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natalieyanka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
slflorence99's review
4.0
Engaging read with endearing characters. I, of course, also loved the setting (in both Spain and Dallas)! Since my grandparents lived in Spain in the 70s, this storyline lead to lots of follow-up questions for my dad regarding their time there.
teawithbree's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
nickimags's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just as good the second time around!
ilsyae's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
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? No
4.5
tyufekchieva's review
3.0
I was hesitant about how many stars to give this book in particular. I am settling on 3.
The book itself was incredibly informative and well-researched. Not to mention eye-opening since we do not learn about Spain under Franco’s rule in school and all the horrific things people went through until 1975. But it felt more like a backdrop than a setting because the story itself focused on the historical romance aspect of the narrative.
This does not stop me from loving the delightful set of characters. I especially enjoyed the friendship between Rafa and Fuga. Though the people themselves did not feel real like in other works of Sepetys.
The romance itself…quite enjoyable until the last quarter of the book when it got too “soap opera-y” even for me. The drama was unnecessary and it did not match the pace of the book beforehand. And sadly the ending did not give me any type of satisfaction or closure so I am left with more questions than answers.
The book itself was incredibly informative and well-researched. Not to mention eye-opening since we do not learn about Spain under Franco’s rule in school and all the horrific things people went through until 1975. But it felt more like a backdrop than a setting because the story itself focused on the historical romance aspect of the narrative.
This does not stop me from loving the delightful set of characters. I especially enjoyed the friendship between Rafa and Fuga. Though the people themselves did not feel real like in other works of Sepetys.
The romance itself…quite enjoyable until the last quarter of the book when it got too “soap opera-y” even for me. The drama was unnecessary and it did not match the pace of the book beforehand. And sadly the ending did not give me any type of satisfaction or closure so I am left with more questions than answers.
drridareads's review
I didn't read this book for months and then today I finally picked it up and finished it.
Covid postponed my exams so many times, they were starting but didn't so I just couldn't get to reading at all cause I thought I'd be having exams but then we didn't have them..
So this is my first 2021 read..
Covid postponed my exams so many times, they were starting but didn't so I just couldn't get to reading at all cause I thought I'd be having exams but then we didn't have them..
So this is my first 2021 read..
votesforwomen's review
4.0
I hate comparing books from the same author! Really, really hate it! Because when an author writes one of your all-time favorite books...at least for me, even if they're an autobuy author as a result, I'll have one main story I love from an author and then everything else is Okay. (A few marked exceptions exist, such as Maggie Stiefvater, ahahaha, but overall THIS IS THE RULE).
I love Sepetys's Salt to the Sea. Love it love it LOVE IT. The problem with comparing this book to Salt to the Sea is that they're both ridiculously different. Like...this book is 500 pages. It jumps between about 15 different storylines. It's a mystery where you don't KNOW what the outcome is going to be. In Salt to the Sea, it's hard to go into it NOT knowing what's going to happen. You know disaster is coming, and the whole thing is paced more like a thriller. Not so with this story. This is slow burn, and I wish I could say it was slow burn at its finest, but it's only...close to finest.
I think this book could easily be 100 pages shorter. Don't ask me how--I do think all the subplots are important. But some of the secrets that serve more as red herrings got blown WAAAAAY out of proportion, and I didn't care about them as much. The payoff, in the end, was excellent, but I wished the pacing had sped up a wee bit and made my life move a little faster. This book took me over a week to read (which is REALLYYYYY slow for me!)
The characters, though. Especially Daniel. Daniel is adorable and out for answers, but slowly realizing that maybe...maybe that ISN'T what he needs to be doing. Maybe instead of gathering answers to make a story, he needs to gather answers and understand what the story IS. It's a very interesting take on an outsider trying to understand a nation and culture and story that he is not a part of, and I loved it. None of the characters are cruel (not the main ones, anyway) and none of them are straight-up in the wrong. They all have complexities and depth and it's beautiful.
Some sexy content (not much, though). The violence is worse, and there's a lot of death and darkness and stuff--although, perhaps because of the 3rd person present tense, I felt disconnected? Like at one point a major character DIED and there was next to no reaction from ANYONE. That was kind of the whole feel, in my opinion. Stuff like that happened for shock value and then there was very little payoff. So...yeah.
Overall, I recommend this one for a look at a culture forgotten by history, a story about a world torn apart and the depravity of man. A new favorite? No. But good anyway? YES MA'AM.
3.75 stars
I love Sepetys's Salt to the Sea. Love it love it LOVE IT. The problem with comparing this book to Salt to the Sea is that they're both ridiculously different. Like...this book is 500 pages. It jumps between about 15 different storylines. It's a mystery where you don't KNOW what the outcome is going to be. In Salt to the Sea, it's hard to go into it NOT knowing what's going to happen. You know disaster is coming, and the whole thing is paced more like a thriller. Not so with this story. This is slow burn, and I wish I could say it was slow burn at its finest, but it's only...close to finest.
I think this book could easily be 100 pages shorter. Don't ask me how--I do think all the subplots are important. But some of the secrets that serve more as red herrings got blown WAAAAAY out of proportion, and I didn't care about them as much. The payoff, in the end, was excellent, but I wished the pacing had sped up a wee bit and made my life move a little faster. This book took me over a week to read (which is REALLYYYYY slow for me!)
The characters, though. Especially Daniel. Daniel is adorable and out for answers, but slowly realizing that maybe...maybe that ISN'T what he needs to be doing. Maybe instead of gathering answers to make a story, he needs to gather answers and understand what the story IS. It's a very interesting take on an outsider trying to understand a nation and culture and story that he is not a part of, and I loved it. None of the characters are cruel (not the main ones, anyway) and none of them are straight-up in the wrong. They all have complexities and depth and it's beautiful.
Some sexy content (not much, though). The violence is worse, and there's a lot of death and darkness and stuff--although, perhaps because of the 3rd person present tense, I felt disconnected? Like at one point a major character DIED and there was next to no reaction from ANYONE. That was kind of the whole feel, in my opinion. Stuff like that happened for shock value and then there was very little payoff. So...yeah.
Overall, I recommend this one for a look at a culture forgotten by history, a story about a world torn apart and the depravity of man. A new favorite? No. But good anyway? YES MA'AM.
3.75 stars