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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75ish? this book grew on me for sure! took a while to get into. not the usual type of story im drawn to, but I teared up a lil by the end so that counts for something
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
The Celebrants by Steve Rowley is the Big Chill for a new generation.
When a group of college friends tragically loses one of their members just weeks before graduation, they make a pact to hold “living” funerals for each other. At any time, if one feels the need, they can call the group together for their own funeral.
This story explores the beginning of college friendships that span decades and the deep bond between friends who become more like family.
You’ll need a tissue for this one, but it’s definitely worth it.
3.5 ⭐
Jordan, Jordy, Craig, Naomi, and Marielle are shocked by the sudden death of their friend Alec on the cusp of their college graduation. The friends pledge to throw one another living funerals for each other whenever the celebrant needs reminding of how much they have touched everyone's lives. Naomi cashes in when her parents die. Marielle uses hers after her marriage falls apart. And Craig needs his friends the most before he is sent to jail. But when Jordan and Jordy are faced with a sobering discovery, the remaining funeral(s) becomes the most important.
This book was about love and loss, friendship and grief, and the somber fact that we only get one life.
Things I liked:
- the concept of this book. I found it really wholesome and sweet. The idea of friends gathering when one of them is having a hard time is so precious.
- Jordy and Jordan. Yes their romance, but also their individual characters. They were both funny, kind, thoughtful, and the glue that held everyone together. Their sections of the book were my favorite.
- the writing. Rowley's writing was concise but captivating. I was wrapped up in each story and needed to know what happened. No spoilers but I thought the book ended really well and it tugged on my heart strings.
Things I didn't like:
- Marielle, Naomi, and Craig's characters. Not to down play their individual baggage, but some of their stories felt very "woe is me". I felt Craig and Naomi's issues to be things they should have dealt with way before their funerals. Marielle was literally the worst. She critiqued what people said about her at her funeral. No spoilers but HOW can you be the one to be mad at everyone all the time and you literally kept the biggest secret that changed someone's entire life? They each did sucky things (like forcing your friends to go sky diving and then skipping out). I found their contributions to the group scenes to be irritating and dysfunctional.
- This group of characters didn't mesh to me. I felt like this book had so much potential, but because these characters felt so separate I truly didn't understand why they were friends. They didn't keep in touch over the years, some of them were just shitty, and none of them ever wanted to do these funerals. It didn't make sense why such a sweet concept was executed by a group that was always reluctant to get together. I think this was a large reason I didn't rate the book higher. Their friendship felt forced due to their close proximity at a young age.
Jordan, Jordy, Craig, Naomi, and Marielle are shocked by the sudden death of their friend Alec on the cusp of their college graduation. The friends pledge to throw one another living funerals for each other whenever the celebrant needs reminding of how much they have touched everyone's lives. Naomi cashes in when her parents die. Marielle uses hers after her marriage falls apart. And Craig needs his friends the most before he is sent to jail. But when Jordan and Jordy are faced with a sobering discovery, the remaining funeral(s) becomes the most important.
This book was about love and loss, friendship and grief, and the somber fact that we only get one life.
Things I liked:
- the concept of this book. I found it really wholesome and sweet. The idea of friends gathering when one of them is having a hard time is so precious.
- Jordy and Jordan. Yes their romance, but also their individual characters. They were both funny, kind, thoughtful, and the glue that held everyone together. Their sections of the book were my favorite.
- the writing. Rowley's writing was concise but captivating. I was wrapped up in each story and needed to know what happened. No spoilers but I thought the book ended really well and it tugged on my heart strings.
Things I didn't like:
- Marielle, Naomi, and Craig's characters. Not to down play their individual baggage, but some of their stories felt very "woe is me". I felt Craig and Naomi's issues to be things they should have dealt with way before their funerals. Marielle was literally the worst. She critiqued what people said about her at her funeral. No spoilers but HOW can you be the one to be mad at everyone all the time and you literally kept the biggest secret that changed someone's entire life? They each did sucky things (like forcing your friends to go sky diving and then skipping out). I found their contributions to the group scenes to be irritating and dysfunctional.
- This group of characters didn't mesh to me. I felt like this book had so much potential, but because these characters felt so separate I truly didn't understand why they were friends. They didn't keep in touch over the years, some of them were just shitty, and none of them ever wanted to do these funerals. It didn't make sense why such a sweet concept was executed by a group that was always reluctant to get together. I think this was a large reason I didn't rate the book higher. Their friendship felt forced due to their close proximity at a young age.
Have you ever laughed until you cried, only to find yourself laughing again? This book was that kind of rollercoaster. Excellent.
A beautiful story that family is the one you make! What a wonderful, funny, and touching story of a group of friends who create a pact: everyone is granted 1 opportunity to call everyone together and…celebrate that persons funeral!
This book highlights the importance of sharing about the person and lifting that person up when they need it while that person is still alive.
Heartwarming tale!!!
This book highlights the importance of sharing about the person and lifting that person up when they need it while that person is still alive.
Heartwarming tale!!!
It’s a very sweet concept. My main gripe is with the fact that 2 of the main characters in the story have the same name. There are only 5 main characters and it made it difficult to distinguish between the 2, especially because we only ever saw those 2, in particular, together. It may have been intentional by the author to emphasize their enmeshment, but that could have been achieved without making it so difficult to follow for readers.