Reviews

Gone by Lisa McMann

aadiaz868's review against another edition

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2.0

A disappointment, I loved the first two books, but this was horrible I couldn't wait until it was over.

carrieat's review against another edition

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2.0

Not great but tied it all up. Like with Fade a gap filler you can dip in and out of.

lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition

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5.0

This was exctremely sad, and often bittersweet, and it took me in some surprising directions, and some obvious directions.

Janie really carried the world on her shoulders, and even when she thought she'd found the perfect solution to her little problem, she realized that the fork was a lot worse than what she had thought in the beginning. And really good for her that Cabe was always so patient!

Captain was great, a real mother-figure for Janie, and my goodness, did she need one.

The end was bittersweet as well, and left me with a feeling that there should be a small epilogue, although at the same time, I was quite satisfied that there was no real happily ever after - it made it more real - no hollywood ending for this series.

The writing was eerily beautiful, and the insight to Janie's character, as well as her growth through the three books was amazing and very nice to follow.

origamibird's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

the ending was a bit obvious but at least i wasn't disappointed that way. 

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witchofottawacounty's review against another edition

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5.0

Again, the writing was choppy. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Not only was it just as interesting as the first two, it may have even surpassed them, in my opinion. Not only that, but the series ended gracefully, which is not always the case with trilogies.

novel_sarahndipity's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

scarletcorset's review against another edition

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3.0

**3.5 STARS**

I think I'd have to say this was my least favorite of the series. This book focused more on Janie's internal struggles, which was a nice departure from the non-stop action in the previous books. But at the same time, it lacked any action almost completely. Also, I'm really unsure about the ending... I wasn't exactly disappointed, but I wasn't content with the outcome either; I think I was just hoping there would be something more... Despite the ending being a little slower than I would have hoped, as a series overall I really did enjoy it!

trudilibrarian's review against another edition

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4.0

I love this series, and Gone makes for an immensely satisfying end to Janie's story -- so much so that I hope McMann makes her way back to Janie and Cabel at some point. I would love to run into this couple again in their 30s or 40s.

Gone explores a lot of emotional terrain in relatively few pages, and this in itself is a testament to McMann's talents. There's no filler here, every word counts. This time we get much more insight into Janie's complicated, dysfunctional relationship with her alcoholic mother.

I fell in love with Cabel in Wake, and it's continued to be a sheer joy reading about his and Janie's blossoming relationship, the deepening of their bond and Janie's struggle with possibly having to abandon him. Their new love is sweet and genuine, and as I said after reading Wake, Cabel is the boyfriend we all wish we had in high school.

The big pay-off in Gone is when Janie is dragged into the mystery of who her father might be. The ramifications of this discovery, and what it means for her "condition", are far-reaching and could lead to utter heartbreak. I just love how McMann handles this twist in the story. It doesn't feel forced or gimmicky.

I highly recommend this series, both for its originality and quiet intensity.

paigedc's review against another edition

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3.0

"No choice is best."

I finished the Wake trilogy, and they were all very... Decent. I definitely was entertained by them and wanted to finish the whole story, but it was definitely very basic literature, even for YA. Just like I observed in the 2nd book, there are no surprises, no big twists or shocking reveals, as everything can pretty much be channeled by a common reader.

In the final installment, Janie struggles with her future. If she decides to remain a dream catcher, she risks many physical consequences that may impede her happiness with Cabel. Or she can choose a life of isolation that will result in her own personal unhappiness. It's a true Catch-22. Her heretofore unknown father returns in a medical dilemma, enabling her to get to know him in a limited way, which lets her see what one path of her life could be like and make a more informed choice.

It's fairly predictable, but it's also a very quick read, so you're able to finish it and find out the ending fast enough.

This might be good for teenagers (warning for some language and some mild sexual content), or if you just really like YA books.