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whatanerdgirlsays's review against another edition
5.0
***REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED ON WHAT A NERD GIRL SAYS IN 2021***
I was absolutely eager to get my hands on this book and when I was able to get an early e-ARC to be a part of the blog tour (read my post here), I was so stoked. Robin and I were debut authors together at the Ontario Teen Book Fest and she’s been a wonderful friend since then. I adored her debut novel and I couldn’t wait until her second novel and it was absolutely worth the wait. Though Robin has only written two books at this point, she has shown that she is incredibly talented at capturing human emotion, especially in young people like teenagers. Whether its because she is a mom to her own teenagers/young adults or whether she just has a tap into that emotional side, her book leaves you feeling SO much. I loved both Jack and Hallie, with a special love toward Hallie, and I loved them from the moment they graced the pages because they felt so genuine and so real. I also have a deep love for any book that takes place in California, because I know it so well, and I love recognizing the places that Robin talks about in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It feels almost like the places that Jack and Hallie go are characters in themselves and I truly enjoy when that happens. I think Robin does a wonderful job of tackling the emotions that come with family and love and life and the future and all of that. I felt every emotion of that book and I was hooked from beginning to end. Robin writes realistic, genuine, emotional, beautiful and, most of all, hopeful stories and I am already counting down the days until she gives us book three.
I was absolutely eager to get my hands on this book and when I was able to get an early e-ARC to be a part of the blog tour (read my post here), I was so stoked. Robin and I were debut authors together at the Ontario Teen Book Fest and she’s been a wonderful friend since then. I adored her debut novel and I couldn’t wait until her second novel and it was absolutely worth the wait. Though Robin has only written two books at this point, she has shown that she is incredibly talented at capturing human emotion, especially in young people like teenagers. Whether its because she is a mom to her own teenagers/young adults or whether she just has a tap into that emotional side, her book leaves you feeling SO much. I loved both Jack and Hallie, with a special love toward Hallie, and I loved them from the moment they graced the pages because they felt so genuine and so real. I also have a deep love for any book that takes place in California, because I know it so well, and I love recognizing the places that Robin talks about in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It feels almost like the places that Jack and Hallie go are characters in themselves and I truly enjoy when that happens. I think Robin does a wonderful job of tackling the emotions that come with family and love and life and the future and all of that. I felt every emotion of that book and I was hooked from beginning to end. Robin writes realistic, genuine, emotional, beautiful and, most of all, hopeful stories and I am already counting down the days until she gives us book three.
lawbooks600's review against another edition
3.0
Trigger warnings: Death by assisted suicide, death of a father, grief and loss depiction
8/10, this was a new arrival at one of the two libraries I go to at the time I read this and wow, this was an amazing new rom-com like The Sun is Also a Star and A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow but it also had some really heart-wrenching moments of grief which reminded me of The Thing About Jellyfish and the road trip aspect was cool as well, it's similar to Changing Gear in a way. The two main characters were very enjoyable to read but I liked Jack more since he had a relatable struggle of losing his father.
The two characters met each other unexpectedly in a taxi but they got along well which I really liked, they once had a romantic interest then they broke up but they are still friends with each other. The ending was bittersweet since Jack finally met his long lost brother Alex but they are still grieving and Jack thinks of Hallie who had her cancer temporarily treated but it might come back and another character named Owen who died by assisted suicide. If you like a sad yet heartwarming rom-com this is the book for you.
8/10, this was a new arrival at one of the two libraries I go to at the time I read this and wow, this was an amazing new rom-com like The Sun is Also a Star and A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow but it also had some really heart-wrenching moments of grief which reminded me of The Thing About Jellyfish and the road trip aspect was cool as well, it's similar to Changing Gear in a way. The two main characters were very enjoyable to read but I liked Jack more since he had a relatable struggle of losing his father.
The two characters met each other unexpectedly in a taxi but they got along well which I really liked, they once had a romantic interest then they broke up but they are still friends with each other. The ending was bittersweet since Jack finally met his long lost brother Alex but they are still grieving and Jack thinks of Hallie who had her cancer temporarily treated but it might come back and another character named Owen who died by assisted suicide. If you like a sad yet heartwarming rom-com this is the book for you.
shelvesofstarlight's review against another edition
5.0
This book was absolutely stunning and such a wonderful read that made me so happy and also tore my heart to pieces at times.
The characters were so well written and I loved reading both Jack and Hallie's perspectives throughout the book as their journeys came together and then separated. I just felt everything with them as they went through so much in such a short period of time and it was just so wonderful to watch them both grow on their road trip to San Francisco. Another character I particularly enjoyed was Oscar and I loved how he came back into the book and we were able to see how his arc ended as well because I had become quite invested in his story.
The plot was amazing and I just adored how it followed Jack and Hallie over the course of 24 hours and them both after a time jump so we were able to see what happened based on the decision they had made. I laughed and I cried and now I really want to go to San Fransisco and do a spontaneous road trip! The ending was perfect for the book, even if I had wanted a slightly different ending for the characters it felt right for the book and I desperately want a sequel now to see how Jack and Hallie's stories continue to intertwine with each other and see where they end up. I just adored the story of this book so much!
The writing was wonderful and beautiful and just such a delight to read. As I've said I adored the characters and the plot and I was just so absorbed by this book completely and I felt like I was living the experience with the characters. I cannot wait to see what else Robin Ruel comes out with because I know that it is going to be absolutely amazing!
I was kindly given a copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.
The characters were so well written and I loved reading both Jack and Hallie's perspectives throughout the book as their journeys came together and then separated. I just felt everything with them as they went through so much in such a short period of time and it was just so wonderful to watch them both grow on their road trip to San Francisco. Another character I particularly enjoyed was Oscar and I loved how he came back into the book and we were able to see how his arc ended as well because I had become quite invested in his story.
The plot was amazing and I just adored how it followed Jack and Hallie over the course of 24 hours and them both after a time jump so we were able to see what happened based on the decision they had made. I laughed and I cried and now I really want to go to San Fransisco and do a spontaneous road trip! The ending was perfect for the book, even if I had wanted a slightly different ending for the characters it felt right for the book and I desperately want a sequel now to see how Jack and Hallie's stories continue to intertwine with each other and see where they end up. I just adored the story of this book so much!
The writing was wonderful and beautiful and just such a delight to read. As I've said I adored the characters and the plot and I was just so absorbed by this book completely and I felt like I was living the experience with the characters. I cannot wait to see what else Robin Ruel comes out with because I know that it is going to be absolutely amazing!
I was kindly given a copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour.
postmodernblues's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
3.0
A solid YA with some poignant conversations about grief and loss. Cliche'd to hell and back, but I have to admit, if this book was a Netflix original film with a gauzy, somber color palette, a standard Hollywood Dilf™ like Luke Wilson or Paul Rudd as one of the parents, and two waify former Disney Channel kids as the leads, I would 100% watch it.
dabutkus's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good book about two teenagers who know of each other but don’t know each other. The night of high school graduation changes that as they both find themselves at the bus station going different ways …. until they find themselves sharing a cab and going into the night. I absolutely fell in love with how Robin wrote this story and I felt like I was a fly in the corner of the cab while reading. This threw me back to my own graduation and how scary it was to have the world at your feet and no idea where you were going. The big world problems these two faced made me fret a bit more about how they were going to get through this roadtrip but as in most books, everything turned out just fine. This was a quick read for me as I kept wanting to know what was going to happen and how this two day roadtrip was going to change Jack and Hallie for the good. I do need a sequel as I want to know what happens to Jack and Hallie down the road. A great book to read right before a roadtrip to get you excited for the road ahead.
genericgeekgirl's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book. The story is engaging and the characters are likable. And though the premise is a bit of a suspension of disbelief the situations and the way they resolve are pretty realistic. Though I'll admit I wasn't quite as drawn into the story as I think I was hoping to be. I'm not sure why as there isn't anything inherently wrong with the book, I think maybe just the whole time in the back of my mind I was comparing it to The Sun is Also a Star by Nicole Yoon which has a similar plot and themes but conveys them in a much more interesting way in my opinion and is actually one of my all-time favorite books.
Spoiler
I kind of wish Hallie had gotten to meet/say goodbye to Owen. I suppose him dying before she gets a chance adds to the realism of the whole thing, but from a writing standpoint it isn't that great. It felt like building up to something and then giving it a cop-out ending. but that's just the way I saw it.emmieham's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, moving, so very sweet. It is filled with hilarious antics and even more moments of wisdom. It reminded me of Me, Earl, & the Dying Girl and Perk of Being A Wallflower. It had the same emotions as those - teens making mistakes, feeling their emotions, coming to terms with who they are and what they want out of life.
This book made me want to turn back the clock and try again, while at the same time reminding me I am exactly where I need to be.
Highly recommend.
This book made me want to turn back the clock and try again, while at the same time reminding me I am exactly where I need to be.
Highly recommend.
mcarter18's review against another edition
5.0
10/10
Oh my god. Oh my fucking god. This book was amazing. Easily one of my favorites of the entire year. Thanks to the Book Drop subscription box for sending me this masterpiece.
Okay. So. Jack. Hallie. Oscar. Princess. Owen. Alex. All of these amazing characters that fit into this one weekend, this one life-changing 48 hour trip.
I love Jack. I love him. He addressed a lot of feelings about grief, about wanting more time to figure out life. He also spent the entire book coming to the realization that maybe he wasn't as content with his life as he thought he was on page one. And even on page 1 he was struggling.
Hallie learns throughout the whole book that it's not a crime to trust people and let them in. She realized, with the passing of one of her closest friends drawing so near, that there was life outside of her room, and sometimes, the risks outweigh the consequences.
Oscar is literally the only reason this story happened, and I loved him so much. GoodCarma gets a 5-star review from me, even if they are fake. If he hadn't been headed to LA, if he hadn't been able to pick up Jack that night, none of this story would have been possible.
The ending was so amazing, I think it reflected the book perfectly. It actually reminded me of Jack's "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel that he was writing. We see Hallie and Jack agree to meet up in the future, and I think that their ending is decided by each individual reader, just like a CYOA book. If you're an optimist, Jack and Hallie meet again, time leads them back to one another. If you're a pessimist, then for whatever reason, they don't meet.
This book showed every reader to expect the unexpected, to roll with life, and to never, ever stay on the ground, no matter how many times life throws you down.
This story is told in a beautiful, unconditional, witty way. I grew to love and feel for every single character. I will go through every adjective I know to describe this book, because it deserves all the praise. I definitely have a new favorite.
Oh my god. Oh my fucking god. This book was amazing. Easily one of my favorites of the entire year. Thanks to the Book Drop subscription box for sending me this masterpiece.
Okay. So. Jack. Hallie. Oscar. Princess. Owen. Alex. All of these amazing characters that fit into this one weekend, this one life-changing 48 hour trip.
I love Jack. I love him. He addressed a lot of feelings about grief, about wanting more time to figure out life. He also spent the entire book coming to the realization that maybe he wasn't as content with his life as he thought he was on page one. And even on page 1 he was struggling.
Hallie learns throughout the whole book that it's not a crime to trust people and let them in. She realized, with the passing of one of her closest friends drawing so near, that there was life outside of her room, and sometimes, the risks outweigh the consequences.
Oscar is literally the only reason this story happened, and I loved him so much. GoodCarma gets a 5-star review from me, even if they are fake. If he hadn't been headed to LA, if he hadn't been able to pick up Jack that night, none of this story would have been possible.
The ending was so amazing, I think it reflected the book perfectly. It actually reminded me of Jack's "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel that he was writing. We see Hallie and Jack agree to meet up in the future, and I think that their ending is decided by each individual reader, just like a CYOA book. If you're an optimist, Jack and Hallie meet again, time leads them back to one another. If you're a pessimist, then for whatever reason, they don't meet.
This book showed every reader to expect the unexpected, to roll with life, and to never, ever stay on the ground, no matter how many times life throws you down.
This story is told in a beautiful, unconditional, witty way. I grew to love and feel for every single character. I will go through every adjective I know to describe this book, because it deserves all the praise. I definitely have a new favorite.