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Sunflowers in February
Lily wakes up one crisp Sunday morning on the side of the road. She has no idea how she got there. It is all very peaceful. and very beautiful. It is only when the police car, and then the ambulance arrive, and she sees her own body, that she realises that she is in fact... dead. But what is she supposed do now? Lily has no option but to follow her body and see her family – her parents and her twin brother start falling apart. And then her twin brother Ben gives her a once in a deathtime opportunity - to use his own body for a while. But will Lily give Ben his body back? She is beginning to have a rather good time...
A moving, startlingly funny yet achingly sad debut novel from a stunning new talent.
A moving, startlingly funny yet achingly sad debut novel from a stunning new talent.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2018
18 people are currently reading
971 people want to read
About the author
Phyllida Shrimpton
4 books36 followersPhyllida Shrimpton is a full-time mother of a teenage daughter and currently lives in Essex with her husband, badly behaved, small Jack Russell and a rescue Newfoundland called Nina.
She achieved a Post Graduate Degree in Human Resource Management, but soon jumped ships to work with teenagers, including students with Asperger's syndrome on an Essex based agricultural college farm before eventually moving to live temporarily in the Netherlands.
Her interests are reading, producing fine detailed black and white ink artwork and writing.
She achieved a Post Graduate Degree in Human Resource Management, but soon jumped ships to work with teenagers, including students with Asperger's syndrome on an Essex based agricultural college farm before eventually moving to live temporarily in the Netherlands.
Her interests are reading, producing fine detailed black and white ink artwork and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
February 11, 2020
Having being killed in a hit and run, 15 year old Lily Richardson isn't ready to move on. When the opportunity to live in her twin Ben's body arises the teenager jumps at the chance.
This was a fun and heartwarming tale of loss of a young adult and the impact on family and friends, whilst the gender swap certainly adds to a more comedic tone.
Especially as Lily is aghast to discover how she'd need to now go to the toilet!
The author perfectly captures the teen voice and the sense of frustration a life is cut short.
Where the identity of the driver adds an interesting layer to the plot.
A nice simple story that was easy to follow, which was perfect as my opportunities to read this week has been limited to short chunks.
This was a fun and heartwarming tale of loss of a young adult and the impact on family and friends, whilst the gender swap certainly adds to a more comedic tone.
Especially as Lily is aghast to discover how she'd need to now go to the toilet!
The author perfectly captures the teen voice and the sense of frustration a life is cut short.
Where the identity of the driver adds an interesting layer to the plot.
A nice simple story that was easy to follow, which was perfect as my opportunities to read this week has been limited to short chunks.
January 30, 2018
↠ 2.5 stars
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this, goddamnit. It’s YA from the UK and it has a gorgeous cover to boot – the blue aspects are foiled in real-life and it’s truly lovely. However, I expected something along the lines of I’ll Give You The Sun (a truly great book) in terms of character development and dynamics and in the end, my hopes raised the bar too high and Sunflowers in February fell flat on its face.
The idea behind Sunflowers in February is really good. A girl is killed in a hit-and-run, and manages to possess her twin brother’s body in order to live out parts of her life. It raises themes of grief and how emotions like it can affect a family. For me, however, it just missed the mark. Unfortunately, I was not into this book at all and I skipped quite a bit; now, I’m not sure if this was a personal problem in that I “wasn’t feeling the book” or something else.
One of the largest problems I had with this book was a largely interpretative one in that I hated the writing style. Sometimes it felt juvenile, other times plain and lacklustre. Shrimpton told a bit too much rather than showed. Her adult characters felt simplified and dull. The teens were slightly better as they were more of the focus of the story, but they weren’t anything to shout about. Lily as a character I never connected to; I felt her actions were a little selfish and childish. But then again, she is only 15.
Furthermore, there were too many characters and I didn’t feel for any of them. We had POVs from teens and from the parents of aforementioned teens, and more. On the flip side though, this wide range of characters did display well how certain events can affect a community. As I said before, the themes presented were nice but they were hindered by the narrative. The pacing was awfully off; in the first third of the book nothing happens until Lily reconnects with her brother and (ahhhhhh) honestly this is a bit annoying because I wanted to like this book! I realise this is a debut book and I didn’t expect brilliance, but I wasn’t really expecting this either.
I want to wrap this up by saying that even though I didn’t enjoy this one, don’t let me discourage you if you are interested in reading it. I know others who’ve really enjoyed it, and it’s UK YA which always deserves more love. Just because it’s not my thing doesn’t mean it can’t be your thing.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this, goddamnit. It’s YA from the UK and it has a gorgeous cover to boot – the blue aspects are foiled in real-life and it’s truly lovely. However, I expected something along the lines of I’ll Give You The Sun (a truly great book) in terms of character development and dynamics and in the end, my hopes raised the bar too high and Sunflowers in February fell flat on its face.
The idea behind Sunflowers in February is really good. A girl is killed in a hit-and-run, and manages to possess her twin brother’s body in order to live out parts of her life. It raises themes of grief and how emotions like it can affect a family. For me, however, it just missed the mark. Unfortunately, I was not into this book at all and I skipped quite a bit; now, I’m not sure if this was a personal problem in that I “wasn’t feeling the book” or something else.
One of the largest problems I had with this book was a largely interpretative one in that I hated the writing style. Sometimes it felt juvenile, other times plain and lacklustre. Shrimpton told a bit too much rather than showed. Her adult characters felt simplified and dull. The teens were slightly better as they were more of the focus of the story, but they weren’t anything to shout about. Lily as a character I never connected to; I felt her actions were a little selfish and childish. But then again, she is only 15.
Furthermore, there were too many characters and I didn’t feel for any of them. We had POVs from teens and from the parents of aforementioned teens, and more. On the flip side though, this wide range of characters did display well how certain events can affect a community. As I said before, the themes presented were nice but they were hindered by the narrative. The pacing was awfully off; in the first third of the book nothing happens until Lily reconnects with her brother and (ahhhhhh) honestly this is a bit annoying because I wanted to like this book! I realise this is a debut book and I didn’t expect brilliance, but I wasn’t really expecting this either.
I want to wrap this up by saying that even though I didn’t enjoy this one, don’t let me discourage you if you are interested in reading it. I know others who’ve really enjoyed it, and it’s UK YA which always deserves more love. Just because it’s not my thing doesn’t mean it can’t be your thing.
May 14, 2021
این کتاب، روایت زندگی -یا بهتر است بگوییم پسا زندگیِ- دختر نوجوانی به نام لیلی است که بعد از مرگ ناگهانیاش روحش در این دنیا گیر افتاده و در این مسیر اتفاقاتی برایش رخ میدهد که زندگی خود و اطرافیانش را هم تحت الشعاع قرار میدهد. در این کتاب از سطح زندگی دنیایی که همین الان همهمان حسش میکنیم فراتر میرویم و خود را با نوجوانی روبهرو میبینیم که با مرگ غیرمنتظرهاش، همه جزئیات زندگی، از بو کردن گلها و مدرسه رفتن و بغل کردن اعضای خانواده گرفته تا چیزهای پیش پا افتادهتر برایش تبدیل به رویایی غیرقابل دسترس میشود و برای یک ساعت دیگر از زندگی روزمره خود را به آب و آتش میزند.
اگر از زندگی رومره و کسل کنندهتان خسته شدید، اگر با دیدن چهرههای تکراری عزیزانتان دیگر قلبتان شروع به تپش نمیکند و اگر ته قلب خود میدانید که با وجود «آرام» بودن همه چیزی از زندگی لذت نمیبرید، پیشنهاد میکنم همین امشب خواندن این کتاب را شروع کنید.
April 16, 2018
When I was approached to read this one for review, I loved the cover and the title. I have to admit though, I was slightly sceptical about the content of the book and how well it would handle the topic of grief and loss. I thought it was going to be comparable to The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. But I needn’t have feared at all because this ended up being the best YA contemporary that I’ve read in a very long time. I enjoyed reading it so much!
I want to start by discussing the theme of the book as it is the main element to this book. It deals with grief, loss and death because the main character is young when she suddenly finds herself the victim of a hit and run. But it is never overly depressing! It almost felt quite light hearted for a book about death, and I give that to the humour that is cleverly interspersed throughout the book. Whenever something serious happens, there will be a joke following or a hopeful moment to raise your spirits afterward. It deals with the serious themes, but it also brings the hopes of the reader up. For as much as it can be sad, angry and heartbreaking, it also shows us there is hope, and there is recovery. I loved the balance the author presented to us here.
I also couldn’t help but love the characters. Lily is the main character, and we are seeing things from her perspective. In the beginning, I was a bit cautious with her. I thought she was the popular (not the mean kind of popular), privileged teenage girl who got everything she wanted or needed. As the story went on I got to see that she was so much more than that. I was also quite impressed that she showed a lot of character development as the novel went on. Which was quite bizarre for me to mentally process because she was developing as a character after her death. But hey, I guess it can happen, right?
On top of all that, we get to see all the other characters journey’s as well. When Lily isn’t in Ben’s body, and she is kinda being ‘a ghost,’ she gets pulled to whoever is thinking most about her. So when her mother is feeling especially sad, or her killer is feeling especially guilty, or even if her best friend misses her for a moment, that is who she gets pulled to. She gets to see their private moments and their life a little bit – and as a reader we are along for the ride. What this showed me was that even though people’s lives interact with yours and you matter to them, they are also experiencing their own ups and downs, and their own challenges. We are all related to each other but we are individuals with our own complexities and troubles too. I think Lily realised that in the book and it stood out to me too.
The writing style was simple and easy to read. It wasn’t overly descriptive or full of emotion. I much preferred it this way. While it was never too basic, it’s simplicity made me see the themes and the development that was presented much better. I got the emotions the characters were feeling without any complication. It made what seems like a grand and unapproachable entity to discuss or try to grasp – death, that is – more straightforward.
The beginning was a bit slow for me. Only in that I expected her to take over her twin brother’s body right away, but Lily took a bit of time getting there. I can see how it contributed to the story and worked out for the better, but I thought to mention it. This book isn’t without flaws, but the enjoyment I got out of it made up for this minor point.
Can we also revel in the fact that this a YA contemporary without a romance? It’s briefly mentioned in places as Lily did have a boyfriend before she died, but there is no love interest in this book.
The ending chapter – an epilogue of sorts – was a bit cheesy. But it was the good kind of cheesy, if that makes sense? It wasn’t overdone and didn’t give off the happily ever after vibes. Because y’know, Lily is still dead. It was more so a promise that things do get better and healing is possible. And it made my heart all fuzzy.
I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
Relevance to today: I think the relevance is quite obvious and is one that is needed: I’ve been looking for books which deal with grief and loss is a teenager friendly kind of way. I would definitely say I found it in this book. I don’t like to compare books to each other but I’m gonna do it. The reason why I wouldn’t be able to recommend The Sky is Everywhere to someone who is trying to deal with loss is because of the cheating and other elements to the book I disagreed with. The love story just felt wrong. But this one is purely about forgiveness, loss and trying to move on. It’s about friends and family and more about the people left behind than the one who has died, in the end. I find it important that there is a not a too depressing book like this available to teenagers and other ages too, of course.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/04...
I want to start by discussing the theme of the book as it is the main element to this book. It deals with grief, loss and death because the main character is young when she suddenly finds herself the victim of a hit and run. But it is never overly depressing! It almost felt quite light hearted for a book about death, and I give that to the humour that is cleverly interspersed throughout the book. Whenever something serious happens, there will be a joke following or a hopeful moment to raise your spirits afterward. It deals with the serious themes, but it also brings the hopes of the reader up. For as much as it can be sad, angry and heartbreaking, it also shows us there is hope, and there is recovery. I loved the balance the author presented to us here.
I also couldn’t help but love the characters. Lily is the main character, and we are seeing things from her perspective. In the beginning, I was a bit cautious with her. I thought she was the popular (not the mean kind of popular), privileged teenage girl who got everything she wanted or needed. As the story went on I got to see that she was so much more than that. I was also quite impressed that she showed a lot of character development as the novel went on. Which was quite bizarre for me to mentally process because she was developing as a character after her death. But hey, I guess it can happen, right?
On top of all that, we get to see all the other characters journey’s as well. When Lily isn’t in Ben’s body, and she is kinda being ‘a ghost,’ she gets pulled to whoever is thinking most about her. So when her mother is feeling especially sad, or her killer is feeling especially guilty, or even if her best friend misses her for a moment, that is who she gets pulled to. She gets to see their private moments and their life a little bit – and as a reader we are along for the ride. What this showed me was that even though people’s lives interact with yours and you matter to them, they are also experiencing their own ups and downs, and their own challenges. We are all related to each other but we are individuals with our own complexities and troubles too. I think Lily realised that in the book and it stood out to me too.
The writing style was simple and easy to read. It wasn’t overly descriptive or full of emotion. I much preferred it this way. While it was never too basic, it’s simplicity made me see the themes and the development that was presented much better. I got the emotions the characters were feeling without any complication. It made what seems like a grand and unapproachable entity to discuss or try to grasp – death, that is – more straightforward.
The beginning was a bit slow for me. Only in that I expected her to take over her twin brother’s body right away, but Lily took a bit of time getting there. I can see how it contributed to the story and worked out for the better, but I thought to mention it. This book isn’t without flaws, but the enjoyment I got out of it made up for this minor point.
Can we also revel in the fact that this a YA contemporary without a romance? It’s briefly mentioned in places as Lily did have a boyfriend before she died, but there is no love interest in this book.
The ending chapter – an epilogue of sorts – was a bit cheesy. But it was the good kind of cheesy, if that makes sense? It wasn’t overdone and didn’t give off the happily ever after vibes. Because y’know, Lily is still dead. It was more so a promise that things do get better and healing is possible. And it made my heart all fuzzy.
I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
Relevance to today: I think the relevance is quite obvious and is one that is needed: I’ve been looking for books which deal with grief and loss is a teenager friendly kind of way. I would definitely say I found it in this book. I don’t like to compare books to each other but I’m gonna do it. The reason why I wouldn’t be able to recommend The Sky is Everywhere to someone who is trying to deal with loss is because of the cheating and other elements to the book I disagreed with. The love story just felt wrong. But this one is purely about forgiveness, loss and trying to move on. It’s about friends and family and more about the people left behind than the one who has died, in the end. I find it important that there is a not a too depressing book like this available to teenagers and other ages too, of course.
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/04...
May 24, 2021
میدونید این از اون کتابایی که میخوای پاش بشینی زندگی کنی.
با تک تک شخصیت گریه کنی.
احساساتشون درک کنی.
با مرگ شخصیت بمیری.
با خنده هاشون بخندی.
من خودم عاشق این کتابم اگه وقتی حالم خوب نباشه میشینم پاش و دوباره میخونمش.
هرروز یجوری زندگی کن که روز آخر عمرته.
کارایی بکن که دوست داری.
چون نمیدونی کی میمیری شاید یک ساعت دیگه.
کی میدونه که کی میمیری؟
با تک تک شخصیت گریه کنی.
احساساتشون درک کنی.
با مرگ شخصیت بمیری.
با خنده هاشون بخندی.
من خودم عاشق این کتابم اگه وقتی حالم خوب نباشه میشینم پاش و دوباره میخونمش.
هرروز یجوری زندگی کن که روز آخر عمرته.
کارایی بکن که دوست داری.
چون نمیدونی کی میمیری شاید یک ساعت دیگه.
کی میدونه که کی میمیری؟
November 24, 2019
این کتاب برام یه کوکتل و مخلوط کامل از کلی احساسات مختلف بود.. حرص خوردم. غمگین شدم.. شاد شدم و همذات پنداری کردم زیادد...
زیاده گویی داشت اما مجموعا کتاب خوبی بود
تلنگر خوبی بود برای زندگی
زیاده گویی داشت اما مجموعا کتاب خوبی بود
تلنگر خوبی بود برای زندگی
May 25, 2020
"لیلی صبح یک روز سرد زمستانی کنار جادهای از خواب بیدار میشود. نمیداند چطور از آنجا سر در آورده. وقتی ماشین پلیسی از راه میرسد و لیلی جسد خود را آنجا میبیند، تازه میفهمد که در واقع... مرده است."
×امروز را طوری زندگی کن که انگار آخرین روز عمرت است.
پشت جلد کتاب نوشته شده:
" رمانی تاثیرگذار، خندهدار و در عین حال بهشدت غمانگیز"
و فکر میکنم بهترین توصیف و توضیح برای این کتاب باشه؛ یک رمان دلچسب و دلنشینِ نوجوان که جنبههای مختلف زندگی رو نشون میده.
این کتاب با مرگ آغاز میشه و با زندگی تموم میشه، در طول کتاب مدام بهمون ارزش زندگی، غنیمت شمردن وقت، اهمیت عشق و خانواده رو گوشزد میکنه.
چیزی که این کتاب رو برای من دلنشین کرد، بهغیر از مفاهیم قابل تاملی که توش بود، سیر داستانیش بود. دقیقا همونموقعی که با خودت فکر میکنی خب پس با یه داستان کلیشهای پس از مرگ روبهرو هستم نویسنده سورپرایزت میکنه و ورق رو برمیگردونه! (دارم تلاش میکنم هم بگم هم نگم اسپویل نشه :)) )
من شخصیت لیلی رو خیلی دوست داشتم، نوجوان بودن خیلی خوب توی کتاب نمایش داده شده. حس سردرگمی، دلسوزی همراه با غرور و خودخواهی! فلسفه و تفکرات لیلی به عنوان یک نوجوان قابل درک و قابل تامله. و حسرت! حسرت زمان و زندگی از دست رفته تو این کتاب قابل لمسه:
×کاش فرصتی داشتم تا با درک اینکه حقیقتا زندگی کردهام، بمیرم.
خوندن این کتاب رو اول به نوجوانها و جوانها و بعد بهپدر و مادرها توصیه میکنم.
×این کتاب رو انتشارات ایرانبان با رعایت حقوق نویسنده و کپیرایت چاپ کرده و سال ۲۰۱۸ برنده جایزه به انتخاب معلمان شده.
پ.ن: این کتاب رو یهجورایی شبیه و حتی مقابلِ "هر دو در نهایت میمیرند" میدونم. مطمئنم اگه اون کتاب رو دوست داشتید از این کتاب هم لذت خواهید برد.
× امیدوارم بعد از خوندن این کتاب عزیزانتون رو کمی طولانیتر بغل کنید. (خیلی دراماتیک شد یا چی؟)
× کتاب رو از ناشر هدیه گرفتم، چند مورد اشکالات ویرایشی داشت (یکی دوتا)
چهار ستاره دادم چون بهنظرم کمی زیادهگویی داشت که فکر میکنم با توجه به سیر داستان و اتفاقات منطقی و حتی لازم باشه وای خب من در کل آدمیم که ترجیح میدم نویسنده "کمگوی و گزیده گوی" رو الگو کارش بذاره و یکراست حرفشو بزنه. در کل بهعنوان یک کار نوجوان خیلی پسندیدمش.
×امروز را طوری زندگی کن که انگار آخرین روز عمرت است.
پشت جلد کتاب نوشته شده:
" رمانی تاثیرگذار، خندهدار و در عین حال بهشدت غمانگیز"
و فکر میکنم بهترین توصیف و توضیح برای این کتاب باشه؛ یک رمان دلچسب و دلنشینِ نوجوان که جنبههای مختلف زندگی رو نشون میده.
این کتاب با مرگ آغاز میشه و با زندگی تموم میشه، در طول کتاب مدام بهمون ارزش زندگی، غنیمت شمردن وقت، اهمیت عشق و خانواده رو گوشزد میکنه.
چیزی که این کتاب رو برای من دلنشین کرد، بهغیر از مفاهیم قابل تاملی که توش بود، سیر داستانیش بود. دقیقا همونموقعی که با خودت فکر میکنی خب پس با یه داستان کلیشهای پس از مرگ روبهرو هستم نویسنده سورپرایزت میکنه و ورق رو برمیگردونه! (دارم تلاش میکنم هم بگم هم نگم اسپویل نشه :)) )
من شخصیت لیلی رو خیلی دوست داشتم، نوجوان بودن خیلی خوب توی کتاب نمایش داده شده. حس سردرگمی، دلسوزی همراه با غرور و خودخواهی! فلسفه و تفکرات لیلی به عنوان یک نوجوان قابل درک و قابل تامله. و حسرت! حسرت زمان و زندگی از دست رفته تو این کتاب قابل لمسه:
×کاش فرصتی داشتم تا با درک اینکه حقیقتا زندگی کردهام، بمیرم.
خوندن این کتاب رو اول به نوجوانها و جوانها و بعد بهپدر و مادرها توصیه میکنم.
×این کتاب رو انتشارات ایرانبان با رعایت حقوق نویسنده و کپیرایت چاپ کرده و سال ۲۰۱۸ برنده جایزه به انتخاب معلمان شده.
پ.ن: این کتاب رو یهجورایی شبیه و حتی مقابلِ "هر دو در نهایت میمیرند" میدونم. مطمئنم اگه اون کتاب رو دوست داشتید از این کتاب هم لذت خواهید برد.
× امیدوارم بعد از خوندن این کتاب عزیزانتون رو کمی طولانیتر بغل کنید. (خیلی دراماتیک شد یا چی؟)
× کتاب رو از ناشر هدیه گرفتم، چند مورد اشکالات ویرایشی داشت (یکی دوتا)
چهار ستاره دادم چون بهنظرم کمی زیادهگویی داشت که فکر میکنم با توجه به سیر داستان و اتفاقات منطقی و حتی لازم باشه وای خب من در کل آدمیم که ترجیح میدم نویسنده "کمگوی و گزیده گوی" رو الگو کارش بذاره و یکراست حرفشو بزنه. در کل بهعنوان یک کار نوجوان خیلی پسندیدمش.
January 27, 2019
I love the silky front cover of a sunflower as I love growing sunflowers, everyone loves sunflowers. I couldn't put this book down. I'm still in a daze that Sunflowers In February is Phyllida Shrimpton's first novel. I loved this wonderful fresh different story and all the characters seemed so real life. What I did find is that this story was rather a bit tearful. Lily Richardson has been killed by a driver in a hit and run. From the road side she is looking down on her body. With Lily being dead she is still with her family but the one thing Lily is desperate for is for her family and twin brother to see her, but sadly for Lily they can't see her. Nathan who is Lily's boyfriend is deeply upset when he finds out that Lily was run over. With a shocking twist that I can't share with you I very highly recommend reading Sunflowers In February. Im certainly looking forward to Phyllida Shrimpton's next novel.
August 21, 2022
First try: DNF at page 200. 3✨
I can't read a book with this message "life is beautiful and valuable" when I've lost my hope on everything and don't see any beauty in it. I just can't.
.
.
.
Second try: finished. 3.75 ✨
کتاب بدی نیست. ولی کتابی نیست که موقع افسردگی بهت یادآوری بکنه زندگی زیباست و باید ازش لذت برد، کتابیه که باید توی خوشحالترین مود ممکن خوند:))
باهاش بغض کردم، ترسیدم، نگران شدم و مدام به این فکر کردم اگه همین الان بمیرم چی؟ چه اتفاقی برای اطرافیانم میوفته؟ چند نفر توی این دنیا زندگیشون بخاطر من عوض میشه؟
حقیقتا دلم میخواد جوابش هیچکس باشه:))
دلم میخواد هیچ آدمی بخاطر من زندگیش نابود نشه...
پ.ن: من بعد خوندن این کتاب فوبیای تصادف گرفتم 😂
پام رو از در خونه میذارم بیرون استرس این رو میگیرم یوقت یچیزی نزنه بهم. 👈🏽👉🏽
I can't read a book with this message "life is beautiful and valuable" when I've lost my hope on everything and don't see any beauty in it. I just can't.
.
.
.
Second try: finished. 3.75 ✨
کتاب بدی نیست. ولی کتابی نیست که موقع افسردگی بهت یادآوری بکنه زندگی زیباست و باید ازش لذت برد، کتابیه که باید توی خوشحالترین مود ممکن خوند:))
باهاش بغض کردم، ترسیدم، نگران شدم و مدام به این فکر کردم اگه همین الان بمیرم چی؟ چه اتفاقی برای اطرافیانم میوفته؟ چند نفر توی این دنیا زندگیشون بخاطر من عوض میشه؟
حقیقتا دلم میخواد جوابش هیچکس باشه:))
دلم میخواد هیچ آدمی بخاطر من زندگیش نابود نشه...
پ.ن: من بعد خوندن این کتاب فوبیای تصادف گرفتم 😂
پام رو از در خونه میذارم بیرون استرس این رو میگیرم یوقت یچیزی نزنه بهم. 👈🏽👉🏽
February 2, 2018
When Lily ends up at the side of a road with police cars coming towards her, she doesn’t quite understand why she is there. She remembers taking a different route home because she didn’t have enough money for the bus but why is she here and nobody is acknowledging her? Turns out, Lily is dead and she is in limbo - somewhere between life and death.
As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I couldn’t request it quickly enough. Oh man….i really thought I was gonna love this. I feel incredibly let down by this book as I was really looking forward to it. The characters are massively underdeveloped for the nature of the story; the entire novel lacked the depth that was needed to turn the premise of the book into something wonderful. Despite the light hearted tone and the narrator being fairly witty, this just couldn’t hold my attention at all and I found myself skimming for the most part after 50% of the way through.
I liked the light hearted nature with which it was narrated and there were certain sweet points in the book which involved her family, mainly her relationship with her twin brother, but it just wasn’t enough for me to like this.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank them, the publisher Hot Key Books and the author Phyllida Shrimpton for this opportunity.
As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I couldn’t request it quickly enough. Oh man….i really thought I was gonna love this. I feel incredibly let down by this book as I was really looking forward to it. The characters are massively underdeveloped for the nature of the story; the entire novel lacked the depth that was needed to turn the premise of the book into something wonderful. Despite the light hearted tone and the narrator being fairly witty, this just couldn’t hold my attention at all and I found myself skimming for the most part after 50% of the way through.
I liked the light hearted nature with which it was narrated and there were certain sweet points in the book which involved her family, mainly her relationship with her twin brother, but it just wasn’t enough for me to like this.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank them, the publisher Hot Key Books and the author Phyllida Shrimpton for this opportunity.
July 18, 2018
This was the worst book I've read in a really long time. I wanted to write a rant review about it but I just forced myself to finish this book and that somehow sucked all the energy out of me. I'm just going to sum up why I didn’t like this book because I just can't find the strength to go in depth about it.
(It's basically about a girl, Lily, who died and manages to come back to life by taking over her twin brother's body.)
1. I really disliked Lily so much. She was selfish and had no respect for her brother's life whatsoever. She intently made sure that the girl he was seeing broke things off and was happy about it! I don't care if she was just a fling. You don't mess with someone else's life like that. Just because you think she's dumb and a waste of breath, doesn't mean your brother does too. You have no idea what was playing between them and ruining someone’s relationships like that is childish and petty.
2. Which brings me to this: stop belittling girls who are not like you. Just because they enjoy sex and wear a lot of make-up, doesn't mean they are sluts and dumb. I don't have time for this negativity and I hate seeing this as some kind of trope. It’s 2018. We should start stepping away from this.
3. Lily threw some innocent guy under the bus to save her brother's/own skin. Yeah, Paul did some pot, but she screwed him over while he was innocent by ratting him out, mostly because she was bothered by his acne, mentioning it more than once. I mean ... really? How is that a logical reason?
4. She was selfish and literally fought with her brother to take over his body again. And then she felt like getting inside his body first was winning the ultimate twin battle. Consent? Nope.
5. She also ended up getting a tattoo. While in her brother's body. I get that it's supposed to be symbolic but if my sister did that to me, I'd bring her back to life and kill her again.
6. I wasn’t a fan of the writing. It felt dull and plain and I had to alternate between reading a chapter of this and reading a chapter in Harry Potter because I just needed to have a breather every now and then. For a second I even thought about not even reading the last two pages because I was just done with it.
I picked this up because I like stories about after death experiences. Hell, I wrote two stories about this stuff and loved every second of it.
I had some pretty high hopes for this book, but the writing together with the overall feeling this book gave me just left me with bad vibes. The unnecessary slut-shaming and non-consensual activities really ruined it for me.
(It's basically about a girl, Lily, who died and manages to come back to life by taking over her twin brother's body.)
1. I really disliked Lily so much. She was selfish and had no respect for her brother's life whatsoever. She intently made sure that the girl he was seeing broke things off and was happy about it! I don't care if she was just a fling. You don't mess with someone else's life like that. Just because you think she's dumb and a waste of breath, doesn't mean your brother does too. You have no idea what was playing between them and ruining someone’s relationships like that is childish and petty.
2. Which brings me to this: stop belittling girls who are not like you. Just because they enjoy sex and wear a lot of make-up, doesn't mean they are sluts and dumb. I don't have time for this negativity and I hate seeing this as some kind of trope. It’s 2018. We should start stepping away from this.
3. Lily threw some innocent guy under the bus to save her brother's/own skin. Yeah, Paul did some pot, but she screwed him over while he was innocent by ratting him out, mostly because she was bothered by his acne, mentioning it more than once. I mean ... really? How is that a logical reason?
4. She was selfish and literally fought with her brother to take over his body again. And then she felt like getting inside his body first was winning the ultimate twin battle. Consent? Nope.
5. She also ended up getting a tattoo. While in her brother's body. I get that it's supposed to be symbolic but if my sister did that to me, I'd bring her back to life and kill her again.
6. I wasn’t a fan of the writing. It felt dull and plain and I had to alternate between reading a chapter of this and reading a chapter in Harry Potter because I just needed to have a breather every now and then. For a second I even thought about not even reading the last two pages because I was just done with it.
I picked this up because I like stories about after death experiences. Hell, I wrote two stories about this stuff and loved every second of it.
I had some pretty high hopes for this book, but the writing together with the overall feeling this book gave me just left me with bad vibes. The unnecessary slut-shaming and non-consensual activities really ruined it for me.
March 9, 2019
I came across Sunflowers in February whilst browsing the library website. YA contemporary is one of my favourite and most read genres so I'm always looking to discover more books in this genre. I was also intrigued by the cover and it had me wondering what this book could be about.
Plot
One day a young teenage girl called Lily wakes up at the side of the road with no memory of how she got there. As a police car arrives she realises that she is in fact dead. Lily is left with no choice but to follow her body and watch her parents mourn for her. But what will Lily do when she is given an opportunity to live her life again?
Positives:
- The story really makes you think about how stereotypes are viewed, in particular the identity of a culprit. In the case of this book it shows that they are not always correct and how people tend to automatically assume things.
- You get to see the culprits side of the story including why/how things happened which isn't often seen in books.
- The book really does just make you want to start living more meaningfully and do the things that are actually important and matter to you.
- A lot of endings to books leave many unanswered questions but this was not the case here. Everything was wrapped up nicely and I feel the reader will close the book feeling more hopeful than when they began.
Negatives:
- Sadly, the story of a deceased person being stuck in the real world isn't unique in books and I have actually already read a middle grade book aimed at younger readers with a similar storyline and theme.
- After reading this once I'm not sure that I would be eager to re-read this in the future. I think this book is the sort of book where I'm happy to read it once and not come back to it again. So, that's the reason I had to take another star off my rating.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed reading Sunflowers in February. There was a surprise plot twist near the beginning of the book but this did not make it predictable at all because I just had no idea how things were going to turn out for each character. The storyline isn't that unique as I have seen it in other books too so that makes the delivery and execution of it even more impressive!
After finishing reading I just feel more hopeful and that I need to hurry up and create a bucket list and make a start on it! If you enjoy reading contemporary books then I'd definitely recommend reading this one!
Memorable quotes
"Fear, I decide, is a feeling that stops you doing something that might be fun."
Plot
One day a young teenage girl called Lily wakes up at the side of the road with no memory of how she got there. As a police car arrives she realises that she is in fact dead. Lily is left with no choice but to follow her body and watch her parents mourn for her. But what will Lily do when she is given an opportunity to live her life again?
Positives:
- The story really makes you think about how stereotypes are viewed, in particular the identity of a culprit. In the case of this book it shows that they are not always correct and how people tend to automatically assume things.
- You get to see the culprits side of the story including why/how things happened which isn't often seen in books.
- The book really does just make you want to start living more meaningfully and do the things that are actually important and matter to you.
- A lot of endings to books leave many unanswered questions but this was not the case here. Everything was wrapped up nicely and I feel the reader will close the book feeling more hopeful than when they began.
Negatives:
- Sadly, the story of a deceased person being stuck in the real world isn't unique in books and I have actually already read a middle grade book aimed at younger readers with a similar storyline and theme.
- After reading this once I'm not sure that I would be eager to re-read this in the future. I think this book is the sort of book where I'm happy to read it once and not come back to it again. So, that's the reason I had to take another star off my rating.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed reading Sunflowers in February. There was a surprise plot twist near the beginning of the book but this did not make it predictable at all because I just had no idea how things were going to turn out for each character. The storyline isn't that unique as I have seen it in other books too so that makes the delivery and execution of it even more impressive!
After finishing reading I just feel more hopeful and that I need to hurry up and create a bucket list and make a start on it! If you enjoy reading contemporary books then I'd definitely recommend reading this one!
Memorable quotes
"Fear, I decide, is a feeling that stops you doing something that might be fun."
January 3, 2018
Sunflowers in February is a simply stunning debut; it tackles a topic not often found in YA in this capacity and is written from a unique perspective that's surprisingly realistic. Lily is such an engaging character that you can't help but want to keep turning each and every page to find out what's going to happen next.
A key aspect of Sunflowers in February is the idea of moving past grief, and how, whilst this "missing piece really does ruin the overall picture of the puzzle", life moves on and it's important that people do move on and accept that they can get past their grief knowing that life won't be quite the same. This is such an important message for everyone as, unfortunately, we will all experience grief at some point in our lives and it's "how we move on that counts". This is not to suggest that Shrimpton doesn't show how utterly devastating death can be; she does, but she also shows the process of coming to terms with death.
All of this is not to say that Sunflowers in February makes for a depressing read; it really doesn't! There were points where I laughed out loud, a key point being during Lily's funeral where Ben comes out with some of the best lines in the book. I also learnt some scientific facts about hugging - did you know that a twenty second hug releases some kind of bonding hormone?
Ultimately, however, I think that Shrimpton has crafted a book that, whilst about death, is mainly about living. "If only I had the chance to die knowing that I had really lived. Maybe then it wouldn't be so bad." It's about grasping opportunities and not just wasting your days away, about showing people how you truly feel, about how little decisions can have big effects. It's about not taking things for granted, both big and small; "the irony of death is that you obviously don't find out what you meant to people until it's too late."
This book is full of raw emotion, humour and warmth, with a wide array of characters who all cope with their grief in different ways and are suffering for different reasons. It also makes you realise the importance each and every person has even if they don't think that they're valued or needed. Whether or not you have experienced grief, there is something for everyone to take away from this book - we are all significant and we all have our own lives to live.
"Life wasn't just about living and breathing."
A key aspect of Sunflowers in February is the idea of moving past grief, and how, whilst this "missing piece really does ruin the overall picture of the puzzle", life moves on and it's important that people do move on and accept that they can get past their grief knowing that life won't be quite the same. This is such an important message for everyone as, unfortunately, we will all experience grief at some point in our lives and it's "how we move on that counts". This is not to suggest that Shrimpton doesn't show how utterly devastating death can be; she does, but she also shows the process of coming to terms with death.
All of this is not to say that Sunflowers in February makes for a depressing read; it really doesn't! There were points where I laughed out loud, a key point being during Lily's funeral where Ben comes out with some of the best lines in the book. I also learnt some scientific facts about hugging - did you know that a twenty second hug releases some kind of bonding hormone?
Ultimately, however, I think that Shrimpton has crafted a book that, whilst about death, is mainly about living. "If only I had the chance to die knowing that I had really lived. Maybe then it wouldn't be so bad." It's about grasping opportunities and not just wasting your days away, about showing people how you truly feel, about how little decisions can have big effects. It's about not taking things for granted, both big and small; "the irony of death is that you obviously don't find out what you meant to people until it's too late."
This book is full of raw emotion, humour and warmth, with a wide array of characters who all cope with their grief in different ways and are suffering for different reasons. It also makes you realise the importance each and every person has even if they don't think that they're valued or needed. Whether or not you have experienced grief, there is something for everyone to take away from this book - we are all significant and we all have our own lives to live.
"Life wasn't just about living and breathing."
February 16, 2018
I wanted so badly to enjoy this book! At the start it seemed interesting and different with the deceased Lily being able to enter her twin brother Bens body but then it went downhill quickly! I found Lily to be selfish and whiny! The book was far longer than it needed to be with 200 pages or more centred around Lily being in Ben’s body and not a lot else. I also found the ending of the book unrealistic in Lily forgiving the perpetrator of her death. I don’t often rate a book this low and I am sad to do it now but I found the characters 2-dimensional, whiny and annoying. I found the storyline never really went anywhere and there was some really weird moments.
I enjoyed the first 100 pages and I do feel like the multiple points of view and the short chapters made it a quick read and one that saw the full damage of a death, however this just wasn’t for me! If you do like a contemporary YA that tackles death and the impact of it though, maybe do give it a try!
I enjoyed the first 100 pages and I do feel like the multiple points of view and the short chapters made it a quick read and one that saw the full damage of a death, however this just wasn’t for me! If you do like a contemporary YA that tackles death and the impact of it though, maybe do give it a try!
December 29, 2024
فکر کن فرصت داشتی از مرگ برگردی
آفتابگردان در زمستان
فیلیدا شریمپتون
مریم رفیعی
نشر ایرانبان
نظرم در مورد کتاب:
لیلی صبح یه روز سرد زمستونی کنار یه جاده از خواب بیدار میشه. هیچ ایدهای نداره که چطور از اونجا سر درآورده ولی خیلی زود سروکله پلیسها پیدا میشه. و بالاخره لیلی برمیگرده و... جسد خودش رو میبینه! لیلی مرده! ولی هنوز از این دنیا نرفته؟؟ چرا؟؟ و بعد خیلی زود فرصت عجیبی گیرش میاد. فرصت دوباره زنده بودن! ولی لیلی با این وقت اضافهی زندگی چیکار میخواد بکنه؟؟
مرگ برای آدمای مختلف ظاهر متفاوتی داره. بعضیا ازش میترسن، بعضیا توش آرامش میبینن. بعضیا اون رو پایان همه چی میبینن در حالی که بعضی دیگه صرفا به چشم دروازهای بهش نگاه میکنن به یک جهان دیگه. اما یه چیزی در مورد همهی این دیدگاهها مشترکه. این که مرگ، بالاخره قراره نقطه پایانی باشه بر تمام تجربیات ما از این زندگی. حالا ما اگه عمیقتر به این مسئله فکر کنیم که سایهش همیشه بالای سر زندگیمون معلقه، آیا بیشتر قدر لحظههامون رو نمیدونیم؟ قدر بودن کنار خانوادهمون رو؟ قدر بستنی و پیتزا؟ بوی قهوه؟ عطر بارون و خاک نمخورده؟ :)
آفتابگردان در زمستان همچین کتابیه. کتابیه که میخواد یاد ما بندازه که برای لذت بردن از زندگی لازم نیست چندین میلیون پول داشته باشیم! لازم نیست تو یه پنتهاوس زندگی کنیم! فقط لازمه "زنده" باشیم! لازمه توجه کنیم، حتی به کوچیکترین خوشیهایی که داریم ولی انقدر برامون روزمره شدن که نمیبینیمشون! هر بار که مامانت رو بغل میکنی، هر بار که نسیم خنک دم صبح رو با لذت میکشی توی سینهت، اینا همه بخشی از قشنگیهای زنده بودنه :) که ما فراموش میکنیم. حق هم داریم که فراموش کنیم چون مدام موج جدیدی از مشکلات پیدا میشه که ما رو بکشه پایین و تو خودش غرق کنه. اما گاهی هم میشه سرمون رو بیاریم بیرون و یه نفس عمیق بکشیم! این کتاب، یادت میندازه که سرت رو از زیر آب بیاری بیرون!
شایییید یه کوچولو بشه گفت از لحاظ سطح داستانی، یعنی پرداخت شخصیتها و پلات کلی داستان، اونقدرا قوی و خارق العاده نیست ولی به هر حال خود داستان و ایده کلیش ایده قشنگ و قویایه و خیلی خوب میتونه با احساساتتون ارتباط برقرار کنه.
اگه مثلا "سم هستم بفرمایید" یا "هر دو در نهایت میمیرند" رو دوست داشتید، احتمالا از این هم خوشتون میاد. البته رومنس نیست چندان! برخلاف اونا. بیشتر درامه تا رومنس. ولی تم مشترکی داره باهاشون (از سم هستم بفرمایید هم حداقل از لحاظ پرداخت خیلی بهتره!)
امتیاز من: 3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
فکت جالب: ایرانبان حق کپی رایت کتاب رو خریده و نویسنده اولش برای خوانندههای ایرانیش یه نامه نوشته :")
آفتابگردان در زمستان
فیلیدا شریمپتون
مریم رفیعی
نشر ایرانبان
نظرم در مورد کتاب:
لیلی صبح یه روز سرد زمستونی کنار یه جاده از خواب بیدار میشه. هیچ ایدهای نداره که چطور از اونجا سر درآورده ولی خیلی زود سروکله پلیسها پیدا میشه. و بالاخره لیلی برمیگرده و... جسد خودش رو میبینه! لیلی مرده! ولی هنوز از این دنیا نرفته؟؟ چرا؟؟ و بعد خیلی زود فرصت عجیبی گیرش میاد. فرصت دوباره زنده بودن! ولی لیلی با این وقت اضافهی زندگی چیکار میخواد بکنه؟؟
مرگ برای آدمای مختلف ظاهر متفاوتی داره. بعضیا ازش میترسن، بعضیا توش آرامش میبینن. بعضیا اون رو پایان همه چی میبینن در حالی که بعضی دیگه صرفا به چشم دروازهای بهش نگاه میکنن به یک جهان دیگه. اما یه چیزی در مورد همهی این دیدگاهها مشترکه. این که مرگ، بالاخره قراره نقطه پایانی باشه بر تمام تجربیات ما از این زندگی. حالا ما اگه عمیقتر به این مسئله فکر کنیم که سایهش همیشه بالای سر زندگیمون معلقه، آیا بیشتر قدر لحظههامون رو نمیدونیم؟ قدر بودن کنار خانوادهمون رو؟ قدر بستنی و پیتزا؟ بوی قهوه؟ عطر بارون و خاک نمخورده؟ :)
آفتابگردان در زمستان همچین کتابیه. کتابیه که میخواد یاد ما بندازه که برای لذت بردن از زندگی لازم نیست چندین میلیون پول داشته باشیم! لازم نیست تو یه پنتهاوس زندگی کنیم! فقط لازمه "زنده" باشیم! لازمه توجه کنیم، حتی به کوچیکترین خوشیهایی که داریم ولی انقدر برامون روزمره شدن که نمیبینیمشون! هر بار که مامانت رو بغل میکنی، هر بار که نسیم خنک دم صبح رو با لذت میکشی توی سینهت، اینا همه بخشی از قشنگیهای زنده بودنه :) که ما فراموش میکنیم. حق هم داریم که فراموش کنیم چون مدام موج جدیدی از مشکلات پیدا میشه که ما رو بکشه پایین و تو خودش غرق کنه. اما گاهی هم میشه سرمون رو بیاریم بیرون و یه نفس عمیق بکشیم! این کتاب، یادت میندازه که سرت رو از زیر آب بیاری بیرون!
شایییید یه کوچولو بشه گفت از لحاظ سطح داستانی، یعنی پرداخت شخصیتها و پلات کلی داستان، اونقدرا قوی و خارق العاده نیست ولی به هر حال خود داستان و ایده کلیش ایده قشنگ و قویایه و خیلی خوب میتونه با احساساتتون ارتباط برقرار کنه.
اگه مثلا "سم هستم بفرمایید" یا "هر دو در نهایت میمیرند" رو دوست داشتید، احتمالا از این هم خوشتون میاد. البته رومنس نیست چندان! برخلاف اونا. بیشتر درامه تا رومنس. ولی تم مشترکی داره باهاشون (از سم هستم بفرمایید هم حداقل از لحاظ پرداخت خیلی بهتره!)
امتیاز من: 3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
فکت جالب: ایرانبان حق کپی رایت کتاب رو خریده و نویسنده اولش برای خوانندههای ایرانیش یه نامه نوشته :")
March 9, 2025
آیا ی انسان بعد از مرگش میتونه رشد کنه؟
این کتاب حدود ۴ ساله که تو کتابخونمه و این همه مدت نخوندمش.فکر میکنم منتظر موقعیت مناسبش بوده که منو جذب کنه و موفق هم شد. بهترین زمان ممکن خوندمش.باهاش خندیدم و گریه کردم
دوستداشتنی بود🌻
این کتاب حدود ۴ ساله که تو کتابخونمه و این همه مدت نخوندمش.فکر میکنم منتظر موقعیت مناسبش بوده که منو جذب کنه و موفق هم شد. بهترین زمان ممکن خوندمش.باهاش خندیدم و گریه کردم
دوستداشتنی بود🌻
December 13, 2025
راستش ازش خوشم نیومده بود؛ توقعم بیشتر بود (شاید بابت تعریفی که قبلتر درمورد شنیده بودم). یک-چهارم اولش خوب بود، راوی خاص بود، اما تا حدود بیش از دو-سوم کتاب به دلم ننشست؛ مخصوصاً کارهایی که برای اصلاح زندگی برادرش انجام میداد. ولی آخرش واقعاً خیلی خوب شد و دوستش داشتم
February 29, 2020
Get the tissues ready, this one will make you cry! I really debated about giving this one 4 or 5 stars but this time I decided to round up, regardless of some of the issues. Just because the book hit me that hard.
Don't get me wrong, there are negatives with this book. For one thing, it could have done with some better editing. There were a number of glaring grammatical mistakes and at least once the entirely wrong character is named! There is a scene where a few of the kids are being chauffeured and she says Ben's dad instead of just Dad like she had been doing for the entire book. I was confused for a minute
why she wold do that. A sentence to two later it becomes clear that she actually meant Matthew's dad, not Ben's. Oops!
And yes, there were entire swathes of the book where I was internally screaming at Lily for her behavior. And she keeps repeating to herself. I'm doing a good thing. No, Lily, you really aren't! You're doing a very bad and entirely selfish thing! But c'mon she's fifteeen years old and she's dead. Of course she's a little selfish! All while reading the book and chastising her in my mind I was also thinking: would it be any different for me? If I were in her shoes, would I act any differently? I mean presumably I am older, wiser, and less selfish. But how tempting would it be? How frustrating would it be to see the people around you fall apart and be powerless to stop them?
There were other parts of the book which I found frustrating but I don't want to go to into detail for risk of spoilers. I will just say this. During those parts I was infuriated at how this really made any kind of sense at all. It wouldn't work. But, it all sorts itself out in the end.
So, why the five stars? Mostly because I found the story powerful. There's a lot to this story about what is important in life and how one or two little decisions can impact so many lives. And how the little things we say, never realizing they may be the last, can leave us with so much unwarranted guilt. The way we as humans try to rationalize and tell ourselves "if only...." But what is done cannot be undone.
There is an interesting part about complacency I particularly loved. It dawns on me that experiencing something each time with the intensity I felt in the beginning is almost impossible. ... and realise sadly that this is how we forget each little part of our lives that in the beginning we thought so wonderful. It can be any number of events that reminds us to live our lives to the fullest. But the reality is that with each wonderful thing we do or experience, we become a little more complacent to it at the same time. And later, So, is this a life-changing experience? Not really. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely thing to do, and adds another thread to life's rich tapestry, so to speak.... No matter how richly you weave that tapestry, can you ever truly be ready for it to be over?
Don't get me wrong, there are negatives with this book. For one thing, it could have done with some better editing. There were a number of glaring grammatical mistakes and at least once the entirely wrong character is named! There is a scene where a few of the kids are being chauffeured and she says Ben's dad instead of just Dad like she had been doing for the entire book. I was confused for a minute
why she wold do that. A sentence to two later it becomes clear that she actually meant Matthew's dad, not Ben's. Oops!
And yes, there were entire swathes of the book where I was internally screaming at Lily for her behavior. And she keeps repeating to herself. I'm doing a good thing. No, Lily, you really aren't! You're doing a very bad and entirely selfish thing! But c'mon she's fifteeen years old and she's dead. Of course she's a little selfish! All while reading the book and chastising her in my mind I was also thinking: would it be any different for me? If I were in her shoes, would I act any differently? I mean presumably I am older, wiser, and less selfish. But how tempting would it be? How frustrating would it be to see the people around you fall apart and be powerless to stop them?
There were other parts of the book which I found frustrating but I don't want to go to into detail for risk of spoilers. I will just say this. During those parts I was infuriated at how this really made any kind of sense at all. It wouldn't work. But, it all sorts itself out in the end.
So, why the five stars? Mostly because I found the story powerful. There's a lot to this story about what is important in life and how one or two little decisions can impact so many lives. And how the little things we say, never realizing they may be the last, can leave us with so much unwarranted guilt. The way we as humans try to rationalize and tell ourselves "if only...." But what is done cannot be undone.
There is an interesting part about complacency I particularly loved. It dawns on me that experiencing something each time with the intensity I felt in the beginning is almost impossible. ... and realise sadly that this is how we forget each little part of our lives that in the beginning we thought so wonderful. It can be any number of events that reminds us to live our lives to the fullest. But the reality is that with each wonderful thing we do or experience, we become a little more complacent to it at the same time. And later, So, is this a life-changing experience? Not really. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely thing to do, and adds another thread to life's rich tapestry, so to speak.... No matter how richly you weave that tapestry, can you ever truly be ready for it to be over?
February 4, 2018
Sunflowers in February is a very moving, and funny celebration of life. When Lily wakes up on the side of the road in the early hours of the morning, she knows instantly that something is wrong. Then she sees her body lying in the mud and realises that she is dead. But how can she be when she is there talking to the police, who are also looking at her dead body. Then she realises that they, of course, can’t see or hear her. Neither can her parents or her twin brother when Lily goes with the police to break the news of her death. As time goes by and Lily finds herself unable to ‘pass over’ she is pulled from one grieving person to another depending on who is mourning her most at the time. As she is pulled between her family and friends, Lily is saddened by the impact her death has had on those closest to her; they are all struggling to come to terms with their loss, not least because the person responsible has not come forward. Then, as Lily is sitting with her brother as he sleeps one night, she makes contact with him, and she is given a second chance at life. This is also her chance to find out what unfinished business is stopping her from moving on. Be warned, reading Sunflowers in February will make you cry. It is definitely not one to read on public transport! I always enjoy books from a different perspective, and the POV of a dead person is as different as you can get. I was expecting this book to be very similar to the excellent Lovely Bones (the book of course, not the film); however, this has much more humour. Despite the subject matter, there were sections of the book that made me laugh out loud (no plot spoilers!). Predominantly though Sunflowers tackles a sensitive subject – the death of a child/sibling/friend - and I empathised with a whole range of emotions while reading it: Lily’s confusion of what has happened; the intense feelings of loss and sadness of her friends and family; their anger at the needless loss of a young life; Lily’s anger when she discovers that the person responsible for her death has no intentions of owning up; and her dismay when she realises that her family are ready to start moving on without her. The whole book was a joy to read, but the final chapters stand out for their sensitivity. As Lily gets closer to her time to move on the delicacy in which her love, understanding and forgiveness is expressed is exquisite. The term ‘life affirming’ usually grates on me, but this book did really make me appreciate my life and especially the lives of those close to me.
March 18, 2018
Lily is fifteen and three quarters years old when her life is tragically cut short by a hit and run driver. What follows is her journey afterwards. And this is an extraordinary read.
Along the lines of Alice Sebold’s ‘The Lovely Bones’ this is Lily’s story of her family’s grief, sorrow and ultimately moving on in their lives without her. She is a twin, and Ben, her brother, the other part of her, feels bereft. Her parents feel as if they somehow failed to protect her. Her boyfriend is lost. Everyone is feeling something.
This is a poignant book, well written and beautifully observed. The author has created a fabulous character in Lily, who is angry that she wasn’t allowed to grow up. I am guessing the reading audience for this is teenagers, however as I’m old enough to be a parent of one, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this. The writing is fabulous, eliciting emotions and thoughts throughout. It is sad, yet hopeful and funny.
There are no chapters as such, but frequent breaks which makes this an easy read. However parts of it are not ‘easy’ but haunting and wistful. It will make you feel glad to be alive. It will make you want to cherish your family. So there are important messages in the book. I’ve never read anything like this but it reminded me slightly of ‘The fault in our stars’ which I also loved. The teenage style of being in love amongst tragedy also follows in ‘Sunflowers in February’.
This is a bold debut novel and is something which is particularly hard to write about and, at times, read. However the author takes us through sadness, anger, devastation and disbelief to bring in acceptance, humour and moving on after a bereavement. I loved the way the book told us from so many perspectives the effect Lily’s death had on everyone, young and old, which is why I think ultimately this book will appeal to many different ages.
Suffering and bereavement follow all of us at some point unfortunately and this is a gentle way of observing that life does carry on around us, even without our loved ones. "The irony of death is that you obviously don't find out what you meant to people until it's too late."
I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author. Recommended wholeheartedly. A unique and special read that will give you hope. It will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. Fabulous.
Along the lines of Alice Sebold’s ‘The Lovely Bones’ this is Lily’s story of her family’s grief, sorrow and ultimately moving on in their lives without her. She is a twin, and Ben, her brother, the other part of her, feels bereft. Her parents feel as if they somehow failed to protect her. Her boyfriend is lost. Everyone is feeling something.
This is a poignant book, well written and beautifully observed. The author has created a fabulous character in Lily, who is angry that she wasn’t allowed to grow up. I am guessing the reading audience for this is teenagers, however as I’m old enough to be a parent of one, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this. The writing is fabulous, eliciting emotions and thoughts throughout. It is sad, yet hopeful and funny.
There are no chapters as such, but frequent breaks which makes this an easy read. However parts of it are not ‘easy’ but haunting and wistful. It will make you feel glad to be alive. It will make you want to cherish your family. So there are important messages in the book. I’ve never read anything like this but it reminded me slightly of ‘The fault in our stars’ which I also loved. The teenage style of being in love amongst tragedy also follows in ‘Sunflowers in February’.
This is a bold debut novel and is something which is particularly hard to write about and, at times, read. However the author takes us through sadness, anger, devastation and disbelief to bring in acceptance, humour and moving on after a bereavement. I loved the way the book told us from so many perspectives the effect Lily’s death had on everyone, young and old, which is why I think ultimately this book will appeal to many different ages.
Suffering and bereavement follow all of us at some point unfortunately and this is a gentle way of observing that life does carry on around us, even without our loved ones. "The irony of death is that you obviously don't find out what you meant to people until it's too late."
I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author. Recommended wholeheartedly. A unique and special read that will give you hope. It will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. Fabulous.
May 6, 2018
It must be karma because while I was finishing this novel, something very sad happened to someone at work. One day he’s there, the next he’s not.. gone in the blink of an eye, much like Lily in this novel.
I’m not one to believe in an afterlife or staying around on earth (although I did really love the movie Ghost) but I actually found some comfort in the story as I imagined my colleague following everyone around and still being near. Sometimes you just find it in unexpected places when you need it. If you are struggling with feelings of grief, having difficulties letting a loved one go, then this is a nice novel to lose yourself into and draw some strength and positive thoughts from in the end.
Sunflowers in February touches subjects as spirituality and life after death but all in a charmingly funny way. It’s a book about trying to hold on – and Lily is quite literally holding on to her old life by claiming her brother’s body – but also about letting go. I had some problems with Lily’s selfish choice to take what wasn’t hers and putting her brother in her own shoes. She also didn’t make much of an effort either acting like a boy. Imagine your brother squeeling over a pair of shoes, ahum. So sometimes she did irritate me a little bit and I thought I would do better (not that I’ve ever tried mind). If it was an effort at being hilariously funny then it was maybe somewhat cheeky and humourous but not in a laughing out loud kind of way but I felt the story didn’t need it really or it was perhaps not something I was looking for in that moment so that’s probably why I also liked the story more towards the ending. In the final part she’s more reflective and appreciative of everybody and you can feel the warmth of her family and her friends even though they don’t know she’s there.
Overall, this was a light and humurous read which started out from a horrific situation but was beautifully turned around and left me with a heart-warming and satisfying feeling.
I’m not one to believe in an afterlife or staying around on earth (although I did really love the movie Ghost) but I actually found some comfort in the story as I imagined my colleague following everyone around and still being near. Sometimes you just find it in unexpected places when you need it. If you are struggling with feelings of grief, having difficulties letting a loved one go, then this is a nice novel to lose yourself into and draw some strength and positive thoughts from in the end.
Sunflowers in February touches subjects as spirituality and life after death but all in a charmingly funny way. It’s a book about trying to hold on – and Lily is quite literally holding on to her old life by claiming her brother’s body – but also about letting go. I had some problems with Lily’s selfish choice to take what wasn’t hers and putting her brother in her own shoes. She also didn’t make much of an effort either acting like a boy. Imagine your brother squeeling over a pair of shoes, ahum. So sometimes she did irritate me a little bit and I thought I would do better (not that I’ve ever tried mind). If it was an effort at being hilariously funny then it was maybe somewhat cheeky and humourous but not in a laughing out loud kind of way but I felt the story didn’t need it really or it was perhaps not something I was looking for in that moment so that’s probably why I also liked the story more towards the ending. In the final part she’s more reflective and appreciative of everybody and you can feel the warmth of her family and her friends even though they don’t know she’s there.
Overall, this was a light and humurous read which started out from a horrific situation but was beautifully turned around and left me with a heart-warming and satisfying feeling.
April 2, 2018
I got so excited when I saw an e-mail for this book in my inbox. It sounded fantastic and described as being ideal for fans of John Green and the Lovely Bones. Admittedly, I've never read the Lovely Bones book but the film was incredible... I will read it eventually.
Lily wakes up and the first thing she sees is her own body at the side of the road. At first she has no idea whats going on but when the police and ambulance arrive she quickly realises she's dead. But whats she meant to do now? Surely people are supposed to cross over. Only, Lily doesn't and doesn't really want to.
I absolutely loved this. If I didn't have other commitments I would've read it in one day. Definite trigger warning for grief but I felt it was handled very sensitively. Lily, herself, appeared to be dealing with grief at the loss of her own life, understandably. At the start of the novel she ruminated a lot on what she couldn't do anymore and how she instead had to watch others continue with the life she should've had. However, over the course of the novel her character had such growth. It showed the different effects grief had on people, namely her friends, mother, father and twin brother Ben. The latter just so happened to be the person she possessed...
I've noticed I tend to enjoy contemporary novels that have a bit of a twist on the normal. The use of the 'twin bond' in this book fit into that category perfectly. Admittedly, at times Lily having to deal with being in Ben's body made me a little uncomfortable, like the swimming pool locker room incident. However, I thought that it was a very clever way to allow Lily and her family to say goodbye properly.
The plot was tight and made sense however it felt a little like the end just appeared out of nowhere. I guess because I just wanted this book to continue.
This book certainly gets you in the feels.
Lily wakes up and the first thing she sees is her own body at the side of the road. At first she has no idea whats going on but when the police and ambulance arrive she quickly realises she's dead. But whats she meant to do now? Surely people are supposed to cross over. Only, Lily doesn't and doesn't really want to.
I absolutely loved this. If I didn't have other commitments I would've read it in one day. Definite trigger warning for grief but I felt it was handled very sensitively. Lily, herself, appeared to be dealing with grief at the loss of her own life, understandably. At the start of the novel she ruminated a lot on what she couldn't do anymore and how she instead had to watch others continue with the life she should've had. However, over the course of the novel her character had such growth. It showed the different effects grief had on people, namely her friends, mother, father and twin brother Ben. The latter just so happened to be the person she possessed...
I've noticed I tend to enjoy contemporary novels that have a bit of a twist on the normal. The use of the 'twin bond' in this book fit into that category perfectly. Admittedly, at times Lily having to deal with being in Ben's body made me a little uncomfortable, like the swimming pool locker room incident. However, I thought that it was a very clever way to allow Lily and her family to say goodbye properly.
The plot was tight and made sense however it felt a little like the end just appeared out of nowhere. I guess because I just wanted this book to continue.
This book certainly gets you in the feels.
February 15, 2018
February 14, 2018
My full book review is up here on Word Revel.
_________
November 22, 2017
Initial thoughts: Wow. This book was a rollercoaster! Death is never an easy topic to face, and I have to be honest, I spent a good part of Sunflowers in February suppressing my tears, so I could continue reading. I expect for some readers, it will be triggering to read. I felt that too but pushed through and was rewarded with hope and the reminder to not only be sad for the death of dearly departed but to celebrate their lives lived as well.
Although I didn't like Lily very much at first (she was incredibly petty and selfish), I could understand where she was coming from. As she lived through her second chance, she discovered what mattered more in life (after death), bringing love and healing to those she'd left behind.
_________
Note: I received an advanced reading copy from a local distributor in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My full book review is up here on Word Revel.
_________
November 22, 2017
Initial thoughts: Wow. This book was a rollercoaster! Death is never an easy topic to face, and I have to be honest, I spent a good part of Sunflowers in February suppressing my tears, so I could continue reading. I expect for some readers, it will be triggering to read. I felt that too but pushed through and was rewarded with hope and the reminder to not only be sad for the death of dearly departed but to celebrate their lives lived as well.
Although I didn't like Lily very much at first (she was incredibly petty and selfish), I could understand where she was coming from. As she lived through her second chance, she discovered what mattered more in life (after death), bringing love and healing to those she'd left behind.
_________
Note: I received an advanced reading copy from a local distributor in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 13, 2018
I enjoy a YA book that has depth, that gives real feeling about a topic many people have experienced, in this case death but this book really lacked that for me. The first third of the book I did enjoy, it was interesting and thoughtful but it went off on a strange unrealistic tangent which I really didn’t enjoy.
In reality, saying goodbye to someone is the hardest thing to go through, but the book didn’t seem it was about that. The book was too freaky Friday for my likely, lacking connection with the characters and felt overall uninspiring. I would have preferred it if we got to see how Lily’s family grieved normally, coping with all the issues.
I’ve worked with a number of young people who have felt the raw emotion of loss at an age where they shouldn’t have to deal with it, I don’t think death is tackled in the way it should be within this type of book.
All being said while this isn’t my favourite YA novel out recently, I think I will still check out what the author does in the future with the hope they become more realistic.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for this, an honest review
In reality, saying goodbye to someone is the hardest thing to go through, but the book didn’t seem it was about that. The book was too freaky Friday for my likely, lacking connection with the characters and felt overall uninspiring. I would have preferred it if we got to see how Lily’s family grieved normally, coping with all the issues.
I’ve worked with a number of young people who have felt the raw emotion of loss at an age where they shouldn’t have to deal with it, I don’t think death is tackled in the way it should be within this type of book.
All being said while this isn’t my favourite YA novel out recently, I think I will still check out what the author does in the future with the hope they become more realistic.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for this, an honest review
April 2, 2018
Thank you to Hot Key Press and the author for sending me a copy of this.
The cover drew me in (its so pretty with the foil detail) and it seems I have a thing for yellow books in March!
One cold February morning, Lily wakes up at the side of the road with no memory of how she got there. Its not until the police turn up that she realises she is actually dead - her broken body lies just a few feet away, the obvious victim of a hit and run. Having no idea why she can still think, why no one can see or hear her however hard she tries, Lily travels first to the funeral home where she witnesses her parents grief and even sees her own funeral. She has no control over where she goes, generally being pulled to the person who is thinking of her.
And then her twin brother Ben gives her a once in a deathtime opportunity - to use his own body for a while. But Lily doesn't want to give Ben his body back - she isn't ready to give up on life just yet.
A great study on the relationship between twins and also a study of grief - as a parent of a child on a similar age to Lily, it really pulled on the heartstrings! A great debut novel, which was much more than I expected it to be.
The cover drew me in (its so pretty with the foil detail) and it seems I have a thing for yellow books in March!
One cold February morning, Lily wakes up at the side of the road with no memory of how she got there. Its not until the police turn up that she realises she is actually dead - her broken body lies just a few feet away, the obvious victim of a hit and run. Having no idea why she can still think, why no one can see or hear her however hard she tries, Lily travels first to the funeral home where she witnesses her parents grief and even sees her own funeral. She has no control over where she goes, generally being pulled to the person who is thinking of her.
And then her twin brother Ben gives her a once in a deathtime opportunity - to use his own body for a while. But Lily doesn't want to give Ben his body back - she isn't ready to give up on life just yet.
A great study on the relationship between twins and also a study of grief - as a parent of a child on a similar age to Lily, it really pulled on the heartstrings! A great debut novel, which was much more than I expected it to be.
April 22, 2018
I am truly shocked and In love with this book. I was given a review copy, and didn't really know too much about it, but I never once expected it to be so powerful and beautiful. I have tears in my eyes as I write this, it was beautiful ♥
August 21, 2022
Cried buckets, loved it
May 8, 2018
Note that the star ratings have disappeared from my blog and I am only adding them here from habit.
This book reminded my why sunflowers are my favorite flowers. If you need a change of scenery, a bout of life, as dramatic and crazy as can be, and a reminder love knows no bounds, this book is for you.
Sunflowers in February. What a gorgeous and sunny title. I instantly fell in love with it. The bright cover brightened up the rainy day this book was delivered to my house, and serendipity made me choose it on another rainy day a few weeks later.
With only snippets of recollection of the blurb, I started wandering in this sunflower field with no shield. Was I ready for this emotional read? The moment the thought entered my mind, it was too late. I had met Lily.
Lily. Fifteen year-old teenager with the voice and reactions of an actual fifteen year-old girl. Not that I am around youngsters a lot these days, I don’t understand them! But one line convinced me. Instantly, I felt a connection to this pretty flower whose life has taken the biggest blow ever. I had never been popular as a teen, neither do I have a brother, a normal family, or a group of friends, but my heart reached out to her. Maybe because her own heart was not beating anymore.
Don’t be fooled by the colors or the warm title. This is not a happy story. Can I really call it a sad story? Yes. But it is also so much more than this.
It’s the first day back at school after half-term, but Ben hasn’t gone in. Instead we are all at the funeral parlour doing the expensive part of dying.
First of all, if you are a psychological stories lover, you will appreciate the depth with which some topics are discussed, such as guilt.
Secondly, his was for me the best “breather-book”. I had been stuck between personal issues, reviews piling up and making me feel guilty, and an overall tiredness, so breathing in the scent of sunflowers brought me back to a better place.
The story itself might not feel very original. A young girl dies, a family is destroyed. Except said young girl is not just a casualty. She actually is the main voice of this book. Lily, who sees her own dead body in the mud, who watches her family ID what remains of her, who can only stare at her friends and her world as the news spread. Lily, who remains a teenager after all…
Until… Ah! Not saying anything more! *the evil blogger is back* An opportunity gives Lily the chance to change things, to make things right, to hold on to life. This is the part I struggled with, as a very boring down-to-earth woman! If at first, I did not mind a bit of unrealistic glitter to accompany Lily on her journey, especially through twin-bounds, as I neared the end I couldn’t help but cringe a little. I went with it as it helped Lily come to terms with what was happening and offered many weird, uncomfortable but oh so funny moments. But then things went one step further. What had started as a very strong look at life with the witty remarks of a sharp tongue grew into an out-of-this-world look-for-the-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel lesson. I am not religious and, scary as it may be, I have no idea what happens next. I understand how people can find comfort in believing in this kind of afterlife or way of passing, but this is were my link to Lily slowly faded to become a teeny tiny thread that I let go of when I reached her final pages. The epilogue was heart-warming, though, and this is why I can say I did enjoy the story.
The heart of Sunflower in February is the path Lily must walk to find peace. Because of the spot-on writing, I could feel what it was like to struggle with your emotions as you watch people keep on living without you, the resentment, the guilt, the pain, the loss of what will never be. But the story doesn’t get sappy and depressing. It offers funny lines and peace. And love. Lots of it.
I’d been so preoccupied with growing up that I can’t remember showing her exactly how much I loved her and, too late, I so want to now.
This book reminded my why sunflowers are my favorite flowers. If you need a change of scenery, a bout of life, as dramatic and crazy as can be, and a reminder love knows no bounds, this book is for you.
September 4, 2022
A quick summary of my main problem with the book: the main character becomes quite unlikable about 50 pages in… the type of teenage girl that you really don’t want to be friends with, but you can’t avoid because we’re reading from her perspective. She’s just selfish and rude to everyone except her family, boyfriend and friend (just one friend, which is telling).
A slightly longer explanation… The first 100 pages held so much promise. They were exploring grief, not in much depth but still in a way that felt meaningful, and giving us lots of insight into the characters. It was emotional and raw, and the addition of Nathan’s mum was very interesting . And then… the next 200 pages happened.
I’m shocked that this was written in 2018 and the blatant hypocrisy in her misogyny shown by the main character was glossed over. Condemning the boys for laughing over a fat girl who she made fun of before, and regretting her actions, but then 50 pages later humiliating a girl for wearing too much makeup and coming on to her brother (whilst using “chaverage” as an insult, which has to be the most cringey and I uncreative comeback i’ve ever read). It seemed like the author wanted to make statements about bullying and how mean teenagers can be, but then forgot that the minute she wanted to slut shame a character and exhibit her classism. Now you could say that this is a critique on how the main character herself is a hypocrite and the author is making a point about that, but it felt too surface level to have that type of character exploration, and it was never mentioned again for the rest of the book. Although the comments were very accurate to how teenagers when I was in year 9 acted. But that was in 2014.
I also thought the last two thirds were just a bit dull. Lily wasn’t really that interesting as a narrator - in contrast to the epilogue, narrated by her brother, which I enjoyed a lot more (although the bar was set pretty low by that point).
I’m mainly giving this two stars and not one star because of the first one hundred or so pages and the side characters. But I would not recommend, even to a teenager (which I think is the reading age).
A slightly longer explanation… The first 100 pages held so much promise. They were exploring grief, not in much depth but still in a way that felt meaningful, and giving us lots of insight into the characters. It was emotional and raw, and the addition of Nathan’s mum was very interesting . And then… the next 200 pages happened.
I’m shocked that this was written in 2018 and the blatant hypocrisy in her misogyny shown by the main character was glossed over. Condemning the boys for laughing over a fat girl who she made fun of before, and regretting her actions, but then 50 pages later humiliating a girl for wearing too much makeup and coming on to her brother (whilst using “chaverage” as an insult, which has to be the most cringey and I uncreative comeback i’ve ever read). It seemed like the author wanted to make statements about bullying and how mean teenagers can be, but then forgot that the minute she wanted to slut shame a character and exhibit her classism. Now you could say that this is a critique on how the main character herself is a hypocrite and the author is making a point about that, but it felt too surface level to have that type of character exploration, and it was never mentioned again for the rest of the book. Although the comments were very accurate to how teenagers when I was in year 9 acted. But that was in 2014.
I also thought the last two thirds were just a bit dull. Lily wasn’t really that interesting as a narrator - in contrast to the epilogue, narrated by her brother, which I enjoyed a lot more (although the bar was set pretty low by that point).
I’m mainly giving this two stars and not one star because of the first one hundred or so pages and the side characters. But I would not recommend, even to a teenager (which I think is the reading age).
March 28, 2022
When I was around half way through this book, I was thinking, “Jeez, Lilly’s kinda selfish, does she not have any respect for her brother’s life?”. But then I got to the end, and I realised just how truly emotional this book was! That last chapter got me crying a bit lol, would recommend
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