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meghanhines's review against another edition
3.75
i overall really enjoyed this story and felt quite drawn to it, despite feeling that its pacing was sorta slow and stagnant at times. it was definitely an interesting subject to pursue and i do think picoult did it with empathy and grace. i liked having all of the multiple POVs. however, the fact that All of this took place in like a week is not believable to me lol. and i did not like the ending (despite it making me cry 😒) it just felt very cheap
sadkitty's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a train wreck from the start to finish. And the ending was a surprise i didn't expect. But it's such a good book I hate that it ended, and it's such a emotional meltdown causing book that I'm glad I finished reading it.
Edit: At least, that's what I hoped what this book was about. I wrote the above-mentioned review when I had just finished the book and was feeling a myriad of emotions. But when the hangover was over, I hated this book more than anything.
There were a few things I hated more than anything else.
First of all, Sara Fitzgerald. What kind of mother is she anyway? She barely cares about Anna and totally gives up on Jesse. In this whole situation, the one who gets the smallest stick is Jesse. His parents don't have any expectations for him. And mostly, they don't even care what's happening to him. It's just creepy.
And the fact that Sara doesn't even listen to Anna, not at all, doesn't try to understand what she is trying to say, until the part where Anna accepts in the courtroom that the one who persuaded her in making this choice was Kate.
Bad parenting is one thing. But I understand why people are saying this book is manipulative. Somewhere around the middle of the book, the voice of Anna is changed, ever so slightly, and she's no longer acting like she's bitter about giving her organs to Kate. Okay, she is a good sister. And she loves her sister a lot. And is ready to do anything that might save her sister. Admirable. But then what the hell was with her way of speaking when she initially filed the lawsuit against her parents?
It felt weird.
And creepy.
And the fact that Anna died in the end. If someone didn't read the whole thing, and only heard the beginning and end, people will think that Anna was punished because she didn't want to help her sister anymore which is bullshit. And all things considered, I really hate the way the whole story came out.
All in all, the only thing I can say is that the whole story regarding the Fitzgerald (I'm not sure if that's the name of the family because it's been a long time since I've read this book) family was utter trash. Campbell's love story with Julia didn't progress the story but what the hell, it was more adorable than anything else.
But I loved the characters, except Sara Fitzgerald. And all three, Jesse, Kate and Anna were complete darlings. And Brian was fine. Campbell and Julia were nice and a bit better than other romantic couples. Judge was just awesome just by being there.
But in the end, the story is still trash. Even if the characters are complex and writing style is amazing. And I have learned that this story had the potential to be good, great even, but was ruined because of the need for some bullshit emotional drama.
Edit: At least, that's what I hoped what this book was about. I wrote the above-mentioned review when I had just finished the book and was feeling a myriad of emotions. But when the hangover was over, I hated this book more than anything.
There were a few things I hated more than anything else.
First of all, Sara Fitzgerald. What kind of mother is she anyway? She barely cares about Anna and totally gives up on Jesse. In this whole situation, the one who gets the smallest stick is Jesse. His parents don't have any expectations for him. And mostly, they don't even care what's happening to him. It's just creepy.
And the fact that Sara doesn't even listen to Anna, not at all, doesn't try to understand what she is trying to say, until the part where Anna accepts in the courtroom that the one who persuaded her in making this choice was Kate.
Bad parenting is one thing. But I understand why people are saying this book is manipulative. Somewhere around the middle of the book, the voice of Anna is changed, ever so slightly, and she's no longer acting like she's bitter about giving her organs to Kate. Okay, she is a good sister. And she loves her sister a lot. And is ready to do anything that might save her sister. Admirable. But then what the hell was with her way of speaking when she initially filed the lawsuit against her parents?
It felt weird.
And creepy.
And the fact that Anna died in the end. If someone didn't read the whole thing, and only heard the beginning and end, people will think that Anna was punished because she didn't want to help her sister anymore which is bullshit. And all things considered, I really hate the way the whole story came out.
All in all, the only thing I can say is that the whole story regarding the Fitzgerald (I'm not sure if that's the name of the family because it's been a long time since I've read this book) family was utter trash. Campbell's love story with Julia didn't progress the story but what the hell, it was more adorable than anything else.
But I loved the characters, except Sara Fitzgerald. And all three, Jesse, Kate and Anna were complete darlings. And Brian was fine. Campbell and Julia were nice and a bit better than other romantic couples. Judge was just awesome just by being there.
But in the end, the story is still trash. Even if the characters are complex and writing style is amazing. And I have learned that this story had the potential to be good, great even, but was ruined because of the need for some bullshit emotional drama.
imzelfish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ibisette's review against another edition
2.0
Wow this book could have been soooo much more! The general storyline has great potential. A daughter dying from AML and a second one conceived to keep the first one alive with her blood transplants, and is currently awaiting a kidney transplant for said sister.
But then theres flashbacks that are so unnecesary and a romantic side story of her attorney and it's highschool romances.
Soooo boooring and unnecesary...
And then the ending.
This ending could have been so much more. I'm deeply dissapointed... This book could have been like 200 pags shorter.
But then theres flashbacks that are so unnecesary and a romantic side story of her attorney and it's highschool romances.
Soooo boooring and unnecesary...
And then the ending.
This ending could have been so much more. I'm deeply dissapointed... This book could have been like 200 pags shorter.
emcgard's review against another edition
3.0
It’s hard for me to review this one. It did draw me in to the point where I felt like I had to finish it.. but overall it made me feel a little too conflicted and stressed to really enjoy it! I like a book that makes me think.. but this one seemed to be a little more triggering for me than a positive introspective kind of read. Well written, and a good story with characters that you feel very invested in! Just a little too stressful for me.
owyn's review against another edition
3.0
what the fuck
sara is unbearable. jesse pissed me off too. the ending is crazy. like i was gagged the whole time and the themes are great (creating a spare parts kid will probably always be morally and ethically wrong) but i feel like a teen with an ao3 account probably has a much better version of this written in the Supernatural universe or something.
sara is unbearable. jesse pissed me off too. the ending is crazy. like i was gagged the whole time and the themes are great (creating a spare parts kid will probably always be morally and ethically wrong) but i feel like a teen with an ao3 account probably has a much better version of this written in the Supernatural universe or something.
hunnylemon_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
petraengelien's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
madihunter's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bookswithbeckie's review against another edition
3.0
⭐⭐⭐ / 5
I did really like this book but I found it really hard to get in to. This book switches from different characters and does her confusing. It has been beautifully written though and is such a heartrenching book.
Beckie x
I did really like this book but I found it really hard to get in to. This book switches from different characters and does her confusing. It has been beautifully written though and is such a heartrenching book.
Beckie x