You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
TEAM STEPMOM.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
These were some tough parents to read about. A Dad who brought me to rage induced rants because of his lack of care for his wife and new baby. A Mom who was incredibly stubborn and seemed incapable of seeing other’s view points and was constantly passive aggressive. And they honestly brought the story down for me. I was expecting to see some growth from them (and for Auden to talk it out) but I don’t feel like that happened enough at the end to be satisfied.
I enjoyed the story overall. It’s very much classic/older YA and that’s part of it’s charm. I purely picked this up to watch the movie and am not upset that I did. I liked the friendships that Auden was able to develop. I especially loved her step-mom. Instead of being the usual trope of awfulness, she was a woman stuck in a rough post-partum situation and I liked that they leaned on one another (even if Auden wouldn’t recognize it).
The romance was very lackluster. Honestly it almost felt as if there wasn’t one? It’s a slow burn with little page time. I would have loved a lot more of Eli and how he could have better factored into the story.
A formulaic YA contemporary that is, ya know, perfectly fine.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: teacher/student relationship mentioned (side character), cheating, alcohol consumption, post-partum depression, loss of a friend (side character, but plays central role)
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
These were some tough parents to read about. A Dad who brought me to rage induced rants because of his lack of care for his wife and new baby. A Mom who was incredibly stubborn and seemed incapable of seeing other’s view points and was constantly passive aggressive. And they honestly brought the story down for me. I was expecting to see some growth from them (and for Auden to talk it out) but I don’t feel like that happened enough at the end to be satisfied.
I enjoyed the story overall. It’s very much classic/older YA and that’s part of it’s charm. I purely picked this up to watch the movie and am not upset that I did. I liked the friendships that Auden was able to develop. I especially loved her step-mom. Instead of being the usual trope of awfulness, she was a woman stuck in a rough post-partum situation and I liked that they leaned on one another (even if Auden wouldn’t recognize it).
The romance was very lackluster. Honestly it almost felt as if there wasn’t one? It’s a slow burn with little page time. I would have loved a lot more of Eli and how he could have better factored into the story.
A formulaic YA contemporary that is, ya know, perfectly fine.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: teacher/student relationship mentioned (side character), cheating, alcohol consumption, post-partum depression, loss of a friend (side character, but plays central role)
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.25⭐
G because it's Sarah Dessen YA so only fade to black scenes
I was kind of unhinged and started this reread on an airplane today and then just didn't stop when I got home and now I want to watch the Netflix adaptation that just came out after writing this review. 😅
With the Netflix movie, I wanted to reread this for the first time in 10+ years because I couldn't remember a ton of details and now I know why--this book is way too similar to my favorite Sarah Dessen book, The Truth About Forever. The sheltered teen getting out of her comfort zone and making new friends that expand her world view was a recycled plot line.
This book did have those nostalgia vibes for me though. It impacted me more as a teen because I was pretty sheltered and hadn't done much so the characters really resonated with me then. As an adult, so this book just didn't hit a chord as much for me. I really enjoyed seeing Aiden grow and how she helped not only Eli but also her mom, dad and stepmom. I think the magic of Sarah Dessen's books now are the relationship piece in displaying how teenagers encounter a complex world.
While this book may not be ground breaking, it was a great read for a Saturday and I'm definitely looking forward to watching the adaptation now that I remember what happens in the book!
Also fucking Jason.
G because it's Sarah Dessen YA so only fade to black scenes
I was kind of unhinged and started this reread on an airplane today and then just didn't stop when I got home and now I want to watch the Netflix adaptation that just came out after writing this review. 😅
With the Netflix movie, I wanted to reread this for the first time in 10+ years because I couldn't remember a ton of details and now I know why--this book is way too similar to my favorite Sarah Dessen book, The Truth About Forever. The sheltered teen getting out of her comfort zone and making new friends that expand her world view was a recycled plot line.
This book did have those nostalgia vibes for me though. It impacted me more as a teen because I was pretty sheltered and hadn't done much so the characters really resonated with me then. As an adult, so this book just didn't hit a chord as much for me. I really enjoyed seeing Aiden grow and how she helped not only Eli but also her mom, dad and stepmom. I think the magic of Sarah Dessen's books now are the relationship piece in displaying how teenagers encounter a complex world.
While this book may not be ground breaking, it was a great read for a Saturday and I'm definitely looking forward to watching the adaptation now that I remember what happens in the book!
Also fucking Jason.