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challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I watched the show years ago and liked it, but I’m so glad I read the book. Wow. I don’t really know what to say about this book but as a daughter who lost her own mother to breast cancer as a teen, this book resonated. And also, as a woman, and a “Kate” especially, her insecurities and fear of not being or doing enough felt so close to home. I am ready to tear into Fly Away immediately! I borrowed this from the library but I need to buy a copy so I can read it again, I can tell this is going to be one I want to revisit. It reminds me of another perennial favorite of mine, Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. I guess I’ve always loved stories about the complicated and beautiful friendships between women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Abandonment, War
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
this book took me a while to get through and I think its just because it felt too real for me. Winter Garden by KH also had the same problem, it was too real-life sad and I couldn't finish it. This one didn't get extremely sad until the very end. I think it was expertly written and I cared so deeply about the characters, but too much so that it filled me with such dread. The whole Johnny thing, though what a beautiful ending was rough to read about same with the mother daughter fighting. it made me very grateful for my mom. The ending was so tragic it had me in my bikini crying in the sun but it did seem like the right thing to do. A great book, full of love and pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Abandonment
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This book was hard to read due to some triggers with SA and health concerns
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, Abandonment
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing, Car accident
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol
emotional
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The end of the book was the best part, so much so that I considered changing my rating to 4 stars, but most of the book I couldn’t stand how predictable it was. I really hated Tully’s character and thought it was kind of a toxic one-sided friendship. Also major trigger warning: there’s a rape in the first few chapters of the book that is pretty unnecessary for the rest of the story. Sometimes I feel like this author puts trauma into books just for the shock value.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Rape, Sexual assault
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 is my gut rating right now! What a ride! Conflicting feelings about this one, because I was so pulled into the story, but I thought the writing wasn't the best? Which is maybe hypocritical, because I finished it so quickly; but the dialogue didn't hit for me in a lot of places, and I felt like the prose felt too naked for me. I just wanted more descriptions and moments of showing vs. telling! I think this is just because my favorite thing about the other KH book I've read was her beautiful descriptions of the setting.
That being said, this was a really beautiful look at love and long-term friendships. I did cry at the end, and it made me grateful I really appreciate my friendships out loud and am never afraid to tell someone exactly how much they mean to me. I actually don't think I liked either of these women very much; some things they did to each other, particularly two things from Tully, were so mean and immature lol. At times it was hard to feel touched by their particular friendship because I thought they deserved better from each other, but. Still glad I read it and I'm excited to discuss with Court! I always eat up a book that follows characters through the decades!
That being said, this was a really beautiful look at love and long-term friendships. I did cry at the end, and it made me grateful I really appreciate my friendships out loud and am never afraid to tell someone exactly how much they mean to me. I actually don't think I liked either of these women very much; some things they did to each other, particularly two things from Tully, were so mean and immature lol. At times it was hard to feel touched by their particular friendship because I thought they deserved better from each other, but. Still glad I read it and I'm excited to discuss with Court! I always eat up a book that follows characters through the decades!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abandonment