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cococorycollins's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Toxic friendship
s1ck4n's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Homophobia
s1ck4n's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Mental illness
kitstonglade's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Abortion and Suicidal thoughts
emey_reading07's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
bookish_nick's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
mstormodolge's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Bruh. Legit just what I wanna star this with. This is such a unique and good concept but I don’t like the direction it went in (tho love Wade). I honestly didn’t like most of the characters that much but maybe that’s because they’re 17 and I’m old. But I didn’t like how self destructive it was while still ending under a perfect little wrapped up future.
I dunno. Maybe this wasn’t the right book for me right now but it was hard reading about the loss. It made me angry that this kid was hyping up his love for a boy while ignoring the one he was falling for now. I hated how he slept with people out of selfish reasons and how he’s willing to forgive Theo for everything but no one else is allowed to be flawed. I dunno. I hope my first real love isn’t like that.
Good book as I said, I dunno if I’ll ever get a printed copy but oh well. I can’t articulate my feelings enough so I hope this makes sense haha.
Edited a day later: I actually am lowering this a half point bc the more I thought about the ending the angrier I got. The fact that he just dismisses Everything at the end? More the author than the character but fuck him too tbh. I hate how he’s ’been told’ talking to Theo is wrong and that Theo can’t actually hear him. The heck? Yeah I get my boy has unhealthy trauma responses but omg let people talk to those they’ve lost!! I do it daily to mom and even to Anna sometimes! It just means you’re grieving them it doesn’t mean you’re having a psychotic break. Tho that would explain a lot for me.. lmao but still this is why there’s a new half point off.
I dunno. Maybe this wasn’t the right book for me right now but it was hard reading about the loss. It made me angry that this kid was hyping up his love for a boy while ignoring the one he was falling for now. I hated how he slept with people out of selfish reasons and how he’s willing to forgive Theo for everything but no one else is allowed to be flawed. I dunno. I hope my first real love isn’t like that.
Good book as I said, I dunno if I’ll ever get a printed copy but oh well. I can’t articulate my feelings enough so I hope this makes sense haha.
Edited a day later: I actually am lowering this a half point bc the more I thought about the ending the angrier I got. The fact that he just dismisses Everything at the end? More the author than the character but fuck him too tbh. I hate how he’s ’been told’ talking to Theo is wrong and that Theo can’t actually hear him. The heck? Yeah I get my boy has unhealthy trauma responses but omg let people talk to those they’ve lost!! I do it daily to mom and even to Anna sometimes! It just means you’re grieving them it doesn’t mean you’re having a psychotic break. Tho that would explain a lot for me.. lmao but still this is why there’s a new half point off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
annakrs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
literarypenguin's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
History Is All You Left Me was a book I was expecting to enjoy a lot more then I did. It was a disappointing read to say the least but I did like some parts while other didn't sit to well with me. Especially toward the end.
History Is All You Left Me is about a young man named Griffin trying to deal with the loss of his first love and best friend, Theo. While he struggles with his OCD and compulsions acting up he also has to come to terms with sharing that same grief with Theo's current boyfriend Jackson. Griffin must learn to live in a world without Theo and keep his friends and family close or risk pushing them away in the process.
The parts I did like were the representation of Griffin's OCD. While it got repetitive at times it did give an honest look into someone dealing with that disorder and how they navigate their day to day life while keeping their compulsions in check. It was refreshing to see that represented in a book and in a main character. Another thing I liked was how no character was totally good or totally bad, they were all in a morally grey area and I appreciate that. Just like real life, no person is true good or true bad just grey. Also how raw and honest the process of grief is, how losing someone can turn a person into the worst of themselves or make them do things they wouldn't normally do.
The parts I didn't like or didn't feel right were how I believed we were getting a certain romance but then at the last second another romance twist was thrown into the mix. While that relationship did have it's cute moments, the way it happened felt rushed and thrown in out of nowhere just because. I wished that the romance was built up a lot sooner or we got little hints to it sooner, maybe then it would have made the romance between the two more believable. I also felt like Theo was a bit of a jerk to be honest. I mean he made his best friend and love interest wait around for him in hopes of getting back together but it never happening. Also he didn't do too much to stop the feud between his current boyfriend and ex. That wasn't good behavior in my opinion. I also felt like Jackson was underutilized and could have been used way more then he was.
Adam's writing really did shine in this book! I really loved how he wrote grief and loss, as someone who experienced loss I can say this book hit home with me on several levels!
I can say this book might not have worked for me but it may work for someone else. So if you do want to give this book a try then give it a go! If you want a book detailing grief and loss in a honest and appropriate way then History Is All You Left Me might be for you!
History Is All You Left Me is about a young man named Griffin trying to deal with the loss of his first love and best friend, Theo. While he struggles with his OCD and compulsions acting up he also has to come to terms with sharing that same grief with Theo's current boyfriend Jackson. Griffin must learn to live in a world without Theo and keep his friends and family close or risk pushing them away in the process.
The parts I did like were the representation of Griffin's OCD. While it got repetitive at times it did give an honest look into someone dealing with that disorder and how they navigate their day to day life while keeping their compulsions in check. It was refreshing to see that represented in a book and in a main character. Another thing I liked was how no character was totally good or totally bad, they were all in a morally grey area and I appreciate that. Just like real life, no person is true good or true bad just grey. Also how raw and honest the process of grief is, how losing someone can turn a person into the worst of themselves or make them do things they wouldn't normally do.
The parts I didn't like or didn't feel right were how I believed we were getting a certain romance but then at the last second another romance twist was thrown into the mix. While that relationship did have it's cute moments, the way it happened felt rushed and thrown in out of nowhere just because. I wished that the romance was built up a lot sooner or we got little hints to it sooner, maybe then it would have made the romance between the two more believable. I also felt like Theo was a bit of a jerk to be honest. I mean he made his best friend and love interest wait around for him in hopes of getting back together but it never happening. Also he didn't do too much to stop the feud between his current boyfriend and ex. That wasn't good behavior in my opinion. I also felt like Jackson was underutilized and could have been used way more then he was.
Adam's writing really did shine in this book! I really loved how he wrote grief and loss, as someone who experienced loss I can say this book hit home with me on several levels!
I can say this book might not have worked for me but it may work for someone else. So if you do want to give this book a try then give it a go! If you want a book detailing grief and loss in a honest and appropriate way then History Is All You Left Me might be for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abortion
brooke_pearson's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief