Reviews

When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert

laurenb's review

Go to review page

I tried- I couldn't get into the story. Not a good sign when I'm already skimming 10 pages into the book! I tried a bit longer, but something about the writing and main characters just aren't working for me.

etakloknok's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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

5.0

alannar2422's review

Go to review page

4.0

This book was good but I wasn't as into it as I hoped to be. Thinking back on it the synopsis didn't really interest me from the start I was just curious so it was more my preference than the book structure that went wrong. The friendship and bond between the friend group was something everyone would strive to have once in their life and I loved it.
KLG's writing is very poetic and I really liked her writing even though the plot was a bit of a miss to me. She handled sensitive topics really well.
interesting book overall!

hayleybeale's review

Go to review page

3.0

I have read and enjoyed two of Kelly Loy Gilbert's previous novels - Conviction and Picture Us in the Light. They are measured, subtly drawn and nuanced novels and I was expecting something similar from When We Were Infinite. To be honest, I didn't feel like I got it: I found the novel overlong and unbalanced, the protagonist was beyond annoying, and there is way too much telling and not showing. Having said that, this is clearly a labor of love for the author; in the notes at the end she reveals that she first started writing it in 2006 and I’m wondering if this was an autobiographical first novel that’s been revamped. Because it is clearly so personal, I’m loath to write a bad review, so I’ll stick with a brief plot description and some personal thoughts.

Set in a high pressure and high achieving mainly Asian American high school, Beth feels like she and her four friends - Sunny, Grace, Brandon, and her secret crush Jason, are an “invincible” unit and, more than that, they feel like her family. Her white father left her Chinese mother when Beth was young and, ever since then, she has struggled to understand what her mother did to drive him away and how she, Beth, can avoid the same mistakes. When Beth and Brandon witness Jason’s father hitting him, the group tries to pull together around Jason but he builds a wall around himself and refuses to discuss the incident. This leads to a frightening and potentially life changing fallout.

As in Picture Us in the Light, the author does a wonderful job of evoking the pressure cooker atmosphere of the school and the crush of expectation that the students live under. This authenticity also reaches into Beth’s family - the strained relationship with her mother and a marvelously uncomfortable meal they have with her maternal grandparents. The engulfing tight-knit friendships and that feeling of the end of an era that comes with graduating high school are both beautifully drawn.

Here are my three main issues with the novel:

Firstly I found the balance of black despair to hope and light at the end of the tunnel to be way off. I appreciate that the momentous events of the early part of the novel are not to be quickly skipped over, but it’s really only in the last 10% of the novel that things move upwards. I feel like some of the characters are more positive than others and that having more Sunny and Grace would have leavened what felt like a trudge through the gloom.

I found Beth to be the most annoying representation of YA teen girls: she thinks that everything is her fault, she doesn’t feel “good enough,” her idea of a relationship involves her sacrificing herself and her needs, and she keeps everything inside herself. It is a skillfully built portrait of what may be a very realistic character but I just did not want to be in her head for over 300 pages.

There is so much over explanation of what Beth means, so much telling without showing. Here’s just a small example. Beth’s estranged father comes to her graduation and after the ceremony she sees him “off to the side, scrolling through his phone” - a very precise and sharply drawn image. But, in case the reader doesn’t get it, the author/Beth has to explain the image for us: “the way you do at a party where you don’t know anyone.”

Judging by the reviews this novel has received, I’m on my own here. Perhaps it was just the wrong book at the wrong time? I’ll certainly buy it for my high school library and will handsell it to individuals for whom it could hit the spot, but it’s not a book I’d recommend carte blanche.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

biblioberry's review

Go to review page

5.0

this book literally sucked my soul out but it was worth it because this book IS my soul and I have never related as profoundly to anything before. I’m exhausted from the month it took me to read this though I’m gonna go sleep now bye:)

ameserole's review

Go to review page

2.0

When We Were Infinite sounded like it was going to be an incredible book. Right from the start, I automatically assumed this was going to turn me into an emotional puddle. Or two. Now this definitely took me through the ups and downs of all kinds of emotions due to the heavy topics mentioned throughout this. Yet, and this is a BIG yet, I just couldn't connect with a character. Let alone even find anything likable about the main character - Beth.

Oh man. Beth. It's like she had endless options on how to correctly react towards certain things and just said 'what the hell' and messed everything up. On repeat. I hated how she treated her mom when she found out that he had to pay for child support. Mostly because she claimed that she was manipulating her dad into hating her because of it. Like no, no no no no no, that's not how child support works girl. Go run with scissors or something.

I get that child support is different in any situation but I'm basing this off on my own experience. My parents divorced when I was in 4th grade and my mom was court ordered to pay child support. She didn't. Not a single penny went to my father when he was taking care of my older siblings and I. Her reason why? Well she saw us 4 days out of every month. It's like she deserved a cookie or something.

On top of that, she also made terrible decisions left and right with her own friendships. It was completely frustrating to watch everything unravel and how she was like.. 'Oh I just feel terrible about everything.' Blah blah blah. Those are just words now and I'm annoyed with you so freaking much.

In the end, I dove into this with zero expectations and ended up being okay. I think my favorite part was the ending.

izzyrice21's review

Go to review page

emotional 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

moon_bun07's review

Go to review page

dark hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I did eventually finish this book but my god it was difficult. While the main character Beth certainly goes through it, I found her super unlikeable and got very frustrated by her actions. The second half definitely makes up for the first half. Themes in this books are definitely heavy so be forewarned. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jadewords's review

Go to review page

5.0

*4.5 stars

colorfulleo92's review

Go to review page

3.0

3.5 stars. Don't get me wrong it's a very well told, well written novel. A story that will hook you into the characters life. I went into this book because of the friendship. It's a strong bond they have and very compelling to read about. However I would recommend looking up all the trigger warnings in this book before going in. I have not a full list on all so I'll not include it here but i think it easy to find. So it's not an easy read, gets a bit emotional draining in parts but I still think it's a very good book