What do you think?
Rate this book
The Only Girl in Town
What would you do if everyone you love disappeared? What if it was your fault?
For July Fielding, nothing has been the same since that summer before senior year.
Once, she had Alex, her loyal best friend, the one who always had her back. She had Sydney, who pushed her during every cross-country run, and who sometimes seemed to know July better than she knew herself. And she had Sam. Sam, who told her she was everything and left her breathless with his touch.
Now, July is alone. Every single person in her small town of Lithia has disappeared. No family. No Alex or Sydney. No Sam. July’s only chance at unraveling the mystery of their disappearance is a series of objects, each a reminder of the people she loved most. And a mysterious GET TH3M BACK.
For July Fielding, nothing has been the same since that summer before senior year.
Once, she had Alex, her loyal best friend, the one who always had her back. She had Sydney, who pushed her during every cross-country run, and who sometimes seemed to know July better than she knew herself. And she had Sam. Sam, who told her she was everything and left her breathless with his touch.
Now, July is alone. Every single person in her small town of Lithia has disappeared. No family. No Alex or Sydney. No Sam. July’s only chance at unraveling the mystery of their disappearance is a series of objects, each a reminder of the people she loved most. And a mysterious GET TH3M BACK.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2023
About the author
Ally Condie
30 books14.6k followersAlly Condie is a former high school English teacher who lives with her husband, three sons and one daughter outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves reading, running, eating, and listening to her husband play guitar.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews
September 17, 2023
This book left me in a state of ambivalence; I couldn't quite decide if I liked it or not. The pacing, the short chapters, and the lyrical, poetic, highly emotional, and empowering writing style all intrigued me. The central mystery of a town where everyone, including pets, vanishes into thin air, leaving only 18-year-old July Fielding behind, kept me engaged until the end. It was gripping and riveting, maintaining my interest throughout. However, upon reaching the finish line, I found myself questioning if that was all there was and what the real point of it all was.
One aspect that truly resonated with me was the exploration of the experience of loneliness amidst a crowd. The notion that one can feel detached and estranged despite being surrounded by others is a powerful theme that the author skillfully delved into. The inner turmoil and fear that accompany such a feeling, preventing genuine connections and the ability to embrace relationships and commitments, were portrayed with depth and meaning. The book did an admirable job of shedding light on the notion of not feeling deserving of love and the dark thoughts that can consume one's mind, leading to a sense of inferiority, self-sabotage, and even depression. These introspective themes were approached with thoughtfulness and offered valuable insights.
However, the execution of the teenage characters and their interactions left me somewhat perplexed. Instead of exhibiting emotional maturity and open communication about their feelings, they often displayed immaturity, selfishness, and peculiar behavior throughout the narrative. This made it challenging for me to fully connect with July's inner world and empathize with her struggles. While the intention may have been to portray the complexities of adolescence, it sometimes veered into unrealistic territory, which hindered my engagement with the story.
Despite these reservations, I must commend the book's trajectory and the author's ability to keep readers guessing. The buildup of suspense and the climactic moments were skillfully crafted, leaving me eager to discover how the pieces would come together. Although the final outcomes didn't resonate with me as strongly as the book's overall progression, I appreciated the author's willingness to take risks and deliver a unique reading experience.
Overall, while I ultimately settled on a rating of 3 stars, it is important to recognize the merits of this book. Its thought-provoking exploration of loneliness, the encouragement to let go and embrace the present, and its overall mysterious nature make it a worthwhile read. I am grateful for the opportunity to have engaged with this narrative and to have shared my honest opinions.
Once again, I extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/ Dutton Books for Young Readers for providing me with the digital reviewer copy. Their continued support enables readers like myself to discover and engage with brilliant books.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
One aspect that truly resonated with me was the exploration of the experience of loneliness amidst a crowd. The notion that one can feel detached and estranged despite being surrounded by others is a powerful theme that the author skillfully delved into. The inner turmoil and fear that accompany such a feeling, preventing genuine connections and the ability to embrace relationships and commitments, were portrayed with depth and meaning. The book did an admirable job of shedding light on the notion of not feeling deserving of love and the dark thoughts that can consume one's mind, leading to a sense of inferiority, self-sabotage, and even depression. These introspective themes were approached with thoughtfulness and offered valuable insights.
However, the execution of the teenage characters and their interactions left me somewhat perplexed. Instead of exhibiting emotional maturity and open communication about their feelings, they often displayed immaturity, selfishness, and peculiar behavior throughout the narrative. This made it challenging for me to fully connect with July's inner world and empathize with her struggles. While the intention may have been to portray the complexities of adolescence, it sometimes veered into unrealistic territory, which hindered my engagement with the story.
Despite these reservations, I must commend the book's trajectory and the author's ability to keep readers guessing. The buildup of suspense and the climactic moments were skillfully crafted, leaving me eager to discover how the pieces would come together. Although the final outcomes didn't resonate with me as strongly as the book's overall progression, I appreciated the author's willingness to take risks and deliver a unique reading experience.
Overall, while I ultimately settled on a rating of 3 stars, it is important to recognize the merits of this book. Its thought-provoking exploration of loneliness, the encouragement to let go and embrace the present, and its overall mysterious nature make it a worthwhile read. I am grateful for the opportunity to have engaged with this narrative and to have shared my honest opinions.
Once again, I extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/ Dutton Books for Young Readers for providing me with the digital reviewer copy. Their continued support enables readers like myself to discover and engage with brilliant books.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
September 10, 2024
July Fielding wakes up one morning, and everyone is gone- even the animals! And thus begins The Only Girl in Town by Ally Condie.
We follow July and her current day search to find others and to try and solve the mystery as to why she was left here alone. July finds creepy messages left all over town telling her to ‘find th3m’ (there’s a reason they use a ‘3’ and not an ‘e’ but I’ll let you find that out). Who is she suppose to find? The book also has flashbacks of July interacting with her family, friends, School, and boyfriend.
Nothing about this book is normal. The writing style and short chapters are unique way for the author to keep reading readers intrigued. The characters are not going to be memorable to me, and neither was the storyline. So much untapped potential lies in this books plot. The ending was so bad that I wish I had never started the book to begin with.
We follow July and her current day search to find others and to try and solve the mystery as to why she was left here alone. July finds creepy messages left all over town telling her to ‘find th3m’ (there’s a reason they use a ‘3’ and not an ‘e’ but I’ll let you find that out). Who is she suppose to find? The book also has flashbacks of July interacting with her family, friends, School, and boyfriend.
Nothing about this book is normal. The writing style and short chapters are unique way for the author to keep reading readers intrigued. The characters are not going to be memorable to me, and neither was the storyline. So much untapped potential lies in this books plot. The ending was so bad that I wish I had never started the book to begin with.
January 9, 2024
I would be so happy if all the people in my town disappeared
------------------
This story is basically a metaphor for severe depression and loneliness, and if you've experienced it you'll get it, but if you haven't, the ending may leave you confused. Finding herself alone in an empty town with only her cat Yolo for company, July mulls over the events of her life that led up to her abandonment.
The cat, Yolo, is one of the best cats in books I've ever read. He's grumpy, he can't be bothered meowing, so he just mehs his way through the story while showing his ass whenever he's displeased with June's attempts to keep him safe. He's truly wonderful.
Overall, I thought this story was very very good and I liked piecing together the events in July's life, the friendships, the ice cream shop, the relationships, but it's such a niche story that I'm not sure the average neurotypical reader will get where the author was trying to go with it.
------------------
This story is basically a metaphor for severe depression and loneliness, and if you've experienced it you'll get it, but if you haven't, the ending may leave you confused. Finding herself alone in an empty town with only her cat Yolo for company, July mulls over the events of her life that led up to her abandonment.
The cat, Yolo, is one of the best cats in books I've ever read. He's grumpy, he can't be bothered meowing, so he just mehs his way through the story while showing his ass whenever he's displeased with June's attempts to keep him safe. He's truly wonderful.
Overall, I thought this story was very very good and I liked piecing together the events in July's life, the friendships, the ice cream shop, the relationships, but it's such a niche story that I'm not sure the average neurotypical reader will get where the author was trying to go with it.
September 18, 2023
This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but it was still a lyrical, emotional, quick, and enjoyable read. I was expecting it to be more post-apocalyptic than an emotional exploration filled with metaphor and discovery for the main character. It’ not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. The book switches between the now, once, and that night timeframes which I found interesting. The main character July has been going through a lot of changes, but she isn’t prepared for when the world seems to free and every living thing in town except for her appears to have disappeared without a trace. But when she starts to explore in earnest she finds evidence that someone else is there and that person is leaving her clues which she hopes will lead her to finding answers. This book is definitely a book of reflection and self-discovery. July’s journey is compelling and interesting and I definitely recommend it.
Read
September 25, 2023This one is tricky to review, because you really need to go in blind to get the full effect, and just about any plot point worth discussing feels like a direct spoiler. If you enjoy books that are poetically written with short, prose filled chapters, heavy thematic content, and ambiguous, thought provoking endings, give this one a try. The way the story is told is very suspenseful and has a page turning quality to it, but please check the triggers below before diving in.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
TW:
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
TW:
October 24, 2023
A beautiful book about life, about change, about relationships and finding yourself. The short chapters are like shards of a broken mirror, and only once you piece them all together can you see the reflection in it.
July 23, 2023
For the first time ever I have a read an arc two months in advanced and finished it before the release date!!!! Yay I'm so happy for me!!!! Anyways before I begin my actually review I wanted to say a big thank u to Penguin Teen for sending me an e-arc and a physical arc too, all my opionons are my own!
So I wasn't thinking I would love this one tbh because I've read another book by this author that I didn't loved but boy was I wrong! I really enjoyed this and the ending actually made me tear up. This story follows our main character name July Feilding and she was just having a normal day durning the summer when one moment she had her whole town with her and the next they disapeared! What would u do if ur whole town disapeared? I think I would do anything I can that won't get me in troubled.
There was a moment in this book where I was like: Wow this is getting kind of dark for a contemporary and then I remember this is also a bit of a thriller so that explains it too. I think this was an algory for July's depression, so totally check out all the trigger warrnings from this before reading. I would say check this book out when it comes out in September on the 19th because I really enjoyed it! 4/5 STARS
So I wasn't thinking I would love this one tbh because I've read another book by this author that I didn't loved but boy was I wrong! I really enjoyed this and the ending actually made me tear up. This story follows our main character name July Feilding and she was just having a normal day durning the summer when one moment she had her whole town with her and the next they disapeared! What would u do if ur whole town disapeared? I think I would do anything I can that won't get me in troubled.
There was a moment in this book where I was like: Wow this is getting kind of dark for a contemporary and then I remember this is also a bit of a thriller so that explains it too. I think this was an algory for July's depression, so totally check out all the trigger warrnings from this before reading. I would say check this book out when it comes out in September on the 19th because I really enjoyed it! 4/5 STARS
September 21, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
I don't want a review full of everything I thought was bad about this book, but I just don't have anything particularly good to say about it so...do with that information what you will. Starting off strong, it almost reminded me of We Were Liars (and preface--I very much did NOT like We Were Liars) because of the writing style, pacing, and dual timelines. To quote everyone's high school English teacher, it leaned very heavily into the telling rather than showing side of storytelling. We saw what July did and said but that's just about it. For someone who spent the whole book inside her own head, we really didn't see much of what was going on up there--at least nothing of substance.
Then there were the painfully short chapters. I get trying to create a sense of urgency at the end of chapters but there should NOT be 150+ chapters in a book with less than 350 pages...that is absolutely insane. I could have skipped entire chapters and it would have done absolutely nothing in regards to the plot. That may be a personal preference, but it just really bothered me.
The last critique I have has to do with the "twist" so you have been warned. For a book that was so heavily advertised as a spooky time thriller novel, it really did not deliver. Especially since we read 336 pages all for it to just be an allegory to depression? Anxiety? Self-isolation? The lesson here was really "You're sad but don't push your people away, they love you so let them in". I'm sorry, but to me, that's kinda stupid. I'm all for hidden messaging and under-the-radar implications with your work and within your writing, but robbing a "thriller" of a true ending and having the subliminal message not even be subliminal is just a total letdown.
Does this book have a somewhat accurate portrayal of anxiety? Sure. It is a step forward for undoing the taboo of mental health stigmatization in traditional publishing? Possibly, yes. Does it help push for allowing for main characters (especially young female main characters) to be unapologetically flawed, messy, and human? Absolutely. But it could have been so much more. It could have been all these things but also been an objectively good read. Unfortunately for us though, it simply wasn't.
I don't want a review full of everything I thought was bad about this book, but I just don't have anything particularly good to say about it so...do with that information what you will. Starting off strong, it almost reminded me of We Were Liars (and preface--I very much did NOT like We Were Liars) because of the writing style, pacing, and dual timelines. To quote everyone's high school English teacher, it leaned very heavily into the telling rather than showing side of storytelling. We saw what July did and said but that's just about it. For someone who spent the whole book inside her own head, we really didn't see much of what was going on up there--at least nothing of substance.
Then there were the painfully short chapters. I get trying to create a sense of urgency at the end of chapters but there should NOT be 150+ chapters in a book with less than 350 pages...that is absolutely insane. I could have skipped entire chapters and it would have done absolutely nothing in regards to the plot. That may be a personal preference, but it just really bothered me.
The last critique I have has to do with the "twist" so you have been warned. For a book that was so heavily advertised as a spooky time thriller novel, it really did not deliver. Especially since we read 336 pages all for it to just be an allegory to depression? Anxiety? Self-isolation? The lesson here was really "You're sad but don't push your people away, they love you so let them in". I'm sorry, but to me, that's kinda stupid. I'm all for hidden messaging and under-the-radar implications with your work and within your writing, but robbing a "thriller" of a true ending and having the subliminal message not even be subliminal is just a total letdown.
Does this book have a somewhat accurate portrayal of anxiety? Sure. It is a step forward for undoing the taboo of mental health stigmatization in traditional publishing? Possibly, yes. Does it help push for allowing for main characters (especially young female main characters) to be unapologetically flawed, messy, and human? Absolutely. But it could have been so much more. It could have been all these things but also been an objectively good read. Unfortunately for us though, it simply wasn't.
June 4, 2023
I struggled with how to rate this book. On one hand, I can see that the author was trying write something artistic and meaningful. It’s different from her other novels; it’s more metaphysical and emotional than her typical dystopian fare. I felt deeply for the main character July and devoured the book in 3 hours because I had to know how it all ended.
But on the other hand, I had difficulty connecting with the other characters and spent a majority of the novel confused. The super short chapters created a sense of urgency (especially towards the end), but frustrated me after a while. There was rarely a moment to breathe and settle into the world, which is a shame because there was some gorgeous prose interspersed throughout. The genre was not what I expected it to be.
As well, this book deals heavily with depression. The summary describes it as “loneliness”, but it felt like more than that. If you struggle with depression, take care when reading.
This is not bad book, but unfortunately it’s not my cup of tea. I think there will be some polarizing opinions on this (similar to We Were Liars): you’ll either love it or it’s not for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
But on the other hand, I had difficulty connecting with the other characters and spent a majority of the novel confused. The super short chapters created a sense of urgency (especially towards the end), but frustrated me after a while. There was rarely a moment to breathe and settle into the world, which is a shame because there was some gorgeous prose interspersed throughout. The genre was not what I expected it to be.
As well, this book deals heavily with depression. The summary describes it as “loneliness”, but it felt like more than that. If you struggle with depression, take care when reading.
This is not bad book, but unfortunately it’s not my cup of tea. I think there will be some polarizing opinions on this (similar to We Were Liars): you’ll either love it or it’s not for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2023
I can’t quite decide how I felt about this yet.
3.5*
I am a little torn on how to rate and review this one, if I am being honest. At the start, I was suuuper into it, especially because the chapters are nice and short, and it alternates between past and present, with some other snippets interspersed (like conversations July's therapist, lists she'd made, etc.). So it moves quickly, and obviously the whole mystery of where the heck everyone went is compelling! I enjoyed reading about what had happened to July, and the lengths she was going to find everyone now. But the turn that things took... well, it's hard to really say much without giving anything away, but I'll try. I appreciated what the author was doing with the story, it just seemed like the way it went, it needed more buildup perhaps? Or just something additional that the story didn't offer. So as the conclusion unfurled, I didn't feel completely satisfied by it? Maybe if there had been an epilogue or something? I mean it was still very readable, and I liked what the author was trying to do, I just don't know that it *fully* worked? Still a good book, though!
3.5*
I am a little torn on how to rate and review this one, if I am being honest. At the start, I was suuuper into it, especially because the chapters are nice and short, and it alternates between past and present, with some other snippets interspersed (like conversations July's therapist, lists she'd made, etc.). So it moves quickly, and obviously the whole mystery of where the heck everyone went is compelling! I enjoyed reading about what had happened to July, and the lengths she was going to find everyone now. But the turn that things took... well, it's hard to really say much without giving anything away, but I'll try. I appreciated what the author was doing with the story, it just seemed like the way it went, it needed more buildup perhaps? Or just something additional that the story didn't offer. So as the conclusion unfurled, I didn't feel completely satisfied by it? Maybe if there had been an epilogue or something? I mean it was still very readable, and I liked what the author was trying to do, I just don't know that it *fully* worked? Still a good book, though!
October 25, 2023
What was the point of that?
March 9, 2024
i am stunned. this book left me with my jaw dropped, goosebumps, shivers, shaking, and rapid heartbeats!!! most of the reviews i see are average but OH MY GOSH. this book was just everything. 😌
August 9, 2023
Star Rating between 2.5 and a 3 ( my highest is usually 4 stars)
This may be one of the hardest books I have had to review. Because I finished it in one sitting. But I still can't tell you if I loved or hated it. The writing was short, easy to follow and left you engaged. The switch between the then and the now was easy to follow and didn't leave you confused. The FMC was unlikeable and likeable all at once. Because we can all relate ( even as an adult) to those feelings of being lost in your self. Where the uncertainty comes in is that I feel like there was too much unsaid and left to the reader to decide. I understand with the ending- "Was it real or in July's head" being in full Inception style. but the rest- how we got to this point.. Is still a little blurry and I can't tell if that was intentional or not. Did Ella die on the jump and that is what sent July into her state? Is she depressed just because Alex doesn't want to date her now, Sam broke her heart and Sydney went full mean girl? Was it a combination of all of those things? I still feel confused on what happened in the Once and what caused July to get to this point real or not. I feel like this maybe a book that needs a second read since I now know what to be looking for. And if that was the authors plan. Good job!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an ARC of this book. This review is all my personal opinion.
This may be one of the hardest books I have had to review. Because I finished it in one sitting. But I still can't tell you if I loved or hated it. The writing was short, easy to follow and left you engaged. The switch between the then and the now was easy to follow and didn't leave you confused. The FMC was unlikeable and likeable all at once. Because we can all relate ( even as an adult) to those feelings of being lost in your self. Where the uncertainty comes in is that I feel like there was too much unsaid and left to the reader to decide. I understand with the ending- "Was it real or in July's head" being in full Inception style. but the rest- how we got to this point.. Is still a little blurry and I can't tell if that was intentional or not. Did Ella die on the jump and that is what sent July into her state? Is she depressed just because Alex doesn't want to date her now, Sam broke her heart and Sydney went full mean girl? Was it a combination of all of those things? I still feel confused on what happened in the Once and what caused July to get to this point real or not. I feel like this maybe a book that needs a second read since I now know what to be looking for. And if that was the authors plan. Good job!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an ARC of this book. This review is all my personal opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2024
I’m extremely confused
June 8, 2023
This is a book by Ally Condie, but a different type of vibe. The chapters are incredibly short and verse-like almost jarring. There is a high emotional stress strung throughout the story. As you get closer and closer to the end what you begin to realize is nothing is as it seems. When July wakes up, everyone she knows and loves is gone.
As she moves throughout her town looking for other survivors she is struck that there are some things she needs to remember that happened before she work up alone. Join July in this poetic story of loneliness as she tries to get to the bottom of this nightmare! #Penguin #TheOnlygirlintown #AllyCondie
As she moves throughout her town looking for other survivors she is struck that there are some things she needs to remember that happened before she work up alone. Join July in this poetic story of loneliness as she tries to get to the bottom of this nightmare! #Penguin #TheOnlygirlintown #AllyCondie
December 7, 2023
I truly was expecting this to be some kind of post apocalypse/fantasy/dystopian something...and it was....not.
September 19, 2023
Nothing more fulfilling than reading a book that throughput is 4⭐️ and when you near the end you think if it goes one way it’ll have to go down to 3⭐️ but then it goes a complete opposite way, makes you shiver and tear up and you can’t help but give it 5⭐️
The book kept me engaged and on my toes but not freaked out, and I feel anyone who’s ever been depressed or felt alone can highly relate to the story and what July is going through in each page. This book is so much deeper than it looks, I guess going in blindly as I usually do I was simply expecting a psychological thriller, perhaps post apocalyptic, but instead it was lyrical and full of metaphors and it was such an amazing realization to have, I definitely recommend it.
If you enjoyed we were liars you would love this one, but if you didn’t (like me 🙈) I think you would love it just as much. This is a coming of age story that deals with grief and mental health in anachronic short chapters (honestly if you love short chapters this is your book), and to top it all up: there’s a cat.
But as always: take care of yourself and read the trigger warnings.
October 24, 2023
2.5⭐. The whole time I thought this was going to culminate in a twist or surprise ending but instead we really got nothing at the end. I am still a bit confused about it all. Also, this was a young adult book so I realize we are dealing with high school aged characters but some of them were annoying without any explanation as to why. The short chapters and dual timeline helped get me through this book.
December 19, 2023
I *just* put this book down.
After getting to the last page, I found myself re-reading the last 10 pages or so, in case I missed some vital clue that would make the ending make sense.
But it wasn't there.
Ok, first of all, I was expecting more of an end times, post apocalyptic situation- and that's not at all what this book is. That's okay! I was just in the mindset of something else.
It's not a bad book?
I'm just left feeling.........
Unsatisfied?
After getting to the last page, I found myself re-reading the last 10 pages or so, in case I missed some vital clue that would make the ending make sense.
But it wasn't there.
Ok, first of all, I was expecting more of an end times, post apocalyptic situation- and that's not at all what this book is. That's okay! I was just in the mindset of something else.
It's not a bad book?
I'm just left feeling.........
Unsatisfied?
January 16, 2024
I read this entire thing in one afternoon. Maybe it was because of the short chapters or this being one of my most anticipated reads by one of my favorite authors, but I like to think that it was the premise that kept me hooked.
I can't say much without giving things away, but I'll try my best.
- The single-character cast absolutely worked.
- July was so relatable, which I'm not sure is a good thing for me, lol.
- THIS is why I read YA.
- The themes were deeper than the lake in this book.
- I've never loved a cat this much.
- The ending was unsatisfactory, and I loved it?!!
- Read this book.
CW: kissing.
I can't say much without giving things away, but I'll try my best.
- The single-character cast absolutely worked.
- July was so relatable, which I'm not sure is a good thing for me, lol.
- THIS is why I read YA.
- The themes were deeper than the lake in this book.
- I've never loved a cat this much.
- The ending was unsatisfactory, and I loved it?!!
- Read this book.
CW: kissing.
August 11, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for the arc.
I have so many issues with this book. One is that it needs trigger warnings BIG ONES.
Tw: suicidal thoughts, there’s probably more but words are hard because this book upset me. The use of “loneliness” to describe depression. I understand that this was meant to be a art depiction of mental health. But you need to warn readers of the subject matter.
Second off this book is told in dual timelines, maybe not cut them off so suddenly. Most of the book just stops abruptly before changing and it really annoying to read.
I have so many issues with this book. One is that it needs trigger warnings BIG ONES.
Tw: suicidal thoughts, there’s probably more but words are hard because this book upset me. The use of “loneliness” to describe depression. I understand that this was meant to be a art depiction of mental health. But you need to warn readers of the subject matter.
Second off this book is told in dual timelines, maybe not cut them off so suddenly. Most of the book just stops abruptly before changing and it really annoying to read.
June 2, 2023
This is not at all what I expected but it was everything. It was intense and beautiful and I couldn’t breathe until I finished. She is such a talented writer and this gave me a lot of feelings about things that I will think about for a long time. Love, friendship, loneliness, helplessness, death. I think the story and the ending could be interpreted a few different ways and none of them are wrong.
March 14, 2024
brother what
April 13, 2024
Loved it till the last couple of pages.
July 12, 2024
⋆ .*. ☄ the only girl in town ☄. *. ⋆
✶ ⊹ ·
˚ * . ✶
* * ⋆ .
· ⋆ ˚ ˚ ˚ *
⋆ · *
✶ · ✶ ·₊⊹
·₊⊹
spoiler hidden behind spoiler tag
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ I think I loved this. It was everything I expected it to be, but also very different. I picked this up because I saw it was labeled lyrical writing, and that is my all time favorite type of book. Not only was it written just perfectly, but it was also so so addictive. It wasn't only just a sad collection of poems strung together to make a story, but a thriller. I read it primarily at night, and I definitely got the creeps, and I loved that combination..
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ While reading it reminded me a ton of a few different things. Firstly, my favorite book of all time, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It had the same writing style and spaced out words and quotes that dig into your soul. I underlined so many passages it's crazy. It also had a really unique element of summer coming of age, but not in the way you are thinking. The only book I can think to describe this is this collection of short stories written by a ton of authors called Summer Days and Summer Nights. It is sort of a sad, lonely, eerie summer feeling. The plot however reminds me a ton of this netflix series I watched ages ago called The Society. The premise was pretty similar, but it was all the parents disappearing leaving the kids behind. Oh it also weirdly reminded me of Five Survive by Holly Jackson, I think because it had that same addicting element like you can’t put it down to save your life.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ I absolutely adored the ultra short chapters, I think it reflected the way July’s mind was working so so well, and it made it so easy to binge. It also switched from present to past every other chapter or so and I loved the way that was done too, it was really seamless and easy to keep up with each storyline simultaneously. I actually just loved everything about this writing wise, it was so beautiful and poetic. Like truly, I underlined 18 passages. It was just stunning. The chapters with her therapist were my absolute favorites, I just love how those were written, especially with the spaces to show silence I could just feel everything.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ The ending honestly rattled me so much, I was clinging on for dear life and just when I thought I had everything figured out I was so wrong.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Here are some of my favorite quotes. My review would be way too long if I typed them all, so I’ll just give you the ones I love the most right now.
✧ “Wrap myself up in a blanket and lie on the floor and tell yourself, ‘I don't have to do anything. I don't have to go anywhere. I don't have to be anyone. I am just a person in a blanket on the floor.’”
✧ “When did you get that shirt?
When did you cut your hair?
When did things start to change between us?
When did we decide to leave each other behind?”
✧ “‘May’ my mom would say, laughing. ‘You could never be named May.’
It’s pretty enough, she would say. But you are July. You are fireworks and summer and thunderstorms. A scatter of start in the sky. The smoke from a bonfire.
May is the word you use when you’re asking permission, she said. You have never waited to ask permission.”
✧ “‘I wont again,’ she said.
I believed her.
There was glass in my hair.
It glittered.”
✧ “Please.
Can’t this be enough?
These words?
I mean them with all of my heart.”
✧ “It’s heartbreaking when someone actually, truly, deeply wants to be the right person for you. To be there for you. And they’re a good person, and maybe they could be, could have been the right person, but you have become so wrong, such a wrong person, that it doesn't even matter anymore.”
✧ “I was not a person. I was pain in skin.”
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ It is kind of hard to find words, I feel like this is a story I didn't read, I just absorbed. Like very little detail is laid out all on the table, I can see everything, and I just want to say “yes.” It feels a bit like a fever dream, something I look for in books. I love feeling sad, and hurt, and uncomfortable, and hazy, and like you just witnessed something important but can’t remember all at once. This is definitely not a book for everyone, but the people it is for will treasure it.
✶ ⊹ ·
˚ * . ✶
* * ⋆ .
· ⋆ ˚ ˚ ˚ *
⋆ · *
✶ · ✶ ·₊⊹
·₊⊹
spoiler hidden behind spoiler tag
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ I think I loved this. It was everything I expected it to be, but also very different. I picked this up because I saw it was labeled lyrical writing, and that is my all time favorite type of book. Not only was it written just perfectly, but it was also so so addictive. It wasn't only just a sad collection of poems strung together to make a story, but a thriller. I read it primarily at night, and I definitely got the creeps, and I loved that combination..
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ While reading it reminded me a ton of a few different things. Firstly, my favorite book of all time, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It had the same writing style and spaced out words and quotes that dig into your soul. I underlined so many passages it's crazy. It also had a really unique element of summer coming of age, but not in the way you are thinking. The only book I can think to describe this is this collection of short stories written by a ton of authors called Summer Days and Summer Nights. It is sort of a sad, lonely, eerie summer feeling. The plot however reminds me a ton of this netflix series I watched ages ago called The Society. The premise was pretty similar, but it was all the parents disappearing leaving the kids behind. Oh it also weirdly reminded me of Five Survive by Holly Jackson, I think because it had that same addicting element like you can’t put it down to save your life.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ I absolutely adored the ultra short chapters, I think it reflected the way July’s mind was working so so well, and it made it so easy to binge. It also switched from present to past every other chapter or so and I loved the way that was done too, it was really seamless and easy to keep up with each storyline simultaneously. I actually just loved everything about this writing wise, it was so beautiful and poetic. Like truly, I underlined 18 passages. It was just stunning. The chapters with her therapist were my absolute favorites, I just love how those were written, especially with the spaces to show silence I could just feel everything.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ The ending honestly rattled me so much, I was clinging on for dear life and just when I thought I had everything figured out I was so wrong.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Here are some of my favorite quotes. My review would be way too long if I typed them all, so I’ll just give you the ones I love the most right now.
✧ “Wrap myself up in a blanket and lie on the floor and tell yourself, ‘I don't have to do anything. I don't have to go anywhere. I don't have to be anyone. I am just a person in a blanket on the floor.’”
✧ “When did you get that shirt?
When did you cut your hair?
When did things start to change between us?
When did we decide to leave each other behind?”
✧ “‘May’ my mom would say, laughing. ‘You could never be named May.’
It’s pretty enough, she would say. But you are July. You are fireworks and summer and thunderstorms. A scatter of start in the sky. The smoke from a bonfire.
May is the word you use when you’re asking permission, she said. You have never waited to ask permission.”
✧ “‘I wont again,’ she said.
I believed her.
There was glass in my hair.
It glittered.”
✧ “Please.
Can’t this be enough?
These words?
I mean them with all of my heart.”
✧ “It’s heartbreaking when someone actually, truly, deeply wants to be the right person for you. To be there for you. And they’re a good person, and maybe they could be, could have been the right person, but you have become so wrong, such a wrong person, that it doesn't even matter anymore.”
✧ “I was not a person. I was pain in skin.”
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ It is kind of hard to find words, I feel like this is a story I didn't read, I just absorbed. Like very little detail is laid out all on the table, I can see everything, and I just want to say “yes.” It feels a bit like a fever dream, something I look for in books. I love feeling sad, and hurt, and uncomfortable, and hazy, and like you just witnessed something important but can’t remember all at once. This is definitely not a book for everyone, but the people it is for will treasure it.
May 12, 2024
„But the deepest truth about running is that, when you run truly alone, it is not a race, it is not a story. IT IS YOU.”
No words.This story healed me and showed me that I am not alone. It deserves a lot of attention❤️.
Mam ogromną nadzieję, że książka zostanie przetłumaczona i wydana w Polsce…🙏🏻
To trzeba przeżyć.
“It’s hard to hear someone fall if they don’t scream.
But you hear when they hit what’s below.”
Hit hard.
No words.This story healed me and showed me that I am not alone. It deserves a lot of attention❤️.
Mam ogromną nadzieję, że książka zostanie przetłumaczona i wydana w Polsce…🙏🏻
To trzeba przeżyć.
“It’s hard to hear someone fall if they don’t scream.
But you hear when they hit what’s below.”
Hit hard.
December 8, 2023
This book is an embodiment of melancholy and sorrowing nostalgia. I was absolutely violently sobbing at one point and literally couldn’t even read through the tears. This book is just this heavy, familiar feeling that you can’t shake. This is not a book, this is poetry. Ally Condie stays at the very top of my author list for sure 😭
September 27, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for the pre-published copy for an honest review. This is a young adult book that deals with depression and loneliness. It's written with short chapters going from present to events leading up to present. I really enjoyed it, I couldn't put it down. The ending was somewhat confusing as others have stated so I reread the last few chapters and it became clearer what happened to the main character. It had several twists right up until the end
December 6, 2023
no. just no.
i liked it in the beginning but then the last 100 pages was just a really unnecessary drawn out ending. i have little patience for books like these.
i liked it in the beginning but then the last 100 pages was just a really unnecessary drawn out ending. i have little patience for books like these.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews