What if the person you loved most in the world was crumbling right before your vThis review and more can also be found at
3.5 stars
What if the person you loved most in the world was crumbling right before your very eyes, and you were essentially helpless to do anything to save them?
That is the dilemma we are presented as our main character, Zoe, a former dancer kicked out of her dance program several months before the start of the novel, is told that her best friend Olivia has been diagnosed with leukemia.
I know some of you, if you’re anything like me, are done with the oversaturated “cancer story� genre that seems to have been given a revival ever since the release of The Fault in Our Stars (and then further revived with the movie release in a few months). I simply do not find cancer books all that interesting to read about. My great-grandmother, aunt and two uncles have died from cancer, and the topic just isn’t something I like to read exploited in my literature, which I feel as though many books tend to do.
I think if I had to pinpoint my biggest issue with these books, is the discussions about life, which, if you’ve read TFiOS, you know is basically the entire plot. I find that the use of cancer to spark these discussions is highly pretentious, emotionally manipulative, and whatever else you want to add in there. You obviously should include something about life in these books, since it’s such a precarious situation, whether or not the person lives, but I don’t need it constantly shoved down my throat to show how “deep� and “philosophical� these people are.
I can’t say Melissa Kantor’s Maybe One Day is an original book. Because, to be honest, it’s not. You could probably read several books quite similar to it, and maybe even of greater quality. But I love that this book flips the idea that a cancer book has to be all about cancer or some end-all relationship about infinities (sorry, but I could take jabs at TFiOS for days). It’s about friendship, and how everyday life is altered, and how even the most mundane of things can be missed, such as not having to wear a surgical mask before you go near a person for fear that they could be carrying a germ that could end your life.
Zoe is hardly a likeable character, and many readers have already complained about her personality, and I expect many other readers probably won’t even finish the book because of her. I won’t lie, I seriously considered it myself around the 40-45% mark. She’s extremely judgmental of other people, particularly the cheerleaders at her school. It’s not that these people weren’t annoying at times, but that’s only because Kantor felt this need to characterize them as flimsy stereotypes, and only occasionally treaded on the idea that they could be something more. However, during the latter act of the novel, her judging is kept to a minimum and focuses more so on the story at hand.
And does Kantor really expect me to believe that sixteen year old girl doesn’t know that leukemia is cancer? I’ve known this information since before I was ten.
This is also a reasonably long novel, and I don’t know if enough happens to justify a 400-page length. Easily 50 pages probably could be eliminated to trim this down to a much more reasonable length, but I was able to get through it quickly enough considering life was pretty hectic during my reading.
At the core of this novel though, is the friendship between Zoe and Olivia. Don’t let this novel mislead you into thinking that it’s about Zoe and her attraction to Calvin, who is Olivia’s crush. Such a small portion of the book is actually about that, and the resolution of it all is with so little drama that I can’t believe the marketing for this book even tried to build off of it.
No, this is about a girl and the person who has always been by their side, who was there through heartbreak, the highs and the lows, who she has shared everything with, no matter how painful or embarrassing. This is about how one day you have to look into that person’s face and contemplate the fact that this person could very well be gone in a few months time. How you’ll have to watch them slowly disintegrate before your eyes, altered physically and emotionally then the person they once were. Zoe isn’t always the best friend to Olivia, and she does things that I personally would never do to my own friends, but the relationship between the two is so poignant, it’s essentially the thing that makes this particular novel stand out in my mind.
I won’t say that if you read this book, your life will be changed. I’m not even saying that you’ll like it. All I’m saying is that I personally found something unique in a genre of beaten-to-death cliches, and that’s all I ever really ask for with books like this. ...more
I've just read the last 75% of two books in two days. I'd like to take this as a sign that my book funk might be ending (A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE)4.5 stars
I've just read the last 75% of two books in two days. I'd like to take this as a sign that my book funk might be ending (A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE) but I doubt it. Much better than the bitter disappointment that was UnWholly. Seriously cannot wait for the conclusion to this series!...more
A little better than I thought it would be, but not as good as it had the potential to be. I don't know what it is, but Levithan never really ever getA little better than I thought it would be, but not as good as it had the potential to be. I don't know what it is, but Levithan never really ever gets me to fully connect with his characters, and the same applies to this book.
He has this amazing ideas, and that also applies to this one. However, around the 50-page mark, I had a revelation about his books:
Why do books about LGBT characters have to be all about their sexuality? Just because somebody is gay, that doesn't mean that their everyday thoughts are about how unjustly treated they are, or how hard their life is. Some people just live their life, have issues with their friends, their family (ASIDE from whether or not their family accepts them), grades, etc. I'm not at all saying that LGBT fiction shouldn't tackle issues like coming out, and how society treats people with different sexual orientations, since it is true and should be written about . . . but what I just said before is also true (maybe I wouldn't feel the same way if I was gay, but I do have bisexual and lesbian friends in real life who seem to have very happy lives).
Being gay doesn't have to just be this sad, depressing thing of repression and scrutiny. It's just that you love the same gender. Not really a big deal that it should define any book with a gay MC, which it has in any that I have.
But, back to this book in particular, I never found myself connecting to the characters in any special way, nor did I care with whether or not they got what they wanted. It was just an okay read, but nothing special. I was also not at all moved by the storytelling method of those who have died from AIDS. It's unique, but it never really caught my interest much. I think it put up this wall between me and connecting with the actual characters this book concerns....more
I'm not sure if it's as strong as Prodigy, but that epilogue sure ripped my heart out and then some. It's an incredible finale, and I'm so glad that II'm not sure if it's as strong as Prodigy, but that epilogue sure ripped my heart out and then some. It's an incredible finale, and I'm so glad that I spent the past week finally finishing up this series that I started over two years ago!
Wholly satisfying, emotionally engaging, action, plot twists, political maneuvering and drama, and with plenty of suspense, this trilogy is the perfect blend of pulse-pounding action as well as being something so much deeper and intellectual, and actually daring to look at those hard questions of morality, grief, and sacrifice.
It's a shame not all YA can be written like this....more
One brutal, shell shock of a book. I would gladly rate this one higher if there wasn't 80 pages of excess, which was part of a larger 120-pag3.5 stars
One brutal, shell shock of a book. I would gladly rate this one higher if there wasn't 80 pages of excess, which was part of a larger 120-page spot of boredom for me. Although I can 100% see where all of the negative reviews are coming from, this is just one of those books that just worked for me. Brutal sequences of horror, complex and multi-layered characterization, and definitely not something that you find everyday in YA, even though books like Under the Dome and the Gone series have somewhat similar concepts in terms of towns being cut off from the rest of the world....more
Great read, and I haven't read a book this long, this fast in such a long time. I have some issues with Jessica's characterization, but other than thaGreat read, and I haven't read a book this long, this fast in such a long time. I have some issues with Jessica's characterization, but other than that I enjoyed just about everything about this book.
Going into Heartbeat, I had no expectations whatsoever. I couldn’t say for certain whether or not I’d enjoy it or not, and with a premise as dramatic Going into Heartbeat, I had no expectations whatsoever. I couldn’t say for certain whether or not I’d enjoy it or not, and with a premise as dramatic as this one, it could’ve very easily fallen apart if a lesser writer had tried to tackle it. Many books about grief tend to bore me, since they all seem to follow a very similar formula, especially those that try to tie in a romantic element to add into this (Just Like Fate comes to mind in terms of some more recent examples).
First off, we have our wonderfully flawed heroine, Emma. Emma is rude, stubborn, angry, and so, so sad. Reading in her voice was a very addictive time, and I found myself having devoured almost 20% of the book in a little under an hour, yet it felt like no time at all had passed. It’s rare that an author can write such an unconventional heroine, where everybody seems to have this set mold for what female characters should be: virgins, smart, insecure, and every guy surprisingly wants her even though “she isn’t pretty.� Aside from Dan, her stepfather, the majority of the other secondary characters could’ve been more fleshed out, but hey, we can’t get everything we want.
Sexuality in this book is treated in a relaxed manner, where hooking up with somebody doesn’t equate to somebody being a “slut� or a “whore.� Honestly, it’s extremely refreshing. There is a romantic sub-plot in this book, with a love interest who has enough interesting qualities that he isn’t a cardboard cut-out, yet I wouldn’t say he’s the most developed character. Thankfully though, Scott knows to keep the focus of the book on Emma and her grief, and while there are a few slip-ups in the latter half of the novel, she mainly stays on point in that regard.
Speaking of that second half, I found it to drag in certain areas, and that is where the romance did seem to pick up significantly, but nonetheless, I found myself engaged to the end, and I cannot praise Scott’s prose enough. She has an incredible way with words that really bring Emma and her emotions to life in a way that you don’t see quite that often in some of these contemporary novels.
Definitely one of the more interesting takes on grief and romance in YA, and I’m very happy to say that this one exceeded my expectations greatly!...more
Better than I had initially expected. While I think the major twist can be seen awhile before the reveal, the writing is solid, story is interesting, Better than I had initially expected. While I think the major twist can be seen awhile before the reveal, the writing is solid, story is interesting, most of the characters and their dynamics are unique and disturbing to read about, the back and forth timeline worked extremely well, and the ending is beyond chilling. Although I wish Jenny had been given more fleshing out, since she was one of the more important minor characters. ...more
Honestly it's just all the more tragic that the author chose to end his life back in December. :'( 3 Honestly it's just all the more tragic that the author chose to end his life back in December. :'( 3 ...more
Spectacular and unforgettable. After seriously enjoying Teeth and now this being as good as it was, Moskowitz is quickly climbing my list of favorite Spectacular and unforgettable. After seriously enjoying Teeth and now this being as good as it was, Moskowitz is quickly climbing my list of favorite writers. ...more
I won't lie - for a long period during the book, I was thinking about giving this book something aroundRead this and more over at
I won't lie - for a long period during the book, I was thinking about giving this book something around a 3-3.5-ish range. However, the last third really got me hooked into the story and the characters, and the darkness in the story won me over.
This novel is easily one of the most original novels I've ever read. However, some of that originality came off as a little cluttered, and didn't seem to really fit in with the rest of the story. The brief intervals in between Emer and Saffron involving her 100 lives lived out as a dog were completely out of place, and just seemed to be a waste of time.
In complete honesty, that entire section of the book should've been completely edited out. Not the idea being used at all, just the chapters were we're given the glimpses into some of her different lives.
This isn't a read that'll linger with me for years to come, or change my perception of life or anything sentimental like that, but it's a page-turner, and the story just flies by with how smooth King's writing style is. The use of reincarnation was well handled and engaging, and I loved how King incorporated Fred Livingston into the story. Not so much reading through his eyes, since he was a disgusting human being, but the twist involving him towards the end.
Speaking of how twisted Fred was, I need to applaud the author for how creeped out she made me when I was reading his chapters. Just sends shivers down my back thinking back to what I had to read with him.
The best part of the book though was easily the scenes when Emer was becoming a pirate. I mean, why wouldn't that be the best part? Traveling around the Carribbean, fights, kick-ass female pirate captain - sounds like a good time to me.
Emer's story is also the darkest and most depressing part of the story for me. Just everything that she goes through, makes everything that Saffron goes through seem like nothing - even though Emer and Saffron are the same person, Emer definitely had it way worse.
For some light entertainments involving dogs, reincarnation, pirates, and even a little dash of star-crossed lovers, King's The Dust of 100 Dogs should be your next natural reading choice. I for one cannot wait to get my hands on another one of her books....more
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