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hollyberry_1980's review
5.0
I will have to admit that when I first started reading this book, I really was not sure it was for me. I had to take a moment to pause after a couple of chapters and reflect on why I was feeling this way because it is beautiful writing, and a really interesting story. Then I figured it out, the first thing being it was told from a male perspective, and I have not read a lot of books from this point of view before. The next thing is that the first real basis of the story is a child grieving the loss of his Mother, fortunately, I have not experienced this. I will have to admit though, I think Daisy Whitney hit the emotions pretty dead on in some ways. Danny has a way of trying to deal with this that has made it so that his emotions are pretty numb, so when I thought that he was pretty emotionless, I had to remind myself as to why.
He is also struggling with the fact that he is still madly in love with his ex-girlfriend Holland, but she broke his heart once before, and has suddenly come back in to his life after his Mother passes away, and he does not know how to deal with her being there. He needs her, but he does not want to admit it as he is still angry at her for leaving him with almost no word. We do learn during the novel why she did this, and it is a very serious situation as well, so when Danny finds out finally, I thought for sure he is going to crack, but he does not. We see how Holland has had to deal with it, and find out why she made the decisions that she did, and I was rooting for them to make it through, I could feel their chemistry and knew that they still loved each other very much!
I give Danny a lot of respect for being able to pick up from his life in California to take a trip to Tokyo, where his Mother (now he) owns an apartment, especially with leaving his dog back home, as we all know, sometimes pets can be the best companions in our times of need. One of the main reasons that he goes to Tokyo is to meet the Dr that his Mom had been going to visit once a month during the last few months of her life, and why she felt the need to go there, and find out what this magical cure was that he was helping her with. There is a lot that happens during his trip, and it is not all good. We see Danny grow tremendously through this story, and find out that what may look one way to you, looks and is completely different to someone else, and we really need to calm down, and communicate with those close to us to truly understand where the other one is coming from.
Though he goes on this trip for his Mom, it turns out that it is more a trip for himself to get some closure, and some of it he refuses to believe at first. I cannot tell you enough how much I enjoyed this book, it may not be very long (under 300 pages), but it packs a whopper of a punch as far as story line, and just when I think someone is going to crack from all the pressure, their light bulb goes off, and they start to see things completely differently from what they originally did. I have yet to this day found a book that can make me cry, but this one got my emotions going more than any other in recent history. I highly suggest this novel for anyone looking for a contemporary with a lot of meat to it, also anyone going through the loss of a loved one, I think it would really help with trying to see all sides, and that even though it may feel like the end of the world, it may just be a new beginning to a different kind of world for them.
I also have Daisy Whitney's The Mockingbirds on my shelf, and just have not had the time to read it yet, and after reading this story, it is going to be made a priority on my to be read pile. A wonderful piece of art, it gets a 5/5 from this (now) very emotional reader!
He is also struggling with the fact that he is still madly in love with his ex-girlfriend Holland, but she broke his heart once before, and has suddenly come back in to his life after his Mother passes away, and he does not know how to deal with her being there. He needs her, but he does not want to admit it as he is still angry at her for leaving him with almost no word. We do learn during the novel why she did this, and it is a very serious situation as well, so when Danny finds out finally, I thought for sure he is going to crack, but he does not. We see how Holland has had to deal with it, and find out why she made the decisions that she did, and I was rooting for them to make it through, I could feel their chemistry and knew that they still loved each other very much!
I give Danny a lot of respect for being able to pick up from his life in California to take a trip to Tokyo, where his Mother (now he) owns an apartment, especially with leaving his dog back home, as we all know, sometimes pets can be the best companions in our times of need. One of the main reasons that he goes to Tokyo is to meet the Dr that his Mom had been going to visit once a month during the last few months of her life, and why she felt the need to go there, and find out what this magical cure was that he was helping her with. There is a lot that happens during his trip, and it is not all good. We see Danny grow tremendously through this story, and find out that what may look one way to you, looks and is completely different to someone else, and we really need to calm down, and communicate with those close to us to truly understand where the other one is coming from.
Though he goes on this trip for his Mom, it turns out that it is more a trip for himself to get some closure, and some of it he refuses to believe at first. I cannot tell you enough how much I enjoyed this book, it may not be very long (under 300 pages), but it packs a whopper of a punch as far as story line, and just when I think someone is going to crack from all the pressure, their light bulb goes off, and they start to see things completely differently from what they originally did. I have yet to this day found a book that can make me cry, but this one got my emotions going more than any other in recent history. I highly suggest this novel for anyone looking for a contemporary with a lot of meat to it, also anyone going through the loss of a loved one, I think it would really help with trying to see all sides, and that even though it may feel like the end of the world, it may just be a new beginning to a different kind of world for them.
I also have Daisy Whitney's The Mockingbirds on my shelf, and just have not had the time to read it yet, and after reading this story, it is going to be made a priority on my to be read pile. A wonderful piece of art, it gets a 5/5 from this (now) very emotional reader!
abarone121's review against another edition
3.0
In her acknowledgments, the author mentions that the book If I Stay inspired her to write this. Although that book is infinitely better, this is still a solid read. It's extremely emotional and the main character is very angst-y (although he definitely deserves to be). It was a nice quick read and it keeps you interested throughout.
kailiasage's review against another edition
4.0
Originally reviewed on my blog Reading the Best of the Best.
3.5 stars
I wanted to love this book so much. I began this book almost three weeks ago and I just finished it yesterday. It took me forever to like the book enough to finish and even though the middle of the book got considerably better, I’m not the biggest fan of When You Were Here. I loved Daisy Whitney’s previous two books but I wasn’t able to care for the characters in this book as much as I had hoped to.
Danny is a very hard character to care for. In the beginning, he's angry and sad and confused and self centered. It's understandable of course. He lost his dad to a freak accident, his adopted sister left the family and now his mom is gone. Plus, he's only 18 and he's had to deal with a lot. I think for me, the thing was that I've never been in Danny's situation. People say that everyone grieves differently and while someone (like me) can accept that, connecting to the character can be hard. Surprisingly, it wasn't until Danny came to Tokyo that I began to truly care for him. He began to let go of his anger and resentment and opened up to new possibilities.
There were two other characters I cared about When You Were Here: Danny's mom and Kana, Danny's friend in Tokyo. Danny's mom is dead by the time this book begins but all of the times she's mentioned, I loved her. A big aspect of this book Kana's introduction was a breath of fresh air. Kana is talkative and outgoing, something Danny isn't at the moment. Their relationship was platonic and I LOVED that. Kana was someone Danny didn't know so it was much easier for him to open up to her.
Holland, the only girl Danny's ever loved and a rather large part of the plot, was a girl I didn't care for.
My only other aspect I didn't like was the fact that by the end of the book, every issue had been resolved. Danny seemed to be over his mom's death, he and Holland had figured things out, Kana and Holland got along, Sandy Koufax (his dog) was with him. The ending had a sense of hope but it wasn't the hope as in "things will get better." It was the kind of hope where everything ended perfectly and would hopefully continue to be so.
Overall, I enjoyed the middle aspect, majority of which is set in Tokyo, much more than everything else. I loved Kana and Danny's mom and while it took me a while, I warmed up to Danny. I appreciated the mature feel to this book and it's a testament to Daisy Whitney's growth as a writer! While I found a lot of the plot to be predictable and aspects I felt to be unnecessary, When You Were Here was one of the best books about grief I've read! I can't wait to read what else she haas to offer!
3.5 stars
I wanted to love this book so much. I began this book almost three weeks ago and I just finished it yesterday. It took me forever to like the book enough to finish and even though the middle of the book got considerably better, I’m not the biggest fan of When You Were Here. I loved Daisy Whitney’s previous two books but I wasn’t able to care for the characters in this book as much as I had hoped to.
Danny is a very hard character to care for. In the beginning, he's angry and sad and confused and self centered. It's understandable of course. He lost his dad to a freak accident, his adopted sister left the family and now his mom is gone. Plus, he's only 18 and he's had to deal with a lot. I think for me, the thing was that I've never been in Danny's situation. People say that everyone grieves differently and while someone (like me) can accept that, connecting to the character can be hard. Surprisingly, it wasn't until Danny came to Tokyo that I began to truly care for him. He began to let go of his anger and resentment and opened up to new possibilities.
There were two other characters I cared about When You Were Here: Danny's mom and Kana, Danny's friend in Tokyo. Danny's mom is dead by the time this book begins but all of the times she's mentioned, I loved her. A big aspect of this book
Spoiler
is when Danny learns that his mother lived as happy as she did before she died because she understood when it was her time to live and her time to die. it wasn't as dramatic as I thought it would be and I appreciated that.Holland, the only girl Danny's ever loved and a rather large part of the plot, was a girl I didn't care for.
Spoiler
35% in and I was still not in love. The constant reminder of Holland made me realize that her story line isn't simply Danny's first love. I guessed that it was a surprise pregnancy and I was right. Turns out, Holland got pregnant with Danny's baby, had the baby early, and the baby died. Everyone, including Danny's mom and even Kana knew about the baby. It was so incredibly out of character for Holland in my opinion. If she truly knew Danny as well as she thought she did, why didn't she tell him about their baby? Honestly, I think this baby plot line didn't need to be included.My only other aspect I didn't like was the fact that by the end of the book, every issue had been resolved. Danny seemed to be over his mom's death, he and Holland had figured things out, Kana and Holland got along, Sandy Koufax (his dog) was with him. The ending had a sense of hope but it wasn't the hope as in "things will get better." It was the kind of hope where everything ended perfectly and would hopefully continue to be so.
Overall, I enjoyed the middle aspect, majority of which is set in Tokyo, much more than everything else. I loved Kana and Danny's mom and while it took me a while, I warmed up to Danny. I appreciated the mature feel to this book and it's a testament to Daisy Whitney's growth as a writer! While I found a lot of the plot to be predictable and aspects I felt to be unnecessary, When You Were Here was one of the best books about grief I've read! I can't wait to read what else she haas to offer!
avocadobaby's review against another edition
5.0
I believe Daisy Whitney has just cemented herself as one of my new favorite, must-by, authors. I got swept up in The Mockingbirds and The Rivals this past winter and thought she handled a very serious topic (date rape) in a very sensitive yet real and compelling manner. Her work is witty and quick and just compelling.
But lord, I was not ready for When You Were Here. Obviously the blurb sounds like sad stuff, right? RIGHT. Geez. This poor kid. His dad dies, his sister abandons the family (more on that), and his mom dies after a long battle with cancer? Recipe for tears right there....and it delivered. I can't recall how many times I cried while reading this, not to mention the number of times I cried in public (re: on the train).
But it's also filled with such joy! Which is of course what the point of this book is. Life is sad, but it is LIFE and we should live it and rah rah rah.
The Details
Story:
Perfect? Really, it was a nicely plotted, tight story with a good focus. The stuff in Japan was obviously the meat of the story, that was his journey, but it was sprinkled with stories from before his mother died that just melt your heart; either about his dad or his relationship with Holland, etc. I just love the details that Whitney chose to include - little bits about his mother or the things that his father taught him that he stilled did and ensured that a bit of his father was always around made me BAWL.
Everything just flowed together beautifully - the events happened in a way that kept me NEEDING more and the pieces of Danny's life and his relationships unfolded naturally. I feel like there was a perfect mix of backstory, without giving too much away, because WHOA, is there a bit of a bomb dropped somewhere in this book.
Writing:
Beautiful, but simple. There were a lot of bits that made me cry and a lot of stuff I highlighted in my kindle. Danny's voice felt true and realistic to me, though what do I know about being a 18 year old boy. It was quick, but super heartfelt without EVER being melodramatic. And seriously, with the stuff that happens, it could have been. It was never terribly angsty either.
That is a fine line to walk when writing about tragedy, so bravo.
Relationships/Characters:
Because I am a romantic and I love a good romance, I have to say, this one does NOT fail. Do not judge Danny and Holland's relationship too quickly, either. There's a lot there and watching it unfold literally took my breath away. I had to put my kindle down at one moment (and you'll know what that is when you read it). They are broken up at the beginning of the book, but don't expect this to be just a tale of a lover scorned.
KANA!!!! She is the best!! Seriously. I love her. I love how she took Danny in and made him start to feel again. But I also loved that there was no romantic interest here. You never feared they would get together or ruin anything. There is not enough platonic boy-girl love in YA, damn it. We don't want triangles!!!
HIS FAMILY. GUH. Obviously the relationship with his mother is the focus and it is beautiful and heartbreaking, especially as he learns more about her final months and the decisions she made. But you get a good glimpse of the relationship with his father and with his sister, and his sister and mother, and sister and father. FAMILIES. SO DAMN INTERESTING.
The only part I found a bit unnecessary was the relationship he had with the older doctor. I get it, but I don't think it was really needed. I guess it's another part of him that shows he is seriously not OK at the moment, but could have done without.
Overall: Forever Love
I love this book so much I want to marry it. Definitely going on the top 10 of books I've read this year so far, and probably will remain at the end of the year.
PS Danny call me when you're older. Maybe.
But lord, I was not ready for When You Were Here. Obviously the blurb sounds like sad stuff, right? RIGHT. Geez. This poor kid. His dad dies, his sister abandons the family (more on that), and his mom dies after a long battle with cancer? Recipe for tears right there....and it delivered. I can't recall how many times I cried while reading this, not to mention the number of times I cried in public (re: on the train).
But it's also filled with such joy! Which is of course what the point of this book is. Life is sad, but it is LIFE and we should live it and rah rah rah.
The Details
Story:
Perfect? Really, it was a nicely plotted, tight story with a good focus. The stuff in Japan was obviously the meat of the story, that was his journey, but it was sprinkled with stories from before his mother died that just melt your heart; either about his dad or his relationship with Holland, etc. I just love the details that Whitney chose to include - little bits about his mother or the things that his father taught him that he stilled did and ensured that a bit of his father was always around made me BAWL.
Everything just flowed together beautifully - the events happened in a way that kept me NEEDING more and the pieces of Danny's life and his relationships unfolded naturally. I feel like there was a perfect mix of backstory, without giving too much away, because WHOA, is there a bit of a bomb dropped somewhere in this book.
Writing:
Beautiful, but simple. There were a lot of bits that made me cry and a lot of stuff I highlighted in my kindle. Danny's voice felt true and realistic to me, though what do I know about being a 18 year old boy. It was quick, but super heartfelt without EVER being melodramatic. And seriously, with the stuff that happens, it could have been. It was never terribly angsty either.
That is a fine line to walk when writing about tragedy, so bravo.
Relationships/Characters:
Because I am a romantic and I love a good romance, I have to say, this one does NOT fail. Do not judge Danny and Holland's relationship too quickly, either. There's a lot there and watching it unfold literally took my breath away. I had to put my kindle down at one moment (and you'll know what that is when you read it). They are broken up at the beginning of the book, but don't expect this to be just a tale of a lover scorned.
KANA!!!! She is the best!! Seriously. I love her. I love how she took Danny in and made him start to feel again. But I also loved that there was no romantic interest here. You never feared they would get together or ruin anything. There is not enough platonic boy-girl love in YA, damn it. We don't want triangles!!!
HIS FAMILY. GUH. Obviously the relationship with his mother is the focus and it is beautiful and heartbreaking, especially as he learns more about her final months and the decisions she made. But you get a good glimpse of the relationship with his father and with his sister, and his sister and mother, and sister and father. FAMILIES. SO DAMN INTERESTING.
The only part I found a bit unnecessary was the relationship he had with the older doctor. I get it, but I don't think it was really needed. I guess it's another part of him that shows he is seriously not OK at the moment, but could have done without.
Overall: Forever Love
I love this book so much I want to marry it. Definitely going on the top 10 of books I've read this year so far, and probably will remain at the end of the year.
PS Danny call me when you're older. Maybe.
book_lives's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars.
I really enjoyed the book and the main character's journey as he found closure, really enjoyable book.
I really enjoyed the book and the main character's journey as he found closure, really enjoyable book.
seejennread's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I just didn't connect with this story for some reason.
abeaninapod's review against another edition
3.0
TW//death
As far as stories about grief go, not the most detailed one I've read. And honestly I have only had to deal with someone dying once in my entire life so I don't know if I can truly relate to Danny or Holland's feelings of loss. I do understand Danny's mom's feelings though. I get the wanting peace of mind and being accepting of the cards that are dealt. I get the acceptance of death. Even though I'm not dying, the idea of it doesn't frighten me or make me sad when I think about it. I actually feel kinda at peace.
As for the romance, I didn't think that Danny and Holland would make up because there seemed to be so much between them that was pushing them apart. But you still tell they loved each other and I guess that makes them realistic. But.... the chemistry was written a little dry. I feel like Danny loved Sandy Koufax more than Holland and he way more fun with Kana. So by the time Holland came back I was kinda annoyed that they didn't move on.
As far as stories about grief go, not the most detailed one I've read. And honestly I have only had to deal with someone dying once in my entire life so I don't know if I can truly relate to Danny or Holland's feelings of loss. I do understand Danny's mom's feelings though. I get the wanting peace of mind and being accepting of the cards that are dealt. I get the acceptance of death. Even though I'm not dying, the idea of it doesn't frighten me or make me sad when I think about it. I actually feel kinda at peace.
As for the romance, I didn't think that Danny and Holland would make up because there seemed to be so much between them that was pushing them apart. But you still tell they loved each other and I guess that makes them realistic. But.... the chemistry was written a little dry. I feel like Danny loved Sandy Koufax more than Holland and he way more fun with Kana. So by the time Holland came back I was kinda annoyed that they didn't move on.