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memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
This book was beautiful. I haven't read one of Kathleen's books before but now I need to read the rest. It was incredibly sad, right from the first page and the ending wasn't particularly happy but it was hopeful. This book really highlights the importance of judge not, lest we too be judged. These characters are each going through their own tragedies and just trying to keep their heads above water and survive. It brings home the importance of trying to look outside your own world for a bit and see that others are hurting too. You may not be able to fix what is happening in your own life but that doesn't mean you need to bury your head in the sand and not try to help those around you that you can help. Unfortunately, I don't think Emory really internalised this concept by the end as during this book, she was obviously focusing on her brother and her own family tragedies. But, these wonderful, imperfect people surround her through this book but I don't think she ever really asks them how they are, they occasionally offer up something about their lives but Emory never checks in or asks them how they're doing. She was going through a lot and I know how you can get lost in your own world so much so that everything around you becomes an afterthought, but, hopefully, those things will come with growth and maturity. A specific example that comes to mind is the alluding towards Liza being sexually assaulted, maybe Emory never made the connections but it's obvious her trauma goes deeper than her parents leaving, and Emory never bothers to ask and we never really find out. I'm not upset about that though because this book was focused on Emory and Joey. I liked that Kathleen chose to write this story from the perspective of Emory instead of Joey, it was very real. I connected with some of Emory's experiences and feelings, and it is important to hear how someone's mental health struggles and addiction can affect those around us. We don't delve too deeply into the other characters, even Joey, we hear bits and pieces but we never really get to understand him on a deeper level and I guess that is quite a good reflection on the world. You may know pieces of a person, but everyone has their own stories and all we can do is try to walk through this world with a little bit more grace and compassion in our hearts and actions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, Mental illness, Child death, Addiction, and Bullying
Moderate: Grief, Sexism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Classism, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cancer, and Sexual assault
solene_l's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It broke me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Bullying, Classism, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Cancer, Body shaming, and Addiction
kingangie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Medical content and Bullying
Minor: Classism and Cancer
kdawgreads69's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i just love anything that kathleen glasgow writes she gives such a detailed, realistic description of important issues, in this case drug addiction. it was difficult for me to get through at first because it reminded me so much of my own life but once i managed it its such a beautiful book that details the things you dont see from other people. it made me cry several times and is definitely in my top 3 books towards the end when max calls emory and they find joey is such a beautiful scene. the way that joey was relieved to see max to know he would call her felt so good after all the horrible shit he probably experienced during the 45 days he was missing. i was just so happy that after all that time he was able to not just get help and accept it as well. such a good ending to Joey’s story. Their father also kind of appearing after essentially not being there for the majority of the book was satisfying as well and the way he opened up their hearts to the people struggling and used their money for something good to help people like Joey, such amazing character development i loved this book so much
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Death, Sexism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Grief, Addiction, Body shaming, and Car accident
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Cancer
danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
So, I admittedly went into this one not realizing it's YA, which is not my genre. That said, considering this as a YA book, I think it's an important read about teenage addiction and its impact on families that many teenagers are going to feel seen in.
I was also heartened by its brave ending that refused to give easy answers, and even further heartened by the author's note explaining her own addiction and sobriety journey, which is most certainly a big part of why, for me, as someone who also has a history of addiction and several years sober at this point, the narrative felt so honest.
Sometimes it did feel like that YA thing where an adult author is imagining what kids these days are like and it's not quite right.
But overall, a good read and I think an important YA entry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Car accident, Drug abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
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