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gillianw's review against another edition
3.0
https://justloveromance.wordpress.com/2016/04/29/believing-rory-sc-wynne/#more-6199
This was a tough one for me. Not the subject matter so much, although stories about suicide and depression aren’t exactly my go-to books. No, it was more the fact that I never really got a handle on who Lane and Baron really were. Maybe that was a deliberate decision on the author’s part because I got the sense that Lane and Baron were both figuring out who they were too; on the cusp of adulthood and evolving from the teens they once were to the adults they are about to become. And in the middle of all that, still having to deal with personal events that have changed them irrevocably.
Both MC’s have been personally traumatized by the time the story begins. Lane is trying to recover from his best friend Rory’ suicide days earlier and is wandering around in a fog of anger and betrayal as he tries to navigate his way through his first day back at school after Rory’s death. He’s feeling alone and lost because Rory was not only his friend, but his protector and had made sure Lane was okay after his own suicide attempt a few years earlier. When he runs into Baron at school, he has no idea that the handsome, popular student is hiding terrible secrets of his own. After meeting Baron unexpectedly at Rory’s funeral, Lane realizes that Baron knew Rory too and with that tenuous common thread, they begin to confide their secrets to each other, forming a friendship and the first blooms of romance. But as Lane gets to know Baron better, he learns that Baron is still dealing with legal ramifications of his own trauma and isn’t nearly as confident and unflappable as he appears to be. As things progress, Lane has to come to terms with the fact that he didn’t know Rory nearly as well as he thought he did and if he wants things to progress with Baron, he’ll need to move out from Rory’s shadow and be stronger than he thought possible.
I thought the topics presented in this book were dealt with sensitively and in a manner that a YA/NA audience could appreciate. The reason for Rory’s suicide is never mentioned and although that bothered me at first, I realized that this book was never about Rory or honoring the dead. This is a story of survival; of choosing to live even when circumstances make it difficult to do so. I really liked Lane’s anger towards Rory in the days and weeks after Rory’s suicide as it felt very real and is something many people feel but can’t always talk about when a loved one takes their own life.
I did find parts of Lane and Baron’s relationship a little angsty with those deliberate misunderstandings that lead to separation and eventual reconciliation, but it probably isn’t atypical of teen romances in general. But I did like the evolution of their romance and thought it was well done.
I found this to be an honest portrayal of two teens who are struggling to work through their relative issues and are learning to trust each other in order to move on from the past. Although I did find some parts of the story to be completely unrealistic (how many kids with access to private planes attend public schools?), it was decently done and contained relevant topics that should be talked about more openly. 3.5 stars
** I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review**
This was a tough one for me. Not the subject matter so much, although stories about suicide and depression aren’t exactly my go-to books. No, it was more the fact that I never really got a handle on who Lane and Baron really were. Maybe that was a deliberate decision on the author’s part because I got the sense that Lane and Baron were both figuring out who they were too; on the cusp of adulthood and evolving from the teens they once were to the adults they are about to become. And in the middle of all that, still having to deal with personal events that have changed them irrevocably.
Both MC’s have been personally traumatized by the time the story begins. Lane is trying to recover from his best friend Rory’ suicide days earlier and is wandering around in a fog of anger and betrayal as he tries to navigate his way through his first day back at school after Rory’s death. He’s feeling alone and lost because Rory was not only his friend, but his protector and had made sure Lane was okay after his own suicide attempt a few years earlier. When he runs into Baron at school, he has no idea that the handsome, popular student is hiding terrible secrets of his own. After meeting Baron unexpectedly at Rory’s funeral, Lane realizes that Baron knew Rory too and with that tenuous common thread, they begin to confide their secrets to each other, forming a friendship and the first blooms of romance. But as Lane gets to know Baron better, he learns that Baron is still dealing with legal ramifications of his own trauma and isn’t nearly as confident and unflappable as he appears to be. As things progress, Lane has to come to terms with the fact that he didn’t know Rory nearly as well as he thought he did and if he wants things to progress with Baron, he’ll need to move out from Rory’s shadow and be stronger than he thought possible.
I thought the topics presented in this book were dealt with sensitively and in a manner that a YA/NA audience could appreciate. The reason for Rory’s suicide is never mentioned and although that bothered me at first, I realized that this book was never about Rory or honoring the dead. This is a story of survival; of choosing to live even when circumstances make it difficult to do so. I really liked Lane’s anger towards Rory in the days and weeks after Rory’s suicide as it felt very real and is something many people feel but can’t always talk about when a loved one takes their own life.
I did find parts of Lane and Baron’s relationship a little angsty with those deliberate misunderstandings that lead to separation and eventual reconciliation, but it probably isn’t atypical of teen romances in general. But I did like the evolution of their romance and thought it was well done.
I found this to be an honest portrayal of two teens who are struggling to work through their relative issues and are learning to trust each other in order to move on from the past. Although I did find some parts of the story to be completely unrealistic (how many kids with access to private planes attend public schools?), it was decently done and contained relevant topics that should be talked about more openly. 3.5 stars
** I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review**
bfdbookblog's review
4.0
This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. I’ve started shying away from books with such young characters. I’m glad I didn’t miss this one. The writing is really good…I felt every emotion these characters felt. The story is heavy…very heavy. Not only are these kids dealing with the normal coming-of-age stressors, they are dealing with suicide and a couple other bad situations that I don’t want to give away.
Both characters suffer from depression. Lane completely lacks self-confidence. Baron seems so confident at times and so broken at others. They feed off each other and become strong for each other when one of them is feeling weak. They balance each other perfectly and their two halves make a whole.
I hope we get more of their story…I so want to see where life takes them.
This is an absolute must read, even if you typically don't like NA books...
Both characters suffer from depression. Lane completely lacks self-confidence. Baron seems so confident at times and so broken at others. They feed off each other and become strong for each other when one of them is feeling weak. They balance each other perfectly and their two halves make a whole.
I hope we get more of their story…I so want to see where life takes them.
This is an absolute must read, even if you typically don't like NA books...
ktomp17's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
This book started off so great. Within the first 5 minutes I had tears in my eyes and had to stop reading in public for fear of having people see my ugly cry face. Lane’s best friend Rory commits suicide right before the story starts, and we see Lane trying to figure out how to cope and move forward. Lane was a quiet and shy person who only really let Rory in. As the story goes on, we find out about things Rory did without Lane knowing about or hid from Lane, and Lane struggles with how much he can’t believe Rory. The most important person in the world lied to him and kept things from him, and Lane struggled with believing anything anyone said to him.
Baron had become friends with Rory. He knew who Lane was and wanted to get to know him, and Rory was supposed to introduce them. Baron had a troubled past (sexual abuse) and previously attempted suicide. Lane also had issues with depression and suicidal attempt, so they had a lot in common when they got to know each other. Lane was very hesitant and afraid. They ended up with a very special connection, though. The boys were young (just turned 18 and getting ready to leave for college), so there was a bit of uncertainty for where the future would bring them. It wasn’t an easy road navigating the emotions and doubt and trauma from the past, but it was very well written. I thought all of the emotion portrayed was believable and honest. I thought the path the story took made so much sense, and they worked through so much together that I could imagine the two of them sitting side by side 50 years later.
I loved how the emotions that were written for Lane and Baron were not glossed over. Suicide is not an easy topic, and often people talk about the depression and sadness, but Lane went through his anger and it was refreshing to see. The emotions were written so well, and I was able to feel for both boys so deeply. Great story.
This book started off so great. Within the first 5 minutes I had tears in my eyes and had to stop reading in public for fear of having people see my ugly cry face. Lane’s best friend Rory commits suicide right before the story starts, and we see Lane trying to figure out how to cope and move forward. Lane was a quiet and shy person who only really let Rory in. As the story goes on, we find out about things Rory did without Lane knowing about or hid from Lane, and Lane struggles with how much he can’t believe Rory. The most important person in the world lied to him and kept things from him, and Lane struggled with believing anything anyone said to him.
Baron had become friends with Rory. He knew who Lane was and wanted to get to know him, and Rory was supposed to introduce them. Baron had a troubled past (sexual abuse) and previously attempted suicide. Lane also had issues with depression and suicidal attempt, so they had a lot in common when they got to know each other. Lane was very hesitant and afraid. They ended up with a very special connection, though. The boys were young (just turned 18 and getting ready to leave for college), so there was a bit of uncertainty for where the future would bring them. It wasn’t an easy road navigating the emotions and doubt and trauma from the past, but it was very well written. I thought all of the emotion portrayed was believable and honest. I thought the path the story took made so much sense, and they worked through so much together that I could imagine the two of them sitting side by side 50 years later.
I loved how the emotions that were written for Lane and Baron were not glossed over. Suicide is not an easy topic, and often people talk about the depression and sadness, but Lane went through his anger and it was refreshing to see. The emotions were written so well, and I was able to feel for both boys so deeply. Great story.
annmarief's review
4.0
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Believing Rory is a beautiful coming of age story featuring two high school seniors, Lane & Baron. They share a connection via a mutual friend, Rory, who committed suicide just prior to the story beginning. Lane is coping (poorly) with the suicide of his best friend. The funeral scene was heart-wrenching to read, but it’s where they meet for the first time. The two are seemingly polar opposites, Baron is a popular student and Lane is socially awkward, but they begin a friendship that develops into a romantic relationship as they struggle to build a relationship while dealing with personal demons.
I don’t read a lot of YA novels but I am very glad that I read Believing Rory. There is a lot of angst, more than typical because of the emotional problems each boy has. Suicide is a real option for both Lane and Baron, and the way that they help each other is wonderful. Baron was a little frustrating at times, like he was trying to sabotage the relationship, but he is a kid so making dumb mistakes shouldn’t be too surprising. Believing Rory was a very enjoyable book, highly recommended!
Believing Rory is a beautiful coming of age story featuring two high school seniors, Lane & Baron. They share a connection via a mutual friend, Rory, who committed suicide just prior to the story beginning. Lane is coping (poorly) with the suicide of his best friend. The funeral scene was heart-wrenching to read, but it’s where they meet for the first time. The two are seemingly polar opposites, Baron is a popular student and Lane is socially awkward, but they begin a friendship that develops into a romantic relationship as they struggle to build a relationship while dealing with personal demons.
I don’t read a lot of YA novels but I am very glad that I read Believing Rory. There is a lot of angst, more than typical because of the emotional problems each boy has. Suicide is a real option for both Lane and Baron, and the way that they help each other is wonderful. Baron was a little frustrating at times, like he was trying to sabotage the relationship, but he is a kid so making dumb mistakes shouldn’t be too surprising. Believing Rory was a very enjoyable book, highly recommended!
terriaminute's review
4.0
This is a story about suicide, all from 18-year-old Lane's point of view. We do not see his best friend's suicide, nor Lane attempted suicide, but we see all of the aftermath that dogs Lane. If this topic affects you badly, please don't read, but please do seek help if & when you need it. It's written by a person whose own teen years were challenging, as she says in her afterward. My only major point against it is Lane's attitude about his meds -- but that is so in Lane's character that I suspect it's deliberate on the author's part.
The shifts in attitude and mental health Lane goes through are messy and sometimes frustrating to read. I stomped off to read something else for awhile more than once. Some of it was the characters not talking, but some of it is the author glossing over things I consider important, like communication and failures of, and that cost her a star. But the end hits that perfect final note. This is a romance, but it is as much a coming of age story as a love story.
The shifts in attitude and mental health Lane goes through are messy and sometimes frustrating to read. I stomped off to read something else for awhile more than once. Some of it was the characters not talking, but some of it is the author glossing over things I consider important, like communication and failures of, and that cost her a star. But the end hits that perfect final note. This is a romance, but it is as much a coming of age story as a love story.
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