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The Arrival of Someday
In this heartfelt and emotionally candid contemporary YA, author Jen Malone delves into the life of a teen whose world is brought to an abrupt halt when she learns she’s in dire need of an organ transplant.
Hard-charging and irrepressible eighteen-year-old Amelia Linehan could see a roller derby opponent a mile away—and that’s while crouched down, bent over skates, and zooming around a track at the speed of light. They don’t call her Rolldemort for nothing! What she couldn’t see coming, however, was the unexpected flare-up of a rare liver disorder she was born with. But now it’s the only thing she—and everyone around her—can think about.
With no guarantee of a viable organ transplant, everything Amelia’s been sure of—like her college plans, the mural she’d been commissioned to paint, or the possibility of one day falling in love—has become a huge question mark, threatening to drag her down into a sea of what-ifs she’s desperate to avoid.
Then a friend from the past shows up. With Will, it’s easy to forget about what’s lurking underneath the lightness of their time together. It’s easy to feel alive when all signs point elsewhere. On the other hand, with the odds decidedly not in her favor, Amelia knows this feeling couldn’t last forever. But what can?
Hard-charging and irrepressible eighteen-year-old Amelia Linehan could see a roller derby opponent a mile away—and that’s while crouched down, bent over skates, and zooming around a track at the speed of light. They don’t call her Rolldemort for nothing! What she couldn’t see coming, however, was the unexpected flare-up of a rare liver disorder she was born with. But now it’s the only thing she—and everyone around her—can think about.
With no guarantee of a viable organ transplant, everything Amelia’s been sure of—like her college plans, the mural she’d been commissioned to paint, or the possibility of one day falling in love—has become a huge question mark, threatening to drag her down into a sea of what-ifs she’s desperate to avoid.
Then a friend from the past shows up. With Will, it’s easy to forget about what’s lurking underneath the lightness of their time together. It’s easy to feel alive when all signs point elsewhere. On the other hand, with the odds decidedly not in her favor, Amelia knows this feeling couldn’t last forever. But what can?
343 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2019
38 people are currently reading
5404 people want to read
About the author
Jen Malone
18 books532 followersI once spent a year traveling the world solo from Nepal to Romania to Fiji, where I learned 99.9% of humanity is pretty freaking awesome yet somehow doesn't share my love of ice cubes in a drink. I met my husband on the highway, literally. In fact our meet-cute was SO cute we had a whole story written about it in Ladies Home Journal. My twin boys placed second in the Most Identical contest at the International Festival of Twins. Their little sister placed first in the most adorable contest at the All The People In Our Living Room Festival. I once accompanied a pajama-clad Oprah Winfrey (and her puppies) through the laundry room of the Four Seasons. I have also been in a hotel room alone with a shirtless Mark Wahlberg. In both those instances, it was not what you think. Oh, and I went into early labor while on Stevie Nicks' tour bus. That is pretty much what you think.
Here's the more official bio:
Jen Malone writes fun and flirty YA travel romances with HarperCollins and humorous "girl power" MG adventures with Simon & Schuster. She once spent a year traveling the world solo, met her husband on the highway (literally), and went into labor with her identical twins while on a rock star's tour bus. These days she saves the drama for her books. You can learn more about Jen and her books at www.jenmalonewrites.com. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @jenmalonewrites.
Here's the more official bio:
Jen Malone writes fun and flirty YA travel romances with HarperCollins and humorous "girl power" MG adventures with Simon & Schuster. She once spent a year traveling the world solo, met her husband on the highway (literally), and went into labor with her identical twins while on a rock star's tour bus. These days she saves the drama for her books. You can learn more about Jen and her books at www.jenmalonewrites.com. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @jenmalonewrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
May 17, 2019
Oh boy. That was a tearjerker.
But sooooo good.
And yea, synopsis is wrong. There's no romance. Nobody comes in and saves the dying girl with his love. But Will is awesome either way.
But sooooo good.
And yea, synopsis is wrong. There's no romance. Nobody comes in and saves the dying girl with his love. But Will is awesome either way.
April 1, 2019
The Arrival of Someday is a very emotional, very realistic novel that has all of the feels - yet has so much charm and wit that you won't help but find yourself falling in love with all of its characters, no matter the gloom that follows the story.
Amelia was born with a liver disease that hasn't ever been an issue until now. Until its become so very real, so very scary, very fast. From the very first page I loved Amelia's voice. Her personality and wit makes it impossible to dislike her. She's got a lot of crap to deal with, and you can feel her anger, her despair, and also her passion for life. She wants to live, she has so many plans, so many wants and hopes. The emotional aspect of this story is a kind of slow burn that you get to experience it with Amelia You find yourself feeling all the same ups and downs of this unfair situation.
Amelia is not the only character you'll get to love. Her family plays a big role in this story, and each of them will carve their way into your heart as well. Her dad was my favorite with his dorky jokes and fun-loving spirit. He offered some much needed comic relief that gave the book a perfect amount of light-heartedness. Her brother was also a good character even though he was present mostly indirectly via phone calls and Words With Friends plays. Aside from family, Amelia's best friend, Sibby, is a great character with a big personality and a ton of presence in this story. She goes through the same emotional turmoil as Amelia but in her own way that doesn't necessarily mesh well with her friend at first. I loved that this whole cast was such a big part of the story. It gave it a lot of depth and plenty of heart. There's also a dash of romance that makes it all so bittersweet - but romance is not the essence of the story. Don't expect The Fault In Our Stars type of romantic tragedy in here.
Intensely poignant and heartbreaking, The Arrival of Someday, while being an incredibly compelling story, also touches on an important subject matter that helps raise awareness to the fact that we all have the ability to save a life. Being an organ donor can give someone like Amelia a second chance. I recommend this to every contemporary YA fan!
Amelia was born with a liver disease that hasn't ever been an issue until now. Until its become so very real, so very scary, very fast. From the very first page I loved Amelia's voice. Her personality and wit makes it impossible to dislike her. She's got a lot of crap to deal with, and you can feel her anger, her despair, and also her passion for life. She wants to live, she has so many plans, so many wants and hopes. The emotional aspect of this story is a kind of slow burn that you get to experience it with Amelia You find yourself feeling all the same ups and downs of this unfair situation.
Amelia is not the only character you'll get to love. Her family plays a big role in this story, and each of them will carve their way into your heart as well. Her dad was my favorite with his dorky jokes and fun-loving spirit. He offered some much needed comic relief that gave the book a perfect amount of light-heartedness. Her brother was also a good character even though he was present mostly indirectly via phone calls and Words With Friends plays. Aside from family, Amelia's best friend, Sibby, is a great character with a big personality and a ton of presence in this story. She goes through the same emotional turmoil as Amelia but in her own way that doesn't necessarily mesh well with her friend at first. I loved that this whole cast was such a big part of the story. It gave it a lot of depth and plenty of heart. There's also a dash of romance that makes it all so bittersweet - but romance is not the essence of the story. Don't expect The Fault In Our Stars type of romantic tragedy in here.
Intensely poignant and heartbreaking, The Arrival of Someday, while being an incredibly compelling story, also touches on an important subject matter that helps raise awareness to the fact that we all have the ability to save a life. Being an organ donor can give someone like Amelia a second chance. I recommend this to every contemporary YA fan!
May 20, 2019
4.5 stars
I love books that make me cry. I also love books that can make me smile. And The Arrival of Someday had me doing both. I often call books uplifting. The Arrival of Someday goes past uplifting (though, that fits too) and is totally inspiring. It is surprising (that ending literally come out of nowhere and smacked me across the face), it is fun (simply a pleasure to sit down with and enjoy), and it combines everything I love about really good YA contemporary fiction - family, friendship and self-realisation.
Lia loves a good cause. Raising awareness, taking on the school board, even a good rally. She also loves roller derby and it’s for good reason they call her Rolldemort. With early entry into her college of choice, a mural competition awarded and awaiting completion and her best friend Sibby by her side, Lia’s life is good. Until she discovers that her liver disease, something she has had all her life, worsens and leaves Lia needing a liver transplant - and soon. Lia must navigate the transplant waiting list while trying to decide how she feels about putting some things in her life on hold and sorting out her family and friends’ reactions to her diagnosis.
Written in first person, The Arrival of Someday places the reader directly in Lia’s head and invites them to share her journey. While centred around the undeniably traumatic process of diagnosis, waiting on a transplant list and fear of an uncertain future, The Arrival of Someday has an upbeat and enjoy-the-sunshine tone. That’s thanks mostly to Lia herself. No moping for her. She’s going to continue living her life even if it kills her (and yes, she’s well aware of how many sayings bring up death). Lia and her best friend Sibby (who’s Aussie and is awesome) take no prisoners. They triumph on and off the roller derby court, yet the routine of their friendship is challenged by Lia’s diagnosis and the different ways in which they girls decide to face the challenge ahead. Watching the girls work through these changes, challenge each other and also simply enjoy each other’s company was a wonderful part of this book.
I do love a good bit of romance in books and yet I was really happy that there wasn’t all that much romance in this book. Even calling it romance seems a bit of a stretch. It’s more like light-hearted flirting and it is exactly what Lia and this book needs. Instead of romantic love, The Arrival of Someday is focused around familial love. Lia has a great relationship with her parents but the waiting forces them to open up about how they love each other, how they process things, how they cope - forcing them to speak things that might otherwise go unsaid.
Organ donation is obviously a key theme of this book and is championed by all the characters, especially Sibby. The author’s note reveals how much extra care and detail is hidden in the story, including character names honouring the names of donors and people who have been instrumental in supporting and raising awareness of organ donation and the lives it saves.
I know my library readers will love this book and it’s going to be easy to give to readers who enjoy tear-jerkers and beautifully inspiring books. The Arrival of Someday will easily sit alongside books written by Abigail Johnson, Francesca Zappia and Jeff Zentner.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
I love books that make me cry. I also love books that can make me smile. And The Arrival of Someday had me doing both. I often call books uplifting. The Arrival of Someday goes past uplifting (though, that fits too) and is totally inspiring. It is surprising (that ending literally come out of nowhere and smacked me across the face), it is fun (simply a pleasure to sit down with and enjoy), and it combines everything I love about really good YA contemporary fiction - family, friendship and self-realisation.
Lia loves a good cause. Raising awareness, taking on the school board, even a good rally. She also loves roller derby and it’s for good reason they call her Rolldemort. With early entry into her college of choice, a mural competition awarded and awaiting completion and her best friend Sibby by her side, Lia’s life is good. Until she discovers that her liver disease, something she has had all her life, worsens and leaves Lia needing a liver transplant - and soon. Lia must navigate the transplant waiting list while trying to decide how she feels about putting some things in her life on hold and sorting out her family and friends’ reactions to her diagnosis.
Written in first person, The Arrival of Someday places the reader directly in Lia’s head and invites them to share her journey. While centred around the undeniably traumatic process of diagnosis, waiting on a transplant list and fear of an uncertain future, The Arrival of Someday has an upbeat and enjoy-the-sunshine tone. That’s thanks mostly to Lia herself. No moping for her. She’s going to continue living her life even if it kills her (and yes, she’s well aware of how many sayings bring up death). Lia and her best friend Sibby (who’s Aussie and is awesome) take no prisoners. They triumph on and off the roller derby court, yet the routine of their friendship is challenged by Lia’s diagnosis and the different ways in which they girls decide to face the challenge ahead. Watching the girls work through these changes, challenge each other and also simply enjoy each other’s company was a wonderful part of this book.
I do love a good bit of romance in books and yet I was really happy that there wasn’t all that much romance in this book. Even calling it romance seems a bit of a stretch. It’s more like light-hearted flirting and it is exactly what Lia and this book needs. Instead of romantic love, The Arrival of Someday is focused around familial love. Lia has a great relationship with her parents but the waiting forces them to open up about how they love each other, how they process things, how they cope - forcing them to speak things that might otherwise go unsaid.
Organ donation is obviously a key theme of this book and is championed by all the characters, especially Sibby. The author’s note reveals how much extra care and detail is hidden in the story, including character names honouring the names of donors and people who have been instrumental in supporting and raising awareness of organ donation and the lives it saves.
I know my library readers will love this book and it’s going to be easy to give to readers who enjoy tear-jerkers and beautifully inspiring books. The Arrival of Someday will easily sit alongside books written by Abigail Johnson, Francesca Zappia and Jeff Zentner.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
July 30, 2019
The Arrival of Someday is a Young Adult contemporary novel. It is my third book by this author. I have previously read Wanderlost and Changes in Latitudes.
The narrator is 18 year old Amelia/Lia (1st person POV). She is a senior in high school. The book is divided into three parts. The story is set in Massachusetts.
The book starts off with Lia and her best friend Sibby. We get to see their Roller derby team. I really wish that this had been a bigger focus of the book. As I loved this aspect of the story.
Lia loves art. Most especially chalkboard art. I also really enjoyed this aspect of the story.
Something is wrong with Amelia (read the book blurb if you want more details). This is a big focus of this story.
After finishing this book I am a bit confused about the title and cover. The cover is super cutesy. And honestly that is not really what this book is at all. This story does have entertaining aspects. But the story is heartbreaking and important. And I am not convinced that this cover goes with this story.
At the end of the book is an author's note, which actually really clarifies a lot of the choices that the author made. I am happy that she included this as I was a bit surprised before I read it.
I feel like this book is probably not for younger teens. The main character is 18. And it is not that she is doing mature things. But the subject matter is a difficult one.
This story felt realistic and meaningful. The topic was such an important one This book was compelling and there was a lot to like. There was a bit of romance. But there were also some sad and emotional parts. But overall it was a really good read.
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.
The narrator is 18 year old Amelia/Lia (1st person POV). She is a senior in high school. The book is divided into three parts. The story is set in Massachusetts.
The book starts off with Lia and her best friend Sibby. We get to see their Roller derby team. I really wish that this had been a bigger focus of the book. As I loved this aspect of the story.
Lia loves art. Most especially chalkboard art. I also really enjoyed this aspect of the story.
Something is wrong with Amelia (read the book blurb if you want more details). This is a big focus of this story.
After finishing this book I am a bit confused about the title and cover. The cover is super cutesy. And honestly that is not really what this book is at all. This story does have entertaining aspects. But the story is heartbreaking and important. And I am not convinced that this cover goes with this story.
At the end of the book is an author's note, which actually really clarifies a lot of the choices that the author made. I am happy that she included this as I was a bit surprised before I read it.
I feel like this book is probably not for younger teens. The main character is 18. And it is not that she is doing mature things. But the subject matter is a difficult one.
This story felt realistic and meaningful. The topic was such an important one This book was compelling and there was a lot to like. There was a bit of romance. But there were also some sad and emotional parts. But overall it was a really good read.
Thanks to edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.
July 22, 2019
“I wish it didn’t have to be like this: all or nothing. I wish I didn’t have to chase highs to try and banish the lows. I wish normal could be good enough.”I wasn’t expecting to become so immediately hooked to Lia’s story, but I just couldn’t put The Arrival of Someday down. We follow Lia Linehan, proud activist and roller derby enthusiast, as she must face her need for a liver transplant. Lia is determined to stay strong and renounce all pity directed her way, but soon learns that distractions aren’t always the best ways to evade your problems.
Things I Liked
I really enjoyed the hints of romance between Lia and Will. It’s mostly just flirting, with nothing too heavy or distracting, but I did enjoy it and I appreciate that it didn’t pull focus from Lia’s journey and growth.
It was such a small thing in the story, but Lia’s Words with Friends game with her brother was super endearing to me. It helped show the basis for their relationship and I loved that the words they used were relevant to the plot.
This story had such strong family moments and I was here for each one of them. Allowing yourself to confront your emotions from here mom and embracing the unknowing and the ‘whys’ of life with her dad. They were all so good and showed how much they cared for each other.
There was this great conversation about bravery vs bravado that was super intriguing. The internal vs external notions of courage and how your self view influences your reactions for life’s uncertainties.
Things I Didn’t Like
Some of the activism things in the story were a bit cheesy, especially Lia and Sibby fighting the dress code. I loved that they both fight for what they believe in and to right injustices of all kinds, but it was a little heavy handed at times.
The ending didn’t hit me like I expected. Or at least not right away. I appreciate how realistic and honest it was, but my immediate reaction was indifference, I think. But on reflection, I think I have a more emotional reaction. But there was a weird and unexpected disconnect I hadn’t expected to experience.
Though I did have some emotional distance from the ending of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed The Arrival of Someday. It’s a journey of personal acceptance and embracing the right to say “I don’t know” to life’s questions.
July 31, 2024
10:30 at night and I'm SOBBING 😭😭😭
This is one of those stories that I think everyone should read it at least once.
This is one of those stories that I think everyone should read it at least once.
July 24, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight .
My heart! Oh, this book gave me the feels. But not all the feels were of a depressing sort, not even close! For a book about a very ill young woman, it manages to be incredibly heartwarming and uplifting. Lia faces an incredibly difficult battle, one that upends her life. She needs a liver. And they're not exactly selling them at Target.
The story focuses not just on Lia's health though. Obviously, it's a big part of it, and we'll get to that. But her journey is about so much more. It's how her plans have to shift now that her body isn't cooperating. It's how her relationships have to grow and change and evolve. It's readjusting her outlook on life in general, with or without a transplant. It's a lot, basically.
And luckily, Lia has some great people in her corner. Her best friend is one of my favorite characters, she's so charming and funny, and even though she and Lia have a few tiffs, you can clearly tell that her heart is always in the right place. Lia's family is equally incredible. I found her relationship with her brother (kind of distant, but you know they both absolutely care for and love each other) refreshingly honest. And her parents, wow. They're like, you know, good parents who'd move heaven and earth for their kid. And as Lia faces the unknown, she begins to realize how deep their love- and hers for them- goes. There's not really romance here either, just a really good friendship with some extra feelings of "maybe". Which I feel was a really good choice for the story. Regardless, her more-than-a-friend-? is a fabulous guy, and he cares for Lia no matter in what capacity. Plus, he cares about the whole family, which earns him points in my book.
One of the big takeaways from the book is how complex organ donation is. There's a bit of a plot point about making sure kids at school signed up and such, and while the method may have been a wee bit hokey, the message is good enough that I can overlook it. Point is, organ donation is a literal crapshoot. Luck of the draw. Did your blood type match that guy who just got hit by a car? It's your lucky day! And that, at it's crux, is the hardest to accept- if Lia wants an organ, it's going to be someone else's worst day.
And not enough people are organ donors. Hence why Lia remains ill for so long. Obviously, not every cause of death lends itself to organ donation. But if the unthinkable happened, I'd like to know that someone like Lia could benefit, even from the worst possible situation.
Bottom Line: An incredibly touching and heartfelt book, Jen Malone has written another book I won't soon forget!
My heart! Oh, this book gave me the feels. But not all the feels were of a depressing sort, not even close! For a book about a very ill young woman, it manages to be incredibly heartwarming and uplifting. Lia faces an incredibly difficult battle, one that upends her life. She needs a liver. And they're not exactly selling them at Target.
The story focuses not just on Lia's health though. Obviously, it's a big part of it, and we'll get to that. But her journey is about so much more. It's how her plans have to shift now that her body isn't cooperating. It's how her relationships have to grow and change and evolve. It's readjusting her outlook on life in general, with or without a transplant. It's a lot, basically.
And luckily, Lia has some great people in her corner. Her best friend is one of my favorite characters, she's so charming and funny, and even though she and Lia have a few tiffs, you can clearly tell that her heart is always in the right place. Lia's family is equally incredible. I found her relationship with her brother (kind of distant, but you know they both absolutely care for and love each other) refreshingly honest. And her parents, wow. They're like, you know, good parents who'd move heaven and earth for their kid. And as Lia faces the unknown, she begins to realize how deep their love- and hers for them- goes. There's not really romance here either, just a really good friendship with some extra feelings of "maybe". Which I feel was a really good choice for the story. Regardless, her more-than-a-friend-? is a fabulous guy, and he cares for Lia no matter in what capacity. Plus, he cares about the whole family, which earns him points in my book.
One of the big takeaways from the book is how complex organ donation is. There's a bit of a plot point about making sure kids at school signed up and such, and while the method may have been a wee bit hokey, the message is good enough that I can overlook it. Point is, organ donation is a literal crapshoot. Luck of the draw. Did your blood type match that guy who just got hit by a car? It's your lucky day! And that, at it's crux, is the hardest to accept- if Lia wants an organ, it's going to be someone else's worst day.
And not enough people are organ donors. Hence why Lia remains ill for so long. Obviously, not every cause of death lends itself to organ donation. But if the unthinkable happened, I'd like to know that someone like Lia could benefit, even from the worst possible situation.
Bottom Line: An incredibly touching and heartfelt book, Jen Malone has written another book I won't soon forget!
Read
November 29, 2019Nothing's guaranteed.
Amelia lives life to the fullest. The world is this roller derby queen's oyster - until the world comes crashing down around her. After the unexpected flare-up of her rare liver disorder, nothing is the same. With no guarantee of a viable liver transplant, her whole future - college, the mural she's been commissioned to paint, even the possibility of falling in love, might have to be put on hold. Just as Amelia falls into a void of hopelessness, the reappearance of an old friend provides just the distraction she needs. As her life continues to spiral in a storm of "what ifs", she must learn to live with the impossibility of not knowing what's going to happen next.
A story of reality and its limitless possibilities. What happens when the rest of your life becomes a giant question mark.
Trigger warning for illness, grief, and talk of death.
Tough and irrepressible, Amelia lived a vivid life full of hopes and dreams. Passion and freedom brilliantly coursed through her, making it impossible not to feel the gut punch at the re-emergence of her rare liver disorder right along with her. Harrowing as it was to watch Amelia struggle with the tolls it took on every aspect of her life, it was equally beautiful to see her process it and adjust to her new reality. I found myself cheering the chalk artist on with every victory and set back she encountered.
Terrifying as life gets, we don't have to face seemingly inevitable fates alone. From Amelia's parents to her brother Alex, from her best friend Sibby to Will, Amelia had a core group of people supporting her in every way possible. A perfect combination of steady and goofy, Amelia's parents were willing to move the Sun and the Earth for their daughter. They were the YA parents of dreams. Encouraging and concerned, Alex knew exactly what Amelia needed. Outspoken and a fellow feminist, Sibby's heart practically swelled out of her chest, even if she couldn't quite understand what Amelia was going through. A true sweetheart, Will was exactly the distraction Amelia needed. Even though they were all going through the same devastation, their experiences with grief differed and broke them in ways unique to their personalities. The supporting cast was well drawn and realistic.
When I began this book, I knew it would take my heart, but I was unprepared for it to take the journey it did. Stepping into Amelia's life was inspiring as it made me re-evaluate the life I take for granted. Amelia's first-hand account of grief was full of moments that were both healing and heart shattering. Incredibly raw, Jen Malone's prose painted a picture of pain, shock, desperation, and ultimately hope. Truly sobering, she explored all the ways people experience the same situation, the different ways grief manifests, and the hard won journey regaining your life in the wake of tragedy. Reading through tears, both good and bad, it was impossible to put this book down. The author's note at the end made this masterpiece even more touching.
There is no day like today to read The Arrival of Someday.
Amelia lives life to the fullest. The world is this roller derby queen's oyster - until the world comes crashing down around her. After the unexpected flare-up of her rare liver disorder, nothing is the same. With no guarantee of a viable liver transplant, her whole future - college, the mural she's been commissioned to paint, even the possibility of falling in love, might have to be put on hold. Just as Amelia falls into a void of hopelessness, the reappearance of an old friend provides just the distraction she needs. As her life continues to spiral in a storm of "what ifs", she must learn to live with the impossibility of not knowing what's going to happen next.
A story of reality and its limitless possibilities. What happens when the rest of your life becomes a giant question mark.
Trigger warning for illness, grief, and talk of death.
Tough and irrepressible, Amelia lived a vivid life full of hopes and dreams. Passion and freedom brilliantly coursed through her, making it impossible not to feel the gut punch at the re-emergence of her rare liver disorder right along with her. Harrowing as it was to watch Amelia struggle with the tolls it took on every aspect of her life, it was equally beautiful to see her process it and adjust to her new reality. I found myself cheering the chalk artist on with every victory and set back she encountered.
Terrifying as life gets, we don't have to face seemingly inevitable fates alone. From Amelia's parents to her brother Alex, from her best friend Sibby to Will, Amelia had a core group of people supporting her in every way possible. A perfect combination of steady and goofy, Amelia's parents were willing to move the Sun and the Earth for their daughter. They were the YA parents of dreams. Encouraging and concerned, Alex knew exactly what Amelia needed. Outspoken and a fellow feminist, Sibby's heart practically swelled out of her chest, even if she couldn't quite understand what Amelia was going through. A true sweetheart, Will was exactly the distraction Amelia needed. Even though they were all going through the same devastation, their experiences with grief differed and broke them in ways unique to their personalities. The supporting cast was well drawn and realistic.
When I began this book, I knew it would take my heart, but I was unprepared for it to take the journey it did. Stepping into Amelia's life was inspiring as it made me re-evaluate the life I take for granted. Amelia's first-hand account of grief was full of moments that were both healing and heart shattering. Incredibly raw, Jen Malone's prose painted a picture of pain, shock, desperation, and ultimately hope. Truly sobering, she explored all the ways people experience the same situation, the different ways grief manifests, and the hard won journey regaining your life in the wake of tragedy. Reading through tears, both good and bad, it was impossible to put this book down. The author's note at the end made this masterpiece even more touching.
There is no day like today to read The Arrival of Someday.
October 24, 2019
5 HUMUNGOUS STARS
I need to read everything Jen Malone has ever written. STAT.
THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY is one of the bravest novels I’ve ever read.
Lia, a kick-ass roller derby star, born with a liver condition, suddenly needs a transplant. The high school senior is used to being the strong one, not the sick one. The last thing she wants is to be the poster child for organ transplant, though her best friend has other ideas. Unable to bear losing Lia, Sibby campaigns to sign as many potential donors as possible, at the expense of Lia’s privacy.
Don’t read spoilers or too many reviews before diving into THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY. You don’t want to accidentally discover parts of the story.
Lia is such a powerful character, feminist to the core. Aside from the athleticism and physical abilities, I identified with her a lot. I have a chronic illness, I’ve had cancer and I recently broke my clavicle. I understood Lia not wanting her illness to be the focus of her relationships or to be seen as The Sick One in a very personal way.
THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY is feminist novel, not only because women hold positions of power (doctors, coaches, the school principal) but also because these women championed the girls and women around them. I also adored Lia’s family and her relationship with her dad-joke telling father and immigration attorney mother.
As someone who knows a lot about transplants and organ donation, I wish Malone has delved deeper into why Lia likely wasn’t eligible for a directed donation.
THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY is a book I will reread.
I need to read everything Jen Malone has ever written. STAT.
THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY is one of the bravest novels I’ve ever read.
Lia, a kick-ass roller derby star, born with a liver condition, suddenly needs a transplant. The high school senior is used to being the strong one, not the sick one. The last thing she wants is to be the poster child for organ transplant, though her best friend has other ideas. Unable to bear losing Lia, Sibby campaigns to sign as many potential donors as possible, at the expense of Lia’s privacy.
Don’t read spoilers or too many reviews before diving into THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY. You don’t want to accidentally discover parts of the story.
Lia is such a powerful character, feminist to the core. Aside from the athleticism and physical abilities, I identified with her a lot. I have a chronic illness, I’ve had cancer and I recently broke my clavicle. I understood Lia not wanting her illness to be the focus of her relationships or to be seen as The Sick One in a very personal way.
THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY is feminist novel, not only because women hold positions of power (doctors, coaches, the school principal) but also because these women championed the girls and women around them. I also adored Lia’s family and her relationship with her dad-joke telling father and immigration attorney mother.
As someone who knows a lot about transplants and organ donation, I wish Malone has delved deeper into why Lia likely wasn’t eligible for a directed donation.
THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEDAY is a book I will reread.
October 8, 2019
This was very readable and poignant and hits you in the feels in various points. I'm giving it 3 stars. It feels like a harsh rating for a book that pulled me in, but did I love it enough to read it again down the road? No. So no 5 stars were forthcoming.
But why not a 4 stars rating, you ask? It came down to politics that got it docked a whole second star. If not for politics, this could've been a solid 4 star read for me. Here's the issue that authors need to understand: we read to escape reality, even if it's in a contemporary. I loathe politics in my reads and I will always slash my stars for it's appearance no matter how minor the infraction. I know, I should just never pick up anything but fantasy of that's how I feel, but I like a contemporary every now and then to cleanse the literary palate. I
Now onto the actual story...
Every now and then I like to pick up a book that portrays the hard parts of life, the dark things that happen that need to be brought into the light. I read them to enlighten myself and so I can recommend them to others for the same reason. I'm grateful to the authors that are brave enough to tackle these topics in their writing. We need more books like Speak (which deals with rape & how it affects the victim), The Sun is Also a Star (deportation), The Fault in Our Stars (tackling life with cancer). These are topics that suck, but they also need to be heard. And now we have this, The Arrival of Someday, talking about the desperation of those needing organ transplants & the need for more donors to save lives. All books mentioned are great at portraying these gritty topics, and I know there's many more out there I need to read.
Will you need tissues? Yes. For books like these the answer is always: YES.
I thought this book gave us a fair idea of the fear & stress & uncertainty of those in desperate need of a transplant. But I imagine it's barely scratching the surface of that awful reality. What this book is, is a glimpse. A little window into that terrifying world. This book's job is to make us aware how fragile these lives are and what a desperate shortage there is in comparison to the number in need. This is a book with a cause behind it. And that is a thing of beauty.
As for the story telling itself, it was well thought out, and as stated earlier, pulled me right in. I loved Lia and her bestie Sibby. Their friend dynamic was so supportive and fun, though it had some hiccups due to things I totally adored Lia's goofball adorkable dad. He was the best! And Lia's back and forths with her brother Alex on Words with Friends was a funny and unique thing to add into the story. I really liked that touch of authenticity between sibs. I used to do that with mine all the time :)
Other unique touches that I appreciated and found refreshing were Lia's hobbies: roller derby & chalk board artwork. I've never read about a character having such unique tastes and roller derby sounds totally fun! Also all the Aussie slang from Sibby was hilarious and loved every interaction with her.
I was seriously stressed out for the first half of the book when Lia & Sibby were keeping things from each other, but thankfully they worked out their issues and I enjoyed the second half much better for that!
The way things ended I thought was very realistically handled and really helped drive home the reality of this situation for so many people and the possibilities of how things can turn out for them.
It's a very sobering read, but I recommend it. Seriously have a couple tissues on hand though for some tough spots *sniffles*
But why not a 4 stars rating, you ask? It came down to politics that got it docked a whole second star. If not for politics, this could've been a solid 4 star read for me. Here's the issue that authors need to understand: we read to escape reality, even if it's in a contemporary. I loathe politics in my reads and I will always slash my stars for it's appearance no matter how minor the infraction. I know, I should just never pick up anything but fantasy of that's how I feel, but I like a contemporary every now and then to cleanse the literary palate. I
Now onto the actual story...
Every now and then I like to pick up a book that portrays the hard parts of life, the dark things that happen that need to be brought into the light. I read them to enlighten myself and so I can recommend them to others for the same reason. I'm grateful to the authors that are brave enough to tackle these topics in their writing. We need more books like Speak (which deals with rape & how it affects the victim), The Sun is Also a Star (deportation), The Fault in Our Stars (tackling life with cancer). These are topics that suck, but they also need to be heard. And now we have this, The Arrival of Someday, talking about the desperation of those needing organ transplants & the need for more donors to save lives. All books mentioned are great at portraying these gritty topics, and I know there's many more out there I need to read.
Will you need tissues? Yes. For books like these the answer is always: YES.
I thought this book gave us a fair idea of the fear & stress & uncertainty of those in desperate need of a transplant. But I imagine it's barely scratching the surface of that awful reality. What this book is, is a glimpse. A little window into that terrifying world. This book's job is to make us aware how fragile these lives are and what a desperate shortage there is in comparison to the number in need. This is a book with a cause behind it. And that is a thing of beauty.
As for the story telling itself, it was well thought out, and as stated earlier, pulled me right in. I loved Lia and her bestie Sibby. Their friend dynamic was so supportive and fun, though it had some hiccups due to things I totally adored Lia's goofball adorkable dad. He was the best! And Lia's back and forths with her brother Alex on Words with Friends was a funny and unique thing to add into the story. I really liked that touch of authenticity between sibs. I used to do that with mine all the time :)
Other unique touches that I appreciated and found refreshing were Lia's hobbies: roller derby & chalk board artwork. I've never read about a character having such unique tastes and roller derby sounds totally fun! Also all the Aussie slang from Sibby was hilarious and loved every interaction with her.
I was seriously stressed out for the first half of the book when Lia & Sibby were keeping things from each other, but thankfully they worked out their issues and I enjoyed the second half much better for that!
The way things ended I thought was very realistically handled and really helped drive home the reality of this situation for so many people and the possibilities of how things can turn out for them.
It's a very sobering read, but I recommend it. Seriously have a couple tissues on hand though for some tough spots *sniffles*
July 11, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I always think I know what I am getting myself into, when I opt to read a "sick kids" book, but still, I under estimate the emotional toll it will have on me. My advice for reading this book: grab a box of tissues and be ready to shed some tears, because it was painful, while also being really touching and beautiful.
Lia was such an incredible character. I first met her, while she was dominating on the roller derby track, so fierce and commanding. But, she was born with biliary atresia, and knew that, someday, she would need a new liver. Unfortunately, that someday had arrived during her derby practice.
This story followed Lia and her family as they tried to come to terms with Lia's illness and her possible impending death. Yes, very emotional stuff. Being in the head of an eighteen year old as she grappled with her own mortality was extremely difficult at times, but Malone really did a wonderful job with depicting Lia's feelings, and interspersing the heartbreaking moments with some joyful, fun, and lighthearted ones.
I must also comment Malone on how well she explored how Lia's illness affected her loved ones. As a parent, I was especially moved by many of the scenes involving Lia's mother and father. Their pain was palpable. There are tears currently streaming down my face, as I recall the heart-to-heart Lia and her dad shared. It was so incredibly touching, it made my heart physically ache.
This story also covered organ donation, and what the families and patients awaiting an organ may experience. The anxiety and disappointment Lia and her family felt had me feeling really good about the fact that I am a registered organ donor, and have a directive in place to donate my body to science in the event of my death. Although this was a fictional story, it was based upon a real person, and there are many people out there, facing a fate very much like Lia's. I hope that a story like this will inspire others to learn more about organ donation, and perhaps, consider becoming a donor themselves.
I wouldn't call this an easy read. I actually need to thank Shannon for all her emotional support, but it was nonetheless a beautiful story, which really touched my heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I always think I know what I am getting myself into, when I opt to read a "sick kids" book, but still, I under estimate the emotional toll it will have on me. My advice for reading this book: grab a box of tissues and be ready to shed some tears, because it was painful, while also being really touching and beautiful.
Lia was such an incredible character. I first met her, while she was dominating on the roller derby track, so fierce and commanding. But, she was born with biliary atresia, and knew that, someday, she would need a new liver. Unfortunately, that someday had arrived during her derby practice.
This story followed Lia and her family as they tried to come to terms with Lia's illness and her possible impending death. Yes, very emotional stuff. Being in the head of an eighteen year old as she grappled with her own mortality was extremely difficult at times, but Malone really did a wonderful job with depicting Lia's feelings, and interspersing the heartbreaking moments with some joyful, fun, and lighthearted ones.
"Why does a disease only one person is afflicted with get to affect so many people?"
I must also comment Malone on how well she explored how Lia's illness affected her loved ones. As a parent, I was especially moved by many of the scenes involving Lia's mother and father. Their pain was palpable. There are tears currently streaming down my face, as I recall the heart-to-heart Lia and her dad shared. It was so incredibly touching, it made my heart physically ache.
"That's what I want for you, Sunshine. More 'remember-whens'" - Dad to Lia
This story also covered organ donation, and what the families and patients awaiting an organ may experience. The anxiety and disappointment Lia and her family felt had me feeling really good about the fact that I am a registered organ donor, and have a directive in place to donate my body to science in the event of my death. Although this was a fictional story, it was based upon a real person, and there are many people out there, facing a fate very much like Lia's. I hope that a story like this will inspire others to learn more about organ donation, and perhaps, consider becoming a donor themselves.
I wouldn't call this an easy read. I actually need to thank Shannon for all her emotional support, but it was nonetheless a beautiful story, which really touched my heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 15, 2025
At first I was unsure of how I was feeling about the story, but I liked the characters. I liked the realism of death standing, the medical struggle, trying to live a normal life…
And the ending was perfect. Frustrating, heartbreaking, but sadly realistic.
I’m glad I’ve read this book. I recommend if you want a heartache for a few hours after your read.
And the ending was perfect. Frustrating, heartbreaking, but sadly realistic.
I’m glad I’ve read this book. I recommend if you want a heartache for a few hours after your read.
April 19, 2019
Thank you so much to Edelweiss for this eARC that completely took my breath away. I originally requested it because of the badass that Lia (short for Amelia) is. The synopsis for the book tells us she is a roller derby queen, an artist, and a nerd (see her derby name: Rolldemort!) and as such I was completely taken by her character already, and knew she was someone I would connect with. It takes no time to warm up to her, and just as quickly the world as she knows it is quickly pulled out from under her feet when a liver disease she was born with rears its ugly head.
I learned so much from this novel, and not just about biliary atresia (or BA for short). We are taken through the process of organ donation, given so many 'don't you ever wonder' questions to ponder, and regaled with tales about our past presidents. Our cast of characters each have something that they're passionate about, and that passion struggles to stay in its lane as they are all dealt a hand in this grief. Lia refuses to be seen as The Dying Girl. She doesn't want to be anything less than she's ever been; strong, brave, and bold, and so the second that pity enters anyone's eyes, she completely shuts down.
It's a hard battle to watch, both from Lia and her loved one's points of view. For her, she sees this only as something that is her fault. She's causing her brother to come home from college, her parents to lose hope, and her best friend to turn her into a charity case. For everyone else, they are drowning in the fact that there's nothing they can do. They want to rally around her, to put on a brave face, but just the thought of her life going on unfinished is unbearable. So we're left in a very uncomfortable place as Lia attempts to defy her diagnosis and distract those surrounding her from seeing her any differently.
I don't want to spoil the book, but there were so many things that I loved about it that I want to talk a little cryptically about. If any of you are scared of reading this because you've already 'been there, done that' with other books about teenagers grappling with disease, think again. It is so much different than any other book I've read dealing with similar subject matter. There is a bit of a 'flirty' aspect with a boy, but this boy does not come in on a white horse and carry her away from her mortality. He is a strong pillar that holds her up when she is coming unglued, and only when she has made it clear that she needs that. It was so refreshing to not have that be the focus of the narrative, as Lia has so many other things to focus on.
One such thing being her best friend, Sibby. She is Lia's advocate, whether she wants it or not. She, along with Lia's parents and brother Alex, are warriors. They are the net saving Lia from the cold abyss of fear, and their love rips her out of many a panic attack within these pages. The relationships built between friends and family are so important in this book, and reminds us that romantic love isn't the only important love. When you're sick, all you want is for your mom to hold you and bring you soup. You want your best friend to watch reruns of Friends and The West Wing with you. You want normalcy, and I can't imagine that's any different under threat of death.
The ending took me by surprise. I cried from the first sentence of the second to last chapter, and from then on it was just a kind of cathartic release. There's so much tension you pick up on from all of these characters who are walking the line between hope and despair; looking down every once and awhile to see dread in the form of alligators just waiting to tear them to pieces. Sometimes they slip, and the alligators nip off a bit of their foot, or snap very closely to their ankles. There's a constant game of cat and mouse as everyone (the reader included) waits to see Lia's fate.
It's a beautiful, raw, and unabashedly REAL book. It's not sugar-coated, but it also is a bright light of hope, and a strong message to all to get out there and make a difference. You could save a life; maybe even the person's closest to you.
I learned so much from this novel, and not just about biliary atresia (or BA for short). We are taken through the process of organ donation, given so many 'don't you ever wonder' questions to ponder, and regaled with tales about our past presidents. Our cast of characters each have something that they're passionate about, and that passion struggles to stay in its lane as they are all dealt a hand in this grief. Lia refuses to be seen as The Dying Girl. She doesn't want to be anything less than she's ever been; strong, brave, and bold, and so the second that pity enters anyone's eyes, she completely shuts down.
It's a hard battle to watch, both from Lia and her loved one's points of view. For her, she sees this only as something that is her fault. She's causing her brother to come home from college, her parents to lose hope, and her best friend to turn her into a charity case. For everyone else, they are drowning in the fact that there's nothing they can do. They want to rally around her, to put on a brave face, but just the thought of her life going on unfinished is unbearable. So we're left in a very uncomfortable place as Lia attempts to defy her diagnosis and distract those surrounding her from seeing her any differently.
I don't want to spoil the book, but there were so many things that I loved about it that I want to talk a little cryptically about. If any of you are scared of reading this because you've already 'been there, done that' with other books about teenagers grappling with disease, think again. It is so much different than any other book I've read dealing with similar subject matter. There is a bit of a 'flirty' aspect with a boy, but this boy does not come in on a white horse and carry her away from her mortality. He is a strong pillar that holds her up when she is coming unglued, and only when she has made it clear that she needs that. It was so refreshing to not have that be the focus of the narrative, as Lia has so many other things to focus on.
One such thing being her best friend, Sibby. She is Lia's advocate, whether she wants it or not. She, along with Lia's parents and brother Alex, are warriors. They are the net saving Lia from the cold abyss of fear, and their love rips her out of many a panic attack within these pages. The relationships built between friends and family are so important in this book, and reminds us that romantic love isn't the only important love. When you're sick, all you want is for your mom to hold you and bring you soup. You want your best friend to watch reruns of Friends and The West Wing with you. You want normalcy, and I can't imagine that's any different under threat of death.
The ending took me by surprise. I cried from the first sentence of the second to last chapter, and from then on it was just a kind of cathartic release. There's so much tension you pick up on from all of these characters who are walking the line between hope and despair; looking down every once and awhile to see dread in the form of alligators just waiting to tear them to pieces. Sometimes they slip, and the alligators nip off a bit of their foot, or snap very closely to their ankles. There's a constant game of cat and mouse as everyone (the reader included) waits to see Lia's fate.
It's a beautiful, raw, and unabashedly REAL book. It's not sugar-coated, but it also is a bright light of hope, and a strong message to all to get out there and make a difference. You could save a life; maybe even the person's closest to you.
September 8, 2019
It made me cry! I did not expect it, but there I was, crying. Sometimes a good cry is good, it has been a while since my last.
Amelia was born with a liver disease, but it has never really affected here. Until her last year of HS when it gets worse. She needs a liver transplant.
I liked Amelia, she tried so hard to go on with her life. To do the things she loves, painting, hanging out with her bestie. Not to be the dying girl since she felt almost like before anyway. She does not want the pitying looks.
Her best friend Syb tries to rally people to sign up for organ donation. She wants to fight!
An old friend shows up and is a light in darkness, sometimes you need that one person that does not talk about it.
No romance. Just a girl trying to come to terms with the fact that she might not get the liver that she needs to live.
And it made me cry! I had to say that again. It felt so real, she was so real, so normal.
A good book, and about a subject that I have not really read about before. And I realised that so many die every day when they do not get the transplants they need, all because people do not sign up to be donors. It does feel like a real waste.
Narration
The narration did a great job with Amelia, I really was in her head. Her other voices were great too. She made me feel.
Amelia was born with a liver disease, but it has never really affected here. Until her last year of HS when it gets worse. She needs a liver transplant.
I liked Amelia, she tried so hard to go on with her life. To do the things she loves, painting, hanging out with her bestie. Not to be the dying girl since she felt almost like before anyway. She does not want the pitying looks.
Her best friend Syb tries to rally people to sign up for organ donation. She wants to fight!
An old friend shows up and is a light in darkness, sometimes you need that one person that does not talk about it.
No romance. Just a girl trying to come to terms with the fact that she might not get the liver that she needs to live.
And it made me cry! I had to say that again. It felt so real, she was so real, so normal.
A good book, and about a subject that I have not really read about before. And I realised that so many die every day when they do not get the transplants they need, all because people do not sign up to be donors. It does feel like a real waste.
Narration
The narration did a great job with Amelia, I really was in her head. Her other voices were great too. She made me feel.
July 25, 2019
Shit, I really wasn’t expecting that 😭.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2020
this was at times very dark and depressing and the ending broke my heart into a million pieces but i still somehow really enjoyed it.
amelia’s relationship with her parents was my favorite thing, i love how much they loved each other.
i thought will’s character would’ve been more at the forefront but i actually really appreciate that there wasn’t some big romance and the focus really was on amelia and her situation.
kind of hate the ending but also kind of love it??
4 stars
amelia’s relationship with her parents was my favorite thing, i love how much they loved each other.
i thought will’s character would’ve been more at the forefront but i actually really appreciate that there wasn’t some big romance and the focus really was on amelia and her situation.
kind of hate the ending but also kind of love it??
4 stars
July 21, 2019
I can't even imagine what it would feel like to grow up with a disease that you know will make you eventually need a liver transplant. That's Amelia's life. But she's healthy and has been her whole life, basically, so it's something that's vaguely a thing but usually not on her mind. Until, as the title says, someday arrives.
But even now that the need for a transplant is getting closer, she still feels OK for the most part. She's not tired (usually) and she isn't showing signs of jaundice (or, when she does, she's probably imagining it, right?) and it's such a weird thing. Amelia knows she's sick, but she's also not all THAT sick. And it becomes the strangest, most counter-intuitive thing: to get the liver transplant she desperately needs, she has to get sicker and also someone else has to die. And those are two things that it feels really, really wrong to hope for, right?
There's a lot to discuss here (the actual meaning of life, obviously, but the platitudes we say about death and how we view it, the way that view changes given the age or suddenness of that death). It wasn't the book I was expecting but I love the book I got.
I'm not sure I've cried this hard in ages, but it was all worth it. Recommended.
But even now that the need for a transplant is getting closer, she still feels OK for the most part. She's not tired (usually) and she isn't showing signs of jaundice (or, when she does, she's probably imagining it, right?) and it's such a weird thing. Amelia knows she's sick, but she's also not all THAT sick. And it becomes the strangest, most counter-intuitive thing: to get the liver transplant she desperately needs, she has to get sicker and also someone else has to die. And those are two things that it feels really, really wrong to hope for, right?
There's a lot to discuss here (the actual meaning of life, obviously, but the platitudes we say about death and how we view it, the way that view changes given the age or suddenness of that death). It wasn't the book I was expecting but I love the book I got.
I'm not sure I've cried this hard in ages, but it was all worth it. Recommended.
July 24, 2019
i just don't know how to describe this book.
"meh" would be the right word. i enjoyed it but i felt like the main character wasn't someone i would be a friend of,,, and the ending was so out of note???
did love the message that it leaves: to sign up and be an organ donor!! yet nothing really impacted me or stayed with me. 3/5
"meh" would be the right word. i enjoyed it but i felt like the main character wasn't someone i would be a friend of,,, and the ending was so out of note???
did love the message that it leaves: to sign up and be an organ donor!! yet nothing really impacted me or stayed with me. 3/5
July 23, 2019
[3.5/5 Stars]
The Arrival of Someday follows the life of Amelia (Lia/Roldemort), a high school senior, and roller derby enthusiast... oh, and she also has a rare liver disease that requires she get a transplant at some point in the near future.
If you know me, you know how much I care about and advocate for organ donation, so I really thought that this book would be perfect for me. All of the stuff surrounding the actual medical issues, or raising awareness for the need to donate really drew me in. And the characters were super interesting; I liked how Lia wanted to distance her from the image of the ‘dying girl’. I also found the ending really interesting and well done!
Where it fell flat for me was the writing style. It felt like the author was pandering to the politically correct/more liberal crew (which is literally the definition of me 😂). But none of it felt organic, and there were so many things just thrown into it that felt weirdly placed. Also, the parents were too perfect? I don’t even know how to describe what it was that I was feeling, but there were certain sentences and remarks that would actually take my attention away from the story. Although, I don’t see other reviews like mine - so maybe it’s a ‘me thing’ and it’s not a reason to not read the book, because it was really good, I just can’t rate it higher.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada/HCC Frenzy for a copy of this book for review! It is out TODAY!
The Arrival of Someday follows the life of Amelia (Lia/Roldemort), a high school senior, and roller derby enthusiast... oh, and she also has a rare liver disease that requires she get a transplant at some point in the near future.
If you know me, you know how much I care about and advocate for organ donation, so I really thought that this book would be perfect for me. All of the stuff surrounding the actual medical issues, or raising awareness for the need to donate really drew me in. And the characters were super interesting; I liked how Lia wanted to distance her from the image of the ‘dying girl’. I also found the ending really interesting and well done!
Where it fell flat for me was the writing style. It felt like the author was pandering to the politically correct/more liberal crew (which is literally the definition of me 😂). But none of it felt organic, and there were so many things just thrown into it that felt weirdly placed. Also, the parents were too perfect? I don’t even know how to describe what it was that I was feeling, but there were certain sentences and remarks that would actually take my attention away from the story. Although, I don’t see other reviews like mine - so maybe it’s a ‘me thing’ and it’s not a reason to not read the book, because it was really good, I just can’t rate it higher.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada/HCC Frenzy for a copy of this book for review! It is out TODAY!
August 16, 2019
-2.5 stars.
I’m... disappointed. All the reviews for this book hype it up to be so heartbreaking and moving but I’m just not feeling it. The story itself is definitely sad, but the writing, characters, and just the overall vibes that this book gave me were not was I was hoping for. If I’m being honest, Amelia was kind of annoying. She’s 18, but she acts like an 11 year old. And oh man, the melodramaaaaa. Throughout the entire book she was all “I am so brave but woe is me I have the worst life everrrrrr but I am soooo tough.” And the synopsis mentions romance? Ummm where is it? I found myself rolling my eyes a lot during this book. I know that I lot of people loved this, so maybe it’s just me that feels this way about it. I hope this review doesn’t sound too harsh because I really think that this story had the potential to be amazing, but it just wasn’t. To me.
I’m... disappointed. All the reviews for this book hype it up to be so heartbreaking and moving but I’m just not feeling it. The story itself is definitely sad, but the writing, characters, and just the overall vibes that this book gave me were not was I was hoping for. If I’m being honest, Amelia was kind of annoying. She’s 18, but she acts like an 11 year old. And oh man, the melodramaaaaa. Throughout the entire book she was all “I am so brave but woe is me I have the worst life everrrrrr but I am soooo tough.” And the synopsis mentions romance? Ummm where is it? I found myself rolling my eyes a lot during this book. I know that I lot of people loved this, so maybe it’s just me that feels this way about it. I hope this review doesn’t sound too harsh because I really think that this story had the potential to be amazing, but it just wasn’t. To me.
August 13, 2019
I was lucky to read an advance copy of Jen Malone's latest novel. Amelia is tough and fearless, determined to face her life-threatening liver disease with the same spunk she brings to everything else but discovers it may not be as easy as she thinks. With the perfect mix of depth, heart, and humor, Ms. Malone takes us on Amelia's journey and our own as we face our own fears and evaluate what it means to be truly alive. Highly recommend.
September 12, 2019
I want everyone to read this book so badly! I hope to have a full review up explaining why soon!
February 18, 2022
I loved this book. The plot was realistic, no sugar coating here. Because it was realistic, it did mean it was rather a sad book. But again, it was real.
In The Arrival of Someday, the main character, eighteen-year-old Amelia is just being a teenager, doing normal things like hanging out with friends, letting her creativity flow, and participating with her roller derby team. She looks forward to her future of what she might want to do with college and simply just growing up.
But one unexpected day, she's challenged when the liver disorder she was born with, Biliary atresia, suddenly flares up and brings everything crashing down around her. Instead of college plans, roller derby, and those regular days at school, Amelia visits the hospital for hundreds of tests, worries about her liver values and how long she has to wait for a transplant instead of whether she'll score an A or B on the next quiz, and on top of it all, learn how to deal with the way everyone is reacting around her.
The writing really is good. You feel like you're right there in Amelia's mind. The story is painfully real - I know I keep saying that. It's about Amelia and her BA, not about Amelia being saved by some handsome guy also struggling with BA that she met in the hospital and just happens to be her roommate. In fact, I wouldn't even say there's any romance at all.
I would have rated this book a full 5 stars, but with the language littered through the entire novel, I couldn't.
Content:
Language:
Sexy Stuff/Romance:
Violence:
Let me know in the comments if you'd like this book; I'm very much contemplating on sending this to a friend who might just be in the USA!
In The Arrival of Someday, the main character, eighteen-year-old Amelia is just being a teenager, doing normal things like hanging out with friends, letting her creativity flow, and participating with her roller derby team. She looks forward to her future of what she might want to do with college and simply just growing up.
But one unexpected day, she's challenged when the liver disorder she was born with, Biliary atresia, suddenly flares up and brings everything crashing down around her. Instead of college plans, roller derby, and those regular days at school, Amelia visits the hospital for hundreds of tests, worries about her liver values and how long she has to wait for a transplant instead of whether she'll score an A or B on the next quiz, and on top of it all, learn how to deal with the way everyone is reacting around her.
The writing really is good. You feel like you're right there in Amelia's mind. The story is painfully real - I know I keep saying that. It's about Amelia and her BA, not about Amelia being saved by some handsome guy also struggling with BA that she met in the hospital and just happens to be her roommate. In fact, I wouldn't even say there's any romance at all.
I would have rated this book a full 5 stars, but with the language littered through the entire novel, I couldn't.
Content:
Language:
Sexy Stuff/Romance:
Violence:
Let me know in the comments if you'd like this book; I'm very much contemplating on sending this to a friend who might just be in the USA!
May 5, 2019
• Find my reviews here: Literary Meanderings
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The Arrival of Someday follows 18-year-old Amelia, who was born with a rare liver disorder. She's known about it her whole life, but as the book opens up, Amelia finds out that her disorder has caught up with her and she needs a liver transplant a lot sooner than anyone ever thought she might.
Amelia is the quintessential roller-derby girl. She is edgy, tough, quirky, and outspoken. Throughout the book we see Amelia struggle with letting go of this image and accepting the image of being the “dying girl”... and in the process, push everyone in her life away. Her best friend plays a huge part in the book. She plans rallies and organ donor drives trying to raise awareness and support her friend. Amelia is torn over it and the type of attention it brings upon her. The friendship becomes tense as the book goes on, as do Amelia's relationships with her parents and brother. This pushes Amelia to seek out distractions from the reality of her situation.
This brings me to the romance in the book. It honestly wasn't a focal point, but it did play an important part in the story. Amelia's brother is away at college and enlists his best friend (Will) to check up on his sister's well-being. Amelia has always had a little crush on Will, so he becomes a nice distraction from reality for Amelia, but with nothing but a few kisses and some time spent together, a distraction is all it really ends up being. Amelia is eventually forced to face her reality and the possibility that she may never get a new liver.
I felt almost every emotion possible while reading this book. I was sad for Amelia, but annoyed with her for treating her friends so badly. At the same time, it was easy to sympathize with her due to her situation. I was amused with the interaction between Amelia and her brother via Words With Friends games. It was LOL worthy. :) The book brought me from every high to every low, and it was a rollercoaster. I think the author did such a great job of capturing the reader and pulling them deep into the story. I felt very attached to the characters and was very touched by the story. It highlighted so much how someone's death (or the possibility of it) can not only effect them, but everyone around them. Especially when it is someone SO young.
All in all, I definitely recommend this book. It really is an emotional one, though, so be prepared! The character building and growth is amazingly done, and the story plays out perfectly. I was hooked from beginning to end!
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Book source: From the publisher for review
Publisher: HarperTeen
• For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
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October 22, 2021 SECOND READ | 10.21.21
“Now I know that you can soak your skin in starlight and scrub your lungs with noonday winds and trail your fingers through ombré sunsets … but none of that breath or beauty or blaze is ward or amulet.”
I finally gave this book a re-read after trying and DNF-ing it earlier this year, and I’m partly glad I did, but also partly upset that I spent all this time only to be not okay at the ending like, at all.
I’m not going to spend too much time delving into all the aspects of this book that I liked and disliked, because honestly, I know how much hard work goes into writing one and I’m not on Goodreads to rant about books that just weren’t my thing (not really, anyway XD).
But I do have to say … I wish I didn’t waste so much time combing through my “for fun” reading genre—YA contemporary fiction—only to find books that are filled to the brim with profanity, inappropriate jokes, and characters I don’t much care for. Like, please no. Why aren’t there more clean YA contemporary fiction novels that aren’t necessarily cheesy “Christian” romances or completely worldly?
Anywho. Rant over, I’m going to try to keep this review brief.
My main thought about this book is that it had huge potential. I loved the concept, and how romance didn’t play a huge part in the story. The main character struggled with a very real disease and she was such a real person to me.
However, the execution—in my opinion—wasn’t great. At all.
For one, there was too much profanity. It started off pretty “minor,” but as the story progressed, the characters were dropping f-bombs every few chapters or so. There was also a lot of jokes that bothered me, but I mean, what do you expect? Nearly all the characters are teenagers. *sighh*
But oh my goodness, I do have to say that I LOVED the amazing family relationships in this book. In these days when familial relationships are portrayed as bad in YA, this read was like a breath of fresh air. I especially loved the super sweet father + daughter scenes where they’d joke around and talk about life. It felt so true and beautiful and healthy. So kudos to the author on that point.
Overall, though, I’ve concluded that for me personally, the good of this book definitely didn’t outweigh the bad. So I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you’re comfortable with profanity and … stuff you’d normally encounter in secular contemporary YA.
FIRST READ | ~2021
I DNF'd this book a little ways in. The language and the characters just annoyed me minorly. While I stopped before I was able to get into the heart of the story, I might give this a re-read in the future.
This book just wasn't for me, I guess!
“Now I know that you can soak your skin in starlight and scrub your lungs with noonday winds and trail your fingers through ombré sunsets … but none of that breath or beauty or blaze is ward or amulet.”
I finally gave this book a re-read after trying and DNF-ing it earlier this year, and I’m partly glad I did, but also partly upset that I spent all this time only to be not okay at the ending like, at all.
I’m not going to spend too much time delving into all the aspects of this book that I liked and disliked, because honestly, I know how much hard work goes into writing one and I’m not on Goodreads to rant about books that just weren’t my thing (not really, anyway XD).
But I do have to say … I wish I didn’t waste so much time combing through my “for fun” reading genre—YA contemporary fiction—only to find books that are filled to the brim with profanity, inappropriate jokes, and characters I don’t much care for. Like, please no. Why aren’t there more clean YA contemporary fiction novels that aren’t necessarily cheesy “Christian” romances or completely worldly?
Anywho. Rant over, I’m going to try to keep this review brief.
My main thought about this book is that it had huge potential. I loved the concept, and how romance didn’t play a huge part in the story. The main character struggled with a very real disease and she was such a real person to me.
However, the execution—in my opinion—wasn’t great. At all.
For one, there was too much profanity. It started off pretty “minor,” but as the story progressed, the characters were dropping f-bombs every few chapters or so. There was also a lot of jokes that bothered me, but I mean, what do you expect? Nearly all the characters are teenagers. *sighh*
But oh my goodness, I do have to say that I LOVED the amazing family relationships in this book. In these days when familial relationships are portrayed as bad in YA, this read was like a breath of fresh air. I especially loved the super sweet father + daughter scenes where they’d joke around and talk about life. It felt so true and beautiful and healthy. So kudos to the author on that point.
Overall, though, I’ve concluded that for me personally, the good of this book definitely didn’t outweigh the bad. So I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you’re comfortable with profanity and … stuff you’d normally encounter in secular contemporary YA.
FIRST READ | ~2021
I DNF'd this book a little ways in. The language and the characters just annoyed me minorly. While I stopped before I was able to get into the heart of the story, I might give this a re-read in the future.
This book just wasn't for me, I guess!
February 12, 2019
Thank you to Edelweiss and BIG FAT thanks to HarperCollins for always entrusting me to review their e-arcs.
Let me preface this by telling you all how much of a sucker for punishment I am. I have read, not one, but two books involving fatal diseases and illnesses, but this one...this one took me to a whole new level of sadness, and hope.
What is it about?
This story follows Amelia Linehan, a passionate eighteen-year-old who's into roller derby, drawing, and hanging out with her best friend, Sibby. But behind the scenes, she suffers from a rare liver disorder that could someday affect her life more than it already has. After that someday arrives, she gropes with the growing fear of dying while waiting for a liver transplant. It takes Amelia time to realize her limitations and to grow, even as she and everyone around her, comes to terms that a liver may not come in time.
This is the third book I have read by Jena Malone and by far my favorite. Amelia is a flawed character and not just because of her illness, but because she hasn't quite grown into herself. At eighteen, nobody has, but it seems as though she's been put on the fast track and this causes tension with friends and even family. I loved that the romance did not take center stage for a change and we got to know Amelia without having the distraction of a boyfriend. Also, the roller-derby aspect was entertaining.
The end took me by surprise. I think I'm used to reading books like these and having one thing happen and not the other (I won't say much as not to give anything away) But after reading the author's notes, I see why she ended it the way she did.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. I think I'm going to pick up something a tad more lighthearted before I dissolve into tears.
To anyone wanting to read this or currently reading it, read the author's note, and if you haven't signed up to be an organ donor, please do it. There are several links there to guide you to the right places.
Let me preface this by telling you all how much of a sucker for punishment I am. I have read, not one, but two books involving fatal diseases and illnesses, but this one...this one took me to a whole new level of sadness, and hope.
What is it about?
This story follows Amelia Linehan, a passionate eighteen-year-old who's into roller derby, drawing, and hanging out with her best friend, Sibby. But behind the scenes, she suffers from a rare liver disorder that could someday affect her life more than it already has. After that someday arrives, she gropes with the growing fear of dying while waiting for a liver transplant. It takes Amelia time to realize her limitations and to grow, even as she and everyone around her, comes to terms that a liver may not come in time.
This is the third book I have read by Jena Malone and by far my favorite. Amelia is a flawed character and not just because of her illness, but because she hasn't quite grown into herself. At eighteen, nobody has, but it seems as though she's been put on the fast track and this causes tension with friends and even family. I loved that the romance did not take center stage for a change and we got to know Amelia without having the distraction of a boyfriend. Also, the roller-derby aspect was entertaining.
The end took me by surprise. I think I'm used to reading books like these and having one thing happen and not the other (I won't say much as not to give anything away) But after reading the author's notes, I see why she ended it the way she did.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. I think I'm going to pick up something a tad more lighthearted before I dissolve into tears.
To anyone wanting to read this or currently reading it, read the author's note, and if you haven't signed up to be an organ donor, please do it. There are several links there to guide you to the right places.
January 13, 2019
3.5 stars. I may change this rating to 4 stars, but right now I’m a little in my feelings and so it stands. The book was good, the emotions were there, but I’ve come to expect a certain kind of storyline when picking up her books, and this one didn’t follow that path. It’s not any fault of Malone—her writing was still great—but expecting one thing and getting another that you didn’t really vibe with as much as you anticipated is a little challenging when it comes to star ratings.
Word of warning, this doesn’t have Malone’s usual flirty, swoony romance. In fact, the small little love interest is kind of a distraction for the MC, so not really even a full-on interest at all.
Word of warning, this doesn’t have Malone’s usual flirty, swoony romance. In fact, the small little love interest is kind of a distraction for the MC, so not really even a full-on interest at all.
January 5, 2020
The book is over 300 pages and only 2 things happened, she was sick and she died. Everything else on the side had nothing to do about anything. There were no character development whatsoever in my opinion. She was making being the dying girl define her life and I can’t sympathize with that, I don’t know if it’s because of the character I’d unlike able or poorly written. I get what the author was trying to do with story, trying to make it heartbreaking and tearful but I did not feel any of it. The book redeemed itself a little at the end but still, it wasn’t a story I really enjoyed.
April 2, 2023
The premise of this book was good but the execution felt like lazy writing in parts. The author used so many ‘pop culture’ references in place of description that it got tedious fast. ‘It felt like a dementor entered the room.’ Okay we all know what that means but it that was the last straw for me - it was just lazy writing as if she didn’t have her own words to describe what the MC was feeling.
I would’ve dnfed this one except I needed it for a readathon I’m participating in and the power was out (still is) and I had nothing better to do.
I would’ve dnfed this one except I needed it for a readathon I’m participating in and the power was out (still is) and I had nothing better to do.
December 19, 2018
So good.
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