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betweentheshelves
Man oh man. I have mixed feelings about this one. I really enjoyed the art, and the story line was intense at times, but the wrap up just felt too convenient? Perhaps not my favorite, but an important part of Spider-Man's story.
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In order to explain the inspiration behind one of her most famous poems, Fiona Skinner must go back to her childhood. After her father passed away, her childhood was defined by the Pause: a time when her and her siblings ran free. The Pause makes them closer than your ordinary siblings, and drives many of their relationships in their futures.
Fiona’s later life is defined by her blog: The Last Romantics. Here, she documents her romantic interactions, developing herself as a writer. Twenty years after the Pause, Fiona and her siblings find themselves once again confronting a crisis. This time, their strong bonds will be tests.
I received an ARC copy of this book thanks to a giveaway, and I’m so happy I did. While it’s outside of the genre I usually review (YA), I found that there were aspects of YA lit in the text. Conklin essentially gives a coming of age story featuring the Skinner siblings: mainly Fiona, but Renee, Caroline, and Joe all make an appearance as well. Including points of view from each sibling helps to create rounded characters, drawing us into the story more effectively.
Aside from the characters, my favorite thing about this book was the way that it examines the concept of love. We get love from all different angles: friendship, family, romance, lust, self. You name it, there’s probably some form of it in the book. What’s most endearing about this is the characters that portray these different types of love. Fiona, Renee, Caroline, and Joe are all so dedicated to each other, and that love and dedication permeates the story.
From the moment Fiona flashes back to her childhood, we’re immediately drawn into the vivid imagery and description that Conklin uses to support her colorful characters. Between the writing style, the characters, and the relatable struggles, the Skinner’s story will lodge itself in your heart and stay there.
*********
Wow. I stayed up late last night finishing this, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. A fuller review to come next week!
In order to explain the inspiration behind one of her most famous poems, Fiona Skinner must go back to her childhood. After her father passed away, her childhood was defined by the Pause: a time when her and her siblings ran free. The Pause makes them closer than your ordinary siblings, and drives many of their relationships in their futures.
Fiona’s later life is defined by her blog: The Last Romantics. Here, she documents her romantic interactions, developing herself as a writer. Twenty years after the Pause, Fiona and her siblings find themselves once again confronting a crisis. This time, their strong bonds will be tests.
I received an ARC copy of this book thanks to a giveaway, and I’m so happy I did. While it’s outside of the genre I usually review (YA), I found that there were aspects of YA lit in the text. Conklin essentially gives a coming of age story featuring the Skinner siblings: mainly Fiona, but Renee, Caroline, and Joe all make an appearance as well. Including points of view from each sibling helps to create rounded characters, drawing us into the story more effectively.
Aside from the characters, my favorite thing about this book was the way that it examines the concept of love. We get love from all different angles: friendship, family, romance, lust, self. You name it, there’s probably some form of it in the book. What’s most endearing about this is the characters that portray these different types of love. Fiona, Renee, Caroline, and Joe are all so dedicated to each other, and that love and dedication permeates the story.
From the moment Fiona flashes back to her childhood, we’re immediately drawn into the vivid imagery and description that Conklin uses to support her colorful characters. Between the writing style, the characters, and the relatable struggles, the Skinner’s story will lodge itself in your heart and stay there.
*********
Wow. I stayed up late last night finishing this, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. A fuller review to come next week!
"The world is almost peaceful when you stop trying to understand it."
I listened to this on audio, and there's absolutely no other way that you should consume this story (in my opinion). Elizabeth Acevedo, a National Poetry Slam Champion, narrates the audiobook, and it reflects the lyrical beauty of the story itself. The many awards that this book have been winning are well deserved--my only regret is that I didn't pick it up sooner. But I own the audiobook (thanks, Audible!), so this is something that deserves a second listen. And maybe a third.
Xiomara's story is all about her finally feeling like her voice is heard, and through her story, many teens will also feel like their voice is heard. Filled with emotion, family, and love, you'll be pulling for Xiomara as she struggles to find her place in the world. If there's any book you should add to your TBR in the coming year, it's definitely this one.
