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a_reader_obsessed's review
4.0
4 Hearts
I agree with the majority of the people out there regarding all the pros and cons of this story and to definitely avoid any spoilers if possible.
Is it angsty? As all get out.
Will you cry? If you have a heart, yes.
What about the writing? Phenomenal.
Is there romance? Well… there’s definitely love. So much love and how that can tear someone apart and put them back together.
There’s no doubt Klune is talented, and now I realize that he can definitely do more than silly, funny, poignant. This was a kick in the proverbial balls, as it stabbed me repeatedly in the chest. It will definitely move you. It was raw, heartfelt, and I suppose in away, all about surviving to live another day. I honestly had no clue what this was about and that was both good and bad.
If you want to feel something, and feel it strongly and deeply, then give this a go. I didn’t enjoy it, but I appreciated it.
On a side note, my official rating won’t reflect how I feel about the audio. There’s something about Derrick McClain that was horribly reminiscent of Mark Westfield (the only narrator I’ve ever dnf’d) but to a lesser degree, and I gritted my teeth throughout the entire 5 plus hours of this audio. Obviously, this is all very subjective because many loved his narration, but what I heard was McClain ending pretty much every sentence with a forced grunt that drove me absolutely bonkers. I sampled the rest of his works and some had it to a varying degree, while others did not, ones that I’d probably enjoy. So, take this with a grain of salt - opinions vary greatly and what might work for some, won’t for others. It’s quite the testament that despite my negative feelings toward the audio, Klune’s genius still strongly shines through!
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
I agree with the majority of the people out there regarding all the pros and cons of this story and to definitely avoid any spoilers if possible.
Is it angsty? As all get out.
Will you cry? If you have a heart, yes.
What about the writing? Phenomenal.
Is there romance? Well… there’s definitely love. So much love and how that can tear someone apart and put them back together.
There’s no doubt Klune is talented, and now I realize that he can definitely do more than silly, funny, poignant. This was a kick in the proverbial balls, as it stabbed me repeatedly in the chest. It will definitely move you. It was raw, heartfelt, and I suppose in away, all about surviving to live another day. I honestly had no clue what this was about and that was both good and bad.
If you want to feel something, and feel it strongly and deeply, then give this a go. I didn’t enjoy it, but I appreciated it.
On a side note, my official rating won’t reflect how I feel about the audio. There’s something about Derrick McClain that was horribly reminiscent of Mark Westfield (the only narrator I’ve ever dnf’d) but to a lesser degree, and I gritted my teeth throughout the entire 5 plus hours of this audio. Obviously, this is all very subjective because many loved his narration, but what I heard was McClain ending pretty much every sentence with a forced grunt that drove me absolutely bonkers. I sampled the rest of his works and some had it to a varying degree, while others did not, ones that I’d probably enjoy. So, take this with a grain of salt - opinions vary greatly and what might work for some, won’t for others. It’s quite the testament that despite my negative feelings toward the audio, Klune’s genius still strongly shines through!
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
jessicajessica101's review
5.0
"I haven’t gotten my fill of you yet.”
Ce livre est juste incroyablement touchant et important. C'est vrai que le résumé ne dit pas grand chose, n'explique pas vraiment l'histoire, et sérieux, faire un résumé spoilerait toute l'histoire, et ce serait tellement dommage. Tout ce que je peux dire, c'est que le sujet de ce livre est incroyablement important, qu'il touche énormément de personne, qu'il a détruit énormément de famille, et qu'on l'aborde peu et dont en entend peu parler.
Et j'ai trouvé que ce livre traitait de ce sujet juste merveilleusement bien. J'aime la façon dont l'auteur a d'adapter sa plume à chacune de ses histoires, des 3 histoires différentes que j'ai pu lire de lui, j'ai pu voir les changements de style qu'il faisait.
L'écriture de ce livre est prenante, elle est sérieuse, elle est oppressante, elle est parfaite pour ce livre, elle accompagne parfaitement le personnage de David dans sa souffrance, dans ses pensées et s'accorde parfaitement à ses sentiments.
“I wear it. Okay? I wear it because it’s the only thing I have left, and you don’t have to wear yours ever again and that’s okay too. But please don’t take this away from me. Please let me have this. Please. I promise you won’t have to see it, but please give it back to me. It’s mine, and it’s all I have, and I just—I want it. Please. I want it, I want it, I need it. Okay, I need it. I—”
Je ne parlerais donc pas de l'histoire, mais je vais parler rapidement des personnages.
David est juste un amour, un amour qui est détruit, qui est brisé de toute part, mais qui aime encore malgré tout de tous ce qui lui reste d'âme. Il m'a brisé le coeur, définitivement, et je ne pourrais jamais l'aimer davantage pour ça.
Philip est incroyablement touchant, il souffre d'une façon différente, presque pudique, il est adorable, il est attentif et attentionné, et je l'ai juste adoré, tout simplement.
Je conseille ce livre à tout le monde, il est peut être court, mais incroyablement puissant, touchant et prenant, et je ne regrette pas une seule seconde de l'avoir lu.
Ce livre est juste incroyablement touchant et important. C'est vrai que le résumé ne dit pas grand chose, n'explique pas vraiment l'histoire, et sérieux, faire un résumé spoilerait toute l'histoire, et ce serait tellement dommage. Tout ce que je peux dire, c'est que le sujet de ce livre est incroyablement important, qu'il touche énormément de personne, qu'il a détruit énormément de famille, et qu'on l'aborde peu et dont en entend peu parler.
Et j'ai trouvé que ce livre traitait de ce sujet juste merveilleusement bien. J'aime la façon dont l'auteur a d'adapter sa plume à chacune de ses histoires, des 3 histoires différentes que j'ai pu lire de lui, j'ai pu voir les changements de style qu'il faisait.
L'écriture de ce livre est prenante, elle est sérieuse, elle est oppressante, elle est parfaite pour ce livre, elle accompagne parfaitement le personnage de David dans sa souffrance, dans ses pensées et s'accorde parfaitement à ses sentiments.
“I wear it. Okay? I wear it because it’s the only thing I have left, and you don’t have to wear yours ever again and that’s okay too. But please don’t take this away from me. Please let me have this. Please. I promise you won’t have to see it, but please give it back to me. It’s mine, and it’s all I have, and I just—I want it. Please. I want it, I want it, I need it. Okay, I need it. I—”
Je ne parlerais donc pas de l'histoire, mais je vais parler rapidement des personnages.
David est juste un amour, un amour qui est détruit, qui est brisé de toute part, mais qui aime encore malgré tout de tous ce qui lui reste d'âme. Il m'a brisé le coeur, définitivement, et je ne pourrais jamais l'aimer davantage pour ça.
Philip est incroyablement touchant, il souffre d'une façon différente, presque pudique, il est adorable, il est attentif et attentionné, et je l'ai juste adoré, tout simplement.
Je conseille ce livre à tout le monde, il est peut être court, mais incroyablement puissant, touchant et prenant, et je ne regrette pas une seule seconde de l'avoir lu.
netslummer's review
5.0
Taking place over the course of a single night, with flashbacks to prior events to give context to what is happening currently, this novella hits hard. We follow David meeting Phillip for dinner. Somewhere they used to go often together. The pair revisit the past and try to figure out the future.
That's about as much as I want to say. Just go in relatively blind. It hits hard. Its good. But like. Woof. She's heavy for only 145 pages.
That's about as much as I want to say. Just go in relatively blind. It hits hard. Its good. But like. Woof. She's heavy for only 145 pages.
anawilson05's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It wasn't dreadful but I found the pacing too slow, a detriment to the story, and I didn't love the fact there were no chapters. It added to the confusion of the book.
I was expecting the have my heart torn out and didn't get it so maybe my Klune expectations were too high?
I didn't really care about the reconciliation, annoyed at the lack of resolution for Alice and just felt it was all a bit... Meh. The bartender subplot was wah more interesting
It gets 3 stars because I love how well Klune gives his characters such distinct personalities and the themes and imagery through his books is always delightful.
I was expecting the have my heart torn out and didn't get it so maybe my Klune expectations were too high?
It gets 3 stars because I love how well Klune gives his characters such distinct personalities and the themes and imagery through his books is always delightful.
elee2013's review
5.0
4.5/5
Ugh TJ made me sob again, how rude. (Keep it up though, that’s how you know it’s good.) This story is painful and tragic, but it feels so heartbreakingly REAL I’m just left with my hanky and that bittersweet flavor. A story of parenthood and unimaginable loss.
Ugh TJ made me sob again, how rude. (Keep it up though, that’s how you know it’s good.) This story is painful and tragic, but it feels so heartbreakingly REAL I’m just left with my hanky and that bittersweet flavor. A story of parenthood and unimaginable loss.
stine_reads's review
5.0
Just...speechless. *searching for words strong enough to describe my feelings right now*
It shattered me. A bulldozer just drove right over my heart strings. Gawd, this was SO GOOD! Awful, but good.
It shattered me. A bulldozer just drove right over my heart strings. Gawd, this was SO GOOD! Awful, but good.
liza5326's review
4.0
This is a book that is told in snapshots. You really don't get the entire picture until the very end and it is even more shattering than what you think it is from the bits you get along the way. TJ Klune is a master at emotional reads, making you feel and making you believe in true love and beginning again. Olive Juice is no exception. I couldn't believe that I was at the end before I blinked. I can only hope that someday we'll get an update, because I need to know what happened.
aimora's review
5.0
Tears leaked out of my eyes for the entire second half of this book. The story is so devastating and the struggle David is experiencing so real. This is pain that you cannot escape and it is beautiful. The sorrow did not break me.
beata's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0