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whynotreadwithalex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I suppose I should start by saying that I don't read sad books. Like, ever. And when I do, it is by accident and begrudgingly. And NEVER in the "hurt-no-comfort" category. Because I don't like being sad on purpose. Period.
However, a friend of mine gifted me this book when she moved, and after all the hype surrounding it when it came out, and of course the intriguing premise, I knew I was going to have to just power through and give it a chance.
Even though I knew it would be devastating.
And even when I reached the halfway mark and guessed at the truth hidden underneath the lies -- at which point, I knew for certain that I was going to be, you guessed it: devastated -- I wanted to finish it. To feel it and live it with Cady.
Oh, my poor, sweet Cady. How I wish I could just wrap you up in the biggest of hugs.
All in all, this is an excellent book. Devastating, yes. But exquisitely told. Grief is explored in every aspect. And as much as we would all rather avoid this kind of heartache, it comes for each of us. And this book does an amazing job of taking the reader through the process of pain, acceptance, healing, denial, and hope that surfaces even as the wounds turn to scars and the phantom pains set in. I can't say that I loved this book, because it's still so fresh and raw and, well, painful. But I needed it. My soul needed it.
Graphic: Child death, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Classism, Death, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Animal death, Gaslighting, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol
heathergudaz95's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Medical trauma, and Death
rebecca_w28's review
- 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
If you liked The Summer of Broken Rules, you might like this one too. It has a similar setting and similar group of characters, but has a unique plot all the same.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, and Animal death
daley_mckdonald's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Medical trauma, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death and Gun violence
alixsbooktherapy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved how descriptive the author was for the first few chapters
"I wanted to go back with a book" me too cadence
Gat flirting was so funny really brought some brightness to the awkwardness
"The universe was good because he was in it"
My heart hurt for cadence after she found out gat kept something from her
"The universe is seeming really huge right now I need something to hold onto" gat said
"I'm here"
THE KISS YES!! IM SO HAPPY
Granny tipper😭
Mummy should of been nicer and let the kids grieve
How I hated mummy she was a drunk and loved to manipulate her kids I definitely feel this book was overhyped I hope book 2 redeems my hope for this
I feel this book would of been 10x better if it was longer and was more descriptive other then that the end pulled it to together for me
I hated the family and how mommy and granddad were such assholes to the kids and wanted to spilt gat and cadence up just because he's not white like take your racist bullshit elsewhere
We finally learn that Cady didn't hit her head on a swimming injury and it was a fire injury instead.
"I have lost you, gat because of how desperately,desperately I fell in love"
'It's good to be loved even though it will not last"
"Be a little kinder"
"Shut up I'm 10 already"
Graphic: Incest, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Ableism, Violence, Rape, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Suicide, Addiction, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexual content, Self harm, and Pregnancy
crieraylas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Grief, Racism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Blood, Infidelity, and Rape
lizzylakes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Racism
Minor: Classism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
bookstacksbymad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Medical trauma
kotletka_polina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this book back in 2016 and was confused to see this book blew up on TikTok in 2022??
Idk a lot of people have strong feelings about this book, I remember reading it for the first time and I was flabbergasted: the plot twist, the writing style. But I was like 12?? It’s a pretty disturbing and sad book but it’s y/a so idk why people expect it to be great.
Personally I didn’t quite get the whole point when I read it for the first time, I didn’t understand the ending and overall was pretty much confused for the most part, but reading it now I cried. It’s not the best book I’ve ever read but it’s decent quick read the plays with your head. Nice.
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Child death, Death, and Medical trauma
rene_reads02's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Child death, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Racism