Scan barcode
cntrygrl_reads's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Sexual assault
albon's review against another edition
5.0
(Review from 2013)
This book contains mature content and a lot of triggering subjects. I'll list some of the triggers here under a spoiler warning, so if you don't think you'll be affected, don't click, because spoilers, but if you're usually triggered/affected by heavy subjects, I advise that you take a look so you know what you're getting yourself into. And these are for the books, obviously, not the review. [Trigger warnings: suicide, rape, drowning, talk of self harm and a lot of self hate. Yeah. (hide spoiler)]
Holy fucking shit. Sorry for the language, but there is truly no other way to put it. (This was in my original "reaction review", but I decided to keep the sentence, because it still describes how I feel about this book.) It's now been almost 14 hours since I finished the book, and I still find myself thinking about it and feeling dizzy, out of breath and sick. That's how much this book impacted me.
This is the story of Mathéo Walsh, an amazing diver that has set his eyes on the olympics next year, and what happens to him a night in Brighton after a championship. He wakes up the day after with no recollection of the night before, but as he slowly start recalling the details, he uncovers a horrific dreadful. This is about how he copes when everything is coming apart, and how everyone around him, the ones he care for the the most, find out and how they react.
The writing style was amazing, just like in Tabitha Suzuma's other book, Forbidden. It is a very reflective style, and a lot happens inside Mathéos head, because this is as I sad about him coming to terms with and dealing with what happened. There is a great sadness in the writing, and it's definitely very haunting. At some points it gave me chills. I wasn't planning on finishing this book yesterday, but I just couldn't stop when I started, which I usually can. Hat off to Suzuma for that, and for the way she let us into Mathéo's head.
The characters were also great. My favorite was Mathéo, him being the main character and everything. Through the book we just got more and more sympathy for him, and I was rooting so hard for him. I also liked Lola, Hugo, and Isabel, [and one of the things that upset me the most about the ending, was that Mathéo didn't stay in touch with them. Everytime a book ends with a character saying that they haven't heard from other characters in years, it always leaves me so sad, because they went through so much crap together and then just drifted apart. Obviously, in my head, they meet up again next year, become best friends again. And then Mathéo decides to pick up diving again, just for fun, but soon realizes that he doesn't want to do it "just for fun" and rejoins his team and starts doing competitions and wins an Olympic Gold Medal. Yeah. That's how his story ends. Don't argue with me. (hide spoiler)]. Hurt was very character-driven, and I enjoy that, and I think the characters, well, drove the story well. (Oh, and little Loïc was a charmer.)
As I mentioned, there are some heavy themes in this book, and I applaude Tabitha Suzuma for writing this. I can't say anything about how well she did it and how "accurately" she describes the feelings that come along with this situation, because I haven't been through anything like it and I don't think I know anyone who has, but it was nevertheless very brave and I personally think it was well done.
I did not see the ending coming at all, and it left me speechless. I'm not gonna say anything else, because I don't want to spoil anyone, but I couldn't breath. It devestated me.
And that's the story about how another book by Tabitha Suzuma left me speechless and crying.
This book contains mature content and a lot of triggering subjects. I'll list some of the triggers here under a spoiler warning, so if you don't think you'll be affected, don't click, because spoilers, but if you're usually triggered/affected by heavy subjects, I advise that you take a look so you know what you're getting yourself into. And these are for the books, obviously, not the review. [Trigger warnings: suicide, rape, drowning, talk of self harm and a lot of self hate. Yeah. (hide spoiler)]
Holy fucking shit. Sorry for the language, but there is truly no other way to put it. (This was in my original "reaction review", but I decided to keep the sentence, because it still describes how I feel about this book.) It's now been almost 14 hours since I finished the book, and I still find myself thinking about it and feeling dizzy, out of breath and sick. That's how much this book impacted me.
This is the story of Mathéo Walsh, an amazing diver that has set his eyes on the olympics next year, and what happens to him a night in Brighton after a championship. He wakes up the day after with no recollection of the night before, but as he slowly start recalling the details, he uncovers a horrific dreadful. This is about how he copes when everything is coming apart, and how everyone around him, the ones he care for the the most, find out and how they react.
The writing style was amazing, just like in Tabitha Suzuma's other book, Forbidden. It is a very reflective style, and a lot happens inside Mathéos head, because this is as I sad about him coming to terms with and dealing with what happened. There is a great sadness in the writing, and it's definitely very haunting. At some points it gave me chills. I wasn't planning on finishing this book yesterday, but I just couldn't stop when I started, which I usually can. Hat off to Suzuma for that, and for the way she let us into Mathéo's head.
The characters were also great. My favorite was Mathéo, him being the main character and everything. Through the book we just got more and more sympathy for him, and I was rooting so hard for him. I also liked Lola, Hugo, and Isabel, [and one of the things that upset me the most about the ending, was that Mathéo didn't stay in touch with them. Everytime a book ends with a character saying that they haven't heard from other characters in years, it always leaves me so sad, because they went through so much crap together and then just drifted apart. Obviously, in my head, they meet up again next year, become best friends again. And then Mathéo decides to pick up diving again, just for fun, but soon realizes that he doesn't want to do it "just for fun" and rejoins his team and starts doing competitions and wins an Olympic Gold Medal. Yeah. That's how his story ends. Don't argue with me. (hide spoiler)]. Hurt was very character-driven, and I enjoy that, and I think the characters, well, drove the story well. (Oh, and little Loïc was a charmer.)
As I mentioned, there are some heavy themes in this book, and I applaude Tabitha Suzuma for writing this. I can't say anything about how well she did it and how "accurately" she describes the feelings that come along with this situation, because I haven't been through anything like it and I don't think I know anyone who has, but it was nevertheless very brave and I personally think it was well done.
I did not see the ending coming at all, and it left me speechless. I'm not gonna say anything else, because I don't want to spoil anyone, but I couldn't breath. It devestated me.
And that's the story about how another book by Tabitha Suzuma left me speechless and crying.
READING PROGRESS
October 10, 2013 – Started Reading
October 10, 2013 – Shelved
October 12, 2013 –
page 72 17.31% "Other than a slightly awkward sex scene (and it wasn't even the actual scene, it was just that I would rather have the characters talk to each other in that moment), this book is A+ so far."
page 72 17.31% "Other than a slightly awkward sex scene (and it wasn't even the actual scene, it was just that I would rather have the characters talk to each other in that moment), this book is A+ so far."
October 14, 2013 – 26.0% "The writing in this scene is really haunting"
October 19, 2013 – 33.0% "I should just be crowned queen of "I accidentally forgot to read for an entire week" already"
October 19, 2013 –
page 195 46.88% "I'm getting frustrated at Matheo and his absolute refusal to talk to anyone about what he's going through, but at the same time I really understand him, because he barely knows himself, and what he's feeling must be extemely difficult to put words to."
page 195 46.88% "I'm getting frustrated at Matheo and his absolute refusal to talk to anyone about what he's going through, but at the same time I really understand him, because he barely knows himself, and what he's feeling must be extemely difficult to put words to."
October 21, 2013 –
page 247 59.38% "Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no. I had a feeling this was the issue, but that doesn't make it any less horrible."
page 247 59.38% "Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no. I had a feeling this was the issue, but that doesn't make it any less horrible."
October 21, 2013 –
page 358 86.06% "Oh my god, I think I know what's coming. I think I'm about to throw up."
page 358 86.06% "Oh my god, I think I know what's coming. I think I'm about to throw up."
October 21, 2013 –
page 386 92.79% "This book was obviously never going to have a happy ending, but there are so few pages left that I fear we won't even get anything that even resembles closure..."
page 386 92.79% "This book was obviously never going to have a happy ending, but there are so few pages left that I fear we won't even get anything that even resembles closure..."
October 21, 2013 –
page 399 95.91% "No, no, no, absolutely not and no way. I can't believe this. (On the """bright""" side (lol AS IF THERE IS ONE, I thought I was reading the last chapter, but there is an epilogue as well!)"
page 399 95.91% "No, no, no, absolutely not and no way. I can't believe this. (On the """bright""" side (lol AS IF THERE IS ONE, I thought I was reading the last chapter, but there is an epilogue as well!)"
October 22, 2013 – Finished Reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Suicide
axlaluto's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Suicide
More...