A review by booksontheknightbus
As Many Nows as I Can Get by Shana Youngdahl

4.0

"But time is never done, is it? The past happens. It's still happening. And because we're human, we relive our memories again and again and again as our only way to fold time backward, to unbend the illusion."

I could not put this book down. 4/5 stars. Synopsis totally misled me and I'm not even mad. I was so surprised with the turnout of this story. Had the synopsis not misled me, I probably would not have picked As Many Nows As I can Get. It was beautifully written and surprised me on many occasions. The plot was not the plot I thought I was reading. I thought that this would be about a breakup and a healing process, but this was so much more than that.

There are many trigger warnings in this book. They include, sexually explicit content, drug abuse,suicide, and a few others that I cannot mention without giving away the plot of the story. I laughed, I cried, I was embarrassed for the main character. I had so many feelings and this is why it was such a great read. It was engaging. The characters were flawed. I wanted to hate them in the beginning with all of their drug use and for not being anything like myself. For not being perfect. I'd even go far as to say one of the characters is quite morally gray. It helped drive the story.

"Life is a discovery,love,and loss. The magic that moves us. The choices we make, sometimes impulsively, that pave our way through the world. "

I don't read many contemporary books so I can't attest to whether or not this is unique but I felt like it was a modern day contemporary with a twist. It usually takes me about a week to finish a book but somehow I managed to read this one in a day and a half. I was grief stricken in places and could not stop thinking about the choices made by the characters. Overall I recommend anyone that enjoys contemporary.