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whitreadslit's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this one up as an ARC from the bookstore I work in, and then failed to get it read before the publication date *facepalm*. But, I have read it now, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Two things initially inspired me to take this book home with me. First, look at that cover! It is beautiful! (insert heart eye emoji here!) I’m like a puppy, anything bright or colorful will immediately draw my attention. Secondly, the synopsis talked about how each of the three narrators loves music, and that their three stories are connected by music. Other than reading, my great love is music, so I picked this one up and ran out of the store with it, giggling the whole way to my car with glee!
I have read books with a dual perspective before, but I can’t think of many where there were three. I was a little nervous about this at first, afraid that it would make the story feel disjointed, or that there would be one narrator that I despised, but this wasn’t the case! I feel that Woodfolk did an excellent job balancing the story between these three different perspectives.
I really enjoyed how diverse the cast of this book was. Sometimes diversity in books can feel contrived and forced, but I felt like this was done fairly organically.
Autumn, our first narrator, was a Korean adoptee whose best friend, Tavia (who was hispanic) died in a car crash. Autumn writes emails to Tavia throughout the novel, as a way of processing her grief. Autumn and Tavia’s older brother, Dante, work through their feelings about Tavia’s death, as well as their feelings for each other, in the aftermath.
Logan, our second narrator, was a LGBT redhead with substance abuse problems. His ex-boyfriend, Bram, died in what appeared to be a suicide, following a severe beating. Logan is struggling to continue to write music after Bram’s death, and continues to watch Bram’s YouTube videos on repeat, feeling more and more miserable and guilty with each view.
Shay, our third narrator, was a black twin whose twin sister, Sasha, died of leukemia. Shay now struggles to continue running the music website, Badass Music Fanatics (BaMF), that she created with her sister and her friends, without spiraling into full blown panic attacks at the thought of her sister and everything she is now missing.
I really enjoyed the journey that each of these characters went on. They all started at a low place, sank even lower, and then began to rise from the ashes. This was so well done that it didn’t feel cliche, and I found myself really rooting for all three of the narrators by the end.
I loved how the book really emphasized the power of friendship, and also emphasized the power of therapy. So many people feel like seeing a therapist, or going to a support group, means that you are crazy. It really means that you want to get better, and you are getting the help you need in order to do so. Again, well done Woodfolk!
The band in the story, Unraveling Lovely, was a central point to all three plot lines. I won’t tell you exactly what happens there, as that would be a spoiler, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching this journey unfold as well.
Here are a few quotes that I really loved from The Beauty That Remains:
“The universe is unpredictable.”
“I focus on all the other people I love; on all the beauty that remains.”
“You could have had anyone you wanted. But you picked me.”
Rating:
4.0/5.0
I gave The Beauty That Remains 4 STARS! I loved this book, and felt that it was very well done.
Two things initially inspired me to take this book home with me. First, look at that cover! It is beautiful! (insert heart eye emoji here!) I’m like a puppy, anything bright or colorful will immediately draw my attention. Secondly, the synopsis talked about how each of the three narrators loves music, and that their three stories are connected by music. Other than reading, my great love is music, so I picked this one up and ran out of the store with it, giggling the whole way to my car with glee!
I have read books with a dual perspective before, but I can’t think of many where there were three. I was a little nervous about this at first, afraid that it would make the story feel disjointed, or that there would be one narrator that I despised, but this wasn’t the case! I feel that Woodfolk did an excellent job balancing the story between these three different perspectives.
I really enjoyed how diverse the cast of this book was. Sometimes diversity in books can feel contrived and forced, but I felt like this was done fairly organically.
Autumn, our first narrator, was a Korean adoptee whose best friend, Tavia (who was hispanic) died in a car crash. Autumn writes emails to Tavia throughout the novel, as a way of processing her grief. Autumn and Tavia’s older brother, Dante, work through their feelings about Tavia’s death, as well as their feelings for each other, in the aftermath.
Logan, our second narrator, was a LGBT redhead with substance abuse problems. His ex-boyfriend, Bram, died in what appeared to be a suicide, following a severe beating. Logan is struggling to continue to write music after Bram’s death, and continues to watch Bram’s YouTube videos on repeat, feeling more and more miserable and guilty with each view.
Shay, our third narrator, was a black twin whose twin sister, Sasha, died of leukemia. Shay now struggles to continue running the music website, Badass Music Fanatics (BaMF), that she created with her sister and her friends, without spiraling into full blown panic attacks at the thought of her sister and everything she is now missing.
I really enjoyed the journey that each of these characters went on. They all started at a low place, sank even lower, and then began to rise from the ashes. This was so well done that it didn’t feel cliche, and I found myself really rooting for all three of the narrators by the end.
I loved how the book really emphasized the power of friendship, and also emphasized the power of therapy. So many people feel like seeing a therapist, or going to a support group, means that you are crazy. It really means that you want to get better, and you are getting the help you need in order to do so. Again, well done Woodfolk!
The band in the story, Unraveling Lovely, was a central point to all three plot lines. I won’t tell you exactly what happens there, as that would be a spoiler, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching this journey unfold as well.
Here are a few quotes that I really loved from The Beauty That Remains:
“The universe is unpredictable.”
“I focus on all the other people I love; on all the beauty that remains.”
“You could have had anyone you wanted. But you picked me.”
Rating:
4.0/5.0
I gave The Beauty That Remains 4 STARS! I loved this book, and felt that it was very well done.
alicesbooknook's review against another edition
3.0
This book was pretty good, definately in my top 10! I'm not really an avid romance reader, so I began to lose interested towards the end of the book. Other than that, I totally would've given in 5 stars! Great plot, character, and overall theme. Seeing the way they all connected was extremely satisfying but also super difficult! I wanted so badly to just make things happen myself and get Autumn, Shay, and Logan together.
gabiloue's review against another edition
3.0
This book was honestly way better than I expected. It boasted a diverse collection of characters, realistic depictions of grief, and an interconnected plot I was not expected. It's definitely sad, and honestly really doesn't get even close to uplifting until the last chapter. It's easy to read and contains relationships the readers root for until the end.
ellie_w21's review against another edition
4.0
i really like this book. i love how all the stories connect and show how different grief is for everyone.
hellomadalyn's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally appeared on Novel Ink.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content warnings: death, loss, suicide, drugs, alcohol, anxiety, panic attacks
What a beautiful gem of a book. The Beauty that Remains is an excellent debut, and an even better exploration of grief and loss. We follow three main characters– Autumn, Logan, and Shay– who have all recently lost someone important in their lives. We see how each of them processes loss and death differently, and eventually, we find out how their stories and lives intertwine.
My very favorite thing about this book, speaking of which, was the multiple perspectives. Autumn’s best friend has died in a car crash; Logan’s ex has committed suicide; and Shay’s twin sister has died of leukemia. Each POV character had a distinct voice, and though they all experienced similar tragedies, they struggle with different issues in the aftermath of those tragedies. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think Shay was my favorite voice. I related deeply to her struggles with anxiety, and I think she processed grief in a similar way to me. Although, I will say, I loved the slight mystery element in Logan’s perspective, and I also loved the unexpected friendship he forms (I won’t spoil it). And every time I read one of Autumn’s chapters, I just wanted to wrap her up in a giant hug. I really appreciated the way all the main characters’ were connected, too. I’m always on board with the idea that music unites people, especially in times of grief and hardship. Even though it sounds cheesy, making music with my choir has been the only thing that got me through my toughest mental health times.
Oh, and the diversity among the main characters? Fantastic. Autumn is Korean, but has been adopted by white parents. Her love interest, as well as her best friend, are both Latinx. Logan is gay, and his ex-boyfriend is queer. Shay and her love interest are both black. I’m happy that so many readers will have the chance to see themselves represented in the pages of this book. I can tell that Ashley Woodfolk put a lot of effort into getting this representation right, and I know that at least the black representation is #ownvoices.
Another great element of this story? The writing. Ashley Woodfolk’s prose is striking and lovely, and there are lots of beautiful, quotable passages. Plus, her words flow easily from one page and one chapter to the next. I read most of this book in one sitting on an airplane, because even though it’s a quiet, character-driven novel as opposed to a fast-paced, plot-driven story, I felt invested in what happened to our protagonists.
Overall, I think readers who gravitate toward heavier, more emotional contemporaries will adore and appreciate this book. It explores grief in a thoughtful way, and these characters will stick with me for a while. I highly recommend checking this one out when it releases in March!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content warnings: death, loss, suicide, drugs, alcohol, anxiety, panic attacks
What a beautiful gem of a book. The Beauty that Remains is an excellent debut, and an even better exploration of grief and loss. We follow three main characters– Autumn, Logan, and Shay– who have all recently lost someone important in their lives. We see how each of them processes loss and death differently, and eventually, we find out how their stories and lives intertwine.
My very favorite thing about this book, speaking of which, was the multiple perspectives. Autumn’s best friend has died in a car crash; Logan’s ex has committed suicide; and Shay’s twin sister has died of leukemia. Each POV character had a distinct voice, and though they all experienced similar tragedies, they struggle with different issues in the aftermath of those tragedies. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think Shay was my favorite voice. I related deeply to her struggles with anxiety, and I think she processed grief in a similar way to me. Although, I will say, I loved the slight mystery element in Logan’s perspective, and I also loved the unexpected friendship he forms (I won’t spoil it). And every time I read one of Autumn’s chapters, I just wanted to wrap her up in a giant hug. I really appreciated the way all the main characters’ were connected, too. I’m always on board with the idea that music unites people, especially in times of grief and hardship. Even though it sounds cheesy, making music with my choir has been the only thing that got me through my toughest mental health times.
Oh, and the diversity among the main characters? Fantastic. Autumn is Korean, but has been adopted by white parents. Her love interest, as well as her best friend, are both Latinx. Logan is gay, and his ex-boyfriend is queer. Shay and her love interest are both black. I’m happy that so many readers will have the chance to see themselves represented in the pages of this book. I can tell that Ashley Woodfolk put a lot of effort into getting this representation right, and I know that at least the black representation is #ownvoices.
Another great element of this story? The writing. Ashley Woodfolk’s prose is striking and lovely, and there are lots of beautiful, quotable passages. Plus, her words flow easily from one page and one chapter to the next. I read most of this book in one sitting on an airplane, because even though it’s a quiet, character-driven novel as opposed to a fast-paced, plot-driven story, I felt invested in what happened to our protagonists.
Overall, I think readers who gravitate toward heavier, more emotional contemporaries will adore and appreciate this book. It explores grief in a thoughtful way, and these characters will stick with me for a while. I highly recommend checking this one out when it releases in March!
giulay's review against another edition
4.0
"Tears are falling like heavy stones from my eyes all of a sudden. But maybe that is strength. Maybe holding on to all the circumstances I couldn’t control was the weak thing to do."
TW: death, drugs, alcohol, suicide, panic attacks, depression
Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐️
This book was glorious.
Magnificent.
It was gorgeous.
It deal with grief in such a realistic, raw, unfiltered way.
It was beautifully painful.
The cast of characters was wonderfully diverse and I loved each and every single one of the characters, both secondary and main.
Our three main perspectives are told in three very specific, unique and different voices. Logan, Autumn and Shay have to face their losses and they do so in ways that I can honestly simply describe as human. Their struggles, their pains, their fears, their doubts but also (and maybe, most importantly) their hopes are the core of this breathtaking, heart wrenching debut.
I loved the message and I adored the execution: every single word was carefully picked and the stories flawlessly come together.
Even if I can see the - minor - problems with this book (it was slightly predictable and maybe some messages could be considered as clichés) I loved it with every fiber of my being and I still felt incredibly attached to these characters and their personal developments.
Also, I really liked how music played such a vital role in the lives of our three narrators.
Unique and human.
Bittersweet and real.
This is my kind of contemporary and this book masterfully delivered. I couldn't (and wouldn't) put this book down.
I’m aching. Wow. I’m speechless.
This was stellar.
"Everything is different without you here.
Especially me.
But I’m starting to think that maybe that’s okay."
TW: death, drugs, alcohol, suicide, panic attacks, depression
Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐️
This book was glorious.
Magnificent.
It was gorgeous.
It deal with grief in such a realistic, raw, unfiltered way.
It was beautifully painful.
The cast of characters was wonderfully diverse and I loved each and every single one of the characters, both secondary and main.
Our three main perspectives are told in three very specific, unique and different voices. Logan, Autumn and Shay have to face their losses and they do so in ways that I can honestly simply describe as human. Their struggles, their pains, their fears, their doubts but also (and maybe, most importantly) their hopes are the core of this breathtaking, heart wrenching debut.
I loved the message and I adored the execution: every single word was carefully picked and the stories flawlessly come together.
Even if I can see the - minor - problems with this book (it was slightly predictable and maybe some messages could be considered as clichés) I loved it with every fiber of my being and I still felt incredibly attached to these characters and their personal developments.
Also, I really liked how music played such a vital role in the lives of our three narrators.
Unique and human.
Bittersweet and real.
This is my kind of contemporary and this book masterfully delivered. I couldn't (and wouldn't) put this book down.
I’m aching. Wow. I’m speechless.
This was stellar.
"Everything is different without you here.
Especially me.
But I’m starting to think that maybe that’s okay."
shemyshines98's review against another edition
3.0
This book is heartbreaking, but so is losing someone close to you. Grief is tricky. But one thing I do know is that it comes in waves. You just have to learn to ride and wade them. I love that all the characters are connected by music/band. It shows me how powerful music is and how lost we'll be without it. Great book!
sbelasco40's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much. It is definitely sad, and incredibly intense, and intricately constructed so that the three stories of the three different POV characters dance around each other and intersect and follow their own paths, all at once. The characters are real and compelling, and the author doesn’t soften any blows in showing how brutal grief can be. At the same time, the characters are shaped and transformed by their losses. I loved the way the book uses social media posts, too - so essential in a narrative about contemporary teenagers, and yet often underused in YA lit.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
Ugh, I hate it when I don't get around to reading a book until four years after it was published.
This one has stayed on my list because I just love that cover. Even though the title is one of those generic phrases that is ubiquitous in a certain sector of YA. It had been so long since I put this on hold that I'd completely forgotten what it was about.
This book is about grief. And it is about music.
Three characters, three perspectives. All of them have recently lost someone IMPORTANT to them.
They're all connected to this one band, in different ways, but those connections aren't all revealed until pretty late in the book.
The voices of the three characters aren't particularly distinct, but the characters themselves are.
It took me a while to read, but that's partially because I needed to put it down after every chapter or so to get a break from the grief.
This is a book with feelings.
This one has stayed on my list because I just love that cover. Even though the title is one of those generic phrases that is ubiquitous in a certain sector of YA. It had been so long since I put this on hold that I'd completely forgotten what it was about.
This book is about grief. And it is about music.
Three characters, three perspectives. All of them have recently lost someone IMPORTANT to them.
They're all connected to this one band, in different ways, but those connections aren't all revealed until pretty late in the book.
The voices of the three characters aren't particularly distinct, but the characters themselves are.
It took me a while to read, but that's partially because I needed to put it down after every chapter or so to get a break from the grief.
This is a book with feelings.
saskiacb's review against another edition
4.0
okay i need to read something happy now. holy moley am i a wreck.
The Beauty That Remains follows three protagonists who have, in the past year, lost someone close to them. Grief is a central theme throughout these different perspectives, along with forgiveness and courage.
I feel emotionally taxed.
Also, I feel like there were moments of biophobia in this... ***SPOILER WARNING***
....When Bram broke up with Logan, Logan notes how it being a girl and that he didn't know Bram liked girls made it worse. I thought this might be addressed later on and that maybe it was spur of the moment because he'd just been broken up but it doesn't get talked about again. You could interpret Logan becoming friends with Yana and seeing her in a new light as him taking this back but I need that in words.
Other than this disappointing element I really enjoyed the book.
The Beauty That Remains follows three protagonists who have, in the past year, lost someone close to them. Grief is a central theme throughout these different perspectives, along with forgiveness and courage.
I feel emotionally taxed.
Also, I feel like there were moments of biophobia in this... ***SPOILER WARNING***
....When Bram broke up with Logan, Logan notes how it being a girl and that he didn't know Bram liked girls made it worse. I thought this might be addressed later on and that maybe it was spur of the moment because he'd just been broken up but it doesn't get talked about again. You could interpret Logan becoming friends with Yana and seeing her in a new light as him taking this back but I need that in words.
Other than this disappointing element I really enjoyed the book.