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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
medium-paced
hit v close to home with friend suffering same mental health issues. opened my eyes to what happens in her brain…
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
All of Adam Silvera's books deal with difficult subject matter in one way or another, but this one is probably the most raw, unflinching and heart-rending work to date. I didn't know the specifics when I ordered a copy from the library, but when I did I knew I had to be in the right headspace before I could pick it up. Which is why it's the first book I've ever had to do multiple renewals on. It is not an easy book to read, and yet it's written in such a beautiful way that once I overcame my initial nerves, I would have read it in a single sitting if I didn't need to sleep.
The thing I love most about this series is that, while you can read the books as standalones, the way that the characters from each book intertwine with each other feels so natural, even when the story is based in as big a city as New York. And even with all the sadness and heartbreak they go through, even if they were Deckers and can't make a physical appearance, or even if they were peripheral characters in a previous book, their effect is to provide hope and proof positive that life can and does go on, not only to the main characters of the current story, but to you as the reader too. I would therefore recommend going back and doing a (re)read of the first two books in the series, just so you can fully enjoy the cameos and callbacks. Plus, this book is directly impacted by an event in book two, so if you want the full details definitely go and pick that one up!
Following Paz's ups and downs is tough as anything, particularly because he's such a sympathetic character. You immediately want to protect him, help him in any way that you can, because the injustice that he's experienced is obvious. Clearly, it helps that the reader was an 'eyewitness' to events, but nonetheless the effect of his story being twisted and warped by outside sources just made me angry, and sad on his behalf. And yet, despite everything, it's so easy to understand his own logic about why the world would be better off without him - his arguments might be patently untrue to everyone else, but when your brain is insisting that they're right, it's terrifyingly simple to see how he ends up where he does.
A lot of Alano's character I took on face value - a genuinely caring, thoughtful and empathetic soul, and I immediately warmed to him. Then as the story progressed and we learned more, watching him struggle with his own demons while not quite understanding what they are, I fell in love with the change in dynamic between the two. As much as seeing Alano be the "saviour" of the pair, watching them have a more equal balance of keeping the other on the straight and narrow was wonderful. It gave extra layers to their relationship and felt more tangible in giving Paz a reason to stick around. That being said, the strategies Alano employed to help Paz were both incredibly portrayed within the book, and definitely worth noting for this reader's real life moments of combating anxiety.
My only slight moment of uncomfortableness was the introduction of the idea that Alano might suffer a psychotic break. While by the end of the book you understand more about why this could be a concern, the initial mention of it comes during a passage about a family member suffering from Alzheimer's, and going from that to "I'm worried you're going to lose it" feels very jarring and insensitive, and makes little sense in the moment.
The other really impressive thing is that it just doesn't matter how short a time the characters have known one another; the pacing of the book is so good that you don't even question that they can know they're in love in a matter of days or that the speed of events would give anyone whiplash in reality. The ebb and flow of their relationship feels like it exists outside time.
Of course, going into this book relatively blind means you spend the majority of the time worried about the ending and the ultimate fate of the characters. And although there is a content warning and brief spoiler in the author's notes at the beginning of the book, it doesn't stop that fist slowly squeezing your heart the closer you get to the last page. And in this case, it's going to keep squeezing until the next book. I guess I'm just going to have to go and finish reading the rest of his works in the meantime!
The thing I love most about this series is that, while you can read the books as standalones, the way that the characters from each book intertwine with each other feels so natural, even when the story is based in as big a city as New York. And even with all the sadness and heartbreak they go through, even if they were Deckers and can't make a physical appearance, or even if they were peripheral characters in a previous book, their effect is to provide hope and proof positive that life can and does go on, not only to the main characters of the current story, but to you as the reader too. I would therefore recommend going back and doing a (re)read of the first two books in the series, just so you can fully enjoy the cameos and callbacks. Plus, this book is directly impacted by an event in book two, so if you want the full details definitely go and pick that one up!
Following Paz's ups and downs is tough as anything, particularly because he's such a sympathetic character. You immediately want to protect him, help him in any way that you can, because the injustice that he's experienced is obvious. Clearly, it helps that the reader was an 'eyewitness' to events, but nonetheless the effect of his story being twisted and warped by outside sources just made me angry, and sad on his behalf. And yet, despite everything, it's so easy to understand his own logic about why the world would be better off without him - his arguments might be patently untrue to everyone else, but when your brain is insisting that they're right, it's terrifyingly simple to see how he ends up where he does.
A lot of Alano's character I took on face value - a genuinely caring, thoughtful and empathetic soul, and I immediately warmed to him. Then as the story progressed and we learned more, watching him struggle with his own demons while not quite understanding what they are, I fell in love with the change in dynamic between the two. As much as seeing Alano be the "saviour" of the pair, watching them have a more equal balance of keeping the other on the straight and narrow was wonderful. It gave extra layers to their relationship and felt more tangible in giving Paz a reason to stick around. That being said, the strategies Alano employed to help Paz were both incredibly portrayed within the book, and definitely worth noting for this reader's real life moments of combating anxiety.
My only slight moment of uncomfortableness was the introduction of the idea that Alano might suffer a psychotic break. While by the end of the book you understand more about why this could be a concern, the initial mention of it comes during a passage about a family member suffering from Alzheimer's, and going from that to "I'm worried you're going to lose it" feels very jarring and insensitive, and makes little sense in the moment.
The other really impressive thing is that it just doesn't matter how short a time the characters have known one another; the pacing of the book is so good that you don't even question that they can know they're in love in a matter of days or that the speed of events would give anyone whiplash in reality. The ebb and flow of their relationship feels like it exists outside time.
Of course, going into this book relatively blind means you spend the majority of the time worried about the ending and the ultimate fate of the characters. And although there is a content warning and brief spoiler in the author's notes at the beginning of the book, it doesn't stop that fist slowly squeezing your heart the closer you get to the last page. And in this case, it's going to keep squeezing until the next book. I guess I'm just going to have to go and finish reading the rest of his works in the meantime!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
I love this series. The first 2 books I had an idea of where they would end, but this one I had no idea where it would go and how it would end at any point. Very intense and emotional but in a different way than the previous books. I absolutely loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Murder
Minor: Alcoholism
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Miscarriage, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mass/school shootings