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leahjanespeare's review against another edition
3.75
I am not sure I enjoyed this, but I am glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
selena74321's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Outside of reading the basic synopsis on the dust cover of the book, I went into this book blind. When I first began reading, I found myself quite excited about the premise, thinking this was going to be one of my favorite books.
I adore books that give me a chance to step into the shoes of someone with a life vastly different from mine, so I was excited when I found out that we were following Maddy, a young adult living on the streets of San Francisco. To make it even better, it seemed like it was going to integrate mystery into the book. The premise was perfect - an unhoused 20-something witnesses the death of a young boy, and has to find a way to cope with the mental repercussions.
As the story went on, it seemed increasingly misguided. They made it seem like we’d get some positive resolution for Maddy after the long scenes with Shane’s parents, or that the murderer himself would make more of an appearance and leave a negative impact on Maddy’s life. The book set up so much, but didn’t have much payoff at the end. In fact, the book ended very abruptly and left me in a state of confusion. During the entire book, Maddy didn’t want to see her mom because it hurt her to know how far gone she was from her mental illness. Dave and his wife kept mentioning that Maddy’s parents probably wanted to know more about her and how she was doing. Maddy was stubborn, and resolved never to speak to her mother again. I’m unclear where the turnaround for Maddy was. There was no climax to the story.
Also, I loved the idea of Maddy’s perspective giving the reader empathy for the unhoused populations around us, but I was a bit confused to see that the author had never been unhoused. She had just lived in SF for a long time. I hope she did some research before writing this, at least.
Ultimately, because of the first part, I feel comfortable giving it 3.75 stars. However, due to the lack of an ending and emotional payoff, I cannot give it much more.
I adore books that give me a chance to step into the shoes of someone with a life vastly different from mine, so I was excited when I found out that we were following Maddy, a young adult living on the streets of San Francisco. To make it even better, it seemed like it was going to integrate mystery into the book. The premise was perfect - an unhoused 20-something witnesses the death of a young boy, and has to find a way to cope with the mental repercussions.
As the story went on, it seemed increasingly misguided. They made it seem like we’d get some positive resolution for Maddy after the long scenes with Shane’s parents, or that the murderer himself would make more of an appearance and leave a negative impact on Maddy’s life. The book set up so much, but didn’t have much payoff at the end. In fact, the book ended very abruptly and left me in a state of confusion.
Also, I loved the idea of Maddy’s perspective giving the reader empathy for the unhoused populations around us, but I was a bit confused to see that the author had never been unhoused. She had just lived in SF for a long time. I hope she did some research before writing this, at least.
Ultimately, because of the first part, I feel comfortable giving it 3.75 stars. However, due to the lack of an ending and emotional payoff, I cannot give it much more.
rachelares1's review against another edition
4.0
This book captured the baffling, often self-destructive behaviors of the unhoused.
indydc's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
k8perkins's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
alifromkc1907's review against another edition
4.0
Gut Instinct Rating: 3
Characters: 3.75
Believability: 4
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 3
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 3
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.10
Characters: 3.75
Believability: 4
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 3
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 3
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.10
helen000's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
pinkalpaca's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
altlovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was a powerful story following Maddy, a homeless 20-something who hangs around with her other homeless friends in Golden Gate Park. You get a detailed picture of their lives and how they manage to make do despite hardship. While walking her dog, Root, Maddy becomes witness to a crime, upending the dull but predictable life she had lived until then.
I've never been homeless or lived anywhere with a large homeless population, so I appreciated the detail the author included about how Maddy and her friends lived. I really felt like I got to know them and their lives, their associates, their hangouts, where they go for food, their interactions with cops and tourists. I liked the insight into Maddy's thoughts, and the motives for why her and her friends are on the street. It was a nice look at a subsection of the population I don't know much about.
On the other hand, I felt like the plot the author was trying to tell alongside this snapshot of homeless life fell flat. I don't understand what switched in Maddy's head to go from actively avoiding anything involving the crime to becoming a junior detective on the street. I didn't like some of the characters, particularly the ones involved with the crime. I also somewhat didn't like Maddy turning her nose up at all the opportunities the author wrote into the narrative for her to change her life, and actively encouraged her friends to do the same. Maybe it's a product of the homeless mentality, I don't know. The book also just....ends. There's no real conclusion to Maddy's story, which I guess we're meant to just infer as being the same as it always had been.
In short, the writing is really well done, but the story woven by that writing just isn't compelling. That, coupled with unlikeable characters and motives prevented me from rating this much higher.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've never been homeless or lived anywhere with a large homeless population, so I appreciated the detail the author included about how Maddy and her friends lived. I really felt like I got to know them and their lives, their associates, their hangouts, where they go for food, their interactions with cops and tourists. I liked the insight into Maddy's thoughts, and the motives for why her and her friends are on the street. It was a nice look at a subsection of the population I don't know much about.
On the other hand, I felt like the plot the author was trying to tell alongside this snapshot of homeless life fell flat. I don't understand what switched in Maddy's head to go from actively avoiding anything involving the crime to becoming a junior detective on the street. I didn't like some of the characters, particularly the ones involved with the crime. I also somewhat didn't like Maddy turning her nose up at all the opportunities the author wrote into the narrative for her to change her life, and actively encouraged her friends to do the same. Maybe it's a product of the homeless mentality, I don't know. The book also just....ends. There's no real conclusion to Maddy's story, which I guess we're meant to just infer as being the same as it always had been.
In short, the writing is really well done, but the story woven by that writing just isn't compelling. That, coupled with unlikeable characters and motives prevented me from rating this much higher.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
melissa_juliet's review against another edition
5.0
Katherine Seligman has created a completely immersive and gripping depiction of modern-day homelessness. Spending her days on the streets and her nights in Golden Gate Park, Maddie Donaldo is most comfortable by herself or with her small group of friends. When she stumbles onto a murder scene, however, she's forced to expand her circle to include police, the victim's family, and even the murderer himself. The story itself feels raw and authentic, deftly handling a reality that for most people exists outside of what we can realistically imagine. At the same time, Maddie's search for family, home, and security is deeply relatable for any young person just starting out in adulthood, regardless of the circumstances. Through both vivid external details and the thoughtful inner life of the main character, this book changed the way I see my own streets and the people who walk through them.