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brandypainter's review
4.0
Set in the same town as [b:Don't Date Rosa Santos|41717246|Don't Date Rosa Santos|Nina Moreno|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538424422l/41717246._SY75_.jpg|59507842] with some crossover characters, Our Way Back to Always definitely stands on its own. I actually enjoyed this one much more than Moreno's first YA. The premise of the book really worked for me. Two childhood friends who grew apart due to middle school romantic misunderstandings and different lives coming together again to complete a bucket list they had made as children. The book spans the entirety of their senior year with many time jumps, yet the story felt consistent and had a flow. I loved both the individual character development of Lou and Sam and how they grew back into each other over their course of the year. I also really appreciated both of their families and best friends as well. While a romance, at its core this is really a story about the need for community in both good and bad times.
cocopurplebooks's review
3.0
After reading that horrible “Kiss The Sky” book off the Addicted series, I had a bit of a reading slump. I spent time reading some mangas but I wanted to read an actually full length novel again so I picked up this. I’m glad that I did because this was great. Lou and Sam had me cheesing to myself. They were cute.
I didn’t know this book was like a spiritual sequel to the novel “Don’t date Rosa Santos”. Rosa was mentioned quite a bit and I was like “who is Rosa?” Luckily, I didn’t need to read that book in order to enjoy this. This was your typical ya romance book about childhood friends who grew apart and are now reunited. This time a fun bucket list is the reason why the former friends are teaming up. The reason why Lou and Sam stopped being friends felt really petty to me especially when they were able to go back to being friends again after years of not speaking.
As much as I like this book, I felt like the first half of the book was better written and more enjoyable. The miscommunication between the leads got annoying after a while and I wished we got a few chapters of them dating. I mean they kissed a couple of times throughout the novel but still act scared to talk about their feelings. Because I shipped them so much, I found myself getting a bit frustrated by the lack of progress. But the author does an amazing job with writing about Sam’s grief in terms of losing his father and Lou’s insecurities about being second best/not being good enough. The bucket list was cute and I couldn’t stop smiling when Lou got serenaded by Sam. Overall, a fun and cute fluffy story.
I didn’t know this book was like a spiritual sequel to the novel “Don’t date Rosa Santos”. Rosa was mentioned quite a bit and I was like “who is Rosa?” Luckily, I didn’t need to read that book in order to enjoy this. This was your typical ya romance book about childhood friends who grew apart and are now reunited. This time a fun bucket list is the reason why the former friends are teaming up. The reason why Lou and Sam stopped being friends felt really petty to me especially when they were able to go back to being friends again after years of not speaking.
As much as I like this book, I felt like the first half of the book was better written and more enjoyable. The miscommunication between the leads got annoying after a while and I wished we got a few chapters of them dating. I mean they kissed a couple of times throughout the novel but still act scared to talk about their feelings. Because I shipped them so much, I found myself getting a bit frustrated by the lack of progress. But the author does an amazing job with writing about Sam’s grief in terms of losing his father and Lou’s insecurities about being second best/not being good enough. The bucket list was cute and I couldn’t stop smiling when Lou got serenaded by Sam. Overall, a fun and cute fluffy story.
themaritimereader14's review
3.0
I devoured this book on audio and it was delightful. The characters were great, the plot moved quickly, the teenage romance aspect was fun (second chance -ish!) and I liked the narration as well. If you enjoy a good coming of age story and the concept of discovering who you're meant to become (in a teenage point of view), this could be a fun book. Thank you to Hachette Audio for the gifted audiobook.
caylieratzlaff's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this. 5/5 stars. Chefs kiss. I binged this in an entire evening because I couldn't put it down. ALL OF THE SWOONS. OH MY GOD.
I need a Sam in my life. Golden boy. Musician. Band geek. SWEET. and SENSITIVE. oh my god. Look, this is an october release, but this is the perfect YA feel good romcom for any time of the year with summer vibes, winter vibes, all the way to their graduation. Lou is an amazing representation of latinx with ADHD (which she talks about in detail and I love that it's not a part of the plot but it still is mentioned and is who she is) and Sam is representing the grief cycle and the burden of intergenerational trauma (well, both of them are).
But the SWOONS. I am a sucker for a good "we used to be friends but now we don't talk" story, but I wasn't expecting it to be like "oh we haven't talked in 5 years but now I'm going to have forced proximity to him in his truck because I need a ride and we're neighbors" and by that point...which wasn't even further than chapter 1 in the book...I was hooked.
AND THEN WE GET TO THE BUCKET LIST. AND THEN THE ONE ITEM ON THE BUCKET LIST...
And of course, we have the YA Angst but honestly...like...I couldn't put it down. I laughed. I was like the SWOONS. And I cried. It's a good one y'all.
I need a Sam in my life. Golden boy. Musician. Band geek. SWEET. and SENSITIVE. oh my god. Look, this is an october release, but this is the perfect YA feel good romcom for any time of the year with summer vibes, winter vibes, all the way to their graduation. Lou is an amazing representation of latinx with ADHD (which she talks about in detail and I love that it's not a part of the plot but it still is mentioned and is who she is) and Sam is representing the grief cycle and the burden of intergenerational trauma (well, both of them are).
But the SWOONS. I am a sucker for a good "we used to be friends but now we don't talk" story, but I wasn't expecting it to be like "oh we haven't talked in 5 years but now I'm going to have forced proximity to him in his truck because I need a ride and we're neighbors" and by that point...which wasn't even further than chapter 1 in the book...I was hooked.
AND THEN WE GET TO THE BUCKET LIST. AND THEN THE ONE ITEM ON THE BUCKET LIST...
Spoiler
YOU KNOW where Lou is like oh wow I've never been kissed so we should practice and then his heart is beating and then they make out and I'm like b r u h we still have like 3/4 of the book to go so I know the angst is going to be realAnd of course, we have the YA Angst but honestly...like...I couldn't put it down. I laughed. I was like the SWOONS. And I cried. It's a good one y'all.
audrabeaty's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
4.25
zeina17's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
lucetheguce's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75
dovesnook's review
4.0
A little hidden gem 💕. I loved this so so so so much and I’m excited to finally have read it after having it in my collection for a while! Pulled at every heartstring. This really had it all, from family relations to dealing with grief and first love. Such an adorable coming-of-age story. Lou and Sam were amazing characters and idk idk idk like I can’t say enough good about them! It was also nice to see how people can succeed in different ways because life is different for everyone.