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Why I Finally Picked This Up
This book had been sitting on my TBR for years. It’s one of those titles I always meant to get to but never prioritized—until I finally listened to it on audiobook.
I didn’t go in with super strong expectations, but I knew it was YA and centered around something emotional and heavy. I also had a feeling it would be one of those books that hits harder depending on your own life experiences.
What I Expected vs What I Got
Going in, I expected a typical YA contemporary—something emotional, maybe a little dramatic, but still somewhat surface-level.
What I got felt a lot more real than I anticipated.
This is definitely a YA story, and you can feel that in the tone and writing style, but the situation itself is very grounded. It’s the kind of scenario that doesn’t feel exaggerated—it feels like something that actually happens, which made it more impactful.
The Reading Experience
This was a very easy book to stay engaged with.
The story pulls you in quickly, and once things start unfolding, it’s hard not to keep going. Emotionally, it doesn’t rely on shock—it relies on realism, which made it sit heavier.
For me personally, this book hit in a different way because I lost a friend when I was in high school. Not in the same way as the book, but being part of a friend group that suddenly has to process loss is something that stays with you.
Because of that, I found myself thinking a lot about how differently people grieve. That was one of the strongest parts of the book—it doesn’t present grief as one thing. It shows how messy and individual it is.
What Worked Really Well
The biggest strength of this book is how real it feels.
It doesn’t try to overcomplicate the situation—it just lets it exist. The emotional weight comes from how believable everything is, especially the dynamics within the friend group.
I also think this would work really well in a high school English class. There’s a lot here in terms of discussion—choices, consequences, grief, relationships, and perspective.
What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
The main thing is that it does feel very YA.
That’s not inherently a bad thing, but depending on where you are as a reader, it might feel a little predictable or emotionally simplified in certain moments.
I think if I had read this in high school, I would have absolutely loved it. Reading it now, I still appreciated it—but in a different, more reflective way.
Final Thoughts
I finished this book feeling thoughtful more than anything else.
It didn’t overwhelm me emotionally, but it stayed with me. Especially in the way it highlights how one moment can change everything—and how people process that differently.
Who This Book Is For
You’ll likely love this if:
- You enjoy realistic YA with emotional weight
- You want a story that focuses on grief and relationships
- You like books that feel grounded and relatable
You might want to skip if:
- You don’t enjoy YA writing styles
- You’re looking for something fast-paced or plot-heavy
- You want something emotionally complex at an adult literary level
Would I Recommend It?
Yes—but with the right expectations.
I’d especially recommend this for younger readers or anyone open to YA who wants something real and reflective.
And honestly, I do think this is one of those books that would have meant a lot more to me if I had read it earlier in my life.
