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ciolaceum 's review for:
Half a Soul
by Olivia Atwater
inspiring
lighthearted
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
I stayed up way too late reading it and honestly, no regrets, it was just that good. The story hit this perfect balance between being comforting and interesting, and the emotional beats really landed for me.
What I really loved was the relationship between Dora and Elias. They weren’t opposites. They were on the same wavelength and from the beginning, they kind of just got each other. Their back-and-forth felt natural but not in a competitive way, it was sharp and funny. And whenever one of them was struggling, the other didn’t make it worse or try to control it. They were just there. No big drama. Just showing up for each other.
Elias especially stood out to me because of how he talked to Dora when she started doubting herself. He didn’t try to sugarcoat things but he also didn’t let her spiral. He knew exactly what to say, every time and not in a cliché way. He gave her honesty, not pity and that made their connection feel way more grounded. You could tell he actually respected her and didn’t see her as someone who needed to be fixed. That was probably my favorite thing about their dynamic, it was built on real understanding.
The whole idea of Dora being “half a soul” could have easily turned into this overdone magical metaphor, but it was handled in such a relatable way. It said a lot without trying too hard. The story made space for that feeling of being different or not enough and then gently shut that idea down through actual character growth not just romance.
The ending gave me everything I wanted. Nothing felt rushed or overdone, it just made sense. Dora didn’t have to become someone new to earn happiness and the life she ends up choosing felt completely right for her. It felt like the story respected the characters all the way through.