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The Quiet Part Out Loud
For fans of You’ve Reached Sam and A Heart in a Body in the World, this searing and heartrending teen novel follows an ex-couple as they struggle to reunite in the wake of a devastating earthquake.
High school sweethearts Mia Clementine and Alfie Thanasis had a plan to escape their town for college in the east. Mia would leave her hard-core evangelical home for Sarah Lawrence College, and Alfie would have a new place to pursue his three loves: baseball, poetry, and Mia. But when Alfie got offered a scholarship to the University of San Francisco the same week the entire town found out about Mia’s mom’s affair with their church’s pastor, Mia’s world imploded and she pushed everyone away…including Alfie.
Five months after the worst summer ever, Mia is crashing at her best friend’s dorm at San Francisco State, just a few miles away from the University of San Francisco, praying she never runs into the boy whose heart she broke. And Alfie is trying to make the most of his freshman year while struggling to reconcile with the abrupt ending of his first love.
When Mia and Alfie’s paths cross for the briefest of moments, Mia realizes she never should have let him go and Alfie’s suppressed memories and feelings boil to the surface. But their reunion is cut short when a massive earthquake rocks San Francisco, leaving them to stumble desperately across the rubble in search of the ex they still love before the city crumbles—taking one, or both, of them with it.
High school sweethearts Mia Clementine and Alfie Thanasis had a plan to escape their town for college in the east. Mia would leave her hard-core evangelical home for Sarah Lawrence College, and Alfie would have a new place to pursue his three loves: baseball, poetry, and Mia. But when Alfie got offered a scholarship to the University of San Francisco the same week the entire town found out about Mia’s mom’s affair with their church’s pastor, Mia’s world imploded and she pushed everyone away…including Alfie.
Five months after the worst summer ever, Mia is crashing at her best friend’s dorm at San Francisco State, just a few miles away from the University of San Francisco, praying she never runs into the boy whose heart she broke. And Alfie is trying to make the most of his freshman year while struggling to reconcile with the abrupt ending of his first love.
When Mia and Alfie’s paths cross for the briefest of moments, Mia realizes she never should have let him go and Alfie’s suppressed memories and feelings boil to the surface. But their reunion is cut short when a massive earthquake rocks San Francisco, leaving them to stumble desperately across the rubble in search of the ex they still love before the city crumbles—taking one, or both, of them with it.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2023
39 people are currently reading
5816 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Crossland
3 books96 followersDeborah Crossland (she/her) teaches English and mythology at her local community college and writes myth-based, contemporary novels with a feminist bent for young adults. She is passionate about making education accessible for everyone and makes sure her students pay nothing out of pocket. She lives in Northern California with her husband and her daughter's very spoiled, retired service dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
December 26, 2025
Mia and Alfie dated in high school. I scoured Behind the Name to see what Alfie was short for in Greek, but came up with nothing. Any takers?
Beyond the juvenile problems I have with most YA these days, it's well past the time when Greekness is other. And I don't mean to diminish what Southern Europeans went through in the 1800s, or whenever they started emigrating, but they are still white. Calling your dad baba every so often is not other. Being an Orthodox Christian v. a Protestant is not other. Although I could see some Bible Belt Baptists insisting on the differences.
But this isn't set in the Bible Belt. And yet the preachiness abounds. I kept going back and forth trying to read the blurb in the back, wondering what the hell was going on. Is this a Christian romance? This isn't a Christian publisher. I avoid those like the plague. Nope.
Mia has bad experiences with her Christian parents and is now a rebel. I use this term jokingly. But her mom slept with the church pastor and suddenly she is shunned. And breaks up with Alfie. Boo hoo, so sad.
The back and forth between the two POVs was fine. So was the present v. the past. Most of this was just fine until we got to the climax of the novel. I thought this was a standard YA romance. And I don't want to spoil you, but it was compared to a couple of different sad books. So know what you're getting into if you choose to read this.
Overall, not for me, but very typical of the genre if that's what you're into.
📖 Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Beyond the juvenile problems I have with most YA these days, it's well past the time when Greekness is other. And I don't mean to diminish what Southern Europeans went through in the 1800s, or whenever they started emigrating, but they are still white. Calling your dad baba every so often is not other. Being an Orthodox Christian v. a Protestant is not other. Although I could see some Bible Belt Baptists insisting on the differences.
But this isn't set in the Bible Belt. And yet the preachiness abounds. I kept going back and forth trying to read the blurb in the back, wondering what the hell was going on. Is this a Christian romance? This isn't a Christian publisher. I avoid those like the plague. Nope.
Mia has bad experiences with her Christian parents and is now a rebel. I use this term jokingly. But her mom slept with the church pastor and suddenly she is shunned. And breaks up with Alfie. Boo hoo, so sad.
The back and forth between the two POVs was fine. So was the present v. the past. Most of this was just fine until we got to the climax of the novel. I thought this was a standard YA romance. And I don't want to spoil you, but it was compared to a couple of different sad books. So know what you're getting into if you choose to read this.
Overall, not for me, but very typical of the genre if that's what you're into.
📖 Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
June 30, 2023
3.75 stars
Sometimes you need to reach the destination in order to appreciate the journey. It was a bumpy reading experience but in the end I liked this book and the fact the author went out on a limb.
Mia and Alfie dated in high school but are no longer a couple. In fact, they haven't seen or spoken to each other in months. While interviewing for a position at a coffee shop, Mia spots Alfie with another girl. That stirs up a lot of feelings and it motivates Mia to reach out to him. That might be easier said than done though.
It took me close to 100 pages before I firmly settled into this story. The problem was the angst. It was too much to handle without the backstory of the relationship. I'm all for cheesy dialogue and sentiment but I need to know how we got to that point before I can buy into it. As the story focused more on their time in high school, my interest level improved quite a bit. Worth mentioning though I didn't care for Mia and Alfie all that much but that's not a requirement for me to enjoy a book. The last chapters contain the best writing and it's really what boosted this book from average read territory into one I grew to really appreciate.
Thank you to Book Club Favorites for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Sometimes you need to reach the destination in order to appreciate the journey. It was a bumpy reading experience but in the end I liked this book and the fact the author went out on a limb.
Mia and Alfie dated in high school but are no longer a couple. In fact, they haven't seen or spoken to each other in months. While interviewing for a position at a coffee shop, Mia spots Alfie with another girl. That stirs up a lot of feelings and it motivates Mia to reach out to him. That might be easier said than done though.
It took me close to 100 pages before I firmly settled into this story. The problem was the angst. It was too much to handle without the backstory of the relationship. I'm all for cheesy dialogue and sentiment but I need to know how we got to that point before I can buy into it. As the story focused more on their time in high school, my interest level improved quite a bit. Worth mentioning though I didn't care for Mia and Alfie all that much but that's not a requirement for me to enjoy a book. The last chapters contain the best writing and it's really what boosted this book from average read territory into one I grew to really appreciate.
Thank you to Book Club Favorites for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
July 4, 2023
While this was beautiful and sad and I kinda get what the author was trying to do, these teenagers were so extra it was hard to take them seriously. I understood that Mia had strict parents but the way her and Alfie acted like she was raised in a religious cult was a little OTT.
Following Mia as she scrambles across the rubble caused by the San Francisco earthquake, we get a picture of her and Alfie's past relationship through Alfie, who narrates as if he's talking to Mia. I found this quite irritating and annoyingly poetic.
The ending I didn't see coming however, and I still don't know how I feel about it. It was while reading the acknowledgements that I realised this was lightly based on Greek Myth, which is somewhat of an obsession in YA.
Following Mia as she scrambles across the rubble caused by the San Francisco earthquake, we get a picture of her and Alfie's past relationship through Alfie, who narrates as if he's talking to Mia. I found this quite irritating and annoyingly poetic.
The ending I didn't see coming however, and I still don't know how I feel about it. It was while reading the acknowledgements that I realised this was lightly based on Greek Myth, which is somewhat of an obsession in YA.
September 3, 2022
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this, one of the most amazing perks of being part of the author community. With thanks to the author and publisher.
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The Quiet Part Out Loud is a thoughtful, layered coming of age story in which two college-age teens reflect upon their high school relationship from first blush to crushing breakup while parted from one another after an earthquake hits San Francisco. The hero tells the story from a place of fondness and longing. The joyous flutters of first love. The ache for reconciliation. The heroine tells the story from a place of conflict, contextualizing the problems in the relationship through the lens of her family struggles and her questions around her religious upbringing, questions that continue to plague her as she traverses the post-earthquake city. Her journey takes on a mythic quality as she meets several archetypal mentor characters who offer her new perspectives on faith and community.
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Fans of Greek myth will enjoy the parallels to Orpheus and Eurydice, though the links are largely thematic and enjoyment of the read doesn't rely on a familiarity with the source material. There’s no river of forgetfulness that impedes a reunion between lovers, and no make-or-break challenge to “not look back” lest a rescue fail. There is, however, a sense of scale to the journey, an embracing of metaphor and meaning that felt big and timeless to me, bridging the classical and the modern.
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Emotionally rich and woven with memorable imagery, TQPOL is a great fit for readers who enjoy reflective coming of age stories that center around questions of faith and forgiveness.
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The Quiet Part Out Loud is a thoughtful, layered coming of age story in which two college-age teens reflect upon their high school relationship from first blush to crushing breakup while parted from one another after an earthquake hits San Francisco. The hero tells the story from a place of fondness and longing. The joyous flutters of first love. The ache for reconciliation. The heroine tells the story from a place of conflict, contextualizing the problems in the relationship through the lens of her family struggles and her questions around her religious upbringing, questions that continue to plague her as she traverses the post-earthquake city. Her journey takes on a mythic quality as she meets several archetypal mentor characters who offer her new perspectives on faith and community.
.
Fans of Greek myth will enjoy the parallels to Orpheus and Eurydice, though the links are largely thematic and enjoyment of the read doesn't rely on a familiarity with the source material. There’s no river of forgetfulness that impedes a reunion between lovers, and no make-or-break challenge to “not look back” lest a rescue fail. There is, however, a sense of scale to the journey, an embracing of metaphor and meaning that felt big and timeless to me, bridging the classical and the modern.
.
Emotionally rich and woven with memorable imagery, TQPOL is a great fit for readers who enjoy reflective coming of age stories that center around questions of faith and forgiveness.
August 18, 2022
I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book and I’m telling y’all you need this book!! You will laugh, scream, cry and swoon 🥰 Alfie is adorable.
Crossland has mastery over her character growth and we really see Mia’s growth throughout this novel. It’s interesting to see how Mia’s parents’ relationship has effected her.
I really felt like I was there in SF after this historic, devastating earthquake, frantic to find the boy I loved ❤️I can’t wait for this book to come out!
Crossland has mastery over her character growth and we really see Mia’s growth throughout this novel. It’s interesting to see how Mia’s parents’ relationship has effected her.
I really felt like I was there in SF after this historic, devastating earthquake, frantic to find the boy I loved ❤️I can’t wait for this book to come out!
August 12, 2023
The main character! Seriously, what?! One of the most unlikeable characters ever. Yes, I am misunderstanding this character but I run far away from toxic people no matter how they could become better later.
September 7, 2022
I was one of the lucky ones who got to read an early draft of this and OH. MY. WORD. This book. The romance is so incredibly sweet, the characters authentic in a way that makes you just want to hug them, the writing is gorgeous, and the story will suck you in and make it hard to put the book down. I cannot recommend enough.
June 1, 2023
For some reason I still feel like I can’t decide my feelings on this book but my ultimate conclusion is that I liked it.
There were a lot of things that made me frustrated and where I wavered on what my thoughts were, but I think that was the point of this book. There were things I would’ve liked to have seen more of or things that I found a bit too repetitive but the overall message of the story is very beautiful and made me feel appreciative and reflective by the end.
I did get flashbacks to Every Summer After (iykyk) where the girl does something stupid because she’s confused and angry and thinks it’s right but all of a sudden she realizes that it was WRONG (meaning she just feels guilty ONLY bc she didn’t realize her actions had consequences) and the guy magically forgives her because he’s in love with her. BUT, the good news is that Mia did realize her actions had consequences and spends the entire book coming to terms with that and figuring out how to change her destructive behaviors. And, Alfie didn’t magically forgive her so it made that event‘s purpose clearer than it did for Every Summer After. It also made forgiving Mia easier from the reader’s perspective also after going on this journey of self discovery, even though I was super pissed off with her.
Bonus points for the mention of the Bear Hunt book, that made me happy :)
There were a lot of things that made me frustrated and where I wavered on what my thoughts were, but I think that was the point of this book. There were things I would’ve liked to have seen more of or things that I found a bit too repetitive but the overall message of the story is very beautiful and made me feel appreciative and reflective by the end.
I did get flashbacks to Every Summer After (iykyk) where the girl does something stupid because she’s confused and angry and thinks it’s right but all of a sudden she realizes that it was WRONG (meaning she just feels guilty ONLY bc she didn’t realize her actions had consequences) and the guy magically forgives her because he’s in love with her. BUT, the good news is that Mia did realize her actions had consequences and spends the entire book coming to terms with that and figuring out how to change her destructive behaviors. And, Alfie didn’t magically forgive her so it made that event‘s purpose clearer than it did for Every Summer After. It also made forgiving Mia easier from the reader’s perspective also after going on this journey of self discovery, even though I was super pissed off with her.
Bonus points for the mention of the Bear Hunt book, that made me happy :)
July 16, 2025
What I liked about this book was the commentary on spiritual abuse. I don’t see that often enough in fiction, and I related to many of the main character’s negative experiences with religion.
I also appreciate the exploration of grief, love, and embracing emotions instead of burying them.
Some points still remain unresolved, like what happened to Mia’s dad? How did Mia and her mom kind of reconcile when her mom didn’t really change at all? Did Mia ever end up going to Sarah Lawrence like she wanted?
I appreciate some aspects, but this book was not my favorite. I mostly finished it out of spite.
I also appreciate the exploration of grief, love, and embracing emotions instead of burying them.
Some points still remain unresolved, like what happened to Mia’s dad? How did Mia and her mom kind of reconcile when her mom didn’t really change at all? Did Mia ever end up going to Sarah Lawrence like she wanted?
I appreciate some aspects, but this book was not my favorite. I mostly finished it out of spite.
July 4, 2023
3.75! I got sent this book and here is my honest review:
Okay first off, this was a refreshing book, because its a good concept?? The main girl sees her ex for the first time in months ever since high school. She runs off scared, and ends up getting a letter from him that was written when they first originally broke up. After reading it, she calls him, not expecting him to actually pick up, but he does. They barely get into their conversation before an earthquake happens and they spend the rest of the book looking for each other. It flashes back in time to when they first fell in love and present day (trying to reunite)
1. TBH, I do see parts of You've reached sam in this book. BUT not plot wise! I definitely felt the same emotions and heart wrenching aspects when reading it. I'm such a sucker for YA hs romances bc me and my bf met in hs, so I can relate to a lot of the cringey yet wholesome first relationship steps that you take when you're also just trying to figure out yourself and how you fit into the world. So while some parts of the dialogue made me cringe a little (as all YA books usually do), I felt kinda nostalgic
2. Bye the topic of family in this book hit a litttttle too close to home. But if you don't have a similar background to either of the character's family life, I COULD TOTALLY SEE how it would be boring, because it seems to be a heavy theme in the book.
3. I read a review saying if it was advertised as some sort of Christian or religious book and LMAOOO I can definitely see their complaints about it and it is totally valid. BUT IDK WHY, whenver I read books revolving any type of religion or faith, I don't mind at all! Mia Sheridan usually has such huge topics of God and religion in her books (aside from Archer's Voice) and I always found it interesting to read about it (as someone who is not religious). So really, it's just preference!
4. GOD- the ending. I alr knew but also okay ouch.
5. Overall, I flew through the last 100 pages and dragged on in the middle, but I'm also in a slump rn so that's happening with all my books. My advice: Don't read goodreads reviews. As a matter of fact, you don't even have to trust mine LMAOOO. Reading is subjective and if you like it, you like it! Don't base it off of mine :D I enjoyed it and would recommend
Okay first off, this was a refreshing book, because its a good concept?? The main girl sees her ex for the first time in months ever since high school. She runs off scared, and ends up getting a letter from him that was written when they first originally broke up. After reading it, she calls him, not expecting him to actually pick up, but he does. They barely get into their conversation before an earthquake happens and they spend the rest of the book looking for each other. It flashes back in time to when they first fell in love and present day (trying to reunite)
1. TBH, I do see parts of You've reached sam in this book. BUT not plot wise! I definitely felt the same emotions and heart wrenching aspects when reading it. I'm such a sucker for YA hs romances bc me and my bf met in hs, so I can relate to a lot of the cringey yet wholesome first relationship steps that you take when you're also just trying to figure out yourself and how you fit into the world. So while some parts of the dialogue made me cringe a little (as all YA books usually do), I felt kinda nostalgic
2. Bye the topic of family in this book hit a litttttle too close to home. But if you don't have a similar background to either of the character's family life, I COULD TOTALLY SEE how it would be boring, because it seems to be a heavy theme in the book.
3. I read a review saying if it was advertised as some sort of Christian or religious book and LMAOOO I can definitely see their complaints about it and it is totally valid. BUT IDK WHY, whenver I read books revolving any type of religion or faith, I don't mind at all! Mia Sheridan usually has such huge topics of God and religion in her books (aside from Archer's Voice) and I always found it interesting to read about it (as someone who is not religious). So really, it's just preference!
4. GOD- the ending. I alr knew but also okay ouch.
5. Overall, I flew through the last 100 pages and dragged on in the middle, but I'm also in a slump rn so that's happening with all my books. My advice: Don't read goodreads reviews. As a matter of fact, you don't even have to trust mine LMAOOO. Reading is subjective and if you like it, you like it! Don't base it off of mine :D I enjoyed it and would recommend
March 13, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.
This was a quick, light read. I definitely enjoyed it. I wish there had been more details or more things had been fleshed out. I liked it but I don't think I would read it again.
This was a quick, light read. I definitely enjoyed it. I wish there had been more details or more things had been fleshed out. I liked it but I don't think I would read it again.
March 11, 2024
I wasn’t sure what to rate this book overall. I found the relationship between the two main characters a bit cheesy at times, BUT the devotion they had for each other was really admirable. Most of the book was slow and the ending was predictable but still amazing! Definitely get your tissues ready lol
June 23, 2023
~~6/11/23: So, Simon and Schuster mailed a physical copy of an ARC directly to my house. Thanks to them!~~
Edit - 6/23/23
It really took a devastating earthquake for Mia to realize she had it good with Alfie, huh?
Jokes aside, I just didn't really vibe with this.
Mia is kinda an awful person. Yeah, her parents suck and their parenting contributed to Mia's inability to shut off or run away from her emotions, but that doesn't excuse her Outside of Mia's past through Alfie's POV, Mia's POV set in the novel's present didn't grab me. It's just her running through San Francisco looking for Alfie and hating herself the whole time. There were a couple moments where she met some other survivors and made connections, but I didn't care about those because I didn't care for her. Alfie's POV was a bit more interesting but still weird. He's the perfect YA boyfriend: He writes poetry, he's super understanding and caring, and he practically has no flaws. He just exists to be Mia's emotional support buddy and has no purpose or character outside of her.
One thing I did appreciate about this book was its themes about religion. The struggle between Mia and her religious parents was interesting and I do think this would hit strongly with some readers.
Overall, this wasn't my cup of tea. I wouldn't personally recommend it, but I can still see how people could enjoy the romance and angst this book is filled with.
Edit - 6/23/23
It really took a devastating earthquake for Mia to realize she had it good with Alfie, huh?
Jokes aside, I just didn't really vibe with this.
Mia is kinda an awful person. Yeah, her parents suck and their parenting contributed to Mia's inability to shut off or run away from her emotions, but that doesn't excuse her Outside of Mia's past through Alfie's POV, Mia's POV set in the novel's present didn't grab me. It's just her running through San Francisco looking for Alfie and hating herself the whole time. There were a couple moments where she met some other survivors and made connections, but I didn't care about those because I didn't care for her. Alfie's POV was a bit more interesting but still weird. He's the perfect YA boyfriend: He writes poetry, he's super understanding and caring, and he practically has no flaws. He just exists to be Mia's emotional support buddy and has no purpose or character outside of her.
One thing I did appreciate about this book was its themes about religion. The struggle between Mia and her religious parents was interesting and I do think this would hit strongly with some readers.
Overall, this wasn't my cup of tea. I wouldn't personally recommend it, but I can still see how people could enjoy the romance and angst this book is filled with.
May 29, 2023
I feel privileged to be one of the luckiest ones to read this book before it officially joins the book world. Oh my word. This love story will suck you in right from the beginning and keep you reading right until the very end. Just be ready for the tears. Love this book!
September 8, 2024
This book was incredibly hard to finish and I would not recommend it. Usually I like when a book switches back and forth between two different perspectives. This literary device added nothing to the book, and the voices of both the main characters sounded identical. It also got very repetitive as they often both talked about the same events, but their POV was so obvious that their own perspective added nothing new.
There were many descriptive details, but they were so tedious and unnecessary that it felt like the author was trying to reach a word count. I was not moved at all by the emotions of the characters because I just wanted them to stop talking.
There were inconsistencies with the characters. Like, Mia secretly loves the Christmas market but hates the holiday parade? Details like that left me confused. I found their love story to be pretty basic and not that touching. Based on what we learn about their past, I could not understand why they were so in love.
Also why was this white woman on some sort of spiritual journey with a bunch of random people of color on the streets of San Francisco? Most of those encounters made no sense… like a Sikh man is getting in a fight because someone tries to steal his car. Mia helps find his crying daughter’s mom, and then the Sikh man’s brother gives Mia a ride down the street in said car and the little girl tags along. Sorry, your car almost just got stolen and your daughter was lost, but now you’re like, “yes give this stranger a ride and my daughter can go too?” Mia randomly receives sage-like guidance from a South Asian and East Asian woman (bizarre) but then she learns a Hindu mantra from a woman named Shauna? What??? Not to mention all the Christian stuff up until this point… this book was weirdly religious in a way that I did not sign up for.
Look, I love a borderline cheesy romance. I am the target audience for this type of book, but it was just not good.
There were many descriptive details, but they were so tedious and unnecessary that it felt like the author was trying to reach a word count. I was not moved at all by the emotions of the characters because I just wanted them to stop talking.
There were inconsistencies with the characters. Like, Mia secretly loves the Christmas market but hates the holiday parade? Details like that left me confused. I found their love story to be pretty basic and not that touching. Based on what we learn about their past, I could not understand why they were so in love.
Also why was this white woman on some sort of spiritual journey with a bunch of random people of color on the streets of San Francisco? Most of those encounters made no sense… like a Sikh man is getting in a fight because someone tries to steal his car. Mia helps find his crying daughter’s mom, and then the Sikh man’s brother gives Mia a ride down the street in said car and the little girl tags along. Sorry, your car almost just got stolen and your daughter was lost, but now you’re like, “yes give this stranger a ride and my daughter can go too?” Mia randomly receives sage-like guidance from a South Asian and East Asian woman (bizarre) but then she learns a Hindu mantra from a woman named Shauna? What??? Not to mention all the Christian stuff up until this point… this book was weirdly religious in a way that I did not sign up for.
Look, I love a borderline cheesy romance. I am the target audience for this type of book, but it was just not good.
July 2, 2023
a criticism that always confounds me is, and i’m paraphrasing, is: “this character did things i wouldn’t have done, or is unlikable in some way, and therefore i don’t like the book/movie/show/whatever it is.” like… characters can (and should!) be complex, and can sometimes even be unlikable, which sometimes is the point (i know, shocking!) it drives me crazy and in my opinion is such a one-dimensional way to consume art. this wouldn’t have worked if the main character was a perfect girl who made perfect decisions all the time.
anyways, i don’t read YA the way i used to but i enjoyed this! quick, fun read with a significant amount of depth i find lacking from a lot of YA. you can tell the author knows a lot about story and character development and myth which i appreciated!
(light spoilers) enjoyed the unexpected (or maybe not so unexpected if you go into this knowing which myth inspired it) ending as well.
anyways, i don’t read YA the way i used to but i enjoyed this! quick, fun read with a significant amount of depth i find lacking from a lot of YA. you can tell the author knows a lot about story and character development and myth which i appreciated!
(light spoilers) enjoyed the unexpected (or maybe not so unexpected if you go into this knowing which myth inspired it) ending as well.
April 19, 2023
ARC review: I’m sure this one will be made into a movie. It’s soppy sweet and I could picture the movie in my mind while reading. But the main character Mia is unlikeable and treats everyone in her life poorly, including the dipped in sugar he’s so sweet and perfect Alfie, until walking around an earthquake devastated city makes her feel bad about it. Her life view changes feel very easily and unrealistically obtained. Further, if you’ve ever met a high school boy you know that Alfie is completely unrealistic. That said, I am a jaded grown woman 😂 I’m sure the intended YA female audience will swoon. Thanks to the publishers for the opportunity to read and review!
March 14, 2023
Quick read, horrible ending. Don’t read if you want a happy ending. Loved it up until the last few chapters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2025
It tried to hit me in the feels, and it manages in like the last 15-20%, but for the most part this just feels like a slog. The earthquake happens very early on, too early to have any sense of why these exes are still obsessed with each other, and the seriousness of it wasn't really conveyed well to me? At first I thought what happened was a precursor, a warning sign of the future earthquake, but no, that's it.
At one point it's called "the worst earthquake of our lifetime," which honestly only makes it more confusing as to why this girl thinks the most reasonable course of action when cell service goes down -- without any indication of a catastrophic event on his end, they just happened to be talking when it cuts out -- is to immediately plunge outside and start wandering around the city trying to get to him when SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE HE IS. She has a vague idea of two places to check (only one of which she's been to), and that's it.
Her meandering toward him is punctuated by a bunch of the weirdest and most random side encounters, which are supposed to help her realize the meaning of love and life or something, but are just boring and add nothing.
As far as the flashbacks, they are even slower and do not endear me to this couple. Alfie's habit of drawing sheep on his notes and making you/ewe puns was really cute, and I appreciate that he's still pining in the present day, but that's about it. The Lost A Star For Naked Times demerit applies, but really what did it in is that Mia truly keeps hitting new lows of being The Worst by the end of the flashbacks. I cannot stress enough how much Alfie could do and deserves better, so ultimately, the idea that the author thought a character like Mia was worthy of centering a story around really annoys me too much to overlook the flaws.
At one point it's called "the worst earthquake of our lifetime," which honestly only makes it more confusing as to why this girl thinks the most reasonable course of action when cell service goes down -- without any indication of a catastrophic event on his end, they just happened to be talking when it cuts out -- is to immediately plunge outside and start wandering around the city trying to get to him when SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE HE IS. She has a vague idea of two places to check (only one of which she's been to), and that's it.
Her meandering toward him is punctuated by a bunch of the weirdest and most random side encounters, which are supposed to help her realize the meaning of love and life or something, but are just boring and add nothing.
As far as the flashbacks, they are even slower and do not endear me to this couple. Alfie's habit of drawing sheep on his notes and making you/ewe puns was really cute, and I appreciate that he's still pining in the present day, but that's about it. The Lost A Star For Naked Times demerit applies, but really what did it in is that Mia truly keeps hitting new lows of being The Worst by the end of the flashbacks. I cannot stress enough how much Alfie could do and deserves better, so ultimately, the idea that the author thought a character like Mia was worthy of centering a story around really annoys me too much to overlook the flaws.
July 6, 2023
This had a really good premise and the cover is beautiful.
BUT there were a lot of things that didn't work for me. The dialogue between the characters felt unnatural. Alfie was just toooo perfect: a poet, an athlete, a scholar, AND the most patient, understanding, loving boyfriend EVER? Come on. And Mia was just unlikable: selfish, self-absorbed, and annoying. I usually like alternating pov chapters, but Mia's were boring and hard to follow.
I did think the ending was well-executed and gave some resolution, but overall, this was an underwhelming read. 2⭐️
BUT there were a lot of things that didn't work for me. The dialogue between the characters felt unnatural. Alfie was just toooo perfect: a poet, an athlete, a scholar, AND the most patient, understanding, loving boyfriend EVER? Come on. And Mia was just unlikable: selfish, self-absorbed, and annoying. I usually like alternating pov chapters, but Mia's were boring and hard to follow.
I did think the ending was well-executed and gave some resolution, but overall, this was an underwhelming read. 2⭐️
January 12, 2024
I knew this book was gonna be sad. I knew it and I read it anyways.
Mia at times was insufferable. She, in my eyes, had a lot to learn throughout this book. Thankfully, she did. Sadly, it was too late.
I didn’t really feel like this book was giving You’ve Reaches Sam vibes, only similarities is that the MMC dies…
This book kind of resonated with me as I grew up in a religious household and managed to escape, and that’s what really drawled me in to reading this book.
3/5 stars. Did I enjoy this book? Hmm maybe? But I don’t think I’d recommend it. The ending was such a let down, I wish Alfie didn’t have to die :(
Mia at times was insufferable. She, in my eyes, had a lot to learn throughout this book. Thankfully, she did. Sadly, it was too late.
I didn’t really feel like this book was giving You’ve Reaches Sam vibes, only similarities is that the MMC dies…
This book kind of resonated with me as I grew up in a religious household and managed to escape, and that’s what really drawled me in to reading this book.
3/5 stars. Did I enjoy this book? Hmm maybe? But I don’t think I’d recommend it. The ending was such a let down, I wish Alfie didn’t have to die :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2023
Full of heart and heartbreak. For anyone who's ever looked back on a decision and wished they could turn back time.
February 24, 2024
This crushed me. it was so good and i stayed up way my past my bedtime because i couldn’t put it down. kinda sad i stayed up way my past my bedtime just to be crushed by the ending but all in all it was really good. would recommend.
October 22, 2024
dnf. clocked that ending 2 chapters in
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February 17, 2024A perfect red balloon in the sky.
July 6, 2023
High School sweethearts have big plans after graduation but break up and leave each other wondering what could have been. A few years later they unexpectedly reconnect on the same day as an earthquake hits. The narrative plays out with flashbacks and the current day explaining how their relationship formed and ended. They each try to reconcile the past with the present and possible future through their alternating perspectives. I won’t spoil the ending but this is a rather forlorn storyline with glimmers of hope woven in. I enjoyed this dual timeline of this coming of age YA drama. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you @simon.audio for the gifted alc.
May 27, 2023
Note: I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
This book has a really good premise, but for me personally, the execution fell flat. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and the plot felt lackluster to me too.
One of my biggest issues with this book is how cheesy it is, honestly. Alfie is supposed to be a poet, and he's constantly comparing Mia to starlight and flowers and the night sky and God knows what else. (I would share a quote as an example, but won't since this is an ARC.) I like romance, but it got to the point of being overdone and cringey. And a lot of the dialogue just felt unnatural and awkward.
I also just didn't like Mia, which made it hard to root for her. I did feel for her because she is clearly dealing with mental health issues, but I didn't feel like the book explored those issues in depth at all. She just came across as selfish and somewhat clueless.
One thing the book did explore, a LOT, was religion. Not in a way that tried to sway the reader one way or the other, but a lot of the book was about Mia wrestling with her religious upbringing and figuring out what she believes. I'm sure a lot of readers will like this, and it's nothing against the book itself, but it just wasn't something that interested me as a reader.
Overall, this book was a disappointment for me. I really didn't like the characters, the style, or the ending especially. But I'm sure a lot of readers will love this one once it's released.
This book has a really good premise, but for me personally, the execution fell flat. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and the plot felt lackluster to me too.
One of my biggest issues with this book is how cheesy it is, honestly. Alfie is supposed to be a poet, and he's constantly comparing Mia to starlight and flowers and the night sky and God knows what else. (I would share a quote as an example, but won't since this is an ARC.) I like romance, but it got to the point of being overdone and cringey. And a lot of the dialogue just felt unnatural and awkward.
I also just didn't like Mia, which made it hard to root for her. I did feel for her because she is clearly dealing with mental health issues, but I didn't feel like the book explored those issues in depth at all. She just came across as selfish and somewhat clueless.
One thing the book did explore, a LOT, was religion. Not in a way that tried to sway the reader one way or the other, but a lot of the book was about Mia wrestling with her religious upbringing and figuring out what she believes. I'm sure a lot of readers will like this, and it's nothing against the book itself, but it just wasn't something that interested me as a reader.
Overall, this book was a disappointment for me. I really didn't like the characters, the style, or the ending especially. But I'm sure a lot of readers will love this one once it's released.
May 12, 2023
The Quiet Part Out Loud warmed my heart and broke my heart all at once! Mia and Alfie instantly captured my heart. This romance was swoony, beautiful, and deep. The regrets, reflections, and family drama made the book one of a kind. I personally relate to the story of Mia and Alfie so this book was very bittersweet for me to read. Although I am obsessed with this book and believe it is artistic genius, I am hoping I have a much happier ending than Mia and Alfie one day. I highly recommend this book, but if you are set on always having a happy ending it probably isn't for you. That being said, I couldn't love this book more!
April 18, 2023
Have you ever read a book that just comes all together at the end!? That's what this book was for me.. I was never bored or felt like it was going to be a DNF. In my opinion, it was back and forth sweet between Mia and Alfie. It took me a little longer to finish this one because of it, but I am glad I never thought of giving up on Alfie and Mia. I just never expected it to end the way it did!
The last few chapters gave me all the feels!! Before the ending, it was just a sweet book, but once I got to the ending.. I am so heartbroken! Why!? I will not spoil this for anyone.
This story gave me the type of memories from my own high school days but better. The complications, family drama, divorce, the love. Confiding in someone outside of your immediate circle yet pushing everyone away. I could relate so much to Mia.
The last few chapters gave me all the feels!! Before the ending, it was just a sweet book, but once I got to the ending.. I am so heartbroken! Why!? I will not spoil this for anyone.
This story gave me the type of memories from my own high school days but better. The complications, family drama, divorce, the love. Confiding in someone outside of your immediate circle yet pushing everyone away. I could relate so much to Mia.
August 27, 2023
Spoiler alert: Very preachy and sad for no reason. Not a typical YA romance. Lots of bad things happen to the main character for no reason. Doesn't advance the plot and just feels like I was cheated as the reader. I would pass on this one. Story had good bones and an interesting concept, but the climax was unnecessarily sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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