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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
My heart...
This book is amazing. The pain is so raw and real, and the characters make just enough cringey choices to be believable. The MC makes some pretty bad decisions as a friend, but somehow I still rooted for her, but I think that's because the author makes the pain of losing a friend so clear and relatable.
This book is amazing. The pain is so raw and real, and the characters make just enough cringey choices to be believable. The MC makes some pretty bad decisions as a friend, but somehow I still rooted for her, but I think that's because the author makes the pain of losing a friend so clear and relatable.
This book resonated with me more than many other books have. The writing is definitely YA style, but the conflicts feel real... raw. I had a friendship breakup practically as vicious as this (different circumstances of course) and have taken the last almost 7 years doing exactly what Cleo is doing with Syd— making new memories.
Reading this was very cathartic.
Reading this was very cathartic.
Wow...what an incredible little stab to the heart this book is. It so accurately explores the particular pain of friend breakups. So accurate, I found myself gasping out loud as former friends Cleo and Layla took swipes at each other. This book lays out the truth of all the ways people grow apart and how we carry on even as we wonder how the world doesn’t stop turning. But if we’re looking, there are others who show up and maybe you learn how to show up for them in ways you didn’t know how to before. If you’re a fan of the raw honesty of Pen15, this is the book for you.
An immersive story about the dissolution of a close friendship. Cleo and Layla had been friends since they were 12, but as their junior year of high school starts, things fall apart. Told in "now" and "then" sections through Cleo's voice, we see all of the missteps that led to the end of what had once been a close relationship.
I loved how Cleo is portrayed here. She's the one who made a lot of poor decisions about Layla, and Layla put her foot down in how she responded. But in no way does Cleo's inability to maintain that friendship mean she can't be good at other relationships, which we get the chance to see. It's complex and messy and real.
Both girls are girls of color, which is so rarely seen in friendship-focused stories. I cannot wait to see more books do this in YA, as Woodfolk has blazed a nice path for that to continue. Her storytelling is smart, her teens read like actual teens, and none of her characters are one-note. This is a quieter book, and I hope it doesn't fall through the cracks because of it. Readers who love [b:We Used To Be Friends|39324806|We Used To Be Friends|Amy Spalding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551468174l/39324806._SY75_.jpg|60942464] should absolutely pick this one up ASAP.
I don't read a lot of books in their finished versions but I did this one, and I will say the editing left a lot to be desired. "Tucked in her ear" referring to earbuds was repetitive, and there was one chapter where it was mostly dark outside, then two lines later starting to get dark (which was it?). Those are things an editor should catch and it's a bummer they didn't. I want to say it wasn't distracting from a really great story but at times, it just was.
I loved how Cleo is portrayed here. She's the one who made a lot of poor decisions about Layla, and Layla put her foot down in how she responded. But in no way does Cleo's inability to maintain that friendship mean she can't be good at other relationships, which we get the chance to see. It's complex and messy and real.
Both girls are girls of color, which is so rarely seen in friendship-focused stories. I cannot wait to see more books do this in YA, as Woodfolk has blazed a nice path for that to continue. Her storytelling is smart, her teens read like actual teens, and none of her characters are one-note. This is a quieter book, and I hope it doesn't fall through the cracks because of it. Readers who love [b:We Used To Be Friends|39324806|We Used To Be Friends|Amy Spalding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551468174l/39324806._SY75_.jpg|60942464] should absolutely pick this one up ASAP.
I don't read a lot of books in their finished versions but I did this one, and I will say the editing left a lot to be desired. "Tucked in her ear" referring to earbuds was repetitive, and there was one chapter where it was mostly dark outside, then two lines later starting to get dark (which was it?). Those are things an editor should catch and it's a bummer they didn't. I want to say it wasn't distracting from a really great story but at times, it just was.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was one of the best books I've read about a friendship breakup. I've read many YA books where two friends fought or broke up as a result of another conflict in the book that took more precedence, but I can't remember many other books where the BFF breakup IS the main conflict. It was a heartbreaking reminder of how hard it is to be a teenager and took me back to one particular middle school friend I grew apart from. The characters are relatable and realistic, and the conflict is heart-wrenching without being sappy. I really loved this one.
YA Fiction at its best. A story for anyone who has ever lost a best friend.
Well, all of my childhood wounds have come back to the surface. I was ALWAYS the third wheel in friendships and then completely ousted for unknown reasons. I struggled for so many years with friendships and had a lot of trauma and healing as a result. This story really hit at the heart of friendship and what it means to be a good, honest, loyal friend.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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