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sam_hartwig's review
3.0
So much going through my head at the moment, I'll need time before I write my review...
pour_me_ginger_tea's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book and the changing 'now' and 'then' perspective of the protagonist's life. There were some unexpected twists. The characters were believable and the story deals with some tough issues. I found it to be an enjoyable page turner :-)
ajlawford's review
1.0
I’m inspired by seeing my friend Sam DNF’ing a book that hasn’t grabbed her and I have decided to DNF this at 37%. I just can’t do it anymore. I’m reading on average of 80 pages a day this year so I should have smashed this book out in about 4 days. I’ve been trying to read this for 11 days! This book has brought my daily average for this month down to 35 pages! This is my third attempt to read it since my book club did in April 2017. Enough is enough.
I’m spewing coz the blurb and premise sounds so so good! There is just something about the writing that isn’t meshing with me. The words just seem to bounce off my brain. I find my attention wandering but my eyes are still reading. Then I’ll notice I haven’t paid attention in a bit, and I’ll go back to where I remember, and say to myself “pay attention this time!” Then like literally one sentence later, I’m off in fairy land again! There’s only so many times you can re-read the same passage before accepting it just ain’t working.
I’ve even just tried letting my eyes and mind do their thing to see if reading this on auto pilot will still magically absorb the story into my brain via some weird reader form of osmosis. It didn’t.
There are so many books in my TBR that I’m excited to read and I just can’t justify giving this book any more chances. I’ll bring my copy of the book along to my book club next month. Perhaps there’s someone who would like it and it can find a much loved home.
I’m spewing coz the blurb and premise sounds so so good! There is just something about the writing that isn’t meshing with me. The words just seem to bounce off my brain. I find my attention wandering but my eyes are still reading. Then I’ll notice I haven’t paid attention in a bit, and I’ll go back to where I remember, and say to myself “pay attention this time!” Then like literally one sentence later, I’m off in fairy land again! There’s only so many times you can re-read the same passage before accepting it just ain’t working.
I’ve even just tried letting my eyes and mind do their thing to see if reading this on auto pilot will still magically absorb the story into my brain via some weird reader form of osmosis. It didn’t.
There are so many books in my TBR that I’m excited to read and I just can’t justify giving this book any more chances. I’ll bring my copy of the book along to my book club next month. Perhaps there’s someone who would like it and it can find a much loved home.
littleelfman's review
4.0
When you're desperate for a change at the end of year 12, but that change comes in the form of a car accident in the middle of the bush, what else can you do but take your boyfriend's hand and keep going. Tense, well written YA with a distinctly Australian flavour. And hope, painted like the sunset.
thisgirl_writes's review
5.0
I loved this book. Actually, I adored it. Such an evocative and sensitive portrayal of what it's like to live with someone who is dealing with alcoholism/mental illness. The world needs more books like this one. Thank you, Nicole Hayes.
sjwhi's review
5.0
A beautiful and breathtaking story full of hope and heartbreak. 110% here for it.
stephlg's review
4.0
"I'm not asking you to change the world, just to be your best self. That's all any of us can do."
kittyaliceee's review
DNF (pg 79)
the constant swapping of perspectives and the writing style made me loose interest in the storyline
the constant swapping of perspectives and the writing style made me loose interest in the storyline
melbsreads's review
4.0
Trigger warnings: car accident, blood, broken bones, domestic violence (off screen), death of a parent (in the past), alcohol abuse (in the past), bushfire,
I sped through this in a couple of hours - I really enjoy stories that cut between the present and the past in alternating chapters as a story telling mechanism because it really keeps the story moving along. There's a lot of darkness in this book, but the main gist of it is that Tessa and her boyfriend Nick have been in a car accident in the middle of nowhere and they have to find their way back to safety through the Australian bush.
I found myself far more interested in that section of the story than in the "then" section, but it was still fast paced and compelling.
I will say that I had very little emotional reaction to the story where others have said that they cried a lot. So either I'm cold and dead inside (possible) or the fact that I read this so quickly meant that I didn't have any emotional investment in the characters. So...take your pick?
Spoiler
suicide of a parent, death of a partnerI sped through this in a couple of hours - I really enjoy stories that cut between the present and the past in alternating chapters as a story telling mechanism because it really keeps the story moving along. There's a lot of darkness in this book, but the main gist of it is that Tessa and her boyfriend Nick have been in a car accident in the middle of nowhere and they have to find their way back to safety through the Australian bush.
I found myself far more interested in that section of the story than in the "then" section, but it was still fast paced and compelling.
I will say that I had very little emotional reaction to the story where others have said that they cried a lot. So either I'm cold and dead inside (possible) or the fact that I read this so quickly meant that I didn't have any emotional investment in the characters. So...take your pick?