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cathead411's review
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
dancingdynamos's review
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
biancareadsbook's review
4.0
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Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review
A Feeling Like Home by Haleigh Wenger is such a fluffy and simple contemporary romance with deep moments. It was a quick read that definitely made me smile but made me think hard too. This book would be perfect for getting out of a reading slump
Paige is sent to live with her sister when she's caught vandalizing a building at home. Her parents tell her that she needs to change and become better otherwise they'll send her to boarding school. it doesn't help that her dad is dying and she's apparently making his illness worse. But Paige starts to improve especially with the help of her friends and her sister's neighbor, Joey.
Overall, Paige was an interesting character with a good amount of growth. The romance was written well and the plot was simple but captivating. I love the emphasis put on the importance of family. I wish it was explained why Paige started tagging even if you can assume it. I did find Paige a little selfish and frustrating but it got better as the story progressed. Joey on the other hand is so sweet and an easy character to like.
courtsbooknook's review
4.0
Thanks to Sword and Silk for an E-ARC in exchange for a review.
4.5*
Okay first of all, I love this cover so much. The purple is beautiful and I just thought it was so sweet. I absolutely loved this book. It was so heartfelt and real and such an amazing coming of age story for summer. The tone of it felt reminiscent of Sarah Dessen or Jenny Han books and they're two of my favorite YA contemporary authors, so I feel like this story was in the same wheelhouse. I think Paige had such great character development and I really loved seeing her deal with her struggles from the beginning to how the story ended as well as watching her be so admired by her nephews. I think Wenger did a great job in talking about chronic illness and addressing how each of the characters was affected differently. I also loved the nod to community service and repairing communities. I spent a summer in New Orleans cleaning and working on houses that needed to be built and repaired and had no clue what I was doing, but met incredible people while truly making an impact. I also got incredibly emotional and didn't expect to be hit so hard, but the themes in the story were so raw and valid which definitely brought out the tears. I'm so glad this was the first book I read this month and it was absolutely fantastic.
4.5*
Okay first of all, I love this cover so much. The purple is beautiful and I just thought it was so sweet. I absolutely loved this book. It was so heartfelt and real and such an amazing coming of age story for summer. The tone of it felt reminiscent of Sarah Dessen or Jenny Han books and they're two of my favorite YA contemporary authors, so I feel like this story was in the same wheelhouse. I think Paige had such great character development and I really loved seeing her deal with her struggles from the beginning to how the story ended as well as watching her be so admired by her nephews. I think Wenger did a great job in talking about chronic illness and addressing how each of the characters was affected differently. I also loved the nod to community service and repairing communities. I spent a summer in New Orleans cleaning and working on houses that needed to be built and repaired and had no clue what I was doing, but met incredible people while truly making an impact. I also got incredibly emotional and didn't expect to be hit so hard, but the themes in the story were so raw and valid which definitely brought out the tears. I'm so glad this was the first book I read this month and it was absolutely fantastic.
goodeyreads's review
3.0
Thank you to the author for an eARC.
MIXED THOUGHTS.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
There’s some good and some bad here. Trying to wrangle my thoughts for this one.
Something I could understand were the emotions coming from 16 year-old Paige. She’s going through a lot and I recognize the thoughts and feelings she would be going through during a hard time in her life.
Now an item I really didn’t love. Paige. While I mentioned above, some stuff was fine, the rest definitely was not. One major issue, cheating. I don’t like it. Ever. I can’t get on board with any reasoning as to “why it’s okay.” It’s not. She dragged on a love triangle that was ridiculous and rubbed me the wrong way multiple times.
This book covered a lot of difficult subject matter (See trigger warnings). It was painful to watch the story unfold searching for hope. I liked the way Wenger brought that out in the end and gave Paige (and her family) a chance to reconnect and find some measure of peace.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loved one with a chronic disease, loss of a parent, being diagnosed with a chronic condition, vandalism, cheating
MIXED THOUGHTS.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
There’s some good and some bad here. Trying to wrangle my thoughts for this one.
Something I could understand were the emotions coming from 16 year-old Paige. She’s going through a lot and I recognize the thoughts and feelings she would be going through during a hard time in her life.
Now an item I really didn’t love. Paige. While I mentioned above, some stuff was fine, the rest definitely was not. One major issue, cheating. I don’t like it. Ever. I can’t get on board with any reasoning as to “why it’s okay.” It’s not. She dragged on a love triangle that was ridiculous and rubbed me the wrong way multiple times.
This book covered a lot of difficult subject matter (See trigger warnings). It was painful to watch the story unfold searching for hope. I liked the way Wenger brought that out in the end and gave Paige (and her family) a chance to reconnect and find some measure of peace.
Overall audience notes:
- YA Contemporary romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loved one with a chronic disease, loss of a parent, being diagnosed with a chronic condition, vandalism, cheating
ashleycd45's review
3.0
I want to fist say thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me the eARC. The book is short, you can finish it in one sitting. But I have mix feeling about his book Paige was going through a lot of things at such young age. I really couldn’t relate to her, And all the things that where happening. This book covers a lot of difficult subjects, and also has some trigger warnings so please check that out before reading this book. Even though I couldn’t relate and connect with the characters it was a good book that I would read again without a doubt.
readwithchloev's review
3.0
2.5 stars - thank you to NetGalley and the author for this eARC. I don’t think I’m in the right headspace to read the rest of this book - I’d like to try and pick it up another time. I pride myself in being honest and haven’t been enjoying the story.
There were a couple of grammatical errors at the start of the book which put me off. I didn’t connect with the main character nor understand the direction the story was going in.
I loved that this was an own voices story though and I really think a lot of people will be able to relate - especially to the anxiety and worry surrounding an illness like this.
I really would love to give this story another go and am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
There were a couple of grammatical errors at the start of the book which put me off. I didn’t connect with the main character nor understand the direction the story was going in.
I loved that this was an own voices story though and I really think a lot of people will be able to relate - especially to the anxiety and worry surrounding an illness like this.
I really would love to give this story another go and am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
sanktasarah's review
3.0
3/5
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Feeling Like Home by Haleigh Wenger is a quick read that's good for getting out of a reading slump. When sixteen-year-old Paige Wiliams keeps vandalizing people's property her parents send her away in fear of how much extra stress she's giving her father who has Crohn's disease. Now living in Texas with her older sister she's determined to convince her parents that she's changed and that she should come back home after the summers over rather than go to the boarding school that her mom keeps looming over her head. Paige befriends a boy her age in the neighborhood whos the complete opposite of herself. Joey is straightlaced and shy while Paige is rebellious and bold. When the two's paths keep intertwining things start getting complicated and Paige starts questioning if she'd rather go back to Washington or stay in Texas.
I liked this book but it didn't wow me. Personally, I disliked the main character Paige and found her selfish and frustrating. I don't want to spoil for anyone but there are just certain actions Paige does throughout the book and it made me start to dislike her character. Joey was a fun and sweet character and I really liked him though I wish we got to see more of the odd dynamic he and his parents had. Overall this story was simple and sweet with a few emotional bits and I did shed a tear or two during it. I would definitely recommend this story for people who're looking for a fun and sweet summer romance to read. Once again thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Feeling Like Home by Haleigh Wenger is a quick read that's good for getting out of a reading slump. When sixteen-year-old Paige Wiliams keeps vandalizing people's property her parents send her away in fear of how much extra stress she's giving her father who has Crohn's disease. Now living in Texas with her older sister she's determined to convince her parents that she's changed and that she should come back home after the summers over rather than go to the boarding school that her mom keeps looming over her head. Paige befriends a boy her age in the neighborhood whos the complete opposite of herself. Joey is straightlaced and shy while Paige is rebellious and bold. When the two's paths keep intertwining things start getting complicated and Paige starts questioning if she'd rather go back to Washington or stay in Texas.
I liked this book but it didn't wow me. Personally, I disliked the main character Paige and found her selfish and frustrating. I don't want to spoil for anyone but there are just certain actions Paige does throughout the book and it made me start to dislike her character. Joey was a fun and sweet character and I really liked him though I wish we got to see more of the odd dynamic he and his parents had. Overall this story was simple and sweet with a few emotional bits and I did shed a tear or two during it. I would definitely recommend this story for people who're looking for a fun and sweet summer romance to read. Once again thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ARC.
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