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When the World Was Happy
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26A heartrending but uplifting tale of twins and their group of friends who are forced to navigate life, relationships, and grief after their world is turned upside down from New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
CheChe knows that he and his twin sister Emma lead an unusual life. They enjoy spending time with their parents and grandparents, love to read, and don’t have a huge circle of friends—and they’re happy. Then, just a few months after they turn seventeen, three gunmen show up one morning at their El Paso, Texas, high school, and everything changes.
CheChe loses a leg, and both he and Emma have friends who die. Suddenly, the world feels like a very different place. But what they find hasn’t changed—or has only gotten deeper—is their love for their family, their close friends, and one another, and as they begin to heal, they create their own little community, one that wields the power of humor, kindness, and hope.
CheChe finds himself doing all kinds of things he never expected from his junior relearning to walk, falling in love with the boy he’s nursed a longtime crush on, making friends with a kid he always found intimidating. By the end of this life-changing school year, none of them will be the same, and many of them will have found their voices in ways they never imagined.
CheChe knows that he and his twin sister Emma lead an unusual life. They enjoy spending time with their parents and grandparents, love to read, and don’t have a huge circle of friends—and they’re happy. Then, just a few months after they turn seventeen, three gunmen show up one morning at their El Paso, Texas, high school, and everything changes.
CheChe loses a leg, and both he and Emma have friends who die. Suddenly, the world feels like a very different place. But what they find hasn’t changed—or has only gotten deeper—is their love for their family, their close friends, and one another, and as they begin to heal, they create their own little community, one that wields the power of humor, kindness, and hope.
CheChe finds himself doing all kinds of things he never expected from his junior relearning to walk, falling in love with the boy he’s nursed a longtime crush on, making friends with a kid he always found intimidating. By the end of this life-changing school year, none of them will be the same, and many of them will have found their voices in ways they never imagined.
416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Benjamin Alire Sáenz
39 books15.9k followersBenjamin Alire Sáenz (born 16 August 1954) is an award-winning American poet, novelist and writer of children's books.
He was born at Old Picacho, New Mexico, the fourth of seven children, and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla, New Mexico. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1972. That fall, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Humanities and Philosophy in 1977. He studied Theology at the University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium from 1977 to 1981. He was a priest for a few years in El Paso, Texas before leaving the order.
In 1985, he returned to school, and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso where he earned an M.A. degree in Creative Writing. He then spent a year at the University of Iowa as a PhD student in American Literature. A year later, he was awarded a Wallace E. Stegner fellowship. While at Stanford University under the guidance of Denise Levertov, he completed his first book of poems, Calendar of Dust, which won an American Book Award in 1992. He entered the Ph.D. program at Stanford and continued his studies for two more years. Before completing his Ph.D., he moved back to the border and began teaching at the University of Texas at El Paso in the bilingual MFA program.
His first novel, Carry Me Like Water was a saga that brought together the Victorian novel and the Latin American tradition of magic realism and received much critical attention.
In The Book of What Remains (Copper Canyon Press, 2010), his fifth book of poems, he writes to the core truth of life's ever-shifting memories. Set along the Mexican border, the contrast between the desert's austere beauty and the brutality of border politics mirrors humanity's capacity for both generosity and cruelty.
In 2005, he curated a show of photographs by Julian Cardona.
He continues to teach in the Creative Writing Department at the University of Texas at El Paso.
He was born at Old Picacho, New Mexico, the fourth of seven children, and was raised on a small farm near Mesilla, New Mexico. He graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1972. That fall, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Humanities and Philosophy in 1977. He studied Theology at the University of Louvain in Leuven, Belgium from 1977 to 1981. He was a priest for a few years in El Paso, Texas before leaving the order.
In 1985, he returned to school, and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso where he earned an M.A. degree in Creative Writing. He then spent a year at the University of Iowa as a PhD student in American Literature. A year later, he was awarded a Wallace E. Stegner fellowship. While at Stanford University under the guidance of Denise Levertov, he completed his first book of poems, Calendar of Dust, which won an American Book Award in 1992. He entered the Ph.D. program at Stanford and continued his studies for two more years. Before completing his Ph.D., he moved back to the border and began teaching at the University of Texas at El Paso in the bilingual MFA program.
His first novel, Carry Me Like Water was a saga that brought together the Victorian novel and the Latin American tradition of magic realism and received much critical attention.
In The Book of What Remains (Copper Canyon Press, 2010), his fifth book of poems, he writes to the core truth of life's ever-shifting memories. Set along the Mexican border, the contrast between the desert's austere beauty and the brutality of border politics mirrors humanity's capacity for both generosity and cruelty.
In 2005, he curated a show of photographs by Julian Cardona.
He continues to teach in the Creative Writing Department at the University of Texas at El Paso.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
wait-for
July 30, 2026Today I found out Benjamin Alire Sáenz passed away. I also found out this book exists and is coming out posthumously... The blurb sounds amazing and I don't know how I missed it. I'd read it to honor the last work of the author who changed my life with Ari and Dante. Rest in peace.
Want to Read
February 24, 2026maybe I'm finally living up my namesake and becoming clairvoyant, or maybe it doesn't take a genius to know anything this man writes is going to leave me a puddle of tears, elbow-deep in a pint of Ben & Jerry's
June 24, 2026
4.5⭐️ From the beginning I had the desire to crawl inside this book, meet, talk to and hug these characters. That is the magic of Benjamin Alire Saenz’s writing. I had read his book Aristotle and Dante” a few years back and those characters still vividly live in my heart.
When the World was Happy was a book nearly impossible to put down from the first chapter until the very last page. I love books that make me feel, that make me question my world, that inspire me to be a better version of myself. This did that and so much more. The subject is such a difficult one and I admire (especially a YA author) knowing that silence is not the answer. This author cared enough to tackle the unthinkable, a school shooting. It was done with heart, with compassion and intelligence. His focus on the emotional aftermath of not just the victims but an entire city was so superbly done. Each character was fully brought to life and their connection to their family and friends was heartwarming. I am a 58 year old woman and must say that I feel so many readers are missing out by not picking up the so called YA genre. Some of my favorite books fall in this category.
When the World was Happy was a book nearly impossible to put down from the first chapter until the very last page. I love books that make me feel, that make me question my world, that inspire me to be a better version of myself. This did that and so much more. The subject is such a difficult one and I admire (especially a YA author) knowing that silence is not the answer. This author cared enough to tackle the unthinkable, a school shooting. It was done with heart, with compassion and intelligence. His focus on the emotional aftermath of not just the victims but an entire city was so superbly done. Each character was fully brought to life and their connection to their family and friends was heartwarming. I am a 58 year old woman and must say that I feel so many readers are missing out by not picking up the so called YA genre. Some of my favorite books fall in this category.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book will wreck you.
The main character, CheChe, is a high school junior who also happens to be Mexican American and gay. He is almost a casualty to a high school shooting that changes not only his world view, but gives him severe PTSD. As CheChe tries to find himself, his family and community band together to help make change.
If you are a student, parent or teacher, this is a must read. Knowing and understanding how others feel, are treated, and endure is what builds empathy and understanding. Knowing how to process a school shooting and how to help others heal is essential in our growth as a nation and Benjamin Alire Sáenz shows how tragic it can be.
Make no mistake - this book is political. Racism, bigotry, gun laws, and PTSD are the main topics of discussion. If you are someone who seeks to discuss important and controversial issues, this is for you. If you are someone who likes to shy away from certain topics, then this book will make you very uncomfortable.
So what I love about this book: 1. the growth and development of the main character is so thoughtful; 2. all the supporting characters are also thought through and realistic; 3. the topics are so timely and real - as a teacher this is much appreciated; 4. the results and effects of PTSD and school shootings is discussed thoughtfully; 5. the ending - there is no perfect fix for any of this, but there is healing and growth and that was portrayed well.
What I didn't enjoy as much: 1. It has a VERY slow beginning. It wasn't not actually until part 2 that I dove into the book and understood the concept; 2. many of the characters were shown to have broken families/lack of love for their parents and I don't know that was completely realistic, could be, just seemed like an above average amount.
Truly this book will make you think and feel in ways that are important in the current cultural climate. Sadly, I think it will also be a book that will quickly make the banned books list. Too many people will be offended - but to me, that's how you know it's a good book.
I am so thankful to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
The main character, CheChe, is a high school junior who also happens to be Mexican American and gay. He is almost a casualty to a high school shooting that changes not only his world view, but gives him severe PTSD. As CheChe tries to find himself, his family and community band together to help make change.
If you are a student, parent or teacher, this is a must read. Knowing and understanding how others feel, are treated, and endure is what builds empathy and understanding. Knowing how to process a school shooting and how to help others heal is essential in our growth as a nation and Benjamin Alire Sáenz shows how tragic it can be.
Make no mistake - this book is political. Racism, bigotry, gun laws, and PTSD are the main topics of discussion. If you are someone who seeks to discuss important and controversial issues, this is for you. If you are someone who likes to shy away from certain topics, then this book will make you very uncomfortable.
So what I love about this book: 1. the growth and development of the main character is so thoughtful; 2. all the supporting characters are also thought through and realistic; 3. the topics are so timely and real - as a teacher this is much appreciated; 4. the results and effects of PTSD and school shootings is discussed thoughtfully; 5. the ending - there is no perfect fix for any of this, but there is healing and growth and that was portrayed well.
What I didn't enjoy as much: 1. It has a VERY slow beginning. It wasn't not actually until part 2 that I dove into the book and understood the concept; 2. many of the characters were shown to have broken families/lack of love for their parents and I don't know that was completely realistic, could be, just seemed like an above average amount.
Truly this book will make you think and feel in ways that are important in the current cultural climate. Sadly, I think it will also be a book that will quickly make the banned books list. Too many people will be offended - but to me, that's how you know it's a good book.
I am so thankful to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When the World Was Happy is a beautiful book grappling with the question of how we (particularly young people) can live in a society where gun violence, especially gun violence in schools, is such a common occurrence. It shares some similar themes and a similar tone with Sáenz's Ari & Dante books, but with a contemporary setting. Please do read the content warnings and summary because the subject-matter in this book is very heavy. This book follows CheChe and Emma as they have to figure out how to live after their happy world has been turned upside-down by a school shooting. Compared to some of his other books, I think this book got off to a slower start, but it was well worth persevering to get to the amazing story that would unfold.
I can't write this review without acknowledging how sad I was to hear that the author passed away this week, and how sad I am to know that this is the last time I will ever get to read one of Benjamin Alire Sáenz's books for the first time. This book and his other YA books give a glimpse of a world where queer kids' parents love and support them unconditionally, where the young protagonists (and readers) are taken seriously enough to ask the big questions, and where adolescent friendships are treated with the respect they deserve. I think what I love the most about Sáenz's work is that he goes beyond what certain events or ideas mean to the characters and creates space for the reader to think about what queerness, violence, life and death, race, hope, kindness, love, and so many other things mean in the bigger picture. Seeing all of the posts about this author in the days since his death is like seeing what all of us would write about him on the wall called the sky, and: what an amazing legacy. His family, friends, and fans are in my thoughts at this time, and I will always be grateful for the impact his books have had on me.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC! This is my honest and unbiased review.
I can't write this review without acknowledging how sad I was to hear that the author passed away this week, and how sad I am to know that this is the last time I will ever get to read one of Benjamin Alire Sáenz's books for the first time. This book and his other YA books give a glimpse of a world where queer kids' parents love and support them unconditionally, where the young protagonists (and readers) are taken seriously enough to ask the big questions, and where adolescent friendships are treated with the respect they deserve. I think what I love the most about Sáenz's work is that he goes beyond what certain events or ideas mean to the characters and creates space for the reader to think about what queerness, violence, life and death, race, hope, kindness, love, and so many other things mean in the bigger picture. Seeing all of the posts about this author in the days since his death is like seeing what all of us would write about him on the wall called the sky, and: what an amazing legacy. His family, friends, and fans are in my thoughts at this time, and I will always be grateful for the impact his books have had on me.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC! This is my honest and unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is amazing - so timely and so real. I was not familiar with this author, but he is spot on in his portrayal of the depth of the aftermath, both physical and emotional, of school shootings. And his writing is so beautiful.
The story follows CheChe, a Mexican American gay teenager who loses a leg in the shooting. The surrounding cast of characters - family, friends (found family) and teachers - are equally well developed. This whole book realistically shows how long and how deep the emotional aftermath continues for victims, witnesses, teachers, families and community. We see the value of unconditional support (or last thereof) from parents, real conversation and support from friends and therapists, the validation of feelings, and finding an outlet. I appreciated that the actions and feelings of teachers and administrators were also included in this portrayal.
This book is a perfect example of how important it is that young people have books like these to help them understand and to be understood, and to feel seen and validated. I recommend this book to adults as well, to help us better understand and better support our young people.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read. I hope that school and public libraries will put this book on their shelves so it will be shared widely.
The story follows CheChe, a Mexican American gay teenager who loses a leg in the shooting. The surrounding cast of characters - family, friends (found family) and teachers - are equally well developed. This whole book realistically shows how long and how deep the emotional aftermath continues for victims, witnesses, teachers, families and community. We see the value of unconditional support (or last thereof) from parents, real conversation and support from friends and therapists, the validation of feelings, and finding an outlet. I appreciated that the actions and feelings of teachers and administrators were also included in this portrayal.
This book is a perfect example of how important it is that young people have books like these to help them understand and to be understood, and to feel seen and validated. I recommend this book to adults as well, to help us better understand and better support our young people.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read. I hope that school and public libraries will put this book on their shelves so it will be shared widely.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
CheChe and his twin sister Emma have what seems to be a perfect family: an artist father and a librarian mother, both of whom are loving and encourage them to be creative. It's a stark contrast to Spigot, whose mother could care less. That's before a shooter walks into their school looking to erase a few more Mexicans from the face of the earth, before CheChe barely survives losing his leg and Spigot losing his little brother. Now, CheChe struggles to make sense of a world where everything he is - Mexican-American, gay - is under attack.
The characters in this novel felt emotionally mature beyond their years, and maybe that's a realistic thing for kids brought up by parents like this. CheChe had some moments of deep depression after the traumatic incident, but he seemed too well-articulated about it and had quite a good sense of humor for the most part. The novel was heavy on dialogue and less on plot or concrete action which made it overall feel didactic, despite the author's lovely writing style that definitely had me tearing up at times.
The characters in this novel felt emotionally mature beyond their years, and maybe that's a realistic thing for kids brought up by parents like this. CheChe had some moments of deep depression after the traumatic incident, but he seemed too well-articulated about it and had quite a good sense of humor for the most part. The novel was heavy on dialogue and less on plot or concrete action which made it overall feel didactic, despite the author's lovely writing style that definitely had me tearing up at times.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars. I was so happy to be approved for an advance copy of the newest book by Saenz (thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster), and then I heard the news that Saenz had recently passed away. I am sad that Alire Saenz will not be writing any more novels! In all honesty, I am a bit sad this is his last novel. I loved that he took on a very difficult topic (school shootings), and featured a very diverse cast of characters. But......these teens were all wise and mature beyond their years, and at times it just was hard for me to connect with the way they were processing their grief and trauma. I just never felt the anger/disappointment/rage I would have expected to feel. It was all just a bit too tidy emotionally. I still recommend reading this book, which tackles school shootings and gun rights head on. This one publishes 9/29/26.
August 10, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
When the World Was Happy is a story of the destruction of mass shootings, both physical and emotional. It follows Cheche Cervantes and how his friends and family are impacted by a shooting in their school. It is a story of anger, grief, and the importance of support and community.
The book is written so beautifully and it explores how racism, homophobia, and bigotry shape acts of physical violence. This book also focuses on survivorship, how survivors of a shooting and the families of the deceased can find a new normal-based on the author’s own experience.
The writing and themes would make this an excellent book to read in a class. I kept thinking back to my undergraduate and high school courses and thinking about how it would’ve produced so much meaningful discussion.
When the World Was Happy is a story of the destruction of mass shootings, both physical and emotional. It follows Cheche Cervantes and how his friends and family are impacted by a shooting in their school. It is a story of anger, grief, and the importance of support and community.
The book is written so beautifully and it explores how racism, homophobia, and bigotry shape acts of physical violence. This book also focuses on survivorship, how survivors of a shooting and the families of the deceased can find a new normal-based on the author’s own experience.
The writing and themes would make this an excellent book to read in a class. I kept thinking back to my undergraduate and high school courses and thinking about how it would’ve produced so much meaningful discussion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy of When the World Was Happy by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. I was blown away by the beautiful writing style. The teens felt wise beyond their years and were adept at expressing their emotions. What the students and parents were experiencing and feeling in the aftermath was heartbreaking. Reading this book made me realize that the number of school shootings we hear about has numbed many of us to the reality of the effects of experiencing trauma. This was not a book I could speed through; I had to take some time to digest what I was reading and the emotions I felt. If more people read this beautiful, poignant book, real change might have a chance. 5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was very well written, but also very hard to read. The topic is difficult for many to read because it’s something every student and parent fears, but also something that is sadly possible in the current world we live in. This book is about a school shooting and how it impacts people in unbelievable ways. This book made me think about the horror and the realities of what it takes to move forward after something like this. It does give the reader hope and makes you think about how the world can change to prevent these events.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
June 10, 2026
This book releases at the end of September.
This is a well done and thoughtful book that deals with the aftermath of a school shooting. Although there are descriptions of what each of the main characters experienced during the shooting, the main focus remains on how they cope with life afterward. There are some heavy topics- depression, anger, grief, ptsd and others. Friends and family pull each other through and navigate the after together. Also touches on some portions of gun control. Would recommend, but do check trigger warnings.
This is a well done and thoughtful book that deals with the aftermath of a school shooting. Although there are descriptions of what each of the main characters experienced during the shooting, the main focus remains on how they cope with life afterward. There are some heavy topics- depression, anger, grief, ptsd and others. Friends and family pull each other through and navigate the after together. Also touches on some portions of gun control. Would recommend, but do check trigger warnings.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Love is something we do everyday.
Thank you netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an arc of this book. This book was beautiful and filled with prose. While it was a little hard to get into at first by the middle of the first part of the book it really gets its footing. The second half of the book was devastating, obviously. But what is so clear is the love these characters have for each other.
Thank you netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an arc of this book. This book was beautiful and filled with prose. While it was a little hard to get into at first by the middle of the first part of the book it really gets its footing. The second half of the book was devastating, obviously. But what is so clear is the love these characters have for each other.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anticipated release date Oct. 13, 2026.
When the World Was Happy is a beautifully written and deeply emotional story about grief, trauma, family, and finding a way forward after unimaginable loss. CheChe’s journey after a school shooting is heartbreaking, particularly as he navigates the physical and emotional aftermath while his family, friends, school, and community struggle to find a new normal. Sáenz’s prose is one of the book’s greatest strengths, and his emphasis on love, family, friendship, kindness, and the importance of a strong support system gives the story so much humanity. Knowing that Sáenz had his own personal connection to gun violence, having lost his eleven-year-old niece to gun violence in 1990, adds another layer of poignancy to the novel and makes his compassionate portrayal of survivors and grieving families feel especially meaningful. He handles difficult subjects including gun violence, racism, homophobia, grief, and healing with remarkable empathy, while still leaving room for hope. This is a difficult book to read at times, but it is also a powerful reminder of how much love and community can matter when someone's world is turned upside down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
When the World Was Happy is a beautifully written and deeply emotional story about grief, trauma, family, and finding a way forward after unimaginable loss. CheChe’s journey after a school shooting is heartbreaking, particularly as he navigates the physical and emotional aftermath while his family, friends, school, and community struggle to find a new normal. Sáenz’s prose is one of the book’s greatest strengths, and his emphasis on love, family, friendship, kindness, and the importance of a strong support system gives the story so much humanity. Knowing that Sáenz had his own personal connection to gun violence, having lost his eleven-year-old niece to gun violence in 1990, adds another layer of poignancy to the novel and makes his compassionate portrayal of survivors and grieving families feel especially meaningful. He handles difficult subjects including gun violence, racism, homophobia, grief, and healing with remarkable empathy, while still leaving room for hope. This is a difficult book to read at times, but it is also a powerful reminder of how much love and community can matter when someone's world is turned upside down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2026
unwell.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book was incredibly written it is genuinely one of the best books I have ever read and I absolutely adored this book! I would recommend this book to any and everyone I know this book is amazing
July 19, 2026
I’m not sure what I expected when I opened this book but it wasn’t this.
This story beautifully describes life after a tragedy. Survivors guilt, grieving, healing, and having to move forward.
This was so beautifully sad and honestly I feel like it could open A LOT of people’s eyes about gun safety and school shootings.
I wanted to bust into this book and give each character a big hug because the hurt that this book made me feel was just raw.
This story beautifully describes life after a tragedy. Survivors guilt, grieving, healing, and having to move forward.
This was so beautifully sad and honestly I feel like it could open A LOT of people’s eyes about gun safety and school shootings.
I wanted to bust into this book and give each character a big hug because the hurt that this book made me feel was just raw.
August 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
4.5 stars! This book was a new author for me but wow, do his words have a way of making the reader think! He writes about topics that truly matter and are so prevalent in our world today. The story was well done overall and I would definitely read more by this author. It is tough to discuss intense topics but this presentation is next level, forcing the reader to immerse themselves in the hard stuff. Would highly recommend if you like to challenge your own thinking!
4.5 stars! This book was a new author for me but wow, do his words have a way of making the reader think! He writes about topics that truly matter and are so prevalent in our world today. The story was well done overall and I would definitely read more by this author. It is tough to discuss intense topics but this presentation is next level, forcing the reader to immerse themselves in the hard stuff. Would highly recommend if you like to challenge your own thinking!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Teenagers are expected to cross a symbolic bridge from family dependence into the autonomy of adulthood. However, what happens when three gunmen march into your high school and destroy that bridge along with dozens of classmates and teachers? In The World Was Happy, Benjamin Alire Sáenz unpacks a riveting story of seventeen year old, well-adjusted, lovingly beautiful twins, CheChe and Emma. This emotional roller coaster story follows a group of friends, families, and the surrounding community through the aftermath of a violent attack on humanity. Sáenz takes you on a journey that will break your heart, fill you with fear, and yet still gives you hope for the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have never been disappointed by a work from this author. I'm so sad that this is almost certainly his last after his untimely death.
A beautiful story about happiness and life and grief and growth and family. I loved it. I'll be adding it to my library collection as soon as possible.
I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this from Netgalley.
A beautiful story about happiness and life and grief and growth and family. I loved it. I'll be adding it to my library collection as soon as possible.
I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this from Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5
Beautifully written book. BAS's writing is always a selling point, and I'll continue to wax poetic about it. However, sometimes that worked against it in this particular book, as it felt like CheChe didn't have much of a personality outside being Emma's twin and using beautiful words and intricate metaphors. The romance wasn't the central point of the book, which I appreciated considering the heavy topics being discussed, and I also liked the emphasis on family and friend relationships and how pivotal a good support system is for healing.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc!
Beautifully written book. BAS's writing is always a selling point, and I'll continue to wax poetic about it. However, sometimes that worked against it in this particular book, as it felt like CheChe didn't have much of a personality outside being Emma's twin and using beautiful words and intricate metaphors. The romance wasn't the central point of the book, which I appreciated considering the heavy topics being discussed, and I also liked the emphasis on family and friend relationships and how pivotal a good support system is for healing.
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What was this?
The quotes were beautiful; the story was like the husk of a dried-up caterpillar egg. Loved the cover; I was hoping for an emotionally devastating book. One I could look back on for years to come. And this is what I was left with. Disappointing.
DNF'ed
LGBTQ+ and other topics I do not believe in were mentioned, and I didn't feel connected to the main characters.
Read good books, drink coffee, create chaos.
Katherine
What was this?
The quotes were beautiful; the story was like the husk of a dried-up caterpillar egg. Loved the cover; I was hoping for an emotionally devastating book. One I could look back on for years to come. And this is what I was left with. Disappointing.
DNF'ed
LGBTQ+ and other topics I do not believe in were mentioned, and I didn't feel connected to the main characters.
Read good books, drink coffee, create chaos.
Katherine
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews