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bethanypaisley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
adam_armstrong_yu's review
5.0
This book is an astonishing layered look into the lives five teens whose paths are briefly woven together in a hospital waiting room following the collapse of a city bridge, an accident in which their loved ones may or may have died. Even before this fateful day, each person’s life was suspended in its own way—impeded by parents, friends, lovers, themselves, and undercurrents of grief. This is a story about biding your time and finding the courage to trudge forward through the pain, all the while hoping against hope that whatever lies ahead might be better.
minni_bar's review against another edition
5.0
This touched me so much, I loved every page of it and couldn’t put it down. The characters were all so relatable and lovely in their own way.
shemyshines98's review
4.0
It was definitely more interesting than I thought it would be. I thought the book entirely would be lackluster, I'm glad I was wrong. This bridge in Boston collapsed and now Jason & Alexa (siblings), Scott, Morgan, and Skyler are all now waiting to hear the news about their loved ones. I love how this story goes into depth about each character. Coming to find out, Jason is gay and the summer in Cape Cod he met Alexa's friend Kyle who was too gay and they started a secret relationship. They were in love but Jason wasn't ready to come out yet. They had a fight and the night that Kyle died he called Jason to tell him that he was coming over. He did and Jason was at home he was just too busy drinking his sorrows away. So, Kyle did the same and was driving and got into an accident that killed him. Something that Jason blamed himself for. Alexa, inspired by Kyle was going to take a gap year and the day the bridge collapsed she was going to announce it to her parents. She felt that it was her fault that they were on that bridge. Scott was the ex-boyfriend of Aimee. They broke up months prior to the accident because he was upset that she was leaving for college. But, he still cared for her so he lied and said that she was still his girlfriend. Morgan's father died prior to the bridge. He had pancreatic cancer and he took the car and went by the beach and took some pain pills and died. Finally, Skyler was in an abusive relationship. Kate tried to warn her but, of course, she didn't listen until the last minute. Kate saved her and now it's Skyler's turn to help her sister. Kate ended up living, Aimee died and Jason and Alexa's parents seemed to be in critical condition by the end of the book. I enjoyed it and I will gladly add this to my book collection. :-)
herbiehickmott's review
5.0
A really thoughtful and emotional novel, filled with interesting and tangible characters who felt like human beings. Some genuinely surprising and moving moments.
jacqui_04's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
rmpenny247's review
4.0
Richard Lawson's writing and great story telling kept making me want to read this book even when I didn't have time. My favorite part of this book was the great flash back scenes for each character. They were each filled with a bit of mystery that kept me wanting to read and find out more. This was definitely a character driven book, which is my favorite type of story.
Slowly learning about the relationships that Jason, Alexa, Scott, Morgan, and Skyler had with the person, or people, they were waiting for caused me to feel connected to most of them. In this short book, there was visible growth for each of the five main characters.
Skyler's story could be on its own and expand on her sister's role in her life, and her relationship with Danny. Jason and Alexa are the two characters that I connected with the most, and that I really want a bigger story from. Their history felt like an entire different story from the hospital scenes that connected all of the main character. It probably helped that their points of view were two people with the same history, just different perspectives and personal struggles. It was also different because it was more about the relationship between Jason and Alexa as siblings, instead of their relationships with their parents. I really would enjoy just a book about their lives, and specifically their summer at the beach. That would be so great.
I will be looking out for any future books written by Lawson.
Slowly learning about the relationships that Jason, Alexa, Scott, Morgan, and Skyler had with the person, or people, they were waiting for caused me to feel connected to most of them. In this short book, there was visible growth for each of the five main characters.
Skyler's story could be on its own and expand on her sister's role in her life, and her relationship with Danny. Jason and Alexa are the two characters that I connected with the most, and that I really want a bigger story from. Their history felt like an entire different story from the hospital scenes that connected all of the main character. It probably helped that their points of view were two people with the same history, just different perspectives and personal struggles. It was also different because it was more about the relationship between Jason and Alexa as siblings, instead of their relationships with their parents. I really would enjoy just a book about their lives, and specifically their summer at the beach. That would be so great.
I will be looking out for any future books written by Lawson.
yochananvered's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. A group of strangers who may have never otherwise met are brought together by a shared tragedy. It starts with shared moment but slowly their backstories get revealed. I think a major thing we were meant to get from this story is that the people around you all have deep inner lives that go far beyond the parts that will involve you. I think some of the characters were more developed than others and that would be my major complaint, but I still really enjoyed it. I hope Richard Lawson decides to write another book, because I’d definitely want to read more from him!
jennifermreads's review
2.0
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
After a bridge collapses in Boston, five teens are thrown together in the ER while they await news of their loved ones.
The premise was pretty incredible and promised to be emotion filled. Instead it ended up just being okay: a lot of potential but not a complete execution. I liked having the multiple perspectives. I liked having the flashbacks to better explain the characters and get a feel for their anguish. But something just didn’t click all together. I should have had some tears trickling down my cheeks at some point but it never happened.
Jason and Alexa’s story was the most intriguing – but only because Skyler’s story was left unresolved. Instead I just felt like Skyler was unfinished. Just like Morgan’s story!
Too many questions, not enough answers. Too much build-up, not enough follow through. Too much promise of rip-at-your-heart, not enough actually ripping. Too many “too much” and “not enough.”
After a bridge collapses in Boston, five teens are thrown together in the ER while they await news of their loved ones.
The premise was pretty incredible and promised to be emotion filled. Instead it ended up just being okay: a lot of potential but not a complete execution. I liked having the multiple perspectives. I liked having the flashbacks to better explain the characters and get a feel for their anguish. But something just didn’t click all together. I should have had some tears trickling down my cheeks at some point but it never happened.
Jason and Alexa’s story was the most intriguing – but only because Skyler’s story was left unresolved.
Spoiler
If she had done more than get rescued from her abusive boyfriend by her sister and then ignore his texts while she awaited the fate of her sister then maybe this would have been more compelling.Too many questions, not enough answers. Too much build-up, not enough follow through. Too much promise of rip-at-your-heart, not enough actually ripping. Too many “too much” and “not enough.”
emilygrafton8's review
4.0
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book. On one hand I really liked it but on the other hand I had issues with it. First, it was really slow getting into and the format. I was very confused when it went from present to past memories. After reading more chapters that got easier to understand. Also I went in very mad about the 3rd person POV since that is one of my bookish pet peeves (besides Harry Potter lol) however as the book went on I got better with it. The characters were so meh for me in the beginning but I really did like them by the end and wanted to see so much more of them!! I liked Skylar the best but I loved Scott so much too. he was such a small bean. loved him. Jason and Alexa were good too I preferred Alexa but Jason’s story was very well written and full of plot twists. All in all this book wasn’t my favorite but I did genuinely enjoy the characters by the end!!