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saraheme's review against another edition
5.0
This is the best book I've read in awhile. I love the writing style and the collection of poems. I cringed, I smiled, I felt awkward, I felt happy, I cried. Beautiful. I love it.
rubypaustian's review against another edition
3.0
I hated Part 1 because I hated Lennie and Toby and hated how they treated Joe. But it was worth sticking it through because part 2 was so cute and so sad and so hopeful. I cried a lot and it made me think about what would happen if I lost a family member. But definitely recommend for a quick summer read. Also now I’m done with part one of the Library summer reading contest! Also I might start leaving poetry around town...
lindsmichelle's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book to be beautifully written, allowing those who have not suffered the grief of losing one so close to them as Bailey was to Lennie to understand the tumult and confusion that Lennie and the other characters went through. While I have seen a lot of dislike towards Lennie in other reviews, I do understand this, as she seems to make a lot of bad and sometimes stupid decisions that would only make sense in her head, and made me just want to shout to her, "Len, what are you doing?" However, this makes her feel more human to me. She is someone who is grieving and confused, and a lot is going through that teenage mind of hers. Especially after losing someone who she looked up to and almost relied on. Being a younger sister myself, I can start to understand what that might be like.
I loved the idea of Lennie writing poems about Bailey and spreading them over the town. Their addition throughout the pages in the book was a really nice way to show how Lennie was dealing with her grief and how she developed throughout the book. My favourite poem to read had to be the one placed at the beginning of chapter 28!
Last but certainly not least, Joe Fontaine. Yet another book character that I managed to fall in love with. His "unabashedly jack-o'-lantern happy" expression when they first met really made me take a shine to him from their very first conversation together. It felt to me like he was the one she needed and he came in at the right time for it.
The book seemed to get quite heavy as Lennie started to realise how much Bailey was going to miss, but that was to be expected, considering that was one of the main themes of the story. The last few chapters, I just couldn't put the book down. It was one that taught me a lot about love and loss. Some actions that seemed completely unacceptable and ludicrous to me at the beginning started to make more sense as the book went on. I'm so glad that I picked this book up!
I loved the idea of Lennie writing poems about Bailey and spreading them over the town. Their addition throughout the pages in the book was a really nice way to show how Lennie was dealing with her grief and how she developed throughout the book. My favourite poem to read had to be the one placed at the beginning of chapter 28!
Last but certainly not least, Joe Fontaine. Yet another book character that I managed to fall in love with. His "unabashedly jack-o'-lantern happy" expression when they first met really made me take a shine to him from their very first conversation together. It felt to me like he was the one she needed and he came in at the right time for it.
The book seemed to get quite heavy as Lennie started to realise how much Bailey was going to miss, but that was to be expected, considering that was one of the main themes of the story. The last few chapters, I just couldn't put the book down. It was one that taught me a lot about love and loss. Some actions that seemed completely unacceptable and ludicrous to me at the beginning started to make more sense as the book went on. I'm so glad that I picked this book up!
bertiethefern's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jenniferrk's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
citrusjam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
janhutch's review against another edition
4.0
I seem to be drawn to quirky reads - this one has letters/notes to and about the heroine's dead sister interspersed throughout the text. I kind of like it - and I liked the story. Some of it seemed a bit far-fetched and too perfect. But if you can't have perfection in a book, where can you have it?
dallast1's review against another edition
4.0
This book was perfect. I just wished it went a little slower and was longer. But that might be my fault cause I read it in like a day. But the reason I love this book is because consistent but then it's not at all. It's all over the place but not. It's an amazing story and give so much insight about love and grief. Read it!
siobhano's review against another edition
4.0
Jandy Nelson is my new John Green when it comes to YA heartbreak, the weirdness of life, love and death. (But "The Sky Is Everywhere" is not as good as "I'll give you the sun" or maybe I'm just overly hyped about the latter...)
Lennie has just lost her sister, the lively Bailey, and cannot cope with the grief. As their mother left them when they were small, she lives with her Gram and her uncle, whose way of expressing their grief differs from her needs. She does not know who she is without her sister while finding out that her sister kept secrets, major secrets, from her. Only her sister's boyfriend, Toby, seems to get her and their mutual understanding for their loss brings them closer together - closer than they should be. But Lennie has also met Joe, the new guy in the school band, who brings out the best in her, who makes her question who she wants to be and why. Lennon is torn between her awakening sexuality, grief, love, coming to terms with her loss, finding an identity without her sister, and growing up.
Even though the story has some YA tropes (hot damn gurl, you so beautiful, you're getting all the guys /// soooo cheesy sometimes geeez), I loved the messiness of all the relationships. Everything goes wrong that can go wrong, because people don't know what to do, how to cope. I love how Nelson crafts (partly) dysfunctional families and grief. I will sure read whatever she publishes next...
4,5 Stars
Lennie has just lost her sister, the lively Bailey, and cannot cope with the grief. As their mother left them when they were small, she lives with her Gram and her uncle, whose way of expressing their grief differs from her needs. She does not know who she is without her sister while finding out that her sister kept secrets, major secrets, from her. Only her sister's boyfriend, Toby, seems to get her and their mutual understanding for their loss brings them closer together - closer than they should be. But Lennie has also met Joe, the new guy in the school band, who brings out the best in her, who makes her question who she wants to be and why. Lennon is torn between her awakening sexuality, grief, love, coming to terms with her loss, finding an identity without her sister, and growing up.
Even though the story has some YA tropes (hot damn gurl, you so beautiful, you're getting all the guys /// soooo cheesy sometimes geeez), I loved the messiness of all the relationships. Everything goes wrong that can go wrong, because people don't know what to do, how to cope. I love how Nelson crafts (partly) dysfunctional families and grief. I will sure read whatever she publishes next...
4,5 Stars