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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
The Beauty That Remains is one of my favourite books, so I was really excited to read Ashley Woodfolk's newest book. Some thoughts
- I loved the writing. Ashley describes everything so perfectly in a deeply emotional way that easily drew me in.
- I loved how this handled the grief of losing a friendship. It's not an experience I've had personally, but it was very easy to understand the pain and struggles that Cleo went through. I was so angry at Layla for everything she did. I was really glad that this book focuses on Cleo learning how to let herself be open to new friendships and relationships again after Layla hurt her.
- I adored the romance between Cleo and Dom, but I really wished we had gotten to see them together more, since the dual timeline meant not as much page time where they liked each other.
- I did find the timelines slightly confusing, but they were different enough that I could figure out if I was reading "Then" or "Now"
- I loved the writing. Ashley describes everything so perfectly in a deeply emotional way that easily drew me in.
- I loved how this handled the grief of losing a friendship. It's not an experience I've had personally, but it was very easy to understand the pain and struggles that Cleo went through. I was so angry at Layla for everything she did. I was really glad that this book focuses on Cleo learning how to let herself be open to new friendships and relationships again after Layla hurt her.
- I adored the romance between Cleo and Dom, but I really wished we had gotten to see them together more, since the dual timeline meant not as much page time where they liked each other.
- I did find the timelines slightly confusing, but they were different enough that I could figure out if I was reading "Then" or "Now"
Friends, this book is SO GOOD and SO IMPORTANT as a YA novel. Cleo and Layla were best friends; this novel takes place over two timelines, one showing the leadup to their friend breakup and one a few months later showing the aftermath. Considering how common friend breakups are (and honestly, often more devastating than romantic breakups are) I can't believe more novels aren't focused on them. It was just so honest and relatable. The cherries on top? The diverse characters, and the fact that Layla speaks with a stutter. As someone with the same speech disorder, and someone who stutters daily, I am keenly aware of how little it's portrayed in culture, and so grateful when it is.
TW: divorce
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
The writing is amazing and the storyline is executed so beautifully. The parallels between the past and the present always fit well together. It wasn’t one of those books where I felt like I had to skip ahead to the most “interesting” timeline, I thought both of them kept very good pace and I was always wanting to know what happened next in the book. I finished it so quick because I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN!!!
First, I loved the diverse set of characters, personalities, and the representation it had. Such a refreshing change from YA novels I’ve read in the past. I loved so many of the characters and the imagery in their scenes together made me feel so warm inside. The friendships that grew in the book felt so real and pure and I loved every second.
I loved so many amazing quotes, but here is one of many that I absolutely adored:
“I came from a storm of a woman, but I’m just a drizzle of a girl.”
I also loved how it included the theme of expectations. I sometimes romanticize people to be better then they are, and then get mad when they aren’t perfect or live up to this expectation in my head. Everyone is human and I have to stay present and remember to take people as they are, not as I make them out to be in my head. A super powerful message and one that really resonated with me.
As I was reading the last paragraph of the book, I suddenly burst into tears. It was probably a mix of emotions, or all the emotions I had about different parts of the book had finally been let loose at the end, but either way, I was definitely teary. I also didn’t want this story to end. I love the characters, what they all learned, the love that seeps through this book, and the ending that tied everything together perfectly, leaving me ultra happy and satisfied. I not only fell in love with the book itself, but also what it taught me. I truly loved it.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
The writing is amazing and the storyline is executed so beautifully. The parallels between the past and the present always fit well together. It wasn’t one of those books where I felt like I had to skip ahead to the most “interesting” timeline, I thought both of them kept very good pace and I was always wanting to know what happened next in the book. I finished it so quick because I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN!!!
First, I loved the diverse set of characters, personalities, and the representation it had. Such a refreshing change from YA novels I’ve read in the past. I loved so many of the characters and the imagery in their scenes together made me feel so warm inside. The friendships that grew in the book felt so real and pure and I loved every second.
I loved so many amazing quotes, but here is one of many that I absolutely adored:
“I came from a storm of a woman, but I’m just a drizzle of a girl.”
I also loved how it included the theme of expectations. I sometimes romanticize people to be better then they are, and then get mad when they aren’t perfect or live up to this expectation in my head. Everyone is human and I have to stay present and remember to take people as they are, not as I make them out to be in my head. A super powerful message and one that really resonated with me.
As I was reading the last paragraph of the book, I suddenly burst into tears. It was probably a mix of emotions, or all the emotions I had about different parts of the book had finally been let loose at the end, but either way, I was definitely teary. I also didn’t want this story to end. I love the characters, what they all learned, the love that seeps through this book, and the ending that tied everything together perfectly, leaving me ultra happy and satisfied. I not only fell in love with the book itself, but also what it taught me. I truly loved it.
hello??? i am crying, wailing, i am so in love with this book. someone hug me. nobody touch me. i am sorry i am incoherent BUT this is so beautiful.
finished in one day. friendship breakups hurt so much harder and the book shows a great way representing it.
This is a cute ode to friendship and the loss of it. It's pretty well written and doesn't fall into any typical YA tropes, which is nice. I also appreciate how it portrays someone with a stutter with some decent complexity. It's definitely high school drama & some of the classes seem grossly out of place for the supposed age range - but worth reading.
I'm not crying.. You're crying!
This book broke my heart and I couldn't put it down. When You Were Everything follows Cleo Baker, a teenage girl going through a friend-breakup. Doesn't sound very emotional and tragic, but trust me, this book will make you want to cry.
The writing, character development and plot pulled me and were done so well. My heart broke multiple times for Cleo and she felt like a fully-realised flawed but relatable character. If you've ever lost a best friend, you can sympathise will her immediately and watching the breakup happen over the two timelines, it really made me sad.
But what I did appreciate about this book, is that it isn't just about a girl losing her best friend. It's also about her coming to terms with losing important people in her life and moving on. Finding new friends, creating new memories, dealing with the pain. This book was just so beautiful and I need to read more from this author!
This book broke my heart and I couldn't put it down. When You Were Everything follows Cleo Baker, a teenage girl going through a friend-breakup. Doesn't sound very emotional and tragic, but trust me, this book will make you want to cry.
The writing, character development and plot pulled me and were done so well. My heart broke multiple times for Cleo and she felt like a fully-realised flawed but relatable character. If you've ever lost a best friend, you can sympathise will her immediately and watching the breakup happen over the two timelines, it really made me sad.
But what I did appreciate about this book, is that it isn't just about a girl losing her best friend. It's also about her coming to terms with losing important people in her life and moving on. Finding new friends, creating new memories, dealing with the pain. This book was just so beautiful and I need to read more from this author!
emotional
sad
This book hit me right in all the feels. I think we all know what it’s like to have a friendship that we thought would last forever fall apart, and this book is so real and raw. I cried. I smiled. Definitely a favorite of the year
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a sweet and heartfelt YA about an oft-neglected topic, the breakup of a friendship. I could relate to many parts of this and I'm sure lots of other people will too. I enjoyed Cleo and Dom's budding romance and her journey of moving on from Layla as well as dealing with her parents' divorce. Cleo and Dom's relationship was so cute and I loved their conversations because both of them were really great characters.
I will say that this book is very YA and gets a bit cheesy and repetitive in the second half, so probably wouldn't recommend it to adults. For teens though, this one is great!
I will say that this book is very YA and gets a bit cheesy and repetitive in the second half, so probably wouldn't recommend it to adults. For teens though, this one is great!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Infidelity, Toxic friendship