Scan barcode
alexbrown's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Rape
nikmahie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed it, but it dragged on for a bit too long. I don’t even want to know how many times the word “cried” was used in this book, but it’s definitely too many times.
It was an easy and fun read that made me laugh and cry. I couldn’t lay it down, even though most of the story was pretty predictable. I felt engaged and really wanted to know how Amelie would end up at the end.
It was an easy and fun read that made me laugh and cry. I couldn’t lay it down, even though most of the story was pretty predictable. I felt engaged and really wanted to know how Amelie would end up at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Sexual assault, Rape, and Emotional abuse
vjlp22_reader's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Cursing
Minor: Stalking, Vomit, and Alcohol
alexisaflop's review
challenging
dark
funny
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? Yes
4.5
I sobbed reading this book. The ending was perfect and as I was reading I felt so proud of Amelie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Rape
leiaslizzy's review
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I don't even have words. This book tore my soul into pieces. It was so uncomfortable to read and I got so angry sometimes but it is so, so important that young people, especially girls, read this so that they can understand. It's a commentary on so many things, and it's such a heartbreaking story but so many aspects of it are also true in a way. Even though this is a fictional story, things that happen in this book do happen, and it's devastating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape
lazza's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
feliciaheilgendorff's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief and Rape
dinipandareads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
TL;DR: This was such a painful read to get through. It leaves you feeling a bit helpless as you get a front-row seat to Amelie losing herself to something toxic and retracing her steps to find herself again. This is such an important story and I'm so glad that it exists, especially for young readers, as Bourne does a great job exploring what it means to be in healthy and unhealthy relationships and how to care for yourself in the aftermath. This tackles dark and heavy events that can be triggering so please do check content warnings before reading.
I've had this book on my TBR for a very long time because I always knew that I would need to gear myself up emotionally to read it. From the title alone you know you're being set up for a sad-time read but I don't think I expected just how full of anguish it would be. Bourne captures the essence of teenhood perfectly through Amelie. Her turbulent emotions were so distinct and it was easy to get swept up in the extremes of all her feelings. As someone who moved many times during my schooling years, I know how hard it is to say goodbye to friends and to be the "new kid" (yet again). As a reader, you're excited for Amelie as she gets excited about making new friends and then, there he is, and once Reese enters the picture nothing will ever be the same as it was.
I don't think I have the words to describe how painfully uncomfortable and angering it was to read this book. It was so difficult to see Amelie constantly ignore red flags because of how amazing it feels to be cherished and "loved" by someone like Reese. Despite not being the targeted audience of this book, it's no less impactful or important because sadly, this is probably something a lot of people—both men, women, young, and old—may experience, have experienced or know someone who has been through it. In ways, it's terrifyingly relatable and I think that's what also makes this story more devastating. Bourne handles sensitive topics very well and writes in a way that's easy for readers of any age to grasp.
That being said, perhaps it was also this simplicity of the writing that made it difficult for me to fully connect to the story. I expected to be overwhelmed by emotions reading this and although I was moved by it and hurt for Amelie, it didn't quite connect with me in the way I thought it would. Whether my brain numbed itself the more I read or I'd built my expectations up too high over the years, I think this is more of a "me thing" and not the fault of the book. Towards the end, I found the endless crying and constant breaking down into tears to be very emotionally taxing.
Overall, I'm glad to have finally read this. I see why everyone talked about it when it came out and I appreciate how well Bourne wrote this story. I know if my younger self read this, it would've turned me into a total emotional wreck! As difficult as these topics and events are, I do think it's an important read for young readers because it's so easy to get overwhelmed and caught up in the butterflies, attention and the highs of what you think love is, only for it to blind you from someone's ugly.
I've had this book on my TBR for a very long time because I always knew that I would need to gear myself up emotionally to read it. From the title alone you know you're being set up for a sad-time read but I don't think I expected just how full of anguish it would be. Bourne captures the essence of teenhood perfectly through Amelie. Her turbulent emotions were so distinct and it was easy to get swept up in the extremes of all her feelings. As someone who moved many times during my schooling years, I know how hard it is to say goodbye to friends and to be the "new kid" (yet again). As a reader, you're excited for Amelie as she gets excited about making new friends and then, there he is, and once Reese enters the picture nothing will ever be the same as it was.
I don't think I have the words to describe how painfully uncomfortable and angering it was to read this book. It was so difficult to see Amelie constantly ignore red flags because of how amazing it feels to be cherished and "loved" by someone like Reese. Despite not being the targeted audience of this book, it's no less impactful or important because sadly, this is probably something a lot of people—both men, women, young, and old—may experience, have experienced or know someone who has been through it. In ways, it's terrifyingly relatable and I think that's what also makes this story more devastating. Bourne handles sensitive topics very well and writes in a way that's easy for readers of any age to grasp.
That being said, perhaps it was also this simplicity of the writing that made it difficult for me to fully connect to the story. I expected to be overwhelmed by emotions reading this and although I was moved by it and hurt for Amelie, it didn't quite connect with me in the way I thought it would. Whether my brain numbed itself the more I read or I'd built my expectations up too high over the years, I think this is more of a "me thing" and not the fault of the book. Towards the end, I found the endless crying and constant breaking down into tears to be very emotionally taxing.
Overall, I'm glad to have finally read this. I see why everyone talked about it when it came out and I appreciate how well Bourne wrote this story. I know if my younger self read this, it would've turned me into a total emotional wreck! As difficult as these topics and events are, I do think it's an important read for young readers because it's so easy to get overwhelmed and caught up in the butterflies, attention and the highs of what you think love is, only for it to blind you from someone's ugly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault
annabelreadsandwrites's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Vomit, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Cursing, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Medical content, Gore, and Body shaming
iris_parsons's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was definitely not perfectly written - but it is a young adult book (it annoys me when people talk about young adult books as not being perfectly written without acknowledging the genre, as it is not meant to be wonderfully written). Nevertheless, it was a great book, serving the purpose I needed it to. Reading it just after a breakup was perfect, as I needed some sort of sympathy through a story. The realisation of the toxicity of the relationships was well done, and there were some wonderful descriptions of love and heartbreak.
The quote I had to write down was:
“I know my levels of misery are not appropriate to the length of our relationship, but try telling my feelings that”
The quote I had to write down was:
“I know my levels of misery are not appropriate to the length of our relationship, but try telling my feelings that”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content