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janewhitehurst's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. I love David Levithan, but this one was too melodramatic for me from the get-go. I got to about 2/3 of the way through the book and just wasn't really too emotionally invested. I would have liked if the romances were more drawn out instead of happening in a snap/not happening all.
sampayn3's review against another edition
3.0
In the last year or so, I've fallen in love with David Levithan's work. So much so, I often name him as one of my favourite authors. But I'll be honest, this one wasn't like the other books I've read by him.
The alternating chapters were a problem for me. I often got confused between the two perspectives. I think it would have been better to have an entire novel just from Mark's perspective as I found it far more engaging and generally better writing. The story also seemed to lack depth at times and I think that's due to the alternating chapters too.
Although, I did admire friendship between Mark and Kate. It blossom into something beautiful. The more I read, the more I grew to love them and the support they offered each other. I particularly connected with Mark and I think the book did a great job of handling unrequited love.
All in all, two separate books, or one larger book, may have been better here. I loved the characters, the message, and the liberating ending, but I longed for more depth.
The alternating chapters were a problem for me. I often got confused between the two perspectives. I think it would have been better to have an entire novel just from Mark's perspective as I found it far more engaging and generally better writing. The story also seemed to lack depth at times and I think that's due to the alternating chapters too.
Although, I did admire friendship between Mark and Kate. It blossom into something beautiful. The more I read, the more I grew to love them and the support they offered each other. I particularly connected with Mark and I think the book did a great job of handling unrequited love.
All in all, two separate books, or one larger book, may have been better here. I loved the characters, the message, and the liberating ending, but I longed for more depth.
ploppypooh's review against another edition
2.0
It was fun, but it just kind of felt like a collaboration, like maybe they didn’t really know what they were doing with the plot and sort of...took turns filling it with melodrama? The message was cool, though, and I enjoyed all of the different queer perspectives that popped up throughout the book. And the narrators were both equally adorable, and I wanted them both to be happy. I just kind of thought that they were agonizing over weird things. And that Kate made a lot of weird decisions.
lilymonet18's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
heartbreaking but resolved it in a way i didn’t expect - good, bad? i could probably learn from this but might not be mature enough to accept the lessons yet. the pair i felt had more chemistry and was more believeable was the one that didn’t work out - bad writing, a strategic choice? i highlighted more lines it than in any other book i’ve read lately though.
emily_rose123's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
Two YA heavyweights – Nina LaCour (The Disenchantments, 2012) and David Levithan (Every Day, 2012) – have co-written this glossy and highly romanticized gay teen love story that is, for me, just not quite as good as I’d hoped for from these major talents.
See my full review here.
Thanks to St Martin’s Griffin and Edelweiss for the eARC.
See my full review here.
Thanks to St Martin’s Griffin and Edelweiss for the eARC.
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
For a FULL review (a dual review with Danielle H.), head over to my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I really enjoyed this one—more than I expected to, honestly. I don’t know why, but somewhere along the way I’d gotten the idea that this wasn’t going to be a “me” book (which is probably why it sat on my shelf for so long). So, I was incredibly pleasantly surprised when I connected to the story and the characters right away.
Danielle and I would recommend this book if you’re looking for an emotional, self-reflective friendship story with well-developed characters. The friendship between Kate and Mark is definitely the best part of the book.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via BEA 2016 in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
I really enjoyed this one—more than I expected to, honestly. I don’t know why, but somewhere along the way I’d gotten the idea that this wasn’t going to be a “me” book (which is probably why it sat on my shelf for so long). So, I was incredibly pleasantly surprised when I connected to the story and the characters right away.
Danielle and I would recommend this book if you’re looking for an emotional, self-reflective friendship story with well-developed characters. The friendship between Kate and Mark is definitely the best part of the book.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via BEA 2016 in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
pipe_dream's review against another edition
4.0
This story is like a daydream. A little unrealistic chain of events. Of what ifs.
In Kate's case, it's a good daydream about a lie becoming true. About things an artist, a person in love wished would happen. At least it is supposed to be good. But that's only on the surface. Deep inside the daydreamer - Kate - doesn't want some of it. Is afraid of it. Feels unworthy. And it casts shadow over her life, like her subconscious knows what is happening inside her, and the daydream is stained with it. And Mark, her new friend, is a person that helps her think, to be brave, to face the truth. A kind of friend that has your back no matter what.
In Mark's case, it's a bad daydream. He does things to impress a boy he loves, but instead gets his heart crushed. And each moment brings him pain. But also leads to an understanding, sort of. Kate, for him, is a person that comforts him, encourages him, helps him forget for a moment. A friend that is there, when you fall apart.
It's a book about being honest, being true to yourself and to others. About pride in who you are, or in who you are becoming. It may be unrealistic, but the feelings, the problems that the characters are faced with are real. Are something that the reader can relate to.
I cried a lot, towards the end of this book. Had to stop reading for a moment. Calm down, only to start crying again. I guess I cried for Kate. For Mark. For myself. For friendship kind of lost and friendship gained. For my own what ifs. And for some other things.
In Kate's case, it's a good daydream about a lie becoming true. About things an artist, a person in love wished would happen. At least it is supposed to be good. But that's only on the surface. Deep inside the daydreamer - Kate - doesn't want some of it. Is afraid of it. Feels unworthy. And it casts shadow over her life, like her subconscious knows what is happening inside her, and the daydream is stained with it. And Mark, her new friend, is a person that helps her think, to be brave, to face the truth. A kind of friend that has your back no matter what.
In Mark's case, it's a bad daydream. He does things to impress a boy he loves, but instead gets his heart crushed. And each moment brings him pain. But also leads to an understanding, sort of. Kate, for him, is a person that comforts him, encourages him, helps him forget for a moment. A friend that is there, when you fall apart.
It's a book about being honest, being true to yourself and to others. About pride in who you are, or in who you are becoming. It may be unrealistic, but the feelings, the problems that the characters are faced with are real. Are something that the reader can relate to.
I cried a lot, towards the end of this book. Had to stop reading for a moment. Calm down, only to start crying again. I guess I cried for Kate. For Mark. For myself. For friendship kind of lost and friendship gained. For my own what ifs. And for some other things.