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sarahannkateri's review against another edition
2.0
Adonis is an ultra-smart, ultra-motivated teenager, loved by all of his teachers and destined for greatness despite being in a wheelchair. Autumn is his total opposite - a skilled athlete who can barely read and who makes her teachers despair. Despite their differences, Autumn is convinced that she loves Adonis, and she's going to make him fall for her too, no matter how much work it takes...
I liked The Skin I'm In by Flake, but did not think this was very good at all. Adonis was a ridiculously conceited jerk, and Autumn was an insane stalker, so it was hard to empathize with or root for either of them. The Peaches/Adonis being cousins subplot could have been interesting and given Adonis depth, but it fell flat. Autumn's struggles with reading and math were the only things that really felt authentic and fleshed out, and I wish the book had focused more on that and less on her crush on Adonis.
The writing had some real problems too, which I found strange for such an established writer. Adonis's internal monologue was stilted and robotic, and the way events were presented was incredibly unclear (not just when Flake was writing in Autumn's voice either...) I had to re-read multiple passages to understand what had just happened. As far as Adonis goes, there could be a really great book written about someone with a disability who overcompensates by trying to be perfect at everything & holding everyone else to incredibly high standards, but this isn't that book.
I guess some teen girls might like this, but it won't be my first choice to recommend.
I liked The Skin I'm In by Flake, but did not think this was very good at all. Adonis was a ridiculously conceited jerk, and Autumn was an insane stalker, so it was hard to empathize with or root for either of them. The Peaches/Adonis being cousins subplot could have been interesting and given Adonis depth, but it fell flat. Autumn's struggles with reading and math were the only things that really felt authentic and fleshed out, and I wish the book had focused more on that and less on her crush on Adonis.
The writing had some real problems too, which I found strange for such an established writer. Adonis's internal monologue was stilted and robotic, and the way events were presented was incredibly unclear (not just when Flake was writing in Autumn's voice either...) I had to re-read multiple passages to understand what had just happened. As far as Adonis goes, there could be a really great book written about someone with a disability who overcompensates by trying to be perfect at everything & holding everyone else to incredibly high standards, but this isn't that book.
I guess some teen girls might like this, but it won't be my first choice to recommend.
afro8921's review against another edition
3.0
Ms. Flake painted a convencing portrait of parents rising above their limited self knowledge to give their daughter a chance at a better life.
ginnikin's review against another edition
2.0
it was fine. I liked that autumn was so open about her feelings. I didn't like that she had to give up wrestling. I wanted someone to realise how important it was to her and help her have that as well as better grades.
tehani's review against another edition
5.0
A quick read, but really enjoyable, covering some great themes including disability and learning problems.
kshaw's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ⭐ These was so cute heartfelt, I even a teared up a bit. The emotions of this story so extreme you couldn't help but be pulled in.
misssusan's review against another edition
3.0
mixed! i liked autumn and i was neutral on adonis -- i could talk myself into empathy but he was kinda a jerk the whole novel long. tbf tho autumn was basically stalking him, like i was honestly surprised it went the romance route because he was pretty clear he wanted nothing to do with her
i do super appreciate the cover though, like how many books do you know with black disabled narrators that actually represent them accurately on the book jacket? if the answer's more than this one, please leave a comment because for real, i want to read what you're reading. 3 stars
i do super appreciate the cover though, like how many books do you know with black disabled narrators that actually represent them accurately on the book jacket? if the answer's more than this one, please leave a comment because for real, i want to read what you're reading. 3 stars
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
This reads a little like an urban lit version of Pride and Prejudice, but Adonis is even less likeable than Darcy!
Told in alternating chapters, Autumn is a barely literate, barely numerate wrestler who is an amazing chef and is in love with Adonis. Adonis was born without legs and raised to be self-sufficient, he's also one of the top students in the class and the Assistant Coach for the wrestling team. Their story could have been a wonderful story about two teens from completely different worlds and backgrounds and how they come together (as in what I think is the source material) but Adonis is just horrible.
It's not just the Darcian "better than thou" attitude, it's Adonis' internal monologue that was simply unlikeable. Why Autumn, who seems to be a genuinely nice person with a serious problem, would continue to like him is beyond me - even Lizzie gave up on Darcy, including after he declared his love "against his better nature and reason".
ARC provided by publisher.
Told in alternating chapters, Autumn is a barely literate, barely numerate wrestler who is an amazing chef and is in love with Adonis. Adonis was born without legs and raised to be self-sufficient, he's also one of the top students in the class and the Assistant Coach for the wrestling team. Their story could have been a wonderful story about two teens from completely different worlds and backgrounds and how they come together (as in what I think is the source material) but Adonis is just horrible.
It's not just the Darcian "better than thou" attitude, it's Adonis' internal monologue that was simply unlikeable. Why Autumn, who seems to be a genuinely nice person with a serious problem, would continue to like him is beyond me - even Lizzie gave up on Darcy, including after he declared his love "against his better nature and reason".
ARC provided by publisher.
markma's review against another edition
3.0
This book was ok. It was basically a romance. Otherwise it was good because the topic was pretty good.
This book is about a girl named Autumn and a boy named Aodnis. Aodnis is in a wheel chair because he was born without knees, calves, and feet. Autumn has a lot of trouble reading. This book is how they come together.
This book is about a girl named Autumn and a boy named Aodnis. Aodnis is in a wheel chair because he was born without knees, calves, and feet. Autumn has a lot of trouble reading. This book is how they come together.
nisanre's review against another edition
5.0
I am not sure I have fully settled into Sharon G. Flake's writing style, but I really love the diversity of her characters. There are so few books that make it into mainstream that have characters with disabilities at their forefront. This one has not one but two major characters and several minor characters that are both visibly and invisibly disabled. Her portrayal of Autumn, who has a reading disability (or at least is significantly behind in reading, she does not have an IEP) reminded me so much of the students I work with. There were even things that she or other characters said that I read to my class and said "tell me this is not you," and they all laughed and said "yeah, that's about right."
*Spoilers start here*
My only wish for this novel is that the transformation of Adonis was given more time to develop. While there were hints that it was going to happen, I feel like he made almost too sudden of a shift. Although, there are points at the end of the novel that show that he hasn't made a complete change and that he still needs some work, so it doesn't bother me THAT much.
Overall, this is the "quick read" book that I recommend above all others this year!
*Spoilers start here*
My only wish for this novel is that the transformation of Adonis was given more time to develop. While there were hints that it was going to happen, I feel like he made almost too sudden of a shift. Although, there are points at the end of the novel that show that he hasn't made a complete change and that he still needs some work, so it doesn't bother me THAT much.
Overall, this is the "quick read" book that I recommend above all others this year!