Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Absolutely loved this one!!! Once I started, I couldn't put this down. I'm so in love with Amber Smith's writing. I can't wait to share this book with everyone!!
I enjoyed this book, especially because it had a FtM transgender character. I feel like there aren't enough books with transgender main characters and the way this was written was great. The rocky relationship Chris had with his mom felt real, obviously not all parents accept their trans kids, but Chris's mom had the potential to come around.
Also the relationship between Maia and Chris was great, they both had secrets they were afraid to share. The alternating points of view helped give this more depth and it flew by.
Great writing and pacing, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good LGBTQ read!
Also the relationship between Maia and Chris was great, they both had secrets they were afraid to share. The alternating points of view helped give this more depth and it flew by.
Great writing and pacing, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good LGBTQ read!
A beautiful summer romance story that goes way beyond romance. Main characters Chris and Maia think that they're meeting at exactly the wrong time. Chris is recovering from a brutal attack and beginning to transition, and feeling like his mom hates him. He's in Carson to get away from it all, definitely not to fall in love. Maia is working through her grief and bewilderment and guilt over her sister's sudden death, everything in her life, her folks, her friends, everything, seems to be falling apart, definitely not good a time to go head over heels for the new boy in town.
The writing is superb, the characters take on life beyond the page, readers will be right in there with them, hoping and having hopes dashed, hurting and healing and learning and growing right along with Chris, Maia and their loved ones. The story will resonate with readers on multiple levels, from LGBTQIA+ folks, to their loved ones and allies. A must read for those who enjoyed [b:Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda|19547856|Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood, #1)|Becky Albertalli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402915678s/19547856.jpg|27679579] and [b:It's Not Like It's a Secret|29073707|It's Not Like It's a Secret|Misa Sugiura|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491123412s/29073707.jpg|49303768].
The writing is superb, the characters take on life beyond the page, readers will be right in there with them, hoping and having hopes dashed, hurting and healing and learning and growing right along with Chris, Maia and their loved ones. The story will resonate with readers on multiple levels, from LGBTQIA+ folks, to their loved ones and allies. A must read for those who enjoyed [b:Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda|19547856|Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Creekwood, #1)|Becky Albertalli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402915678s/19547856.jpg|27679579] and [b:It's Not Like It's a Secret|29073707|It's Not Like It's a Secret|Misa Sugiura|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491123412s/29073707.jpg|49303768].
"One thing I have learned to believe in along the way is the transformative power of love—love of any kind. Love is what heals us and gives us hope, and that is something no one should ever be without."
"If you've always been defined, not as a full-fledged person, but solely as another person's polar opposite, and that person no longer exists, do you also cease to exist?"
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I thought Something Like Gravity would have some scientific elements regarding space and the stars, but those references were few and far between. Chris enjoys looking through his telescope, and it's a passion he wants to pursue in the future, but it isn't a main focus of the story. He'll share facts with Maia, and those were interesting (especially about the binary stars), but I wish there had been more.
Amber Smith has written a beautiful story about self-discovery. Chris is finally figuring out and committing to who he is, and Maia is learning how to exist without her sister. It took tragic circumstances for both of them to start really living, and we see how they use each other to overcome their sadness and fear. They didn't immediately click from the start, because Maia is a very angry person, but it felt like a realistic portrayal of feelings and emotions. She was hurting and she lashed out, and Chris was endlessly kind and patient.
I know I've said this before, but I dislike it when the main conflict is based on a lie. Maia lies to Chris at the very beginning of their friendship, and then it snowballs out of control. She didn't need to lie, and she had plenty of opportunities to tell him the truth. Honestly, I thought she would have come clean long before everything blew up in her face. Chris's reaction was understandable at first, but then he took it too far. He let his pain and anger cloud his judgement, and he was unnecessarily cruel and unforgiving. What Maia lied about really had nothing to do with her relationship with Chris, but he took it very personally, and it altered both of their lives in a big way.
Additionally, I think this book could have been a little shorter. It lagged in some places and I never felt compelled to pick it back up. The pacing is incredibly slow, and there's very little action, but I know some of you enjoy books that focus more on character development (which there is a lot of). However, if some of the story had been condensed, I think it would have made for a quicker and more enjoyable read.
The ending was both satisfying and disappointing.
I believe Something Like Gravity tells a story that needs to be told. I think it's a book a lot of people will be able to relate to, and not just because one of the characters is transgender. Although, I do think it's awesome that they are getting more representation in YA books. Something Like Gravity is about falling in love, and learning how to love yourself. It's also about knowing when to let go, and when to hold on.
Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on June 11, 2018.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I thought Something Like Gravity would have some scientific elements regarding space and the stars, but those references were few and far between. Chris enjoys looking through his telescope, and it's a passion he wants to pursue in the future, but it isn't a main focus of the story. He'll share facts with Maia, and those were interesting (especially about the binary stars), but I wish there had been more.
Amber Smith has written a beautiful story about self-discovery. Chris is finally figuring out and committing to who he is, and Maia is learning how to exist without her sister. It took tragic circumstances for both of them to start really living, and we see how they use each other to overcome their sadness and fear. They didn't immediately click from the start, because Maia is a very angry person, but it felt like a realistic portrayal of feelings and emotions. She was hurting and she lashed out, and Chris was endlessly kind and patient.
I know I've said this before, but I dislike it when the main conflict is based on a lie. Maia lies to Chris at the very beginning of their friendship, and then it snowballs out of control. She didn't need to lie, and she had plenty of opportunities to tell him the truth. Honestly, I thought she would have come clean long before everything blew up in her face. Chris's reaction was understandable at first, but then he took it too far. He let his pain and anger cloud his judgement, and he was unnecessarily cruel and unforgiving. What Maia lied about really had nothing to do with her relationship with Chris, but he took it very personally, and it altered both of their lives in a big way.
Additionally, I think this book could have been a little shorter. It lagged in some places and I never felt compelled to pick it back up. The pacing is incredibly slow, and there's very little action, but I know some of you enjoy books that focus more on character development (which there is a lot of). However, if some of the story had been condensed, I think it would have made for a quicker and more enjoyable read.
The ending was both satisfying and disappointing.
I believe Something Like Gravity tells a story that needs to be told. I think it's a book a lot of people will be able to relate to, and not just because one of the characters is transgender. Although, I do think it's awesome that they are getting more representation in YA books. Something Like Gravity is about falling in love, and learning how to love yourself. It's also about knowing when to let go, and when to hold on.
Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on June 11, 2018.
I've loved Amber Smith and this (her third) is my favorite yet. There's a lot going on (grief and trauma and family issues) but there's also a lot of good (love!). She's becoming one of my most favorite authors because of the way she tackles these incredibly hard issues. It never feels like a melodrama and it never feels like an afterschool special where things are really glossed over, either. Things are handled with the sensitivity and gravity they deserve, but it never feels cheesy or hopeless. It's got to be an incredibly hard thing to do but she makes it look effortless.
There's a lot to love here but my personal favorite is how Maia is not at all fazed by Chris being trans. She literally could not care less, which is how we should all be.
It's an Amber Smith book so you can expect two things: it's going to be really good and it's going to be very hard to read. It's intense and painful in parts, but it's so worth the effort and tears.
Highly recommended.
There's a lot to love here but my personal favorite is how Maia is not at all fazed by Chris being trans. She literally could not care less, which is how we should all be.
It's an Amber Smith book so you can expect two things: it's going to be really good and it's going to be very hard to read. It's intense and painful in parts, but it's so worth the effort and tears.
Highly recommended.
3 stars.
3 stars is NOT a bad rating for me. I think this book has a ton of merit to it, but it needed some more editing (too much details about things that don't really matter) and I didn't really feel like there was much of a plot?? and there was a plot point that made me feel a bit icky, but I'm probably just being picky.
I can't say for sure if the trans rep is good since I'm not trans, but I didn't see any glaring problems.
Trigger warnings for slight transphobia, death of a family member, assault, and sexual harassment.
Thanks so much to Simon Teen for providing my copy!
3 stars is NOT a bad rating for me. I think this book has a ton of merit to it, but it needed some more editing (too much details about things that don't really matter) and I didn't really feel like there was much of a plot?? and there was a plot point that made me feel a bit icky, but I'm probably just being picky.
I can't say for sure if the trans rep is good since I'm not trans, but I didn't see any glaring problems.
Trigger warnings for slight transphobia, death of a family member, assault, and sexual harassment.
Thanks so much to Simon Teen for providing my copy!
Although this book deals with some heavy trauma such as surviving sexual assault and overcoming grief the two main protagonist have cinnamon roll energy.
When Maia and Chris meet they don't immediately hit it off. Actually, they definitely don't like each other. However, since their currently residing in such a small town avoiding each other is near impossible. When a feelings do spark between them it's electric but their relationship is more than that. Maia gives Chris the ability to feel loved and comfortable in his transition, while Chris makes Maia feel seen and like she does not have to live in her sister's shadow.
Maia is also super cute because every time she wants to make out with Chris she dives for some Strawberry Chapstick to coat her lips. What a concept! I'll have to invest in them too!
That being said, I felt like Maia didn't have much of a personality and given that she's felt like she's been living in her sister's shadow aligns perfectly with her character. But I wish she can discover herself if their is ever a future novel starring these characters again.
My overall rating of Something like Gravity is four Stars, and I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a diverse romance with a small-town setting.
When Maia and Chris meet they don't immediately hit it off. Actually, they definitely don't like each other. However, since their currently residing in such a small town avoiding each other is near impossible. When a feelings do spark between them it's electric but their relationship is more than that. Maia gives Chris the ability to feel loved and comfortable in his transition, while Chris makes Maia feel seen and like she does not have to live in her sister's shadow.
Maia is also super cute because every time she wants to make out with Chris she dives for some Strawberry Chapstick to coat her lips. What a concept! I'll have to invest in them too!
That being said, I felt like Maia didn't have much of a personality and given that she's felt like she's been living in her sister's shadow aligns perfectly with her character. But I wish she can discover herself if their is ever a future novel starring these characters again.
My overall rating of Something like Gravity is four Stars, and I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a diverse romance with a small-town setting.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
3/5 stars
I didn't mind the overall story of this book. I liked where it was trying to go and the representation it was trying to promote, however there were a few things I just didn't like about one of the characters. While they are little things and It may very well be a personal issue, I just couldn't stand the characteristics and the thought process behind Maia. This was a very average book, while I enjoyed it, it just fell a little flat for me.
3/5 stars
I didn't mind the overall story of this book. I liked where it was trying to go and the representation it was trying to promote, however there were a few things I just didn't like about one of the characters. While they are little things and It may very well be a personal issue, I just couldn't stand the characteristics and the thought process behind Maia. This was a very average book, while I enjoyed it, it just fell a little flat for me.
TWs for assault, sexual assault, and nonconsensual outing of a trans character
Overall, I liked a lot about this book. I like books that explore sadness through anger, because when I'm sad I usually express it as anger myself. And these were some volatile, angry characters in a lot of ways.
But, going into this I was hesitant about a trans boy being written by a cis woman, and I think I was right to be. On the one hand, there were some terrible tropes: the fact that Chris was outed to Maia when she "accidentally" spied on him (her intention hadn't been to spy on him when she was outside his window, but she didn't leave when he came home) and she saw him take his binder off; and the fact that Chris's backstory includes sexual assault (he is beaten and his genitals are touched through his clothes without his consent, and it is later revealed his attacker had unzipped his pants with Chris beneath him on the ground) which is, unfortunately, a trope for a lot of LGBTQ+ characters.
This kind of history with traumas (esp. sexual traumas) is not uncommon for Amber Smith's books, and so I wasn't surprised, but I was disappointed by the seeming lack of sensitivity required to write these kinds of scenes and their effects on trans people specifically.
Additionally, overall Chris's dysphoria was kind of all over the place; the things he did made little sense. The show vs. tell of his dysphoria don't really match up. You could definitely feel that it was written by a person without gender dysphoria, because the explanations of how he felt were surface level and his actions didn't match up.
Also, as other reviewers have mentioned, the incorrect usage of his binder is dangerous and yet not touched on, and the effects he must have been going through while taking T were also breezed over in a way that seemed odd. Maybe Smith was trying not to step on the toes of trans writers by staying out of trans-specific narratives (such as the process and effects of transitioning) in favor of just *having* a trans character without it being A Whole Trans Thing™, but seeing as Chris's storyline is entirely reliant on his transness anyways, it would seem that she had already put herself in the position of writing a trans-specific narrative. So she should have at least done it justice by doing her research (or showing us that she did it) and having more sensitivity readers (which I didn't really see mention of in acknowledgements, which is something I always look for in non-own voices stories). Instead, these fleeting mentions of transitioning made it feel like Chris was very much the One-Dimensional Trans Character with the cookie-cutter surface-level One Size Fits All trans experience.
All in all, this book still resonated with me in some ways; I think grief and loss and family trouble were all well-written and emotionally impactful. But I wouldn't recommend it as good trans rep, and really wish I could, because I desperately want to see more trans people being loved in YA. Thankfully, more and more own voices novels are coming out, so we have that to look forward to.
Overall, I liked a lot about this book. I like books that explore sadness through anger, because when I'm sad I usually express it as anger myself. And these were some volatile, angry characters in a lot of ways.
But, going into this I was hesitant about a trans boy being written by a cis woman, and I think I was right to be. On the one hand, there were some terrible tropes: the fact that Chris was outed to Maia when she "accidentally" spied on him (her intention hadn't been to spy on him when she was outside his window, but she didn't leave when he came home) and she saw him take his binder off; and the fact that Chris's backstory includes sexual assault (he is beaten and his genitals are touched through his clothes without his consent, and it is later revealed his attacker had unzipped his pants with Chris beneath him on the ground) which is, unfortunately, a trope for a lot of LGBTQ+ characters.
This kind of history with traumas (esp. sexual traumas) is not uncommon for Amber Smith's books, and so I wasn't surprised, but I was disappointed by the seeming lack of sensitivity required to write these kinds of scenes and their effects on trans people specifically.
Additionally, overall Chris's dysphoria was kind of all over the place; the things he did made little sense. The show vs. tell of his dysphoria don't really match up. You could definitely feel that it was written by a person without gender dysphoria, because the explanations of how he felt were surface level and his actions didn't match up.
Also, as other reviewers have mentioned, the incorrect usage of his binder is dangerous and yet not touched on, and the effects he must have been going through while taking T were also breezed over in a way that seemed odd. Maybe Smith was trying not to step on the toes of trans writers by staying out of trans-specific narratives (such as the process and effects of transitioning) in favor of just *having* a trans character without it being A Whole Trans Thing™, but seeing as Chris's storyline is entirely reliant on his transness anyways, it would seem that she had already put herself in the position of writing a trans-specific narrative. So she should have at least done it justice by doing her research (or showing us that she did it) and having more sensitivity readers (which I didn't really see mention of in acknowledgements, which is something I always look for in non-own voices stories). Instead, these fleeting mentions of transitioning made it feel like Chris was very much the One-Dimensional Trans Character with the cookie-cutter surface-level One Size Fits All trans experience.
All in all, this book still resonated with me in some ways; I think grief and loss and family trouble were all well-written and emotionally impactful. But I wouldn't recommend it as good trans rep, and really wish I could, because I desperately want to see more trans people being loved in YA. Thankfully, more and more own voices novels are coming out, so we have that to look forward to.