That was extraordinary. ON COME ON! You knew I had to say that right?! But, honestly it was. I expected great things, because it sounds unique and feelsy and the cover is gorgeous (I’m shallow and don’t even deny it). And, yes, it delivered on my expectations. I learnt a lot about tuberculosis, got a little sniffly, and took copious photos because that gorgeous cover deserves to rule the world.
Basically it’s about two kids, Lane and Sadie, who go to Camp Latham to recover from tuberculosis. Humour, death, and pancakes ensue.
I really liked the writing! Like a lot. It was totally addictive and the voices were relatable and quirky.
Oh, and it’s funny. THE HUMOUR IS GOLD. It’s very self-deprecating (which is, in fact, my favourite kind) and the quips are funny and fast. Sure it’s a book about sickness and death, but they used jokes as a coping mechanism and it worked.
…which leads me to flail over…
THE CHARACTERS ARE ENTIRELY ADORABLE!! They’re all different and their dynamics are awesome. Plus they are flawed. GAWSH. Are they flawed. They’re insecure teenagers and facing death and making bad decisions and trying to cope — gah. I was so rooting for these sick adorable hooligans.
It’s dual narrated by Lane and Sadie. Which was fantastic to get both their points-of-view because they had such different personalities and outlooks. But let’s talk about ALL the characters, yes?
- LANE: He’s an utter workaholic. Everything in his life is FOCUSED, everything is PURPOSED. He’s always studying to get into The College Of Awesome. He never lives life, basically. And he’s totally sweet and nerdy and smart. I was quite a workaholic in school and my little sister totally is, so I quite related to Lane. Particularly his “how do I turn off and relax” quandary. ME TOO.
- SADIE: She’s spunky and brash and breaks the rules and doesn’t care. A total bright light in a room of grey. I liked Sadie. She’s very insecure and internalises conflict instead of talking it out, and, annoyingly, she sucks at communication. She makes herself into a burrito of sadness and marinates alone, basically.
- NICK: He’s Indian and, well, kind of an alcoholic. But I’ll talk more about that in a second. He’s the goofy, BFF of Sadie and HE LURVES HER. She doesn’t love him. Tragedy.
- MARINA: To be honest, as soon as I shut this book, I forgot her name. She was there but she wasn’t even there, you know? I honestly felt Marina was only there so Sadie wasn’t surrounded by boys. Her friendship with Sadie didn’t seem to run very deep. Marina’s African-American.
- CHARLIE: He was the skinny, sad, artistic, sickest one, so I was suspicious of him from the beginning. I mean, it’s a book about DYING and the author introduces the sickest character. I didn’t get very attached to him because a) he was barley around, and b) he looked like he was going to drop off so I kept my distance.
But we have to talk about the whole let’s-run-off-into-the-woods-and-get-hoplessly-drunk-because-heck-yeah-we’re-teens-and-yeah-we’re-seriously-sick-but-probably-invincible-so-let’s-live-while-we-can. Stupid. Utterly stupid. I get the whole “I’m invincible” mantra, and YES, probably most teens have it. (I did not.) But it still threw me because they’re at a camp designed to help them recuperate, but yet they risk their precarious health to drink?? The book touched on the “you need to live life” message, but getting drunk IS NOT LIVING. Stupid and selfish. I really didn’t understand why the characters did this AT ALL.
Okay, and the ending?!! WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE ENDING. I was expecting to be really hit in the feels. I was expecting death. And to be honest? It played out exactly as I predicted. When I started it, I picked which characters would die — and I was 100% right. I didn’t predict the “HOWS” right and it was still insanely sad and tragic and YEAH I KINDA AM A POTATO OF SADNESS RIGHT NOW. But, because I predicted it, I didn’t get stung with any intense emotions Although I am Vulcan. So tears are unusual for me anyhow.
Let’s talk a little about the deaths, yes?? DON’T OPEN THESE SPOILERS UNLESS YOU WANT ALL RUINED, DUH.
Ohhhh, the author’s note is a MUST READ. I love author’s notes in gernal, but this one just cemented my love for the book because a) the author is a bioethicist and has study all of this deeply, b) the strain of TB in the book is fake, but the symptoms/results are real so I learnt thingies, c) it originally started as a vampire book (!!) and turned into a unique, meltable contemporary. And the acknowledgments?! I’M CRYING. They were so epic. Robyn Schneider totally doesn’t thank Tumblr and Netflix for distracting her. I’m a writer, so this author just became 1000% relatable. And she also confesses she originally thought this book was a “pile of potato salad”. And that is adorable.
Anyway, I loved it and it was totally bittersweet and fantastic. I totally saw John Green in it (particularly Looking for Alaska for the boarding-school vibe and The Fault in Our Stars for the illness part. Mash those books together and VOILA. You have Extraordinary Means). I shall go away now and be extraordinarily sad and also maybe wave this book in my sister in the face until she reads it because it’s so good and I want to share.
WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE??? GO READ IT.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the review-copy! Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider was published June, 2015.
When he’s sent to Latham House, a boarding school for sick teens, Lane thinks his life may as well be over.
But when he meets Sadie and her friends – a group of eccentric troublemakers – he realises that maybe getting sick is just the beginning. That illness doesn’t have to define you, and that falling in love is its own cure.
Extraordinary Means is a darkly funny story about true friendships, ill-fated love and the rare miracle of second chances
Goodreads Purchase Publisher Purchase AUS
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oooh I finished this this morning! (And I also just reviewed it by the way). I totally agree with the getting drunk thing! It was ridiculous! While I found the deaths predictable, they still made me feel sad. Unlike you, I loved Charlie a lot. Although I guess I agree with you about the pointlessness of Marina… and oh yes that authors note and the acknowledgements were wonderful and explanatory. I totally see both tfios and Looking For Alaska in this! I liked this review, and we definitely mostly agreed about this. <3 <3
GREAT. I can go read you review right after this. *dances* REVIEW TWINS!!
I completely adored this book! It was my first Robyn Schneider book and it’s gotten me so, so intrigued about this author who seems to have both John Green and Sarah Dessen and her own share of that broody, contemplative voice that I loved! Also, your pictures are fab, Cait!
You have great questions. DO predictable finales bother me? Of course! As a reader of YA, I’m used to seeing cliché endings, and I can’t say that it is my favorite reading moment when the entire book is fantastic and when I’m starting to guess the climax, the book ends the same way 🙁 As for dumb decisions…gee I don’t know. What the characters of Extraordinary Means did was realllly stupid in which I found them irresponsible, not relatable. But sometimes characters in books do certain stuff and given crap for it and I’m all like, “Geezus I would have done the same thing!” So yeah. I think it depends on what exactly has been done ;P
OH I TOTALLY GET THAT!! It does kind of depend, right? Sometimes people rush off to do something stupid, but there’s and underlying reason I admire. (Sometimes.) Or they just make a dumb mistake but they didn’t mean to??! A feel like a whole lot of the tragedy in Extraordinary Means is because the characters were stupidly asking for it. IT MAKES ME CRY. But they were so so stupid. >_< I FEEL LIKE WANT TO READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR THOUGH. You're spot on with the description of her voice!!
LOVE that cover. So much more than the one I always see. I am really excited for this book. Predictable finales don’t bother me if the story is done well. Dumb decisions I think can be both relatable and still a turn-off or annoying. Love the pictures!!
Isn’t it beauuuutiful?! FINALLY Australia wins for a nicer cover!! (Usually we get the awful ones, tbh. XD)
the cover is gorgeous and your review has convinced me to definitely add it to my tbr list, thank you!
YOU ARE SO WELCOME.
predictable endings and bad decisions always differ on bad they are. If the character keeps making bad decisions without learning something that is sad. And it bugs me if there is no fall back. Predictable just makes me read the book slower so I don’t have to see if am wrong or right.
There is DEFINITELY a fallback, but I CAN’T SAY MORE, BECAUSE SPOILERS. But I agree. There needs to be consequences and I feel like the decisions need to be addressed as stupid. That didn’t happen 100% in this one, but it sort of did? GAh. I’m so confusing. xD
I will definitely have to read this book. (I love books where people die in the end–the sadder the better.) As for predictable books, I’m cool with them if they’re not a lame predictable. Some books, if I can figure out the ending, it’s just a waste of time to read the book. But sometimes being able to predict the ending helps me to relax and enjoy the story, so it depends on the book as much as it depends on my mood. And yes, the cover is beautiful, and the tagline is brilliant so I have to read it. As for characters who make stupid decisions, it makes them relatable to an extent. Like, I can understand the getting drunk bit because sick people sometimes do things that damage their health–not everyone does, but it’s easy to get destructive when you’re already dying–I can totally understand that. So it depends on the dumb things they do, and how long they’re dumb, and whether they’re no fun to read while they’re being dumb. Like, Matched has been bugging me so much because the plot is almost entirely based on one stupid little decision that Cassia keeps making over and over and I just want to smack her. But I liked Sam’s character arc in Before I Fall because she was selfish and mean and awful sometimes, but she was growing and changing and she felt real. So anyway, thanks for sharing! I’ve been looking forward to reading your review for a while now! 🙂
Ohhh, that is so true and I never really thought about it like that before. BUT YES. Like I didn’t writhe in anger over this ending because I felt it was a little predictable..and that must be why! I thought it was GOOD and really fit the story and wasn’t lame at all. So even though I was a teeny bit disappointed, I still think this is an excellent book. XD
OH PEOPLE DIE NOOOOO. That’s sad 🙁 But I LOVE Looking for Alaska because I love boarding schools lol. And since I plan to write about one during NaNoWriMo, it’s definitely writing research 😀
IT IS TOTALLY RESEARCH. I have an enormous feeling you’ll like this one. XD
POTATO OF SADNESS! *gives blanket* *gives cookies* Agree with all of these points, the drinking was a bit WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS YOU FOOLS?! Plus the ones who are going to die basically had big pink sticky notes on their foreheads for the entirety of the book and I wanted to be surprised, so sad that it went predictable route that way. And YES, Marina felt a little why, who are you, what are you still doing here? Which was a shame because she seemed COOL.
All in all, flaws but also a very good book, and I love your review 🙂
*eats cookies*
*snuggles in blanket*
I guess that’s just the mentality of some teens/people?!! It doesn’t make sense to me but I was a notoriously logical teen who never did anything remotely stupid least I die. I happen to like life. I do.
BUT YES. It was weird with Marina, but at the same time she seemed a really 3D character, if only she’d had more dialogue, right?!
I loved the cover (a lot more than the US one, actually) I read this last week (I’m starting to feel guilty about how many 2015 releases I’m reading recently xD) and really liked it. Fun fact: I’m a TB survivor (though I was two at the time and actually it was a bird TB that only rarely passes on to humans, lucky me) I find it so sad when they talk about people dying of consumption in old books of a now treatable illness. My parents are doctors so I end up knowing quite a bit about medical things 🙂
I did too!! I feel like the US one is so much more generic while the UK/AUS one is adorable and poignant and beautiful. Whyyy are you feeling guilty?! That is so COOL you’re reaidng a lot of 2015 books!! I’ve been trying to catch up on some oldies, but, tbh, I’m loving what 2015 is bringing as well. Oh wow. WELL I AM SO SO HAPPY YOU SURVIVED BECAUSE YOU ARE AMAZING.
I just finished this one a few days ago and (let’s pretend to be surprised for a minute) I felt the same way about it as you did. 😉 This was such a devastating and heartbreaking read, wasn’t it Cait? It kind of reminded me of something John Green would write as well. Like you said, the romance, moral and the characterization were spot on – although I too wish it were a little less predictable in its ending. Thank you for sharing this and, as always, amazing review! ♥
OMG. WE AGREE ON THIS? WELL THAT NEEEEEVER HAPPENS. *rolls on the floor laughing* Omg, hold me Zoe, we are just too epic for this universe. XD And it was so so very John Green and not in a rip-of way…just in a good way. It’s like the first book I’ve ever read where I happily compare it to John Green’s amazingness. :’)
Gosh, that cover is so beautiful and artsy and minimalist and I just really want it. I don’t know if I’ll read this book, but it sounds interesting enough. I mean, kids getting sent away to a camp that’s supposed to help them heal from tuberculosis? I want to read about that camp. And it seems like such a sweet and yet heartbreaking story at the same time. Also, Lane sounds incredibly like me. I definitely have that workaholic attitude and it’s tough for me to tell myself that I need to relax. Even though it’s summer, I still have that “you should be studying” mindset at the back of my mind whenever I try to sit down and read. It’s horrible. It doesn’t surprise me that the kids took “live life” as a sign that they should go off and be reckless and get drunk. That is incredibly stupid, but actually very realistic in terms of high schoolers. Luckily I don’t put myself in that camp, but it happens to others. A LOT.
Also, I might read this book just for the author’s note. Literally all of my books right now are huge piles of potato salad. *cries*
Well the camp is more of isolation than healing because there’s no cure for the strain of TB they’ve got. They’re just hoping to get better with fresh air, good food, and all that. XD And hopefully a cure will come along. BUT YES HEARTBREAKING FOR SURE. I loved that Lane was such a workaholic, actually, because I hadn’t read many characters like that…and it just made me have a mega-soft spot for his overworked little soul. :’)
FIRSTLY I have to day that I hate, hate, HATTEEE it when characters die in books. It’s like…I got connected with you and then THIS happens? YOU DIE ON ME?? But I understand that sometimes it needs to happen in a book to remind us that this is life and we need to hold on while we can. Also makes the book more relatable. As far as predictable endings, I don’t mind them too, too much as long as I don’t guess every part. And bad decision making characters, like others said, as long as the character doesn’t continue to make the same mistake I’m all right with it. 🙂
Weeeell…*glances twitchily at these characters* I think they did learn their lesson but WELLP I CAN’T SAY MORE. BUT IT’S NOT SIMPLE OR GOOD. Gah. This book is a fair bit of heartbreak. And I knooooow. But since I started reading Game of Thrones, I’m totally getting immune to character deaths.
Pfft.
I am not.
*breaks down and cries*
NO NO NO NO NO.
I was reading this, went away for a few minutes and when I opened the tab, my brother had come in and opened the spoiler section – so I SAW THE SPOILERS.
I want to read this at some point, but I’m not desperate to right now. So maybe, if I leave it for a LONG time, hopefully I’ll forget. I’m praying I forget.
Aside from that, this sounds really, really great. I read Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Schneider and I gave that 3/5, but the concept of TB sounds so interesting, and Robyn Schneider’s writing is beautiful.
OMG. HOW COULD YOUR BROTHER LET YOU DOWN LIKE THIS? THIS IS TRAGICALLY TERRIBLE. I am sorry. *weeps softly for you* Just forget, okay? FORGET EVERYTHING. Think happy thoughts of chocolate cupcakes and rainbow sprinkles. That’ll distract you for sure.
I tend to avoid books about life-threatening diseases as a general rule, so I read the spoiler. I agree with your “Bright Light” theory…the characters who tend to be the most enthusiastic, the most bubbly, the most, well…everything. Maybe ’cause their death hits you harder?
YES. IT HURTS THE MOST. Because it’s like that person definitely deserved to live because they enjoyed life. And then they always die. -_- I see it so much I basically always pick the happy people to die. GAH.
Yes, predictable finales bother me… especially when the author’s trying to be cute and clever and thinks we haven’t guessed what’s coming. That’s so annoying. I also don’t like it when characters make stupid decisions. I can’t relate to recklessness.
You and me both, my friend. I’m probably the least reckless person in the universe. >_< When I was a kid and watching all my friends take off to do something "Daring and dangerous" I would just...wander off. Definitely not the life of the party. HAHA.
I LOVE that cover. Love, love, love. I want to own it and cuddle it and take it out to dinner and give it nice chocolates because it’s gorgeous. This sounds like the sort of book I’d stay away from a lot of the time, but somehow I’m weirdly hooked? o.0 *adds to TBR*
I’M BASICALLY MARRYING THIS COVER. I’M NOT EVEN ASHAMED OF THIS.
I received a copy of this on Saturday, and I’m so looking forward to reading it! It sounds amazing! And that cover is so beautiful!
Predictable finales do sometimes bother me, but what I think bothers me more are when things happen far too easily. For example, when there is a Big Quest with several Tasks and Obstacles that look near impossible… and yet they work them out in a matter of minutes, and boom, next, next, next, and it’s done. I’m thinking of a specific book, but I know you’ve not read it, so I won’t spoil. BUT GOD! It really wound me up because it was the final book in what was a really awesome series, and then the last book everything is sorted so quickly. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t predict the outcome of these tasks, it only took a few pages to work out each thing, and I was super disappointed! 🙁
But back to predictability, can be so annoying – especially when something was obvious to you chapters ago, but the character has this big OH MY GOD, I JUST REALISED… moment. I do love it, though, when it’s not so much that the ending is predictable, but that I guessed correctly. I love being right.
I’ve never been too much of a dumb decision person, so when this happens, I tend to want to shake the characters and scream at them about common sense, but this does depend on what the dumb decision is. I have been naive when it comes to guys, though, and fell for lies, so when that happens in a book, I can do nothing but sympathise and want to give them the biggest hug. 🙁
I’ve said more for your questions than I have for your review, I’m sorry! But it’s a great review, and I’m really looking forward to the humour and the emotion! 🙂 Thanks for the review!
ERK. I SO UNDERSTAND THAT FEELING. It’s nearly like cheating right? when the book totally wraps up in a perfect neat little package really quickly and easily, after we readers have just slogged through pages of buildup. I feel like a finale always need to be worth the build up. But you like being right?!! I’M MIXED. XD I like that “I caaaalled it” feeling, but then I kind of get bored at the same time. But, pssht, I’ve read like a million books so I probably have lost my rights to win about uniqueness. XD
Naive = yes, me. Dumb = I SURE HOPE NOT. I’d always be that weirdo in the crowds when everyone is running off to do something “Crazy” and I’m like, “Yep, no. I’m going home to my books.” I always feel like it’s pointless to do uber risky things. >_< But that is more of a personal preference thing right?! (Well, for us. xD)
Excuse me while I run off to the library to scour the shelves for this book. THIS LOOKS LIKE A FANTASTICAL READ. Besides the predictability. But still. Quirky, funny characters.
I guess your prediction about the lungs becoming trees wasn’t true, was it? It would have been an even more extraordinary story if it were though. Forgive my grammar. And terrible attempt at puns.
THAT IS SADNESS. I forgot I predicted that. HA. So I guess it’s not entirely predictable because they’re lungs didn’t spontaneously become trees! Which is totally disappointing now that I think about it. Gee.
I really do like that cover. I probably won’t read the book, though, because I couldn’t resist clicking on the spoiler. Also, the “living life” by getting drunk part is already making me angry, and I haven’t even read the book. Even if you do want to “life life,” WHY ON EARTH would you decide to do it through alcohol? (Maybe that’s just me, but there are a million other things I would do before that. Like, pretty much everything.)
I really don’t understand it when people in books abuse their illnesses…it sucks being sick, it really does. 😐 But the writing was totally enough to win me over, also the characters are 90% adorable. And that cover? GAWSH. Cover love and not ashamed.
EXCUSE ME REAL QUICK WHILE I GO ADD THIS TO MY GOODREADS TBR LIST ASAP X
YES, YOU DO THAT. I 100% SUPPORT YOUR LIFE DECISION IN THIS.
First pancakes, then burrito of sadness, and then having the author describe it as a bowl of potato salad?
I love it! You know what else I love? THAT. COVER. Like seriously. Shallow book readers unite cuz what the heck, I’d probably start reading it for that alone. XD
I feel like this will be ME as an author. *nods* I connect at a very deep emotional level to all the food. I DO.
You’re right, that cover probably DOES deserve to rule the world. Sadly, I already am. Oh well. If I die (which I won’t because I am invincible, being a teenager and all MWAHAHAHA) it can be ruler. But SERIOUSLY, that COVER. How have I never heard of this EXTRAORDINARY book before? How? And I know I really shouldn’t having so many other books to read, but… *adds to exceedingly high pile of TBR books* DO NOT JUDGE ME.
OOH! I LOOOOVE the cover! And I love self-deprecating/gallows humor too, so this book is definitely going on my TBR list. 🙂
It’s good that there’s YA books about different types of illnesses, too! Like, not just cancer books. ALTHOUGH speaking of cancer books, did you read Zac & Mia? It’s about two Australian teens with cancer and it was really really good! 😀
This book was SUCH a fast read for me, and like you, I adored the author’s note (it might’ve been my favorite part) because I admired just how much research the author truly put into creating this “what-if” scenario that’s scarily plausible, especially with all of the debates about disease and vaccines recently. While I didn’t really get hit by the feels because I guessed all of the deaths like you did, and I TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT THE DRINKING IN THE WOODS THING, I thought this book handled a lot of the topics surrounding the illness really well (such as the struggle/apprehension of getting cured and integrating back into the real world is almost as threatening as getting the disease). Also, I love that the US and UK/AUS covers are both gorgeous! Great review!
That cover is so pretty. LUNG TREES. Who would have thought? I didn’t, but now I wish I had. I would love that as a cover for one of my books. Except it probably wouldn’t make any sense because there is nothing about lungs OR trees in my books but a girl can dream. Maybe car trees? That would make sense for at least one of my books.
I don’t LIKE predictable endings. And people DIE? WHY? Like, I get it: we’re all gonna die the world is a sad mullet of death. But I like LIFE. And LIVING. And I also love happily ever afters, but don’t tell anyone because that would most totally and definitely ruin my aura of indifference of the master kind.
And teenagers being stupid angers my little soul. Drinking and the such just because you’re young? And when you’re SICK and DYING? How incredibly dumb, you hooligans. Do whatever it is the camp is trying to get you to do to STAY ALIVE and to STUFF, okay? Don’t be ARROGANT AND IDIOTIC.
I have a copy of this book. I nearly shelved it on my “nope never gonna read, tata” shelf. But. Now. I’m not so sure. You have confuddled me.
I’ve been thinking about getting this book myself as I’ve heard a lot of people likening the feels to TFIOS but was unsure if I’d like it as I don’t tend to read book like this (TFIOS was a one off for me) BUT you have me convinced I should read it and read it soon! Thanks for the AMAZING review Cait, as usual you are a genius with your words!
I feel like I’m obliged to read this now as it sounds just the book for me! Plus, I’m also shallow and I think it will look beautiful on my book shelf.
A lot of the endings of books I can guess and so I’ve become immune to not being shocked when I guess the ending so, unless I have really big hopes for a big finale twist, I’m not usually too bothered.
As for dumb decisions; if the author uses the decision in order to do something like “oops I did this and so I fell into the love of my life” I think that’s cheating and a bit of a cop out but if it’s something I’ve done myself I can usually laugh along and hit my self in the forehead from cringing.
Sarah xx
You can pretty much tell this book is going to be amazing because of the catchline: “Life goes on until it doesn’t.” I can see how the humor is golden!
I MUST READ THIS. Tuberculosis + YA + awesome lung anatomy art = perfect Barefoot book.
That is all.
YES YESSSS YOU MUST. And I’d love to know what you think of the medical side too!
Oh yes I need to read this book! Of course I just read two books back to back that had so many tears and so much heartbreak. Maybe I should take a breather before tackling another tragic book.
I usually take a moment between heartbreaking books. xD Just for some respite!!
YAY!!! 🙂 Happy to hear good things about this one. I saw it in the book shop the other day and decided to buy myself a copy. I loved her other book, so I knew that I needed to read this. Now I am super excited for this but also super nervous!!!
I need to read her other books!!
The author’s note is seriously my favourite. It was great to see her background and thought process around the book and wanting to bring an important disease to light! I loved the writing, the characters, but there were often times when I was banging my head against the war, especially when they started sneaking out and Sadie just didn’t communicate. So frustrating! Great review Cait <3
I kind of seriously adore author’s notes. XD Especially when they’re funny or relatable (she is just one billion percent relatable! HAHA) Sadie did need a bit of communication coaching didn’t she? *winces*
Ooh this sounds great! (And yep, that cover definitely pulls me in too – can’t deny it xD) When reading the description I did think it sounded a bit like John Green (and I like those, but I don’t love… or wouldn’t even read again) so that put me off a little, but your enthusiasm just pulled me right back in. Definitely on my list!
I definitely think they’re like John Green, although with a different voice. But yes, TRY IT. XD I admit to a million percent cover love here, and not ashamed. 😉
Great review!
I hadn’t planned on reading this one before, but your review is definitely making me rethink that. I didn’t really know what this book was about previously, but it sounds really cool, even if it is sad. I think I’d love the humor in this book too.
I’m definitely adding this one to my TBR now.
Olivia @ Fluttering Pages
Oh Cait, you wrote a really nice review. I feel weird commenting though because I just could not get through this. I got to 100 pages and was so frustrated and not into it at all. But we’re a loving bookish community who embrace differences of bookish opinion, so I guess it’s not something to really be bothered by.
I found Lane and Sadie to be really annoying, particularly Sadie (and looking at the spoilers, I guessed it too- I think there is something in your theory, Cait, for sures) with her “we own the button down” rant and childish behaviour. I had the discussion about the drinking thing, though! I find that so odd, especially when they’re being sent away purposely (and no doubt expensively) to try and get well and not continue an epidemic, and yet they’re meeting someone from outside and ferrying in food and alcohol and cigarettes, and I just did not fathom where their brains were in those moments. They found something exciting about ignoring H&S rules?
It had such a gorgeous cover, though. Definitely one of my favourites for 15′, and your photography does it lovely justice. Please take us on a tour of your rainbow-ified bookshelf! PLEASE QUEEN CAIT. (Here is a bribe of internet pie.)
I waited to read your review because I just finished it, and I think like you, one of my favorite parts was the author’s note at the end. It added extra depth and meaning to the story and why it was written, and I really appreciated it. I overall thought it was okay and I enjoyed it, and even if the story was a little too fluffy, I liked the message it gave out. Overall, a good book. 🙂
I loved it.. it was really extraordinary, and I agree with your Bright Light theory (cute theory btw).
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