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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Ugh I say again and again that I’m done reading YA contemporary but then I keep reading them. It’s just not good. The writing isn’t good, though the story itself was decent.
Oh my god. This book, man. This book will break your heart.
Different from what I was expecting, but still solid. Benway's come a long way since Audrey, Wait!, and I like her writing more every book. Emmy and Oliver were both drawn exquisitely (as was the friendships within this book). Would make an interesting pairing with If You Find Me.
4 of 5 stars
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Though I didn't loved this as much as Far from the Tree by the same author, which was an easy five-star rating for me, I still adored this book so much. I appreciate that this wasn't all focus on teenage romance but cover friendship and family as well. There were certainly complications about the different kinds of relationship in this book but those issues only emphasized the wonderful connections between the characters. No toxic relationships which I always looked for in a contemporary. I tend to hesitate with contemporaries because it's not really easy to come by books with beautiful, moving, non-toxic relationships. The relationship between Emmy and Oliver is just so sweet and heartwarming and innocent. Despite both of their issues with their families, they managed to support each other in their own ways. I also always loved how Robin Benway created the family dynamics. It always touched my heart in a most emotional yet beautiful way, just like how she did it with Far from the Tree that made me cry a lot. Though this was not as emotional as FFTT for me, this has its own touching moments. I hope I can find books with this kind of relationship dynamics again because this is what I wanted in my life!
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Though I didn't loved this as much as Far from the Tree by the same author, which was an easy five-star rating for me, I still adored this book so much. I appreciate that this wasn't all focus on teenage romance but cover friendship and family as well. There were certainly complications about the different kinds of relationship in this book but those issues only emphasized the wonderful connections between the characters. No toxic relationships which I always looked for in a contemporary. I tend to hesitate with contemporaries because it's not really easy to come by books with beautiful, moving, non-toxic relationships. The relationship between Emmy and Oliver is just so sweet and heartwarming and innocent. Despite both of their issues with their families, they managed to support each other in their own ways. I also always loved how Robin Benway created the family dynamics. It always touched my heart in a most emotional yet beautiful way, just like how she did it with Far from the Tree that made me cry a lot. Though this was not as emotional as FFTT for me, this has its own touching moments. I hope I can find books with this kind of relationship dynamics again because this is what I wanted in my life!
I read this just after I read [b:The Night We Said Yes|23287168|The Night We Said Yes|Lauren Gibaldi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412947397s/23287168.jpg|25804003], and this is infinitely better.
It was such a sweet, quiet story. When I first started it, I think I was over-excited because of the let-down I'd just finished, and I was fist-pumping everything. Emmy had me in her grip. She felt like a real teenage girl. By the end of the book I wasn't completely wowed anymore, and I can't exactly put my finger on why, but I still finished it up with a little smile on my face.
Oliver was harder to get to know than Emmy, but he did have a pretty rough go of it, and by the end you felt that he'd turn out OK. I totally felt for his situation, because he was stuck between a rock (his mom) and a hard place (his mother-cusser dad). His relationship with Emmy was sweet, if a little easy and light on the tingles, but like I said, I was falling in love with Emmy right along with him.
She definitely didn't feel blah and one-dimensional like some other main characters in the book I should stop comparing this to. Emmy's dialogue was funny and felt so realistic (in fact, everyone felt like real, complex human beings that could actually exist in the outside world. Imagine that!). She had her issues and doubts, but she was a good kid with a big heart. She had way more patience with her parents than I probably ever gave my own, so although I'd like to say I see a bit of me in her, I think she's way nicer than I.
I really loved the friendship between Emmy, Caro, and Drew. I'd be friends with these people. I don't think I always get other people's friendships where they don't conduct at least 70% percent of their conversations in sarcasm, quips, and gentle mocking. So I felt right at home during their hangouts.
In summation, this book isn't going to blow you away, but it is going to tug at your heartstrings a bit and make you grin. It felt a little Sarah Dessen-esque, which I consider high praise. I may need to check out what else Ms. Benway has in her repertoire!
It was such a sweet, quiet story. When I first started it, I think I was over-excited because of the let-down I'd just finished, and I was fist-pumping everything. Emmy had me in her grip. She felt like a real teenage girl. By the end of the book I wasn't completely wowed anymore, and I can't exactly put my finger on why, but I still finished it up with a little smile on my face.
Oliver was harder to get to know than Emmy, but he did have a pretty rough go of it, and by the end you felt that he'd turn out OK. I totally felt for his situation, because he was stuck between a rock (his mom) and a hard place (his mother-cusser dad). His relationship with Emmy was sweet, if a little easy and light on the tingles, but like I said, I was falling in love with Emmy right along with him.
She definitely didn't feel blah and one-dimensional like some other main characters in the book I should stop comparing this to. Emmy's dialogue was funny and felt so realistic (in fact, everyone felt like real, complex human beings that could actually exist in the outside world. Imagine that!). She had her issues and doubts, but she was a good kid with a big heart. She had way more patience with her parents than I probably ever gave my own, so although I'd like to say I see a bit of me in her, I think she's way nicer than I.
I really loved the friendship between Emmy, Caro, and Drew. I'd be friends with these people. I don't think I always get other people's friendships where they don't conduct at least 70% percent of their conversations in sarcasm, quips, and gentle mocking. So I felt right at home during their hangouts.
In summation, this book isn't going to blow you away, but it is going to tug at your heartstrings a bit and make you grin. It felt a little Sarah Dessen-esque, which I consider high praise. I may need to check out what else Ms. Benway has in her repertoire!
I really enjoyed this one. It's a sweet story about friendship and love.
It's a bit blunt at times, hitting you over the head repeatedly with its messages, but a well executed book. I enjoyed the focus on friendships, the actual dealing with trauma, and the pace.
I love how light this story is. I enjoyed this book alot. :)
Cute, sweet, and light. It’s very predictable, but in no way did that take away from the enjoyability of the book and the endearing relationships between these characters.
this was so perfect. I think I found a new fave.