Scan barcode
hilary_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. This book made me cry as I was sitting in the dark reading off my phone. I just love the character’s growth and the author’s ability to shine light on both protagonists. It was so joyful to see Mallory bloom and set boundaries for herself. And the author was very realistic about demonstrating that growth is not instant but can take years and can continue our entire lives.
small-ish
There was themes of one’s status in society (what does that mean for the person’s identity? how do people around them act towards them? how are they viewed?), finding oneself (while this is a love story, Mallory finds it in herself to reflect and push herself to change), and courage.
It really hit me hard when Rider expresses that nobody believes in him because of his address and the area he lives in. As if the location of his house and status as a foster child changes the value he can bring and does bring to the world. People in the novel give up on him. People whose jobs are to be encouraging. How discouraging is it to be knocked down so many times in life, not have a stable support system, and not being able to choose where they’re placed? And people JUDGE. The school administrators and teachers did not even try to believe and I think that’s exactly what Rider and what people need. Is for someone to believe in them no matter how much they might push against it or display self destructive behavior.
It broke my heart to read the pain Mallory and Rider felt as children and the residual pain that there is no one in the world that cares or knows about them. If they went missing, nobody would care. It makes my heart ache to think about the children who fall asleep tonight thinking and knowing that if they went missing, nobody would know or care.
small-ish
There was themes of one’s status in society (what does that mean for the person’s identity? how do people around them act towards them? how are they viewed?), finding oneself (while this is a love story, Mallory finds it in herself to reflect and push herself to change), and courage.
It really hit me hard when Rider expresses that nobody believes in him because of his address and the area he lives in. As if the location of his house and status as a foster child changes the value he can bring and does bring to the world. People in the novel give up on him. People whose jobs are to be encouraging. How discouraging is it to be knocked down so many times in life, not have a stable support system, and not being able to choose where they’re placed? And people JUDGE. The school administrators and teachers did not even try to believe and I think that’s exactly what Rider and what people need. Is for someone to believe in them no matter how much they might push against it or display self destructive behavior.
It broke my heart to read the pain Mallory and Rider felt as children and the residual pain that there is no one in the world that cares or knows about them. If they went missing, nobody would care. It makes my heart ache to think about the children who fall asleep tonight thinking and knowing that if they went missing, nobody would know or care.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
More...