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pensandpicks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Homophobia
cc_shelflove's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
This was a good one! I definitely need to read Derrick’s debut that she coauthored with Rachael Lippincott. I was a little nervous here because let’s be real—an amnesia romance could be really, really cheesy. 🧀 However she did a great job and I didn’t even roll my eyes once! After Stevie has an accident, she cannot remember the last two years of her life, including graduating high school, realizing she might not be straight, and even planning to move across the country with her girlfriend. The entire book is about Stevie trying to find the missing pieces and Nora hoping Stevie will make her way back to her. The LGBTQ+ representation was well done and my heart was sad at Stevie’s fearfulness towards coming out. I would definitely recommend this to high school librarians and their readers. 🧡🤍🩷
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, and Lesbophobia
valancysnaith's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
combeferre_01's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
linnea1801's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is so good!!! It really captures the experience of living as a queer person in a conservative and religious town and all the struggles that come with it. But it’s also just insanely cute. <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
takarakei's review
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? No
4.25
What a beautiful YA romance!!! Knowing the synopsis of the book going in, I was actually surprised that it was told from Stevie's POV, but I think that really lended well to the development of the story. Nora's letters are devastating to read. A really stunning young adult queer romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
nerdy_booklover's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Homophobia
nat_montego's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Child abuse
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
What I thought was going to be a very sad novel (which it was at points), but it really ends on quite a hopeful note, taking a turn that I didn't expect. In a good way! It maybe wasn't the most realistic of endings, but it is a romance novel after all.
Stevie, our main character, is probably the best developed, as most of the side characters felt pretty one dimensional to me. We do get to hear some from Nora through the forms of letters, but we really only see her through Stevie's. That was really my only complaint about the story, though, that I wish some of the side characters would have been more developed.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the way Stevei's friendship with Ryan kind of happened because of her accident. He becomes such a great ally for her, and I imagine that their friendship will continue long after this story is over.
There was also a sense of tension due to Stevie's amnesia, because we know something happened between her and her parents but we don't really know what, just like Stevei doesn't know what. It adds to the plot and helps make it a better overall story, in my opinion.
All in all, this is a touching romance that will leave you with a sense of hope by the end.
Stevie, our main character, is probably the best developed, as most of the side characters felt pretty one dimensional to me. We do get to hear some from Nora through the forms of letters, but we really only see her through Stevie's. That was really my only complaint about the story, though, that I wish some of the side characters would have been more developed.
One of my favorite aspects of the story was the way Stevei's friendship with Ryan kind of happened because of her accident. He becomes such a great ally for her, and I imagine that their friendship will continue long after this story is over.
There was also a sense of tension due to Stevie's amnesia, because we know something happened between her and her parents but we don't really know what, just like Stevei doesn't know what. It adds to the plot and helps make it a better overall story, in my opinion.
All in all, this is a touching romance that will leave you with a sense of hope by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
astraeal's review
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail