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A review by romanaromana
Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index by Julie Israel
5.0
5 stars.
(Here are some trigger warnings. To add: death of a sister; brief suicidal thoughts. Nothing in this review except mentions of losing a sister and associated grief).
Happiness.
It has been 65 days since Juniper lost her sister. She knows because for every day that has passed, she has an index card weighing up the days positives against its negatives. Except, with Camilla gone, the negatives almost always dominate. But when Juniper finds a heartfelt letter Camilla addressed to an anonymous 'You' the day of her death, she realises there could be someone else out there missing her sister as much as her. As she embarks on a quest to deliver Camilla's letter to its rightful addressee, Juniper hopes to begin filling the holes her sister has left behind. That is until she loses one of her precious index cards - one which reveals her own secret from that tragic day. If she doesn't find You and the misplaced card soon, the holes will keep expanding until eventually, there is nothing of her left.
That blurb was super difficult to write because Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index has tons going on. I was giddy with all the intricate secrets and problems which bubbled throughout this novel despite its relatively short length. When Juniper found the letter to You I thought that would carry us through the entire story. And whilst it was indeed a key thread which stretches across the narrative, there was so much more to this novel.
I am hugely impressed by Julie Israel's attention to detail in this book. Juniper Lemon's strength truly lies in its nuanced depiction of grief and its commitment to its unique and carefully chosen themes. As said, we have our main mystery - the identity of You - and a second dilemma - the missing index card - but what gives these problems so much weight is their connection to Juniper's grief. Details like Juniper's preoccupation with negative spaces, her artwork, the conflict between remembrance and forgetting, the idea of 'fixing' things and filling gaps...these all combined to fill the story with heart and purpose and add dimension to Juniper's feelings of loss. This was far from the standard lost-loved-one tale I was expecting. I could count on one hand the number of times Juniper's emotions were reduced to sadness and missing her sister, and that made me very pleased. Julie Israel does something different.
What's more, the big mystery/mysteries were genuinely intriguing. The identity of You was never obvious, but Israel gave enough clues and possibilities that the investigation always felt relevant and just on the cusp of being solved. The missing index card gripped me slightly less, but Israel clearly realises that its loss doesn't compare to the ongoing anonymity of You, and fades this particular issue to allow for other things.
A word on character, because I adored everyone in this book. Juniper was a perfect narrator, and a refreshing depiction of a teenager going through a difficult time. I don't particularly need another sad sixteen-year-old doing lots of crying and shouting at their parents, and Israel totally respected my wishes and gave me something entirely different. She gave me witty, honest, a-little-bit-desperate, still-hurting-but-ready-for-progress, wonderful Juniper. Her character felt clear and unbreakable. I just loved being in her head.
Similarly, the supporting cast were such a joy. As Juniper's little gang of acquaintances began to build, I became worried that we would end up with one of those flat groups where every member takes one personality trait and doesn't project anything except said designated trait. But once again, Julie Israel proved me wrong. The secondary characters were as real to me as Juniper, and felt purposeful without being plot devices. What a dream, honestly.
I'll dedicate just a second to the love interest, who I won't name because I don't think it's obvious for at least a little while and I quite enjoyed being taken by surprise (again). He was fab. The relationship built at such a great pace and felt honest and important. I was and remain invested to the last penny.
Finally, I have to say that the climax of Juniper Lemon was absolute SPICE. Wow. I mean hand-over-mouth amazement because everything unravelled so fast and so gloriously, and Julie Israel just wouldn't let up. The shots kept on coming and I was loving it. It is one of those first reading experiences I will pine for, I'm sure.
Minor minor moments of excessive cringe, but I guess that can't be helped when you put death and art in the same book. Israel usually saved it with a witty line though, so I was it's fine.
So much to love. Julie Israel, please write another one.
/////////////////////RE-READ MARCH 2024///////////////////////
Still 5 stars. Still so much love. Still so impressed. Still begging Julie Israel to release something else please please please.
I'm so glad this held up on a second read because it's one of those books I sometimes feared that I only liked because I was in a specific space when I first read it. But nope! Glorious even on the second read!
I remain so in awe of the layers in this novel and the amount of themes, sub-plots and characters Julie Israel weaves so effortlessly into one cohesive narrative, and with the perspective of just one exceptional character.
Also, I would genuinely be down for Julie Israel to write a mystery because she had me more invested in the identity of YOU than in half the murders I have read in fiction, honestly.
Yepyepyep. Glad I chose this one.
(Here are some trigger warnings. To add: death of a sister; brief suicidal thoughts. Nothing in this review except mentions of losing a sister and associated grief).
Happiness.
It has been 65 days since Juniper lost her sister. She knows because for every day that has passed, she has an index card weighing up the days positives against its negatives. Except, with Camilla gone, the negatives almost always dominate. But when Juniper finds a heartfelt letter Camilla addressed to an anonymous 'You' the day of her death, she realises there could be someone else out there missing her sister as much as her. As she embarks on a quest to deliver Camilla's letter to its rightful addressee, Juniper hopes to begin filling the holes her sister has left behind. That is until she loses one of her precious index cards - one which reveals her own secret from that tragic day. If she doesn't find You and the misplaced card soon, the holes will keep expanding until eventually, there is nothing of her left.
That blurb was super difficult to write because Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index has tons going on. I was giddy with all the intricate secrets and problems which bubbled throughout this novel despite its relatively short length. When Juniper found the letter to You I thought that would carry us through the entire story. And whilst it was indeed a key thread which stretches across the narrative, there was so much more to this novel.
I am hugely impressed by Julie Israel's attention to detail in this book. Juniper Lemon's strength truly lies in its nuanced depiction of grief and its commitment to its unique and carefully chosen themes. As said, we have our main mystery - the identity of You - and a second dilemma - the missing index card - but what gives these problems so much weight is their connection to Juniper's grief. Details like Juniper's preoccupation with negative spaces, her artwork, the conflict between remembrance and forgetting, the idea of 'fixing' things and filling gaps...these all combined to fill the story with heart and purpose and add dimension to Juniper's feelings of loss. This was far from the standard lost-loved-one tale I was expecting. I could count on one hand the number of times Juniper's emotions were reduced to sadness and missing her sister, and that made me very pleased. Julie Israel does something different.
What's more, the big mystery/mysteries were genuinely intriguing. The identity of You was never obvious, but Israel gave enough clues and possibilities that the investigation always felt relevant and just on the cusp of being solved. The missing index card gripped me slightly less, but Israel clearly realises that its loss doesn't compare to the ongoing anonymity of You, and fades this particular issue to allow for other things.
A word on character, because I adored everyone in this book. Juniper was a perfect narrator, and a refreshing depiction of a teenager going through a difficult time. I don't particularly need another sad sixteen-year-old doing lots of crying and shouting at their parents, and Israel totally respected my wishes and gave me something entirely different. She gave me witty, honest, a-little-bit-desperate, still-hurting-but-ready-for-progress, wonderful Juniper. Her character felt clear and unbreakable. I just loved being in her head.
Similarly, the supporting cast were such a joy. As Juniper's little gang of acquaintances began to build, I became worried that we would end up with one of those flat groups where every member takes one personality trait and doesn't project anything except said designated trait. But once again, Julie Israel proved me wrong. The secondary characters were as real to me as Juniper, and felt purposeful without being plot devices. What a dream, honestly.
I'll dedicate just a second to the love interest, who I won't name because I don't think it's obvious for at least a little while and I quite enjoyed being taken by surprise (again). He was fab. The relationship built at such a great pace and felt honest and important. I was and remain invested to the last penny.
Finally, I have to say that the climax of Juniper Lemon was absolute SPICE. Wow. I mean hand-over-mouth amazement because everything unravelled so fast and so gloriously, and Julie Israel just wouldn't let up. The shots kept on coming and I was loving it. It is one of those first reading experiences I will pine for, I'm sure.
Minor minor moments of excessive cringe, but I guess that can't be helped when you put death and art in the same book. Israel usually saved it with a witty line though, so I was it's fine.
So much to love. Julie Israel, please write another one.
/////////////////////RE-READ MARCH 2024///////////////////////
Still 5 stars. Still so much love. Still so impressed. Still begging Julie Israel to release something else please please please.
I'm so glad this held up on a second read because it's one of those books I sometimes feared that I only liked because I was in a specific space when I first read it. But nope! Glorious even on the second read!
I remain so in awe of the layers in this novel and the amount of themes, sub-plots and characters Julie Israel weaves so effortlessly into one cohesive narrative, and with the perspective of just one exceptional character.
Also, I would genuinely be down for Julie Israel to write a mystery because she had me more invested in the identity of YOU than in half the murders I have read in fiction, honestly.
Yepyepyep. Glad I chose this one.