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wii3rdo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
another phenomenal read from Tashie Bhuiyan 🥹 and just like when i read A Show For Two last summer...i had beef with Liana for a bit 😭 HER DECISIONS REALLY, BUT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES 👀 I LET IT SLIDE BECAUSE THE LAST THING I CAN HANDLE IS ANOTHER ONE SIDED BEEF WITH A FICTIONAL CHARACTER 💀
once again, Tashie Bhuiyan writes YA stories worth reading. they’re REAL, heartfelt, and it’s damn near impossible to resist falling in love with these characters and this story the more you read. there were several instances where i teared up because of how in touch i was with what the characters were saying. sometimes, it felt like i was reading someone else’s diary because of how personal the touches to the characters’ thoughts and interactions were. i don’t have a single complaint about this story. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE HONORABLE MUSIC MENTIONS AT THE START OF EACH CHAPTER???
TROYE SIVAN. CHUNGHA. MADISON REYES & CHARLIE GILLESPIE. my heart was very happy seeing so many different artists and genres blend together to give a better feel of this story as it unraveled.
once again, Tashie Bhuiyan writes YA stories worth reading. they’re REAL, heartfelt, and it’s damn near impossible to resist falling in love with these characters and this story the more you read. there were several instances where i teared up because of how in touch i was with what the characters were saying. sometimes, it felt like i was reading someone else’s diary because of how personal the touches to the characters’ thoughts and interactions were. i don’t have a single complaint about this story. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE HONORABLE MUSIC MENTIONS AT THE START OF EACH CHAPTER???
TROYE SIVAN. CHUNGHA. MADISON REYES & CHARLIE GILLESPIE. my heart was very happy seeing so many different artists and genres blend together to give a better feel of this story as it unraveled.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
katiemcgregor's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
I appreciate the Asian Readathon for encouraging me to seek out a book by a Bangladeshi author because I think Bhuiyan's writing has a lot of charm. Lately teenage characters have been driving me crazy because of the "all logic out the window" plots that appear in their stories. I don't expect (or want) teenage characters to be fully realized. They're teenagers. But I do think they can be flawed and still have a reasonable thought process behind the decisions they make.
Bhuiyan navigated this nicely. While some of the deception could have been solved in a much simpler way, I feel like Liana's reasoning made sense for her character. I appreciated that the pop culture references were done tastefully and the writing flowed well and was easy to get through.
I maybe wish that things were a little more developed regarding the other characters (they were but they weren't?) and I'm not sure how I feel about the conclusion with the family issues. I do understand the choice of an open ended conclusion rather than a perfect one because I think it's more realistic for this type of conflict, but maybe a little more on-page progress would have been nice? Some sort of coming-to-an-understanding? I don't know. It's fine as is, but I'd be curious to see different routes explored.
Looking forward to reading more of Bhuiyan's work.
Bhuiyan navigated this nicely. While some of the deception could have been solved in a much simpler way, I feel like Liana's reasoning made sense for her character. I appreciated that the pop culture references were done tastefully and the writing flowed well and was easy to get through.
I maybe wish that things were a little more developed regarding the other characters (they were but they weren't?) and I'm not sure how I feel about the conclusion with the family issues. I do understand the choice of an open ended conclusion rather than a perfect one because I think it's more realistic for this type of conflict, but maybe a little more on-page progress would have been nice? Some sort of coming-to-an-understanding? I don't know. It's fine as is, but I'd be curious to see different routes explored.
Looking forward to reading more of Bhuiyan's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Self harm and Suicide
aprilyang1's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
I absolutely loved the found family trope and boy band dynamic. I honestly wish I could experience Third Eye for real 😩 and just know that I’d be front row for ‘Late Night’! I also loved the therapy representation. It's always heartwarming when characters actively seek therapy because they understand its importance.
Tashie Bhuiyan does a great job placing a bit of realism into the story with the direction she decided to take Liana and her fathers relationship. It mirrors reality for many people, really emphasizing that family can extend beyond blood to include the friends around you.
However, I was somewhat disappointed because the story didn't resonate with me as well as I expected. I struggled to understand and appreciate Liana’s choices. While I empathize with her need for her father's attention, her character felt a bit selfish because her inability to own up to her mistakes by being honest. I felt like she justified her lies based on her situation and the others were expected to just allow things to happen without regard for their own situations.
I loved the book's general premise, and despite falling short for me, it still had so many heartwarming aspects that I really enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
sandwiiche's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
whew, tashie bhuiyan really knows how to hit home with her books 😮💨
this might be my favourite from her yet - the discussion of mental health, the found family and the romance sideplot was all really heartwarming
spoiler for all her books
im seeing a little recurring theme throughout each of tashie bhuiyan's 3 books - in each one, her fmc wishes for happiness in whatever form it may be, and damn that really hits deep. also where can i get a friendship group like third eye???? 😭😭
this might be my favourite from her yet - the discussion of mental health, the found family and the romance sideplot was all really heartwarming
spoiler for all her books
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic friendship
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
I loved that the titles of the chapters were song titles and that there were just so many playlists throughout this book. Honestly, I kind of want to see if someone has made a playlist of all the songs in this book because there were a lot!
Anyway, this is a sweet, music themed romance with the found family trope that was just lovely. Third Eye is such a lovely group of people, and I loved how they accepted Liana into their fold. You could tell that they all cared deeply for each other, and the characters were just so well done.
However, there was one thing that really took me out of the story: Skye saying that he got a tattoo every couple of weeks after turning 18. I'm sorry, what?? Who has that kind of time and money at 18??? He also has a piercing at some point, and I just don't believe all this happened in 6 months. I don't know why it bothered me so much, but it did lol.
Anway, if you like music and found family, definitely check this one out!
Anyway, this is a sweet, music themed romance with the found family trope that was just lovely. Third Eye is such a lovely group of people, and I loved how they accepted Liana into their fold. You could tell that they all cared deeply for each other, and the characters were just so well done.
However, there was one thing that really took me out of the story: Skye saying that he got a tattoo every couple of weeks after turning 18. I'm sorry, what?? Who has that kind of time and money at 18??? He also has a piercing at some point, and I just don't believe all this happened in 6 months. I don't know why it bothered me so much, but it did lol.
Anway, if you like music and found family, definitely check this one out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying
aqtbenz's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Minor: Death of parent
puria's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Oh Boy!! TBH I was not sure I was going to like this book at all when I started it. It sounded like it was going to be teenage angst and I was convinced I would DNF it.
I am glad to say for once I was wrong. There was minimal angst atleast the Bella Swan kind. There were easy mistakes that could have been fixed with some communication but they were not the massive problem of typical tropes, it was resolved inevitably with some much procrastinated communication.
All in all the romance took a back seat and the more important thing was just friendship and found family, encompassed in some music. I enjoyed the book a lot more then I expected to. It was effortlessly diverse with LGBTQ+ and minority characters being prominent.
The father daughter relationship surprised me, and the outcome of that relationship was even more surprising for me.
I am glad to say for once I was wrong. There was minimal angst atleast the Bella Swan kind. There were easy mistakes that could have been fixed with some communication but they were not the massive problem of typical tropes, it was resolved inevitably with some much procrastinated communication.
All in all the romance took a back seat and the more important thing was just friendship and found family, encompassed in some music. I enjoyed the book a lot more then I expected to. It was effortlessly diverse with LGBTQ+ and minority characters being prominent.
The father daughter relationship surprised me, and the outcome of that relationship was even more surprising for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
moyarb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
Minor: Gaslighting and Panic attacks/disorders
villainy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Panic attacks/disorders
anyaemilie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
Another super cute YA romance ❤️ Tashie Bhuiyan is a favorite of mine and she deserves more attention from fans of contemporary YA readers. Her love of music always shows through in her books as well, especially this one--I really liked the addition of the playlists throughout this book.
Mental health rep is something that Tashie Bhuiyan does well, and this book is no exception. Lia has depression and anxiety (which she notes are undiagnosed, but which doesn't make them any less real) and she there are many external factors that affect both. Her mother has passed away (before the events of the book), and her relationship with her father has fallen apart since. Both of them are grieving, but neither of them quite know how to deal with their feelings. Her father has decided to dive completely into his work which has basically broken his relationship with his daughter. Lia really just needs her father and he can't understand why him providing materially for her isn't enough.
The only way Lia knows how to connect to her father is through music, since is job as a music executive seems to be the only thing he cares about. She got her love of music from him, and it's really the only thing they have left since Lia's mother died.
Besides the exploration of Lia's mental health and her relationship with her father, I also really liked Lia's relationships with the boys of Third Eye. It definitely had self-insert fanfic vibes (which I do NOT mean in a dismissive or condescending way!). The author mentioned in her note at the beginning how important One Direction was in forming many of her friendships and the fanfic community is strong around that band, so I'm just inferring some things here 😊 Honestly what teenage girl didn't dream of becoming bffs with a band as they rise to fame? It's the stuff every good fanfic is made of.
The romance was very sweet and super slow burn, which I love in YA. Lots of hurdles to get to the HEA, but totally worth it. From the misconceptions of Skyler at the beginning to slowly finding out that Lia and Skyler had a lot more in common than they thought, to the scene at the music competition (shh no spoilers 🤫), I really loved how their relationship progressed throughout the book.
Also I loved the epilogue.Lia and Skyler get their HEA, but Lia's life isn't magically perfect. She still needs to work on her mental health, which her dad basically wants know part in. But Lia has taken the initiative once she's left home for college to see a therapist to try to improve her quality of life, which is extremely powerful. She knows she needs to take this upon herself because her dad isn't there for her. And that relationship is also discussed in therapy, where she realizes that her dad neglecting her is a form of abuse. Lia luckily has a support system with the boys of Third Eye and her cousin so she isn't completely alone, but I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to have essentially lost both her parents. I just really liked that even though Lia got her happy ending with Skyler, the author made a point to show that romance doesn't magically fix everything. You still need to deal with the rest of the problems in your life to keep the romance healthy.
Another awesome book by Tashie Bhuiyan. I'm on a roll with the YA books in 2024 so hopefully my streak continues!!
Mental health rep is something that Tashie Bhuiyan does well, and this book is no exception. Lia has depression and anxiety (which she notes are undiagnosed, but which doesn't make them any less real) and she there are many external factors that affect both. Her mother has passed away (before the events of the book), and her relationship with her father has fallen apart since. Both of them are grieving, but neither of them quite know how to deal with their feelings. Her father has decided to dive completely into his work which has basically broken his relationship with his daughter. Lia really just needs her father and he can't understand why him providing materially for her isn't enough.
The only way Lia knows how to connect to her father is through music, since is job as a music executive seems to be the only thing he cares about. She got her love of music from him, and it's really the only thing they have left since Lia's mother died.
Besides the exploration of Lia's mental health and her relationship with her father, I also really liked Lia's relationships with the boys of Third Eye. It definitely had self-insert fanfic vibes (which I do NOT mean in a dismissive or condescending way!). The author mentioned in her note at the beginning how important One Direction was in forming many of her friendships and the fanfic community is strong around that band, so I'm just inferring some things here 😊 Honestly what teenage girl didn't dream of becoming bffs with a band as they rise to fame? It's the stuff every good fanfic is made of.
The romance was very sweet and super slow burn, which I love in YA. Lots of hurdles to get to the HEA, but totally worth it. From the misconceptions of Skyler at the beginning to slowly finding out that Lia and Skyler had a lot more in common than they thought, to the scene at the music competition (shh no spoilers 🤫), I really loved how their relationship progressed throughout the book.
Also I loved the epilogue.
Another awesome book by Tashie Bhuiyan. I'm on a roll with the YA books in 2024 so hopefully my streak continues!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Death of a parent occurs before the events of the book. MC has undiagnosed depression and anxiety. She briefly mentions having had suicidal thoughts and thoughts about self harm in the past, but does not act on either of these. She has a terrible relationship with her father, who neglects her in favor of his job. He treats her as a nuisance in most of their interactions and she feels (justifiably) abandoned by him, especially after the death of her mother.