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The Memory Jar
Since the accident, Taylor’s memory has been fuzzy. But at least she’s awake. Who knows what her boyfriend, Scott, will remember when he comes out of his coma. Will he remember that Taylor was driving the snowmobile when it crashed? Will he remember the engagement ring? Her pregnancy?
Will he remember that she tried to break up with him?
Taylor doesn’t know. And she doesn’t know if she wants him to remember. Plenty of things happened that night and before—secrets wrapped in secrets—that she’d prefer be forgotten.
Facing choices she’d rather ignore, Taylor searches for something more solid than whispers and something bigger than blame, so that she can face the future and forgive herself.
Will he remember that she tried to break up with him?
Taylor doesn’t know. And she doesn’t know if she wants him to remember. Plenty of things happened that night and before—secrets wrapped in secrets—that she’d prefer be forgotten.
Facing choices she’d rather ignore, Taylor searches for something more solid than whispers and something bigger than blame, so that she can face the future and forgive herself.
312 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2016
25 people are currently reading
663 people want to read
About the author
Elissa Janine Hoole
3 books65 followersI'm a YA writer, teacher, and incorrigible daydreamer. Author of KISS THE MORNING STAR (2012), SOMETIMES NEVER, SOMETIMES ALWAYS (2013), and THE MEMORY JAR coming winter 2016 from flux.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
January 28, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Flux and NetGalley.)
This was a bit of a jumpy story about a boy in a coma, and his pregnant girlfriend.
Taylor came across as a bit lost in this story; she didn’t know what had caused the accident that had landed her boyfriend in a coma, and she really didn’t know what to do about her unplanned pregnancy.
The storyline in this was really jumpy. Every couple of paragraphs the story jumped from ‘then’ to ‘now’, and then back again and again and again. I don’t have a problem with books which are told in alternating past and present, but this was just ridiculous. It jumped so frequently I almost got whiplash, and the lack of chapters was a bit irritating too. Otherwise I did want to find out what had happened to cause Scott to end up in a coma, and what Taylor would do about her pregnancy, but the jumping detracted from the storyline a bit too much.
The ending to this was okay, and I was pleased that the two major questions were answered. Overall though, this book could have done with fewer jumps from past to present.
6.25 out of 10
“I can’t remember.
Or maybe I won’t remember.”
This was a bit of a jumpy story about a boy in a coma, and his pregnant girlfriend.
Taylor came across as a bit lost in this story; she didn’t know what had caused the accident that had landed her boyfriend in a coma, and she really didn’t know what to do about her unplanned pregnancy.
The storyline in this was really jumpy. Every couple of paragraphs the story jumped from ‘then’ to ‘now’, and then back again and again and again. I don’t have a problem with books which are told in alternating past and present, but this was just ridiculous. It jumped so frequently I almost got whiplash, and the lack of chapters was a bit irritating too. Otherwise I did want to find out what had happened to cause Scott to end up in a coma, and what Taylor would do about her pregnancy, but the jumping detracted from the storyline a bit too much.
The ending to this was okay, and I was pleased that the two major questions were answered. Overall though, this book could have done with fewer jumps from past to present.
6.25 out of 10
February 6, 2017
2.5 Stars...
This book was kind of like one of those really dramatic soap shows where you know it's not necessarily "good" but it does completely reel you in. I'll admit that this book absolutely reeled me in. I was interested in finding out what was going to happen and what happened in the accident. Like a crazy overly dramatic soap, this book goes where you don't expect it to go and not in a "oh my god, WHAT? AMAZING" way but more like a "ok, what the hell is even happening? How did we jump from there to here?" way. I guessed how some of it would turn out, but other parts were so beyond crazy and random that I couldn't have guessed it.
The story itself was all over the place. We have a hundred things at play and instead of being this complex web of a story, it's just a muddled mess to read. We could have taken away some of those layers and have been left with the same story (minus some confusion), so a lot of the elements weren't necessary. Also, because there were so many elements, a lot of them weren't fleshed out enough and instead of elaborating on these things at the end, we got a very rushed ending with a pretty little bow on the story. The ending was a big let-down for me to be honest. The revelations were so anticlimactic, the whole thing was rushed and the author gave the book a relatively happy ending when I'm not sure if that was what was right for this book. The characters also felt like cardboard cutouts rather than actual authentic characters, for example Taylor's best friend Dani added nothing to the story except for the typical "best friend" cardboard cutout. Every other character apart from Taylor was so one-dimensional and Taylor wasn't a strong enough character to carry them all.
The writing was okay. It was quite simple and it did sound like a 17 year old was telling the story for the most part BUT in the Then sections of the novel where Taylor is telling stories about the past, it sounded so off. Who really tells stories like that to people? I get she wanted to be a poet but I wasn't buying it. The Then sections also slightly annoyed me because they were inconsistent in the way they were told but that just irked me because I'm weird like that.
I feel like I did just bash the whole book in my review but there were things I did like about it. Mainly I liked how entertaining it was and I liked how the book dealt with Taylor's thoughts on teen pregnancy and abortion, etc but at the end of the day, the teen pregnancy thing just got smothered by all of the other unnecessary twists and turns. I also liked the short snappy chapters. Sometimes it's nice to read books that have short chapters.
I would not recommend this and I would possibly read another book by Elissa Janine Hoole in the future.
* I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I like weather that reminds me how lucky I am to have shelter.”
“Then he’d be like “I love you, Taylor,” and it was all perfect, like the earth rotated only for our sakes.”
“It’s not much fun to see adults as humans—as people with the same issues we have—instead of heroes or villains. It means getting way too close to being grown-up.”
“What is it that makes everyone in the world feel like the instant two cells stick together inside my uterus, they all should have more say in what happens inside my body than I should?”
“You kids think you’re invincible, that you have this grand life stretching out ahead of you like an empty page. A book you’ll fill in later, when you have time to slow down. Your life is now, kid. Your life is here, and it can change on a dime.”
This book was kind of like one of those really dramatic soap shows where you know it's not necessarily "good" but it does completely reel you in. I'll admit that this book absolutely reeled me in. I was interested in finding out what was going to happen and what happened in the accident. Like a crazy overly dramatic soap, this book goes where you don't expect it to go and not in a "oh my god, WHAT? AMAZING" way but more like a "ok, what the hell is even happening? How did we jump from there to here?" way. I guessed how some of it would turn out, but other parts were so beyond crazy and random that I couldn't have guessed it.
The story itself was all over the place. We have a hundred things at play and instead of being this complex web of a story, it's just a muddled mess to read. We could have taken away some of those layers and have been left with the same story (minus some confusion), so a lot of the elements weren't necessary. Also, because there were so many elements, a lot of them weren't fleshed out enough and instead of elaborating on these things at the end, we got a very rushed ending with a pretty little bow on the story. The ending was a big let-down for me to be honest. The revelations were so anticlimactic, the whole thing was rushed and the author gave the book a relatively happy ending when I'm not sure if that was what was right for this book. The characters also felt like cardboard cutouts rather than actual authentic characters, for example Taylor's best friend Dani added nothing to the story except for the typical "best friend" cardboard cutout. Every other character apart from Taylor was so one-dimensional and Taylor wasn't a strong enough character to carry them all.
The writing was okay. It was quite simple and it did sound like a 17 year old was telling the story for the most part BUT in the Then sections of the novel where Taylor is telling stories about the past, it sounded so off. Who really tells stories like that to people? I get she wanted to be a poet but I wasn't buying it. The Then sections also slightly annoyed me because they were inconsistent in the way they were told but that just irked me because I'm weird like that.
I feel like I did just bash the whole book in my review but there were things I did like about it. Mainly I liked how entertaining it was and I liked how the book dealt with Taylor's thoughts on teen pregnancy and abortion, etc but at the end of the day, the teen pregnancy thing just got smothered by all of the other unnecessary twists and turns. I also liked the short snappy chapters. Sometimes it's nice to read books that have short chapters.
I would not recommend this and I would possibly read another book by Elissa Janine Hoole in the future.
* I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I like weather that reminds me how lucky I am to have shelter.”
“Then he’d be like “I love you, Taylor,” and it was all perfect, like the earth rotated only for our sakes.”
“It’s not much fun to see adults as humans—as people with the same issues we have—instead of heroes or villains. It means getting way too close to being grown-up.”
“What is it that makes everyone in the world feel like the instant two cells stick together inside my uterus, they all should have more say in what happens inside my body than I should?”
“You kids think you’re invincible, that you have this grand life stretching out ahead of you like an empty page. A book you’ll fill in later, when you have time to slow down. Your life is now, kid. Your life is here, and it can change on a dime.”
April 30, 2015
Heartbreaking and thought-provoking. I loved this book!
March 3, 2016
Thank you to the Publisher/Author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this book I really did but it just wasn't for me.
Taylor's a young girl who finds herself young and pregnant with her long-term boyfriend, both of them are young, her at high school him at college and it just seems one big mess. One night when they are out discussing it they have an accident which puts him in a coma and leaves her in the situation of dealing with this on her own.
I couldn't click with any of the characters, no one stood out to me and I found myself skim reading it just to see where it was going to go. I can understand why some people would love this kind of book it just isn't for me sadly! It jumps around from present to past and it made me feel dizzy with what the plot was actually about.
At the end I felt a little twinge, but it left me with a lot of question like what the hell really went on with Kendell? If you can leave a story with lots of unanswered questions kudos to you!! I for one can't arghh!!!
Yeah so anyway, always make sure you use protection properly kids.
I wanted to love this book I really did but it just wasn't for me.
Taylor's a young girl who finds herself young and pregnant with her long-term boyfriend, both of them are young, her at high school him at college and it just seems one big mess. One night when they are out discussing it they have an accident which puts him in a coma and leaves her in the situation of dealing with this on her own.
I couldn't click with any of the characters, no one stood out to me and I found myself skim reading it just to see where it was going to go. I can understand why some people would love this kind of book it just isn't for me sadly! It jumps around from present to past and it made me feel dizzy with what the plot was actually about.
At the end I felt a little twinge, but it left me with a lot of question like what the hell really went on with Kendell? If you can leave a story with lots of unanswered questions kudos to you!! I for one can't arghh!!!
Yeah so anyway, always make sure you use protection properly kids.
January 28, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
I found the start of this confusing, as the book switched from "Then" and "Now" every chapter or two. It got less confusing as the story went on, but the whole thing still felt quite jumpy because of it.
This wasn't a bad read, but the pacing was so slow for me that the book felt like it went on forever, so there were times where I felt bored because of that.
Overall, An okay read, but it dragged quite badly.
I found the start of this confusing, as the book switched from "Then" and "Now" every chapter or two. It got less confusing as the story went on, but the whole thing still felt quite jumpy because of it.
This wasn't a bad read, but the pacing was so slow for me that the book felt like it went on forever, so there were times where I felt bored because of that.
Overall, An okay read, but it dragged quite badly.
August 25, 2017
Actual rating 2.5 stars
I feel like this is a case of it's not the book, it's me. While I didn't enjoy it that much, this could really help/affect someone else.
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Flux via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Critically
Plot – 3 out of 5 stars
Unfortunately, the plot of this book was really confusing to me. The narration is really personal, the thought process of the main character, and that in particular is very up and down, indecisive. The main conflict is really drawn out and a lot of things make it unnecessarily complicated. It’s really emotional and sometimes hard to stomach, but at the same time, there’s inconsistencies that push you out of the intensity. It was intriguing in the beginning, and it kept my attention for the most part, but there was too much going on for me to feel a connection.
Writing Style – 3 out of 5 stars
The biggest complaint I have about the writing style is that it suffers from “Telling not Showing” syndrome. It got really annoying after awhile listening to the main character just talk and talk and talk, kind of like constant diary entries of her life, instead of seeing some actions. Though, I think that was done on purpose to support the format. There’s no chapters, just Now and Then sections. It’s all over the place because of that but it is poetic at times.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
This was also one of the hardest parts of this book for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. They were all really complex and intricate but it kind of felt like too much sometimes. They was too much conflict and too much drama and too much emotion to really connect on a deep level. The main character Taylor really turned me off. She was a really unreliable narrator. She’s naive and vulnerable. But also really dramatic, annoying and indecisive and confused. I didn’t really know what to make of her. I didn’t believe her sometimes because of how overwhelming the situation is and it makes her very jaded. There was also a plethora of characters that I don’t really understand what they were there for. Some just seemed like stand ins just because and others had a really strange presence overall that actually made me quite uncomfortable. It’s really sad because I feel like this could’ve been a book to pack a punch, but it did nothing for me.
Emotionally
I feel like this is a case of it's not the book, it's me. While I didn't enjoy it that much, this could really help/affect someone else.
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Flux via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Critically
Plot – 3 out of 5 stars
Unfortunately, the plot of this book was really confusing to me. The narration is really personal, the thought process of the main character, and that in particular is very up and down, indecisive. The main conflict is really drawn out and a lot of things make it unnecessarily complicated. It’s really emotional and sometimes hard to stomach, but at the same time, there’s inconsistencies that push you out of the intensity. It was intriguing in the beginning, and it kept my attention for the most part, but there was too much going on for me to feel a connection.
Writing Style – 3 out of 5 stars
The biggest complaint I have about the writing style is that it suffers from “Telling not Showing” syndrome. It got really annoying after awhile listening to the main character just talk and talk and talk, kind of like constant diary entries of her life, instead of seeing some actions. Though, I think that was done on purpose to support the format. There’s no chapters, just Now and Then sections. It’s all over the place because of that but it is poetic at times.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
This was also one of the hardest parts of this book for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. They were all really complex and intricate but it kind of felt like too much sometimes. They was too much conflict and too much drama and too much emotion to really connect on a deep level. The main character Taylor really turned me off. She was a really unreliable narrator. She’s naive and vulnerable. But also really dramatic, annoying and indecisive and confused. I didn’t really know what to make of her. I didn’t believe her sometimes because of how overwhelming the situation is and it makes her very jaded. There was also a plethora of characters that I don’t really understand what they were there for. Some just seemed like stand ins just because and others had a really strange presence overall that actually made me quite uncomfortable. It’s really sad because I feel like this could’ve been a book to pack a punch, but it did nothing for me.
Emotionally
April 3, 2016
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
** I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
Taylor is a teenage girl who was in an accident on a snowmobile with her boyfriend. He is in a coma and she can't remember what happened. All she knows is that she is pregnant, she was going to break up with him and she has an engagement ring.
This book was a struggle for me. The synopsis sounded so good but the delivery was less than ideal. The story went back and forth between now and then and normally I really like when a book does that. It kind of failed with The Memory Jar though. It was really chaotic and the flow was really scattered. Not only was the flow off kilter but I found that there were many rabbit trails in the story that were irrelevant and unnecessary to the plot. It made for page skimming on more than one occasion.
I couldn't connect with Taylor and found her a little unlikeable. Even with all that she was going through I couldn't relate to her and I had a hard time finding my empathy. I definitely felt for the situation she was in but didn't really care enough about her to really care what the outcome would be. My feelings and emotions got lost in the chaos.
I feel like this may be a book that doesn't carry to all ages and that perhaps younger fans of YA will enjoy it more than older fans.
** I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
Taylor is a teenage girl who was in an accident on a snowmobile with her boyfriend. He is in a coma and she can't remember what happened. All she knows is that she is pregnant, she was going to break up with him and she has an engagement ring.
This book was a struggle for me. The synopsis sounded so good but the delivery was less than ideal. The story went back and forth between now and then and normally I really like when a book does that. It kind of failed with The Memory Jar though. It was really chaotic and the flow was really scattered. Not only was the flow off kilter but I found that there were many rabbit trails in the story that were irrelevant and unnecessary to the plot. It made for page skimming on more than one occasion.
I couldn't connect with Taylor and found her a little unlikeable. Even with all that she was going through I couldn't relate to her and I had a hard time finding my empathy. I definitely felt for the situation she was in but didn't really care enough about her to really care what the outcome would be. My feelings and emotions got lost in the chaos.
I feel like this may be a book that doesn't carry to all ages and that perhaps younger fans of YA will enjoy it more than older fans.
November 22, 2015
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Memory Jar is a tale of remembering and forgiving, of discovering and renewing. Taylor can’t remember anything about the snowmobile crash that left her boyfriend in a coma, except for the sickening crunch and the worry deep in her stomach that everything might be her fault. She deals with her own secrets and grief, and slowly learns to share pieces of herself in an effort to uncover the lost memories. As she fills her Memory Jar with slips of stories, she learns to accept the truth and its consequences.
I’ve been excited since I first heard Hoole would release a third book. I read and loved Kiss the Morning Star and Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always, and I think that if I had to choose an author soulmate, it’d be her. She has an amazing grasp of the teenage voice, from its poetry to its rawness, and her characters are honest and complex. The Memory Jar, though less playful than her other two novels, does not disappoint. Taylor’s voice is strong and real, and the consistency is amazing.
Here’s what I mean.
Honestly, I didn’t like Taylor. She annoyed me at first, and then I pitied her some. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug and tell her that everything would get better if she would just communicate. And yet, despite urging from her best friend Dani, her boyfriend’s brother Joey, and her boyfriend’s family, she keeps a lot of things inside, and they eat away at her. It is frustrating to watch.
However, it is frustrating in the same way that watching a family member live through trauma is frustrating (and heartbreaking). Taylor feels so real – like a real person whom I disagree with, but still love. That is an amazing experience for me as a reader. I love the supporting cast, too – Joey, Dani, and even Taylor’s mom, who gives me all kinds of feelings.
The Memory Jar has no easy answers. There’s no cut-and-dry love or hate or hope or loss – all of the choices and emotions are wrapped up in each other.
I will definitely purchase this for my high school classroom library, and recommend it for readers who enjoyed Speak or If I Stay.
The Memory Jar is a tale of remembering and forgiving, of discovering and renewing. Taylor can’t remember anything about the snowmobile crash that left her boyfriend in a coma, except for the sickening crunch and the worry deep in her stomach that everything might be her fault. She deals with her own secrets and grief, and slowly learns to share pieces of herself in an effort to uncover the lost memories. As she fills her Memory Jar with slips of stories, she learns to accept the truth and its consequences.
I’ve been excited since I first heard Hoole would release a third book. I read and loved Kiss the Morning Star and Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always, and I think that if I had to choose an author soulmate, it’d be her. She has an amazing grasp of the teenage voice, from its poetry to its rawness, and her characters are honest and complex. The Memory Jar, though less playful than her other two novels, does not disappoint. Taylor’s voice is strong and real, and the consistency is amazing.
Here’s what I mean.
Honestly, I didn’t like Taylor. She annoyed me at first, and then I pitied her some. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug and tell her that everything would get better if she would just communicate. And yet, despite urging from her best friend Dani, her boyfriend’s brother Joey, and her boyfriend’s family, she keeps a lot of things inside, and they eat away at her. It is frustrating to watch.
However, it is frustrating in the same way that watching a family member live through trauma is frustrating (and heartbreaking). Taylor feels so real – like a real person whom I disagree with, but still love. That is an amazing experience for me as a reader. I love the supporting cast, too – Joey, Dani, and even Taylor’s mom, who gives me all kinds of feelings.
The Memory Jar has no easy answers. There’s no cut-and-dry love or hate or hope or loss – all of the choices and emotions are wrapped up in each other.
I will definitely purchase this for my high school classroom library, and recommend it for readers who enjoyed Speak or If I Stay.
January 15, 2016
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first ARC. I was expecting something like this:
But instead, I got this:
Elissa Janine Hoole was not afraid to make these characters real. All too often, everything goes swimmingly in books about teen pregnancy. There were very few things that went swimmingly in The Memory Jar. But it was real. People were angry. People were sad. People were confused and just didn't know. But that's real life, dude. Not everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow, and when books do that, it somehow cheapens and negates the reader's own experience. We appreciate books and characters where we really see ourselves and where we see that other people have the same despair, agony, anguish, and self-loathing that we can sometimes feel. That's real life.
The Memory Jar's protagonist is Taylor, a 17 year old girl whose boyfriend Scott is comatose from an accident or deliberate event with an mysterious cause that is the central topic of the book. She also happens to be pregnant with his child. There is another cast of supporting characters: Taylor's mom, Scott's brother Joey, Taylor's best friend Dani, and Kendall. GOD PLEASE NO KENDALL JUST GO AWAY.
The book is written in mostly Taylor's voice, but also includes voices from a few other characters, not unlike Me Before You. Unlike Me Before You, it also jumps from "Now" and "Then" time frames, "Then" being around the time of the accident, and "Now" being post-accident. The voice is frustrated, angry, and powerless. I felt like I needed to go and give Taylor a long hug and a non-alcoholic cocktail. Taylor also wanted to be a poet, so there are a few passages that are written in verse, but it's not the cheap, pretend-verse that is really just a bunch of simple sentences chopped up with extra punctuation. The verse really enhanced the book, which I feel is rare in YA. The non-verse writing was lyrical but also simple, allowing me to really get into the characters' brain muck.
I am a grad student in psych, and I also work in the mental health field. I am extremely critical of how counselors and the therapy process are portrayed in books. This was amazing, realistic, and framed therapy in a positive, but not pushy, light. The memory jar referred to in the title of the book is actually a therapeutic tool that Taylor's therapist, Celeste, uses, and is also a method of narration.
There was a pretty crazy, unexpected plot twist around 75% of the way through the book, when I thought everything was going swimmingly, but really it was more like this:
I would be happy to pick this book up when it is published later this year. It was thought-provoking, touching, controversial, but most importantly, genuine and unafraid.
This was my first ARC. I was expecting something like this:
But instead, I got this:
Elissa Janine Hoole was not afraid to make these characters real. All too often, everything goes swimmingly in books about teen pregnancy. There were very few things that went swimmingly in The Memory Jar. But it was real. People were angry. People were sad. People were confused and just didn't know. But that's real life, dude. Not everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow, and when books do that, it somehow cheapens and negates the reader's own experience. We appreciate books and characters where we really see ourselves and where we see that other people have the same despair, agony, anguish, and self-loathing that we can sometimes feel. That's real life.
The Memory Jar's protagonist is Taylor, a 17 year old girl whose boyfriend Scott is comatose from an accident or deliberate event with an mysterious cause that is the central topic of the book. She also happens to be pregnant with his child. There is another cast of supporting characters: Taylor's mom, Scott's brother Joey, Taylor's best friend Dani, and Kendall. GOD PLEASE NO KENDALL JUST GO AWAY.
The book is written in mostly Taylor's voice, but also includes voices from a few other characters, not unlike Me Before You. Unlike Me Before You, it also jumps from "Now" and "Then" time frames, "Then" being around the time of the accident, and "Now" being post-accident. The voice is frustrated, angry, and powerless. I felt like I needed to go and give Taylor a long hug and a non-alcoholic cocktail. Taylor also wanted to be a poet, so there are a few passages that are written in verse, but it's not the cheap, pretend-verse that is really just a bunch of simple sentences chopped up with extra punctuation. The verse really enhanced the book, which I feel is rare in YA. The non-verse writing was lyrical but also simple, allowing me to really get into the characters' brain muck.
I am a grad student in psych, and I also work in the mental health field. I am extremely critical of how counselors and the therapy process are portrayed in books. This was amazing, realistic, and framed therapy in a positive, but not pushy, light. The memory jar referred to in the title of the book is actually a therapeutic tool that Taylor's therapist, Celeste, uses, and is also a method of narration.
There was a pretty crazy, unexpected plot twist around 75% of the way through the book, when I thought everything was going swimmingly, but really it was more like this:
I would be happy to pick this book up when it is published later this year. It was thought-provoking, touching, controversial, but most importantly, genuine and unafraid.
June 16, 2016
I want to thank NetGalley for the approval to read and review this book. I find it interesting when I saw it on their site so I immediately requested for it.
At first I was confused with the things going on in the book but as I continue reading, little by little I understand the flow of the story. There was too many whys and hows in my head and all of those were answered. What I really can say is that, this book is full of depression, heartaches and guilt. I don't say that it is a bad one actually those are the things that makes the book alive and interesting. As a reader, I was hoping for something good to happen. I was hoping for a better ending.
The character, Taylor is a young woman who was supposed to break up with her boyfriend Scott but they had an accident. Taylor lived, while Scott is currently in comatose. Taylor is pregnant and she is planning to abort the baby, she can't tell her mom about it because the woman who's supposed to look after her has problems on her own. Taylor's life is currently a mess but she is lucky to have Dani, Celeste and Joey with her.
I can't tell if the ending of the story is a happy or not. Maybe for other person's perspective it is a happy ending. For me it is an act of moving on, on looking forward to the future. Taylor's choice was a tough one, it can be a bad one too but then it is her choice, I was hoping for it to change but the story ends already so this question can't leave my head... Was there a change in her decisions? Last minute? Did she end up with Joey? But one thing is for sure here, her relationship with her mother is turning good.
Such a good book but be emotionally ready. This book is like reading a teenager's mind. Like the story is all in her head and it is there in front of you telling you to read and understand. I like how the story was written, the transition between Then and Now is not confusing. The story itself is simple yet full of emotions.
"It's hard to keep a positive attitude about progress sometimes."
"You kids think you're invincible, that you have this grand life stretching out ahead of you like an empty page. A book you'll fill in later, when you have time to slow down. Your life is now, kid. Your life is here and it can change on a dime."
At first I was confused with the things going on in the book but as I continue reading, little by little I understand the flow of the story. There was too many whys and hows in my head and all of those were answered. What I really can say is that, this book is full of depression, heartaches and guilt. I don't say that it is a bad one actually those are the things that makes the book alive and interesting. As a reader, I was hoping for something good to happen. I was hoping for a better ending.
The character, Taylor is a young woman who was supposed to break up with her boyfriend Scott but they had an accident. Taylor lived, while Scott is currently in comatose. Taylor is pregnant and she is planning to abort the baby, she can't tell her mom about it because the woman who's supposed to look after her has problems on her own. Taylor's life is currently a mess but she is lucky to have Dani, Celeste and Joey with her.
I can't tell if the ending of the story is a happy or not. Maybe for other person's perspective it is a happy ending. For me it is an act of moving on, on looking forward to the future. Taylor's choice was a tough one, it can be a bad one too but then it is her choice, I was hoping for it to change but the story ends already so this question can't leave my head... Was there a change in her decisions? Last minute? Did she end up with Joey? But one thing is for sure here, her relationship with her mother is turning good.
Such a good book but be emotionally ready. This book is like reading a teenager's mind. Like the story is all in her head and it is there in front of you telling you to read and understand. I like how the story was written, the transition between Then and Now is not confusing. The story itself is simple yet full of emotions.
"It's hard to keep a positive attitude about progress sometimes."
"You kids think you're invincible, that you have this grand life stretching out ahead of you like an empty page. A book you'll fill in later, when you have time to slow down. Your life is now, kid. Your life is here and it can change on a dime."
Read
March 8, 20162.5 good (enough)
I wanted to read The Memory Jar because it has several of my reading wishlist criteria: pregnancy, memory loss, accidents, and emotions.
The narration goes back and forth between before the accident and after the accident. I'm not really sure how I felt about that time line because it was a little confusing. But I guess that makes sense because both Taylor and her boyfriend have been in that accident and Taylor lost some of her memory while boyfriend still in a coma. as of right now it just seems like Taylor can't remember exactly what happened in the crash. but she's very conflicted about the pregnancy and about the possible engagement and the fact that she had planned to break up with him right before they have their accident.
I like there was family dynamics in this one. Taylor and her mom got along okay but she didn't really trust her mom and talk to her about sex because her mom was always talking about the " sLutty girls" planned pregnancy he close to where she works and that kind of put an end to Taylor wanted to open up to her.
So is his family there very present his brother is very mad at Taylor not really sure why at first but of the story kept playing out in kind of figured that out. Her relationship with him developed too as they waited for him to wake up.
I ended up skimming towards the end because I was confused with the timeline, the thens didn't seem like in the past, and her fragmented memories added to my confusion. There was a character I was blindsided by and didn't think that she added to the plot.
I wanted to finish though and I was mostly okay with it, though I wanted something slightly different.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Bottom Line: Good premise, the timeline bugged me.
I wanted to read The Memory Jar because it has several of my reading wishlist criteria: pregnancy, memory loss, accidents, and emotions.
The narration goes back and forth between before the accident and after the accident. I'm not really sure how I felt about that time line because it was a little confusing. But I guess that makes sense because both Taylor and her boyfriend have been in that accident and Taylor lost some of her memory while boyfriend still in a coma. as of right now it just seems like Taylor can't remember exactly what happened in the crash. but she's very conflicted about the pregnancy and about the possible engagement and the fact that she had planned to break up with him right before they have their accident.
I like there was family dynamics in this one. Taylor and her mom got along okay but she didn't really trust her mom and talk to her about sex because her mom was always talking about the " sLutty girls" planned pregnancy he close to where she works and that kind of put an end to Taylor wanted to open up to her.
So is his family there very present his brother is very mad at Taylor not really sure why at first but of the story kept playing out in kind of figured that out. Her relationship with him developed too as they waited for him to wake up.
I ended up skimming towards the end because I was confused with the timeline, the thens didn't seem like in the past, and her fragmented memories added to my confusion. There was a character I was blindsided by and didn't think that she added to the plot.
I wanted to finish though and I was mostly okay with it, though I wanted something slightly different.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Bottom Line: Good premise, the timeline bugged me.
January 20, 2016
I received a copy of The Memory Jar courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Taylor and Scott have been together for a couple years, but Taylor is in high school still, 17, and Scott is in college. They're from a smaller town in MN, where everyone pretty much knows everyone else and also the business that goes along with them. So when Taylor finds out she is pregnant, she sort of freaks out. She has big plans for herself, to become a poetic cardiologist, not even sure if she wants to stay with Scott. One night on the snowmobile ends in an accident, leaving Taylor with some bruising and stitches, but Scott is in a coma. As she's waiting for him to wake up, she's wrestling with the guilt of what happened and not remembering most of that night. So her shrink gives her a jar, for her to write down her memories as they come to her, and to put them in.
I thought The Memory Jar was sort of refreshing, given the semi sad content. I mean, a knocked up teen considering abortion, while the baby daddy is in a coma? Not too many books I've read that have this dilemma. I liked how it was told in the "then" and "now" format, with the "then" reliving Taylors past thru memories she is telling Scott, hoping to wake him up. The ending felt a little rushed to me, it seemed sort of sudden, but it was still a good resolution.
Taylor and Scott have been together for a couple years, but Taylor is in high school still, 17, and Scott is in college. They're from a smaller town in MN, where everyone pretty much knows everyone else and also the business that goes along with them. So when Taylor finds out she is pregnant, she sort of freaks out. She has big plans for herself, to become a poetic cardiologist, not even sure if she wants to stay with Scott. One night on the snowmobile ends in an accident, leaving Taylor with some bruising and stitches, but Scott is in a coma. As she's waiting for him to wake up, she's wrestling with the guilt of what happened and not remembering most of that night. So her shrink gives her a jar, for her to write down her memories as they come to her, and to put them in.
I thought The Memory Jar was sort of refreshing, given the semi sad content. I mean, a knocked up teen considering abortion, while the baby daddy is in a coma? Not too many books I've read that have this dilemma. I liked how it was told in the "then" and "now" format, with the "then" reliving Taylors past thru memories she is telling Scott, hoping to wake him up. The ending felt a little rushed to me, it seemed sort of sudden, but it was still a good resolution.
March 27, 2016
The Memory Jar by Elissa Janine Hoole is a young adult book that comes out early in April. The story does contain all the angst and confusion of a young adult as they participate in a world that forces them to grow up so quickly.
Taylor and Scott were riding on a snowmobile across the pond. They had just had a hard discussion with many different feelings. There is an accident and both are hurt. Taylor has a concussion, but has little for memories of the accident. Scott is in a coma and has not come into consciousness. Taylor has a couple of secrets on top of all this including the one where she is pregnant. The problem is Taylor is unsure about how the accident happened, how their discussion ended, and if Scott remembers what happened as well.
As with all good stories, there is a back story and the present story line. In this case Elissa Janine Hoole solves sharing this information by having now and then demarcations to help the reader sequence the story. Taylor’s confusion, concussion, and overwhelming sets of emotions should strike a chord with young adults. The adult decisions weighing on her with the accident also will cause a tug of heartstrings.
The Memory Jar by Elissa Janine Hoole is a good book for young adults.
Taylor and Scott were riding on a snowmobile across the pond. They had just had a hard discussion with many different feelings. There is an accident and both are hurt. Taylor has a concussion, but has little for memories of the accident. Scott is in a coma and has not come into consciousness. Taylor has a couple of secrets on top of all this including the one where she is pregnant. The problem is Taylor is unsure about how the accident happened, how their discussion ended, and if Scott remembers what happened as well.
As with all good stories, there is a back story and the present story line. In this case Elissa Janine Hoole solves sharing this information by having now and then demarcations to help the reader sequence the story. Taylor’s confusion, concussion, and overwhelming sets of emotions should strike a chord with young adults. The adult decisions weighing on her with the accident also will cause a tug of heartstrings.
The Memory Jar by Elissa Janine Hoole is a good book for young adults.
September 20, 2016
High school student, Taylor, the daughter of a single, divorced mother who struggles just to get by, has dreams of one day going to college and becoming a poet and a cardiologist, but a snowmobile accident threatens to change all of that. After discovering that she has accidentally become pregnant, Taylor plans to tell Scott, her college-age boyfriend, that she doesn't think it will work out between them, and she isn't really sure she wants a baby. However, the snowmobile accident leaves Scott in a coma and Taylor with no memory of what happened or whether she is responsible.
While Scott's family sits vigil his bedside, Taylor struggles with the questions of whether or not to tell her mother about her pregnancy, what her relationship with Scott really was, and whether or not she is wiling to sacrifice her own dreams in order to raise a baby. The supporting characters, particularly her best friend, Dani, and Scott's brother, Joey, are particularly sympathetic and well-developed.
Unintentional pregnancies are not an uncommon theme in YA literature, but few novels delve deeply into the mental struggles which the pregnant teen faces. This one does, and it makes for an absorbing read.
While Scott's family sits vigil his bedside, Taylor struggles with the questions of whether or not to tell her mother about her pregnancy, what her relationship with Scott really was, and whether or not she is wiling to sacrifice her own dreams in order to raise a baby. The supporting characters, particularly her best friend, Dani, and Scott's brother, Joey, are particularly sympathetic and well-developed.
Unintentional pregnancies are not an uncommon theme in YA literature, but few novels delve deeply into the mental struggles which the pregnant teen faces. This one does, and it makes for an absorbing read.
November 28, 2015
After Taylor and Scott are in a snowmobile accident, Scott ends up in a coma and Taylor is left with no memory of how it even happened. Through a dredging up of her memories, stories she tells Scott while he's in a coma, she (and we) learn more about their relationship before the accident, as well as what Taylor thinks she might want from it in the future. Marriage? A breakup? A baby? An abortion? Does she want Scott to live or die? Does she want to live or die?
I really enjoyed reading this book. There are so many important questions involved: abortion v. adoption, life v. death...and I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from asking the questions and then exploring the many answers. There is no easy answer to anything as important as what Taylor is going through. She doesn't have the best role model; she also doesn't have a clear path to success ahead of her. Like many girls who can't see a definite college in her future, a child and marriage can be appealing.
I would warn people looking for an easy happy ending: not in this book. It's a realistic ending, one which answers all of our questions, but it's not easy at all.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. There are so many important questions involved: abortion v. adoption, life v. death...and I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from asking the questions and then exploring the many answers. There is no easy answer to anything as important as what Taylor is going through. She doesn't have the best role model; she also doesn't have a clear path to success ahead of her. Like many girls who can't see a definite college in her future, a child and marriage can be appealing.
I would warn people looking for an easy happy ending: not in this book. It's a realistic ending, one which answers all of our questions, but it's not easy at all.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.
February 5, 2016
ARC provided by Flux and NetGalley
While this was by no means genre-changing or mind-blowing, this was a well-written thriller. I found it addictive and had a hard time when I had to put it down.
At one point in the middle I thought that it was heading in a preachy direction I wasn't okay with, but it was being used as a foil for some of the decisions being made.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel like it achieves it's goal of not being typical "realistic" fiction, by actually having realistic results.
While this was by no means genre-changing or mind-blowing, this was a well-written thriller. I found it addictive and had a hard time when I had to put it down.
At one point in the middle I thought that it was heading in a preachy direction I wasn't okay with, but it was being used as a foil for some of the decisions being made.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and feel like it achieves it's goal of not being typical "realistic" fiction, by actually having realistic results.
Read
November 15, 2015DNF at 40%
Sadly I just didn't want to finish this book. Things kept getting more bizarre and it had me confused in more ways than I could count.
Unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
Sadly I just didn't want to finish this book. Things kept getting more bizarre and it had me confused in more ways than I could count.
Unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
December 31, 2015
The Memory Jar starts off after a snowmobile accident that leaves Taylor without memory of the moments preceding it, and her boyfriend Scott in a coma. The story alternated between past and present tense as the reader and Taylor piece together the memories leading up to this life altering moment, meanwhile struggling with many of her own personal issues. Interesting and engaging along with relevant for teenage readers.
May 27, 2016
The Memory Jar is an interesting look at tragedy coupled with teen pregnancy and tough choices. I think this book captured the voice of a lost teenager very well and it certainly highlighted the importance of family and friendship. And amongst all of these angst-filled issues is an absolute page turner of a story. I wanted to know what caused the snowmobile accident, even if the cause didn't come as a shock or surprise, but I can't argue that it wasn't a perfect fit to the story.
August 24, 2017
Goodreads Synopsis:
Since the accident, Taylor’s memory has been fuzzy. But at least she’s awake. Who knows what her boyfriend, Scott, will remember when he comes out of his coma. Will he remember that Taylor was driving the snowmobile when it crashed? Will he remember the engagement ring? Her pregnancy?
Will he remember that she tried to break up with him?
Taylor doesn’t know. And she doesn’t know if she wants him to remember. Plenty of things happened that night and before—secrets wrapped in secrets—that she’d prefer be forgotten.
Facing choices she’d rather ignore, Taylor searches for something more solid than whispers and something bigger than blame, so that she can face the future and forgive herself.
My Review:
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for a review. I wasn't really sure what I was getting into when I started this book, but I loved every bit of it and I'm so glad I read it.
Taylor has been in a snowmobile accident with her boyfriend, Scott. He's in a coma, and she can't remember if they broke up or got engaged before it happened. She also can't remember the accident itself, and is riddled with anxiety and unanswered questions. She's also pregnant with his baby, and isn't sure what to do.
The story switches between Taylor now, and then, and a couple other peoples stories while they're talking around Scott at the hospital, trying to wake him up. The characters are super realistic and react to things the way I think any real person would. I didn't feel too old to be reading this, and I the cover is really pretty.
The book is heart wrenching and I really loved every moment, happy or sad. I thin it's one of my new favourites, I want to buy a copy. It faces very real issues that not a lot of books want to talk about, and I appreciate that. I loved the ending too, and remember going into this is that this is not a story with a happy or sad ending. The ending is to always remember to keep moving on. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.
Here's the amazon link to the book, and also the authors twitter handle in case you had any questions or wanted to buy the book for yourself.
https://twitter.com/elissajanine
https://www.amazon.ca/Memory-Jar-Elis...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com
Since the accident, Taylor’s memory has been fuzzy. But at least she’s awake. Who knows what her boyfriend, Scott, will remember when he comes out of his coma. Will he remember that Taylor was driving the snowmobile when it crashed? Will he remember the engagement ring? Her pregnancy?
Will he remember that she tried to break up with him?
Taylor doesn’t know. And she doesn’t know if she wants him to remember. Plenty of things happened that night and before—secrets wrapped in secrets—that she’d prefer be forgotten.
Facing choices she’d rather ignore, Taylor searches for something more solid than whispers and something bigger than blame, so that she can face the future and forgive herself.
My Review:
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for a review. I wasn't really sure what I was getting into when I started this book, but I loved every bit of it and I'm so glad I read it.
Taylor has been in a snowmobile accident with her boyfriend, Scott. He's in a coma, and she can't remember if they broke up or got engaged before it happened. She also can't remember the accident itself, and is riddled with anxiety and unanswered questions. She's also pregnant with his baby, and isn't sure what to do.
The story switches between Taylor now, and then, and a couple other peoples stories while they're talking around Scott at the hospital, trying to wake him up. The characters are super realistic and react to things the way I think any real person would. I didn't feel too old to be reading this, and I the cover is really pretty.
The book is heart wrenching and I really loved every moment, happy or sad. I thin it's one of my new favourites, I want to buy a copy. It faces very real issues that not a lot of books want to talk about, and I appreciate that. I loved the ending too, and remember going into this is that this is not a story with a happy or sad ending. The ending is to always remember to keep moving on. Definitely check it out if you get the chance.
Here's the amazon link to the book, and also the authors twitter handle in case you had any questions or wanted to buy the book for yourself.
https://twitter.com/elissajanine
https://www.amazon.ca/Memory-Jar-Elis...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com
Read
October 16, 2016I picked this book to read, because the title seemed very interesting and when I started to read the back I was hooked. This book is a drama, and love story, which was a perfect pick for me. This book had me turning pages like no tomorrow, and throughout the book I really got to know and understand the characters. This book was about a girl named Taylor, and her boyfriend Scott Just like any high school relationship, problems occur when Scott goes to college. Taylor is totally in love with Scott, even though there is big problems with Scott being so far away. Taylor soon finds out that she is pregnant, and doesn't even know who to tell first, or even how to say it. She has a best friend named Dani, and Dani helps her through her tough struggles and Scott. Another big character in this book is Scotts brother Joey. Joey knows every single thing about Taylor, he knows about the pregnancy and the engagement. Joey also helps Taylor a lot and is constantly at the hospital with her, and bringing her coffee. Throughout the book the couple visits an island where most of there memories began. It is winter when Taylor finds out and the Island is frozen, so Scott takes Taylor there on a snowmobile. Scott proposes, and Taylor put the ring on but gave no answer. Scott offers for Taylor to drive them back, and that is when there whole world goes crazy. They got into a snowmobile accident and Scott ends up in a coma, but Taylor survives, with few injuries but a big concussion, and memory loss. She doesn't remember much about the accident, and cant seem to find out if she did it on purpose. Another big part of the book is another character named Kendall. Kendall is the suspicious girl at Scotts college. Taylor comes to think that Scott has been cheating on her, but Kendall has a whole other story. Throughout all of this, Taylor goes to therapy with a girl named Celeste and a exercise Taylor has to complete is a memory jar. She has to write down whatever she remembers and put it in the jar. I would highly suggest to read the book and find out what happens to Taylor and what she decides she wants to do with the baby. This book is good for young adults, I would highly recommend to girls. The author of this book did an awesome job expressing what the characters are like, and throwing big surprises at you along the way to finding out if Scott wakes up, and if Taylor works up the nerve to telling her mother about the baby.
March 21, 2019
This is a young adult novel about two teens.. after an accident the boy is in a coma, and the girl, though injured, is grappling with several big issues, including the accident. Deep down she feels responsible for the accident yet she can't remember the details.
The chapters alternate between "then" and "now." I don't mind that type of plot line, but these chapters were so short -- only a couple of pages each -- that it seemed a tad jarring to do so much quick back and forth. Also, the then and the now were not very far separated by time, so it seemed a little awkward to handle them as past and present. It could have been handled more smoothly. At times the girl character seemed a little advanced in her thinking for being only 17. OTOH, she has some big issues to deal with, so maybe that has made her grow up quickly.
Otherwise, the book was a quick read and captured my attention. I read it easily in a day. It's a good book but not great. Still, I feel 4 stars is a fair assessment for the interesting plot and issues that are covered.
The chapters alternate between "then" and "now." I don't mind that type of plot line, but these chapters were so short -- only a couple of pages each -- that it seemed a tad jarring to do so much quick back and forth. Also, the then and the now were not very far separated by time, so it seemed a little awkward to handle them as past and present. It could have been handled more smoothly. At times the girl character seemed a little advanced in her thinking for being only 17. OTOH, she has some big issues to deal with, so maybe that has made her grow up quickly.
Otherwise, the book was a quick read and captured my attention. I read it easily in a day. It's a good book but not great. Still, I feel 4 stars is a fair assessment for the interesting plot and issues that are covered.
October 27, 2020
I though this book was an OK book. It jumped from past to present each chapter which is what I didn't like. But besides that the plot of the book was really interesting. It was about Taylor and her boyfriend Scott. They were high school sweethearts. One day Taylor realizes she's pregnant and has to tell Scott. She tells Scott she considered suicide and when she does he says she's being selfish. That makes Taylor very upset and she breakup with him. Scott feels bad and takes Taylor to a snow mountain and he proposes to Taylor. Out of guilt she says yes. On their way down the mountain they get into a snowmobile accident that sent them both into the hospital. Scott ends up in a coma and Taylor stays in the hospital wondering if Scott will remember anything. I would recommend this book if you don't mind that it skips back and fourth.
October 31, 2017
I liked this book because it kept me on the edge always throwing new things and new details. I like this book also because it had lots of things that I am interested in and that I could kind of relate to. I would recommend this book if you like sad stories and you like following the plot and figuring out who done what. This book does a great job of representing realistic fiction it shows something that could be real but also wasn't based on a real life incident. The author does a great job of explaining everything and you are able to follow along really well.
July 29, 2017
3.5 stars
Short chapters alternate between NOW and THEN and bring readers closer and closer to what happened before (and after) comatose Scott and pregnant girlfriend Taylor had a snowmobile accident in frigid Minnesota.
Gotta love Taylor's voice. :)
Short chapters alternate between NOW and THEN and bring readers closer and closer to what happened before (and after) comatose Scott and pregnant girlfriend Taylor had a snowmobile accident in frigid Minnesota.
Gotta love Taylor's voice. :)
March 10, 2023
I felt like this was the most pointless story there ever was. We didn’t get enough information for the story to make sense. How can one girl love two brothers? and the baby plot didn’t make sense either, not with everything else going on. So disappointed
June 20, 2024
This book confused me with the time jumps and chapter titles. It seems like a lot of teenage and college angst that ends in tragedy with a horrible accident. As memories return for Taylor, the book gets more confusing.
Not a book I’d recommend to others.
Not a book I’d recommend to others.
December 21, 2015
The Memory Jar certainly has an interesting premise. Girl gets into an accident that she can’t remember that lands boyfriend in a coma. The summary had me interested enough to read it, but within the first few lines I was turned off. This book is definitely not a book for everyone and unfortunately it was not for me.
It was a strange experience reading this book. I disliked the narrator’s voice a lot and didn’t care for the story because of it, but at the same time I wanted to know what actually happened during the accident. The only reason I kept reading even when I felt so done at times was because I needed to know where this was going.
The story itself switches between “Now” scenes and “Then” scenes. I don’t necessarily dislike that kind of set up in general, but in this particular novel each of the scenes were so short I felt like I kept disconnecting to the story every single time it switched. It’s hard to connect to a character if they feel unreliable and Taylor felt unreliable. This felt like one of those books where the ending was going to be something completely off the wall and I would wonder why I wasted my time with it. That feeling came in large part because of the switching between then and now.
I also felt like there were several things that contradicted other things in the novel. I read the novel in almost one sitting so I didn’t have time to forget the details that I read. Maybe it was because of this that some things seemed off to me. The timeline was a major thing. I don’t feel like there is a clearly defined timeline for this novel.
I know that the character is pregnant, but at one point she talks about needing to have an abortion before the first trimester is over. She says that is eight weeks away. Then she says its ten weeks away. Then she says that she was 6 weeks pregnant at the time she told her boyfriend, Scott, the same one that is in a coma. This was something that was very confusing to me and I feel like should have been more defined. Why are there so many references to time using her pregnancy that don’t add up?
The character of Taylor speaks in a voice I am not familiar with in teenagers. Possibly I just hadn’t read or interacted with a teenager like this in real life (neither when I was one nor now). This girl sounded like a jaded 27 year old woman. She was not someone I connect with now and certainly not someone who I would have connected with as a teenager. The author tried to make her more relatable by referencing Harry Potter and Doctor Who (two things that I LOVE) and I STILL could not form a connection with Taylor. She also goes back and forth so much about her true feelings for Scott. Every time she tried to say she wasn’t in love with him or that she was in love with him or when some other character commented about how they were never really meant for each other I got annoyed. Why are you telling me this and not showing me this. It did not feel authentic and so once again it was hard to believe what was happening. I understand that everyone is able to change their mind, but it felt like she should have been a little clearer over her feelings and not flip as much as she did.
The character of Kendall was an odd addition to the book. I have no idea what purpose she served. She came in causing conflict when there was already enough conflict in the book. It seemed to distract from the main story that the author was trying to weave aka what happened during the accident and what is Taylor going to do about this baby? This did not need to be in the book. It irks me to have a “random” sub plot thrown in that didn’t really need to be included. I don’t feel like it advanced the overall plot at all.
Taylor’s mother also seemed odd to me. It was mentioned in there that Scott definitely felt as though Taylor was being abused by her mother, or at least that there were abusive tendencies. Taylor makes it clear that her mother and she do not get along. She even wonders why her mother didn’t have an abortion because her mother has made comments about how much Taylor altered her life (and not for the better it seems). Her mother’s reply that it was because she loved Taylor’s father (who then left them) doesn’t seem to help the mother/daughter relationship at all. Then at the end of the novel there is a complete turn in the mother and suddenly she is on her daughter’s side no matter what. This was a strange moment for me. Was the author trying to show readers that they shouldn’t always assume that others will react a certain way because they could surprise you? If this was the case however then why go to the other lengths to show that the mother had abusive tendencies and that she and Taylor don’t get along? What? I am missing a point here and I am not even sure what it was.
I also want to know why Understanding Emily wasn’t fleshed out more. She is shown in quite a few scenes, but she has basically no character or personality besides being understanding. Her parents and the guy from the news are the same way. They kind of felt like fillers. Even the nurse who was filled with compassion felt like they had more depth than those other characters. Why did that happen?
It was a strange experience reading this book. I disliked the narrator’s voice a lot and didn’t care for the story because of it, but at the same time I wanted to know what actually happened during the accident. The only reason I kept reading even when I felt so done at times was because I needed to know where this was going.
The story itself switches between “Now” scenes and “Then” scenes. I don’t necessarily dislike that kind of set up in general, but in this particular novel each of the scenes were so short I felt like I kept disconnecting to the story every single time it switched. It’s hard to connect to a character if they feel unreliable and Taylor felt unreliable. This felt like one of those books where the ending was going to be something completely off the wall and I would wonder why I wasted my time with it. That feeling came in large part because of the switching between then and now.
I also felt like there were several things that contradicted other things in the novel. I read the novel in almost one sitting so I didn’t have time to forget the details that I read. Maybe it was because of this that some things seemed off to me. The timeline was a major thing. I don’t feel like there is a clearly defined timeline for this novel.
I know that the character is pregnant, but at one point she talks about needing to have an abortion before the first trimester is over. She says that is eight weeks away. Then she says its ten weeks away. Then she says that she was 6 weeks pregnant at the time she told her boyfriend, Scott, the same one that is in a coma. This was something that was very confusing to me and I feel like should have been more defined. Why are there so many references to time using her pregnancy that don’t add up?
The character of Taylor speaks in a voice I am not familiar with in teenagers. Possibly I just hadn’t read or interacted with a teenager like this in real life (neither when I was one nor now). This girl sounded like a jaded 27 year old woman. She was not someone I connect with now and certainly not someone who I would have connected with as a teenager. The author tried to make her more relatable by referencing Harry Potter and Doctor Who (two things that I LOVE) and I STILL could not form a connection with Taylor. She also goes back and forth so much about her true feelings for Scott. Every time she tried to say she wasn’t in love with him or that she was in love with him or when some other character commented about how they were never really meant for each other I got annoyed. Why are you telling me this and not showing me this. It did not feel authentic and so once again it was hard to believe what was happening. I understand that everyone is able to change their mind, but it felt like she should have been a little clearer over her feelings and not flip as much as she did.
The character of Kendall was an odd addition to the book. I have no idea what purpose she served. She came in causing conflict when there was already enough conflict in the book. It seemed to distract from the main story that the author was trying to weave aka what happened during the accident and what is Taylor going to do about this baby? This did not need to be in the book. It irks me to have a “random” sub plot thrown in that didn’t really need to be included. I don’t feel like it advanced the overall plot at all.
Taylor’s mother also seemed odd to me. It was mentioned in there that Scott definitely felt as though Taylor was being abused by her mother, or at least that there were abusive tendencies. Taylor makes it clear that her mother and she do not get along. She even wonders why her mother didn’t have an abortion because her mother has made comments about how much Taylor altered her life (and not for the better it seems). Her mother’s reply that it was because she loved Taylor’s father (who then left them) doesn’t seem to help the mother/daughter relationship at all. Then at the end of the novel there is a complete turn in the mother and suddenly she is on her daughter’s side no matter what. This was a strange moment for me. Was the author trying to show readers that they shouldn’t always assume that others will react a certain way because they could surprise you? If this was the case however then why go to the other lengths to show that the mother had abusive tendencies and that she and Taylor don’t get along? What? I am missing a point here and I am not even sure what it was.
I also want to know why Understanding Emily wasn’t fleshed out more. She is shown in quite a few scenes, but she has basically no character or personality besides being understanding. Her parents and the guy from the news are the same way. They kind of felt like fillers. Even the nurse who was filled with compassion felt like they had more depth than those other characters. Why did that happen?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2017
Super good. I love stories that are written in this format!
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