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maggie_andthebooks's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Sitting down and writing this review honestly was hard. I have so many thoughts and feelings and I just don't think I know the words to describe how to describe them. I loved August, the main character, and although he frustrated me sometimes I understand why he did what he did. I loved Julie too and although the ending was not what I wanted it to be I understand why it ended the way it did. Full review will be on https://www.instagram.com/maggie_andthebooks/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Rape
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘This isn’t a love story. It involves love, and things related to love. But it’s not neat. It’s not easy.’
Meet August Priddy. August is trying to recover from a relationship breakup. He’s working in a call centre and living in a small flat. August is also trying to write a book, but that isn’t going well for him either. Sigh. And then he sees a woman in his local café: she looks intriguing, but can August summon up the courage to speak to her? August has a twin sister, Gen, who looks out for him and encourages him. Eventually, August speaks to the woman (her name is Julie) and they begin to spend time together. This new relationship seems to bring them both happiness.
But Julie has a secret in her past, and once he learns what it is, August isn’t sure that he can live with it. August has his own secrets as well. Can this new relationship survive the weight of the past?
I found this an engaging and thoughtful read. I wanted to reach into the pages and shake August, to remind him of what he might lose if he couldn’t accept that people’s pasts are not the only influences on the future. I wanted him to be more flexible, to take opportunities rather than be paralysed into inertia by obsessive analysis. I wanted August to discover who he was, instead of being defined by how others saw him.
This novel is a reminder that the past can weigh heavily, but we can make choices. What choices will August and Julie make? What choices would you make is a similar situation?
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Pantera Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Meet August Priddy. August is trying to recover from a relationship breakup. He’s working in a call centre and living in a small flat. August is also trying to write a book, but that isn’t going well for him either. Sigh. And then he sees a woman in his local café: she looks intriguing, but can August summon up the courage to speak to her? August has a twin sister, Gen, who looks out for him and encourages him. Eventually, August speaks to the woman (her name is Julie) and they begin to spend time together. This new relationship seems to bring them both happiness.
But Julie has a secret in her past, and once he learns what it is, August isn’t sure that he can live with it. August has his own secrets as well. Can this new relationship survive the weight of the past?
I found this an engaging and thoughtful read. I wanted to reach into the pages and shake August, to remind him of what he might lose if he couldn’t accept that people’s pasts are not the only influences on the future. I wanted him to be more flexible, to take opportunities rather than be paralysed into inertia by obsessive analysis. I wanted August to discover who he was, instead of being defined by how others saw him.
This novel is a reminder that the past can weigh heavily, but we can make choices. What choices will August and Julie make? What choices would you make is a similar situation?
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Pantera Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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