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2.63 AVERAGE
2.63 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading this book was interesting. I was confused the entire time but i very quickly discovered what the plot was gonna be. This book reminded me of a different one that if I name I will spoil it badly. I understand the main reason she probably wrote this book. It was to show how living in your head and trying to escape reality can become very real. But at the same time it wasn't a book I particularly enjoyed reading and it wasn't because of the plot. I also understand why it was written the way it was written but i didn't enjoy reading it. Truly, I was waiting for it to be over. I've read a book with a similar plot and it was phenomenal so in my mind I was comparing these two the whole time and I couldn't help it.
Yes, we know, the plot was predictable.
The plot wasn't the point, obviously. This story was about knowing what's actually happening but also not knowing. It was about being where you are but also being somewhere else at the same time. It was about blurred lines between what's happening inside of your head and what's happening outside of it. It was about feeling confused and like you might be going crazy, or you might not trust your ability to judge what is and isn't real. It's about waking up and not knowing what day it is and seeing things you've done that you don't remember doing, and what that feels like. And honestly, it was really hard for me to read. Because reading this book felt exactly like existing with the thoughts inside of my own head.
If you read this book and feel confused and irritated and disappointed and like you've just gone down a rabbit hole and wasted your time, and like the characters didn't make any sense, and like the scenes were stupid, good. That means you understood. That means, whether you realize it or not, that you experienced a little bit of the very complicated emotion that the author was trying to describe. An emotion without a name that so many of us have tried and failed to communicate so many times. The one that, when people ask how you're doing, you say "I don't know, never mind, it doesn't matter" because you don't know what else to say, or if it's even worth trying.
And maybe the characters weren't very deep, but they did something incredible. They saw someone struggling with mental illness and didn't bully or push or discount her. They gave her space and supported her and tried to help her. Who cares if it wasn't real?
The plot wasn't the point, obviously. This story was about knowing what's actually happening but also not knowing. It was about being where you are but also being somewhere else at the same time. It was about blurred lines between what's happening inside of your head and what's happening outside of it. It was about feeling confused and like you might be going crazy, or you might not trust your ability to judge what is and isn't real. It's about waking up and not knowing what day it is and seeing things you've done that you don't remember doing, and what that feels like. And honestly, it was really hard for me to read. Because reading this book felt exactly like existing with the thoughts inside of my own head.
If you read this book and feel confused and irritated and disappointed and like you've just gone down a rabbit hole and wasted your time, and like the characters didn't make any sense, and like the scenes were stupid, good. That means you understood. That means, whether you realize it or not, that you experienced a little bit of the very complicated emotion that the author was trying to describe. An emotion without a name that so many of us have tried and failed to communicate so many times. The one that, when people ask how you're doing, you say "I don't know, never mind, it doesn't matter" because you don't know what else to say, or if it's even worth trying.
And maybe the characters weren't very deep, but they did something incredible. They saw someone struggling with mental illness and didn't bully or push or discount her. They gave her space and supported her and tried to help her. Who cares if it wasn't real?
It gave me the vibes similar to We Were Liars. I assume thanks to an obviously unreliable narrator. Overall a solid book for its genre.
This is so unusual, so clever, so moving, and so powerful.
Elyse is flying home from France with the rest of her bandmates after an unsuccessful competition, but the plane crashes. The only survivors are her and her long-time crush Josh. When they return back to California and endure long periods of recovery, the two of them become a couple. Become famous. Become happy. Become the new kids at a high school in Wyoming.
Everything is perfect and glimmery and shiny, finally. Until we get to the end and
Emotionally resonant, this one will appeal to readers who want a contemporary YA that is well-written, immersive, and DIFFERENT. I'd hand this one off to
Elyse is flying home from France with the rest of her bandmates after an unsuccessful competition, but the plane crashes. The only survivors are her and her long-time crush Josh. When they return back to California and endure long periods of recovery, the two of them become a couple. Become famous. Become happy. Become the new kids at a high school in Wyoming.
Everything is perfect and glimmery and shiny, finally. Until we get to the end and
Spoiler
we discover none of it happened at all. It was Elyse turning into her safe space, Elyse tuning out the impact of the crash, Elyse being an utterly unreliable narrator who tells the story of missed connections and opportunities upon her death.Emotionally resonant, this one will appeal to readers who want a contemporary YA that is well-written, immersive, and DIFFERENT. I'd hand this one off to
Spoiler
readers who love Gabrielle Zevin's [b:Elsewhere|359410|Elsewhere|Gabrielle Zevin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442686280s/359410.jpg|349532] or Amy Huntley's [b:The Everafter|6371243|The Everafter|Amy Huntley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1441161318s/6371243.jpg|6558833].
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
just not a well written or good book. wasted my time to finish it.
medium-paced
I'm am so confused at the end of this book.
Elyse is a sixteen-year-old girl who goes to Paris for a school band trip, but on the way back her plane crashes and she and her crush, Josh Harris, survives. They have to deal with the pain of the loss of all their friends and the others on the plane.
This book sounded innocent if you read the synopsis, but don't be fooled, this book is so much more. The story of the traumatic time Elyse had to go through was wonderfully written and executed. The inner dialogue that is widely contained in this book is so well done. Her journey with her mental health and your injuries is tremendously well done. How everything is tied together at the end of this book is amazing, and I'm shocked by the ending. If you are reading this book and get tired in the middle, keep reading, the ending makes up for all the book's faults. I don't know what else to say about the book in fear that I could misrepresent it. That is how good this book was. I look forward to reading whatever Karen Rivers writes next.
Elyse is a sixteen-year-old girl who goes to Paris for a school band trip, but on the way back her plane crashes and she and her crush, Josh Harris, survives. They have to deal with the pain of the loss of all their friends and the others on the plane.
This book sounded innocent if you read the synopsis, but don't be fooled, this book is so much more. The story of the traumatic time Elyse had to go through was wonderfully written and executed. The inner dialogue that is widely contained in this book is so well done. Her journey with her mental health and your injuries is tremendously well done. How everything is tied together at the end of this book is amazing, and I'm shocked by the ending. If you are reading this book and get tired in the middle, keep reading, the ending makes up for all the book's faults. I don't know what else to say about the book in fear that I could misrepresent it. That is how good this book was. I look forward to reading whatever Karen Rivers writes next.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is gonna sound harsh but this is the absolute worst book I've ever read. I despised the second person point of view. I feel like basically nothing happened and it just went on and on about the same topic for like 5 chapters. The characters felt so immature and annoying and childish. The best friend Kath was so rude about everything for most of the book. Josh and Elyse had like no chemistry in my opinion. This got so boring that I skimmed the last 70 pages. I wouldn't recommend this.
ok so update because people said the ending was wild so I had to read it. Just finished it and like...what in the actual heck did I just read that was insane. I still don't like this book but like what in the world. this is the absolute weirdest most confusing thing I have ever read.
ok so update because people said the ending was wild so I had to read it. Just finished it and like...what in the actual heck did I just read that was insane. I still don't like this book but like what in the world. this is the absolute weirdest most confusing thing I have ever read.