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morganboyd's review against another edition
1.0
I really tried to like this, but it just did not resinate well with me. The plot was so slow, and I did not like the farming aspect. Too yee yee for me.
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
It seems like every other book on the YA shelf is about two broken kids finding one another and healing themselves with their undying love (because high school romances are TOTALLY like that). ONLY A BREATH APART is no exception. While its plot is nothing fresh or original, the novel does have sympathetic characters, strong prose, and a story that's compelling, if not unique or really memorable. Our hero and heroine don't talk or act like real teens (I get that they're supposed to be uber-mature because of their difficult life experiences, but still ...) and some of the situations they're dealing with don't seem very plausible. Also, McGarry's storytelling definitely gets heavy and melodramatic at times. All that being said, I kept turning pages because I wanted to know what was going to happen. In the end, I ended up liking ONLY A BREATH APART, but not loving it.
heyjudy's review against another edition
4.0
~3.5 Stars
Jesse and Scarlet were best friends, and they've lived across the street from each other forever, but now they're not. Now that Jesse is dealing with the death of his grandmother and what options he has with the land he's kind of inheriting, and graduation is looming, suddenly Scarlet and him are in each others lives again. Scarlet is attempting to gain some freedom from her controlling father, but there's a lot in her way from doing that. And then there's the weird psychic in town giving them these odd messages and hints.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. Scarlet is dealing with a really bad family situation, and Jesse is dealing with a no-family kind of situation. They know each other, and they know the land, and yet they don't really anymore, it feels like to them.
This book was really just okay. I liked how it wrapped up, and the steps that Scarlet took definitely felt hard and important and realistic. It didn't wrap that situation up in a neat bow, which is realistic to me, however sad it also is. And I also think that Jesse's situation wrapped up in a way that made sense.
It just didn't connect with me as much as I hoped it would. The chemistry wasn't quite there for me. And, honestly, when a magical element is used, I really want more of it. If there's psychic leanings hinted at or talked about, I want them to be real. Not a kind of realistic possibility of a real thing.
Jesse and Scarlet were best friends, and they've lived across the street from each other forever, but now they're not. Now that Jesse is dealing with the death of his grandmother and what options he has with the land he's kind of inheriting, and graduation is looming, suddenly Scarlet and him are in each others lives again. Scarlet is attempting to gain some freedom from her controlling father, but there's a lot in her way from doing that. And then there's the weird psychic in town giving them these odd messages and hints.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. Scarlet is dealing with a really bad family situation, and Jesse is dealing with a no-family kind of situation. They know each other, and they know the land, and yet they don't really anymore, it feels like to them.
This book was really just okay. I liked how it wrapped up, and the steps that Scarlet took definitely felt hard and important and realistic. It didn't wrap that situation up in a neat bow, which is realistic to me, however sad it also is. And I also think that Jesse's situation wrapped up in a way that made sense.
It just didn't connect with me as much as I hoped it would. The chemistry wasn't quite there for me. And, honestly, when a magical element is used, I really want more of it. If there's psychic leanings hinted at or talked about, I want them to be real. Not a kind of realistic possibility of a real thing.
ckausch's review against another edition
4.0
This might be my favorite Katie McGarry book, and that is saying something!
terrabme's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the book. However I felt like there were a lot of interesting story lines in the world early on especially with the side characters that were just dropped by the end. I feel like it could have been more fulfilling.
papalbina's review against another edition
4.0
I don't appreciate so many mentions of God and yadayadayadaya, but I have to acknowledge that Katie McGarry can write stories that keep me invested until the end even when the teen angst is overflowing and overdramatic.
thebooktrollop's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the best books I have read in a loooooong time! Full review to come soon!
rodeorocks13's review against another edition
5.0
I have to start off by saying only a breath apart is heart-wrenching and thought provoking. It reminds you that you never know what goes on behind closed doors and some behaviours should never be tolerated or excused. Only a breath apart is so much more than just a fictional young adult book. It faces the real-life problems people face everyday and aren’t spoken about enough. Yes, there are triggers for some people who have gone through events in this book. But for those who haven’t or those who can handle them I highly recommend reading this story. I also recommend older teens to read it because of the messages it of self worth Scarlett faces through out.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
someonetookit's review against another edition
5.0
While not my normal genre of reading, this novel kept me enthralled from the first violent chapter to its final tender kiss. Full of well fleshed out and diverse characters, this novel was an emotional rollercoaster through its entirity. Main characters Jesse and Scarlett are on journeys of self discovery, colliding with each other in the process. Previosuly childhood friends, they were forced apart by Jesse's poor decisions and Scarlett's overbearing and overprotective parents.
In its raw form, this novel could be seen as about two teenagers mending their friendship and falling in love but its actually not. Its actually a novel about community, what it means to be family and discovering that blood doesn’t always denote loyalty. While Jesse's grnadmother, Suzanne, is frequently mentioned and the farm/Lachlin land seems to have a mind of its own, acting as a character within the story, I loved (yes LOVED) Glory Gardner. She is older than Jesse and Scarlett, living in a cabin on the opposite side of the property to Jesse’s trailer, having been gifted the right to stay by Suzanne when the kids were young. She makes a living as a psychic, reading tarot and palms for the unsuspecting public. Jesse thinks she is full of it while Scarlett is unsure. Yet throughout the novel, she is full of sage advice and guidance, attempting to steer the pair towards happiness regardless of their lack of belief in her craft. She’s cryptic and stubborn but I love her all the more for it.
Now, just as a warning, this book is heavy and emotionally tolling, especially if you have seen or been subjected to domestic violence. Both Jesse and Scarlett have endured abuse, be it physical or psychological, with violence even taking the life of one of their loved ones. However, instead of the violence taking a predominant part in the pairs initial interactions, it is a constant background force, steering their stories in part but not driving them together (mostly). In fact, for the majority of the novel, each is relatively unaware of the others history. Basically, violence is a force in both their lives, but it isn’t what makes them who they are. Kudos to McGarry for including such heavy subject matter in a way that while confronting, does not overtake the entire narrative.
The plot, while including violence but not being based around it, takes place in the 8-9 months between which Suzanne passes and the date of Jesse’s 18th birthday when the fate of the farm will be decided. One would think there would be a lot of school scenes and heading out with friends, all typical locations which are Young Adult Novel 101. Instead these are rarely mentioned with the majority of the action taking place on the farm, in Scarlett’s house or Glory’s cabin. With only three major locales, one would think it would be a fairly monotonous novel however the character of Lachlin land (yes, it’s a character itself. This is the second time I’ve said it!) and vast expanse of different terrain makes it feel like there are so many more settings for Jesse and Scarlett’s tale to occur.
As a whole I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. While I found there were a few chapters where I skimmed over the events, for most of the book I was enthralled. The characters while potentially single dimensional had many facets, making a reader who adores action really take notice of the expert weaving of this tale. It’s a 4.5 of 5 stars from me.
An advanced reading copy was provided by Tor Teen and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are that of the author and have in no way been influenced by the publisher or its affiliates.
In its raw form, this novel could be seen as about two teenagers mending their friendship and falling in love but its actually not. Its actually a novel about community, what it means to be family and discovering that blood doesn’t always denote loyalty. While Jesse's grnadmother, Suzanne, is frequently mentioned and the farm/Lachlin land seems to have a mind of its own, acting as a character within the story, I loved (yes LOVED) Glory Gardner. She is older than Jesse and Scarlett, living in a cabin on the opposite side of the property to Jesse’s trailer, having been gifted the right to stay by Suzanne when the kids were young. She makes a living as a psychic, reading tarot and palms for the unsuspecting public. Jesse thinks she is full of it while Scarlett is unsure. Yet throughout the novel, she is full of sage advice and guidance, attempting to steer the pair towards happiness regardless of their lack of belief in her craft. She’s cryptic and stubborn but I love her all the more for it.
Now, just as a warning, this book is heavy and emotionally tolling, especially if you have seen or been subjected to domestic violence. Both Jesse and Scarlett have endured abuse, be it physical or psychological, with violence even taking the life of one of their loved ones. However, instead of the violence taking a predominant part in the pairs initial interactions, it is a constant background force, steering their stories in part but not driving them together (mostly). In fact, for the majority of the novel, each is relatively unaware of the others history. Basically, violence is a force in both their lives, but it isn’t what makes them who they are. Kudos to McGarry for including such heavy subject matter in a way that while confronting, does not overtake the entire narrative.
The plot, while including violence but not being based around it, takes place in the 8-9 months between which Suzanne passes and the date of Jesse’s 18th birthday when the fate of the farm will be decided. One would think there would be a lot of school scenes and heading out with friends, all typical locations which are Young Adult Novel 101. Instead these are rarely mentioned with the majority of the action taking place on the farm, in Scarlett’s house or Glory’s cabin. With only three major locales, one would think it would be a fairly monotonous novel however the character of Lachlin land (yes, it’s a character itself. This is the second time I’ve said it!) and vast expanse of different terrain makes it feel like there are so many more settings for Jesse and Scarlett’s tale to occur.
As a whole I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. While I found there were a few chapters where I skimmed over the events, for most of the book I was enthralled. The characters while potentially single dimensional had many facets, making a reader who adores action really take notice of the expert weaving of this tale. It’s a 4.5 of 5 stars from me.
An advanced reading copy was provided by Tor Teen and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are that of the author and have in no way been influenced by the publisher or its affiliates.