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makennabrown's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
mel91's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.0
gv53's review against another edition
5.0
Very chilling and fun read with a lot of heartbreak. I’m a Vegas native so reading about the Nevada desert wrapped up in a spooky story made my homesickness just a little sharper. Great characters, wonderful writing. Definitely a keeper!
euphemiajo's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
ielerol's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful story about grief and trauma, the importance of accepting your own memories and the dangers of letting yourself be lost in them. I did reach a point towards the end where I became more and more frustrated with Rose's refusal to actually name what had happened with Nick and Gabby, but that's pretty clearly the point of the story, and the eventual resolution is excellent.
ellakostka's review against another edition
★★☆☆☆ 2/5
thank you to penguinteen and netgallery for the arc!
unfortunately, this one is just not working out for me. this book is in no way bad, in fact it is actually quite beautifully written and contains some very deep and well-handled content. it just didn’t connect with me.
thank you to penguinteen and netgallery for the arc!
unfortunately, this one is just not working out for me. this book is in no way bad, in fact it is actually quite beautifully written and contains some very deep and well-handled content. it just didn’t connect with me.
servemethesky's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this strange and beautiful book. I'm so grateful that I've been bopping around libraries and just checking out whatever catches my eye. Normally I curate my TBR very strategically, and deviating to things that compel me on a library visit has brought me some amazing surprises.
This book is all about grief and memory, filled with fantastical creatures and magical realism-ish elements (I don't know what to call the weirdness in this novel). I loved the depiction of the protagonist's PTSD and her interactions with her therapist. The mystery element was great as it propelled me to keep thinking hard as I moved through the novel. I kept thinking I had figured out Rose's past, what happened with Nick 2 years ago, what happened to Gaby a year ago, but I never had it quite right.
The friendships she forms in Lotus Valley are lovely. I shipped Felix and Alex so hard!! The way Rose reasons with the Flood at the end is perfect and so moving. Having bad things happen to us does not make us bad too. It doesn't change the core of who we are, necessarily. We don't have to carry other people's pain. We can set it down, let it go.
Love. This. Book. An intense but beautiful ride!
This book is all about grief and memory, filled with fantastical creatures and magical realism-ish elements (I don't know what to call the weirdness in this novel). I loved the depiction of the protagonist's PTSD and her interactions with her therapist. The mystery element was great as it propelled me to keep thinking hard as I moved through the novel. I kept thinking I had figured out Rose's past, what happened with Nick 2 years ago, what happened to Gaby a year ago, but I never had it quite right.
The friendships she forms in Lotus Valley are lovely. I shipped Felix and Alex so hard!! The way Rose reasons with the Flood at the end is perfect and so moving. Having bad things happen to us does not make us bad too. It doesn't change the core of who we are, necessarily. We don't have to carry other people's pain. We can set it down, let it go.
Love. This. Book. An intense but beautiful ride!
theoverflowingbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
In her debut YA novel, The Valley and the Flood, Rebecca Mahoney takes readers to a strange town in the middle of Nevada and shows readers how powerful memories and emotions can be.
This book is not a love story. It’s not about different worlds. It’s not even about friendship. It’s about memories and our pasts and how we grapple with it.
The way Mahoney handles writing about PTSD is profound and enlightening. Let it be said that I have no experience with PTSD and the before or aftereffects of that diagnosis. However, this book helped raise awareness of it and gave it validity. It doesn’t matter how or what you suffered through or experienced: your thoughts and pain are valid. And I think that’s the main point to the story.
The plot was interesting and Rose’s alternating POV between the past and present was enlightening since with every flashback, more and more information about Rose’s past gets revealed. The characters were also interesting to learn about, especially the ones for Lotus Valley, and further showcases Mahoney’s emphasis on human emotions and feelings.
Reminiscent of Nina LaCour’s Watch Over Me, this book transcends genres and makes the reader focus on the metaphoric aspects of the story. For readers looking for a unique book, this one is a must-read.
*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is not a love story. It’s not about different worlds. It’s not even about friendship. It’s about memories and our pasts and how we grapple with it.
The way Mahoney handles writing about PTSD is profound and enlightening. Let it be said that I have no experience with PTSD and the before or aftereffects of that diagnosis. However, this book helped raise awareness of it and gave it validity. It doesn’t matter how or what you suffered through or experienced: your thoughts and pain are valid. And I think that’s the main point to the story.
The plot was interesting and Rose’s alternating POV between the past and present was enlightening since with every flashback, more and more information about Rose’s past gets revealed. The characters were also interesting to learn about, especially the ones for Lotus Valley, and further showcases Mahoney’s emphasis on human emotions and feelings.
Reminiscent of Nina LaCour’s Watch Over Me, this book transcends genres and makes the reader focus on the metaphoric aspects of the story. For readers looking for a unique book, this one is a must-read.
*I received an ARC from Penguin Teen in exchange for my honest opinion.
clairevoyants's review against another edition
5.0
a friend wrote this one! so much to love. i actually wish this existed when i was going through the worst of an anxiety/panic disorder in 2018 because i think i would have found understanding.