Reviews

Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson

simonizzys's review

5.0

Music lesbians !!

dennasus's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

This obviously wasn't for me. I had enjoyed Jackson's previous one, but to me this plot felt all over the place and tried too include too many current social issues. I also didn't like either main characters all that much

rainbowbookworm's review

4.0

Reader who read [b:You Should See Me in a Crown|50160619|You Should See Me in a Crown|Leah Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568912283l/50160619._SX50_SY75_.jpg|69288604] and expect a feel-good story, may be a bit disappointed. This book does not have the supportive, bring-a-smile-to-your-face climax that Johnson's previous novel has. Instead it offers us two flawed protagonists trying to lose themselves in a weekend of music with their respective best friends. Both Olivia and Toni are looking for closure, for healing; as they feel more and more drawn to the other, some of their wounds start to heal. This is not a fairy tale romance and life's complications get in the way of their new, tennis relationship.

jayraams's review

5.0

I hope to see this book as a movie one day. It is the perfect mix of coming of age and YA Rom-com. Olivia is falling for the beautiful new musician at the musical festival, will the two sets of friends be brought together by the music?

I like the beautiful queer reputation and POC reputation. I highly recommend this page-turner

I congratulate the author, this is my favourite book of 2022.

sydney_arcuri's review

4.0

I listened to this on a road trip, and I loved it so much. Only caveat i had was that I wished the plot slowed down a little. It seemed like everything was in constant movement that I never got to just feel along with the characters like it did in "You Should See Me in a Crown". Still a great read.

avatarstorm's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I honestly couldn’t really stand these characters. I know it’s YA, but it felt incredibly juvenile, and I had a hard time feeling any chemistry between the main characters. I’m giving points for queer representation, but the romance felt forced to me. 

I listened to the audiobook, and one of the narrators kept dropping the end of their sentences, which made it hard to understand what was going on sometimes. 

I like Leah Johnson and have read and loved You Should See Me In A Crown, but this one just didn’t do it for me. 

mschrock8's review

2.0

I saw this author speak on a Zoom event through JCPL.

I struggled to keep the characters straight in the book.

citrus_seasalt's review

2.5

Not in the mood to write a long or semi-eloquent review for this one. I enjoyed Leah Johnson’s debut and found it charming, can’t say the same about most of this one. Toni was easily the better of the two protagonists, and I don’t just mean this because of the “hey! I connect with her over having a dead dad who loved music!” deal. Olivia left her friend in the dust so many times that I was cheering Imani on when she called her out. (Olivia gets self-sabotaging towards the end, but somehow, that still feels selfish? And poor Imani should have gotten a better friend.) Many difficult topics are in this novel, but some are barely written about, not in a deft way but in a way that seems kind of careless..? 

The beginning started off cute and very fluffy, but the instalove drove me up the wall, and that last half was rough…also Peter felt like he was trying a little hard to have golden retriever energy.

stargazer0330's review

3.0

This is such a wonderful story about trying to find yourself, falling in love and just being able to cope with being a teenager. Taking place in one weekend at a music festival, Toni and Olivia are searching for ways to be true to themselves and find each other along the way.

drphillgucci's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5