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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
gemjar321's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Death
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Abandonment
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 tipperðŸ˜
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
jordan_noel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
However, I didn’t feel that I really knew the characters. I knew what Cady felt, but I didn’t know any of their interests and true motivations beyond their love for each other. This made it difficult for me to be engaged in the book.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Death, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Abandonment, Drug use, Alcohol, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm, Racism, and Blood
ilaronicly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism, Abandonment, Drug use, and Murder
oliviastewart716's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Alcohol, Child death, Grief, Medical trauma, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Blood
Minor: Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
profilernewt07's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
naddl0r's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Classism, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, and Abandonment
chandeloo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcoholism
pumpkinbread02's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Chronic illness and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Abandonment, Chronic illness, and Animal death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Classism, and Dementia