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bmpicc's review
3.0
Another advanced reader from the bookstore that helped get me through our hurricane Irma power outage. Quick teen read about first love. Not a bad story, but very predictable.
electrikreads's review
2.0
An overall messy book with an intriguing premise. I found this to feel rushed, the ending too open. Bridge was such a messy character to follow, yet somehow also boring? Wil’s story was heartbreaking but the writing never let me feel connected to the story fully. Overall extremely dull, a 280 page book should not take me this long to read.
paragraphsandpages's review
3.0
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
Stars (Out of 10): 6/10 Stars
Overall Thoughts: I acquired this ARC during the ALA Midwinter Convention, and actually debated it a lot before choosing to pick it up (I even skipped over it at first.) Usually, the whole romantic tension only novels can get somewhat repetitive, and that’s exactly how I expected this book to be. I was pleasantly surprised though, when I found the romantic tension to actually not be the main plot, and for there to be a stronger plotline and conflict over the ‘event that brings Bridge and Wil back together.’ Overall, while it wasn’t my favorite book, I’m definitely glad I ended up picking it up.
The Good: The plot ended up being way more interesting and complicated than I first thought. Had twists and turns I would have never expected from original synopsis I read.
The Bad: Romance felt quick (the pair got back together absurdly fast, considering the issues that drove them apart.) In addition, abrupt ending with no real closure, and while I get the appeal for an “open ending,” this one was rather annoying because it could have gone in two completely different directions, and now we simply didn’t get to know how it ended, and if it was good or bad.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: While there wasn’t anything truly special about the characters, they fit the plot well, and did their exact purpose. I’ll probably remember the events of the story much longer than the character’s actual names, since they didn’t stand out to me. However, I did dislike the relationship aspect of the novel. First, Wil and Bridge seemed to very quickly get back together, as if the author was trying to rush onto the real plot of the story. The two had been separated for a year, but suddenly Bridge starts trying to get back together again, and Wil accepts after only a few days, abruptly breaking up with his current girlfriend like it meant nothing. Second, the best friend, who was basically only used for dialogue sometimes in the beginning, doesn’t mean anything anymore after the pair get back together. The world limits to only Bridge and Wil, and I felt the side characters becoming less and less prevalent, even when they were originally introduced with problems of their own. What happened with her younger brother’s relationship? Or did Bridge’s elderly friend (I forgot the names, I’m terrible) ever get better? How about the best friend, where did she go?
The Plot: There seemed to be two main plotlines in this story, the romance and then Wilson’s death. The latter was by far more developed, and leagues more interesting. I would have read it for just that, and not have had the whole “getting back together intro.” But the romance was there, and I felt it was lacking. The author did create some friction between the pair in the getting back together phase, which was needed and made complete sense, but then it suddenly seemed to disappear.
The Favorite Character: The best friend seemed like a cool girl. Sucks she had to disappear near the end like she did.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
Stars (Out of 10): 6/10 Stars
Overall Thoughts: I acquired this ARC during the ALA Midwinter Convention, and actually debated it a lot before choosing to pick it up (I even skipped over it at first.) Usually, the whole romantic tension only novels can get somewhat repetitive, and that’s exactly how I expected this book to be. I was pleasantly surprised though, when I found the romantic tension to actually not be the main plot, and for there to be a stronger plotline and conflict over the ‘event that brings Bridge and Wil back together.’ Overall, while it wasn’t my favorite book, I’m definitely glad I ended up picking it up.
The Good: The plot ended up being way more interesting and complicated than I first thought. Had twists and turns I would have never expected from original synopsis I read.
The Bad: Romance felt quick (the pair got back together absurdly fast, considering the issues that drove them apart.) In addition, abrupt ending with no real closure, and while I get the appeal for an “open ending,” this one was rather annoying because it could have gone in two completely different directions, and now we simply didn’t get to know how it ended, and if it was good or bad.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: While there wasn’t anything truly special about the characters, they fit the plot well, and did their exact purpose. I’ll probably remember the events of the story much longer than the character’s actual names, since they didn’t stand out to me. However, I did dislike the relationship aspect of the novel. First, Wil and Bridge seemed to very quickly get back together, as if the author was trying to rush onto the real plot of the story. The two had been separated for a year, but suddenly Bridge starts trying to get back together again, and Wil accepts after only a few days, abruptly breaking up with his current girlfriend like it meant nothing. Second, the best friend, who was basically only used for dialogue sometimes in the beginning, doesn’t mean anything anymore after the pair get back together. The world limits to only Bridge and Wil, and I felt the side characters becoming less and less prevalent, even when they were originally introduced with problems of their own. What happened with her younger brother’s relationship? Or did Bridge’s elderly friend (I forgot the names, I’m terrible) ever get better? How about the best friend, where did she go?
The Plot: There seemed to be two main plotlines in this story, the romance and then Wilson’s death. The latter was by far more developed, and leagues more interesting. I would have read it for just that, and not have had the whole “getting back together intro.” But the romance was there, and I felt it was lacking. The author did create some friction between the pair in the getting back together phase, which was needed and made complete sense, but then it suddenly seemed to disappear.
The Favorite Character: The best friend seemed like a cool girl. Sucks she had to disappear near the end like she did.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
astravars_thrubooks's review
2.0
I thought it was a 'best friends to lovers' trope kind of story. Brainless and easy to read.
Nope, it actually deals with grief, guilt and doing the right thing and much heavier topics.
There are too many loose ends and nothing gets resolved. This story started well then spun in a different direction than I thought it'd go but didn't offer much closure.
Hate open ends.
Nope, it actually deals with grief, guilt and doing the right thing and much heavier topics.
There are too many loose ends and nothing gets resolved. This story started well then spun in a different direction than I thought it'd go but didn't offer much closure.
Hate open ends.
allibruns's review
4.0
But turning someone into what you want them to be is no more possible than willing someone back from the dead. We don't have that power. We are not that kind of magic.
I was on page 2 when I said to myself, "I'm gonna love this". This book ended up being so much more than I thought, I thought that I was going to get the story of Bridge and Wil finding their way back to each other. What I got instead was a complex story about family secerts and how you can truly never know everything about someone. I loved the writing style, it was powerful and beautiful. I was so in Bridge's head that I fully understood her motivations and actions even if I didn't agree. Without giving too much away the ending gutted me and I read it over about six times.
cjcarnes's review
3.0
This book started so strong, but my enthusiasm waned as it went on. Haston's writing is beautiful, but her characters fell a little flat for me, particularly Bridge, who makes bad, selfish decisions throughout the entire book and then is surprised when those decisions have consequences.
hall852's review
3.0
Wil and Bridge have known and grown up together since the fourth grade. They went from being kids plain on the beach, to the prefect couple to nothing. After a drunken mistake made by Bridge they never talk to one other again until a horrible accident to happens to Wil’s family and Wil needs Bridge more then ever. Together they struggle to heal old wounds. But a lot can happen in a year so will they be able to move past those thing and have to future they have always wanted?
This book was really amazing because it had the prefect mix of happy and sad times. There was a huge twist near the end that I didn't see coming but I think really made the book.
This book was really amazing because it had the prefect mix of happy and sad times. There was a huge twist near the end that I didn't see coming but I think really made the book.
khairun_atika's review
3.0
Tragic and filled with raw grief, this is a story that I had to take frequent breaks from due to the tragedy behind it. It is not just a story about the turbulent relationship between Wil and Bridge. The core of it is about families, about what is missing in our lives when we lose a member of our family. It is about the secrets that are hiding behind closed doors, and how the people we admire and respect are holding tightly to these dirty secrets. It is a poignant story about love, grief, and families. Each chapter delivers a heartbreaking revelation, inching slowly towards a shattering ending. Still, it is written so beautifully and I enjoyed reading it.