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itslizreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Racism, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
mattypallett's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The short chapters made this a very quick and moorish read.
The plot twist was executed well and looking back there certainly were several hints that I can’t believe I missed.
I do feel like the twist would’ve hit much harder for me however if the characters were more interesting; ultimately i don’t care that much about what may happen to them since they were almost all quite 2 dimensional.
An easy and engaging summer read!
The plot twist was executed well and looking back there certainly were several hints that I can’t believe I missed.
I do feel like the twist would’ve hit much harder for me however if the characters were more interesting; ultimately i don’t care that much about what may happen to them since they were almost all quite 2 dimensional.
An easy and engaging summer read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism
fuqing_god's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Mental illness, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
jessicabearbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Here in some way we are young forever"
I have no words. That plot twist had me reading the rest absolutely gobsmacked and in tears. Don't underestimate the tension in the chapters leading up to the plot twists either because knowing you're about to find something huge out and not being able to turn the pages quick enough, is such an overwhelming feeling haha. Also looking back It's was to notice that almost everything is important and means something. I don't think there were any accidents written into this book.
The writing throughout this novel is so beautiful and the imagery created is breathtaking. The use of metaphors is so clever and really added something unique and memorable to the story. This could be a literally masterpiece, but I'm not sure I'm qualified enough to award that title. That being said I did get the ick a few times but was that really a big deal, the romance was cute anyhow.
If you’re going to read this please stop reading reviews - this book is incredible when you have no idea what is going to happen!
I have no words. That plot twist had me reading the rest absolutely gobsmacked and in tears. Don't underestimate the tension in the chapters leading up to the plot twists either because knowing you're about to find something huge out and not being able to turn the pages quick enough, is such an overwhelming feeling haha. Also looking back It's was to notice that almost everything is important and means something. I don't think there were any accidents written into this book.
The writing throughout this novel is so beautiful and the imagery created is breathtaking. The use of metaphors is so clever and really added something unique and memorable to the story. This could be a literally masterpiece, but I'm not sure I'm qualified enough to award that title. That being said I did get the ick a few times but was that really a big deal, the romance was cute anyhow.
If you’re going to read this please stop reading reviews - this book is incredible when you have no idea what is going to happen!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Dementia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Gaslighting
tnemelce's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Racism
vaguelyredhead's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, and Medical content
amypotiphar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Alcoholism and Physical abuse
amandaelle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Devastating. Honestly, I don't know if I can put into words the feelings this book stirred up within me.
I suppose I should start by saying that I don't read sad books. Like, ever. And when I do, it is by accident and begrudgingly. And NEVER in the "hurt-no-comfort" category. Because I don't like being sad on purpose. Period.
However, a friend of mine gifted me this book when she moved, and after all the hype surrounding it when it came out, and of course the intriguing premise, I knew I was going to have to just power through and give it a chance.
Even though I knew it would be devastating.
And even when I reached the halfway mark and guessed at the truth hidden underneath the lies -- at which point, I knew for certain that I was going to be, you guessed it: devastated -- I wanted to finish it. To feel it and live it with Cady.
Oh, my poor, sweet Cady. How I wish I could just wrap you up in the biggest of hugs.
All in all, this is an excellent book. Devastating, yes. But exquisitely told. Grief is explored in every aspect. And as much as we would all rather avoid this kind of heartache, it comes for each of us. And this book does an amazing job of taking the reader through the process of pain, acceptance, healing, denial, and hope that surfaces even as the wounds turn to scars and the phantom pains set in. I can't say that I loved this book, because it's still so fresh and raw and, well, painful. But I needed it. My soul needed it.
I suppose I should start by saying that I don't read sad books. Like, ever. And when I do, it is by accident and begrudgingly. And NEVER in the "hurt-no-comfort" category. Because I don't like being sad on purpose. Period.
However, a friend of mine gifted me this book when she moved, and after all the hype surrounding it when it came out, and of course the intriguing premise, I knew I was going to have to just power through and give it a chance.
Even though I knew it would be devastating.
And even when I reached the halfway mark and guessed at the truth hidden underneath the lies -- at which point, I knew for certain that I was going to be, you guessed it: devastated -- I wanted to finish it. To feel it and live it with Cady.
Oh, my poor, sweet Cady. How I wish I could just wrap you up in the biggest of hugs.
All in all, this is an excellent book. Devastating, yes. But exquisitely told. Grief is explored in every aspect. And as much as we would all rather avoid this kind of heartache, it comes for each of us. And this book does an amazing job of taking the reader through the process of pain, acceptance, healing, denial, and hope that surfaces even as the wounds turn to scars and the phantom pains set in. I can't say that I loved this book, because it's still so fresh and raw and, well, painful. But I needed it. My soul needed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
ameliabiblio's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I first read this book 9 years ago and I just reread it for the first time. It’s still a really interesting book, but I definitely approached it from a different perspective since I know the twist. Also, basically the only thing I remembered about the book was the twist, so I also rediscovered a lot of things.
This is a deeply YA book. And I don’t mean that in a negative way. I just mean that our main characters are all deeply teenagers. They feel things deeply. They think they know so much when they actually know so little. They’re not perfect people or even nice people the whole time, but they’re so human you can’t help but feel for them.
I think this book struggles a little bit with a lack of direction beyond the main mystery: what exactly happened to Cady? There’s a lot of ideas about privilege and wealth and abuse of power, but some of it is heavy-handed and some of it is barely noticeable. This lack of a clear idea beyond the mystery means that the reread value of this book isn’t high, at least to me. Rereading it 9 years later was definitely an interesting experience and I don’t feel like it was a waste of time, but I don’t think I’d gain much from rereading it again 9 years from now.
I can’t really write anymore of this review without revealing the twist, so into spoiler land I go.I do feel like this book doesn’t hit as hard when you know what happens at the end. I won’t lie, though. Even knowing Johnny, Mirren, and Gat were dead didn’t stop me from tearing up at the goodbye scene. I just felt overly invested in all of the foreshadowing and like I was just chugging through the rest of the book to get to the big reveal.
I do still think this book is really well-written and 100% worth reading. The twist will certainly get you.
This is a deeply YA book. And I don’t mean that in a negative way. I just mean that our main characters are all deeply teenagers. They feel things deeply. They think they know so much when they actually know so little. They’re not perfect people or even nice people the whole time, but they’re so human you can’t help but feel for them.
I think this book struggles a little bit with a lack of direction beyond the main mystery: what exactly happened to Cady? There’s a lot of ideas about privilege and wealth and abuse of power, but some of it is heavy-handed and some of it is barely noticeable. This lack of a clear idea beyond the mystery means that the reread value of this book isn’t high, at least to me. Rereading it 9 years later was definitely an interesting experience and I don’t feel like it was a waste of time, but I don’t think I’d gain much from rereading it again 9 years from now.
I can’t really write anymore of this review without revealing the twist, so into spoiler land I go.
I do still think this book is really well-written and 100% worth reading. The twist will certainly get you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury