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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
This book was well done. The message that this book sends out was well done and I am just very just at a lost for words.
another amazing YA romance novel that I have read. i read it in two days lounging by the pool and it was just so perfect. i definitely need to re-read it because i don’t remember many details from it, but i do remember that i loved it.
At one time, Grace was just like so many other girls. She spent all her time with her best friends, dreamed about all the possibilities her future had to offer and crushed on rock-star Gavin from afar. Life at home is difficult, to say the least. Her mother is suffering from an untreated mental health issue and her stepfather is downright cruel, both to Grace and her mother. Grace's sister moved out as soon as she was able and never comes home to visit.
When Gavin's girlfriend dumps him, he responds in melodramatic fashion, landing him in a hospital. Grace steps out of her comfort zone to write him a letter detailing all that he has to offer the world. This letter puts her on Gavin's radar and before Grace knows it, a romance begins to develop. She feels so special, dating Gavin - he's a senior, a gifted actor and musician, desired by nearly every straight girl in school. And now he's Grace's boyfriend. She can't believe she got so lucky.
That was in the beginning. Before long, Grace starts to notice that Gavin has some odd quirks. He's really jealous and asks Grace to cease hugging her male friends. He insists on being her top priority in nearly every circumstance. Once Gavin graduates, he decides to stick around for Grace with the expectation that they'll move to LA together. Nevermind that Grace has had her sights set on NYU for as long as she can remember. As the year moves on, Gavin gets worse and worse. Grace knows that she's trapped in a toxic relationship, but has no idea how to get out.
Grace's story is told in hindsight and addressed to Gavin (second person narration can take a bit of getting used to). By the time we hear from Grace, she has already found her way out, but the important part of the story here is how a smart and ambitious girl like Grace winds up in a relationship that threatens to completely destroy everything she holds dear. There are the obvious connections, like the abusive situation she faces at home and some of the red flags that Gavin's behavior triggers, but there are also the less-than-obvious explanations that have everything to do with Gavin being a master of manipulation with no real respect for women whatsoever. The honeymoon period is described at length, which likely helps more naive readers understand why Grace has fallen for Gavin, but for more savvy readers, it might start feeling redundant when it's painfully obvious that everything is about to go downhill. This is not an easy read and Grace's situation is awful. Unfortunately, once she's finally out, there's little about how she recovers or how she's able to undo some of the damage inflicted. Nevertheless, this is an important read for anyone who might suspect they're in an abusive relationship.
When Gavin's girlfriend dumps him, he responds in melodramatic fashion, landing him in a hospital. Grace steps out of her comfort zone to write him a letter detailing all that he has to offer the world. This letter puts her on Gavin's radar and before Grace knows it, a romance begins to develop. She feels so special, dating Gavin - he's a senior, a gifted actor and musician, desired by nearly every straight girl in school. And now he's Grace's boyfriend. She can't believe she got so lucky.
That was in the beginning. Before long, Grace starts to notice that Gavin has some odd quirks. He's really jealous and asks Grace to cease hugging her male friends. He insists on being her top priority in nearly every circumstance. Once Gavin graduates, he decides to stick around for Grace with the expectation that they'll move to LA together. Nevermind that Grace has had her sights set on NYU for as long as she can remember. As the year moves on, Gavin gets worse and worse. Grace knows that she's trapped in a toxic relationship, but has no idea how to get out.
Grace's story is told in hindsight and addressed to Gavin (second person narration can take a bit of getting used to). By the time we hear from Grace, she has already found her way out, but the important part of the story here is how a smart and ambitious girl like Grace winds up in a relationship that threatens to completely destroy everything she holds dear. There are the obvious connections, like the abusive situation she faces at home and some of the red flags that Gavin's behavior triggers, but there are also the less-than-obvious explanations that have everything to do with Gavin being a master of manipulation with no real respect for women whatsoever. The honeymoon period is described at length, which likely helps more naive readers understand why Grace has fallen for Gavin, but for more savvy readers, it might start feeling redundant when it's painfully obvious that everything is about to go downhill. This is not an easy read and Grace's situation is awful. Unfortunately, once she's finally out, there's little about how she recovers or how she's able to undo some of the damage inflicted. Nevertheless, this is an important read for anyone who might suspect they're in an abusive relationship.
This was a hard book to read, and it is turning out to be even harder to review.
If you have ever felt suffocated by your relationship to another person, but you just couldn't leave them, this book will bring you right back into that place. So, if you haven't recovered, or if you are still living that, give yourself a little space with this book, because it is going to hurt.
Grace dreams of New York City and directing stage plays and escaping the anxiety factory that is her home. Her step-dad, "The Giant," is an abusive asshole and her mom escapes into her OCD most days. Grace can be herself at school and around her AMAZING best friends, Nat and Lys, especially during a show, when she spends more time in rehearsal than at home.
One day, the show's lead, the hottiest hottie of the land, Gavin, attempts suicide, and Grace is crushed. She feels for Gavin, and writes him a letter to tell him that she is there for him. When Gavin comes back to school, he and Grace become very close. As they drift into each other's lives, Grace feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She has found her soulmate.
But there are little things about Gavin. He is jealous. Really jealous. But he is sweet. He saves her from the terrors of her homelife. But he has rules. And Grace had better not break them.
How do you handle the best thing in your life slowly becoming the worst? How do you stick up for yourself if the person you are fighting is the person you need to save? Do you dare leave the only thing that makes you feel safe?
This book is expansive, but claustrophobic. I had an extremely personal reaction to it, and it did mean a whole lot to me. I would pair it with Sarah Dessen's "Dreamland," for the way that you both love and hate Gavin (and Roger). I think it is a very important read, and, most importantly, it gives the reader the power and the resources that they would need if they were/ever found themselves in an abusive relationship. It gives them a very grounded sense of hope, a very final and resounding "choose yourself" sensibility (that it took me almost 4 years to figure out on my own). It also has some of the BEST best friend characters, who are steadfast and true.
I loved this book. It kind of reopened some wounds for me, but ultimately, I think it healed me even a little bit more.
If you have ever felt suffocated by your relationship to another person, but you just couldn't leave them, this book will bring you right back into that place. So, if you haven't recovered, or if you are still living that, give yourself a little space with this book, because it is going to hurt.
Grace dreams of New York City and directing stage plays and escaping the anxiety factory that is her home. Her step-dad, "The Giant," is an abusive asshole and her mom escapes into her OCD most days. Grace can be herself at school and around her AMAZING best friends, Nat and Lys, especially during a show, when she spends more time in rehearsal than at home.
One day, the show's lead, the hottiest hottie of the land, Gavin, attempts suicide, and Grace is crushed. She feels for Gavin, and writes him a letter to tell him that she is there for him. When Gavin comes back to school, he and Grace become very close. As they drift into each other's lives, Grace feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She has found her soulmate.
But there are little things about Gavin. He is jealous. Really jealous. But he is sweet. He saves her from the terrors of her homelife. But he has rules. And Grace had better not break them.
How do you handle the best thing in your life slowly becoming the worst? How do you stick up for yourself if the person you are fighting is the person you need to save? Do you dare leave the only thing that makes you feel safe?
This book is expansive, but claustrophobic. I had an extremely personal reaction to it, and it did mean a whole lot to me. I would pair it with Sarah Dessen's "Dreamland," for the way that you both love and hate Gavin (and Roger). I think it is a very important read, and, most importantly, it gives the reader the power and the resources that they would need if they were/ever found themselves in an abusive relationship. It gives them a very grounded sense of hope, a very final and resounding "choose yourself" sensibility (that it took me almost 4 years to figure out on my own). It also has some of the BEST best friend characters, who are steadfast and true.
I loved this book. It kind of reopened some wounds for me, but ultimately, I think it healed me even a little bit more.
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, depression, self harm, OCD, suicidal phrases, abusive relationship
This should be assigned reading at high schools, not Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Flies, or stuff like that, because that isn't impactful or as relevant, but this? This is the stuff that happens in high school. This is the message teenagers need, whether you are a girl, boy, or anything in between, this is such an important book.
Is this book uncomfortable? Yes. Is it worth it if you are in a good state of mental health? Very. Because while some of these things could be triggering to a few, it still contains a story that needs to be told. If you can handle it, please don't stop yourself from reading It because of the dark topic, because this was fantastic.
( This is a short review because I am tired, and hungry, and hangry)
This should be assigned reading at high schools, not Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Flies, or stuff like that, because that isn't impactful or as relevant, but this? This is the stuff that happens in high school. This is the message teenagers need, whether you are a girl, boy, or anything in between, this is such an important book.
Is this book uncomfortable? Yes. Is it worth it if you are in a good state of mental health? Very. Because while some of these things could be triggering to a few, it still contains a story that needs to be told. If you can handle it, please don't stop yourself from reading It because of the dark topic, because this was fantastic.
( This is a short review because I am tired, and hungry, and hangry)
Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios kind of solidifies my opinion of Demetrios' books. THEY ARE SO GOOD. Read my full review here
Amazing representation on abusive relationships and the cycle.
Graded By: Mandy W.
Cover Story: I Want Your Ugly, I Want Your Disease
BFF Charm: Oda Mae Brown
Swoonworthy Scale: A Wary 7
Talky Talk: Goodbye to You
Bonus Factors: Best Friends, Theatre, Shades of Gray
Relationship Status: I'll Be There for You
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: I Want Your Ugly, I Want Your Disease
BFF Charm: Oda Mae Brown
Swoonworthy Scale: A Wary 7
Talky Talk: Goodbye to You
Bonus Factors: Best Friends, Theatre, Shades of Gray
Relationship Status: I'll Be There for You
Read the full book report here.