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3.22 AVERAGE
3.22 AVERAGE
You have to suspend reality to enjoy this book but isn't that the point of fiction? Is it scientifically accurate, no? But to me that's not the point. It's a thought-provoking look at our relationship with life and death and what it means to be alive and love, all told through this unbelievable love story that defies scientific explanation. The writing was really beautiful and descriptive and the story kept me engaged and intrigued; in fact I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting.
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
A love story between a ghost and a living person...intriguing concept, but I felt that the novel was oversexualized. Despite the ghost sex, the most unrealistic part was how she was instantly able to make an appointment to see a psychiatrist and how immediately helpful Dr. Moon was.
not sure quite how to describe this work other than a modern, meta love story. really brings to life the quote — “every love story is a ghost story.”
For me it was strangely relatable and easy to read. A charming and philosophical tale.
For me it was strangely relatable and easy to read. A charming and philosophical tale.
DNF @ 8%: I'm not too far into this one, but I can already tell that it is not for me. Onto the next one!
What a unique story, and SUCH a great cover.
I listened to the audio version of this book, which I think was very well done. I was completely captivated by the first section, told from Thomas’s point of view. It explores how he becomes stuck in a limbo state between life and death and I found it original and captivating.
Once the story switched to Rachel’s point of view, it started to lose me. By the time another character was added to the mix (about halfway through), I wasn’t interested anymore. The book is by no means bad—it is a very unique contemplation on love and grief.
But for me, it went off in a direction in which I was hesitant to follow. Because of my expectations about the setup with Thomas, I wanted to know more about the ghost/limbo state and what it meant. Were there lots of other limbo ghosts? But the story is definitely more interested in the romance and relationship angle.
My thanks to Little, Brown for my copy of this one to read and review. I also received this audiobook through Libro.fm’s affiliate program. Libro.fm lets you support the independent bookstore of your choice with your purchases. Get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with this trial: https://libro.fm/membership/new
I listened to the audio version of this book, which I think was very well done. I was completely captivated by the first section, told from Thomas’s point of view. It explores how he becomes stuck in a limbo state between life and death and I found it original and captivating.
Once the story switched to Rachel’s point of view, it started to lose me. By the time another character was added to the mix (about halfway through), I wasn’t interested anymore. The book is by no means bad—it is a very unique contemplation on love and grief.
But for me, it went off in a direction in which I was hesitant to follow. Because of my expectations about the setup with Thomas, I wanted to know more about the ghost/limbo state and what it meant. Were there lots of other limbo ghosts? But the story is definitely more interested in the romance and relationship angle.
My thanks to Little, Brown for my copy of this one to read and review. I also received this audiobook through Libro.fm’s affiliate program. Libro.fm lets you support the independent bookstore of your choice with your purchases. Get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with this trial: https://libro.fm/membership/new
This book was stunning, absolutely perfect. I'm not sure if I would call it definitively the best book ever to be enjoyed by every person out there but it was perfect for me. I felt so seen, it feels so deeply personal to me.
The prose was beautiful, whimsical and flowery in areas but also harsh and gritty when it needed to be. There was an artfulness to every word, nothing felt mundane.
I love a good fabulism book wherein the magic system whilst present is no more important than the character development it catalyses. I love the development and disappearances of personal existences, ghosts and dreams.
Each character felt distinct but ultimately the same. As if they are identifiable as separate characters but there was a kinship or circularity to each arc in a shared experience. It would be easy to accuse this book of housing yet another manic pixie dream girl through Rachel's inaccessibility for male characters with her ethereal metaphorical absence but she manages to remain real and relatable and magical all at the same time. In fact, each character held a certain whimsy or magic within them which is somewhat expected given the genre of magical realism but is ultimately still so special.
I suppose it could be mildly alarming that of all the books I've read I find the sex in this book most relatable and real but there's something in the way it is depicted and written that feels authentic and true to life. (Which is a strange assessment given how otherworldly it is in the book).
I need to buy this book so that I can read it over and over and over again.
Update after another reread: I just think it highlights that not all love is perfectly healthy but that doesn’t make it any less pure, the pain of the toxic relationship is so clear and the self awareness of the characters is excruciating I feel like this story held the nuance to depict a toxic relationship with glorifying it but allowing the both sides of the relationship to show love but a type of love that developed into possession
The prose was beautiful, whimsical and flowery in areas but also harsh and gritty when it needed to be. There was an artfulness to every word, nothing felt mundane.
I love a good fabulism book wherein the magic system whilst present is no more important than the character development it catalyses. I love the development and disappearances of personal existences, ghosts and dreams.
Each character felt distinct but ultimately the same. As if they are identifiable as separate characters but there was a kinship or circularity to each arc in a shared experience. It would be easy to accuse this book of housing yet another manic pixie dream girl through Rachel's inaccessibility for male characters with her ethereal metaphorical absence but she manages to remain real and relatable and magical all at the same time. In fact, each character held a certain whimsy or magic within them which is somewhat expected given the genre of magical realism but is ultimately still so special.
I suppose it could be mildly alarming that of all the books I've read I find the sex in this book most relatable and real but there's something in the way it is depicted and written that feels authentic and true to life. (Which is a strange assessment given how otherworldly it is in the book).
I need to buy this book so that I can read it over and over and over again.
Update after another reread: I just think it highlights that not all love is perfectly healthy but that doesn’t make it any less pure, the pain of the toxic relationship is so clear and the self awareness of the characters is excruciating I feel like this story held the nuance to depict a toxic relationship with glorifying it but allowing the both sides of the relationship to show love but a type of love that developed into possession
Honestly? I kind of regret finishing it. The whole thing felt like a bit of a twee affectation. Not for me.