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puddleshoes's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
dragongirl271's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“So much of pinball is about letting go - pulling the plunger and taking the journey - and there's a lot I need to let go of. But it's so much easier playing a game than living a life.”
You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith
I have decided that Eric Smith is a top pick for a feel-good, cute read that still showcases real emotional growth in the characters. A great choice when you need a pick-me-up book.
This is such a cute book but it also tackles grief in a lot of different ways. Adam is desperately trying to hold onto his late father's vintage pinball arcade and dreams of a custom pinball machine. Whitney's mourning the relationships she used to have before her dad's start-up became successful and now almost every major relationship in her life has become transactional. They used to be childhood friends, but grief, business rivalries, and toxic friends pushed them apart. The way their relationship is rekindled and they help each other grow and recognize what they actually want for themselves in the world is very touching. I'm rooting for them.
Smith is fantastic at writing both well-developed main characters and side characters that have a lot of heart and great personalities. Adam's best friend and his Swedish Fish therapy method are a hilarious and heartwarming standout. Smith is also really great at the Pixar ending - the one that isn't the happy ending you anticipate going into the story, but is instead the one the characters needed most (even if it is a little bittersweet).
I also love the sense of community that Smith wrote into the Old City neighborhood. The businesses all work together and help each other out. The owners all know one another personally. They come together during the blizzard that impacts the winter festival. They make up a lovely community and it's also a delightful shout-out to small businesses everywhere.
Dual 1st-person POV. Enemies-to-lovers with forced proximity. Tackles grief and toxic relationships really well. The pinball philosophy book was a great touch to show Adam's journey.
You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith
I have decided that Eric Smith is a top pick for a feel-good, cute read that still showcases real emotional growth in the characters. A great choice when you need a pick-me-up book.
This is such a cute book but it also tackles grief in a lot of different ways. Adam is desperately trying to hold onto his late father's vintage pinball arcade and dreams of a custom pinball machine. Whitney's mourning the relationships she used to have before her dad's start-up became successful and now almost every major relationship in her life has become transactional. They used to be childhood friends, but grief, business rivalries, and toxic friends pushed them apart. The way their relationship is rekindled and they help each other grow and recognize what they actually want for themselves in the world is very touching. I'm rooting for them.
Smith is fantastic at writing both well-developed main characters and side characters that have a lot of heart and great personalities. Adam's best friend and his Swedish Fish therapy method are a hilarious and heartwarming standout. Smith is also really great at the Pixar ending - the one that isn't the happy ending you anticipate going into the story, but is instead the one the characters needed most (even if it is a little bittersweet).
I also love the sense of community that Smith wrote into the Old City neighborhood. The businesses all work together and help each other out. The owners all know one another personally. They come together during the blizzard that impacts the winter festival. They make up a lovely community and it's also a delightful shout-out to small businesses everywhere.
Dual 1st-person POV. Enemies-to-lovers with forced proximity. Tackles grief and toxic relationships really well. The pinball philosophy book was a great touch to show Adam's journey.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
maggies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Passable YA romance, but not really anything special. Maybe if you're really into pinball/arcades/e-sports? The narrator for Adam's perspective wasn't my favorite—the usual suspect...male voice for female dialogue often sounds either incredibly young or ditzy to me, although I fully recognize that's my own problem—and Whitney's narrator was great imo, which balanced it out! The title really says it all for YA readers: grappling with forging your own path/future in the shadow of absent parents.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Bullying
shybookstagramer's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had high hopes for this book after reading "don't read the comments", but it didn't live up to my own hype. There were some cute moments that I really enjoyed but also a lot of moments I didn't. I thought the beginning was very slow and the characters didn't interact enough. There were a lot of inside the characters' thoughts moments and not enough dialogue and interaction. Towards the end of the book, when the characters started interacting more and more, I started to enjoy the book more. I wish the rest of the book had been like that. I thought the pinball obsession was an interesting character trait, but it did get a bit boring after a bit and it did seem to be one of Adam's main personality traits, which wasn't good. Overall it is a cozy winter read and I suggest checking it out and forming your own opinion because it does have its moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
lynnlovegreen's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Adam hangs on to his family's pinball arcade because it's a way to keep his father's memories alive. Whitney works for her dad's gaming cafés so he'll notice her. When a snowstorm locks them inside the arcade together, they have to set their social media battles aside to discover their real feelings for each other. This sweet YA romance has pop culture nostalgia and a rich setting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
bpop's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
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