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Since We Last Spoke
When true love is shattered by tragedy—how much would you risk to save it all?
When Aggi Frank and Max Granger finally admitted their feelings for each other last December, it felt like love was beautiful and endless... until it wasn’t.
A fatal car accident involving their older siblings throws their lives into sudden chaos. And with a restraining order now in place between the two bitter households, Aggi and Max’s love runs cold. Being together again seems like a distant fantasy, even though they share the same driveway.
Still, Plum Lake is a small town, and staying apart can’t last forever. Aggi and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party hosted by a mutual friend and break the ice after a year of silence. But just as they begin to rebuild their relationship, the unthinkable happens when Aggi’s little sister, Grace, flees from home after their father spirals into a fit of rage. With a support system of friends close by, Aggi and Max must confront each other and their families in the hopes of mending all the broken pieces.
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon, Brenda Rufener’s (Where I Live) second heartbreaking and uplifting novel captures the ups and downs of star-crossed lovers in the face of unimaginable grief, the fragile balance of their family relations, and the rocky journey to healing, peace, and forgiveness.
When Aggi Frank and Max Granger finally admitted their feelings for each other last December, it felt like love was beautiful and endless... until it wasn’t.
A fatal car accident involving their older siblings throws their lives into sudden chaos. And with a restraining order now in place between the two bitter households, Aggi and Max’s love runs cold. Being together again seems like a distant fantasy, even though they share the same driveway.
Still, Plum Lake is a small town, and staying apart can’t last forever. Aggi and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party hosted by a mutual friend and break the ice after a year of silence. But just as they begin to rebuild their relationship, the unthinkable happens when Aggi’s little sister, Grace, flees from home after their father spirals into a fit of rage. With a support system of friends close by, Aggi and Max must confront each other and their families in the hopes of mending all the broken pieces.
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon, Brenda Rufener’s (Where I Live) second heartbreaking and uplifting novel captures the ups and downs of star-crossed lovers in the face of unimaginable grief, the fragile balance of their family relations, and the rocky journey to healing, peace, and forgiveness.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
49 people are currently reading
5081 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Rufener
2 books98 followersBrenda Rufener is a technical writer turned novelist and the author of WHERE I LIVE, which Bustle named a most anticipated YA contemporary book hitting shelves in 2018 and Jennifer Niven called a “hard-hitting novel filled with hope.”
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE, Brenda’s second young adult novel, arrived April 2019 and received a starred review from School Library Journal, among other honors.
When not writing, Brenda enjoys hiking the woods of North Carolina and spending time with her family. She is an advocate for homeless youth.
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE, Brenda’s second young adult novel, arrived April 2019 and received a starred review from School Library Journal, among other honors.
When not writing, Brenda enjoys hiking the woods of North Carolina and spending time with her family. She is an advocate for homeless youth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
February 23, 2019
I really expected SINCE WE LAST SPOKE to knock me on my ass. A story of tragedy, almost ROMEO AND JULIET-ish, in the sense of warring families, combined with loss and betrayal and grief. And while those elements are present, they didn't make me love (or even like..) the story. I didn't lose myself in these awful circumstances, root for the protagonists -- reeling from so much and just trying to make each day work -- or rejoice for the healing at the end. Instead I suffered through the drama, and was annoyed and confused and, mostly, just wondered.. why. Why things were left to go on so long, why people weren't in counselling, why we had little bits of unrelated plot become part of the mix, why parents just handed off their child to another person, why why why.
I'm sure this'll hit the feels of many readers. But not this one.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
I'm sure this'll hit the feels of many readers. But not this one.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2020
2.5/5 Stars
I expected a lot more from this book. Even though it was a very short read I thought it would be better than this. Maybe it's just a feeling that I had, but for the most part to me it truly felt like we were going nowhere and the characters got lost doing unimportant or unnecessary things that weren't driving the story forward at all.
The ending wasn't what I was expecting either. It was all quickly resolved and it seemed just too easy.
One of the things that I believe was tackled really well is the theme of grief and how painfully and deeply it can run in everyone. I really felt for both families, especially in some moments of the book.
As I said, this was not a bad book, I just expected a lot more from it.
I expected a lot more from this book. Even though it was a very short read I thought it would be better than this. Maybe it's just a feeling that I had, but for the most part to me it truly felt like we were going nowhere and the characters got lost doing unimportant or unnecessary things that weren't driving the story forward at all.
The ending wasn't what I was expecting either. It was all quickly resolved and it seemed just too easy.
One of the things that I believe was tackled really well is the theme of grief and how painfully and deeply it can run in everyone. I really felt for both families, especially in some moments of the book.
As I said, this was not a bad book, I just expected a lot more from it.
July 28, 2019
Isn’t that what people do when tragedy hits? Search for answers, even if it means pointing fingers?The Frank and Granger families are as close as two coats of paints. At least, they used to be. Until they are not. Since the tragedy hit them like a storm, Max and Aggi’s father, who were best friends and co-owner in the family business, had a falling out and worse, were became enemies. Sandwiched between their parent’s own pit of rage, self-interest and endless finger pointing, Max and Aggi were forced to never speak to each other again.
For the Franks, losing Kate has been extremely difficult. Aggi's father, who was consumed by pain and drunk in his own anger, all did was to blame everyone around him; her mother suffered from depression and entirely withdrawn herself from life. Too afraid to confront and deal with the truth while pushing away both her and Grace, Aggi's parents didn't realize that the family they once had was already falling apart until it was too late to notice.
Whereas Max's parents, especially his father who was blinded by his pain and anger, also blamed others for Cal's death. Yet, they learned how to make peace with the truth. I understand that they wouldn't instantly forget what happened but, it only means that they were able to recognize that their loss is their new permanent reality.
To Max and Aggi, losing both Cal and Kate was not only painful but also mentally excruciating because the guilt they carry chased them every time. The same guilt that drove a person to commit suicide like what Kate did.
Here, the author carefully pointed out the possible result of ignoring someone's desperate cry for help and how the support of friends like Henry, Umé and Dr. Nelson, is important in someone’s healing process. We cannot go through the loss on our own. Sometimes, we need someone who can help us sort our sh*t and pull ourselves back together.
This is why I admire Henry's character for being that someone—a friend who is always there regardless of what he was personally going through. And even he Iives in an environment that only knew violence, I love how his character is hopeful and resilient, always wearing his heart on his sleeve. He actually stole some of the most incredible scenes within the story, and I hope the author will write a standalone story for him.
Brenda Rufener’s writing is crisp, intense and deeply moving, showing how everyone acknowledges pain and process grief differently. She was able to capture the different stages of grief and focus on each character's internal struggles.
That being said, it's clear how losing someone can turn us into a monster we don't realize or be that someone who's willing to fight their own monsters because they know it is the best thing to do. While even the possibility of almost another tragedy was the only way, some can pull themselves altogether and wake up in a nightmare they failed to fight and should have faced a long time ago, it's apparent how the story proves change is a constant companion of death.
Since We Last Spoke is a story that will make you realize that grieving has no specific timetable and forgiveness takes time before it is given...before the heart finally heals. And even if it does, we will never be the same person ever again.
I received an ARC of Since We Last Spoke from the publisher and this in no way influences my rating nor my opinion for this book.
Full Review at Tale Out Loud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
February 4, 2022
3.5⭐️
Really fast but impactful read. There are a lot of deep emotions and traumatic experiences covered in this book.
Really fast but impactful read. There are a lot of deep emotions and traumatic experiences covered in this book.
March 15, 2019
Since We Last Spoke was a beautifully written book, Rufener captured the essence of the loss of a loved one through death and then this having impact on relationships and shattering family friendships in the process really well. Aggi and Max both lose their siblings in tragic ways around the same time, but instead of being there to support one another through the grief, both families end up lashing out and blaming each other for the tragedies. It’s clear as day that Max and Aggi need each other right now, but with restraining orders in place, there’s not a lot that they can do. I really did feel for both Aggi and Max, because even though some time had passed, I could tell that they were both still suffering, they were a major part in each other’s lives, but now couldn’t even talk to each other? I did like how Rufener gave us the slow build-up of them both working their way back to each other, it was hard to try and trust each other once more, especially with your dad filling your head with things and threatening Max in the first place. But most of all I liked the secondary characters in Grace, Dr Nelson, Henry, and Ume, they really came through when Max and Aggi needed them the most and their parents weren’t there for them. However, one thing I didn’t like was the dramatics towards the end of the story, yes, I understood that Aggi’s parents were grieving in their own way, but the way they treated Aggi and Grace I didn’t appreciate at all. This issue aside, I did enjoy Since We Last Spoke overall.
April 1, 2019
Maybe 3.5...
March 29, 2020
I'm sorry, but this book didn't really work for me.
I didn't have who knows what expectations, but at least I thought it'd be an enjoyable read that would deal with important topics.
I couldn't really connect with our two main characters. I was more interested in Henry's love life and family situation than in Aggy and Max's love story (btw, Henry is such a cutie pie!).
Most of the book was quite flat in my opinion. Nothing really happened. And when something did happen, then it felt like it was completely irrelevant or unnecessary.
I really felt for what Aggy, Max and their families went and still are going through and I think the author gives us some good glimpses at what the characters are feeling, but .
I didn't have who knows what expectations, but at least I thought it'd be an enjoyable read that would deal with important topics.
I couldn't really connect with our two main characters. I was more interested in Henry's love life and family situation than in Aggy and Max's love story (btw, Henry is such a cutie pie!).
Most of the book was quite flat in my opinion. Nothing really happened. And when something did happen, then it felt like it was completely irrelevant or unnecessary.
I really felt for what Aggy, Max and their families went and still are going through and I think the author gives us some good glimpses at what the characters are feeling, but .
November 12, 2019
This was just what I needed to read. A super heartfelt contemporary that deals with grief and two families just trying to survive after a tragedy. Oh and a slow burn romance never hurt anyone.
TW: loss of a family member, grief, suicide
TW: loss of a family member, grief, suicide
March 29, 2020
This book wasn’t bad but neither it was beautiful. I think that the author did an amazing job with the main topic of this book: grieving. She shows how people react in different ways to it.
What I didn’t like about this novel was that for almost 70% of it nothing really happened. I couldn’t understand what Rufener was trying to deliver.
Lastly, I would like to say that the ending was too rushed. The entire story was really slow and in the end the last two chapters that interest me the most are just 10 pages. I would have preferred seeing more about how things turned out and developed instead of a very small explanation.
Anyway, I liked reading this book and I think it was well-written, so if you’d like to read it, try it!
What I didn’t like about this novel was that for almost 70% of it nothing really happened. I couldn’t understand what Rufener was trying to deliver.
Lastly, I would like to say that the ending was too rushed. The entire story was really slow and in the end the last two chapters that interest me the most are just 10 pages. I would have preferred seeing more about how things turned out and developed instead of a very small explanation.
Anyway, I liked reading this book and I think it was well-written, so if you’d like to read it, try it!
February 9, 2021
VERY sad and depressing, and the parents of both Max and Aggie were the literal WORST.
March 23, 2021
Где-то до середины книги книга читалась немного нудновато, но затем наступил кульминационный момент книги, и до конца книга читалась с одного захода. Тема смерти старших братьев-сестер и последующая вражда между семьями не нова в литературе, но автору удалось убедительно написать об этом. Родители обвинили по сути ни за что в аварии Кейт и последующей смерти Кела. Плюс, к этому добавились проблемы с алкоголем, с контролем у отца Кейт и Эгги, приведшее к судебному запрету о приближении на определенное расстояние. Не понравилось, что в книге была показана только одна сторона конфликта подробно, родители Кейт и Эгги, их причины отстраненности друг к другу и дочерям, а про родителей Макса и Кела не было так подробно раскрыто. Повествование от лица двух героев дает нам понять их чувства и переживания обоих героев, понять мотивы их поведения, как на протяжении всего повествования они не теряли попыток восстановить общение, и их сплотила одна проблема – исчезновение младшей сестры Эгги и ее благополучное спасение Максом.
В принципе, тема, поднятая в книге, актуальна в данное время и будет интересна для читателей. Я думаю, она даст понять родителям, что нужно разговаривать со своими детьми, чтобы вовремя распознать у них депрессию и суицидальные мысли, а также заметить, что ребенок нуждается в помощи, поддержки и общении со своими самыми близкими людьми – родителями.
В принципе, тема, поднятая в книге, актуальна в данное время и будет интересна для читателей. Я думаю, она даст понять родителям, что нужно разговаривать со своими детьми, чтобы вовремя распознать у них депрессию и суицидальные мысли, а также заметить, что ребенок нуждается в помощи, поддержки и общении со своими самыми близкими людьми – родителями.
April 2, 2019
This was a hard book to read subject wise but you know that's a possibility by the blurb on the back. I kept putting the book down but then almost instantly picking it back up because I had to know what happened. I didn't cry until the end of the book at which point I started sobbing. It's the type of book that I hope everyone will read. It brings to light things people don't always want to talk about but should. Grief should never be bottled up. Teen readers and adults readers will both get a lot from this book.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 20, 2018
Aggi and Max’s story is proof of love’s power to transcend all things, even unspeakable grief and tragedy. Rufener handles topics such as love, loss, and grief with a deft and steady hand, intermingling moments of humor and warmth as two families learn to navigate the tragedy that’s intertwined them forever. Be sure to put this on your TBR list, especially if you’re a fan of Rufener’s well-drawn and complex characters from her debut, WHERE I LIVE.
March 21, 2020
Review for our Booksrealwhenshared bookclub pick of the month - March 2020.
I really had high hopes for this book but sadly they were not satisfied. I thought this book was going to be an angsty YA, full of forbidden love and families trying to overcome grief, and for a certain part it was, but at the same time I felt like it was dragging for far too long (even though this is a under 300 page book).
I felt like the main ship was not so strong because we really see little of them together, and their conversations are reduced to a minimum. I expected a little bit more from a book that seems to talk about two people who haven't talked in a while due to their families' fight.
It seems to me that the main focus, the two of them, was sacrificed to a plot that follows any other person or situation beside the issue between the main characters.
I also really like to point out to check the trigger warning for this book before picking it out because from the general plot all of them aren't really specified. I say this because I really would have liked to know some of them beforehand.
What I liked about this book and the reason I gave it 3 full stars is the way it deals with the theme of grief. I think it was portrayed in a very realistic way, raw to the right amount and altogether real.
This delicate matter was really well dealt with in my opinion.
I'm sad I had higher expectations, but maybe this is me expecting more, not the book's fault.
I really had high hopes for this book but sadly they were not satisfied. I thought this book was going to be an angsty YA, full of forbidden love and families trying to overcome grief, and for a certain part it was, but at the same time I felt like it was dragging for far too long (even though this is a under 300 page book).
I felt like the main ship was not so strong because we really see little of them together, and their conversations are reduced to a minimum. I expected a little bit more from a book that seems to talk about two people who haven't talked in a while due to their families' fight.
It seems to me that the main focus, the two of them, was sacrificed to a plot that follows any other person or situation beside the issue between the main characters.
I also really like to point out to check the trigger warning for this book before picking it out because from the general plot all of them aren't really specified. I say this because I really would have liked to know some of them beforehand.
What I liked about this book and the reason I gave it 3 full stars is the way it deals with the theme of grief. I think it was portrayed in a very realistic way, raw to the right amount and altogether real.
This delicate matter was really well dealt with in my opinion.
I'm sad I had higher expectations, but maybe this is me expecting more, not the book's fault.
May 28, 2021
I will really try to hold back but this book is one of the worst books I have ever read. I couldn’t finish it. The plot is all over the place and the two main characters have NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! I kept hearing stories of the past that had nothing to do with the story or the scene. Honestly this book is a hallmark of failed tension building and manufactured tension. I found myself saying no, this isn’t funny anymore when ANOTHER interruption came to the scene. Having flashbacks to the past can be a great way of explaining behaviours, arcs and characterisation but this failed! I ended up skipping them after they didn’t provide me with anything new, I honestly didn’t care about them at all!
I was so excited to read this as the plot had some really interesting views but they weren’t followed through. Almost every conversation that a character had happened in their head with every possibility thought through but then NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN!!! The characters thought one way and then acted another everytime! I get teenagers can be like that but everytime! It just got so stupid, forced and honestly made me mad!
No hate to the author tho! This one just really pushed my buttons!!!!!!!!!!
I would give it a half star if I could
I was so excited to read this as the plot had some really interesting views but they weren’t followed through. Almost every conversation that a character had happened in their head with every possibility thought through but then NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN!!! The characters thought one way and then acted another everytime! I get teenagers can be like that but everytime! It just got so stupid, forced and honestly made me mad!
No hate to the author tho! This one just really pushed my buttons!!!!!!!!!!
I would give it a half star if I could
Want to read
April 15, 2019
Blog Tour + Giveaway (intl!): Since We Last Spoke by Brenda Rufener
Since We Last Spoke explores grief, family dynamics, love that needs a reboot, and small town intricacies, all while growing up. Sounds right up my alley, right? I couldn't help but think of other books I've read this year with similar themes and how powerful they've been. Check out some of my fav 2019 releases to pick up when you're through with Since We Last Spoke (and the book hangover). Plus, enter the international giveaway!
Recent Book Releases to Read When You Finish Since We Last Spoke
Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson (and all Abigail, basically!) - See my review here!
Opposite of Always by Justin Reynolds
The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson
Bloom by Kevin Panetta, with art by Savanna Ganucheau
Giveaway
Prize: Two signed copies are up for grabs during the Bookstagram & Creative Tour for SINCE WE LAST SPOKE by Brenda Rufener! Enter the rafflecopter below to enter! (You can also head over to Instagram and follow the #SinceWeLastSpokeMTMC hashtag for more chances to win!)
(side note: I have won books through MTMC and it is THE BEST)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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This review was originally posted on BookCrushin
January 31, 2021
Bei diesem Jugendbuch hat es etwas gedauert, bis ich mit ihm warm geworden bin.
Das lag auch ein wenig an Brenda Rufeners Schreibstil. Ich hatte von Anfang an irgendwie das Gefühl, dass sie an vielen Stellen nicht so richtig das formulieren konnte, was sie tatsächlich ausdrücken wollte. Dadurch hatte ich zu Beginn immer das Gefühl, etwas überlesen zu haben und nicht ganz mitzukommen.
Im Laufe der Geschichte legte sich das aber und die Geschichte wurde zu dem Film in meinem Kopf, den ich erwartet hatte.
Was mir auch etwas Schwierigkeiten bereitet hat, war, dass die männliche Hauptfigur Max ein etwas pikantes Problem hatte. Er leidet mit seinen 17 Jahren nämlich an Erektionsstörungen. Irgendwie fand ich das in einem Jugendbuch unpassend. Nennt mich spießig, aber ich finde, die Familien hatten in dem Buch so viele Probleme, da hätte das irgendwie nicht sein müssen.
Das Drama in diesem Buch war wirklich hart. Die Familienverhältnisse hier sind so verworren und traurig, dass es mich wirklich berührt hat. Oft wollte ich in die Seiten greifen und die Eltern der Kinder mal kräftig durchschütteln und ihnen sagen, dass sie sich zusammenreißen müssen.
Max und Aggi waren tolle Figuren. Aggi hätte ich mir an einigen stellen etwas weniger passiv gewünscht, aber es war trotzdem schön, ihr Gefühlschaos zu verfolgen.
Auch die Nebenfiguren Henry und Umé waren super. Sie bildeten mit den Hauptfiguren genau die richtige Dynamik.
Etwas schade fand ich, dass die Geschichte hauptsächlich an einem Tag spielt. Dadurch haben sich manchmal doch einige Längen eingeschlichen, die nicht hätten sein müssen.
Aber trotz der Anlaufschwierigkeiten habe ich die Figuren im Laufe des Lesens echt lieb gewonnen und war dann voll in der Geschichte drin.
Wie sich hier mit Trauer auseinander gesetzt wird, ist doch recht lebensnah und für Jugendliche trotzdem nicht zu heftig.
Brenda Rufener hat hier ein außergewöhnliches Buch geschrieben, das mehr ist als eine typische Liebesgeschichte.
Zu guter Letzt muss ich noch sagen, dass ich das deutsche Cover und auch den Titel zwar wunderschön finde, beides aber kaum etwas mit der Geschichte zu tun hatten und ich finde, hier hätte man den Originalen treu bleiben sollen.
Das lag auch ein wenig an Brenda Rufeners Schreibstil. Ich hatte von Anfang an irgendwie das Gefühl, dass sie an vielen Stellen nicht so richtig das formulieren konnte, was sie tatsächlich ausdrücken wollte. Dadurch hatte ich zu Beginn immer das Gefühl, etwas überlesen zu haben und nicht ganz mitzukommen.
Im Laufe der Geschichte legte sich das aber und die Geschichte wurde zu dem Film in meinem Kopf, den ich erwartet hatte.
Was mir auch etwas Schwierigkeiten bereitet hat, war, dass die männliche Hauptfigur Max ein etwas pikantes Problem hatte. Er leidet mit seinen 17 Jahren nämlich an Erektionsstörungen. Irgendwie fand ich das in einem Jugendbuch unpassend. Nennt mich spießig, aber ich finde, die Familien hatten in dem Buch so viele Probleme, da hätte das irgendwie nicht sein müssen.
Das Drama in diesem Buch war wirklich hart. Die Familienverhältnisse hier sind so verworren und traurig, dass es mich wirklich berührt hat. Oft wollte ich in die Seiten greifen und die Eltern der Kinder mal kräftig durchschütteln und ihnen sagen, dass sie sich zusammenreißen müssen.
Max und Aggi waren tolle Figuren. Aggi hätte ich mir an einigen stellen etwas weniger passiv gewünscht, aber es war trotzdem schön, ihr Gefühlschaos zu verfolgen.
Auch die Nebenfiguren Henry und Umé waren super. Sie bildeten mit den Hauptfiguren genau die richtige Dynamik.
Etwas schade fand ich, dass die Geschichte hauptsächlich an einem Tag spielt. Dadurch haben sich manchmal doch einige Längen eingeschlichen, die nicht hätten sein müssen.
Aber trotz der Anlaufschwierigkeiten habe ich die Figuren im Laufe des Lesens echt lieb gewonnen und war dann voll in der Geschichte drin.
Wie sich hier mit Trauer auseinander gesetzt wird, ist doch recht lebensnah und für Jugendliche trotzdem nicht zu heftig.
Brenda Rufener hat hier ein außergewöhnliches Buch geschrieben, das mehr ist als eine typische Liebesgeschichte.
Zu guter Letzt muss ich noch sagen, dass ich das deutsche Cover und auch den Titel zwar wunderschön finde, beides aber kaum etwas mit der Geschichte zu tun hatten und ich finde, hier hätte man den Originalen treu bleiben sollen.
April 1, 2019
Rating: 3.5 Stars
The lives of the Franks and the Grangers had been intertwined for two generations, but they become unraveled after both families lose a child.
This was a portrait of families crumbling under the pain of grief and loss. It showed how grief can be all consuming and how it can leech into all areas life.
My heart broke for these families. What a devastating loss they suffered. Rufener did a beautiful job capturing all those emotions, and I was hit in the feels over and over again as I read this story.
But it wasn't just the emotional punch she delivered, Rufener also managed to show so many different ways that people grieve and deal with loss. The adults in these families were kind of on the extreme side, while the children seemed to be doing a bit better, but suffering more due to absent parents.
The central focus was on Aggie and Max, who had more or less loved each other their whole lives, but were ripped apart when their parents began playing the blame game with respect to their siblings' deaths.
I was able to feel their emptiness, pain, and heartache as they tried to find their way back to each other. I so wanted them to defy their parents, and I was grateful that their best friends plotted to get them back together.
This was kind of a heavy book. The characters are drowning in their sadness, and it sort of consumed me as well, but there were some bright spots.
• Dr. Nelson was a surrogate mother to Aggie's younger sister, Grace, and a mentor to Aggie. I found her to be a good and stable presence, where Aggie really needed one.
• Heart of gold Henry was Max's best friend, and I think he was the voice of optimism in this story. It was quite apparent that Henry's home life was garbage, yet he always kept his head up and gave his love to those who needed it. I definitely had a soft spot for him.
• Ume was the kind of friend everyone needs. She was loyal and would probably help you hide the body if you needed her to, because that was the kind of friend she was.
Overall: A heartbreaking tale of grief, loss, and the need to heal.
The lives of the Franks and the Grangers had been intertwined for two generations, but they become unraveled after both families lose a child.
This was a portrait of families crumbling under the pain of grief and loss. It showed how grief can be all consuming and how it can leech into all areas life.
My heart broke for these families. What a devastating loss they suffered. Rufener did a beautiful job capturing all those emotions, and I was hit in the feels over and over again as I read this story.
But it wasn't just the emotional punch she delivered, Rufener also managed to show so many different ways that people grieve and deal with loss. The adults in these families were kind of on the extreme side, while the children seemed to be doing a bit better, but suffering more due to absent parents.
The central focus was on Aggie and Max, who had more or less loved each other their whole lives, but were ripped apart when their parents began playing the blame game with respect to their siblings' deaths.
I was able to feel their emptiness, pain, and heartache as they tried to find their way back to each other. I so wanted them to defy their parents, and I was grateful that their best friends plotted to get them back together.
This was kind of a heavy book. The characters are drowning in their sadness, and it sort of consumed me as well, but there were some bright spots.
• Dr. Nelson was a surrogate mother to Aggie's younger sister, Grace, and a mentor to Aggie. I found her to be a good and stable presence, where Aggie really needed one.
• Heart of gold Henry was Max's best friend, and I think he was the voice of optimism in this story. It was quite apparent that Henry's home life was garbage, yet he always kept his head up and gave his love to those who needed it. I definitely had a soft spot for him.
• Ume was the kind of friend everyone needs. She was loyal and would probably help you hide the body if you needed her to, because that was the kind of friend she was.
Overall: A heartbreaking tale of grief, loss, and the need to heal.
June 20, 2020
Rating: 3 stars
Aggi Frank and Max Granger were in love. Then, an accident that killed both of their older siblings drove the two families apart. Now, a restraining order and threats loom over the family, preventing Max and Aggi from seeing each other. Then, on one fateful night, Aggi and Max push past those boundaries and rekindle their feelings for each other. In Brenda Rufener's Since We Last Spoke , follow the path of two grief stricken teens as they find each other again.
Since We Last Spoke was depressing. That's what I kept thinking the entire time I read this novel. I was even too sad to see the "beauty" of finding your lover, even in the midst of grief. Really, this novel seemed a bit unrealistic to me, and it was just in the way Rufener wrote and presented her story. There were parts that were too chaotic to read or too bland to read. I was equally part bored, confused, depressed, and interested throughout the entirety of Since We Last Spoke . The overall idea of the story was good, and that's why I gave it 3 stars. Otherwise, it was too sappy, too depressing, and at points, too confusing. I did read the entire story, though, so that's got to count for something.
I recommend Since We Last Spoke for fans of Jennifer Niven, Deb Caletti, and Nicholas Sparks. I recommend this novel for fans of realistic fiction and YA fiction. It's an easy read.
Happy reading!
Aggi Frank and Max Granger were in love. Then, an accident that killed both of their older siblings drove the two families apart. Now, a restraining order and threats loom over the family, preventing Max and Aggi from seeing each other. Then, on one fateful night, Aggi and Max push past those boundaries and rekindle their feelings for each other. In Brenda Rufener's Since We Last Spoke , follow the path of two grief stricken teens as they find each other again.
Since We Last Spoke was depressing. That's what I kept thinking the entire time I read this novel. I was even too sad to see the "beauty" of finding your lover, even in the midst of grief. Really, this novel seemed a bit unrealistic to me, and it was just in the way Rufener wrote and presented her story. There were parts that were too chaotic to read or too bland to read. I was equally part bored, confused, depressed, and interested throughout the entirety of Since We Last Spoke . The overall idea of the story was good, and that's why I gave it 3 stars. Otherwise, it was too sappy, too depressing, and at points, too confusing. I did read the entire story, though, so that's got to count for something.
I recommend Since We Last Spoke for fans of Jennifer Niven, Deb Caletti, and Nicholas Sparks. I recommend this novel for fans of realistic fiction and YA fiction. It's an easy read.
Happy reading!
January 14, 2021
Darum gehts: Aggi und Max kennen sich seit sie klein sind, ihre Familien wohnen nebeneinander und sind eng miteinander verbandelt, wie eine Großfamilie. Irgendwann erkennen Aggi und Max, dass zwischen ihnen definitiv mehr als Freundschaft besteht.. alles ist perfekt, bis zu dem Zeitpunkt, als beide Familien vom Schicksal schwer getroffen werden.. und Aggi auf einmal kein Wort mehr mit Max reden darf.
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Herzweh. Ganz viel Herzweh und Mitgefühl. Das ist das, was ich von diesem Buch mitnehme… Ich verstehe die Angst und die Verzweiflung und die Trauer, obwohl ich so gesegnet bin und noch nie jemanden mir wirklich nahe stehenden verloren habe. Im Buch werden die einzelnen Schritte und unterschiedlichen Prozesse der Trauerverarbeitung sehr behutsam und nachvollziehbar dargestellt.. und das ist berührend und gleichzeitig beängstigend. Verzweiflung verändert die Menschen.
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Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Aggi und Max kommt mir eher vor wie ein Mittel zum Zweck. Die Geschichte der beiden steht symbolisch für alles Unausgesprochene, für die Probleme, die bewältigt werden wollen, für die fehlende Nähe, für die Lösung der inneren Konflikte der Figuren. Denn wie das Buch ausgeht, ist von Anfang an klar. Nur der Weg dorthin, das ist das Besondere.
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Und jaaaa es gibt trotz der Schwere der Thematik genug Leichtigkeit in diesem Buch, genug Grund mit zu lachen und zu weinen und mit zu leben. Die meist gut versteckte Romantikerin in mir wurde auch zufrieden gestellt. Alles in allem eine sehr gelungene Geschichte, die ich jedem, der kein Fan von übertriebenem Kitsch ist, aber manchmal eine gute Portion davon braucht, ohne schlechtem Gewissen ans Herz legen kann.
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Herzweh. Ganz viel Herzweh und Mitgefühl. Das ist das, was ich von diesem Buch mitnehme… Ich verstehe die Angst und die Verzweiflung und die Trauer, obwohl ich so gesegnet bin und noch nie jemanden mir wirklich nahe stehenden verloren habe. Im Buch werden die einzelnen Schritte und unterschiedlichen Prozesse der Trauerverarbeitung sehr behutsam und nachvollziehbar dargestellt.. und das ist berührend und gleichzeitig beängstigend. Verzweiflung verändert die Menschen.
･
Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Aggi und Max kommt mir eher vor wie ein Mittel zum Zweck. Die Geschichte der beiden steht symbolisch für alles Unausgesprochene, für die Probleme, die bewältigt werden wollen, für die fehlende Nähe, für die Lösung der inneren Konflikte der Figuren. Denn wie das Buch ausgeht, ist von Anfang an klar. Nur der Weg dorthin, das ist das Besondere.
･
Und jaaaa es gibt trotz der Schwere der Thematik genug Leichtigkeit in diesem Buch, genug Grund mit zu lachen und zu weinen und mit zu leben. Die meist gut versteckte Romantikerin in mir wurde auch zufrieden gestellt. Alles in allem eine sehr gelungene Geschichte, die ich jedem, der kein Fan von übertriebenem Kitsch ist, aber manchmal eine gute Portion davon braucht, ohne schlechtem Gewissen ans Herz legen kann.
May 7, 2019
This was incredibly heavy with grief - it practically made the book itself feel heavier. I think a deep and total exploration of grief absolutely has a place in teen lit, but I wish there had been more here. This story only spanned a day or two, with most of it being in one night, and the timing of it all just felt funky. All of the parents in this were the literal worst with really questionable parenting choices that were baseline abusive and while I know and understand this can be real life, it still didn't sit well. There was ultimately some good things going on here, but take care while navigating these parent/child relationships.
October 17, 2021
Ein gutes Buch für zwischendurch über Liebe, Trauer und Verlust.
Der Buchinhalt dreht sich um ein paar wenige Tage, in denen Aggi und Max, die beiden Protagonisten, versuchen mit einer großen Trauer zurecht zu kommen und ihr Leben wieder in die richtige Richtung zu lenken. Die Geschichte war sanft, mich hat es jedoch ein wenig gestört, dass es so viele Rückblenden gab. Eigentlich gab es fast mehr Rückblenden als Aktivitäten im Hier und Jetzt. Und diese Rückblenden haben tatsächlich fast immer dasselbe beschrieben. Vielleicht wäre es etwas besser gewesen mit der Handlung früher einzusteigen und alles im Hier und Jetzt zu erklären. Dennoch war es eine angenehme Geschichte, über die feinen Bänder der ersten Liebe.
Der Buchinhalt dreht sich um ein paar wenige Tage, in denen Aggi und Max, die beiden Protagonisten, versuchen mit einer großen Trauer zurecht zu kommen und ihr Leben wieder in die richtige Richtung zu lenken. Die Geschichte war sanft, mich hat es jedoch ein wenig gestört, dass es so viele Rückblenden gab. Eigentlich gab es fast mehr Rückblenden als Aktivitäten im Hier und Jetzt. Und diese Rückblenden haben tatsächlich fast immer dasselbe beschrieben. Vielleicht wäre es etwas besser gewesen mit der Handlung früher einzusteigen und alles im Hier und Jetzt zu erklären. Dennoch war es eine angenehme Geschichte, über die feinen Bänder der ersten Liebe.
December 1, 2019
This book was so scathingly mediocre. I didn’t have high hopes as this was a book I picked up on a whim, but it was just so....meh.
The two main characters were boring and flat, plus they didn’t really have distinctive personalities.
In my brain, they were just sad dude with erectile disfunction and sad girl with mildly abusive parents.
The side characters weren’t well fleshed out which made them feel fake. Their personalities were also told to us and not shown. For instance, Ume was told to be very charing and sweet but that was always told to us via flashback or monologue by one of the main characters.
The two main characters were boring and flat, plus they didn’t really have distinctive personalities.
In my brain, they were just sad dude with erectile disfunction and sad girl with mildly abusive parents.
The side characters weren’t well fleshed out which made them feel fake. Their personalities were also told to us and not shown. For instance, Ume was told to be very charing and sweet but that was always told to us via flashback or monologue by one of the main characters.
December 5, 2020
Wow I didn't realize how dark this book was going to be and boy did I cry at the end. I really liked how the Romeo and Juliet storyline was weaved into this plot. I loved both Max and Aggi and it was nice to see Max's perspective and how he longed to be with Aggi. I feel like a lot of Young Adult tends to focus on the girl missing the guy more. I really liked their friends and despite how everyone was going through their own things they were still there for each other. The ending was what made this 5 stars for me. This was a sad book about dealing with loss but also showing that their can still be happiness.
September 3, 2019
Ultimately this was a sweet story, but I think I would've enjoyed it more had it just been one POV. It felt too much like we were hearing the exact same things from both characters and there wasn't enough difference in their voices to keep me from getting confused.
May 15, 2021
"Du hast gesagt, wir sind zwei Sterne" hat mir eine Schülerin ausgeliehen. Ich kann verstehen, dass Jüngere Gefallen an der Geschichte finden. Als erwachsene Leserin war für mich leider sehr viel vorhersehbar und der Plot hat einige langwierige Stellen, die man dichter hätte erzählen können.
May 2, 2019
This entire story happened over the course of a few days, but it just seemed to keep going on and on.
Aggi's dad was extremely abusive and it was definitely extremely painful and hard to read about. Both sets of parents were being incredibility childish and needed to just handle things a different way.
The way the Aggi and Max's friends were pretending that either of them existed was just wrong, and didn't really seem like something friends would do.
Overall, this just seemed like a short book that didn't really intrigue me too much. I'm sad this book disappointed me because I was really looking forward to it.
Aggi's dad was extremely abusive and it was definitely extremely painful and hard to read about. Both sets of parents were being incredibility childish and needed to just handle things a different way.
The way the Aggi and Max's friends were pretending that either of them existed was just wrong, and didn't really seem like something friends would do.
Overall, this just seemed like a short book that didn't really intrigue me too much. I'm sad this book disappointed me because I was really looking forward to it.
May 10, 2021
TW: talks of suicide, loss of a loved one, etc
January 27, 2022
there was SO much potential. all of it went unresolved.
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