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voidstar's review
4.0
Of all the Bright Sessions books, I think this one is the strongest, but I've heard from other people that it's difficult to get into without knowing/being a fan the audio drama.
It's not the most impactful YA novel I've ever read concerning a teenage character struggling with grief, but it is a fun adventure into a character whose escapism is pretty extreme (as exaggerated by her superpower).
I own this more for Damien, though. Interspersed through this book are a collection of his letters written to the guy he's in love with, chronicling his time locked up in this institute that's known for crimes against humanity and unethical human experimentation, recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury.
It's sad. It's so sad. This book makes me cry my eyes out.
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version because the voice actors of these characters from the audio drama do the narration. Charlie Ian, in particular, is an amazing actress and will make you choke up over the way she delivers the emotional impact of Damien's letters.
It's not the most impactful YA novel I've ever read concerning a teenage character struggling with grief, but it is a fun adventure into a character whose escapism is pretty extreme (as exaggerated by her superpower).
I own this more for Damien, though. Interspersed through this book are a collection of his letters written to the guy he's in love with, chronicling his time locked up in this institute that's known for crimes against humanity and unethical human experimentation, recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury.
It's sad. It's so sad. This book makes me cry my eyes out.
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version because the voice actors of these characters from the audio drama do the narration. Charlie Ian, in particular, is an amazing actress and will make you choke up over the way she delivers the emotional impact of Damien's letters.
lady_moon's review against another edition
3.5
Rep: plus size lesbian Jewish MC, pan latina love interest, Jewish side characters, queer side characters
Ok, so... this book is truly meant for the listeners of the podcast. And it really shows early on. I started listening to it, in attempt to catch up with the plot but eventually, somewhere close to the end of the second season, I decided to hell with it. I just wanted to continue with the book. (I'll keep listening to the podcast tho, it's good.)
However, this gave me this... specific feel of a lot-ness going on. There were cameos of all the characters from the podcast. There were some quite important stories for these characters that are told in merely a few sentences and if you haven't listened to the podcast you hear about for the first time. I felt a little out of depth, not gonna lie. Like, there is a lot going on behind the scenes that Rose, our MC, barely knows and understands, if at all, which makes it feel like there are really high stakes and mystery when there... isn't? At all?
To be honest, the whole book felt like where there is really loud music in the room (i.e. the whole background cast) while you're trying to talk with someone (i.e. Rose). I felt like I was distracted by something to learn about Rose almost the whole time - there were the online updates from Aaron and Emily, then Damien appears, then every single character from the podcast appears. Like, all of this is great, I loved the online updates, I love Damien but... all of this distracted me from actually caring about Rose as much as I cared about the characters in the previous two books? Only towards the very end I actually started to truly understand Rose and see more where she's coming from. For the big portion of the book we're given these bits and pieces of why and how and what but there was never a true follow up to them. Not until the last couple of chapters.
Honestly, this is the only book I would say it advisable to listen to the podcast first. Simply because you already would know about the background stories and wouldn't be distracted by them.
Ok, so... this book is truly meant for the listeners of the podcast. And it really shows early on. I started listening to it, in attempt to catch up with the plot but eventually, somewhere close to the end of the second season, I decided to hell with it. I just wanted to continue with the book. (I'll keep listening to the podcast tho, it's good.)
However, this gave me this... specific feel of a lot-ness going on. There were cameos of all the characters from the podcast. There were some quite important stories for these characters that are told in merely a few sentences and if you haven't listened to the podcast you hear about for the first time. I felt a little out of depth, not gonna lie. Like, there is a lot going on behind the scenes that Rose, our MC, barely knows and understands, if at all, which makes it feel like there are really high stakes and mystery when there... isn't? At all?
To be honest, the whole book felt like where there is really loud music in the room (i.e. the whole background cast) while you're trying to talk with someone (i.e. Rose). I felt like I was distracted by something to learn about Rose almost the whole time - there were the online updates from Aaron and Emily, then Damien appears, then every single character from the podcast appears. Like, all of this is great, I loved the online updates, I love Damien but... all of this distracted me from actually caring about Rose as much as I cared about the characters in the previous two books? Only towards the very end I actually started to truly understand Rose and see more where she's coming from. For the big portion of the book we're given these bits and pieces of why and how and what but there was never a true follow up to them. Not until the last couple of chapters.
Honestly, this is the only book I would say it advisable to listen to the podcast first. Simply because you already would know about the background stories and wouldn't be distracted by them.
clstar's review
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.5
uraveragelizard's review
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think this was a great expansion of the canon. Rose wasn’t my favorite in the pod but I felt she was much more sympathetic and interesting in this. Her and Damiens relationship was really interesting; loved getting more detail on that. I think this was a well done look at choice and accountability. I found parts of it pretty relatable, and I feel like she did a great job giving her complex characters even more depth. And cool shifts in perspective
hpepperstone's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fl0tsam's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
Good book! Head empty also crying
dodecashedron's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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
aurbal's review
3.5
I would give this a 3.5. The format was interesting as it told the story through the characters different forms of “diaries” or social media. Even though the Rose was at some times being frustrating, I was never really annoyed with her. I liked her relationship with her girlfriend and enjoyed her dynamic with Damien.
There was a weird subplot of the AM being super shady and then nothing really coming out of it… reminded me of the first book. It feels like the author is trying to slowly build up to something (idk if she’s releasing new books or not) and if she is, I think she’s doing it too slowly because it just feels like it’s being shoved under the rug towards so that she can conveniently end the book. It doesn’t feel like we’ve learned much more about the AM since the first book. Maybe they explain it in the podcasts? Either way, I felt dissatisfied with the ending on that regard.
There was a weird subplot of the AM being super shady and then nothing really coming out of it… reminded me of the first book. It feels like the author is trying to slowly build up to something (idk if she’s releasing new books or not) and if she is, I think she’s doing it too slowly because it just feels like it’s being shoved under the rug towards so that she can conveniently end the book. It doesn’t feel like we’ve learned much more about the AM since the first book. Maybe they explain it in the podcasts? Either way, I felt dissatisfied with the ending on that regard.
lbroccli's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
lisamsalgado's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5