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jennycip1's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite topics to read about is the love that female friendships share. This story was such a touching, deep, and beautiful example of what having lifelong friendships is about. Women that have seen you through all milestones in life. The good ones and the bad ones. Sharing in all the happiness and sadness together. This book will make you feel like hugging your girlfriends and never letting go.
motormommy's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book- not nearly as depressing as expected. A good solid look at how different people handle grief and loss and how friendship changes over time.
ori_gina_lity's review against another edition
5.0
I'm always grateful when my favorite authors share reading recommendations, and even more so today after finishing Victoria Redel's Before Everything. Ruth Ozeki had such high praise for this novel, and it did not disappoint. Poetic and raw without being tedious Redel artfully creates an intimate look at lifelong friendship infused with the humor and heartbreak present surrounding life at its bittersweet end. For me it's the memories intwined with the small moments that she captures so well. 5/5
winglady's review against another edition
5.0
While it took a while to learn who all the key characters were, this moving story came together as a genuine and touching look at how close friends deal with not only the approach of death of a loved one, but the ways their lives intertwine. Beautifully done.
katieik1's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
meghreadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
hahaha I meaaaan, yikes. reading this book was LABOR for me. to be fully transparent it was $2 at half priced books on clearance and I thought “looks emotional and like it will make me cry! might as well give it a go” and oh my gosh what a sliding-doors-mistake-moment. please don’t read this lol I mean that with my whole heart. there was some beauty to it of course but man I am so relieved to be done with it and that’s not how I feel like I should feel! 2.5 stars, for some nice moments and for Reuben— the only likable character in the entire book of many, and I mean many, underdeveloped characters
thewolvesread's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death
chapterchaser_'s review against another edition
3.0
This was on and off my reading list for like 6 months. It's a good story but couldn't keep me engaged fully.
amandamarieger's review against another edition
DNF at 40-ish%.
I tried so hard, but I could not get into this book. I knew going into it that the whole thing spanned a single weekend, but I didn't think there would be so little that actually takes place. And Anna, the friend who is dying - I hated her. It's not like she was just an unlikable main character - she was awful. A manipulator, a liar, a very selfish person. I couldn't do it. Watching a loved one die of cancer hits too close to home for me to find this interesting at all. Back to books I want to read now. *shrug*
Thank you to Penguin and First to Read for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
I tried so hard, but I could not get into this book. I knew going into it that the whole thing spanned a single weekend, but I didn't think there would be so little that actually takes place. And Anna, the friend who is dying - I hated her. It's not like she was just an unlikable main character - she was awful. A manipulator, a liar, a very selfish person. I couldn't do it. Watching a loved one die of cancer hits too close to home for me to find this interesting at all. Back to books I want to read now. *shrug*
Thank you to Penguin and First to Read for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.