A review by em_brebs
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

3.0

This book surprised me in how much I enjoyed it. I couldn't exactly put a finger on it. However, the point is that this was one of those books where you try to read slowly so as to be able to read it for as long as possible. I also really loved the relationships in the book; Sam and Nick, Erin and Pastor Charlie, Sam and Vanessa, Sam and Pastor Charlie, Jody and Nick, Sam and her mother, Pastor Charlie and his wife. The list goes on and on, and I think that each of the character relationships were handled with extreme care, and written quite well.

Spoiler

I really liked the way that the relationship between Pastor Charlie and Erin was handled. I thought that not having the big, dramatic confrontation that the reader was craving, was actually a really valuable interesting way to go about that. I really loved Nick and Sam's relationship, I thought that it was a little unrealistic but heartfelt and touching all the same. On a similar note, at the end where Jody just came out of the woods, I liked that ending to an extent, but it was unrealistic. However, I think that it showed Sam's desperation really well and I thought that it was a good ending all the same.

87% overall.