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khairun_atika's review
3.0
For This Life Only is a poignant story of grief, and of living with expectations. Jacob and Eli are the twin sons of Pastor Micah Palmer. While Eli was the obedient, overachieving one, Jace questions his beliefs and is always known to be the odd one in the family. An accident took away Eli's life, and Jace finds himself lost without his better half. As he learns to rebuild himself, he finds out the truth behind Eli's secrets, and strives to continue his twin brother's mission to save the church from the corrupt council president. This story also deals with the struggles of an individual born into a family where he feels like a misfit - Jace is a passionate and strong-willed boy born into a family of devout Christians, and faces problems trying to find his place in the world. This is a beautiful coming-of-age story.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
4.0
Thought-provoking. Engaging. Hopeful.
I stayed up late to finish this one and it was worth every minute of sleep I lost.
Stacey Kade takes an honest, realistic look at family, faith, and the importance of discovering for yourself what you believe. No one can do it for you.
Jace and Eli are PKs (Preacher's Kids). As so often happens to offspring of religious leaders, they've been cast in their roles as Sinner and Saint. They're held to a higher moral standard, expected to always make the right choice, but aren't afforded the same forgiveness and grace as their peers when they don't. Neither is Thera. Everyone thinks they have her and her mother all figured out. They would be wrong.
Eli is the one everyone loves, depends on and respects. He's the one expected to do great things with his life. And Jace? Well, it'd be awesome if he could manage to stay out of trouble just once. When Eli dies leaving everyone, Jace included, with too many questions and not enough answers, Thera may be the only person who can help.
I was convinced I knew what the twist was, but like they say, pride goes before a fall. ;) I'm glad I was wrong, it made for a more compelling story.
I stayed up late to finish this one and it was worth every minute of sleep I lost.
Stacey Kade takes an honest, realistic look at family, faith, and the importance of discovering for yourself what you believe. No one can do it for you.
Jace and Eli are PKs (Preacher's Kids). As so often happens to offspring of religious leaders, they've been cast in their roles as Sinner and Saint. They're held to a higher moral standard, expected to always make the right choice, but aren't afforded the same forgiveness and grace as their peers when they don't. Neither is Thera. Everyone thinks they have her and her mother all figured out. They would be wrong.
Eli is the one everyone loves, depends on and respects. He's the one expected to do great things with his life. And Jace? Well, it'd be awesome if he could manage to stay out of trouble just once. When Eli dies leaving everyone, Jace included, with too many questions and not enough answers, Thera may be the only person who can help.
I was convinced I knew what the twist was, but like they say, pride goes before a fall. ;) I'm glad I was wrong, it made for a more compelling story.
giamsanchez's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
story_sanctuary's review against another edition
5.0
I found it easy to identify with the emotional journey both through grief and questioning what he believes that Jace experiences. It feels like a strong beginning to that journey but it doesn't answer all the questions by the last page of the book, which also feels so real to me. That's so how life is.
The relationships between Jace and his family members and friends felt really authentic to me, too. As someone who was raised in a church, I felt like I could see some of the people I've known in my life reflected in some of the characters.
Overall I liked it though the deep emotions made it a little bit of a tough read for me.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The relationships between Jace and his family members and friends felt really authentic to me, too. As someone who was raised in a church, I felt like I could see some of the people I've known in my life reflected in some of the characters.
Overall I liked it though the deep emotions made it a little bit of a tough read for me.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
romancelandias's review against another edition
5.0
This book was both beautiful and devastating, an honest portrayal of a teenage boy struggling to cope with his twin brothers death, and his desperation for answers regarding life after death.
I'm grateful to Kade for addressing this topic, for writing a character who questions wether people truly end up "in a better place" after they die. It was interesting to read from Jace's pov as he struggled with the faith his parents were so desperate to hold onto in the light of tragedy. I felt like I could relate to him a lot, as I've never really been religious and don't really know what to believe in terms of life after death.
This book made me SOB so so much. But it was worth it. It's a book that makes you think and second guess your presumptions regarding the afterlife and Jace was a very strong, very real main character and the way he was written had me grow very attached to him, helped me to understand each of his thoughts and actions.
Thera was a bit prickly and hard to like at first but she grew on me and I came to admire her honesty, her ferocity and the way she was there for Jace without really coddling or pitying him, although I personally would have liked to see more of a heart to heart between them, with Jace breaking down and spilling all his feelings of guilt and sorrow because well, I'm sappy like that. Overall one of my favorite reads of this year, and I can't wait to read more by Stacey Kade.
I'm grateful to Kade for addressing this topic, for writing a character who questions wether people truly end up "in a better place" after they die. It was interesting to read from Jace's pov as he struggled with the faith his parents were so desperate to hold onto in the light of tragedy. I felt like I could relate to him a lot, as I've never really been religious and don't really know what to believe in terms of life after death.
This book made me SOB so so much. But it was worth it. It's a book that makes you think and second guess your presumptions regarding the afterlife and Jace was a very strong, very real main character and the way he was written had me grow very attached to him, helped me to understand each of his thoughts and actions.
Thera was a bit prickly and hard to like at first but she grew on me and I came to admire her honesty, her ferocity and the way she was there for Jace without really coddling or pitying him, although I personally would have liked to see more of a heart to heart between them, with Jace breaking down and spilling all his feelings of guilt and sorrow because well, I'm sappy like that. Overall one of my favorite reads of this year, and I can't wait to read more by Stacey Kade.
dhanushi'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
briarsreviews's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
For This Life Only is a contemporary YA novel that focuses on learning to cope with grief and loss, all while being a teenager. This book has so much growth and development in it, packed inside a YA book that also has romance, drama, and intrigue. I seriously loved this book, more than words can convey. It was such a strong book that tackles grief and loss in a unique yet very real way, and all the while made the book enjoyable (because death, grief, and loss are kind of difficult topics to tackle without sounding depressing).
I seriously loved the drama of our lead wanting to be himself, learn about his brother's true self, and coming to acceptance of what has happened in his life. Making his own friends, making his own decisions, and coming to terms with what it means to be your own person. It was such an amazing book, I highly recommend it! It might not be fast paced or the drama fest most YA books can be, but it's worth the read.
Four out of five stars.
I seriously loved the drama of our lead wanting to be himself, learn about his brother's true self, and coming to acceptance of what has happened in his life. Making his own friends, making his own decisions, and coming to terms with what it means to be your own person. It was such an amazing book, I highly recommend it! It might not be fast paced or the drama fest most YA books can be, but it's worth the read.
Four out of five stars.