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shelbitedeschi's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
cyndi1966's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
bookishmillennial's review
Tonight, as our families talk about Judaism, I’m struck with curiosity.
“You met in Israel, right?” I say to Sophie’s parents.
They exchange grins. “We did. On Birthright.” Sophie’s dad dabs at his mouth with a napkin.
“Has Sophie never told you the story?”
I shake my head, and Sophie and Tabby roll their eyes.
“Believe it or not, Peter and I don’t usually discuss your love life,” Sophie says.
Sophie’s mom gently swats her arm from across the table. “He went with a group of friends from his synagogue, and I went with a group from Hillel. He was so shy!”
“And you were scarily outgoing,” Phil puts in, and then lets Becki continue the story.
“We sort of flirted on and off the entire trip—as much as I could get from him, at least—but it wasn’t until the last night, when we got separated from the group and spent hours wandering through Tel Aviv together, that we really connected. We stayed out all night.”
“Oy vey,” Tabby jokes. “Scandalous.” It’s Becki’s turn to roll her eyes . . . but she also doesn’t deny Tabby’s insinuation, which makes Sophie gasp and cover her ears. “That trip . . . It was incredible,” Becki says.
“Aside from meeting Sophie’s dad, it made me proud to be Jewish.”
That tugs at something inside me. Sophie doesn’t seem to care, and Tabby and Josh are preoccupied with Luna. But I wonder what it’s like to feel that. That sense of pride.
Rep: dyslexic cis fem main character, bi cis male love interest, Jewish main characters
Look, I already struggled with the premise of “we are best friends so let’s promise to lose our virginity to each other before high school graduation,” because the concept of “virginity” feels icky to me (like, really, I need you to interrogate what you believe about “virginity”)
However, I don’t know if the birthright trip or Israel will be challenged later on in the book, but with this passage, I just don’t know if I want to keep reading to find out. I love RLS’s other books, but I’m going to pass on this for now.
tinagardner's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I was not super impressed by this book. I knew going in it was YA, but it seemed to take too long to get to the point of the book that was easy to know the ending. I would not recommend this to a friend.
saraanneb3's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so I did know this book was YA, but a lot of YA is marketed that way, but is actually for fully grown adults, so the premise intrigued me, and that’s why I bought it.
This is not a YA book secretly for older adults. This book is for teenagers. And so, in that vein, I give it 3 stars—I think I would have really liked this as a teenager, but it’s not really for me now. For me, now, the writing is simplistic and awkward and made it really hard to get into. Also, it is SO clear that the author knows next to nothing about music—SUCH a mistake to make a character a musician, then!
And yet, the book grew on me. It’s not for me, now, but it warmed my heart with nostalgia, remembering having friendships and relationships that intense, feelings that I thought were the deepest depth and would never end, and she captured that life situation well.
Also, the blurb about the book on most places makes SUCH a big deal out of the love aspect and sex and Sophie. What this book is really about is what happens in an insular relationship where one of the parties is sick and dependent, when the sick person gets well?
Anyhow, three, because good enough for 14 year old me, but not 34 year old me.
This is not a YA book secretly for older adults. This book is for teenagers. And so, in that vein, I give it 3 stars—I think I would have really liked this as a teenager, but it’s not really for me now. For me, now, the writing is simplistic and awkward and made it really hard to get into. Also, it is SO clear that the author knows next to nothing about music—SUCH a mistake to make a character a musician, then!
And yet, the book grew on me. It’s not for me, now, but it warmed my heart with nostalgia, remembering having friendships and relationships that intense, feelings that I thought were the deepest depth and would never end, and she captured that life situation well.
Also, the blurb about the book on most places makes SUCH a big deal out of the love aspect and sex and Sophie. What this book is really about is what happens in an insular relationship where one of the parties is sick and dependent, when the sick person gets well?
Anyhow, three, because good enough for 14 year old me, but not 34 year old me.
nklosty's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! Talk about an awkward or difficult situation. The generosity of individuals amaze me. The wonders of those people. The story hooked me and had me both liking and hating the characters. The relationships carry this book.
ktedder91's review against another edition
3.0
This book started off really sweet and I thought I was in line for a good cry. Instead it left me feeling very frustrated. When I realized that nobody was dying I wanted a happy ending for the two main characters that never came.
ennitsud's review against another edition
5.0
i really admire the way rachel lynn solomon crafts a story about growth. with friendships, siblings, parents, and love. growing apart and bonding together and then interweaving religion—it’s all so well meshed.
reading about sophie and peter was utterly bittersweet. it reminded me a bit of my high school crush. the pain of seeing them with someone else, of being happy. but there was more to it. the bits of envy seeing people together and wanting so much to be a part of that group, trying to find your place in a group somewhere separate from what’s been familiar. seeing old friends go closer to others and feeling like they’re leaving you behind. getting close to someone new, someone you didn’t think you’d have much in common with. and realizing that sometimes we remember things as if we edited the parts that justify how we feel.
it was so so soft and even in college i still feel that way sometimes. the way rachel lynn solomon captures it makes me have hope—even though i’d be doing things four years later and with other people, but it makes me have hope.
i do have one question: sophie never did go to her monday appointment. was she okay?
reading about sophie and peter was utterly bittersweet. it reminded me a bit of my high school crush. the pain of seeing them with someone else, of being happy. but there was more to it. the bits of envy seeing people together and wanting so much to be a part of that group, trying to find your place in a group somewhere separate from what’s been familiar. seeing old friends go closer to others and feeling like they’re leaving you behind. getting close to someone new, someone you didn’t think you’d have much in common with. and realizing that sometimes we remember things as if we edited the parts that justify how we feel.
it was so so soft and even in college i still feel that way sometimes. the way rachel lynn solomon captures it makes me have hope—even though i’d be doing things four years later and with other people, but it makes me have hope.
i do have one question: sophie never did go to her monday appointment. was she okay?
bookishcat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mckinlay's review against another edition
5.0
Listen, this book perfectly captured unrequited love for me. How it can be all encompassing, and also incredibly toxic. Wow, just wow. This book hit me hard!
*also Peter is bi. Sophie is dyslexic.
*also Peter is bi. Sophie is dyslexic.