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katechapman895's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Death, and Car accident
rachael03's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
mayareadsxo's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Child death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
abc1123's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
aftgray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Mason Deaver creates characters like no other author I have read, but especially within The Ghosts We Keep. Liam is bitter and angry and devastated and selfless and guilty and thoughtful all at once in a wonderful, painful, truthful way. They are flawed just like everyone else, but that does not take away from the goodness of their character and their heart.
Liam’s relationship with their parents is incredibly accurate for a lot of teenagers, and the way they respond to their grief and their tumultuous emotions is as well. Their relationships with their friends successfully represents a lot of friendships and consequent fall-outs — no one is quite in the right, but no one is quite in the wrong either. They all made bad choices, as does every character in this book.
This is not a love story. It’s not an amazingly happy ending, and it’s not some grand “everything will be okay” tale. Liam’s journey shows you that grief never leaves you, and that it is okay to not be okay. It is okay to struggle. It is okay to not have a cinematic, wonderful happy ending. Most people don’t. But, as Liam finds, that does not make life less worthwhile.
I cannot rave about Mason Deaver’s writing style enough. They’re talented beyond belief.
Liam’s relationship with their parents is incredibly accurate for a lot of teenagers, and the way they respond to their grief and their tumultuous emotions is as well. Their relationships with their friends successfully represents a lot of friendships and consequent fall-outs — no one is quite in the right, but no one is quite in the wrong either. They all made bad choices, as does every character in this book.
This is not a love story. It’s not an amazingly happy ending, and it’s not some grand “everything will be okay” tale. Liam’s journey shows you that grief never leaves you, and that it is okay to not be okay. It is okay to struggle. It is okay to not have a cinematic, wonderful happy ending. Most people don’t. But, as Liam finds, that does not make life less worthwhile.
I cannot rave about Mason Deaver’s writing style enough. They’re talented beyond belief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Transphobia
greenlivingaudioworm's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
maddyshare's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
maiahhtratchh's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was an amazing story of grief and love. While the twist was pretty easy to pick up from context clues I think that it was delivered beautifully. I knew it would be sad but my gosh the last two chapters I bawled my eyes out. Genuinely think this was one of the best YA books I’ve read in a long time. I got hit really hard by the friendship dynamics and it caused anxiety for me (just how toxic they were) but I’m really glad that it was addressed in a realistic but hopeful manor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Toxic friendship, Grief, Death, Mental illness, Child death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Transphobia
catandherbooks's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
This book didn't go the way I expected it to but I think that's partly why it's such a good one. Incredibly poignant and meaningful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Self harm
heddaah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, and Self harm