Author: Jandy Nelson
Narrator: Jesse Bernstein and Julia Whelan
Playback: 12 hrs 57m
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: YA, Contemporary
First published: September 16, 2014
Book Description: At first, Jude and her twin brother Noah, are inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude wears red-red lipstick, cliff-dives, and does all the talking for both of them.
Years later, they are barely speaking. Something has happened to change the twins in different yet equally devastating ways... but then Jude meets an intriguing, irresistible boy and a mysterious new mentor. The early years are Noah's to tell; the later years are Jude's. But they each have only half the story, and if they can only find their way back to one another, they'll have a chance to remake their world.
Review:
This is a classic YA, we have messy relationships in family love interests and a few friendships. I enjoyed it much more than I expected.
The characters are so realistic- they're imperfect. They are actually exasperating, I should hate them. They definitely walked into situations they created themselves simply because of being unable to communicate- I had secondhand embarrassment in so many spots. But it just works for this situation!
Nelson manages to create characters so flawed who are just so lovable and deeply good that you can't help but forgive them for anything. It's amazing, really. Even when they do things that would be considered narrative-shatteringly awful, they somehow manage to make themselves even better in your eyes. I can't quite explain how they do it, but it's truly a remarkable thing to witness.
The plot takes place in 2 timelines- one told in Noah's POV when they're 13 yo and the second told from Jude's when they're 16. The twins have been extremely close while growing up, even if their interests are very different, their competitive streak is strong and even worse- their parents encourage it.
Noah is creative, artistic, and very introverted- his insecurities are shining as he considers himself the odd one out. But his trust and closeness with his sister allow him to enjoy his life as it is. The biggest insecurity is due to his sexuality and the fear of rejection- he doesn't really know how to share that with his family not even his sister. The fear and the starving desire to be accepted by his father dooms a lot of his actions and helps him dig a bigger hole for himself.
Jude is sporty, outspoken, and very popular in their school. She's portrayed as a badass and her close relationship to their father is a big wedge in the twin's relationship.
The character's development is amazing! Not only for the twins but for the other characters mentioned- Brian and his love of space and Oascar, Guillermo, and even the twin's father make a huge improvement.
The writing was just really beautiful. I’m always really happy to see that in YA. It’s pretty rare for a young adult contemporary to just be genuinely gorgeous. It's refreshing to read something that's not only entertaining and engaging but also beautifully written. The author's use of language and imagery is truly remarkable, and it's clear that they put a lot of thought and care into crafting their prose. It's a testament to their skill and dedication to their craft, and it's something that should be celebrated and appreciated. Overall, I'm just so impressed with the quality of the writing in this book, and I can't wait to see what the author does next.
This was used for the challenge:
#AYearAThon: Pride month- This had a good representation
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