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Chasing The Taillights
Lucy and Tony share nothing except genes. Tony’s the champion diver destined for greatness. Lucy’s biggest concern is getting Cute Guy from the burger joint to ask her out.
After an accident kills their parents, the siblings are forced to rely on one another—and decide whether to reveal their secrets.
Lucy can’t tell Tony what she knows about the accident for fear of destroying the tentative bond between them. If she doesn’t confess, she might lose her mind. If she does, she might lose the only person she has left who loves her.
Tony has problems too. Between diving practice, classes and concealing the crush he has on his best friend Jake, Tony needs to find room in his life for his sister, but his own stability dwindles with every passing day.
As the siblings struggle to overcome a lifetime of past conflicts and jealousies, they discover they might have more in common than a love of rock music.
After an accident kills their parents, the siblings are forced to rely on one another—and decide whether to reveal their secrets.
Lucy can’t tell Tony what she knows about the accident for fear of destroying the tentative bond between them. If she doesn’t confess, she might lose her mind. If she does, she might lose the only person she has left who loves her.
Tony has problems too. Between diving practice, classes and concealing the crush he has on his best friend Jake, Tony needs to find room in his life for his sister, but his own stability dwindles with every passing day.
As the siblings struggle to overcome a lifetime of past conflicts and jealousies, they discover they might have more in common than a love of rock music.
- GenresYoung Adult
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2021
14 people want to read
About the author
Kate Larkindale
14 books126 followersHaving spent a lifetime travelling the globe, Kate Larkindale settled in Wellington, New Zealand. An arts administrator, fitness instructor, film reviewer and mother, she’s surprised she finds any time to write, but doesn’t sleep much. As a result, she can usually be found hanging out near the espresso machine.
She is the author of contemporary YA novels The Sidewalk's Regrets, An Unstill Life, Chasing the Taillights, My Murder Year, Standing Too Close and Stumped along with several others that no one is allowed to see. She has also written one very bad historical romance, which will likely never see the light of day. She is working on several more YA novels that may or may not ever be finished…
Her short stories have appeared in Just Above Water anthology, Halfway Down The Stairs, A Fly in Amber, Daily Flash Anthology, The Barrier Islands Review, Everyday Fiction, Death Rattle, Drastic Measures, Cutlass & Musket, Kissed anthology, Just Me anthology and Residential Aliens, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 19, 2021
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Siblings Lucy and Tony couldn't be more different. Tony's the star diver on his college team and Lucy's main concern is whether the cute guy she seen at work has noticed her.
When an accident kills their parents Lucy and Tony are forced into a situation where they have to support and get to know each other again.
Lucy is of two minds on if she should tell Tony what she knows of the accident. If she doesn't tell him she could lose her mind but if she does she may lose him.
Tony is trying to juggle his diving practice, college and hiding the crush he has on Jake, his best friend. Tony has to find space in his busy life for his sister but he is struggling as well.
As they try to over come their previous issues with each other the siblings may find that they have more that one thing in common.
What I liked about this book
LGBTQ main character.
An emotional rollercoaster.
Explores the complexities of grief, guilt and accepting your sexuality.
It is easy to care about the characters. Tony was my favourite character, he matures greatly throughout the book.
The story is written beautifully.
What I didn’t like
The story is a bit slow to build up.
Chasing The Taillights is an emotionally powerful story that is sure to have you shedding a few tears. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a hint of romance.
4 stars
✮✮✮✮
Find this review and others on my blog
Siblings Lucy and Tony couldn't be more different. Tony's the star diver on his college team and Lucy's main concern is whether the cute guy she seen at work has noticed her.
When an accident kills their parents Lucy and Tony are forced into a situation where they have to support and get to know each other again.
Lucy is of two minds on if she should tell Tony what she knows of the accident. If she doesn't tell him she could lose her mind but if she does she may lose him.
Tony is trying to juggle his diving practice, college and hiding the crush he has on Jake, his best friend. Tony has to find space in his busy life for his sister but he is struggling as well.
As they try to over come their previous issues with each other the siblings may find that they have more that one thing in common.
What I liked about this book
LGBTQ main character.
An emotional rollercoaster.
Explores the complexities of grief, guilt and accepting your sexuality.
It is easy to care about the characters. Tony was my favourite character, he matures greatly throughout the book.
The story is written beautifully.
What I didn’t like
The story is a bit slow to build up.
Chasing The Taillights is an emotionally powerful story that is sure to have you shedding a few tears. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a hint of romance.
4 stars
✮✮✮✮
Find this review and others on my blog
February 18, 2021
My rating: 4.5 Stars - Fabulous story that overplayed a few points
Kate Larkindale’s CHASING THE TAILLIGHTS is a story of finding the meaning of family, of the true value of a sibling and of learning to draw strength together in times of great sorrow.
Their parents were killed in an accident. Tony was away at college and Lucy survived the crash, her memories of that night lost. What caused the crash? Was her father so intoxicated he lost control?
Deciding to live together, Tony has taken on the role of guardian to the sister he never had a relationship with. Can they make it work or is there something else they need to work out first?
Ms. Larkindale has created a heart wrenching story of survival, of hidden truths, of loneliness, confusion and guilt as two teens struggle to overcome both their loss and the barriers that have kept them strangers. Emotionally charged, filled with great dialogue, both inner and outward, the struggles feel real and powerful.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Evernight Teen! this is my honest and voluntary review.
Expected publication: February 26th 2021 by Evernight Teen
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Kate Larkindale’s CHASING THE TAILLIGHTS is a story of finding the meaning of family, of the true value of a sibling and of learning to draw strength together in times of great sorrow.
Their parents were killed in an accident. Tony was away at college and Lucy survived the crash, her memories of that night lost. What caused the crash? Was her father so intoxicated he lost control?
Deciding to live together, Tony has taken on the role of guardian to the sister he never had a relationship with. Can they make it work or is there something else they need to work out first?
Ms. Larkindale has created a heart wrenching story of survival, of hidden truths, of loneliness, confusion and guilt as two teens struggle to overcome both their loss and the barriers that have kept them strangers. Emotionally charged, filled with great dialogue, both inner and outward, the struggles feel real and powerful.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Evernight Teen! this is my honest and voluntary review.
Expected publication: February 26th 2021 by Evernight Teen
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 19, 2021
After enjoying Kate Larkindale’s The Sidewalk’s Regrets, I was happy to dive into another book by the author. As I’d hoped, it was a story I was happy to devour in a single sitting.
I’ll be honest, although this one had me unable to put it down, I didn’t quite feel the emotional connection in the first couple of chapters. Once the big event happened and things started move, it hit hard with emotion after emotion. I fell deeply for the characters, adored the way things developed for them, and was so invested in their stories. There were many different elements to enjoy, many details introduced, and I each one hit hard. It deals with all the hardship of finding oneself during teenage years, along with all the pain of loss.
Without a doubt, this was another addictive read from Kate Larkindale. Packed with plenty to keep you gripped, this is impossible to put down.
I’ll be honest, although this one had me unable to put it down, I didn’t quite feel the emotional connection in the first couple of chapters. Once the big event happened and things started move, it hit hard with emotion after emotion. I fell deeply for the characters, adored the way things developed for them, and was so invested in their stories. There were many different elements to enjoy, many details introduced, and I each one hit hard. It deals with all the hardship of finding oneself during teenage years, along with all the pain of loss.
Without a doubt, this was another addictive read from Kate Larkindale. Packed with plenty to keep you gripped, this is impossible to put down.
September 24, 2021
An emotional rollercoaster is how I will describe Kate Larkindale's "Chasing The Taillights".
Lucy and Tony were siblings in the prime of their youth having to deal with the loss of their parents in an accident. The loss of parents at any age is painful, but when they die suddenly it is even more devastating. The book was written from both the perspective of Lucy the teenager, who survived the accident with her parents and Tony the older, athletic, college student brother who, overnight had to take up the responsibility of his younger sister, who he knew very little about personality wise.
When I was reading the book, I was thinking about people in general going through loss. What I found interesting was that neither of the siblings did not seek counselling. I am not sure if this was deliberate, but the way these two were struggling especially Lucy really said to me that young people in similar situations should seek help. The downward spiral that Lucy went through was testament to that. It was really heart wrenching to read about when she finally remembered the details of the accident, the guilt, the shame, and the recklessness wow it was really real to me.
What I liked about Tony, was that although he was grappling with college life, diving and personal life, he still stepped up to care for his teenage sister. I really liked too how this author through Tony gave me a different take on dealing with loss. The ending was really wonderful as well.
Much thanks to Ms. Larkindale for sending this book for review.
I really enjoyed this book.
Lucy and Tony were siblings in the prime of their youth having to deal with the loss of their parents in an accident. The loss of parents at any age is painful, but when they die suddenly it is even more devastating. The book was written from both the perspective of Lucy the teenager, who survived the accident with her parents and Tony the older, athletic, college student brother who, overnight had to take up the responsibility of his younger sister, who he knew very little about personality wise.
When I was reading the book, I was thinking about people in general going through loss. What I found interesting was that neither of the siblings did not seek counselling. I am not sure if this was deliberate, but the way these two were struggling especially Lucy really said to me that young people in similar situations should seek help. The downward spiral that Lucy went through was testament to that. It was really heart wrenching to read about when she finally remembered the details of the accident, the guilt, the shame, and the recklessness wow it was really real to me.
What I liked about Tony, was that although he was grappling with college life, diving and personal life, he still stepped up to care for his teenage sister. I really liked too how this author through Tony gave me a different take on dealing with loss. The ending was really wonderful as well.
Much thanks to Ms. Larkindale for sending this book for review.
I really enjoyed this book.
July 1, 2024
Looking forward to sharing this one with readers!
August 23, 2021
I found this book to be very enjoyable and packed with emotion. The ending is absolutely beautiful, full of peace and hope. There's a richness in the characters that makes them feel real. Lucy is a teenager, her brother Tony is a young man in college-- the book switches between their point of views with Tony being odd chapters and Lucy even ones. It's interesting within its genre because of what Lucy experiences. Also, while there are LGBTQIA+ books with characters who know themselves, this one has a character who is discovering his preferences and his feelings about them. ("Questioning.") I bought this book on sale at Amazon. I know this author from Operation Awesome. My review is honest with unbiased opinions. I recommend this book to fans of YA and New Adult who are looking for a clean read. (There is drinking and minor drug references, but intimate scenes are "fade to black.") Also a good read if you've been through a loss, are questioning your attraction preferences, love music, or love high-diving.
I don't read a lot of drama books, but I was drawn in by the "back cover" description of Tony's character. As far as I can tell by Google, Sartre's Suitcase is a fictional band (mentioned in the story-- other bands mentioned are real, and many of the CDs are ones I've listened to also).
Excerpts I especially enjoyed:
It's music to wrap yourself in during your most vulnerable moments.
It's a permanent void I can only hope will grow smaller and less painful. (The paragraph is about grief. It's a strong truth and wonderfully well-written.)
There's also a moment in Chapter Nineteen with Tony assuming a doctor to be a he, and Lucy correcting him that the doctor is a she -- that part made me laugh.
The end of chapter four made me cry. I've lost too many people in the last 24 months. So this book, where these two young people are experiencing such grief, it really grabbed those emotions I've been experiencing lately. And chapter nine, gees Kate, I think your book should be bundled with a box of tissues!
I read the whole book because I had a feeling about what Lucy wasn't remembering, and I was mostly right. I would read something from this author again. (Two of her books are on my wishlist, in fact.)
Tony has dark blue eyes like his father, dark hair like his mother, and is tall. Lucy has blonde hair like her dad, dark coffee-bean eyes like her mother, skim milk skin, and is very thin "all bones." Kim, Lucy's best friend at the start of the book, is Korean.
Some ways to describe this book are tragedy, realistic fiction, tear-jerker, fast-paced, inspirational, meaningful, and excellent characters. The title is used in a paragraph (page 26 in my Kindle). It felt well-edited to me. The best setting in the book is the beach. Tony's goals start with his future as a professional diver and getting a degree in medicine, goals that are about him, but evolve to goals about being closer to his sister and Jake, goals that are about his relationships. Lucy's goals revolve around music, and the obstacles in her path reflect that in ways that aren't totally clear until the very end. It reminded me a little of the 90s tv show "Party of Five," but with only two siblings.
Coach McGinley, like all too many real coaches, believes that everyone is a female, as he calls his male dive team "ladies." (I've known such coaches, and have gotten suspended for not answering to the intentional misgender.)
Society could benefit by using this book as a jumping-off point for a discussion about straight, gay/lesbian, bi, pan, etc. Does being in love with just one person (m/m or f/f) automatically make you a gay/lesbian? Or, if also being attracted to others (m/f) mean you're bi? The book only lightly touches on the question. But it would be an excellent way to open a discussion.
The Bechdel test would note that Lucy does talk to another named female character, and the discussion is focused on music.
I don't read a lot of drama books, but I was drawn in by the "back cover" description of Tony's character. As far as I can tell by Google, Sartre's Suitcase is a fictional band (mentioned in the story-- other bands mentioned are real, and many of the CDs are ones I've listened to also).
Excerpts I especially enjoyed:
It's music to wrap yourself in during your most vulnerable moments.
It's a permanent void I can only hope will grow smaller and less painful. (The paragraph is about grief. It's a strong truth and wonderfully well-written.)
There's also a moment in Chapter Nineteen with Tony assuming a doctor to be a he, and Lucy correcting him that the doctor is a she -- that part made me laugh.
The end of chapter four made me cry. I've lost too many people in the last 24 months. So this book, where these two young people are experiencing such grief, it really grabbed those emotions I've been experiencing lately. And chapter nine, gees Kate, I think your book should be bundled with a box of tissues!
I read the whole book because I had a feeling about what Lucy wasn't remembering, and I was mostly right. I would read something from this author again. (Two of her books are on my wishlist, in fact.)
Tony has dark blue eyes like his father, dark hair like his mother, and is tall. Lucy has blonde hair like her dad, dark coffee-bean eyes like her mother, skim milk skin, and is very thin "all bones." Kim, Lucy's best friend at the start of the book, is Korean.
Some ways to describe this book are tragedy, realistic fiction, tear-jerker, fast-paced, inspirational, meaningful, and excellent characters. The title is used in a paragraph (page 26 in my Kindle). It felt well-edited to me. The best setting in the book is the beach. Tony's goals start with his future as a professional diver and getting a degree in medicine, goals that are about him, but evolve to goals about being closer to his sister and Jake, goals that are about his relationships. Lucy's goals revolve around music, and the obstacles in her path reflect that in ways that aren't totally clear until the very end. It reminded me a little of the 90s tv show "Party of Five," but with only two siblings.
Coach McGinley, like all too many real coaches, believes that everyone is a female, as he calls his male dive team "ladies." (I've known such coaches, and have gotten suspended for not answering to the intentional misgender.)
Society could benefit by using this book as a jumping-off point for a discussion about straight, gay/lesbian, bi, pan, etc. Does being in love with just one person (m/m or f/f) automatically make you a gay/lesbian? Or, if also being attracted to others (m/f) mean you're bi? The book only lightly touches on the question. But it would be an excellent way to open a discussion.
The Bechdel test would note that Lucy does talk to another named female character, and the discussion is focused on music.
October 11, 2021
Rating: 3.2/5.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Chasing The Taillights was touching and a little enjoyable. It focuses on Tony and Lucy, two siblings who were never really close, but brought together by the passing of their parents. This book is set in the present loss, by which, I mean that Lucy and Tony lose their parents early on, and have to work through it while having every emotion feel "real-time". That's what makes it a little hard to read, in my opinion. It's hard to read about loss and feel everything with them right then because it's not something that happened a while ago that the characters are recovering from, it feels too real.
I think it was also hard to read because the writing and pacing were a little choppy. The characters were never true to themselves, I think, they kept bouncing back and forth between separate things. And we get zero insight as to how Tony or Lucy acted pre-accident, so when Lucy gets into drinking and pot and Tony drinks maybe four beers almost every night, I don't know if those are reactions to numb the loss or because it's a habit. Personally, I'd be terrified to drink again, especially if both of my parents were killed because they were drunk out of their minds. There's no hesitation, too, to wonder hmm, maybe I'm turning into dad or I wonder if I keep drinking that I'll end up like mom. Also, Tony carelessly tosses out that his dad - and maybe his mother, too - was an alcoholic, but it came out of the blue because we have zero insight as to who they were. To me, I didn't feel very much emotion concerning the characters because they were just two people who passed away. I had no connection to them or to Lucy or Tony, so it was sad, but I didn't care very much.
The side characters were there to push things along. After the siblings' uncles take Lucy in for a minute and then let her stay with Tony, we never hear from them again. There's a lot of stuff that happens and Tony doesn't think to ask adults for a little help or advice? Especially the drama at the last party. Lucy's best friend disappears completely after Lucy texted her, and though Kate (Katy?) was a bad friend, they had been friends for years. Kate might have tried contacting Lucy a little more to apologize or something. Even Jake, Tony's love interest, is supposed to have a spot in the story as the love interest, but he does nothing. And their love story comes from nowhere. Sure, Tony has been pining after him for a bit, but we see less than nothing from Jake, and the way they got together was... messy.
The blurb said Lucy and Tony have to find how to get closer to each other and bond with something other than through rock music - but they don't bond through rock music. Lucy talks a lot about music, and there are a few times that pop or light music plays, and Tony sighs and changes the station/channel. That's not bonding. Lucy bonds more with some random girl at her school through music than with Tony. I didn't feel like Tony and Lucy bonded all that much either. The ending came suddenly and everything was patched up nicely for no reason. Lucy clearly has things going on and has not been adjusting well at all, and Tony just sighs and gets frustrated that she wakes him up in the middle of the night because she's having horrible nightmares. I just never felt like they got any closer together, especially with the fights and the hurt at the end.
Chasing The Taillights is character-driven, but because the characters aren't that developed, it's a bunch of things that happen at once while the siblings try to get closer and work through their loss. It was an okay read, but there were quite a few things I didn't enjoy about the book.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Chasing The Taillights was touching and a little enjoyable. It focuses on Tony and Lucy, two siblings who were never really close, but brought together by the passing of their parents. This book is set in the present loss, by which, I mean that Lucy and Tony lose their parents early on, and have to work through it while having every emotion feel "real-time". That's what makes it a little hard to read, in my opinion. It's hard to read about loss and feel everything with them right then because it's not something that happened a while ago that the characters are recovering from, it feels too real.
I think it was also hard to read because the writing and pacing were a little choppy. The characters were never true to themselves, I think, they kept bouncing back and forth between separate things. And we get zero insight as to how Tony or Lucy acted pre-accident, so when Lucy gets into drinking and pot and Tony drinks maybe four beers almost every night, I don't know if those are reactions to numb the loss or because it's a habit. Personally, I'd be terrified to drink again, especially if both of my parents were killed because they were drunk out of their minds. There's no hesitation, too, to wonder hmm, maybe I'm turning into dad or I wonder if I keep drinking that I'll end up like mom. Also, Tony carelessly tosses out that his dad - and maybe his mother, too - was an alcoholic, but it came out of the blue because we have zero insight as to who they were. To me, I didn't feel very much emotion concerning the characters because they were just two people who passed away. I had no connection to them or to Lucy or Tony, so it was sad, but I didn't care very much.
The side characters were there to push things along. After the siblings' uncles take Lucy in for a minute and then let her stay with Tony, we never hear from them again. There's a lot of stuff that happens and Tony doesn't think to ask adults for a little help or advice? Especially the drama at the last party. Lucy's best friend disappears completely after Lucy texted her, and though Kate (Katy?) was a bad friend, they had been friends for years. Kate might have tried contacting Lucy a little more to apologize or something. Even Jake, Tony's love interest, is supposed to have a spot in the story as the love interest, but he does nothing. And their love story comes from nowhere. Sure, Tony has been pining after him for a bit, but we see less than nothing from Jake, and the way they got together was... messy.
The blurb said Lucy and Tony have to find how to get closer to each other and bond with something other than through rock music - but they don't bond through rock music. Lucy talks a lot about music, and there are a few times that pop or light music plays, and Tony sighs and changes the station/channel. That's not bonding. Lucy bonds more with some random girl at her school through music than with Tony. I didn't feel like Tony and Lucy bonded all that much either. The ending came suddenly and everything was patched up nicely for no reason. Lucy clearly has things going on and has not been adjusting well at all, and Tony just sighs and gets frustrated that she wakes him up in the middle of the night because she's having horrible nightmares. I just never felt like they got any closer together, especially with the fights and the hurt at the end.
Chasing The Taillights is character-driven, but because the characters aren't that developed, it's a bunch of things that happen at once while the siblings try to get closer and work through their loss. It was an okay read, but there were quite a few things I didn't enjoy about the book.
May 22, 2021
I received a free copy of the ebook from the author in exchange for my review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.
What a heartbreaking and compelling story. As a mom, I just wanted to scoop both of these kids up and hug them and just BE there for them. I also wanted to yell “You need counseling!!!” so many times. Who leaves a couple of children to not only fend for themselves physically but also emotionally and mentally, after both of their parents die?! Their lousy uncles, that’s who?
This was a particularly heartbreaking story to me because I see my own two kids’ distance from one another as similar to Tony and Lucy. My kids are also four years apart, older brother/younger sister. It just makes me so sad when they argue and push each other away. Your sibling relationship will be the longest relationship you have in your life! It should be cherished. My sister and I - ten years apart in age - have always been there for one another. It gets better as they get older, right?
While many questionable choices were made by different characters, all in all, the story of navigating grief, learning about love and family, and finding yourself shines through. It does feature some triggering situations (parental death, car accident, homophobia, alcoholism, deteriorating mental health) so I don’t think this book is for everyone, but it is a well-written and respectful handling of complex issues.
What a heartbreaking and compelling story. As a mom, I just wanted to scoop both of these kids up and hug them and just BE there for them. I also wanted to yell “You need counseling!!!” so many times. Who leaves a couple of children to not only fend for themselves physically but also emotionally and mentally, after both of their parents die?! Their lousy uncles, that’s who?
This was a particularly heartbreaking story to me because I see my own two kids’ distance from one another as similar to Tony and Lucy. My kids are also four years apart, older brother/younger sister. It just makes me so sad when they argue and push each other away. Your sibling relationship will be the longest relationship you have in your life! It should be cherished. My sister and I - ten years apart in age - have always been there for one another. It gets better as they get older, right?
While many questionable choices were made by different characters, all in all, the story of navigating grief, learning about love and family, and finding yourself shines through. It does feature some triggering situations (parental death, car accident, homophobia, alcoholism, deteriorating mental health) so I don’t think this book is for everyone, but it is a well-written and respectful handling of complex issues.
March 6, 2021
Chasing The Taillights is a great emotional read. Lucy and Tony are great characters. They lose their parent to a car accident. Tony is Lucy's older brother but not be much. He's in college and takes on the responsibility of being Lucy's guardian. Lucy has a secret she's keeping about the accident. These two have a lot of growth to do and hardships to overcome too. Both Tony and Lucy are strong lovable characters. When reading I felt like on was on a journey with these two.
March 3, 2021
A beautiful, poignant story about siblings struggling to connect while hiding important pieces of themselves. I adored this book for so many reasons. It's real and raw and often heartbreaking, but so worth reading, if just to meet Tony who has to be one of my favourite book characters ever!
April 16, 2021
Find this review and others like it at https://aravenclawlibraryx.wordpress.com
A special thank you goes out to the author, Kate Larkindale, for providing me a copy of this book for review!
tw: parental death, car accident, internalized homophobia, alcoholism, deteriorating mental health, underage drinking, slut shaming (involving what girls wear)
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I am going to shout and scream about this book forever. So far, it’s on my top 10 books of 2021. Everything about this book is sheer perfection, from the cover to the characters to the plot. I wanted to drown myself in this book. I didn’t even want to finish it because I knew I was going to be so sad.
This book had everything. It had incredibly messy sibling dynamics, which was done so well. It had grief and mental health problems. It had broken friendships. It had it all and it was all done well. Lucy and Tony were very clearly estranged and it was heartwarming to see them having to come together in the face of tragedy. They had love for each, sure, but to see them having to interact and learn to get along again was just so great.
Tony and Lucy were fantastic characters. I adored both of them so much, I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite. I loved Tony’s POV. He clearly was so confused about who he was as a person and I was rooting for him the whole time. I was hoping he would find himself. My poor sweet Lucy. My heart broke for her. Reading her POV was heartbreaking because of her mental instability after the accident. I wanted to just cry and protect her.
One of the themes of this book is grief and holy cow, it’s a lot. I haven’t been through a lot of tragedy in my life so I don’t have a lot of experience with grief. But wow, I felt myself drowning in the grief. It reminded me a lot of the Song of Achilles with the heartbreak. I knew something was going to happen and I felt this absolute pain in my chest that wouldn’t go away. My heart still hurts thinking about this book.
Overall, I’m going to need every single person to read this book because this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I want everyone to know about this book. I can’t wait to see what else this author does because she has a massive fan in me already.
A special thank you goes out to the author, Kate Larkindale, for providing me a copy of this book for review!
tw: parental death, car accident, internalized homophobia, alcoholism, deteriorating mental health, underage drinking, slut shaming (involving what girls wear)
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I am going to shout and scream about this book forever. So far, it’s on my top 10 books of 2021. Everything about this book is sheer perfection, from the cover to the characters to the plot. I wanted to drown myself in this book. I didn’t even want to finish it because I knew I was going to be so sad.
This book had everything. It had incredibly messy sibling dynamics, which was done so well. It had grief and mental health problems. It had broken friendships. It had it all and it was all done well. Lucy and Tony were very clearly estranged and it was heartwarming to see them having to come together in the face of tragedy. They had love for each, sure, but to see them having to interact and learn to get along again was just so great.
Tony and Lucy were fantastic characters. I adored both of them so much, I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite. I loved Tony’s POV. He clearly was so confused about who he was as a person and I was rooting for him the whole time. I was hoping he would find himself. My poor sweet Lucy. My heart broke for her. Reading her POV was heartbreaking because of her mental instability after the accident. I wanted to just cry and protect her.
One of the themes of this book is grief and holy cow, it’s a lot. I haven’t been through a lot of tragedy in my life so I don’t have a lot of experience with grief. But wow, I felt myself drowning in the grief. It reminded me a lot of the Song of Achilles with the heartbreak. I knew something was going to happen and I felt this absolute pain in my chest that wouldn’t go away. My heart still hurts thinking about this book.
Overall, I’m going to need every single person to read this book because this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I want everyone to know about this book. I can’t wait to see what else this author does because she has a massive fan in me already.
May 20, 2021
Chasing the Taillights is a phenomenal and emotional read. It follows Lucy and Tony through the loss of their parents and how it changes the siblings both individually and their relationship with each other. `This book is about grief and loss, but also about the ties between family, and how when tragedy happens it can bring people closer to those who have drifted apart. Lucy having gone with her parents to a mutual friend’s wedding wakes up in the hospital with no recollection of what happened since the arrived at the wedding. Tony, having missed the wedding due to his demanding schedule for dive practice and university, gets a call from his uncle’s partner tell him to come home in the middle of the night. After learning of the loss of their parents, Lucy and Tony navigate what this means for them. At 16, Lucy needs a guardian and her parents wished it to be her uncle. however, Tony and Lucy decide that her staying with the uncle they never really got to know just didn’t feel right and decide that Tony will be transferred guardianship of his sister. Tony is now juggling his sister with trauma and her health, a demanding university schedule, his practices for diving as he is expected to be a champion, his friendship with Jake and also the grief his feels having lost his parents. How many balls will drop as Tony navigates through all of this? Will Lucy end up falling through the cracks?
Kate’s writing style was great! The story just flowed and was easy to comprehend. This story isn’t complicated with many plot points but more about the emotions and feeling what the characters felt. The emotion poured onto the page had me going for the tissues more times than I can count. Kate touched on a lot of themes and managed to cover going through grief and loss while coming into yourself and who you are so well. The world was well created – very realistic. The details throughout the world including what university life is like and how things are dealt with in a situation like this was pretty well thought out. I did like the pacing of the book. I wish we actually got to see a flash forward of Tony and Lucy at the end of the novel, but the ending provided so much closure for both them and the reader. This novel really reminds me of the duology, If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. I highly recommend this book if you liked that series, or if you are looking for a contemporary read, or a book about how family can see you through the worst moments of your life.
A special thank you goes out to the author, Kate Larkindale, for providing me a copy of this book for review!
Kate’s writing style was great! The story just flowed and was easy to comprehend. This story isn’t complicated with many plot points but more about the emotions and feeling what the characters felt. The emotion poured onto the page had me going for the tissues more times than I can count. Kate touched on a lot of themes and managed to cover going through grief and loss while coming into yourself and who you are so well. The world was well created – very realistic. The details throughout the world including what university life is like and how things are dealt with in a situation like this was pretty well thought out. I did like the pacing of the book. I wish we actually got to see a flash forward of Tony and Lucy at the end of the novel, but the ending provided so much closure for both them and the reader. This novel really reminds me of the duology, If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. I highly recommend this book if you liked that series, or if you are looking for a contemporary read, or a book about how family can see you through the worst moments of your life.
A special thank you goes out to the author, Kate Larkindale, for providing me a copy of this book for review!
March 25, 2021
TO WIN ONE OF KATE LARKINDALE'S BOOKS VISIT MY BOOK BLOG: https://sarainbooklandblog.blogspot.c...
Chasing the Taillights follows the story of Tony and Lucy, brother and sister that were never really close until the death of their parents force them together. The idea of this book interested me right away as it sounded like a story that would definitely bring me through an emotional journey. But to write a story like this, I believe you must have a certain sensitivity and the ability to transport the readers into the characters’ hearts.
In my opinion, Kate Larkindale completed this job perfectly! I was scared at first to approach this kind of book because if the emotional side of the story would not have been dealt with in an exemplar way, I know that I would have suffered for the simple plot. But the characters’ development and interiority was so well presented, that I was never bored by the lack of action.
Both Lucy and Tony are great protagonists: they are mature without losing their spontaneity, they are sweet and tender yet they both have a strong temperament. I loved to see their relationship grow and if there is one thing I would reproach the author is the fact that we have just a few episodes of these two actually spending time together. The strenght of their connection, infact, grows out of their slow understanding of one another, more than out of actual moments shared. It is a silent growth that we experience, made of facts more than words since both Tony and Lucy struggle with pouring out their feelings. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book,though, since it made me concentrate more on the emotions hidden behind their gestures. Another great part of the story that certainly had an impact in the emotional rollercoaster this book was, is the romance between Jake and Tony, that was so well structured that I wish we could have a book aside just for the two of them. But to focus too much on this love story, would probably have distracted the readers from Tony and Lucy’s growth and I loved how the author managed to make the romance just a sweet addition to complete the book perfectly.
Overall, I consider myself really satisfied by this book: the author’s writing was extremely fluent and intense, the emotions were relatable and sincere and I was really not expecting for this book to be so easy to get attached to. I’ll be certainly be checking out more of Kate Larkindale book, an author I’m really happy to have discovered!
Chasing the Taillights follows the story of Tony and Lucy, brother and sister that were never really close until the death of their parents force them together. The idea of this book interested me right away as it sounded like a story that would definitely bring me through an emotional journey. But to write a story like this, I believe you must have a certain sensitivity and the ability to transport the readers into the characters’ hearts.
In my opinion, Kate Larkindale completed this job perfectly! I was scared at first to approach this kind of book because if the emotional side of the story would not have been dealt with in an exemplar way, I know that I would have suffered for the simple plot. But the characters’ development and interiority was so well presented, that I was never bored by the lack of action.
Both Lucy and Tony are great protagonists: they are mature without losing their spontaneity, they are sweet and tender yet they both have a strong temperament. I loved to see their relationship grow and if there is one thing I would reproach the author is the fact that we have just a few episodes of these two actually spending time together. The strenght of their connection, infact, grows out of their slow understanding of one another, more than out of actual moments shared. It is a silent growth that we experience, made of facts more than words since both Tony and Lucy struggle with pouring out their feelings. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book,though, since it made me concentrate more on the emotions hidden behind their gestures. Another great part of the story that certainly had an impact in the emotional rollercoaster this book was, is the romance between Jake and Tony, that was so well structured that I wish we could have a book aside just for the two of them. But to focus too much on this love story, would probably have distracted the readers from Tony and Lucy’s growth and I loved how the author managed to make the romance just a sweet addition to complete the book perfectly.
Overall, I consider myself really satisfied by this book: the author’s writing was extremely fluent and intense, the emotions were relatable and sincere and I was really not expecting for this book to be so easy to get attached to. I’ll be certainly be checking out more of Kate Larkindale book, an author I’m really happy to have discovered!
March 27, 2021
Larkindale had asked me to read this book and I am so happy that she did ask me. I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. It was a fun change of pace after everything else I read. I look forward to more.
I always read things that are usually supernatural or fantasy because I personally am always looking for a way to escape reality and things I don't want to face. This book was one of those rare moments where it's based in reality and one of the things that I personally fear; losing my parents.
This book is about a brother-sister pair that lost their parents and have to cope with that fact and all the changes that accompany it. This book really made me think and makes me wonder how I would react if I was in their position.
I did a whole blog post for this book, so if you want to read my full thoughts about the book click on the highlighted bit and read. There are spoilers in there so be warned! I honestly think more young adults should read this book because it's my personal belief that nothing is guaranteed and we should know what really matters to us.
I have recieved this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I always read things that are usually supernatural or fantasy because I personally am always looking for a way to escape reality and things I don't want to face. This book was one of those rare moments where it's based in reality and one of the things that I personally fear; losing my parents.
This book is about a brother-sister pair that lost their parents and have to cope with that fact and all the changes that accompany it. This book really made me think and makes me wonder how I would react if I was in their position.
I did a whole blog post for this book, so if you want to read my full thoughts about the book click on the highlighted bit and read. There are spoilers in there so be warned! I honestly think more young adults should read this book because it's my personal belief that nothing is guaranteed and we should know what really matters to us.
I have recieved this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 26, 2021
🌊🌊🌊 Absolute crush ! ♥️
Tony is training at the Pool.
For the umpteenth time, he tries to pull off a dive under the eyes of his comrade Jake and their demanding coach.
For her part , her little sister Lucy, 16, is getting ready to go out with her parents...
They don’t know it yet, but a terrible tragedy is brewing...
-------------
Wow ! Which book !
A real emotional crush, absolute, total, for the two main characters, for the story and the maelstrom of emotions that emerges from it.
From the first paragraph of the book, I was totally hooked on Tony’s character and the author’s emotionally strong writing style.
I immersed myself in this heartbreaking story, I wanted to know the rest : what was going to happen to Tony and Lucy after the drama ?
I felt strangely very close to them, a form of universal empathy that moved me.
I recommend this must read to discover.
Well done and thank you to the author !
🌊🌊🌊♥️
Tony is training at the Pool.
For the umpteenth time, he tries to pull off a dive under the eyes of his comrade Jake and their demanding coach.
For her part , her little sister Lucy, 16, is getting ready to go out with her parents...
They don’t know it yet, but a terrible tragedy is brewing...
-------------
Wow ! Which book !
A real emotional crush, absolute, total, for the two main characters, for the story and the maelstrom of emotions that emerges from it.
From the first paragraph of the book, I was totally hooked on Tony’s character and the author’s emotionally strong writing style.
I immersed myself in this heartbreaking story, I wanted to know the rest : what was going to happen to Tony and Lucy after the drama ?
I felt strangely very close to them, a form of universal empathy that moved me.
I recommend this must read to discover.
Well done and thank you to the author !
🌊🌊🌊♥️
October 18, 2021
*I am voluntarily leaving this review after having received a free copy of this book.*
Oh boy, did I cry. This book grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. The sibling relationship is done very well, and the alternating POVs, which I'm not always a fan of, were an excellent choice for this storyline. I ached for both Lucy and Tony--their pain was nearly tangible. I also enjoyed reading about Lucy's love of music and Tony's love of diving. I do think the plot dragged in a couple of places, but overall I definitely enjoyed my time with this book.
Oh boy, did I cry. This book grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. The sibling relationship is done very well, and the alternating POVs, which I'm not always a fan of, were an excellent choice for this storyline. I ached for both Lucy and Tony--their pain was nearly tangible. I also enjoyed reading about Lucy's love of music and Tony's love of diving. I do think the plot dragged in a couple of places, but overall I definitely enjoyed my time with this book.
Read
July 9, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Internalised homomisia
Slut-shaming
Alcoholism
Alcohol consumption & abuse
Death of a parent
Car accident
Internalised homomisia
Slut-shaming
Alcoholism
Alcohol consumption & abuse
Death of a parent
Car accident
March 2, 2021
Tony and Lucy were not very closed, but the tragic accident that kills their parents brings them closer as they try to overcome this difficult period in their lives. They have to discover who they are and learn how to live together at the same time as they have to try to keep living their lives during grief.
I absolutely loved this novel, and once again I was not disappointed. Tony and Lucy are two very interesting and loveable characters and I got attached to Tony very quickly. Jake, who is Tony’s best friend, is also a very lovely character.
Full review on the blog: https://bookmesometime.wordpress.com/...
I absolutely loved this novel, and once again I was not disappointed. Tony and Lucy are two very interesting and loveable characters and I got attached to Tony very quickly. Jake, who is Tony’s best friend, is also a very lovely character.
Full review on the blog: https://bookmesometime.wordpress.com/...
September 11, 2021
Chasing the Taillights is a story of emotional turmoil, grief, and regret. A story based on tragedy, family, and how ties can be strained, broken, and reformed.
I read this book in just over a day I had to keep going with it, the excellent pacing, suspense, and intrigue grips you from the start and you just want to know more, to understand what, where, when, how?
The characters of Lucy and Tony were realistic and easy to empathise with. Their interactions were understandable, thrown together by a tragic event after not being interested in each other’s lives, they were siblings, they got along, but never close. This makes for a strained relationship initially but they come to realise how much they love and need each other which is really heartwarming.
With Lucy, I felt the mental health side of the story was portrayed well and showed how grief, tragedy, and trauma can affect someone, especially so young and confused. Acting on impulse she makes some poor decisions and then later with the effects of alcohol puts herself in a dangerous situation.
Tony has to go from living a relatively carefree life at college to losing his parents, dealing with his own grief, and then suddenly having responsibility for his younger sister, which isn’t easy. I enjoyed the side-story of Tony and Jake, their friendship and relationship, whilst still complicated it brought a little light relief and a glimmer of hope for Tony.
An emotional, sorrowful, but addictive read.
Thank you to the author Kate Larkindale for sending me a copy of the ebook, I am so glad you did!
I read this book in just over a day I had to keep going with it, the excellent pacing, suspense, and intrigue grips you from the start and you just want to know more, to understand what, where, when, how?
The characters of Lucy and Tony were realistic and easy to empathise with. Their interactions were understandable, thrown together by a tragic event after not being interested in each other’s lives, they were siblings, they got along, but never close. This makes for a strained relationship initially but they come to realise how much they love and need each other which is really heartwarming.
With Lucy, I felt the mental health side of the story was portrayed well and showed how grief, tragedy, and trauma can affect someone, especially so young and confused. Acting on impulse she makes some poor decisions and then later with the effects of alcohol puts herself in a dangerous situation.
Tony has to go from living a relatively carefree life at college to losing his parents, dealing with his own grief, and then suddenly having responsibility for his younger sister, which isn’t easy. I enjoyed the side-story of Tony and Jake, their friendship and relationship, whilst still complicated it brought a little light relief and a glimmer of hope for Tony.
An emotional, sorrowful, but addictive read.
Thank you to the author Kate Larkindale for sending me a copy of the ebook, I am so glad you did!
September 22, 2021
thank you to the author for the ebook!
🚦🚦🚦
I’m a little blown away by how much I actually enjoyed this book. The beginning is a little rough- very abrupt, and poor with the build up. However, once the accident occurs and Tony and Lucy have to take solace in each other, the book really blossoms.
At its core, Chasing the Taillights is a story about loss. Most books have the loss and death as a past event, but in this case you’re reading in real time as Tony and Lucy lose their parents. It’s a very visceral and heavy subject. I will admit, I cried several times.
This isn’t a book that seeks to overcome or “get over” the loss, but rather how to find comfort and work towards moving on with someone you love. There is no magical moment for Tony or Lucy where they’re like “Oh, my parents are dead but I’m okay these days.” They both struggle for the whole book, seeking out how to cope with their new lives: Tony suddenly guardian to his younger sister who he knows nothing about while at the same time balancing dive team and pre-med classes; Lucy lost within herself, unsure about her future, her passions, and even her long standing relationships.
🚦🚦🚦
read my full review on my blog: https://megansbookstacks.wordpress.co...
🚦🚦🚦
I’m a little blown away by how much I actually enjoyed this book. The beginning is a little rough- very abrupt, and poor with the build up. However, once the accident occurs and Tony and Lucy have to take solace in each other, the book really blossoms.
At its core, Chasing the Taillights is a story about loss. Most books have the loss and death as a past event, but in this case you’re reading in real time as Tony and Lucy lose their parents. It’s a very visceral and heavy subject. I will admit, I cried several times.
This isn’t a book that seeks to overcome or “get over” the loss, but rather how to find comfort and work towards moving on with someone you love. There is no magical moment for Tony or Lucy where they’re like “Oh, my parents are dead but I’m okay these days.” They both struggle for the whole book, seeking out how to cope with their new lives: Tony suddenly guardian to his younger sister who he knows nothing about while at the same time balancing dive team and pre-med classes; Lucy lost within herself, unsure about her future, her passions, and even her long standing relationships.
🚦🚦🚦
read my full review on my blog: https://megansbookstacks.wordpress.co...
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