The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2018

I both love and hate that I reread this gorgeous, funny story that fist punches people right in the soft places. The previous review still stands.

Book 5 read in 2018

Pages: 313


PREVIOUS REVIEW:

Eff.

This novel destroyed me from the inside out. I avoided it, because I thought it was going to be another Cancer Kid book that makes me cry. It is (a Cancer Kid book) and it did (make me cry), but it went way beyond that. I think it set a new standard that other authors in this genre will struggle to live up to.

I let this story into my life, all the gorgeous notions and metaphors and ideas and words. I almost wanted to be the characters, full of wit, humor, life, and individuality, despite how difficult, messy, and painful their lives actually were.

And then the grenade exploded. The shrapnel pierced me, and I stood by and let it happen. Because some stories are worth bleeding over, worth crying for, and worth screaming at the universe for.

The ache it leaves is a tragic side effect...of Epic Stories, not Dying. Well, both actually.

Read with caution: I think it left a new scar on my well-traveled reader's heart.

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that is beautiful in a painful sort of way. I would definitely reread this, as it approaches grief in a way that feels so honest, and some of the perspectives are refreshingly different from other YA Contemporary stories centered around grief and loss.

The writing is excellent, and I adore the characters. There was even something that took me by surprise, because I was so buried in the story that I didn't even bother making predictions or assumptions while I read. I was just completely along for the ride on this, and I think that was the right way to experience it. Because, after all, grief itself is rather unpredictable.

Pages: 320

Falling into Place by Amy Zhang

Falling into Place by Amy Zhang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This YA contemporary novel about a mean girl who intentionally drives her car into a tree and hovers on the edge between life and death is probably more of a 2.5 for me, though I rounded up to 3, because the writing style was very interesting. The problem for me was that the style was fascinating but also strangely distancing. I felt like the story held me at arm's length, and so I returned the favor.

Also, the MC is not at all likable and isn't especially redeemable, nor does she show any major growth in the story. I often enjoy unlikable main characters, but that can't be their only unique quality. There has to be something more to them or the story if it's going to hold my attention. This just wasn't for me. While I really liked some of the things about the writing style, I think both If I Stay and Before I Fall were both more fascinating, emotional, and showed greater depth than this.

Pages: 320

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Summary: "After she dies in a car crash, teenager Samantha relives the day of her death over and over again until, on the seventh day, she finally discovers a way to save herself."

Before I Fall is the first book of Lauren Oliver's that I've read, and I loved it! Even though it was quite depressing at times, it was beautifully written. Sam's character grows so much throughout the book, and the ending is so bittersweet for her and for the reader. Her struggles make you want to hug your loved ones extra tight, and live each day as best you can, because you never know when it may be your last. 

Sam's death is violent, but still peaceful, and gives hope that there's a chance at redemption for all of us. 

470 pages