept, and 70% of the other material was cut/reworked, it wouldn't have been so flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Death, and Grief
ecravens's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Sexual content
blueberryelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Addiction, and Car accident