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jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
This is a visceral book about grief. Words unsaid. That's what I keep thinking about as I reflect on this book. They are powerful. They can also be debilitating.
heidi__e__'s review against another edition
5.0
I will read anything Nina LaCour writes. I have loved both of her books I read and like omg this book and Watch Over Me are SUCH good books I will never shut up about them!
booksoversecondbreakfast's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It was so beautifully written. I had just finished reading Jane Eyre prior to reading this, and it was so well timed because of all of the references. I enjoyed the flashbacks and slowly uncovering the events of the main characters past as she processed them herself too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual assault and Abandonment
lumimaliisa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
kaila2464's review against another edition
3.0
It is quite slow starting, not only that the begin was quite confusing but then I started to make sense of the book and enjoyed it. Even at the end when I fell asleep about 5 times
juniperluvie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
blurrypetals's review against another edition
3.0
I've seen this book in Barnes and Noble every time I've gone there for the last while and every single one of those times I've either tucked it under my arm with the intention of buying it only to set it down and remind myself I couldn't afford it OR I've taken a photo of the cover so I'd remember to add it to my Goodreads and, maybe, my wishlist. So, when I got the text that my library had a copy of the audiobook held and ready for me to pick up, I was pretty excited. Especially after stumbling upon Adam Silvera's achingly lovely and LGBTQ+ contemporaries and seeing, "If you liked History is All You Left Me and They Both Die at the End, then you might like We Are Okay, which only stood to make me even more excited. Was this going to be a cute love story wrapped in a tragic plot? I hoped so.
And I was disappointed. Not nearly so much that I hated it, but just enough that, when I got to the end, I felt underwhelmed by just about everything that wasn't the narrator's voice and the gorgeous, eye-catching cover. The prose was occasionally lovely but it wasn't consistently so. The "plot twist" came off as forced and wasn't nearly impactful enough for me as a reader to feel as duped at Marin felt. The romance was cute, sure, but there wasn't enough to call it a romance and there wasn't enough of anything else to categorize it under. It felt like something that should have been a bit longer, a bit more sugary in some places, and a lot more bitter in others. The emotions just ended up feeling distant and dull to me as a reader. I never felt that connection with Marin, or even with Mabel, and the events just sort of came and went without leaving much of anything behind. I wanted to learn more about the ceramics shop keeper, I wanted to hear more about Marin and Mabel's friendship and blossoming romance, I wanted more.
But all I got was just a slice of what could have been the best cake ever. It tasted pretty good while it lasted, but by the time the plate was empty, I was left feeling disappointed and wanting the rest.
And I was disappointed. Not nearly so much that I hated it, but just enough that, when I got to the end, I felt underwhelmed by just about everything that wasn't the narrator's voice and the gorgeous, eye-catching cover. The prose was occasionally lovely but it wasn't consistently so. The "plot twist" came off as forced and wasn't nearly impactful enough for me as a reader to feel as duped at Marin felt. The romance was cute, sure, but there wasn't enough to call it a romance and there wasn't enough of anything else to categorize it under. It felt like something that should have been a bit longer, a bit more sugary in some places, and a lot more bitter in others. The emotions just ended up feeling distant and dull to me as a reader. I never felt that connection with Marin, or even with Mabel, and the events just sort of came and went without leaving much of anything behind. I wanted to learn more about the ceramics shop keeper, I wanted to hear more about Marin and Mabel's friendship and blossoming romance, I wanted more.
But all I got was just a slice of what could have been the best cake ever. It tasted pretty good while it lasted, but by the time the plate was empty, I was left feeling disappointed and wanting the rest.
tenshifae's review against another edition
4.0
4.5* rounded down
I think this book is the best that it could be, I highly recommend it. I don't think there is anything that could be changed to make it better, but yet I do not think it is a 5 star book. I think perhaps with more time - more explanations and more exploration I would rate it a 5 star, but as it is it is very lovely.
I initially didn't care as much for the book, but as it progressed I became more and more interested. I related a lot to Marin, and it made me want to try to heal, change, or just live for a single moment. We will be okay... we are okay.
I think this book is the best that it could be, I highly recommend it. I don't think there is anything that could be changed to make it better, but yet I do not think it is a 5 star book. I think perhaps with more time - more explanations and more exploration I would rate it a 5 star, but as it is it is very lovely.
I initially didn't care as much for the book, but as it progressed I became more and more interested. I related a lot to Marin, and it made me want to try to heal, change, or just live for a single moment. We will be okay... we are okay.
luxsona's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautifully written. It sort of reminds me of the game, Omori, in that both novels tackle very similar themes about nostalgia and the past.
What I enjoyed most about this book:
What I enjoyed most about this book:
- The voice: This book is written in first person, and almost every single word reveals something about Marin's character.
- The pacing: Nina LaCour knows how to pace this book really well. There were moments where we see brief flits of emotion and description, but there were also incredibly tense moments that hooked me in throughout. I remembered standing up straighter throughout several moments.
- The characterization: This is a very character-centric book. The focus of this novel sits entirely within the characters and gets in their heads quite a fair bit, so life-like characters are vital. Fortunately, Marin, Mabel, and all of their friends and family feel incredibly life-like. You can understand what they go through throughout the entire novel.
Notes:
- (Spoilers for the ending of the novel!)
The one thing that confused me just slightly was the ending. It felt like the novel was trying to emphasize this idea of "moving forward", and accepting the past. However, the novel ends with Marin accepting the idea of returning to Mabel's family home. This plot-beat feels slightly off-kilter when compared to the rest of the novel and the theming that it was going for. This is just a minor nitpick, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol