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The Mythic Koda Rose
In the spirit of Nina LaCour and Adam Silvera, this offbeat and romantic debut novel follows a teen girl whose desire to find out more about her late rock star father brings her closer to the last person she expected.
Everything Koda Rose knows about her father she’s learned from other people. Moving to New York City with her mom won’t change that, even if New York was Mack Grady’s city—where he became famous, where he wrote his music, and also where he died.
Koda has more important things on her mind. Like how she’s in love with her best friend, Lindsay, and doesn’t have the courage to tell her. Agonizing over how to confess her feelings leads Koda to explore Mack’s enigmatic history in search of answers. She tracks down her dad’s band mate and ex-girlfriend, Sadie Pasquale, and finds herself becoming rapidly obsessed with the mercurial musician.
As Koda and Sadie’s complicated bond deepens, they are both forced to grapple with the black hole Mack left behind, or get sucked in themselves.
Everything Koda Rose knows about her father she’s learned from other people. Moving to New York City with her mom won’t change that, even if New York was Mack Grady’s city—where he became famous, where he wrote his music, and also where he died.
Koda has more important things on her mind. Like how she’s in love with her best friend, Lindsay, and doesn’t have the courage to tell her. Agonizing over how to confess her feelings leads Koda to explore Mack’s enigmatic history in search of answers. She tracks down her dad’s band mate and ex-girlfriend, Sadie Pasquale, and finds herself becoming rapidly obsessed with the mercurial musician.
As Koda and Sadie’s complicated bond deepens, they are both forced to grapple with the black hole Mack left behind, or get sucked in themselves.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 13, 2021
22 people are currently reading
2567 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Nissley
2 books23 followersJennifer Nissley (she/her/hers) is the author of THE MYTHIC KODA ROSE, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in Summer 2021. Although her first love is writing, she is powerfully attracted to video games, horses, and pretty much any piece of clothing or interior design with an animal on it.
She received her MFA in Fiction from Stony Brook Southampton and lives in Queens with her spouse and doggo, but sadly no horses.
Currently, she’s at work on multiple writing projects. Follow her on instagram @jennifer.nissley.
She received her MFA in Fiction from Stony Brook Southampton and lives in Queens with her spouse and doggo, but sadly no horses.
Currently, she’s at work on multiple writing projects. Follow her on instagram @jennifer.nissley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
March 28, 2024
sadie that little girl is a child have you lost your mind cause i’ll help you find it
Want to read
January 29, 2021Not me seeing this cover and thinking "she looks gay, I should check out the synopsis" and guess I was right slkdfjklh
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Instagram | Blog | Booktube Channel | Twitter
January 18, 2022
I decided not to mark spoilers, though there may be a few, because I hope people who are planning to read this book might consider this first. I heavily regret not reading the reviews before buying this book. I'd saved a long thread of sapphic books and planned to eventually read them all - this one included. What I did not expect was a disgusting, predatory dynamic depicted between a 17 and 38 year old. Before this part of the story arrived, I was really enjoying it. The writing style was great, I LOVED the vibe/initial setup - NYC, deceased 90s rocker's lesbian daughter as the protagonist, awesome. It got really bad when Lindsay - whom I assumed was supposed to be Koda's only love interest - visited and tried to tell Koda how weird her relationship with Sadie was. Instead, Koda viewed it as jealousy and continued to brag about how amazing Sadie is. It was so upsetting and frustrating to read. From there, it gets even worse, when the teen kisses the woman over half her age. The thing is, if this were built as a commentary on abusive/predatory dynamics, it could've possibly been a 4 or 5-star read. Instead, there is no clear clarification about how much of a creep Sadie is. The relationship is treated as some scandalous forbidden romance instead of a literal pedophile taking advantage of a 17 year old who sees her as her only connection to her dead father. The relationship IS ended, but the reason is that Sadie was using drugs behind Koda's back - NOT that she's a 38 year old making moves on a teenager. I can't reiterate how much I wish it was made clear how weird and wrong the relationship was. That could've saved the whole book. It's even worse because this is marketed as YA fiction, so there could be plenty of teens out there who are naive and this book could make them think the behavior depicted is okay, and maybe even romantacize it. Honestly, I actually really would've enjoyed this book if it weren't for the romance inserted between Sadie and Koda. I think the writer has potential if her future works avoid depictions of such problematic dynamics. From the moment I realized what was going on between Sadie and Koda, I rushed to finish the rest of the book as quickly as possible - not because I was intrigued or enjoying it, but because I wanted to be done with it as soon as possible. I was very disappointed, but I hope the author takes these harsh reviews as constructive criticism instead of thinking we're completely bashing her work, as I noticed she clarified she didn't want the book to be considered a romance.
Want to read
July 8, 2021i have an arc of this i’m supposed to review but i just found out it’s a romance between the mc and her dead dads girlfriend 😭😭😭😭😭
July 16, 2021
I am loving seeing so much more queer YA fiction being released over the past couple of years and I wish so much that I had access to these novels when growing up. However, I found this book pretty unenjoyable. I was hoping for a tone shift towards the ending but the payoff wasn't nearly powerful enough for me to feel this was worth reading
The romance was problematic and dysfunctional - and not romantic in the slightest - (17 year old child and a her father's ex-girlfriend over twice her age - and on top of the who was struggling with addiction and sobriety). Aside of the age gap, there were many red flags (her being scared to tell her mom and best friend that this person was in her life for fear that they will disapprove, that she was missing classes and school, that she never even tried to make any more friends her own age).
There were the hints at somecoming of age lessons, but I was hoping for a lot more growth by the end of the story. Or, the very least actually learned something useful about her father's identity and how she can be her own person without him.. this book seemed pretty dry and I was disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more
The romance was problematic and dysfunctional - and not romantic in the slightest - (17 year old child and a her father's ex-girlfriend over twice her age - and on top of the who was struggling with addiction and sobriety). Aside of the age gap, there were many red flags (her being scared to tell her mom and best friend that this person was in her life for fear that they will disapprove, that she was missing classes and school, that she never even tried to make any more friends her own age).
There were the hints at somecoming of age lessons, but I was hoping for a lot more growth by the end of the story. Or, the very least actually learned something useful about her father's identity and how she can be her own person without him.. this book seemed pretty dry and I was disappointed that I didn't enjoy it more
Read
September 3, 2021DNF at page 128
I had so many problems with this book, full review coming soon
I had so many problems with this book, full review coming soon
November 20, 2023
I’ll start with, I’ve been really into older YA books lately and this fit the bill! Not only did I love the LGBTQ diversity but Koda Rose FELT like an 18 year old. Someone who hasn’t had much time to play with her sexuality and is just now getting to feel like an adult; even if it is behind her mothers back. Even by the end you can still feel her immaturity and naiveness, although she has learned a lot more by then about both herself, her family, and the world around her. Even in the middle of the book she begins to act, and think, like a teenager does which is exactly what someone who’s 17 turning 18 would do.
The only reason I’m not giving this a five star rating is because of the relationship between Sadie and Koda. It wasn’t lacking by any means, so it wasn’t anything that was missing from it. At times it felt like a missing-link mother-daughter or even aunt-niece relationship and in others it felt like Koda was hinting at it being more. It made me feel slightly uncomfortable with the age gap between them, however it’s understanding because Koda Rose IS still a child. She may not fully understand what it is to herself either, which as a 21 year old, I still feel at times. If anything the ending leaves Koda Rose as someone who can be explored further as she grows up.
Overall, I do highly recommend the book to anyone wanting a story about a girl discovering her sexuality, her courage, and her family. It was a great read!!
The only reason I’m not giving this a five star rating is because of the relationship between Sadie and Koda. It wasn’t lacking by any means, so it wasn’t anything that was missing from it. At times it felt like a missing-link mother-daughter or even aunt-niece relationship and in others it felt like Koda was hinting at it being more. It made me feel slightly uncomfortable with the age gap between them, however it’s understanding because Koda Rose IS still a child. She may not fully understand what it is to herself either, which as a 21 year old, I still feel at times. If anything the ending leaves Koda Rose as someone who can be explored further as she grows up.
Overall, I do highly recommend the book to anyone wanting a story about a girl discovering her sexuality, her courage, and her family. It was a great read!!
October 10, 2022
1.5 stars.
Unfortunately this just wasn't it.
The main character was so fucking stupid and delusional, she acted like 10 not 17, so I ended up not really caring about the story.
Unfortunately this just wasn't it.
The main character was so fucking stupid and delusional, she acted like 10 not 17, so I ended up not really caring about the story.
September 24, 2022
The spoilers in this review are necessary, which is why I’m not marking them. Please read if you’re thinking about buying this book.
I don’t ever write/read reviews because I feel like they’re all based on nothing but personal opinions of the reader that don’t help when trying to decide whether or not to pick up a book— but this was so atrocious I just have to.
I have so many feelings about this book, and I need to get them out. Initially, I was going to rate this two stars, but when I shut the book and processed everything I’d just read, it went down to one.
So here are my thoughts on “The Mythic Koda Rose,” and how an author sabotaged her own story.
-
Let me start out by saying that I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The writing, the plotline— even Koda’s character. I really enjoyed the direction the story was going, and I was excited to see how the author would take it. The book is marketed as a self-discovery type novel— Koda Rose longs to know more about her late rockstar father, and decides to meet his ex girlfriend in order to learn who he really was. Unfortunately, once I made it to the halfway point, things went downhill fast.
The relationship between Koda and Sadie (Koda’s late father’s ex girlfriend) was so weird and so unnecessary. The things Koda was saying about Sadie started to give me an ick once i passed the halfway mark, and I suddenly realized that this book was not going to go where I thought it was.
As you’ve probably already seen from the other reviews, Koda and Sadie have a very odd, very not-elaborated-on “romantic” relationship. Koda constantly talks about Sadie in a way that heavily implies she’s attracted to her, and the two even go as far to kiss. I cant begin to tell you how strange and wrong the relationship is. First of all, Sadie is 38, while Koda is SEVENTEEN. To add another layer of what-the-actual-fuckness, Sadie, as i mentioned before, is Koda’s father’s ex girlfriend.
I mean, what the hell?
In the story itself, both Koda’s mom and her best friend warn Koda about Sadie— saying that she’s bad news and that she should stay away from her. Because of this, i decided to give the author the benefit of the doubt, assuming everything would be cleaned up by the end of the story.
Everything, naturally, was not cleaned up by the end of the story.
As the book dragged on, Koda grew more and more intolerable. Her feelings for Sadie were getting out of hand, and Sadie, the grown adult in the situation, was doing absolutely nothing to stop it. She knew what was going on, she knew it was inappropriate, and she did nothing. The issue of course does not lie here, but in the fact that Sadie is painted as a total victim, instead of a child groomer. At the end, the author even has Koda’s mother sympathize with the woman, like she isn’t a total creep. As an aspiring writer myself, it is so easy to see when authors try to “clean up” bad characters and convince the reader they’re good people. In this case, the author took Koda’s mother— a character known to hate Sadie— and showed her having a feeling of understanding towards Sadie, in an attempt to make the reader feel the same way.
I’m sorry author, but this did not work.
Like i mentioned, Koda’s character just got worse. Her attitude was so horrible by the end of the story. After her kiss with Sadie, she mentions once that it’s “totally inappropriate,” but her feelings don’t change. She even gets angry when the adults in the story are treating her like a child. Oh no! A child is being treated like a child! How terrible! Koda is constantly trying to prove how mature she is, while simultaneously falling for a thirty eight year old woman. Sorry to break it to you “kiddo,” but if you were a mature teenager, you would understand how harmful this is on your mental state.
Also, Sadie continuing to call Koda “kiddo” After everything that happened was… so weird. Especially after the “you fill me up” line, or whatever. What on gods green earth was that about??? Talk about creepy, much.
From a general standpoint, this book really doesn’t have a purpose. Instead of being a coming of age story about a girl learning to make peace with a father she never knew, it’s a weird love story. If you can even call it that. This book dragged on for so long and practically nothing happened! Every line felt utterly useless. I say this as someone who adores plotless/character driven books. This was just not it.
Also, a pet peeve and not a real critique: the word “nipples” was used an uncomfortable amount of time in this book. I’m sorry, i just really hate the word “nipples,” and every five seconds they’re talking about ‘em!
I would’ve given this story such a higher rating if in the end it was like: “the relationship was totally terrible and severely damaging, I’ll probably be traumatized now and really need to cut ties with this woman. She may have been an important part of my father’s life, but she doesn’t need to be an important part of mine!”
But noooooooo. Of course not. It had to end with Sadie going off to rehab and Koda wishing her well, or whatever the heck happened in the last ten pages. Frankly, i have no clue.
Everyone’s behavior in this book was just plain weird. I wish I could get my time and money back. Here are some other smaller things that I feel the need to mention:
1. The plotline with Lindsay (Koda’s best friend) hit a brick wall. Honestly, it was useless. I understand what the author was doing by ending it like that, but it just didn’t work. I didn’t feel a connection to Koda and Lindsay’s friendship at all. It was bland.
2. The thrifting scene had me screaming. What was the purpose of that scene. I had to read it three times over to make sure I didn’t miss something. I even had two of my friends read over it cause I was so shocked about what I’d just witnessed. Don’t even try to twist it, the intentions behind that scene were just plain creepy. Why did Koda need to do that. “Mmmm yes let me show this thirty eight year old woman that I have a crush on my boobs, yes yes this will be so great.” Ummmm no???? Creepy!!!!
3. I found it odd that the author kept pointing out that Sadie had dreads and painting it as appropriation and this and that, and then expected us to be on her side with everything else? Like, oh yeah I can point out she’s racist CONSTANTLY but not the pedophile part, nope nope nope. Sadie is totally a victim here, guys!!!! She’s a drug addict, poor thing )):
4. Just the “you fill me up” scene and when Sadie called Koda “baby.” So weird. So creepy.
5. POOR MACK LMAO LOOKING DOWN ON HIS EX GIRLFRIEND HITTING ON HIS DAUGHTER ID BE SCARRED FOR LIFE.
6. Hated hated hated how they painted Mariah (Koda’s mom) as a bad guy. The author made her a workaholic and an absent parent to play into this— trust me, i know all the tricks. I know how to get readers to like and dislike characters. In reality, Mariah just wanted what was best for Koda. She told her Sadie was bad news. SHE WAS RIGHT.
7. Same goes for Lindsay. Justice for Lindsay, and her character arc. Smh.
-
I probably have a lot more to say, but that’s all I can think of off the top of my head at the moment. Anyway— don’t read this book. Don’t waste your time and money. I picked this up thinking it would be an interesting self discovery story with a sapphic romance in the background, but it just sucked. Literally sucked.
And as for you, author, if you’re even reading this— you’re a good writer. You know what you’re doing, that’s obvious to tell. Your story just didn’t come together how you wanted it to. It happens. Take this criticism from all these bad reviews and please please use it. I feel a little like Koda writing this, throwing a fit because she’s a kid trying to tell the adults what to do, and they won’t listen.
I’m just a kid, but I think my opinion counts for something on this one. So yeah. Corny, but whatever.
P.S. My friends went through the reviews for me when I told them I was starting to dislike the book to check and see if people thought the same. The reviews were all terrible— expect one. One five star review, from the author herself. We had a good laugh over that one.
P.P.S sorry for spelling or grammar mistakes. I’m sick and totally out of it, plus scarred from this book.
I don’t ever write/read reviews because I feel like they’re all based on nothing but personal opinions of the reader that don’t help when trying to decide whether or not to pick up a book— but this was so atrocious I just have to.
I have so many feelings about this book, and I need to get them out. Initially, I was going to rate this two stars, but when I shut the book and processed everything I’d just read, it went down to one.
So here are my thoughts on “The Mythic Koda Rose,” and how an author sabotaged her own story.
-
Let me start out by saying that I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The writing, the plotline— even Koda’s character. I really enjoyed the direction the story was going, and I was excited to see how the author would take it. The book is marketed as a self-discovery type novel— Koda Rose longs to know more about her late rockstar father, and decides to meet his ex girlfriend in order to learn who he really was. Unfortunately, once I made it to the halfway point, things went downhill fast.
The relationship between Koda and Sadie (Koda’s late father’s ex girlfriend) was so weird and so unnecessary. The things Koda was saying about Sadie started to give me an ick once i passed the halfway mark, and I suddenly realized that this book was not going to go where I thought it was.
As you’ve probably already seen from the other reviews, Koda and Sadie have a very odd, very not-elaborated-on “romantic” relationship. Koda constantly talks about Sadie in a way that heavily implies she’s attracted to her, and the two even go as far to kiss. I cant begin to tell you how strange and wrong the relationship is. First of all, Sadie is 38, while Koda is SEVENTEEN. To add another layer of what-the-actual-fuckness, Sadie, as i mentioned before, is Koda’s father’s ex girlfriend.
I mean, what the hell?
In the story itself, both Koda’s mom and her best friend warn Koda about Sadie— saying that she’s bad news and that she should stay away from her. Because of this, i decided to give the author the benefit of the doubt, assuming everything would be cleaned up by the end of the story.
Everything, naturally, was not cleaned up by the end of the story.
As the book dragged on, Koda grew more and more intolerable. Her feelings for Sadie were getting out of hand, and Sadie, the grown adult in the situation, was doing absolutely nothing to stop it. She knew what was going on, she knew it was inappropriate, and she did nothing. The issue of course does not lie here, but in the fact that Sadie is painted as a total victim, instead of a child groomer. At the end, the author even has Koda’s mother sympathize with the woman, like she isn’t a total creep. As an aspiring writer myself, it is so easy to see when authors try to “clean up” bad characters and convince the reader they’re good people. In this case, the author took Koda’s mother— a character known to hate Sadie— and showed her having a feeling of understanding towards Sadie, in an attempt to make the reader feel the same way.
I’m sorry author, but this did not work.
Like i mentioned, Koda’s character just got worse. Her attitude was so horrible by the end of the story. After her kiss with Sadie, she mentions once that it’s “totally inappropriate,” but her feelings don’t change. She even gets angry when the adults in the story are treating her like a child. Oh no! A child is being treated like a child! How terrible! Koda is constantly trying to prove how mature she is, while simultaneously falling for a thirty eight year old woman. Sorry to break it to you “kiddo,” but if you were a mature teenager, you would understand how harmful this is on your mental state.
Also, Sadie continuing to call Koda “kiddo” After everything that happened was… so weird. Especially after the “you fill me up” line, or whatever. What on gods green earth was that about??? Talk about creepy, much.
From a general standpoint, this book really doesn’t have a purpose. Instead of being a coming of age story about a girl learning to make peace with a father she never knew, it’s a weird love story. If you can even call it that. This book dragged on for so long and practically nothing happened! Every line felt utterly useless. I say this as someone who adores plotless/character driven books. This was just not it.
Also, a pet peeve and not a real critique: the word “nipples” was used an uncomfortable amount of time in this book. I’m sorry, i just really hate the word “nipples,” and every five seconds they’re talking about ‘em!
I would’ve given this story such a higher rating if in the end it was like: “the relationship was totally terrible and severely damaging, I’ll probably be traumatized now and really need to cut ties with this woman. She may have been an important part of my father’s life, but she doesn’t need to be an important part of mine!”
But noooooooo. Of course not. It had to end with Sadie going off to rehab and Koda wishing her well, or whatever the heck happened in the last ten pages. Frankly, i have no clue.
Everyone’s behavior in this book was just plain weird. I wish I could get my time and money back. Here are some other smaller things that I feel the need to mention:
1. The plotline with Lindsay (Koda’s best friend) hit a brick wall. Honestly, it was useless. I understand what the author was doing by ending it like that, but it just didn’t work. I didn’t feel a connection to Koda and Lindsay’s friendship at all. It was bland.
2. The thrifting scene had me screaming. What was the purpose of that scene. I had to read it three times over to make sure I didn’t miss something. I even had two of my friends read over it cause I was so shocked about what I’d just witnessed. Don’t even try to twist it, the intentions behind that scene were just plain creepy. Why did Koda need to do that. “Mmmm yes let me show this thirty eight year old woman that I have a crush on my boobs, yes yes this will be so great.” Ummmm no???? Creepy!!!!
3. I found it odd that the author kept pointing out that Sadie had dreads and painting it as appropriation and this and that, and then expected us to be on her side with everything else? Like, oh yeah I can point out she’s racist CONSTANTLY but not the pedophile part, nope nope nope. Sadie is totally a victim here, guys!!!! She’s a drug addict, poor thing )):
4. Just the “you fill me up” scene and when Sadie called Koda “baby.” So weird. So creepy.
5. POOR MACK LMAO LOOKING DOWN ON HIS EX GIRLFRIEND HITTING ON HIS DAUGHTER ID BE SCARRED FOR LIFE.
6. Hated hated hated how they painted Mariah (Koda’s mom) as a bad guy. The author made her a workaholic and an absent parent to play into this— trust me, i know all the tricks. I know how to get readers to like and dislike characters. In reality, Mariah just wanted what was best for Koda. She told her Sadie was bad news. SHE WAS RIGHT.
7. Same goes for Lindsay. Justice for Lindsay, and her character arc. Smh.
-
I probably have a lot more to say, but that’s all I can think of off the top of my head at the moment. Anyway— don’t read this book. Don’t waste your time and money. I picked this up thinking it would be an interesting self discovery story with a sapphic romance in the background, but it just sucked. Literally sucked.
And as for you, author, if you’re even reading this— you’re a good writer. You know what you’re doing, that’s obvious to tell. Your story just didn’t come together how you wanted it to. It happens. Take this criticism from all these bad reviews and please please use it. I feel a little like Koda writing this, throwing a fit because she’s a kid trying to tell the adults what to do, and they won’t listen.
I’m just a kid, but I think my opinion counts for something on this one. So yeah. Corny, but whatever.
P.S. My friends went through the reviews for me when I told them I was starting to dislike the book to check and see if people thought the same. The reviews were all terrible— expect one. One five star review, from the author herself. We had a good laugh over that one.
P.P.S sorry for spelling or grammar mistakes. I’m sick and totally out of it, plus scarred from this book.
September 6, 2021
I picked up this book thinking it was a cute YA romance... It is not that at all. It's a messy book with messy characters and relationships.
Koda and her mum's relationship truly felt like one a kid and her mom in that situation would have: kind of symbiotic, almost too good, which gets rocky when the kid hits the early adult years. Both learn from their mistakes and how they evolve. Also, there's this unconditional love a mum has for her kid, and the weird limit between letting them fly and fall, and being too controlling.
Now to the very very very peculiar and weird relationship between Koda and Sadie. I don't think it was meant to he seen as a healthy relationship. Especially not romantic considering Sadie is twice as old as Koda AND her dead dad's ex. The messed up connection they developed post dad's suicide made me think a lot at how our judgement can be clouded so easily when our hearts and childhood issues are concerned. I think that the romance between them was supposed to be toxic and really not okay. Koda's a queer almost 18 years old kid trying to find out more about her father through this woman, who is herself a drug addict who sees the love of her lifw in Koda. Bad things happen when you are in so deep. Did it make me uncomfortable? Absolutely, but it made me think even more about the meaning of this book. I rooted for the characters to find happiness and finally start healing.
Koda and her mum's relationship truly felt like one a kid and her mom in that situation would have: kind of symbiotic, almost too good, which gets rocky when the kid hits the early adult years. Both learn from their mistakes and how they evolve. Also, there's this unconditional love a mum has for her kid, and the weird limit between letting them fly and fall, and being too controlling.
Now to the very very very peculiar and weird relationship between Koda and Sadie. I don't think it was meant to he seen as a healthy relationship. Especially not romantic considering Sadie is twice as old as Koda AND her dead dad's ex. The messed up connection they developed post dad's suicide made me think a lot at how our judgement can be clouded so easily when our hearts and childhood issues are concerned. I think that the romance between them was supposed to be toxic and really not okay. Koda's a queer almost 18 years old kid trying to find out more about her father through this woman, who is herself a drug addict who sees the love of her lifw in Koda. Bad things happen when you are in so deep. Did it make me uncomfortable? Absolutely, but it made me think even more about the meaning of this book. I rooted for the characters to find happiness and finally start healing.
November 7, 2021
I seriously don't know why I continued reading it instead of DNFing it. Like, I didn't know what was happening half of the times and other half times I was cringing. This story would've been perfect if Koda and Lindsay ended up together. It does feels like there's going to be a sequel to the story, but personally I don't think now I have enough patience to read it. I am not into age gap romance so it was basically the reason I didn't enjoy it much.
July 25, 2022
thsi book single handedly caused my reading slump
July 4, 2021
When I started reading this book, I got Kurt Cobain/Frances Bean vibes, and I was really interested in seeing where the author went with this. I found I was invested enough to see this story to the end, but when I was finished, I just wasn't sure what exactly I was supposed to take away from it.
I did appreciate Koda's desire to know and understand the father she never met. I thought Nissley did a great job pulling me into Koda's head and letting me understand what was driving this desire. She lived in a world where all she knew about her father she learned from online and magazine articles. I could understand wanting to know more, and that's why her quest to get closer to Sadie seemed plausible.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I did appreciate Koda's desire to know and understand the father she never met. I thought Nissley did a great job pulling me into Koda's head and letting me understand what was driving this desire. She lived in a world where all she knew about her father she learned from online and magazine articles. I could understand wanting to know more, and that's why her quest to get closer to Sadie seemed plausible.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 28, 2021
Hi everybody! My name is Jenn and I’m gonna rate this book five stars because hey, I love it and worked really hard on it and I think some readers out there might really like it too. Unfortunately though, I have seen this book marketed inappropriately as a romance by certain outlets, and that really bums me out, because I don't want readers to have false expectations going into the story.
Of course, Koda's feelings for Sadie are messy and imperfect, and I understand why this might not be the story for everyone for that reason. Please be gentle with yourselves. But for those of you still curious about Koda’s story, I do hope you’ll give her a chance! <3
Of course, Koda's feelings for Sadie are messy and imperfect, and I understand why this might not be the story for everyone for that reason. Please be gentle with yourselves. But for those of you still curious about Koda’s story, I do hope you’ll give her a chance! <3
September 15, 2021
"In the spirit of Nina LaCour and Adam Silvera" this was NOT.
August 28, 2021
So when I started reading this book, I was under the impression that it was a YA Queer Romance, which it’s not in any form of the words. It’s a story of 17yo queer girl who is trying to find out more about a father that died when she was a baby.
Koda Rose is not new to the limelight. Her father was Mack Grady, Rock Star and drug addict. He died of an over dose when she was only 1, but in that year she was alive, he never once met her. She never knew the man that the world compares her to and it used to not bother her, but after she moves to New York City, it’s all she can think about. So when she finds out his ex lives a burrow away, she decides to track her down.
Sadie is 38 years old and was Mack’s band mate. She was with him from high school… except for when he cheated on her with Koda’s mom. So the sight of Koda at the coffee shop she frequents, looking like her dead father is a shock. After another chance meeting, the two become friends. A weird friendship that seems to turn into something else.
Honestly, for the majority of the book I thought that Sadie was Koda’s birth mother… but then… the kiss. So yeah! Nope!! Not her mom. Finding out that Sadie was on drugs, because Koda looked so much like her father it was driving her crazy.
Sadly, I understood their story. I dated someone twice my age when I was Koda’s age. So this wasn’t a shock to read. I looked at other reviews after finishing the book and I did not have the same reaction. I thought the story was so incredibly sad. I felt horrible for them both and wanted them to find happiness. Obviously not with eachother, but somehow… with someone.
Thank You to Simon Teen for sending me a copy of The Mythic Koda Rose in return for an honest review.
Koda Rose is not new to the limelight. Her father was Mack Grady, Rock Star and drug addict. He died of an over dose when she was only 1, but in that year she was alive, he never once met her. She never knew the man that the world compares her to and it used to not bother her, but after she moves to New York City, it’s all she can think about. So when she finds out his ex lives a burrow away, she decides to track her down.
Sadie is 38 years old and was Mack’s band mate. She was with him from high school… except for when he cheated on her with Koda’s mom. So the sight of Koda at the coffee shop she frequents, looking like her dead father is a shock. After another chance meeting, the two become friends. A weird friendship that seems to turn into something else.
Honestly, for the majority of the book I thought that Sadie was Koda’s birth mother… but then… the kiss. So yeah! Nope!! Not her mom. Finding out that Sadie was on drugs, because Koda looked so much like her father it was driving her crazy.
Sadly, I understood their story. I dated someone twice my age when I was Koda’s age. So this wasn’t a shock to read. I looked at other reviews after finishing the book and I did not have the same reaction. I thought the story was so incredibly sad. I felt horrible for them both and wanted them to find happiness. Obviously not with eachother, but somehow… with someone.
Thank You to Simon Teen for sending me a copy of The Mythic Koda Rose in return for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
Deceased rockstar Mack Grady’s daughter Koda Rose shares a troubled relationship with her mother, who tries her best to keep her daughter away from the paparazzi. Koda however, comes across her father’s ex, Sadie Pasquale, who also happens to be a member of the same band her father was in. Finally, Koda gets an opportunity to get to know her father better, which however doesn’t turn out the way it was expected to. Instead, Sadie finally mourns the loss of her lover and all her emotional baggage comes crashing down. Koda however grows increasingly obsessed with Sadie, while struggling to confess her feelings to her best friend.
The storyline is so raw and deals with emotions so accurately – it’s mesmerizing. The author has captured the teen emotions too well and the characters are so NORMAL, like so real, it’s hard to accept the fact that they’re fictional.
Not really a fan of YA novels, but the blurb made me pick this up and I’m happy I did. This books deserves to be read again and again, until the story finally settles in. The idea is so unique and so out of the world, yet so real. I loved the portrayal of Koda’s character, like a regular normal teenager, with regular teenage issues, and the fact that not much people are vocal about what goes on inside them. The book is some 300 pages long, and made me cry twice.
If you’re looking for a story, filled upto the brim with emotions – go for this one ASAP ! Wouldn’t disappoint.
P.S. – Can we take a moment to appreciate the pretty cover??
The storyline is so raw and deals with emotions so accurately – it’s mesmerizing. The author has captured the teen emotions too well and the characters are so NORMAL, like so real, it’s hard to accept the fact that they’re fictional.
Not really a fan of YA novels, but the blurb made me pick this up and I’m happy I did. This books deserves to be read again and again, until the story finally settles in. The idea is so unique and so out of the world, yet so real. I loved the portrayal of Koda’s character, like a regular normal teenager, with regular teenage issues, and the fact that not much people are vocal about what goes on inside them. The book is some 300 pages long, and made me cry twice.
If you’re looking for a story, filled upto the brim with emotions – go for this one ASAP ! Wouldn’t disappoint.
P.S. – Can we take a moment to appreciate the pretty cover??
August 18, 2021
La idea de una adolescente tratando de encontrarse a sí misma y tratar de sanar una relación que nunca existió con su padre fallecido es interesante. Sin embargo, todo eso pierde fuerza cuando la mayor parte del libro tienes que tratar de hacer las paces con leer una relación ambigua, cuasiromantica con la ex de dicho padre, quien tiene casi el doble de edad que Koda.
January 26, 2025
No bc wtf? Her dad’s ex? That is pedophilia if I ever seen it she wasn’t even eighteen then!!!!
Also idk what “excuse” you have, hitting your kid is so unacceptable, especially when there are a million and one better ways that have been proven by FUCKING SCIENTISTS that they work better than hitting ever will!!!!
Fuck this book, and I wish I could take back the hours spent reading it.
Also idk what “excuse” you have, hitting your kid is so unacceptable, especially when there are a million and one better ways that have been proven by FUCKING SCIENTISTS that they work better than hitting ever will!!!!
Fuck this book, and I wish I could take back the hours spent reading it.
February 17, 2022
this was absolutely terrible and only got worse as it went on
May 30, 2021
I'm sure that the target readers will enjoy this more, but the story of Koda Rose and her search for something to tie her to her father, a Kurt Cobain-esque figure who died when she was a few months old. Mom is virtually absent, busy helping save a Magazine (never named) and just assuming Koda would settle in to a new school, new city and new life without any problems. And then there's Sadie, the probable love of Mack's life and former bandmate, who may have the answers Koda seeks... you just know that's not going to go well.
While Koda's search was understandable, she's not that likeable and her relationships with everyone (Sadie, mom, and her BFF from Back Home, Lindsey) do nothing to change that impression. Everyone, in fact, seems to be a stereotype rather than a fully fleshed out person. And the plot? Equally predictable.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
While Koda's search was understandable, she's not that likeable and her relationships with everyone (Sadie, mom, and her BFF from Back Home, Lindsey) do nothing to change that impression. Everyone, in fact, seems to be a stereotype rather than a fully fleshed out person. And the plot? Equally predictable.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
July 5, 2022
Welcome Back!
I have been reading through my nightstand stack rather quickly again! When making this particular stack I tried to put in books I felt I would be in the mood for such as mystery, some contemporary, and some cover interests (books that grabbed my due to the cover)! One of the books I put in my stack was The Mythic Koda Rose, I pre-ordered this book and the gorgeous cover has been staring back at me from my shelf ever since it arrived. So I decided it was time to dive in and see what story its pages held!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Koda does not really know a ton about her father, but she knows he was famous. Like super famous in the music industry, however, he passed away. Now Koda is a teenager and her and her mother are moving from the west coast to NYC. Koda is not really ready for this change but her mom’s job kind of requires it. So they move, and Koda is going to have to start a new school and a whole new life. But many places she goes in NYC people are recognizing her and asking questions. Questions Koda does not want to answer or does not know the answer to. Koda is tired of not knowing her father so she decides it’s time to learn a little bit more and to do that she needs to meet Sadie. Sadie was possibly the love of her father’s life and also a bandmate. Sadie lives in the city, so Koda figures she can not be that hard to find. Koda starts by going to the coffee shop Sadie is usually at and one day, she meets her! However, Koda is not exactly as planned for the meeting as she thought she was. After a rough start between her and Sadie, Koda starts to spend a lot of time with her. But Koda’s mom, friends, and anyone else who knows her has no idea she even met Sadie. As Koda and Sadie’s relationship continues to progress and she learns more about her father, Koda starts to feel like she does not want to give up her newfound friendship. But what if this friendship is not very healthy? What if her mom finds out? What will her best friend think?
I really felt like this story reminded me of Kurt Cobain and possibly his own daughter. I do not know a ton about her but I have been a Nirvana and Kurt fan for a very long time. So I can definitely see many parallels perhaps between this story and what his daughter might have gone through (again I do not know much about her it just seems very probable or at the very least inspired by Kurt). Overall, I enjoyed the story of Koda and her trying to learn about her father and meeting Sadie, however, I feel like a major line was crossed between Sadie and Koda, which I was very not okay with. (I do not want to spoil anything but I understand that Sadie was going through a lot in terms of her life and feelings with Koda and Koda’s father but I still do not approve). On a final note, I ended up listening to a lot of this on audio, the narrator did a good job bringing all the different characters to life and keeping the reader very engaged with the story. Let me know down below if you have read this one and what you thought!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
I have been reading through my nightstand stack rather quickly again! When making this particular stack I tried to put in books I felt I would be in the mood for such as mystery, some contemporary, and some cover interests (books that grabbed my due to the cover)! One of the books I put in my stack was The Mythic Koda Rose, I pre-ordered this book and the gorgeous cover has been staring back at me from my shelf ever since it arrived. So I decided it was time to dive in and see what story its pages held!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Koda does not really know a ton about her father, but she knows he was famous. Like super famous in the music industry, however, he passed away. Now Koda is a teenager and her and her mother are moving from the west coast to NYC. Koda is not really ready for this change but her mom’s job kind of requires it. So they move, and Koda is going to have to start a new school and a whole new life. But many places she goes in NYC people are recognizing her and asking questions. Questions Koda does not want to answer or does not know the answer to. Koda is tired of not knowing her father so she decides it’s time to learn a little bit more and to do that she needs to meet Sadie. Sadie was possibly the love of her father’s life and also a bandmate. Sadie lives in the city, so Koda figures she can not be that hard to find. Koda starts by going to the coffee shop Sadie is usually at and one day, she meets her! However, Koda is not exactly as planned for the meeting as she thought she was. After a rough start between her and Sadie, Koda starts to spend a lot of time with her. But Koda’s mom, friends, and anyone else who knows her has no idea she even met Sadie. As Koda and Sadie’s relationship continues to progress and she learns more about her father, Koda starts to feel like she does not want to give up her newfound friendship. But what if this friendship is not very healthy? What if her mom finds out? What will her best friend think?
I really felt like this story reminded me of Kurt Cobain and possibly his own daughter. I do not know a ton about her but I have been a Nirvana and Kurt fan for a very long time. So I can definitely see many parallels perhaps between this story and what his daughter might have gone through (again I do not know much about her it just seems very probable or at the very least inspired by Kurt). Overall, I enjoyed the story of Koda and her trying to learn about her father and meeting Sadie, however, I feel like a major line was crossed between Sadie and Koda, which I was very not okay with. (I do not want to spoil anything but I understand that Sadie was going through a lot in terms of her life and feelings with Koda and Koda’s father but I still do not approve). On a final note, I ended up listening to a lot of this on audio, the narrator did a good job bringing all the different characters to life and keeping the reader very engaged with the story. Let me know down below if you have read this one and what you thought!
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
Read
October 17, 2021So, I went into this only knowing that the mc is sapphic and honestly? I’m sort of glad I did, since I found that this was something I really needed to form my own opinion on.
These characters are messy and for good reason. And normally I loveeee me some messy characters. But I really wish that messiness was resolved in the end because tbh, it never really went away. While I appreciate that this is true to life, I just think that in a YA book, there should be a stronger message or an author’s note clearly stating that this codependency isn’t okay. Sure, the mc did sort of figure it out for herself in the end, but I would have really appreciated seeing an adult guide her through that because these relationships are hard and no one should have to navigate them alone.
It does attempt to show how toxic this relationship is, and I appreciated that. I just wish we could’ve seen more outside perspectives that could’ve helped Koda get out sooner or at least communicated to the reader that *this is bad news*. (God bless Lindsay, though, girlie deserved so much better!)
I will say I did really appreciate the anxiety/heartburn depiction! As a fellow heartburn anxiety sufferer (who had no idea the two were connected until they became a real issue for me), I found it extremely true to my experience.
So yeah, for anyone going into this book: Be aware that it does feature an extremely unhealthy relationship between a 17 and 38 year old that we as readers are meant to know isn’t okay, but this is never fully made clear. And our 17 year old mc never sees anything wrong with it—which, while true to life, I really wish had changed at some point towards the end! Also her relationship with her mother is pretty codependent too, but I feel like that’s addressed a bit better in the comparison to Lindsay’s parents.
As another reviewer said, I do understand what the author was trying to do here, and I think these topics are extremely important and should be talked about more! (Seriously y’all, codependency is such a real thing that flies under the radar FAR too often.) I really wanted to love this, but I was overall left feeling uncomfy and like many others, wishing things were handled better.
tw: suicide (off page but major theme), toxic predatory relationship, codependency, depression, anxiety, drug use, drug addiction, drug overdose, blood, vomit, smoking
These characters are messy and for good reason. And normally I loveeee me some messy characters. But I really wish that messiness was resolved in the end because tbh, it never really went away. While I appreciate that this is true to life, I just think that in a YA book, there should be a stronger message or an author’s note clearly stating that this codependency isn’t okay. Sure, the mc did sort of figure it out for herself in the end, but I would have really appreciated seeing an adult guide her through that because these relationships are hard and no one should have to navigate them alone.
It does attempt to show how toxic this relationship is, and I appreciated that. I just wish we could’ve seen more outside perspectives that could’ve helped Koda get out sooner or at least communicated to the reader that *this is bad news*. (God bless Lindsay, though, girlie deserved so much better!)
I will say I did really appreciate the anxiety/heartburn depiction! As a fellow heartburn anxiety sufferer (who had no idea the two were connected until they became a real issue for me), I found it extremely true to my experience.
So yeah, for anyone going into this book: Be aware that it does feature an extremely unhealthy relationship between a 17 and 38 year old that we as readers are meant to know isn’t okay, but this is never fully made clear. And our 17 year old mc never sees anything wrong with it—which, while true to life, I really wish had changed at some point towards the end! Also her relationship with her mother is pretty codependent too, but I feel like that’s addressed a bit better in the comparison to Lindsay’s parents.
As another reviewer said, I do understand what the author was trying to do here, and I think these topics are extremely important and should be talked about more! (Seriously y’all, codependency is such a real thing that flies under the radar FAR too often.) I really wanted to love this, but I was overall left feeling uncomfy and like many others, wishing things were handled better.
tw: suicide (off page but major theme), toxic predatory relationship, codependency, depression, anxiety, drug use, drug addiction, drug overdose, blood, vomit, smoking
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2024
This book..oh boy do i have thoughts. I don’t think i’ve ever read a book that has made me more uncomfortable in my entire life. But before i begin i would like to say that my intention is not to bash the author, because her writing is at least readable. (Warning slight spoilers but i feel like they are necessary for the review)
okay so to start off. What the fuck did i just read???? I know everyone is pointing this out in their reviews but the relationship between Koda and Sadie was legit pedophillia and just so so soooo gross. And i know there is this argument thats is like “well its not a romance their kiss could be like a motherly thing”, so id like share my favorite quote. “‘Dont go.’ she folds against me, sobbing. ‘Please, baby, don’t go.’”. EWW WDYM BABY SHE IS LITERALLY 17 EW EW EWWW!!!!!! Not only that but the weird thrift store seen with the whole nipple thing??? EW. Not only that but Koda OBSESSES over Sadie like the entire book. Like oh the pillows smell like Sadie, we fill each other up, etc. JUST ARGHHHH EW EW EW I CAN BARELY WRITE THIS REVIEW I CANT STOP FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE. i even showed my english teacher and she was so shocked as well. But the biggest issue with this book is that their relationship is never condemned. Sadie is portrayed as this innocent victim instead of creep, which is a whole other can of worms to deal with.
Other than the literal PEDOPHILLIA going on, the whole plot point of Lindsey went absolutely nowhere. Like there was this great set up for a good love story, but instead the entire book focused on the PEDO. Lindsey was so forgettable in the second half.
Then there’s Koda herself. At first i found her intriguing, but then she just became insufferable. She complains how everybody doesn’t treat her like an adult, but never does anything about it and keeps being reckless?? like am i supposed to relate to her because she IS a child. She also felt like such a flat character, like she barely went through a change throughout the book.
Honestly the only character i actually liked was her mom, because she was like the only person who didn’t like Sadie and Koda together. But instead of being right, she ended up being wrong and that “Koda and Sadie are good for each other 🥺🥺🥺”, LIKE NO NO NO WHYYYYYY.
In conclusion i would not recommend this book. It was forgettable and very problematic.
okay so to start off. What the fuck did i just read???? I know everyone is pointing this out in their reviews but the relationship between Koda and Sadie was legit pedophillia and just so so soooo gross. And i know there is this argument thats is like “well its not a romance their kiss could be like a motherly thing”, so id like share my favorite quote. “‘Dont go.’ she folds against me, sobbing. ‘Please, baby, don’t go.’”. EWW WDYM BABY SHE IS LITERALLY 17 EW EW EWWW!!!!!! Not only that but the weird thrift store seen with the whole nipple thing??? EW. Not only that but Koda OBSESSES over Sadie like the entire book. Like oh the pillows smell like Sadie, we fill each other up, etc. JUST ARGHHHH EW EW EW I CAN BARELY WRITE THIS REVIEW I CANT STOP FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE. i even showed my english teacher and she was so shocked as well. But the biggest issue with this book is that their relationship is never condemned. Sadie is portrayed as this innocent victim instead of creep, which is a whole other can of worms to deal with.
Other than the literal PEDOPHILLIA going on, the whole plot point of Lindsey went absolutely nowhere. Like there was this great set up for a good love story, but instead the entire book focused on the PEDO. Lindsey was so forgettable in the second half.
Then there’s Koda herself. At first i found her intriguing, but then she just became insufferable. She complains how everybody doesn’t treat her like an adult, but never does anything about it and keeps being reckless?? like am i supposed to relate to her because she IS a child. She also felt like such a flat character, like she barely went through a change throughout the book.
Honestly the only character i actually liked was her mom, because she was like the only person who didn’t like Sadie and Koda together. But instead of being right, she ended up being wrong and that “Koda and Sadie are good for each other 🥺🥺🥺”, LIKE NO NO NO WHYYYYYY.
In conclusion i would not recommend this book. It was forgettable and very problematic.
Read
June 9, 2022
I’m not sure how I feel about this book and I might still be processing my thoughts. I truly wanted to love it. First of all, the cover is STUNNING. The story itself is set mainly in NYC and is centered around music and musicians. Koda is the only daughter of the late rock star Mack Grady. She’s managed to stay out of the limelight for most of her life, despite her father’s fame. At age 17, she finds herself in a new place, grappling with who she is, and who her father was. She forms some kind of bond/relationship with her father’s ex-girlfriend who is over thirty years her senior.
I wanted to love Koda and I wanted to love her story. But for the most part, she was naive, immature, and has no regard for consequences, which in hindsight was a perfect reflection of her upbringing. There were times when I wanted to DNF the book because of all the red flags, but I had hoped for Koda’s growth and for the people involved to do better. Sadly, I was mostly disappointed. For the most part, Koda and Sadie were the same people they were at the start of the story. There weren’t appropriate consequences for their actions. Koda does learn a bit more about herself by the end. Maybe the end of the book is the beginning of her story, of her coming of age. Perhaps that's what makes this story compelling. It is realistic in that growth and figuring out who we are and who we want to be isn't always linear, nor does it come quickly and easily. So while I did not like nor enjoy this book, I respect it.
Original review posted in danicainpages blog and @danicainpages
August 31, 2021
Okay this was really not what i expected when i started this book.
It was entertaining? eh yeah. But i was also like "what the fuck???" When i realized what was going to happen and then IT HAPPENED.
It's not only about the weird relationship between Koda and Sadie, it's about how the people around them didn't tell them "hey! This is weird, this is wrong, this is toxic".
I know Teddy and Lidsay said it to them but they didn't KNOW the extent of the relationship, so i guess if they knew they would have been more insistent of keeping them away. The level of dependency they had for each other was sickening, the difference of age was sickening, the fact Sadie insisted to keep Koda around was sickening, Koda isolating herself because of Sadie was sickening.
I want to believe the writer wanted to portray it as wrong but it wasn't explicit enough that the characters understood themselves how wrong it was. And when i thought it was going in a good path and they were about to stay away of each other, the last chapter implied they were going to keep in contact???? Sorry but i need Koda to WAKE UP ?!?! And realize there is nothing normal about that relationship.
I started this book expecting a lot more of Koda and Lindsay, that was the relationship i wanted to read while Koda started this journey of finding out who was her father (and by the way she didn't learn very much about him ???). I know she was away and obviously if they kept contact during the book, Sadie wouldn't have gotten that close of Koda.
I know we want more lgbt content, i know gay couples can be toxic too and I KNOW not everything has to be perfect but i need people to use their platform to share stories where at least the characters end up learning when a relationship is bad for them.
It was entertaining? eh yeah. But i was also like "what the fuck???" When i realized what was going to happen and then IT HAPPENED.
It's not only about the weird relationship between Koda and Sadie, it's about how the people around them didn't tell them "hey! This is weird, this is wrong, this is toxic".
I know Teddy and Lidsay said it to them but they didn't KNOW the extent of the relationship, so i guess if they knew they would have been more insistent of keeping them away. The level of dependency they had for each other was sickening, the difference of age was sickening, the fact Sadie insisted to keep Koda around was sickening, Koda isolating herself because of Sadie was sickening.
I want to believe the writer wanted to portray it as wrong but it wasn't explicit enough that the characters understood themselves how wrong it was. And when i thought it was going in a good path and they were about to stay away of each other, the last chapter implied they were going to keep in contact???? Sorry but i need Koda to WAKE UP ?!?! And realize there is nothing normal about that relationship.
I started this book expecting a lot more of Koda and Lindsay, that was the relationship i wanted to read while Koda started this journey of finding out who was her father (and by the way she didn't learn very much about him ???). I know she was away and obviously if they kept contact during the book, Sadie wouldn't have gotten that close of Koda.
I know we want more lgbt content, i know gay couples can be toxic too and I KNOW not everything has to be perfect but i need people to use their platform to share stories where at least the characters end up learning when a relationship is bad for them.
December 21, 2021
"my mother has never hit me because she doesn't have the guts to hit me" that's an actual quote from the book and that's where I decided I am done with that book. So now violence is that good thing that requires guts to do.
I also hated Sadie's character, she is so toxic and she's destroying the live and future of a seventeen year old girl that she should've stayed away of. Nearly every sentence of the book is describing how great Sadie is: she does drugs, she is disrespectful to everyone, she lives in the past and does nothing to move on, she is destroying the life of a seventeen year old girl hoping to get over her ex (who died two decades ago, but she still can't put her life together after him) and she just doesn't do anything useful with her life. and what really made this difficult to read is that all that The Sadie is doing is the definition of cool from Koda's (which is the narrator of the story) point of view while her mom a hard working and loving mother is the boring person who doesn't even have the guts to hit her daughter (what a horrible woman). I couldn't bear the direction the story was taking which was this: Koda was getting more of that person who doesn't show for her school and all she wishes for in life is to smoke and do drugs like her father (who wasn't the best role model) instead of actually having a life where she isn't having a hangover all time.
The book is just making all these bad ideas like: drugs, toxic relationships, and throwing one's own future away sound like the things a cool and brave person would do and I just hate it.
I also hated Sadie's character, she is so toxic and she's destroying the live and future of a seventeen year old girl that she should've stayed away of. Nearly every sentence of the book is describing how great Sadie is: she does drugs, she is disrespectful to everyone, she lives in the past and does nothing to move on, she is destroying the life of a seventeen year old girl hoping to get over her ex (who died two decades ago, but she still can't put her life together after him) and she just doesn't do anything useful with her life. and what really made this difficult to read is that all that The Sadie is doing is the definition of cool from Koda's (which is the narrator of the story) point of view while her mom a hard working and loving mother is the boring person who doesn't even have the guts to hit her daughter (what a horrible woman). I couldn't bear the direction the story was taking which was this: Koda was getting more of that person who doesn't show for her school and all she wishes for in life is to smoke and do drugs like her father (who wasn't the best role model) instead of actually having a life where she isn't having a hangover all time.
The book is just making all these bad ideas like: drugs, toxic relationships, and throwing one's own future away sound like the things a cool and brave person would do and I just hate it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2023
I actually really enjoyed the book despite the controversy around it, but I'd have to explain on those. For one, I really liked the writing style and felt like the descriptions were perfect. I enjoyed the New York scenery and felt like everything could be visualized well! There's queer rep, the main character Koda Rose, seeks more knowledge on her Rock Legend Dad (who's passed away), but also is trying to understand herself more as a person. The controversy, pray-tell, is because of the fact that Koda decides to meet up with her Dad's former girlfriend, and they form this bond. This relationship definitely gets a bit... questionable.. and you could classify it as an unhealthy/toxic relationship. However, the Author mentions herself that it isn't supposed to be a Romance, so I take it that it was supposed to be a learning aspect for Koda? Anyway, just wish that it was clarified more how wrong it was, despite the objections we have from her bestie n mom. But, other than that, it could've been a really solid book honestly. Just had a fun time reading it because of Koda's weird inner-monologue, pretty much take it with a grain of salt.
July 25, 2023
this is … a tough one.
i feel like, for the most part, this book has suffered from severe mismarketing. it’s not a sweet YA romance, like book lists or even the cover and synopsis would have you believe. it’s a messy, kind of gross and weird coming-of-age novel about a toxic, codependent “friendship” formed between koda and her late father’s former girlfriend.
but i didn’t hate it. the writing was actually really good, and the exploration of koda and sadie’s relationship was genuinely interesting (and unlike what other reviews would have you believe, in my opinion, the book IS self-aware and DOES condemn the nature of their relationship). i thought it was a good exploration of codependency and over-reliance on a singular person for comfort or self-worth.
but again. still a weird relationship and uncomfortable to read about. certain plot points feel unresolved (like koda’s love of marine biology? or her relationship with her best friend who she’s supposedly in love with?) and i was kinda bored in the middle lol
2.75 stars, rounded up because i always round up
i feel like, for the most part, this book has suffered from severe mismarketing. it’s not a sweet YA romance, like book lists or even the cover and synopsis would have you believe. it’s a messy, kind of gross and weird coming-of-age novel about a toxic, codependent “friendship” formed between koda and her late father’s former girlfriend.
but i didn’t hate it. the writing was actually really good, and the exploration of koda and sadie’s relationship was genuinely interesting (and unlike what other reviews would have you believe, in my opinion, the book IS self-aware and DOES condemn the nature of their relationship). i thought it was a good exploration of codependency and over-reliance on a singular person for comfort or self-worth.
but again. still a weird relationship and uncomfortable to read about. certain plot points feel unresolved (like koda’s love of marine biology? or her relationship with her best friend who she’s supposedly in love with?) and i was kinda bored in the middle lol
2.75 stars, rounded up because i always round up
August 24, 2021
I found this book more enjoyable than “in deeper waters” and i think there were definetely a few good quotes on growing as a person and making the most out of life, for example, “Do it afraid” which meant instead of waiting to do something until it doesn’t frighten you anymore, do it afraid. However, i feel that the message fell flat in the end and i didn’t see that much personal growth for our main character. Koda Roses character was anything but consistent, at times being shy and self conscious and at others coming across extremely rude and boldly spoken. The relationship between her and her fathers girlfriend had me feeling uncomfortable at points and i felt at times it went beyond the boundaries of “close friends” and even at points felt Koda Rose was being taken advantage of and in my opinion the toxicity behind their relationship should have been further spoken on. In the end it was not a bad read yet had many parts that left me wanting to put it down out of sheer discomfort.
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