Reviews

There Is A Light by Ban Gilmartin

monkeysbecausewhynot's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

lizcavs's review

5.0

I’ve always loved Ban’s writing. I read her fics during some of my darkest moments. They made me laugh out loud and feel a little less crazy and manic. Then I read her novels, and let me just say *that shit hits different*. Reading There Is A Light is like getting a mirror shoved in your face and having someone yell at you “life sucks but it doesn’t have to!” With too many cups of coffee and tea, children books, and really great music, this book takes you by the shoulders and shakes you until you understand that you’ll be okay, things will get worked out, change can be good, and life is worth living. I saw myself between these pages, and maybe not everyone can say the same, but for me that means this is a really fucking good book, so you should read it.
And I’m a sap so I gotta say it: There is a light. Always remember that.

melancholicqueercrip's review

5.0

Once again, the power of Ban’s writing has overridden my crushing fear of words and driven me to write my second ever book review. So here goes: TIAL as a story captures so much of what my life has been like as I enter my 20s. I was able to relate so thoroughly, in a way that I haven’t really experienced with other books; there is just some essential element that Ban gets. I can’t name it, but it’s powerful. The writing is hilarious and painfully truthful and incredibly hard to put down. But my favorite part (as always) is the characters. They are all so well realized and specific. I can see parts of myself I’ve never read anywhere before reflected in so many of them. Basically, it was a really fucking good book and it made me feel joy in spite of all the crazy shit going on right now. So yes, there is a light, and (for me at least) it is this book.

bec459's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing medium-paced

roselaina's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

_sophie__'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful

5.0

lexcroucher's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this so much. I laughed! I cried! I got very personally invested in these characters, who are now my closest friends and confidants! I was reading it on an e-reader and kept getting so sad that the percentage was creeping up because I just wanted MORE. LOVELY.

agus02's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

probablycats's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

With this and Weak Heart, Ban Gilmartin has become an instabuy author for me.
If you're looking for a tender portrayal of mental illness, addiction, a diverse cast, and soft boys-- look no further. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

simon_apollo's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad

5.0

Everything Ban writes manages to hit me somewhere deep and leave me laughing, crying, and everywhere in between, sometimes at the same time. I've loved seeing how this story has grown into the beautiful piece of art it now is. In a way, reading this felt like home: all the mess, all the heartache, all the real, messy feelings and how people deal with it. But it also filled me with a sense of hope like "Maybe we really can do this. We can restart our lives without a hard reset. We're allowed to make mistakes and not be perfect and to continuously work on bettering ourselves.". Because I think this book really is about instilling that sense of hope back in you. This story is one that sweeps you up and takes you along and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's immediately become a favorite of mine and I'm sure just thinking of it will bring me to tears (happy ones). This is such an incredible book and I could not recommend it enough.
And thank you Jamie, for the reminder to

not let school get to us and to take things one at a time when we feel overwhelmed

. There is a light