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thatssostelle 's review for:
The Memory Book
by Lara Avery
Ah! I really love Lara Avery and hope everyone checks out her books.
The marketing copy compares this book to All the Bright Places, and I just want to point out how different the tones of both of these books are. THE MEMORY BOOK, even though the character is diagnosed with a rare, debilitating disease, feels hopeful and light and really celebrates so many wonderful moments. Even with an inevitably sad endgame, there were almost times I forgot how sick Sammie was. And I think that's because Sammie was trying to pretend she was sick, and working so hard to fight against her diagnosis. There are some really fantastic characters in this book but I truly loved how real her conversations were with her parents, and also Coop. This book is full of sweet surprises and also uses a formatting (journal-like) that really lends itself to depicting how Sammie's diagnosis changes her.
I loved that this book was one I could sink my teeth into. I didn't speed read it; I felt like I got to spend a lot of time with these characters and experience so much alongside Sammie as she falls in love learns about friendship, and starts to piece together what her future will look at. (Also this main character had glasses, went to church, and truly loved hanging out with her younger siblings. The author captured so much of her backstory, so much of her "weirdness", and I loved that too.)
Keywords: senior year, summer after senior year, genetic disorders, crushes, overachieving main character/debate club, feminist (Elizabeth Warren & Beyonce references!), old friends
The marketing copy compares this book to All the Bright Places, and I just want to point out how different the tones of both of these books are. THE MEMORY BOOK, even though the character is diagnosed with a rare, debilitating disease, feels hopeful and light and really celebrates so many wonderful moments. Even with an inevitably sad endgame, there were almost times I forgot how sick Sammie was. And I think that's because Sammie was trying to pretend she was sick, and working so hard to fight against her diagnosis. There are some really fantastic characters in this book but I truly loved how real her conversations were with her parents, and also Coop. This book is full of sweet surprises and also uses a formatting (journal-like) that really lends itself to depicting how Sammie's diagnosis changes her.
I loved that this book was one I could sink my teeth into. I didn't speed read it; I felt like I got to spend a lot of time with these characters and experience so much alongside Sammie as she falls in love learns about friendship, and starts to piece together what her future will look at. (Also this main character had glasses, went to church, and truly loved hanging out with her younger siblings. The author captured so much of her backstory, so much of her "weirdness", and I loved that too.)
Keywords: senior year, summer after senior year, genetic disorders, crushes, overachieving main character/debate club, feminist (Elizabeth Warren & Beyonce references!), old friends