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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
overdramatic
I chose this book from a list for “new and engaging LGBTQ books” created for pride month. I read the synopsis and figured I would try it. I finished this book to see if it was going to be a dramatic metaphor and for that reason only. Why couldn’t the book be about domestic violence and not just throw on that she’s figuring out her sexuality? It makes it feel forced and as if that was added in to make it more of a hot topic. I was really looking forward to getting into Brooke’s mind, but instead, a lot of it was the script for Law and Order. I wanted a clear line for the plot and characters, but I feel like I got a collection of all possible issues and little to no solutions.
I chose this book from a list for “new and engaging LGBTQ books” created for pride month. I read the synopsis and figured I would try it. I finished this book to see if it was going to be a dramatic metaphor and for that reason only. Why couldn’t the book be about domestic violence and not just throw on that she’s figuring out her sexuality? It makes it feel forced and as if that was added in to make it more of a hot topic. I was really looking forward to getting into Brooke’s mind, but instead, a lot of it was the script for Law and Order. I wanted a clear line for the plot and characters, but I feel like I got a collection of all possible issues and little to no solutions.
I love this book. I knew I was going to love it when I saw the summary. I was like, "Oh no, I have to read this!" As someone who was a child that witnessed domestic violence, this book is amazing. It speaks about how the kids, mainly Brooke have dealt with parents that were in a domestic relationship and how things take a turn for the worst when their mother murders their father. Their mother goes to prison and now, Brooke, Aaron and Callie try to live together again peacefully but it's just toxic living in a house that was so tragic in so many ways. First, Aaron let go, then Callie. But, Brooke still persisted on holding onto something that is gone. Whatever that was. Either way, she was the last to let go and she went to move in with her Grandmother, Caroline, with Callie staying with Jackie, their mothers' close friend. One thing I love about this book was the last chapter and the truth Brooke spoke. "...About what love is and what love isn't. It's not monstrous, not so dangerous and unknowable--not something to fear. And it's not as simple as just finding someone else to hold on to; it's not letting that other person crawl into those hollow spaces inside you. I think love also means you have to stand on your own for a while, stand with yourself and for yourself before you can ask someone to stand there next to you. I think maybe that's the trickiest part, and that's where our parents went wrong." I felt this speech in my heart because it rings so true. I am a firm believer in finding yourself first before finding love or just simply letting it find you. It's cliche but, you gotta love all of you before you begin to love someone else. Period. Self-Love is the best love.
The first thing I loved about this book was the writing style. It's so clean, yet descriptive and beautiful in its own way. In addition, the struggles of the characters were so raw that I felt myself truly caring for each and every single person in the book. Brooke is a headstrong, driven protagonist, and I saw a lot of her in myself. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for an emotional read.
This book was amazing.......so many great things about it. I will be suggesting this one to my sophomores, as it is a nice comparison to Catcher in the Rye, as well as other texts we have read. There are many great lines in this book. Amber Smith has beautifully captured the emotions of loss, hope, family, and love.
"All we have to do is live in the gray area, the space between the lines, between darkness and light, good and bad, love and hate."
"All we have to do is live in the gray area, the space between the lines, between darkness and light, good and bad, love and hate."
(3.5) vulnerable and jarring, but i wish there was a bit more in terms of resolution — just kinda wrapped up at the end
I'd rate this book 3 - 3.5 stars. It was interesting but seemed a bit long and dragged on. I thought there would be this twist to it, but there wasn't. It was pretty much "what you see is what you get."
This was an intense, dark exploration of the aftermath of a domestic-abuse-related murder (Brooke's mother kills her father after years of abuse) and the fallout for Brooke and her siblings. There was so much in this story that felt very nuanced and true to life. The author wrote PTSD really well without resorting to cliches, and portrayed abuse in relationships really well without showing us simply an evil demon abuser and an innocent martyr victim.
It was a little frustrating to watch Brooke take so long to open up and acknowledge what was going on for her, but at the same time it felt believable to me.
As a side note, I was kind of annoyed by the therapist in this book. He wasn't bad, just... such a cliched and old-school-sit-there-and-take-notes-while-you-talk type of guy. Therapist depictions are kind of a pet peeve of mine and it probably won't bother you (it was only a couple of scenes).
It was a little frustrating to watch Brooke take so long to open up and acknowledge what was going on for her, but at the same time it felt believable to me.
As a side note, I was kind of annoyed by the therapist in this book. He wasn't bad, just... such a cliched and old-school-sit-there-and-take-notes-while-you-talk type of guy. Therapist depictions are kind of a pet peeve of mine and it probably won't bother you (it was only a couple of scenes).
Story was interesting. I kept thinking damn what else is this girl gonna go through? The murder of her father, imprisonment of her mother, her brother trying to commit suicide, her little sister witnessing the murder and not speaking, domestic abuse, coming out, stealing. Like god damn girl.
I thought the story was intriguing and made a lot of sense how one thing lead to another however it felt like the ending we were driving 80 miles and hour and then just slammed into a brick wall. It was just everything is fine now. Family broke up and “I was the last to let go”.
The acknowledgments said Smith had a hard time writing this book. Starting in 2013 and ultimately releasing/publishing in 2018. Was the ending just a quick way to finish it?
I thought the story was intriguing and made a lot of sense how one thing lead to another however it felt like the ending we were driving 80 miles and hour and then just slammed into a brick wall. It was just everything is fine now. Family broke up and “I was the last to let go”.
The acknowledgments said Smith had a hard time writing this book. Starting in 2013 and ultimately releasing/publishing in 2018. Was the ending just a quick way to finish it?
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wanted this to be as phenomenal as “The Way I Used To Be” and it just wasn’t. Felt more chaotic and I didn’t feel like the relationships panned out fully. I wanted more from the ending, and I definitely wanted answers to what happened!