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stargirlcaraway 's review for:
After Iris
by Natasha Farrant
Oh man, what a great story. I loved it. Just plain loved every second. So I feel like the fact that this book was perfect and real and everything the author probably wanted it to be deserves 5 stars because I can't think of a reason to give it any less.
Okay, so I cried a whole bunch reading this. No one died (during the story) or had terminal cancer or anything, it's just one of those books that has such real feelings. I didn't feel like the story was emotionally manipulative and it was just wonderful to not feel like the sad parts were written specifically to make all readers cry. I'm sure people got through this book without crying at all or some people cried at totally different parts than me, and that's was awesome to know because haven't you read so many books where characters are "broken" and a big deal is made about how they're all different and stuff because something terrible happened? I hate those books. This book wasn't like that. It just drew out my emotions without blabbering on about whatever the mc is so broken up about. Oh god, so great to not be annoyed by paragraphs and paragraphs telling me why I should be sad for the broken main character and mopey inner dialogue!
So our main character is Bluebell, nicknamed Blue. I loved her name and it suited her perfectly and I know that this time next year I could see the cover of this book and I'd remember her and her name which sometimes doesn't happen when I read. So Blue is 12 and it's been 3 years since her twin sister Iris died on Christmas Eve and ever since then Blue has been pretty introverted and lonely. To make matters worse, both her parents travel A LOT for work which mean they're barely home. Blue lives with her older sister Flora who is 16 and moody, brother Twig who is 10, sister Jas who is 8, and their newly hired au Pair Zoran who is in his 20s.
The story focuses on Blue as she meets the new 16 year old neighbor Joss who seems really really awesome. I liked Joss at first, but there were 3 signs that he was probably going to end up being a douchenoodle: 1) Zoran didn't like him and Zoran was awesome! 2) He stole candy from a store like it was the easiest thing in the world and I haaate thieves, and 3) he offered beer to Flora and I realize that the legal drinking age in England is 16, but I don't approve of teenagers drinking alcohol. I liked Joss because he talked to Blue and got her to open up and feel like she mattered in a world where she felt invisible. I liked where his character went and it felt appropriate and just right.
I loved how the parents were portrayed even though I hated the parents themselves most of the time. It was such an interesting thing to read about and I think I actually cried 1 or 2 times while reading about that whole situation.
The siblings: loved Twig and Jas! Flora was very teenager-y but very cool. She had the right to be really mad about their parents never being home I think, but of course she wasn't perfect with her temper and decisions at other times.
Oh man, and how cute was Jake! I had a feeling at the beginning of the book when he was very briefly mentioned that he would end up being part of the story and I was right! Ha, I can smell romantic interests from a mile away.
Just a small note: This book felt strangely similar to The Keys to the Golden Firebird. Immediate relative who has died, sensible girl with a moody older sister and just the whole feel of how the novels were written. I dunno, but I think if you read them both you would note the similarities...I loved both, but I liked Blue a little more than May (?) even though she was young and I generally prefer books about girls my own age.
Okay, so I cried a whole bunch reading this. No one died (during the story) or had terminal cancer or anything, it's just one of those books that has such real feelings. I didn't feel like the story was emotionally manipulative and it was just wonderful to not feel like the sad parts were written specifically to make all readers cry. I'm sure people got through this book without crying at all or some people cried at totally different parts than me, and that's was awesome to know because haven't you read so many books where characters are "broken" and a big deal is made about how they're all different and stuff because something terrible happened? I hate those books. This book wasn't like that. It just drew out my emotions without blabbering on about whatever the mc is so broken up about. Oh god, so great to not be annoyed by paragraphs and paragraphs telling me why I should be sad for the broken main character and mopey inner dialogue!
So our main character is Bluebell, nicknamed Blue. I loved her name and it suited her perfectly and I know that this time next year I could see the cover of this book and I'd remember her and her name which sometimes doesn't happen when I read. So Blue is 12 and it's been 3 years since her twin sister Iris died on Christmas Eve and ever since then Blue has been pretty introverted and lonely. To make matters worse, both her parents travel A LOT for work which mean they're barely home. Blue lives with her older sister Flora who is 16 and moody, brother Twig who is 10, sister Jas who is 8, and their newly hired au Pair Zoran who is in his 20s.
The story focuses on Blue as she meets the new 16 year old neighbor Joss who seems really really awesome. I liked Joss at first, but there were 3 signs that
I loved how the parents were portrayed even though I hated the parents themselves most of the time. It was such an interesting thing to read about and I think I actually cried 1 or 2 times while reading about that whole situation.
The siblings: loved Twig and Jas! Flora was very teenager-y but very cool. She had the right to be really mad about their parents never being home I think, but of course she wasn't perfect with her temper and decisions at other times.
Oh man, and how cute was Jake! I had a feeling at the beginning of the book when he was very briefly mentioned that he would end up being part of the story and I was right! Ha, I can smell romantic interests from a mile away.
Just a small note: This book felt strangely similar to The Keys to the Golden Firebird. Immediate relative who has died, sensible girl with a moody older sister and just the whole feel of how the novels were written. I dunno, but I think if you read them both you would note the similarities...I loved both, but I liked Blue a little more than May (?) even though she was young and I generally prefer books about girls my own age.