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jnligdas's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
take_me_awayyy's review
4.0
There were a few things I didn't care for, but others I adored. Real review to come.
*Edit: 02/28/2018*
I found this book on accident really. I couldn't decide what to read so I decided to read a little from each of the ones I had in mind. When I got to this one, I just couldn't stop reading it.
Brooke was supposed to have it easy. Go to a new school and have an easy summer. But one day, that's all changed when she comes home to see that her mom has been arrested for killing her father. Brooke has so much on her plate trying to learn how to keep the family together and everything else. But then she learns the hardest lesson yet- when to let go.
The writing style was what got me. I wasn't expecting to fall into this book and get stuck like I did. I called myself reading only the first chapter and I just couldn't stop reading it. I loved how Smith was able to "show" me Brooke's world instead of just telling me. This is one of my favorite parts of reading, getting lost in the character's world.
However, I wasn't a fan of the MC. It was like a wreck that you couldn't look away from. I felt so bad for her situation, but I also knew that was too much for anyone to go through. Adding on to the fact that she got migraines from stress, (which I can definitely relate to) it was just too much. I wanted to shake her and tell her it didn't have to be that way. But I knew her pride was getting in the way. (However I LOVED Dani and I was not happy about how things went with her....)
I also really liked how Smith handled the tough subject of having a parent in prison, having one pass away, and having one kid witness it. It was such a terrible situation, and I really wanted to hug them all. Especially Callie. I couldn't even imagine what to do in that type of situation. Smith found a good way to handle it all.
I really was expecting to only read the first chapter in this book, but I was sucked into it unexpectedly. Sometimes that makes the best stories. I'm happy that I chose this one to get sucked into.
*Edit: 02/28/2018*
I found this book on accident really. I couldn't decide what to read so I decided to read a little from each of the ones I had in mind. When I got to this one, I just couldn't stop reading it.
Brooke was supposed to have it easy. Go to a new school and have an easy summer. But one day, that's all changed when she comes home to see that her mom has been arrested for killing her father. Brooke has so much on her plate trying to learn how to keep the family together and everything else. But then she learns the hardest lesson yet- when to let go.
The writing style was what got me. I wasn't expecting to fall into this book and get stuck like I did. I called myself reading only the first chapter and I just couldn't stop reading it. I loved how Smith was able to "show" me Brooke's world instead of just telling me. This is one of my favorite parts of reading, getting lost in the character's world.
However, I wasn't a fan of the MC. It was like a wreck that you couldn't look away from. I felt so bad for her situation, but I also knew that was too much for anyone to go through. Adding on to the fact that she got migraines from stress, (which I can definitely relate to) it was just too much. I wanted to shake her and tell her it didn't have to be that way. But I knew her pride was getting in the way. (However I LOVED Dani and I was not happy about how things went with her....)
I also really liked how Smith handled the tough subject of having a parent in prison, having one pass away, and having one kid witness it. It was such a terrible situation, and I really wanted to hug them all. Especially Callie. I couldn't even imagine what to do in that type of situation. Smith found a good way to handle it all.
I really was expecting to only read the first chapter in this book, but I was sucked into it unexpectedly. Sometimes that makes the best stories. I'm happy that I chose this one to get sucked into.
taylor_nic0le's review
2.0
I enjoyed Smiths debut novel, but this only never really clicked for me. The scenarios that played out are all a little too farfetched for me. I would have liked more of the focus being on the past family issues instead of the present issues. I just never really got hooked into this one..
sacuna85's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
courtvaderbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Breathtaking
Such a wondrous novel. Everything this author puts out is magnificent. I Will read everything by her. So so good.
Such a wondrous novel. Everything this author puts out is magnificent. I Will read everything by her. So so good.
lynnslibrary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book broke me. I will be thinking about it for weeks. I don't give many 5/5 stars, but this one deserves it. It has a way of making everything seem hopeful, and then taking it away, then making it hopeful again, then taking it away again, and repeateding in an endless cycle of heartbreak. I love the LGBT representation. Not many authors would have seen how the whole plot is based on domestic violence and mental health, two very controversial topics, and added in a third.
I finished this book in math class and was on the verge of tears. Books hardly make me cry. This one was incredible. I wasn't expecting her to be able to pull together a somewhat happy ending. Dani and Brooke are such an amazing couple. It took me a while to like Caroline, but the minute she gave Brooke the snowflake book I instantly loved her
Amber Smith is such a great mental health/ sad author. I've read 'The way I used to be', which was also such an amazing book.
I finished this book in math class and was on the verge of tears. Books hardly make me cry. This one was incredible.
Amber Smith is such a great mental health/ sad author. I've read 'The way I used to be', which was also such an amazing book.
ahicksreads's review
4.0
This was so good! I loved the characters, the main plot, the subplots, the humor - seriously, it's wonderful. It's main topic is also as important as her last book's, but I will say this one was easier to read because it didn't cause quite such a visceral response as The Way I Used to Be did. I read this book all day today when I probably should have been catching up on grading. #worthit
librarianmel's review
2.0
Pros:
-One POV.
-Characters go through serious trauma and are traumatized in different ways.
-Has a happy enough ending, rather than a happy ending.
Cons:
-The crime at the heart of this story is COMPLETELY ignored (other than as a cause for trauma), no one else in town seems to react, there's no media circus, none of the kids at the new school know about it, the kids are not involved in the process by the police, etc. If this has really happened...there would be five news vans parked around the houses of everyone who had ever met the family, seriously.
-Seems to gloss over the acts of physical and mental abuse by the "victim", because the abused didn't take the kids and leave, well, it's her fault for snapping and killing the "victim." I actually took another star off after I read that sentence...WHAT THE HECK, AUTHOR!?!?!
-One POV.
-Characters go through serious trauma and are traumatized in different ways.
-Has a happy enough ending, rather than a happy ending.
Cons:
-The crime at the heart of this story is COMPLETELY ignored (other than as a cause for trauma), no one else in town seems to react, there's no media circus, none of the kids at the new school know about it, the kids are not involved in the process by the police, etc. If this has really happened...there would be five news vans parked around the houses of everyone who had ever met the family, seriously.
-Seems to gloss over the acts of physical and mental abuse by the "victim", because the abused didn't take the kids and leave, well, it's her fault for snapping and killing the "victim." I actually took another star off after I read that sentence...WHAT THE HECK, AUTHOR!?!?!
maegsreadsalot's review
4.0
I have never read a book with the concept of abusive relationship between parents resulting in your parent killing the other. But this book was really good. It deals with the fact that sometimes you need to let go for the best. I really liked it.