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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
3.5/5
*This book was sent to me for review as part of a blog tour by the publisher. All opinions stated are my own.*
I loved the small town vibe of this story. I really enjoyed the romance. I think that this book talked about some very important topics that need to be covered in today's society (ex. drug addiction, teen pregnancy, adoption). I think the plot could have been a little stronger if it had not jumped around so much but overall a very strong debut novel.
*This book was sent to me for review as part of a blog tour by the publisher. All opinions stated are my own.*
I loved the small town vibe of this story. I really enjoyed the romance. I think that this book talked about some very important topics that need to be covered in today's society (ex. drug addiction, teen pregnancy, adoption). I think the plot could have been a little stronger if it had not jumped around so much but overall a very strong debut novel.
TW: death, mentions of abortion, addiction, car accident, animal deaths, pregnancy, death of a loved one
I feel like this may get pretty mixed reviews, because it’s either hit or miss. I for one am still deciding on my final rating, but so far I’m kind of in the middle. it’s probably the hardest book to decide on a rating that I’ve read yet this year, so I definitely could change it.
objectively this book is quite good. everything is so vividly described that I felt like I was watching a movie. the writing is real strong and the ending is so emotional, guys, like prepare tissue. this book dives into strong themes that are complicated and messy. it’s handled with care, too, and yet as enjoyable as this book could be, it’s just not really for me.
scarlett was an unlikable protagonist at times, which I feel foolish even mentioning because that’s the entire point: the characters are broken, naïve teenagers who make mistakes and mess everything up. there’s a theme of knowing someone is struggling and not reaching out until it’s too late, which is really powerful and important. but most importantly, it’s about learning to forgive yourself and move on. which is so amazing and it’s handled so well, but I do have some complaints.
I feel like this is a prime example of a book where the concept is done and executed well, but I just personally didn’t enjoy it. I went into this book thinking it was a fun fluffy romance (which I don’t LOVE, but the cover was so beautiful I couldn’t resist) and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was actually emotional and tragic. which sounds morbid, but it was right up my alley, y’all. here’s the thing, though: while I emphasized with the characters and their situations, I didn’t love them. and that’s how it’s supposed to be, y’know? but I didn’t know this going on and i thought they would still be likable characters who made mistakes. maybe to some people, they are, and I’m just missing something. but to me, I found scarlet to be judgmental, and it just drove me up a wall sometimes. and some, not all but definitely some of the political discussions felt forced. like feminism is great and all, but I’d love it if the discussions felt more...natural??
but there are still things I ADORED. the whole theme of forgiving yourself and moving on from your past was so well done. and the whole book was SO atmospheric: like when she was describing the ocean or the mountains, I felt like it was there living it too. also her obsession with physics and just her awe and amazement of the world was so wonderful. I also do love messy, complicated characters, I just still want you to make me love them, you know? also the ending was really really lovely and yeah I got a little teary, but who wouldn’t honestly???
ultimately it just was an okay experience for me. like good and not a waste of time or anything, but just not super memorable. wish I could’ve loved this as much as I anticipated, but oh well! nothing could ever live up to radio silence anyways.
I feel like this may get pretty mixed reviews, because it’s either hit or miss. I for one am still deciding on my final rating, but so far I’m kind of in the middle. it’s probably the hardest book to decide on a rating that I’ve read yet this year, so I definitely could change it.
objectively this book is quite good. everything is so vividly described that I felt like I was watching a movie. the writing is real strong and the ending is so emotional, guys, like prepare tissue. this book dives into strong themes that are complicated and messy. it’s handled with care, too, and yet as enjoyable as this book could be, it’s just not really for me.
scarlett was an unlikable protagonist at times, which I feel foolish even mentioning because that’s the entire point: the characters are broken, naïve teenagers who make mistakes and mess everything up. there’s a theme of knowing someone is struggling and not reaching out until it’s too late, which is really powerful and important. but most importantly, it’s about learning to forgive yourself and move on. which is so amazing and it’s handled so well, but I do have some complaints.
I feel like this is a prime example of a book where the concept is done and executed well, but I just personally didn’t enjoy it. I went into this book thinking it was a fun fluffy romance (which I don’t LOVE, but the cover was so beautiful I couldn’t resist) and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was actually emotional and tragic. which sounds morbid, but it was right up my alley, y’all. here’s the thing, though: while I emphasized with the characters and their situations, I didn’t love them. and that’s how it’s supposed to be, y’know? but I didn’t know this going on and i thought they would still be likable characters who made mistakes. maybe to some people, they are, and I’m just missing something. but to me, I found scarlet to be judgmental, and it just drove me up a wall sometimes. and some, not all but definitely some of the political discussions felt forced. like feminism is great and all, but I’d love it if the discussions felt more...natural??
but there are still things I ADORED. the whole theme of forgiving yourself and moving on from your past was so well done. and the whole book was SO atmospheric: like when she was describing the ocean or the mountains, I felt like it was there living it too. also her obsession with physics and just her awe and amazement of the world was so wonderful. I also do love messy, complicated characters, I just still want you to make me love them, you know? also the ending was really really lovely and yeah I got a little teary, but who wouldn’t honestly???
ultimately it just was an okay experience for me. like good and not a waste of time or anything, but just not super memorable. wish I could’ve loved this as much as I anticipated, but oh well! nothing could ever live up to radio silence anyways.
This book was infuriatingly unrealistic, but it still made me cry at the end? 2.5 MAYBE 3 stars. But if presented with the chance to read it, skip
I FELT the way this story unfolded and that’s just something not many authors can achieve. I see why this is on many best of lists.
Contemporary realistic fiction fans, this is for you.
Contemporary realistic fiction fans, this is for you.
*4.75* stars
If you are looking for a cute romance, this book is not what you’re looking for. This is not a romance novel; this is a hard-hitting contemporary dealing with complex, flawed and struggling characters. The romantic relationships don't take center stage, but instead the focus lies on Scarlett's thought, feelings, and choices as she transitions into adulthood.
I loved the way this story approached many issues that I have rarely seen appropriately discussed in YA fiction. There is not demonizing or blaming happening in this narrative because the story recognizes that life and relationships are much more complicated than the simply ideas of good-and-bad/right-and-wrong. Life is difficult, love is messy, responsibility is burdensome. This awareness makes the novel’s messages more nuanced than a lot of YA contemporaries I picked up recently.
As Many Nows as I Can Get does not try simplify the experience of losing someone you love to addiction. It’s honest in the way it deals with the guilt that comes form not intervening and encouraging someone to seek out help; the guilt of being so caught up in your mundane responsibilities that you fail to prfioritize what is really important. It acknowledges that everyone has the potential to fuck up – that you probably will fuck up at some point or another – and you will have have to live with the consequences of your decisions.
The books structure of multiple timelines definitely helped create a suspenseful atmosphere.
This is definitely an emotional read written in excellent prose and I loved it more than I anticipated. It is definitely a must-read for people who enjoy complex stories with grief, guilt and hope, and leave a deep emotional impact.
CW: addiction, drug abuse, death, OD
If you are looking for a cute romance, this book is not what you’re looking for. This is not a romance novel; this is a hard-hitting contemporary dealing with complex, flawed and struggling characters. The romantic relationships don't take center stage, but instead the focus lies on Scarlett's thought, feelings, and choices as she transitions into adulthood.
I loved the way this story approached many issues that I have rarely seen appropriately discussed in YA fiction. There is not demonizing or blaming happening in this narrative because the story recognizes that life and relationships are much more complicated than the simply ideas of good-and-bad/right-and-wrong. Life is difficult, love is messy, responsibility is burdensome. This awareness makes the novel’s messages more nuanced than a lot of YA contemporaries I picked up recently.
As Many Nows as I Can Get does not try simplify the experience of losing someone you love to addiction. It’s honest in the way it deals with the guilt that comes form not intervening and encouraging someone to seek out help; the guilt of being so caught up in your mundane responsibilities that you fail to prfioritize what is really important. It acknowledges that everyone has the potential to fuck up – that you probably will fuck up at some point or another – and you will have have to live with the consequences of your decisions.
The books structure of multiple timelines definitely helped create a suspenseful atmosphere.
This is definitely an emotional read written in excellent prose and I loved it more than I anticipated. It is definitely a must-read for people who enjoy complex stories with grief, guilt and hope, and leave a deep emotional impact.
CW: addiction, drug abuse, death, OD
Poetic and powerful, “As Many Nows As I Can Get” is a coming of age story about Scarlett, a woman who has graduated high school in Colorado and is going to college all the way in Maine. She loves physics and statistics, but she also loves her friends, and leaving all of this behind in the name of education is extremely difficult.
The story is told in a nonlinear structure. I think this mostly works for the book, because as Scarlett mentions early on, if we’re reliving memories, everything we go through in life happens like an unorganized book of photos, scattered but all connecting in non-linear ways.
It also feels like, as Scarlett goes through these memories, she’s maturing with them, like she’s slowly growing up through the reliving process.
I will say that the narrator felt like she was explaining everything a little too much as she was bouncing between different time periods. The reason why she uses this voice becomes apparent towards the end of the book, but until we learn why, this can be a little disconcerting to the reader.
I will admit I cried towards the end of this book. Scarlett is an incredibly book-smart individual, and for those with a high IQ, it can be hard to understand that they can also make mistakes. But at the same time, she is incredibly inspirational, because she does not let her screw-ups keep her from going on to doing magnificent things.
The story is told in a nonlinear structure. I think this mostly works for the book, because as Scarlett mentions early on, if we’re reliving memories, everything we go through in life happens like an unorganized book of photos, scattered but all connecting in non-linear ways.
It also feels like, as Scarlett goes through these memories, she’s maturing with them, like she’s slowly growing up through the reliving process.
I will say that the narrator felt like she was explaining everything a little too much as she was bouncing between different time periods. The reason why she uses this voice becomes apparent towards the end of the book, but until we learn why, this can be a little disconcerting to the reader.
I will admit I cried towards the end of this book. Scarlett is an incredibly book-smart individual, and for those with a high IQ, it can be hard to understand that they can also make mistakes. But at the same time, she is incredibly inspirational, because she does not let her screw-ups keep her from going on to doing magnificent things.
Wow, well this book was not what I was expecting...at all. You look at the cover and you think ohhh contemporary book about a couple on a road trip, or something along those lines. Nope. NOT AT ALL. This book has so many layers, sometimes it was hard to keep track. No really, it jumps around the timeline and not in any linear way. It goes from NOW to 6 Months ago, NOW to 10 months ago, NOW to 4 weeks ago, and so on. It can be confusing. There are so many secrets, and wrong moves, and mistakes, and unspoken words. Choices that were made that could have been different had something been said at the time. It was intense, a lot of heavy topics like suicide, teen pregnancy, abortion, adoption, college struggles, getting out a small town and the life you used to live. It was a lot. But I love where the main character ends up and who she finally becomes by the end of the book. This book is sad and it's real.
I almost gave up on this one because I wasn’t loving the narrator but I’m glad I stuck with it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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:
Yes