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laurenbachman7's review against another edition
3.0
Jandy Nelson is a great writer, no doubt about it. I LOVED "I'll Give You the Sun," but unfortunately, this one did not live up to my expectations. There were some similar themes interwoven between the two but the execution of this book was not in my taste.
I didn't have any major issues, just minor irritants that added up over the course of the book. The main character, Lennie, made a lot of poor choices in the name of grief that I just couldn't rationalize considering how much she hurt other people. The behavior of some of the characters appeared as an attempt for them to be quirky, but I just didn't find it realistic in many cases. Teenagers don't often speak or act like this, nor is it believable to include proclamations of undying love and devotion with so little basis of a relationship. I recognize the attempt at passion and romance, but I felt it was too lustful and sophisticated for a newly-budding teenage relationship.
As I mentioned, Nelson is a fantastic writer who has a way with words and crafting a story. She creates complicated characters that readers can feel for as they navigate the complications of life. While I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped, and I definitely think "I'll Give You the Sun" is much better, I can't not recommend this for people who like passionate YA love triangle, grief-stricken, quirky family stories who sometimes don't have all the answers.
I didn't have any major issues, just minor irritants that added up over the course of the book. The main character, Lennie, made a lot of poor choices in the name of grief that I just couldn't rationalize considering how much she hurt other people. The behavior of some of the characters appeared as an attempt for them to be quirky, but I just didn't find it realistic in many cases. Teenagers don't often speak or act like this, nor is it believable to include proclamations of undying love and devotion with so little basis of a relationship. I recognize the attempt at passion and romance, but I felt it was too lustful and sophisticated for a newly-budding teenage relationship.
As I mentioned, Nelson is a fantastic writer who has a way with words and crafting a story. She creates complicated characters that readers can feel for as they navigate the complications of life. While I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped, and I definitely think "I'll Give You the Sun" is much better, I can't not recommend this for people who like passionate YA love triangle, grief-stricken, quirky family stories who sometimes don't have all the answers.
laurawantsmore's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really sweet and gripping read. I loved the characters and the idea that even after such a tragic loss life still goes on and the emotions that come with it. I'm very lucky and haven't lost anyone that I have been extremely close with so I couldn't exactly relate to the character but at the same time I could understand what she was going through. This was so well written.
edith01's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this book with high expectations as I absolutely adored I'll give you the sun. I was slightly disappointed at the start because the romance started really quickly and unrealistically but then it became more developed and I got more into the characters. The plot was really interesting and Lennie's arc was so human and you learn all her lessons along with her. And I just love Jandy's writing style so much it's honestly so gorgeous and reads so well. I also loved the music side of the story probably because I'm also a clarinettist but it was really eye opening about what music means and how it can make you feel. Overall it was extremely well written more as you get further into the book.
kaitlyn_meehan's review against another edition
2.0
This book was okay. There wasn’t anything that stood out as astoundingly great or moving in it. But it provides an interesting insight on dealing with grief and how it never truly comes to an end as long as you love that person. For that reason I like it.
mariiixh's review against another edition
5.0
This is definitely my all time favorite book. It was humorous, heart warming, and even heart breaking. I cried a couple times while reading this book...but it is by far the best book I have ever read. It makes you want to fall in love. You start to feel like you are IN the book. You start falling in love with the characters...oh..Joe Fontaine. <3 This is a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it.
qtpieash3's review against another edition
2.0
I'm wavering between 2 and 3 stars on this one - when I was reading it I liked it and was caught up in the story, but when I put it down, I didn't think about it much.
The storyline (**spoiler alert**) of the grieving sister starting a strange relationship with her dead sister's fiance felt really strange to me. I get that it was rooted in grief and their desire to be close to someone who had such a special relationship to Bailey, but it seemed far-fetched for a high-schooler. I also hated the way it impacted her relationship with Joe.
Things worked out in the end, but I wanted to strangle and then hug Lennie throughout most of the book (more of the former than the latter, though). In the end, while it was a good story, to me it was missing that special something that just reaches out and grabs you.
The storyline (**spoiler alert**) of the grieving sister starting a strange relationship with her dead sister's fiance felt really strange to me. I get that it was rooted in grief and their desire to be close to someone who had such a special relationship to Bailey, but it seemed far-fetched for a high-schooler. I also hated the way it impacted her relationship with Joe.
Things worked out in the end, but I wanted to strangle and then hug Lennie throughout most of the book (more of the former than the latter, though). In the end, while it was a good story, to me it was missing that special something that just reaches out and grabs you.
okayelisabeth's review against another edition
4.0
jandy nelson has such a way of filling her books whimsy realism
joeystarnes's review against another edition
5.0
I loved I'll Give You the Sun and was worried I wouldn't live this book as much. But it was equally beautiful, particularly in the treatment of the bond between siblings.