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eldritch_horror's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
noceur's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide and Mental illness
icarusandthesun's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
2.5
great to read during somber weather.
i wanted to take a little break from science-fiction, and this book seemed to call to me. i liked it—the vibes, the poetic language, the writing style. it was grounding, calming, like stormy weather (but without the lightning and the thunder).
it was nice, but (luckily, i suppose) not relatable for me, right now. i know this is probably a good depiction of grief in many people’s eyes though.
i liked the characters. marin was a little bland, but well, grief does that to a person, so i get it. the author did a good job of telling us about all the things marin used to be passionate about.
the ending was cute, too. it was just nothing special, and wasn’t able to invoke any sort of deep feeling in me, personally.
i wanted to take a little break from science-fiction, and this book seemed to call to me. i liked it—the vibes, the poetic language, the writing style. it was grounding, calming, like stormy weather (but without the lightning and the thunder).
it was nice, but (luckily, i suppose) not relatable for me, right now. i know this is probably a good depiction of grief in many people’s eyes though.
i liked the characters. marin was a little bland, but well, grief does that to a person, so i get it. the author did a good job of telling us about all the things marin used to be passionate about.
the ending was cute, too. it was just nothing special, and wasn’t able to invoke any sort of deep feeling in me, personally.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Alcohol
michaelanormand's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Blood, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
blankeechats's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
It is an amazing book about love, friendship, coming of age, and grief. I read this book in one sitting, and gladfully so. As I was reading, I felt as though this book was moving so fast yet so slow simultaneously (not bad). I would have loved loved loved, if this book was more than 236 pages, although, I've been saying that very often about books lately. The book could have been extended past where it ended, I would have loved to see Marin's choice for moving in with Mabel's family, more on Marin's love life, college life, and work at the pottery shop Having said all of that, this was the most touching and tear pulling book I have read in a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Child abuse
asteinke'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Chronic illness
starryknightace's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Personally wasn't my kind of story, but it was intriguing enough to want to finish the book. A coming of age about the loneliness of different kinds of loss. Really well written and can imagine this story resonating with a lot of readers, would recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Death, and Death of parent
hazelisreading's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Death of parent, Cancer, Alcohol, Suicide, and Gaslighting
dinipandareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I put off reading this for years because it gave such sad read vibes that I knew I had to be emotionally prepared for it. But seeing as January 2024 seems to have me in my sad read era, I finally picked it up and yep, we are not okay, Nina LaCour. 🥲 That is, this book was beautiful, sad, touching and healing and I'm so glad that I finally read it.
This was a short, well-paced and fast read. It's a character-driven story and it focuses on Marin's journey of acceptance and the beginning of her healing. Despite being incredibly heartbreaking, profoundly sad and achingly lonely, there is hope at the end of this book and it is much needed after the last 15% hits you with all the emotions. There's nothing particularly special about the writing but LaCour infuses this deep sense of quiet stillness and grief in her very simple words that set the atmosphere well. We're not distracted from the pain by pretty overly philosophical words, it simply is what it is.
The author steadily builds up our curiosity (and admittedly dread) as to what happened with Gramps and how Marin got to where she is today, separated and alone from everyone she loves. Although the incoming sadness is often alluded to in various flashbacks and as Marin unveils the tale to Mabel, we don't find out everything until the very end. While flashbacks aren't necessarily my favourite, in this, we don't go back years only months and I thought it was well done to illustrate the difference in Marin before and after. As an emotional reader, of course, I cried buckets of tears at the end and my heart hurt for her so badly. But I think anyone who has had to deal with grief, loss, and heartache in some form, will be able to relate to this story and our characters' emotions.
This was a short, well-paced and fast read. It's a character-driven story and it focuses on Marin's journey of acceptance and the beginning of her healing. Despite being incredibly heartbreaking, profoundly sad and achingly lonely, there is hope at the end of this book and it is much needed after the last 15% hits you with all the emotions. There's nothing particularly special about the writing but LaCour infuses this deep sense of quiet stillness and grief in her very simple words that set the atmosphere well. We're not distracted from the pain by pretty overly philosophical words, it simply is what it is.
The author steadily builds up our curiosity (and admittedly dread) as to what happened with Gramps and how Marin got to where she is today, separated and alone from everyone she loves. Although the incoming sadness is often alluded to in various flashbacks and as Marin unveils the tale to Mabel, we don't find out everything until the very end. While flashbacks aren't necessarily my favourite, in this, we don't go back years only months and I thought it was well done to illustrate the difference in Marin before and after. As an emotional reader, of course, I cried buckets of tears at the end and my heart hurt for her so badly. But I think anyone who has had to deal with grief, loss, and heartache in some form, will be able to relate to this story and our characters' emotions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Terminal illness, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death and Death of parent
jacobevje's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent