Author: Jess Rothenberg
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin (Imprint: Razorbill)
Publication Date: 21st March 2012
ISBN: 9780141334479
Stand alone or series: Stand alone
Pages: 256 pages
Book Received from: Penguin (Publisher) (Proof Copy)
First Lines: There's always that one guy who gets a hold on you.
Synopsis:
If I'd known right then that this was the kid who would grow up to break my heart beyond repair, maybe I would've stayed upstairs on the phone with Tess.
Maybe I would've gone to bed early. Maybe I would've begged my parents to take me with them - even though those doctor dinners are pretty much the boringest things ever.
But I didn't know. Couldn't know. So instead I shrugged and said something really genius like 'Um, whatever.' And proceeded to fall totally, madly, crazy in love.
My Thoughts:
Where to start.. well I suppose anyone who has ever had their heart broken can relate to Brie... everything except for the whole dying of heart break part. Although this is more for the girls than the guys. Hate to point it out.
Brie is one of those characters I fell in love with instantly. She's sarcastic and funny and dealing with death. And now that she's dead, she has to deal with Earth moving on, a boy who is trying to help and guide her along, as well as the five stages of death. So it doesn't get easier when you die, although, there is loads of pizza! A definite thumbs up.
I like how the Jess has layered the story and setting. From the reader we get to see what's going on after Brie is gone on earth, how Brie is coping in the afterlife and the glimpses of her life leading up to her demise. I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry and at times just outright hug the main character. I have to admit once or twice I felt like yelling at Brie because you could see her doing the wrong thing but in saying that, she committed to a choice even as she's regretting it and I can definitely relate to rash decisions like that. Been there done that lol.
While it has been a very long time since anyone has done any breaking of my heart, you really don't forget that "end of the world" feeling that happens the moment someone says that it's over and I think that is Jess' catch on the novel. At some point or another everyone has felt it. It's the worst feeling and you would do anything to make things right, to take things back, to change the inevitable outcome.. and here the author has taken that idea and created an awesome story.
As you can tell I loved this from start to finish. I'm amazed at how in depth both the main and secondary characters are, and it really does make both character and storyline memorable. Recommended pick up.
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