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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
This book doesn't think you're stupid and I'M HERE FOR IT!
This book was so good. I can't expressive that absolute chokehold it had on me within like the first ten minutes. I CANNOT recommend it enough. Possibly my favorite book of the year? I do not give 5 stars away easily but this book was so unique and engaging, I would give it 6 stars if I could.
I feel like I need to start off with the fact that I am NOT a historical fiction girly. I usually like my books to be modern or totally fantastical. I had to work myself up to starting this one because I caught a whiff of historical fiction and I was not about it. However, I started it and the world immediately felt so tangible and intriguing that I was hooked. It has enough familiarity to be understood without much exposition with the 1950's aesthetic and familiar technology but the God's inclusion made everything very new and the political drag that I normally would want nothing to do with was so captivating and fantastical. The inclusion of magic was subtle and actually felt very at ease with the other elements of the story. It breathed a whole new life into a very simple yet beautiful love story. I have never fallen so hard in love with a setting in all my life.
*SPOILERS*
This books treats you like you are a fully formed corporeal being and I cannot express the breath of fresh air that that was. The letter getting sent under the door and coming back with "I'm not Forrest." written on it was so intriguing! However, it took me about five minutes to come to the conclusion that it was actually Kit and, I kid you not, THE VERY NEXT PAGE it switched to Kit's perspective of sending the letter. A lesser book would have desperately clung to the mystery of who was sending the letters and it was amazing to be treated with so much respect by the author. She knows we know and she's not going to pretend we're dumb in favor of a plot twist. It was also so nice to get Kit's perspective in the whole thing. He had so much character and I'm really glad we got to know him as well as Iris as they each progressed through their own stories.
There was another moment of this later on, when Kit's proposal is interrupted and Iris goes to get a trolly leaving him alone on the street. I thought it was going to do the classic, rip them apart before they can say their peace. But the author acknowledged that feeling, tying it into Iris' feelings of inadequacy and lets the story move forward without any convolution. MUAH BEAUTIFULLY DONE. Amazing stupendous! Even without the usual plot structure that a lot of these books follow, I was never bored. The characters and the worldbuilding and the emotional conflict didn't need any cheap tricks to keep me hooked.
The writing was really well done as well. I felt the author's voice throughout and I appreciated how well done the dialogue and action scenes were. The FMC was fully fleshed out and the romance somehow felt elevated because of it. At no point was she oblivious of her feelings or blatantly making poor decisions because of them. She felt real, with more problems than boys and strange letters. She wasn't always perfect but she was decisive and consistent throughout the story. UGH I lOVE IT. JUST SO GOOD.
The scene where she's writing her mother's obituary and then again after alone in her apartment. I genuinely felt like crying. It was gut wrenching. I've never lost a parent but I felt her pain and loneliness so intrinsically in my soul. It was so well done and that feeling follows you with her as she leaves her life behind. Iris just feels real so even when she's a bit impulsive or is anxious about saying something wrong you just FEEL it. She's a MC I won't forget anytime soon and I'm excited to reread this book in a month or two.
ALSO THAT ENDING WHAT THE FUCK MAN I"M SOBBINgh
This book was so good. I can't expressive that absolute chokehold it had on me within like the first ten minutes. I CANNOT recommend it enough. Possibly my favorite book of the year? I do not give 5 stars away easily but this book was so unique and engaging, I would give it 6 stars if I could.
I feel like I need to start off with the fact that I am NOT a historical fiction girly. I usually like my books to be modern or totally fantastical. I had to work myself up to starting this one because I caught a whiff of historical fiction and I was not about it. However, I started it and the world immediately felt so tangible and intriguing that I was hooked. It has enough familiarity to be understood without much exposition with the 1950's aesthetic and familiar technology but the God's inclusion made everything very new and the political drag that I normally would want nothing to do with was so captivating and fantastical. The inclusion of magic was subtle and actually felt very at ease with the other elements of the story. It breathed a whole new life into a very simple yet beautiful love story. I have never fallen so hard in love with a setting in all my life.
*SPOILERS*
This books treats you like you are a fully formed corporeal being and I cannot express the breath of fresh air that that was. The letter getting sent under the door and coming back with "I'm not Forrest." written on it was so intriguing! However, it took me about five minutes to come to the conclusion that it was actually Kit and, I kid you not, THE VERY NEXT PAGE it switched to Kit's perspective of sending the letter. A lesser book would have desperately clung to the mystery of who was sending the letters and it was amazing to be treated with so much respect by the author. She knows we know and she's not going to pretend we're dumb in favor of a plot twist. It was also so nice to get Kit's perspective in the whole thing. He had so much character and I'm really glad we got to know him as well as Iris as they each progressed through their own stories.
There was another moment of this later on, when Kit's proposal is interrupted and Iris goes to get a trolly leaving him alone on the street. I thought it was going to do the classic, rip them apart before they can say their peace. But the author acknowledged that feeling, tying it into Iris' feelings of inadequacy and lets the story move forward without any convolution. MUAH BEAUTIFULLY DONE. Amazing stupendous! Even without the usual plot structure that a lot of these books follow, I was never bored. The characters and the worldbuilding and the emotional conflict didn't need any cheap tricks to keep me hooked.
The writing was really well done as well. I felt the author's voice throughout and I appreciated how well done the dialogue and action scenes were. The FMC was fully fleshed out and the romance somehow felt elevated because of it. At no point was she oblivious of her feelings or blatantly making poor decisions because of them. She felt real, with more problems than boys and strange letters. She wasn't always perfect but she was decisive and consistent throughout the story. UGH I lOVE IT. JUST SO GOOD.
The scene where she's writing her mother's obituary and then again after alone in her apartment. I genuinely felt like crying. It was gut wrenching. I've never lost a parent but I felt her pain and loneliness so intrinsically in my soul. It was so well done and that feeling follows you with her as she leaves her life behind. Iris just feels real so even when she's a bit impulsive or is anxious about saying something wrong you just FEEL it. She's a MC I won't forget anytime soon and I'm excited to reread this book in a month or two.
ALSO THAT ENDING WHAT THE FUCK MAN I"M SOBBINgh
Yea, that was good, really good. Think You've got mail mixed with a light fantasy, YA romance. Very good!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So did nobody else notice the Dramione parallels in this story? No? Just me?
And before me saying that turns someone else off of this book, I mean all the best parts of Dramione—bickering rivals who fall for each other once they realize how much they have in common.
I was enjoying this book so, so much for the first 75%. The difference in their letter writing relationship vs. their real life relationship was so juicy. But then, after the big identity reveal, I got the feeling that the author didn’t know how exactly to end the story. The plot wavered, and I found myself losing interest.
The ending was actually pretty good, so I do plan on reading the next one. I’m giving a high rating since I immensely enjoyed the majority of the book.
And before me saying that turns someone else off of this book, I mean all the best parts of Dramione—bickering rivals who fall for each other once they realize how much they have in common.
I was enjoying this book so, so much for the first 75%. The difference in their letter writing relationship vs. their real life relationship was so juicy. But then, after the big identity reveal, I got the feeling that the author didn’t know how exactly to end the story. The plot wavered, and I found myself losing interest.
The ending was actually pretty good, so I do plan on reading the next one. I’m giving a high rating since I immensely enjoyed the majority of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War
Moderate: Child death, Medical content, Grief, Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Holy crap.
Read this as a part of my book club and what a choice it was… had to keep reminding myself to breathe towards the end there.
Such a good book!!
Read this as a part of my book club and what a choice it was… had to keep reminding myself to breathe towards the end there.
Such a good book!!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this was everything i wanted today and i make no apologies for that x
How do you make your life your own and not feel guilt over it?
How do you make your life your own and not feel guilt over it?
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Chill, getting into the autumnal vibes. Very intruiging at the end.
