Scan barcode
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.
sylvimblack's review against another edition
3.0
This character is so unique. He's kind of crazy, and thinks he's a lot cooler than he probably is. Getting inside his head is a very different experience because he thinks he knows everything but he really doesn't, as is evident from his thoughts and actions.
sk8rghost's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This book didn't "wow" me as much as I thought it would but I really enjoyed the characters. Particularly Amber herself.
This book didn't "wow" me as much as I thought it would but I really enjoyed the characters. Particularly Amber herself.
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a bit of a letdown for me if I’m being totally honest. The story was good and I did enjoy it but definitely not as much as I thought I would. If I’m reading a book like this I want it to make me cry and FEEL things but this one didn’t check those boxes for me sadly. It all felt a bit too predictable and stale for me, I saw what was coming from a mile away and it spoiled the effect for me.
reading_i_like_that_shit's review against another edition
4.0
I found out about this book through http://projectukya.blogspot.com/ a lovely book site that features Young Adult books written by authors in the UK. I had to order this book from the UK because its not available here in the US.
This book was great. Its British book, so of course I was just loving the voice of the story.
The book is told by Francis a 15 year old unpopular kid. Other characters include his Mum, older brother Chris, his flatmate Fiona, Grandma, and his new friend he meets Amber.
All the characters were a blast.
The book is about a serious topic of cancer, but the story is written so real. You feel all the feelings from each character, happy, sad, fear, sarcasm, love, everything.
The story is Francis telling us about his everyday life before and during his cancer diagnosis. He meets Amber and his world is changed, as is his families and her family. Its hard to explain the story, so it should be read by you. I liked it because it was serious but also cheeky and funny, but most of all it felt real.
I loved the characters and didn't want to let them go.
Give it a read.
This book was great. Its British book, so of course I was just loving the voice of the story.
The book is told by Francis a 15 year old unpopular kid. Other characters include his Mum, older brother Chris, his flatmate Fiona, Grandma, and his new friend he meets Amber.
All the characters were a blast.
The book is about a serious topic of cancer, but the story is written so real. You feel all the feelings from each character, happy, sad, fear, sarcasm, love, everything.
The story is Francis telling us about his everyday life before and during his cancer diagnosis. He meets Amber and his world is changed, as is his families and her family. Its hard to explain the story, so it should be read by you. I liked it because it was serious but also cheeky and funny, but most of all it felt real.
I loved the characters and didn't want to let them go.
Give it a read.
tyheronthorn's review against another edition
1.0
Have I ever hated a main character so much? This kid had his head so far up his own ass he was talking out of his asshole but the sound came out his mouth. Look - I'm all for smart kids. What I can't take is the 'better than thou' attitude that Francis had throughout the whole book. He called himself a sophisticate, an intellectual, which is annoying, but then Matthew Crow would give him an "impressive array of literature" and make him like Romantic poets and then go ahead and put down Kelly and Paul, making them caricatures of teenagers. He didn't even have any redeeming qualities either. He whined a lot. Like, actually whining.
And Amber - typical Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Bad trope. She's a Cool Girl who Changes The Boy's Life and Gets Him Into Trouble and shit like that.
This book was trying too hard to be The Fault in Our Stars, too, but at the same time ... cancer really wasn't a huge part of the book? There was no explanation of treatment. It was very badly written. Oh, and it was romanticising a terminal illness as well. Yeah. Not good all around.
And Amber - typical Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
Spoiler
She dies at the end to change Francis's life. It's typical and annoying and unsurprising.This book was trying too hard to be The Fault in Our Stars, too, but at the same time ... cancer really wasn't a huge part of the book? There was no explanation of treatment. It was very badly written. Oh, and it was romanticising a terminal illness as well. Yeah. Not good all around.
leeann20's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning was good. I thought it may have been a better book, but it got really boring in the middle. Francis sounded very young and very effeminate which didn't match his character and the choices his character made which really got on my nerves. Bottom line, this book was done before and done better.
lizziedymond's review against another edition
4.0
This review took me a while to figure out and which way to approach it. Due to the themes, age of characters etc there is no denying it that it will be compared to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. TfiOS is a truly remarkable piece of literature and I feel In Bloom is also in this same league. When TFiOS used a lot of metaphors In Bloom told the story simply and straightforward, and I feel this simplicity is beautiful. Being a simpleton like me this made the story more enjoyable as I wasn't trying to figure out what things meant. I loved all the characters in the novel, even Kelly, and my favorite being Chris the gay big brother. I could see someone I know in each of them making the story much more relatable and heart breaking. I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book to anyone and everyone in the hope that they too can gain the same enjoyment as I did.