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Catch the Light
A love story perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Jandy Nelson about a girl who moves cross country and finds herself falling for someone new who throws her whole life out of order.
Nine months after the death of her father, Marigold; her little sister, Bea; and her mom move from sunny California to Upstate New York to live with Mary's aunt El. Maybe New York will be a fresh start for them.
But living in New York means missing all the things Mary left--from her BFF, Nora; to her now long-distance boyfriend, Bennett; her older sister, Hannah; and the memories of her father tied to the places she used to live. How can she keep them in her life with everything so far away?
Then, while settling into the new normal, Mary meets Jesse, a fellow photographer and kindred spirit who just seems to get her. Falling into a friendship with Jesse feels easy, there's something about him she can't stop thinking about. But as things with Bennett are so uncertain, she can't seem to make a move either way. When things come to a head, Mary will have to come clean and decide what she really wants and how she feels--finding a way to finally come to terms with her family, friends, and herself.
Nine months after the death of her father, Marigold; her little sister, Bea; and her mom move from sunny California to Upstate New York to live with Mary's aunt El. Maybe New York will be a fresh start for them.
But living in New York means missing all the things Mary left--from her BFF, Nora; to her now long-distance boyfriend, Bennett; her older sister, Hannah; and the memories of her father tied to the places she used to live. How can she keep them in her life with everything so far away?
Then, while settling into the new normal, Mary meets Jesse, a fellow photographer and kindred spirit who just seems to get her. Falling into a friendship with Jesse feels easy, there's something about him she can't stop thinking about. But as things with Bennett are so uncertain, she can't seem to make a move either way. When things come to a head, Mary will have to come clean and decide what she really wants and how she feels--finding a way to finally come to terms with her family, friends, and herself.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 9, 2021
14 people are currently reading
2662 people want to read
About the author
Kate Sweeney
3 books62 followersKate Sweeney was born in Athens, Georgia, and has since lived many places, including Los Angeles, New York City, and Salt Lake City. She began writing when she was sixteen. Her father–a novelist and screenwriter–had died five years prior, and in writing she found a way of bringing his voice back to her ears.
For the past ten years she has resided in the Bay Area, where she spends her time making music with her band, Magic Magic Roses, teaching literacy, and working with her husband at the family art-framing business.
For the past ten years she has resided in the Bay Area, where she spends her time making music with her band, Magic Magic Roses, teaching literacy, and working with her husband at the family art-framing business.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 5, 2021
thank you penguin teen for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
first off, wow! i wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as i do. as the book progressed, i started to love it more and more. it was an amazing read that dealt with so many important topics, like dealing with grief.
the romance in this novel was SO GOOD!! it was a rollercoaster for sure, but in all the best ways.
i read this book digitally, and i already want to pick up a physical copy so i can reread it and annotate it… that’s how i know i really loved a book!!
please read this book! it’s amazing
tw: parental death, grief, alcohol
first off, wow! i wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as i do. as the book progressed, i started to love it more and more. it was an amazing read that dealt with so many important topics, like dealing with grief.
the romance in this novel was SO GOOD!! it was a rollercoaster for sure, but in all the best ways.
i read this book digitally, and i already want to pick up a physical copy so i can reread it and annotate it… that’s how i know i really loved a book!!
please read this book! it’s amazing
tw: parental death, grief, alcohol
January 28, 2022
so to say the least, this was trash. if you asked me about this book tomorrow, i would not know what you are talking about.
a few questions i have that i shouldn't have:
- what was the conflict or problem in the story?
- what was the ending? or was there not really an ending at all?
basically, the book was really boring for the first 50% and then the last 50% seemed really rushed like the author just wanted to get the book over with. the ending did not seem like an ending at all, it kind of just stopped.
the lack of communication was very infuriating
ngl, the only reason i read i this was bc it took place in California, but then they moved so, rip
a few questions i have that i shouldn't have:
- what was the conflict or problem in the story?
- what was the ending? or was there not really an ending at all?
basically, the book was really boring for the first 50% and then the last 50% seemed really rushed like the author just wanted to get the book over with. the ending did not seem like an ending at all, it kind of just stopped.
the lack of communication was very infuriating
ngl, the only reason i read i this was bc it took place in California, but then they moved so, rip
November 7, 2021
4.5⭐️
Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me and ARC of this book. Nine months after her dad dies, Mary’s mom moves her and her sister Bea to live in New York. This book was so amazing! I loved it. It was such a cute romance, and I loved how it also deals with heavier topics like grief. The further in the book I got, the more I loved it! This book was so good, and I think everyone should read it.
Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me and ARC of this book. Nine months after her dad dies, Mary’s mom moves her and her sister Bea to live in New York. This book was so amazing! I loved it. It was such a cute romance, and I loved how it also deals with heavier topics like grief. The further in the book I got, the more I loved it! This book was so good, and I think everyone should read it.
November 12, 2021
3 but leaning more towards 3.5 i think
catch the light follows mary after she moves from california to upstate new york following her father's death. she has to balance who/what she has back in california (her best friend & boyfriend and the memory of her father) and her new life in new york (as well as a guy she can't get out of her head...).
this book did a good job with its depiction of grief, especially in the way it showed how people cope with grief differently. mary really struggles with the downward spiral that happened after she lost her father: not only learning how to remember him/move forward but also dealing with everything else in her life, from friends to relationships to college plans. mary begins to think that she's forgetting her father, and she needs to reconcile that and realize that even though there are some little parts of her past that she's lost, there's also a huge part of her father that still remains with her. mary's struggle with grief is not linear, it's messy, and it's told very authentically.
sibling/family relationships are also a big theme in this book, with mary, her sisters, and her mother. they all cope in different ways, and in the book they really needed to get to know each other again. it all came down to communication and some understanding. their relationship, again, was imperfect but realistic.
photography was one of mary's biggest interests, and i think that became a good symbol of mary's process with grief and reconciling her father's memory.
time to discuss romance lol. i think this is where my rating becomes not a 5-star rating. there's mary, bennett (the guy from cali who mary was with before), and jesse (the new guy). bennett is pretty cool. jesse is amazing. it's giving golden retriever energy and this man is just so considerate and respectful and exudes so much joy. i love him. he's so cute. him and mary are very adorable.
now you see.. when i opened the book the first thing i said was "i hope there's no emotional cheating". well.. there was what i would classify as emotional (and physical) cheating. there is a degree of nuance to the situation because mary and bennett never really defined their relationship and were kind of on the rocks, but they were still romantically involved. mary very clearly wanted to break it off with bennett, she just needed to do so before doing anything with jesse. for mary, bennett served as a connection to her past and thus, to her father. and i can see how it was hard for her to let him go. but man, both him and jesse deserve better than to be lied to.
i think it's important to note that although (many of) the choices mary makes in the book weren't the best, her judgment was very much clouded by what she was going through. now, that definitely doesn't excuse what she did, but she was basically in this avalanche of lies and trying to appear like everything was a-ok. yes, it did backfire in the end. yes, i really wish she had done things differently. but yes, she also was not herself.
CW: death of loved one (in the past), grief, depression, underage drinking
Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
catch the light follows mary after she moves from california to upstate new york following her father's death. she has to balance who/what she has back in california (her best friend & boyfriend and the memory of her father) and her new life in new york (as well as a guy she can't get out of her head...).
this book did a good job with its depiction of grief, especially in the way it showed how people cope with grief differently. mary really struggles with the downward spiral that happened after she lost her father: not only learning how to remember him/move forward but also dealing with everything else in her life, from friends to relationships to college plans. mary begins to think that she's forgetting her father, and she needs to reconcile that and realize that even though there are some little parts of her past that she's lost, there's also a huge part of her father that still remains with her. mary's struggle with grief is not linear, it's messy, and it's told very authentically.
sibling/family relationships are also a big theme in this book, with mary, her sisters, and her mother. they all cope in different ways, and in the book they really needed to get to know each other again. it all came down to communication and some understanding. their relationship, again, was imperfect but realistic.
photography was one of mary's biggest interests, and i think that became a good symbol of mary's process with grief and reconciling her father's memory.
time to discuss romance lol. i think this is where my rating becomes not a 5-star rating. there's mary, bennett (the guy from cali who mary was with before), and jesse (the new guy). bennett is pretty cool. jesse is amazing. it's giving golden retriever energy and this man is just so considerate and respectful and exudes so much joy. i love him. he's so cute. him and mary are very adorable.
now you see.. when i opened the book the first thing i said was "i hope there's no emotional cheating". well.. there was what i would classify as emotional (and physical) cheating. there is a degree of nuance to the situation because mary and bennett never really defined their relationship and were kind of on the rocks, but they were still romantically involved. mary very clearly wanted to break it off with bennett, she just needed to do so before doing anything with jesse. for mary, bennett served as a connection to her past and thus, to her father. and i can see how it was hard for her to let him go. but man, both him and jesse deserve better than to be lied to.
i think it's important to note that although (many of) the choices mary makes in the book weren't the best, her judgment was very much clouded by what she was going through. now, that definitely doesn't excuse what she did, but she was basically in this avalanche of lies and trying to appear like everything was a-ok. yes, it did backfire in the end. yes, i really wish she had done things differently. but yes, she also was not herself.
CW: death of loved one (in the past), grief, depression, underage drinking
Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 7, 2022
This coming of age novel about three sisters who have to pick up and start fresh after the death of their father was everything I need in a YA novel and more. The sister dynamic is what got me, it was so easy to relate to. The emotions of high school brought me back. This was so expected and I loved it all.
September 8, 2022
3.5 stars
Do people really still develop film? Each time there was discussion of film development I was asking myself that question. It seemed so unlikely that a high school senior would be taking pictures with anything but a digital camera and yet there were two students from different backgrounds and opposite coasts of the country who bonded over photography and developing their own film.
I had a hard time relating to anyone in this story so while I enjoyed it for the most part, I just couldn’t understand where most of the characters were coming from.
Do people really still develop film? Each time there was discussion of film development I was asking myself that question. It seemed so unlikely that a high school senior would be taking pictures with anything but a digital camera and yet there were two students from different backgrounds and opposite coasts of the country who bonded over photography and developing their own film.
I had a hard time relating to anyone in this story so while I enjoyed it for the most part, I just couldn’t understand where most of the characters were coming from.
May 9, 2022
i guess i’ll convince you to read this book using one quote and one quote only…
“To be honest, it's my favorite part of the chapter. There's
something comforting about the way that kinetic and potential energy can change places again and again, reinvent themselves a million different times, never really disappearing. It's better than the religion of commercial holidays. It's an explanation you could believe in, could grow to love.”
idk. this book was pretty mediocre to me? like not in a bad way… i did enjoy it. but it just was missing any wow factor for me??
i mean- i hated the main girl, marigold. she was so annoyingly frustrating the entire book, but i felt bad for her and her bad life circumstances. the guy jesse, however, i LOVED. add him to the list of fictional men that i will be thinking about for a LONG time!!!!!
i was honestly going to give this book a 4 for most of it, because there were scenes between the romance that were so cute i was smiling to myself, but then the ending was so boring and anticlimactic that i couldn’t justify the 4. endings make or break a book for me and this one didn’t leave me feeling amazed by any means. idk- so many loose ends not tied. maybe it’s gonna be a series? i don’t know. it was weird.
“To be honest, it's my favorite part of the chapter. There's
something comforting about the way that kinetic and potential energy can change places again and again, reinvent themselves a million different times, never really disappearing. It's better than the religion of commercial holidays. It's an explanation you could believe in, could grow to love.”
idk. this book was pretty mediocre to me? like not in a bad way… i did enjoy it. but it just was missing any wow factor for me??
i mean- i hated the main girl, marigold. she was so annoyingly frustrating the entire book, but i felt bad for her and her bad life circumstances. the guy jesse, however, i LOVED. add him to the list of fictional men that i will be thinking about for a LONG time!!!!!
i was honestly going to give this book a 4 for most of it, because there were scenes between the romance that were so cute i was smiling to myself, but then the ending was so boring and anticlimactic that i couldn’t justify the 4. endings make or break a book for me and this one didn’t leave me feeling amazed by any means. idk- so many loose ends not tied. maybe it’s gonna be a series? i don’t know. it was weird.
December 18, 2022
3.5 stars.
The writing was really good; I could feel Marigold's apathy and grief radiating from the writing. I also liked how the author showcased how differently each of her family members dealt with the grief of losing their Dad. Marigold feels empty; Bea, her sister, is angry and their mom has thrown herself into working. The author also showed how grief can be messy and it's easy to be crushed under its weight until all you feel is emptiness and apathy. Sometimes, it's easier to lie to the people around you that everything is fine, just so that you don't need to confront your emotions.
The only qualms I had about the book was that I didn't like how Marigold kept leading Bennett and Jesse on. I'm sure both of them are great guys, but really, if I were any of them, and my relationship was going nowhere, I would drop Marigold so fast. And honestly, Jesse has a heart of gold to still want Marigold even after she has lied to him so many times.
I also didn't like how passive Marigold was sometimes. Maybe it's because of her grief and apathy, but she chose to keep lying to the people around her. Even when it was killing her inside.
The writing was really good; I could feel Marigold's apathy and grief radiating from the writing. I also liked how the author showcased how differently each of her family members dealt with the grief of losing their Dad. Marigold feels empty; Bea, her sister, is angry and their mom has thrown herself into working. The author also showed how grief can be messy and it's easy to be crushed under its weight until all you feel is emptiness and apathy. Sometimes, it's easier to lie to the people around you that everything is fine, just so that you don't need to confront your emotions.
The only qualms I had about the book was that I didn't like how Marigold kept leading Bennett and Jesse on. I'm sure both of them are great guys, but really, if I were any of them, and my relationship was going nowhere, I would drop Marigold so fast. And honestly, Jesse has a heart of gold to still want Marigold even after she has lied to him so many times.
I also didn't like how passive Marigold was sometimes. Maybe it's because of her grief and apathy, but she chose to keep lying to the people around her. Even when it was killing her inside.
November 9, 2021
This book tugged at all my teenage heartstrings! Young me would have absolutely devoured this book, wept like a little baby and tried to relate every aspect of her life to the MC.
Adult me still really enjoyed it. I thought it was a sweet story that dealt with some difficult topics, like loss, starting over, finding yourself, but still managed to keep it light-hearted and an easy read.
The part I enjoyed most was the MC’s love of photography! I took photography in high school and the book took me right back to those days in the darkroom, developing my pictures. All that was missing from my experience was a cute boy to swoon over. 😂
This book is perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before or Sarah Dessen!
Adult me still really enjoyed it. I thought it was a sweet story that dealt with some difficult topics, like loss, starting over, finding yourself, but still managed to keep it light-hearted and an easy read.
The part I enjoyed most was the MC’s love of photography! I took photography in high school and the book took me right back to those days in the darkroom, developing my pictures. All that was missing from my experience was a cute boy to swoon over. 😂
This book is perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before or Sarah Dessen!
August 8, 2022
this book is way too underrated
first of all, it gave me Gilmore girls × Jenn Bennett vibes... partly because of the songs, book quotes, movies, series, books sprinkled throughout the plot
I loved the fact that the author didn't overdramatize the struggles of the teenagers and the book just felt like a normality, a comfort zone, something we all feel at points in our lives.
most romance authors try to make their books more entertaining and interesting by growing the stakes and making the decisions of the kids feel like they have some huge importance on their lives. I appreciated that, in this one, everything was common. Even if it touches difficult subjects, you don't feel like they are the end of the world, you just understand how the characters feel and emphasize with them.
first of all, it gave me Gilmore girls × Jenn Bennett vibes... partly because of the songs, book quotes, movies, series, books sprinkled throughout the plot
I loved the fact that the author didn't overdramatize the struggles of the teenagers and the book just felt like a normality, a comfort zone, something we all feel at points in our lives.
most romance authors try to make their books more entertaining and interesting by growing the stakes and making the decisions of the kids feel like they have some huge importance on their lives. I appreciated that, in this one, everything was common. Even if it touches difficult subjects, you don't feel like they are the end of the world, you just understand how the characters feel and emphasize with them.
January 15, 2023
4.5⭐️ My biggest complaint is it ended too soon! All of a sudden I turned the page and it said “Acknowledgements” and I was taken aback and confused at the abruptness of the ending. There was more to say, more to be done! I’m so disappointed it is over. However, it made me happy, sad, and excited. I got butterflies and shed quite a few real tears. This is definitely a keeper and a definite reread, and for that, I feel comfortable rounding my honest 4.5 stars up to a 5, considering Goodreads still hasn’t given us half-star options.
dnf
November 10, 2021DNF at 30%. I tried to get into this story, but sadly I didn’t really care for any of the characters and the pacing was very slow. I thought the depiction of grief and loss were really well done though, as well as the family/sibling dynamics. My inability to connect is probably just a case of “it’s me, not you”.
*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*
*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*
December 13, 2021
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January 17, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Alcohol consumption
Death of a father recounted
Alcohol consumption
Death of a father recounted
November 23, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️.8
almost 4 stars but not quite?…
lots of little things that bothered me but also so many relatable things in this book lol
almost 4 stars but not quite?…
lots of little things that bothered me but also so many relatable things in this book lol
November 11, 2021
"I tell myself that I’m not really moving into this house in the middle of the woods of upstate New York. Everything, even this, is temporary. I’m fine."
Content Warnings: death of a parent, underage drinking, tense family dynamics.
Marigold--Mary--Sullivan is moving from Los Angeles to upstate New York. Her father died the year before, from a short bout of cancer that took him quickly. Mary's mom can't seem to handle her life anymore, and with her older sister away at college, Mary her younger sister Bea and her mom have moved with her aunt in a small town outside Albany, New York. Mary doesn't know what she's doing with her life, everything is different now. She wants everything to be fine, especially since her sister Bea is just simmering with anger, ready to explode at any moment. Her mom is working all hours at her new job, making Mary and Bea feel alone all over again. Mary had lots of plans for college, planning to go to UC Santa Barbara with her best friend from LA--but now she isn't so sure. With her dad gone, her mom seemingly going MIA and being in a new place nothing is the way that Mary saw it being.
I thought that this was an impactful story about how grief can change the way a family looks at the world. Mary is a realistic character in my view, wanting (pretending) that everything will be fine, as if only thinking it will actually make it happen. College plans are also important to the story, changing circumstances can change the way that teenagers look at the world. Applying anywhere is stressful for anyone, but for Mary it seems impossible because she doesn't want more things to change. The future seems seems more fuzzy to her now. I also thought that Bea was a realistic character, she is uprooted but since she's younger her whole life is seems out of control. But instead of pretending, she lashes out at everyone, especially her mother. Bea blames her mom for having to move and not being able to handle everything after the dad died, and she has a point. The mom has a way of hiding the way she feels and doesn't really say anything.
Anyway, I recommend this one for anyone who likes a somewhat contemporary with some lighter elements. There is a very sweet romance in this one that I liked a lot.
Content Warnings: death of a parent, underage drinking, tense family dynamics.
Marigold--Mary--Sullivan is moving from Los Angeles to upstate New York. Her father died the year before, from a short bout of cancer that took him quickly. Mary's mom can't seem to handle her life anymore, and with her older sister away at college, Mary her younger sister Bea and her mom have moved with her aunt in a small town outside Albany, New York. Mary doesn't know what she's doing with her life, everything is different now. She wants everything to be fine, especially since her sister Bea is just simmering with anger, ready to explode at any moment. Her mom is working all hours at her new job, making Mary and Bea feel alone all over again. Mary had lots of plans for college, planning to go to UC Santa Barbara with her best friend from LA--but now she isn't so sure. With her dad gone, her mom seemingly going MIA and being in a new place nothing is the way that Mary saw it being.
I thought that this was an impactful story about how grief can change the way a family looks at the world. Mary is a realistic character in my view, wanting (pretending) that everything will be fine, as if only thinking it will actually make it happen. College plans are also important to the story, changing circumstances can change the way that teenagers look at the world. Applying anywhere is stressful for anyone, but for Mary it seems impossible because she doesn't want more things to change. The future seems seems more fuzzy to her now. I also thought that Bea was a realistic character, she is uprooted but since she's younger her whole life is seems out of control. But instead of pretending, she lashes out at everyone, especially her mother. Bea blames her mom for having to move and not being able to handle everything after the dad died, and she has a point. The mom has a way of hiding the way she feels and doesn't really say anything.
Anyway, I recommend this one for anyone who likes a somewhat contemporary with some lighter elements. There is a very sweet romance in this one that I liked a lot.
November 11, 2021
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
This book was an amazing take on grief, family, and finding yourself.
Marigold’s family fell apart when her dad died of late stage pancreatic cancer nine months ago—now her life is destroyed, too, when she’s forced to move from LA to the middle of nowhere, New York.
Usually, books where the main character keeps making the worst decisions drive me absolutely crazy. However, I connected to Mary, and despite her train wreck of bad decisions, I genuinely liked her as a character and a person. Kate Sweeney managed to write a main character who is flawed, messy, and hurting those around her, while still making her an inherently likable character.
I feel like there isn’t a whole lot that I can say without spoiling anything, but if you want a story that’s sometimes sweet, heartwarming, and well written, but still hard hitting and messy with a healthy serving of teen angst, you definitely need to give Catch the Light a read.
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
This book was an amazing take on grief, family, and finding yourself.
Marigold’s family fell apart when her dad died of late stage pancreatic cancer nine months ago—now her life is destroyed, too, when she’s forced to move from LA to the middle of nowhere, New York.
Usually, books where the main character keeps making the worst decisions drive me absolutely crazy. However, I connected to Mary, and despite her train wreck of bad decisions, I genuinely liked her as a character and a person. Kate Sweeney managed to write a main character who is flawed, messy, and hurting those around her, while still making her an inherently likable character.
I feel like there isn’t a whole lot that I can say without spoiling anything, but if you want a story that’s sometimes sweet, heartwarming, and well written, but still hard hitting and messy with a healthy serving of teen angst, you definitely need to give Catch the Light a read.
March 6, 2023
THIS IS LIKE MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK
October 19, 2023
It started off really good. Marigold and her mom and sister move to upstate NY with El after her dad passes away. I could feel the emotions. The grief, forgetting your person and the details that made them who they were. I’m experiencing them myself. She leaves behind her two friends: Nora and Bennett. And starts a new school with her sister Bea. College is the last thing on her mind as she grapples with grief.
But what’s up with YA’s about grief and love triangles? Like why? I loved the chapters where Mary and Nora are hanging out and texting. Their friendship made me tear up. It was so poignant and well developed. But then the love triangle that got shoehorned. Everyone has their own grieving styles. This reminded me of The Sky Is Everywhere, another YA where the protagonist, while grieving, is stuck in a love triangle.
I started dreading the 150+ pages dedicated to her vacillating between two guys. Honestly the chapters dedicated to her life in upstate New York were a snooze. The friend she meets, her school life she builds lacks emotion.
The chapters where her and Nora’s friendship are explored were way more emotionally charged. If this was going to be a YA romance, even her relationship with Bennett shoulda been more developed. Didn’t get what they were to each other.
Basically it started off being the best book ever. The writing and direction was strong. But once Marygold and her family drove to Upstate New York, all the momentum is lost, and the edges are all fraying. I almost wished that Marygold even ended up with Nora. They had the emotional tension.
I read romcoms/romances and I didn’t feel any of that with Marygold and Jessie. None of it. Their interactions felt stilted and forced. Like they needed to be in a relationship.
I did enjoy her memories of her dad. I wished there was more of those.
I can’t say I loved it. I can say it felt like the author lost their momentum. Again it’s rare for grief to be explored with this level of depth. There wasn’t really and ending. No real climax. Spoiler alert, after 100+ pages of back and forth between how she should end her thing with Bennett, she goes back to Cali. Then she flys back. Bea landed in the hospital. Then she recovers, they’re grounded. Mom promises to be there for them. And Marygold has to get her man back. And that’s it.
But what’s up with YA’s about grief and love triangles? Like why? I loved the chapters where Mary and Nora are hanging out and texting. Their friendship made me tear up. It was so poignant and well developed. But then the love triangle that got shoehorned. Everyone has their own grieving styles. This reminded me of The Sky Is Everywhere, another YA where the protagonist, while grieving, is stuck in a love triangle.
I started dreading the 150+ pages dedicated to her vacillating between two guys. Honestly the chapters dedicated to her life in upstate New York were a snooze. The friend she meets, her school life she builds lacks emotion.
The chapters where her and Nora’s friendship are explored were way more emotionally charged. If this was going to be a YA romance, even her relationship with Bennett shoulda been more developed. Didn’t get what they were to each other.
Basically it started off being the best book ever. The writing and direction was strong. But once Marygold and her family drove to Upstate New York, all the momentum is lost, and the edges are all fraying. I almost wished that Marygold even ended up with Nora. They had the emotional tension.
I read romcoms/romances and I didn’t feel any of that with Marygold and Jessie. None of it. Their interactions felt stilted and forced. Like they needed to be in a relationship.
I did enjoy her memories of her dad. I wished there was more of those.
I can’t say I loved it. I can say it felt like the author lost their momentum. Again it’s rare for grief to be explored with this level of depth. There wasn’t really and ending. No real climax. Spoiler alert, after 100+ pages of back and forth between how she should end her thing with Bennett, she goes back to Cali. Then she flys back. Bea landed in the hospital. Then she recovers, they’re grounded. Mom promises to be there for them. And Marygold has to get her man back. And that’s it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2021
Mary, her sister Bea, and her mom move to upstate New York after the death of her dad. Uprooting her life means that she is missing out on all of the things going on at home, while leaving the place that tied her to her dad. In between figuring out relationships, college, and herself, she finds herself clinging to what was so that she doesn’t forget it. Can she let go of the past and move on?
The more I think about this book, the more I like it. At first, it sounds like your typical YA story—girl moves across the country her senior year to a small town, meets boy, falls for boy, and boom happily ever after. However, this story isn’t like that at all. After Mary moves to New York, she really struggles to let go of her life in California. I mean, haven’t we all done that? Have you ever been caught between two places at once? I think this book resonated with me so deeply is that because I left the same area that she did. I understood all of her feelings about what was her home vs. having to make a new home. The author beautifully captured this internal struggle of missing what was but also finding beauty in what is.
The author also gracefully described the grief process and how individuals handle it differently. I found myself frustrated with Mary at first until I realized that she’s really struggling. The thing is, grief is so all-encompassing and suffocating that it makes us act in ways we might not normally. So, Mary tries to keep everything together even after it’s shattered and she finds herself overwhelmed, confused, and afraid. On the other hand, her mom and sisters handle it in a completely different way. I can’t do it justice, but the feelings were so well written that it felt like I wanted to explode with grief as well. I think that Mary is relatable and a lot of people will be able to themselves in her shoes.
I think this is a beautiful book. It reminds me of You’ve Reached Sam since it deals a lot with grief and learning to let go. I highly recommend reading this one if you’re a fan of YA contemporaries!
The more I think about this book, the more I like it. At first, it sounds like your typical YA story—girl moves across the country her senior year to a small town, meets boy, falls for boy, and boom happily ever after. However, this story isn’t like that at all. After Mary moves to New York, she really struggles to let go of her life in California. I mean, haven’t we all done that? Have you ever been caught between two places at once? I think this book resonated with me so deeply is that because I left the same area that she did. I understood all of her feelings about what was her home vs. having to make a new home. The author beautifully captured this internal struggle of missing what was but also finding beauty in what is.
The author also gracefully described the grief process and how individuals handle it differently. I found myself frustrated with Mary at first until I realized that she’s really struggling. The thing is, grief is so all-encompassing and suffocating that it makes us act in ways we might not normally. So, Mary tries to keep everything together even after it’s shattered and she finds herself overwhelmed, confused, and afraid. On the other hand, her mom and sisters handle it in a completely different way. I can’t do it justice, but the feelings were so well written that it felt like I wanted to explode with grief as well. I think that Mary is relatable and a lot of people will be able to themselves in her shoes.
I think this is a beautiful book. It reminds me of You’ve Reached Sam since it deals a lot with grief and learning to let go. I highly recommend reading this one if you’re a fan of YA contemporaries!
November 6, 2021
"There's a strange awareness to having a crush, especially one you know you shouldn't be having. It's the feeling - the hope - that at any moment that person could be watching you . . . And they start to look different too. Soft focus blurs out all the weird and ugly parts. All you see are perfect details, like the freckle on the back of a wrist, a soft earlobe. Sometimes, it almost looks like they're glowing."
Mary, or Marigold, is dealing with an abrupt move to New York from California. Her mom's taken her and her sister, Bea, to live with an aunt after their father's death. Mary feels like she's floating through life, and the only way she can capture moments and make them feel real is through a camera. With college applications looming and a new place to figure out, she's struggling to find her footing. Then she meets Jesse, a cute fellow photographer with a darkroom. The only problem is that Mary can't quite seem to let go of Bennet, the boy she kissed just before she left California.
The author draws an intimate portrait of three different ways of dealing with grief - rebellious Bea, withdrawn Mary and their mother, who builds a new life through work. The supporting characters are great, too. Jesse has a heart of gold and just wants Mary to be okay. Sam's equally lovable as the popular nerd left behind by all her older friends, who are on to bigger and better things.
This is a slow build book, with the beautiful notes starting out soft at first, then building to a crescendo as the romance catches on and Mary's family finds different ways to deal with the unraveling of their world. The author shows you the beauty of the world through Mary's photographer eyes, revealing all the feelings Mary can't quite find her way to put into words. This beauty of a book draws you in and feeds your soul.
I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mary, or Marigold, is dealing with an abrupt move to New York from California. Her mom's taken her and her sister, Bea, to live with an aunt after their father's death. Mary feels like she's floating through life, and the only way she can capture moments and make them feel real is through a camera. With college applications looming and a new place to figure out, she's struggling to find her footing. Then she meets Jesse, a cute fellow photographer with a darkroom. The only problem is that Mary can't quite seem to let go of Bennet, the boy she kissed just before she left California.
The author draws an intimate portrait of three different ways of dealing with grief - rebellious Bea, withdrawn Mary and their mother, who builds a new life through work. The supporting characters are great, too. Jesse has a heart of gold and just wants Mary to be okay. Sam's equally lovable as the popular nerd left behind by all her older friends, who are on to bigger and better things.
This is a slow build book, with the beautiful notes starting out soft at first, then building to a crescendo as the romance catches on and Mary's family finds different ways to deal with the unraveling of their world. The author shows you the beauty of the world through Mary's photographer eyes, revealing all the feelings Mary can't quite find her way to put into words. This beauty of a book draws you in and feeds your soul.
I highly recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2021
Nine months after her father dies, Mary moves from her beloved Los Angeles to a small town in New York. She's having a hard time letting go of her old life but at the same time starts making connections in her new one. The worst part is that she's starting to forget her dad.
Catch the Light does a good job of mixing the mourning process with a dash of romance. The majority of the book deals with Mary's complete upheaval from her life in California but it throws in little moments of happiness and growth throughout. Jesse is absolutely adorable and does a good job at keeping her accountable but also letting her make mistakes. At times I did want to shake some sense into Mary, however, I knew she couldn't see clearly since she hadn't properly let go of the past. I loved the photography aspect of their relationship. They had different styles but could still relate to each other in a way no one else could. I also think this book has one of the most realistic sibling relationships. For me, this was a 4/5.
If you like playing with light in photography, have ever moved away from you childhood, or want to see realistic sister relationship, this is the one for you.
I received a digital copy of this book free from Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Catch the Light does a good job of mixing the mourning process with a dash of romance. The majority of the book deals with Mary's complete upheaval from her life in California but it throws in little moments of happiness and growth throughout. Jesse is absolutely adorable and does a good job at keeping her accountable but also letting her make mistakes. At times I did want to shake some sense into Mary, however, I knew she couldn't see clearly since she hadn't properly let go of the past. I loved the photography aspect of their relationship. They had different styles but could still relate to each other in a way no one else could. I also think this book has one of the most realistic sibling relationships. For me, this was a 4/5.
If you like playing with light in photography, have ever moved away from you childhood, or want to see realistic sister relationship, this is the one for you.
I received a digital copy of this book free from Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2023
I think "Catch the Light" was a very great book. The way that the book was written was outstanding. I really like how the plot was understandable so the readers can understand what was happening and why something was happening. I felt like I could understand everything that happened without a question. There were really good plot twists and I really like how the main character dealt with each plot twist. I feel like the topic about grief was presented in a good way. It felt realistic and the way the main character dealt with it was realistic and understandable. The message of the story is relatable to most teenagers and I think that the plot goes well with the theme of the story. The characters also felt very realistic with their emotions and their actions.
I really like how the story is in the 1st person point of view. I tend to like books more with the 1st person point of view. I really like how the main character has a realistic dream and the thought process of how she wants to get to the point of making her dream come true. The book left me wondering who one character was more like because they were only mentioned because the main character did not meet them, so there was not a description of what they looked like or how their personality was.
I really like how the story is in the 1st person point of view. I tend to like books more with the 1st person point of view. I really like how the main character has a realistic dream and the thought process of how she wants to get to the point of making her dream come true. The book left me wondering who one character was more like because they were only mentioned because the main character did not meet them, so there was not a description of what they looked like or how their personality was.
February 21, 2024
Actual rating: 3.25/5 stars
tw: grief, elements of depression(?), a character drinking too much in a couple scenes (mild)
This is a book that I have mixed feelings about. I will preface by saying I don't think this book is bad. However, it is one that feels very mediocre and I have a lot to talk about.
First off, I want to discuss to portrayal of grief because it is one I think is interesting. I personally have not faced a loss as close to me and in such a short amount of time, and having that loss linger that closely a year after the passing. I also skimmed over the author's bio and I do recognize that there may be some elements of this story, particularly with Mary's dad passing, that are from the author's own life. So when I am talking about the grief, I am solely talking about it in the context of this book and its execution, and not the author's personal experience. And I also recognize that grief is a subjective experience where everyone goes through it at a different pace.
I did find the idea of following a character's life about a year after the loss of someone to be an interesting concept. Most of the time in books when it comes to death or stories where grief is an element, it is typically when the passing occurs, or shortly after it happens. So to see where characters are a year after a death was an idea I like in theory. The execution of that idea I thought was done alright for the most part. I do feel like the characters, even if there were slight differences (mainly with Bea), all basically felt the same and had the exact same struggles with moving on even months after the passing occurred. Which, I don't think is realistic that the whole family struggles in pretty much the same way with going through their day or feeling like the color is drained out of the world months after the passing occurred. For example, I would imagine that Hannah would have mostly moved on even if there were times when the grief really hit. I do think Bea was the most fleshed-out with how the grief still impacts her life even months later, as she is brash and letting her anger seep out through her interactions with Mary and their mom. Again, I recognize that grief is a very personal and subjective experience, but I would have liked to have seen more differentiation in how all the characters grieved, especially Mary.
Speaking of Mary, I feel like her grief is (aside from Hannah who is more of a minor character) the least fleshed out. It's not that her feeling like she is missing something or feeling lost is not understandable, because it is. It is how her grief pretty much stays static and only seems to worsen at times, but then she is living a normal-ish teenager life where it's like the grief is not present at all (not to say it is not realistic, but it does not help these scenes felt very stereotypical "teen events" like massive parties). It feels like her grief does not have nuance to it, or at least I did not fully feel her grief. I will note that a lot of times (especially in the latter half of the book) she described feeling lost or dissonant, pushing away when people try to talk to her about her feelings, lying that she is doing fine when she clearly isn't, and her not doing the college applications from how lost she feels. Which sounds a lot like it could be some form of depression to me, especially since it had been a year since the passing. The book never explicitly says or alludes that it is depression and it does not go beyond the elements I described, which is why for my trigger warning I say elements of depression with a question mark. Honestly, I think this book may have worked better if the book had a dichotomy of looking at grief and depression at the same time, with making the elements of depression that Mary seems to show more distinct, because I think together it would have added more depth to her grief.
But I digress, to talk more about Mary for a minute outside of her grief, I was not the biggest fan of her as a protagonist. She did frustrate me with how she barely changed over the course of the book, especially with the rash decision she made at the end of the book that all unfolded unrealistically (I did like it, but it was unrealistic). Not to mention, I did not like how much Mary said something about the patriarchy or feminism. It wasn't something that was super in-your-face and it only tended to be a couple of words, but after the first couple times she mentioned it, she came off as more pretentious and annoying than anything else.
As for the other characters, I liked them fine enough. I thought Bea was the most interesting character, and as I mentioned the most fleshed-out storyline. I liked Jesse as well, not too much to say on him or the romance, but I liked him. I also liked the storyline of Mary and how her relationship with Nora and Bennet shifted over the book. I am not the biggest fan of how it ended, as I don't think it is realistic, but overall I did like it since typically the friends that are from the main character's old home are forgotten about after the first 50-100 pages of a book.
Lastly, I did want to talk about the writing for a moment. Most of the time I thought the writing was average. But there were times, such as the first couple of pages and a quote about particles towards the end of the book, where I thought her writing was really lovely. It is only those few lines that caught my eye as most of the time the writing was average to me, but I appreciated the really good lines.
Overall, this book was a very average book to me. It isn't a bad book, but it was not an amazing book. I had mixed feelings about the grief, as it felt more flat than dynamic. I had issues with the main character but it was not irritating enough to bother me to no end. The romance was what I would expect a romance in a more serious YA contemporary to play out. The idea is interesting even though the execution ends up more static. At the end of the day, it was a perfectly alright book that was simply not memorable. Which I suppose is ironic, though it does make me a bit sad.
tw: grief, elements of depression(?), a character drinking too much in a couple scenes (mild)
This is a book that I have mixed feelings about. I will preface by saying I don't think this book is bad. However, it is one that feels very mediocre and I have a lot to talk about.
First off, I want to discuss to portrayal of grief because it is one I think is interesting. I personally have not faced a loss as close to me and in such a short amount of time, and having that loss linger that closely a year after the passing. I also skimmed over the author's bio and I do recognize that there may be some elements of this story, particularly with Mary's dad passing, that are from the author's own life. So when I am talking about the grief, I am solely talking about it in the context of this book and its execution, and not the author's personal experience. And I also recognize that grief is a subjective experience where everyone goes through it at a different pace.
I did find the idea of following a character's life about a year after the loss of someone to be an interesting concept. Most of the time in books when it comes to death or stories where grief is an element, it is typically when the passing occurs, or shortly after it happens. So to see where characters are a year after a death was an idea I like in theory. The execution of that idea I thought was done alright for the most part. I do feel like the characters, even if there were slight differences (mainly with Bea), all basically felt the same and had the exact same struggles with moving on even months after the passing occurred. Which, I don't think is realistic that the whole family struggles in pretty much the same way with going through their day or feeling like the color is drained out of the world months after the passing occurred. For example, I would imagine that Hannah would have mostly moved on even if there were times when the grief really hit. I do think Bea was the most fleshed-out with how the grief still impacts her life even months later, as she is brash and letting her anger seep out through her interactions with Mary and their mom. Again, I recognize that grief is a very personal and subjective experience, but I would have liked to have seen more differentiation in how all the characters grieved, especially Mary.
Speaking of Mary, I feel like her grief is (aside from Hannah who is more of a minor character) the least fleshed out. It's not that her feeling like she is missing something or feeling lost is not understandable, because it is. It is how her grief pretty much stays static and only seems to worsen at times, but then she is living a normal-ish teenager life where it's like the grief is not present at all (not to say it is not realistic, but it does not help these scenes felt very stereotypical "teen events" like massive parties). It feels like her grief does not have nuance to it, or at least I did not fully feel her grief. I will note that a lot of times (especially in the latter half of the book) she described feeling lost or dissonant, pushing away when people try to talk to her about her feelings, lying that she is doing fine when she clearly isn't, and her not doing the college applications from how lost she feels. Which sounds a lot like it could be some form of depression to me, especially since it had been a year since the passing. The book never explicitly says or alludes that it is depression and it does not go beyond the elements I described, which is why for my trigger warning I say elements of depression with a question mark. Honestly, I think this book may have worked better if the book had a dichotomy of looking at grief and depression at the same time, with making the elements of depression that Mary seems to show more distinct, because I think together it would have added more depth to her grief.
But I digress, to talk more about Mary for a minute outside of her grief, I was not the biggest fan of her as a protagonist. She did frustrate me with how she barely changed over the course of the book, especially with the rash decision she made at the end of the book that all unfolded unrealistically (I did like it, but it was unrealistic). Not to mention, I did not like how much Mary said something about the patriarchy or feminism. It wasn't something that was super in-your-face and it only tended to be a couple of words, but after the first couple times she mentioned it, she came off as more pretentious and annoying than anything else.
As for the other characters, I liked them fine enough. I thought Bea was the most interesting character, and as I mentioned the most fleshed-out storyline. I liked Jesse as well, not too much to say on him or the romance, but I liked him. I also liked the storyline of Mary and how her relationship with Nora and Bennet shifted over the book. I am not the biggest fan of how it ended, as I don't think it is realistic, but overall I did like it since typically the friends that are from the main character's old home are forgotten about after the first 50-100 pages of a book.
Lastly, I did want to talk about the writing for a moment. Most of the time I thought the writing was average. But there were times, such as the first couple of pages and a quote about particles towards the end of the book, where I thought her writing was really lovely. It is only those few lines that caught my eye as most of the time the writing was average to me, but I appreciated the really good lines.
Overall, this book was a very average book to me. It isn't a bad book, but it was not an amazing book. I had mixed feelings about the grief, as it felt more flat than dynamic. I had issues with the main character but it was not irritating enough to bother me to no end. The romance was what I would expect a romance in a more serious YA contemporary to play out. The idea is interesting even though the execution ends up more static. At the end of the day, it was a perfectly alright book that was simply not memorable. Which I suppose is ironic, though it does make me a bit sad.
July 30, 2022
After losing her father to cancer, Marigold’s life is completely uprooted when her mother moves their family from sunny California to a life with her aunt in a rural town in New York. Gone is the great best friend, the cute boyfriend, and the places that remind her of her father. Marigold doesn’t know how she’s going to make it through her senior year and struggles with her most important relationships being long distance. Eventually, Jesse, a student with a passion for photography, and she begin a friendship that ultimately requires more than Marigold is willing to give; honesty. How can Marigold be honest in her new friendship when she isn’t being honest with those closest to her?
Filled with family drama and adult and teen grief alike, this novel is one that is hard hitting and doesn’t shy away from the difficult. Sweeney does a wonderful job of navigating raw emotion and the challenges of coming to terms with loss that leads to the crooked path of eventual healing. Although somber, it does eventually land at hope.
3.5 stars
Filled with family drama and adult and teen grief alike, this novel is one that is hard hitting and doesn’t shy away from the difficult. Sweeney does a wonderful job of navigating raw emotion and the challenges of coming to terms with loss that leads to the crooked path of eventual healing. Although somber, it does eventually land at hope.
3.5 stars
January 24, 2024
Where do I even start with this book? If I hadn't started it in the evening time, I would have read the entire thing in one sitting!
This is a book about being caught in the in-between spaces. Between the past and present, between remembering and forgetting, between old friends and new friends and so much more.
As infuriating as the main character, Marigold, is, I see myself in her, which could be why I related to this book as much as I did. The author perfectly pens the internal character struggle and Mary's descent into a person she herself hates.
Kate Sweeney also writes of grief in a way most authors do not. Not just in the "character is sad because their dad died" but she writes about sadness stemming from forgetting the dead, misremembering and questioning happy memories, and wondering if the deceased even cared about those left behind in the first place.
All in all, this book is a beautiful story about navigating life after a devastating loss and trekking forward to messy new beginnings.
This is a book about being caught in the in-between spaces. Between the past and present, between remembering and forgetting, between old friends and new friends and so much more.
As infuriating as the main character, Marigold, is, I see myself in her, which could be why I related to this book as much as I did. The author perfectly pens the internal character struggle and Mary's descent into a person she herself hates.
Kate Sweeney also writes of grief in a way most authors do not. Not just in the "character is sad because their dad died" but she writes about sadness stemming from forgetting the dead, misremembering and questioning happy memories, and wondering if the deceased even cared about those left behind in the first place.
All in all, this book is a beautiful story about navigating life after a devastating loss and trekking forward to messy new beginnings.
January 12, 2022
I wasn’t expecting to love this book so much but before I knew it I was speeding through it and nearly done! The story of Marigold moving cross country to upstate New York after her dad’s death sucked me in, since I’m pretty familiar with the area, and I really related to her loneliness. While I haven’t been in the exact situation I found it easy to relate to Mary’s thoughts and feelings. How it can be easier to lie than tell the truth, tired of being angry or sad and wanting to let it go, and how hard it can be to really open up to people. The story felt realistic, with the characters’ flaws and not-so-great thinking ahead, like in mine and many others’ lives in real life. I’m a little sad I read it so fast because now I want to read about Mary and her friends in another book. Or maybe I’ll just reread this when this is less fresh in my mind. Overall a great book for high schoolers and college (I’m only a few years out of high school 😅)
April 9, 2022
Such a disappointment! Basically propaganda thinly disguised as a young adult romance. This girl from California moves to a small town in New York and holds extreme judgment and resentment against anyone with differing views. Every one with a Trump sign is a douche bag, blue lives matter=racism? She won't apply to Harvard because if she got in it would only be because she's white? What? Like Harvard will take anyone who's white? Last I checked you had to have super high grades and test scores... If you like a white male photographer it couldn't possibly be because he's super talented, and has to be because you "support the patriarchy". She leaves a guy who she has "loved forever" in California, but immediately starts crushing on the first guy she sees in New York, all while grieving a dad who shes not sure ever loved her at all. If the point of this book is teenage girls know nothing about true love or life in general, then I guess she nailed it?
January 8, 2022
I loved this book! I found it to be beautiful and melancholy. While it was based on a sad premise and that undertone definitely carried on throughout the story, I think the portrayal of grief was realistic and well woven into all the characters in different ways.
Of course there's a love story in here, but there's also beautiful female friendship and sisterhood. Like any true coming of age, the characters all struggle and grow and change I was rooting for them all. I especially related to Marigold's desire to pretend she had it all together, and felt with her as that facade faded.
My only complaints are that the love interest was too good to be true, but aren't they always? I also loved Aunt El and wanted more of her!
This one will tug at your heart strings and make you smile and maybe make you cry, but in a good way.
Of course there's a love story in here, but there's also beautiful female friendship and sisterhood. Like any true coming of age, the characters all struggle and grow and change I was rooting for them all. I especially related to Marigold's desire to pretend she had it all together, and felt with her as that facade faded.
My only complaints are that the love interest was too good to be true, but aren't they always? I also loved Aunt El and wanted more of her!
This one will tug at your heart strings and make you smile and maybe make you cry, but in a good way.
February 23, 2023
I read this book because my daughter mentioned that Kate had written some books. Looks like she's written LOTS of books! I'm glad I did, it's really good. I am not the target audience, being over 60, let's say. It's a young adult book that deals with the death of a parent, as well as moving to a new town right before your senior year in high school, the college application process, and yes, romance, but also friends and siblings and MOMS. Katie, I'd love to talk with you about it. I cried a bunch and I'm so sorry your Dad died so young. I think you can email me via GoodReads, but your Mom probably can get in touch with me, too. I'm so proud of you!
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