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bookswritingandmore's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book I've read from the point of view of a character with a mental disorder. The author does an amazing job of getting inside their head and sharing the pain, confusion and humiliation that one might experience in this situation. Not only do you feel for them, but you root for them as well. Another great novel delivered by Emily Tippets.
nikkijoy's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book from the Author for a honest review.
I started this book and finished it the same night at like 3 in the morning. Needless to say I loved it !! Alex's struggle is not uncommon when you have a mental illness. Not wanting to burden someone with you. When your not sure how much of yourself you can control. But every single person deserves love. And Madison proved that each and every time Alex and her had an encounter. She loved him despite his mental illness. And that's why I just kept reading. I wanted them to love each other. I wanted them to realize that someone times Love is worth it all !!!
Loved it loved it loved. I am in awe of such a beautiful story
I started this book and finished it the same night at like 3 in the morning. Needless to say I loved it !! Alex's struggle is not uncommon when you have a mental illness. Not wanting to burden someone with you. When your not sure how much of yourself you can control. But every single person deserves love. And Madison proved that each and every time Alex and her had an encounter. She loved him despite his mental illness. And that's why I just kept reading. I wanted them to love each other. I wanted them to realize that someone times Love is worth it all !!!
Loved it loved it loved. I am in awe of such a beautiful story
kreeps's review against another edition
5.0
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a completely different vibe from the first book. While the first book struck me more as a coming of age story about Madison and the lives she touches and changes along the way, this story follows Alex. The first three fourths of this book nearly broke my heart watching him try to deal with his situation while still being so devotedly in love with Madison and yet so far away from her. Alex is truly a wonderful character and I really hope that there are people who are like him out there. The world could use more Alex Katsumotos (well maybe not the teen version). Anyways I loved this book more than I loved the first one even though I enjoyed the plot of the first book better. I can't really explain why though. Oh and in the review I wrote for the first book I was a major John fan. The feeling was not the same throughout this story. He's just a tad on the annoying side throughout this book.
This book had a completely different vibe from the first book. While the first book struck me more as a coming of age story about Madison and the lives she touches and changes along the way, this story follows Alex. The first three fourths of this book nearly broke my heart watching him try to deal with his situation while still being so devotedly in love with Madison and yet so far away from her. Alex is truly a wonderful character and I really hope that there are people who are like him out there. The world could use more Alex Katsumotos (well maybe not the teen version). Anyways I loved this book more than I loved the first one even though I enjoyed the plot of the first book better. I can't really explain why though. Oh and in the review I wrote for the first book I was a major John fan. The feeling was not the same throughout this story. He's just a tad on the annoying side throughout this book.
bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition
4.0
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
This is easily the best read so far of 2013. It wasn't easy reading, but Emily Mah Tippetts is an Author I now want to read more of. I think it's really important to read Castles in the Sand first. The story is told from Alex's pov and it is a poignant journey of his love for Madison and his developing schizophrenia. I thought the portraying of Alex's mind in this book was amazing writing and it was this ability to narrate such a complex situation that made the book. I loved it!
This is easily the best read so far of 2013. It wasn't easy reading, but Emily Mah Tippetts is an Author I now want to read more of. I think it's really important to read Castles in the Sand first. The story is told from Alex's pov and it is a poignant journey of his love for Madison and his developing schizophrenia. I thought the portraying of Alex's mind in this book was amazing writing and it was this ability to narrate such a complex situation that made the book. I loved it!
bookishly_kate's review against another edition
4.0
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Wow I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one! This book was a lot more real than the first, even though that means it is more dark.
What I liked:
I really liked Alex and how he grows throughout the book.
As someone who studied psychology in college, I tend to have a soft spot for books with mental illness themes. I also found this book more realistic than most dealing with mental illness.
I love the author's writing style a lot more than in the first book.
The message: that everyone is worthy of love, despite their flaws and despite their illnesses. Nobody is doomed to a life without love and compassion, you just have to open yourself up to it.
What I didn't like:
There wasn't a lot of relationship development between Alex and Madison and that bugged me-though I know that's just personal preference.
I suggest this for those who enjoy emotional NA novels and/or those who enjoyed the first book of this series. I don't think that you need to read the first one to enjoy this one. :)
Wow I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one! This book was a lot more real than the first, even though that means it is more dark.
What I liked:
I really liked Alex and how he grows throughout the book.
As someone who studied psychology in college, I tend to have a soft spot for books with mental illness themes. I also found this book more realistic than most dealing with mental illness.
I love the author's writing style a lot more than in the first book.
The message: that everyone is worthy of love, despite their flaws and despite their illnesses. Nobody is doomed to a life without love and compassion, you just have to open yourself up to it.
What I didn't like:
There wasn't a lot of relationship development between Alex and Madison and that bugged me-though I know that's just personal preference.
I suggest this for those who enjoy emotional NA novels and/or those who enjoyed the first book of this series. I don't think that you need to read the first one to enjoy this one. :)
colormeblueex's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
This story takes place a few years after we left Madison and Alex in Castles on the Sand. This story is written in Alex's POV after coming back to Pelican Bluffs from a mission trip. He has been writing letters back and forth to Madison while they both were away but when she tells him that she loves him he just keeps pushing her away. He doesn't want her to give up her dreams to be with him, which is what he thinks would happen if he gave in and just loved her like he wanted too. In this story we see a lot more of Kailie, and a better side too. Alex is suffering with the same disease that his mother had and it is causing him a great deal of stress. Reading this we get to see a lot more into the lives of many of the residents of Pelican Bluffs. Even though Alex was the "bad boy" when in high school, he has now earned the respect of many in town. It is heartbreaking to see the way he gets treated when the town finds out about his diagnosis, but there are those good people who are helping him out. Alex was a very strong character and I really enjoyed reading this continuation from his POV. Most of the romance books that I read are in the female perspective only and this was a nice change. It really made me feel for Alex more, even if there were some parts where I just wanted to scream at him to let Madison in. Of course there is a HEA and I'm glad that everything worked out. I left this story feeling satisfied with the way it ended and I really enjoyed reading it.
This story takes place a few years after we left Madison and Alex in Castles on the Sand. This story is written in Alex's POV after coming back to Pelican Bluffs from a mission trip. He has been writing letters back and forth to Madison while they both were away but when she tells him that she loves him he just keeps pushing her away. He doesn't want her to give up her dreams to be with him, which is what he thinks would happen if he gave in and just loved her like he wanted too. In this story we see a lot more of Kailie, and a better side too. Alex is suffering with the same disease that his mother had and it is causing him a great deal of stress. Reading this we get to see a lot more into the lives of many of the residents of Pelican Bluffs. Even though Alex was the "bad boy" when in high school, he has now earned the respect of many in town. It is heartbreaking to see the way he gets treated when the town finds out about his diagnosis, but there are those good people who are helping him out. Alex was a very strong character and I really enjoyed reading this continuation from his POV. Most of the romance books that I read are in the female perspective only and this was a nice change. It really made me feel for Alex more, even if there were some parts where I just wanted to scream at him to let Madison in. Of course there is a HEA and I'm glad that everything worked out. I left this story feeling satisfied with the way it ended and I really enjoyed reading it.
bookphenomena_micky's review
4.0
I was given an ARC for an honest review.
This is easily the best read so far of 2013. It wasn't easy reading, but Emily Mah Tippetts is an Author I now want to read more of. I think it's really important to read Castles in the Sand first. The story is told from Alex's pov and it is a poignant journey of his love for Madison and his developing schizophrenia. I thought the portraying of Alex's mind in this book was amazing writing and it was this ability to narrate such a complex situation that made the book. I loved it!
This is easily the best read so far of 2013. It wasn't easy reading, but Emily Mah Tippetts is an Author I now want to read more of. I think it's really important to read Castles in the Sand first. The story is told from Alex's pov and it is a poignant journey of his love for Madison and his developing schizophrenia. I thought the portraying of Alex's mind in this book was amazing writing and it was this ability to narrate such a complex situation that made the book. I loved it!
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