Booksblabbering || Cait❣️'s Reviews > Catch the Sun

This read like a plot based around trying to fit in a combination of tumblr posts and inspirational quotes.
This SHOULD NOT be YA.

Max and Ella are childhood friends who are torn apart when Ella’s father takes her away to live with him. Years later, Ella returns to their small town, now as a "social outcast" because the brother she idolised is on death row for murdering his girlfriend and the boy she was with.

Obviously, Max doesn’t care about this and they rekindle their bond, seeking solace in her company whilst also taking care of his twin and his depressed alcoholic father.

This was supposed to gut me emotionally, yet I never felt attached to the characters or their plights. They didn’t feel mature, yet weirdly they simultaneously did not feel young enough at times.

This was just very boring and I felt like nothing happened. I am so sorry, but this is my second book by Hartman and I don’t think she is for me.

I rarely give one star - I think I’ve done it once. However, I just feel so strongly against this being marketed as YA.⭐️
Slight spoilers but this is why it just made me feel really icky:
This is marketed as young adult but there are explicit sex scenes, attempted murder on page and attempted rape/sexual assault on page.
This is worse than many adult books I have read….

The one perk was the Winnie the Pooh references - I found that cute. Although, I notice many other reviewers did not!

I know this is many people’s favourite and I know this will make me public enemy no.1 with some. I’m sorry🫣

Bookstagram