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mehsi's review
5.0
“The sun stopped shining for me is all. The whole story is: I am sad. I am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can’t get away from it. Not ever.”
A beautiful book about grief, about mourning, but also about mental health, depression, suicide. Things got quite close for me (way too close) and at times I just needed to take a small breather before I continued. But then I soldiered on, because it was wonderfully written. I love that it takes place over a year and that we see how Caitlin moves through various stages of grief and pain. How she learns to find new friends, how she finds something she is passionate about, and she learns more about her friend as she reads her journal. Every day a journal entry.
Caitlin was a fabulous character and Nina LaCour has written her well. I loved that she loves both carpentry (and she makes something amazing) and photography. I loved reading about her times with Ingrid. About their friendship. All the things they did.
Caitlin’s bond with her parents is fragile, but I love that her parents are both there for her and also give her plenty of space, but well within some boundaries which I could understand. Caitlin goes through some dark times in this book.
There is also some romance but it never felt too much or that it didn’t fit. It fitted in perfect with Caitlin’s healing. Plus, I just loved the romance as the characters have great chemistry. Though I do hope that the boy learns about shirts and what not to wear.
A beautiful book about grief, about mourning, but also about mental health, depression, suicide. Things got quite close for me (way too close) and at times I just needed to take a small breather before I continued. But then I soldiered on, because it was wonderfully written. I love that it takes place over a year and that we see how Caitlin moves through various stages of grief and pain. How she learns to find new friends, how she finds something she is passionate about, and she learns more about her friend as she reads her journal. Every day a journal entry.
Caitlin was a fabulous character and Nina LaCour has written her well. I loved that she loves both carpentry (and she makes something amazing) and photography. I loved reading about her times with Ingrid. About their friendship. All the things they did.
Caitlin’s bond with her parents is fragile, but I love that her parents are both there for her and also give her plenty of space, but well within some boundaries which I could understand. Caitlin goes through some dark times in this book.
There is also some romance but it never felt too much or that it didn’t fit. It fitted in perfect with Caitlin’s healing. Plus, I just loved the romance as the characters have great chemistry. Though I do hope that the boy learns about shirts and what not to wear.
carenlou's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness
luci_08's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rosiereviewsreads's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lexereads's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I could tell this was an earlier creation from Lacour, it was missing the smooth story telling that’s she does so well. The ending of the book is really what saved this from a DNF
mbenzz's review against another edition
4.0
Damn, that was sad. It was sad and beautiful and such a good read. When I read the synopsis of this, I assumed it would be mostly in diary form and that Ingrid's journal would be the story's focal point, but that wasn't the case at all.
This story is all Caitlin's. Not only is 16-year-old Caitlin navigating the painfully awkward world that is high school, and learning to drive, and figuring out who she is, but she has to do it without her best friend, who suddenly killed herself with no note or explanation of any kind.
A couple of months after her death, Caitlin comes across Indrigs diary hidden under her bed, but instead of devouring it in one sitting, as most of us would probably do, she chooses to take her time with it, knowing that once she finishes it, there will never again be anything new between her and Ingrid...and that was just so sad.
Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story about how one girl (child, really) overcomes the heaviest grief she's ever experienced, and how she stumbles her way back to a new normal, with new friends and new experiences, all without the one person she wants most to share them with.
I read the author's note and where the idea for this story came from. It's incredible just how much the briefest moments with people we don't even know can shape our lives.
I plan to have my 13-year-old son read this because I think it's important. Teenagers tend to get so wrapped up in their own heads that they forget how many lives they touch on a daily basis. While my son is not suicidal or struggling with depression, I still want him to understand that one person's decision to end their life can impact so many others for such a long time, and how even though something seems so significant and impossible now, tomorrow is another day, month, or year. Time marches on, and circumstances change. You can overcome anything with a little time and clarity.
Anyway, I absolutely recommend this book to young and old alike. I came across it randomly in my BookBub email of the day, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
This story is all Caitlin's. Not only is 16-year-old Caitlin navigating the painfully awkward world that is high school, and learning to drive, and figuring out who she is, but she has to do it without her best friend, who suddenly killed herself with no note or explanation of any kind.
A couple of months after her death, Caitlin comes across Indrigs diary hidden under her bed, but instead of devouring it in one sitting, as most of us would probably do, she chooses to take her time with it, knowing that once she finishes it, there will never again be anything new between her and Ingrid...and that was just so sad.
Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story about how one girl (child, really) overcomes the heaviest grief she's ever experienced, and how she stumbles her way back to a new normal, with new friends and new experiences, all without the one person she wants most to share them with.
I read the author's note and where the idea for this story came from. It's incredible just how much the briefest moments with people we don't even know can shape our lives.
I plan to have my 13-year-old son read this because I think it's important. Teenagers tend to get so wrapped up in their own heads that they forget how many lives they touch on a daily basis. While my son is not suicidal or struggling with depression, I still want him to understand that one person's decision to end their life can impact so many others for such a long time, and how even though something seems so significant and impossible now, tomorrow is another day, month, or year. Time marches on, and circumstances change. You can overcome anything with a little time and clarity.
Anyway, I absolutely recommend this book to young and old alike. I came across it randomly in my BookBub email of the day, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
luisa_he's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
zianor's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
lillyfdl's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0