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reading__queerly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
This book left me in a daze that I couldn’t shake for days after I finished reading it. At its heart, it’s a story about grief. Harriet, the main character of the novel, feels responsible for the death of her brother, Tunde, after he is killed the same day that she tells him “I wish you were dead.” She is wracked with guilt, ostracized at school, and overcome by feelings of separation from all those around her, despite the best efforts of her cousin, the school’s “cool girl” Nikka, and her brother’s best friend, Luke, who desperately tries to look out for her. When the seemingly impossible begins to happen, pulling Harriet, Nikka, and Luke together and underground to a world where Harriet might have the opportunity to live the other possible realities of that fateful day, she must face her grief or choose another path for herself, one that may lead her even farther away from those she loves.
I commend the author for her use of speculative fiction, especially in a YA novel. When you write about potential parallel universes and make the reader question what is considered “real” within the narrative, it is sometimes hard to not lose the heart that holds the story together. However, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich’s exploration of grief from a young girl’s perspective, even while mixing the extraordinary with the ordinary, was focused and heart-wrenching to read. It thoroughly depicts depression and survivor’s guilt in a way that I have not seen in a long time. While some other reviews state that the underground universe distracted from the central themes, I’ll say that I enjoyed the more experimental and fantastical elements of the story; the pages flew by once I reached this section of the book. It was at times jarring, and didn’t always make the most sense, but we as readers are able to relate to Harriet, who is equally confused, yet still drawn into the world. Adding these elements to the novel served to represent and highlight Harriet’s struggle with her own emotions. The conclusion, while not as resolute as some may have liked, to me left a clear message: that we are not alone in our grief and that despite what we might wish, we must continue to swim against the waters that threaten to drown us.
Thank you to NetGalley, Levine Querido, and most importantly, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich for writing this book. Additionally, a final comment: The cover art is absolutely beautiful, and it’s what initially sparked my interest on NetGalley. I went out and bought the physical copy as well when it was published, and I love that the physical hardcopy has textured pages like water! I thought that this was a wonderful choice, since so much of the story revolves around the water that acts as a safe haven, a portal, a destroyer, and an uplifter all in one book.
I commend the author for her use of speculative fiction, especially in a YA novel. When you write about potential parallel universes and make the reader question what is considered “real” within the narrative, it is sometimes hard to not lose the heart that holds the story together. However, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich’s exploration of grief from a young girl’s perspective, even while mixing the extraordinary with the ordinary, was focused and heart-wrenching to read. It thoroughly depicts depression and survivor’s guilt in a way that I have not seen in a long time. While some other reviews state that the underground universe distracted from the central themes, I’ll say that I enjoyed the more experimental and fantastical elements of the story; the pages flew by once I reached this section of the book. It was at times jarring, and didn’t always make the most sense, but we as readers are able to relate to Harriet, who is equally confused, yet still drawn into the world. Adding these elements to the novel served to represent and highlight Harriet’s struggle with her own emotions. The conclusion, while not as resolute as some may have liked, to me left a clear message: that we are not alone in our grief and that despite what we might wish, we must continue to swim against the waters that threaten to drown us.
Thank you to NetGalley, Levine Querido, and most importantly, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich for writing this book. Additionally, a final comment: The cover art is absolutely beautiful, and it’s what initially sparked my interest on NetGalley. I went out and bought the physical copy as well when it was published, and I love that the physical hardcopy has textured pages like water! I thought that this was a wonderful choice, since so much of the story revolves around the water that acts as a safe haven, a portal, a destroyer, and an uplifter all in one book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child death and Mass/school shootings
bookishbaddie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
✨Book Review✨
You’re Breaking My Heart by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich @olugbemisolarhudayperkovich
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✨Rating & Review✨: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Grief looks different for everyone, we all know that. But at times we forget that children have their own way of processing their grief as well. How do you move through a world where you believe you are the reason your brother is dead. Would you make the decision to change what you said, even if it means that he still dies? A beautiful story about the grief process and how important it is to have a support system to help you hold the grief. Thank you so much @hearourvoicestours and @olugbemisolarhudayperkovich for sharing this story with me.
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Gun violence, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
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