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paperback_heart's review
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.0
lunamoon62's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
dobbsthedog's review against another edition
4.0
Received from NetGalley, thanks!
CW: sexual assault (historical, not on page), suicidal ideation, dissociation, more
This was a really tough book to read. It deals with a lot of really heavy topics and I think it does a really good job discussing those topics, but I certainly wouldn’t say that I enjoyed this book. If you decide to read this book, please do take a look at the content warnings, because this book is A LOT.
This book is about Nathaniel and how his past trauma and guilt have completely shaped the person he is now. As I said, it’s really tough to read, because, as Nathaniel is the POV narrator, we are seeing how very not okay he is, but how desperately he’s trying to be. Or at least trying to appear okay.
I really liked this little friend group, who were able to at least partially see past the mask he was constantly wearing. I liked how he was able to reconnect with a friend he’d thought he’d lost.
I likely would have given this five stars, except that I just couldn’t buy anything positive to do with his family.The way they initially reacted when they found out that his cousin had been sexually assaulted by their uncle (they didn’t believe her at all and defended the uncle), how they constantly blamed Nathaniel for acting out without ever asking why he was acting out. Throughout the book Nathaniel is saying that his family never asked the right questions, and they didn’t. So, to see their reaction when he disclosed that he was also sexually assaulted by the uncle, their outrage didn’t seem believable to me. The way they couldn’t accept Nathaniel in any way except for the way that they wanted him to be (forcing him to dye his hair to it’s natural colour, removing his nail polish and jewelry) and forcing him into situations that he said he didn’t want to go to. As a parent of an older teen, I can’t imagine doing any of those things. His parents just seemed really terrible, so to have them just accept everything and be super supportive when he disclosed; I just didn’t buy it.
This is a very different book to Graziadei’s first book, which isn’t a bad thing, just something to be aware of.
CW: sexual assault (historical, not on page), suicidal ideation, dissociation, more
This was a really tough book to read. It deals with a lot of really heavy topics and I think it does a really good job discussing those topics, but I certainly wouldn’t say that I enjoyed this book. If you decide to read this book, please do take a look at the content warnings, because this book is A LOT.
This book is about Nathaniel and how his past trauma and guilt have completely shaped the person he is now. As I said, it’s really tough to read, because, as Nathaniel is the POV narrator, we are seeing how very not okay he is, but how desperately he’s trying to be. Or at least trying to appear okay.
I really liked this little friend group, who were able to at least partially see past the mask he was constantly wearing. I liked how he was able to reconnect with a friend he’d thought he’d lost.
I likely would have given this five stars, except that I just couldn’t buy anything positive to do with his family.
This is a very different book to Graziadei’s first book, which isn’t a bad thing, just something to be aware of.
bethany6788's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thought I was prepared for this book. I wasn’t. It was so heart-achingly honest and beautiful. Haunting and special. Hopeful and sad.
*spoilers*
Nathanial was a character that I just felt incredibly connected with. His brain was a very interesting place to be. I was really curious about what happened to him to cause his trauma and as I slowly realized, it brought tears to my eyes. Harboring the shame, pain, guilt, and trauma brought him so much sadness. My heart!! When he finally broke then and told his parents, brother, and friends, my heart ached but I loved that he could breathe again.
“But I was a boy and no one thought to ask me.”
I absolutely adored the friend group. How Tasha, Celeste, and Max loved and cared for Nathanial so hard. Even when he pushed them away, they kept coming back. True, loving friendship. I loved how fully fleshed out each of the characters were. Honestly, I would read another 200 pages if these characters because I adored them so much.
Nathanial’s struggles with his family broke my heart. I loved how his brother finally tried to open up their relationship and find out what happened. How his brother protected him at the end.
I was very emotional after finishing this book. It is incredibly gorgeous writing and I would recommend it whole heartedly. Make sure to read content warnings.
*spoilers*
Nathanial was a character that I just felt incredibly connected with. His brain was a very interesting place to be. I was really curious about what happened to him to cause his trauma and as I slowly realized, it brought tears to my eyes. Harboring the shame, pain, guilt, and trauma brought him so much sadness. My heart!! When he finally broke then and told his parents, brother, and friends, my heart ached but I loved that he could breathe again.
“But I was a boy and no one thought to ask me.”
I absolutely adored the friend group. How Tasha, Celeste, and Max loved and cared for Nathanial so hard. Even when he pushed them away, they kept coming back. True, loving friendship. I loved how fully fleshed out each of the characters were. Honestly, I would read another 200 pages if these characters because I adored them so much.
Nathanial’s struggles with his family broke my heart. I loved how his brother finally tried to open up their relationship and find out what happened. How his brother protected him at the end.
I was very emotional after finishing this book. It is incredibly gorgeous writing and I would recommend it whole heartedly. Make sure to read content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia
mweis's review against another edition
5.0
*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Icebreaker was one of my favorite books the year I read it, so when I saw a new A.L. Graziadei book I knew I had to read it.
In Repair takes place in the same world as Icebreaker, so we see some of those characters here to varying degrees which was nice though you certainly don't need to read one to read the other. In Repair follows Nathaniel Conti, a freshman who is struggling. He dissociates, he acts out, and he knows there's something wrong but he refuses to acknowledge what it is or how to fix it.
I really appreciate how Graziadei tackled Nat's trauma with so much care and nuance. Throughout the book Nat makes some questionable choices but the reader empathizes with him deeply. I also appreciated that while Nat grows throughout the book, he acknowledges that there is more growth that needs to happen and he understands there are consequences to his actions, even if those poor choices were made because of trauma responses.
In Repair cemented A.L. Graziadei as an author I will absolutely read everything from, and I cannot wait to see what they publish next.
Icebreaker was one of my favorite books the year I read it, so when I saw a new A.L. Graziadei book I knew I had to read it.
In Repair takes place in the same world as Icebreaker, so we see some of those characters here to varying degrees which was nice though you certainly don't need to read one to read the other. In Repair follows Nathaniel Conti, a freshman who is struggling. He dissociates, he acts out, and he knows there's something wrong but he refuses to acknowledge what it is or how to fix it.
I really appreciate how Graziadei tackled Nat's trauma with so much care and nuance. Throughout the book Nat makes some questionable choices but the reader empathizes with him deeply. I also appreciated that while Nat grows throughout the book, he acknowledges that there is more growth that needs to happen and he understands there are consequences to his actions, even if those poor choices were made because of trauma responses.
In Repair cemented A.L. Graziadei as an author I will absolutely read everything from, and I cannot wait to see what they publish next.
cassieroisman's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“from the author of icebreaker comes a deeply felt, gorgeously told story about confronting what’s buried, coming into your own, and finding your people.”
i’m taking this quote directly from the inside cover, because i feel like it introduces this book perfectly. nathaniel’s story was a hard one to read but such an important one to hear. there was so much i really appreciated about this book. the mental health representation was done so well, and everything felt so real and so raw. i really appreciate how the story ended, not with everything being wrapped up perfectly, but instead with themes of growth and hope. recovering from trauma is not a straightforward path. discovering yourself is not an easy journey. but with the end of this book, we see nathaniel “confronting what’s buried” while surrounded by people who care about him and how that leads him to be hopeful, for a future in which things will get better, like they have started to, and a future in which he is able to “come into his own”.
the friendships in this story were so beautifully written too. i loved seeing nat be able to find his people, both through developing relationships with new friends, and rekindling one with an old friend. also, i loved seeing him interacting and forming friendships with some of the characters from icebreaker. i missed mickey and jaysen, so i really enjoyed being able to read a little about them again.
i loved this book, and i would definitely recommend it, but i would also recommend checking content warnings if you’re thinking of reading it, because a lot of heavy topics are discussed.
i’m taking this quote directly from the inside cover, because i feel like it introduces this book perfectly. nathaniel’s story was a hard one to read but such an important one to hear. there was so much i really appreciated about this book. the mental health representation was done so well, and everything felt so real and so raw. i really appreciate how the story ended, not with everything being wrapped up perfectly, but instead with themes of growth and hope. recovering from trauma is not a straightforward path. discovering yourself is not an easy journey. but with the end of this book, we see nathaniel “confronting what’s buried” while surrounded by people who care about him and how that leads him to be hopeful, for a future in which things will get better, like they have started to, and a future in which he is able to “come into his own”.
the friendships in this story were so beautifully written too. i loved seeing nat be able to find his people, both through developing relationships with new friends, and rekindling one with an old friend. also, i loved seeing him interacting and forming friendships with some of the characters from icebreaker. i missed mickey and jaysen, so i really enjoyed being able to read a little about them again.
i loved this book, and i would definitely recommend it, but i would also recommend checking content warnings if you’re thinking of reading it, because a lot of heavy topics are discussed.
ccty's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
estavs's review
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
ravenyoongi's review
5.0
This was so beautifully and carefully done. But it was so heart wrenching 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I loved how it really was a process and there’s no perfect fix at the end - it’s just that things are finally looking up 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I really really loved it. She writes so truthfully, and all the characters and the world feel so developed and real. And I just feel so connected to it. That was a great read I really really love this author.
cpalmisanod's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In his childhood Nathaniel experienced a trauma he can’t talk about with anyone. He relies heavily on disassociation to cope. He doesn’t feel real unless he’s doing something outrageous with all eyes on him. This results in a history of criminal activity and broken friendships. When someone from his past unexpectedly pops up in his new life, he’s pushed closer to facing his past. When he’s finally able to share what happened with his family it’s like a weight has been lifted from his chest and he finally can see a future for himself.