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nenolove's review
5.0
I just have no words for this book. It reminds me of all the bad things in this world but also gives me hope for the all things that could be. Thank you for all the laughter, tears, and overall emotional roller coster in the life of this family by choice. It was epic and you are right, some things are just inevitable.
bitchie's review
5.0
This is the kind of book that you read in the dead of night, when everyone else is asleep, so no one can make fun of you for crying over a book.
This is also the kind of book that has you chortling out loud not even five minutes later, which makes it tough, when you're trying to keep the man lying beside you asleep, and not making the fun.
This book was long and drawn out and angsty and perfect for angst whores like me. It's the perfect mix of laughter and tears.
You'd expect someone as smart as Tyson to have it all together, but he's just as bad as the rest of us. Getting lost in his own head, over reacting, running away, not seeing what's right in front of his face. I think we all knew it was going to be Ty & Dom in the end, but what a long road to get there.
And that epilogue! Only TJ could keep me sucked in for that long, and finally, with the end right there, have me shouting, wanting the next book right fucking now. I can't wait to see how our guys deal with what life just threw at them!
This is also the kind of book that has you chortling out loud not even five minutes later, which makes it tough, when you're trying to keep the man lying beside you asleep, and not making the fun.
This book was long and drawn out and angsty and perfect for angst whores like me. It's the perfect mix of laughter and tears.
You'd expect someone as smart as Tyson to have it all together, but he's just as bad as the rest of us. Getting lost in his own head, over reacting, running away, not seeing what's right in front of his face. I think we all knew it was going to be Ty & Dom in the end, but what a long road to get there.
And that epilogue! Only TJ could keep me sucked in for that long, and finally, with the end right there, have me shouting, wanting the next book right fucking now. I can't wait to see how our guys deal with what life just threw at them!
a_reader_obsessed's review
4.0
4 Stars
Another heartfelt win, this brought all the elements I loved in the first two books and applied it to Ty and his journey which is tightly interwoven with that of his BFF Dominic - their first meet cute, their deep friendship, and a devastating turn of events that definitely tests what they mean to each other and how they reconcile their issues.
As Ty comes to learn some facts and accept some truths, this was never short on the drama, as it often takes obliviousness and denial to new levels. By no means was Ty and Dom’s journey easy, as Klune knows just how to kick a reader hard in the proverbial balls, while wrenching out tears one second, and causing fits of laughter in the next.
Always entertaining in its absurd and gleeful humor, this also was so adept at the amount of feels, bringing Ty back full circle to his staunchest supporter, Bear, showing beautifully just how strong their brotherly bonds are and always will be.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this, but for me, Bear and Otter reign supreme as the star couple of this series (“I love you Otter!!”). Nonetheless, it’s with bittersweet, conflicting emotions that I eagerly await the conclusion of this entire amazing ragtag family. If the last 3 books tells us anything, I know Klune will not disappoint!
Another heartfelt win, this brought all the elements I loved in the first two books and applied it to Ty and his journey which is tightly interwoven with that of his BFF Dominic - their first meet cute, their deep friendship, and a devastating turn of events that definitely tests what they mean to each other and how they reconcile their issues.
As Ty comes to learn some facts and accept some truths, this was never short on the drama, as it often takes obliviousness and denial to new levels. By no means was Ty and Dom’s journey easy, as Klune knows just how to kick a reader hard in the proverbial balls, while wrenching out tears one second, and causing fits of laughter in the next.
Always entertaining in its absurd and gleeful humor, this also was so adept at the amount of feels, bringing Ty back full circle to his staunchest supporter, Bear, showing beautifully just how strong their brotherly bonds are and always will be.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this, but for me, Bear and Otter reign supreme as the star couple of this series (“I love you Otter!!”). Nonetheless, it’s with bittersweet, conflicting emotions that I eagerly await the conclusion of this entire amazing ragtag family. If the last 3 books tells us anything, I know Klune will not disappoint!
drez80's review
4.0
So I finished this book yesterday, but I had to think on my rating, and it's not because I didn't like the book. I really did like it. I loved Bear and Otter's little shared looks/moments. I loved Corey/Kori, Sandy, Paul, Vince, Darren and Daddy (Charlie). I hope Corey/Kori gets a man, and I hope we see Sandy and Darren together in the next book. This book made me feel every emotion, and I do say EVERY emotion because I laughed hysterically (even while reading at work, which is not a good thing in the cubicle maze because everyone can hear everything), I cried, and I was so mad. Mad at Creed for his comments about getting over what Dom did because they're family. Yes, Dom may be family, but you helped raise Kid, and Dom is only family because Kid decided to bring him home. I'm not saying they shouldn't have continued talking to Dom and being friendly with him, but they should have told Kid that they were doing so, not let him find out at the dinner and have it be a surprise. I think he's had enough bad surprises. Mad at Dom for acting like this all fell on Kid's shoulders. Ummm... Kid was 15 when the hallway incident happened, and when Dom said he knew then because of the look on Kid's face, I wanted to punch him. Seriosuly, he could have told Kid how he felt, not been with Stacey (who didn't come across so sweet and nice to me as to the rest of the BOATK clan), and they could have worked something else out while Kid was at college. Stacey irritated me because she admitted she knew, so I feel like she trapped Dom, and why did she send only Kid's invitation early? Even if Dom said he told Kid and Kid was happy for them, why not just send Kid's with everyone else's?! Or why not tell Dom you were sending Kid's early?! She just seemed shady to me. I think Dom needed a better apology to Kid esp. after Kid busted him with that guy at the club. I mean really?! Kid saw him with someone else TWICE, and Dom just walked up and kissed him and suddenly, they were together?! Kid should have not allowed Dom to kiss him or even touch him. There should have been MAJOR grovelling on Dom's part before he was allowed anywhere near Kid. And I know they talked about what happened in the hallway with Stacey and why Dom didn't say anything, but I just don't feel like their issues really got resolved, so I wasn't feeling their connection like I did with Bear and Otter. A friend and I were discussing the book, and she brought up another good point, I don't really know Dom. Yes, we heard the whole story about when his Dad killed his mom, and we saw a little of him being a father. He wasn't in the first half of the book, and when he was in the last half, he and Ty didn't really talk about much other than what happened in the past. So I'm kind of bummed because I was really excited for Dom and Ty's story, and I don't know why I'm bummed because as I said, I did still really like this book, even with everything I've mentioned.
jessicajessica101's review
4.0
3.5 (ou la note que je pensais ne jamais mettre à T.J Klume)
“I’ve been waiting.”
“For what?”
“For you to see me."
J'ai adoré ce livre, bien évidemment, il reste un T.J Kume, et il m'a gardé éveillé jusqu'à 3 heure du matin, tout simplement parce que je voulais savoir, je voulais savoir ce qui se passerait, je voulais découvrir encore et encore l'histoire de Dominic et de Tyson.
"Bear may be my rock, but Dom is the force that moves me"
Cependant, malgré moi, je suis déçue par ce troisième tome. Il était bon, mais je m'attendais à tellement plus, jamais l'impression que l'histoire de Tyson et de Dominic pouvait être tellement puissante que j'ai eu l'impression que ça n'avait pas été bien exploité par l'auteur.
On ne se concentrait pas vraiment sur eux, pendant la première moitié quasiment on ne voit pas ou peu Dominic, et quand on le voit, on a l'impression que c'est au second plan, comme si ce n'était pas si important.
"He watched you like you were the only thing that existed in the world. For him, I’m pretty sure you were. For at least those moments.”
Il y avait bien trop de scènes qui alourdissaient l'histoire à mon gout. Les moments entre Dominic étaient bons, mais ils étaient perdus entre des chapitres qui pour moi n'apportaient rien à l'histoire et auraient largement pu être réduis ou même retirés. On rencontre pas mal de personnages, "d'amis" de Tyson, et les chapitres avec eux étaient trop long, les conversations s'étiraient en longueur, et j'avais l'impression que l'auteur essayait de faire des pages parce qu'il n'avait pas assez d'idées pour les remplir de Dominic et de Tyson.
Soyons honnête : je n'ai pas aimé Cory / Kris plus que ça, au début j'aimais bien le personnage, mais je l'ai trouvé finalement trop présent pour pas grand chose, et je n'ai pas non plus aimé toute la clique de Paul et compagnie, et sérieusement pour moi, ils prenaient trop de place pour pas grand chose.
"You’re not lost,” he says. “Not anymore. I’ve found you now, Ty. I’ve got you and I will never let you get lost again.”
J'ai par contre adoré Dominic, qui était pour moi un des personnages les plus intéressant, et ce dès le tome 2. Il était tellement mystérieux, tellement complexe, tellement bon et gentils mais tellement effacé et timide, j'avais tellement hâte de lire plus sur lui, d'avoir des scènes à propos de lui, à propos de Ty, j'avais envie de les voir ensemble, évoluer et grandir, et je me répète oui, mais pour moi il n'était pas assez présent dans le livre.
Dans les premiers tomes, Otter et Bear étaient les personnages principaux, et étaient quasiment toujours là, et dans celui ci, l'auteur se concentraient sur le reste, et ça m'a tellement frustrée.
Le pire dans tout ça, c'est que même l'histoire de Tyson semblait baclée. Il avait beau être le personnage principal, c'est à peine si l'auteur a parlé de ce qui s'était passé pour lui pendant ces 4 années, on sait qu'il est tombé dans une spirale de l'addiction aux médicaments, mais on l'évoque à peine, il n'en parle pas, il ne le dit même pas à Dominic, on en sait plus sur sa relation de quelques semaines avec Cory que si ça, alors que pour moi, c'était vraiment un des aspects les plus intéressants à creuser.
Frustrée, j'étais tout simplement frustrée pendant tout le bouquin, et pour moi l'auteur est resté en surface, et n'avait pas approfondi et exploité toutes les idées qu'il a pu avoir.
“The looks he gave you,” she says. “Like you were the only magic he’d ever known. I knew that look for what it was. And when you left, it was like a light had gone out in him.”
Retrouver Bear et Otter, ainsi que Anna, Creed, JJ, et rencontrer Ben était définitivement un plus dans l'histoire, je me suis attaché à ces personnages plus que de raison et j'étais ravie de les découvrir, j'aurai également aimé plus les voir, et découvrir un peu plus leur évolution, mais je pense que ça sera pour le dernier tome, et j'ai hâte de pouvoir le découvrir.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“For what?”
“For you to see me."
J'ai adoré ce livre, bien évidemment, il reste un T.J Kume, et il m'a gardé éveillé jusqu'à 3 heure du matin, tout simplement parce que je voulais savoir, je voulais savoir ce qui se passerait, je voulais découvrir encore et encore l'histoire de Dominic et de Tyson.
"Bear may be my rock, but Dom is the force that moves me"
Cependant, malgré moi, je suis déçue par ce troisième tome. Il était bon, mais je m'attendais à tellement plus, jamais l'impression que l'histoire de Tyson et de Dominic pouvait être tellement puissante que j'ai eu l'impression que ça n'avait pas été bien exploité par l'auteur.
On ne se concentrait pas vraiment sur eux, pendant la première moitié quasiment on ne voit pas ou peu Dominic, et quand on le voit, on a l'impression que c'est au second plan, comme si ce n'était pas si important.
"He watched you like you were the only thing that existed in the world. For him, I’m pretty sure you were. For at least those moments.”
Il y avait bien trop de scènes qui alourdissaient l'histoire à mon gout. Les moments entre Dominic étaient bons, mais ils étaient perdus entre des chapitres qui pour moi n'apportaient rien à l'histoire et auraient largement pu être réduis ou même retirés. On rencontre pas mal de personnages, "d'amis" de Tyson, et les chapitres avec eux étaient trop long, les conversations s'étiraient en longueur, et j'avais l'impression que l'auteur essayait de faire des pages parce qu'il n'avait pas assez d'idées pour les remplir de Dominic et de Tyson.
Soyons honnête : je n'ai pas aimé Cory / Kris plus que ça, au début j'aimais bien le personnage, mais je l'ai trouvé finalement trop présent pour pas grand chose, et je n'ai pas non plus aimé toute la clique de Paul et compagnie, et sérieusement pour moi, ils prenaient trop de place pour pas grand chose.
"You’re not lost,” he says. “Not anymore. I’ve found you now, Ty. I’ve got you and I will never let you get lost again.”
J'ai par contre adoré Dominic, qui était pour moi un des personnages les plus intéressant, et ce dès le tome 2. Il était tellement mystérieux, tellement complexe, tellement bon et gentils mais tellement effacé et timide, j'avais tellement hâte de lire plus sur lui, d'avoir des scènes à propos de lui, à propos de Ty, j'avais envie de les voir ensemble, évoluer et grandir, et je me répète oui, mais pour moi il n'était pas assez présent dans le livre.
Dans les premiers tomes, Otter et Bear étaient les personnages principaux, et étaient quasiment toujours là, et dans celui ci, l'auteur se concentraient sur le reste, et ça m'a tellement frustrée.
Le pire dans tout ça, c'est que même l'histoire de Tyson semblait baclée. Il avait beau être le personnage principal, c'est à peine si l'auteur a parlé de ce qui s'était passé pour lui pendant ces 4 années, on sait qu'il est tombé dans une spirale de l'addiction aux médicaments, mais on l'évoque à peine, il n'en parle pas, il ne le dit même pas à Dominic, on en sait plus sur sa relation de quelques semaines avec Cory que si ça, alors que pour moi, c'était vraiment un des aspects les plus intéressants à creuser.
Frustrée, j'étais tout simplement frustrée pendant tout le bouquin, et pour moi l'auteur est resté en surface, et n'avait pas approfondi et exploité toutes les idées qu'il a pu avoir.
“The looks he gave you,” she says. “Like you were the only magic he’d ever known. I knew that look for what it was. And when you left, it was like a light had gone out in him.”
Retrouver Bear et Otter, ainsi que Anna, Creed, JJ, et rencontrer Ben était définitivement un plus dans l'histoire, je me suis attaché à ces personnages plus que de raison et j'étais ravie de les découvrir, j'aurai également aimé plus les voir, et découvrir un peu plus leur évolution, mais je pense que ça sera pour le dernier tome, et j'ai hâte de pouvoir le découvrir.
the_gare_bear's review
4.0
I almost forgot to write my thoughts on this book. I'm currently halfway through the final book but I wanted to touch base on this entry in the series.
Interestingly enough, this book is from the POV of The Kid, which I found was a great addition to the series.
The title alone should clue you in to a lot that this book brings as far as what it deals with. I am finding this series not only extremely personal, but helpful and insightful. As someone who has started having seizures within the last three years of my life, there are many things that I am having to learn and cope with. I also have to deal with panic attacks/anxiety problems. So reading through other people's struggles with who they are and how they work through overcoming their own issues and insecurities has been profoundly moving to me especially as it deals with your chosen family and carving your own place in the world.
This books was a great addition to the series and fits well within the storyline. The Art of Breathing is not something that everyone has control over even though it may seem simple enough. Something that may seem so easy or basic, could be an extreme struggle for others. Growth, change, and acceptance can really change or break a person.
The reason for the 4 stars? The book gets a little wordy at times when diving into the thought process of some of the characters (but it's part of who they are so it's understandable). I did find myself wanting to get through some scenes a bit quicker without having to hear an entire back story that may have been described previously, but partially that's what happens when you read a series straight through and don't have to wait for the next book to come out. I enjoyed this book immensely and it really has opened up the way I think about some of my own tribulations in life.
Interestingly enough, this book is from the POV of The Kid, which I found was a great addition to the series.
The title alone should clue you in to a lot that this book brings as far as what it deals with. I am finding this series not only extremely personal, but helpful and insightful. As someone who has started having seizures within the last three years of my life, there are many things that I am having to learn and cope with. I also have to deal with panic attacks/anxiety problems. So reading through other people's struggles with who they are and how they work through overcoming their own issues and insecurities has been profoundly moving to me especially as it deals with your chosen family and carving your own place in the world.
This books was a great addition to the series and fits well within the storyline. The Art of Breathing is not something that everyone has control over even though it may seem simple enough. Something that may seem so easy or basic, could be an extreme struggle for others. Growth, change, and acceptance can really change or break a person.
The reason for the 4 stars? The book gets a little wordy at times when diving into the thought process of some of the characters (but it's part of who they are so it's understandable). I did find myself wanting to get through some scenes a bit quicker without having to hear an entire back story that may have been described previously, but partially that's what happens when you read a series straight through and don't have to wait for the next book to come out. I enjoyed this book immensely and it really has opened up the way I think about some of my own tribulations in life.
brittanymeeks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-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
4.0
bookworming_r's review against another edition
3.0
2,5/5
Era dura battere in bruttezza “La nostra identità” e per fortuna questo terzo volume non ce l’ha fatta. Tuttavia, non basta.
Adesso vediamo un Kid cresciuto, che neanche si riconosce più in questo appellativo e che ha alle spalle una quantità non indifferente di difficoltà: un disturbo da attacchi di panico, una dipendenza(superata) da farmaci, un trauma legato all’abbandono di sua madre e un amore non corrisposto per un ragazzo più grande di lui, già sposato.
Per quanto mi riguarda ci sono troppi salti temporali e troppe scene — ma questa è una peculiarità ridondante dello stile di scrittura di Klune — che invece non hanno né senso né uno scopo se non quello di allungare il brodo, se non fosse che si tratta di pagine e pagine di conversazioni su argomenti ridicoli che fanno pensare: “pronto? È un libro, non una serie tv”.
Una cosa di cui ho francamente sentito la mancanza è un approfondimento sul rapporto tra Ty e Otter: il primo lo considera quasi un padre, l’altro a detta sua (e del marito) lo considera quasi un figlio (dice, ma poi dice anche altro) e si preoccupa infinitamente per lui, eppure mai una volta che li vediamo interagire realmente. Il che è un vero peccato dato che Otter è uno dei personaggi migliori e soprattutto meno cringe di tutta la serie: è il più tranquillo, il più comprensivo e il più responsabile, è quello che si è preso sulle spalle la responsabilità di prendersi cura di un ragazzino non suo e l’ha praticamente cresciuto, perché non far vedere quando Ty adesso si fidi anche di lui, quanto bisogno abbia anche di lui?
Inoltre ha un po’ “stonato” il fatto che nonostante certe volte venga ribadito che Ty è quasi come un figlio per Otter (solo per Otter, per Bear a quanto pare no) traspaia anche il fatto che in realtà lo considerano solo il fratellino di Bear — che per carità lo è davvero — ma non come il ragazzino che hanno cresciuto loro due in seguito a un abbandono grave e una lotta spietata per la sua custodia, e che una volta arrivato il lieto fine il ragazzino in questione si è pure preso il cognome di Otter: è l’impressione che mi ha dato questo continuo rimarcare l’insicurezza di Bear nell’avere un figlio perché “non mi ci vedo con un bambino” quando letteralmente la trama dei due libri precedenti riguardava lui che ne cresceva uno.
Tutto sommato il libro ha anche senso di esistere, ma per quanto mi riguarda avrei preferito che il secondo libro della serie non esistesse e che Ty avesse incontrato Dominic dopo e non quando avevano rispettivamente nove e quindici anni. Sarò onesta però, mi sono affezionata ormai a tutti i personaggi: mi è dispiaciuto vedere così poco l’evoluzione del rapporto da sposati di Bear e Otter (comprensibile visto che il punto di vista è ormai un altro) e un pochino fa commuovere vedere Ty così cresciuto sradicarsi dal bambino che è stato una volta. Sì, bello e tutto il resto, sicuramente mi ha convinto a finire pure l’ultimo libro, ma non basta comunque per meritarsi una sufficienza piena.
Era dura battere in bruttezza “La nostra identità” e per fortuna questo terzo volume non ce l’ha fatta. Tuttavia, non basta.
Adesso vediamo un Kid cresciuto, che neanche si riconosce più in questo appellativo e che ha alle spalle una quantità non indifferente di difficoltà: un disturbo da attacchi di panico, una dipendenza(superata) da farmaci, un trauma legato all’abbandono di sua madre e un amore non corrisposto per un ragazzo più grande di lui, già sposato.
Per quanto mi riguarda ci sono troppi salti temporali e troppe scene — ma questa è una peculiarità ridondante dello stile di scrittura di Klune — che invece non hanno né senso né uno scopo se non quello di allungare il brodo, se non fosse che si tratta di pagine e pagine di conversazioni su argomenti ridicoli che fanno pensare: “pronto? È un libro, non una serie tv”.
Una cosa di cui ho francamente sentito la mancanza è un approfondimento sul rapporto tra Ty e Otter: il primo lo considera quasi un padre, l’altro a detta sua (e del marito) lo considera quasi un figlio (dice, ma poi dice anche altro) e si preoccupa infinitamente per lui, eppure mai una volta che li vediamo interagire realmente. Il che è un vero peccato dato che Otter è uno dei personaggi migliori e soprattutto meno cringe di tutta la serie: è il più tranquillo, il più comprensivo e il più responsabile, è quello che si è preso sulle spalle la responsabilità di prendersi cura di un ragazzino non suo e l’ha praticamente cresciuto, perché non far vedere quando Ty adesso si fidi anche di lui, quanto bisogno abbia anche di lui?
Inoltre ha un po’ “stonato” il fatto che nonostante certe volte venga ribadito che Ty è quasi come un figlio per Otter (solo per Otter, per Bear a quanto pare no) traspaia anche il fatto che in realtà lo considerano solo il fratellino di Bear — che per carità lo è davvero — ma non come il ragazzino che hanno cresciuto loro due in seguito a un abbandono grave e una lotta spietata per la sua custodia, e che una volta arrivato il lieto fine il ragazzino in questione si è pure preso il cognome di Otter: è l’impressione che mi ha dato questo continuo rimarcare l’insicurezza di Bear nell’avere un figlio perché “non mi ci vedo con un bambino” quando letteralmente la trama dei due libri precedenti riguardava lui che ne cresceva uno.
Tutto sommato il libro ha anche senso di esistere, ma per quanto mi riguarda avrei preferito che il secondo libro della serie non esistesse e che Ty avesse incontrato Dominic dopo e non quando avevano rispettivamente nove e quindici anni. Sarò onesta però, mi sono affezionata ormai a tutti i personaggi: mi è dispiaciuto vedere così poco l’evoluzione del rapporto da sposati di Bear e Otter (comprensibile visto che il punto di vista è ormai un altro) e un pochino fa commuovere vedere Ty così cresciuto sradicarsi dal bambino che è stato una volta. Sì, bello e tutto il resto, sicuramente mi ha convinto a finire pure l’ultimo libro, ma non basta comunque per meritarsi una sufficienza piena.
gabs93's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0