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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Featuring three main black queer women that aren't archetypes but fully fleshed out characters "Rise to the Sun" is one of the best books I have read this year. The characters are all memorable and relatable. Olivia just wants to be loved and searches for love wherever she gets it. She does everything to be anything but who she is, and instead makes herself into what she thinks they want. Toni is reeling from a personal tragedy and brands herself the ice queen. She is hoping to find answers at farmland, while Olivia is looking for escape. When the two meet they ignite something within each other. Along for the ride are both their best friends Imani - a smart, sarcastic, and type A type and Peter - a perpetually happy, lanky, talkative kid who shares facts about dead presidents. What I love about this book is how honest the portrayal of self-loathing, and how trauma affects your perceptions of yourself. Not only that but what the meaning of love (in all its forms) is.
Pros: multiply queer POC characters, positive female representation, great supporting characters, fantastic story and well written.
cons: none
Pros: multiply queer POC characters, positive female representation, great supporting characters, fantastic story and well written.
cons: none
It took me a long time to get invested in the story because I, quite honestly, did not like the main character (Olivia) one bit and was frustrated by how she treated her best friend. However, towards the end, everything about the book made sense and it all wrapped up very nicely. The book is about messy teenagers who make messy mistakes but still have a good heart and eventually learn to see the error of their ways. I even appreciated and found myself rooting for Olivia towards the end. I’m glad I stuck with it and I cannot wait to see what Leah Johnson writes next!
It was nothing special however, very cute and loved the ending 💕
2.5 stars rounded up.
Oof. That's my reaction to this book. Just oof.
After the extremely strong You Should See Me in a Crown (which I consider one of the best books I read in 2021), I was really looking forward to Rise to the Sun. But, unfortunately, it let me down on a number of fronts. I keep trying to figure out where this book went wrong, but I think it all comes down to "the book is uneven." Let me explain.
First, this book features dual narrators, Toni and Olivia. Toni is recovering after her father was shot and killed; Olivia is trying to turn over a new leaf after a revenge photo fiasco occurs. This is all fine, but the book takes place over what, three days? They are somehow supposed to meet, fall in love, and overcome their issues in that time. One of them does, but the other definitely, 100% does not - which we see in the last ten pages of the freaking book when the writer pulls the miscommunication trope again. Ten pages to the end is WAY too late for a massive miscommunication! Seriously. Omg.
Moreover, the time period covered by the book doesn't show the fallout of what happened for this specific character. We don't reach that point of catharsis where not only is she validated, but she manages to understand herself better. It just... doesn't happen. The author tries, but is ultimately unsuccessful on this front.
There was some not-exactly gun violence that occurred halfway through this book which really, really didn't need to be there. Either go big or go home, honestly. Also, this book tells waaaay more than it ever shows. Like, I get it, YA fiction is all about the ~feelings~ or whatever, but focusing so much on the characters' interiority gets tiring before long.
Finally, I absolutely despise a good number of the characters in this book. Like, I'm sorry, but Olivia, Toni (for about 50% of the book), Peter, and the thoroughly unpleasant Imani are all just annoying, make stupid choices that real people would never make, and never really get better. Well, let me clarify: Toni is pretty great by the end of the book, but the others are just... ugh. Both Toni and Olivia need therapy. A lot of it. Especially Olivia.
I dunno. This book has some good points - Toni is a pretty good character; it's POC f/f romance so that's great; and the location at a music festival is solid. But besides that... nah. I'll read more by this author based on the strength of her previous book, but I reaaally hope that she gets a better editor because Rise to the Sun needed someone to sit the author down and tell her to rewrite 50% of the book.
Oof. That's my reaction to this book. Just oof.
After the extremely strong You Should See Me in a Crown (which I consider one of the best books I read in 2021), I was really looking forward to Rise to the Sun. But, unfortunately, it let me down on a number of fronts. I keep trying to figure out where this book went wrong, but I think it all comes down to "the book is uneven." Let me explain.
First, this book features dual narrators, Toni and Olivia. Toni is recovering after her father was shot and killed; Olivia is trying to turn over a new leaf after a revenge photo fiasco occurs. This is all fine, but the book takes place over what, three days? They are somehow supposed to meet, fall in love, and overcome their issues in that time. One of them does, but the other definitely, 100% does not - which we see in the last ten pages of the freaking book when the writer pulls the miscommunication trope again. Ten pages to the end is WAY too late for a massive miscommunication! Seriously. Omg.
Moreover, the time period covered by the book doesn't show the fallout of what happened for this specific character. We don't reach that point of catharsis where not only is she validated, but she manages to understand herself better. It just... doesn't happen. The author tries, but is ultimately unsuccessful on this front.
There was some not-exactly gun violence that occurred halfway through this book which really, really didn't need to be there. Either go big or go home, honestly. Also, this book tells waaaay more than it ever shows. Like, I get it, YA fiction is all about the ~feelings~ or whatever, but focusing so much on the characters' interiority gets tiring before long.
Finally, I absolutely despise a good number of the characters in this book. Like, I'm sorry, but Olivia, Toni (for about 50% of the book), Peter, and the thoroughly unpleasant Imani are all just annoying, make stupid choices that real people would never make, and never really get better. Well, let me clarify: Toni is pretty great by the end of the book, but the others are just... ugh. Both Toni and Olivia need therapy. A lot of it. Especially Olivia.
I dunno. This book has some good points - Toni is a pretty good character; it's POC f/f romance so that's great; and the location at a music festival is solid. But besides that... nah. I'll read more by this author based on the strength of her previous book, but I reaaally hope that she gets a better editor because Rise to the Sun needed someone to sit the author down and tell her to rewrite 50% of the book.
I am living for the LJLU (Leah Johnson literary universe)!
“We are the breath that gives purpose to your lungs. This movement, my body’s greatest gift.”
Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson is a beautiful and fun book about two girls’ lives intertwining at a music festival. This is a sapphic summer romance with two girls of color that illustrates itself as a love letter to music, especially the culture surrounding it. I loved You Should See Me in a Crown, so I was excited for Johnson’s sophomore novel! This story is told through two POV’s and is centered around Toni and Olivia finding freedom, love, and revitalizing friendship.
The plot and pacing of the book was really good, and I never felt like there was a dull moment. There was always something regarding our characters or the story that kept me going, which was really refreshing. I didn’t find myself loving Olivia and Toni as much as I did Liz or Mack, however I enjoyed them both and found their stories compelling. Olivia especially, her ability to love so much is something I can find relatable. I loved the lil cameo we got in this, I thought it was so cool!
Johnson knocks it out of the park with character development, and I found myself wanting even more with these two by the end! She is also not afraid to tackle harsh subjects either, and I appreciate the warning in the beginning of the book!
I give Rise to the Sun 4 stars!
“We are the breath that gives purpose to your lungs. This movement, my body’s greatest gift.”
Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson is a beautiful and fun book about two girls’ lives intertwining at a music festival. This is a sapphic summer romance with two girls of color that illustrates itself as a love letter to music, especially the culture surrounding it. I loved You Should See Me in a Crown, so I was excited for Johnson’s sophomore novel! This story is told through two POV’s and is centered around Toni and Olivia finding freedom, love, and revitalizing friendship.
The plot and pacing of the book was really good, and I never felt like there was a dull moment. There was always something regarding our characters or the story that kept me going, which was really refreshing. I didn’t find myself loving Olivia and Toni as much as I did Liz or Mack, however I enjoyed them both and found their stories compelling. Olivia especially, her ability to love so much is something I can find relatable. I loved the lil cameo we got in this, I thought it was so cool!
Johnson knocks it out of the park with character development, and I found myself wanting even more with these two by the end! She is also not afraid to tackle harsh subjects either, and I appreciate the warning in the beginning of the book!
I give Rise to the Sun 4 stars!
was this book very insta-love-y, one of my least favorite tropes ever? yes. but did i wholeheartedly enjoy it? also yes.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Love is messy and awkward and ugly, but at least it's honest."
Rise to the sun by Leah Johnson is Queer YA novel that takes place in 3 days and at a music festival. Told in two different points of view, Olivia and Toni. Olivia just wants to be loved and searches for love wherever she gets it. She does everything to be anything but who she is, and instead makes herself into what she thinks they want. Toni is reeling from a personal tragedy and brands herself the ice queen. She is hoping to find answers at farmland, while Olivia is looking for escape. When the two meet they ignite something within each other. It highlights how trauma affects your perceptions of yourself and what the meaning of love is in all forms. It felt very human.
Rise to the sun by Leah Johnson is Queer YA novel that takes place in 3 days and at a music festival. Told in two different points of view, Olivia and Toni. Olivia just wants to be loved and searches for love wherever she gets it. She does everything to be anything but who she is, and instead makes herself into what she thinks they want. Toni is reeling from a personal tragedy and brands herself the ice queen. She is hoping to find answers at farmland, while Olivia is looking for escape. When the two meet they ignite something within each other. It highlights how trauma affects your perceptions of yourself and what the meaning of love is in all forms. It felt very human.