Reviews with content warning for Grief - The Boy Who Steals Houses

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews

4 reviews

bookcheshirecat's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

“He's officially taken house burglary to the next level. Forget stealing a bed, a key, a home for the night. He's stealing families and their Sunday lunches.”

➽ I finally read The Boy Who Steals Houses and really enjoyed it! I loved the author's blog and still remember when she talked about writing this project, so I was excited that it ended up getting published! It still took me a while to get around to reading it, as I knew this would be super sad and heartbreaking 😢 The premise is so intriguing, as it follows 15-year-old Sam who 'steals' houses as he dreams of having a real home one day. Abandoned by his abusive father and hated by his aunt, Sam doesn't have anywhere to stay. He breaks into empty houses when people are away on vacation or have moved out. Sam doesn't have anyone left except for his older brother Avery, who is autistic and struggling to hold onto his mechanic job. Both of them are underage, but had to leave their aunt's home, as she didn't want them and was horribly ableist to Avery.

➽ I really felt for Sam. He's always had to take care of his brother, as most adults just tried to 'fix' Avery instead of helping him. Sam's always worried someone will take advantage of his brother because he often misses social cues and can be too kind-hearted. There was a lot of love between the brothers, but also so much pain. It is a complicated relationship, as Sam feels responsible for fixing Avery's messes and often acts like the older brother. Meanwhile, Avery struggles with Sam starting fights for him, as it triggers bad memories. Throughout the book, Sam and Avery have very different ideas of what their future might look like, especially once Sam grows closer to the De Lainey family. I have to admit that I struggled with Avery sometimes as I felt like he took his brother's support for granted.

➽ I also loved the De Lainey family! Sam messes up and ends up sleeping in a house that's very much inhabiated, though very chaotic. Through sheer luck, he ends up growing closer to the other kids, as it's a big family and everyone assumes someone else invited him. Sam feels guilty, but it's so nice to enjoy a normal day and be part of a family. Without them, he's practically homeless and no one knows his past, so it feels like he has friends for the first time. The De Lainey family is messy and not perfect, but there is so much love there that draws in Sam like a beacon. I didn't really feel the romance between him and Moxie, but I liked their friendship! I was afraid Moxie would be too 'quirky' for me, but I liked that the story focused on her struggles with her family and grief for her mother. I felt for her conflicting emotions and frustration with always being delegated as the babysitter, just because she's the oldest girl.

Content Warnings

emeryyy's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful sad tense 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

5.0

ahhh i don't know what to say. it took me forever to start this, and then it took me way too long to finish this because of uni and finals (and an unfortunate incident where someone put the library book on hold before i was done with it lmao) but this was so good!! you know when you're not that far into a book but you can just *tell* you're going to love it? that's what happened

i think the best way to describe this book is "full of emotions." Sam and Avery deserved so much better 😭 i absolutely loved the relationships between the De Laineys - there was so much chaos and warmth, messiness and brightness. i haven't read very many books with autism rep (something i'm trying to fix), but i thought this was really well written

Content Warnings

melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sammy Lou has been on the hunt for one thing since he's been a little kid--a house for him and his autistic brother, Avery; a place they can be warm and safe and happy. But in the meantime, and without a family who will take care of them, Sammy is forced to steal houses until they save up enough money for their own. But when he steals into the De Lainey's house and accidentally spends the day with the chaotic family, everything changes for Sam.

I loved this book with every little piece of my heart. Sammy and Avery are such cinnamon roll characters and I just wanted to give them a mug of hot chocolate and wrap them in a blanket. I also love the De Lainey's, especially Moxie, Jeremy, and their father. What a sweet and wholesome family! And so realistic--not perfect, but perfect for Sam.

Ahh this book is so adorable. And very sad and troubling but also with rays of hope and happiness and humor and the writing is beautiful and I love love loved it so much!

Content Warnings

piperlee's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad 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

4.5

This book is a beautiful and heartbreaking exploration of the relationship between Sammy, a young house thief, and his older brother Avery, who is autistic, and how their need for each other shapes how they exist in their day to day life. Sammy is an “invisible boy” longing to be known and cared for like he does for his brother and in a way his parents refused to. When he accidentally comes across a messy, joyful family, he’s captivated by the feeling of belonging and realizes the rough life he was living before isn’t what he wants. As a sucker for all things found family and fierce sibling relationships, this novel kept me consistently invested in the stories of these two broken and lovable brothers and their search for safety.

Content Warnings

More...