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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I dont write book reviews, I just give them stars and move on to the next book.
This book. This book wrecked me. Im not a crier, I bawled like an inconsolable baby. I loved it and I hated it. I didnt realize how emotionally invested I was until the end.
The struggle was so real, so descriptive, so raw. Emery and Kaidens struggle is worth the read, its worth the emotional investment.
This book. This book wrecked me. Im not a crier, I bawled like an inconsolable baby. I loved it and I hated it. I didnt realize how emotionally invested I was until the end.
The struggle was so real, so descriptive, so raw. Emery and Kaidens struggle is worth the read, its worth the emotional investment.
DNF for the first time in my life. Let me explain.
Step-bro said something like, “That’s hot,” to his chronically ill, I-just-met-you step-sis and I physically gagged. I had to close out my Libby app and take a moment of reflection before I dared venturing into GoodReads to confirm what I already dreaded. Is this a step-sibling romance?
Yes. Yes it is. “Slightly taboo” is what someone claimed.
SLIGHTLY?! Maybe it’s because I had step-siblings of my own for a while. Maybe it’s because I grew up with friends who have step-siblings. But I could not bring myself to restart. As much as I wanted to go on this deeply meaningful literary journey with the FMC, NOT LIKE THAT.
Anyway. Maybe I’ll come back to it after a few weeks. I really want to experience the emotional depth. But the ick overwhelmed me. Hey, silver lining - I achieved my first DNF.
Step-bro said something like, “That’s hot,” to his chronically ill, I-just-met-you step-sis and I physically gagged. I had to close out my Libby app and take a moment of reflection before I dared venturing into GoodReads to confirm what I already dreaded. Is this a step-sibling romance?
Yes. Yes it is. “Slightly taboo” is what someone claimed.
SLIGHTLY?! Maybe it’s because I had step-siblings of my own for a while. Maybe it’s because I grew up with friends who have step-siblings. But I could not bring myself to restart. As much as I wanted to go on this deeply meaningful literary journey with the FMC, NOT LIKE THAT.
Anyway. Maybe I’ll come back to it after a few weeks. I really want to experience the emotional depth. But the ick overwhelmed me. Hey, silver lining - I achieved my first DNF.
"We never truly get over losses. We just absorb them until they mold us into someone new. Like any creation, it takes time."
When I first read the synopsis I immediately thought of Five Feet Apart with extra twists. The story of Emery is heartbreaking and amazing all at the same time. I love Emery and honestly rooted for her the entire book. She deserves so much better than what she was handed. I wanted to grab her and hug her in every chapter of this book.
Kaiden pissed me off a lot. He's a smug asshole and thinks everyone should bow down to him - it doesn't help that most people do. I am glad that he was always there for Emery, though.
Underneath the Sycamore Tree brought to life so many real life situations - showing that life isn't like it's described in books. I loved that this didn't fall under the same story line as other stepbrother romances.
The emotions that I felt while reading about Emery's life, loss, sickness.. I can't even describe it. You just need to read it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for this ARC.
When I first read the synopsis I immediately thought of Five Feet Apart with extra twists. The story of Emery is heartbreaking and amazing all at the same time. I love Emery and honestly rooted for her the entire book. She deserves so much better than what she was handed. I wanted to grab her and hug her in every chapter of this book.
Kaiden pissed me off a lot. He's a smug asshole and thinks everyone should bow down to him - it doesn't help that most people do. I am glad that he was always there for Emery, though.
Underneath the Sycamore Tree brought to life so many real life situations - showing that life isn't like it's described in books. I loved that this didn't fall under the same story line as other stepbrother romances.
The emotions that I felt while reading about Emery's life, loss, sickness.. I can't even describe it. You just need to read it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for this ARC.
this was a cover buy. and i ended up loving this book. okay but also should say this is step brother trope in case anyone does not like that vibe. i really enjoyed the story of Em and Kaiden. he was like super mean to her but yet he loved her. i mean i know this book would be sad, but it has stayed with me since i read it. i even plan to read it again soon and keep it on my shelf.
Second time dnfing (this time at 23% , I made it nearly half way years ago though ) gave it a chance couldn’t finish. I found Kaiden insufferable and hated how desperate Emery was to be his friend.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
prepare for waterworks
I did not mentally prepare for this and now I’m left sobbing. Completely just took my heart and smashed it to pieces. A bit dramatic? No, it’s not. This book and characters felt like apart of me and everything they went through tore me up.
Emery is one of the strongest characters I’ve read. Emotionally and physically. Her willpower to keep going even when she didn’t want to speaks volumes of her character. I felt like I got a deep dive into the mind of a person with chronic illness. It’s eye opening and inspiring to learn more about something from another persons perspective.
Growing up with people I love having an “incredible” illness was never easy. People never taking them seriously or telling them it’s all in their head was painful. I can’t imagine how it must feel actually going through it and still choosing to fight. But that’s what Em does. She’s a fighter and takes on the pain within herself and the ones she loves.
The relationship she grew back with her dad and gained new ones from Kaiden and Cam was refreshing. Getting to know Kaiden and Cam was something she didn’t know she needed. The connection between her and Kaiden was undeniable. The way he stepped up and was there for her when no one else was drew me in. Everything Emery fought through, she did with a smile on her face.
This story and characters are going to stay with me for a long time.
***Contains spoilers***
I was really hoping all the talks about how not every story has a happy ending wasn’t foreshadowing. Wants I realized what was happening I couldn’t stop crying. I was an absolute mess. Getting Kaiden’s POV in the end made me happy though. Seeing him go to college and be happy was worth the tears.
I did not mentally prepare for this and now I’m left sobbing. Completely just took my heart and smashed it to pieces. A bit dramatic? No, it’s not. This book and characters felt like apart of me and everything they went through tore me up.
Emery is one of the strongest characters I’ve read. Emotionally and physically. Her willpower to keep going even when she didn’t want to speaks volumes of her character. I felt like I got a deep dive into the mind of a person with chronic illness. It’s eye opening and inspiring to learn more about something from another persons perspective.
Growing up with people I love having an “incredible” illness was never easy. People never taking them seriously or telling them it’s all in their head was painful. I can’t imagine how it must feel actually going through it and still choosing to fight. But that’s what Em does. She’s a fighter and takes on the pain within herself and the ones she loves.
The relationship she grew back with her dad and gained new ones from Kaiden and Cam was refreshing. Getting to know Kaiden and Cam was something she didn’t know she needed. The connection between her and Kaiden was undeniable. The way he stepped up and was there for her when no one else was drew me in. Everything Emery fought through, she did with a smile on her face.
This story and characters are going to stay with me for a long time.
***Contains spoilers***
I was really hoping all the talks about how not every story has a happy ending wasn’t foreshadowing. Wants I realized what was happening I couldn’t stop crying. I was an absolute mess. Getting Kaiden’s POV in the end made me happy though. Seeing him go to college and be happy was worth the tears.