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guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Grade: C+
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
An Overview: This boom of YA anthologies has been so much fun, because there's such a variety of themes. However, I'm finding that most of the stories are too short and/or feel too incomplete. As a writer, I know short stories can be short and feel complete, so it's not necessarily the nature of the short story length. Because Welcome Home featured so many stories, I'm going to highlight a few standouts (both on the high and low ends of the rating spectrum as well as some in the middle).
"These Broken Stars" by C.J. Redwine - 5 stars
I liked how the author went a fantasy route (most of the stories were contemporary), and I liked how the adoptive family wasn't what Bellana expected. The ending was open while still feeling conclusive, and I could imagine a happily ever after.
"Twenty-Seven Days" by Jenny Kaczorowski - 4.5 stars
I loved Aprillia's inner narration, and I liked the focus on friendship as well as a kind foster family.
"Life: Starring Tallulah Grey" by Lauren Gibaldi - 4.5 stars
I really liked this one. (Obviously.) Tallulah's personality came through well, and I liked what I saw of Oliver.
"Up by A Million" by Caela Carter - 5 stars
Sweet without being sappy. The card game was a good plot device to move the story along, and I thought the dialogue was done well.
"Ink Drips Black" by Julie Leung - 4 stars
Surprisingly short, but good. I liked the blending of fantasy with reality.
"Invited" by Lauren Morrill - 4 stars
It was really cute and sweet, and I'm glad it went a different direction than I thought it was at the beginning.
"A Lesson in Biology" by Sammy Nickalls - 3.5 stars
I liked this one all right. I appreciated that a grandmother was important to the narrative and how non-angsty the story was.
"Happy Beginning" by Nic Stone - 3 stars
I didn't mind the non-linear telling of the story, but the use of "I" and "you" threw me. I liked Jenna's dad and Ny's foster parents.
"Jar of Broken Wishes" by Tristina Wright - 4 stars
I loved this story, but I wish it wasn't quite so brief. I liked that the foster home felt more like than the families that adopted Daisy. I liked the jar of wishes and Farah's potential to become a friend. I definitely wanted more of Farah.
"Mama's Eyes" by Libby Cudmore - 1 star
Way too dramatic, and not the kind of story I was expecting from this anthology. I felt anxious the entire time I was reading it. There was waaaayyy too much foul language as well.
"Salvation" by Shannon Gibney - 2 stars
I didn't like the way the Christian character was portrayed. In addition, the narrative felt too choppy, and I was confused about who some of the characters were when they were brought into the story.
"Empty Lens" by Tameka Mullins - 2 stars
I didn't like the style of the story. It felt too removed, and I didn't like the way the main character phrased things in her writing. I think this could've been a great story if it was told more traditionally.
"Deeply" by William Ritter - 2 stars
The voice felt awfully young at times, and it took a weird turn.
The Verdict: Good, but not overly wowing. I think the anthology might be dragged down by just how many stories there are and how some of them weren't given enough room to blossom.
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
An Overview: This boom of YA anthologies has been so much fun, because there's such a variety of themes. However, I'm finding that most of the stories are too short and/or feel too incomplete. As a writer, I know short stories can be short and feel complete, so it's not necessarily the nature of the short story length. Because Welcome Home featured so many stories, I'm going to highlight a few standouts (both on the high and low ends of the rating spectrum as well as some in the middle).
"These Broken Stars" by C.J. Redwine - 5 stars
I liked how the author went a fantasy route (most of the stories were contemporary), and I liked how the adoptive family wasn't what Bellana expected. The ending was open while still feeling conclusive, and I could imagine a happily ever after.
"Twenty-Seven Days" by Jenny Kaczorowski - 4.5 stars
I loved Aprillia's inner narration, and I liked the focus on friendship as well as a kind foster family.
"Life: Starring Tallulah Grey" by Lauren Gibaldi - 4.5 stars
I really liked this one. (Obviously.) Tallulah's personality came through well, and I liked what I saw of Oliver.
"Up by A Million" by Caela Carter - 5 stars
Sweet without being sappy. The card game was a good plot device to move the story along, and I thought the dialogue was done well.
"Ink Drips Black" by Julie Leung - 4 stars
Surprisingly short, but good. I liked the blending of fantasy with reality.
"Invited" by Lauren Morrill - 4 stars
It was really cute and sweet, and I'm glad it went a different direction than I thought it was at the beginning.
"A Lesson in Biology" by Sammy Nickalls - 3.5 stars
I liked this one all right. I appreciated that a grandmother was important to the narrative and how non-angsty the story was.
"Happy Beginning" by Nic Stone - 3 stars
I didn't mind the non-linear telling of the story, but the use of "I" and "you" threw me. I liked Jenna's dad and Ny's foster parents.
"Jar of Broken Wishes" by Tristina Wright - 4 stars
I loved this story, but I wish it wasn't quite so brief. I liked that the foster home felt more like than the families that adopted Daisy. I liked the jar of wishes and Farah's potential to become a friend. I definitely wanted more of Farah.
"Mama's Eyes" by Libby Cudmore - 1 star
Way too dramatic, and not the kind of story I was expecting from this anthology. I felt anxious the entire time I was reading it. There was waaaayyy too much foul language as well.
"Salvation" by Shannon Gibney - 2 stars
I didn't like the way the Christian character was portrayed. In addition, the narrative felt too choppy, and I was confused about who some of the characters were when they were brought into the story.
"Empty Lens" by Tameka Mullins - 2 stars
I didn't like the style of the story. It felt too removed, and I didn't like the way the main character phrased things in her writing. I think this could've been a great story if it was told more traditionally.
"Deeply" by William Ritter - 2 stars
The voice felt awfully young at times, and it took a weird turn.
The Verdict: Good, but not overly wowing. I think the anthology might be dragged down by just how many stories there are and how some of them weren't given enough room to blossom.
jmjames1210's review against another edition
4.0
This was wonderful. Eric Smith has brought together talented writers with the skills to explore the wide range of circumstances and emotions surrounding adoption, resulting in something truly special. I was engaged from start to finish. A must read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
krystimuggle's review
4.0
This is really special anthology. All of the contributors's lives have been touched by adoption in some way, and I feel that their experiences certainly came through in the stories they've created, and Eric Smith has done a tremendous job putting them all together. I'm a huge fan of anthologies, and this is one that I have really been looking forward to for a while now.
There is just about every kind of story you could imagine about adoption in this collection from the beautiful and heartwarming to the terrifying. I was expecting a really contemporary heavy anthology but was pleasantly surprised to find so many different genres represented from speculative to scifi, fantasy to thriller. This one really does have a little bit of everything.
With 30 stories, most of them are pretty short. There were a few that I would have liked to have seen be just a bit longer, because the endings felt a little abrupt, but for the most part the story lengths did feel appropriate.
There are around 30 different stories in this collection, and while I preferred some over others, overall, there are some really incredible stories with some really strong writing. My favorite stories were probably the ones by Adi Alsaid, Julie Eshbaugh, William Ritter, Mindy McGinnis, Stephanie Scott, and Kate Watson.
This anthology is a great place to start for fans of YA fiction who are wanting to read some really well-written short stories. I truly believe that it is so important for the literary community to keep short stories alive and relevant, and I think Eric Smith is certainly doing his part with this wonderful anthology.
There is just about every kind of story you could imagine about adoption in this collection from the beautiful and heartwarming to the terrifying. I was expecting a really contemporary heavy anthology but was pleasantly surprised to find so many different genres represented from speculative to scifi, fantasy to thriller. This one really does have a little bit of everything.
With 30 stories, most of them are pretty short. There were a few that I would have liked to have seen be just a bit longer, because the endings felt a little abrupt, but for the most part the story lengths did feel appropriate.
There are around 30 different stories in this collection, and while I preferred some over others, overall, there are some really incredible stories with some really strong writing. My favorite stories were probably the ones by Adi Alsaid, Julie Eshbaugh, William Ritter, Mindy McGinnis, Stephanie Scott, and Kate Watson.
This anthology is a great place to start for fans of YA fiction who are wanting to read some really well-written short stories. I truly believe that it is so important for the literary community to keep short stories alive and relevant, and I think Eric Smith is certainly doing his part with this wonderful anthology.
librarianelizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this free book from the editor. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Welcome Home features stories that blur the magical with the ordinary with the thread of adoption connecting them all. There's mermaids, moments stuck in 1985, and superheroes. The collection features short stories of various lengths, and I do mean short. They pack a punch in few words. There is hope and heartbreak within one story. All in all this was an emotional read for me about the difficult relationships we have with our parents, the struggle we have with 'the search', our mythical origin stories, and the ways we can feel alone.
Welcome Home features stories that blur the magical with the ordinary with the thread of adoption connecting them all. There's mermaids, moments stuck in 1985, and superheroes. The collection features short stories of various lengths, and I do mean short. They pack a punch in few words. There is hope and heartbreak within one story. All in all this was an emotional read for me about the difficult relationships we have with our parents, the struggle we have with 'the search', our mythical origin stories, and the ways we can feel alone.
lostinmylibrary's review against another edition
3.0
This review and others can be found at Lost in My Library. I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Average rating of stories 3.39, rounded down to 3. Like all anthologies, this one was a bit of a mixed bag. There were some stories I loved, some I really didn't care for, and some I didn't have any strong feelings about one way or the other. The one thing that I thought all of them had in common (besides the overall adoption theme of the anthology) was that they were really short. In so many cases, I didn't think they were fully developed, or I found myself wondering if I could have liked them more if they'd been expanded for a few more pages. I think I would have enjoyed reading this more if I had read a story or maybe two at a time in between reading other novels. That way, they're more spaced out and I don't keep as many plotlines in my head at once.
Average rating of stories 3.39, rounded down to 3. Like all anthologies, this one was a bit of a mixed bag. There were some stories I loved, some I really didn't care for, and some I didn't have any strong feelings about one way or the other. The one thing that I thought all of them had in common (besides the overall adoption theme of the anthology) was that they were really short. In so many cases, I didn't think they were fully developed, or I found myself wondering if I could have liked them more if they'd been expanded for a few more pages. I think I would have enjoyed reading this more if I had read a story or maybe two at a time in between reading other novels. That way, they're more spaced out and I don't keep as many plotlines in my head at once.
krystimeyer's review
4.0
This is really special anthology. All of the contributors's lives have been touched by adoption in some way, and I feel that their experiences certainly came through in the stories they've created, and Eric Smith has done a tremendous job putting them all together. I'm a huge fan of anthologies, and this is one that I have really been looking forward to for a while now.
There is just about every kind of story you could imagine about adoption in this collection from the beautiful and heartwarming to the terrifying. I was expecting a really contemporary heavy anthology but was pleasantly surprised to find so many different genres represented from speculative to scifi, fantasy to thriller. This one really does have a little bit of everything.
With 30 stories, most of them are pretty short. There were a few that I would have liked to have seen be just a bit longer, because the endings felt a little abrupt, but for the most part the story lengths did feel appropriate.
There are around 30 different stories in this collection, and while I preferred some over others, overall, there are some really incredible stories with some really strong writing. My favorite stories were probably the ones by Adi Alsaid, Julie Eshbaugh, William Ritter, Mindy McGinnis, Stephanie Scott, and Kate Watson.
This anthology is a great place to start for fans of YA fiction who are wanting to read some really well-written short stories. I truly believe that it is so important for the literary community to keep short stories alive and relevant, and I think Eric Smith is certainly doing his part with this wonderful anthology.
There is just about every kind of story you could imagine about adoption in this collection from the beautiful and heartwarming to the terrifying. I was expecting a really contemporary heavy anthology but was pleasantly surprised to find so many different genres represented from speculative to scifi, fantasy to thriller. This one really does have a little bit of everything.
With 30 stories, most of them are pretty short. There were a few that I would have liked to have seen be just a bit longer, because the endings felt a little abrupt, but for the most part the story lengths did feel appropriate.
There are around 30 different stories in this collection, and while I preferred some over others, overall, there are some really incredible stories with some really strong writing. My favorite stories were probably the ones by Adi Alsaid, Julie Eshbaugh, William Ritter, Mindy McGinnis, Stephanie Scott, and Kate Watson.
This anthology is a great place to start for fans of YA fiction who are wanting to read some really well-written short stories. I truly believe that it is so important for the literary community to keep short stories alive and relevant, and I think Eric Smith is certainly doing his part with this wonderful anthology.
thepinkmoose's review
4.0
When I saw this available, and read the description, I was excited to get it read. It did not disappoint me. Some of the stories are heartfelt, while others are funny, but they all give a small glimpse into the world of adoption, and being adopted.
After reading Nikki Sheehan’s Goodnight, Boy, I needed a story about adoption that would make me feel good. Some of the stories, I thoroughly enjoyed and was disappointed when they ended. While not every story was amazing, they were all really good.
I myself haven’t been affected by adoption, but I can imagine the stress, not only for the parents, but also for the adopted children. I feel that Welcome Home will have a story that will really resonate with them.
After reading Nikki Sheehan’s Goodnight, Boy, I needed a story about adoption that would make me feel good. Some of the stories, I thoroughly enjoyed and was disappointed when they ended. While not every story was amazing, they were all really good.
I myself haven’t been affected by adoption, but I can imagine the stress, not only for the parents, but also for the adopted children. I feel that Welcome Home will have a story that will really resonate with them.
melgonzalez's review
4.0
"Love isn't created with genetics-it's made with time spent together, small moments you will always remember, hard times that make you stronger, and so much joy you can hardly believe it's real. (The Sign by Erica M. Chapman)"
I thought this was a lovely anthology with so many amazing short stories by a lot of authors I've never read anything from before. Obviously, like with a lot of these anthologies, there are stories that I liked more than others and that's why it's not a five stars. But the intricacies and the intersections that were presented throughout this book were so beautifully done and I was so happy I got the opportunity to read this. I adored that there were so many genres interwoven here between contemporary and historical fiction to sci-fi, fantasy and even some with magical realism elements. I thought all the ways of presenting different and diverse families were gorgeous. Race and sexuality were part of these characters identities as well and the stories and personalities were so different and you understand through these stories how many types of families you can find in the world.
I loved that this book showed that there is no one "correct way" to act when you're adopted and how you relate to your adoptive family and your birth/natural family is totally up to you. I feel like sometimes when we get stories about kids who are adopted, we get these super sad stories of them trying to find their birth parents and being super unhappy with their adoptive family. And yes, there were some stories like that in this book too but there were also happy stories, stories of people who were super content with their adoptive families, stories of people who wanted to make them happy and who wanted to be happy. Stories of people who created a bond through things much deeper than blood and genetics and who didn't fit the box that society wanted to put them in. As I said, it crossed so many intersections, there were so many kids struggling with and embracing their sexuality as part of the LGBTQ+ community, who wanted to understand their race in relation to their adoptive parents and in relation to their birth parents and so many more complex stories.
There were times throughout this book when I cried a lot because of how beautiful and intricate those stories were. There were times when I laughed with them and there were times I didn't feel anything with the stories. There were some that were absolute gems and that I want full books from like The Sign by Erica M. Chapman, A Kingdom Bright and Burning by Dave Connis and Jar of Broken Wishes by Tristina Wright. I'm sure there are many more but those are the ones at the top of my head and that left a mark in me. There were so many different narrative styles and characters to follow and it was a super lovely book and I recommend everyone to read it.
misssleepless's review
4.0
I adored most of these stories but I have to say I'm very glad I'm finally done reading this.