A review by coacklebee
Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oh wow, I did not expect this book to make me so emotional. I'm giving it a five star rating because of how much Avery resonated with me and the emotional impact it had on me. As a casual gymnastics fan who tends to only tune in for the Olympics, but as someone who has spent years training as an opera singer--another profession that has suffered huge casualties due to COVID-19--so much of the message about dreams and failure and goals and self-care resonated so much with me. I really appreciate that books are around nowadays that tackle issues about mental health, and this particular one felt real to me.

Were there problems with the story? Of course, no book is perfect. There were moments where issues dragged on too long, or were resolved far more neatly and easily than I could imagine they would in real life, but there were also moments when I was genuinely touched and got a little teary-eyed. And what I was left with in the end was a genuinely hopeful and happy feeling, and that, ultimately, outweighs my other criticisms of writing and plot.
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