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lyramadeline's review against another edition
This is the second book in a row that I’ve had to stop reading less than a quarter of the way through because of content. It was disappointing, because the premise sounded really interesting, but it was just too much. First it was just language, bit I could get past that. The thing that did it for me was the fact that one of the main characters was only 17 and having sex with her boyfriend. One chapter picked up, to quote the book, “the moment after sex”. I couldn’t keep reading.
_bunnybear_'s review against another edition
5.0
I love love love any book these 2 write together. I noticed some things in this book that seem to be a part of their writing style as a whole that I appreciate- their work is beautifully written(it's rare I take the time to compliment the sentence structure of a YA contemporary, but today is one of those rare occasions), their characters, even minor characters, feel fully fleshed out and real, and the humor almost every page is tinged with makes the read more enjoyable. There were times I cringed or gasped or even exclaimed aloud in the company of others, which I think is telling of my emotional investment of their stories.
Some things I liked particularly about this book: I liked the message it sent and how realistic that message was-the transition from high school to college is always going to be tough, but you need to make sure to find a compromise between the extremes. I liked the family relationships and how the two main character's relationships with their families varied. I liked how they did the "she's with the wrong guy" trope, where they didn't make him an awful person or anything, but just showed how their relationship wasn't working, and how they had the two break up because of reasons completely unrelated to the main couple getting together.
Some things I didn't like about this book, that made me like it a little less than If I'm Being Honest(which, to be fair, is my favorite book ever) and Always Never Yours: the character's actions felt a little unrealistic at times and I felt there was a decent amount of telling, not showing used to characterize them. I also felt their issues with their families were reiterated over and over again, but the actual resolution didn't feel satisfying at all. Another thing I found a little odd was how Lewis brings up the fact that his skin color is different from the rest of the family exactly once, but it wasn't hinted at or mentioned ever again. I definitely enjoyed reading this book, but I think it falls a little short when I take the entire arc of the book as a whole into consideration.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for an easy, fun read, with some more somber moments sprinkled in throughout the book, or if you'd enjoy reading about familial issues. I think the authors could've done with adding certain elements in more organically and making the ending more satisfying, but I don't think these criticisms take away from my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
I look forward to the next Wibbroka book!
Some things I liked particularly about this book: I liked the message it sent and how realistic that message was-the transition from high school to college is always going to be tough, but you need to make sure to find a compromise between the extremes. I liked the family relationships and how the two main character's relationships with their families varied. I liked how they did the "she's with the wrong guy" trope, where they didn't make him an awful person or anything, but just showed how their relationship wasn't working, and how they had the two break up because of reasons completely unrelated to the main couple getting together.
Some things I didn't like about this book, that made me like it a little less than If I'm Being Honest(which, to be fair, is my favorite book ever) and Always Never Yours: the character's actions felt a little unrealistic at times and I felt there was a decent amount of telling, not showing used to characterize them. I also felt their issues with their families were reiterated over and over again, but the actual resolution didn't feel satisfying at all. Another thing I found a little odd was how Lewis brings up the fact that his skin color is different from the rest of the family exactly once, but it wasn't hinted at or mentioned ever again. I definitely enjoyed reading this book, but I think it falls a little short when I take the entire arc of the book as a whole into consideration.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for an easy, fun read, with some more somber moments sprinkled in throughout the book, or if you'd enjoy reading about familial issues. I think the authors could've done with adding certain elements in more organically and making the ending more satisfying, but I don't think these criticisms take away from my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
I look forward to the next Wibbroka book!
cojack's review against another edition
4.0
Cute romance. The teens talk in unnaturally mature, forced ways, though. Good take on the conflicting emotions and family push-pull that come with leaving home for college. It’s the second work review book in a row that features a character whose mom has early onset Alzheimer’s, though. That’s pretty weird.
Anyway, read my full review at Common Sense Media:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/time-of-our-lives
Anyway, read my full review at Common Sense Media:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/time-of-our-lives
bibliorey's review against another edition
4.0
I love how this book centered around love and family and how deeply emotional the connection between both Fitz and Juniper are with themselves and their family.
It was a little slow for me because it didn't really give the same hype or vibe as the previous books of Wibbroka I've read. But nevertheless, the story and the idea was really really cute. The book kinda reminds me of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins a little bit but make it more homey.
It was a little slow for me because it didn't really give the same hype or vibe as the previous books of Wibbroka I've read. But nevertheless, the story and the idea was really really cute. The book kinda reminds me of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins a little bit but make it more homey.
kthornette's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of other reviewers say this isn't the best Wibbroka book. I've only read Always Never Yours so far and with the previous claim, I agree. This book was still enjoyable and it dealt with a theme a lot of people can relate to at any age, and even see the two sides of staying home versus leaving. Fitz and Juniper were adorable to read with their quips and deep conversations, but I honestly didn't see or feel a spark between them and maybe that's because I was rooting for Matt. They were still cute, though. Maybe I just needed more content with some closure.
maddieg's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a cute book and I couldn't wait to see how Fitz and Juniper's paths would cross. The way they met and continued to run into each other was such a great inclusion because you could just tell that they were both into each other. Fitz's passion for unique words and Juniper's outstanding memory blended together perfectly and created an interesting layer to their relationship that was meaningful, but also somewhat annoying to me as a reader. I also enjoyed that Wibberley and Seigemund-Broka had them both come from drastically different backgrounds but come together and understand each other on a deeper level. Also the inclusion of both of them figuring out their relationship with their families first through their relationship because it showed how invested they were in those closer to them than themselves.
Favorite Quote: "Because if I spend every minute wishing everything would stay the same, I'll lose so much more than the past."
Favorite Quote: "Because if I spend every minute wishing everything would stay the same, I'll lose so much more than the past."
mssarahbni's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this story because it did have a lot of elements that worked for me, but it just didn’t work as a whole for me. I felt like a lot of time was spent on irrelevant things and not enough time on the moments that mattered. The ending was an open ending which is fine but it was so rushed. This just didn’t really work for me.
maryandherlibrary's review against another edition
3.0
I’m really struggling to rate this.
There were so many things I really loved but also many things I disliked so watch me change my rating from 3 to 4 and then back ten more times because my feelings are very conflicted.
There were so many things I really loved but also many things I disliked so watch me change my rating from 3 to 4 and then back ten more times because my feelings are very conflicted.
hellomadalyn's review against another edition
3.0
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love these authors' books, but I'll be honest, I struggled through this one. It was just missing... that extra something that both of their previous books gave me. (Maybe it was the fact that unlike their first two books, TIME OF OUR LIVES isn't a Shakespeare retelling? Who's to say.) In any case, I did really appreciate the family dynamics in this book, and the ending was exactly the kind of ending I love in YA, that I wish we saw more of in this age range.
zbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Another amazing story about finding yourself and learning that it’s ok to move ahead with your life plans, that you don’t always need to be responsible for everyone else. I liked how the authors didn’t focus on just Juniper and Fitz’s relationship, but those between Fitz and Lewis, his brother, and Juniper and her family. The book doesn’t end on the stereotypical boy and girl fall in love and stay together forever. They find that they can forge their own paths while somehow stay connected, whether it’s as friends or more than friends.