500 Words or Less

by Juleah del Rosario

[Sam@WLABB]

Nic had lost a lot in the past two years. She lost her mother, her boyfriend, her friends, herself. Her senior year was not the one she imagined, but it was the one, where she came to understand herself and others, step by step, in 500 words or less.

This book was not a lighthearted read. It was raw, real, and painful at times. There was a layer of sadness, which got thicker and thicker, until I was full-on crying. Eventually, though, some light broke through, and hope emerged in the end.

Nic was a tough character to like, but easy to empathize with. She made mistakes she regretted and was emotionally distant, but because I spent the entire book essentially in her head, I sort of understood her. Her feelings of loneliness and brokenness were palpable, and I suffered sympathy pains for her.

Several things stood out for me in this book. One was the writing. I enjoy books in verse. I feel as though a lot of consideration is given for every word chosen and the phrasing that is used, because the author is trying to tell the story in verse. del Rosario's writing was gorgeous, and packed quite a punch. It was emotional and full of vivid imagery. I fully imbibed all her words, and loved the way they felt and made me feel.

The other stars of this book were the essays Nic wrote. Those college admissions essays were not your average fluff. This was where del Rosario confronted many social issues. The approach was interesting and thought provoking, and I felt like the ideas carried more weight in the way they were presented in such a personal way.

I fully appreciated what they essays gave back to Nic. As she explored each of those characters' lives, she found bits of herself in their stories. She came to many realizations about herself. She started that journey towards acceptance of the circumstances, and maybe even started moving on.

Yes, this book was somewhat weighty, but there were some lighthearted and happy moments shared as well, and in the end, I was left hopeful for Nic.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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