Reviewed by Joséphine on
Full book review is now up on Word Revel.
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August 23, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Initial thoughts: Again, Katherine Webber delivered. After reading Wing Jones last year, I couldn't wait for her sophomore novel, and I must say, the wait was worth it. Only Love Can Break Your Heart demonstrates how messy relationships can be, be they romantic, platonic or familial. Honestly, I was tearing by the end of the book because (1) Reiko's experiences were tough, and (2) I appreciated the realism of this story. The characters made me uncomfortable and mad at various points, but the friendship of Reiko and Dre gave me hope.
In some ways, Only Love Can Break Your Heart was a similar to Wing Jones in that reality and fantasy/imagination were blurred. That's one aspect that I'm not the biggest fan of and what stopped me from giving 5 stars. Nonetheless, a great book for those who like their YA contemporary novels on the grittier side.
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Note: I received an advanced reading copy from a local distributor in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 23 August, 2018: Finished reading
- 23 August, 2018: Reviewed