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The Sky Is Mine
Shortlisted for the Bristol Teen Book Award 2020 Longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2021 Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2021 ‘Izzy is my hero, and her voice deserves to be heard around the world. Stunning.’ Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places ‘Amy Beashel holds nothing back when confronting rape culture and toxicity; this beautiful book will floor you and deserves to be on every shelf, everywhere.’ Kathleen Glasgow, author of Girl in Pieces Izzy feels invisible. Trapped under the weight of expectation and censored by shame. Her mum Steph and best friend Grace have always been there to save her. But with one under the control of her stepfather and the other caught in the throes of new love, Izzy is falling between the cracks. As threats to her safety grow, Izzy wants to scream. But first she must find her voice. And if the sky is the limit, then the sky is hers.[This book contains material which some readers may find distressing, including discussions of rape, coercive behaviour, domestic violence and abuse.]
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
February 3, 2020
Everyone seems to think Izzy is fine, but she’s not. Izzy and her mother’s life with Daniel had a fairytale beginning. The fairytale fractured a long time ago but Izzy’s mother can’t/won’t protect them.
Izzy used to rely heavily on her best friend, Grace, for support but now that Grace is in love she’s not as available as she used to be. Even when they are spending time together Grace is preoccupied by being in love with being in love. There’s so much pressure building up inside Izzy and she feels alone.
Not that you can love anything about the impacts of trauma but I did love the way I felt validated as I read. Whenever Izzy described the shame she felt or her self doubt or flashbacks or any other number of experiences that I’ve felt in the core of my being I wanted to somehow surgically remove those things from her. I knew what she was feeling and I knew her thoughts, often before she explained them to me.
I quite liked Rower Boy but I desperately wanted
This is a difficult read but an important one. If you have experienced abuse please be safe while reading this book.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rock the Boat, an imprint of Oneworld Publications, for the opportunity to read this book.
And I get that she’s scared, cos me too. But I’ve been here before, watching her literally throw away some problem she can’t handle.Then there’s Jacob from college, who’s blackmailing her by threatening to send photos from that night to everyone.
Izzy used to rely heavily on her best friend, Grace, for support but now that Grace is in love she’s not as available as she used to be. Even when they are spending time together Grace is preoccupied by being in love with being in love. There’s so much pressure building up inside Izzy and she feels alone.
If I thought it would make any difference, I would scream.It’s been weeks since I finished reading this book but this is the first time I’ve actually been able to attempt anything approximating a review. This book was really well written and relatable. Some of its content hit very close to home for me, as if someone told it my address, so alongside my yeah, me too’s came emotions. So many emotions. I thought time and some emotional distance would help me write a well thought out, intellectual review, but it didn’t work that way so I’m afraid we’re all stuck with my feelings.
Not that you can love anything about the impacts of trauma but I did love the way I felt validated as I read. Whenever Izzy described the shame she felt or her self doubt or flashbacks or any other number of experiences that I’ve felt in the core of my being I wanted to somehow surgically remove those things from her. I knew what she was feeling and I knew her thoughts, often before she explained them to me.
But it doesn’t leave you. Even when your head tries to silence it, it’s still there.I loved the concept of the Jar of Sunshine, even though its beauty was marred by its origin story. Unfortunately, even it was realistic; the ways we cope with trauma are inextricably linked with painful memories. Even if we find something that gives us strength, courage or a glimmer of hope in the midst of unbearable circumstances, that wonderful thing still reminds us of what it’s helping us to overcome.
I quite liked Rower Boy but I desperately wanted
This is a difficult read but an important one. If you have experienced abuse please be safe while reading this book.
‘What he did is not who you are, Izzy. It doesn’t define you.’Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rock the Boat, an imprint of Oneworld Publications, for the opportunity to read this book.
May 24, 2020
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the Publisher, Rock the Boat (Oneworld Publications), via Netgalley for an honest review.
Opinion:
“Then he lets out this laugh that’s like a puff of disgust and says something like ‘gotcha’ before the blast of cool air lets me know I’m still here, on the wrong side of the door, having been coaxed in by the surprise of Jacob’s smile.”
“Because this is what happens to girls like me with boys like Jacob. This is what we deserve. And I fall deeper and deeper into the well, away from the sun and the moon, where embers of whatever my voice could have been are immediately starved of air.”
“If I thought it would make any difference, I would scream.”
Izzy doesn’t know where her voice went. Why her lips stay shut when Jacob is near, why she allows his hands to touch her skin. She doesn’t want it to happen, she wants it to stop. But Jacob is dangling shame over her head and Izzy is all too familiar with the tricks of men. How he twists his words and so easily takes her power. To say nothing is almost easier. To just bear the weight of the ugliness and keep moving forward. That’s what her mother does with Daniel, her stepdad. She keeps her mouth shut, her head down, and falls in line. But the loneliness that Izzy’s secrets bring are weighing her down. She can’t talk to her mother, who is just as silenced as she, and her best friend Grace is too preoccupied with her new girlfriend. So Izzy has to deal with it alone. Unless, she can find a way out.
“‘I should go,’ I say, but my words are an echo and his room is a cave with its closed curtains and the bedside lamp suddenly switched off by his swift fingers, which somehow turn to fire in the dark, spreading wild across my body so I can no longer tell which bit of him is where because the whole of Jacob is on me, against me, burning itself into me as my echo presses into what might be his chest but could be his shoulder.
Whatever piece of him is so close to my mouth, it melts my ability to speak, any words I try to summon seeping into a wet patch of nothing on his shirt.”
“I’d disappear if I could, but I can’t.”
I have never highlighted so many quotes in a book, in my life. But the quantity of these highlights, though very large, doesn’t even compare to the quality and punch they pack. Amy Beashel has reached into the heart of so many young girls and women and extracted those feeling of loneliness, fear, regret, shame, self-loathing, anger and sadness. She took the ugliness that we have all felt, and sometimes still feel, and she has screamed it through black ink on thin pieces of paper. This book is powerful. It hurts, it hits an all too familiar nerve, and it leaves an ache in your gut. It is something so many of us have felt, and something so many of us have always been afraid of.
“‘You were gone, Izzy.’
‘No more than you or Jacob or any of your other mates.’
‘Isn’t the same for us though, is it?’”
This isn’t a lighthearted story. It’s about sexual abuse and rape. About domestic abuse, manipulation and control. It’s about a daughter who is going through hell in the confines of a boy’s bedroom, and a mother who suffers in her own home, while her daughter watches. It is pure heartbreak and sorrow, and this author captures it in a way that feels all too real.
“Everything just kind of gives in.
I shouldn’t be here.”
Izzy’s character feels so true and authentic. A girl who knows she doesn’t want the things that are happening to her to be happening, but is unable to speak up. And as the reader follows her into her memories of the party, and into the bedroom of a boy that is blackmailing her, we begin to realize how and why that is. The relationship between her mother and her stepdad is volatile and and confusing, as is her own relationship with her stepfather, Daniel. So many controlling phrases said with smiles, or harsh japes delivered with an upbeat tone. And even a lingering of Daniel’s hand on her back for a second too long, or a look down towards her chest. It is no wonder that Izzy says nothing, because that is exactly what her mother does.
“…and me looking at my thighs in the mirror wondering how all those other girls do it. Fall out of hate with their bodies, I mean.
‘You’re beautiful’, Mum whispers when Daniel leaves the kitchen, but her voice is too much like tissue paper to wrap me up in anything that feels like safety or strength or truth.”
The abuse that Izzy’s mother endures through her marriage is easily frustrating as you read. Her timid behavior, the way she says nothing when Daniel talks down to Izzy, or the way she refuses to speak with Izzy when Izzy attempts to reach out to her. It is painful to watch, but unfortunately, it mirrors so many true relationships of how a woman will hold on, even if it’s hurting her. I was angry that her mother would stay and not get Izzy out of that house, or that she wasn’t more observant to how Daniel behaved around around her daughter…but I imagine that is the point, isn’t it? To spark an anger in the reader, because these situations are all too real and and equally emotionally confusing.
And how the behavior of her mother intertwines with how Izzy treats her own relationships and situations is…devastating. There were tears constantly in my eyes and a sickness in my stomach as Izzy describes her despair. Her loneliness and fear, or how she goes along with a boy’s request because she feels she has no other options.
“My chest and my belly turning from chalky mass to scarlet mass in the rush of the water, which, no matter how high I turn the dial on the shower, still can’t shift the stickiness of Jacob’s hands and mouth and his tongue that slicked those words: ‘Relax, Izzy. It’ll be so much better if you just fucking relax.’
Cos those words, they’re as wedged as the earplugs I’ve used on the worst kinds of nights when Daniel’s done what he’s done, and he’s left, and Mum’s crying is as quiet as she can make it, but for all her effort, that sinking weep of hers seeps through the walls like blood on toilet paper.”
But what really stands out to me about this story, is the imperfections and unsavory characteristics. Of how not everything turns out perfectly. Of how some things improve and change, but how the trauma molds these two women. How it shifts their mother daughter relationship and jumbles it up into a ball of confusion and assumptions about how the other had been feeling. The author so beautifully displayed how Izzy saw things from her perspective, and then how her mother saw them and what was going through her head. But even so, the theme of this story is their silence and how they learn to find their voices.
“…she doesn’t even try, just sits there as I work on being a rock, dry and deserted, pulling back the tears and filing my mouth with biscuits so it doesn’t accidentally fill with words.”
There is a romance aspect that comes to Izzy, and to be honest, I wasn’t really sure it was necessary or that I even wanted it to be there. I wanted Izzy to find self-worth and strength on her own or with her mother. And though she does in some ways, the fact that part of it came from a boy sort of…rubs me the wrong way. Izzy’s best friend Grace on the other hand, is everything I wanted and needed. Grace is so sure, so herself…it’s astounding. She is her own body and her own soul, and it was the most beautiful thing to witness, especially as she builds Izzy up and forces her to see her own beauty.
“‘You’re fuckin’ perfect. Look at us,’ she says, dragging me to the mirror, ‘we both are.’”
This book was so sad and beautiful, I am so glad I found it. I always gravitate towards stories like this, but the last few I have read were less than impressive. Thankfully, Amy Beashel has blown me away and made my entire demeanor deflate from sadness. Which I know sounds bad, but I love when a book does this to me. Bravo Amy.
“‘Would you like to talk to me about what happened?’ she asks.
‘Yes,’ I say.
And the word is an expanding universe. Any my voice?
Well, My voice is the goddamn Big Bang.”
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the Publisher, Rock the Boat (Oneworld Publications), via Netgalley for an honest review.
Opinion:
“Then he lets out this laugh that’s like a puff of disgust and says something like ‘gotcha’ before the blast of cool air lets me know I’m still here, on the wrong side of the door, having been coaxed in by the surprise of Jacob’s smile.”
“Because this is what happens to girls like me with boys like Jacob. This is what we deserve. And I fall deeper and deeper into the well, away from the sun and the moon, where embers of whatever my voice could have been are immediately starved of air.”
“If I thought it would make any difference, I would scream.”
Izzy doesn’t know where her voice went. Why her lips stay shut when Jacob is near, why she allows his hands to touch her skin. She doesn’t want it to happen, she wants it to stop. But Jacob is dangling shame over her head and Izzy is all too familiar with the tricks of men. How he twists his words and so easily takes her power. To say nothing is almost easier. To just bear the weight of the ugliness and keep moving forward. That’s what her mother does with Daniel, her stepdad. She keeps her mouth shut, her head down, and falls in line. But the loneliness that Izzy’s secrets bring are weighing her down. She can’t talk to her mother, who is just as silenced as she, and her best friend Grace is too preoccupied with her new girlfriend. So Izzy has to deal with it alone. Unless, she can find a way out.
“‘I should go,’ I say, but my words are an echo and his room is a cave with its closed curtains and the bedside lamp suddenly switched off by his swift fingers, which somehow turn to fire in the dark, spreading wild across my body so I can no longer tell which bit of him is where because the whole of Jacob is on me, against me, burning itself into me as my echo presses into what might be his chest but could be his shoulder.
Whatever piece of him is so close to my mouth, it melts my ability to speak, any words I try to summon seeping into a wet patch of nothing on his shirt.”
“I’d disappear if I could, but I can’t.”
I have never highlighted so many quotes in a book, in my life. But the quantity of these highlights, though very large, doesn’t even compare to the quality and punch they pack. Amy Beashel has reached into the heart of so many young girls and women and extracted those feeling of loneliness, fear, regret, shame, self-loathing, anger and sadness. She took the ugliness that we have all felt, and sometimes still feel, and she has screamed it through black ink on thin pieces of paper. This book is powerful. It hurts, it hits an all too familiar nerve, and it leaves an ache in your gut. It is something so many of us have felt, and something so many of us have always been afraid of.
“‘You were gone, Izzy.’
‘No more than you or Jacob or any of your other mates.’
‘Isn’t the same for us though, is it?’”
This isn’t a lighthearted story. It’s about sexual abuse and rape. About domestic abuse, manipulation and control. It’s about a daughter who is going through hell in the confines of a boy’s bedroom, and a mother who suffers in her own home, while her daughter watches. It is pure heartbreak and sorrow, and this author captures it in a way that feels all too real.
“Everything just kind of gives in.
I shouldn’t be here.”
Izzy’s character feels so true and authentic. A girl who knows she doesn’t want the things that are happening to her to be happening, but is unable to speak up. And as the reader follows her into her memories of the party, and into the bedroom of a boy that is blackmailing her, we begin to realize how and why that is. The relationship between her mother and her stepdad is volatile and and confusing, as is her own relationship with her stepfather, Daniel. So many controlling phrases said with smiles, or harsh japes delivered with an upbeat tone. And even a lingering of Daniel’s hand on her back for a second too long, or a look down towards her chest. It is no wonder that Izzy says nothing, because that is exactly what her mother does.
“…and me looking at my thighs in the mirror wondering how all those other girls do it. Fall out of hate with their bodies, I mean.
‘You’re beautiful’, Mum whispers when Daniel leaves the kitchen, but her voice is too much like tissue paper to wrap me up in anything that feels like safety or strength or truth.”
The abuse that Izzy’s mother endures through her marriage is easily frustrating as you read. Her timid behavior, the way she says nothing when Daniel talks down to Izzy, or the way she refuses to speak with Izzy when Izzy attempts to reach out to her. It is painful to watch, but unfortunately, it mirrors so many true relationships of how a woman will hold on, even if it’s hurting her. I was angry that her mother would stay and not get Izzy out of that house, or that she wasn’t more observant to how Daniel behaved around around her daughter…but I imagine that is the point, isn’t it? To spark an anger in the reader, because these situations are all too real and and equally emotionally confusing.
And how the behavior of her mother intertwines with how Izzy treats her own relationships and situations is…devastating. There were tears constantly in my eyes and a sickness in my stomach as Izzy describes her despair. Her loneliness and fear, or how she goes along with a boy’s request because she feels she has no other options.
“My chest and my belly turning from chalky mass to scarlet mass in the rush of the water, which, no matter how high I turn the dial on the shower, still can’t shift the stickiness of Jacob’s hands and mouth and his tongue that slicked those words: ‘Relax, Izzy. It’ll be so much better if you just fucking relax.’
Cos those words, they’re as wedged as the earplugs I’ve used on the worst kinds of nights when Daniel’s done what he’s done, and he’s left, and Mum’s crying is as quiet as she can make it, but for all her effort, that sinking weep of hers seeps through the walls like blood on toilet paper.”
But what really stands out to me about this story, is the imperfections and unsavory characteristics. Of how not everything turns out perfectly. Of how some things improve and change, but how the trauma molds these two women. How it shifts their mother daughter relationship and jumbles it up into a ball of confusion and assumptions about how the other had been feeling. The author so beautifully displayed how Izzy saw things from her perspective, and then how her mother saw them and what was going through her head. But even so, the theme of this story is their silence and how they learn to find their voices.
“…she doesn’t even try, just sits there as I work on being a rock, dry and deserted, pulling back the tears and filing my mouth with biscuits so it doesn’t accidentally fill with words.”
There is a romance aspect that comes to Izzy, and to be honest, I wasn’t really sure it was necessary or that I even wanted it to be there. I wanted Izzy to find self-worth and strength on her own or with her mother. And though she does in some ways, the fact that part of it came from a boy sort of…rubs me the wrong way. Izzy’s best friend Grace on the other hand, is everything I wanted and needed. Grace is so sure, so herself…it’s astounding. She is her own body and her own soul, and it was the most beautiful thing to witness, especially as she builds Izzy up and forces her to see her own beauty.
“‘You’re fuckin’ perfect. Look at us,’ she says, dragging me to the mirror, ‘we both are.’”
This book was so sad and beautiful, I am so glad I found it. I always gravitate towards stories like this, but the last few I have read were less than impressive. Thankfully, Amy Beashel has blown me away and made my entire demeanor deflate from sadness. Which I know sounds bad, but I love when a book does this to me. Bravo Amy.
“‘Would you like to talk to me about what happened?’ she asks.
‘Yes,’ I say.
And the word is an expanding universe. Any my voice?
Well, My voice is the goddamn Big Bang.”
April 9, 2020
I want to thank Netgalley and One World Publications for a ARC Copy of The Sky ie Mine by Amy Beashel for an honest review.
Isabel is dealing with demons of her own. Not only is she getting black mailed by a guy for sexual favors but she is losing her best friend to somebody else. Isabel also lives in a home she doesnt feel comfortable in because of her stepfather Daniel.
I found this book really powerful in its message. Trigger warnings for rape, domestic violence, abuse and language.
Isabel is dealing with demons of her own. Not only is she getting black mailed by a guy for sexual favors but she is losing her best friend to somebody else. Isabel also lives in a home she doesnt feel comfortable in because of her stepfather Daniel.
I found this book really powerful in its message. Trigger warnings for rape, domestic violence, abuse and language.
April 9, 2023
When a book is written well, dealing with repeated assault, domestic abuse and narcissistic characters and these sensitive issues are dealt with maturity with well developed characters (both the young and adult characters) in a young adult book, this reader gives it a perfect 5 🌟 and let all the average and below average ya books judge her all they want.
February 11, 2020
See that bright, shiny cover? THE SKY IS MINE is a book that shines but not with cheery goodness. No, this isn’t a story to get comfortable with, it’s a story to get uncomfortable with but it’s really important. This is a spoiler-free review though, so expect a little vagueness.
Izzy was a young woman crushed. Crushed by her home life, crushed by manipulation and crushed by the demise of the most important friendship of her life. Izzy had lost her voice, herself and her perspective. This was a story of spiralling down and then the slow, long swim to the surface.
If things had been different, maybe I could have told Mum…
If things had been different, maybe my dad would have opened his door and his arms…
Things aren’t different though. Things are what they are.
The themes in this book couldn’t be more relevant than they are to contemporary times. The story explored how social media, something said or captured and tracking apps can all make life seemingly impossible. Izzy’s life was on overload but in so many ways. Her story was about trust, grief, finding her voice and her way back to relationships.
THE SKY IS MINE was incredibly discomforting to read but completely worth the journey. There was hope housed within the pages of this book and that made the journey a path that was doable. The narrative voice conveyed by Amy Beashel was compelling and absorbing, taking the difficult and making it readable without losing impact or power. I admired her ability to tackle the subjects in this book, it was a difficult task which she accomplished so well. I am excited to read more from her.
Thank you to Rock The Boat for the finished review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities.
Izzy was a young woman crushed. Crushed by her home life, crushed by manipulation and crushed by the demise of the most important friendship of her life. Izzy had lost her voice, herself and her perspective. This was a story of spiralling down and then the slow, long swim to the surface.
If things had been different, maybe I could have told Mum…
If things had been different, maybe my dad would have opened his door and his arms…
Things aren’t different though. Things are what they are.
The themes in this book couldn’t be more relevant than they are to contemporary times. The story explored how social media, something said or captured and tracking apps can all make life seemingly impossible. Izzy’s life was on overload but in so many ways. Her story was about trust, grief, finding her voice and her way back to relationships.
THE SKY IS MINE was incredibly discomforting to read but completely worth the journey. There was hope housed within the pages of this book and that made the journey a path that was doable. The narrative voice conveyed by Amy Beashel was compelling and absorbing, taking the difficult and making it readable without losing impact or power. I admired her ability to tackle the subjects in this book, it was a difficult task which she accomplished so well. I am excited to read more from her.
Thank you to Rock The Boat for the finished review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities.
December 22, 2024
3.5 stars
July 17, 2020
Rape culture permeates throughout THE SKY IS MINE. Izzy is victimized more than once, by more than one perpetrator. Her classmate Jacob feels entitled to sex knows he can get away with forcibly, never acknowledging that rape isn’t sex.
I had difficulty with the heavy use of Australian slang, most notably cos for because. Unfamiliar phrases/words interfered with my reading enjoyment to the point of not feeling the depth of the plot and Izzy’s journey. I’ve read other reviews that praise the writing so maybe it’s my ability to concentrate during the COVID pandemic.
I had difficulty with the heavy use of Australian slang, most notably cos for because. Unfamiliar phrases/words interfered with my reading enjoyment to the point of not feeling the depth of the plot and Izzy’s journey. I’ve read other reviews that praise the writing so maybe it’s my ability to concentrate during the COVID pandemic.
January 30, 2020
TRIGGERS: [There are a LOT.]
As is custom in my reviews, I want to address the writing first. Especially since it took some getting used to on my part. One of my first notes when reading this book consisted of me pointing out that the sentences are sometimes very long. It made Izzy's voice a rambling mess in my head. The thing is, though, that I got used to it, I got used to Izzy and it stopped bothering me before reaching the halfway point of the story. So, yes, it took some getting used to, but it also shows how Izzy - our main character - has her own, unique voice.
Then.. What to talk about next.. I'm honestly having a very hard time writing this review because this book contains so, so much and was such a heart-wrenching and hard read. It's hard to put into words how The Sky Is Mine made me feel. Yes, I had to stop reading often. Very often. But that wasn't a bad thing at all. Some of you know, others will now know how rape is a part of my past. I am a survivor so reading books about rape culture is tough for me, always. But I love seeing it represented in books and I love how it makes me feel like I turned out okay. How I reclaimed myself. How I moved past it as much as I possibly could.
But that's not the only hard thing that's mentioned. On the contrary. I mentioned it all in my triggers at the top of this review, so I won't be repeating it all. The one thing I do want to highlight is the abuse. Not only physical, but also mental. Not only by others, but also by a person living with Izzy. It's like the hard subjects, the harder parts of life are everywhere in this book and.. I truly love it for that.
Although the focus isn't on Grace, Izzy's best friend, I did appreciate her person. Apart from her, and her girlfriend, being queer, she also has a bigger part in this story. Yes, at first you might not like her. I know I didn't. But we also see her growth throughout the story and by the end of it, I ended up loving her. Although not at much as Izzy.
Then there's Izzy's mom. Without spoiling anything, let's just say the admiration is here. I feel like I see too little of strong parents, of growing parents in books. Most of the time they're just there - sort of. Not in The Sky Is Mine though.
I guess all I have to say is.. I loved every word of this book. It's a tough read to get through, but it's one that's needed in this world. It's one needed to realize you can overcome things when they don't seem like it at all. The Sky Is Mine tore my heart straight out, smashed it to pieces, had me crying and had me feeling relieved and happy at the end of it. Definitely an emotional roller coaster ride worth taking.
5 / 5!
As is custom in my reviews, I want to address the writing first. Especially since it took some getting used to on my part. One of my first notes when reading this book consisted of me pointing out that the sentences are sometimes very long. It made Izzy's voice a rambling mess in my head. The thing is, though, that I got used to it, I got used to Izzy and it stopped bothering me before reaching the halfway point of the story. So, yes, it took some getting used to, but it also shows how Izzy - our main character - has her own, unique voice.
Then.. What to talk about next.. I'm honestly having a very hard time writing this review because this book contains so, so much and was such a heart-wrenching and hard read. It's hard to put into words how The Sky Is Mine made me feel. Yes, I had to stop reading often. Very often. But that wasn't a bad thing at all. Some of you know, others will now know how rape is a part of my past. I am a survivor so reading books about rape culture is tough for me, always. But I love seeing it represented in books and I love how it makes me feel like I turned out okay. How I reclaimed myself. How I moved past it as much as I possibly could.
But that's not the only hard thing that's mentioned. On the contrary. I mentioned it all in my triggers at the top of this review, so I won't be repeating it all. The one thing I do want to highlight is the abuse. Not only physical, but also mental. Not only by others, but also by a person living with Izzy. It's like the hard subjects, the harder parts of life are everywhere in this book and.. I truly love it for that.
Although the focus isn't on Grace, Izzy's best friend, I did appreciate her person. Apart from her, and her girlfriend, being queer, she also has a bigger part in this story. Yes, at first you might not like her. I know I didn't. But we also see her growth throughout the story and by the end of it, I ended up loving her. Although not at much as Izzy.
Then there's Izzy's mom. Without spoiling anything, let's just say the admiration is here. I feel like I see too little of strong parents, of growing parents in books. Most of the time they're just there - sort of. Not in The Sky Is Mine though.
I guess all I have to say is.. I loved every word of this book. It's a tough read to get through, but it's one that's needed in this world. It's one needed to realize you can overcome things when they don't seem like it at all. The Sky Is Mine tore my heart straight out, smashed it to pieces, had me crying and had me feeling relieved and happy at the end of it. Definitely an emotional roller coaster ride worth taking.
5 / 5!
November 5, 2019
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
I am not sure if trigger warnings are truly required for this book since nothing is ever really told in cover-your-ears-graphic details, but I kind of wish I had been warned. So, yeah.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, physical abuse, rape, manipulation, abortion
Overall, I appreciate what this story does for the voice of abuse survivors. I like the coming together of the women and the whole "finding your voice" thing.
However, this style was just not my cup of tea. The entire first half of the novel was very cringe worthy. Every single person in the story is the worst version of themselves, which made me angry and uncomfortable, and it ultimately felt unrealistic.
I kind of felt as though the author wanted to explore ALL aspects of abuse, so she included as many different forms as possible, which felt like too much. Seemed thrown together and not fully developed.
The story is 100% predictable, no surprises except for maybe how awfully uncomfortable the beginning of the book is with the manipulated rape stuff.
Also, entirely too many pop culture references.. maybe this was to appeal to a very young teen audience?? But the topics seem more for the older teens, closer to their twenties? Not sure what was going on there.
The experience wasn't totally negative, though. I found myself smiling and almost crying in a couple spots here and there. Relating to these kinds of stories is always difficult.
Overall, I liked the message of the novel, but the characters and style didn't do it for me.
Would recommend for people who are looking for novels that explore domestic abuse, sexual assault, and women finding their strength to deal with their struggles.
I am not sure if trigger warnings are truly required for this book since nothing is ever really told in cover-your-ears-graphic details, but I kind of wish I had been warned. So, yeah.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, physical abuse, rape, manipulation, abortion
Overall, I appreciate what this story does for the voice of abuse survivors. I like the coming together of the women and the whole "finding your voice" thing.
However, this style was just not my cup of tea. The entire first half of the novel was very cringe worthy. Every single person in the story is the worst version of themselves, which made me angry and uncomfortable, and it ultimately felt unrealistic.
I kind of felt as though the author wanted to explore ALL aspects of abuse, so she included as many different forms as possible, which felt like too much. Seemed thrown together and not fully developed.
The story is 100% predictable, no surprises except for maybe how awfully uncomfortable the beginning of the book is with the manipulated rape stuff.
Also, entirely too many pop culture references.. maybe this was to appeal to a very young teen audience?? But the topics seem more for the older teens, closer to their twenties? Not sure what was going on there.
The experience wasn't totally negative, though. I found myself smiling and almost crying in a couple spots here and there. Relating to these kinds of stories is always difficult.
Overall, I liked the message of the novel, but the characters and style didn't do it for me.
Would recommend for people who are looking for novels that explore domestic abuse, sexual assault, and women finding their strength to deal with their struggles.
November 2, 2019
This debut novel certainly covers quite a few dark topics. I like how Beashel didnt hold back and really helped you understand the characters in her book.
Izzy is our main character and she is going through some tough things. Unfortunately, what we see quite often in the youth of today, she is keeping those things to herself. As the story progresses we see that Izzy begins to take back over her life, and one of her biggest supporters is her mother.
Izzy and her mom endure troubling times together, but also find creative ways to overcome those times.
I feel overall this was a good portrayal of what is happening behind the scenes all over the world today. I appreciated the delicacy in which tough subjects, such as rape culture and domestic abuse, are handled by the author.
As a non UK native, I did struggle with some of the word/phrase choices chosen in the narrative. At times this left me, as a reader, a bit confused and agitated. Once I was able to get a better feel for the writing, the story flowed well.
Thanks NetGalley and Rock The Boat Publishing for the opportunity to read this in advance for an honest opinion. .
Izzy is our main character and she is going through some tough things. Unfortunately, what we see quite often in the youth of today, she is keeping those things to herself. As the story progresses we see that Izzy begins to take back over her life, and one of her biggest supporters is her mother.
Izzy and her mom endure troubling times together, but also find creative ways to overcome those times.
I feel overall this was a good portrayal of what is happening behind the scenes all over the world today. I appreciated the delicacy in which tough subjects, such as rape culture and domestic abuse, are handled by the author.
As a non UK native, I did struggle with some of the word/phrase choices chosen in the narrative. At times this left me, as a reader, a bit confused and agitated. Once I was able to get a better feel for the writing, the story flowed well.
Thanks NetGalley and Rock The Boat Publishing for the opportunity to read this in advance for an honest opinion. .
January 7, 2024
Everyone should read this!! Everyone!
This was not what I'd call a pleasurable read, tears were shed, but I want everybody to read it. Do it. Now.
This was not what I'd call a pleasurable read, tears were shed, but I want everybody to read it. Do it. Now.
July 30, 2019
(ARC gained at YALC)
Izzy is not the type of girl that society wants; but who is?
Most taboos of society are brought together in this heartbreaking yet heartwarming masterpiece which shows that everyones lives are a little broken in some places.
Beashel successfully shows that the younger generations of today’s modern society in the UK are becoming more aware of certain aspects such as rape culture, domestic abuse and sexism but it does not stop some people blindly ignoring the things that are wrong or conveying it as ‘banter’ as they are afraid of standing up to problems like this as they would be standing out. In many young people’s opinions, that is wrong and we should follow the crowd to fit in and not be judged. The author shows this through the use of Jacob and Max as characters. Jacob, a “mega d*ck” and one who has repeatedly sexually assaulted Izzy is shown as a boy who is still ignorant to the fact that women are equal and that no means no. Whereas Max, one who doesn’t necessarily agree with Jacobs opinions but is still willing to give him an excuse that it is “banter”. (This is true until nearer to the end of the book where Max tells Grace what has been happening.)
The use of Izzy having a lack of confidence to join the views of her best friend Grace on the patriarchy provides the lack of confidence that young girls have today to stand up to sexism due to their male counterparts perhaps writing them off as ‘feminists’ which apparently in some people’s opinions is incorrect and extreme.
The almost casual feel to Daniel being a perpetrator of domestic violence accurately portrays the feeling that there is not a certain look for someone to be doing this and that we honestly don’t know what happens behind closed doors.
Personally I found it slightly difficult to get into first due to us being thrown in the deep end of Izzy’s life, but as the book went on this thought disappeared.
Also, I didn’t enjoy the use of “Cos” instead of ‘because’ but that is personal preference and it didn’t decrease the quality of the book.
Overall, Amy Beashel has done a tremendous job to show society that it’s okay not to be okay and that bad things happen to us but it does not mean that we deserve any less happiness in our lives. My feelings change from heartbreaking to heartwarming throughout and it was well and truly brilliant. Well worth the read.
Izzy is not the type of girl that society wants; but who is?
Most taboos of society are brought together in this heartbreaking yet heartwarming masterpiece which shows that everyones lives are a little broken in some places.
Beashel successfully shows that the younger generations of today’s modern society in the UK are becoming more aware of certain aspects such as rape culture, domestic abuse and sexism but it does not stop some people blindly ignoring the things that are wrong or conveying it as ‘banter’ as they are afraid of standing up to problems like this as they would be standing out. In many young people’s opinions, that is wrong and we should follow the crowd to fit in and not be judged. The author shows this through the use of Jacob and Max as characters. Jacob, a “mega d*ck” and one who has repeatedly sexually assaulted Izzy is shown as a boy who is still ignorant to the fact that women are equal and that no means no. Whereas Max, one who doesn’t necessarily agree with Jacobs opinions but is still willing to give him an excuse that it is “banter”. (This is true until nearer to the end of the book where Max tells Grace what has been happening.)
The use of Izzy having a lack of confidence to join the views of her best friend Grace on the patriarchy provides the lack of confidence that young girls have today to stand up to sexism due to their male counterparts perhaps writing them off as ‘feminists’ which apparently in some people’s opinions is incorrect and extreme.
The almost casual feel to Daniel being a perpetrator of domestic violence accurately portrays the feeling that there is not a certain look for someone to be doing this and that we honestly don’t know what happens behind closed doors.
Personally I found it slightly difficult to get into first due to us being thrown in the deep end of Izzy’s life, but as the book went on this thought disappeared.
Also, I didn’t enjoy the use of “Cos” instead of ‘because’ but that is personal preference and it didn’t decrease the quality of the book.
Overall, Amy Beashel has done a tremendous job to show society that it’s okay not to be okay and that bad things happen to us but it does not mean that we deserve any less happiness in our lives. My feelings change from heartbreaking to heartwarming throughout and it was well and truly brilliant. Well worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2021
Disclaimer: *This book was BOUGHT by this reviewer*
Actual stars: 3.5/5
TBH I hate-read this book, wanting it to end or move fast maybe. The casual language and the overuse of "like - like" "innit" "dunno" and the too many local words and slangs just made me too tired to search on Google and find it's meaning, it was irritating. I know it talks about important issues and 3 stars for that but the narration style was really irritating like there's this irritating teenager you found on the train and she's sharing her story and u just don't want to listen but now that you know half of it you want to let her complete it. I liked some parts though, the last 40% of the book I really liked - the romance tropes were really good. But it was late. Loved the new character, love you Harry like Styles but the narrating style was too casual for four stars. If you're reading this, Amy - I liked this one, and I'll definitely read your next ♥️
Actual stars: 3.5/5
TBH I hate-read this book, wanting it to end or move fast maybe. The casual language and the overuse of "like - like" "innit" "dunno" and the too many local words and slangs just made me too tired to search on Google and find it's meaning, it was irritating. I know it talks about important issues and 3 stars for that but the narration style was really irritating like there's this irritating teenager you found on the train and she's sharing her story and u just don't want to listen but now that you know half of it you want to let her complete it. I liked some parts though, the last 40% of the book I really liked - the romance tropes were really good. But it was late. Loved the new character, love you Harry like Styles but the narrating style was too casual for four stars. If you're reading this, Amy - I liked this one, and I'll definitely read your next ♥️
August 2, 2019
What an amazing and powerful book. I received a copy at YALC (and met the wonderful Amy) and I am so happy that I did. The story raises a lot of issues that are very relatable for young people today and also the parent/child relationships are explored beautifully, showing how we are influenced by the behaviour of people around us.
100% would recommend. I flew through this wonderful book in a day
100% would recommend. I flew through this wonderful book in a day
March 26, 2021
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*
“Today is the day I become more of something else.”
This was more like 3.8 stars than 4.
It started out very rough and for almost half of the book I hated it because all of the characters were terrible. The protagonist had no voice, the best friend was so selfish, the mother was so weak and the bully was so unbearably misogynistic. But as the book went on I realised that the beauty of it lay in the way the characters progressed andI grew, and by the end the protagonist had blossomed into something sort of beautiful.
There were some issues with the writing that I think hindered this book.
1. Constantly writing “cos” instead of because, even outside of dialogue. This wasn’t a text message between friends, it was a professionally published book and should be written like one.
2. Referencing things as “it” and then clarifying and tacking on an “I mean.” This happened a lot, both in and out of dialogue, and I cringed every time I saw it.
3. Sometimes the descriptions were too vague or confusing and that made it hard to figure out exactly what had happened, whether that would be the abuse to the protagonist or to her mother.
Still, this was a true story of empowerment and I was satisfied by the end that it had had such a fantastically in-depth discussion on abuse in more than one form. Whilst it was quite “happily ever after” at the end, I think that it deserved to have that ending considering how morbidly depressing the harsh realities of the book had been throughout.
“Today is the day I become more of something else.”
This was more like 3.8 stars than 4.
It started out very rough and for almost half of the book I hated it because all of the characters were terrible. The protagonist had no voice, the best friend was so selfish, the mother was so weak and the bully was so unbearably misogynistic. But as the book went on I realised that the beauty of it lay in the way the characters progressed andI grew, and by the end the protagonist had blossomed into something sort of beautiful.
There were some issues with the writing that I think hindered this book.
1. Constantly writing “cos” instead of because, even outside of dialogue. This wasn’t a text message between friends, it was a professionally published book and should be written like one.
2. Referencing things as “it” and then clarifying and tacking on an “I mean.” This happened a lot, both in and out of dialogue, and I cringed every time I saw it.
3. Sometimes the descriptions were too vague or confusing and that made it hard to figure out exactly what had happened, whether that would be the abuse to the protagonist or to her mother.
Still, this was a true story of empowerment and I was satisfied by the end that it had had such a fantastically in-depth discussion on abuse in more than one form. Whilst it was quite “happily ever after” at the end, I think that it deserved to have that ending considering how morbidly depressing the harsh realities of the book had been throughout.
February 7, 2020
I knew The Sky is Mine was going to break my heart from the very first page, the amount of emotion locked within each sentence was overwhelming. For a debut novel, I was blown away by how powerful and evocative the writing was. Whatever Amy Beashel writes next, I’m picking up a copy!
The author has decided to tackle some very difficult topics within her writing that some readers may find uncomfortable to read so please make yourself aware of all the triggers before deciding to read this book. I felt as though the topics discussed such as domestic abuse were handled delicately and portrayed a true image of society today.
Izzy, our main character, is a teen who like many others feels as though she has nobody to confide her worries and fears to. She used to be very close to her mother until her stepfather, Daniel, began to control every aspect of their lives from their conversations to their rationed meals. Izzy even feels isolated from her once best friend, Grace, who’s currently more interested in secret nights alone with her girlfriend. Izzy’s isolation will definitely resonate with some teens as well as adults and I hope this story will give them the power to do something about it.
The Sky is Mine is a tragically beautiful story about taking back control of your life, of having the power to pull yourself from the brink of despair. It’s an important story that needs to be read by both teens and adults.
The author has decided to tackle some very difficult topics within her writing that some readers may find uncomfortable to read so please make yourself aware of all the triggers before deciding to read this book. I felt as though the topics discussed such as domestic abuse were handled delicately and portrayed a true image of society today.
Izzy, our main character, is a teen who like many others feels as though she has nobody to confide her worries and fears to. She used to be very close to her mother until her stepfather, Daniel, began to control every aspect of their lives from their conversations to their rationed meals. Izzy even feels isolated from her once best friend, Grace, who’s currently more interested in secret nights alone with her girlfriend. Izzy’s isolation will definitely resonate with some teens as well as adults and I hope this story will give them the power to do something about it.
The Sky is Mine is a tragically beautiful story about taking back control of your life, of having the power to pull yourself from the brink of despair. It’s an important story that needs to be read by both teens and adults.
August 23, 2020
This book was hard to get through, but it is extremely important. Honestly, the first few chapters were hard. It was brutal, and gruesome to read about rape in a way that made the victim feel like it was her fault. Basically, sex with partial consent due to bullying/threatening. TW: Rape, bullying, domestic violence - a bit graphical.
Jacob, Izzy's classmate, has been threatening her with photos taken inappropriately at a party they were at. This leads to her agreeing to go over to his place so he would keep the photos a secret. Meanwhile, her best friend is spending too much time with her girlfriend which makes Izzy feel more lonely. At the same time, her stepdad is a monster in a George Clooney disguise. Soon Izzy finds that the spiral is out of control. Coming out of it seems almost impossible to her.
Like I said, it was difficult in the start, and Izzy's character was a bit intimidating. We don't get to know much about her at first except that she's being raped and that she thinks it's her fault. The slow growth eventually blows to an exceptionally beautiful character development, unexpected twists and some lovely bonding. Izzy was easy to sympathise, but not that easy to love. She is constantly pissed at her Mom for not standing up for her. She's always jealous of her best friend's girlfriend for stealing their time together. And the one boy who actually decided to help her about the Jacob issue, she pushes him away and barely acknowledges his effort. But all these little flaws helped make her a very realistic person by the end. The author tries to show us that it was okay to have insecurities, that having strong emotions is normal. Also, it's been a long time since I've read about such strong friendship as Grace and Izzy's. I loved how verbal they were, how open about their feelings. The relationship with her Mom was complicated, but touching and profound. Harry though, his character stole the show even with the short time he was introduced for.
All in all, I think this book is a must read for all. Girls, you get to learn about victim-shaming, and boys, you gotta understand proper consent. Such a beautiful debut for Amy Beashel.
Jacob, Izzy's classmate, has been threatening her with photos taken inappropriately at a party they were at. This leads to her agreeing to go over to his place so he would keep the photos a secret. Meanwhile, her best friend is spending too much time with her girlfriend which makes Izzy feel more lonely. At the same time, her stepdad is a monster in a George Clooney disguise. Soon Izzy finds that the spiral is out of control. Coming out of it seems almost impossible to her.
Like I said, it was difficult in the start, and Izzy's character was a bit intimidating. We don't get to know much about her at first except that she's being raped and that she thinks it's her fault. The slow growth eventually blows to an exceptionally beautiful character development, unexpected twists and some lovely bonding. Izzy was easy to sympathise, but not that easy to love. She is constantly pissed at her Mom for not standing up for her. She's always jealous of her best friend's girlfriend for stealing their time together. And the one boy who actually decided to help her about the Jacob issue, she pushes him away and barely acknowledges his effort. But all these little flaws helped make her a very realistic person by the end. The author tries to show us that it was okay to have insecurities, that having strong emotions is normal. Also, it's been a long time since I've read about such strong friendship as Grace and Izzy's. I loved how verbal they were, how open about their feelings. The relationship with her Mom was complicated, but touching and profound. Harry though, his character stole the show even with the short time he was introduced for.
All in all, I think this book is a must read for all. Girls, you get to learn about victim-shaming, and boys, you gotta understand proper consent. Such a beautiful debut for Amy Beashel.
November 19, 2020
This book is so important. And so beautiful. Heartwrenching.
The book tackles the theme of rape, domestic violence, friendship and toxic relationships in a very positive and hopeful light. The author has shown a very good coping side of such issues, the harsh truth and reality that seeps deep.
I cannot really explain in words what the story stands for, but it is a book that you all shouldn't miss it on.
Sure, the writing style is new and different, and might be a bit confusing in the beginning but then you get used to it.
It was so heartbreaking to read Izzy's story, her voice. Her mother's story was equally touching. I loved the hopefulness of this book. It shows that there is light, that they is a way.
I loved it and would totally recommend!!
The book tackles the theme of rape, domestic violence, friendship and toxic relationships in a very positive and hopeful light. The author has shown a very good coping side of such issues, the harsh truth and reality that seeps deep.
I cannot really explain in words what the story stands for, but it is a book that you all shouldn't miss it on.
Sure, the writing style is new and different, and might be a bit confusing in the beginning but then you get used to it.
It was so heartbreaking to read Izzy's story, her voice. Her mother's story was equally touching. I loved the hopefulness of this book. It shows that there is light, that they is a way.
I loved it and would totally recommend!!
January 17, 2021
This was one off my library pile, I don't know how I came upon it to be honest. It was shortlisted for an award last year and I really do believe this book deserved it. It is a hard hitting book. Tough book. Heavy book. I will warn you now it is YA but it does contain rape & domestic violence. But within the story there is more than that. There's hope, strength, determination, speaking up for yourself and standing your ground.
The story focuses on a mother and daughter duo. Both having to experience the above but in different ways. They are both such beautiful characters strong. It may take Izzy a while to notice that for herself but she gets there. Its about your friendship group. Reaching out and getting support. A new beginning. A happy ish ending.
I do believe every young girl should read this story is has a powerful message. It is a powerful, eye opening read. It even have all support sites and numbers and the back. We girls need to unite together. Stand up strong. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it as such but I devoured it. I felt for both of there characters throughout. A well deserved four stars from me. Yes. I would recommend.
The story focuses on a mother and daughter duo. Both having to experience the above but in different ways. They are both such beautiful characters strong. It may take Izzy a while to notice that for herself but she gets there. Its about your friendship group. Reaching out and getting support. A new beginning. A happy ish ending.
I do believe every young girl should read this story is has a powerful message. It is a powerful, eye opening read. It even have all support sites and numbers and the back. We girls need to unite together. Stand up strong. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it as such but I devoured it. I felt for both of there characters throughout. A well deserved four stars from me. Yes. I would recommend.
July 1, 2020
I flew through this book so quickly, it was highly triggering for me to read at some points as i have myself recently left an abusive marriage, and although it was never physical, the psychological scars are still there, and that is the thing, you cannot see these bruises on your heart, but you can feel them, they are always there!
I highlighted so many passages in this book, that i had to come up with my own colour coding, Yellow for abuse (Physical/Mental) Blue for Izzy the MC Gaslighting herself, and Red for her mother Gaslighting herself, and Orange for anyone else!!
This is just horrific, the poor girl is just being abused everywhere by everyone, her step father is not only abusing her, but also her mother, and she is too controlled by him to speak out about it.
And now she is getting abused and raped by the local scumbag school kid.
This was a really good read, but please be aware that this could be extremely triggering for some people to read about the abuse, and although it isn't graphic, there are clear cases of Gaslighting and Manipulation that scream RED FLAGS even when other people are saying "Aww isn't that nice how much he cares for you"
I highlighted so many passages in this book, that i had to come up with my own colour coding, Yellow for abuse (Physical/Mental) Blue for Izzy the MC Gaslighting herself, and Red for her mother Gaslighting herself, and Orange for anyone else!!
This is just horrific, the poor girl is just being abused everywhere by everyone, her step father is not only abusing her, but also her mother, and she is too controlled by him to speak out about it.
And now she is getting abused and raped by the local scumbag school kid.
This was a really good read, but please be aware that this could be extremely triggering for some people to read about the abuse, and although it isn't graphic, there are clear cases of Gaslighting and Manipulation that scream RED FLAGS even when other people are saying "Aww isn't that nice how much he cares for you"
June 4, 2020
This book was not what I expected to say the least. I picked it up, looking for a trashy, easy read, however, you should not be fooled. This book dealt with extremely heavy and confronting topics and was hard to read at times. Nonetheless, this book was a very good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it, couldn't put it down at times and found it to be enlightening and empowering. Definitely recommend :)))
April 15, 2024
Izzy Chambers life looks like a perfect picture. Happy family, gorgeous house, but it doesn’t as perfect as it seems. Most of it is just for show. She lives with her mother and controlling stepfather. However, he is not controlling in a way: at what time you need to come home, or that you need to have the best grades. He wants them to be perfect. He wants them to look and behave perfectly. He controls what they eat, wears and how their life needs to look like.
Besides her life at home, her school life isn’t better. Everything started during the house party when she accidentally drunk too much and one of the guys from the class used it. The consequence of this was the humiliating pictures. They were like shadows that followed her every day. The threats started soon after and crashed her in a way there was no coming back from.
She lost herself, she didn’t see a way out of all her problems. Her mom couldn’t let them live like this anymore. She didn’t want them to be scared and threatened their whole lives. She packed all the important things they will need and run away where no one will find them.
My thoughts:
It’s hard to share all my fresh thoughts about the book as I read it three months ago. It’s the second time I write this review. The first one, unfortunately, got lost and cannot be found. I checked every possible thing on my laptop to find it but the only thing I found was the first sentence of the review. Well, I need to share what I remember.
Firstly, I would like to talk about the main character; Izzy. Izzy Chambers has many things to worry about and people around that who don’t see it, just add more to the list. She’s an easy target to break and manipulate and people use it against her. If not her mom, she would be completely devastated at the end. Their escape helped her to recover and made her brave. She met people that showed her that what was happening to her was wrong and she didn’t deserve that. She finally could relax and take a breath and that’s what she needed the most.
Let’s talk about Daniel and Jacob. I don’t know which one of them is worse. Both can be assigned as the worst version of a man nowadays. I was disgusted by them and no villain made me so angry as these two. The worst thing is that this kind of man exists, and they are around us. They act like they will give you the world but later they destroy it. No woman deserves being treated like this.
The book touches the subject people don’t talk a lot about. There are still fights about how much a woman is worth and a lot of men still things that we don’t have as many rights as they have. They still think that we are here to be their toys. It’s still there but as the characters of The Sky is Mine, we need to fight and show them that we are stronger than they think.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Oneworld Publications and Amy Beashel for providing me this amazing book. I’m so disappointed that I lost the review I wrote right after I finished reading the book because it had more details than this one, but I am happy to share this with you and recommend it to everyone. It was an amazing journey.
Besides her life at home, her school life isn’t better. Everything started during the house party when she accidentally drunk too much and one of the guys from the class used it. The consequence of this was the humiliating pictures. They were like shadows that followed her every day. The threats started soon after and crashed her in a way there was no coming back from.
She lost herself, she didn’t see a way out of all her problems. Her mom couldn’t let them live like this anymore. She didn’t want them to be scared and threatened their whole lives. She packed all the important things they will need and run away where no one will find them.
My thoughts:
It’s hard to share all my fresh thoughts about the book as I read it three months ago. It’s the second time I write this review. The first one, unfortunately, got lost and cannot be found. I checked every possible thing on my laptop to find it but the only thing I found was the first sentence of the review. Well, I need to share what I remember.
Firstly, I would like to talk about the main character; Izzy. Izzy Chambers has many things to worry about and people around that who don’t see it, just add more to the list. She’s an easy target to break and manipulate and people use it against her. If not her mom, she would be completely devastated at the end. Their escape helped her to recover and made her brave. She met people that showed her that what was happening to her was wrong and she didn’t deserve that. She finally could relax and take a breath and that’s what she needed the most.
Let’s talk about Daniel and Jacob. I don’t know which one of them is worse. Both can be assigned as the worst version of a man nowadays. I was disgusted by them and no villain made me so angry as these two. The worst thing is that this kind of man exists, and they are around us. They act like they will give you the world but later they destroy it. No woman deserves being treated like this.
The book touches the subject people don’t talk a lot about. There are still fights about how much a woman is worth and a lot of men still things that we don’t have as many rights as they have. They still think that we are here to be their toys. It’s still there but as the characters of The Sky is Mine, we need to fight and show them that we are stronger than they think.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Oneworld Publications and Amy Beashel for providing me this amazing book. I’m so disappointed that I lost the review I wrote right after I finished reading the book because it had more details than this one, but I am happy to share this with you and recommend it to everyone. It was an amazing journey.
March 13, 2020
The Sky Is Mine is such a powerful yet heartbreaking story centred around Izzy and her Mum and how they have been torn apart by men in their lives. This book covers some dark and heavy topics including rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence amongst other forms of abuse. They both feel pretty broken and afraid until they find the strength and their voices to speak out and realise that things do get better and that there is hope. They both have such huge character development throughout the book and the book is definitely emotional and at times hard to read but it is so IMPORTANT. These things happen to girls all over the world and they can feel controlled and afraid amongst so many other things and it shouldn't be like that. In the world today a lot of these issues have been brushed under the carpet and women have not been believed so they feel fearful to come forward. This book just reinforces that women are strong, incredible and beautiful. I would definitely reccomend this book and I will have a full review to come but all I can say is Izzy's voice is the goddamn big bang in the end.
January 28, 2020
2.5*
I'll start off by emphasising just how much I loved the message of this book, I love the fact that it encouraged women to speak up, to be heard and to fight for justice! But the execution just wasn't the best for me
It almost feels as though the writer was so determined to have as many problematic occurrences throughout the book that nothing was really developed and everything just seemed rushed. The writing was difficult for me there were parts, there just seemed to be little bits that didn't make much sense and the language of the characters and the way they communicated made me cringe now and then.
Again i did enjoy the whole premise of the book and the message it sends out, it just could have done with some tweaks here and there, maybe it's just me I don't know but it wasn't awful by any means
TW discussions of rape, coercive behaviour, domestic violence and abuse
I'll start off by emphasising just how much I loved the message of this book, I love the fact that it encouraged women to speak up, to be heard and to fight for justice! But the execution just wasn't the best for me
It almost feels as though the writer was so determined to have as many problematic occurrences throughout the book that nothing was really developed and everything just seemed rushed. The writing was difficult for me there were parts, there just seemed to be little bits that didn't make much sense and the language of the characters and the way they communicated made me cringe now and then.
Again i did enjoy the whole premise of the book and the message it sends out, it just could have done with some tweaks here and there, maybe it's just me I don't know but it wasn't awful by any means
TW discussions of rape, coercive behaviour, domestic violence and abuse
January 21, 2020
Tough, heart-breaking read, with an ultimately hopeful resolution.
May 7, 2020
That was a tough book to read. Trigger warning that this book contains various types of abuse. Beashel dives into some really tough issues with Izzy's story. This book dives into silence, shame, rape, abuse, and many other things that can be tough to read. Ultimately, Beashel does a great job of pulling you into the story and making you care for the characters and their issues. It shines a light on different types of abuse that are often overlooked or ignored.
April 24, 2020
[This book contains material which some readers may find distressing, including discussions of rape, coercive behaviour, domestic violence and abuse.]
Title: The Sky is Mine
Author: Amy Beashel
Publisher: Rock the Boat
Release Date: February 6, 2020
My Rating: 5/5
The Sky is Mine by Amy Beashel is a heartbreaking yet a significant read which addresses sensitive subjects like rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence. The story mainly focuses on a teenager named Izzy and the abuses she had faced at college by one of her classmates called Jacob and at home by her stepdad.
To be frank, after reading the first few chapters, I got angry with Izzy. I paused reading for a while because I couldn't get over the resentment I had had on her for doing what Jocab asked her to. But then I realized maybe it was the fear that made her did what she did. The fear of what others would think and how others would see her is what kept her away from speaking up such abuses. I also realized that not everyone is bold enough to call out the perpetrators and men like Jacob is taking advantage of that.
I had this deep resentment on Grace for not being there for Izzy. But she is the character who made me realize my own mistake. I was exactly the same as her to my friend. It would take just a call to check on the people we care and who care for us but most of the times we failed to do that. If Grace had listened to Izzy she would have protected her friend from the continuous abuse.
I couldn't be able to see Izzy as a fictional character. To me, she felt so real that I could feel her pain. I cried for her and in the end, I'm happy for her. For she had at last found the right person who can not only mend the broken pieces of her but can also understand and accept her wholeheartedly. Meeting the right person when we are in the worst phase of our life is the best thing to happen. That one person would make everything right like how Harry like Styles did to Izzy. Together they have my heart and I enjoyed reading their part.
The Sky is Mine is an emotional read for me. I know that this isn't a story that is relatable to everyone but Izzy is the voice of many victims like her and she needs to be heard. It will take time to get used to Amy's writing style, but trust me you will love her narrative once the story takes its pace. The Sky is Mine is a must read.
*Thank you Amy Beashel for writing The Sky Is Mine and thank you Rock the Boat for a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.*
Title: The Sky is Mine
Author: Amy Beashel
Publisher: Rock the Boat
Release Date: February 6, 2020
My Rating: 5/5
The Sky is Mine by Amy Beashel is a heartbreaking yet a significant read which addresses sensitive subjects like rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence. The story mainly focuses on a teenager named Izzy and the abuses she had faced at college by one of her classmates called Jacob and at home by her stepdad.
To be frank, after reading the first few chapters, I got angry with Izzy. I paused reading for a while because I couldn't get over the resentment I had had on her for doing what Jocab asked her to. But then I realized maybe it was the fear that made her did what she did. The fear of what others would think and how others would see her is what kept her away from speaking up such abuses. I also realized that not everyone is bold enough to call out the perpetrators and men like Jacob is taking advantage of that.
I had this deep resentment on Grace for not being there for Izzy. But she is the character who made me realize my own mistake. I was exactly the same as her to my friend. It would take just a call to check on the people we care and who care for us but most of the times we failed to do that. If Grace had listened to Izzy she would have protected her friend from the continuous abuse.
I couldn't be able to see Izzy as a fictional character. To me, she felt so real that I could feel her pain. I cried for her and in the end, I'm happy for her. For she had at last found the right person who can not only mend the broken pieces of her but can also understand and accept her wholeheartedly. Meeting the right person when we are in the worst phase of our life is the best thing to happen. That one person would make everything right like how Harry like Styles did to Izzy. Together they have my heart and I enjoyed reading their part.
The Sky is Mine is an emotional read for me. I know that this isn't a story that is relatable to everyone but Izzy is the voice of many victims like her and she needs to be heard. It will take time to get used to Amy's writing style, but trust me you will love her narrative once the story takes its pace. The Sky is Mine is a must read.
*Thank you Amy Beashel for writing The Sky Is Mine and thank you Rock the Boat for a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.*
February 12, 2020
The Sky is Mine covers some difficult subjects and does it very well. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking, and told almost perfectly with writing that flows really well. The characters are well-developed and well-described.
It's a really good book and it covers important subjects. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because it didn't grip me as much as I wanted. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the book's fault, it could just be me.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Rating: 4/5 stars
It's a really good book and it covers important subjects. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because it didn't grip me as much as I wanted. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the book's fault, it could just be me.
*Copy received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*Rating: 4/5 stars
October 27, 2019
Due for release in February 2020, I'm pretty convinced that this will be a hit read.
Plunged straight into the life of our main character, Izzy, it takes a while to establish quite what's going on. We see Izzy get drunk at a party and she is threatened by someone in her college who vows to send round an embarrassing picture from the party unless she does what he asks her to. There's no doubt that Izzy would be perfectly in her right to ignore this and call him out - but we see how insidious such attitudes are, when even his mates try to justify his behaviour by calling it 'banter'. As a parent this horrified me, and I am really scared that anyone could ever think such behaviour is okay.
Izzy finds herself in a difficult situation. She fears just what this boy could do, so she goes to his house. He rapes her - no matter what name he gives it - and continues to try and threaten her into doing what he wants her to through her fear of what others will say.
Izzy says nothing. This is totally believable - however much you wish it weren't. Against the backdrop of Izzy's home-life it becomes even more relatable. She sees her once vibrant mother as a shell of herself. Her step-father controls everything and we are, slowly, given details that chronicle a horribly abusive relationship.
Eventually Izzy's mother leaves, and Izzy gets the opportunity to reflect on her experiences and how to move on from them. Some elements of this are easier than others.
There was a lot packed into this read, but I am sure it will strike a chord - in some way - with many readers. Though elements of the story felt resolved far too easily, there were some positive outcomes that did inspire hope.
Plunged straight into the life of our main character, Izzy, it takes a while to establish quite what's going on. We see Izzy get drunk at a party and she is threatened by someone in her college who vows to send round an embarrassing picture from the party unless she does what he asks her to. There's no doubt that Izzy would be perfectly in her right to ignore this and call him out - but we see how insidious such attitudes are, when even his mates try to justify his behaviour by calling it 'banter'. As a parent this horrified me, and I am really scared that anyone could ever think such behaviour is okay.
Izzy finds herself in a difficult situation. She fears just what this boy could do, so she goes to his house. He rapes her - no matter what name he gives it - and continues to try and threaten her into doing what he wants her to through her fear of what others will say.
Izzy says nothing. This is totally believable - however much you wish it weren't. Against the backdrop of Izzy's home-life it becomes even more relatable. She sees her once vibrant mother as a shell of herself. Her step-father controls everything and we are, slowly, given details that chronicle a horribly abusive relationship.
Eventually Izzy's mother leaves, and Izzy gets the opportunity to reflect on her experiences and how to move on from them. Some elements of this are easier than others.
There was a lot packed into this read, but I am sure it will strike a chord - in some way - with many readers. Though elements of the story felt resolved far too easily, there were some positive outcomes that did inspire hope.
November 24, 2019
"FOUR goddamn stars" ⭐😂 *im absorbing Grace's energy now.
I don't think I like it at first. Somehow the writing style doesn't match my taste. And I guess it quite a messed up for me. But you know what I did, I just kept going.
And yes, I glad that I didn't DNF this freaking awesome book. Because it gives us a message that quite being not well known.
Teen parents. How you deal with rapes. How you deal with a toxic parent or a toxic partner. And friendship message totally blown me away!
These are just to name a few. It's more like having a new start instead of lovey dovey romance ( which also there, and I really 'enjoy' being single while reading😂) but hey, this book is a talk.
Some of my opinions are, how the title is kinda not related to the story. And if you guys can relate, please explain to me 😥 And the setting should be more like descriptive for foreign readers, like me, cause I don't live in UK and I don't know places. And Google Maps surely helps me a lot. But if possible, maybe writer can be kind enough to explain.
Maybe that's all I need to say. I will probably talk longer at my blog review. Thank you for spending your time reading this. ❤😄
I don't think I like it at first. Somehow the writing style doesn't match my taste. And I guess it quite a messed up for me. But you know what I did, I just kept going.
And yes, I glad that I didn't DNF this freaking awesome book. Because it gives us a message that quite being not well known.
Teen parents. How you deal with rapes. How you deal with a toxic parent or a toxic partner. And friendship message totally blown me away!
These are just to name a few. It's more like having a new start instead of lovey dovey romance ( which also there, and I really 'enjoy' being single while reading😂) but hey, this book is a talk.
Some of my opinions are, how the title is kinda not related to the story. And if you guys can relate, please explain to me 😥 And the setting should be more like descriptive for foreign readers, like me, cause I don't live in UK and I don't know places. And Google Maps surely helps me a lot. But if possible, maybe writer can be kind enough to explain.
Maybe that's all I need to say. I will probably talk longer at my blog review. Thank you for spending your time reading this. ❤😄
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