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Don't Forget Me
Seventeen-year-old Hazel Clarke is no stranger to heartbreaks, and being sent to live with a father she’s never met is the latest in a string of them. Even the beauty of eastern Australia isn’t enough to take her mind off her mother and the life she had to leave behind in England. But when Hazel meets the friendly, kindhearted Red and his elusive twin, Luca, she begins the slow process of piecing together a new life—and realizes she isn’t the only one struggling with loss. As friendships deepen and love finds its way in, Hazel also learns that when you truly love someone, they are always in your heart.
This sparkling debut novel is a touching testament to coming of age, falling in love, and finding home in unexpected places.
This sparkling debut novel is a touching testament to coming of age, falling in love, and finding home in unexpected places.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2018
15 people are currently reading
1836 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Stevens
18 books57 followersVictoria Stevens grew up in a little village in England surrounded by family and cats, writing stories about falling in love for the first time.
She studied Creative Writing at the University of Roehampton in London, and currently resides in an even smaller village in England - where she is still surrounded by family and cats, and still writes stories about falling in love for the first time.
Don't Forget Me, a book she started writing at the back of her English classroom when she was sixteen, is her first novel.
She studied Creative Writing at the University of Roehampton in London, and currently resides in an even smaller village in England - where she is still surrounded by family and cats, and still writes stories about falling in love for the first time.
Don't Forget Me, a book she started writing at the back of her English classroom when she was sixteen, is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
February 19, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
That was so lovely, and the closing letter! Not a dry eye in the place. I loved this story of healing and moving forward, of "family" and "home".
After finishing a really heart wrenching and heavy book, I needed something to lift me back up a little. Let me tell you, this little gem of a book did just that. Don't Forget Me had me grinning and shedding happy tears in no time.
•Pro: I really loved the different types of loss the characters were grieving. Some were mourning the death of a loved one. Some lost someone special due to illness. While others still lost their loved one to depression, and all these losses were explored quite well.
•Pro: There are so many good characters in this book. Hazel was wonderful, but so were Red, Luca, Hunter, Maddie, Claire, and Graham. I really enjoyed getting to know them all, and totally wanted to be part of this "family"
•Pro: Speaking of family, I always enjoy family centric books, and Stevens definitely delivered one to me. There were a lot of different family dynamics probed in this story, but my favorite parts were when they were ALL together. Oh, and the parents were present too, which is always a plus.
•Pro: Stevens did a good job keeping me guessing about what brought Hazel to Australia and into her father's life. All I am going to say is I may have needed a tissue or two.
•Pro: I was so glad that there was beauty in the pain for these characters. Circumstances brought them together, and then they were able to move forward (slowly) and begin healing.
•Pro: OMG! The letters Hazel wrote to her mom broke me in the most beautiful way. I am getting misty right now just thinking about them.
•Pro: Although many of our characters were grieving, this book never got too sad. There was a lot of happiness, joy, humor, and a sweet romance to keep me from becoming a puddle.
•Pro: What a good ending!!!
Overall: This was a beautiful and touching story about love, family, and holding those we have lost in our memories as we move forward, which left me all warm and fuzzy inside.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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That was so lovely, and the closing letter! Not a dry eye in the place. I loved this story of healing and moving forward, of "family" and "home".
After finishing a really heart wrenching and heavy book, I needed something to lift me back up a little. Let me tell you, this little gem of a book did just that. Don't Forget Me had me grinning and shedding happy tears in no time.
•Pro: I really loved the different types of loss the characters were grieving. Some were mourning the death of a loved one. Some lost someone special due to illness. While others still lost their loved one to depression, and all these losses were explored quite well.
•Pro: There are so many good characters in this book. Hazel was wonderful, but so were Red, Luca, Hunter, Maddie, Claire, and Graham. I really enjoyed getting to know them all, and totally wanted to be part of this "family"
•Pro: Speaking of family, I always enjoy family centric books, and Stevens definitely delivered one to me. There were a lot of different family dynamics probed in this story, but my favorite parts were when they were ALL together. Oh, and the parents were present too, which is always a plus.
•Pro: Stevens did a good job keeping me guessing about what brought Hazel to Australia and into her father's life. All I am going to say is I may have needed a tissue or two.
•Pro: I was so glad that there was beauty in the pain for these characters. Circumstances brought them together, and then they were able to move forward (slowly) and begin healing.
•Pro: OMG! The letters Hazel wrote to her mom broke me in the most beautiful way. I am getting misty right now just thinking about them.
•Pro: Although many of our characters were grieving, this book never got too sad. There was a lot of happiness, joy, humor, and a sweet romance to keep me from becoming a puddle.
•Pro: What a good ending!!!
"Redleigh used to say that the stars are spy holes for heaven," he said. "So the people we lose can still watch over us, even when they're gone."
Overall: This was a beautiful and touching story about love, family, and holding those we have lost in our memories as we move forward, which left me all warm and fuzzy inside.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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January 6, 2018
Don’t Forget Me was a book that I didn’t really know anything about and I basically went into it blind. I’m glad I did though, it made Hazel’s story that much more powerful because I didn’t know what was going on.
.
The book follows Hazel after she is uprooted from her life in England to live with her dad in Australia. It takes Hazel a while to adjust, partly due to never having met her dad before he shows up to move her to Australia, and because she has other stuff going on back home and she’s desperate to get back to England.
.
This book also revolves quite heavily around twins, Red and Luca. I fell in love with both of these boys in different ways. Red hooked me from the moment I met him. He’s such an amazing person and friend and Hazel is lucky to have someone like him in her life. Luca, on the other hand, I wanted so badly to save. We learn quite quickly that Luca has some emotional issues going on, although we don’t know why at first. He literally broke my heart. You can tell how bad he’s hurting and I just wanted to help him.
.
Another thing I loved about this book was the fact that family was not only present in this book, but that they played such a huge part. It’s too often in YA books that we don’t see parents, or we see books where the parent and child don’t have a good relationship and that really hurts my heart so I was so glad to see positive family values in this book. .
Don’t Forget Me is a touching book that’s not only about loss and learning to move on but also friendship, love, and family. This book was unputdownable, so much so that I finished it in one sitting. Make sure you add this book to your TBR!
.
The book follows Hazel after she is uprooted from her life in England to live with her dad in Australia. It takes Hazel a while to adjust, partly due to never having met her dad before he shows up to move her to Australia, and because she has other stuff going on back home and she’s desperate to get back to England.
.
This book also revolves quite heavily around twins, Red and Luca. I fell in love with both of these boys in different ways. Red hooked me from the moment I met him. He’s such an amazing person and friend and Hazel is lucky to have someone like him in her life. Luca, on the other hand, I wanted so badly to save. We learn quite quickly that Luca has some emotional issues going on, although we don’t know why at first. He literally broke my heart. You can tell how bad he’s hurting and I just wanted to help him.
.
Another thing I loved about this book was the fact that family was not only present in this book, but that they played such a huge part. It’s too often in YA books that we don’t see parents, or we see books where the parent and child don’t have a good relationship and that really hurts my heart so I was so glad to see positive family values in this book. .
Don’t Forget Me is a touching book that’s not only about loss and learning to move on but also friendship, love, and family. This book was unputdownable, so much so that I finished it in one sitting. Make sure you add this book to your TBR!
February 17, 2018
3.5 out of 5 Stars.
"Monsters are monsters...It doesn't make a difference if they're from space or your mind."
Hazel, our English teenaged MC, is forced to move to Australia to spend what she hopes will be a "semester only" with her new-to-her father. Struggling to adjust to her new life Down Under, Hazel eventually tires of evading her emotions and starts to let people in.
Covering everything from depression and assault to friendships and healing, this YA debut seems to have it all. And while I enjoyed the friendships and the strong family aspects, some of the chapters/passages felt repetitive and almost preachy, which really reduced the emotional impact.
As someone who spent a semester in Australia where it remained my "could've been," this did bring back a lot of memories, and for that I am thankful and appreciative.
Full RTC.
"Monsters are monsters...It doesn't make a difference if they're from space or your mind."
Hazel, our English teenaged MC, is forced to move to Australia to spend what she hopes will be a "semester only" with her new-to-her father. Struggling to adjust to her new life Down Under, Hazel eventually tires of evading her emotions and starts to let people in.
Covering everything from depression and assault to friendships and healing, this YA debut seems to have it all. And while I enjoyed the friendships and the strong family aspects, some of the chapters/passages felt repetitive and almost preachy, which really reduced the emotional impact.
As someone who spent a semester in Australia where it remained my "could've been," this did bring back a lot of memories, and for that I am thankful and appreciative.
Full RTC.
December 30, 2017
3.75 stars. A sweet, emotional read. Full review to come.
Want to read
September 11, 2017After just losing my grandad to dementia, I think I have to read this
January 17, 2020
3.5 Stars
Such a beautiful written story. Its a simple read for me. But i enjoyed it.
Such a beautiful written story. Its a simple read for me. But i enjoyed it.
desperately-need-to-read
June 20, 2017HELP this sounds amazing and the cover is quickly scaling the ranks of favorite covers OMGGGG
October 22, 2023
3.5⭐️
This book was so depressing yet so beautiful 😭
This book was so depressing yet so beautiful 😭
January 11, 2018
Review first posted at Library of Colors.
I was given an advanced copy of this book from a friend. Thank you, Erin!
I stumbled upon this little gem on NetGalley, and while I was not approved for it there *sigh*, my sweet friend Erin sent it to me after receiving it herself. I’m so glad she did, as this was the perfect book to pull me out of my slump I’ve been in since October. October , y’all. I needed something good. Leave it to a contemporary to pull me out of my misery.
"Redleigh used to say that the stars are spy holes for heaven," he said. "So the people we lose can still watch over us, even when they're gone."
The best thing about this book was the relationships. That, of course, also stems from great characters that fit together in special ways.
I was nervous at the beginning of this book, as it sounded a lot like Jenna Evans Welch’s Love & Gelato. Girl loses mom, girl moves in with *insert dad character here*. I was nervous about this because I didn’t love Linda, the main character in Love & Gelato. However, I absolutely adored Hazel. She was upset about moving and obviously about her mother, but she was never whiny. She carried her thoughts within her, and she barely let them show. When she began to open up - yeah, that’s where we get amazing relationships that make me so happy to read.
Hazel and Red’s relationship was a strong friendship that was just… right. It was a good balance of tough love and secret keeping. I also loved Hazel’s group of friends at school and they way they embraced her. Hazel and her father’s relationships was one of my favorite to read, to watch her love grow for him and who he is and to see his eyes open up to having a daughter in the house. Delightful!
But of course, there’s Luca. What a broody little stink pot! I wanted him to be on every page! Watching his loss define who he is, but also using his family to be pulled out of where he was made for a heart-wrenching and heartwarming story. The build up of Hazel and Luca was also very slow and realistic. So if you don’t like insta-love, read this book.
Ultimately, this book was a solid read that wasn’t something I necessarily flew through but instead read with a good pace so I could enjoy the writing, the characters, and the relationships that blossomed. I recommend this book to anyone who’s read Love & Gelato, as well as The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord. I hope you enjoy this book when it comes out in February, and for real - it’s a great Valentine’s Day read.
I was given an advanced copy of this book from a friend. Thank you, Erin!
I stumbled upon this little gem on NetGalley, and while I was not approved for it there *sigh*, my sweet friend Erin sent it to me after receiving it herself. I’m so glad she did, as this was the perfect book to pull me out of my slump I’ve been in since October. October , y’all. I needed something good. Leave it to a contemporary to pull me out of my misery.
"Redleigh used to say that the stars are spy holes for heaven," he said. "So the people we lose can still watch over us, even when they're gone."
The best thing about this book was the relationships. That, of course, also stems from great characters that fit together in special ways.
I was nervous at the beginning of this book, as it sounded a lot like Jenna Evans Welch’s Love & Gelato. Girl loses mom, girl moves in with *insert dad character here*. I was nervous about this because I didn’t love Linda, the main character in Love & Gelato. However, I absolutely adored Hazel. She was upset about moving and obviously about her mother, but she was never whiny. She carried her thoughts within her, and she barely let them show. When she began to open up - yeah, that’s where we get amazing relationships that make me so happy to read.
Hazel and Red’s relationship was a strong friendship that was just… right. It was a good balance of tough love and secret keeping. I also loved Hazel’s group of friends at school and they way they embraced her. Hazel and her father’s relationships was one of my favorite to read, to watch her love grow for him and who he is and to see his eyes open up to having a daughter in the house. Delightful!
But of course, there’s Luca. What a broody little stink pot! I wanted him to be on every page! Watching his loss define who he is, but also using his family to be pulled out of where he was made for a heart-wrenching and heartwarming story. The build up of Hazel and Luca was also very slow and realistic. So if you don’t like insta-love, read this book.
Ultimately, this book was a solid read that wasn’t something I necessarily flew through but instead read with a good pace so I could enjoy the writing, the characters, and the relationships that blossomed. I recommend this book to anyone who’s read Love & Gelato, as well as The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord. I hope you enjoy this book when it comes out in February, and for real - it’s a great Valentine’s Day read.
April 14, 2020
I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Wow, this book is full of some heavy stuff! So much grief and depression at the beginning. I'm really glad that Luca and Hazel were able to help each other through their difficult times. I love that neither of them pressured each other to talk about their thoughts and feelings, but let it naturally come out in discussion.
And there was no judgement, not really. They listened, understood, and they were just there for each other. All of them were, but Luca and Hazel more so since they both had their own grief to deal with.
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this novel! And I'm kicking myself for not reading it when it was actually considered an eARC.
Wow, this book is full of some heavy stuff! So much grief and depression at the beginning. I'm really glad that Luca and Hazel were able to help each other through their difficult times. I love that neither of them pressured each other to talk about their thoughts and feelings, but let it naturally come out in discussion.
And there was no judgement, not really. They listened, understood, and they were just there for each other. All of them were, but Luca and Hazel more so since they both had their own grief to deal with.
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this novel! And I'm kicking myself for not reading it when it was actually considered an eARC.
November 27, 2017
There was no part of Don't Forget Me that I did not like. In fact, I instantly knew that I was going to bond with Hazel, Red, and Luca. The letters that Hazel writes to her mom that are sprinkled throughout the book are so thought provoking. I totally looked forward to reading them. The relationships that are formed are so believable. This book handles loss so beautifully. Plus, it is done through the perspective of several characters who are all dealing with something a little different in their own way. Don't Forget Me is definitely not a book you will want to miss!
Thank you to Netgalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for a copy of this book!
Thank you to Netgalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for a copy of this book!
February 13, 2018
Loved this! So beautiful and hopeful. It also got me out of a big reading slump, so kudos to not being able to put this book down!
March 19, 2023
Okay, so this was an incredible book (thank you Sarah Hope) It ended in a happy way between Luca and Hazel! Oh!! How I love a good romance. This was amazing and quite sad at times, but I loved it! ❤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2022
I read this book two years ago, and I’m happy that I re-read it!
The writing is not phenomenal by any means, but the story is charming. The setting that takes place in Australia is so captivating and lovely. The characters are enjoyable and are honestly written realistically!
The relationship between Hazel and her mother is so solid and heartbreaking at the same time. Most of the interactions between the characters are very tender moments that could happen in real life!
The writing is not phenomenal by any means, but the story is charming. The setting that takes place in Australia is so captivating and lovely. The characters are enjoyable and are honestly written realistically!
The relationship between Hazel and her mother is so solid and heartbreaking at the same time. Most of the interactions between the characters are very tender moments that could happen in real life!
February 24, 2019
It brook my heart <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 in a good way
July 17, 2019
Fantastisk bog. Kom gennem følelsesregisteret. Helt klart værd at læse. Jeg var lidt lang tid om at komme rigtigt i gang med den, men da den først fangede mig var den næsten ikke til at lægge den fra mig.
February 13, 2018
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Don't Forget Me by Victoria Stevens is a sweet, beautiful story about family, friendship, and moving forward.
When Hazel's mother becomes too ill to take care of her, Hazel has to move to Australia to live with her father that she's never met. Convinced that her new situation is only temporary until she can go back to her mother in England, Hazel tries not to let herself become too attached to her new life. However, she quickly makes new friends at school and begins to bond with her dad, and realizes that leaving to go back home to England may be harder than she originally thought.
I loved that this book focused on family, friendships, and ultimately hope. When Hazel is uprooted from her life in England, she thinks that she is losing the only family she's ever known in her mother. What she finds in Australia though, is that she does have family there, and that the friends she makes have truly become her family as well.
One thing that can really make or break a book for me is how the characters are developed. I think Victoria Stevens did a wonderful job in making real and authentic characters. We of course of Hazel, but we also have her father and her new friends, Maddie, Hunter, Red, and Luca.
When Hazel first met Luca, he was withdrawn and hard to talk to. She discovered that she wasn't the only one who was dealing with the grief of losing someone, even though his situation was different than hers. I loved the way their friendship developed, slow and steady. They both learned from each other which helped them both grow and move forward with their lives.
Then I have to mention the letters Hazel writes to her mom that are scattered throughout the book. They are heartbreaking. They are short and simple, but the memories contained within the letters make your heart ache for Hazel and everything she has had to go through.
Overall, it was an easy read that packed a lot of emotional punch. It covers some heavy topics, but you're left with a sense of hope, which is all anyone can ask for at the end of the day.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary stories focused on growth and relationships.
Don't Forget Me by Victoria Stevens is a sweet, beautiful story about family, friendship, and moving forward.
When Hazel's mother becomes too ill to take care of her, Hazel has to move to Australia to live with her father that she's never met. Convinced that her new situation is only temporary until she can go back to her mother in England, Hazel tries not to let herself become too attached to her new life. However, she quickly makes new friends at school and begins to bond with her dad, and realizes that leaving to go back home to England may be harder than she originally thought.
I loved that this book focused on family, friendships, and ultimately hope. When Hazel is uprooted from her life in England, she thinks that she is losing the only family she's ever known in her mother. What she finds in Australia though, is that she does have family there, and that the friends she makes have truly become her family as well.
One thing that can really make or break a book for me is how the characters are developed. I think Victoria Stevens did a wonderful job in making real and authentic characters. We of course of Hazel, but we also have her father and her new friends, Maddie, Hunter, Red, and Luca.
When Hazel first met Luca, he was withdrawn and hard to talk to. She discovered that she wasn't the only one who was dealing with the grief of losing someone, even though his situation was different than hers. I loved the way their friendship developed, slow and steady. They both learned from each other which helped them both grow and move forward with their lives.
Then I have to mention the letters Hazel writes to her mom that are scattered throughout the book. They are heartbreaking. They are short and simple, but the memories contained within the letters make your heart ache for Hazel and everything she has had to go through.
Overall, it was an easy read that packed a lot of emotional punch. It covers some heavy topics, but you're left with a sense of hope, which is all anyone can ask for at the end of the day.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes contemporary stories focused on growth and relationships.
September 23, 2017
**I received a copy from NetGalley**
Hazel finds herself in Australia to live with the father she has never met and she cannot wait to move back to England, with her mother. It soon becomes clear that Hazel was the sole caretaker for her mother who was dealing with an illness or some other kind of issue (we later learn it's early onset Alzheimer's).
Throughout the book, Hazel writes letters to her mother reminding her of fun times that they shared together. She also resists her father's attempts to get to know her and to help her make their house a home. She does however befriend Red, a local art student, and eventually his twin brother Luca, who has struggles of his own.
This book gave me feels. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Hazel and Luca grow as well as the relationship between Hazel and her father. It was heartbreaking to witness as he tried so hard to get Hazel to open up to him.
Watching Luca and his father reconnect was also neat to read. I think so many teenagers feel that their parents only love them when they perform or when they share common interests and to see that play out in the way it does here, when Luca can't run anymore, was so beautiful.
There were things that I felt came out of nowhere and could have used a little more explanation (or maybe I just missed it as I read through it), but a time or two I found myself confused when something would be mentioned as if we were all in on the information, but I didn't remember ever being told.
Hazel finds herself in Australia to live with the father she has never met and she cannot wait to move back to England, with her mother. It soon becomes clear that Hazel was the sole caretaker for her mother who was dealing with an illness or some other kind of issue (we later learn it's early onset Alzheimer's).
Throughout the book, Hazel writes letters to her mother reminding her of fun times that they shared together. She also resists her father's attempts to get to know her and to help her make their house a home. She does however befriend Red, a local art student, and eventually his twin brother Luca, who has struggles of his own.
This book gave me feels. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Hazel and Luca grow as well as the relationship between Hazel and her father. It was heartbreaking to witness as he tried so hard to get Hazel to open up to him.
Watching Luca and his father reconnect was also neat to read. I think so many teenagers feel that their parents only love them when they perform or when they share common interests and to see that play out in the way it does here, when Luca can't run anymore, was so beautiful.
There were things that I felt came out of nowhere and could have used a little more explanation (or maybe I just missed it as I read through it), but a time or two I found myself confused when something would be mentioned as if we were all in on the information, but I didn't remember ever being told.
March 8, 2018
5 out of 5 stars
This book was beautifully written! One of my new favorite debut novels.
Hazel Clarke is forced to live with her Father- Graham in Australia who she has never met, because her Mother is sick back home in England. Hazel is hesitate but she believes that she will be able to go back to England to be with her Mother in a couple months. While in Australia, Hazel enrolls into a new school and along the way meets friends who love her the minute they meet her.
Red lives in the neighborhood and is the first person, Hazel meets. Red is an artist and also becomes Hazel's best friend. Hazel soon finds out that Red has a twin- Luca.
Luca is very depressed over something that occurred the year before, yet never wants to speak about it. Hazel is able to unfold his layers and learn that Luca is different than people believe.
I also thought the idea of Hazel writing letters to her Mother was beautiful and until the end, it really impacts your heart as to why the letters are so important to Hazel.
I loved all the characters in this novel, and I especially loved the friendships, Hazel made with the Cawley twins.
The overall message and theme of the story was engaging. I couldn't put this book down.
This debut novel is all about family, grief, mourning, guilt, friendships, love, secrets, hope, and realizing that home is where you make it.
Sometimes it can be a heavy topic/message and it really affects the readers heart, which every book should leave a lasting impression on the reader. After finishing the novel, I couldn't help but still think about it and want to know more about the characters yet the ending was sufficient.
A very touching story.
This book was beautifully written! One of my new favorite debut novels.
Hazel Clarke is forced to live with her Father- Graham in Australia who she has never met, because her Mother is sick back home in England. Hazel is hesitate but she believes that she will be able to go back to England to be with her Mother in a couple months. While in Australia, Hazel enrolls into a new school and along the way meets friends who love her the minute they meet her.
Red lives in the neighborhood and is the first person, Hazel meets. Red is an artist and also becomes Hazel's best friend. Hazel soon finds out that Red has a twin- Luca.
Luca is very depressed over something that occurred the year before, yet never wants to speak about it. Hazel is able to unfold his layers and learn that Luca is different than people believe.
I also thought the idea of Hazel writing letters to her Mother was beautiful and until the end, it really impacts your heart as to why the letters are so important to Hazel.
I loved all the characters in this novel, and I especially loved the friendships, Hazel made with the Cawley twins.
The overall message and theme of the story was engaging. I couldn't put this book down.
This debut novel is all about family, grief, mourning, guilt, friendships, love, secrets, hope, and realizing that home is where you make it.
Sometimes it can be a heavy topic/message and it really affects the readers heart, which every book should leave a lasting impression on the reader. After finishing the novel, I couldn't help but still think about it and want to know more about the characters yet the ending was sufficient.
A very touching story.
May 20, 2018
Ce livre m’a tout simplement bouleversé et je n’ai pas honte de dire qu’il m’a fait versé quelque larmes.
Les personnages sont vraiment attachants et j’aime beaucoup le message du livre sur le fait que pour aller mieux (peu importe les épreuves de la vie) il faut avancer à notre rythme même si c’est dure sur le moment et qu’avec le temps (et si possible être accompagné par ses proches) la douleur finit par partir.
Je m’en veux de pas avoir lu plus tôt ce livre mais quand on me l’avais présenté, on m’avais parlé d’un triangle amoureux alors que ce n’est pas le cas ici présent..(surtout qu’un du soit disant triangle amoureux est homosexuel donc il n’est pas attiré par la femme dedans sans compter que l’autre homme dans le « triangle » est son frère..).
Ce livre aborde des thèmes difficiles comme le deuil, la maladie, la peur de l’échec..l’auteur les a aborder avec beaucoup de finesse je trouve et a réussis à nous faire rentrer dans l’histoire en nous incluant (enfin je l’ai sentis ainsi personnellement)
Je suis heureuse d’avoir prit le temps de lire ce chef d’œuvre.
Les personnages sont vraiment attachants et j’aime beaucoup le message du livre sur le fait que pour aller mieux (peu importe les épreuves de la vie) il faut avancer à notre rythme même si c’est dure sur le moment et qu’avec le temps (et si possible être accompagné par ses proches) la douleur finit par partir.
Je m’en veux de pas avoir lu plus tôt ce livre mais quand on me l’avais présenté, on m’avais parlé d’un triangle amoureux alors que ce n’est pas le cas ici présent..(surtout qu’un du soit disant triangle amoureux est homosexuel donc il n’est pas attiré par la femme dedans sans compter que l’autre homme dans le « triangle » est son frère..).
Ce livre aborde des thèmes difficiles comme le deuil, la maladie, la peur de l’échec..l’auteur les a aborder avec beaucoup de finesse je trouve et a réussis à nous faire rentrer dans l’histoire en nous incluant (enfin je l’ai sentis ainsi personnellement)
Je suis heureuse d’avoir prit le temps de lire ce chef d’œuvre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2018
This was such a bittersweet book, that made me simultaneously feel super happy while tearing up.
I was forced to go into this with no expectations due to the lack of info in the description, and even the first chapters, and while I was wary bc of this I'm so glad it didn't keep me from picking up this amazing book!
One of my favorite qualities of books is if they are gripping/fast paced enough that I read 150+ pages a day and can't put it down, and this definitely happened w this one.
I understand why the book ended where it did, but it seriously had me wanting more, with a couple of questions about things that were discussed once but not brought up again. Overall, though loose ends were tied up and this was a beautiful and great novel!
I was forced to go into this with no expectations due to the lack of info in the description, and even the first chapters, and while I was wary bc of this I'm so glad it didn't keep me from picking up this amazing book!
One of my favorite qualities of books is if they are gripping/fast paced enough that I read 150+ pages a day and can't put it down, and this definitely happened w this one.
I understand why the book ended where it did, but it seriously had me wanting more, with a couple of questions about things that were discussed once but not brought up again. Overall, though loose ends were tied up and this was a beautiful and great novel!
September 25, 2017
***Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Oh wow....I enjoyed this. I loved the characters....the minor and the main characters. I loved the layered storyline. I loved the setting - Australia -- readers can leave the country and explore other countries without leaving their homes. Hazel is dealing with the fact her mom's memory isn't coming back. She's forced to move to Australia to live with the father she has never met - and finally be a teenager, something she didn't get to do back in England while taking care of her mum. This book has a running of theme of family being more than just your blood relation. It's a well written, heavier read, but well worth it.
Oh wow....I enjoyed this. I loved the characters....the minor and the main characters. I loved the layered storyline. I loved the setting - Australia -- readers can leave the country and explore other countries without leaving their homes. Hazel is dealing with the fact her mom's memory isn't coming back. She's forced to move to Australia to live with the father she has never met - and finally be a teenager, something she didn't get to do back in England while taking care of her mum. This book has a running of theme of family being more than just your blood relation. It's a well written, heavier read, but well worth it.
December 5, 2017
****Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC****
When Hazel Clarke is forced to move in with the father she has never met she is determined to make sure that it is just until she is old enough (in the eyes of the law) to leave. What Hazel doesn't expect is the friendship she develops with Red, the boy down the lane, and his twin brother Luca.
A touching novel that examines what family is and what family can become. I loved how Stevens explored what home means and how that meaning can change based on the experiences in your life. This book surprised me in the best way possible and I ended up not being able to put it down.
When Hazel Clarke is forced to move in with the father she has never met she is determined to make sure that it is just until she is old enough (in the eyes of the law) to leave. What Hazel doesn't expect is the friendship she develops with Red, the boy down the lane, and his twin brother Luca.
A touching novel that examines what family is and what family can become. I loved how Stevens explored what home means and how that meaning can change based on the experiences in your life. This book surprised me in the best way possible and I ended up not being able to put it down.
July 2, 2021
i actually really liked this book. i love the characters and i definitely cried a few times reading the letter from her mom. it was driving me crazy how much hazel didn't think her dad cared about her when it was so obvious he loves her so much. i also love the "boy hates everyone except the girl" trope so that excited me reading the book. the epilogue was amazing and i just loved everything about this book. it also was like super chill and nothing super crazy happened that would make me be like oh my god which sometimes is nice especially when ur reading a bunch of other books with crazy plots. great book to read and it definitely got me out of my reading slump!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2020
Very simplistic, as if written by a teenager. Everything is wrong and then all of a sudden everything is right.
Also I'm not sure why the book uses American spelling and words?
Some stuff made me roll my eyes - like when Maddie asks Hazel, the new girl, what her name was. Hazel says "Hazel" and Maddie says "Awesome accent!" Yeah, well, because you can tell from one word.
Luca helps Hazel with maths and she helps him with running, his favourite 5 kilometres, but nobody knows about the running arrangement and one day he comes home after running and claims he was helping Hazel with maths... And just how much you can get sweaty while tutoring maths? I am sure everyone was so stupid as to believe him.
Hazel is 17 and she doesn't know that Alzheimer's can't be cured and the person only gets worse? Don't teenagers practically live online where you can find any information?...
Why were there so many points of view at the beginning? At around page 70 I stopped reading and started another book and then got back to this. The topic is really good, but the execution is not.
I don't think I will read more from this author.
Also I'm not sure why the book uses American spelling and words?
Some stuff made me roll my eyes - like when Maddie asks Hazel, the new girl, what her name was. Hazel says "Hazel" and Maddie says "Awesome accent!" Yeah, well, because you can tell from one word.
Luca helps Hazel with maths and she helps him with running, his favourite 5 kilometres, but nobody knows about the running arrangement and one day he comes home after running and claims he was helping Hazel with maths... And just how much you can get sweaty while tutoring maths? I am sure everyone was so stupid as to believe him.
Hazel is 17 and she doesn't know that Alzheimer's can't be cured and the person only gets worse? Don't teenagers practically live online where you can find any information?...
Why were there so many points of view at the beginning? At around page 70 I stopped reading and started another book and then got back to this. The topic is really good, but the execution is not.
I don't think I will read more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
Un roman simple et sans prise de tête, qui se lit d’une traite, sans grande surprise ou rebondissement mais qui fait quand même du bien. À lire quand on n’a rien de mieux ou qu’on a envie d’une lecture de transition 😌
Read
February 14, 2018Graded By: Rosemary
Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Probably x3
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: The Omniscient YA Unicorn
Bonus Factor: Australia
Relationship Status: I'll Be Alone, Dancing, You Know It Baby
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Probably x3
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: The Omniscient YA Unicorn
Bonus Factor: Australia
Relationship Status: I'll Be Alone, Dancing, You Know It Baby
Read the full book report here.
May 10, 2023
★★★★
it was adorable?? at absolutely every moment between luca and hazel, i was close to throwing the book on the floor because i wanted them to kiss, ok?
anyway, i really liked how the topics of family, grief, and illness were addressed (i admit that tears almost flowed)
it was adorable?? at absolutely every moment between luca and hazel, i was close to throwing the book on the floor because i wanted them to kiss, ok?
anyway, i really liked how the topics of family, grief, and illness were addressed (i admit that tears almost flowed)
October 22, 2025
Truly heartwarming. Clearly shows the stuggles of dealing with loss, in any which shape or form. Is an amazing tribute and representation of how others deal around grief. Lovely read. 💗
I read this in 12hours! I could not put it down! x
I read this in 12hours! I could not put it down! x
June 22, 2017
Absolutely amazing. What a beautiful story.
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