Reviews

There Is A Light by Ban Gilmartin

midnightlemons's review

4.75

this book is (loosely) based on one of my all time favorite fanfics (Take On Me by BasicBathsheba on ao3), so, when i found out that the fanfic has been remade into an actual book, i was very excited to read it. but then i never got around to it.

and now, one and a half years later, i actually got my shit together and read it. oh, how stupid i was for not picking up this book earlier! it's absolutely phenomenal! (which, in retrospect, seems obvious, if i loved the fanfic, why wouldn't i love the book?)

i thought i loved the fanfic, but i love this book even more. the author took the best parts of the fanfic and turned them into a heartwarming, at times painful, but definitely wonderful story that covered difficult topics brilliantly and had way more diversity (in all meanings of the word) than the original work.

the only thing that i don't like about this book iS THE FACT THAT IT ISN'T MORE POPULAR!!!! MORE PEOPLE NEED TO READ THIS!!

in conclusion, 'there is a light' is absolutely brilliant. thanks for coming to my ted talk.

fish_beholder's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-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

4.5

I cried, I grinned, I felt my heart glow with happiness for these characters.
Absolutely recommend.

kform's review

5.0

I've read (and re-read) Ban's fics for a while now, and this book is no different. Lovely, heartbreaking, funny, wonderfully realistic characters dealing with life in real as all hell ways that pull at your heart, and simultaneously make you cry (and laugh!) with sadness, joy and understanding.

I will read anything and everything she ever writes. Cannot wait for what comes next!

elj_ne's review

4.0

Loved the characters in this but personally the romance didn’t really make up for the fact it was kind of a bummer and a bit too long. Also, loved the cat but you lost me on the baby.

rrowanreads's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-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

3.5

itsahavartiparty's review

4.0

This is a story that, in the words of Bruce Cockburn, kicks at the darkness until it bleeds daylight. There are no easy solutions suggested to the problems the characters face: depression and suicidal ideation, addiction, alienation, systemic oppression. But it reaches for hope nonetheless-- just what I needed right now, several months into the pandemic. This is also a love letter to Edinburgh, I city I visited in the before times and would love to revisit with this book in mind.

graceb's review

5.0

Brilliant.

kit0's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

skylerann's review

5.0

I am in love with this book!

pipfromspace's review

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5