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mimimilaa's review against another edition
2.0
*actually 2.5
Personally, I just felt like this book was meh. The only characters I really liked were Amber and Frankie's mom (occasionally his brother too). I just didn't think this story was developed enough. I didn't really feel an emotional connection and I felt like the author tried to address too many problems at once. It just made the story seem kind of hectic and chaotic.
I felt like this story was way too fast-paced. The love in here felt a lot like insta love, which I can semi understand because they're only 15, but still, I just felt like the romance was rushed and I didn't like it. The ending was overall pretty good and I didn't really have a problem with it, but the actual plot was just very lacking in my opinion. I felt no emotions towards what happened and I just feel like I read this from a distant.
I was continuously comparing this to TFIOS and I just didn't think that this book was anywhere as well-written.
Personally, I just felt like this book was meh. The only characters I really liked were Amber and Frankie's mom (occasionally his brother too). I just didn't think this story was developed enough. I didn't really feel an emotional connection and I felt like the author tried to address too many problems at once. It just made the story seem kind of hectic and chaotic.
I felt like this story was way too fast-paced. The love in here felt a lot like insta love, which I can semi understand because they're only 15, but still, I just felt like the romance was rushed and I didn't like it. The ending was overall pretty good and I didn't really have a problem with it, but the actual plot was just very lacking in my opinion. I felt no emotions towards what happened and I just feel like I read this from a distant.
I was continuously comparing this to TFIOS and I just didn't think that this book was anywhere as well-written.
ktorr009's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
I actually found this better than A Fault in our Stars. Along the same lines as John Green's popular work, Before I Die and Ways to Live Forever, here is the latest tale of a young person coping with the discovery that they have cancer.
This book felt warmer, and unlike A Fault in Our Stars, the teenagers talked like real teenagers, not overly clever. Francis is believable, a touch of eccentricity but smart and down-to-earth, with a family to match. This is another book perfectly suited to the big screen. There are memorable lines, scenes and characters. Francis is 15, and a little OCD (in a loveable way) with a much older brother Chris (who, despite working, regularly visits to raid their mother's fridge). Mum is a feisty Tyne and Wear lass, fiercely maternal but ready to smack them just as easily as fight for them (her idea of sex education? "If you need any gaps filling in then we've got broadband and I never check the history.")
Francis learns he has leukaemia and has to undergo treatment in the hospital unit. And there he meets vacuous Kelly, poser Paul... And then potential soulmate Amber. They quote films and books (from Where the Wild Things Are to The Silence of the Lambs), they show us the tender and sweet first love that Francis has been craving, they go through the realities of cancer treatment with all its pain with their strange but familiar family members by their side.
I wouldn't mind if anyone could comment on this to tell me what they think the title means. I don't spot a reference to it in the book - did I miss a quote?
This is moving, down-to-earth, very funny and deserves the audience of John Green picking it up. It compares exceptionally well, in my mind it's better.
This book felt warmer, and unlike A Fault in Our Stars, the teenagers talked like real teenagers, not overly clever. Francis is believable, a touch of eccentricity but smart and down-to-earth, with a family to match. This is another book perfectly suited to the big screen. There are memorable lines, scenes and characters. Francis is 15, and a little OCD (in a loveable way) with a much older brother Chris (who, despite working, regularly visits to raid their mother's fridge). Mum is a feisty Tyne and Wear lass, fiercely maternal but ready to smack them just as easily as fight for them (her idea of sex education? "If you need any gaps filling in then we've got broadband and I never check the history.")
Francis learns he has leukaemia and has to undergo treatment in the hospital unit. And there he meets vacuous Kelly, poser Paul... And then potential soulmate Amber. They quote films and books (from Where the Wild Things Are to The Silence of the Lambs), they show us the tender and sweet first love that Francis has been craving, they go through the realities of cancer treatment with all its pain with their strange but familiar family members by their side.
I wouldn't mind if anyone could comment on this to tell me what they think the title means. I don't spot a reference to it in the book - did I miss a quote?
This is moving, down-to-earth, very funny and deserves the audience of John Green picking it up. It compares exceptionally well, in my mind it's better.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
From the book jacket: Francis has plans to come into his own, forging his way in school and life, despite his loony, awkward, broken family … and noticeable lack of friends. Then he is diagnosed with leukemia. … In the hospital, Francis meets fellow patient Amber. Fierce, tough, one-of-a-kind Amber.
My reactions
I really liked the relationship that Francis had with his older brother. I never did figure out what was up with his Mom, but she grew on me by the end. (This was probably indicative of Francis’ maturation and the way he came to appreciate his mother more as he grew up.)
Amber was an enigma. I liked her bravery and outlandish refusal to conform. But I never really felt the love between her and Francis.
There are some scenes that had me rolling my eyes, but in general, as “teens-with-cancer-romance” genre books go, this is pretty entertaining. It held my attention and was a fairly fast read. And yes, I did tear up.
Note First published in the U.K. as [b:In Bloom|17996850|In Bloom|Matthew Crow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378484683l/17996850._SX50_.jpg|25253449]
My reactions
I really liked the relationship that Francis had with his older brother. I never did figure out what was up with his Mom, but she grew on me by the end. (This was probably indicative of Francis’ maturation and the way he came to appreciate his mother more as he grew up.)
Amber was an enigma. I liked her bravery and outlandish refusal to conform. But I never really felt the love between her and Francis.
There are some scenes that had me rolling my eyes, but in general, as “teens-with-cancer-romance” genre books go, this is pretty entertaining. It held my attention and was a fairly fast read. And yes, I did tear up.
Note First published in the U.K. as [b:In Bloom|17996850|In Bloom|Matthew Crow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378484683l/17996850._SX50_.jpg|25253449]
timvindigni's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t cry, but that’s ok. I really enjoy how Crow writes. I will have to pick up more of his books in the future.
trinitynoel's review against another edition
4.0
Great book! I’m surprised to find such low reviews, as I thought for a book on the overused cancer trope, was quite refreshing. Francis was an amazing character and an amazing POV. And let’s not forget the great accent!
pixiewilo's review against another edition
5.0
Once I picked up this book I couldn't put it down, I had completed it in a day, it kept me interested, there was no lull, there was no pity party. The books topic is incredibly sad, but actually there were so many parts of the book the book where I was laughing as I was reading that at times I forgot the topic was so serious.
The book has been compared to The Fault in Our Stars, I find this an unfair comparison, other than the topic being teenage cancer there were not many parallels in the book, which I am grateful for, I think its always a tough call when they start comparing books because fans of one book ultimately want another book to be just like it and then feel let down.
Amber is a loveable character with wit and a strong view on life, she is the daughter of a single mum who's a crystal loving hippy. Whilst Francis also from a single parent family but has an older brother, narrates this story wonderfully hes truly one of my favourite characters in a long time.I love the relationship he had with both his mum and his brother.
There's something very british about this book, maybe with it being set in the North East, maybe its in the writing, or the story itself, but I really loved it, the story does touch on cancer, but its so much more than that, its about living life even when lifes handed you some tough cards. It's not melodramatic or falsely cheery either, the balance is perfect instead it feels like you have a unique opportunity to see how they cope with the ups and downs as they happen, as people live every single day desite all types of struggles and dramas.
Its a must buy book, but seriously, don't go comparing this book to The Fault in Our Stars its not fair to either book.
The book has been compared to The Fault in Our Stars, I find this an unfair comparison, other than the topic being teenage cancer there were not many parallels in the book, which I am grateful for, I think its always a tough call when they start comparing books because fans of one book ultimately want another book to be just like it and then feel let down.
Amber is a loveable character with wit and a strong view on life, she is the daughter of a single mum who's a crystal loving hippy. Whilst Francis also from a single parent family but has an older brother, narrates this story wonderfully hes truly one of my favourite characters in a long time.I love the relationship he had with both his mum and his brother.
There's something very british about this book, maybe with it being set in the North East, maybe its in the writing, or the story itself, but I really loved it, the story does touch on cancer, but its so much more than that, its about living life even when lifes handed you some tough cards. It's not melodramatic or falsely cheery either, the balance is perfect instead it feels like you have a unique opportunity to see how they cope with the ups and downs as they happen, as people live every single day desite all types of struggles and dramas.
Its a must buy book, but seriously, don't go comparing this book to The Fault in Our Stars its not fair to either book.
a_payne's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the ending...but it was all very meh. Didn’t make me emotional like I thought I was and the main character became annoying halfway through.