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sjanke2's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Addiction, Bullying, Death, Deportation, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Panic attacks/disorders
tmcphetridge4's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really liked this book! I wouldn't have picked it up if not for the class that I am helping to teach this fall. But I am really glad I did! I've been advertising this book as a book on relationships of all kinds: mentorships, familial relationships, friendships, romances... it has just about everything! I thought that Cash's perspective and experiences were so unique and refreshing, in the sense that he has a certain "strength through adversity" that doesn't feel inherently toxic. I know that the author wanted to tackle toxic masculinity and I think it was done really well. There was only one part of the book that I wasn't really a fan of, but I can't forsee a way around it. Other than that, I thought it was deeply tragic, yet still hopeful for a better future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
asporkthief's review
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Drug use
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Racism, Addiction, Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Abandonment
hdcamp's review
emotional
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? No
5.0
Oh my
This was fantastic, ok? I get the sense that this book will work best for specific people/at a specific time. The reasons I loved this are very particular to this place and time in my life. This isn't a disclaimer though - the writing, story, and characters are beautifully and empathetically executed, and I firmly believe that just about anyone could see that and relate to it in some way. BUT the things I loved about this are because of who I am, which means this is probably going to be a pretty worthless, me-centric review. Yay! Strap in!
1. Home
Sawyer, Tennessee is a character in this book. This thing lives and breathes Appalachia, and I felt like I was there sitting on the porch next to Cash and Pep. One of my favorite things as a reader and a writer is the successful evocation of a place; if you can see it, smell it, hear it, and feel like you've been there, the author has done all the right things. I had a less vivid picture of Middleford, but that feels right too - Cash would be reminded more of his home when he's seeing the campus, so even though seasons and landscapes in Connecticut (is that even where they were?) were described to us, I feel like we spent all our time in Sawyer.
2. Family
Family is super complicated my dudes. Everything about this was so real - Cash's hesitancy to open up about it, the closeness of his relationship with Delaney, the ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING about Mamaw and Papaw and his mom. Beautifully done.
3. Income insecurity
Just this you guys. Normalizing the little struggles Cash and Delaney experienced was so important to me. I think what made it great was that they were never really embarrassed by it, just acknowledged the inconvenience of it, AND their friends never talked down or condescended to them, despite the fact that they likely deduced they didn't have much money.
4. Mental hekkin Health
Cash's struggles with depression were so real and so good. The way his grief was depicted was true and accurate and so needed. I admire the pain Zentner was able to bring out on the page, for both Cash and Delaney. *applause applause*
5. Poetry - writing as a process of healing
Gosh darnit if this isn't incredibly true. Writing (for me) allows me to condense big thoughts and feelings down into manageable words. There's something truly good about the challenge of trying to let the ideas and feelings be big, and find the right words to describe something that is beyond us. It's the opposite of escapist. It's getting right in the middle of ourselves and pulling things out and shining some light on them. I think the world would be a better place if we did more of this, however we need.
I can't even explain to you how great this book was. I'm writing all these ideas and they're not big enough somehow, but I'm sleepy and hungry and I finished this book like a month ago so at the same time a lot of my feelings have faded which means I'm struggling to adequately express myself. It hurt, and it was hopeful, and I was crying all over my lunch like a real professional (apparently, since that's what I am). Highly recommend. Bring tissues.
This was fantastic, ok? I get the sense that this book will work best for specific people/at a specific time. The reasons I loved this are very particular to this place and time in my life. This isn't a disclaimer though - the writing, story, and characters are beautifully and empathetically executed, and I firmly believe that just about anyone could see that and relate to it in some way. BUT the things I loved about this are because of who I am, which means this is probably going to be a pretty worthless, me-centric review. Yay! Strap in!
1. Home
Sawyer, Tennessee is a character in this book. This thing lives and breathes Appalachia, and I felt like I was there sitting on the porch next to Cash and Pep. One of my favorite things as a reader and a writer is the successful evocation of a place; if you can see it, smell it, hear it, and feel like you've been there, the author has done all the right things. I had a less vivid picture of Middleford, but that feels right too - Cash would be reminded more of his home when he's seeing the campus, so even though seasons and landscapes in Connecticut (is that even where they were?) were described to us, I feel like we spent all our time in Sawyer.
2. Family
Family is super complicated my dudes. Everything about this was so real - Cash's hesitancy to open up about it, the closeness of his relationship with Delaney, the ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING about Mamaw and Papaw and his mom. Beautifully done.
3. Income insecurity
Just this you guys. Normalizing the little struggles Cash and Delaney experienced was so important to me. I think what made it great was that they were never really embarrassed by it, just acknowledged the inconvenience of it, AND their friends never talked down or condescended to them, despite the fact that they likely deduced they didn't have much money.
4. Mental hekkin Health
Cash's struggles with depression were so real and so good. The way his grief was depicted was true and accurate and so needed. I admire the pain Zentner was able to bring out on the page, for both Cash and Delaney. *applause applause*
5. Poetry - writing as a process of healing
Gosh darnit if this isn't incredibly true. Writing (for me) allows me to condense big thoughts and feelings down into manageable words. There's something truly good about the challenge of trying to let the ideas and feelings be big, and find the right words to describe something that is beyond us. It's the opposite of escapist. It's getting right in the middle of ourselves and pulling things out and shining some light on them. I think the world would be a better place if we did more of this, however we need.
I can't even explain to you how great this book was. I'm writing all these ideas and they're not big enough somehow, but I'm sleepy and hungry and I finished this book like a month ago so at the same time a lot of my feelings have faded which means I'm struggling to adequately express myself. It hurt, and it was hopeful, and I was crying all over my lunch like a real professional (apparently, since that's what I am). Highly recommend. Bring tissues.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Rape, and Drug abuse
lisasplans's review against another edition
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? N/A
4.25
I really enjoyed this coming of age story. It was very immersive and I felt like I was right there in the story with the characters. It also has found family which is a favourite trope of mine. Overall, it was a great read and I would recommend it to everyone. This was the February 2022 book club pick for the @momadvice book club and I can’t wait to listen to her interview with @jeffzentner this month!
I only had one minor issue with the book and that was more of a “It’s not you, it’s me”. Everyone once in a while, the writing style would change for a few paragraphs and the words become very poetic and I found it hard to follow and it temporarily pulled me out of the story.
I only had one minor issue with the book and that was more of a “It’s not you, it’s me”. Everyone once in a while, the writing style would change for a few paragraphs and the words become very poetic and I found it hard to follow and it temporarily pulled me out of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use and Abandonment
anniesbookpicks's review
challenging
emotional
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use
arabesque_'s review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Self harm, Mental illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Death, Blood, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Child abuse
readingbetweenthenotes's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Terminal illness
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
challenging
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
Listened to the audiobook now that this book is out in the world and it's just as good the second time around. Plus, the narrator they chose was perfect for Cash!
-----
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy of this to review! This is one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I'm happy to say that it lived up to the hype. Like, I already want to read this again if I knew it wasn't going to emotionally devastate me. I'm going to do my best to put my feelings into words!
-----
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy of this to review! This is one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I'm happy to say that it lived up to the hype. Like, I already want to read this again if I knew it wasn't going to emotionally devastate me. I'm going to do my best to put my feelings into words!
Jeff Zentner has a way of writing grief that just melts from the page. That's something that connects each book that he's written, all of which I highly recommend. This book is no different. At its core, this is a book about grief; about how we work through it, how we move forward. How we let friends and family help us through it. And how we take hold of opportunities handed to us.
One of the things that Zentner added to this book was poetry. Cash is on a journey learning how poetry and art is important in life (and his teacher is the best. She's one of my favorite characters). The poetry included in the book fits so well with the characters and the story. It feels effortless. Zentner's prose feels like poetry at times, and it really just shines in this book.
And the characters! You'll fall in love with Cash right from the beginning. Delaney, too. The friends they meet at school, Alex and Vi, are also so well-rounded. Their little squad is beautiful and ever teenager deserves a squad like that. Cash might be a little oblivious at times, but you'll be rooting for him throughout the whole book.
Like always, there are nods to Zentner's other books in here, too. I won't spoil them, but I love these little nods. You have all summer to catch up before this book comes out, so do it now!
All in all, this book will put you through an emotional ringer, but it is so worth it. I can't wait to do a quote round up for it when it comes out in August!
-----
Who gave Jeff Zentner the right to play with our emotions like this? I am truly blown away by this book, I honestly think it's some of his best work. And seriously, be prepared to cry. I mean, why wouldn't you be, it's a Jeff Zentner book. Stay tuned for a full review later this week while I pull together my emotions!
Who gave Jeff Zentner the right to play with our emotions like this? I am truly blown away by this book, I honestly think it's some of his best work. And seriously, be prepared to cry. I mean, why wouldn't you be, it's a Jeff Zentner book. Stay tuned for a full review later this week while I pull together my emotions!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Addiction and Chronic illness
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual assault