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kylahanley's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book it was really great and I think more people should read it since it seems not as popular as it should be I enjoyed every moment even though some things like was side-eyeing the author like what was she thinking full thoughts below beware there are a few spoilers sprinkled in but I made sure to make it know which sections have them
Luke and Jessi
For the most part, I liked Jessi and Luke’s relationship I wouldn’t say I was like obsessed with it but they were cute but while Luke could be an asshole sometimes you find out later that she kind of deserves it
And we get some fake dating so if you like that PICK IT UPPP I haven’t read too many with this trope but I really enjoyed it
SPOILER
the intimate scene in the bathroom between Luke and Jessi made me feel icky because not only am I just not a fan of those scenes in general and thank god the ones in this book are not detailed but what I’m trying to get at is to me it just seemed distasteful like your mom and the woman you have view as your mother just died and you are having sex in the bathroom like everyone grieves differently but come on in a way I get why it there but just no
At the end of the book there is still hope for them to get back together it ends as a sort of will see where this takes us but I’m pretty confident that they will get back together
Rowen and jessi
When talking about her relationship with her best friend I don’t want to say to much to avoid spoilers so just in case read with caution
but I will say that I love their friendship and the reveal near the end of the book I feel like it was well done despite falling into a cliche
sadly we don’t get much answers after that but I won’t say why to avoid spoiling it but I think you can take a guess based of the synopsis
Mel
Mel 🥺 she was just the best I loved her so much and she almost always had me on the verge of tears she’s was the best mother I think jessi could have asked for and there relationship was so cute
SPOILER
I am really sad that Jessi didn’t get that last finial talk with Mel before she died I do understand that is not always how the world works and like they said in The Mad Ones “sometimes you just don’t get to say goodbye” but damn it it still hurt I loved Mel 😭😭😭😭
END OF SPOILER
Jessi’s parents
I didn’t really like them is the non spoiler way I feel
The spoilers below:
So Jessi's parents especially her mom I didn’t really like because basically her mom is depressed which is very serious and I’m not saying she has no right to feel how she feels my problem is this depressed made her a very shitty mom who never gave her daughter the time of day and basically abandoned her
Her dad was trying his best but still wasn’t enough
That’s why she found “a new family” with the Cohens and Mel treated her like one of her own when that wasn’t her responsibility but thanks to her Jessi is who she is today and if it weren’t for her who knows how she would have turned out
And when Mel gets sick all of a sudden her mom wants to try and be her mom and start policing what she’s doing trying to be a “mom” after 18 years of doing nothing and that really ticked me off like I get there trying but to little to late you missed the most essential years of her life and now you want to act like you give a fuck
Mental health is extremely important and if you don’t want to get better for your self you should at least try for your kid when that is your responsibility as their mother
But that’s just my opinion and I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad
END OF SPOILER
Naomi
While she is just a minor character that I didn’t have too many opinions on her but she really slapped some sense into Jessi near the end of the book
That’s al my thoughts on the book it is very heartfelt and heartbreaking 💔
Four stars ⭐️
Luke and Jessi
For the most part, I liked Jessi and Luke’s relationship I wouldn’t say I was like obsessed with it but they were cute but while Luke could be an asshole sometimes you find out later that she kind of deserves it
And we get some fake dating so if you like that PICK IT UPPP I haven’t read too many with this trope but I really enjoyed it
SPOILER
the intimate scene in the bathroom between Luke and Jessi made me feel icky because not only am I just not a fan of those scenes in general and thank god the ones in this book are not detailed but what I’m trying to get at is to me it just seemed distasteful like your mom and the woman you have view as your mother just died and you are having sex in the bathroom like everyone grieves differently but come on in a way I get why it there but just no
At the end of the book there is still hope for them to get back together it ends as a sort of will see where this takes us but I’m pretty confident that they will get back together
Rowen and jessi
When talking about her relationship with her best friend I don’t want to say to much to avoid spoilers so just in case read with caution
but I will say that I love their friendship and the reveal near the end of the book I feel like it was well done despite falling into a cliche
sadly we don’t get much answers after that but I won’t say why to avoid spoiling it but I think you can take a guess based of the synopsis
Mel
Mel 🥺 she was just the best I loved her so much and she almost always had me on the verge of tears she’s was the best mother I think jessi could have asked for and there relationship was so cute
SPOILER
I am really sad that Jessi didn’t get that last finial talk with Mel before she died I do understand that is not always how the world works and like they said in The Mad Ones “sometimes you just don’t get to say goodbye” but damn it it still hurt I loved Mel 😭😭😭😭
END OF SPOILER
Jessi’s parents
I didn’t really like them is the non spoiler way I feel
The spoilers below:
So Jessi's parents especially her mom I didn’t really like because basically her mom is depressed which is very serious and I’m not saying she has no right to feel how she feels my problem is this depressed made her a very shitty mom who never gave her daughter the time of day and basically abandoned her
Her dad was trying his best but still wasn’t enough
That’s why she found “a new family” with the Cohens and Mel treated her like one of her own when that wasn’t her responsibility but thanks to her Jessi is who she is today and if it weren’t for her who knows how she would have turned out
And when Mel gets sick all of a sudden her mom wants to try and be her mom and start policing what she’s doing trying to be a “mom” after 18 years of doing nothing and that really ticked me off like I get there trying but to little to late you missed the most essential years of her life and now you want to act like you give a fuck
Mental health is extremely important and if you don’t want to get better for your self you should at least try for your kid when that is your responsibility as their mother
But that’s just my opinion and I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad
END OF SPOILER
Naomi
While she is just a minor character that I didn’t have too many opinions on her but she really slapped some sense into Jessi near the end of the book
That’s al my thoughts on the book it is very heartfelt and heartbreaking 💔
Four stars ⭐️
slsj_'s review against another edition
4.0
What a hidden gem. It’s nearly 3:00 a.m and I can’t decide if I liked this, or if I really liked this.
The plot was beautifully, heartbrokenly woven. Flipping from present to past gave you the lead up to something big, and though you knew what it was it was the how and the why that kept the intrigue.
The characters were well-padded with emotions you can understand and actions you can sympathize with.
This was about finding your family, forgiving yourself, and moving on. It broke my heart.
My only ask if that I wish we had heard more from/about Rowan. He was such an integral part of the plot that almost felt like a under thought.
Overall, 4 stars.
Also, it features a POC MC by a POC Canadian author. I love it here.
The plot was beautifully, heartbrokenly woven. Flipping from present to past gave you the lead up to something big, and though you knew what it was it was the how and the why that kept the intrigue.
The characters were well-padded with emotions you can understand and actions you can sympathize with.
This was about finding your family, forgiving yourself, and moving on. It broke my heart.
My only ask if that I wish we had heard more from/about Rowan. He was such an integral part of the plot that almost felt like a under thought.
Overall, 4 stars.
Also, it features a POC MC by a POC Canadian author. I love it here.
sighhhhhh's review against another edition
4.0
Read this a year or so ago and it still has such a place in my heart
sophrolijkbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Luisterboek, 4,5 ster afgerond naar boven.
Ik vond dit echt een prachtig en soms ook confronterend verhaal. Aan het eind heb ik ook zitten janken als een baby bij een bepaalde interactie tussen Jessie en haar moeder.
Het gaat over rouw, mindset, depressie, ziekte. Veel zware onderwerpen maar toch zitten er ook luchtige momenten tussen. Jessie is nog niet zo oud natuurlijk, net 18, maar daardoor maakte soms keuzes die ik niet zou hebben gekozen. Het was wel begrijpelijk door haar leeftijd.
Het heden en het verleden worden in de hoofdstukken met elkaar afgewisseld wat ik heel mooi vond.
Ik vond dit echt een prachtig en soms ook confronterend verhaal. Aan het eind heb ik ook zitten janken als een baby bij een bepaalde interactie tussen Jessie en haar moeder.
Het gaat over rouw, mindset, depressie, ziekte. Veel zware onderwerpen maar toch zitten er ook luchtige momenten tussen. Jessie is nog niet zo oud natuurlijk, net 18, maar daardoor maakte soms keuzes die ik niet zou hebben gekozen. Het was wel begrijpelijk door haar leeftijd.
Het heden en het verleden worden in de hoofdstukken met elkaar afgewisseld wat ik heel mooi vond.
lilscap's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
paigelily's review against another edition
4.0
This was very much *chefs kiss excellence*, I think it handled some difficult topics very kindly and with a lot of compassion and grace for the characters. It basically gave me everything I wanted in a book, I loved the way it peeled back the story layer by layer and my jaw did drop multiple times with how juicy the best friend brother romance and the drama that came with it was.10/10 highly recommend. However, I do think having sex at a wake was a bit foul of them ngl.
aericac_w's review against another edition
2.0
DNF…I really tried but this book is so slow and boring
morganboyd's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This was heart-breaking. I am devastated. Where do I go from here?
audreykayy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.75
I loved this book. I cried through a good 42% of it, so if you’re looking for something lighthearted and funny, this probably isn’t your pick at the moment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
Minor: Racism