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mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, however, there were 2 things I didn't particularly like, I will get to that in the later part of the review. First let me talk about the things the book did right.
I loved our main character. He is grieving for his mother, who died 2 months ago after a long struggle to fight cancer. I thought it was pretty convincing. Especially considering how hard his mom fought against the cancer, how (at least our main character) thought they would get through this, they would win this battle. That is the evil thing about cancer, it can go away, and then come back even nastier than before.
Our main character is left alone the world. His mother died to cancer, his father to an accident years ago, his sister left home years ago. His girlfriend (urgh I hated her) dumped him for no reason and as you can see his life isn't the best thing. So what do you do when your life sucks? You try to find out answers and go to the one place your mom went to often for treatments. Your apartment in Japan. I really loved how he tried to find out answers, talking to people about things, finding out about his mom, about the cancer. And some of the answers were painful, they hurt our main character and they broke him. But also thanks to these answers he can now start a new life. Either in Japan or L.A (rich kid, seriously).
Now more about the main character. Like I said, he was wonderful. Unlike many male POV books I was convinced the one talking to me in this book was a guy. Normally I am either not sure or the book is written in a way that makes it seem like it is more a girl talking to me. So yay for that!
I loved Japan, I am a big anime/manga lover and interested in Japan/Japanese culture. The fact there would be a Japan setting in this book made me want to read it, and I am not disappointed. There is lots of details, and while at times I was rolling my eyes at our main character, it still wasn't that bad with how he acted. A bit awkward was that our author described the fashion scene so detailed, at times I was a bit doubting our masculine main character.
But I loved that he took his time to also learn the language. If you are going to live there it is a good thing he is trying his best to learn.
I loved that we slowly get our answers to all the questions of the main character. It is not instantly BAM, but slowly we get answers (and also more questions).
Now for the things I didn't like.
All the rich boy stuff. So he has a house (paid and everything)? An apartment in Japan? His stuff and dog come with a private jet? And various other things. It was just not believable and it annoyed me.
Then we have the biggest thing that I hated and I wished was just erased from the book. Holland. Dear Lord, I hated that girl so much. Her attitude, her stupidity regarding stuff. For sake of spoilers I will continue to rant in spoiler tags, so no one will be spoiled.
I also didn't think he should have gotten back together with her. What will she hide from you next? Her next pregnancy? Her mystery lover? Her sickness? Sorry, I wouldn't trust her again, and I would say nope to anything that says let's get together. I would forgive her, and look at said photographs of the baby, but that is all.
I didn't like that this was added in a book about grieving, about cancer. I think the book would have been a wonderful 5 stars if this annoying sub-plot hadn't been added.
But if we ignore Holland it is a pretty good book. Sadly, Holland is in here, so I won't recommend the book. Even with the pretty and shiny 4 stars, I don't want people to go through this book with the same Oh God It Is Holland Again feelings.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I loved our main character. He is grieving for his mother, who died 2 months ago after a long struggle to fight cancer. I thought it was pretty convincing. Especially considering how hard his mom fought against the cancer, how (at least our main character) thought they would get through this, they would win this battle. That is the evil thing about cancer, it can go away, and then come back even nastier than before.
Our main character is left alone the world. His mother died to cancer, his father to an accident years ago, his sister left home years ago. His girlfriend (urgh I hated her) dumped him for no reason and as you can see his life isn't the best thing. So what do you do when your life sucks? You try to find out answers and go to the one place your mom went to often for treatments. Your apartment in Japan. I really loved how he tried to find out answers, talking to people about things, finding out about his mom, about the cancer. And some of the answers were painful, they hurt our main character and they broke him. But also thanks to these answers he can now start a new life. Either in Japan or L.A (rich kid, seriously).
Now more about the main character. Like I said, he was wonderful. Unlike many male POV books I was convinced the one talking to me in this book was a guy. Normally I am either not sure or the book is written in a way that makes it seem like it is more a girl talking to me. So yay for that!
I loved Japan, I am a big anime/manga lover and interested in Japan/Japanese culture. The fact there would be a Japan setting in this book made me want to read it, and I am not disappointed. There is lots of details, and while at times I was rolling my eyes at our main character, it still wasn't that bad with how he acted. A bit awkward was that our author described the fashion scene so detailed, at times I was a bit doubting our masculine main character.
But I loved that he took his time to also learn the language. If you are going to live there it is a good thing he is trying his best to learn.
I loved that we slowly get our answers to all the questions of the main character. It is not instantly BAM, but slowly we get answers (and also more questions).
Now for the things I didn't like.
All the rich boy stuff. So he has a house (paid and everything)? An apartment in Japan? His stuff and dog come with a private jet? And various other things. It was just not believable and it annoyed me.
Then we have the biggest thing that I hated and I wished was just erased from the book. Holland. Dear Lord, I hated that girl so much. Her attitude, her stupidity regarding stuff. For sake of spoilers I will continue to rant in spoiler tags, so no one will be spoiled.
Spoiler
So miss Holland gets pregnant (how, is a magical mystery, I know that the pill + I may hope condom (if used) is not a 100% safety guarantee, but sorry, it is a bit too lucky to get pregnant, the chances of that are so so so fricking slim it is scary. And then what do you do? You don't tell your boyfriend you are pregnant. No of course not. Let's just keep it silent and hope he MAGICALLY *rolls eyes* gets the hint when you want to talk to him a lot. Oh and of course just break it up when said baby dies and all that. God, that girl was so idiotic, so stupid. I don't fricking care that she was probably doing her little bittle best to tell him. SHE DIDN'T DO HER BEST. He is her boyfriend, he is her love of her life, you don't treat people like that like shit. And you are fricking 18, you should have a slight responsibility in regards to things like this. I can imagine this happening when one is a 13 or 15 year old girl, but an 18 year old, then you should just tell him. You love him, don't you? Then be honest. The way he had to find out now is just low, sad and no.I also didn't think he should have gotten back together with her. What will she hide from you next? Her next pregnancy? Her mystery lover? Her sickness? Sorry, I wouldn't trust her again, and I would say nope to anything that says let's get together. I would forgive her, and look at said photographs of the baby, but that is all.
I didn't like that this was added in a book about grieving, about cancer. I think the book would have been a wonderful 5 stars if this annoying sub-plot hadn't been added.
But if we ignore Holland it is a pretty good book. Sadly, Holland is in here, so I won't recommend the book. Even with the pretty and shiny 4 stars, I don't want people to go through this book with the same Oh God It Is Holland Again feelings.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
mollywetta's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a solid YA contemporary about grief and loss, and while perhaps not my favorite YA novel on this subject, it's one I'll recommend. Full review at wrapped up in books.
steph01924's review against another edition
5.0
Really great book! Had me crying throughout the entire thing, but it was a hurts-so-good cry. Whitney has a way with words. Danny Kellerman was a great character. Definitely want to read more from her!
reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Daisy Whitney's first novel The Mockingbirds so much that she's become an auto-read. When You Were Here is very different from The Mockingbirds and its sequel The Rivals but just as good if not better.
When You Were Here is not an easy read. It's not that it's overly complex, but rather that it's not the happiest book. When you Were Here is principally about grief. Danny's mother has just died. The synopsis gives this idea that there's a big mystery over what his mother did in Japan during her last days. And there is a mystery of sorts, but that's not what will stay with me of this book.
Daisy Whitney makes grief feel palpable. She does a wonderful job of getting the reader into Danny's head and making our hearts explode in pain as we turn the pages. Danny handles his grief just how I'd expect an 18 year old boy to do. He's angry. He's desperately sad, but doesn't know how to express it so he retreats into himself. A lot of this is hard to read. And Danny doesn't always come off that well, as many people dealing with a tragic even don't. But you get the sense that Danny is a really good guy. Nice. Dependable. Smart. Friendly. The type that you'd be proud to bring home to your parents. It's just that the grief has overtaken him for awhile.
Japan is good for Danny. The change of scenery and people starts to turn him back into himself, albeit a post-mom version. A lot of this lightness is due to his new friend Kana. She's a quirky, smiley teenage girl. A lot of people have described her as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl and I suppose that descriptor fits (I don't associate MPDGs with the negative connotations that many do). Even better, she's just a friend. Danny is so besotted with his ex-girlfriend that a new romance with Kana would feel like a love triangle. It's nice to have a boy/girl friendship that isn't complicated.
Japan is also good for the reader. You get such a good feel for Tokyo. The culture. The scenery. The food. It makes me want to go back there. Especially since I was only in Tokyo for a day and didn't get the feel of it like I did with other parts of Japan. If you have any interest in Japanese culture, you will love this book.
As the book unfolds, you get a better idea of Danny's mother and Holland, the girl who broke his heart. In other words, there is a plot. And I liked it. But I'm speaking in such vague platitudes, because the story is the least important part of the book. It's Danny, his grief, and his gradual healing that will last.
When You Were Here is a fabulous book. It is a sad, difficult read that will send you to a dark place. But by the end it will lift you up to a place where you'll feel - not joy necessarily - but contentment and understanding.
Rating: 4 / 5
When You Were Here is not an easy read. It's not that it's overly complex, but rather that it's not the happiest book. When you Were Here is principally about grief. Danny's mother has just died. The synopsis gives this idea that there's a big mystery over what his mother did in Japan during her last days. And there is a mystery of sorts, but that's not what will stay with me of this book.
Daisy Whitney makes grief feel palpable. She does a wonderful job of getting the reader into Danny's head and making our hearts explode in pain as we turn the pages. Danny handles his grief just how I'd expect an 18 year old boy to do. He's angry. He's desperately sad, but doesn't know how to express it so he retreats into himself. A lot of this is hard to read. And Danny doesn't always come off that well, as many people dealing with a tragic even don't. But you get the sense that Danny is a really good guy. Nice. Dependable. Smart. Friendly. The type that you'd be proud to bring home to your parents. It's just that the grief has overtaken him for awhile.
Japan is good for Danny. The change of scenery and people starts to turn him back into himself, albeit a post-mom version. A lot of this lightness is due to his new friend Kana. She's a quirky, smiley teenage girl. A lot of people have described her as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl and I suppose that descriptor fits (I don't associate MPDGs with the negative connotations that many do). Even better, she's just a friend. Danny is so besotted with his ex-girlfriend that a new romance with Kana would feel like a love triangle. It's nice to have a boy/girl friendship that isn't complicated.
Japan is also good for the reader. You get such a good feel for Tokyo. The culture. The scenery. The food. It makes me want to go back there. Especially since I was only in Tokyo for a day and didn't get the feel of it like I did with other parts of Japan. If you have any interest in Japanese culture, you will love this book.
As the book unfolds, you get a better idea of Danny's mother and Holland, the girl who broke his heart. In other words, there is a plot. And I liked it. But I'm speaking in such vague platitudes, because the story is the least important part of the book. It's Danny, his grief, and his gradual healing that will last.
When You Were Here is a fabulous book. It is a sad, difficult read that will send you to a dark place. But by the end it will lift you up to a place where you'll feel - not joy necessarily - but contentment and understanding.
Rating: 4 / 5
belladonna230622's review against another edition
2.0
Just not to my taste but I can see why a lot of people would like it
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
This smart, honest book is less about death than about finding meaning in life, and while it is often quite sad, it's not depressing to read in the slightest. Danny is a likeable character in an unbearable situation, having lost everyone who matters to him over the course of recent years. As he desperately searches for meaning and for a way to feel again, he discovers important truths about his late mother, about the other important people in his life, and about himself as well.
I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and the setting. The story flows, and is touching and believable.
My full review is up at http://wp.me/p2B4Be-1gv.
I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and the setting. The story flows, and is touching and believable.
My full review is up at http://wp.me/p2B4Be-1gv.
mfumarolo's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 if I'm honest, but I'll round up to 4 stars =)
Real review coming soon, but my initial thoughts are mostly positive. Whitney takes readers on an emotional journey and has a gift for painting a story. I loved the Tokyo setting and especially Danny's best friend Kana. Sometimes a few of the situations felt like too-much, but all was tied together satisfactoraly. All in all, a worthwhile read and another stellar story from this author.
Real review coming soon, but my initial thoughts are mostly positive. Whitney takes readers on an emotional journey and has a gift for painting a story. I loved the Tokyo setting and especially Danny's best friend Kana. Sometimes a few of the situations felt like too-much, but all was tied together satisfactoraly. All in all, a worthwhile read and another stellar story from this author.
nagam's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really loved this male character, Danny. I enjoyed Daisy's writing, but did feel a bit jolted when there was a big turn of events. It certainly made the story interesting and caught me off guard, which I appreciated.
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Review originally published on Rather Be Reading:
Very, very thankfully I haven’t had to work through a parental loss. I can’t imagine what Danny must have been feeling when at 18, he finds himself without both parents. His father passed away after a freak accident in Japan a few years prior. Present day he’s reeling from the loss of his mother who passed away after a long battle with cancer, one month shy of his high school graduation. Further complicating his family dynamic, he and his (adopted, older) sister aren’t necessarily on good terms. Understandably, Danny is feeling very alone and lost.
He would turn to his best friend Holland for help and a listening ear, but Danny started dating her last year and then she completely cut off communication shortly after leaving for college. Even though she’s back home for the summer, things just aren’t the same. Danny and Holland can easily slip back into their witty banter, but Danny feels guarded because he’s still deeply in love with Holland. Without answers and a huge helping of honesty, he just can’t let things go back to the way they were.
To clear his mind, let go of Holland, and seek answers to burning questions he’s got about his mom’s passing, Danny takes off for Tokyo. His parents owned a house there and they frequently visited as a family. Danny’s mom visited Tokyo often throughout her last months for treatment and he feels speaking to her doctor will give him peace about why she couldn’t make it one more month to see him walk across the stage. He also must decide what to do with their family condo now that he’s inherited it. Kana, daughter of their property’s landlord, becomes his tour guide as he follows in his mother’s last footsteps.
When You Were Here was full of absolutely all of my favorite things — a deep, emotional story, shocking twists and turns that left me needing to collect my thoughts, and a journey to a new place that made me want to catch the first flight to Tokyo. Whitney’s writing was as beautiful as ever, and Danny’s voice was so spot on. He was full of humor that he used to protect himself from feeling all the pain he was going through. He was confused and in need of someone to protect him from more bad things happening.
There’s a major, major plot twist that made me gasp when I read through the scene. HOLY CRAP! — I was so stunned and silenced. I needed time to walk away and think about how I felt. Guys, that doesn’t happen often. Whitney made me feel like Danny’s life was real and I was being asked to lend a helping hand or offer advice. Hopefully you’ll feel the same protectiveness over Danny that I did; after I closed the book, I felt this spoke volumes for Whitney’s writing — she has an uncanny ability to make me want to take care of all her characters. (I felt the same way when I read The Mockingbirds.)
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Review originally published on Rather Be Reading:
Very, very thankfully I haven’t had to work through a parental loss. I can’t imagine what Danny must have been feeling when at 18, he finds himself without both parents. His father passed away after a freak accident in Japan a few years prior. Present day he’s reeling from the loss of his mother who passed away after a long battle with cancer, one month shy of his high school graduation. Further complicating his family dynamic, he and his (adopted, older) sister aren’t necessarily on good terms. Understandably, Danny is feeling very alone and lost.
He would turn to his best friend Holland for help and a listening ear, but Danny started dating her last year and then she completely cut off communication shortly after leaving for college. Even though she’s back home for the summer, things just aren’t the same. Danny and Holland can easily slip back into their witty banter, but Danny feels guarded because he’s still deeply in love with Holland. Without answers and a huge helping of honesty, he just can’t let things go back to the way they were.
To clear his mind, let go of Holland, and seek answers to burning questions he’s got about his mom’s passing, Danny takes off for Tokyo. His parents owned a house there and they frequently visited as a family. Danny’s mom visited Tokyo often throughout her last months for treatment and he feels speaking to her doctor will give him peace about why she couldn’t make it one more month to see him walk across the stage. He also must decide what to do with their family condo now that he’s inherited it. Kana, daughter of their property’s landlord, becomes his tour guide as he follows in his mother’s last footsteps.
When You Were Here was full of absolutely all of my favorite things — a deep, emotional story, shocking twists and turns that left me needing to collect my thoughts, and a journey to a new place that made me want to catch the first flight to Tokyo. Whitney’s writing was as beautiful as ever, and Danny’s voice was so spot on. He was full of humor that he used to protect himself from feeling all the pain he was going through. He was confused and in need of someone to protect him from more bad things happening.
There’s a major, major plot twist that made me gasp when I read through the scene. HOLY CRAP! — I was so stunned and silenced. I needed time to walk away and think about how I felt. Guys, that doesn’t happen often. Whitney made me feel like Danny’s life was real and I was being asked to lend a helping hand or offer advice. Hopefully you’ll feel the same protectiveness over Danny that I did; after I closed the book, I felt this spoke volumes for Whitney’s writing — she has an uncanny ability to make me want to take care of all her characters. (I felt the same way when I read The Mockingbirds.)
aneeqah's review against another edition
4.0
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
I seriously can't think of a better way to start of the new year.
Full review to come.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
I seriously can't think of a better way to start of the new year.
Full review to come.