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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
“Grief is a monster - not everyone gets out alive, and those who do might only survive in pieces. But it's a monster that can be conquered, with time.”
This book packed all the punches. It was raw and at times uncomfortable but it is one of the best depictions of grief and all the messiness that surrounds it that I have ever read. In addition to grief, Rumi coming to terms with her identity and her sexuality was well written as well. There is a scene of her realizing that she maybe doesn't need to have it all figured out right this moment and that's okay.
I really loved this book and can't wait to read more from this author.
This book packed all the punches. It was raw and at times uncomfortable but it is one of the best depictions of grief and all the messiness that surrounds it that I have ever read. In addition to grief, Rumi coming to terms with her identity and her sexuality was well written as well. There is a scene of her realizing that she maybe doesn't need to have it all figured out right this moment and that's okay.
I really loved this book and can't wait to read more from this author.
Wow. This book was stunning. It took my heart and shattered it into a million pieces, and then it healed it again. This book was gorgeous and amazing and I'm just completely blown away.
I don't even know how to review this book.
I don't think I am capable of reviewing this book.
Summer Bird Blue is a masterpiece. It's heartbreak, and it's healing. Its beautiful. Really truly beautiful.
Akemi Dawn Bowman is an amazing writer. The writing is spectacular! Really really spectacular.
And the characters were so vivid, so real. Oh my god. This book was just... wow.
I give up. I'm not giving this a full on review. I'm simply not capable. This book is gorgeous and painful and 100% worth your time. I am in awe.
***Initial Reaction, December 24, 2018***
Wow. This book was gorgeous and stunning and heartbreaking. It was just... so powerful. And beautiful. And painful. Really really painful. RTC.
***Pre-Review, June 23, 3018***
After reading Starfish, this has gone from a book vaguely on my radar, to one of my most anticipated releases. Can I have this now please?
I don't even know how to review this book.
I don't think I am capable of reviewing this book.
Summer Bird Blue is a masterpiece. It's heartbreak, and it's healing. Its beautiful. Really truly beautiful.
Akemi Dawn Bowman is an amazing writer. The writing is spectacular! Really really spectacular.
And the characters were so vivid, so real. Oh my god. This book was just... wow.
I give up. I'm not giving this a full on review. I'm simply not capable. This book is gorgeous and painful and 100% worth your time. I am in awe.
***Initial Reaction, December 24, 2018***
Wow. This book was gorgeous and stunning and heartbreaking. It was just... so powerful. And beautiful. And painful. Really really painful. RTC.
***Pre-Review, June 23, 3018***
After reading Starfish, this has gone from a book vaguely on my radar, to one of my most anticipated releases. Can I have this now please?
This book was HEAVY on my heart while reading it!
Rumi loses her sister in a car accident and has to find a way to move on without her. It is hard enough to live life being a teenager, but being a teenager while grieving is a lot more difficult.
I appreciated the relationships that Rumi forms in this book, you can really tell that the author made each one important to Rumi's story. I did tear up at the end, but no tears fell down my cheeks!
The only complication I had with the book is the way that Rumi handled certain situations - now listen - it was probably all accurate and I understood it, but I didn't like it
Rumi loses her sister in a car accident and has to find a way to move on without her. It is hard enough to live life being a teenager, but being a teenager while grieving is a lot more difficult.
I appreciated the relationships that Rumi forms in this book, you can really tell that the author made each one important to Rumi's story. I did tear up at the end, but no tears fell down my cheeks!
The only complication I had with the book is the way that Rumi handled certain situations - now listen - it was probably all accurate and I understood it, but I didn't like it
✨ "I know time is supposed to heal a broken heart, but maybe some hearts are broken worse than others. Maybe some hearts need a lot more time."
No doubt this is a beautifully written book. One star for the prose, one star for the realistic portrayal of coping with loss and grief, one star for Mr Watanabe.
Things I loved:
❤️️ The writing
❤️️ The cover
❤️️ The side characters
❤️️ Hawaii
Things I hated that overshadowed all the good:
Even though I am definitely not aromantic, this is the first time I saw my sexuality being *exactly* represented. And I am deeply grateful for that. (Also, I cried. A lot.)
1. LOVE Kai, he's a great friend and guy and I just really thought he was a great character!
2. Rumi was such a human character and I really thought her development was really well written! She really responded to her situation in a way that is relatable.
3. I loved the Hawaii setting, I thought it was a really cool place for her to go as she found new life!
4. The writing was very well done, I didn't expect a lot of the twists and turns!
I loved this book so much and I thought it was really well written and the storyline was amazing!
2. Rumi was such a human character and I really thought her development was really well written! She really responded to her situation in a way that is relatable.
3. I loved the Hawaii setting, I thought it was a really cool place for her to go as she found new life!
4. The writing was very well done, I didn't expect a lot of the twists and turns!
I loved this book so much and I thought it was really well written and the storyline was amazing!
This book is a very real exploration of grief and grieving. When Lea dies, Rumi is left to process her grief on her own after her mom ships her off to Hawaii with her aunt. If you want a book to hit you in the feels, I recommend this one.
So, this book broke me. It's about the loss of someone you love, about grief, about forgetting how to live and remembering how to do so. It's about love, but not in a romantic way.
Rumi loses her sister, who also happened to be her best friend. They made music together. Rumi goes to Hawai cause her mother needs time and space to grief. Rumi acts very rude to everyone who tries to help, she tries to push people away. She's not perfect but she also doesn't try to be.
While she loved her sister, in 'memories' we see that she wasn't always the best sister. She regrets a lot of things. These memories are probably some of my favorite parts in this book, we get to see how their bond was, but also what kind of person Lea (Rumi's sister) was.
I don't think a book has ever made me feel like this before, so sad, so fragile but also kinda happy cause Rumi did get to learn how to live again after meeting Kai and Mr. Watanabe.
And then the Ace rep.... Incredibly done! As someone who's Asexual/Questioning myself, despite being a guy, I could really see myself in Rumi when it comes to her questioning her sexuality.
I don't have anything bad to say. I just know that this is the first book by Akemi Dawn Bowman I've read and she's one of my favorite writers now. I should probably dive into all of her other books soon.
Rumi loses her sister, who also happened to be her best friend. They made music together. Rumi goes to Hawai cause her mother needs time and space to grief. Rumi acts very rude to everyone who tries to help, she tries to push people away. She's not perfect but she also doesn't try to be.
While she loved her sister, in 'memories' we see that she wasn't always the best sister. She regrets a lot of things. These memories are probably some of my favorite parts in this book, we get to see how their bond was, but also what kind of person Lea (Rumi's sister) was.
I don't think a book has ever made me feel like this before, so sad, so fragile but also kinda happy cause Rumi did get to learn how to live again after meeting Kai and Mr. Watanabe.
And then the Ace rep.... Incredibly done! As someone who's Asexual/Questioning myself, despite being a guy, I could really see myself in Rumi when it comes to her questioning her sexuality.
I don't have anything bad to say. I just know that this is the first book by Akemi Dawn Bowman I've read and she's one of my favorite writers now. I should probably dive into all of her other books soon.
i stayed up until 2am last night to finish this book and i was sobbing my eyes out. but like it was so well written