pancakethefinch 's review for:

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
4.0
emotional reflective sad 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: Complicated
If you are gearing up for a reading challenge this year, you can't go wrong with adding this book to your TBR pile, or even starting your challenge with it, like I did. You'll get a bonus reading list from it!
A true love letter to the power of books and to how fictional stories make us who we are, the story will have you chuckle, cry, and think....
I did have some minor issues with it mostly around
Aidan's suicide and how the family was completely abandoned, with young adults and a minor expected to deal with their mother's disabling and complex mental health needs, but I realised as I was reading that my feeling was the anger at how often this happens in real life too
, and a couple of plot points that went nowhere. The book probably didn't need as many characters as it introduced, as many didn't contribute to the story in any meaningful way. It almost felt like the author had ideas for them that were either edited out or scrapped.

A lot of reviews mentioned that
Aidan's extremely tragic death
happens without warning, but there were very clear signs through the whole story and I like to think that was the writer's intention.
Check on those you care for, even if they are 'doing fine'.

Nevertheless, a great read and a compelling debut novel. I hope to see more from the author soon!
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