Reviews

Dear Universe by Florence Gonsalves

book_nut's review against another edition

3.0

Not bad.

z_brarian's review against another edition

4.0

This was a good one. Solid four stars. Would have liked to get to know Cham’s friends more. Get more background. Gene was a jerk and that came across the page. Brendan broke my heart although the author doesn’t go too deep with him. Would have been nice to understand why he wore tutus all the time. Loved the philosophical Evelyn. Total hoot. Moms obsessive cleaning was her coping mechanism foe sure. Dads story was a heart breaker too.

jenniferduannfultz's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

keahreads's review against another edition

5.0

Cham's voice pulled me in right away. I loved the humor. And the way her brain worked while dealing with her family and school and friends was interesting to read.

Also, Brendon, the unapologetic weirdo

kittynovaaaa's review against another edition

2.0

the mc is so damn whiny, like i get your dad is sick and your boyfriend broke it off with you but my GOD girl stfu

lilykramp's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

jgoulet860's review

emotional 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

2.0

blefen's review against another edition

3.0

The dialogue was surprisingly natural but I wasnt a big fan of the romance plot. I did enjoy the plot woth her father and college essay.

howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition

4.0

Thanks to KidLitExchange and Little Brown Young Readers for sharing Dear Universe by Florence Gonsalves. This book publishes on 5/12/2020, and I love that it’s going to come out right around graduation season, since finishing high school is such a poignant plot in this book.
Chamomile is counting down the days to prom - and the window for her boyfriend to ask her is dwindling. She tries not to think about it too much, and it’s not hard, because all her friends are looking forward to the senior volunteer trip to Nicaragua. The trip isn’t really on Cham’s radar, because she hasn’t finished her college admissions essay, which is a requirement to go. Cham isn’t even sure she’ll go to college in the fall - she’s too worried about her dad, whose disease is progressing quicker than anyone thought it would.
Cham is determined to keep her home life separate from her school world. She’s constantly pleading with the universe to help her pull it off, but she knows she can’t keep it up forever.
This story makes the reader incredibly invested in Cham’s life - or lives, as she’d prefer to have it. Some of the sentences made me gasp because they capture being seventeen so perfectly - on the brink of a huge life transition, with the world ready for you, while also fearing what might come next.

beckytaylor's review against another edition

4.0

This was a really enjoyable read. Cham had a strong and unique voice and I loved her letters to the universe. Her desperation to just get through high school, get to prom, get to graduation was kind of heartbreaking at times, especially when you see how her family is dealing with her Dad’s illness. Cham’s emotions leapt off the page and though I couldn’t exactly *relate* to her situation, I really connected with her. I also loved that she was flawed, that she was aware of her flaws, but didn’t apologise for her own feelings.