What do you think?
Rate this book
Look Closer
When mysterious messages begin appearing, Tegan has the chance to save people’s lives...but can she also save herself?
Ever since Tegan's father died while serving overseas, she's been numb. But then seemingly random names start to appear in unlikely places—a cereal box, a windowsill, a food wrapper. As Tegan begins to track down people with those names, she sees a pattern begin to form: The names she sees point to people who will die that same day.
Then Tegan meets a mysterious friend of one of the dead, and they begin a desperate attempt to save these people from their fate. Tegan changes lives that summer, just like her father used to. But can she change her own?
Ever since Tegan's father died while serving overseas, she's been numb. But then seemingly random names start to appear in unlikely places—a cereal box, a windowsill, a food wrapper. As Tegan begins to track down people with those names, she sees a pattern begin to form: The names she sees point to people who will die that same day.
Then Tegan meets a mysterious friend of one of the dead, and they begin a desperate attempt to save these people from their fate. Tegan changes lives that summer, just like her father used to. But can she change her own?
289 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2019
18 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 16, 2019
Rating: 3.5 Stars
A story of grief and healing with a magical touch.
I enjoyed my journey with Tegan, and though the incorporation of messages from "beyond" was an interesting way to help jump start her healing. There were a lot of beautiful messages in this book about seeing what's in front of you, living in the moment, and not waiting for the threat of death in order to decide to live.
I found Tegan very likable, and loved all the swimming stuff. You could tell how much it meant to her, when she related the way being in the water made her feel. I also really enjoyed, when she shared her memories of her father with us. Her time with him may have been rather short, but the bond they shared was strong, and he passed on a lot to her, which would serve her well for the rest of her life.
I also found the romance very sweet. Edge was a rather complicated boy with quite a bit of drama in his life. They shouldn't have worked, but some reason, they did.
The epilogue was a nice treat. It provided enough closure to make me happy, and I liked the direction Tegan was moving in.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
A story of grief and healing with a magical touch.
I enjoyed my journey with Tegan, and though the incorporation of messages from "beyond" was an interesting way to help jump start her healing. There were a lot of beautiful messages in this book about seeing what's in front of you, living in the moment, and not waiting for the threat of death in order to decide to live.
I found Tegan very likable, and loved all the swimming stuff. You could tell how much it meant to her, when she related the way being in the water made her feel. I also really enjoyed, when she shared her memories of her father with us. Her time with him may have been rather short, but the bond they shared was strong, and he passed on a lot to her, which would serve her well for the rest of her life.
I also found the romance very sweet. Edge was a rather complicated boy with quite a bit of drama in his life. They shouldn't have worked, but some reason, they did.
The epilogue was a nice treat. It provided enough closure to make me happy, and I liked the direction Tegan was moving in.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
September 19, 2019
This was too far-fetched even for my imagination and the reader in me who still loves YA. The story is way too fast-paced and gave the impression of huge chunks being skipped over even within the same chapter. Most of the characters were not given the chance to develop and therefore did not add value to the story. The protagonist's mum came across as ditzy and her love interest came across as shady. She and her best friend Jenna also had a terrible 'friendship'.
The romance (if you can even call it that) was unbelievable and progressed too quickly. It felt like the couple went from being strangers to kissing in just a day (I can't be sure of the exact period as time seems irrelevant in this ridiculous book). Also, there was nothing romantic about it. The male lead was shady with his random disappearances and family background. I'll pass.
I actually like how the second last chapter ended but alas, it was a false alarm.
Lots of loose plotlines that were never really addressed. Thankfully it's a short read (probably the book's only merit) so I just ploughed on, but blah!
The romance (if you can even call it that) was unbelievable and progressed too quickly. It felt like the couple went from being strangers to kissing in just a day (I can't be sure of the exact period as time seems irrelevant in this ridiculous book). Also, there was nothing romantic about it. The male lead was shady with his random disappearances and family background. I'll pass.
I actually like how the second last chapter ended but alas, it was a false alarm.
Lots of loose plotlines that were never really addressed. Thankfully it's a short read (probably the book's only merit) so I just ploughed on, but blah!
August 20, 2024
realized after finishing this that i accidentally read the wrong book..oops but wasn’t a fan
May 2, 2020
Good book. Simple, with an uplifting message to appreciate every moment of our lives.
January 6, 2020
3.75 stars
The beginning of this book felt a lot more like "telling" rather than "showing." It seemed like they skipped over a lot of the action in favor of quickly getting to the next plot point. That did change for the most part as the story went along, and they began to show what was going on rather than simply telling it. The book as a whole was interesting enough while I was reading, but it won't be a memorable one for me. It has been only 3 1/2 weeks since I finished this book, and I am already having trouble recalling many of the details about it.
The beginning of this book felt a lot more like "telling" rather than "showing." It seemed like they skipped over a lot of the action in favor of quickly getting to the next plot point. That did change for the most part as the story went along, and they began to show what was going on rather than simply telling it. The book as a whole was interesting enough while I was reading, but it won't be a memorable one for me. It has been only 3 1/2 weeks since I finished this book, and I am already having trouble recalling many of the details about it.
March 12, 2019
Too rushed but promising. Deserves a 2.5, still it lacked effort to go beyond that.
Tega has lost her father and still trying to get over it. She's abandoned competitive swimming and isn't too enthusiastic about college. That's when she starts seeing names of people about to die. As she tries to save those, her life and the way she deals with it also seem to be saved along.
This is a good plot and the main character at least is very easy to relate. In other words, the book was off to a good start. Not that the conclusion wasn't good, it actually was very fitting. If I should point the main issue, it would be lack of editing, or at least good editing. Most of the writing seemed rushed, things happen much too fast for us to get a taste of the events and enjoy everything. I have no idea, but it looked like a first book or maybe one almost right out of a Nano-like speed challenge. I know there was planning but there weren't enough rewritings, perhaps.
On the other hand, I liked the writer and will be reading more from him given the chance. It was far from a bad experience and I will say go ahead if you want to read it, especially to support someone with such a nice and different idea. But it's a pity this didn't get more time to be perfected.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
August 10, 2018
I received this book as an advanced reader's copy due to our readers on the search for new and exciting thrillers and mysteries to add to our fiction collection. When I first read this book, I felt confused due to the fact the book jumped around a lot and was not consistent with the plot. This made it hard to understand and follow and usually those types of books I tend to not finish and deny for our collection. However, in the middle the storyline it started to make sense and pick up in the thriller department and it ended on a much higher note! This book will definitely be an interest on our readers but we are just worried they will be disengaged before the middle. This is why we are giving this book 4 stars!
October 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and it really took a turn on the plane. It confused me a little bit because she is the main character but it made sense.
March 8, 2019
Stewart Lewis is an acclaimed New York Times bestselling author and has written many books that are relatable to teenagers. Stewart is most famous for his book titled YOU HAVE SEVEN MESSAGES. In addition, he is known for his books titled STEALING CANDY and THE SECRET INGREDIENT. Books similar to LOOK CLOSER are MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU THAT SHE IS SORRY by Fredrik Backman and OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse.
Ever since Tegan’s father died overseas in military action Tegan has not been herself at all. She used to be the best on the swim team and looked forward to heading off to college and going to the Olympics but, almost as if by the snap of a finger her attitude and personality changed. Tegan became the outcast, isolating herself from everyone except her best friend who is spending the summer in California. To top it off Tegan’s mother just got remarried and Tegan disapproves of it claiming that even though her mother is happy she still isn't.
One day, while eating her cereal, she sees that the letters on the box are forming the name of a man. Later when Tegan watches the news she realizes that the man died when a building collapsed. Tegan, thinking she had been delusional thought nothing of it until she saw another name in her windowsill, Tom Elliott. This time she reacts by doing a search of all people in her region and is able to locate where Tom Elliott lives. Sure enough, he goes walking out onto the street and Tegan follows him.
Tom ends up going to a train station and as Tegan watches in horror he jumps off the platform right in front of a train and dies. Even though she is traumatized from this experience, she attends Tom’s funeral because she feels responsible for his death. While there she meets Tom’s best friend, Edge, and together they form a close bond.
Tegan starts seeing name after name and eventually she tells Edge about it and together they go out doing their best to save other people’s lives. In the midst of it all, Tegan learns to accept that no matter what happens you cannot let something stop you to reach your fullest potential. In addition, she slowly begins waking up and enjoying life again once more now that she has found a good purpose.
When I first started reading this book I was not sure where it was going to lead to but as I continued to read it became more interesting and intriguing. As a reader, I enjoyed this book completely and could not think of anything that could have been changed to make it better than it already was. In addition, this book was a great example to show that no matter how many bad things happen to you, you can always get back to your feet and to where you were.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is fond of books with action, cliffhangers, romance and suspense. LOOK CLOSER definitely was a page-turner to read that made me wonder with anticipation about what would happen next. In addition, I strongly suggest this book because not only was a good book to read but it also carried an important message.
Ever since Tegan’s father died overseas in military action Tegan has not been herself at all. She used to be the best on the swim team and looked forward to heading off to college and going to the Olympics but, almost as if by the snap of a finger her attitude and personality changed. Tegan became the outcast, isolating herself from everyone except her best friend who is spending the summer in California. To top it off Tegan’s mother just got remarried and Tegan disapproves of it claiming that even though her mother is happy she still isn't.
One day, while eating her cereal, she sees that the letters on the box are forming the name of a man. Later when Tegan watches the news she realizes that the man died when a building collapsed. Tegan, thinking she had been delusional thought nothing of it until she saw another name in her windowsill, Tom Elliott. This time she reacts by doing a search of all people in her region and is able to locate where Tom Elliott lives. Sure enough, he goes walking out onto the street and Tegan follows him.
Tom ends up going to a train station and as Tegan watches in horror he jumps off the platform right in front of a train and dies. Even though she is traumatized from this experience, she attends Tom’s funeral because she feels responsible for his death. While there she meets Tom’s best friend, Edge, and together they form a close bond.
Tegan starts seeing name after name and eventually she tells Edge about it and together they go out doing their best to save other people’s lives. In the midst of it all, Tegan learns to accept that no matter what happens you cannot let something stop you to reach your fullest potential. In addition, she slowly begins waking up and enjoying life again once more now that she has found a good purpose.
When I first started reading this book I was not sure where it was going to lead to but as I continued to read it became more interesting and intriguing. As a reader, I enjoyed this book completely and could not think of anything that could have been changed to make it better than it already was. In addition, this book was a great example to show that no matter how many bad things happen to you, you can always get back to your feet and to where you were.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is fond of books with action, cliffhangers, romance and suspense. LOOK CLOSER definitely was a page-turner to read that made me wonder with anticipation about what would happen next. In addition, I strongly suggest this book because not only was a good book to read but it also carried an important message.
Read
November 27, 2024I chose the book "Look Closer" by Stewart Lewis. The book has themes such as grief, romance, Young adults, and healing. In the first couple of chapters, Tegan is struggling and tells us the names that she's seen on cereal boxes and signs. After Witnessing something horrific, her whole perspective of the names changes. She develops new friendships, She learns the importance of communication and putting herself in unpleasant situations. She even lets herself find romance. The story reveals her and her mother's relationship and how it improved. She also gains closure when she finds a letter from her father before his passing, then the book ends with her going back to her home and leaving her love interest behind. The main themes of the book are discovering new truths in life, Grief, and healing. The main idea of this book is self-discovery. This is the main idea because the storyline of the book reflects on many people's lives and shows how they react to change and if they are willing to adapt to it and accept it. The main characters of the book are Tegan, Edge, and her mom. Tegan is a teenage girl who is grieving the loss of her father and is also getting used to her new stepfather Larry, and is also spending her summer in Washington D.C, In the story we learn that she's passionate about swimming but stopped due to feelings of grief. In the book, she learns the importance of family and connection and goes back to doing the hobby she loves most. She even lets herself find romance. Tegan's mother. Once a widow but moved on to Tegan's stepfather Larry, grows throughout this book when she and Tegan fix their bond that was dented due to her choice to marry again. Another main character is Edge, Edge lost his friend due to suicide and meets Tegan at his friend's funeral, both relate and connect because of the things they can relate to. Edge grows in this book by overcoming obstacles and letting himself live even though he is experiencing grief. The book did have a connection to my life. This book made me realize that Change is not to be feared but accepted. If you don't learn to adapt to change and let yourself live during hard times, once change appears in your life you will be so focused on the negative you won't acknowledge the positive effects that change can have in your life. I like that the book covers sensitive themes in such an understanding manner. One thing I dislike about the book is that it's a bit short and could have been written longer. I wonder why there was no consideration for a sequel. Another book would have been nice to show what happened between Tegan and Edge in the future, and if she's doing better with the grief she once felt. The book is great for readers who want something interesting but not too long and overwhelming.
February 22, 2019
Giving this five stars because 1. Surprisingly... I don’t like books that I can’t put down it completely distracts me from the outside world. This was a book that I couldn’t wait to pick back up but could stop reading at any moment if that makes sense. 2. It was such a fun quick read. It took me about 3 days to finish. 3. This is the type of book that I would read by the pool on a hot summer day or on a train. I loved the love interest for Tegan. It ads a little spark to the book. The only thing I didn’t like was that it flopped around from past to present a lot. However you got to see how important her dad was to her. 4. This is a book about overcoming loss and finding your way while trying to be the best person you can be. 5. I learned from this book that anything can happen to anyone at any moment and you should always treat everyone as if it’s their last day on earth. Towards the end of the book I was shook for a second and then after reading more I was okay and liked the real ending it was sweet.
August 7, 2018
Ever since Tegan's dad died in military action, she's felt displaced. She has no interest in eating and she's quit the swim team that she used to love. She's isolated herself from all but one of her friends. But one day, names start to appear in random places. She begins tracking these people down and discovers that each name she sees means that person is slated to die that very same day. Tegan slowly begins waking up and enjoying life again as she finds a purpose.
This was an enjoyable young adult book about learning to pay attention to the people around you and to be present. When Tegan begins to engage in life again, she sees all sorts of people that she's previously overlooked and realizes that they each have value.
This was an enjoyable young adult book about learning to pay attention to the people around you and to be present. When Tegan begins to engage in life again, she sees all sorts of people that she's previously overlooked and realizes that they each have value.
August 22, 2022
I read this with my 11 year old for her summer reading - she chose it out of the YA section (she is a mature 11 year old and doesn't mind serious subject matters). Although we enjoyed the excitiment in the writing and subject matter, finding it sparked some good mother / daughter discussion about depression and grief, we both found that some of the details were not necessary....detailing the drug usage of the homeless man for example was probably too much for this age (maybe ok for the typical YA age of 13-17 but I would suggest not needed at all). Additionally, the author may have been trying too hard to be relevant with young adults, as neither my daughter or I thought that it needed so much swearing (bitch, pussy, etc.) probably not necessary.
January 26, 2026
A think a good summery of this was it was very dry. It wasn’t bad though. There just seemed to be a lack of depth where it was needed. And because it was dry, everything that happened seemed fast. For example, something bad would happen to our main character, she would barely reflect on it and just move on to the next situation and the story continued on in that pattern. However the overall message of the story was sweet and thoughtful. You have to make it through most of the book and then you begin to realize what the whole point of the story is. The message was good and I think I liked the second half of the book the most,
I just really struggled with the dry writing style but overall I’m glad read this.
I just really struggled with the dry writing style but overall I’m glad read this.
December 21, 2021
After reading the back of the book, I had such high expectations...and in all honesty, it fell short. Stewart Lewis could be a poet, the way he strung together sentences that spoke directly to my heart. Having also lost my father, everything Tegan was going through was undeniably relatable. But the story line was quick paced and sadly didn't keep me interested in the way I had hoped for. There is so much potential in this book and Stewart Lewis really put so much thought and emotion into the story, but I was left wanting more, left feeling like there was something missing.
November 1, 2018
I wasn't sure about this when I started it; I'd heard good things, but the blurb didn't really grab me. I was dead wrong, no pun intended. This is a great, quick read about a girl who drags herself out of grief by sheer force of will. The romance is, of course, just about insta-love, but it wasn't too grating on this one.
A very enjoyable read, and I'll be looking out for more by the author.
Receiving an ARC did not alter my review in any way.
A very enjoyable read, and I'll be looking out for more by the author.
Receiving an ARC did not alter my review in any way.
June 26, 2021
I loved this book because it created a realization of possible way people handle grief and brings and teen age perspective on one of the many ways. A normal teenage girl Teagan loses her father who is a part of the navi after not even getting to say goodbye before his mission. Throughout the book you see Teagan grow and change as she understands that it is okay to move on and still to continue to do the things she loves like swimming.
January 2, 2022
This book feels like it was written by a 60 year old white gay man poorly trying to write from the perspective of a 17 year old girl….oh wait! It was!
Ok so like this book was just really cringe and the dialogue was so unrealistic and the pace was so unnatural
I have to admit…I did get this book from the dollar store so perhaps i had my hopes up too high
Hoping that 2022 brings me no more 2 star books
Ok so like this book was just really cringe and the dialogue was so unrealistic and the pace was so unnatural
I have to admit…I did get this book from the dollar store so perhaps i had my hopes up too high
Hoping that 2022 brings me no more 2 star books
April 4, 2023
The death of a parent is never easy. After losing her Dad Teagan is devastated and withdraws from life. Finding herself again and learning what it means to keep going creates one of the best stories I have read in a long time. This book is definitely going into the library and is now at the top of YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK list.
February 13, 2019
My daughter gave me this as a Valentine's day present and I read it in two sittings. What a nice blend of magical realism, dealing with grief, teen romance, getting back on your horse and how the power of love outlasts the human condition. All in all a terrific and extremely satisfying read.
August 7, 2023
It took me what felt like forever to finish this book. It just was blah, very anticlimactic. This probably will not be a book that I’ll be reading again. I figured the grey guy was just the symbolism for death, as that is a conversation. I probably wouldn’t recommended this book to friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2019
The writing seemed like it was easy enough for even me to write this book myself. If this was Stewart Lewis’ first book, it definitely showed. The writing was fast-paced, almost like he didn’t care about any scenes enough to write about for more than 2 pages. He didn’t describe enough, the dialogue between characters was first grade level. I would’ve DNF it, but it was going by so fast that I might as well have finished the book.
December 6, 2019
It was a okay book but it was not my type. Wish it was but the mystery books don't always please me. Hope that some on likes it. Read on!!
May 31, 2020
Great story enjoyed reading.
February 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! I’m shocked to see all of the bad reviews.
January 16, 2022
AMAZING
February 27, 2022
This book did not get good reviews but I really enjoyed it. It was an easy read, that became a page Turner.
Read
May 3, 2022pretty good, i enjoy it. take kinda log to get to the good part though overall 9.5/10
August 28, 2022
It was an okay read. I wish it would've explained what or who that ghost man was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2022
good book, well written. a little repetitive, some things go unanswered which is what gets me. slight plot twist at the end but then smooths out
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews