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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this just hits home. friendship breakups are never really written in books, but this was done exquisitely. this is raw, ruthless, and poignant. there were so many quotes that i highlighted and will forever remember. a beautifully written book. i loved every single page of it. thank you ashley
Sometimes friendships have to come to an end. This book was good. It describes how sometimes we become so involved in a friendship we forget to love ourselves outside of that friendship. It explores can you have a best friend and other friends. Loved this book
I really enjoyed listening to this book about high school friendships and what happens when you put your trust in one friend and then you lose her. I could really relate to this story as I had my own troubles with friendships at that age. The diverse characters and inclusion of the girls’ parents were appreciated as well.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“… I realized it’s not one or the other: fate or free will. It’s both. Things you can’t control happen all the time….
But you can control what you do next.”
A beautiful book that centres around themes of expectations, loss of a friendship and how different types of love can heal.
Cleo and Layla’s friendship is over, even though they were always everything to each other for many years. Cleo is attempting to erase her memories of Layla by creating new memories in the places that meant so much to them. Pretending Layla doesn’t exist isn’t as easy as she thought it would be, especially now that’s she’s been assigned as her tutor.
The timelines alternate between Then and Now, as the beautiful and damaging events of their friendship came to be, and as Cleo attempts to move on with new friends and a budding romance. It’s heavy with self-reflection and forgiveness, and keeping your mind and your heart open to new beginnings and love.
But you can control what you do next.”
A beautiful book that centres around themes of expectations, loss of a friendship and how different types of love can heal.
Cleo and Layla’s friendship is over, even though they were always everything to each other for many years. Cleo is attempting to erase her memories of Layla by creating new memories in the places that meant so much to them. Pretending Layla doesn’t exist isn’t as easy as she thought it would be, especially now that’s she’s been assigned as her tutor.
The timelines alternate between Then and Now, as the beautiful and damaging events of their friendship came to be, and as Cleo attempts to move on with new friends and a budding romance. It’s heavy with self-reflection and forgiveness, and keeping your mind and your heart open to new beginnings and love.
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
I was a big fan of Ashley Woodfolk’s first book, The Beauty That Remains, so I had pretty high hopes for When You Were Everything. I am happy to say that my hopes were realized
I was a big fan of Ashley Woodfolk’s first book, The Beauty That Remains, so I had pretty high hopes for When You Were Everything. I am happy to say that my hopes were realized
I have a lot of feelings for this book <3
When You Were Everything is the story of two teenagers who grow apart, who were everything to each other until they weren't. It's about the ugliness of being a teenager at high school with gossip-y bullies. It's about making new memories and finding new joy. It's about the pains of growing up and realising no one in your life is as perfect as you made them out to be in your head.
It was also beautifully nostalgic for me. My BFF and I fought when we were around the same age, and I thought we would never be friends again. (As it turned out, we missed each other too much and were okay eventually, but that took years apart.) So, this book had a lot of emotions and realisations I felt on a personal level.
It shows that it's perfectly normal for the friends you make at school to not stay your friends forever, and that it's okay to move on, make new friends, and be okay again when everything else falls apart. For that reason alone, I think every teenager should read this. Yes, it sucks in the moment and it will probably suck for a while, but it's temporary.
It also reminded me how glad I am to be out of high school o.o (not that I needed reminding *ahem*)
It does read like it's perfect for a younger audience, entirely because there's a LOT of teen drama and 'you ruined my life!' going on. I expected as much from the blurb and didn't mark it down for that (can't really punish a book for doing what it promised on the cover). I did enjoy it overall, but there were moments where I didn't care as much as I did in other moments *shrugs*
I listened to the audiobook, which was beautifully narrated.
When You Were Everything is the story of two teenagers who grow apart, who were everything to each other until they weren't. It's about the ugliness of being a teenager at high school with gossip-y bullies. It's about making new memories and finding new joy. It's about the pains of growing up and realising no one in your life is as perfect as you made them out to be in your head.
It was also beautifully nostalgic for me. My BFF and I fought when we were around the same age, and I thought we would never be friends again. (As it turned out, we missed each other too much and were okay eventually, but that took years apart.) So, this book had a lot of emotions and realisations I felt on a personal level.
It shows that it's perfectly normal for the friends you make at school to not stay your friends forever, and that it's okay to move on, make new friends, and be okay again when everything else falls apart. For that reason alone, I think every teenager should read this. Yes, it sucks in the moment and it will probably suck for a while, but it's temporary.
It also reminded me how glad I am to be out of high school o.o (not that I needed reminding *ahem*)
It does read like it's perfect for a younger audience, entirely because there's a LOT of teen drama and 'you ruined my life!' going on. I expected as much from the blurb and didn't mark it down for that (can't really punish a book for doing what it promised on the cover). I did enjoy it overall, but there were moments where I didn't care as much as I did in other moments *shrugs*
I listened to the audiobook, which was beautifully narrated.
DNF didn't realize this was YA and from some of the reviews could tell this would be childish and not my vibe
writing was eh
writing was eh