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Sync
From #1 NYT bestselling author Ellen Hopkins comes a new heartbreaking young adult novel in verse about twins separated in the foster care system and the different paths their lives take.
Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake have always been in perfect sync. They faced the worst a parent could do and survived it together. In the wake of their mother’s rejection, they’ve spent the last five years moving from foster home to foster home—sometimes placed together, sometimes apart.
After being separated from his sister once again, Storm is devastated. He’s the older brother and promised to always take care of Lake. But after a stint in juvie, his newest placement has him feeling almost hopeful. His foster dad is kind, and his girlfriend, Jaidyn, is the first person other than Lake he feels he can trust. But when Jaidyn is sexually assaulted by a violent ex, it pushes Storm over the edge. He retaliates and lands back in lockup—and he fears this time it will be for good. He wishes he could talk to Lake, but he doesn’t know where she is, and he' s now feeling more alone and out of sync than ever before.
Lake, like Storm, has found her own happiness in a relationship with someone new—her fellow foster, Parker. Life with Parker is never boring, but Parker has her own scars. She can be withdrawn and unpredictable, and that can be dangerous, especially after Parker convinces Lake to run away from their Bible-thumping fosters after they are caught in a compromising position. With no money, shelter, or ID, they’re living on the streets. Lake thinks of Storm and his promise to take care of her, and wonders where he could be now.
Told in dual perspectives through unsent letters, at turns heartbreaking and always honest, this latest novel in verse from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins is a searing and unforgettable account of two teens caught in the teeth of the foster care system, fighting their way out and back to each other.
Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake have always been in perfect sync. They faced the worst a parent could do and survived it together. In the wake of their mother’s rejection, they’ve spent the last five years moving from foster home to foster home—sometimes placed together, sometimes apart.
After being separated from his sister once again, Storm is devastated. He’s the older brother and promised to always take care of Lake. But after a stint in juvie, his newest placement has him feeling almost hopeful. His foster dad is kind, and his girlfriend, Jaidyn, is the first person other than Lake he feels he can trust. But when Jaidyn is sexually assaulted by a violent ex, it pushes Storm over the edge. He retaliates and lands back in lockup—and he fears this time it will be for good. He wishes he could talk to Lake, but he doesn’t know where she is, and he' s now feeling more alone and out of sync than ever before.
Lake, like Storm, has found her own happiness in a relationship with someone new—her fellow foster, Parker. Life with Parker is never boring, but Parker has her own scars. She can be withdrawn and unpredictable, and that can be dangerous, especially after Parker convinces Lake to run away from their Bible-thumping fosters after they are caught in a compromising position. With no money, shelter, or ID, they’re living on the streets. Lake thinks of Storm and his promise to take care of her, and wonders where he could be now.
Told in dual perspectives through unsent letters, at turns heartbreaking and always honest, this latest novel in verse from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins is a searing and unforgettable account of two teens caught in the teeth of the foster care system, fighting their way out and back to each other.
448 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
214 people are currently reading
11917 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Hopkins
48 books19.2k followersEllen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, Tricks, Fallout, Perfect, Triangles, Tilt, and Collateral. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me", and she can be visited at ellenhopkins.com.
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
August 20, 2024
I’m always fascinated by a story told in poetry, basically just the essential emotion and bits of story without everything else. I did enjoy this book, but it was quite the emotional punch to me. I work in child welfare to see two such great kids struggle in the system (and be kept apart so long) was painful. I wish I could say it wasn’t realistic but it was all too realistic (except when the social worker brought one of the kids home until she found a placement). I loved that we got to see both Storm and Lake’s perspectives. I was definitely rooting for both of them. The ending wasn’t quite enough for me, but I like that it ended with a feeling of hope. The writing was excellent and the characters were well developed even though all we got were mostly unsent letters between the siblings. Overall I gave this one 4.5 stars which I rounded up for the emotional hangover the book left me with.
October 6, 2024
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
“So, no. I’ve never believed
in some fairy-tale future.
But I’ve always hoped
for happiness.”
There was a time when I felt that Young Adult books were written simply for its intended age-audience. But, now I don't know which target audience authors are writing for. 🤔 Let alone, I can't understand that if I were a high school librarian, who would I recommend this to? What was the aim of this book, in particular? Is it to tell readers that things have to go worse before they become better? 🥺 That foster kids on their own are worse off than when they are with people who may have different values and opinions than them, but at least they'll have a warm bed and a hot meal rather than living on the streets? Does this book show me that some horribly vile and evil people pay for their crimes and some get away from it, and that's simply the reality of life? Do I believe that even when siblings of a deep bond are separated one way or another, life will find a way to bring them back together? That they Sync not only in their pains, but in the hope for happiness, too? ❤️🩹❤️🩹
I'm just so confused, as to what good did this read leave me with. 🙁 I don't deny Ellen Hopkins has the innate ability to address conflicted and challenging issues in a creative way - having the perspectives of two seventeen-year-old twin siblings - Storm and Lake be told in verse, allowing their thoughts and emotions to seamlessly parallel one another - 'we could “tell” each other things without saying a word.' 🫂 She has an impressive backlog of books that does not shy from attacking issues head-on; and while I may have only read one of their middle grade novels, I do appreciate how she is able to tell a story in verse, effectively so. 👍🏻👍🏻
“We crash into each other,
but the only pain is what we’ve held
inside for so very long.
It escapes in two exhaled words.
“Lake.” Storm.”
But, perhaps my issues lie in the content of the story, itself. I'm not denying that foster care is not without its concerns and its problems. I don't deny that children in foster care have to deal with a lot worse than kids who have the luxury of having the basic necessities of life that we take for granted - safety and love. 😥 But, as much as the struggles are very much real and existing, at times, the need to pile upon more and more pains and struggles starts to feel a bit manipulative and extraneous. 'Hold on to your dreams, you hear? Someone has to.'
I get that we have to address how unjust it is that Lake, while seeking love and solace in the arms of Parker, ended up being one of the reasons why she could not stay at a religious home, hence her departure to the street. I understand the unfairness of Storm finding love with someone who was a victim of such a horrific crime that it cost dearly - for them, both. 😔 But, it seemed so much - like, it was emphasizing that things had to take a turn for the absolute worse - to sink the lowest - drugs, sexual assault, anger control, before things could become better.
I appreciated the dedication - it rang true. But, then I felt at odds with the author's note - at how she hoped this would shed light on foster care and what changes are necessary to give better and brighter opportunities for foster kids so that they too can have a brighter future. So, does she want young adult readers in their school years to set on a path to help those? 🤨 Because, let's not forget this is a young adult novel! Is it for kids to realize that adult supervision and guidance is the only way to happiness? 'I want you to know I listened.' So, why are these authors not writing with the intentions of having them in mind? If I were to give this to a sixteen-year-old, do I have to then warn them beforehand of the many trigger warnings included? 😟 Or should I simply say this will encourage you to look beyond the comforts of your happiness and learn to appreciate them for there are those who are less fortunate than yourself.
It is a puzzling notion for which I think I will forever be at a loss at. 😔
It felt so bleak and traumatic and hopelessly disheartening, unnecessarily so. 😢💔 What right person would give this to a teenager and say read this? To feel sorry for foster kids at the horrible hand life has dealt them? To pity and empathize and then feel it in their hearts to set out on a path to right the wrong in the system? When, even a child who had depression was unable to find solace in her heart. This is something that is bothering me, and I think, will continue to bother me now; perhaps as a young adult I would have never seen it in that light.
Not to mention that ending! 😩 After all the talk about how in sync the twins are, to just end it so abruptly like that. Very rude and very unfair, considering the efforts they went through to get to a place of happiness. 🙎🏻♀️
“The thing about foster kids,
at least most of the ones I’ve known,
is that no one supports their dreams.
After a while they figure why bother.”
Why do you bother?”
But, it is an eye-opener; it is a powerful nod and nudge to pay attention; to see that there are good people and bad people in this world, and our choices decide which path will lead us to the right kind of people.
Having it written in verse made the emotions shine deeper; it flowed in a rhythmic pace that also captured their own individual struggles. I was a bit worried about the large page quantity, but once it began, it was very easy to fall into the rhythm of their story I wish we could have played a bit more on the connection between Storm and Lake; we felt that little sparkle hint at the start, but as their lives worsened, so too did that bond of seeking out on another - in thought and in spirit. 'Storm and I weren’t worth the bother. Except, we were.' 🥺 The different paths their lives take was heartbreaking to witness - their reason for separation, even more painful.
Life spirals out of control, without their control, which makes it so much worse to see. I did not fault either of them for their actions, their emotions, or their desire to break free - to demand justice, or at least seek out happiness in the hopes of simply being themselves. 🫶🏻🫶🏻 For while the ending ends with me wanting a little bit more closure, there is that faint glimmer of hope that shows that even after the darkness, light manages to find a way to shine through. And to hold onto that feeling, is all that anyone could hope for. 🙏🏻
“So, no. I’ve never believed
in some fairy-tale future.
But I’ve always hoped
for happiness.”
There was a time when I felt that Young Adult books were written simply for its intended age-audience. But, now I don't know which target audience authors are writing for. 🤔 Let alone, I can't understand that if I were a high school librarian, who would I recommend this to? What was the aim of this book, in particular? Is it to tell readers that things have to go worse before they become better? 🥺 That foster kids on their own are worse off than when they are with people who may have different values and opinions than them, but at least they'll have a warm bed and a hot meal rather than living on the streets? Does this book show me that some horribly vile and evil people pay for their crimes and some get away from it, and that's simply the reality of life? Do I believe that even when siblings of a deep bond are separated one way or another, life will find a way to bring them back together? That they Sync not only in their pains, but in the hope for happiness, too? ❤️🩹❤️🩹
I'm just so confused, as to what good did this read leave me with. 🙁 I don't deny Ellen Hopkins has the innate ability to address conflicted and challenging issues in a creative way - having the perspectives of two seventeen-year-old twin siblings - Storm and Lake be told in verse, allowing their thoughts and emotions to seamlessly parallel one another - 'we could “tell” each other things without saying a word.' 🫂 She has an impressive backlog of books that does not shy from attacking issues head-on; and while I may have only read one of their middle grade novels, I do appreciate how she is able to tell a story in verse, effectively so. 👍🏻👍🏻
“We crash into each other,
but the only pain is what we’ve held
inside for so very long.
It escapes in two exhaled words.
“Lake.” Storm.”
But, perhaps my issues lie in the content of the story, itself. I'm not denying that foster care is not without its concerns and its problems. I don't deny that children in foster care have to deal with a lot worse than kids who have the luxury of having the basic necessities of life that we take for granted - safety and love. 😥 But, as much as the struggles are very much real and existing, at times, the need to pile upon more and more pains and struggles starts to feel a bit manipulative and extraneous. 'Hold on to your dreams, you hear? Someone has to.'
I get that we have to address how unjust it is that Lake, while seeking love and solace in the arms of Parker, ended up being one of the reasons why she could not stay at a religious home, hence her departure to the street. I understand the unfairness of Storm finding love with someone who was a victim of such a horrific crime that it cost dearly - for them, both. 😔 But, it seemed so much - like, it was emphasizing that things had to take a turn for the absolute worse - to sink the lowest - drugs, sexual assault, anger control, before things could become better.
I appreciated the dedication - it rang true. But, then I felt at odds with the author's note - at how she hoped this would shed light on foster care and what changes are necessary to give better and brighter opportunities for foster kids so that they too can have a brighter future. So, does she want young adult readers in their school years to set on a path to help those? 🤨 Because, let's not forget this is a young adult novel! Is it for kids to realize that adult supervision and guidance is the only way to happiness? 'I want you to know I listened.' So, why are these authors not writing with the intentions of having them in mind? If I were to give this to a sixteen-year-old, do I have to then warn them beforehand of the many trigger warnings included? 😟 Or should I simply say this will encourage you to look beyond the comforts of your happiness and learn to appreciate them for there are those who are less fortunate than yourself.
It is a puzzling notion for which I think I will forever be at a loss at. 😔
It felt so bleak and traumatic and hopelessly disheartening, unnecessarily so. 😢💔 What right person would give this to a teenager and say read this? To feel sorry for foster kids at the horrible hand life has dealt them? To pity and empathize and then feel it in their hearts to set out on a path to right the wrong in the system? When, even a child who had depression was unable to find solace in her heart. This is something that is bothering me, and I think, will continue to bother me now; perhaps as a young adult I would have never seen it in that light.
Not to mention that ending! 😩 After all the talk about how in sync the twins are, to just end it so abruptly like that. Very rude and very unfair, considering the efforts they went through to get to a place of happiness. 🙎🏻♀️
“The thing about foster kids,
at least most of the ones I’ve known,
is that no one supports their dreams.
After a while they figure why bother.”
Why do you bother?”
But, it is an eye-opener; it is a powerful nod and nudge to pay attention; to see that there are good people and bad people in this world, and our choices decide which path will lead us to the right kind of people.
Having it written in verse made the emotions shine deeper; it flowed in a rhythmic pace that also captured their own individual struggles. I was a bit worried about the large page quantity, but once it began, it was very easy to fall into the rhythm of their story I wish we could have played a bit more on the connection between Storm and Lake; we felt that little sparkle hint at the start, but as their lives worsened, so too did that bond of seeking out on another - in thought and in spirit. 'Storm and I weren’t worth the bother. Except, we were.' 🥺 The different paths their lives take was heartbreaking to witness - their reason for separation, even more painful.
Life spirals out of control, without their control, which makes it so much worse to see. I did not fault either of them for their actions, their emotions, or their desire to break free - to demand justice, or at least seek out happiness in the hopes of simply being themselves. 🫶🏻🫶🏻 For while the ending ends with me wanting a little bit more closure, there is that faint glimmer of hope that shows that even after the darkness, light manages to find a way to shine through. And to hold onto that feeling, is all that anyone could hope for. 🙏🏻
November 27, 2024
I loved Hopkins’ Crank and was hoping Sync would pack the same emotional punch. While it was definitely a tragic story, I felt the novel told in verse would have been better told in prose. The verses here were sometimes more like sparse paragraphs and unfortunately what seemed missing to me was the feeling behind the words.
Storm and Lake have been dealt a tough hand and time and time again more difficulties find them. At times it gets bleak, but it ends on a note of hope which I liked.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Storm and Lake have been dealt a tough hand and time and time again more difficulties find them. At times it gets bleak, but it ends on a note of hope which I liked.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
September 1, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book cover is absolutely stunning! I love everything about it
Ellen Hopkins always writes about the heaviest topics in such a raw and sensitive way, not holding back one bit. This book is told in verse, and it follows two twins who grew up in the foster care system (those books always get me immediately) and the hand that life dealt them. It was interesting seeing what each one of them was going through simultaneously, still always thinking of one another. In the end, the two storylines intervene in a wonderful way that gave me actual goosebumps.
I felt so many things reading this, and it broke my heart to read the experiences that these fictional characters endured, that are actually very real for some teens in the foster care system.
I definitely recommend this book, but you have to be in the right mind set when reading it.
August 23, 2024
I typically love books written by Ellen Hopkins but this one, for some reason, felt very flat to me. It had all of the basic framework of her other works, but it just felt almost disengaged.
The plot is definitely engaging. It's easy to read through the book in just one sitting because you really want to know what's going to happen to Lake and Storm. I wasn't really a fan of how open ended it was at the end. Maybe a book two? 👀
I really enjoy when a book has more than one pov. It makes me feel more connected to the characters that way. I'm nosey. I like knowing what everyone is thinking.
Absolutely not a bad book and for sure worth the read, just not my favorite.
The plot is definitely engaging. It's easy to read through the book in just one sitting because you really want to know what's going to happen to Lake and Storm. I wasn't really a fan of how open ended it was at the end. Maybe a book two? 👀
I really enjoy when a book has more than one pov. It makes me feel more connected to the characters that way. I'm nosey. I like knowing what everyone is thinking.
Absolutely not a bad book and for sure worth the read, just not my favorite.
May 14, 2024
Dual POVs; deep, heartwrenching, and challenging topics; truly felt for the two main characters and went through a rollercoaster of emotions; was fully hooked and never wanted to put it down; a masterfully written, captivating, impactful, and inspiring story with tragedy, hope, trauma, and redemption; the ending gave me goosebumps; my only gripe is that I wish it were longer- I needed more!
Hands down my new favorite Ellen Hopkins book 🩶
⚠️ check trigger warnings ⚠️
Special thank you to Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulson Books and Netgalley for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Releases 8/27/24!
Hands down my new favorite Ellen Hopkins book 🩶
⚠️ check trigger warnings ⚠️
Special thank you to Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulson Books and Netgalley for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Releases 8/27/24!
August 26, 2024
The Night I Finished the Book: This book reached into my heart, ripped it out, threw it down the stairs, wwe body slammed it, threw it in a shredder, only to then piece it all back together, stitch it back in my chest, and continue this process recurrently until I closed the book.
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House/Penguin Teen for the finished copy of the book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and statements are honest and my own.
Let me start this book off by saying I know (for me) this book will be a book I will continue to think about tomorrow, next week, next month, and so on. This is my first Ellen Hopkins book, and growing up always saw peers my age reading her books and knowing that she writes stories that are emotionally raw and are realities of young people. I will now be going and diving into more of her work, as this book, that is told in beautiful verse and prose, offered the most accurate, realistic, and tragic depictions of often times what traumatized young adults go through when in foster care and the juvenile justice system. Let it be known that with this book depicting mature themes, I would say read up on trigger warnings if that is what is helpful to you, as this book portrays child abuse, neglect, sexual assault, court, jail, mental health, drugs, physical assault, and grief.
Sync follows twins Storm and Lake in a dual POV story in which they both turn seventeen and are about to reunite for the first time in several years. Both Storm and Lake had a horrific child hood and were placed in foster home to foster home, eventually becoming separated. Storm has had a difficult past, in which he has had some time spent in the juvenile detention center, and has a great foster father and girlfriend currently. One day, a tragic event happens that strikes Storm to his core, and loses control, jeopardizing his relationship and ability to communicate with Lake. Lake has found herself trusting her fellow foster sister so much that Parker and Lake support each other in their less than desired foster home with very religious foster parents that dictate what they do, say, etc. However, the foster home becomes too much for both Parker and Lake, and so they leave home, believing life is better than the placement.
Going into this book, I knew I was most likely going to enjoy it because of the line work I do as a clinical social worker that works with teens and adolescents. Never has there been a story that has captivated me enough to where my heart physically hurt from what was happening to the characters in this book. Earlier I read a 2 star review about this book saying that "there was too much tragic stuff/trauma occurring", and unfortunately, that is the real life of young adults similar to our characters Storm and Lake. I cared about these characters so much and the tragedies that happened to them are what I have personally seen/heard of in my line of work. I don't think I have quite had a book strike me so hard emotionally where I had to put the book down to wipe away tears and breathe before resuming. In that though comes the powerful message I am taking from this book. In this story, there are several side characters that continue to treat Storm and Lake with kindness, and that kindness, especially for children with trauma, can go so far and have positive impacts on their mental, emotional, and physical health.
Now if you have read this review and you are thinking about picking this book up, please make sure you are in the right head space to do so, as it is very heavy material.
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House/Penguin Teen for the finished copy of the book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and statements are honest and my own.
Let me start this book off by saying I know (for me) this book will be a book I will continue to think about tomorrow, next week, next month, and so on. This is my first Ellen Hopkins book, and growing up always saw peers my age reading her books and knowing that she writes stories that are emotionally raw and are realities of young people. I will now be going and diving into more of her work, as this book, that is told in beautiful verse and prose, offered the most accurate, realistic, and tragic depictions of often times what traumatized young adults go through when in foster care and the juvenile justice system. Let it be known that with this book depicting mature themes, I would say read up on trigger warnings if that is what is helpful to you, as this book portrays child abuse, neglect, sexual assault, court, jail, mental health, drugs, physical assault, and grief.
Sync follows twins Storm and Lake in a dual POV story in which they both turn seventeen and are about to reunite for the first time in several years. Both Storm and Lake had a horrific child hood and were placed in foster home to foster home, eventually becoming separated. Storm has had a difficult past, in which he has had some time spent in the juvenile detention center, and has a great foster father and girlfriend currently. One day, a tragic event happens that strikes Storm to his core, and loses control, jeopardizing his relationship and ability to communicate with Lake. Lake has found herself trusting her fellow foster sister so much that Parker and Lake support each other in their less than desired foster home with very religious foster parents that dictate what they do, say, etc. However, the foster home becomes too much for both Parker and Lake, and so they leave home, believing life is better than the placement.
Going into this book, I knew I was most likely going to enjoy it because of the line work I do as a clinical social worker that works with teens and adolescents. Never has there been a story that has captivated me enough to where my heart physically hurt from what was happening to the characters in this book. Earlier I read a 2 star review about this book saying that "there was too much tragic stuff/trauma occurring", and unfortunately, that is the real life of young adults similar to our characters Storm and Lake. I cared about these characters so much and the tragedies that happened to them are what I have personally seen/heard of in my line of work. I don't think I have quite had a book strike me so hard emotionally where I had to put the book down to wipe away tears and breathe before resuming. In that though comes the powerful message I am taking from this book. In this story, there are several side characters that continue to treat Storm and Lake with kindness, and that kindness, especially for children with trauma, can go so far and have positive impacts on their mental, emotional, and physical health.
Now if you have read this review and you are thinking about picking this book up, please make sure you are in the right head space to do so, as it is very heavy material.
December 16, 2023
It has been a really long time since I've read an Ellen Hopkins books. Glad to see the writing is still as beautiful and emotionally devastating as I remember it to be.
September 4, 2024
I haven’t read an Ellen Hopkins book in what feels like forever. All through high school and university I was devouring her work, so I’m incredibly happy to see her return with Sync.
Sync follows twins, Storm and Lake, after they were separated in the foster care system. Like all of Hopkins’ work, Sync gives readers an unflinching look at the abuse and trauma some kids suffer while in the system. Trigger warnings for physical and sexual abuse, drug use, among others.
Sync is told from both siblings' points of view in Hopkins’ signature poetry/slam poetry style. This writing style allows for readers to immerse themselves within the story and characters. I always feel more connected to the characters with this writing style, which is both good and bad considering what happens to them (check trigger warnings).
The reason I rated Sync four stars instead of five is because there are mini time jumps where things happen that contribute significantly to their actions and choices. Considering what happened in those time jumps, I understand why they weren’t included; however it left a gaping hole in the narrative.
Overall, Sync is not just a story about the abuse and trauma some kids suffer while in the system. It’s also a story about resilience, passion, and sibling love.
Sync follows twins, Storm and Lake, after they were separated in the foster care system. Like all of Hopkins’ work, Sync gives readers an unflinching look at the abuse and trauma some kids suffer while in the system. Trigger warnings for physical and sexual abuse, drug use, among others.
Sync is told from both siblings' points of view in Hopkins’ signature poetry/slam poetry style. This writing style allows for readers to immerse themselves within the story and characters. I always feel more connected to the characters with this writing style, which is both good and bad considering what happens to them (check trigger warnings).
The reason I rated Sync four stars instead of five is because there are mini time jumps where things happen that contribute significantly to their actions and choices. Considering what happened in those time jumps, I understand why they weren’t included; however it left a gaping hole in the narrative.
Overall, Sync is not just a story about the abuse and trauma some kids suffer while in the system. It’s also a story about resilience, passion, and sibling love.
August 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC which I was so thrilled to receive. Wow I am so emotional over this and I loved this book so much. Ellen Hopkins never misses! I haven’t read a Hopkins book since I was a teenager and I enjoyed returning to her writing as an adult.
I particularly loved Lake’s story, and enjoyed seeing how her story unfolded, and how it interconnected with Storm’s. Shoutout to the LGBT representation in this book!
The content in this book is heavy and in line with Hopkins’ other books which was to be expected. Definitely read the trigger warnings before reading. I appreciated that the level of detail was enough but not overly graphic.
Hopkins never fails to throw in twists you never see coming and it truly keeps you on the edge of your seat and it’s why I finished this book so quickly. I was absolutely enthralled the whole time!
I particularly loved Lake’s story, and enjoyed seeing how her story unfolded, and how it interconnected with Storm’s. Shoutout to the LGBT representation in this book!
The content in this book is heavy and in line with Hopkins’ other books which was to be expected. Definitely read the trigger warnings before reading. I appreciated that the level of detail was enough but not overly graphic.
Hopkins never fails to throw in twists you never see coming and it truly keeps you on the edge of your seat and it’s why I finished this book so quickly. I was absolutely enthralled the whole time!
September 13, 2024
ARC provided by Follett
I can see why Hopkins has many fans, since her writing is very powerful. It's also very, very sad and firmly in the realm of Young Adult literature.
I can see why Hopkins has many fans, since her writing is very powerful. It's also very, very sad and firmly in the realm of Young Adult literature.
June 15, 2024
I was really nervous about this one because I had a tough time getting into it at first. I actually got about 20% through and then put it down for about 2 months. When I picked it back up again, I started from the beginning and devoured it over the course of 2 days. I've been a big fan of Ellen Hopkins since high school, and I'm so glad to see that I still enjoy her books. If you've read any of her previous books, you know that she doesn't shy away from tough topics, and this book is no different, so I HIGHLY recommend checking the trigger warnings. One thing I appreciate is that these traumatic things happen throughout the book, but most of them are off-page, and the writing is either the lead-up or the aftermath. Sometimes, authors can be extremely graphic for shock value, and I like that Hopkins can make you feel horrified, enraged, and heartbroken without those details. Overall, I'm glad I went back and finished it and think fans of Ellen Hopkins will enjoy this book as much as others she's written.
Thanks to Ellen Hopkins, NetGalley, and PenguinTeen for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review (my teenage self thinks I'm like really cool for being approved for an ADVANCED COPY of and Ellen Hopkins book).
Thanks to Ellen Hopkins, NetGalley, and PenguinTeen for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review (my teenage self thinks I'm like really cool for being approved for an ADVANCED COPY of and Ellen Hopkins book).
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October 30, 2024The new young adult verse novel by Ellen Hopkins is another powerful masterpiece in her formidable catalog. Sync is the story of twins Storm and Lake who are forced into foster care and then separated by that system. Storm is a young man consumed by passion, especially for his girlfriend Jaidyn. He would do anything for Jaidyn, and that causes him to end up in juvenile detention early in the book. His sister Lake is more careful, but she craves protection. When she is separated from Storm, her various forms of refuge never provide quite enough shelter from all the ways that young girls can become victims.
The plot of Sync has scorching surprises that made me want to look away from the pages. Hopkins’s settings are gritty in some cases and incongruously pleasant in others, but they are always completely realistic. The verse in Sync is mostly muscular and taut, but Hopkins also writes lyrically about moments when her characters are dreaming, wondering, or remembering.
As Storm and Lake cycle through different foster families, we see most of these people as well-intentioned, but those that offer genuine affection are offset by others who are opportunistic. When Storm enters juvenile legal custody, we see a similar range of humankind from tough but benevolent to predatory.
Sync is ultimately about the importance of human (and canine) connection and the role of hope when options and opportunities disappear. Ellen Hopkins delivers these messages in an intense book that young readers will not put down. Any time I’ve recommended an Ellen Hopkins book to a young reader, he or she always reads at least one more. Sync is another emotional title that will have readers wanting others like it.
This review is also posted on my What's Not Wrong? blog in slightly different form.
The plot of Sync has scorching surprises that made me want to look away from the pages. Hopkins’s settings are gritty in some cases and incongruously pleasant in others, but they are always completely realistic. The verse in Sync is mostly muscular and taut, but Hopkins also writes lyrically about moments when her characters are dreaming, wondering, or remembering.
As Storm and Lake cycle through different foster families, we see most of these people as well-intentioned, but those that offer genuine affection are offset by others who are opportunistic. When Storm enters juvenile legal custody, we see a similar range of humankind from tough but benevolent to predatory.
Sync is ultimately about the importance of human (and canine) connection and the role of hope when options and opportunities disappear. Ellen Hopkins delivers these messages in an intense book that young readers will not put down. Any time I’ve recommended an Ellen Hopkins book to a young reader, he or she always reads at least one more. Sync is another emotional title that will have readers wanting others like it.
This review is also posted on my What's Not Wrong? blog in slightly different form.
October 3, 2025
I love anything by this author. She is one of the few that I would pick up a book and not read what it’s about. I love how she writes in verse, makes for a quick and easy read (depending on the topic). This one was about twins in the foster care system. I loved every second of reading this book, and it was an amazing read. I do wish the ending was a little longer, but also like the way she left it with just enough information for you to be happy with it and able to make up what happens after. But it was great, i loved it so much!
August 5, 2024
4.5 stars
Readers who are new to Ellen Hopkins and/or are not well read in recent YA should be especially mindful of the content warnings. Think of a topic that usually comes with a TW or CW. It's a guarantee that you'll find that material here. Also, there will be other challenging topics you had forgotten about that will also be tough to read.
Prospective readers who, like me, are well read in the wonderful but upsetting world of Hopkins's characters will already be prepared for difficult content. This is what Hopkins does best. And once again, it's her execution of this content, realistic and unflinching delivery, and tightly structured verse that make this novel another must-read from her collection.
Lake and Storm are twins who are, as the title suggests, in sync, even when they are apart, which is the case physically but not emotionally here. Thanks to the challenges their mother and grandmother faced, the siblings end up in foster care and are ultimately and heartbreakingly separated prior to the start of the novel. What happens to them both after their separation is even worse.
The horrible circumstances are basically relentless. While there are glimmers of hope and humanity, there are multiple instances of rape and sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, and late in the novel, even an injured animal.
So the right reader for this book should not be one who is looking for pleasure or a lighthearted tale. But this is exactly on par with what many actual teens need and want to read lately: experiences that reflect their own realities and those of the people they know and love.
I'll be recommending this one enthusiastically but with many caveats to my college students who are studying YA.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Readers who are new to Ellen Hopkins and/or are not well read in recent YA should be especially mindful of the content warnings. Think of a topic that usually comes with a TW or CW. It's a guarantee that you'll find that material here. Also, there will be other challenging topics you had forgotten about that will also be tough to read.
Prospective readers who, like me, are well read in the wonderful but upsetting world of Hopkins's characters will already be prepared for difficult content. This is what Hopkins does best. And once again, it's her execution of this content, realistic and unflinching delivery, and tightly structured verse that make this novel another must-read from her collection.
Lake and Storm are twins who are, as the title suggests, in sync, even when they are apart, which is the case physically but not emotionally here. Thanks to the challenges their mother and grandmother faced, the siblings end up in foster care and are ultimately and heartbreakingly separated prior to the start of the novel. What happens to them both after their separation is even worse.
The horrible circumstances are basically relentless. While there are glimmers of hope and humanity, there are multiple instances of rape and sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, and late in the novel, even an injured animal.
So the right reader for this book should not be one who is looking for pleasure or a lighthearted tale. But this is exactly on par with what many actual teens need and want to read lately: experiences that reflect their own realities and those of the people they know and love.
I'll be recommending this one enthusiastically but with many caveats to my college students who are studying YA.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
June 11, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings: child abuse & neglect, violence, sexual assault, drug use, suicide, harm to an animal
Twins Lake and Storm are used to only having each other to rely on. Growing up in an abusive and neglectful home, they treasure their special twin sync. After going through a couple foster placements, they are separated, going years without seeing each other. Told in alternating POV, this book follows the twins as they turn seventeen. Storm is facing the consequences of his anger, after retaliating against the boy who assaulted his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Lake and fellow foster Parker enjoy sneaking around their highly religious foster family- until they are caught and flee to live on the streets. Both twins reflect on their lives and how they ended up where they are, while wondering where their twin is and if they will ever reunite.
Somehow I have made it this far in life without reading any Ellen Hopkins. After this, I’m not sure I will seek any more. It’s not that it’s a bad book by any means, but I just don’t think it’s my cup of tea. While books in verse generally aren’t my favorite, there is generally a flow to them, words often dancing across the page. This just felt like small blocks of text.
Now, onto the content: I understand that Hopkins is known for tackling dark, gritty, taboo topics. Kudos to her for that. But holy crap, I have never read a book with so many traumatic events packed in. It was difficult to get through and after finishing, I was emotionally exhausted and battered. Yes, this life is a reality for many and it’s important to show these perspectives. But this just seemed like too much, and I felt like certain events weren’t fully explored, but just plot points to further the twins’ trauma. I was in the last 30ish pages when another traumatic event happened, and I truly stopped, unsure if I could even finish. (shout out to my mom for reading the end and telling me it was safe to finish)
Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone without giving numerous content warnings. And even then, I don’t know that I would recommend it. If you’re a fan of Ellen Hopkins and you understand what you’re getting into, go for it! If you stumble across the book and want to give it a try, proceed with caution.
Content Warnings: child abuse & neglect, violence, sexual assault, drug use, suicide, harm to an animal
Twins Lake and Storm are used to only having each other to rely on. Growing up in an abusive and neglectful home, they treasure their special twin sync. After going through a couple foster placements, they are separated, going years without seeing each other. Told in alternating POV, this book follows the twins as they turn seventeen. Storm is facing the consequences of his anger, after retaliating against the boy who assaulted his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Lake and fellow foster Parker enjoy sneaking around their highly religious foster family- until they are caught and flee to live on the streets. Both twins reflect on their lives and how they ended up where they are, while wondering where their twin is and if they will ever reunite.
Somehow I have made it this far in life without reading any Ellen Hopkins. After this, I’m not sure I will seek any more. It’s not that it’s a bad book by any means, but I just don’t think it’s my cup of tea. While books in verse generally aren’t my favorite, there is generally a flow to them, words often dancing across the page. This just felt like small blocks of text.
Now, onto the content: I understand that Hopkins is known for tackling dark, gritty, taboo topics. Kudos to her for that. But holy crap, I have never read a book with so many traumatic events packed in. It was difficult to get through and after finishing, I was emotionally exhausted and battered. Yes, this life is a reality for many and it’s important to show these perspectives. But this just seemed like too much, and I felt like certain events weren’t fully explored, but just plot points to further the twins’ trauma. I was in the last 30ish pages when another traumatic event happened, and I truly stopped, unsure if I could even finish. (shout out to my mom for reading the end and telling me it was safe to finish)
Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone without giving numerous content warnings. And even then, I don’t know that I would recommend it. If you’re a fan of Ellen Hopkins and you understand what you’re getting into, go for it! If you stumble across the book and want to give it a try, proceed with caution.
November 23, 2024
One of Ellen's best books IMO. I kind of wanted just a little more in depth character development. We stayed pretty surface level which, I get, when you're in survival mode like these characters, surface level survival is all you can do. I loved the characters and the hope the story instills.
April 30, 2024
As always, Ellen Hopkins did it again. This story is real and raw, pulling you in from the start. Lake and Storm are ordinary kids dealing with extraordinary circumstances.
I had a few comments about the book’s composition as a whole:
The ending was rushed. With 10 pages left, I wondered how the story would wrap up. I was hoping we’d get a final scene with them coming together, but I also just felt like things fell into place too soon almost
Rape felt like a plot device in a lot of ways. Jaidyn’s made sense contextually for the whole story, but Lake’s felt glossed over after everything. No therapy? No outbursts? It felt like a one time deal.
Otherwise, this story was strong and impactful. I loved Storm’s story more than anything. I do wonder what happens to Parker, Teddy, and Jim. But I guess that’s the mark of a good story - always wondering about the lives of fictional characters.
BIG thanks to NetGalley for the ebook ARC!
I had a few comments about the book’s composition as a whole:
The ending was rushed. With 10 pages left, I wondered how the story would wrap up. I was hoping we’d get a final scene with them coming together, but I also just felt like things fell into place too soon almost
Rape felt like a plot device in a lot of ways. Jaidyn’s made sense contextually for the whole story, but Lake’s felt glossed over after everything. No therapy? No outbursts? It felt like a one time deal.
Otherwise, this story was strong and impactful. I loved Storm’s story more than anything. I do wonder what happens to Parker, Teddy, and Jim. But I guess that’s the mark of a good story - always wondering about the lives of fictional characters.
BIG thanks to NetGalley for the ebook ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2024
This was really beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I found myself rooting for Lake and Storm so hard throughout their stories.
The ending was really incredible and I think it wrapped up the story in such an emotional way without saying the words.
The subject matter is really tough, but it’s so worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The ending was really incredible and I think it wrapped up the story in such an emotional way without saying the words.
The subject matter is really tough, but it’s so worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2024
I felt like a teenager again, staying up way past my bedtime just so I could get to the end of this story. The nostalgia was real. Hopkins did it again though. She managed to hit me in the feels, make me feel, make me empathize for teenagers, make me empathize for the sadness and evils of the world, all while still having hope for a better future. A gem!
November 15, 2024
STOP NOT THE ENDING-
May 8, 2025
This book was heartbreaking at times, but also difficult to put down. Cheering for Storm and Lake hoping they will beat the odds. This book made an impact on my heart that I won't soon forget.
September 8, 2024
Masterpiece, as always.
September 1, 2024
Okay I’ve always been an Ellen Hopkins fan but this one fell so short for me. It’s like everything was just grazed on the surface and rushed through.
July 31, 2024
This book explores the lives of two teenage siblings, struggling with personal challenges and the consequences of their choices. Told in verse, the story reveals how their paths collide and the impact of friendship, each other, love, and resilience on their lives.
This is the barest description I can give because I do not want to spoil anything about this book. First, more novels in verse please?? I LOVED this one and absolutely devoured it. Lake and Storm were given up by their mother and don’t trust any home they find themselves in. They were separated when they were 12, and at 17 have barely reconnected before Storm ends up in trouble.
My heart was aching for these kids the entire book. The circumstances they were dealt, their family, trying to figure out to live and survive. It was breathtaking. I could not turn the pages quickly enough and spent a lot of time highlighting passages.
There were unexpected things that happened too that made me cry. My heart BROKE for Storm with his girlfriend. I was shattered for Lake with the alley.
There is just so much sadness and beauty in this story. I absolutely adored the ending (though I wish there was more!!).
*I was provided a digital copy of this book for review by the publisher, all thoughts are my own.*
This is the barest description I can give because I do not want to spoil anything about this book. First, more novels in verse please?? I LOVED this one and absolutely devoured it. Lake and Storm were given up by their mother and don’t trust any home they find themselves in. They were separated when they were 12, and at 17 have barely reconnected before Storm ends up in trouble.
My heart was aching for these kids the entire book. The circumstances they were dealt, their family, trying to figure out to live and survive. It was breathtaking. I could not turn the pages quickly enough and spent a lot of time highlighting passages.
There were unexpected things that happened too that made me cry. My heart BROKE for Storm with his girlfriend. I was shattered for Lake with the alley.
There is just so much sadness and beauty in this story. I absolutely adored the ending (though I wish there was more!!).
*I was provided a digital copy of this book for review by the publisher, all thoughts are my own.*
June 20, 2025
This is one of those rare moments where I wish that there was an option to give a book over 5 stars.
Where do I even start? Two amazingly crafted characters, alternating POVs, crying into my pillow, rethinking my life, all combined into one novel (in verse).
Storm is such a wonderful character, I can imagine his personality in great detail. He is protective and fierce, but, like all tough guys, he has a soft heart for those that he loves.
I imagine Lake as a character that is shy and outgoing at the same time. She thinks about her brother, Storm, a lot. This proved their relationship as siblings to be strong, even though they only see each other once in the plot of the book.
You get so emotionally attached to the character in Sync. When something even remotely dangerous happened to Storm, Lake, Jaiden, or Parker, I had to close the book and pray that they made it. And when Jaiden got hurt and (spoiler) commits suicide, I cried. I had to take a break from the book because it was so powerful in this way. And when Zero, Storm’s dog, got attacked by a mountain lion, I audibly gasped. It’s a dog that appears in the last few chapters of the novel, and yet I still felt so connected to him.
Good novels make you think. Great novels make you cry. Amazing novels make you u cry and question both your sanity and past life choices. Sync classifies as an amazing novel. I wish I could forget that I just read the book (so that I can read it again). Highly recommend.
Where do I even start? Two amazingly crafted characters, alternating POVs, crying into my pillow, rethinking my life, all combined into one novel (in verse).
Storm is such a wonderful character, I can imagine his personality in great detail. He is protective and fierce, but, like all tough guys, he has a soft heart for those that he loves.
I imagine Lake as a character that is shy and outgoing at the same time. She thinks about her brother, Storm, a lot. This proved their relationship as siblings to be strong, even though they only see each other once in the plot of the book.
You get so emotionally attached to the character in Sync. When something even remotely dangerous happened to Storm, Lake, Jaiden, or Parker, I had to close the book and pray that they made it. And when Jaiden got hurt and (spoiler) commits suicide, I cried. I had to take a break from the book because it was so powerful in this way. And when Zero, Storm’s dog, got attacked by a mountain lion, I audibly gasped. It’s a dog that appears in the last few chapters of the novel, and yet I still felt so connected to him.
Good novels make you think. Great novels make you cry. Amazing novels make you u cry and question both your sanity and past life choices. Sync classifies as an amazing novel. I wish I could forget that I just read the book (so that I can read it again). Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2025
Book Club read for Jan/Feb - This one was very moving. I found myself tearing up multiple times especially when Josie stuck up for Lake against her mom, and when Storm almost lost Zero and when Jaidyn's mom visited him in the facility. I don't personally have any experience in the foster care system so it was very insightful to dive into the world of twins Storm and Lake. The book is written in prose which I found myself not necessarily liking but still written beautifully. This is definitely a book that needs plenty of trigger warnings, from drug abuse, to rape, to underage sexual encounters which was a little tough for me to read although they had their purpose.
One of my issues with this one is that the book is called Sync in reference to the connection the twins share, however this is only seen at the beginning and mentioned once in the middle of the story. The remainder of the time, there is seemingly no connection between the two. They speak to one another in journals or int heir mind but always say "I don't know where you are" or " I hope you are safe". And I felt the build up to the ending was anticlimactic for me. I won't spoil, but I felt there was a huge opportunity to finish this one nicely and the story just cut off.
From having a friend who works in the foster care system, I was informed that a lot of the depictions in this story although continuously heartbreaking, are pretty accurate. I admire the author for sharing this hard truth.
One of my issues with this one is that the book is called Sync in reference to the connection the twins share, however this is only seen at the beginning and mentioned once in the middle of the story. The remainder of the time, there is seemingly no connection between the two. They speak to one another in journals or int heir mind but always say "I don't know where you are" or " I hope you are safe". And I felt the build up to the ending was anticlimactic for me. I won't spoil, but I felt there was a huge opportunity to finish this one nicely and the story just cut off.
From having a friend who works in the foster care system, I was informed that a lot of the depictions in this story although continuously heartbreaking, are pretty accurate. I admire the author for sharing this hard truth.
August 12, 2024
I grew up reading Ellen Hopkins books, so I was thrilled when I won this one! It was so angsty and definitely took me back to my younger years. I enjoyed the alternating POVs between Lake and Storm and their relationship was so special. I felt more drawn to Storm’s story, maybe because he was older? It was a tough depiction of foster life but also very realistic. I also feel that both siblings were rather lucky considering what the alternatives could have been. I wish that it would have tied up a little differently with some more closure, but overall I would recommend this one! I read this while also listening to the audio, and due to it being written in verse, the audio at times was a little awkward with some pauses etc. This was a very quick read, and one I would recommend if you’re looking for something different from the traditional genres of romance, thriller etc.
August 28, 2024
Sync by Ellen Hopkins was the story of Storm and Lake, twins dealt a crap hand of life, and pushed through foster care, now seventeen, and trying to figure out how t deal with life at hand. Storm has a good thing going, when things go wrong, and Lake has a cautious thing going, when she plays it too risky. Storm and Lake exemplify what so many teens go through, and how the foster care and juvenile detention systems do their best to help, but, ultimately, are flawed, especially for kids who were never set up for success. While this book did not shy away from the typically "raw-ness" of Hopkins's regular writing, the poetry didn't feel as... poetic as normal? Maybe not phrased the best way, but it didn't feel as prolific as some of the other works she has done. Still an incredible read, and definitely worthwhile to those unaware of the foster care or juvenile detention system in the U.S. currently.
February 1, 2025
This book is so emotional and eye opening to the traumas often experienced by foster kids. There are several things that happen in the book that may be triggering to some readers, so be mindful of that. This book is not for the faint of heart but also makes you want to do something to help the very broken foster care system.
**spoilers***
I hope there’s a continued story cause it definitely ends on a cliffhanger and I need resolution! Towards the end I was getting a little nervous it was not going to end with a hopeful conclusion, and I was honestly gonna be pissed if the dog died too after everything else that happened. This book at times made me ready to be done cause there was just so many sad things happening. I’m glad I finished it though cause it was so good.
**spoilers***
I hope there’s a continued story cause it definitely ends on a cliffhanger and I need resolution! Towards the end I was getting a little nervous it was not going to end with a hopeful conclusion, and I was honestly gonna be pissed if the dog died too after everything else that happened. This book at times made me ready to be done cause there was just so many sad things happening. I’m glad I finished it though cause it was so good.
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