Reviews

The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand

izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition

1.0

I had gotten to page 72. I have other books i want to read at the moment also, for me the book was kind of boring from what i read. Wish i could read more of it, I’m just not getting really into it right now

brittster622's review against another edition

4.0

I am not a big fan of contemporary YA. Only because I love fantasy and need more than real life. However, I am growing to love Cynthia Hand so I at least consider everything she writes now, and this one just hit me (for understandable personal reasons, though nothing like what happens in the book). I knew I had to read it even though it’s really not my cup of tea. That being said...

I really enjoyed it. I knew it would make me cry and did, but not bad as I thought. The premise was just so intriguing to me and Hand did a great job with it. I felt like the feeling of both the birth mother and the adopted MC were very believable and real. The supporting characters were also pretty great and worked well with the story.

But y’all... the ending. It was cruel, but kind of perfect. So I guess that’s ok.

guitourinho's review against another edition

4.0

Amei esse livro, mas teve uma parte que me incomodou muito: O momento do anuncio das vencedoras do concurso anual. Totalmente corrido, senti que não trabalhou bem o que tendia a ser um momento emocionante.

PS: Era obvio que o Bastian era Gay. Clichês que adoramos.

danne789's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed reading this book. Some of it I saw coming, but I was still happy when I got there. I cried a lot, the emotions were all over the place. The pace of the story was good, and I really like how it ended. I could tell there was going to be something, that just wasn't what I expected. It was a happy surprise though!

papertraildiary's review against another edition

4.0

This was a lovely book about adoption and finding yourself. I found the writing easy to read, and I liked the main character. While I wasn't totally on board with the letters from her birth mom being throughout and then Cass not finding them until much later (so the reader knows more than her), I did like getting to know S. This book probably couldve been a lot shorter, but that didn't really bother me. The ending bothered me but I won't spoil anything!

taylorlechat's review against another edition

5.0

I very surprisingly loved this book and finished most of it in one sitting. The only thing about it I didn’t love was all the theater stuff, but for the most part it was necessary to the story as it showed multiple aspects of life. I absolutely loved the ending and the unique premise of the entire book.

mmotleyu's review against another edition

4.0

Another adoption story which reminded me of the excellent Far From the Tree, but was equally good in its own right. I loved how the author used letters that the birth mom wrote to her unborn child to develop the mom's character and give us her back story. The main characters were self-described theater nerds who were both adopted, with vastly different stories. The characters are well- developed and relatable. I really liked this book and will be recommending it to my students and to my book club friends.

claudiu_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

selarue617's review against another edition

4.0

Good but too perfect.

idkbre's review

emotional lighthearted 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? No

5.0