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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
taylorward04's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! It’s heartwarming, beautiful, sad and wonderful!
nklosty's review against another edition
5.0
The pace and style of this book made it easy to read. The struggles of self that rage for Cass and S are meaningful. I love books where decisions aren't always easy or obvious. 96
jrei45's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn’t sure whether or not to give this book 3 or 4 stars, so count this as a 3.5. This was a cute book. While I sometimes had a hard time getting through the letters from Cass’ birth mom, I loved the idea of incorporating them into the story before finding out how they will find their way into Cass’ life. And that ending! So corny and unlikely, I will admit. And I found some bits predictable. But it made me smile, nonetheless. I do think Cass’ relationship with her parents was a bit too mushy and Danny-Tanner-giving-his-kids-a-life-lesson-with-emotional-music-playing-esque. But overall I thought this was a cute story and I enjoyed reading it.
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
The How and the Why is just another book that has been collecting dust on my TBR for years. YEARS PEOPLE. It has been a while since I've read a book by Cynthia, so I was really excited to jump into this one.
In this, you will meet Cassie. At times, it feels like she has the whole world on her shoulders. Maybe she does and maybe she doesn't. She does, however, have a lot on her plate at the moment. Whether it's about her mom's health, a possible new crush, a best friend fight, college dreams, or wanting to know more about her birth mother. It's safe to say that she is beyond stressed and needs some good news to come her way.
Now I really liked reading the letters from her birth mother. I also like how realistic everything felt because we got the good and the bad. The ugly was there and we saw consequences being dealt from certain actions. It was so hard to put this book down because I just wanted more.
If I could change one thing, it would be the crush element. For me, the romance didn't really do anything, and I wouldn't have been mad if it never existed. Definitely happy that I jumped into this when I did - it was so good!
In this, you will meet Cassie. At times, it feels like she has the whole world on her shoulders. Maybe she does and maybe she doesn't. She does, however, have a lot on her plate at the moment. Whether it's about her mom's health, a possible new crush, a best friend fight, college dreams, or wanting to know more about her birth mother. It's safe to say that she is beyond stressed and needs some good news to come her way.
Now I really liked reading the letters from her birth mother. I also like how realistic everything felt because we got the good and the bad. The ugly was there and we saw consequences being dealt from certain actions. It was so hard to put this book down because I just wanted more.
If I could change one thing, it would be the crush element. For me, the romance didn't really do anything, and I wouldn't have been mad if it never existed. Definitely happy that I jumped into this when I did - it was so good!
chloereadsbooksyt's review against another edition
4.0
I loved how this was written - the mesh of the letters and our main characters perspective was fantastic.
I LOVED the ending.
Some little niggly elements throughout the book means I couldn’t give this 5 stars, and I’m conflicted about holding onto it..
I LOVED the ending.
Some little niggly elements throughout the book means I couldn’t give this 5 stars, and I’m conflicted about holding onto it..
owlyreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
This was definitely an emotional read, with so much of it being placed at the heart of the story, the life of an adoptive child, of living in the knowing that something is never going to be right, of growing from it and being more than a situation there was no definite choice in. I didn't realize how much I would come to appreciate this novel and what it represents. Yes, there were those parts that didn't always pull at my heartstrings, but if anything it was only for a minor fraction of this book.
"Yeah." That's exactly it. Now, no matter how I try to look at it, it's like I have a hidden family out there, not only a biological mother and the necessary biological father, but aunts and uncles and grandparents and great-grandparents who each have lives and histories of their own. Sunddenly, they're all real."
And, this isn't only just the story about Cass and her life, but that of her biological mother. Whom, even though was giving her up and said she didn't care to make a connection, wrote letters that went past just the one she never truly intended to write and distribute. It's that hurt and pain that comes through even more, the knowledge that at sixteen and her years after were not enough to forget a child she said meant nothing to her.
"To me, you're still sort of intangible. I know you're in there, but you're not obvious yet. You're tight pants. You're heartburn. You're the space alien slowly taking over my body. You're X. I can't imagine you as an actual baby, let alone an eighteen-year-old person reading this letter. I'm not even eighteen yet myself."
With that, and so much more in this book, those emotional filled moments kept getting packed in and growing as the novel got to its end. There is always more to a person, what they become as they grow and mature, where that leaves others in their lives, and the hard decisions that are made when everything is presented in front of them. But, really those last chapters had me in tears the most, and even though it seemed like it might not have been the easiest one, it really brought it all full circle.
***I received this copy from HarperTeen, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
"Yeah." That's exactly it. Now, no matter how I try to look at it, it's like I have a hidden family out there, not only a biological mother and the necessary biological father, but aunts and uncles and grandparents and great-grandparents who each have lives and histories of their own. Sunddenly, they're all real."
And, this isn't only just the story about Cass and her life, but that of her biological mother. Whom, even though was giving her up and said she didn't care to make a connection, wrote letters that went past just the one she never truly intended to write and distribute. It's that hurt and pain that comes through even more, the knowledge that at sixteen and her years after were not enough to forget a child she said meant nothing to her.
"To me, you're still sort of intangible. I know you're in there, but you're not obvious yet. You're tight pants. You're heartburn. You're the space alien slowly taking over my body. You're X. I can't imagine you as an actual baby, let alone an eighteen-year-old person reading this letter. I'm not even eighteen yet myself."
With that, and so much more in this book, those emotional filled moments kept getting packed in and growing as the novel got to its end. There is always more to a person, what they become as they grow and mature, where that leaves others in their lives, and the hard decisions that are made when everything is presented in front of them. But, really those last chapters had me in tears the most, and even though it seemed like it might not have been the easiest one, it really brought it all full circle.
***I received this copy from HarperTeen, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
docdubbs's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in 2 nights. That might say it all, but this was truly a pleasure. A rollercoaster of emotions, especially as a mother. I read this for our schools summer reading book club and I’m so glad I did. Highly recommend!
chandlerainsley's review against another edition
4.0
poignant & realistic YA contemporary. here for it
there's not much to say about the plot that isn't described in the blurb. this story is about cassie who is a senior in high school and going thru a lot: her mom needs a heart transplant, she has a crush on the new guy, she's fighting with her bestie, she's trying to get a scholarship to her dream college and she wants to learn more about her birth mother.
this story is told in dual POVs. cassie's and her birth mom's letters to her that she writes when she is pregnant.
this is not a loud story. this is not another far from the tree by robin benway. it's quieter and frankly more realistic. i think this story will help A LOT of teens. and i like that there aren't a lot of cheap twists used. there are realistic coincidences and there are shitty things that happen and there are also a lot of really beautiful moments too.
the only major complaint that i had was that the "twist" re: the love interest was kind of cliche/expected. and i wish that the love interest's past had been explored more. we get background on cassie's bff but not the love interest and i would have appreciated it/it would have added that extra touch of depth to the story.
overall, loved this.
there's not much to say about the plot that isn't described in the blurb. this story is about cassie who is a senior in high school and going thru a lot: her mom needs a heart transplant, she has a crush on the new guy, she's fighting with her bestie, she's trying to get a scholarship to her dream college and she wants to learn more about her birth mother.
this story is told in dual POVs. cassie's and her birth mom's letters to her that she writes when she is pregnant.
this is not a loud story. this is not another far from the tree by robin benway. it's quieter and frankly more realistic. i think this story will help A LOT of teens. and i like that there aren't a lot of cheap twists used. there are realistic coincidences and there are shitty things that happen and there are also a lot of really beautiful moments too.
the only major complaint that i had was that the "twist" re: the love interest was kind of cliche/expected. and i wish that the love interest's past had been explored more. we get background on cassie's bff but not the love interest and i would have appreciated it/it would have added that extra touch of depth to the story.
overall, loved this.