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artisticallyreading's review against another edition
4.0
You can see this review and many others on my Blog
This story follows sixteen-year-old Dove "Birdie" Randolph, who strives to be the perfect daughter for her parents. She studies hard, gets good grades, and always follows the rules. However, she meets and falls for this boy named Booker who she keeps a secret, knowing her parents won't approve of their relationship due to his troubled past.
Birdie's estranged aunt, Carlene, shows up one day after just getting out of rehab for substance abuse and addiction. Even though Birdie starts sensing some tension among her parents, and Carlene, she starts developing a close relationship with her aunt. That leads to Birdie wanting to take control of her life, and make a few choices she knows her parents won't approve of.
This YA novel is one that talks about so many relevant, and important topics such as Racism, Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Anger Management, and many more!
While Birdie is the main character she doesn't completely outshine all of the characters, like a lot of YA books do.
I felt like I knew each and every character, with what they were feeling and going through. And, I'm personally someone who really enjoys a character-driven story more than a plot-driven one. However, I did feel like the plot was lacking a little and it was a little too simple for me. So if you're someone who doesn't enjoy a simpler plot, beware.
This book was being pitched for fans of Nina La Cour and Nicola Yoon. I have yet to read a book by Nina La Cour, but I definitely think the romance in this novel has a Nicola Yoon vibe.
I highly recommend this book if you like YA contemporary.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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"With a name like Dove, you got to fly."
This story follows sixteen-year-old Dove "Birdie" Randolph, who strives to be the perfect daughter for her parents. She studies hard, gets good grades, and always follows the rules. However, she meets and falls for this boy named Booker who she keeps a secret, knowing her parents won't approve of their relationship due to his troubled past.
Birdie's estranged aunt, Carlene, shows up one day after just getting out of rehab for substance abuse and addiction. Even though Birdie starts sensing some tension among her parents, and Carlene, she starts developing a close relationship with her aunt. That leads to Birdie wanting to take control of her life, and make a few choices she knows her parents won't approve of.
This YA novel is one that talks about so many relevant, and important topics such as Racism, Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Anger Management, and many more!
While Birdie is the main character she doesn't completely outshine all of the characters, like a lot of YA books do.
I felt like I knew each and every character, with what they were feeling and going through. And, I'm personally someone who really enjoys a character-driven story more than a plot-driven one. However, I did feel like the plot was lacking a little and it was a little too simple for me. So if you're someone who doesn't enjoy a simpler plot, beware.
This book was being pitched for fans of Nina La Cour and Nicola Yoon. I have yet to read a book by Nina La Cour, but I definitely think the romance in this novel has a Nicola Yoon vibe.
I highly recommend this book if you like YA contemporary.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Blog | Instagram | TikTok
tishywishy's review against another edition
4.0
This books hits on so many topics that I wasn't expecting but definitely took it to another level:
-Parental expectations/pressures and how it shapes who we date.
-Asexuality
-LGBTQ identities
-Juvenile Detention
-Racism and how it affects young black boys in particular
-Substance Abuse
-Family secrets
We see and experience it all through the eyes of Birdie who is trying to navigate pleasing her parents and be a regular teenager. It heartwarming, uplifting, and definitely a good read.
-Parental expectations/pressures and how it shapes who we date.
-Asexuality
-LGBTQ identities
-Juvenile Detention
-Racism and how it affects young black boys in particular
-Substance Abuse
-Family secrets
We see and experience it all through the eyes of Birdie who is trying to navigate pleasing her parents and be a regular teenager. It heartwarming, uplifting, and definitely a good read.
sauriaiel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
3.25
A coming-of-age YA novel about a girl finding her voice and her wings to fly.
šŖ½
Meet Dove āBirdieā Randolph. Sheās always been the good girl her parents want her to be: dating the boy they approved of, quitting soccer to focus on academic and taking tutoring courses in the summer to graduate at the top of her class. When Birdie starts dating someone new, Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past, she starts to push the boundaries of what her parents will allow. At the same time her aunt who she hasnāt ever really spent time with is now living with them, trying to stay clean from her alcohol addiction. Through talks with her cool aunt, Birdie starts to challenge what sheās always known and fights for more.
šŖ½
Normally I love Brandy Colbertās books but this one was a bit underwhelming. I still believe it to be such an important novel with themes of family, sex positivity, asexual and queer representation. However even with the twist at the end, I still never fully connected with Birdie or her story. I wasnāt a fan of her mom and how strict she was with Birdie, who was pretty perfect. 3.25āļø
CW: child abandonment, alcoholism, alcohol, drug use, racism, racial profiling, family estrangement, bullying, death of a parent (cancer), physical assault (recounted)
šŖ½
Meet Dove āBirdieā Randolph. Sheās always been the good girl her parents want her to be: dating the boy they approved of, quitting soccer to focus on academic and taking tutoring courses in the summer to graduate at the top of her class. When Birdie starts dating someone new, Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past, she starts to push the boundaries of what her parents will allow. At the same time her aunt who she hasnāt ever really spent time with is now living with them, trying to stay clean from her alcohol addiction. Through talks with her cool aunt, Birdie starts to challenge what sheās always known and fights for more.
šŖ½
Normally I love Brandy Colbertās books but this one was a bit underwhelming. I still believe it to be such an important novel with themes of family, sex positivity, asexual and queer representation. However even with the twist at the end, I still never fully connected with Birdie or her story. I wasnāt a fan of her mom and how strict she was with Birdie, who was pretty perfect. 3.25āļø
CW: child abandonment, alcoholism, alcohol, drug use, racism, racial profiling, family estrangement, bullying, death of a parent (cancer), physical assault (recounted)
mnvivian's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.5
ekhrtly's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
juliamariereads's review against another edition
3.75
Solid contemporary. Easily recommend for 8-high schoolers.
nklosty's review against another edition
5.0
This well-written book kept me interested the entire time. I particularly liked the relationships within Birdie's family. The dynamics felt real as did the interactions. The struggle of honesty and teenagers is a topic that has numerous tales, all of which could be true. 95*
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Birdieās strong voice that had doubts and worries and struggled with breaking her momās rules. Sweet Booker with a troubled past and her Aubt Carlene fresh out of rehab again have Birdie thinking about the whys of her momās strict rules for her and her high achieving self. Break the rules she does and thatās when this book crosses over into high school material. Steamy!! When a family secret is finally out in the open, Birdie is free to be her complex self and to say to her mom that she wants to play soccer again. Recommended.