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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
i absolutely loved “i’ll give you the sun,” so i figured this book would be just as good, especially given the intriguing title. i went into “the sky is everywhere,” wanting to like it SO much, but i just couldn’t. while i understand what nelson was trying to accomplish with this novel, i don’t think that attempt was very successful.
everything felt so rushed— after actually knowing each other for about a month, these characters are claiming they’re in love? their relationship was so severely underdeveloped that i had no reason to even root for lennie & joe endgame. readers never get the chance to actually feel attached to any of the characters.
i was grossed out when toby & the older fontaine brothers (grown men) expressed attraction towards lennie (a high school student), and this was treated as normal. i was further disgusted by toby’s abhorrent behavior/actions towards lennie, as it was very clearly sexual assault. throughout the entire novel, i was waiting for an adult to get involved & hold toby accountable for taking advantage of lennie, but everyone who found out had treated his actions as if they were normal & okay.
i was genuinely waiting for the book to end. i wish i could say i even enjoyed it a little bit, but it just left me incredibly disappointed.
edit because i looked through my 2023 reading goal & reread this review, making myself mad again: also ???? romantically/sexually engaging with her significantly older dead sister’s fiancé????? the entire book, i was trying not to lose my mind at the fact that not a single character called toby out for grooming lennie while she was mourning the death of her sister. why is lennie the one being demonized when she’s the victim !!!? toby is a grown man (about to be a father !!!!!) who made sexual advances on his dead fiancé’s younger sister (who is in high school !!!!!)
everything felt so rushed— after actually knowing each other for about a month, these characters are claiming they’re in love? their relationship was so severely underdeveloped that i had no reason to even root for lennie & joe endgame. readers never get the chance to actually feel attached to any of the characters.
i was grossed out when toby & the older fontaine brothers (grown men) expressed attraction towards lennie (a high school student), and this was treated as normal. i was further disgusted by toby’s abhorrent behavior/actions towards lennie, as it was very clearly sexual assault. throughout the entire novel, i was waiting for an adult to get involved & hold toby accountable for taking advantage of lennie, but everyone who found out had treated his actions as if they were normal & okay.
i was genuinely waiting for the book to end. i wish i could say i even enjoyed it a little bit, but it just left me incredibly disappointed.
edit because i looked through my 2023 reading goal & reread this review, making myself mad again: also ???? romantically/sexually engaging with her significantly older dead sister’s fiancé????? the entire book, i was trying not to lose my mind at the fact that not a single character called toby out for grooming lennie while she was mourning the death of her sister. why is lennie the one being demonized when she’s the victim !!!? toby is a grown man (about to be a father !!!!!) who made sexual advances on his dead fiancé’s younger sister (who is in high school !!!!!)
This was quite an enjoyable, quick read and a great debut. It is beautifully written, I particularly liked the inclusion of poems, and I liked how grief was explored and dealt with. While I do recommend this book do others, the reason it got three stars from me is because of the character and relationship development. While I was rooting for Lennie and Joe, I never quite believed in the insta love they felt (perhaps I'm just heartless..), and I wasn't entirely sure what their love for each other was based on. Good read, do recommend but not a reread and instant love connection for me.
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely enjoyed it. I did have a reading slump but it was easy to get back into the story.
I thought that this story had such a fantastic plot. I have been dealing with grief, and this is what I needed to heal. It helped me a lot.
I thought that this story had such a fantastic plot. I have been dealing with grief, and this is what I needed to heal. It helped me a lot.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Omg Jandy, everytime there's a seriously deep scene going on, you lighten it up with some of the most ridiculous lines I've ever read. Was definately laughing out loud while reading this book. At the same time, I was almost in tears at some points and I was also super happy at some points. This book hit all the right notes.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Zo’n mooi boek over rouwen, liefde en over hoe het leven meestal een rommeltje is. Grappig, verdrietig, troostend en echt.
I noticed that a good handful of people have like this book. However, I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t hate the book, but it wasn’t something that made me want to talk too much about it. I couldn’t really connect with the characters. I do know that everyone grieves differently, but some (if not most) of this story felt forced to me.
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
