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yayarose's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Loved the book and the switching between perspectives. The timing of it got a little convoluted at the end as it went back in time a few times but I enjoyed reading it. I was a little saddened by it/did cry at certain parts as well due to circumstances in my own life but overall thought it was a good read and would recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Bullying
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, and Death of parent
legalplanner's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an interesting way to read a book because you were getting dual perspectives from two different times, one working backward the other working forward. I found that premise very interesting because it gave you insight into things that were happening but didn't feel repetitive because you weren't getting them again later.
When it comes to character development I found that at first I wanted to like them, really I did. But I found that I was so angry at our main characters because the friends seemed to have been inseparable and were like family, but then one thing (or I suppose a multitude of things) caused them to grow a part.
I was frustrated with Kat because it seemed like some of it was her fault because she never asked James what was going on or went more than surface the entire time. But I also hated that James would never talk when the opportunity was given. But more than anything Kat was shoving her new girlfriend down James' throat to me. It was like anything James tried to do with Kat she wanted to invite her girlfriend, which great that's awesome you want her around but how can you completely forget to foster your relationship with James?
I also hated that James didn't talk to her best friend when it hit the fan. All she had to do was tell her what was going on and she would have understood. However, her world was imploding while Kat's was expanding and that's sometimes hard to do as a teen.
Overall this was a good read in regards to how the story was told and I enjoyed finding out what happened even though I felt as if I had no idea what was going to happen. I did wish I got a little more at the end, but it was a good read.
When it comes to character development I found that at first I wanted to like them, really I did. But I found that I was so angry at our main characters because the friends seemed to have been inseparable and were like family, but then one thing (or I suppose a multitude of things) caused them to grow a part.
I was frustrated with Kat because it seemed like some of it was her fault because she never asked James what was going on or went more than surface the entire time. But I also hated that James would never talk when the opportunity was given. But more than anything Kat was shoving her new girlfriend down James' throat to me. It was like anything James tried to do with Kat she wanted to invite her girlfriend, which great that's awesome you want her around but how can you completely forget to foster your relationship with James?
I also hated that James didn't talk to her best friend when it hit the fan. All she had to do was tell her what was going on and she would have understood. However, her world was imploding while Kat's was expanding and that's sometimes hard to do as a teen.
Overall this was a good read in regards to how the story was told and I enjoyed finding out what happened even though I felt as if I had no idea what was going to happen. I did wish I got a little more at the end, but it was a good read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Death of parent
wardenred'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sometimes your own decisions are the saddest.
I really enjoyed the way the story was constructed, with the dual POVs and the parallel storylines running in both directions in terms of time. It's a really interesting approach that I felt served the story well and really showcased all the little things that, one by one, lead to a friendship breaking.
The very subject of a friendship break up is definitely something that doesn't get enough attention—I don't think I've ever read a book that centers so exclusively around it, and it's such a big thing for actual young adults. Friendships are always important, but childhood friendships you carry into your teens are such a special big deal, and when they either erupt or fizzle out, it's a hard thing to live through. Especially when it happens when there's so much else going on in your lives, and our late teens tend to be the period when there's always a lot going on, even in the healthiest of environments, because adulthood is scary and inevitable and everything keeps changing.
I appreciated how the author showed both points of view without the narrative taking sides, and how distinct both girls' voices felt. Still, I found myself sympathizing with James a lot more, even though both girls definitely messed up, each in their own way. Kat just... seemed so shallow and self-absorbed most of the time, even more so somehow in her own chapters, and while it sucked that James kept big secrets from her and lied by omission, James is clearly the kind of the introverted person that needs to be coaxed gently out of her shell, especially when she suffers a big blow—and she certainly suffered one with her parents' divorce forcing her to impulsively re-evaluate everything about her own life and future. She needed empathy, and Kat was too caught up in herself to truly show it. I do like that throughout the story Kat had to confront that trait of hers numerous times, and not just with James, and she definitely displayed signs of growth. And I can't truly fault her for being a messy teenager dealing with her own very real problems in her own ways. She made me mad a lot, true, but in a way a well-written, well-rounded character makes you mad.
I think I could do with the rest of the cast to be more well-rounded, because there were a lot of people who played a considerable part in the story on one hand and barely had personalities on the other. But overall, this was a really good read that reminded me of some of my own teenage experiences in a nicely bittersweet way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity
sarahc_v's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
4.25
I really enjoyed this book - a beautifully written story about a high school friendship falling apart.
Definitely hits really close to home for me. I am sitting here after finishing the book sobbing because it reminds me so much of my own experiences with friendships in high school and friendship break ups.
Since I was listening to the audiobook, I hadn’t realized that James’ story started in summer after senior year and worked back while Kats started summer before and moved forward. I had thought they were randomly jumping around and I thought they’d end up being friends again or reconcile at the end. Obviously I was wrong. I actually went back and listened to the first chapter again after I finished it just to get that context again.
Definitely would recommend to someone who needs to bring back those high schools feels and dig through them in therapy, because I know what my next session will focus on!
Definitely hits really close to home for me. I am sitting here after finishing the book sobbing because it reminds me so much of my own experiences with friendships in high school and friendship break ups.
Since I was listening to the audiobook, I hadn’t realized that James’ story started in summer after senior year and worked back while Kats started summer before and moved forward. I had thought they were randomly jumping around and I thought
Definitely would recommend to someone who needs to bring back those high schools feels and dig through them in therapy, because I know what my next session will focus on!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
livingwithghost's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
3.75
this is the first book i’ve read for personal enjoyment in over a year. i read excessively growing up, but phased out of it once i hit high school. i am glad this is the book i chose to read after my book-less period.
i really connected with the story, as i lost my best friend at the end of my senior year as well. it really captured the process in which friendship fades away and that it’s not so black and white. there’s this intricate weaving that can make it hard to forgive and mend once it’s been broken.
i think the weak points of the novel was the repetitive descriptions of some of the actions, as well as the writing being more tell than show. though the writing style is definitely targeted towards 14-16 year olds and not me, a 19 year old english major.
i really connected with the story, as i lost my best friend at the end of my senior year as well. it really captured the process in which friendship fades away and that it’s not so black and white. there’s this intricate weaving that can make it hard to forgive and mend once it’s been broken.
i think the weak points of the novel was the repetitive descriptions of some of the actions, as well as the writing being more tell than show. though the writing style is definitely targeted towards 14-16 year olds and not me, a 19 year old english major.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia and Death of parent
candycain's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Biphobia
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