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freadomlibrary's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Penguin Random House UK Children’s via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
This book was so good! The plot takes place in the course of one day. The basic plot is about the whirlwind romance of the two main characters and they obstacles they have to overcome individually and together. However, it also deals with family, race, immigration, discrimination, love, regret, faith and honesty. The way all of these themes are interwoven together in this book is just beautiful.
Writing Style – 5 out of 5 stars
I became a huge fan of Yoon’s writing style when I read her debut novel, Everything, Everything but this one was so much more! She has a tendency to always add unique formats to her storytelling and this book was enchanting because of that special aspect. It’s beautiful, intense, powerful and smart. It deals with the different themes head on and both points of view were interesting and easy to read. I loved it.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
Natasha and Daniel are the main characters in this novel and they couldn’t be more different from each other. Natasha is an immigrant from Jamaica who has spent most of her adolescent life in the United States. She’s about to start her senior year when her family gets deported and that makes her angry and jaded and scared. She’s really smart and she’s loves science. But she has a very practical and logical view of the world which would honestly drive me crazy if she was my friend. She’s sad and vulnerable and on her last day in the US is where Daniel shows up. He is a first generation Korean American who has dreams of becoming a poet but is dealing with the expectations his parents have for his future. He’s sweet and kind and romantic. He lets himself be taken away by life and what it brings into his path. He has a lot of pressure on his shoulders and he almost feels like he’s going down the path of eternal unhappiness so he takes a little detour and becomes rebellious. They worked well together despite all of their differences. And one of my favorite things about this book is getting to know their side characters and their stories from the little anecdotes written in from their points of view.
Emotionally
The plot is honest. We follow Natasha and Daniel, two teens on different paths who meet unexpectedly and spend their day together, falling in love against all odds. This book honestly could’ve gone so wrong. The premise of this book revolves around the romance of the two main characters yet they only spend one day together. It’s instalove and I’m sure that word just makes you want to take off running for the hills. But it was so great! This is the only book that I can say has managed to pull off instalove in a way that made me root for the characters as individuals and as a couple. And I think it worked because while their romance is the focus, it’s not the only thing they are dealing with. There were so many more things and themes explored in this book that the characters have to work through: family expectations (the difference between what you want and what your parents want for you), immigration (how it feels to be pushed out of the only place you feel at home), what love is all about (in all its aspects in life) and how the smallest thing you do can change not only your life but someone else’s life completely. The entire journey was just so endearing and heart-warming, while still being honest and raw about the harshness of life and its disappointments. One of my favorite things about this book is how we get to know the side characters. Every time one of our main characters stumble upon someone in their everyday life, we get a small glimpse of what they’re going through in their point of view. From the lawyer trying to help Natasha stay in the country, to Daniel’s asshole of a brother, to even the security lady in the immigration office. Each person somehow ends up being affected by Natasha and Daniel and visa versa. It just made the story that much more real because that’s how life is, you never know it but what you do in life whether for yourself or for somebody else affects the people around you. The entity of this book was well done because of it’s honesty and power.
Natasha and Daniel are totally opposites but I think that’s what made them work so well together. She’s a cynic, he’s a romantic. She’s a thinker, he’s a dreamer. When seeing them separately it’d look like a recipe for disaster, but where they were in their lives at that specific moment that they met affected their connection. They learned a lot from and about each other in that one day that ended up changing their perspective on life and how they viewed the world. Both of them grew by leaps and bounds within this book and I am still a bit shocked when I think back on how they started because it seems so impossible for just one day to affect a person that much. But sometimes that’s all you need. I have to say that I liked Daniel a lot more, because he was so whimsical and romantic compared to her that he tended to lighten up the book. But I connected a lot more to Natasha’s story. I was a young immigrant myself when I first moved to the US and I was extremely blessed and lucky to have had an American older relative which made my “illegal” stay very short even if I grew up there. Just picturing having to deal with the news that Natasha did, considering how I also moved back to Venezuela before senior year though for different reasons, really affected me and how I feel as an immigrant. People place such a stigma on that word and on the people that carry that word but they don’t see past their status to the people they really are. I just feel so much for her and for how crushing that news would’ve been.
I didn’t really know how this book was going to end but I was glad that it wasn’t something stereotypical or “easy”. It was just as honest and heartbreaking and real as the rest of the book was and while my shipper heart took a hit because of it, I appreciated how the author kept the integrity of the book, of the characters and their story intact. And that epilogue was just so sweetly open ended and so uplifting that I honestly wanted to pick this book right back up as soon as I finished.
Overall, I loved this book. It was a really honest and candid portrayal of life in America and of life in general. I loved the way the plot developed so thoroughly in the span of one day and how we got to see the way things affect the lives of everyone you meet as you go through life. The instalove romance felt real and it captured my love and attention so quickly. The ending was realistic and hopeful and I can’t wait to re-read this book as soon as I can.
I received an e-ARC of this book from Penguin Random House UK Children’s via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
This book was so good! The plot takes place in the course of one day. The basic plot is about the whirlwind romance of the two main characters and they obstacles they have to overcome individually and together. However, it also deals with family, race, immigration, discrimination, love, regret, faith and honesty. The way all of these themes are interwoven together in this book is just beautiful.
Writing Style – 5 out of 5 stars
I became a huge fan of Yoon’s writing style when I read her debut novel, Everything, Everything but this one was so much more! She has a tendency to always add unique formats to her storytelling and this book was enchanting because of that special aspect. It’s beautiful, intense, powerful and smart. It deals with the different themes head on and both points of view were interesting and easy to read. I loved it.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
Natasha and Daniel are the main characters in this novel and they couldn’t be more different from each other. Natasha is an immigrant from Jamaica who has spent most of her adolescent life in the United States. She’s about to start her senior year when her family gets deported and that makes her angry and jaded and scared. She’s really smart and she’s loves science. But she has a very practical and logical view of the world which would honestly drive me crazy if she was my friend. She’s sad and vulnerable and on her last day in the US is where Daniel shows up. He is a first generation Korean American who has dreams of becoming a poet but is dealing with the expectations his parents have for his future. He’s sweet and kind and romantic. He lets himself be taken away by life and what it brings into his path. He has a lot of pressure on his shoulders and he almost feels like he’s going down the path of eternal unhappiness so he takes a little detour and becomes rebellious. They worked well together despite all of their differences. And one of my favorite things about this book is getting to know their side characters and their stories from the little anecdotes written in from their points of view.
Emotionally
Spoiler
I absolutely and completely fell in love with this book, it was so beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time.The plot is honest. We follow Natasha and Daniel, two teens on different paths who meet unexpectedly and spend their day together, falling in love against all odds. This book honestly could’ve gone so wrong. The premise of this book revolves around the romance of the two main characters yet they only spend one day together. It’s instalove and I’m sure that word just makes you want to take off running for the hills. But it was so great! This is the only book that I can say has managed to pull off instalove in a way that made me root for the characters as individuals and as a couple. And I think it worked because while their romance is the focus, it’s not the only thing they are dealing with. There were so many more things and themes explored in this book that the characters have to work through: family expectations (the difference between what you want and what your parents want for you), immigration (how it feels to be pushed out of the only place you feel at home), what love is all about (in all its aspects in life) and how the smallest thing you do can change not only your life but someone else’s life completely. The entire journey was just so endearing and heart-warming, while still being honest and raw about the harshness of life and its disappointments. One of my favorite things about this book is how we get to know the side characters. Every time one of our main characters stumble upon someone in their everyday life, we get a small glimpse of what they’re going through in their point of view. From the lawyer trying to help Natasha stay in the country, to Daniel’s asshole of a brother, to even the security lady in the immigration office. Each person somehow ends up being affected by Natasha and Daniel and visa versa. It just made the story that much more real because that’s how life is, you never know it but what you do in life whether for yourself or for somebody else affects the people around you. The entity of this book was well done because of it’s honesty and power.
Natasha and Daniel are totally opposites but I think that’s what made them work so well together. She’s a cynic, he’s a romantic. She’s a thinker, he’s a dreamer. When seeing them separately it’d look like a recipe for disaster, but where they were in their lives at that specific moment that they met affected their connection. They learned a lot from and about each other in that one day that ended up changing their perspective on life and how they viewed the world. Both of them grew by leaps and bounds within this book and I am still a bit shocked when I think back on how they started because it seems so impossible for just one day to affect a person that much. But sometimes that’s all you need. I have to say that I liked Daniel a lot more, because he was so whimsical and romantic compared to her that he tended to lighten up the book. But I connected a lot more to Natasha’s story. I was a young immigrant myself when I first moved to the US and I was extremely blessed and lucky to have had an American older relative which made my “illegal” stay very short even if I grew up there. Just picturing having to deal with the news that Natasha did, considering how I also moved back to Venezuela before senior year though for different reasons, really affected me and how I feel as an immigrant. People place such a stigma on that word and on the people that carry that word but they don’t see past their status to the people they really are. I just feel so much for her and for how crushing that news would’ve been.
I didn’t really know how this book was going to end but I was glad that it wasn’t something stereotypical or “easy”. It was just as honest and heartbreaking and real as the rest of the book was and while my shipper heart took a hit because of it, I appreciated how the author kept the integrity of the book, of the characters and their story intact. And that epilogue was just so sweetly open ended and so uplifting that I honestly wanted to pick this book right back up as soon as I finished.
Overall, I loved this book. It was a really honest and candid portrayal of life in America and of life in general. I loved the way the plot developed so thoroughly in the span of one day and how we got to see the way things affect the lives of everyone you meet as you go through life. The instalove romance felt real and it captured my love and attention so quickly. The ending was realistic and hopeful and I can’t wait to re-read this book as soon as I can.
joana_stormblessed's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't have much time to read during the week so I basically read this in two sittings. I loved it so much! This is such a beautiful story and it's totally up my alley! Wow !
mashas28's review against another edition
5.0
“Life is just a series of dumb decisions and indecisions and coincidences that we ascribe meaning to.”
.
.
.
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One of the best books i have read, not because of the story in general, but because of the little details and amazing connections between all of the characters, the unpredictable twists and turns, last minute choices and actions, truly a masterpiece. The descriptions of all the side characters and their own unique stories are absolutely stunning.
.
.
.
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One of the best books i have read, not because of the story in general, but because of the little details and amazing connections between all of the characters, the unpredictable twists and turns, last minute choices and actions, truly a masterpiece. The descriptions of all the side characters and their own unique stories are absolutely stunning.
astheplotthickens24's review against another edition
3.0
"But here is a true thing: Almost everything in the night sky gives off light. Even if we can’t see it, the light is still there."
I will give this book 3 out of 5 stars. So where do I start? Okay, I love the fact that two people with different nationality and race could fall in love with each other. Daniel is a full blooded Korean but was born in America and Natasha is a pure Jamaican who migrated in NYC when she was eight. I must admit that the pairing was quite unusual at first but then as the story goes on you kinda understand what they saw with each other and why they were so smitten with one another. There's nothing wrong with this book, it's perfect. It's just that I'm not a huge fan of contemporary and romance novels, I'm more of a High fantasy and Sci-fi reader so I never really quite committed myself with the characters of this story, that's the reason why I only gave it 3 stars.
I love how this book opens up the minds of the readers when it comes to racism. Who the fuck cares if you're black, Asian, African or American, we are all made of cells and will all just gonna die in the end, so what if instead of judging one another base on their physical appearance, we love one another instead. The world will be a better place then. This book was very realistic and that's one of the factors that I like about this novel. It shows us that we can never always get what we want and that sometimes, time is just what we need to find ourselves again. I know that Irene (the security guard) only have like two POVs but she's my favorite character so far because we must admit that if not for her, there'll be no Tasha and Daniel.
PS: Life gets better just make sure you're there to see it :)
I will give this book 3 out of 5 stars. So where do I start? Okay, I love the fact that two people with different nationality and race could fall in love with each other. Daniel is a full blooded Korean but was born in America and Natasha is a pure Jamaican who migrated in NYC when she was eight. I must admit that the pairing was quite unusual at first but then as the story goes on you kinda understand what they saw with each other and why they were so smitten with one another. There's nothing wrong with this book, it's perfect. It's just that I'm not a huge fan of contemporary and romance novels, I'm more of a High fantasy and Sci-fi reader so I never really quite committed myself with the characters of this story, that's the reason why I only gave it 3 stars.
I love how this book opens up the minds of the readers when it comes to racism. Who the fuck cares if you're black, Asian, African or American, we are all made of cells and will all just gonna die in the end, so what if instead of judging one another base on their physical appearance, we love one another instead. The world will be a better place then. This book was very realistic and that's one of the factors that I like about this novel. It shows us that we can never always get what we want and that sometimes, time is just what we need to find ourselves again. I know that Irene (the security guard) only have like two POVs but she's my favorite character so far because we must admit that if not for her, there'll be no Tasha and Daniel.
PS: Life gets better just make sure you're there to see it :)
robbynjreeve's review against another edition
3.0
Genre(s): YA, romance, contemporary fiction
Theme(s): fate, meaning of love, consequence of little actions, racial diversity, New York City
Award(s): Michael L. Printz Award Nominee, National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature
Recommended for ages: 16+
Summary: Daniel is on his way to interview for Yale to become a doctor-his parents' dream, not his. Natasha is desperately trying to find a way to prevent her family from being deported back to Jamaica. Neither is looking for love when they stumble into each other's lives--but it feels like fate may have other plans for them than they dreamed for themselves.
Review: I enjoyed this book quite a lot! I thought it was so interesting to read the 2 perspectives and all the little side notes and just the thought that went into each individual action and how it influenced the story as a whole. There was more language then I'm comfortable with.
Recommended for fans of: The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, My Sister's Keeper
If you loved this book then you should try.... Before I Fall
Theme(s): fate, meaning of love, consequence of little actions, racial diversity, New York City
Award(s): Michael L. Printz Award Nominee, National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature
Recommended for ages: 16+
Summary: Daniel is on his way to interview for Yale to become a doctor-his parents' dream, not his. Natasha is desperately trying to find a way to prevent her family from being deported back to Jamaica. Neither is looking for love when they stumble into each other's lives--but it feels like fate may have other plans for them than they dreamed for themselves.
Review: I enjoyed this book quite a lot! I thought it was so interesting to read the 2 perspectives and all the little side notes and just the thought that went into each individual action and how it influenced the story as a whole. There was more language then I'm comfortable with.
Recommended for fans of: The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, My Sister's Keeper
If you loved this book then you should try.... Before I Fall
sara___'s review against another edition
5.0
That DID NOT just happen! Wtf wtf wtf I didn't expect to like it this much and I didn't expect the ending to completely destroy me smh