Reviews

Big Island by Emily O'Beirne

yannaj's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-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? It's complicated

2.25

I was really looking forward to this book by Emily O'Beirne as I've never read a book set in Tasmania (also journalism focused and sapphic! woohoo!) but I found the pace to be too slow for me and the couples' development together was a little too one note. 

It is indeed a journalism focused story with opposites attract sapphics, which is awesome! I appreciated the dual POV (always a sucker for these) and the quite different home lives of the two girls and their development individually. The characters did feel like they had lives outside of the story, which was great, and I was invested in that, but the plot moved both too quickly across some parts, like their first crushing on eachother stage, then too slowly over others.

Overall not a bad read, just not my favorite. 

aliviasbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

alohabooksandbujos's review

The journalism kid in me was absolutely thrilled over the idea of a sapphic coming of age story based around the love of journalism.

The pacing of this story felt rather slow to me and I think it’s because this is a story largely focusing on character growth. The family background of Samira and Alex are wildly different and the issues they face show just how relatable another persons’ struggles can be to your own. The journalism part of the story was so much fun to read and really engaging. The end story that was being pursued and written by the students was so important.

Overall, this is a great story that really focuses on coming of age and deep character growth. A cast of fabulous side characters, adventures, and a dose of romance. Recommended for lovers of YA, those looking to add more sapphic reads into their life, and of course those who are experiencing coming out or transitioning from high-school to post grad life.

tofugal's review against another edition

The POV was a dealbreaker for me. I can't comfortably read anything written in third person, present tense. It breaks my brain. If the author ever writes something in a different POV, I'll happily give it a chance.

wunder's review

5.0

Rounded up from 4.5 stars. A lovely, kind book with a real sense of place and some nice variations on the usual beats of a romance plot. Also, the "big island" isn't always Hawaii. For some people, it is Tasmania.

Alex and Samira are thrown together for a two week summer journalism course. They find each other almost too late, then come back to the paper the next summer not trusting how things were left.

It has the usual big secret/misunderstanding/obstacle, whatever, but instead of a breakup, we see disappointment but continued trust and care. What a nice change from most romances.

I loved how the setting of Tasmania flavored the novel. I was looking at maps to sort out where Samira was staying in South Hobart and where Alex might live. Camping at Lime Bay sounds lovely.

I've been impressed with what I've read from Ylva Publishing, I'll keep an eye out for their books.

Highly recommended.

misha_ali's review

4.0

Big Island: 4.5/5
- A lot of character work with each of the MCs dealing with a lot of issues with their university choices, families, and shitty parents.
- Lots of journalism detail so great for learning about that field at a student level
- Cute romance that is not the main content, but is one of several things these girls need to figure out.

ems_book_shelf's review against another edition

1.5

Maybe this book just wasn’t for me, but I have read a lot of YA sapphic romance books, and this just didn’t hit the mark. The writing felt extremely juvenile for a YA book, and the plot was both fast paced but also extremely slow. I know that is contradictory, but if you’ve read a book like this, then you’ll get it. I thought their initial breakup was poorly written and honestly didn’t make sense. And then when they see each other again a year later, I felt like the story focused more on their journalism job that it did their relationship. 

I did like the dual POV and that they both were unapologetically themselves around each other. 

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

ashleysmilne's review

3.0

i received an arc of this!

a very sweet lil sapphic romance novel! baby me would have looooooved this! smart girlfriends who cheer each other on from the sidelines? good stuff

sarah200408's review against another edition

4.25

4,25/4,5⭐️ 

Tropes:

-second chance romance

-first love

-opposites attract

TW: emotional abuse, homophobia, misogyny and outing

First of all, thank you NetGalley for the ARC

“Big Island” by Emily O'Beirne is a second chance young adult lesbian  romance book that takes place in Tasmania.

It’s the first book that I read by this author but surely not the last.

I absolutely adored Samira and Alex. I liked their relationship and they were fantastic MCs. The book's journalism aspect was very engaging and the overall story was very interesting.

cfinn2003's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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