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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: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Grief, and Toxic friendship
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
backlistbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
itsmeeryn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
4.5
The Ghosts We Keep is a gut-wrenching, beautifully written, story about dealing with grief, the loss of a loved one, and the things we learn through it. The characters aren't perfect, and sometimes are hard to like, but I think that adds to how real the story feels, and in a way made me love them even more. The side characters are all so well fleshed out and have their own personalities and flaws wonderfully balanced, their perspectives and lives have meaning, even though the story isn’t from their perspective or about them
minor spoilers
I loved that the story didn’t have a cut and dry, “happy” ending, instead, it left me feeling like this was a chapter in a larger story, which I think speaks to Deaver’s writing and connections to the themes.
The scenes regarding Self-harm and suicidal ideation, are incredibly realistically written, and due to this fact there were a few moments in chapters that I had to skim/skip over, but they also did not feel like the book was becoming about, or glorifying them as so many other stories tend to do.
This book was incredible, and if it was more to my personal tastes, would likely have ended up with a 5/5. I once again cannot wait to see what Mason Deaver has in store for his next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
anonymous_traveller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Toxic friendship
aspring's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
a compassionate story on grief and learning to live alongside it. this book was heartfelt, full of emotion and utterly captivating. but also, a little disappointing in comparison to what i’d expected. grief, like most things, is completely different for everyone and liam’s journey was evidence of that. however, i didn’t really feel connected to the story or it’s characters at all throughout, even if i enjoyed the writing and the story itself. it was simple and yet still felt so distant. there were so many elements i enjoyed from liams use of he/they pronouns to the emily dickinson references and i did actually enjoy this, i promise! and i think everyone should read this! but it also felt like it could have been so much more but i know that’s probably just my opinion <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Grief
felixreads0321's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Car accident
charliedezeeuw's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Grief
lydiaaaaa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief