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virginiais4lovers's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to read this book because I wanted to read more work from authors that I've enjoyed previously. I enjoyed All the Bright Places and I’ve seen this book in bookshops and online that I thought I would give it a go. This book hurt my head and I didn’t really care for the main characters.
This book is based on Claudine Henry, and she wasn’t supposed to be spending her summer on this remote island off the coast of Georgia. She was supposed to be on a road trip with her best friend and spending every minute together before they go to college. But after her father makes a shock announcement, she is exiled with her shaken mother, with no phone service and no one she knows. She is completely cut off. Until she meets Jeremiah who is free spirited, mysterious and beautiful. Their chemistry is immediate and irresistible. They both know that whatever they have can only last the summer, but maybe one summer is enough.
My issue with this book is that nothing happens. Absolutely nothing interesting. It just sort of moves along, there are no twists, no turns. It was very predictable. Coming of age learns her father is a cheater and now she has daddy issues and she hates her mother for ruining her summer, she falls out with her best friend because her mother ruins their summer, she falls in love with the bad boy, they have sex, they fall out, get back together and then they leave to carry on with their lives. I wasn’t shocked or hooked, I was getting bored, and I had a headache from rolling my eyes too much. Claudine was annoying me for like 65% of this book, her thoughts were exhausting, and she was making everything sound like the end of the world. Miah was just shut off and then became too emotional when the flip was switched, I would’ve liked to see more of a slow change. The ending wasn’t the ending, because it felt like it was setting itself for a sequel that hasn’t happened.
Like most people, I liked the island aspect of it and I would have LOVED for this to be a self-growth journey for Claud rather than the fact that she spend 20% complaining about the fact that she was a virgin and wanted to sleep with someone else and then she loses her virginity and all of a sudden she’s not self-conscious or overthinking anything? Bullshit.
I just wanted more from this book, I think my expectations was way too high after All the Bright Places and I don’t know if I will be reading Holding Up the Universe after reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Death
riacamden's review against another edition
4.0
it’s probably more 3.5 stars.
i kinda like and dislike this book at the same time.
so my main concern: the main character was too obsessed with sex, even tho we didn’t get any spice. it was so weird, but maybe i forgot about “how it is to be a teen” (no). so this was a little be meh.
but the story is beautiful and heartshaking at the same time. it’s a lot about family issues, how hard it is to go though your family falling apart. and it’s coming of age. it’s romantic.
at the end i just wanna scream here: I WANT MY SUMMER LOVE ADVENTURE, pls?
also, the cliffhanger! f!
i kinda like and dislike this book at the same time.
so my main concern: the main character was too obsessed with sex, even tho we didn’t get any spice. it was so weird, but maybe i forgot about “how it is to be a teen” (no). so this was a little be meh.
but the story is beautiful and heartshaking at the same time. it’s a lot about family issues, how hard it is to go though your family falling apart. and it’s coming of age. it’s romantic.
at the end i just wanna scream here: I WANT MY SUMMER LOVE ADVENTURE, pls?
also, the cliffhanger! f!
christinaglenn's review
5.0
This will definitely be one I revisit often.
Claude is relatable and a pretty typical young girl. Miah is book boyfriend worthy. This story definitely gives off some feels and emotions - and totally not what you’re expecting.
I really enjoyed it - as I do all of the authors books.
Claude is relatable and a pretty typical young girl. Miah is book boyfriend worthy. This story definitely gives off some feels and emotions - and totally not what you’re expecting.
I really enjoyed it - as I do all of the authors books.
bubbataylor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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
4.0
aylise17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
4.0
ateachersguidetoreading's review against another edition
5.0
"Sometimes things end, even if you don't want them to..."
This is how I felt about this book. I love it more than words and it's one of the best books I've read, ever! I've never highlighted so many passages in a book before.
I feel like I was meant to read this book, that somehow the universe knew I needed it. I only started NetGalley a few weeks ago and this popped up. I loved All the Bright Places but I didn't expect to get approved for this review.
When I finished I was a mess. Emotionally and literally - with tears, snot and body-wracking sobs. My heart was sore; it's still sore. I've even pre-ordered my own copy because I need this book on my shelf.
As Claude graduates high school she finds her world is suddenly turned upside down and the floor has been yanked from beneath her. She's feeling lost and ready to just spend the summer coasting on a remote island with her Mum. What she doesn't plan for is Jeremiah Crew, a boy that will make her reevaluate and face her problem whilst also teaching her how to fall in love with life again.
A fantastic five-star read that's so very relatable. I love how much this book means personally to Jennifer, as she explains in the acknowledgements, and reading that made me ball all the more.
It touches on many relatable issues, such as virginity, sexuality, divorce, adultery and choice. It doesn't portray the characters as perfect but instead as human - mistakes and all.
I'd recommend this for young adults, new adults and even us older readers. We can all find something in this book for ourselves. For me it was a nostalgia, so effortlessly brought to life by Jennifer's favoulous writing style.
Memorable Quotes:
> Here we laughed. Here we fought. Here we loved and dreamed.
> I'm going to kiss you right now because I've been thinking about kissing you all morning.
> Hemingway once said, "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know."
> I will decide my life. No more waiting for other people to decide things for me. I'm writing it right now.
> Not talking with you when both of us are here, under this sky, is better than talking with anyone else about anything.
> I've got a few more things to do and then I'll come find you.
This is how I felt about this book. I love it more than words and it's one of the best books I've read, ever! I've never highlighted so many passages in a book before.
I feel like I was meant to read this book, that somehow the universe knew I needed it. I only started NetGalley a few weeks ago and this popped up. I loved All the Bright Places but I didn't expect to get approved for this review.
When I finished I was a mess. Emotionally and literally - with tears, snot and body-wracking sobs. My heart was sore; it's still sore. I've even pre-ordered my own copy because I need this book on my shelf.
As Claude graduates high school she finds her world is suddenly turned upside down and the floor has been yanked from beneath her. She's feeling lost and ready to just spend the summer coasting on a remote island with her Mum. What she doesn't plan for is Jeremiah Crew, a boy that will make her reevaluate and face her problem whilst also teaching her how to fall in love with life again.
A fantastic five-star read that's so very relatable. I love how much this book means personally to Jennifer, as she explains in the acknowledgements, and reading that made me ball all the more.
It touches on many relatable issues, such as virginity, sexuality, divorce, adultery and choice. It doesn't portray the characters as perfect but instead as human - mistakes and all.
I'd recommend this for young adults, new adults and even us older readers. We can all find something in this book for ourselves. For me it was a nostalgia, so effortlessly brought to life by Jennifer's favoulous writing style.
Memorable Quotes:
> Here we laughed. Here we fought. Here we loved and dreamed.
> I'm going to kiss you right now because I've been thinking about kissing you all morning.
> Hemingway once said, "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know."
> I will decide my life. No more waiting for other people to decide things for me. I'm writing it right now.
> Not talking with you when both of us are here, under this sky, is better than talking with anyone else about anything.
> I've got a few more things to do and then I'll come find you.
mickala's review against another edition
4.75
Really resonated with things I struggled with at that age and even now. Claude is funny and dramatic and intelligent and a fun first person perspective. Don’t we all wish we could have a Jeremiah Crew?