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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
I really want to love this book... but I can't. Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable and beautifully written but the story just lacks substance in some places and was too quick in others. It could have easily been over 300 pages and probably should have been. The ending came like an unexpected slap in the face and I was left with that perplexed feeling in my stomach.
But that aside, the whole Light/ghost story makes for an interesting yet bizarre concept, but Laura Whitcomb made it work.
But that aside, the whole Light/ghost story makes for an interesting yet bizarre concept, but Laura Whitcomb made it work.
3.5 stars. This book did a lot of interesting things, but I struggled to connect with the main character. Something was missing from the writing or the character that kept me at arm’s length from the story.
An entertaining book, although at times the plot did not seem to logically progress from one thing to another.
I liked this story. I had problems with how consent was handled in this book and did not enjoy how some of these scenes were handled (in the sense of two ghosts possessing bodies and having sex with them, while the actual people of these bodies are just gone), and I didn't feel like the ghosts behaved their actual age but more the age of the bodies they possessed, but I still liked reading about them and didn't mind that much. I liked the stories, and how it fit together, and I liked that it was very calm and slow and therefore focusing a lot on emotions.
This book was recommended to me by two pretty well-read friends and I'm glad I didn't have to start seriously questioning their tastes (which I thought I might have to when I read the blurb!) I'm normally quite fond of YA, but paranormal romance isn't really my thing, so I was a little wary at first. However, the premise of the book is interesting as are it's ruminations on life and death for the most part. The execution is also well done, with witty, well-written prose and some lovely references to literature. The romance aspect was definitely still a little cheesy and some of the characters' actions are a little disturbing if you think about them too much, but overall it was a good read that I had trouble putting down!
A story about love....thatn throw together with a girl who is a ghost and a boy who is not....it's a tough plot to really enjoy. But Laura Whitcomb pulls it off.
Not only did I absolutely fall in love with the story, but I was actually rooting them on! I wanted their love to work and their lives to be perfect and I wanted it all to end okay. I wanted a HEA.
But life and love is never that way. And very quickly we are thrown into a world of teens where life is not fair and it's ruled by human nature and fear.
This tale just swept me up and I enjoyed every word.
Not only did I absolutely fall in love with the story, but I was actually rooting them on! I wanted their love to work and their lives to be perfect and I wanted it all to end okay. I wanted a HEA.
But life and love is never that way. And very quickly we are thrown into a world of teens where life is not fair and it's ruled by human nature and fear.
This tale just swept me up and I enjoyed every word.
This book is a young adult book, so I didn't expect the amount of intimacy. A different plot though.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
In the past, I've read several books that involves either the existence of ghosts or ghosts as minor characters, so it was pretty cool to find a book where the ghost was the main character.
From page one, I was drawn in. Helen has been a ghost for 130 years, and during that time she hasn't been seen or heard by anyone. Instead, she "attaches" herself to a host, who she will stay with until the host dies. She then moves on to the next host. Then one day, during her current host's class, one of his students seems able to see her.
James, another ghost, was able to take possession of the body of Billy, who overdosed on drugs and left his body, making it possible for him to see Helen. At first Helen is frightened by his ability to see her, but they soon develop a friendship, and together decide to find an "empty" body for Helen to take. At the mall, she finds Jenny, a girl from a severely religiously family, and Helen is able to take her body.
This was really the moment when I really got into the book. I'd enjoyed it up until that point, yes, but the story just became more complex because we had James pretending to by Billy, who has a lot of baggage from his lift as a drug addict and consequently several things that seem to keep coming back to bit him because of that.
Then there's Helen, who is trying to fill Jenny's role, but her desire to be with James and her own will keeps butting heads with Jenny's parents' plethora of rules and expectations.
It all, of course, begins to come to a head, and I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.
I really enjoyed the story overall. There were some times that felt a little slow, but other moments made up for that later. I was really pleased to see that there's supposed to be a sequel/companion coming out that's supposed to tell Billy and Jenny's story because their lives and circumstances, as well as their emptiness, were what made it possible for James and Helen to be part of the "Quick" again, so I think it would be very interesting to see their side of things.
From page one, I was drawn in. Helen has been a ghost for 130 years, and during that time she hasn't been seen or heard by anyone. Instead, she "attaches" herself to a host, who she will stay with until the host dies. She then moves on to the next host. Then one day, during her current host's class, one of his students seems able to see her.
James, another ghost, was able to take possession of the body of Billy, who overdosed on drugs and left his body, making it possible for him to see Helen. At first Helen is frightened by his ability to see her, but they soon develop a friendship, and together decide to find an "empty" body for Helen to take. At the mall, she finds Jenny, a girl from a severely religiously family, and Helen is able to take her body.
This was really the moment when I really got into the book. I'd enjoyed it up until that point, yes, but the story just became more complex because we had James pretending to by Billy, who has a lot of baggage from his lift as a drug addict and consequently several things that seem to keep coming back to bit him because of that.
Then there's Helen, who is trying to fill Jenny's role, but her desire to be with James and her own will keeps butting heads with Jenny's parents' plethora of rules and expectations.
It all, of course, begins to come to a head, and I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.
I really enjoyed the story overall. There were some times that felt a little slow, but other moments made up for that later. I was really pleased to see that there's supposed to be a sequel/companion coming out that's supposed to tell Billy and Jenny's story because their lives and circumstances, as well as their emptiness, were what made it possible for James and Helen to be part of the "Quick" again, so I think it would be very interesting to see their side of things.