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A review by heartstoppers
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars
read on audiobook
tw // mentions of suicide and child abduction/trafficking
"There are so many ways this could have gone, so many ways this could still go."
ahhhhhhhh this was so good and my first 5 star book of 2021!! Someone compared it to Aristotle and Dante which is very accurate thematically, but the way the book works feels different from aridante.
danny and harry were my favorite part of the book, and the gay representation was really subtle and honest. the family dynamics were also interesting, but not my favorites (i'm not super invested in family mystery plots). anything with the friend group in this book was comforting to me, they were very unique for a ya friendship. they weren't forced to be close friends because that's what the genre includes, but it felt natural and there were still rifts between people like regina and danny. also going into senior year, i related to a lot of the school stuff and feeling nostalgic toward childhood friends and the people you've had classes with for 4+ years.
the inclusion of suicide wasn't something i was prepared for, but it was done well. they never evilized sandra, but they also never romanticized her actions and made it seem like a sacrifice. the way it affects all of them, especially danny, felt really authentic, and her plot coming in and out was a highlight of the book for me. it also helped flesh harry out more as a character.
the main drawback to the book is the prose, sometimes it felt excessive, especially with the narrator on the audiobook, but it's still enjoyable!!
read on audiobook
tw // mentions of suicide and child abduction/trafficking
"There are so many ways this could have gone, so many ways this could still go."
ahhhhhhhh this was so good and my first 5 star book of 2021!! Someone compared it to Aristotle and Dante which is very accurate thematically, but the way the book works feels different from aridante.
danny and harry were my favorite part of the book, and the gay representation was really subtle and honest. the family dynamics were also interesting, but not my favorites (i'm not super invested in family mystery plots). anything with the friend group in this book was comforting to me, they were very unique for a ya friendship. they weren't forced to be close friends because that's what the genre includes, but it felt natural and there were still rifts between people like regina and danny. also going into senior year, i related to a lot of the school stuff and feeling nostalgic toward childhood friends and the people you've had classes with for 4+ years.
the inclusion of suicide wasn't something i was prepared for, but it was done well. they never evilized sandra, but they also never romanticized her actions and made it seem like a sacrifice. the way it affects all of them, especially danny, felt really authentic, and her plot coming in and out was a highlight of the book for me. it also helped flesh harry out more as a character.
the main drawback to the book is the prose, sometimes it felt excessive, especially with the narrator on the audiobook, but it's still enjoyable!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Kidnapping, and Trafficking