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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I wanted to love this book so much. It's rare that friendship is the focus of YA books, especially when the focus is on a friendship ending and how hard it is to move on from that relationship. It was refreshing to see a book that focused on how impactful the dissolvement of a friendship can be.
However, I just couldn't vibe with the main character of the story. We don't learn why the friendship between Cleo and Layla ended until over halfway through the book, so it was easy to root for Cleo up until then. We do get the sense early on that it was something Cleo did that was the catalyst for their friendship ending, but once we got to the actual reasoning it became hard to side with Cleo.
She continues to make the same mistake with her new friends, refusing to discuss her feelings and instead taking it out on her friends without telling them why, showing that she really learned nothing from her relationship with Layla. I finally decided to DNF after Cleo walked in and saw that Layla had been crying and her first thought was that seeing her former best friend so upset made her happy. Sadly, I'm just not having a good time reading the book and I don't like Cleo enough to push through the last 40% of the book.
However, I just couldn't vibe with the main character of the story. We don't learn why the friendship between Cleo and Layla ended until over halfway through the book, so it was easy to root for Cleo up until then. We do get the sense early on that it was something Cleo did that was the catalyst for their friendship ending, but once we got to the actual reasoning it became hard to side with Cleo.
Flashbacks aren't my favorite literary device, and the switching was confusing at times, but this was a really sold friendship story. It helped me. This is honestly so authentic and genuine, I read it all in one day. Cleo is such a flawed character, but I can relate to her hurt and anger.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
could’ve done without the romantic subplot (not every book needs romance! please! i’m so tired!), but i’m a sucker for friendship stories like this
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia
emotional
hopeful
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
reflective
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
“And for a moment I feel happy. But the snowy morning is making me nostalgic for something I can't name; for a place or a moment that doesn't really exist. I think of the past but also of new beginnings bright with possibility.”
This book was everything I did not know that I needed. I remember being a teenager and how much weight and importance I attributed to my friends, above everything else. I always expected getting heartbroken by the cute boy in school, but no one ever warned me how much it would hurt to lose friends along the way.
All the characters were very well-developed, and I loved the descriptions of New York City. It felt very immersive and captivating.
This book was everything I did not know that I needed. I remember being a teenager and how much weight and importance I attributed to my friends, above everything else. I always expected getting heartbroken by the cute boy in school, but no one ever warned me how much it would hurt to lose friends along the way.
All the characters were very well-developed, and I loved the descriptions of New York City. It felt very immersive and captivating.