Today, I am partnering with Simon and Schuster and some other bloggers in the Summer Fiction Blog Tour to bring you all a bunch of highly anticipated books of the year, over the course of 5 weeks with 5 different bloggers!
I am kicking off the tour this week, by sharing my review of Relativity by Antonia Hayes. Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster for sending me an ARC of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
This was a weird book for me.
You always know going into a science-y book if there is going to be just enough science to get the point across or if the author is going to bombard you with science facts and explanations. For me, I found this book to be the latter, which was a shame for me, but may not be for you. Depending on your knowledge of science, or I suppose WANT for knowledge of science and physics, this book may or may not interest you.
That being said, this book wasn't solely based on science. There were other elements as well. Told from alternating third person perspectives of Ethan, the boy, and his parents Claire and Mark, this story deals with physical illness, single parenthood, and loss.
Anyways, I just kind of felt like this book didn't really have a direction. There were a bunch of storylines that ended at random times. The John issue. The thing with Will. After the fight, we never really hear about him again. The story just felt a little disjointed and jarring. When the ending finally comes around to solve the INITIAL major plot point, I almost felt indifferent. At that point, it didn't matter.
There were some exciting theatrical moments, but there were also normal, everyday issues that, while they made the book seem more real and relatable, kind of made me want to put it down. I have enough stress in my life, I don't want to think about someone else's debilitating stress.
This is a very emotional novel, and it is almost driven by that emotion. Guided by some plot points, but driven by emotion.
Character wise, I enjoyed Ethan and Claire. Claire is, I think the synopsis says it best, fiercely protective of Ethan, and Ethan is just a loving boy. Claire is flawed, but she is real and a good mom to Ethan. I did find some moments clashing for Ethan, at times he felt like he was 6 or 7 years old, and then he was at home by himself and you can't imagine a 12 year old knowing all the things he does, not just scientifically.
I think one thing this book did have going for it was the writing. I didn't notice it as much later on in the book, partly because I think I got used to it, but the writing is so lyrical. Everything is described in such detail, you could really see what was being described.
Overall, this book was good. I didn't love it, but I was able to read it in a day, so it held my attention. I would say even if you aren't a physics buff, still give it a shot. There's enough of the storyline that doesn't deal with the science to hold your interest.
Stay tuned for next week's review of The Girls in the Garden! And don't forget to check out the Simon and Schuster's Read Chill Repeat website for more info and to enter for a chance to win a set of books + one year of free coffee from Aroma Espresso Bar!
I am kicking off the tour this week, by sharing my review of Relativity by Antonia Hayes. Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster for sending me an ARC of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
This was a weird book for me.
You always know going into a science-y book if there is going to be just enough science to get the point across or if the author is going to bombard you with science facts and explanations. For me, I found this book to be the latter, which was a shame for me, but may not be for you. Depending on your knowledge of science, or I suppose WANT for knowledge of science and physics, this book may or may not interest you.
That being said, this book wasn't solely based on science. There were other elements as well. Told from alternating third person perspectives of Ethan, the boy, and his parents Claire and Mark, this story deals with physical illness, single parenthood, and loss.
Anyways, I just kind of felt like this book didn't really have a direction. There were a bunch of storylines that ended at random times. The John issue. The thing with Will. After the fight, we never really hear about him again. The story just felt a little disjointed and jarring. When the ending finally comes around to solve the INITIAL major plot point, I almost felt indifferent. At that point, it didn't matter.
There were some exciting theatrical moments, but there were also normal, everyday issues that, while they made the book seem more real and relatable, kind of made me want to put it down. I have enough stress in my life, I don't want to think about someone else's debilitating stress.
This is a very emotional novel, and it is almost driven by that emotion. Guided by some plot points, but driven by emotion.
Character wise, I enjoyed Ethan and Claire. Claire is, I think the synopsis says it best, fiercely protective of Ethan, and Ethan is just a loving boy. Claire is flawed, but she is real and a good mom to Ethan. I did find some moments clashing for Ethan, at times he felt like he was 6 or 7 years old, and then he was at home by himself and you can't imagine a 12 year old knowing all the things he does, not just scientifically.
I think one thing this book did have going for it was the writing. I didn't notice it as much later on in the book, partly because I think I got used to it, but the writing is so lyrical. Everything is described in such detail, you could really see what was being described.
Overall, this book was good. I didn't love it, but I was able to read it in a day, so it held my attention. I would say even if you aren't a physics buff, still give it a shot. There's enough of the storyline that doesn't deal with the science to hold your interest.
Stay tuned for next week's review of The Girls in the Garden! And don't forget to check out the Simon and Schuster's Read Chill Repeat website for more info and to enter for a chance to win a set of books + one year of free coffee from Aroma Espresso Bar!