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sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
Francis is entering the British equivalent of senior year, but is having trouble staying awake. After visiting the doctor, he is diagnosed with Leukemia. Francis is moved into the hospital to begin treatments and his whole family is affected by the disease. His stoic mother is shaken throughout the process and his brother tries to keep a brave face.
While in the hospital, Francis meets his first true friend/girlfriend, Amber. Both come from very different backgrounds, Amber’s hippy mother and capitalistic mother create an interesting yin/yang support system. The two teens strike up a strong bond. However, Francis seems to be getting better, but Amber still has a hard battle before her.
This book presents love and loss with a funny twist. Readers are laughing while also crying. I really liked this novel. Sensitive Francis vs. prickly Amber, is a great combination.
While in the hospital, Francis meets his first true friend/girlfriend, Amber. Both come from very different backgrounds, Amber’s hippy mother and capitalistic mother create an interesting yin/yang support system. The two teens strike up a strong bond. However, Francis seems to be getting better, but Amber still has a hard battle before her.
This book presents love and loss with a funny twist. Readers are laughing while also crying. I really liked this novel. Sensitive Francis vs. prickly Amber, is a great combination.
zinni05's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! This book was crammed full with the perfect balance of humour, tragedy and romance which came together harmoniously. I can remember that after I finished this book I was left completely speechless.
In Bloom is about a 15 year old boy called Francis Wootton who gets diagnosed with cancer. As a result, he has to go to the cancer ward in the hospital and there he meets the love of his life, Amber Spratt. She’s witty, funny and extremely pretty- everything Francis wants in a girl but she too has cancer. Amber teaches Francis how to live life to the full, enjoying it while they can. They’re passionate love for each other keeps them together and quite possibly alive.
The book had lots of interesting issues come up, for example peer pressure and dealing drugs which I felt were dealt with very well. The whole book was very thought provoking, making it even more enjoyable.
This book gave me that rare feeling where I want everybody to read it and enjoy it like I did, but on the other hand, I want to keep it as my special secret book that only I can read and enjoy! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will definitely be reading any other of Matthew Crow’s books.
In Bloom is about a 15 year old boy called Francis Wootton who gets diagnosed with cancer. As a result, he has to go to the cancer ward in the hospital and there he meets the love of his life, Amber Spratt. She’s witty, funny and extremely pretty- everything Francis wants in a girl but she too has cancer. Amber teaches Francis how to live life to the full, enjoying it while they can. They’re passionate love for each other keeps them together and quite possibly alive.
The book had lots of interesting issues come up, for example peer pressure and dealing drugs which I felt were dealt with very well. The whole book was very thought provoking, making it even more enjoyable.
This book gave me that rare feeling where I want everybody to read it and enjoy it like I did, but on the other hand, I want to keep it as my special secret book that only I can read and enjoy! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will definitely be reading any other of Matthew Crow’s books.
fcbgiulia's review against another edition
3.0
Carino, ma niente di più. Non si farà di sicuro ricordare, l'inizio è stato lento e non ha mai ingranato davvero.
Ho letto libri con protagonisti ragazzi malati di leucemia scritti decisamente meglio
Ho letto libri con protagonisti ragazzi malati di leucemia scritti decisamente meglio
pippy0803's review against another edition
2.0
Favourite quotes
“It was like the time granddad died (which was bad) but I got my first-ever suit, which everyone agreed I wore exceptionally well (which was good). It was sort of like yin and yang, where every white bit has a corresponding black bit, and the black bit has a white bit. Nothings ever all bad if you think hard enough about it.”
“This was because boys like him were, essentially, pasta. Everyone thought they loved him because they had never been forced to experience the true blandness of him on his own”
“Hardly seems fair, does it? Kelly went on. Loads of old people are healthy. And loads of bad people too”
“It was like the time granddad died (which was bad) but I got my first-ever suit, which everyone agreed I wore exceptionally well (which was good). It was sort of like yin and yang, where every white bit has a corresponding black bit, and the black bit has a white bit. Nothings ever all bad if you think hard enough about it.”
“This was because boys like him were, essentially, pasta. Everyone thought they loved him because they had never been forced to experience the true blandness of him on his own”
“Hardly seems fair, does it? Kelly went on. Loads of old people are healthy. And loads of bad people too”
kennedy22's review against another edition
2.0
I had higher expectations for this book. Th synopsis on the inside cover pulled me in, but the book didn't do that so much. The writing was good, there were many quotes that I really enjoyed. I kept forgetting it was supposed to be about two teenagers when it seemed like two ten-year-olds. The book was decent, it made me laugh and I don't regret reading it, there was just a lot I didn't like the book. Specifically the main character, he was whiny and immature. He was like that for a large part of the novel so it wasn't something I could ignore. I did really like the main characters older brother, Chris. He was well written and had good character development. The entire book was just filler, there were only one maybe two points that kept me engaged, other than that it was very predictable. Other than that it's an okay read but I don't suggest it!
kqbwie's review against another edition
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
sarakate_m's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t that good. I feel like the love story between Francis and Amber was good, but again, it wasn’t great. Francis and Amber got together a LITTLE fast. I understand this plot development was necessary to move the story forward, but it felt very “insta-lovey.” I liked Amber’s character. She was very headstrong, which was nice. I loved the family relationship between Chris and Francis. Francis’s mom was awesome, too. This book was only okay. I wouldn’t recommend it.
chericeri's review against another edition
3.0
As soon as I read the blurb of this book I predicted exactly what would happen, and unfortunately it did. None of the events surprised me, probably because it was so similar to The Fault in Our Stars, so I didn't enjoy it a huge amount. I did still enjoy it though; the characters were all really distinctive with their own unique personalities and quirks, and I found the family dynamic to be very strong and interesting. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, as it didn't flow as well as other books do, and I feel like there wasn't a steady development in the romance: it came very suddenly, and didn't progress quite like it should have in my opinion. I do think the interesting characters definitely brought my rating up!
laurasaur112's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the plot of this book. It was simple, blunt, and unique. It was also very quick-paced. But I didnt like Francis at all, and since the book was in his POV, it was very hard for me to actually read it. He was very selfish, spoiled, and just altogether a terrible character. So that's why I'm only giving this book 3 stars. Amber was a great character. She was funny and witty, and I was sad she wasnt in the book more. I also really like Chris.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot, but it's hard to appreciate the book with a main character like Francis.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot, but it's hard to appreciate the book with a main character like Francis.
faify's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. The main character was ALMOST sympathetic throughout the book and ultimately was really hard to relate to. He just didn't have much substance and largely lack characterization outside of vague mentions of him being "sensitive." I also ALMOST liked Amber as a character, but there was a limited characterization. She seemed like the antithesis of the main character, but at the same time, we didn't get to know either of the characters enough to really connect with them. In addition, the whole romance seemed really superficial, like there wasn't really that much of a connection outside of proximity. I can't really put to words how I feel about this book, primarily because there just isn't a lot to say. It didn't read as a romance just because it seemed like there was a disconnect between them, and the main character just seemed immature. I didn't hate it. But there are better cancer-related love stories to read.