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library_dreamer's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book was billed as an enemies to lovers romance, but it's definitely not. The romance portion is a very insignificant side plot and arguably not really enemies to lovers. Personally, I liked it better that way, but just wanted to put that up front lest someone be disappointed.
I thought this was a beautiful story of friendship and self discovery.
I thought this was a beautiful story of friendship and self discovery.
isobel_shobs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
buhdumbitch's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.5
caitiep92's review
challenging
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dliterate's review
5.0
Thank you to @allenandunwin for making 'I'll Be Waiting for You' by Mariko Turk available as an ARC on @netgalley
It's been a year since Natalie's best friend, Imogen, suddenly died as the result of an undiagnosed heart condition. It's also been a year since she last visited The Harlow Hotel, a famously haunted hotel where she and Imogen would spend the beginning of their summers together. When Natalie gets an opportunity to film an audition tape for her favourite ghost hunting show for her senior project for school, she - a firm sceptic - will soon find herself questioning her belief about the afterlife, when a string of experiences suggest that her friend might be reaching out to her from beyond the grave.
I'm going to start this review with two mild complaints:
1. This is being pitched as an enemy-to-lovers story, and it's really not. There is a romance between Natalie and a boy from her school, Leander, but at no point are they enemies.
2. I don't think the romance was necessary at all. The plot wouldn't have needed to change at all if Natalie and Leander had just become friends, and I actually think the themes of the story could have been enhanced by this. But I realise I'm in the minority when it comes to not needing everything to be a romance.
These two points aside, I really enjoyed this book.
Although it's presented as a ghost story, this is definitely not horror. It's written by someone who knows the conventions of horror but is more of an exploration of grief and its effects on those who have been affected by death. So don't go into it expecting to be scared unless you want to be disappointed; but do be prepared to deal with some emotions, particularly if grief is something that you're not a stranger to. I definitely had some misty eyes, once or twice.
While I may not be excited about the romance between Natalie and Leander, I did enjoy their dynamic. Similarly, I enjoyed exploring the relationship between Imogen and Natalie, which we mostly learn about in flashbacks; and which rather sweetly looks at how we can be shaped into better people by those around us.
I'm out of characters, so to the point:
Rating: 4.5/5
'I'll Be Waiting for You' will be available from April 30th 2024.
It's been a year since Natalie's best friend, Imogen, suddenly died as the result of an undiagnosed heart condition. It's also been a year since she last visited The Harlow Hotel, a famously haunted hotel where she and Imogen would spend the beginning of their summers together. When Natalie gets an opportunity to film an audition tape for her favourite ghost hunting show for her senior project for school, she - a firm sceptic - will soon find herself questioning her belief about the afterlife, when a string of experiences suggest that her friend might be reaching out to her from beyond the grave.
I'm going to start this review with two mild complaints:
1. This is being pitched as an enemy-to-lovers story, and it's really not. There is a romance between Natalie and a boy from her school, Leander, but at no point are they enemies.
2. I don't think the romance was necessary at all. The plot wouldn't have needed to change at all if Natalie and Leander had just become friends, and I actually think the themes of the story could have been enhanced by this. But I realise I'm in the minority when it comes to not needing everything to be a romance.
These two points aside, I really enjoyed this book.
Although it's presented as a ghost story, this is definitely not horror. It's written by someone who knows the conventions of horror but is more of an exploration of grief and its effects on those who have been affected by death. So don't go into it expecting to be scared unless you want to be disappointed; but do be prepared to deal with some emotions, particularly if grief is something that you're not a stranger to. I definitely had some misty eyes, once or twice.
While I may not be excited about the romance between Natalie and Leander, I did enjoy their dynamic. Similarly, I enjoyed exploring the relationship between Imogen and Natalie, which we mostly learn about in flashbacks; and which rather sweetly looks at how we can be shaped into better people by those around us.
I'm out of characters, so to the point:
Rating: 4.5/5
'I'll Be Waiting for You' will be available from April 30th 2024.
kaitlyns_library's review
3.0
I loved the idea of this book and was drawn into parts of it. This does so well at exploring grief and friendship, but I feel as if the book was missing the depth I wanted. I did forget parts of it because I wasn’t fully hooked.
zoepagereader's review
reflective
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
5.0
Thank you to Little Brown for the ARC.
I have to say, I went into this book expecting a very different vibe than it gave. Following that vibe, the plot just seemed to keep building and building until in the last 60 or so pages it just tapered off. This was a beautiful book. It displayed grief so well while also explaining why people were so and are still so inclined to believe in spirituality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
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