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booknerd98's review
I randomly picked this up at the library after never hearing of it before and it seemed interesting enough but the theme of death was making anxious right now even though it had comical elements but I could only get a few chapters in before giving up because I felt like I had to force myself to enjoy it. I wanted to get to the road trip part but I realized the writing style and characters were annoying me a little and I just didn’t care enough to keep reading. It just seemed to get bogged down in the quirkiness that it seemed out of place when talking about dealing with the logistics after her grandmas death and it just dragged and I lost interest.
knittyreader's review
4.0
It is very human to go to humor when things are sad or frightening. This is captured so, so well in 'Things That Grow'. I totally dig the humor, especially since it was totally relatable. When my granddad died two years ago, my family gravitated towards the same black humor Lori and Seth had (something the undertaker did not understand at all, poor man). Meanwhile, so many emotions, strange choices and other things that come onto our paths in such times are passing by, and not everything can be resolved with jokes.
The only thing I would have liked to be different is the emotional depth of Chris. Around half of the book I knew more about Jessica's emotions, while she had had two short appearances, than of Chris's. I think he could have been fleshed out better, to make him more than a token-best-friend, token-black-person, token-love-interest, especially since he is such an important person to Lori.
I want to thank Netgalley and HMH Books for the chance to read this book.
The only thing I would have liked to be different is the emotional depth of Chris. Around half of the book I knew more about Jessica's emotions, while she had had two short appearances, than of Chris's. I think he could have been fleshed out better, to make him more than a token-best-friend, token-black-person, token-love-interest, especially since he is such an important person to Lori.
I want to thank Netgalley and HMH Books for the chance to read this book.
ginafavata's review
5.0
This is one of the most delighful books I’ve read in a long time! It’s a beautiful story about grief and death, and the messiness of families. But it’s also a sweet teen love story where best friends have to navigate bubbling romantic feelings. The characters are well rounded and the writing fantastic. It also contains the most romantic scene ever to take place in a Cheesecake Factory parking lot! And if you’re from the Boston area or New England you may be inspired to visit some local natural wonders!
e_reader124's review
4.0
(3.75 Stars)
I had some pretty high hopes for this book based on the synopsis. A story about going through the loss of a loved one mixed with an adventurous road trip? Yes please! In the end, though, while I was ultimately satisfied with what we got, it definitely didn't live up to my expectations. The story was amazing the beginning, and it's still really good by the end; however, I felt that towards the parts just after the halfway mark, the story wasn't as good in terms of what was happening overall. This was mainly due to the fight between Lori and Seth that was thrown in there. I did not think that it was necessary, and seeing all that happen for something that very easily could have been left out of the story and not happen annoyed me. It added nothing, and took some. I also wish that the story was a bit more adventurous than it ended up being. The more relaxed feeling was nice, but I definitely would have appreciated a lot more chaos on their trip. Otherwise, though, it was a very enjoyable story. Seeing the story play out the way it did, and the characters find more and more closure and understanding with each box felt so entertaining and real. I also really liked the different settings of the book. They all felt so cozy, and I wished I could jump in the book right then and there and be in those locations. Finally, I also really liked the characters. Apart from the characters we like having so much to them, the characters we didn't expect to like have so much to them as well. I Iike how Becca isn't portrayed as evil; she's flawed, but by the end, is getting better and better. I also like how Bill was given a good part in the story, and was shown as someone other than another one of Becca's usual boyfriends. On top of that, I also like how the story shows that Seth and Sheryl aren't as perfect as they originally seem to be, but again, they're not evil. So, overall, while the story was disappointing in some aspects, this was a nice read that had a lot to it that fit perfectly.
I had some pretty high hopes for this book based on the synopsis. A story about going through the loss of a loved one mixed with an adventurous road trip? Yes please! In the end, though, while I was ultimately satisfied with what we got, it definitely didn't live up to my expectations. The story was amazing the beginning, and it's still really good by the end; however, I felt that towards the parts just after the halfway mark, the story wasn't as good in terms of what was happening overall. This was mainly due to the fight between Lori and Seth that was thrown in there. I did not think that it was necessary, and seeing all that happen for something that very easily could have been left out of the story and not happen annoyed me. It added nothing, and took some. I also wish that the story was a bit more adventurous than it ended up being. The more relaxed feeling was nice, but I definitely would have appreciated a lot more chaos on their trip. Otherwise, though, it was a very enjoyable story. Seeing the story play out the way it did, and the characters find more and more closure and understanding with each box felt so entertaining and real. I also really liked the different settings of the book. They all felt so cozy, and I wished I could jump in the book right then and there and be in those locations. Finally, I also really liked the characters. Apart from the characters we like having so much to them, the characters we didn't expect to like have so much to them as well. I Iike how Becca isn't portrayed as evil; she's flawed, but by the end, is getting better and better. I also like how Bill was given a good part in the story, and was shown as someone other than another one of Becca's usual boyfriends. On top of that, I also like how the story shows that Seth and Sheryl aren't as perfect as they originally seem to be, but again, they're not evil. So, overall, while the story was disappointing in some aspects, this was a nice read that had a lot to it that fit perfectly.
delicatewatkins's review
3.0
Chris is read way too young on the audiobook. He sounds 11 and it is very off-putting. He is declared to be Black and I wish being Black had been part of his identity. He is written generically.
The story was nice though. I enjoyed the family, their problems, and their journeys to discovering mutual respect.
The story was nice though. I enjoyed the family, their problems, and their journeys to discovering mutual respect.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
This was such a cute book. Which I will admit is a little weird considering the topic (the death of a loved one). However, it was written in such a way that I found myself smiling and laughing out loud SO many times. I mean, craisins anyone?
lioness20's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
trin_ney18's review
3.0
3/5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this book early in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
If you like hard-hitting contemporaries that deal with more serious topics, then I would highly suggest you pick this book up. It has some really solid writing and story development that I think many people will enjoy.
Having lost my own grandmother, I could relate to some of what this character was going through and that sparked an emotional reaction. I teared up multiple times but I never really cried because not a lot of emotional exploration was happening. I think I would have appreciated a bit more of the grief process being shown, but I also understand that everyone is different and this character didn't choose to grieve in that way.
Ultimately, I think it is one of those bittersweet stories that all readers will find something to relate to. While I didn't absolutely love it, I do think it is a good book and I hope people start talking about it more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this book early in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
If you like hard-hitting contemporaries that deal with more serious topics, then I would highly suggest you pick this book up. It has some really solid writing and story development that I think many people will enjoy.
Having lost my own grandmother, I could relate to some of what this character was going through and that sparked an emotional reaction. I teared up multiple times but I never really cried because not a lot of emotional exploration was happening. I think I would have appreciated a bit more of the grief process being shown, but I also understand that everyone is different and this character didn't choose to grieve in that way.
Ultimately, I think it is one of those bittersweet stories that all readers will find something to relate to. While I didn't absolutely love it, I do think it is a good book and I hope people start talking about it more.
elisegarrett's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
5.0
firxtly's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death