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leafblade's review against another edition
3.0
I recieved an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book dealt with a lot of heavy things without being heavy itself, which was a breath of fresh air. Adoption, chronic pain, harassment and addiction were brought up with the respect they deserve, but without wanting to drown the reader in them. This way, the story kept being on the lighter side without feeling superficial.
The characters were fine, they carried the story well enough. It's always interesting to me how non-famous authors (although I SCREAMED when I reached the biography and realized Dana is Lonnie from shera) tell stories about famous people, and I don't think this was bad at all in that regard.
The ending did kinda ruin it for me, but that's how it is with romances usually. The decisions Dylan made didn't make any sense to me, there were like three chapters where we kept having time-skips and I think the book ending with the first one would've been okay. The last one made me want to scratch my eyes out because we see her being put in a situation that we had been told she hated (all eyes on her, being in a public place, surrounded by rich people etc) and she still didn't react with nothing but joy. She could've changed in between time-skips, I just wish we had been shown that.
This book dealt with a lot of heavy things without being heavy itself, which was a breath of fresh air. Adoption, chronic pain, harassment and addiction were brought up with the respect they deserve, but without wanting to drown the reader in them. This way, the story kept being on the lighter side without feeling superficial.
The characters were fine, they carried the story well enough. It's always interesting to me how non-famous authors (although I SCREAMED when I reached the biography and realized Dana is Lonnie from shera) tell stories about famous people, and I don't think this was bad at all in that regard.
The ending did kinda ruin it for me, but that's how it is with romances usually. The decisions Dylan made didn't make any sense to me, there were like three chapters where we kept having time-skips and I think the book ending with the first one would've been okay. The last one made me want to scratch my eyes out because we see her being put in a situation that we had been told she hated (all eyes on her, being in a public place, surrounded by rich people etc) and she still didn't react with nothing but joy. She could've changed in between time-skips, I just wish we had been shown that.
jaydionne's review against another edition
5.0
This was THEE cutest young love story. I had my eyebrow raised the first chapter but once I kept reading I was very happily with the direction the story went.
ftjoy88's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
junelikethemonth_'s review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
arhkym's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you so much Skyscape and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
TW: racial microaggressions (focused on hair), car accident (mentioned)
Omigosh, if I could I would have read this book in one sitting (instead it took me 3 days)! As an amateur pianist, I loved every music reference, the book hitting just the right spots. Now all I want to do is just play piano ALL. THE. TIME.
Dylan Woods, a violinist whose main goal in her teenage life is to get to Juilliard, spends every free second practicing her instrument to make her dream come true. All this is disrupted by the arrival of Dylan’s ex-friend from her childhood. Six years ago Langston left for Los Angeles, where he became one of the most famous music stars and… never contacted Dylan again. And now he is back with their childhood commandment list, bringing up in Dylan all the nostalgia and emotions connected to the ex-friendship’s sudden end.
WHAT I LOVED:
- As I already mentioned, I loved EVERY music reference. All Dylan’s practice, contests mentions and stuff just made me chills and brought up memories of me playing contests and exams during my time in music school.
- The representation of Black people, including Black female violinist!
- Rainy Day Cafe – I wish I could visit there! Sounds like a perfect cafe.
- Pop culture references, especially Dungeon & Dragons! It made me want to play D&D right away!
- Dylan’s parent as an example of interracial adoption. They do not pretend that they know everything, but do research and seek mentors to actually support their daughter.
- I love how Dylan’s relationship with herself changed throughout the story, her hero journey. And that is thanks to Langston.
- Aunt Edith. Just Aunt Edith.
- Kiyoshi and some Japanese phrases embedded in dialogues.
WHAT DID NOT WORK FOR ME:
- This whole Dylan-Langston relationship. I mean, okay, not all of it – I loved the chemistry between them, they were really great together. However, him being silent for SIX YEARS and then his “apologies” that were not really apologies was what made me think he did not really care for her. It all felt disingenuous.
- Dylan’s parents being SO EXCITED about Langston living in their house. I mean, they knew Langston for years when he was a kid, so why were they so obsessed with him?
TW: racial microaggressions (focused on hair), car accident (mentioned)
Omigosh, if I could I would have read this book in one sitting (instead it took me 3 days)! As an amateur pianist, I loved every music reference, the book hitting just the right spots. Now all I want to do is just play piano ALL. THE. TIME.
Dylan Woods, a violinist whose main goal in her teenage life is to get to Juilliard, spends every free second practicing her instrument to make her dream come true. All this is disrupted by the arrival of Dylan’s ex-friend from her childhood. Six years ago Langston left for Los Angeles, where he became one of the most famous music stars and… never contacted Dylan again. And now he is back with their childhood commandment list, bringing up in Dylan all the nostalgia and emotions connected to the ex-friendship’s sudden end.
WHAT I LOVED:
- As I already mentioned, I loved EVERY music reference. All Dylan’s practice, contests mentions and stuff just made me chills and brought up memories of me playing contests and exams during my time in music school.
- The representation of Black people, including Black female violinist!
- Rainy Day Cafe – I wish I could visit there! Sounds like a perfect cafe.
- Pop culture references, especially Dungeon & Dragons! It made me want to play D&D right away!
- Dylan’s parent as an example of interracial adoption. They do not pretend that they know everything, but do research and seek mentors to actually support their daughter.
- I love how Dylan’s relationship with herself changed throughout the story, her hero journey. And that is thanks to Langston.
- Aunt Edith. Just Aunt Edith.
- Kiyoshi and some Japanese phrases embedded in dialogues.
WHAT DID NOT WORK FOR ME:
- This whole Dylan-Langston relationship. I mean, okay, not all of it – I loved the chemistry between them, they were really great together. However, him being silent for SIX YEARS and then his “apologies” that were not really apologies was what made me think he did not really care for her. It all felt disingenuous.
- Dylan’s parents being SO EXCITED about Langston living in their house. I mean, they knew Langston for years when he was a kid, so why were they so obsessed with him?
agathafeelingg_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you @amazonpublishing for sending me a copy of Somebody That I Used to Know by Dana L. Davis I received this copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
tlaynejones's review
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
drjalisabarnes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0