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mbfeeney's review
5.0
I’m sure I’m not the only person who has wondered how they’d react if they were told that they only had months to live. I’d thought about how I would spend that time with family and close friends, getting my affairs in order and things such as that. I’m an adult, with children and responsibilities, so these are the things I would need to make sure are in place before…
But how would I have reacted if I was given that diagnosis and I was only 16?
I have a feeling that I would have reacted in pretty much the same as Mia did in Always and Forever. Even without her history of beating Leukemia, being told she had months to live makes her angry. Angry enough to decide that if she was going to die, it wouldn’t be of cancer.
What follows is a heartbreaking story of Mia trying her best to make her passing easier for her friends and family. Unfortunately, she takes it a little too far, and begins pushing them away.
It’s not very often that a book makes me cry. I’m not heartless, but the words have to be something spectacular to bring that level of emotion to the fore. I laugh a lot, but tend to hold sadness in. By the time I finished reading this book, I had a headache from crying so much, particularly the final two chapters.
I honestly feel that this book, and Nellenbach’s other, A Sliver of Hope, are some of the best YA books I have read in a long time. I enjoy paranormal romance books aimed at the Young Adult audience, but these are carrying a message to the target audience that are extremely important. They deal with subjects that some, not all, teens will come across in such a sensitive and sympathetic way that they will stay with the reader for such a long time. I know for a fact they will stay with me.
For this and more, go to: http://michbookreviews.wordpress.com/
But how would I have reacted if I was given that diagnosis and I was only 16?
I have a feeling that I would have reacted in pretty much the same as Mia did in Always and Forever. Even without her history of beating Leukemia, being told she had months to live makes her angry. Angry enough to decide that if she was going to die, it wouldn’t be of cancer.
What follows is a heartbreaking story of Mia trying her best to make her passing easier for her friends and family. Unfortunately, she takes it a little too far, and begins pushing them away.
It’s not very often that a book makes me cry. I’m not heartless, but the words have to be something spectacular to bring that level of emotion to the fore. I laugh a lot, but tend to hold sadness in. By the time I finished reading this book, I had a headache from crying so much, particularly the final two chapters.
I honestly feel that this book, and Nellenbach’s other, A Sliver of Hope, are some of the best YA books I have read in a long time. I enjoy paranormal romance books aimed at the Young Adult audience, but these are carrying a message to the target audience that are extremely important. They deal with subjects that some, not all, teens will come across in such a sensitive and sympathetic way that they will stay with the reader for such a long time. I know for a fact they will stay with me.
For this and more, go to: http://michbookreviews.wordpress.com/
tartbarbie's review
5.0
I received Always and Forever in return for an honest review from the publisher Booktrope. When she was 12 years old Mia was confirmed to have beaten Leukemia. Even though she was pronounced well her parents still worry about it coming back so she’s constantly visiting the doctor looking for signs of cancer. It’s now four years later Mia is sixteen and she’s been diagnosed with an inoperable form of cancer in her brain. The doctors tell Mia that she has less than a year to live.
Mia doesn't want to die least of all by cancer so she decides that she will choose the when and how. She sets out not telling anyone that she has cancer so that she can have just a little while longer to be normal. Things change between Mia and her best friend Kal when she tells him she doesn't have cancer he tells her how he’s in love with her. Mia can’t help getting swept into a relationship with the boy she’s always loved. However as she gets worse she decides that it won’t work and pushes him away. Causing a rift between that ends their friendship. She self destructively tries to end all her friendships in hopes of making her death easier.
Determine to not let the cancer kill her Mia sets out to attempt to accidently commit suicide from falling down the stairs to driving off the bridge. However none of them succeed leaving her regretting that she’s pushed all her friends away she decides to try and patch it up before it’s too late. Will she be able to fix them before her time runs out?
I love Mia she’s not had an easy life but she’s dealt with her struggles better than I would have. Even when she learns that she has less than a year she doesn't let it destroy her. She wants to be normal as long as she can to enjoy the last of her time. Who can blame her for not wanting to tell people I wouldn't want to be treated differently. I felt like I really connected to Mia like I was there with her through her whole story like she was my best friend. I was so happy that she had Brad and Dave to be there for her when Kal and Ricki weren't.
Always and Forever is unlike anything I've ever read. I tend to spend most my book time in the fantasy genre mostly because I’m a dreamer. I can honestly say I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Always and Forever but what I found was absolutely amazing. I found the book beautifully written, the author does an amazing job taking us through Mia’s story from start to finish. It’s a captivating story that starts tugging on your heart strings right from the start. I can honestly say I was teary eyed through most of the book and the last half after part three bargaining I cried the whole time. Thankfully I’m a fast reader or my hubby would have killed me for crying so much.
I honestly feel that Always and Forever is a brilliant book for people who have lost someone or are going through losing someone it shows you an interesting prospective one which I never considered before. I’ve lost many people over the years and for me Always and Forever gave me an insight into what they may have been going through. I just really loved this book. I will admit deep down I was hoping for a slightly different ending but I’m not complaining. I really loved the story it played with my emotional heartstrings in a way that no other book has. I’m truly impressed and blessed that I had the chance to read it. Yup still crying.
Mia doesn't want to die least of all by cancer so she decides that she will choose the when and how. She sets out not telling anyone that she has cancer so that she can have just a little while longer to be normal. Things change between Mia and her best friend Kal when she tells him she doesn't have cancer he tells her how he’s in love with her. Mia can’t help getting swept into a relationship with the boy she’s always loved. However as she gets worse she decides that it won’t work and pushes him away. Causing a rift between that ends their friendship. She self destructively tries to end all her friendships in hopes of making her death easier.
Determine to not let the cancer kill her Mia sets out to attempt to accidently commit suicide from falling down the stairs to driving off the bridge. However none of them succeed leaving her regretting that she’s pushed all her friends away she decides to try and patch it up before it’s too late. Will she be able to fix them before her time runs out?
I love Mia she’s not had an easy life but she’s dealt with her struggles better than I would have. Even when she learns that she has less than a year she doesn't let it destroy her. She wants to be normal as long as she can to enjoy the last of her time. Who can blame her for not wanting to tell people I wouldn't want to be treated differently. I felt like I really connected to Mia like I was there with her through her whole story like she was my best friend. I was so happy that she had Brad and Dave to be there for her when Kal and Ricki weren't.
Always and Forever is unlike anything I've ever read. I tend to spend most my book time in the fantasy genre mostly because I’m a dreamer. I can honestly say I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Always and Forever but what I found was absolutely amazing. I found the book beautifully written, the author does an amazing job taking us through Mia’s story from start to finish. It’s a captivating story that starts tugging on your heart strings right from the start. I can honestly say I was teary eyed through most of the book and the last half after part three bargaining I cried the whole time. Thankfully I’m a fast reader or my hubby would have killed me for crying so much.
I honestly feel that Always and Forever is a brilliant book for people who have lost someone or are going through losing someone it shows you an interesting prospective one which I never considered before. I’ve lost many people over the years and for me Always and Forever gave me an insight into what they may have been going through. I just really loved this book. I will admit deep down I was hoping for a slightly different ending but I’m not complaining. I really loved the story it played with my emotional heartstrings in a way that no other book has. I’m truly impressed and blessed that I had the chance to read it. Yup still crying.
themumwhoreads's review
5.0
Review also published on my blog StudentSpyglass
Source: Review copy for a blog tour
Plot: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Readability: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
I know I said realistic fiction wasn’t really my thing, but I’ve been trying to step out of my [fantasy dominated] comfort zone this year, so forgive me!
I have to admit, I loved Always and Forever. Mia, a sixteen year old cancer survivor gets diagnosed with a second type of cancer…an inoperable one, that doesn’t leave her with a lot of time. Determined not to fall prey to cancer and the indeterminable wait, she decides to take matters into her own hands, pushing her friends and family away as she tries to orchestrate her own death. I’ll be honest, this was a bit of a stretch for me, but the rest of the characters MORE than made up for Mia’s somewhat bizarre rationalisations.
Kal in particular is one of the most likeable characters I’ve read about in a long time, and throughout the book I veered from hating him to wanting to hug him – just as Mia does. Karla Nellenbach’s writing sucks you in so you can’t help but understand exactly how Mia feels, even if you want to shake her sometimes!
I’m not a big crier, but I have to confess that I pretty much sobbed my way through the entire book! The final scenes are especially beautifully written. If you’re looking for a beautiful, heart-wrenching story with a good dash of romance and some wonderful characters, look no further!
Source: Review copy for a blog tour
Plot: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Readability: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
I know I said realistic fiction wasn’t really my thing, but I’ve been trying to step out of my [fantasy dominated] comfort zone this year, so forgive me!
I have to admit, I loved Always and Forever. Mia, a sixteen year old cancer survivor gets diagnosed with a second type of cancer…an inoperable one, that doesn’t leave her with a lot of time. Determined not to fall prey to cancer and the indeterminable wait, she decides to take matters into her own hands, pushing her friends and family away as she tries to orchestrate her own death. I’ll be honest, this was a bit of a stretch for me, but the rest of the characters MORE than made up for Mia’s somewhat bizarre rationalisations.
Kal in particular is one of the most likeable characters I’ve read about in a long time, and throughout the book I veered from hating him to wanting to hug him – just as Mia does. Karla Nellenbach’s writing sucks you in so you can’t help but understand exactly how Mia feels, even if you want to shake her sometimes!
I’m not a big crier, but I have to confess that I pretty much sobbed my way through the entire book! The final scenes are especially beautifully written. If you’re looking for a beautiful, heart-wrenching story with a good dash of romance and some wonderful characters, look no further!
kelsied's review
5.0
I got this book free, so my expectations were kinds low. I know I read what it was about but then for some reason I thought it was different. I was confused, so I went in with little back knowledge.
But again, I got this free so I didn't expect much. I didn't expect to cry the little I did, or truly smile, and become somewhat attached to some of the characters. yes a fee parts were a bit weak in development, but the writing and concept in general were amazing.
I loved this and my expectations were wayyy passed. I wasn't sure how it would end, but I think it was perfect and worked.
I definitely recommend this. Touching and beautiful an jdfjcjdkd. <3
Also: I don't review things often so this says something. I think I really wanted to spread not to judge a book because it's not big name and it's free/very cheap. Also I adored this so ya.
But again, I got this free so I didn't expect much. I didn't expect to cry the little I did, or truly smile, and become somewhat attached to some of the characters. yes a fee parts were a bit weak in development, but the writing and concept in general were amazing.
I loved this and my expectations were wayyy passed. I wasn't sure how it would end, but I think it was perfect and worked.
I definitely recommend this. Touching and beautiful an jdfjcjdkd. <3
Also: I don't review things often so this says something. I think I really wanted to spread not to judge a book because it's not big name and it's free/very cheap. Also I adored this so ya.
lifeandliterature's review
5.0
I usually like to start a review by recapping how fantastic I thought the book was. But here I am some days later, after finishing Always and Forever and I still can't find the words to adequately describe the impact this book had on me. I admit to crying easily. I get misty eyed about many, many things. But it's very rare for me to find myself so overcome with emotion that I just want to curl into a ball and give in to the gut wrenching sobs that have overcome me.
I knew going in, just from reading the book description, that this wasn't going to be a happily ever after kind of book. But I was completely unprepared for these characters to take hold of me the way that they did. Completely and wholly. And even now just thinking about it, my eyes are struggling to keep the tears contained!!
Unfortunately death is an incredibly sad but inevitable part of life. But that should be once we have lived very long, happy and fulfilled lives. Not when we are sixteen and have already fought and beat cancer once!! Not when you have your whole life ahead of you!! Mia is given the news that cancer has again taken hold of her body, but this time it is inoperable. Once this news has been given to Mia and her family we take the journey with her through the different emotions as she struggles to accept that she is not going to have that long and happy life.
Always and Forever is full of such wonderful characters. Mia just slammed her way into my heart. I laughed with her, I cried with her, I got angry with her and I loved with her. As she pushed her family and friends away I just wanted to hug her and tell her to let these people that love her in. Let them treasure what time they have left!! And then there was Kal... He is just full of love and goodness and I fell completely in love with him. Him and Mia were so perfectly made for each other.
The final scene in the book broke me, not just for the subject matter but for the beauty of the writing. The author's writing is wonderful throughout the whole book, but that final scene completely nailed it for me!!! Heartbreakingly beautiful!!!
There are few certainties in life, but one of them is that I will be reading anything and everything that Karla J. Nellenbach writes from here on out!!
Review first posted at YA Book Addict... http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/
I knew going in, just from reading the book description, that this wasn't going to be a happily ever after kind of book. But I was completely unprepared for these characters to take hold of me the way that they did. Completely and wholly. And even now just thinking about it, my eyes are struggling to keep the tears contained!!
Unfortunately death is an incredibly sad but inevitable part of life. But that should be once we have lived very long, happy and fulfilled lives. Not when we are sixteen and have already fought and beat cancer once!! Not when you have your whole life ahead of you!! Mia is given the news that cancer has again taken hold of her body, but this time it is inoperable. Once this news has been given to Mia and her family we take the journey with her through the different emotions as she struggles to accept that she is not going to have that long and happy life.
Always and Forever is full of such wonderful characters. Mia just slammed her way into my heart. I laughed with her, I cried with her, I got angry with her and I loved with her. As she pushed her family and friends away I just wanted to hug her and tell her to let these people that love her in. Let them treasure what time they have left!! And then there was Kal... He is just full of love and goodness and I fell completely in love with him. Him and Mia were so perfectly made for each other.
The final scene in the book broke me, not just for the subject matter but for the beauty of the writing. The author's writing is wonderful throughout the whole book, but that final scene completely nailed it for me!!! Heartbreakingly beautiful!!!
There are few certainties in life, but one of them is that I will be reading anything and everything that Karla J. Nellenbach writes from here on out!!
Review first posted at YA Book Addict... http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/
geekyzoogirl's review
5.0
Review also published on my blog StudentSpyglass
Source: Review copy for a blog tour
Plot: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Readability: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
I know I said realistic fiction wasn’t really my thing, but I’ve been trying to step out of my [fantasy dominated] comfort zone this year, so forgive me!
I have to admit, I loved Always and Forever. Mia, a sixteen year old cancer survivor gets diagnosed with a second type of cancer…an inoperable one, that doesn’t leave her with a lot of time. Determined not to fall prey to cancer and the indeterminable wait, she decides to take matters into her own hands, pushing her friends and family away as she tries to orchestrate her own death. I’ll be honest, this was a bit of a stretch for me, but the rest of the characters MORE than made up for Mia’s somewhat bizarre rationalisations.
Kal in particular is one of the most likeable characters I’ve read about in a long time, and throughout the book I veered from hating him to wanting to hug him – just as Mia does. Karla Nellenbach’s writing sucks you in so you can’t help but understand exactly how Mia feels, even if you want to shake her sometimes!
I’m not a big crier, but I have to confess that I pretty much sobbed my way through the entire book! The final scenes are especially beautifully written. If you’re looking for a beautiful, heart-wrenching story with a good dash of romance and some wonderful characters, look no further!
Source: Review copy for a blog tour
Plot: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Readability: ★★★★★
Overall: ★★★★★
I know I said realistic fiction wasn’t really my thing, but I’ve been trying to step out of my [fantasy dominated] comfort zone this year, so forgive me!
I have to admit, I loved Always and Forever. Mia, a sixteen year old cancer survivor gets diagnosed with a second type of cancer…an inoperable one, that doesn’t leave her with a lot of time. Determined not to fall prey to cancer and the indeterminable wait, she decides to take matters into her own hands, pushing her friends and family away as she tries to orchestrate her own death. I’ll be honest, this was a bit of a stretch for me, but the rest of the characters MORE than made up for Mia’s somewhat bizarre rationalisations.
Kal in particular is one of the most likeable characters I’ve read about in a long time, and throughout the book I veered from hating him to wanting to hug him – just as Mia does. Karla Nellenbach’s writing sucks you in so you can’t help but understand exactly how Mia feels, even if you want to shake her sometimes!
I’m not a big crier, but I have to confess that I pretty much sobbed my way through the entire book! The final scenes are especially beautifully written. If you’re looking for a beautiful, heart-wrenching story with a good dash of romance and some wonderful characters, look no further!
libbet's review
4.0
I honest to god cried the. entire. book. Use for catharsis. Do not read in public if you cry easily. Or at all.
authorheatherw's review
5.0
As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I had an inkling I would be a sobbing mess while reading it. Although Always and Forever was certainly a tearjerker, it wasn’t merely a story about a girl dying from cancer. It was also about going through the stages of grief and being able to find love and acceptance along the way.
The author did a superb job of depicting Mia as an average high school girl. Her relationships and behaviors felt very realistic for a sixteen-year-old girl. I loved her friendships as well as a healthy relationship with her parents. Her behavior after finding out about the terminal diagnosis was also well done. It was easy to imagine a young girl trying to push everyone away in order to protect them from her impending death.
I went back and forth on my feelings towards Kal. At first, he was way too mushy for believability. He felt too romanticized and all the sobbing and poetry reading put me off. However, by the middle of the book he grew on me and I ended up liking him a lot more. It was great to see a three-dimensional YA male character that the main character didn’t fall for simply because he was hot and mysterious.
I enjoyed that the book was told in first person and gave the readers a chance to really get into Mia’s head and understand her motivations for wanting to end her life before she succumbed to cancer. Present tense may have worked better though since we know from the beginning she’s going to die.
If you’re in the mood for a sweet story that will cause spontaneous bouts of crying, then I highly recommend this book. The writing was beautiful and I’m going to be on the lookout for future books from the author.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
The author did a superb job of depicting Mia as an average high school girl. Her relationships and behaviors felt very realistic for a sixteen-year-old girl. I loved her friendships as well as a healthy relationship with her parents. Her behavior after finding out about the terminal diagnosis was also well done. It was easy to imagine a young girl trying to push everyone away in order to protect them from her impending death.
I went back and forth on my feelings towards Kal. At first, he was way too mushy for believability. He felt too romanticized and all the sobbing and poetry reading put me off. However, by the middle of the book he grew on me and I ended up liking him a lot more. It was great to see a three-dimensional YA male character that the main character didn’t fall for simply because he was hot and mysterious.
I enjoyed that the book was told in first person and gave the readers a chance to really get into Mia’s head and understand her motivations for wanting to end her life before she succumbed to cancer. Present tense may have worked better though since we know from the beginning she’s going to die.
If you’re in the mood for a sweet story that will cause spontaneous bouts of crying, then I highly recommend this book. The writing was beautiful and I’m going to be on the lookout for future books from the author.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
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