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lindz_reads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A solid sweet and emotional read that reads as a love letter to libraries, communities and families.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Grief
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
bringmybooks's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
"Please try to remember that books aren't always an escape; sometimes books teach us things. They show us the world, they don't hide it."
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I really, really, really, really loved this story. It wasn't perfect (few books are), and if I wanted to I could find faults with it. But I don't want to. Because I loved this.
It's a book about books, and reading, and finding solace in the world of literature when we can't make sense of the world around us. It's a book about how books can't fix things, but they can help us nonetheless. It's a book about how doing everything that you possibly think you can do isn't always enough, but that your story does not end there.
It's a book about culture, and family, and love, and loyalty, and grief. It's a book about community, and home, and food, and friendships. It's a book about all of us, and none of us, and how that's basically the same thing.
It's a beautiful book, and it comes highly recommended by me.
-> Speaking of which - the story revolves around a list of books written by a mysterious character, books that she describes using the quote below.
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I really, really, really, really loved this story. It wasn't perfect (few books are), and if I wanted to I could find faults with it. But I don't want to. Because I loved this.
It's a book about books, and reading, and finding solace in the world of literature when we can't make sense of the world around us. It's a book about how books can't fix things, but they can help us nonetheless. It's a book about how doing everything that you possibly think you can do isn't always enough, but that your story does not end there.
It's a book about culture, and family, and love, and loyalty, and grief. It's a book about community, and home, and food, and friendships. It's a book about all of us, and none of us, and how that's basically the same thing.
It's a beautiful book, and it comes highly recommended by me.
-> Speaking of which - the story revolves around a list of books written by a mysterious character, books that she describes using the quote below.
"They were all her favorite books, the books they she grown up with, the books that had found her at the right time, that had given her comfort when she needed it, had given her an escape, an opportunity to live beyond her life, an opportunity to love more powerfully, a chance to open up and let people in."
And this? This is my Reading List.
... Just in case you ever need it.
My Reading List:
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Katherine by Anya Seton
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
My Real Name is Hanna by Tara Lynn Masih
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald
My Series:
Beartown (3 Books) by Fredrik Backman
Dublin Murder Squard (6 Books) by Tana French
Elements of Cadence (2 Books) by Rebecca Ross
The Lost Years of Merlin (5 Books) by TA Barron
The War That Saved My Life (2 Books) by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Some notes:
* Yes, I know that TWTSML by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is on there as an individual book and as a series. It's so good I had to put it on there twice. If I could only get you to read one book off this entire list, it would be TWTSML. I would hope that you would want to continue to The War I Finally Won, but reading TWTSML alone is a beautiful experience that I would want to share with everyone.
* I know my list is longer than the one in the book. I don't know what to tell you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Cancer
Minor: Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, and Racism
nzmerchant's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The characters are so real and grief is described so earnestly. The story unfolds so naturally and you really feel for the characters as they grow and develop. It helps that reading is at the heart of this book and I think it really speaks to all the readers out there - the power of books in bringing people together and helping them through their own loneliness and struggles. I found myself thinking a lot of my own grandfather and being to empathise with Mukesh, but also feeling the teenage angst of Aleisha.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Racism, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
pancakethefinch's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you are gearing up for a reading challenge this year, you can't go wrong with adding this book to your TBR pile, or even starting your challenge with it, like I did. You'll get a bonus reading list from it!
A true love letter to the power of books and to how fictional stories make us who we are, the story will have you chuckle, cry, and think....
I did have some minor issues with it mostly around Aidan's suicide and how the family was completely abandoned, with young adults and a minor expected to deal with their mother's disabling and complex mental health needs, but I realised as I was reading that my feeling was the anger at how often this happens in real life too , and a couple of plot points that went nowhere. The book probably didn't need as many characters as it introduced, as many didn't contribute to the story in any meaningful way. It almost felt like the author had ideas for them that were either edited out or scrapped.
A lot of reviews mentioned thatAidan's extremely tragic death happens without warning, but there were very clear signs through the whole story and I like to think that was the writer's intention.
Check on those you care for, even if they are 'doing fine'.
Nevertheless, a great read and a compelling debut novel. I hope to see more from the author soon!
A true love letter to the power of books and to how fictional stories make us who we are, the story will have you chuckle, cry, and think....
I did have some minor issues with it mostly around
A lot of reviews mentioned that
Check on those you care for, even if they are 'doing fine'.
Nevertheless, a great read and a compelling debut novel. I hope to see more from the author soon!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, Abandonment, and Terminal illness
There is quite a bit of grieving in this book. Something to consider depending on your mood or where you are in life.solacelight's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Just some brief thoughts
- I could have done without the romance (something I thought I would NEVER say lol)
- I wanted so much to dive more deeply into Aleisha, or I wish that the book would have taken place after
Aiden's death . - Overall, it felt like this book could have been more
- Regardless, I quite enjoyed it. On a critique level, I would rate this a 3.5, and on enjoyed a solid 4, so I averaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, and Alcohol
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Cancer
Minor: Racism, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
melanie_reads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Reading List made me laugh out loud, cry, and still have hope about the future.
Mukesh, a recent widower trying to find his place in the world and Aleshia, an angsty teen dealing with a stressful home life, come together over books at the local library as a mysterious book list makes its way through the local community.
While the mystery of who wrote the list is somewhat predictable, it will still warm your heart. This book forced me to put my cynicism aside and open my heart.
Book lovers, Sara Nisha Adams wrote this for you. She crafts a perfect tale about how books can help you shed your loneliness and build community.
Mukesh, a recent widower trying to find his place in the world and Aleshia, an angsty teen dealing with a stressful home life, come together over books at the local library as a mysterious book list makes its way through the local community.
While the mystery of who wrote the list is somewhat predictable, it will still warm your heart. This book forced me to put my cynicism aside and open my heart.
Book lovers, Sara Nisha Adams wrote this for you. She crafts a perfect tale about how books can help you shed your loneliness and build community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Xenophobia
scruffie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Sad but hopeful, but mostly heart-warming. I really enjoyed reading this book, though I admit that a lot of the time I was aware I was reading a book; for some reason I couldn't immerse myself in it completely. Still, it was a lovely read and I'd highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Xenophobia
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