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thebooksareeverywhere's review against another edition
5.0
More reivews at The Books Are Everywhere
Disclaimer: I received this book through NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review (thank you!).
Okay. Wow. Wow-ee. This book was insane, incredible. You name it, this book is it (as long as you mean it's good). Seriously, I always say the hardest books to review are the amazing ones...and I'm struggling to find the words for this one already.
The plot...is captivating, entertaining and all around amazing. There's a sort of twist at the end that although I was expecting, really wasn't sure if it was going to happen. And let me just say, I'm so glad it did! I'm also so, so happy it happened at Geauga! I just wanted to read on and on and on...and that's what I did, literally finishing the whole, 400 page novel in a few sittings. The amazing plot just made me feel like the pages were turning themselves!
The characters...are pretty much sat on an extremely emotional roller-coaster the entire way through the book. But that's okay, in fact that's what this book is all about - and Cori writes that so well! I loved how close I felt to all of the characters (even Mik) with all of their different chapters. I would even go as far to say as this is the best book I've ever read with more than two POV's. It just does so well!
The writing...okay, so the writing is just incredible. It's what ties this whole book together. Because yes, I loved the setting(s), characters, plot and everything else, but the writing just absolutely blew my mind.
How Cori put herself into the heads of all these amazing and unique characters I can't even begin to comprehend. I also loved how this book was so normal, and relatable, but at the same time so deep and emotional.
The setting...is not normally something I include in reviews, but here I simply have to.
Abandoned places fascinate me. And this book is full of them - in fact most of the best scenes are set in them. It made the book not only extremely unique, but also have this great edge I've never noticed in YA before. This creepy, ghostly but very intruiging edge that I couldn't drag myself away from.
In fact, the settings touched me so much that I'm going to be doing a post just about them (with links to info about the real places!) this Saturday. If you're interested, check that out!
Something I liked...ah the comic parts! Just like my lovely friend Sophie said, DO NOT LET THEM PUT YOU OFF! They perfectly represent Mik as a person, as the graffiti does for Bishop (don't let that put you off either!). Just as the poems and paintings do in Jandy Nelson's novels, they simply enhance and improve this beautiful book even further - and it just wouldn't be what it is without them.
Something I disliked...absolutely nothing. It is extremely rare that a bookworm will come across a novel that they found not one thing to dislike...but here is one of those ocassions that that has happened. I go through each book I read being able to pick up on at least one thing I didn't enjoy or could have been improved on. But now...I'm stuck for words. This book was perfect.
My thoughts...Cori McCarthy, I don't know how (please share your secret?) but you have created such an unusual, individual but so beautiful and magical book. I feel like it was a true treasure and one I will not find again in a long time.
This book is a perfect coming-of-age novel with a twist. If you haven't read it, I utterly force recommend you to do so. Now.
In fact...I may even go far enough to say that this book may have taken over (or at least equalled) All The Bright Places as my favourite novel of all time - wow.
My rating is...
☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
5 out of 5 moons
(and so much more)
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
Disclaimer: I received this book through NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review (thank you!).
Okay. Wow. Wow-ee. This book was insane, incredible. You name it, this book is it (as long as you mean it's good). Seriously, I always say the hardest books to review are the amazing ones...and I'm struggling to find the words for this one already.
The plot...is captivating, entertaining and all around amazing. There's a sort of twist at the end that although I was expecting, really wasn't sure if it was going to happen. And let me just say, I'm so glad it did! I'm also so, so happy it happened at Geauga! I just wanted to read on and on and on...and that's what I did, literally finishing the whole, 400 page novel in a few sittings. The amazing plot just made me feel like the pages were turning themselves!
The characters...are pretty much sat on an extremely emotional roller-coaster the entire way through the book. But that's okay, in fact that's what this book is all about - and Cori writes that so well! I loved how close I felt to all of the characters (even Mik) with all of their different chapters. I would even go as far to say as this is the best book I've ever read with more than two POV's. It just does so well!
The writing...okay, so the writing is just incredible. It's what ties this whole book together. Because yes, I loved the setting(s), characters, plot and everything else, but the writing just absolutely blew my mind.
How Cori put herself into the heads of all these amazing and unique characters I can't even begin to comprehend. I also loved how this book was so normal, and relatable, but at the same time so deep and emotional.
The setting...is not normally something I include in reviews, but here I simply have to.
Abandoned places fascinate me. And this book is full of them - in fact most of the best scenes are set in them. It made the book not only extremely unique, but also have this great edge I've never noticed in YA before. This creepy, ghostly but very intruiging edge that I couldn't drag myself away from.
In fact, the settings touched me so much that I'm going to be doing a post just about them (with links to info about the real places!) this Saturday. If you're interested, check that out!
Something I liked...ah the comic parts! Just like my lovely friend Sophie said, DO NOT LET THEM PUT YOU OFF! They perfectly represent Mik as a person, as the graffiti does for Bishop (don't let that put you off either!). Just as the poems and paintings do in Jandy Nelson's novels, they simply enhance and improve this beautiful book even further - and it just wouldn't be what it is without them.
Something I disliked...absolutely nothing. It is extremely rare that a bookworm will come across a novel that they found not one thing to dislike...but here is one of those ocassions that that has happened. I go through each book I read being able to pick up on at least one thing I didn't enjoy or could have been improved on. But now...I'm stuck for words. This book was perfect.
My thoughts...Cori McCarthy, I don't know how (please share your secret?) but you have created such an unusual, individual but so beautiful and magical book. I feel like it was a true treasure and one I will not find again in a long time.
This book is a perfect coming-of-age novel with a twist. If you haven't read it, I utterly force recommend you to do so. Now.
In fact...I may even go far enough to say that this book may have taken over (or at least equalled) All The Bright Places as my favourite novel of all time - wow.
My rating is...
☽ ☽ ☽ ☽ ☽
5 out of 5 moons
(and so much more)
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
kba76's review against another edition
4.0
A little slow at the start, as we work out the details of who's who and how they link. By the end I was feeling strangely moved.
Jaycee's destructive streak is scary to see, but understandable. Though the characters are all late teens, this felt like a watershed moment for all of them.
What struck me most was the focus on how the characters learn about themselves and each other. Though Jake seems such a strong presence in the novel, how they each deal with his 'ghost' really is intriguing.
Multiple viewpoints often put me off; here, it made perfect sense.
Thanks to NetGalley.
Jaycee's destructive streak is scary to see, but understandable. Though the characters are all late teens, this felt like a watershed moment for all of them.
What struck me most was the focus on how the characters learn about themselves and each other. Though Jake seems such a strong presence in the novel, how they each deal with his 'ghost' really is intriguing.
Multiple viewpoints often put me off; here, it made perfect sense.
Thanks to NetGalley.
syren96's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided by Sourcebooks and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an excellent exploration of different forms of grief/ways that grief can shape us. The use of mixed media in this was particularly effective in demonstrating the outlets that different people seek out when needing to heal.
The primary focus is on the grief of Jaycee, who's brother was killed the day of his high school graduation. The book starts on the day that she is graduating and facing living longer than her brother was able to. She goes on a pilgrimage to follow in his footsteps in the time leading up to his death and along the way ends up facing her grief head-on in a way that she has as yet been unable to.
The other primary characters are those that go along on this adventure:
Natalie - Jaycee's former best friend who dropped out of the picture after Jake died
Mik - Jake's childhood best friend who meets up with Jaycee every year on the anniversary of Jake's death
Zach - Natalie's boyfriend
and Bishop - Zach's best friend, who is currently a little on the outs with
While the focus is on Jaycee and her grief, everyone in the story has been affected in some way by Jake's death. They are also carrying their own private griefs from broken hearts or broken homes. Through the story we see what character traits that has brought out, such as being a control freak, Peter Pan syndrome, selective muteness etc and we also see how they are able to help each other heal.
Overall I really enjoyed this, and found the reactions to be realistic. While there was a bit of stereotyping in the characters, they were enjoyable and I cared about them, and that's all I can really ask for.
This book is an excellent exploration of different forms of grief/ways that grief can shape us. The use of mixed media in this was particularly effective in demonstrating the outlets that different people seek out when needing to heal.
The primary focus is on the grief of Jaycee, who's brother was killed the day of his high school graduation. The book starts on the day that she is graduating and facing living longer than her brother was able to. She goes on a pilgrimage to follow in his footsteps in the time leading up to his death and along the way ends up facing her grief head-on in a way that she has as yet been unable to.
The other primary characters are those that go along on this adventure:
Natalie - Jaycee's former best friend who dropped out of the picture after Jake died
Mik - Jake's childhood best friend who meets up with Jaycee every year on the anniversary of Jake's death
Zach - Natalie's boyfriend
and Bishop - Zach's best friend, who is currently a little on the outs with
While the focus is on Jaycee and her grief, everyone in the story has been affected in some way by Jake's death. They are also carrying their own private griefs from broken hearts or broken homes. Through the story we see what character traits that has brought out, such as being a control freak, Peter Pan syndrome, selective muteness etc and we also see how they are able to help each other heal.
Overall I really enjoyed this, and found the reactions to be realistic. While there was a bit of stereotyping in the characters, they were enjoyable and I cared about them, and that's all I can really ask for.
readinggrrl's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't put this book down. I was sucked in from the first page and it just kept moving me forward. The characters are all very realistic. Each chapter is from a different characters point of view.
As a parent of 3 kids who have all graduated from high school and had that Oh Shit moment of what comes next and how do I figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life this book speaks volumes, about death, life, that coming of age point in time right after graduation from high school, relationships, and living an authentic life. Beautifully and painfully written its a story that will stay with me. Loved it.
As a parent of 3 kids who have all graduated from high school and had that Oh Shit moment of what comes next and how do I figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life this book speaks volumes, about death, life, that coming of age point in time right after graduation from high school, relationships, and living an authentic life. Beautifully and painfully written its a story that will stay with me. Loved it.
saschadarlington's review against another edition
5.0
Jayce’s older brother, Jake, was always a daredevil, accepting any dare and sometimes foolishly pushing to the limit. That’s how he died. Now, on the anniversary of his death, Jayce decides to visit one of his favorite places to explore, the old insane asylum. She is joined by four others, each needing to work out personal issues before embarking on the next stage of their lives.
—
You Were Here is probably one of the most compelling novels I have read in a while. Each character is riveting in their own way and, at times, it feels like you are watching a train wreck as emotions and people collide in a tsunami of dysfunction. Since the death of her brother, Jayce has been viewed by others as morbid, strange, and self-destructive. The progress of her life has been halted as she tries to become Jake.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2017/01/13/review-of-you-were-here/
—
You Were Here is probably one of the most compelling novels I have read in a while. Each character is riveting in their own way and, at times, it feels like you are watching a train wreck as emotions and people collide in a tsunami of dysfunction. Since the death of her brother, Jayce has been viewed by others as morbid, strange, and self-destructive. The progress of her life has been halted as she tries to become Jake.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2017/01/13/review-of-you-were-here/
bogdana_the_booknerd's review against another edition
5.0
I received an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. To be honest I didn’t know much about the novel going in. I received an email from NetGalley recommending this book to me and decided to give it a try. I am so happy I did because this instantly became a favorite contemporary.
I was completely blown away by how much I adored this book. The story is told in multiple POVs. McCarthy gave each character a unique and distinct voice, switching between first person to third person, to graffiti art and graphic novel form of expressions, allowed the reader to deeply and intimately get to know each of the characters. The book deals with a very heavy subject matter: grief following the death of Jake, Jaycee’s brother, a daredevil starved for an adrenaline rush, who on the day of his high school graduation tragically dies while performing a daredevilish dare. The story shows how grief affects everyone differently and how each individual copes with it in their own way. While the subject matter is heavy, as we follow our characters on their journey of healing, the overall feeling throughout is uplifting and sweet.
The story starts on the fifth anniversary of Jake’s death with Jaycee revisiting one of Jake’s favorite places, an abandoned mental institution where she knows she will meet with Mik, Jake’s childhood friend, whom she meets every year on the anniversary of Jake’s death.
Even though it’s been five years since Jake’s passing, Jaycee hasn’t been able to overcome his death and is now wearing his clothes, sleeping in his bed, recreating some of his stunts, and visiting his old stomping grounds all in an effort to still feel him as a part of her life. On his death’s anniversary when she is on her way to the abandoned mental institution she ends up being joined, despite her loud objections, by her ex-best friend Natalie, Natalie’s boyfriend Zach, and Zach’s best friend Bishop.
The story is built around different relationships the characters share, such as Jaycee and her ex-best friend Natalie. Natalie abandoned Jaycee after Jake’s death and since then their friendship has been completely ruined. I don’t want to spoil the story, but there are so many different facets to this novel. We have Jaycee and Jake, Natalie and Zach, Zach and Bishop, Mik and Natalie, Jaycee and Natalie, Bishop and Natalie, and so much more. The intricate relationships built in the story were absolutely astounding. I was rooting so much for my favorite ships, for broken friendships to be fixed and just for overall healing.
Cori McCarthy is an amazing writer with an astonishing ability to create beautifully developed characters with relatable flaws and issues that will forever stay with me. I will most definitely re-read this book over and over again and will recommend it to pretty much everyone I know. You Were Here is a captivating beautifully written story, full of depth, and an overall fantastic read.
I was completely blown away by how much I adored this book. The story is told in multiple POVs. McCarthy gave each character a unique and distinct voice, switching between first person to third person, to graffiti art and graphic novel form of expressions, allowed the reader to deeply and intimately get to know each of the characters. The book deals with a very heavy subject matter: grief following the death of Jake, Jaycee’s brother, a daredevil starved for an adrenaline rush, who on the day of his high school graduation tragically dies while performing a daredevilish dare. The story shows how grief affects everyone differently and how each individual copes with it in their own way. While the subject matter is heavy, as we follow our characters on their journey of healing, the overall feeling throughout is uplifting and sweet.
The story starts on the fifth anniversary of Jake’s death with Jaycee revisiting one of Jake’s favorite places, an abandoned mental institution where she knows she will meet with Mik, Jake’s childhood friend, whom she meets every year on the anniversary of Jake’s death.
Even though it’s been five years since Jake’s passing, Jaycee hasn’t been able to overcome his death and is now wearing his clothes, sleeping in his bed, recreating some of his stunts, and visiting his old stomping grounds all in an effort to still feel him as a part of her life. On his death’s anniversary when she is on her way to the abandoned mental institution she ends up being joined, despite her loud objections, by her ex-best friend Natalie, Natalie’s boyfriend Zach, and Zach’s best friend Bishop.
The story is built around different relationships the characters share, such as Jaycee and her ex-best friend Natalie. Natalie abandoned Jaycee after Jake’s death and since then their friendship has been completely ruined. I don’t want to spoil the story, but there are so many different facets to this novel. We have Jaycee and Jake, Natalie and Zach, Zach and Bishop, Mik and Natalie, Jaycee and Natalie, Bishop and Natalie, and so much more. The intricate relationships built in the story were absolutely astounding. I was rooting so much for my favorite ships, for broken friendships to be fixed and just for overall healing.
Cori McCarthy is an amazing writer with an astonishing ability to create beautifully developed characters with relatable flaws and issues that will forever stay with me. I will most definitely re-read this book over and over again and will recommend it to pretty much everyone I know. You Were Here is a captivating beautifully written story, full of depth, and an overall fantastic read.
arizonahurn's review against another edition
4.0
The mixed media of this book is definitely what gave it intrigue, but that story - told with multiple pov's and an interesting storyline - is what brings it to life.
bikat111's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, I’ve read it over and over and over again over the past 4 years or so and every time I read it I find a new detail that I missed or didn’t pay close enough attention to. It is just a phenomenally written book that has such a unique style to it that is hard not to fall in love with.
b10tch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
jmanchester0's review against another edition
4.0
Why are YA books so intense??
This was a great book.
About losing.
About finding.
About loss.
About love.
About pain.
About healing.
About someone who was here, but isn't here now, who impacted everyone else in the story. In likely and unlikely ways.
Told from several perspectives, including art and sequential art (that's comics), and these perspectives work really well together.
Recommended if you like YA fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a copy in return for an honest review.
This was a great book.
About losing.
About finding.
About loss.
About love.
About pain.
About healing.
About someone who was here, but isn't here now, who impacted everyone else in the story. In likely and unlikely ways.
Told from several perspectives, including art and sequential art (that's comics), and these perspectives work really well together.
Recommended if you like YA fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a copy in return for an honest review.