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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just when I said I'd take a break from books that (could) break my soul...
...this one comes along
...this one comes along
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quite sad but absolutely incredible
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence
It only took about five pages for me to be hooked on this novel. The introduction of both characters instantly made me curious about them; and that increased steadily.
There's been a beating. There's been a stabbing. Nate and Cam have ended up across from each other in a deposition because of the violence that has erupted in their lives. Through the course of his deposition, Nate slowly unravels the events leading up to the violence.
Nate and Cam seem very different, but they connected quickly when they first met. Their friendship begins with a night of talking about everything: religion, families, relationships and science. They fall asleep lying on the trampoline staring up the stars and it seems like Nate feels free and unfettered for the first time in his life.
This isn't an ordinary book, it's not an ordinary tale. Nate is struggling with his "parents"… his father and his Aunt who swooped in when his Mom died. She's controlling, relentless and abusive and his father is absent at best. So, Nate's friendships are important, perhaps the only thing that keep him tethered.
But he's not struggling solely with his home life, he's struggling with his feelings for Cam. During an ill-fated New Year's Eve party, Nate and Cam share a sexual experience that short-circuits Nate's brain. He pushes Cam away because he's incapable of dealing with the emotion the encounter brings up. Nate has all the arguments for why it's wrong to feel anything for Cam…religion, he's straight, it's wrong, it's nothing.
Things begin to fall apart for Nate and then escalate, spiralling closer and closer to the final act of violence that will change everything between them forever. This story is a pretzel-twist of pleasure, exploration and fear of things that are too big to comprehend.
This is one of the most unique books I've read in a very long time. These characters are written so remarkably that I couldn't help feeling like I knew them… as though I'd been allowed a window to their minds.
The prose is sparing and yet beautiful. There are some lovely moments captured from the early days of friendship and the intensity of growing emotion. This story made me angry, and it made me cry and I would read it again in a heartbeat. There are twists, things that hurt because you just don't see them coming. And it's real… it's very real. This is young people being amazing and flawed and fucked up and perfect.
This book may not be for the faint of heart, but it should be read. This book should have the hell read out of it. I can't think of a better word to use but to continue to say how "real" this story is.
There aren't enough stars in the night sky to rate this book properly.
There's been a beating. There's been a stabbing. Nate and Cam have ended up across from each other in a deposition because of the violence that has erupted in their lives. Through the course of his deposition, Nate slowly unravels the events leading up to the violence.
Nate and Cam seem very different, but they connected quickly when they first met. Their friendship begins with a night of talking about everything: religion, families, relationships and science. They fall asleep lying on the trampoline staring up the stars and it seems like Nate feels free and unfettered for the first time in his life.
This isn't an ordinary book, it's not an ordinary tale. Nate is struggling with his "parents"… his father and his Aunt who swooped in when his Mom died. She's controlling, relentless and abusive and his father is absent at best. So, Nate's friendships are important, perhaps the only thing that keep him tethered.
But he's not struggling solely with his home life, he's struggling with his feelings for Cam. During an ill-fated New Year's Eve party, Nate and Cam share a sexual experience that short-circuits Nate's brain. He pushes Cam away because he's incapable of dealing with the emotion the encounter brings up. Nate has all the arguments for why it's wrong to feel anything for Cam…religion, he's straight, it's wrong, it's nothing.
Things begin to fall apart for Nate and then escalate, spiralling closer and closer to the final act of violence that will change everything between them forever. This story is a pretzel-twist of pleasure, exploration and fear of things that are too big to comprehend.
This is one of the most unique books I've read in a very long time. These characters are written so remarkably that I couldn't help feeling like I knew them… as though I'd been allowed a window to their minds.
The prose is sparing and yet beautiful. There are some lovely moments captured from the early days of friendship and the intensity of growing emotion. This story made me angry, and it made me cry and I would read it again in a heartbeat. There are twists, things that hurt because you just don't see them coming. And it's real… it's very real. This is young people being amazing and flawed and fucked up and perfect.
This book may not be for the faint of heart, but it should be read. This book should have the hell read out of it. I can't think of a better word to use but to continue to say how "real" this story is.
There aren't enough stars in the night sky to rate this book properly.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Deposing Nathan | Zack Smedley | 27Jan2020
-------------------------
One-Sentence Review
Maybe I went in hoping to be sucker punched, I came out of it just badly bruised.
---------------------------
Published/Pages : 07May2019 | 400 pages
Location: West Virginia
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult
TW: Abuse, Bisexuality, Religion (Christianity)
Characters: Nathan Copeland, Cameron Haynes, Aria Harrington, Bill Copeland, Lori, Violet
-------------------------------
Rating Analysis
Premise: 8/10
Introduction: 9/10
Number of Characters: 8/10
Character Development: 8/10
Backup History for the Story: 8/10
Fiction Quality: 8/10
Pace of the Story: 8/10
Dramatic Effect: 7/10
Climax: 10/10
Impact it Made: 7/10
TOTAL: 81/100 (8.1 Stars = 4.05 Stars ~ ★★★★)
--------------------------------
Review
Reaction Section
-------------------------
One-Sentence Review
Maybe I went in hoping to be sucker punched, I came out of it just badly bruised.
---------------------------
Published/Pages : 07May2019 | 400 pages
Location: West Virginia
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult
TW: Abuse, Bisexuality, Religion (Christianity)
Characters: Nathan Copeland, Cameron Haynes, Aria Harrington, Bill Copeland, Lori, Violet
-------------------------------
Rating Analysis
Premise: 8/10
Introduction: 9/10
Number of Characters: 8/10
Character Development: 8/10
Backup History for the Story: 8/10
Fiction Quality: 8/10
Pace of the Story: 8/10
Dramatic Effect: 7/10
Climax: 10/10
Impact it Made: 7/10
TOTAL: 81/100 (8.1 Stars = 4.05 Stars ~ ★★★★)
--------------------------------
Review
Reaction Section
“And for a second, just a second, I swear I see us become the whole universe.”
—
Excellent concept and several very strong moments. When it comes to my own personal tastes, this brand of YA writing style does just usually tend to fall flat for me. Also it was frustrating, because it felt way too rushed and shallow a lot of the time, and it could’ve been a Lot More, you know? The characters were playing at being three dimensional, but ultimately they weren’t (like....Nate’s painting should have taken some forefront other than in his dad’s speech, etc.) But not bad! The twist at the end was very fucking good although I’m not sure how I feel about the ending as a whole. So, just. Yeah. Three stars. Not much more to say.
—
Excellent concept and several very strong moments. When it comes to my own personal tastes, this brand of YA writing style does just usually tend to fall flat for me. Also it was frustrating, because it felt way too rushed and shallow a lot of the time, and it could’ve been a Lot More, you know? The characters were playing at being three dimensional, but ultimately they weren’t (like....Nate’s painting should have taken some forefront other than in his dad’s speech, etc.) But not bad! The twist at the end was very fucking good although I’m not sure how I feel about the ending as a whole. So, just. Yeah. Three stars. Not much more to say.
This book was completely unexpected. I didn't know much about it going in; I had only heard things like, "Oh, this book is incredible!" but no real details as far as the plot goes.
That served me really well, so I'm going to keep that mystery going (sorry!). But here's what I can tell you: Nate is grappling with a lot of things. His family life is complicated and his relationships (romantic and friendships) are complicated and his faith is a touchstone but is also...well, complicating things.
This is a beautiful story that will definitely make you laugh out loud so many times and roll your eyes (both due to Cam, but Nate is also very funny). It'll make you wince and chances are good it'll make you cry. It will show you how cruel people can be, but also how kind.
But it's also a complete page-turner. We know that Nate was attacked, but we don't know why and that mystery made it impossible to stop until I was done. It just so happened that I also fell in love with the characters.
Highly recommended.
That served me really well, so I'm going to keep that mystery going (sorry!). But here's what I can tell you: Nate is grappling with a lot of things. His family life is complicated and his relationships (romantic and friendships) are complicated and his faith is a touchstone but is also...well, complicating things.
This is a beautiful story that will definitely make you laugh out loud so many times and roll your eyes (both due to Cam, but Nate is also very funny). It'll make you wince and chances are good it'll make you cry. It will show you how cruel people can be, but also how kind.
But it's also a complete page-turner. We know that Nate was attacked, but we don't know why and that mystery made it impossible to stop until I was done. It just so happened that I also fell in love with the characters.
Highly recommended.
I am destroyed this was very good although I felt sometimes that Lori was a bit too bad-stepmothery
3.25 stats
Nice though almost everything about this book was predictable. I mean just by reading the summary you know how's gonna go.
Nice though almost everything about this book was predictable. I mean just by reading the summary you know how's gonna go.