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just_kidding_cosplay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
This book talks a lot about PTSD; however, sometimes the characters feel like caricatures for their traumas so the story can't breath properly.
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however, all opinions are my own
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however, all opinions are my own
shemyshines98's review against another edition
3.0
Great book! I loved the ending because it was a happy one, but not entirely. It was the beginning of happiness for both the characters. I love Maya and how she's so fearless. She's battling her own demons but for him to be so selfless after everything is something I truly admire. Speaking of admiration, Eli is one of those characters you just stay rooting for because you know that they've been through the ringer and you just want them to be happy. Eli is that. He's been through a lot and after his kidnapping and the bomb situation, he still persists, no matter how hard it was. He suffered from so much trauma and I just wanted to hug him all throughout the book. So glad that in the end, they could just finally take a break and a breath and start to move on. It's what they deserve. <3
brooke_review's review against another edition
4.0
Eli was supposed to be a human bomb. Sent into a crowded mall by the man who kidnapped him five years earlier, Eli was supposed to take himself out and everyone around him in a blast designed to fulfill “The Purpose.” Supposed to. That is, until Maya happened. Battling her own demons, Maya miraculously interferes, saving Eli from his captor and certain death.
Now nearly a year later, both Eli and Maya are trying to cope with what happened on the day they lived instead of died. Eli is adjusting to being back with his family and attending high school anonymously - no one knows who he really is. Maya is dealing with a barrage of anxieties in a self-destructive manner by picking at her skin and pulling out her hair.
Eli and Maya are not supposed to communicate - authorities deem it a safety issue - but they find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. After all, no one understands what it was like to have survived that near-death situation in the mall except for them. Can two broken people possibly be good for one another? Will their friendship make life easier for the two of them, or will it be all the more difficult?
Any Second by prolific YA author Kevin Emerson is a novel that explores what it is like to be broken and become whole again. Emerson expands beautifully on the utterly overwhelming sense of life that occurs when a person is battling past trauma or a mental illness through this thought-provoking and sensitive novel. Emerson’s characters of Eli and Maya are such fragile people, who through each other try to make sense of a difficult situation.
As much as this is a novel about forging meaningful friendships and not letting your past define you, it is also a story of suspense. Both Eli and Maya have some questionable, potentially destructive people in their lives, who play an important part in their story. With several twists and turns, as well as touching, emotional relationships between the characters, Any Second is a definite page turner.
Sensitive readers should note that there are many possible triggers and difficult topics discussed in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children’s for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now nearly a year later, both Eli and Maya are trying to cope with what happened on the day they lived instead of died. Eli is adjusting to being back with his family and attending high school anonymously - no one knows who he really is. Maya is dealing with a barrage of anxieties in a self-destructive manner by picking at her skin and pulling out her hair.
Eli and Maya are not supposed to communicate - authorities deem it a safety issue - but they find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. After all, no one understands what it was like to have survived that near-death situation in the mall except for them. Can two broken people possibly be good for one another? Will their friendship make life easier for the two of them, or will it be all the more difficult?
Any Second by prolific YA author Kevin Emerson is a novel that explores what it is like to be broken and become whole again. Emerson expands beautifully on the utterly overwhelming sense of life that occurs when a person is battling past trauma or a mental illness through this thought-provoking and sensitive novel. Emerson’s characters of Eli and Maya are such fragile people, who through each other try to make sense of a difficult situation.
As much as this is a novel about forging meaningful friendships and not letting your past define you, it is also a story of suspense. Both Eli and Maya have some questionable, potentially destructive people in their lives, who play an important part in their story. With several twists and turns, as well as touching, emotional relationships between the characters, Any Second is a definite page turner.
Sensitive readers should note that there are many possible triggers and difficult topics discussed in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children’s for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
alyram4's review against another edition
4.0
4.25/5 stars
Let me start off by giving a general warning about this book. If you are very sensitive or have any sort of triggers regarding mental illness/health, divoirce, bombings, kidnappings & abuse/neglet, then I urge you to either go into this book expecting these or to not read at all. Reading can become depressing, but intentional due to the nature of the plot and the author's intentions. This is a great book if you're alright, or can handle, these sorts of subjects.
I thought that Eli and Maya were both amazing, flushed-out characters. While we get to know how each of them speaks, believes, and remembers, we also get to see how their past and present still holds deep scars running through both of them. They're close to what I would call the "perfect scarred character". They both have a past they couldn't control, with them both being a type pf source for where they're lives move forward and turn around. They each still have their dark and broken personalities throughout the book, each dealing with something they can't forget. I thought the author did a great job developing these characters, but still not answering everything and leaving some things up to interpretation. They're characters are definitely the focus of the story, and I didn't feel that one trumped the other in any way. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a different type of genre in YA fiction that has nothing to do with fantasy. This is a darker contemporary read that I feel many people would love if they gave it the chance!
These are my personal feelings and thoughts on this book. ARC was provided to me by the publisher for free in exchange for my honest review.
Let me start off by giving a general warning about this book. If you are very sensitive or have any sort of triggers regarding mental illness/health, divoirce, bombings, kidnappings & abuse/neglet, then I urge you to either go into this book expecting these or to not read at all. Reading can become depressing, but intentional due to the nature of the plot and the author's intentions. This is a great book if you're alright, or can handle, these sorts of subjects.
I thought that Eli and Maya were both amazing, flushed-out characters. While we get to know how each of them speaks, believes, and remembers, we also get to see how their past and present still holds deep scars running through both of them. They're close to what I would call the "perfect scarred character". They both have a past they couldn't control, with them both being a type pf source for where they're lives move forward and turn around. They each still have their dark and broken personalities throughout the book, each dealing with something they can't forget. I thought the author did a great job developing these characters, but still not answering everything and leaving some things up to interpretation. They're characters are definitely the focus of the story, and I didn't feel that one trumped the other in any way. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a different type of genre in YA fiction that has nothing to do with fantasy. This is a darker contemporary read that I feel many people would love if they gave it the chance!
These are my personal feelings and thoughts on this book. ARC was provided to me by the publisher for free in exchange for my honest review.
angstyp's review against another edition
1.0
This book is written in terrible taste and I have no idea how it got published in the first place. 1. Mental illness, adolescent drug abuse, and fucking BOMBINGS AND SCHOOL SHOOTINGS are not personality traits. These characters are so poorly written. 2. The entire plot is a trainwreck. They aren’t going to put a kid who was brainwashed by a cult and sent to blow up a mall to the same school as the person who stopped it. Just.
What.
To finish this, as someone with trich and who had parents only minimally told how to recognize signs, they know when it’s happening. The whole part with Maya’s mom not noticing anything /and it being pointed out by the narrator/ put me in a total rage.
What.
To finish this, as someone with trich and who had parents only minimally told how to recognize signs, they know when it’s happening. The whole part with Maya’s mom not noticing anything /and it being pointed out by the narrator/ put me in a total rage.
sammie_namjooning's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ellieellie16's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
lauren716's review against another edition
4.0
I did receive an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Holy cow! This book is so great. Kevin's ability to write on such a sensitive topic is amazing. I honestly could not put this book down. The development in the characters and their ability to try to live life after what happens was so well developed.
For a full review check out my website.
https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/any-second-arc-review/
Holy cow! This book is so great. Kevin's ability to write on such a sensitive topic is amazing. I honestly could not put this book down. The development in the characters and their ability to try to live life after what happens was so well developed.
For a full review check out my website.
https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2018/11/15/any-second-arc-review/
kaleighgm's review against another edition
5.0
often times reading books, i find characters that have superficial pain or lack a sense of humanity, but eli, maya, and even graham were incredibly raw and real and they made me think a lot about what it’s like to deal with the type of pain and hurt that everyone goes through but nobody talks about. the book is probably the most mature one i’ve read, but i don’t think i could’ve possibly read it at a better time, and i think that this book teaches a lesson that is invaluable to all readers who’s lives aren’t perfect (so... everyone!)
the only thing that could’ve made this book better is a flash forward to a future where eli and maya are very very in love
the only thing that could’ve made this book better is a flash forward to a future where eli and maya are very very in love