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A review by mckenziestaley23
The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk
4.0
Trigger/Content warnings:
-Substance abuse
-Anxiety attacks
-Depression
-Suicide
-Loss of a loved one
Please, be cautious while reading.
I honestly don't think there is a way around loving this book. I mean, I tried to dislike a character and the damned book forced me to end up loving her, so...
The Beauty That Remains follows three people all dealing with grief. Autumn, who has lost her best friend. Logan, who lost his ex-boyfriend. Shay, who lost her sister. While the story follows these core three we also see the way these deaths affect others in their lives. For Logan, that's Bram's other romantic partners and friends. For Shay, her mother and her friends. For Autumn, the brother of her best friend. Overall we get a large cast of characters with a variety of reactions to tragedy.
There are quite a few things I feel this book did well. So let's talk about those first!
First and foremost, can we just talk about this being Ashley's debut novel? Because I swear it did not feel like that. The writing was so beautifully done. Simple when needed, but poetic just when the scene grips you. I can't believe this is the first book this woman's released! You can count on me picking up anything and everything else she writes.
Now, characters. If I'm being honest, the only person I really cared for at first was Logan, but that didn't last long! Soon enough Shay, Autumn, and every single side character won me over. Everyone felt very real. Almost too real.
One aspect I love about this book is the underground music scene. Its influence on the characters is undeniable. Music has been a pivotal part of my own life, especially while reading this book, I found myself relating to these characters even more.
Family is another aspect I love about this novel. Yes, I believe it could have been just a tiny bit better in Autumn and Logan's storylines. Shay's does makeup where theirs is lacking to some extent. Her relationship with her mother is such a beautiful and realistic story that I found myself tearing up at points.
While Autumn's parents aren't very present throughout the story, we do get a great relationship with her and her older sister. This was also a very well done dynamic. Those two acted so much like my sister and myself that it was quite freaky...
I also enjoyed the representation of mental health professionals. I always like to point it out when I find a story with a helpful therapist. There are so few, and quite honestly, we need more. I have had two therapists in my life and both have worked wonders. It always warms my heart to see them getting some good representation instead of the usual useless people with notepads that are usually portrayed in fiction.
Also, diversity is spewing from this book! There are characters from a variety of different races, sexualities, and backgrounds!
Now, that's not all but I won't keep you here for too long as I rave. There are some small things that kept me from giving the full five stars.
Again, while we got an amazing storyline with Shay and her mother, Logan and Autumn's parents are all but absent throughout most of the novel. I would have loved to hear more about their home lives.
I wasn't very invested in Autumn's chapters as I was in Shay and Logans. As the book drew to an end I found those feelings disappearing. By the time I finished, I loved her chapters just as much as the others'. But, for most of the book, I could not get myself to care too much about her story.
In the end, I feel like I didn't get enough closure on any of the storylines. it all felt like it ended too soon. We got to a point of healing, but I couldn't feel the closure I so desperately wanted to feel.
Overall, The Beauty That Remains is an amazing debut that had me feeling many different emotions. I don't see myself not thinking about this book any time soon.
-Substance abuse
-Anxiety attacks
-Depression
-Suicide
-Loss of a loved one
Please, be cautious while reading.
I honestly don't think there is a way around loving this book. I mean, I tried to dislike a character and the damned book forced me to end up loving her, so...
The Beauty That Remains follows three people all dealing with grief. Autumn, who has lost her best friend. Logan, who lost his ex-boyfriend. Shay, who lost her sister. While the story follows these core three we also see the way these deaths affect others in their lives. For Logan, that's Bram's other romantic partners and friends. For Shay, her mother and her friends. For Autumn, the brother of her best friend. Overall we get a large cast of characters with a variety of reactions to tragedy.
There are quite a few things I feel this book did well. So let's talk about those first!
First and foremost, can we just talk about this being Ashley's debut novel? Because I swear it did not feel like that. The writing was so beautifully done. Simple when needed, but poetic just when the scene grips you. I can't believe this is the first book this woman's released! You can count on me picking up anything and everything else she writes.
Now, characters. If I'm being honest, the only person I really cared for at first was Logan, but that didn't last long! Soon enough Shay, Autumn, and every single side character won me over. Everyone felt very real. Almost too real.
One aspect I love about this book is the underground music scene. Its influence on the characters is undeniable. Music has been a pivotal part of my own life, especially while reading this book, I found myself relating to these characters even more.
Family is another aspect I love about this novel. Yes, I believe it could have been just a tiny bit better in Autumn and Logan's storylines. Shay's does makeup where theirs is lacking to some extent. Her relationship with her mother is such a beautiful and realistic story that I found myself tearing up at points.
While Autumn's parents aren't very present throughout the story, we do get a great relationship with her and her older sister. This was also a very well done dynamic. Those two acted so much like my sister and myself that it was quite freaky...
I also enjoyed the representation of mental health professionals. I always like to point it out when I find a story with a helpful therapist. There are so few, and quite honestly, we need more. I have had two therapists in my life and both have worked wonders. It always warms my heart to see them getting some good representation instead of the usual useless people with notepads that are usually portrayed in fiction.
Also, diversity is spewing from this book! There are characters from a variety of different races, sexualities, and backgrounds!
Now, that's not all but I won't keep you here for too long as I rave. There are some small things that kept me from giving the full five stars.
Again, while we got an amazing storyline with Shay and her mother, Logan and Autumn's parents are all but absent throughout most of the novel. I would have loved to hear more about their home lives.
I wasn't very invested in Autumn's chapters as I was in Shay and Logans. As the book drew to an end I found those feelings disappearing. By the time I finished, I loved her chapters just as much as the others'. But, for most of the book, I could not get myself to care too much about her story.
In the end, I feel like I didn't get enough closure on any of the storylines. it all felt like it ended too soon. We got to a point of healing, but I couldn't feel the closure I so desperately wanted to feel.
Overall, The Beauty That Remains is an amazing debut that had me feeling many different emotions. I don't see myself not thinking about this book any time soon.