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Loud Awake and Lost
There was an accident. Ember knows at least that much. She was driving. The car was totaled. Eight months later, Ember feels broken. She can’t even remember the six weeks of her life leading up to the accident. Where was she going? Who was she with? And what happened during those six weeks that her friends and family won’t talk about?
In the wake of her critically praised young adult psychological thrillers, Tighter and All You Never Wanted, National Book Award finalist Adele Griffin has created another triumph in this unflinching story of loss and recovery that Booklist called “exquisite” in a starred review.
From the Hardcover edition.
In the wake of her critically praised young adult psychological thrillers, Tighter and All You Never Wanted, National Book Award finalist Adele Griffin has created another triumph in this unflinching story of loss and recovery that Booklist called “exquisite” in a starred review.
From the Hardcover edition.
304 pages, Library Binding
First published November 7, 2013
39 people are currently reading
2428 people want to read
About the author
Adele Griffin
49 books669 followersfrom Wikipedia:
Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly-acclaimed books across a variety of genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award Finalists.
Her debut adult novel The Favor explores themes of friendship, surrogacy, and nontraditional family building.
Find her on TikTok at @adelegriffinbooks and Instagram at @adelegriffin or www.adelegriffin.
website: www.adelegriffin.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adelegriffi...
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adele-G...
Open Road Media interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa3P...
Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly-acclaimed books across a variety of genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award Finalists.
Her debut adult novel The Favor explores themes of friendship, surrogacy, and nontraditional family building.
Find her on TikTok at @adelegriffinbooks and Instagram at @adelegriffin or www.adelegriffin.
website: www.adelegriffin.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adelegriffi...
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adele-G...
Open Road Media interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa3P...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
December 4, 2013
If I was grading/reviewing these books in a curve, all of those other books would have failed. Okay, not all of them, but the best any of the others would get is a B or B-. Loud Awake and Lost blew me away. I sat down to read a few chapters, and came back to the real world a couple hours later with only a few chapters left. To any aspiring writers out there, read this book if you want to learn how to master the plot twist.
The thing I loved the most about the book was that it's a mystery, but it's not like Nancy Drew. Eden already knows she was the culprit (and the victim, in a way), she knows the gist of what happened, but she's trying to uncover the events that led to the accident. I wondered if it was just a coincidence that she didn't remember any part of the time in her life when she grew distant from her crew, but then I realized that there are no coincidences. If you're reading this, that means you probably haven't read the book, in which case I'm only humoring myself by adding that reference.
Everything about Loud Awake and Lost is absolutely amazing, and I will definitely read it again.
The thing I loved the most about the book was that it's a mystery, but it's not like Nancy Drew. Eden already knows she was the culprit (and the victim, in a way), she knows the gist of what happened, but she's trying to uncover the events that led to the accident. I wondered if it was just a coincidence that she didn't remember any part of the time in her life when she grew distant from her crew, but then I realized that there are no coincidences. If you're reading this, that means you probably haven't read the book, in which case I'm only humoring myself by adding that reference.
Everything about Loud Awake and Lost is absolutely amazing, and I will definitely read it again.
May 8, 2013
Very disappointing. An extremely obvious and overused twist, preceeded by 200 pages of characters not asking or answering obvious questions that would have exploded the twist.
Read
August 17, 2014Amnesic characters abound in young adult fiction, clustering in a mass almost large enough to create an entire sub-genre: memory loss books. As much as this ploy captivates me, it is no secret that scattered memories are growing more and more common, and therefore authors must work harder and harder to make their tales unique. Some do not succeed in separating their stories from others, but with her newest novel, Adele Griffin excels in the art of individuality. Loud Awake and Lost is a precisely worded equation, developed to transform small doses of memory loss into an effective plot.
Griffin first minimizes her amnesia input by only stealing six weeks from her protagonist. This block of time initially seems small enough that Ember can slide back into her old life, but these six weeks were heavy with life-changing events. Ember quickly discovers that she changed as a person in the last days before her accident and spends the rest of the book uncovering who and what brought about the lost side of her personality, dividing her characterization into three contrasting sections. Readers see who the main character is now and hear hints about the two earlier versions of herself, which creates a split personality that gives Ember's voice an unreliable tone. Griffin could not have created this contradictory character development without such a short block of blank time.
The author also cuts back on the memory loss ploy by shaving away excess flashbacks. Stingy with details, she shares bits of Ember's past in sentence-long snippets rather than page-long breaks into the character's history, keeping readers waiting on their toes for the next reveal. Griffin only unveils information when the protagonist earns it, either by outright asking or engaging in a memory-triggering experience, which forces readers to cheer for Ember as she pieces together and accepts her past. Loud Awake and Lost does not take the easy way out when it comes to disclosing its protagonist's history, and as a result, the story flourishes with suspense and character development.
Each of these elements travels on its own through the literary function Griffin writes, but they combine to form the greatest output of all. When Ember's uncertainty about who she is blends with her struggle to find out, there is plenty left to the unknown and an equal number of opportunities for plot twists. Loud Awake and Lost pops with little surprises until the end, when one final discovery blows the rest of the story to bits. I somehow did not predict the conclusion, but after reading the book's final page, I felt compelled to reread each moment that I retrospectively recognized as a subtle clue, just to appreciate Griffin's smooth foreshadowing.
Loud Awake and Lost further proves a point that the author's previous books already made: Adele Griffin has mastered her grip on the mind and can manipulate a character's consciousness into an addictive psychological thriller. Her style is unlike any other mystery author's, and I am now a devoted fan of her rich, electrifying writing.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
Griffin first minimizes her amnesia input by only stealing six weeks from her protagonist. This block of time initially seems small enough that Ember can slide back into her old life, but these six weeks were heavy with life-changing events. Ember quickly discovers that she changed as a person in the last days before her accident and spends the rest of the book uncovering who and what brought about the lost side of her personality, dividing her characterization into three contrasting sections. Readers see who the main character is now and hear hints about the two earlier versions of herself, which creates a split personality that gives Ember's voice an unreliable tone. Griffin could not have created this contradictory character development without such a short block of blank time.
The author also cuts back on the memory loss ploy by shaving away excess flashbacks. Stingy with details, she shares bits of Ember's past in sentence-long snippets rather than page-long breaks into the character's history, keeping readers waiting on their toes for the next reveal. Griffin only unveils information when the protagonist earns it, either by outright asking or engaging in a memory-triggering experience, which forces readers to cheer for Ember as she pieces together and accepts her past. Loud Awake and Lost does not take the easy way out when it comes to disclosing its protagonist's history, and as a result, the story flourishes with suspense and character development.
Each of these elements travels on its own through the literary function Griffin writes, but they combine to form the greatest output of all. When Ember's uncertainty about who she is blends with her struggle to find out, there is plenty left to the unknown and an equal number of opportunities for plot twists. Loud Awake and Lost pops with little surprises until the end, when one final discovery blows the rest of the story to bits. I somehow did not predict the conclusion, but after reading the book's final page, I felt compelled to reread each moment that I retrospectively recognized as a subtle clue, just to appreciate Griffin's smooth foreshadowing.
Loud Awake and Lost further proves a point that the author's previous books already made: Adele Griffin has mastered her grip on the mind and can manipulate a character's consciousness into an addictive psychological thriller. Her style is unlike any other mystery author's, and I am now a devoted fan of her rich, electrifying writing.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
July 1, 2024
Ember doesn’t remember what happened but is sole survivor to a car accident. This has some “The Vow” events with a wedding and memory loss. There’s more perspective from the amnesiac female character and a bit more detective work from the characters to determine what happened and who was involved.
January 8, 2014
I thought, after having read "Gone Girl" (GREAT psych. thriller. DEF. read) that, despite this technically being a "young adult" novel, I would enjoy the plot. Easier, enjoyable read, I thought.
Truth is, looking back at it in an overall sense, aside from the occasional chapter(s) that came across more appealingly descriptive and subsequently gripping/interesting, as a collective work, This just falls short of the "stories worth remembering" pile. It might be because I'm outside of the demographic (read: no longer a teenager,) but more likely than not, I'm feeling it's just that Ember, despite having gone through a horrible accident and being left with some mental intrigue, is written as too piney and whiney a character; with not enough external forward plot development to balance her out.
The general question of, "Is Ember the "same person" now that she's recovered from her accident, as she was before her accident?" Is answered in such a scattered way, that I feel more like Ember's slighted BFF and or her parents that are always voicing their frustrated/uninformed/confused irritation at Ember's ping pong behavior –both visible and unknown to them all.
You would think as a reader, I might care more about the external circumstances that caused Ember to get to the situation and be more patient with the story's pacing but, I think that goes back to the stale writing of her character… It just leaves me not feeling genuinely concerned or empathetic, and thusly not enjoying the book.
Stinks, because I really wanted to like it.
Ending on a positive note though, the voice actor that read the audiobook version was quite good and likable. She might have even been part of the reason I enjoyed some of the of chapters.
Truth is, looking back at it in an overall sense, aside from the occasional chapter(s) that came across more appealingly descriptive and subsequently gripping/interesting, as a collective work, This just falls short of the "stories worth remembering" pile. It might be because I'm outside of the demographic (read: no longer a teenager,) but more likely than not, I'm feeling it's just that Ember, despite having gone through a horrible accident and being left with some mental intrigue, is written as too piney and whiney a character; with not enough external forward plot development to balance her out.
The general question of, "Is Ember the "same person" now that she's recovered from her accident, as she was before her accident?" Is answered in such a scattered way, that I feel more like Ember's slighted BFF and or her parents that are always voicing their frustrated/uninformed/confused irritation at Ember's ping pong behavior –both visible and unknown to them all.
You would think as a reader, I might care more about the external circumstances that caused Ember to get to the situation and be more patient with the story's pacing but, I think that goes back to the stale writing of her character… It just leaves me not feeling genuinely concerned or empathetic, and thusly not enjoying the book.
Stinks, because I really wanted to like it.
Ending on a positive note though, the voice actor that read the audiobook version was quite good and likable. She might have even been part of the reason I enjoyed some of the of chapters.
December 7, 2014
Thank you Autumn, you tried to save me.
I heard there was an obvious twist and I had to go back and find out for myself. It was a boring twist . And the build up didn't even make sense enough to call it obvious. Just wanted it to better because I like amnesia books but this wasn't worth finishing.
I heard there was an obvious twist and I had to go back and find out for myself. It was a boring twist . And the build up didn't even make sense enough to call it obvious. Just wanted it to better because I like amnesia books but this wasn't worth finishing.
March 26, 2016
3.5/5 stars!
January 16, 2019
Book title: Loud Awake and Lost
Personal Response: I actually really liked this book, because it was so engaging. I like books that have like some weird kind of twist to it. Like mystery book, because since she lost her memory six weeks before, she had to put a lot of pieces to the puzzle together. So, I think that this book was definitely a book I would re-read.
Plot Summary: Ember Leferrier was your normal 17-year-old high school girl. She had many supportive friends, a family that loved and adored her, and overall was a very kind girl. One day she had gotten in a car, late at night, on an icy road then crashed. This accident had almost taken her life. She then woke up in a hospital, not knowing what had happened at all. It turned out she had lost her memory from six weeks before. Ember was very determined to figure her old self, and who she used to be in those six weeks. Then she met someone named Kai that helped her put the pieces together from in her past.
Recommendations: I would recommend Loud Awake and Lost to high school students and maybe late middle school. I don’t think younger kids would really engage in this book, because it's a little confusing in the beginning. It is kind of a bigger book, so you would have to take some time into reading. But it is definitely worth it in the end.
Personal Response: I actually really liked this book, because it was so engaging. I like books that have like some weird kind of twist to it. Like mystery book, because since she lost her memory six weeks before, she had to put a lot of pieces to the puzzle together. So, I think that this book was definitely a book I would re-read.
Plot Summary: Ember Leferrier was your normal 17-year-old high school girl. She had many supportive friends, a family that loved and adored her, and overall was a very kind girl. One day she had gotten in a car, late at night, on an icy road then crashed. This accident had almost taken her life. She then woke up in a hospital, not knowing what had happened at all. It turned out she had lost her memory from six weeks before. Ember was very determined to figure her old self, and who she used to be in those six weeks. Then she met someone named Kai that helped her put the pieces together from in her past.
Recommendations: I would recommend Loud Awake and Lost to high school students and maybe late middle school. I don’t think younger kids would really engage in this book, because it's a little confusing in the beginning. It is kind of a bigger book, so you would have to take some time into reading. But it is definitely worth it in the end.
September 19, 2017
This is a YA book that really did not hold my interest. Recovering from a car accident wherein her car went over a bridge, killing her traveling companion, and seriously hurting her. While her body recovers, there are still pieces of memory that cannot be remembered.
I thought the book repetitive and boring. I finished it, but cannot recommend it.
I thought the book repetitive and boring. I finished it, but cannot recommend it.
April 10, 2015
3.5 stars
ARC provided by Random House
Loud Awake and Lost was good but just not as gripping and enthralling as I hoped it would be
For one, I wasn't a huge fan of Ember. I understood where her character was headed but eh. We just weren't connecting.
I also didn't really understand Kai. Their meeting and the continuing relationship didn't click for me and it really affected my feelings towards the book. It was negative but... Just very in the middle.
The more I think about it, the more I feel like my connection to the characters just held me back a bit. I actually had figured out the ending (well, suspected) about halfway through the book so the resolution to the mystery wasn't as surprising for me. It really does help everything come together and all makes sense but I felt like I didn't get enough hints or answers fast enough. I wanted some clues and some insights a bit quicker to help push the story along.
I enjoyed the book but it just wasn't a favorite.
Full review originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 12/16/13: There don't seem to be a lot of mystery-type YA novels (or weren't... I think they're starting appear more often now! Or maybe I'm noticing them more...) so I was really hoping LOUD AWAKE AND LOST would be a really good mystery and, well. It just wasn't as thrilling as I had hoped!
I actually have a lot of respect for the book, especially after finding out that Adele Griffin was inspired to write this book based on a situation that happened to her brother. (You can find out more info about that on the author profile over at Teen Lit Rocks!) I really enjoyed the psychological factor involved in LOUD AWAKE AND LOST. I really enjoy a good psychological twist and this book definitely had them! Ember wakes up after her accident and is missing a few very, very key details all from the last six weeks of her life before the accident. It was incredibly interesting to see how Ember had to figure out exactly what happened during those few weeks -- especially involving a very important piece she can't remember, a fight she barely believes happened, and memories of the accident that she really needs to recover before she can move on with her life.
I really enjoyed the concept and the process of the story and overall, it was exactly what I was looking for but somehow it just didn't come together as the story was progressing. I felt like that was kind of weird for me, but the resolution of the story sort of confirmed suspicions for me and brought everything together. I feel like a lot of times if I'm struggling a bit during the story, the ending usually ends up disappointing me as well, but I was invested in what I was hoping the ending would be so really the big picture was a big deal! There were a couple interesting twists in the book but I do have to say that I kind of guessed the "big deal" in there. It actually made the book better for me that was able to suspect that because otherwise it would have been a bit too confusing for me along the way.
There were actually a few times that I felt like the mystery was dragging. I wanted a few more clues to push the plot forward and keep my interesting piqued but there were times it was just a bit too slow. I think the fact that I do love a good mystery actually took away from it for me because I love the build-up of suspense and it did build up but then there were points where it would build up and then not move forward. I needed a bit more of a reveal than I was given at times!
I also had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters. I liked Ember but I didn't feel that emotional connection with her. I was also really confused with her relationship with Kai at first until things started to really unfold. Everything of course made sense towards the end, but it was another situation where it just didn't quite all fit together for me.
So I guess the review really sounds like I didn't enjoy the book but I did. Just really not as much as I had hoped. I think my big issue was that things really just didn't mesh for me while I was reading it. I had suspicions about what Ember was missing and I used those suspicions as fact (which did end up being true) so things made sense for me. Without those, I would have been a little too confused and I didn't like being so dependent on a hunch!
ARC provided by Random House
Loud Awake and Lost was good but just not as gripping and enthralling as I hoped it would be
For one, I wasn't a huge fan of Ember. I understood where her character was headed but eh. We just weren't connecting.
I also didn't really understand Kai. Their meeting and the continuing relationship didn't click for me and it really affected my feelings towards the book. It was negative but... Just very in the middle.
The more I think about it, the more I feel like my connection to the characters just held me back a bit. I actually had figured out the ending (well, suspected) about halfway through the book so the resolution to the mystery wasn't as surprising for me. It really does help everything come together and all makes sense but I felt like I didn't get enough hints or answers fast enough. I wanted some clues and some insights a bit quicker to help push the story along.
I enjoyed the book but it just wasn't a favorite.
Full review originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 12/16/13: There don't seem to be a lot of mystery-type YA novels (or weren't... I think they're starting appear more often now! Or maybe I'm noticing them more...) so I was really hoping LOUD AWAKE AND LOST would be a really good mystery and, well. It just wasn't as thrilling as I had hoped!
I actually have a lot of respect for the book, especially after finding out that Adele Griffin was inspired to write this book based on a situation that happened to her brother. (You can find out more info about that on the author profile over at Teen Lit Rocks!) I really enjoyed the psychological factor involved in LOUD AWAKE AND LOST. I really enjoy a good psychological twist and this book definitely had them! Ember wakes up after her accident and is missing a few very, very key details all from the last six weeks of her life before the accident. It was incredibly interesting to see how Ember had to figure out exactly what happened during those few weeks -- especially involving a very important piece she can't remember, a fight she barely believes happened, and memories of the accident that she really needs to recover before she can move on with her life.
I really enjoyed the concept and the process of the story and overall, it was exactly what I was looking for but somehow it just didn't come together as the story was progressing. I felt like that was kind of weird for me, but the resolution of the story sort of confirmed suspicions for me and brought everything together. I feel like a lot of times if I'm struggling a bit during the story, the ending usually ends up disappointing me as well, but I was invested in what I was hoping the ending would be so really the big picture was a big deal! There were a couple interesting twists in the book but I do have to say that I kind of guessed the "big deal" in there. It actually made the book better for me that was able to suspect that because otherwise it would have been a bit too confusing for me along the way.
There were actually a few times that I felt like the mystery was dragging. I wanted a few more clues to push the plot forward and keep my interesting piqued but there were times it was just a bit too slow. I think the fact that I do love a good mystery actually took away from it for me because I love the build-up of suspense and it did build up but then there were points where it would build up and then not move forward. I needed a bit more of a reveal than I was given at times!
I also had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters. I liked Ember but I didn't feel that emotional connection with her. I was also really confused with her relationship with Kai at first until things started to really unfold. Everything of course made sense towards the end, but it was another situation where it just didn't quite all fit together for me.
So I guess the review really sounds like I didn't enjoy the book but I did. Just really not as much as I had hoped. I think my big issue was that things really just didn't mesh for me while I was reading it. I had suspicions about what Ember was missing and I used those suspicions as fact (which did end up being true) so things made sense for me. Without those, I would have been a little too confused and I didn't like being so dependent on a hunch!
March 21, 2017
Review
In the beginning I liked this book a lot. It could have been a way better book, but the fact that the ending was terrible made me mad. The book would be a little confusing if you didn't know a little bit of some medical terminology and disorders because she had severe psychosis. In the beginning of the book you wouldn't know that until the plot twist.
Plot
The book is about a girl named Ember who got into a terrible car accident. She spent about six months recovering in the hospital. When she gets out of the hospital she forgot everything form the past two months, including who the boy she killed was. One day, when she was taking the subway to physical therapy, she falls asleep and wakes up far away from town but she wasn't lost. The place she was felt familiar but she forgot why. When she was looking around she met this boy Kai and they start dating. The only problem is the boy she has been going on dates with isn't alive. In the end of the book she finally revealed it was all a memory of the boy she killed.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to people in highschool because of the medical terms in it. The book "dumbs" it down for the average person so it isn't that hard to grasp at all. I also would say this book is geared towards female readers because it's more girly.
In the beginning I liked this book a lot. It could have been a way better book, but the fact that the ending was terrible made me mad. The book would be a little confusing if you didn't know a little bit of some medical terminology and disorders because she had severe psychosis. In the beginning of the book you wouldn't know that until the plot twist.
Plot
The book is about a girl named Ember who got into a terrible car accident. She spent about six months recovering in the hospital. When she gets out of the hospital she forgot everything form the past two months, including who the boy she killed was. One day, when she was taking the subway to physical therapy, she falls asleep and wakes up far away from town but she wasn't lost. The place she was felt familiar but she forgot why. When she was looking around she met this boy Kai and they start dating. The only problem is the boy she has been going on dates with isn't alive. In the end of the book she finally revealed it was all a memory of the boy she killed.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to people in highschool because of the medical terms in it. The book "dumbs" it down for the average person so it isn't that hard to grasp at all. I also would say this book is geared towards female readers because it's more girly.
March 21, 2018
Plot summary
Ember Leferrier is a 17 year old who got in a car accident, killing her boyfriend. Ember loses her memory of the past 2 months. While sitting on a rooftop, she meets a boy named Kai, a artist who seems familiar to Ember, but she can't figure out why. She wants to know more about him, but she struggles to get back in touch with him.
Personal Response
I like the general idea of the story. The book dragged on longer than it needed, which made it hard to read. I don't like how the book ended, because it ended right after a plot twist, and you didn't really see what happened to the characters after.
Characterization
The book started 8 months after the accident. Ember remembered little to nothing about the previous 2 months. At the end of the book, most of her memory was back. Her personality changes throughout the book as she learns new things about herself and her past.
Recommendations
I recommend this book to anyone who likes longer, detailed books. I think the book was more specifically written for girls, because it involves ballet, romance, and cooking. However, I think guys could enjoy this book as well.
Ember Leferrier is a 17 year old who got in a car accident, killing her boyfriend. Ember loses her memory of the past 2 months. While sitting on a rooftop, she meets a boy named Kai, a artist who seems familiar to Ember, but she can't figure out why. She wants to know more about him, but she struggles to get back in touch with him.
Personal Response
I like the general idea of the story. The book dragged on longer than it needed, which made it hard to read. I don't like how the book ended, because it ended right after a plot twist, and you didn't really see what happened to the characters after.
Characterization
The book started 8 months after the accident. Ember remembered little to nothing about the previous 2 months. At the end of the book, most of her memory was back. Her personality changes throughout the book as she learns new things about herself and her past.
Recommendations
I recommend this book to anyone who likes longer, detailed books. I think the book was more specifically written for girls, because it involves ballet, romance, and cooking. However, I think guys could enjoy this book as well.
December 4, 2013
When we first meet 17 year-old Ember, she is cleaning out her room at a long-term rehab facility. The reader is given little bits and clues: she’s been there 8 months and she’s extremely anxious that she has to leave. When she gets home, her room is foreign, there is a poster for a band she doesn’t recognize or remember. It’s not until her best friend since kindergarten, Rachel, arrives that we learn Ember was not in a psych or drug rehab like we are led to believe. She was in a devastating near-fatal car accident that left her with physical and mental scars, ruined her dance career, her spine is now held together with a bolt, and she has survivor’s guilt.
But, she remembers nothing; not the events, or even the weeks, leading up to the accident, and she does not remember the boy who died in her car.
The author, Adele Griffin, takes Ember, and the reader, down the long, circuitous path to regaining her memory. Many patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries find themselves grasping, sometimes desperately, trying to remember faces, names, events, places, and the author has done the same with Ember. People she doesn’t recognize talk to her as if they are best friends and they talk about going out and clubbing together. But Ember was never into the club scene. Rachel is her best friend, not these other girls. And who was the boy in her car? Rachel doesn’t know, but neither does anyone else.
Extracting the bits and pieces of lost memory as they come to her, Ember visits the club she supposedly frequented and meets Kai. They instantly connect. He is artistic and beautiful and mysterious and he understands Ember, unlike her family and friends. As obsessed as she is with regaining her memory, she is now equally obsessed with Kai.
What I liked about the book is the same reason I did not love the book: the process
Ember endures to regain her memory, especially about the night of the accident, is frustratingly slow. It is a painful journey for Ember, but for the reader it can be exasperating. And Ember’s teenage preoccupation with the new boy, Kai, is understandable, but it is pure angst.
Sitting in the back seat, the reader can easily recognize all the things Ember should do to hasten her recovery and all the mistakes she makes that prolong it. Teenage girls talk. A lot. Why doesn’t Ember just confide in Rachel? What is she hiding? Why does she avoid her former dance instructor? By the end of the book, these questions are answered and her behavior makes sense. But, as I said before, it is a long and circuitous path.
But, she remembers nothing; not the events, or even the weeks, leading up to the accident, and she does not remember the boy who died in her car.
The author, Adele Griffin, takes Ember, and the reader, down the long, circuitous path to regaining her memory. Many patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries find themselves grasping, sometimes desperately, trying to remember faces, names, events, places, and the author has done the same with Ember. People she doesn’t recognize talk to her as if they are best friends and they talk about going out and clubbing together. But Ember was never into the club scene. Rachel is her best friend, not these other girls. And who was the boy in her car? Rachel doesn’t know, but neither does anyone else.
Extracting the bits and pieces of lost memory as they come to her, Ember visits the club she supposedly frequented and meets Kai. They instantly connect. He is artistic and beautiful and mysterious and he understands Ember, unlike her family and friends. As obsessed as she is with regaining her memory, she is now equally obsessed with Kai.
What I liked about the book is the same reason I did not love the book: the process
Ember endures to regain her memory, especially about the night of the accident, is frustratingly slow. It is a painful journey for Ember, but for the reader it can be exasperating. And Ember’s teenage preoccupation with the new boy, Kai, is understandable, but it is pure angst.
Sitting in the back seat, the reader can easily recognize all the things Ember should do to hasten her recovery and all the mistakes she makes that prolong it. Teenage girls talk. A lot. Why doesn’t Ember just confide in Rachel? What is she hiding? Why does she avoid her former dance instructor? By the end of the book, these questions are answered and her behavior makes sense. But, as I said before, it is a long and circuitous path.
December 26, 2013
Loud Awake and Lost delivers what it promises.. a spooky thrilling contemporary read that has you questioning everything. Ember, the main protagonist has just been released from a rehabilitation center, 8 months after a car accident that led to multiple breaks, fractures, and near death surgeries, as well as a black whole in the six weeks prior to her accident. When Ember gets back home and back to school, what people are saying as well as what her room looks like don't add up. She seems to be into new music, hanging out with a different crowd her school friends don't know about, as well as a mysterious guy that she can't even remember. This book follows Ember dealing with her PTSD, her memory loss, and everyone's expectation of her going back to the Ember before her change.
I personally loved this book. There is a big twist in the end that I sort of knew was coming (when I had a hunch I stupidly checked the last couple of pages and confirmed my theory) however that didn't deter me from reading and enjoying Loud Awake and Lost. I really sympathized with Ember and what she was going through, especially after finding out more forgotten memories that caused her even more pain. I loved how Griffin so easily made me connect with Ember. I love characters that I could share their pain and hurt, their happiness and hopes; that was Ember for me.
If you are expecting a murder mystery or a villain, then I suggest you rearrange your expectations because this one is free of that. I couldn't put the book down and wanted to read more, not just more of Ember but also of her best friend's life, her ex-boyfriend who just came back into her life, as well as her parents. At only 300 pages, this one was a quick read with a thrilling plot line, likable main protagonist, and great secondary characters. I recommend it to any YA contemporary readers, especially ones that love a little mystery in their stories.
I personally loved this book. There is a big twist in the end that I sort of knew was coming (when I had a hunch I stupidly checked the last couple of pages and confirmed my theory) however that didn't deter me from reading and enjoying Loud Awake and Lost. I really sympathized with Ember and what she was going through, especially after finding out more forgotten memories that caused her even more pain. I loved how Griffin so easily made me connect with Ember. I love characters that I could share their pain and hurt, their happiness and hopes; that was Ember for me.
If you are expecting a murder mystery or a villain, then I suggest you rearrange your expectations because this one is free of that. I couldn't put the book down and wanted to read more, not just more of Ember but also of her best friend's life, her ex-boyfriend who just came back into her life, as well as her parents. At only 300 pages, this one was a quick read with a thrilling plot line, likable main protagonist, and great secondary characters. I recommend it to any YA contemporary readers, especially ones that love a little mystery in their stories.
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March 12, 2015I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I say that because it was a good book, but it didn't really draw my attention the whole time. I liked it when there was drama, but most of the time it was just informing you about what led to that scene.
I'd recommend this book to females in their tween and teen years. I say that because anyone could end up in Ember's situation. This book also shows how you get through things with the help of family and friends.
In the beginning of this book Ember just got out of a hospital called Addington. She was in the hospital because she was in a very bad car accident. She had about two months lost in her memory from the accident. She lost everything from the end of December to the end of February. The accident happened in the middle of February. While she was in Addington she had to relearn pretty much everything. She learned that in the accident a boy, Anthony Travola, died. He was passanger while Ember was driving, but Ember had no idea who he was. When she got home, everyone at school treated her like she was still injured. The only person that she felt like she could talk to was her ex-boyfriend, Holden. Her and Holden always had a thing throughout the book, but they never actually got back together. One day when Ember was supposed to go to physical therapy, she went to a club called Areacode instead. At the club she met a guy named Kai. They had an intimate connection right away. After that night Ember couldn't stop thinking about him. After a week without seeing Kai, Ember called him. They made plans to go to out on a date. Then after the date, Ember went to the place where the accident happened. She was devastated and then her memory came back. At the end of the book, Ember gets full recalection of everything she had forgotten.
I'd recommend this book to females in their tween and teen years. I say that because anyone could end up in Ember's situation. This book also shows how you get through things with the help of family and friends.
In the beginning of this book Ember just got out of a hospital called Addington. She was in the hospital because she was in a very bad car accident. She had about two months lost in her memory from the accident. She lost everything from the end of December to the end of February. The accident happened in the middle of February. While she was in Addington she had to relearn pretty much everything. She learned that in the accident a boy, Anthony Travola, died. He was passanger while Ember was driving, but Ember had no idea who he was. When she got home, everyone at school treated her like she was still injured. The only person that she felt like she could talk to was her ex-boyfriend, Holden. Her and Holden always had a thing throughout the book, but they never actually got back together. One day when Ember was supposed to go to physical therapy, she went to a club called Areacode instead. At the club she met a guy named Kai. They had an intimate connection right away. After that night Ember couldn't stop thinking about him. After a week without seeing Kai, Ember called him. They made plans to go to out on a date. Then after the date, Ember went to the place where the accident happened. She was devastated and then her memory came back. At the end of the book, Ember gets full recalection of everything she had forgotten.
September 5, 2014
After a deadly car accident and 8 months in rehab facility, Ember is going home with a brain injury and without memories of six weeks before the accident. Her parents, best friend and ex say that she acted strangely in the weeks before the accident, hanging with different people, wearing different clothes and listening to different music. They don't know the young man in her car who was killed. Ember is desperate to recover those six weeks and figure out who she is and why she's different from the girl she remembers.
I loved the premise do the book. Everything else was a huge disappointment. I enjoyed some of Adele Griffin books, but LOUD AWAKE AND LOST is almost painfully excruciating to read, and not because or the story. Ember's voice was flat and bland and showed no sign of brain injury. I expected, in a first person account, to see evidence of the trauma in her thinking, ability to remember words, and in her cognitive functioning. Even subtle hints would have given this book some voice. The writing had an overabundance of telling, and little showing. Parts of the plot felt familiar from books and movies. I won't say which ones, as not to give away the plot "twist". Is it still a plot twist when I figure out the big reveal 1/3 of the way into the book.
If this was a print, rather than an ebook, I'd have returned it and not finished. If you want to read this book, borrow it from the library or a friend. Don't waste your money. If you want a well written story about a teen who can't remember what happened after an accident TRIGGER Susan Vaught has a wonderful plot, accuracy about retrograde amnesia, and a strong, distinct voice.
I loved the premise do the book. Everything else was a huge disappointment. I enjoyed some of Adele Griffin books, but LOUD AWAKE AND LOST is almost painfully excruciating to read, and not because or the story. Ember's voice was flat and bland and showed no sign of brain injury. I expected, in a first person account, to see evidence of the trauma in her thinking, ability to remember words, and in her cognitive functioning. Even subtle hints would have given this book some voice. The writing had an overabundance of telling, and little showing. Parts of the plot felt familiar from books and movies. I won't say which ones, as not to give away the plot "twist". Is it still a plot twist when I figure out the big reveal 1/3 of the way into the book.
If this was a print, rather than an ebook, I'd have returned it and not finished. If you want to read this book, borrow it from the library or a friend. Don't waste your money. If you want a well written story about a teen who can't remember what happened after an accident TRIGGER Susan Vaught has a wonderful plot, accuracy about retrograde amnesia, and a strong, distinct voice.
April 2, 2014
Another winning, 5-Heart read! I've been very fortunate as of late to have been able to read so many great books. I had been in a bit of a reading slump, but managed to pull out of it. I read the reviews on this book and so many people thought it read slow. I didn't see that at all. I loved the pacing. I adored the characters. It kept me turning the pages to see what really happened to Ember. One by one, piece by piece, we begin to uncover the clues. Some people didn't like Ember. I did. I thought she was surprisingly strong. Her parents worried about her, understandably. The only thing I didn't like was: I would have liked for her to have ended up getting back together with Holden. I liked that boy. What a sweetheart! But, I also understand the reasons why it didn't happen. This is my first read by Adele Griffin, but it won't be my last. I wouldn't exactly call this a psychological thriller. But it was a mystery and it was good.
December 14, 2013
Adele Griffin pretty much manages to wow me with every single book she releases. Loud Awake And Lost, Griffin’s latest, is a an emotion-laden read with quite the plot twist. If you are a fan of hard hitting young adult contemporary books, you would do well to add Loud Awake And Lost to your to be read list – I promise it is worth your time. I am still thinking about this book weeks after finishing it.
Read the rest of my review here
Note: Review goes live March 14, 2014 -- the link won't work until then!
Read the rest of my review here
Note: Review goes live March 14, 2014 -- the link won't work until then!
March 26, 2014
I might have felt differently if I were in the intended age range this book was written for, but I found the main character unappealing. She was an entitled, whiny, spoiled brat. The audiobook narrator was terrible, which added to my lack of enjoyment. She sounded as though she had to force out the last syllable of every word.
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November 22, 2014Audiobook narrator's voice annoyed me - but decent story
July 27, 2021
The only reason I finished this was in hopes it would get better!
November 13, 2023
I was drawn into this girl's story the author is a great storyteller and the narrator was so peaceful and life like to listen to.
February 21, 2014
Too much - I couldn't believe her and I couldn't like her.
July 4, 2017
More of a 3.5, but I guess I'm not feeling generous.
Ember is seventeen and a senior at a hoity toity NYC high school. She has an awesome best friend and a a super great guy who is probably in love with her. But, in February of her junior year Ember drives her car off a bridge in a snow storm. She nearly dies and in the process her passenger, a mystery to Ember, dies.
Ember has buried her memories of this person and the person she was. After eight months of intensive rehab she returns home to piece together who she was, who she will be and who the mystery man was.
I liked the premise of this story, but even though the book wasn't very long, I felt like the story was drawn out in some ways, and I got frustrated waiting for Ember to figure it out.
Ember is seventeen and a senior at a hoity toity NYC high school. She has an awesome best friend and a a super great guy who is probably in love with her. But, in February of her junior year Ember drives her car off a bridge in a snow storm. She nearly dies and in the process her passenger, a mystery to Ember, dies.
Ember has buried her memories of this person and the person she was. After eight months of intensive rehab she returns home to piece together who she was, who she will be and who the mystery man was.
I liked the premise of this story, but even though the book wasn't very long, I felt like the story was drawn out in some ways, and I got frustrated waiting for Ember to figure it out.
September 14, 2015
"Alles, was ich von mir weiß" behandelt ein Thema, das von sich aus schon ganz viel Spannungspotenzial besitzt: Gedächtnisverlust. Nicht nur, weil es spannend sein könnte aufzuarbeiten, was denn in der verlorenen Zeit geschehen ist, sondern auch, weil ich es unglaublich interessant finde, wie die Betroffenen und deren Umgebung damit umgehen. All dies habe ich mir von diesem Buch über die junge Frau Ember, die nach einem schweren Autounfall sechs Wochen ihres Lebens vergessen hat, erhofft und, wenn auch nur teilweise, aber auf außergewöhnliche Weise bekommen.
Diese Geschichte beginnt an einem Tag, an dem Ember wieder aus der Reha zurück nach Hause zu ihren Eltern gehen darf. Nach dem Unfall lag sie einige Wochen im Krankenhaus und verbrachte danach noch viele Monate in der Reha. Sie hat einige schwere Verletzungen davongetragen und musste natürlich erst mal wieder lernen mit ihrem geschwächten Körper umzugehen. Auch die vergessenen sechs Wochen vor dem Unfall verursachten ihr immer wieder Sorgen. Als sie dann wieder Zuhause ist, wird sie zwar herzlichen empfangen, aber doch auch sehr vorsichtig. Sie wird wie ein rohes Ei behandelt und fühlt sich dabei sehr schnell eingeengt von zu viel Fürsorglichkeit. Zudem merkt Ember schnell, dass ihr nicht alles gesagt wird. Zuerst ist da der junge Mann, der beim Unfall auch mit im Auto saß, aber da scheint noch viel mehr zu sein.
Embers Sicht führt uns durch ihr Leben nach der Reha und somit beginnt das Buch recht ruhig. Der Schreibstil ist gefühlsbetont und nachdenklich und beschäftigt sich viel mit Embers Gedanken. Durch den eher stillen Einstieg in die Geschichte konnte ich mich persönlich schnell und gut in Embers Gedankenwelt einfühlen und war deshalb unglaublich interessiert, wie ihr alltägliches Leben nun mit dem Gedächtnisverlust weitergeht. Auch wenn es nur sechs Wochen sind, die ihr fehlen, scheinen sich diese wie ein riesiges Loch in ihren Gedanken anzufühlen. Schließlich ist es nicht nur die Unfallnacht, die ihr fehlt. Wenn man so etwas noch nie erlebt hat, kann man sich das wahrscheinlich nicht mal im geringsten vorstellen, bei "Alles, was ich von mir weiß" hatte ich aber zumindest das Gefühl, dass es sich dem Thema annähern konnte.
Besonders eindringlich wurden hier auch die Reaktionen der Menschen um Ember herum beschrieben. Da waren nicht nur ihre Eltern, sondern auch Freunde oder bloße Bekannte. Niemand schien so recht zu wissen, wie man nun mit ihr umgehen sollte, was man sagen darf und was nicht. In dem Zusammenhang spielen auch die sechs vergessenen Wochen eine Rolle, denn Ember selbst scheint in dieser Zeit eine ganz andere Person gewesen zu sein, die aber niemand so richtig mehr haben will. Alle scheinen froh zu sein, dass sie wieder die alt bekannte Ember haben. Viele, viele Seiten über hat sich in meinen Augen einfach jeder verdächtig gemacht, der offensichtlich nicht alles aus- oder angesprochen hat. Genau das hat wiederum enorm zum Spannungsaufbau beigetragen. So interessant die Reaktionen der anderen Personen auch waren, so hätte ich mir doch gewünscht, dass sie mehr sein könnten als bloß stereotype und besorgte Menschen. Da wirklich alles nur aus Embers Sicht beschrieben ist, bekommt der Leser natürlich auch nur diese mit, sodass besonders ihre Eltern schnell zu nervigen, übereifrigen und nervösen Menschen degradiert werden und ihre beste Freundin oft mehr eifersüchtig als froh wirkt. Hier wären weitere Sichtweisen oder auch nur erklärende Szenen wichtig gewesen, um diese Personen aus dem Klischee herauszuholen.
Ember, die den neuen Alltag auf sich zukommen lassen soll, um die vergessene Zeit ganz von allein wieder zu bekommen, ist ein Charakter, der mich zweigespalten zurückgelassen hat. So ruhig das Buch auch angefangen hat, so schnell wird klar, dass Ember nicht immer ein leiser oder sanfter Mensch ist. Sie entwickelt mit der Zeit ihre eigene "Kopf durch die Wand"-Methode, die ihr vielleicht Ergebnisse bringt, irgendwann allerdings nur noch fürchterlich egoistisch wirkt. Ich suche zwar per se nicht ständig Charaktere, die ich sympathisch finden kann, aber hier fand ich die Entwicklung wirklich schade. Vor allem, weil sich dadurch viele Situationen andauernd wiederholt haben, beispielsweise Szenen, bei denen Ember viel zu spät nach Hause kam und mal wieder genervt war von der Sorge ihrer Eltern, die stundenlang gebangt hatten. Was ihr allerdings während dieser spontan Aktionen passiert, ist wiederum ziemlich faszinierend, weil sich hier eine kleine, aber intensive Liebesgeschichte entwickelt. Sie trifft Kai, Kai trifft Ember und beide werden gleich unglaublich voneinander angezogen. Eine frische Liebe, die fast surreal wirkte und beim Lesen viel Spaß machte.
"Alles, was ich von mir weiß" ist nicht nur ein Buch, das einen schweren Unfall, Schuldgefühle und einen Gedächtnisverlust aufarbeitet, sondern auch eine Suche nach sich selbst. Ember, die sich durch die lange Zeit in der abgeschiedenen Reha-Klinik gar nicht mehr zu kennen scheint, fühlt sich langsam wieder in sich selbst ein. Es ist ein spannendes Buch voller Geheimnisse mit einer überraschenden Wendung, die dem Gedächtnisverlust noch ein weiteres Level verpasst. Für mich war die Wendung an sich nichts, das mich vom Hocker gerissen hätte (dafür sind mir ähnliche Überraschungen in letzter Zeit zu oft begegnet), aber sie war dennoch kaum vorauszusehen und besonders die Erklärungen haben mich überzeugt. Trotz einiger Längen durch Wiederholungen empfehle ich dieses Buch allen weiter, die sich für das Thema Gedächtnisverlust interessieren.
Diese Geschichte beginnt an einem Tag, an dem Ember wieder aus der Reha zurück nach Hause zu ihren Eltern gehen darf. Nach dem Unfall lag sie einige Wochen im Krankenhaus und verbrachte danach noch viele Monate in der Reha. Sie hat einige schwere Verletzungen davongetragen und musste natürlich erst mal wieder lernen mit ihrem geschwächten Körper umzugehen. Auch die vergessenen sechs Wochen vor dem Unfall verursachten ihr immer wieder Sorgen. Als sie dann wieder Zuhause ist, wird sie zwar herzlichen empfangen, aber doch auch sehr vorsichtig. Sie wird wie ein rohes Ei behandelt und fühlt sich dabei sehr schnell eingeengt von zu viel Fürsorglichkeit. Zudem merkt Ember schnell, dass ihr nicht alles gesagt wird. Zuerst ist da der junge Mann, der beim Unfall auch mit im Auto saß, aber da scheint noch viel mehr zu sein.
Embers Sicht führt uns durch ihr Leben nach der Reha und somit beginnt das Buch recht ruhig. Der Schreibstil ist gefühlsbetont und nachdenklich und beschäftigt sich viel mit Embers Gedanken. Durch den eher stillen Einstieg in die Geschichte konnte ich mich persönlich schnell und gut in Embers Gedankenwelt einfühlen und war deshalb unglaublich interessiert, wie ihr alltägliches Leben nun mit dem Gedächtnisverlust weitergeht. Auch wenn es nur sechs Wochen sind, die ihr fehlen, scheinen sich diese wie ein riesiges Loch in ihren Gedanken anzufühlen. Schließlich ist es nicht nur die Unfallnacht, die ihr fehlt. Wenn man so etwas noch nie erlebt hat, kann man sich das wahrscheinlich nicht mal im geringsten vorstellen, bei "Alles, was ich von mir weiß" hatte ich aber zumindest das Gefühl, dass es sich dem Thema annähern konnte.
Besonders eindringlich wurden hier auch die Reaktionen der Menschen um Ember herum beschrieben. Da waren nicht nur ihre Eltern, sondern auch Freunde oder bloße Bekannte. Niemand schien so recht zu wissen, wie man nun mit ihr umgehen sollte, was man sagen darf und was nicht. In dem Zusammenhang spielen auch die sechs vergessenen Wochen eine Rolle, denn Ember selbst scheint in dieser Zeit eine ganz andere Person gewesen zu sein, die aber niemand so richtig mehr haben will. Alle scheinen froh zu sein, dass sie wieder die alt bekannte Ember haben. Viele, viele Seiten über hat sich in meinen Augen einfach jeder verdächtig gemacht, der offensichtlich nicht alles aus- oder angesprochen hat. Genau das hat wiederum enorm zum Spannungsaufbau beigetragen. So interessant die Reaktionen der anderen Personen auch waren, so hätte ich mir doch gewünscht, dass sie mehr sein könnten als bloß stereotype und besorgte Menschen. Da wirklich alles nur aus Embers Sicht beschrieben ist, bekommt der Leser natürlich auch nur diese mit, sodass besonders ihre Eltern schnell zu nervigen, übereifrigen und nervösen Menschen degradiert werden und ihre beste Freundin oft mehr eifersüchtig als froh wirkt. Hier wären weitere Sichtweisen oder auch nur erklärende Szenen wichtig gewesen, um diese Personen aus dem Klischee herauszuholen.
Ember, die den neuen Alltag auf sich zukommen lassen soll, um die vergessene Zeit ganz von allein wieder zu bekommen, ist ein Charakter, der mich zweigespalten zurückgelassen hat. So ruhig das Buch auch angefangen hat, so schnell wird klar, dass Ember nicht immer ein leiser oder sanfter Mensch ist. Sie entwickelt mit der Zeit ihre eigene "Kopf durch die Wand"-Methode, die ihr vielleicht Ergebnisse bringt, irgendwann allerdings nur noch fürchterlich egoistisch wirkt. Ich suche zwar per se nicht ständig Charaktere, die ich sympathisch finden kann, aber hier fand ich die Entwicklung wirklich schade. Vor allem, weil sich dadurch viele Situationen andauernd wiederholt haben, beispielsweise Szenen, bei denen Ember viel zu spät nach Hause kam und mal wieder genervt war von der Sorge ihrer Eltern, die stundenlang gebangt hatten. Was ihr allerdings während dieser spontan Aktionen passiert, ist wiederum ziemlich faszinierend, weil sich hier eine kleine, aber intensive Liebesgeschichte entwickelt. Sie trifft Kai, Kai trifft Ember und beide werden gleich unglaublich voneinander angezogen. Eine frische Liebe, die fast surreal wirkte und beim Lesen viel Spaß machte.
"Alles, was ich von mir weiß" ist nicht nur ein Buch, das einen schweren Unfall, Schuldgefühle und einen Gedächtnisverlust aufarbeitet, sondern auch eine Suche nach sich selbst. Ember, die sich durch die lange Zeit in der abgeschiedenen Reha-Klinik gar nicht mehr zu kennen scheint, fühlt sich langsam wieder in sich selbst ein. Es ist ein spannendes Buch voller Geheimnisse mit einer überraschenden Wendung, die dem Gedächtnisverlust noch ein weiteres Level verpasst. Für mich war die Wendung an sich nichts, das mich vom Hocker gerissen hätte (dafür sind mir ähnliche Überraschungen in letzter Zeit zu oft begegnet), aber sie war dennoch kaum vorauszusehen und besonders die Erklärungen haben mich überzeugt. Trotz einiger Längen durch Wiederholungen empfehle ich dieses Buch allen weiter, die sich für das Thema Gedächtnisverlust interessieren.
March 24, 2021
OK first of all why didn't she just stay with holden?? Yes I know she couldn't stop thinking about Kai but she was thinking about the wrong guy. Holden was always their for her and he was so caring and kind, also loving. KAI DOSENT EVEN KNOW HER. THEN THEY JUST KISSING AND NOW SHE KNOWS SHES IN LOVE?????? Also was it just me but I thought the ending was confusing... Is she with Hatch now??? I am so confused... OK I thought this book was confusing and that she ended up in the wrong life she should have been with holden. A waste of my time to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
I read this book in two days. I’m not exactly sure why but even so. I wish I could give it a little under three stars but I digress. I guessed the plot twist early on and wasn’t overly hooked throughout. I appreciate some of the lines and Ember finding herself. Although at times the main plot felt like a subplot and when it was finally shown, felt rushed. I also found it hard to visualize a lot of the characters and clothing but that could just be me not overly connecting with their particular “scene”. Overall I still do not regret reading this book but I didn’t feel overly wowed.
September 19, 2018
This book reminds us of what our minds are capable of. Ember is a very likable teenager that almost doesn't want to be liked. The terrible tragedy that no one will elaborate on is tearing her to pieces. The angst of being a teenager with the knowledge and secrecy of a tragedy looming over her makes for a heck of a book.
July 4, 2023
The story itself was great. An ending I was almost imagining. I felt the characters were shown in a light that I do not imagine high school kids. They were older and wiser than I knew I was at that age, and the vocabulary was above what a high school student would speak. The ending was abrupt. I wanted more detail of the past year.
July 4, 2025
I had high hopes for this book but it was a STRUGGLE to read and so confusing. The only reason I finished it was because I was hoping it’d get better and I’d understand it. In my opinion, it was very poorly written. I would’ve preferred a longer book with more details & symptoms of her memory loss than a shorter book that felt rushed, confusing & fell completely flat for me.
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