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jenhart's review
4.0
I was skeptical of the premise of this book and the set up for yet another stereotypical YA romance. What a wonderful surprise this book was. The core of the story was not a contrived romance, but rather an exploration of the importance of family and power of pilgrimage to bring about healing.
There were moments of shallow YA romance, but they were few and easily overlooked. Beautiful book.
There were moments of shallow YA romance, but they were few and easily overlooked. Beautiful book.
gsilva13's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I liked the overall direction that this book took and just rating that I would have given it a 4.5.
But, even though I loved that the book was trying to be bilingual, some of the Spanish thrown in there sounded really awkward to read. Don't get me wrong. I liked the Spanish, but I would have liked it more if it'd been more cohesive when read together eight the English text.
I liked the overall direction that this book took and just rating that I would have given it a 4.5.
But, even though I loved that the book was trying to be bilingual, some of the Spanish thrown in there sounded really awkward to read. Don't get me wrong. I liked the Spanish, but I would have liked it more if it'd been more cohesive when read together eight the English text.
mademoisellebookish's review
5.0
4.5/5
This book is about a military brat whose brother has been WIA and is in a coma. She walks the Camino de Santiago as a tribute to him. She has to go on this trip with her brother's best friend who she hates, which is love story waiting happen. This book is about family, friendship, love, and self-discovery. It was simply written and realistic. It's the type of story where going in you think you know what's gonna happen but it exceeds your expectations. The people she meets on the pilgrimage were such great characters. I loved it so much that I finished it in one sitting.
This book is about a military brat whose brother has been WIA and is in a coma. She walks the Camino de Santiago as a tribute to him. She has to go on this trip with her brother's best friend who she hates, which is love story waiting happen. This book is about family, friendship, love, and self-discovery. It was simply written and realistic. It's the type of story where going in you think you know what's gonna happen but it exceeds your expectations. The people she meets on the pilgrimage were such great characters. I loved it so much that I finished it in one sitting.
lifeofaliterarynerd's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I was heart-warming and comforting. I loved Gabi and how she found herself through a pilgrimage for her brother. (The family relationships in the story are so strong and developed, despite spending much of the time focused on Gabi). I also loved how Gabi and Seth's relationship developed realistically over the course of the story.
stephaniesarah's review against another edition
3.0
My feelings on this book would best be described by the word “lukewarm.” If you want an easy, relatively simple read, this may be a good choice. It has a lot to say about war, but I found it rather slow paced and much more philosophical than it was full of action. It’s an intriguing read, and I was entertained all the way through. I do think the summary implies a lot more romance than you get with this book, however. Again, this book focuses heavily on ideals and making sense of the world and why it is that people don’t necessarily get what they deserve, and I think if this book was longer and more developed the romance would have felt a bit more natural and fully formed. This book could have done with much more development in plot and in character. It would have made the philosophical nature of it more meaningful.
That being said, my major complaint is that there was so much going on in this book with ideas and ideals that by the end, I wasn’t sure what it was that the main character believed. It’s obvious she learns stuff over the course of the book, but there was so much it seemed more like jumble of ideals and religious values and philosophical ideas than anything cohesive, and I wasn’t sure if there was supposed to be an overarching thought I was supposed to come out with. This book packed in too much for its page count, and yet still ended up being on the slower side. I wish it had gone deeper with a few ideas rather than try to hit so many. My eyes glazed over a few of them, and it’s the reason the book turned out rather slow for me.
Character
Again, I think the characters in this book could have used more development, especially the main character, Gabi. Kind of like the philosophy, she bounced all around, and so many aspects of her plotline could have gone so much deeper, particularly her past. I know it’s the point of the book that she is discovering herself and life, but…I wanted more depth to her. Her emotions were a bit turbulent and extreme at times and I didn’t always the logic she was applying to her actions was plausible (i.e. the boyfriend drama). She was strong and tough, though, and wasn’t dislikable.
Her romance with Seth was sweet, and I liked Seth a lot. I found him to be the most consisted character in this book, but I would have liked more backstory with him. Backstory on his friendship with Lucas, his relationship with Gabi, with his parents and with war. I felt like this book really touched the surface with him, and I would have loved to go deeper (much like with everything in this book, to be fair).
Mostly, though, I was screaming for depth with the side characters we met along the way. They were extremely stereotypical. Like, they may win an award for some of the most stereotypical characters I’ve ever read. I could tell exactly what they were supposed to represent and the ways they were supposed to add depth and meaning to Gabi and Seth’s journey, but….they were just ridiculous.
Writing
The writing was okay. Again, it was rather simple and didn’t really touch me too deeply; the whole story could probably have used another draft for the sake of development.
Was I satisfied?
Eh. It was an okay read, but I would have liked something deeper and more developed. Pretty cover, though.
That being said, my major complaint is that there was so much going on in this book with ideas and ideals that by the end, I wasn’t sure what it was that the main character believed. It’s obvious she learns stuff over the course of the book, but there was so much it seemed more like jumble of ideals and religious values and philosophical ideas than anything cohesive, and I wasn’t sure if there was supposed to be an overarching thought I was supposed to come out with. This book packed in too much for its page count, and yet still ended up being on the slower side. I wish it had gone deeper with a few ideas rather than try to hit so many. My eyes glazed over a few of them, and it’s the reason the book turned out rather slow for me.
Character
Again, I think the characters in this book could have used more development, especially the main character, Gabi. Kind of like the philosophy, she bounced all around, and so many aspects of her plotline could have gone so much deeper, particularly her past. I know it’s the point of the book that she is discovering herself and life, but…I wanted more depth to her. Her emotions were a bit turbulent and extreme at times and I didn’t always the logic she was applying to her actions was plausible (i.e. the boyfriend drama). She was strong and tough, though, and wasn’t dislikable.
Her romance with Seth was sweet, and I liked Seth a lot. I found him to be the most consisted character in this book, but I would have liked more backstory with him. Backstory on his friendship with Lucas, his relationship with Gabi, with his parents and with war. I felt like this book really touched the surface with him, and I would have loved to go deeper (much like with everything in this book, to be fair).
Mostly, though, I was screaming for depth with the side characters we met along the way. They were extremely stereotypical. Like, they may win an award for some of the most stereotypical characters I’ve ever read. I could tell exactly what they were supposed to represent and the ways they were supposed to add depth and meaning to Gabi and Seth’s journey, but….they were just ridiculous.
Writing
The writing was okay. Again, it was rather simple and didn’t really touch me too deeply; the whole story could probably have used another draft for the sake of development.
Was I satisfied?
Eh. It was an okay read, but I would have liked something deeper and more developed. Pretty cover, though.
tarheeltiff's review against another edition
2.0
This book just tried too hard. The prose attempted to be lyrical but it felt forced and every other sentence had a weird metaphor. I dint connect with any of the characters and none of them spoke or acted like teenagers so it all just rang really false.
thebookgirl's review
5.0
This is one of my favorite YA novels I have ever read. I know I say that I loath young adult novels, this book might have just made me change my mind. The writing this book is spectacular. I am unsure words can express my feelings about this wonderful novel.
This is a novel that is centered around being a military brat. I love this concept because I like near bases and have friends that were military brats. This books starts out with the pain of having a loved one in a coma. The main characters brother is fighting for his life and may not make it. With her family completely falling apart one girl is on a mission to save her family. She is just about to break out into the unknown adult world and is fighting against her father.
The book is a great example of the joinery in life. Aren’t we all on one amazing journey to find our selves? The book is thought provoking on a number of levels. This book will make you question exactly who you are, and what that means.
The pilgrimage of el camino de Santiago is a concept that I knew a little about, although the author really capture the meaning behind this spiritual journey.
I will recommend this book to all readers, even those that hate ya. Pick it up and prepare to go on a similar journey with the characters.
Disclaimer, I received this book from the publisher (Merit Press) in exchange for my honest and 100% unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
This is a novel that is centered around being a military brat. I love this concept because I like near bases and have friends that were military brats. This books starts out with the pain of having a loved one in a coma. The main characters brother is fighting for his life and may not make it. With her family completely falling apart one girl is on a mission to save her family. She is just about to break out into the unknown adult world and is fighting against her father.
The book is a great example of the joinery in life. Aren’t we all on one amazing journey to find our selves? The book is thought provoking on a number of levels. This book will make you question exactly who you are, and what that means.
The pilgrimage of el camino de Santiago is a concept that I knew a little about, although the author really capture the meaning behind this spiritual journey.
I will recommend this book to all readers, even those that hate ya. Pick it up and prepare to go on a similar journey with the characters.
Disclaimer, I received this book from the publisher (Merit Press) in exchange for my honest and 100% unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
daylafm's review
5.0
This book was incredible from start to finish. Potential review in a few days! (Or later today, perhaps.)
Happy reading!
Happy reading!