Reviews tagging 'Death'

Clementine and Danny Save the World (and Each Other) by Livia Blackburne

3 reviews

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

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funny lighthearted 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

3.5

Exploring themes such as class, identity, gentrification and community, Livia Blackburne’s charming, You’ve Got Mail-style YA was a sweet and incredibly heartfelt read—guaranteed to pull at your heart strings and make even the grouchiest of readers chuckle. 

Told through the alternating POVs of online enemies turned IRL collaborators, Clementine and Danny. Who, despite their differences of opinion, find themselves falling for one another as they try to figure out how best to help their Chinatown community (in the midst of gentrification.) 

I’m a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope and when done well, absolutely love a good secret identity/misunderstanding arc. So naturally, I jumped at the chance to read this and was NOT disappointed. 

Our protagonists (Clementine and Danny) were incredibly nuanced and depth filled characters, whose very personal motivations and juxtaposed opinions were especially intriguing to explore. Allowing us to explore their lived experiences (from two socio economic backgrounds) and understand their reasonings (and flaws) a little better. The Sunshine x Grump-esque dynamics between Clementine and Danny was also really entertaining.
 
It does focus on the experiences of two Chinese American teens and their own differing connections to their Chinatown community and cultural heritage. But the exploration into their community and the amazing people within it (like Aunty Lin and her endearing over-competitiveness when playing mahjong) really brought home just how important it can be in finding support and a place to belong. 

Overall, a fun yet moving read that would definitely be perfect for starting conversations around activism with younger (teen) readers—and showing that enacting change at a local level is possible, despite how challenging can seem.

Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA for the proof. 
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pagebypaigebks's review against another edition

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3.0

“The FBI has nothing on the auntie network.”

I was sent an ARC copy of this book by HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.

I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.

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Content Warnings: bullying, racism, classism, grief, death

I had high hopes for this book. I'm a big fan of the rivals to lovers trope so I was intrigued about how the romance between Clementine and Danny would pan out. It was sweet in the beginning but without getting into spoilers, there were some events that I wasn't a big fan of and had a hard time looking past. I also found that this book focused primarily on Danny as opposed to Clementine. I would have enjoyed learning more about her and her family and seeing her grow as a character. Speaking of the characters, I liked the feeling of community that was created, especially with the various shop owners in Chinatown. The discussion around gentrification and culture grabbed my attention and I was invested in reading more.
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bookcaptivated's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

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