Kim Deister
This was a beautiful read, deeply emotional, although there were aspects I had some issues with. Forman never fails to draw me into the story, and then wring me out until I’m a teary mess. It tugs at the heart strings, and is incredibly thought-provoking.
The story shifts between different timelines for different characters, allowing for multiple perspectives. This technique really emphasizes how death affects not only the one who has passed but also those left behind to deal with the grief. Each perspective unlocks a little bit more about Amber, our heroine who was killed in a hit-and-run accident at just 17. We see the perspectives of her parents, her friends, her boyfriend, her sister, even a few only tangentially connected. Together, they tell a story that goes straight to the heart.
That being said, the optics of how Dina was portrayed and written bothered me. Do I believe it was intentional by the author? No, I don’t. But it does feel like something someone should have noticed along the way. The way Dina (a Black girl) was treated by Amber (a white girl) was at time atrocious. Yes, there is recognition of that, but there are moments when it felt like there was grace given to Amber for acts that don’t deserve that grace. That feels a little uncomfortable. It’s difficult to discuss without spoilers, but suffice it to say that there were things about Dina’s story that seemed just as important as Amber’s, but they were just glossed over while Amber’s was given huge significance.