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neileen_reads's review against another edition
1.0
High school is a tough time for eveyone. But it's especially is for Lily. For she had experienced depression and almost took her life over the summer. A loner, you can call her now. And she absolutely cannot stand her Chemistry class partner, Tara. She suddenly forgot how to act around her friends who never cared to call her over the summer, after hearing what happened to her. Now, she barely gets involved in their conversations at the cafeteria.
At the other side of the cafeteria, sits Dari (Dariomatirus although he prefers being called Dari), the new guy. An African-American 17 year old boy that sits alone and all that do is draw in his sketchbook. This particular boy catches Lili's eyes. As she approached the guy, she found comfort knowing that he is alone, like her. What will happen between the two?
Will their meeting start something that will heal each other? Or will they just be instruments that will ruin each other's life?
Enough with the cringey sypnosis.
I normally wouldn't say this because I've always thought that there is no such thing as a bad book. But I'm sorry, I didn't really like it.
I love all the awareness about Black lives, racism, and depression(although there's just too many social issues). But I just have a problem with some characters. At first, I love the way of writing and how things happened but towards the end of the story, things got awful.
First Lily's mom never felt like a mom the whole book. Like what kind of mom lets a guy stay overnight with her daughter AND left some condom? That's just messed up.
Lily's friends are really problematic and toxic. Lily has mentioned being friends with them for so long but when she was depressed, they didn't care? Another messed up characters.
The psychic. She was just super confusing. Not in a way that she want to make her statements sound mysterious. No, she was actually very literal. She told Lily that people are slippery, and if she hold on too tight they will slip between her fingers. With that, Lily realized that she love too hard. And she knew that Dari is special and different than her ex. She was actually thinking rationally. And then the psychic told Dari that Lily is like a parasite? She's just confusing.
I can perfectly understand and love the awareness about racism. Especially this time, where anti-racism protests are scattered around US. But when I finish the book, I just felt like the whole point of the book is just about the awareness, the other parts of the book wasn't given justice. And it felt like that author badly wanted to put too many social issues in one book but failed to focus on each issue, that it came out so chaotic.
This would come as a surprise but I cried. I think I cry in every book that I read. I was just so heartbroken for Lily and was quite disappointed that Dari said that he can't forgive her. Because how can you even forgive someone that denied you because you cheated on her with her own mother, right?(note the sarcasm) I think the author made it look like everything is Lily's fault. It seemed like that the author wanted people to blame it all to Lily and her depression and anger issue. What about Dari? He cheated on his girlfriend with her own mom, thought he knew Lily's condition better than she do, tried to kiss his ex, etc.
I'd give this a 1/5☆.
At the other side of the cafeteria, sits Dari (Dariomatirus although he prefers being called Dari), the new guy. An African-American 17 year old boy that sits alone and all that do is draw in his sketchbook. This particular boy catches Lili's eyes. As she approached the guy, she found comfort knowing that he is alone, like her. What will happen between the two?
Will their meeting start something that will heal each other? Or will they just be instruments that will ruin each other's life?
Enough with the cringey sypnosis.
I normally wouldn't say this because I've always thought that there is no such thing as a bad book. But I'm sorry, I didn't really like it.
I love all the awareness about Black lives, racism, and depression(although there's just too many social issues). But I just have a problem with some characters. At first, I love the way of writing and how things happened but towards the end of the story, things got awful.
First Lily's mom never felt like a mom the whole book. Like what kind of mom lets a guy stay overnight with her daughter AND left some condom? That's just messed up.
Lily's friends are really problematic and toxic. Lily has mentioned being friends with them for so long but when she was depressed, they didn't care? Another messed up characters.
The psychic. She was just super confusing. Not in a way that she want to make her statements sound mysterious. No, she was actually very literal. She told Lily that people are slippery, and if she hold on too tight they will slip between her fingers. With that, Lily realized that she love too hard. And she knew that Dari is special and different than her ex. She was actually thinking rationally. And then the psychic told Dari that Lily is like a parasite? She's just confusing.
I can perfectly understand and love the awareness about racism. Especially this time, where anti-racism protests are scattered around US. But when I finish the book, I just felt like the whole point of the book is just about the awareness, the other parts of the book wasn't given justice. And it felt like that author badly wanted to put too many social issues in one book but failed to focus on each issue, that it came out so chaotic.
This would come as a surprise but I cried. I think I cry in every book that I read. I was just so heartbroken for Lily and was quite disappointed that Dari said that he can't forgive her. Because how can you even forgive someone that denied you because you cheated on her with her own mother, right?(note the sarcasm) I think the author made it look like everything is Lily's fault. It seemed like that the author wanted people to blame it all to Lily and her depression and anger issue. What about Dari? He cheated on his girlfriend with her own mom, thought he knew Lily's condition better than she do, tried to kiss his ex, etc.
I'd give this a 1/5☆.
kxiang's review against another edition
1.0
1.5* honestly it took me awhile to figure out a rating for this book because I have so many mixed feelings.
it started out strong, I liked our honest the commentary of both characters was. such as when Lily would subconsciously use a word, ex. r***rd, she would make the effort to correct herself, and I appreciated the honesty of it.
I also love the style of writing that the author has, which is more difficult to describe unless you read it yourself
and I like how Dari ended up not forgiving Lily, and it wasn’t this whole redeeming love story at the end, because truthfully he definitely shouldn’t forgive her. and it’s respectable that he didn’t resent her either afterwards.
however, towards the end it just gradually became more disgusting. although I understand that these things happen, the fact that Dari was in love with both Lily and her mom?? I mean, wasn’t it enough that Lily and her teacher were, not only romantically, but sexually involved with each other??? it really just ruined the book in my opinion, in a very prominent way. I think it was enough that Lily was involved with her teacher, and the fact that Dari and Lily’s mom were somewhat involved with each other just tossed it too far overboard and didn’t give the book the sort of closure I was hoping for.
it started out strong, I liked our honest the commentary of both characters was. such as when Lily would subconsciously use a word, ex. r***rd, she would make the effort to correct herself, and I appreciated the honesty of it.
I also love the style of writing that the author has, which is more difficult to describe unless you read it yourself
and I like how Dari ended up not forgiving Lily, and it wasn’t this whole redeeming love story at the end, because truthfully he definitely shouldn’t forgive her. and it’s respectable that he didn’t resent her either afterwards.
however, towards the end it just gradually became more disgusting. although I understand that these things happen, the fact that Dari was in love with both Lily and her mom?? I mean, wasn’t it enough that Lily and her teacher were, not only romantically, but sexually involved with each other??? it really just ruined the book in my opinion, in a very prominent way. I think it was enough that Lily was involved with her teacher, and the fact that Dari and Lily’s mom were somewhat involved with each other just tossed it too far overboard and didn’t give the book the sort of closure I was hoping for.
justcallmegeekyg's review against another edition
5.0
Devastating, raw, and brutally honest. This should be required reading for everyone. One of the most powerful endings I've ever read. Please read this book.
courtneyreviewsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Abusive fathers, sex with a teacher, mental illness, homelessness, suicide, interracial relationships, mean girls, music, art, beauty, saying yes to life, police brutality... did I miss anything?
astrologicalblues's review against another edition
5.0
I was expecting the usual sort of teen fiction requesting for this book. I fell in love immediately with the book cover and over Dari because he's an artist like me. Instead, I found myself in a world that I would never experience myself and was reminded of the privilege that I own as a white person.
This book is unforgiveably intense, real, and full of raw emotions and a heavy reminder of how intense racism truly is. It also shows just how important it is to treat mental illness just like any other illness and that asking for help is not a weakness. This book felt real and raw, something you don't see often in teen fiction, and I wish I did.
Highly recommended.
This book is unforgiveably intense, real, and full of raw emotions and a heavy reminder of how intense racism truly is. It also shows just how important it is to treat mental illness just like any other illness and that asking for help is not a weakness. This book felt real and raw, something you don't see often in teen fiction, and I wish I did.
Highly recommended.
brushelsprouts's review
1.0
what even was this book...
it wasn't bad. I'm giving it a one star rating just because it wasn't my cup of tea, but it may be someone else's jam. a lot of things happened in this book, and I really feel as though they just weren't tied together well enough. and the constant changing of tenses made it difficult for me to keep my head straight (and at the end, Dari switched to sharing first person with Lily? wth?)
just a weird little book that I didn't see coming and therefore didn't really love.
it wasn't bad. I'm giving it a one star rating just because it wasn't my cup of tea, but it may be someone else's jam. a lot of things happened in this book, and I really feel as though they just weren't tied together well enough. and the constant changing of tenses made it difficult for me to keep my head straight (and at the end, Dari switched to sharing first person with Lily? wth?)
just a weird little book that I didn't see coming and therefore didn't really love.
katherinevarga's review
5.0
This book took my feelings, cradled them, held them up to the light, laughed a little, then smashed them to the ground and stomped on them and drove over them a few times. Reading this book was a really great experience and I totally recommend it.
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