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Letting Go of Gravity
Twins Parker and Charlie are polar opposites.
Where Charlie is fearless, Parker is careful.
Charlie is confident while Parker aims to please.
Charlie is outgoing and outspoken; Parker is introverted and reserved.
And of course, there’s the one other major difference: Charlie got leukemia. Parker didn’t.
But now that Charlie is officially in remission, life couldn’t be going better for Parker. She’s landed a prestigious summer internship at the hospital and is headed to Harvard in the fall to study pediatric oncology—which is why the anxiety she’s felt since her Harvard acceptance is so unsettling. And it doesn’t help that her relationship with Charlie has been on the rocks since his diagnosis.
Enter Finn, a boy who’s been leaving strange graffiti messages all over town. Parker can’t stop thinking about those messages, or about Finn, who makes her feel free for the first time: free to doubt, free to make mistakes, and free to confront the truth that Parker has been hiding from for a long time.
That she keeps trying to save Charlie, when the person who really needs saving is herself.
Where Charlie is fearless, Parker is careful.
Charlie is confident while Parker aims to please.
Charlie is outgoing and outspoken; Parker is introverted and reserved.
And of course, there’s the one other major difference: Charlie got leukemia. Parker didn’t.
But now that Charlie is officially in remission, life couldn’t be going better for Parker. She’s landed a prestigious summer internship at the hospital and is headed to Harvard in the fall to study pediatric oncology—which is why the anxiety she’s felt since her Harvard acceptance is so unsettling. And it doesn’t help that her relationship with Charlie has been on the rocks since his diagnosis.
Enter Finn, a boy who’s been leaving strange graffiti messages all over town. Parker can’t stop thinking about those messages, or about Finn, who makes her feel free for the first time: free to doubt, free to make mistakes, and free to confront the truth that Parker has been hiding from for a long time.
That she keeps trying to save Charlie, when the person who really needs saving is herself.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2018
57 people are currently reading
3761 people want to read
About the author
Meg Leder
13 books102 followersA former bookseller and teacher, Meg Leder currently works as a book editor in New York City. Her role models are Harriet the Spy and Anne Shirley. She is the coauthor of The Happy Book, and spends her free time reading, looking for street art, and people watching. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
July 12, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Parker and her twin bother, Charlie, were once very close, but Charlie's cancer became a wedge, which slowly, but surely, pushed them apart.
One of the things I really loved about this book was Leder's exploration of how Charlie's cancer affected the whole family. Because their parents were so consumed with worry for Charlie, Parker took it upon herself to be the perfect child. She kept a low profile and out of trouble, while excelling academically, earning herself a scholarship to Harvard and a prestigious summer internship. She thought being "perfect" would alleviate some of her parents' woe, but what it did was increase Parker's anxiety, which eventually manifested as panic attacks.
There was a part of me, that really understood Parker's motivation and also her hyper-overprotectiveness of her brother. My father's cancer deeply affected my family. I could relate to the worry and the concern you have for your ailing loved one. Even after he was in remission, I was very aware of anything "unhealthy" he did. We can't help it, because we love that person, and we always carry that fear that they can get sick again. In that respect, I was a lot like Parker.
I also empathized with Charlie. It was tough to be around him during the first half of the book. He was in remission for the second time, but he missed a whole year of school. His friends were leaving him behind, and everyone was treating him as if he was still sick. None of them could see beyond his past and his illness, and Charlie was just trying to figure out who he was now.
Both Charlie and Parker were trying to decide what they really wanted post cancer. Charlie was being reckless, while Parker was committing to a life she really didn't want to live. Thank goodness they had lots of great people to help them find their way.
Even from another continent, Em, Parker's best friend, lent her support. And, Parker also got support from someone, who had been there for her many years ago, Finn. Finn was probably one of my favorite characters in the book. He was trapped in his life by his guilt, accepting less than he deserved, but he was a beacon for Parker. He helped her see that there were endless possibilities for her to explore.
Ruby, who initially came off as a Parker-fangirl, ended up being a crucial part of Parker and Charlie's healing. She managed to be the voice of reason, and helped bridge that gap between the twins. She was also so easy to love.
This book delivered quite the emotional punch. I was crying quite a bit during the first half of the book. This family was in so much pain, and it dripped off the page. Their pain became my pain. I was so invested in Charlie's health, Parker's well-being, and them finding their way back to each other, that when things started looking up, I found myself elated.
I am getting a little choked up thinking about the ending, because I really loved it. It was beautiful and poetic and a little sad, but mostly uplifting.
Overall: A wonderful coming of age tale, which packed an emotional punch.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Parker and her twin bother, Charlie, were once very close, but Charlie's cancer became a wedge, which slowly, but surely, pushed them apart.
One of the things I really loved about this book was Leder's exploration of how Charlie's cancer affected the whole family. Because their parents were so consumed with worry for Charlie, Parker took it upon herself to be the perfect child. She kept a low profile and out of trouble, while excelling academically, earning herself a scholarship to Harvard and a prestigious summer internship. She thought being "perfect" would alleviate some of her parents' woe, but what it did was increase Parker's anxiety, which eventually manifested as panic attacks.
There was a part of me, that really understood Parker's motivation and also her hyper-overprotectiveness of her brother. My father's cancer deeply affected my family. I could relate to the worry and the concern you have for your ailing loved one. Even after he was in remission, I was very aware of anything "unhealthy" he did. We can't help it, because we love that person, and we always carry that fear that they can get sick again. In that respect, I was a lot like Parker.
I also empathized with Charlie. It was tough to be around him during the first half of the book. He was in remission for the second time, but he missed a whole year of school. His friends were leaving him behind, and everyone was treating him as if he was still sick. None of them could see beyond his past and his illness, and Charlie was just trying to figure out who he was now.
Both Charlie and Parker were trying to decide what they really wanted post cancer. Charlie was being reckless, while Parker was committing to a life she really didn't want to live. Thank goodness they had lots of great people to help them find their way.
Even from another continent, Em, Parker's best friend, lent her support. And, Parker also got support from someone, who had been there for her many years ago, Finn. Finn was probably one of my favorite characters in the book. He was trapped in his life by his guilt, accepting less than he deserved, but he was a beacon for Parker. He helped her see that there were endless possibilities for her to explore.
Ruby, who initially came off as a Parker-fangirl, ended up being a crucial part of Parker and Charlie's healing. She managed to be the voice of reason, and helped bridge that gap between the twins. She was also so easy to love.
This book delivered quite the emotional punch. I was crying quite a bit during the first half of the book. This family was in so much pain, and it dripped off the page. Their pain became my pain. I was so invested in Charlie's health, Parker's well-being, and them finding their way back to each other, that when things started looking up, I found myself elated.
I am getting a little choked up thinking about the ending, because I really loved it. It was beautiful and poetic and a little sad, but mostly uplifting.
Overall: A wonderful coming of age tale, which packed an emotional punch.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
September 7, 2019
another book rec from Hailey, another book rec that made me cry
oops
this book gave me I'll Give You the Sun vibes, with the twins and the summer plans and the art and the amazing secondary characters. All of it was beautiful and I loved it more than anything.
the underlying message was amazing as well; it spoke super strongly to me and I feEL Parker so hard w/the being the doctor thing
and letting go
bc I'm bad at doing that too
and AAHH
it was so beautiful and I loved it
docked 1 star bc of the language and also because it was too similar to I'll Give You the Sun that I'll confuse it
oops
this book gave me I'll Give You the Sun vibes, with the twins and the summer plans and the art and the amazing secondary characters. All of it was beautiful and I loved it more than anything.
the underlying message was amazing as well; it spoke super strongly to me and I feEL Parker so hard w/the being the doctor thing
and letting go
bc I'm bad at doing that too
and AAHH
it was so beautiful and I loved it
docked 1 star bc of the language and also because it was too similar to I'll Give You the Sun that I'll confuse it
May 28, 2021
I enjoyed this. Its very 'teen angsty', so if you cant stand that Fault in our stars vibe--skip this. I think a younger person (middle school/high school) might resonate more with these characters than I did. Overall it was entertaining enough, but at times the trials of a typical teenager were just too much to digest in 420 pages. I liked it..just didn't fall in love with it.
My rating: (3.7 🌟🌟🌟)
My rating: (3.7 🌟🌟🌟)
July 25, 2018
*I am participating in the blog tour for this book - I received an e-ARC for that, but it didn't change my opinion for it at all!*
4.5 crowns
Wow. Okay, tbh, I picked this book because I thought it would be a nice fluffy read about twins and, like, idk twin things? I thought there would be a few feels, but mostly I was just in my contemporary zone, ready to get in my summer mood. What I got? A book that made me cry on the treadmill, the most relatable main character that I've ever read that felt like me, a really cute romance, and some major twin growth.
I wasn't aware when I picked this book up that there was anxiety rep, but it comes out throughout the book what Parker is dealing with. Leder does a wonderful job at going through what anxiety is like, and honestly, it did get VERY real at some points that I found myself getting anxious for her. So, it can bring a bit of anxiety, but it's just done so realistically and puts you into someone with anxiety's shoes.
As I said, I think I finally found my character. I always see questions like, "What character do you relate the most with?" or "What character are you the most like?" and I always blank because I've never really found myself in YA. That is until I found Parker. She worries about falling. She worries about mysterious cult compounds. She worries about big things and little things and social niceties. She gets anxious about a lot of things, but she feels deeply and cares deeply. I was legit on the same treadmill again - omg, wow, I'm taking fitness to a new level here - and was off thinking, "I am Parker. Parker is me. I'm becoming an inspirational poster now in some eighth grade classroom." But I honestly just related with her so much. She makes mistakes - but she's human and realistic and I just truly felt so much for her because I saw so much of myself in her. Honestly, one of the best main character that I've read in a while.
Also, there was a lot of strength in this book - especially from the female characters. Ruby and Parker both deep with some forms of anxiety, and I was just really amazed by their mental and emotional strength. It was so empowering for me to read. Plus, the ceramics ladies showcased their own empowerment as well. This book made my heart so happy to see all of the ladies supporting ladies and showcasing different forms of strength.
And this book made me cry. So it automatically gets 20 million points since I can't even tell you the last time I cried in a book.
The rest of the characters were fantastic as well. They were messy and complex and dynamic - and just so realllllllllllllllllllll. Charlie, Ruby, Finn, the cermaics gang, and Trina - they were all brilliant and complex and omg, there was just so much to them. Of course, Charlie rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning, but it's because there is so much depth to him and he just survived cancer. Leder doesn't paint nice little happy campers - just shows the realness and humanity to them that okay, I might have hated their decisions, but they were REAL.
The plot is one of those slow burners. It's all about the character growth and the journey. Parker is trying to figure out what she wants to be and learning who she and Charlie is. There aren't too many big plot points or plot twists, and if you're looking for others, this book isn't it. However, if you love books with amazing characterization, amazing character journeys and growth, and more of an overreacting plot, this is it. And it's so well done, because I literally DEVOURED this book. Every time I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about going back to reading it (I literally just typed eating so apparently I'm at that point now where I want to physically consume books).
Leder had a great writing style as well. I liked her pacing and her word choices and her flow and OMIGOSH, IF I SAY "REAL" MORE TIME, I'MMA LOSE IT BUT THAT'S WHAT IT FELT.
I took a .5 crown off because I felt it slowed a bit toward the ending for me. And there was one or two things that irked me at the end. But other than that, this book was pretty much perfection for me.
Overall, this is one of the best contemporaries that I've read in a while, and I'm so glad I tried this one out on a whim. I thought it might be a light fluffy read but instead, I got a deep, complex book that finally gave me a dream: me in a book. It had a fantastic journey and showcases what contemporary does so right: makes you feel so deeply. I definitely recommend checking this out for the summer if you're looking for a character with a great emotional journey. I cannot wait to get her previous book, Museum of Heartbreak that I've sadly had on my bookshelf for way too long, and get myself a copy of this book. 4.5 crowns and an Anna rating!
4.5 crowns
Wow. Okay, tbh, I picked this book because I thought it would be a nice fluffy read about twins and, like, idk twin things? I thought there would be a few feels, but mostly I was just in my contemporary zone, ready to get in my summer mood. What I got? A book that made me cry on the treadmill, the most relatable main character that I've ever read that felt like me, a really cute romance, and some major twin growth.
I wasn't aware when I picked this book up that there was anxiety rep, but it comes out throughout the book what Parker is dealing with. Leder does a wonderful job at going through what anxiety is like, and honestly, it did get VERY real at some points that I found myself getting anxious for her. So, it can bring a bit of anxiety, but it's just done so realistically and puts you into someone with anxiety's shoes.
As I said, I think I finally found my character. I always see questions like, "What character do you relate the most with?" or "What character are you the most like?" and I always blank because I've never really found myself in YA. That is until I found Parker. She worries about falling. She worries about mysterious cult compounds. She worries about big things and little things and social niceties. She gets anxious about a lot of things, but she feels deeply and cares deeply. I was legit on the same treadmill again - omg, wow, I'm taking fitness to a new level here - and was off thinking, "I am Parker. Parker is me. I'm becoming an inspirational poster now in some eighth grade classroom." But I honestly just related with her so much. She makes mistakes - but she's human and realistic and I just truly felt so much for her because I saw so much of myself in her. Honestly, one of the best main character that I've read in a while.
Also, there was a lot of strength in this book - especially from the female characters. Ruby and Parker both deep with some forms of anxiety, and I was just really amazed by their mental and emotional strength. It was so empowering for me to read. Plus, the ceramics ladies showcased their own empowerment as well. This book made my heart so happy to see all of the ladies supporting ladies and showcasing different forms of strength.
And this book made me cry. So it automatically gets 20 million points since I can't even tell you the last time I cried in a book.
The rest of the characters were fantastic as well. They were messy and complex and dynamic - and just so realllllllllllllllllllll. Charlie, Ruby, Finn, the cermaics gang, and Trina - they were all brilliant and complex and omg, there was just so much to them. Of course, Charlie rubbed me the wrong way in the beginning, but it's because there is so much depth to him and he just survived cancer. Leder doesn't paint nice little happy campers - just shows the realness and humanity to them that okay, I might have hated their decisions, but they were REAL.
The plot is one of those slow burners. It's all about the character growth and the journey. Parker is trying to figure out what she wants to be and learning who she and Charlie is. There aren't too many big plot points or plot twists, and if you're looking for others, this book isn't it. However, if you love books with amazing characterization, amazing character journeys and growth, and more of an overreacting plot, this is it. And it's so well done, because I literally DEVOURED this book. Every time I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about going back to reading it (I literally just typed eating so apparently I'm at that point now where I want to physically consume books).
Leder had a great writing style as well. I liked her pacing and her word choices and her flow and OMIGOSH, IF I SAY "REAL" MORE TIME, I'MMA LOSE IT BUT THAT'S WHAT IT FELT.
I took a .5 crown off because I felt it slowed a bit toward the ending for me. And there was one or two things that irked me at the end. But other than that, this book was pretty much perfection for me.
Overall, this is one of the best contemporaries that I've read in a while, and I'm so glad I tried this one out on a whim. I thought it might be a light fluffy read but instead, I got a deep, complex book that finally gave me a dream: me in a book. It had a fantastic journey and showcases what contemporary does so right: makes you feel so deeply. I definitely recommend checking this out for the summer if you're looking for a character with a great emotional journey. I cannot wait to get her previous book, Museum of Heartbreak that I've sadly had on my bookshelf for way too long, and get myself a copy of this book. 4.5 crowns and an Anna rating!
August 3, 2019
Hello unexpected emotions. I got an ARC of this on Twitter (it's already out but #cheapbooks amirite) and had zero idea what it was about, but I loved it. It made me cry. I'm such a sucker for summer stories and for sibling stories, and this was both. I love Finn and his street art; I love Trina and the old ladies at the pottery place. And I so relate to Charlie's anger in healing and Parker's panic attacks and a family that's been torn apart by medical issues and by not talking about what's underneath.
---
"Maybe my future is coming into shape with my own two hands, crooked and new, something that's unexpected and all my own."
Reread July 2019: Reread. I forgot how good this is. This is a BOOK. Well done and emotional and personal to me. 😭
---
"Maybe my future is coming into shape with my own two hands, crooked and new, something that's unexpected and all my own."
Reread July 2019: Reread. I forgot how good this is. This is a BOOK. Well done and emotional and personal to me. 😭
July 4, 2018
Rounded up from 3.5.
Having grown up as a twin, I was fascinated by the description of this book. There is a point when you find that your twin cannot be your everything. Parker and Charlie get an extra nudge from the cancer diagnosis Charlie has to deal with. The whole struggle with the twin separation and the aftermath of cancer treatment make this a very heavy book. There were moments I loved in the book, but so much distress and angst -- some of which drag the story down unnecessarily. I especially enjoyed the moments with the elderly women in the pottery store and Finn's graffiti.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Simon Pulse and Edelweiss.
Having grown up as a twin, I was fascinated by the description of this book. There is a point when you find that your twin cannot be your everything. Parker and Charlie get an extra nudge from the cancer diagnosis Charlie has to deal with. The whole struggle with the twin separation and the aftermath of cancer treatment make this a very heavy book. There were moments I loved in the book, but so much distress and angst -- some of which drag the story down unnecessarily. I especially enjoyed the moments with the elderly women in the pottery store and Finn's graffiti.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Simon Pulse and Edelweiss.
August 12, 2018
4.5 stars. This book gave me so much more than I expected, and even if I hated the snitch main character a lil bit, i still enjoyed the story. Also: it made me cry a LOT more than I wanted to? Might have just been hella emotional at the time of the reading, but I was always tearing up for no reason reading this
July 22, 2018
The only reason this book is getting 2 stars, is because of Ruby.
I could not stand Charlie in this book! Every time he said something rude or mean to Parker, it made me VERY uncomfortable. There was no reason for him to act like such a jerk.
I think this book was hard for me to read because I'm so close with my family, so when Charlie treated Parker so cruelly and Parker continuously lied to her parents seems to me, extremely bizarre.
I hated how the end didn't have an ending, if that makes sense. It just said she's living life and texting Finn. I would've liked an epilogue a few years down the road, maybe her doing something she actually loved.
I could not stand Charlie in this book! Every time he said something rude or mean to Parker, it made me VERY uncomfortable. There was no reason for him to act like such a jerk.
I think this book was hard for me to read because I'm so close with my family, so when Charlie treated Parker so cruelly and Parker continuously lied to her parents seems to me, extremely bizarre.
I hated how the end didn't have an ending, if that makes sense. It just said she's living life and texting Finn. I would've liked an epilogue a few years down the road, maybe her doing something she actually loved.
September 16, 2021
it was cute but why did taylor swift need to be mentioned at least once a chapter??
June 15, 2018
Parker McCullough has just graduated as valedictorian of her class, but the moment is bittersweet.
Instead of her twin brother, Charlie, sitting with the rest of their graduating class he is nowhere to be seen. It is a bittersweet day for him as well, as all of his friends and his sister are moving on with their lives, but he will remain in high school after having to skip his senior year to fight leukemia once more. The twin’s relationship has struggled for quite some time, never fully recovering from his first bout with cancer, but only went downhill when it finally came back right before Senior year. Parker has always been the overachiever, always been the tightly-wound anxiety type trying to please her parents, to make them happy. Mostly, since Charlie’s first bout of Leukemia when they were 9. One day she told her parents that she wanted to be a doctor so that she could save Charlie, and ever since that day her life had become about saving her brother.
Charlie isn’t sure how to handle life after remission, and Parker isn’t sure how to handle living a life she doesn’t really want. Sure, she worked her butt off to get into Harvard, earned those scholarships as well as that prestigious internship at Children’s Hospital Cincinnati, but being at the internship makes her sick, as does the thought of being a doctor. But she can’t tell her folks because they are so proud of her. To most people, all of her dreams are coming true. But it is only her best friend, Emerson, and her brother Charlie, who truly see her pain and anxiety as she presents her “I want to be a doctor” façade to the world. Em is going away this summer though, backpacking around Europe with her cousin, Matty, who is Charlie’s best friend. Em brings up the internship, the whole doctor thing, when she has to pick Parker up from her internship on the first day because she had a panic attack (though she doesn’t call it this yet. They are just “her nerves”) and was too ill to stay. Parker doesn’t want to hear that it’s the wrong call. Besides, what would it do to her parents? They are so proud of her, particularly her father who has already begun calling her Dr. McCullough, a nickname she hates, but she knows he loves it more than she hates it. So it stays, just like everything else in her life. She doesn’t yet see that she is living her life for other people.
One day she meets Ruby Collie, a soon to be junior in high school and person of color, who wants to be Parker when she grows up. She truly wants to be a doctor and, like everyone in town, is aware of how well Parker has done and is looking for some tips on how to be awesome. Parker doesn’t know what to say as she genuinely hates her life right now and isn’t in a great headspace. But in this encounter comes a blast from the past: Finn Casper. Finn was a childhood friend and boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Talking to Finn makes her brave enough to do what she wants, so she leaves the internship and starts working at the pottery studio where she gets interested in art therapy from the elderly outreach program the studio has. Over the course of the summer Parker soon finds out who she is and what she wants, and soon, so does everyone else.
So, what’s great about this book? The answer: so much. Leder makes lifelike characters who are perfectly imperfect and who each face their own challenges. These is never an impression of one person’s challenge being of greater importance/value than anyone else’s whether it is physical abuse, fighting cancer, or fighting yourself. As this book illustrates it can be hard to let go, especially when you have been hanging on for dear life for so long. But sometimes the bravest and best thing you can do for everyone, is to let go and see what happens.
This book is perfect for readers who love and appreciate a good coming-of-age story, a romance that doesn’t have a perfect happy ending because the story is too lifelike, and when one character isn’t saved by another, but that they all end up saving each other.
Instead of her twin brother, Charlie, sitting with the rest of their graduating class he is nowhere to be seen. It is a bittersweet day for him as well, as all of his friends and his sister are moving on with their lives, but he will remain in high school after having to skip his senior year to fight leukemia once more. The twin’s relationship has struggled for quite some time, never fully recovering from his first bout with cancer, but only went downhill when it finally came back right before Senior year. Parker has always been the overachiever, always been the tightly-wound anxiety type trying to please her parents, to make them happy. Mostly, since Charlie’s first bout of Leukemia when they were 9. One day she told her parents that she wanted to be a doctor so that she could save Charlie, and ever since that day her life had become about saving her brother.
Charlie isn’t sure how to handle life after remission, and Parker isn’t sure how to handle living a life she doesn’t really want. Sure, she worked her butt off to get into Harvard, earned those scholarships as well as that prestigious internship at Children’s Hospital Cincinnati, but being at the internship makes her sick, as does the thought of being a doctor. But she can’t tell her folks because they are so proud of her. To most people, all of her dreams are coming true. But it is only her best friend, Emerson, and her brother Charlie, who truly see her pain and anxiety as she presents her “I want to be a doctor” façade to the world. Em is going away this summer though, backpacking around Europe with her cousin, Matty, who is Charlie’s best friend. Em brings up the internship, the whole doctor thing, when she has to pick Parker up from her internship on the first day because she had a panic attack (though she doesn’t call it this yet. They are just “her nerves”) and was too ill to stay. Parker doesn’t want to hear that it’s the wrong call. Besides, what would it do to her parents? They are so proud of her, particularly her father who has already begun calling her Dr. McCullough, a nickname she hates, but she knows he loves it more than she hates it. So it stays, just like everything else in her life. She doesn’t yet see that she is living her life for other people.
One day she meets Ruby Collie, a soon to be junior in high school and person of color, who wants to be Parker when she grows up. She truly wants to be a doctor and, like everyone in town, is aware of how well Parker has done and is looking for some tips on how to be awesome. Parker doesn’t know what to say as she genuinely hates her life right now and isn’t in a great headspace. But in this encounter comes a blast from the past: Finn Casper. Finn was a childhood friend and boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Talking to Finn makes her brave enough to do what she wants, so she leaves the internship and starts working at the pottery studio where she gets interested in art therapy from the elderly outreach program the studio has. Over the course of the summer Parker soon finds out who she is and what she wants, and soon, so does everyone else.
So, what’s great about this book? The answer: so much. Leder makes lifelike characters who are perfectly imperfect and who each face their own challenges. These is never an impression of one person’s challenge being of greater importance/value than anyone else’s whether it is physical abuse, fighting cancer, or fighting yourself. As this book illustrates it can be hard to let go, especially when you have been hanging on for dear life for so long. But sometimes the bravest and best thing you can do for everyone, is to let go and see what happens.
This book is perfect for readers who love and appreciate a good coming-of-age story, a romance that doesn’t have a perfect happy ending because the story is too lifelike, and when one character isn’t saved by another, but that they all end up saving each other.
Want to read
November 17, 2017I NEED IT.
July 13, 2018
Originally posted at: bickeringbooks.wordpress.com/2018/07/...
Summary: Charlie and Parker are twins that are complete opposites. Charlie is carefree while Parker is anxious. Charlie is the popular life of the party while Parker is the studious valedictorian. Charlie had leukemia and Parker was healthy. Charlie’s illness shaped Parker’s childhood and helped her decide on a future. Parker was going to get into Harvard and become a doctor to save sick kids just like her brother. But now that is Charlie’s healthy Parker is no longer sure she can follow the path she designed as a fearful second grader. Complicating Parker’s life is the reappearance of Finn a boy that had once been her best friend but who now may be much more. Parker has just one summer to over come her anxiety and discover her real destiny.
Review: I have a soft spot for summer after high school books so I was very excited when I found this book on Edelweiss. The story is simple and familiar. Parker has spent her life following a pre-designed path that no longer feels right so she will spend the last real summer of her childhood trying to figure everything out. There is nothing really groundbreaking about “Letting Go of Gravity” but it’s still surprisingly readable. Parker and Charlie’s childhood traumas and their lasting effects easier draw the reader into their story as does Parker’s history with the mysteries Finn. The book is a story of growing up that feels relatable to anyone who ever misstepped while trying to plan their future. Parker’s anxiety and confusion is something with which most readers will be able to relate as are clashes in the sibling relationship between Parker and Charlie. The book is emotional and believable and is sure to please fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson.
I received an eARC of this book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: Charlie and Parker are twins that are complete opposites. Charlie is carefree while Parker is anxious. Charlie is the popular life of the party while Parker is the studious valedictorian. Charlie had leukemia and Parker was healthy. Charlie’s illness shaped Parker’s childhood and helped her decide on a future. Parker was going to get into Harvard and become a doctor to save sick kids just like her brother. But now that is Charlie’s healthy Parker is no longer sure she can follow the path she designed as a fearful second grader. Complicating Parker’s life is the reappearance of Finn a boy that had once been her best friend but who now may be much more. Parker has just one summer to over come her anxiety and discover her real destiny.
Review: I have a soft spot for summer after high school books so I was very excited when I found this book on Edelweiss. The story is simple and familiar. Parker has spent her life following a pre-designed path that no longer feels right so she will spend the last real summer of her childhood trying to figure everything out. There is nothing really groundbreaking about “Letting Go of Gravity” but it’s still surprisingly readable. Parker and Charlie’s childhood traumas and their lasting effects easier draw the reader into their story as does Parker’s history with the mysteries Finn. The book is a story of growing up that feels relatable to anyone who ever misstepped while trying to plan their future. Parker’s anxiety and confusion is something with which most readers will be able to relate as are clashes in the sibling relationship between Parker and Charlie. The book is emotional and believable and is sure to please fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson.
I received an eARC of this book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2018
This book gave me all the feels! I laughed out loud, I ugly-cried, I had moments of fear, anger and frustration. Thank you, Meg Leder, for sharing this beautiful story and it's characters with the world. You have an amazing gift and talent for creating a bond between reader and character that i have not experienced in a long time...dare I say, since John Green. This is the kind of book you want to take a sick day from work to just lay in bed and read all day. I was quite upset at having to be part of the real world the last three days rather than reading about Parker and Charlie.
The writing was beautiful, the story was appropriately YA.
So many words fail me now to express my gratitude for this book. I truly hope you have more stories inside you to share with the world.
The writing was beautiful, the story was appropriately YA.
So many words fail me now to express my gratitude for this book. I truly hope you have more stories inside you to share with the world.
June 12, 2023
i loved this boookkkkkk i cried a couple of times
November 24, 2021
“I like thinking of time that way—that it’s a little more fluid in Spanish. Like maybe to start thinking about the future, you need to think about the possibility in the right now, you know?”
Okay, so I originally read and reviewed this book for a blog tour (you can find my initial thoughts here ), but I couldn't definitively express my overall feelings. There were things I enjoyed about the book, but there were also a lot of things that really got underneath my skin. What was my solution? Read it again. I feel like I understand Parker a little more now, but I still think she was a terrible friend, sister, and daughter.
Let me elaborate... Parker's twin, Charlie, should have been her equal, but he came across like a younger brother she was trying to protect. I know that deep down her choices came from a good place, and she genuinely thought she was helping, but she only ever made things worse for him. He was old enough to make his own decisions, whatever they may be, but she didn't allow him that freedom. Tattletale. She always had to go behind his back and announce his personal, private business to the world. If I were Charlie, I would have been pissed, too.
Despite feeling like she had to tell on Charlie for the slightest misstep, she kept her own secrets. Her brother wasn't allowed to keep anything to himself, but she could withhold super important information and justify it by saying it was too difficult to talk about. Ugh. Parker also had the very best friend, Em, but she treated her like garbage for being truthful and trying to get Parker to do the right thing. Em was traveling abroad with her cousin, but she still made time for her friend. Her emails were sweet and detailed her adventures, but they also encouraged Parker to be honest with her parents. This was something Parker didn't want to do, and she admits that she doesn't want to be reminded of it, so she just ignores her. Em talked about so much more than that in her emails, but Parker couldn't respond at all? It was so frustrating to watch. I wanted to smack Parker in the face!
The secondary characters in this book were treasures! Ruby, Em, Matty, Carla, and all of the people from the retirement home. I loved those old ladies (and Henry)! They were hilarious and really added another layer to the story. It's clear that the women are dealing with their own issues, and it was nice seeing Parker try to mend their relationships. At first, she just tried to spice up their days with new craft ideas, but it eventually morphed into something else.
Charlie's story is a sad one, and he has every right to be angry with the world. Finn's past is equally (if not more) tragic, and I enjoyed learning more about him as the story progressed. We can't choose where we come from, but we can decide where we are going. It was nice to see Finn take control of his future and his present.
I thought the author did a wonderful job conveying Parker's anxiety. I would start feeling anxious myself when Parker's eye would start twitching. Her inner turmoil felt tangible. I could feel my palms sweating and my heart racing, which gave me a better idea of what Parker was going through.
In the end, I still can't decide how I feel about Letting Go of Gravity. One, I think Parker and Charlie's grandmother should really refrain from telling that specific story to children. Two, Parker wasn't a very likable character, but I don't think she was supposed to be. Instead, she offered a realistic perspective of a person dealing with anxiety and feeling trapped in their current situation. She didn't see a way out for herself even though I felt there were clear alternatives. Three, I felt like the book was a little longer than it needed to be. There was a lot of filler that could have been left out, because at times it felt like the story crawled from chapter to chapter.
It's weird... not knowing exactly how I feel about a book. Did I like it? Yes. Would I read it again? Probably not a third time, no. Was there an important message? Yes. The story is good. I wish Parker had made different choices, but then there wouldn't have been much of a story. It was an interesting read with a unique perspective, and I think the author makes a lot of valid points. Life is too short to spend it doing something we hate. We also need to be able to forgive ourselves and others, or the world is going to be a lonely place.
Wow... the ending... it was exactly what this book needed and deserved.
Okay, so I originally read and reviewed this book for a blog tour (you can find my initial thoughts here ), but I couldn't definitively express my overall feelings. There were things I enjoyed about the book, but there were also a lot of things that really got underneath my skin. What was my solution? Read it again. I feel like I understand Parker a little more now, but I still think she was a terrible friend, sister, and daughter.
Let me elaborate... Parker's twin, Charlie, should have been her equal, but he came across like a younger brother she was trying to protect. I know that deep down her choices came from a good place, and she genuinely thought she was helping, but she only ever made things worse for him. He was old enough to make his own decisions, whatever they may be, but she didn't allow him that freedom. Tattletale. She always had to go behind his back and announce his personal, private business to the world. If I were Charlie, I would have been pissed, too.
Despite feeling like she had to tell on Charlie for the slightest misstep, she kept her own secrets. Her brother wasn't allowed to keep anything to himself, but she could withhold super important information and justify it by saying it was too difficult to talk about. Ugh. Parker also had the very best friend, Em, but she treated her like garbage for being truthful and trying to get Parker to do the right thing. Em was traveling abroad with her cousin, but she still made time for her friend. Her emails were sweet and detailed her adventures, but they also encouraged Parker to be honest with her parents. This was something Parker didn't want to do, and she admits that she doesn't want to be reminded of it, so she just ignores her. Em talked about so much more than that in her emails, but Parker couldn't respond at all? It was so frustrating to watch. I wanted to smack Parker in the face!
The secondary characters in this book were treasures! Ruby, Em, Matty, Carla, and all of the people from the retirement home. I loved those old ladies (and Henry)! They were hilarious and really added another layer to the story. It's clear that the women are dealing with their own issues, and it was nice seeing Parker try to mend their relationships. At first, she just tried to spice up their days with new craft ideas, but it eventually morphed into something else.
Charlie's story is a sad one, and he has every right to be angry with the world. Finn's past is equally (if not more) tragic, and I enjoyed learning more about him as the story progressed. We can't choose where we come from, but we can decide where we are going. It was nice to see Finn take control of his future and his present.
I thought the author did a wonderful job conveying Parker's anxiety. I would start feeling anxious myself when Parker's eye would start twitching. Her inner turmoil felt tangible. I could feel my palms sweating and my heart racing, which gave me a better idea of what Parker was going through.
In the end, I still can't decide how I feel about Letting Go of Gravity. One, I think Parker and Charlie's grandmother should really refrain from telling that specific story to children. Two, Parker wasn't a very likable character, but I don't think she was supposed to be. Instead, she offered a realistic perspective of a person dealing with anxiety and feeling trapped in their current situation. She didn't see a way out for herself even though I felt there were clear alternatives. Three, I felt like the book was a little longer than it needed to be. There was a lot of filler that could have been left out, because at times it felt like the story crawled from chapter to chapter.
It's weird... not knowing exactly how I feel about a book. Did I like it? Yes. Would I read it again? Probably not a third time, no. Was there an important message? Yes. The story is good. I wish Parker had made different choices, but then there wouldn't have been much of a story. It was an interesting read with a unique perspective, and I think the author makes a lot of valid points. Life is too short to spend it doing something we hate. We also need to be able to forgive ourselves and others, or the world is going to be a lonely place.
Wow... the ending... it was exactly what this book needed and deserved.
July 27, 2018
Letting Go of Gravity was an unexpected surprise...I mean that in a good way, I promise. I was a little worried I’d be a sobbing mess by the end of the story after reading the blurb and considering the subject matter, but surprisingly I smiled as much as I cried reading this one, if not more.
The main focus of the story are fraternal twins Parker and Charlie, individuals who couldn’t be more different. A recent high school graduate, Parker is an introverted, people-pleaser who has her life planned out...a summer internship at the local Children’s Hospital and then on to Harvard where she hopes to study to become a pediatric oncologist. On the other hand, her twin brother Charlie is extroverted, outspoken and has no clue what the future holds as he has fallen a year behind in school thanks to a recent reoccurrence of leukemia. Parker’s carefully planned out summer doesn’t quite go as planned thanks to her changed relationship with Charlie and to renewed acquaintance Finn, a street artist who has been leaving cryptic graffiti messages all over town as well as a few discoveries she makes about herself.
This could have easily been a super heavy and emotional read, but there was still a lightness to it, if that makes sense. The characters of this story help with that as does Meg Leder’s way of telling us the story.
As for that story, it is told from the POV of Parker and Letting Go of Gravity is definitely Parker’s story so I understand why we only get her perspective, but to be honest I wouldn’t have minded getting Charlie’s perspective on a few things. There are occasions and interactions between the two early on where I could sense Charlie’s frustration at the situation and how people treat him, yet Parker seems oblivious to it. But I wonder if that is how it is in real life sometimes...that we are sometimes too close to a situation to actually see what is really happening or what we are doing or saying, but a third party can easily see it. I admit this made me frustrated with Parker, but it also added a realness to the story.
Parker definitely grows as the story progresses and she begins to learn more about herself, what she truly wants out of life, and what makes her happy. She begins to see past events and current situations in a new light. It’s a fascinating journey of self-discovery and I enjoyed how real it felt. It doesn’t happen overnight, but is more gradual lending a believability to the whole situation and to everything that occurs. It’s the little things that lead Parker to see the bigger picture. Leder does a fantastic job at showing how a character can grow and change as a result of self-discovery and reflection.
There are several other relationships and characters in the story that also help shape and affect Parker and her choices. From Finn to Ruby to Carla to Alice and many more, Meg Leder has done a fabulous job with each of these characters and relationships as each has an important role to play in Parker’s story even if it’s not apparent to Parker or the readers at first. I liked how each made her see things and question things in a way no one else had before. She was already on her way, but each gave her that extra nudge by providing an outsider’s perspective. Parker’s interactions and relationships with other characters were wonderful additions to an already enjoyable story. Oh, and I really loved Finn, by the way...even little Finn, who we meet in a flashback/memory.
Now, I feel I can’t let this review end without commenting on Charlie’s cancer as it is a big part of the book. As someone whose family has been affected by leukemia as well as other types of cancer, I feel that Meg Leder did a lovely job of showing how it affects an entire family in ways that aren’t always obvious. I’m paraphrasing (and badly at that), but there’s a beautiful passage in the book that likens cancer to a river moving through a family. You don’t notice it at the time, but your family is forever changed. Just like a river changes the terrain as it flows, wearing away at its banks and forever changing them, cancer changes a family and there’s no going back to who you were before. This is so true and now I must stop or I will be a sobbing mess, but this passage just stuck with me and I wanted to point it out.
Overall, I found Letting Go of Gravity to be a wonderful and touching story about relationships, growing up, and discovering yourself.
*I received a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
The main focus of the story are fraternal twins Parker and Charlie, individuals who couldn’t be more different. A recent high school graduate, Parker is an introverted, people-pleaser who has her life planned out...a summer internship at the local Children’s Hospital and then on to Harvard where she hopes to study to become a pediatric oncologist. On the other hand, her twin brother Charlie is extroverted, outspoken and has no clue what the future holds as he has fallen a year behind in school thanks to a recent reoccurrence of leukemia. Parker’s carefully planned out summer doesn’t quite go as planned thanks to her changed relationship with Charlie and to renewed acquaintance Finn, a street artist who has been leaving cryptic graffiti messages all over town as well as a few discoveries she makes about herself.
This could have easily been a super heavy and emotional read, but there was still a lightness to it, if that makes sense. The characters of this story help with that as does Meg Leder’s way of telling us the story.
As for that story, it is told from the POV of Parker and Letting Go of Gravity is definitely Parker’s story so I understand why we only get her perspective, but to be honest I wouldn’t have minded getting Charlie’s perspective on a few things. There are occasions and interactions between the two early on where I could sense Charlie’s frustration at the situation and how people treat him, yet Parker seems oblivious to it. But I wonder if that is how it is in real life sometimes...that we are sometimes too close to a situation to actually see what is really happening or what we are doing or saying, but a third party can easily see it. I admit this made me frustrated with Parker, but it also added a realness to the story.
Parker definitely grows as the story progresses and she begins to learn more about herself, what she truly wants out of life, and what makes her happy. She begins to see past events and current situations in a new light. It’s a fascinating journey of self-discovery and I enjoyed how real it felt. It doesn’t happen overnight, but is more gradual lending a believability to the whole situation and to everything that occurs. It’s the little things that lead Parker to see the bigger picture. Leder does a fantastic job at showing how a character can grow and change as a result of self-discovery and reflection.
There are several other relationships and characters in the story that also help shape and affect Parker and her choices. From Finn to Ruby to Carla to Alice and many more, Meg Leder has done a fabulous job with each of these characters and relationships as each has an important role to play in Parker’s story even if it’s not apparent to Parker or the readers at first. I liked how each made her see things and question things in a way no one else had before. She was already on her way, but each gave her that extra nudge by providing an outsider’s perspective. Parker’s interactions and relationships with other characters were wonderful additions to an already enjoyable story. Oh, and I really loved Finn, by the way...even little Finn, who we meet in a flashback/memory.
Now, I feel I can’t let this review end without commenting on Charlie’s cancer as it is a big part of the book. As someone whose family has been affected by leukemia as well as other types of cancer, I feel that Meg Leder did a lovely job of showing how it affects an entire family in ways that aren’t always obvious. I’m paraphrasing (and badly at that), but there’s a beautiful passage in the book that likens cancer to a river moving through a family. You don’t notice it at the time, but your family is forever changed. Just like a river changes the terrain as it flows, wearing away at its banks and forever changing them, cancer changes a family and there’s no going back to who you were before. This is so true and now I must stop or I will be a sobbing mess, but this passage just stuck with me and I wanted to point it out.
Overall, I found Letting Go of Gravity to be a wonderful and touching story about relationships, growing up, and discovering yourself.
*I received a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
June 13, 2018
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me this ARC, which I won in a Goodreads giveaway!
So so good. I finished this in two late nights of reading because I just couldn't put it down. There were so many life issues and feelings packed into this book, and they were all written in such a lovely way. The plot chugged along so smoothly and it seemed like I was living alongside these amazing characters.
I felt like I was punched in the gut multiple times and was definitely hit in the chest with a cannonball of feels at one point. I was at times mad, sympathetic, regretful, sad, furious, empathetic, and very happy. (A sure sign that this book means something.) This book was truly a sum of its parts - it was a story of a young woman who had to find herself and learn to accept who she really was, but it was also so much more.
Parker was confused for so long, even if she appeared to have everything in her life perfectly together from the outside. I could really have used Parker's story a few years ago when I was doubting who I wanted to be. My whole life had been dedicated to achieving one goal, and once it got closer to being obtainable, I wasn't so sure anymore. Reading about Parker's struggles made me realize how right I was to stick with my plan, but man, I sure could have used this reassurance back then. Parker felt so real: she made some really bad decisions, was uncertain and lost, was both a good and a bad friend, hid important news from her parents, found something she was passionate about, and (best of all) started to discover herself and live the life she truly wanted.
Charlie, her twin, was described as her polar opposite, but they had more in common than they would like to admit. This seemed to be the cause of some of their fighting and what distanced them so much. The pain and anger of both Parker and Charlie was super well done and jumped off the page.
Finn's emotions were spot on as well - he was the character I felt for the most because his situation straight up sucked and he seemed like such a genuine guy. He was such a complex character who had to make some really difficult decisions while trying to make the best out of life. This book made me tear up multiple times, but it was Finn near the end that made me truly cry...
Ruby also had her own battles to fight, even if they weren't as significant or life-changing as those of the other three main characters. This was a great reminder that everyone has struggles and demons to fight. She was a great friend to Parker and provided some great comic relief.
The old ladies were a hoot, and the struggles of aging were handled in such a cool way through them. They were also used to show Parker what a meaningful life could look like, as these ladies liked to reminisce about what they did when they were younger. They added a lot to the plot and to the direction that Parker chose to take her life.
Difficult decision making, self-doubt, trying to understand relationships, inner and outer turmoil, anxiety - these were all things that Parker had to deal with and overcome. She was never truly alone (even if she felt like it sometimes) and she had the support of many great people who cared about her in the end. Her journey to who she wanted to be was like a crazy roller coaster ride - but wow, it sure did make for a great read.
So so good. I finished this in two late nights of reading because I just couldn't put it down. There were so many life issues and feelings packed into this book, and they were all written in such a lovely way. The plot chugged along so smoothly and it seemed like I was living alongside these amazing characters.
I felt like I was punched in the gut multiple times and was definitely hit in the chest with a cannonball of feels at one point. I was at times mad, sympathetic, regretful, sad, furious, empathetic, and very happy. (A sure sign that this book means something.) This book was truly a sum of its parts - it was a story of a young woman who had to find herself and learn to accept who she really was, but it was also so much more.
Parker was confused for so long, even if she appeared to have everything in her life perfectly together from the outside. I could really have used Parker's story a few years ago when I was doubting who I wanted to be. My whole life had been dedicated to achieving one goal, and once it got closer to being obtainable, I wasn't so sure anymore. Reading about Parker's struggles made me realize how right I was to stick with my plan, but man, I sure could have used this reassurance back then. Parker felt so real: she made some really bad decisions, was uncertain and lost, was both a good and a bad friend, hid important news from her parents, found something she was passionate about, and (best of all) started to discover herself and live the life she truly wanted.
Charlie, her twin, was described as her polar opposite, but they had more in common than they would like to admit. This seemed to be the cause of some of their fighting and what distanced them so much. The pain and anger of both Parker and Charlie was super well done and jumped off the page.
Finn's emotions were spot on as well - he was the character I felt for the most because his situation straight up sucked and he seemed like such a genuine guy. He was such a complex character who had to make some really difficult decisions while trying to make the best out of life. This book made me tear up multiple times, but it was Finn near the end that made me truly cry...
Ruby also had her own battles to fight, even if they weren't as significant or life-changing as those of the other three main characters. This was a great reminder that everyone has struggles and demons to fight. She was a great friend to Parker and provided some great comic relief.
The old ladies were a hoot, and the struggles of aging were handled in such a cool way through them. They were also used to show Parker what a meaningful life could look like, as these ladies liked to reminisce about what they did when they were younger. They added a lot to the plot and to the direction that Parker chose to take her life.
Difficult decision making, self-doubt, trying to understand relationships, inner and outer turmoil, anxiety - these were all things that Parker had to deal with and overcome. She was never truly alone (even if she felt like it sometimes) and she had the support of many great people who cared about her in the end. Her journey to who she wanted to be was like a crazy roller coaster ride - but wow, it sure did make for a great read.
June 16, 2018
4.5
"What would it be like to do something not because you had to, but just because you wanted to?"
Letting Go of Gravity starts with a story of a gravity girl and a helium girl that grandma used to tell twins Charlie McCullough and Parker McCullough. This story represented Charlie who wants to fly and Parker who won't let go.
Parker is Harvard bound and she's the valedictorian of her class. After learning Charlie has Leukemia, Parker wants to be a pediatric oncologist. She has a prestigious internship for the summer at a local hospital. Charlie, on the other hand, has to repeat senior year again due to missing school when he was in the hospital for Leukemia. He is currently in remission. However, the sibling relationship between Charlie and Parker has been strained ever since the twins started arguing over everything.
Meg Leder gives a glimpse how a serious illness can impact loved ones. Parker is scared bout Charlie getting sick again and possibly dying. There are a couple of scenes in the book where Parker has a panic attack about whether she can handle what life throws at her. Fortunately, her best friend Em always supports here and is always there for her. When Em moves to college, Parker befriends Ruby Collie from Float and reconnects former childhood classmate Finn Casper.
I found it refreshing when Parker decides not to attend her internship. Just because she is the valedictorian, she is far from perfect. She can make mistakes or change her mind about stuff and her anxiety takes a form of its own. When she doesn't want to be a doctor anymore, it wasn't until she talks to Finn that she decides she needs to follow her heart. She decides to take Finn's suggestion and applies to a job at Trina's Ceramics. Parker can finally breathe and it feels like a weight is lifted off her shoulders at her new job. Creativity runs in Parker's veins even if she doesn't know it. Finn finds solace in street art as he paints amazing messages around the city. Parker and Finn starts to connect with what makes them happy.
Leder writes with sincerity. Her book is realistic and she knows how teens think to how they act to what they say. The pressure that society has on them can be unbearable and sometimes it's hard to convey what they think and feel to adults. Parker finds meaningful friendships with Ruby and Finn. She needs friends who knows what she was going through. By the end of the book, Parker finds her wings to fly!
Although the novel is fairly long for a contemporary, Letting Go of Gravity is emotionally gripping and relatable. The novel addresses how someone copes with a loved one being ill, how to manage anxiety and how one gains the strength to be honest not only with themselves but with the world. If you enjoy reading books such as The Museum of Heartbreak, The Start of Me and You and Emmy & Oliver, you will love Letting Go of Gravity.
"What would it be like to do something not because you had to, but just because you wanted to?"
Letting Go of Gravity starts with a story of a gravity girl and a helium girl that grandma used to tell twins Charlie McCullough and Parker McCullough. This story represented Charlie who wants to fly and Parker who won't let go.
Parker is Harvard bound and she's the valedictorian of her class. After learning Charlie has Leukemia, Parker wants to be a pediatric oncologist. She has a prestigious internship for the summer at a local hospital. Charlie, on the other hand, has to repeat senior year again due to missing school when he was in the hospital for Leukemia. He is currently in remission. However, the sibling relationship between Charlie and Parker has been strained ever since the twins started arguing over everything.
Meg Leder gives a glimpse how a serious illness can impact loved ones. Parker is scared bout Charlie getting sick again and possibly dying. There are a couple of scenes in the book where Parker has a panic attack about whether she can handle what life throws at her. Fortunately, her best friend Em always supports here and is always there for her. When Em moves to college, Parker befriends Ruby Collie from Float and reconnects former childhood classmate Finn Casper.
I found it refreshing when Parker decides not to attend her internship. Just because she is the valedictorian, she is far from perfect. She can make mistakes or change her mind about stuff and her anxiety takes a form of its own. When she doesn't want to be a doctor anymore, it wasn't until she talks to Finn that she decides she needs to follow her heart. She decides to take Finn's suggestion and applies to a job at Trina's Ceramics. Parker can finally breathe and it feels like a weight is lifted off her shoulders at her new job. Creativity runs in Parker's veins even if she doesn't know it. Finn finds solace in street art as he paints amazing messages around the city. Parker and Finn starts to connect with what makes them happy.
Leder writes with sincerity. Her book is realistic and she knows how teens think to how they act to what they say. The pressure that society has on them can be unbearable and sometimes it's hard to convey what they think and feel to adults. Parker finds meaningful friendships with Ruby and Finn. She needs friends who knows what she was going through. By the end of the book, Parker finds her wings to fly!
Although the novel is fairly long for a contemporary, Letting Go of Gravity is emotionally gripping and relatable. The novel addresses how someone copes with a loved one being ill, how to manage anxiety and how one gains the strength to be honest not only with themselves but with the world. If you enjoy reading books such as The Museum of Heartbreak, The Start of Me and You and Emmy & Oliver, you will love Letting Go of Gravity.
January 25, 2022
A real, thought provoking book about what it means to find yourself without someone or something else. 15/10 would recommend.
December 22, 2018
I didn't like Charlie.
January 2, 2021
Esta es la primera lectura finalizada en este año nuevo y no puedo estar más encantada. Definitivamente es una maravilla de libro. En un principio cuando compré el libro no sabía a qué atenerme con él, pues no lo conocía de nada, pero su sinopsis me atrapó y decidí darle una oportunidad. ¡Y vaya sorpresa!, el libro aborda una historia muy emotiva, llena de situaciones agridulces que pondrán tus emociones a flor de piel.
La historia como bien presenta la sinopsis trata de dos hermanos gemelos Parker y Charlie, dos polos opuestos totalmente, pero a la vez tan parecidos en el hecho de tener buenos sentimientos, aunque al principio no lo parezca.
Parker se esfuerza arduamente para ser una especie de hija y hermana perfecta, y ser el frente que Charlie necesita en contra de su enfermedad, pero las cosas no siempre son como queremos que sean o como pensamos que es mejor que sean. Normalmente las personas tienen su propia percepción de cada situación y de la vida en general y eso es lo que Charlie trata de hacerles ver a su familia y en especial a Parker, que a pesar de su enfermedad él es una persona normal capaz de tomar sus propias decisiones.
Pero el amor de Parker hacia su hermano enfermo va más allá de la razón, razón que cree que tiene cada vez que toma una decisión no tan acertada en nombre de charlie con tal de verle sano. Y así, vemos como estos dos hermanos tratan de salir adelante sin llegar a herirse mutuamente, y sin ser la sombra del otro.
Ame profundamente el personaje de Parker, y entiendo su postura frente a cada decisión que tomó en nombre de su hermano, pero también amé a Charlie, y admito que a primera instancia no lo toleraba mucho, pero le aprendí a amar porque sus acciones también tenían una razón de ser y eran muy acertadas.
Me encantó la trama en general. Ver como estos dos hermanos tratan de construir el camino hacia su futuro es algo muy emotivo. Y el desenlace, fue muy acertado aunque me faltó un punto más de algidez. No obstante, me encantó de igual forma. La verdad es que me alegro de haber leído este libro y de haber conocido la historia de estos hermanos. Lloré muchas veces, sentí mucha pena, tristeza, y alegría, vamos, un conjunto de todo, pero lo volvería a vivir porque este libro vale la pena.
PD: Me encantó la pluma de esta autora, es muy cautivante y ligera, te atrapa totalmente. Ojalá este libro fuera más conocido.
La historia como bien presenta la sinopsis trata de dos hermanos gemelos Parker y Charlie, dos polos opuestos totalmente, pero a la vez tan parecidos en el hecho de tener buenos sentimientos, aunque al principio no lo parezca.
Parker se esfuerza arduamente para ser una especie de hija y hermana perfecta, y ser el frente que Charlie necesita en contra de su enfermedad, pero las cosas no siempre son como queremos que sean o como pensamos que es mejor que sean. Normalmente las personas tienen su propia percepción de cada situación y de la vida en general y eso es lo que Charlie trata de hacerles ver a su familia y en especial a Parker, que a pesar de su enfermedad él es una persona normal capaz de tomar sus propias decisiones.
Pero el amor de Parker hacia su hermano enfermo va más allá de la razón, razón que cree que tiene cada vez que toma una decisión no tan acertada en nombre de charlie con tal de verle sano. Y así, vemos como estos dos hermanos tratan de salir adelante sin llegar a herirse mutuamente, y sin ser la sombra del otro.
Ame profundamente el personaje de Parker, y entiendo su postura frente a cada decisión que tomó en nombre de su hermano, pero también amé a Charlie, y admito que a primera instancia no lo toleraba mucho, pero le aprendí a amar porque sus acciones también tenían una razón de ser y eran muy acertadas.
Me encantó la trama en general. Ver como estos dos hermanos tratan de construir el camino hacia su futuro es algo muy emotivo. Y el desenlace, fue muy acertado aunque me faltó un punto más de algidez. No obstante, me encantó de igual forma. La verdad es que me alegro de haber leído este libro y de haber conocido la historia de estos hermanos. Lloré muchas veces, sentí mucha pena, tristeza, y alegría, vamos, un conjunto de todo, pero lo volvería a vivir porque este libro vale la pena.
PD: Me encantó la pluma de esta autora, es muy cautivante y ligera, te atrapa totalmente. Ojalá este libro fuera más conocido.
March 27, 2025
*4.25 stars.
I really really liked this story! I loved the characters and the character development. The writing was exceptional, there were so many good lines and metaphors used. I LOVE bird metaphors, so the use of that and the helium/gravity people was really cool. I really liked seeing the relationship with Parker and Charlie develop. I know what it's like to be far too self-destructive, to take comfort in the darkness when the light is so daunting. Everyone has always treated him like he was fragile, but he isn't, really. I liked his relationship with Ruby and how kind and gentle he was with her. He was such a different person in the end than he was in the beginning, for the better.
I really liked seeing Parker's journey of self-discovery and learning which path she wants to follow, who she wants to be rather than who she always thought she was. I could understand her anxiety about her future and not wanting to stray from the path you've worked so hard towards. I know how hard it is to let go of things. Though, you don't realize how heavy it is until that weight is lifted. I could understand Parker's frustration with herself, not wanting people to see her falter, to see her fail. Not wanting her parents to see the cracks showing.
I loved her relationship with Finn! I thought it was so awesome how he helped encourage her to pursue what would make her happy, working at the ceramics studio and quitting the internship. I thought it was so cool how he was the spray paint artist, how he encouraged her to try it on her own. I also really like Carla and how much of a mother figure she was for Finn and Parker. It was nice how she motivated Parker to keep trying, how it often takes a long time to get good at making a pot, but once you do, it's worth the wait. I like that she's giving herself time to figure out what she wants to do and who she wants to be. I loved at the end how she said she finally learned to fly.
I really really liked this story! I loved the characters and the character development. The writing was exceptional, there were so many good lines and metaphors used. I LOVE bird metaphors, so the use of that and the helium/gravity people was really cool. I really liked seeing the relationship with Parker and Charlie develop. I know what it's like to be far too self-destructive, to take comfort in the darkness when the light is so daunting. Everyone has always treated him like he was fragile, but he isn't, really. I liked his relationship with Ruby and how kind and gentle he was with her. He was such a different person in the end than he was in the beginning, for the better.
I really liked seeing Parker's journey of self-discovery and learning which path she wants to follow, who she wants to be rather than who she always thought she was. I could understand her anxiety about her future and not wanting to stray from the path you've worked so hard towards. I know how hard it is to let go of things. Though, you don't realize how heavy it is until that weight is lifted. I could understand Parker's frustration with herself, not wanting people to see her falter, to see her fail. Not wanting her parents to see the cracks showing.
I loved her relationship with Finn! I thought it was so awesome how he helped encourage her to pursue what would make her happy, working at the ceramics studio and quitting the internship. I thought it was so cool how he was the spray paint artist, how he encouraged her to try it on her own. I also really like Carla and how much of a mother figure she was for Finn and Parker. It was nice how she motivated Parker to keep trying, how it often takes a long time to get good at making a pot, but once you do, it's worth the wait. I like that she's giving herself time to figure out what she wants to do and who she wants to be. I loved at the end how she said she finally learned to fly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2020
5 stars ;
This book hits me ,OMG the book was gorgeous .it takes me a long time to read it (due to the tone of study i have lol ) however i read it .
This book talks about a girl PARKER, her life changes the day her brother CHARLIE got cancer .since then she starts trying to be the good girl , she worked hard to be get into HARVARD , to get the internship , to be a doctor .even she don't love it but still an obligation ;to save CHARLIE .
Enter FINN the boy that she used to know him since second grade (i guess lol i'm not sure hhhhh), and how makes her feel who she is ;free to doubt, to worry ,to make mistakes and to do what she wants.
I loved the topis that this book deal with ; pressure of family ,anxiety ,conflits with family ( CHARLIE) panic attacks ,worry ..... but what i loved more it the relationship between PARKER and CHARLIE ; it was so sad warm and full of care . it makes me cry several times (i usually don't cry over books but this one is particular ) . i loved too the end and how relationship become better ; how CHARLIE is so caring '' I GOT YOU'' ; even their relationship is different from mine with my brother ,however i find so many commun points with.
I loved FINN too ; what i love about him is that even his life ,his family, his brother are so bad, still he is trying so hard to live and to give meaning to his life by the graffiti messages he left all over the town .also i liked the romance it wasn't the center of the plot and it was light and warm too .
Finaly, i really loved the message within the book '' LET GO OF GRAVITY AND FLY '' . it reaches me in a differnt way, because i have a dream;so i need to let go of my confort zone i need to let go of fears of worries and fly higher ( this sounds crazy lol hhhh0)
i highly recommend this book and i'm thinking of re_read
This book hits me ,OMG the book was gorgeous .it takes me a long time to read it (due to the tone of study i have lol ) however i read it .
This book talks about a girl PARKER, her life changes the day her brother CHARLIE got cancer .since then she starts trying to be the good girl , she worked hard to be get into HARVARD , to get the internship , to be a doctor .even she don't love it but still an obligation ;to save CHARLIE .
Enter FINN the boy that she used to know him since second grade (i guess lol i'm not sure hhhhh), and how makes her feel who she is ;free to doubt, to worry ,to make mistakes and to do what she wants.
I loved the topis that this book deal with ; pressure of family ,anxiety ,conflits with family ( CHARLIE) panic attacks ,worry ..... but what i loved more it the relationship between PARKER and CHARLIE ; it was so sad warm and full of care . it makes me cry several times (i usually don't cry over books but this one is particular ) . i loved too the end and how relationship become better ; how CHARLIE is so caring '' I GOT YOU'' ; even their relationship is different from mine with my brother ,however i find so many commun points with.
I loved FINN too ; what i love about him is that even his life ,his family, his brother are so bad, still he is trying so hard to live and to give meaning to his life by the graffiti messages he left all over the town .also i liked the romance it wasn't the center of the plot and it was light and warm too .
Finaly, i really loved the message within the book '' LET GO OF GRAVITY AND FLY '' . it reaches me in a differnt way, because i have a dream;so i need to let go of my confort zone i need to let go of fears of worries and fly higher ( this sounds crazy lol hhhh0)
i highly recommend this book and i'm thinking of re_read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
Full disclosure: I worked with Meg many years ago and still consider her a friend.
That said, I didn’t expect to like this book. I’m more of a sci-fi guy who will dive into a literary novel if enough people I respect rave about it. I think The Goldfinch was the last novel I read that fell into the latter category.
But I liked the excerpt Meg read at the signing I went to, and then I liked the first few pages, and then I was hooked.
It’s almost a tired cliche to say the characters “come alive,” but each character in Letting Go of Gravity absolutely does feel real. Heartbreakingly real, at times. I-wanna-reach-through-the-page-and-smack-you real, at other times. But always a hundred percent genuine.
I found myself getting to bed too late many times because I had to know what happened next, and what happened after that. Life happened about halfway through and I didn’t have time to read for a few weeks, but once I got back to it, I finished the book in a binge.
tl;dr: It’s not sci-fi but it’s real and heartwarming and compelling and I loved it.
P.S. If you live in Cincinnati, where the story is set, it’s even more of a treat.
That said, I didn’t expect to like this book. I’m more of a sci-fi guy who will dive into a literary novel if enough people I respect rave about it. I think The Goldfinch was the last novel I read that fell into the latter category.
But I liked the excerpt Meg read at the signing I went to, and then I liked the first few pages, and then I was hooked.
It’s almost a tired cliche to say the characters “come alive,” but each character in Letting Go of Gravity absolutely does feel real. Heartbreakingly real, at times. I-wanna-reach-through-the-page-and-smack-you real, at other times. But always a hundred percent genuine.
I found myself getting to bed too late many times because I had to know what happened next, and what happened after that. Life happened about halfway through and I didn’t have time to read for a few weeks, but once I got back to it, I finished the book in a binge.
tl;dr: It’s not sci-fi but it’s real and heartwarming and compelling and I loved it.
P.S. If you live in Cincinnati, where the story is set, it’s even more of a treat.
April 16, 2023
3.5 Stars
This had a whole lot of teen angst going on, definitely in the same ballpark as John Green books - so if that’s your cup of tea I think you’ll enjoy this!
I feel like the story really could’ve benefited from having an epilogue set a few years in the future, just to round it all out a bit more - but besides that the story was great. At times the teen drama was a bit much for me, but I also could relate to my years as a teen and how dramatic everything felt back then.
As for the characters, I had moments of annoyance with all of them, but also likeable moments. I think it really just comes back to the teenage angst thing lmao. I do think some characters were better than others, and truthfully the Ruby/Charlie relationship didn’t need to exist at all for me, but I understand why it was included. I would’ve preferred more Parker/Finn depth in its place, but it was still good regardless!
For me the highlights were all the moments that encouraged listening to yourself and your body, and not always fitting into the places people expect you to. Its a reminder we can all benefit from, and something I tend to forget myself. So for me that was the best part :)
This had a whole lot of teen angst going on, definitely in the same ballpark as John Green books - so if that’s your cup of tea I think you’ll enjoy this!
I feel like the story really could’ve benefited from having an epilogue set a few years in the future, just to round it all out a bit more - but besides that the story was great. At times the teen drama was a bit much for me, but I also could relate to my years as a teen and how dramatic everything felt back then.
As for the characters, I had moments of annoyance with all of them, but also likeable moments. I think it really just comes back to the teenage angst thing lmao. I do think some characters were better than others, and truthfully the Ruby/Charlie relationship didn’t need to exist at all for me, but I understand why it was included. I would’ve preferred more Parker/Finn depth in its place, but it was still good regardless!
For me the highlights were all the moments that encouraged listening to yourself and your body, and not always fitting into the places people expect you to. Its a reminder we can all benefit from, and something I tend to forget myself. So for me that was the best part :)
July 12, 2018
There are some books that are fun. Then, there are some books you need.
I needed this book.
I got the ARC at YALLWest in the hurried frenzy that is "idk that cover looks nice" and "I don't know what I'm in line for except that it's a book," which means I went into this with no preconceived notions except for a love of the title and the knowledge it was about twins and cancer and I hoped it wasn't another TFIOS.
It's not. This isn't a cancer story. It's not even a "this isn't a cancer story it's my story and I have cancer" story. It's a story about finding what you want to be, when the world keeps trying to tell you the answer.
Charlie and Parker are twins. Charlie got cancer, Parker did not. Charlie's had to take a year off of school, so he's missed graduating with his class. Parker is valedictorian and set to leave for Harvard in the fall, to become a doctor.
I'm five years older than Parker and finally reaching the same crossroads. Do you continue with what's expected of you, or do you follow what you're heart's telling you? What is conventional success if it isn't what will make you happy?
Without giving anything away, this book is the perfect book for anyone looking for their place in the world.
I needed this book.
I got the ARC at YALLWest in the hurried frenzy that is "idk that cover looks nice" and "I don't know what I'm in line for except that it's a book," which means I went into this with no preconceived notions except for a love of the title and the knowledge it was about twins and cancer and I hoped it wasn't another TFIOS.
It's not. This isn't a cancer story. It's not even a "this isn't a cancer story it's my story and I have cancer" story. It's a story about finding what you want to be, when the world keeps trying to tell you the answer.
Charlie and Parker are twins. Charlie got cancer, Parker did not. Charlie's had to take a year off of school, so he's missed graduating with his class. Parker is valedictorian and set to leave for Harvard in the fall, to become a doctor.
I'm five years older than Parker and finally reaching the same crossroads. Do you continue with what's expected of you, or do you follow what you're heart's telling you? What is conventional success if it isn't what will make you happy?
Without giving anything away, this book is the perfect book for anyone looking for their place in the world.
September 27, 2023
I think that the book it really good and that she is going through something’s that some kids and teenagers go through and it is very relatable because she tries so hard to be good for the sake of her brother and I hate her brother for it. I wish that in the end she would have yelled at her parents and gotten the guy and never ever forgive her brother for saying such awful things to her and hurt everyone that was close to him, loved him and was trying to help him. He is a jerk for that. And I HATE how he got a girl that is really younger than him and basically stole her from his sister since his sister and the girl where friends first and them she started dating her brother. I wish she could have dated the guy and I hate her brother so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2022
"Fly fly fly" This book hit me in the feels a little more than it should've.
*
*
*
Parker and Charlie were always bound together in childhood but Charlie was one step ahead. Charlie got Lukemia and Parker didn't. This caused a riff in between the twins. Causing Parker to strive for perfection and Charlie scrambling to find himself once in remission. It definitely hit the anxiety and the pressure that Parker felt so that it was relatable. I felt as if I was feeling what she was feeling a long the way.
*
*
*
Parker and Charlie were always bound together in childhood but Charlie was one step ahead. Charlie got Lukemia and Parker didn't. This caused a riff in between the twins. Causing Parker to strive for perfection and Charlie scrambling to find himself once in remission. It definitely hit the anxiety and the pressure that Parker felt so that it was relatable. I felt as if I was feeling what she was feeling a long the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2018
I received this as an EARC from netgelly for an honest review. I gave this a 4/5 stars. I did not expect this book to pack such a punch like it did but I'm glad it did. The story was written beautifully and I cried a lot. The only problem I had was that I hated Charles character and it made me enjoy the story less even though I think he's the way he is for a reason . Overall I really enjoyed it and highly recommend.
May 29, 2019
Charlie and Parker are twins. Charlie is the brave one, and Parker is the scared one. Charlie seems to leave Parker behind, but he always comes back for her. Charlie got cancer, and Parker didn't.
Parker feels guilt for not getting cancer, for being the healthy one. To make up for it, she has decided to go to Harvard and become a pediatric oncologist. Is this really what Parker wants?
Meeting Ruby, an enthusiastic girl, and Finn, her former friend, helps Parker to realize maybe she needs to just let go.
Good book. I really liked it. Definitely recommend it.
Parker feels guilt for not getting cancer, for being the healthy one. To make up for it, she has decided to go to Harvard and become a pediatric oncologist. Is this really what Parker wants?
Meeting Ruby, an enthusiastic girl, and Finn, her former friend, helps Parker to realize maybe she needs to just let go.
Good book. I really liked it. Definitely recommend it.
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