Spoiler free review here

It’s not very often that I pick up a contemporary, realistic book. I don’t hate the genre or anything; I just gravitate more towards fantasy or something equally strange. Usually, when I read outside my comfort zone, the book usually deals with a topic or motif I’m interested in and I give it a shot. For some reason, I like stories about grief. I like seeing a character break apart due to some serious loss and somehow find the strength to endure and come to terms with it. We Are Okay, however, mainly shows the transformative powers of grief, how it can turn us into someone we may not even recognize. Despite a wonderful use of atmosphere and pacing, I didn’t get that punch of emotion one would usually get from reading a book like this.