There's a theme to my reviews this week. I just happened to read three books about love and loss -- or "grief books" as some people call them, but I like "love and loss" better!
Today's book ....
First Comes Love
by Katie Kacvinsky
Published by: Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Children's
On May 8, 2012
Source: traded with another blogger
Content: characters are more mature than in the typical YA (post high-school) and some of the content reflects that.
My summary: After a tragedy, Gray is quiet and serious. He meets Dylan, who is impulsive and optimistic. Can Dylan force Gray to come out of his shell and embrace life? Will Gray ever be able to pin free-spirited Dylan into a relationship, or will he get his heart broken twice?
My take: This book was a refreshing change for me. It's a short, simple story of two people and their relationship. There aren't a lot of dramatic plot events, no huge cast of characters, no paranormal elements or shocking twists, and I liked that. Two people fall in love, slowly and realistically, and then have to face the "happily ever after" part of their relationship. Can they make it work?
I don't want to say too much about Gray, because his story unfolds slowly in the book. But after a tragic event, he's sleepwalking through life. He resists Dylan at first, then realizes that he feels awake and alive for the first time in his life.
I loved the fact that this book didn't just focus on the falling in love aspect of a relationship. As the title indicates, First Comes Love also looks at the making love work part. Opposites may attract, but can they last for the long haul?
Dylan is one of those quirky girls, like Holly Golightly, Annie Hall or Stargirl. While I liked Dylan as a character, this book didn't really delve very deeply into what made her tick. That's the tricky thing about free spirited characters -- they seem fully formed because they're so vivid, but often, like in real life, they're also hiding something. Holly Golightly had a whole tragic past that she was trying to forget about with her wacky escapades. I bet Dylan is like that, and I would have liked to find out more.
And there was one more loose end. Boba. What happened to Boba?
But all in all, I found this book a very touching and enjoyable read. If you love contemporaries, love stories, and/or books that make you tear up -- try First Comes Love.
And check out my other two Love and Loss books, In Honor and Second Chance Summer. I'll be reviewing those later this week, and also Golden Lily by Richelle Mead.
Today's book ....
by Katie Kacvinsky
Published by: Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Children's
On May 8, 2012
Source: traded with another blogger
Content: characters are more mature than in the typical YA (post high-school) and some of the content reflects that.
My summary: After a tragedy, Gray is quiet and serious. He meets Dylan, who is impulsive and optimistic. Can Dylan force Gray to come out of his shell and embrace life? Will Gray ever be able to pin free-spirited Dylan into a relationship, or will he get his heart broken twice?
My take: This book was a refreshing change for me. It's a short, simple story of two people and their relationship. There aren't a lot of dramatic plot events, no huge cast of characters, no paranormal elements or shocking twists, and I liked that. Two people fall in love, slowly and realistically, and then have to face the "happily ever after" part of their relationship. Can they make it work?
I don't want to say too much about Gray, because his story unfolds slowly in the book. But after a tragic event, he's sleepwalking through life. He resists Dylan at first, then realizes that he feels awake and alive for the first time in his life.
I loved the fact that this book didn't just focus on the falling in love aspect of a relationship. As the title indicates, First Comes Love also looks at the making love work part. Opposites may attract, but can they last for the long haul?
Dylan is one of those quirky girls, like Holly Golightly, Annie Hall or Stargirl. While I liked Dylan as a character, this book didn't really delve very deeply into what made her tick. That's the tricky thing about free spirited characters -- they seem fully formed because they're so vivid, but often, like in real life, they're also hiding something. Holly Golightly had a whole tragic past that she was trying to forget about with her wacky escapades. I bet Dylan is like that, and I would have liked to find out more.
And there was one more loose end. Boba. What happened to Boba?
But all in all, I found this book a very touching and enjoyable read. If you love contemporaries, love stories, and/or books that make you tear up -- try First Comes Love.
And check out my other two Love and Loss books, In Honor and Second Chance Summer. I'll be reviewing those later this week, and also Golden Lily by Richelle Mead.
Tell me in comments about a book that made you tear up, cry, or sob uncontrollably!!
Where She Went...love that book.
ReplyDeleteLOL -- I picked up Where She Went at Barnes and Noble right after it came out. Stood there in the store reading a few pages and then was crying and had to hurry and buy the book and leave because people were staring at me.
DeleteGreat review. I loved her book, Awaken, and I am really looking forward to Middle Ground. She is a great writer. I have been wondering about this one. It sounds like it's a great book. A book that made me cry was Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. OMG that book was intense. I am an emotional reader though, but really, that book had me doing the ugly cry.
ReplyDeleteThis was really different from Awaken. I thought the characters in this book were much stronger.
DeleteI'm so emotional. I cry at practically every book. But the books that left me balling my eyes out hyperventilating where I couldn't even eat or sleep for days were The Host, The Time Traveler's Wife, Shade, Shift, Where She Went, Succubus Dreams, Before I Fall, Delirium, and Saving June. Had I known what was going to happen in half of those books I wouldn't have even read them lol I'm now way more careful about reading anything sad because those were seriously depressing.
ReplyDeleteYou might not cry in this one. But the next two in my series .... watch out!
DeleteGreat review - thanks! I first heard about First Comes Love last week. At first I was a little unsure if it would be my kind of book. I love your review though so I think I'll give it a try!
ReplyDeleteI'll be giving it away on my next Freebie Friday -- June 1, so stop by!
DeleteThanks for the review! I've been wondering about this one too. The cover is so emotionally strong and I wasn't quite sure what it was trying to portray. It's on my tbr list now. There have been a lot of books that have made me cry. One that was super emotional that I read a couple months ago was Softly And Tenderly by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck. It's a Christian read, but not overly so. I can't read too many sad books because they affect my mood and with four kids I need to be happy. ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, if you have any content questions about this one, let me know. I didn't want to go into detail because of spoilers!!
DeleteI am looking forward to reading this one! For some reason I like my contemps to be about love and loss quite a bit. LOL I read One Moment and really loved that one. Looking forward to hearing about Second Chance Summer and In Honor, both books I am dying to read! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that some people are excited about my theme. I didn't want everyone to be like, "Oh, buzzkill." I like the weepy books! And with Memorial Day coming up, I thought this theme was perfect.
DeleteNot a buzkill at all! I might not want to read sad books all the time, but if a book can strike a chord with you and be so powerful it brings you to tears (sad or happy) that's saying something!
DeleteI don't like depressing books (i.e. the world is a crappy, bleak place and there is no hope) but I do really enjoy sad, poignant ones!
Deleteooh, have you read/reviewed The Secret Year? it would fit for this theme! ;) so would If I Stay/Where She Went, but I see people have already commented about that. :)
ReplyDeletegreat review! this one definitely intrigues me.
Ashelynn @ gypsy book reviews.
I have never read Secret Year and always wanted to. That's about the secret boyfriend of the girl who died, right? Going to put that on my summer reading list...
DeleteThis one sounds intersting, for sure!
ReplyDeleteI don't cry too often at books (possibly because I try to avoid the ones that look like they'll totally tear my heart out, hehe), but the one that really, really stands out in memory as a 'tear jerker' was Pegasus by Robin McKinley (yeah, I'm the weird one, haha). The ending - it slays me! Ah!!
I have never read that book!!
DeleteOne that really got me was Dear John by Nicholas Sparks.. I was sad for a couple hours after reading the dang book lol
ReplyDeleteI have still never read one of his books but I have heard that they are really sad!
Deletetoo sad. After reading a few, I just decided to put away his books. Too depressing! lol
DeleteI will be getting this book very soon!
ReplyDeleteA book that made me cry (sob) was The Fault in Our Stars. I know there are a bunch of others, but that book will always be one of my favorites.
Yay -- let me know what you think!!!
DeleteUh, I tend to cry over a LOT of books, it's kind of embarrassing actually. Two books that first come to mind that made me totally lose it would be The Fault in Our Stars (yeah, I was a big old snotty mess after that one) and Saving Francesca (not sad tears, more like "that is the most touching thing I have ever read, I love this book SO much" kind of tears:)
ReplyDeleteI love quiet books that pack a punch. This sounds like that type of read. And yay! for Breakfast at Tiffany references:))
Yeah TFiOS was so sad. And I knew it would be!!
DeleteBreakfast at Tiffany is such a great book. I mean, I love the movie too, but the book is so much sadder and darker.
Last night I was totally sobbing while I read the end of Where Things Come Back. And then when I got to the end, even though it was past midnight and I had to be up at 5, I flipped back through so I could try to decide what the end meant. Oh man.
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally forgot to actually comment on the review... I want to read this. I like love and loss books, although I need them in doses. I couldn't read them all the time. I really liked Twenty Boy Summer and Looking For Alaska.
DeleteI have to say that I really had no interest to read this book, but after reading your review, I've added it to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteAnd for some reason I really don't cry when reading books or watching movies. I think I can count on one hand the number of movies that have made me cry. I don't mind crying, but I just don't cry at movies or books very often. I know I've cried at a few books but I can't even think which ones they were. Maybe The Fault in Our Stars, but I don't think that even made me cry... Hmmm... I guess I'm weird. ;)
If I stay by Gayle made me cry!
ReplyDeleteI now have MOON RIVER running through my head.
ReplyDeleteI have a better understanding of Dylan because of the Holy Golightly comparison.
I prefer LOVE & LOSS over grief.
Love Holly!!
DeleteI actually have the soundtrack for Breakfast at Tiffany's. LOL!
I'm really torn about this book. I've heard it's good but like you said, Dylan has little growth and she is the typical manic pixie girl. I feel like I might have lived this in high school. Maube I'm not ready to go back there? :) But in general I do enjoy these kinds of books. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteOkay, the phrase "manic pixie girl" just made me crack up.
DeleteThose kind of characters often seem underdeveloped to me. Or just one-note.
The thing about Dylan was that she started out being exactly what Gray needed (someone with joie de vivre) and then she was exactly what he didn't need (someone who can't stay in one place). So that interested me....
Okay, that changes things up. This could end on the TBR. I am inching toward yes...
DeleteGreat -- they'll all be up for grabs in Freebie Friday on June 1!
DeleteI am totally gonna have to read this now. I like that it's a small book too! You did an awesome review for this one Jen. Really outdid yourself! :) Let's see...a book that made me cry....can't think of any atm but I know there has been many. Pretty much each and every Nicholas Sparks book! LOL
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I'd never read a Nicholas Sparks book. But I met him and he has called me sweetheart. Or sweetie. Or darling. I forget which it was LOL.
DeleteI've wanted to read this since I saw another review a couple weeks ago! It looks really good.
ReplyDeleteI just read The Fault in Our Stars and... there was massive amounts of crying.