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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is hard for me to rate because it's absolutely not a 5 star book and it's absolutely not weak enough to be a 3 star book, so I guess I'm settling with 4 stars for now. 3.5 might be more accurate? I don't know. There were certain things that I loved. I loved how grief was handled and how much of a slow and steady process it truly is, but I thought the end game romance wasn't believable, even though they were so close before it felt sudden and I never pictured them in any sort of romantic setting because Lydia was always so caught up on Freddie. I never got any hints that he liked her either other than the thing in the other world which felt like a cheap way to handle it. I also felt the way Freddie's character was handled toward the end was cheap and problematic too. Wasn't digging it.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was good, even though, it was easy to guess how it was all going to work out. Lydia’s journey through grief and heartache felt authentic and it was easy to root for her growth and healing. I’m glad she found, true happiness, I just hate it took death for her to find her way there.
I’m a fan of alternate reality, however, I didn’t like the use of the sleeping pills for Lydia to get there. It could have easily been done differently and still worked.
The communication in this book is pretty darn good and I liked that things felt really adult. Even when characters were being ridiculous, most of them were able to be upfront and honest about it, even holding themselves accountable. I do agree with other reviewers about the length because you do get a little antsy after the halfway point. Josie Silver could have given us less and this still would have been good.
I’m a fan of alternate reality, however, I didn’t like the use of the sleeping pills for Lydia to get there. It could have easily been done differently and still worked.
The communication in this book is pretty darn good and I liked that things felt really adult. Even when characters were being ridiculous, most of them were able to be upfront and honest about it, even holding themselves accountable. I do agree with other reviewers about the length because you do get a little antsy after the halfway point. Josie Silver could have given us less and this still would have been good.
My heart was a jumble of pieces after finishing this one. It is such a poignant, true telling of the roller coaster of loss and how the world keeps turning.
This one had such promise!
Love. Loss. Grief. Magic pills. Alternate world with Freddie. Aww!
Silver does an excellent job of characterizing true grief (yes, I shed a tear . . . or thirty), and I found myself heartbroken for Lydia.
Parts of the story were great! Well-defined characters, especially Lydia. But the story also lagged a bit at the beginning, and places in the middle were a bit tedious at times.
I also couldn't understand why Lydia would board a plane hours after delivering her sister's baby and go to Croatia? For a month?
But what really aggravated me was Freddie acting like an ass on their honeymoon and leaving Lydia in NY by herself for a business deal. Seriously?! It was so uncharacteristic of Freddie. I mean, Lydia has know him since she was 14, and she was surprised.
Now, she's waitressing in Croatia and missing Jonah.
Wait.
What?
So, Jonah.
The best friend she had as a kid, who later became Freddie's BFF and was glued to his hip, which aggravated Lydia who wanted Freddie all to herself, is now the new love of her life, the end. I'm probably just overly critical.
I did enjoy the book, even though I generally steer clear of books that make me cry.
Love. Loss. Grief. Magic pills. Alternate world with Freddie. Aww!
Silver does an excellent job of characterizing true grief (yes, I shed a tear . . . or thirty), and I found myself heartbroken for Lydia.
Parts of the story were great! Well-defined characters, especially Lydia. But the story also lagged a bit at the beginning, and places in the middle were a bit tedious at times.
Spoiler
I don't understand the point of her relationship with Kris - I expected him to be the "new guy" that pulls her back from the other world. But she sleeps with him, and then he leaves for London?! Why even have this part in the book at all?I also couldn't understand why Lydia would board a plane hours after delivering her sister's baby and go to Croatia? For a month?
But what really aggravated me was Freddie acting like an ass on their honeymoon and leaving Lydia in NY by herself for a business deal. Seriously?! It was so uncharacteristic of Freddie. I mean, Lydia has know him since she was 14, and she was surprised.
Now, she's waitressing in Croatia and missing Jonah.
Wait.
What?
So, Jonah.
The best friend she had as a kid, who later became Freddie's BFF and was glued to his hip, which aggravated Lydia who wanted Freddie all to herself, is now the new love of her life, the end. I'm probably just overly critical.
I did enjoy the book, even though I generally steer clear of books that make me cry.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have a soft spot for multiverse books. This was good, but I don't remember much about it 2 weeks later.
slow-paced
This book was a bit slow-paced but felt intentional and just right for the content. A few plot lines did feel too abrupt and unsubstantiated but that’s just me being picky. When Sophie recommended this book to me, she described the beauty in how the author shares the main character’s personal journey with grief but also her relational journeys with grief. Josie Silver really handled the messy realities of how grief exists for others and seeps into relationships, weaving their fabric in new ways beautifully. For me, that was the most meaningful part of the book.