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storiesandstitches's review against another edition
3.0
More like a 2.5 but I'll round up because I didn't dislike the book.
This was...okay. A bit disappointing. The ending was super obvious, which actually doesn't usually bother as long as its done well. This book also seemed to drag out forever. It wasn't bad, but definitely not a great read.
This was...okay. A bit disappointing. The ending was super obvious, which actually doesn't usually bother as long as its done well. This book also seemed to drag out forever. It wasn't bad, but definitely not a great read.
wardenred's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Whoever said that time heals all wounds didn’t know what he was talking about. Time dulls the wounds, makes them bearable. But it doesn’t patch you up and send you on your way, good as new.
Up until the last 5% or so, I assumed it would be a 4-star book for me. It was pretty cool. I loved the writing and the characterization. But what I initially took for the dramatic reveal that converged the two timelines felt kind of... a bit lame? Too predictable? Slightly overblown?
And then came the real dramatic reveal, and asdfgjkllk WOW holy shit. I LOVE twists like that, the kind that puts half of the story I've just read into an entirely new perspective and flips a huge part of the story on its head. I feel this was quite awesomely executed here!
I also very much enjoyed the writing in general, especially the characterization. The story is told in two timelines, swinging back and forth between them. In one, the main character is a regular indie kid teen with a complicated group of friends, a toxic friendship with the group's equivalent to Alison Dilaurentis, a brand-new boyfriend, and lots of typical teenager drama revolved around balancing the friendship and a relationship. In the other one, it's a year later and something terrible has happened but we don't get to know what. Not yet. Not for a long time. So what I enjoyed very much about the narration was the combination of differences and similarities in the Ellory's voice and general outlook across the two timelines. How much she has changed between them, and how much she was clearly herself.
Overall, this felt like a milder, YA version of Elliot Wake's (formerly Leah Raeder's) books, such as Unteachable and Black Iris. As a big fan of those, I'm very glad I've read and enjoyed this one. Thanks you for the Monthly TBR Challenge on the Bookish Reality discord server for getting me to get to it! :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Death
vickycbooks's review
While reading, I felt like I was really missing the point of the novel and what the plot was, in a way?
The best way I can describe it is like E. Lockhart's Genuine Fraud. Pretty non-linear (has a then-now alternating format rather than all backwards) and you're just kind of reading exposition after exposition after exposition until the big reveals in the last 100 pages.
I just wasn't thrilled. I wasn't really interested and I didn't really care about the characters and it all just merged into a subpar experience because I just wasn't invested.
The best way I can describe it is like E. Lockhart's Genuine Fraud. Pretty non-linear (has a then-now alternating format rather than all backwards) and you're just kind of reading exposition after exposition after exposition until the big reveals in the last 100 pages.
I just wasn't thrilled. I wasn't really interested and I didn't really care about the characters and it all just merged into a subpar experience because I just wasn't invested.
karinarob's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
theawkwardbooknerd's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hannahslibrary92's review
4.0
Adopting the Then and Now narrative style which I'm a fan of, See all the stars slowly unravels the events of Ellory's Junior year and the effects it's had on her senior year.
As far as the pacing of this novel goes, I thought it was pretty good. Nothing was revealed too soon and it didn't feel like it was dragging on, which can so easily happen when you're switching from past and present narratives.
The characters all felt honest, well fleshed out and interesting.
The book has just the right amount of mystery.
I found myself getting some Pretty Little Liars vibes when I was reading this. Which isn't a bad thing.
One thing I liked a lot, was that it wasn't completely predictable, which kept me interested.
Overall, I found this book a really good read, one which I'd definitely recommend.
As far as the pacing of this novel goes, I thought it was pretty good. Nothing was revealed too soon and it didn't feel like it was dragging on, which can so easily happen when you're switching from past and present narratives.
The characters all felt honest, well fleshed out and interesting.
The book has just the right amount of mystery.
I found myself getting some Pretty Little Liars vibes when I was reading this. Which isn't a bad thing.
One thing I liked a lot, was that it wasn't completely predictable, which kept me interested.
Overall, I found this book a really good read, one which I'd definitely recommend.
purplepascalpett's review
3.0
Lies and secrets can tear people apart and that's exactly what they did to Ellory and her group of friends. Follow her as she tries to live in the now and let go of her past. Being a teen is hard and it's the people that you surround yourself with that make it easier. This book really made me appreciate the friendships I have had, while also making me sad that some people really get their lives destroyed by someone who (however misguided) thought they were doing the right thing.
adriennecahillane's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
endlessmidnight's review
2.0
Well, nothing really interested me. Although I am a teemager but when I like contemporary books it has to be something that I don’t see being written about everyday.
Here is mostly romance, school and all the usual things we go through. But I find that boring. I don’t like it. I rather young adult books tackle complex issues which affect us now and has been present for decades.
Such as mental illness, racism, prejudice, the nature of being a teen in such an era. Sadly, this just doesn’t get to me. It’s mostly teen drama in this book, which may work for some but has always eluded me.
But you can give it a try, it simply wasn’t for me but maybe it might be for you. I just prefer books which makes me think.
Here is mostly romance, school and all the usual things we go through. But I find that boring. I don’t like it. I rather young adult books tackle complex issues which affect us now and has been present for decades.
Such as mental illness, racism, prejudice, the nature of being a teen in such an era. Sadly, this just doesn’t get to me. It’s mostly teen drama in this book, which may work for some but has always eluded me.
But you can give it a try, it simply wasn’t for me but maybe it might be for you. I just prefer books which makes me think.