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This Raging Light #2
But Then I Came Back
For the English hardcover, see ISBN13: 9780544531260.
Gayle Forman meets Francesca Lia Block in this dazzling story about two coma girls and the boy who connects their lives. From the author of This Raging Light, a debut that New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson calls “remarkable.”
“Something does exist. I saw. It’s a place. Like this but different.”
“Okay, so let’s say we do reach her, that something like that is even possible. Then what?”
“Then we ask her to come back.”
Eden: As far as coma patients go, Eden’s lucky. She woke up. But still, she can’t shake the feeling that she might have dragged something back from the near-afterlife.
Joe: Joe visits the hospital every day, hoping that Jaz, his lifelong friend, will wake up. More than anything, he wants to hear her voice again. But he’s not sure anyone can reach her.
Eden & Joe: Even though she knows it sounds crazy, Eden tells Joe that they might be able to talk to Jaz. Opening themselves up to the great unknown—and each other—Eden and Joe experience life: mysterious and scary, beautiful and bright.
Gayle Forman meets Francesca Lia Block in this dazzling story about two coma girls and the boy who connects their lives. From the author of This Raging Light, a debut that New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson calls “remarkable.”
“Something does exist. I saw. It’s a place. Like this but different.”
“Okay, so let’s say we do reach her, that something like that is even possible. Then what?”
“Then we ask her to come back.”
Eden: As far as coma patients go, Eden’s lucky. She woke up. But still, she can’t shake the feeling that she might have dragged something back from the near-afterlife.
Joe: Joe visits the hospital every day, hoping that Jaz, his lifelong friend, will wake up. More than anything, he wants to hear her voice again. But he’s not sure anyone can reach her.
Eden & Joe: Even though she knows it sounds crazy, Eden tells Joe that they might be able to talk to Jaz. Opening themselves up to the great unknown—and each other—Eden and Joe experience life: mysterious and scary, beautiful and bright.
7 pages, Audio CD
First published April 4, 2017
58 people are currently reading
2745 people want to read
About the author
Estelle Laure
14 books585 followersEstelle Laure is a Vonnegut worshipper who believes in love and magic and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theater Arts from New Mexico State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and thinks everyone should have to wait tables or work in a kitchen at least once in their lives. She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
March 8, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl who hit her head and ended up in a coma.
Eden was a realistic character, and I liked that she didn't immediately bounce back from having been in a coma. Seeing black flowers everywhere was pretty odd though.
The storyline in this was about Eden's recovery after waking from a coma, and about another girl called Jasmine who was also in a coma in the same hospital. I did feel like Jasmine was forgotten a bit at times though, and the story seemed to go off on tangents a bit. We also got a little bit of romance, between Eden and Jasmine's best friend Joe, although not enough was made of that for me.
The ending to this was okay, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as This Raging Light.
6.5 out of 10
"Time is speeding, speeding while I stand perfectly still."
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl who hit her head and ended up in a coma.
Eden was a realistic character, and I liked that she didn't immediately bounce back from having been in a coma. Seeing black flowers everywhere was pretty odd though.
The storyline in this was about Eden's recovery after waking from a coma, and about another girl called Jasmine who was also in a coma in the same hospital. I did feel like Jasmine was forgotten a bit at times though, and the story seemed to go off on tangents a bit. We also got a little bit of romance, between Eden and Jasmine's best friend Joe, although not enough was made of that for me.
The ending to this was okay, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as This Raging Light.
6.5 out of 10
April 9, 2017
4 Stars
Overview:
Well this was impressive! The story resolves around Eden, as she awakens from a coma and has to readjust to life. She’s only been unconscious a month, but she finds her world has already changed quite a bit.
The initial blurb paints this simply as a hospital-set romance, so I was pleasantly surprised by how different the story is. I actually shelved this as magical realism, even though it isn’t listed as such. To me, this book had a very fantastical quality and looked far more at the otherworldly qualities of Eden’s half-awake state in her coma, than the romance upon her waking.
I received an ARC of this through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity.
Pros:
Yay for focusing on family and friends and not just romance! These relationships were important and handled with care.
There’s a strong focus on the after effects of trauma, addressed in inventive and nuanced ways. This is something frequently touched upon in Lit Fic or Autobiography’s, but not often in YA contemporaries.
One of the sharpest and most believable narrative voices I’ve ever read. Eden sounds and thinks like a teenager, without coming across exceedingly melodramatic or whiny. Something about the writing was incredibly addicting, and I found myself wanting to devour the whole thing in one sitting.
There’s some really beautiful moments in here that address everything from the finality of death, to lost chances to friendships and back again.
Cons
I felt the ending was a little rushed, all things considered.
It’s not completely insta-love, but it sure ain’t slow-burn.
The story would have been more impactful if we were given the chance to view Eden and her relationships before the accident. I appreciate how the story didn't require a large amount of build-up before getting started, but it was hard to decipher how much she'd changed when I was still getting to know her.
In Conclusion
I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about this gem of a book! The writing style is incredibly sharp and engrossing, and the story itself makes nuanced observations of trauma and relationships.
Overview:
"Time served on planet earth is yours to use as you see fit. It keeps spinning, and just because someone's life ends or pauses doesn't mean we have to do the same."
Well this was impressive! The story resolves around Eden, as she awakens from a coma and has to readjust to life. She’s only been unconscious a month, but she finds her world has already changed quite a bit.
The initial blurb paints this simply as a hospital-set romance, so I was pleasantly surprised by how different the story is. I actually shelved this as magical realism, even though it isn’t listed as such. To me, this book had a very fantastical quality and looked far more at the otherworldly qualities of Eden’s half-awake state in her coma, than the romance upon her waking.
I received an ARC of this through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity.
Pros:
Yay for focusing on family and friends and not just romance! These relationships were important and handled with care.
There’s a strong focus on the after effects of trauma, addressed in inventive and nuanced ways. This is something frequently touched upon in Lit Fic or Autobiography’s, but not often in YA contemporaries.
One of the sharpest and most believable narrative voices I’ve ever read. Eden sounds and thinks like a teenager, without coming across exceedingly melodramatic or whiny. Something about the writing was incredibly addicting, and I found myself wanting to devour the whole thing in one sitting.
There’s some really beautiful moments in here that address everything from the finality of death, to lost chances to friendships and back again.
Cons
I felt the ending was a little rushed, all things considered.
It’s not completely insta-love, but it sure ain’t slow-burn.
The story would have been more impactful if we were given the chance to view Eden and her relationships before the accident. I appreciate how the story didn't require a large amount of build-up before getting started, but it was hard to decipher how much she'd changed when I was still getting to know her.
In Conclusion
I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about this gem of a book! The writing style is incredibly sharp and engrossing, and the story itself makes nuanced observations of trauma and relationships.
December 5, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
Well, this was disappointing. I had a moment at around 50 pages in where I considered giving up on this book and I probably should have followed that instinct because I really didn't enjoy reading this book. I did think that some sections of the book were better than others but I spent most of my reading time wanting to reach the end just so I could move on to something else.
This book opens with Eden having an accident that leaves her in a coma. As she comes out of the coma, she has to slowly get back to her life which turns out to be a lot harder than you would imagine. She feels a strong connection to another coma patient on her floor Jaz and eventually forms a bound with Jaz's frequent visitor, Joe.
One of the key parts of the book revolved around what Eden experiences while in the coma. I really found that entire section of the book to be more confusing than interesting. I had to go back and read parts of that section several times and was still quite confused. It made sense by the end of the book but I had lost interest by that point.
I thought that the parts of the book involving Joe were much better. Joe was my favorite character in the book by a large margin. He was really a good guy. Eden and Joe's relationship was interesting and a bit unusual. Unfortunately, it seemed to take a really long time for the relationship between these two to even get started.
I will not be recommending this book to others. I am sure that some people will enjoy it a lot more than I did. I was able to get through the book and would be open to trying other works by Estelle Laure.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from HMH Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I had some problems with this one. I thought parts of it were very confusing and found that I was often bored by the story.
Well, this was disappointing. I had a moment at around 50 pages in where I considered giving up on this book and I probably should have followed that instinct because I really didn't enjoy reading this book. I did think that some sections of the book were better than others but I spent most of my reading time wanting to reach the end just so I could move on to something else.
This book opens with Eden having an accident that leaves her in a coma. As she comes out of the coma, she has to slowly get back to her life which turns out to be a lot harder than you would imagine. She feels a strong connection to another coma patient on her floor Jaz and eventually forms a bound with Jaz's frequent visitor, Joe.
One of the key parts of the book revolved around what Eden experiences while in the coma. I really found that entire section of the book to be more confusing than interesting. I had to go back and read parts of that section several times and was still quite confused. It made sense by the end of the book but I had lost interest by that point.
I thought that the parts of the book involving Joe were much better. Joe was my favorite character in the book by a large margin. He was really a good guy. Eden and Joe's relationship was interesting and a bit unusual. Unfortunately, it seemed to take a really long time for the relationship between these two to even get started.
I will not be recommending this book to others. I am sure that some people will enjoy it a lot more than I did. I was able to get through the book and would be open to trying other works by Estelle Laure.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from HMH Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
I had some problems with this one. I thought parts of it were very confusing and found that I was often bored by the story.
September 17, 2017
Oh, this is book 2... that would have been useful information to have on the book. No wonder it felt like the characters were already developed.
That being said I really enjoyed the beginning but it started to lag around the middle maybe that's because i havent read the first book or maybe its because it just got dull.
That being said I really enjoyed the beginning but it started to lag around the middle maybe that's because i havent read the first book or maybe its because it just got dull.
April 24, 2017
This book included a few of my favourite things: ballet, mystery and contemplations on the afterlife.
I didn't realise that this was a companion novel to 'This Raging Light' but I'm so pleased that Eden got her own story, and we get closure on what happened at the end of the first book. Seeing Eden reconnect with life, and find new meaning in her passions and the people around her was such a lovely thing to read. I almost wish there had been ~more~ magical realism here, and ~more~ romantic build up, but overall, I was delighted by what I read and now want to prioritise re-reading 'Elsewhere' by Gabrielle Zevin!
I didn't realise that this was a companion novel to 'This Raging Light' but I'm so pleased that Eden got her own story, and we get closure on what happened at the end of the first book. Seeing Eden reconnect with life, and find new meaning in her passions and the people around her was such a lovely thing to read. I almost wish there had been ~more~ magical realism here, and ~more~ romantic build up, but overall, I was delighted by what I read and now want to prioritise re-reading 'Elsewhere' by Gabrielle Zevin!
February 26, 2017
OK here's my problem. I read This Raging Light a day prior to reading this book, loved it, and was excited to get to this installment.
We don't see Eden a ton in This Raging Light, and something happens to her where we really do want to see what happens to her in But Then I Came Back. But my big problem with this whole book is that the whole premise is about how Eden is not quite in the now and is dealing with what the afterlife is and how she is trying to live a normal life after her accident. Because of that, I guess the book feels more just drifty from here and there, which is kind of how Eden feels. But that whole lack of structure and inciting event really didn't work for me. In addition, she's not quite as likeable a character as Lucille, so it's a bad thing when I was scanning the chapters for more update on Lucille and Digby, Eden's twin brother. Eden isn't a bad character, but I don't think she can carry a book by herself, and it was very difficult for me to stay in the novel the whole time. Also the boy is not as cute as Digby!
Overall, still beautiful prose, but I was more interested in the side characters Lucille and Digby from the first book.
We don't see Eden a ton in This Raging Light, and something happens to her where we really do want to see what happens to her in But Then I Came Back. But my big problem with this whole book is that the whole premise is about how Eden is not quite in the now and is dealing with what the afterlife is and how she is trying to live a normal life after her accident. Because of that, I guess the book feels more just drifty from here and there, which is kind of how Eden feels. But that whole lack of structure and inciting event really didn't work for me. In addition, she's not quite as likeable a character as Lucille, so it's a bad thing when I was scanning the chapters for more update on Lucille and Digby, Eden's twin brother. Eden isn't a bad character, but I don't think she can carry a book by herself, and it was very difficult for me to stay in the novel the whole time. Also the boy is not as cute as Digby!
Overall, still beautiful prose, but I was more interested in the side characters Lucille and Digby from the first book.
August 12, 2024
A fun YA.
March 12, 2017
First off, I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing me this ARC to review. Please note that the version I read was an advanced copy, and certain events/language may be changed in the published edition.
Stars (Out of 10): 3.5/10 Stars
Overall Thoughts: This book fell really flat for me. The description seemed fairly interesting, where this girl, Eden, had leftover “magic” and connection to the other and could use that to possibly communicate to this other girl in a coma, but bring it back. However, I never felt this plot was even well explored, because the romance and family drama plots seemed to take over. In addition, almost all characters lacked continuity, with their personalities, if they had one, all over the place, and changing to fit the situation, not the situation changing to fit the characters.
The Good: A semi unique plot, not necessarily a concept I’ve seen before.
The Bad: Flaky characters, a random on and off romance, actually writing and scenes felt jumpy and unplanned (ex: Eden has tantrum/breakdown in middle of the hospital, five paragraphs later they randomly decide to go bowling?)
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: By far my least favorite thing about the book. No one seemed realistic, all just seemed to be instruments of a random/jumpy plot, making their personalities ever changing as well. For example, who even is Eden? Is she the mean girl that teases her friends at lunch? Is she the rebellious girl that goes to clubs with her friends, drinks, and randomly proclaims her love to one of them? Is she the bleeding heart, claiming Joe as her “one great thing” after a month together? Is she the flirt who, even in serious situations, needs to comment on various attractive aspects of Joe, claiming she agrees and likes anyone who says they appreciate him? Or is she secretly all of these things, and just changes when it would create the most drama in a situation? It would be more manageable if only the main character was like this, and could be marked down as “finding herself.” But every single main character was like this! From brother to love interest, no one seemed to be able to keeping a personality.
The Plot: While somewhat unique, I felt it wasn’t explored as well as it should have been. The book seemed to focus instead on the on and off relationship of Joe and Eden (from kisses to random disappearances I guess?), and the family/friend drama of Eden coming back from a coma, and not liking and wanting to be a part of her friend group. Honestly, this book could have been much better had the whole “connection to the other side and saving Jaz” not been a plot, since that was not even developed well enough to be interesting now, and those words could have been used to develop characters and the other plots.
The Favorite Character: Of all the ones truly explored, none. However, Eden’s mom seemed nice.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress....
Stars (Out of 10): 3.5/10 Stars
Overall Thoughts: This book fell really flat for me. The description seemed fairly interesting, where this girl, Eden, had leftover “magic” and connection to the other and could use that to possibly communicate to this other girl in a coma, but bring it back. However, I never felt this plot was even well explored, because the romance and family drama plots seemed to take over. In addition, almost all characters lacked continuity, with their personalities, if they had one, all over the place, and changing to fit the situation, not the situation changing to fit the characters.
The Good: A semi unique plot, not necessarily a concept I’ve seen before.
The Bad: Flaky characters, a random on and off romance, actually writing and scenes felt jumpy and unplanned (ex: Eden has tantrum/breakdown in middle of the hospital, five paragraphs later they randomly decide to go bowling?)
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: By far my least favorite thing about the book. No one seemed realistic, all just seemed to be instruments of a random/jumpy plot, making their personalities ever changing as well. For example, who even is Eden? Is she the mean girl that teases her friends at lunch? Is she the rebellious girl that goes to clubs with her friends, drinks, and randomly proclaims her love to one of them? Is she the bleeding heart, claiming Joe as her “one great thing” after a month together? Is she the flirt who, even in serious situations, needs to comment on various attractive aspects of Joe, claiming she agrees and likes anyone who says they appreciate him? Or is she secretly all of these things, and just changes when it would create the most drama in a situation? It would be more manageable if only the main character was like this, and could be marked down as “finding herself.” But every single main character was like this! From brother to love interest, no one seemed to be able to keeping a personality.
The Plot: While somewhat unique, I felt it wasn’t explored as well as it should have been. The book seemed to focus instead on the on and off relationship of Joe and Eden (from kisses to random disappearances I guess?), and the family/friend drama of Eden coming back from a coma, and not liking and wanting to be a part of her friend group. Honestly, this book could have been much better had the whole “connection to the other side and saving Jaz” not been a plot, since that was not even developed well enough to be interesting now, and those words could have been used to develop characters and the other plots.
The Favorite Character: Of all the ones truly explored, none. However, Eden’s mom seemed nice.
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress....
April 6, 2017
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This review was originally posted on my blog @ Swissbookworm
When I saw that my request to read But Then I Came Back got accepted, I squealed around the house from joy until my brother came to see if I was alright. This was my first major request I did on NetGalley back in January and you can’t imagine how happy I was to get a copy of this book. It took me a couple of weeks though to start reading it because I had a lot of respect of the sequel. I had enjoyed the first book so much, I was scared that the second wouldn’t live up to my expectations.
My fear was proven unnecessary because the sequel was even better! I loved it so much, it made me question my feelings towards This Raging Light. It was quite a new concept to me to read a sequel in a series where the point of view changes entirely because the protagonist is somebody new. And although I think it’s a pity that Lucille (protagonist from This Raging Light) fades into the background, I appreciated reading from Eden’s POV so much. Her voice was so honest and totally different from Lucille��s.
Eden is in my opinion more ‘adulter’. She questions everything. She questions life, death, the meaning of coming back from The Inbetween. Lucille was way more stressed about surviving in her own way. Having to work and pay for everything herself because her parents abandoned her, having to look after her younger sister. Her “boy troubles” with Digby… Eden just has different flow in her life.
I can’t imagine how it must be for someone to come back to life from a coma (and I really pray that neither I, nor any of my family or friends, ever have to make that experience). Reading about Eden’s story gave me so many feelings I don’t even know where to start to describe those. It wasn’t easy for her to adapt to life again, but I really like the way how she did it and seeing her going down that path and fighting her problems so bravely.
One thing I really love about her is how immediately Eden accepts her “situations” without thinking it through. When she thought she was dead, the first thing she did was think Oh cool, I’m a ghost. I can haunt people now and scare them. Or when she thought that she might have psychic powers her first reaction wasn’t to question it but to try to make a painting fly off the wall. When she thinks she might not be alive, but only dreaming, she immediately tries to will herself to fly. It’s that carelessness - if you can call it that - that I like about her.
I didn’t expect to like But Then I Came Back so much. It didn’t let me go and I read it in like two/three sittings. In my opinion you don’t have to read This Raging Light to be able to pick up the sequel, which is way I really recommend you to get yourself a copy of this great book!
This review was originally posted on my blog @ Swissbookworm
When I saw that my request to read But Then I Came Back got accepted, I squealed around the house from joy until my brother came to see if I was alright. This was my first major request I did on NetGalley back in January and you can’t imagine how happy I was to get a copy of this book. It took me a couple of weeks though to start reading it because I had a lot of respect of the sequel. I had enjoyed the first book so much, I was scared that the second wouldn’t live up to my expectations.
My fear was proven unnecessary because the sequel was even better! I loved it so much, it made me question my feelings towards This Raging Light. It was quite a new concept to me to read a sequel in a series where the point of view changes entirely because the protagonist is somebody new. And although I think it’s a pity that Lucille (protagonist from This Raging Light) fades into the background, I appreciated reading from Eden’s POV so much. Her voice was so honest and totally different from Lucille��s.
Eden is in my opinion more ‘adulter’. She questions everything. She questions life, death, the meaning of coming back from The Inbetween. Lucille was way more stressed about surviving in her own way. Having to work and pay for everything herself because her parents abandoned her, having to look after her younger sister. Her “boy troubles” with Digby… Eden just has different flow in her life.
I can’t imagine how it must be for someone to come back to life from a coma (and I really pray that neither I, nor any of my family or friends, ever have to make that experience). Reading about Eden’s story gave me so many feelings I don’t even know where to start to describe those. It wasn’t easy for her to adapt to life again, but I really like the way how she did it and seeing her going down that path and fighting her problems so bravely.
One thing I really love about her is how immediately Eden accepts her “situations” without thinking it through. When she thought she was dead, the first thing she did was think Oh cool, I’m a ghost. I can haunt people now and scare them. Or when she thought that she might have psychic powers her first reaction wasn’t to question it but to try to make a painting fly off the wall. When she thinks she might not be alive, but only dreaming, she immediately tries to will herself to fly. It’s that carelessness - if you can call it that - that I like about her.
I didn’t expect to like But Then I Came Back so much. It didn’t let me go and I read it in like two/three sittings. In my opinion you don’t have to read This Raging Light to be able to pick up the sequel, which is way I really recommend you to get yourself a copy of this great book!
May 17, 2018
Eden lag im Koma, doch nach ihrem Erwachen ist nichts mehr wie zuvor. Sie war nur einen Monat weg, doch ihr Leben scheint sich verändert zu haben, sodass sie keinen Halt mehr findet.
Und dann verliebt sie sich auch noch ausgerechnet in den Angehörigen einer anderen Koma-Patientin, die noch immer schläft. Doch Eden kennt sie trotzdem, denn seit ihre Koma sind die beiden miteinander verbunden ...
Protagonisten
Eden träumt davon, Primaballerina zu werden und mit den Besten zu tanzen. Doch seit einiger Zeit ist sie weniger selbstbewusst und nun muss ihr Körper sich vom Koma erholen und sie glaubt ihren Traum für immer zerstört. Unter anderem nimmt ihr das eine ganze Menge ihrer Motivation. Sie weiß nicht mehr, was sie mit ihrem Tag machen soll und was ihr früher Spaß gemacht hat, ist ihr nun gleichgültig. Sie stößt viele Menschen von sich und benimmt sich oft daneben.
Gleichzeitig sagt sie oft unangemessene Sachen, die sie manchmal aber auch ganz sympathisch machen. Sie ist verletzt und braucht nun einen Neustart, der ihr wieder Lebenswillen schenkt.
Handlung und Schreibstil
Ich wusste vorher nicht, dass dieses Buch eine Fortsetzung zu "Gegen das Glück hat das Schicksal keine Chance" ist, aber man konnte es auch wunderbar ohne das Vorwissen lesen, da hier auch ein anderer Charakter im Fokus ist. Nur hab ich jetzt schon recht genaue Vorstellungen, wie das andere Buch verlaufen muss und hab daher kaum noch Lust drauf, obwohl mir die Handlung womöglich auch gut gefallen hätte.
Ansonsten hat fand ich den Inhalt eigentlich ganz okay, hatte aber ein paar Kritikpunkte. Zum einen lässt der Klappentext erwarten, dass der Schwerpunkt auf der Liebesgeschichte liegt, aber das habe ich auch gar nicht so empfunden. Eher ging es um die Veränderungen nach dem Koma und um das "Dazwischen". Die Entwicklungen, die Eden durchmacht, fand ich wirklich interessant und man konnte ihren inneren Konflikt und ihre Gefühle meist gut nachvollziehen. Nur das "Dazwischen" fand ich leider nicht so schön. Sie haben dem ganzen eben diese leicht paranormale Ebene hinzugefügt und das wäre meiner Meinung nach einfach nicht nötig gewesen.
Fazit
"Während ich vom Leben träumte" hat mir recht gut gefallen, nur die paranormale Ebene des ganzen konnte mich leider gar nicht überzeugen. Es ist aber eine schöne Geschichte über einen Neuanfang.
Und dann verliebt sie sich auch noch ausgerechnet in den Angehörigen einer anderen Koma-Patientin, die noch immer schläft. Doch Eden kennt sie trotzdem, denn seit ihre Koma sind die beiden miteinander verbunden ...
Protagonisten
Eden träumt davon, Primaballerina zu werden und mit den Besten zu tanzen. Doch seit einiger Zeit ist sie weniger selbstbewusst und nun muss ihr Körper sich vom Koma erholen und sie glaubt ihren Traum für immer zerstört. Unter anderem nimmt ihr das eine ganze Menge ihrer Motivation. Sie weiß nicht mehr, was sie mit ihrem Tag machen soll und was ihr früher Spaß gemacht hat, ist ihr nun gleichgültig. Sie stößt viele Menschen von sich und benimmt sich oft daneben.
Gleichzeitig sagt sie oft unangemessene Sachen, die sie manchmal aber auch ganz sympathisch machen. Sie ist verletzt und braucht nun einen Neustart, der ihr wieder Lebenswillen schenkt.
Handlung und Schreibstil
Ich wusste vorher nicht, dass dieses Buch eine Fortsetzung zu "Gegen das Glück hat das Schicksal keine Chance" ist, aber man konnte es auch wunderbar ohne das Vorwissen lesen, da hier auch ein anderer Charakter im Fokus ist. Nur hab ich jetzt schon recht genaue Vorstellungen, wie das andere Buch verlaufen muss und hab daher kaum noch Lust drauf, obwohl mir die Handlung womöglich auch gut gefallen hätte.
Ansonsten hat fand ich den Inhalt eigentlich ganz okay, hatte aber ein paar Kritikpunkte. Zum einen lässt der Klappentext erwarten, dass der Schwerpunkt auf der Liebesgeschichte liegt, aber das habe ich auch gar nicht so empfunden. Eher ging es um die Veränderungen nach dem Koma und um das "Dazwischen". Die Entwicklungen, die Eden durchmacht, fand ich wirklich interessant und man konnte ihren inneren Konflikt und ihre Gefühle meist gut nachvollziehen. Nur das "Dazwischen" fand ich leider nicht so schön. Sie haben dem ganzen eben diese leicht paranormale Ebene hinzugefügt und das wäre meiner Meinung nach einfach nicht nötig gewesen.
Fazit
"Während ich vom Leben träumte" hat mir recht gut gefallen, nur die paranormale Ebene des ganzen konnte mich leider gar nicht überzeugen. Es ist aber eine schöne Geschichte über einen Neuanfang.
April 3, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and decided to review it. This in no ways affects my opinion.
Full review to come tomorrow as part of the blog tour!
Full review to come tomorrow as part of the blog tour!
July 17, 2017
I hadn't realized when I first saw that Estelle Laure had another book that it was a companion to this Raging Light. So when it was Read Now on Netgalley I grabbed it up. While it started a little slow and a bit confusing I really enjoyed it as it got going.
This book had the other characters from This Raging Light but focuses on Eden and her journey back from a coma. She seems to be somewhere stuck between this world and the world she was in when she was in a coma. I was a little trippy at times and honestly I think what confused me at first. While recovering at the hospital Eden visits a fellow patient's room and there meets Joe. Joe wants more than anything to talk to his friend in a coma again. Eden thinks she can help.
The relationship with Joe and Eden was lovely. Eden was having so much trouble relating to and fitting back in with her family and friends and Joe was just someone who she felt ok to be around. I loved when they spent time with his family and their business (they were florists).
This was a quick read and one I wound up enjoying.
This book had the other characters from This Raging Light but focuses on Eden and her journey back from a coma. She seems to be somewhere stuck between this world and the world she was in when she was in a coma. I was a little trippy at times and honestly I think what confused me at first. While recovering at the hospital Eden visits a fellow patient's room and there meets Joe. Joe wants more than anything to talk to his friend in a coma again. Eden thinks she can help.
The relationship with Joe and Eden was lovely. Eden was having so much trouble relating to and fitting back in with her family and friends and Joe was just someone who she felt ok to be around. I loved when they spent time with his family and their business (they were florists).
This was a quick read and one I wound up enjoying.
June 9, 2017
FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG: https://weavinglife.wordpress.com/201...
Okay so first off, I received this book from HachetteNZ, but that doesn't change the fact that I really enjoyed this book.
But then I came back is a contemporary YA novel that focuses on the main character Eden, who has an accident that leads to her falling into a coma.
I was originally really apprehensive over this fact, as I was worried that not enough attention might be given to her recovery, but boy was I wrong and that made me so happy. As someone who has had amajor injury, I know it takes months to recover and I'm so glad that Estelle let majority of the book focus on Eden and her learning to recover, both mentally and physically.
I think my favourite part, was that counselling was seen in a positive light! this rarely happens and honestly it was the best thing to read about.
okay well obviously, this is a contemporary so there is love in here! Eden falls in love with Joe, and vice versa and it was pretty adorable. I know I'm fawning a bit but honestly Estelle wrote so many aspects of this book so well that I can't help but fawn! She let these two characters fall in love, but she never made it the main focus, Joe was busy looking after someone, and Eden was busy recovering and that was so important, to see a contemporary novel that didn't make the love the main focus and I loved that.
I did deduct a star because it took me so long to get into and it just didn't feel like a 5 star book to me.
Overall I think if you enjoy contemporaries, you should really consider picking this one up!
Okay so first off, I received this book from HachetteNZ, but that doesn't change the fact that I really enjoyed this book.
But then I came back is a contemporary YA novel that focuses on the main character Eden, who has an accident that leads to her falling into a coma.
I was originally really apprehensive over this fact, as I was worried that not enough attention might be given to her recovery, but boy was I wrong and that made me so happy. As someone who has had amajor injury, I know it takes months to recover and I'm so glad that Estelle let majority of the book focus on Eden and her learning to recover, both mentally and physically.
I think my favourite part, was that counselling was seen in a positive light! this rarely happens and honestly it was the best thing to read about.
okay well obviously, this is a contemporary so there is love in here! Eden falls in love with Joe, and vice versa and it was pretty adorable. I know I'm fawning a bit but honestly Estelle wrote so many aspects of this book so well that I can't help but fawn! She let these two characters fall in love, but she never made it the main focus, Joe was busy looking after someone, and Eden was busy recovering and that was so important, to see a contemporary novel that didn't make the love the main focus and I loved that.
I did deduct a star because it took me so long to get into and it just didn't feel like a 5 star book to me.
Overall I think if you enjoy contemporaries, you should really consider picking this one up!
November 14, 2024
At first I was really disappointed by the 2nd book because it felt like the whole story and characters from the first one were being abandoned. But this one ended up being even better because it formed a new complicated relationship between two characters. All in all, I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it to people who like books of this genre.
April 11, 2017
*I received a copy of this book from Hachette NZ in exchange for an honest review*
It was fantastic. The end. But not really. Full review to come.
It was fantastic. The end. But not really. Full review to come.
January 9, 2017
This companion novel to This Raging Light returns readers to the same cast of loveable characters and the same incredibly lyrical writing, but also brings new possibilities and ideas in a story of facing life, understanding death, and finding hope.
Eden Jones has been in a coma for weeks, but to her it feels like only a small amount of time has passed. She has to come to terms with life as it is now - her best friend dating her brother, no more ballet, smoothies and shakes instead of solid food, and mood swings that drive her crazy. She has questions about what comes After that no one wants to talk about, Oh, and now she can see things that no one else can see. It seems that the only person who might have answers is the girl in the hospital room next to Eden's - but she's still in a coma. And then there is Joe, the sole visitor for the girl in the next room over, to whom Eden is inexplicably drawn and yet seems so untouchable.
I don't know why, but it wasn't until quarter way through this book that I realised that Lucille was the Lucille from This Raging Light. And that meant Digby was Digby, the brother of her best friend with whom she wasn't supposed to fall in love. And Eden, now our main character, was Eden the best friend, who slipped, cracked her head and entered a coma in the last section of This Raging Light. It was Wren's name and a sentence about her cooking dinner that finally triggered my admittedly slow brain to catch up. For some reason I hadn't pegged this book as a companion novel. And in a way, it doesn't have to be. It is its own story, complete in its own right, but it is also seamlessly woven into This Raging Light.
So I decided to reread This Raging Light first before finishing But Then I Came Back. And I'm so glad, because 1) This Raging Light is awesome and I loved rereading it and 2) it's all there. Eden's accident and coma. Her references to her brother and best-friend's relationship, even her early coming out of a coma haunting - except from Lucille's perspective. It really makes But Then I Came Back so much more amazing. I loved that we readers now get to discover Eden's story and that at the same time we can continue Lucille, Wren and Digby's story.
Eden is an intriguing narrator. This is her story and she tells it like she wants to. She is juggling a lot of issues, both from before her accident as well as from the aftermath, including her strange new 'visions'.
This book combines romance, family relationships, and magical realism, as well as Eden's. self-...not so much discovery as affirmation, as she questions her existence and purpose. But Then I Came Back is a beautiful novel that only confirms Estelle Laure as a very talented author.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
Eden Jones has been in a coma for weeks, but to her it feels like only a small amount of time has passed. She has to come to terms with life as it is now - her best friend dating her brother, no more ballet, smoothies and shakes instead of solid food, and mood swings that drive her crazy. She has questions about what comes After that no one wants to talk about, Oh, and now she can see things that no one else can see. It seems that the only person who might have answers is the girl in the hospital room next to Eden's - but she's still in a coma. And then there is Joe, the sole visitor for the girl in the next room over, to whom Eden is inexplicably drawn and yet seems so untouchable.
I don't know why, but it wasn't until quarter way through this book that I realised that Lucille was the Lucille from This Raging Light. And that meant Digby was Digby, the brother of her best friend with whom she wasn't supposed to fall in love. And Eden, now our main character, was Eden the best friend, who slipped, cracked her head and entered a coma in the last section of This Raging Light. It was Wren's name and a sentence about her cooking dinner that finally triggered my admittedly slow brain to catch up. For some reason I hadn't pegged this book as a companion novel. And in a way, it doesn't have to be. It is its own story, complete in its own right, but it is also seamlessly woven into This Raging Light.
So I decided to reread This Raging Light first before finishing But Then I Came Back. And I'm so glad, because 1) This Raging Light is awesome and I loved rereading it and 2) it's all there. Eden's accident and coma. Her references to her brother and best-friend's relationship, even her early coming out of a coma haunting - except from Lucille's perspective. It really makes But Then I Came Back so much more amazing. I loved that we readers now get to discover Eden's story and that at the same time we can continue Lucille, Wren and Digby's story.
Eden is an intriguing narrator. This is her story and she tells it like she wants to. She is juggling a lot of issues, both from before her accident as well as from the aftermath, including her strange new 'visions'.
This book combines romance, family relationships, and magical realism, as well as Eden's. self-...not so much discovery as affirmation, as she questions her existence and purpose. But Then I Came Back is a beautiful novel that only confirms Estelle Laure as a very talented author.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
February 14, 2017
As expected, I lapped up every single word of Laure's second novel. She is a master of voice and knows how to turn a damn phrase better than anyone I've ever read. No lie. This book is a fascinating look at life after death, life during life, and first love. A must-read.
April 30, 2018
I was pretty excited to read this book, but I ended up being a little disappointed. The writing in this book flows really well, and the writer is very poetic. I just think I expected a little more after reading that synopsis, 'dragging something back from the afterlife'. I expected there to be a little more drama with Eden, Jasmine and the afterlife and I don't feel like I got that at all. I feel like this is just more about Eden dealing with what she went through.
I did enjoy Eden's character a lot. She was very likable. I also found her to be pretty relatable and believable as well. She did not portray a spoiled teenager, which I was a little worried about, so that was great. I can't handle that kind of character who is all about herself and everyone else can kiss her hind end. The romance that blossomed between her and Joe was not rushed, which was also great, and it was definitely not overdone.
For a YA Romance I guess this is pretty good. Like I said, I expected it to be much different, maybe more like a YA paranormal thriller or something along those lines.
I did enjoy Eden's character a lot. She was very likable. I also found her to be pretty relatable and believable as well. She did not portray a spoiled teenager, which I was a little worried about, so that was great. I can't handle that kind of character who is all about herself and everyone else can kiss her hind end. The romance that blossomed between her and Joe was not rushed, which was also great, and it was definitely not overdone.
For a YA Romance I guess this is pretty good. Like I said, I expected it to be much different, maybe more like a YA paranormal thriller or something along those lines.
February 13, 2018
This book... was a mess I'm sorry to say. I adored This Raging Light and was so excited for this companion book. But I'm so confused as to the point of this book? It felt unfocused and even the writing style changed page to page.
April 23, 2020
this book was..interesting. I didn't like how they treated the main character at all. also i skipped over some of the pages because honestly it got quite boring. i wouldn't scream at you to read this book but if you have the time, which we all do, i guess give it a shot? (half-hearted rec i know)
May 1, 2017
A contemplative novel about afterlife and the impact of events in life, the story revolves around Eden, a secondary character from This Raging Light, who towards the end of that novel had an accident and slipped into a coma. Now, in But Then I Came Back, Eden wakes a month later to find out that her world has changed. She hasn't been around for the momentous changes that had wrapped up the previous novel, and in this new life where she is recovering basic human functions like eating and walking again, to find out that she has lost her best friend to her brother feels to her like she isn't even present in her life. Her psyche is definitely affected by the coma, and the recovery, but there has been another change - she can see black flowers all around, and she remembers the time of being In Between, where she had met another comatose girl Jaz(more specifically the girl in the bed next to her) that she forms an instant connection with.
Navigating this post-coma life, Eden struggles to figure out what ties her down to her life now. In the In Between, she was free from troubles and worries; living now feels like a burden (but not that she is suicidal). But along with Joe, Jaz's best friend, whom she promises to help to connect with Jaz, and some much-needed therapy, she starts to find reasons to rejoice in life. She starts to pick up the pieces and be optimistic in the face of an uncertain life, because the uncertainty of death has been alleviated some. Eden's character in TRL was not much known, but here she comes across as a focused, prickly in-control girl who came out of her coma a slightly more prickly version of herself.
Now, the romance, while a subplot, still drives the plot to quite a degree. Joe is somewhat similar to Digby in that both boys had a previous girl whom they felt strongly attached to, and felt guilty about their new feelings. Also, the hot-cold nature of their interactions were quite similar, as was the almost constant swooning on their respective girl lead's parts. It was, in a word, repetitive. And Lucille is pretty much a minor secondary character in this one, despite being Eden's best friend. Their friendship, which was so intense in TRL, is now a fizzled out firework, and while I felt it was more in response to Eden's after-coma life, I still felt a bit betrayed that their friendship had to change too.
Overall, it is an emotional, thought-provoking book and a good read for contemporary lovers.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from HMH Books for Young Readers, via Netgalley.
Navigating this post-coma life, Eden struggles to figure out what ties her down to her life now. In the In Between, she was free from troubles and worries; living now feels like a burden (but not that she is suicidal). But along with Joe, Jaz's best friend, whom she promises to help to connect with Jaz, and some much-needed therapy, she starts to find reasons to rejoice in life. She starts to pick up the pieces and be optimistic in the face of an uncertain life, because the uncertainty of death has been alleviated some. Eden's character in TRL was not much known, but here she comes across as a focused, prickly in-control girl who came out of her coma a slightly more prickly version of herself.
Now, the romance, while a subplot, still drives the plot to quite a degree. Joe is somewhat similar to Digby in that both boys had a previous girl whom they felt strongly attached to, and felt guilty about their new feelings. Also, the hot-cold nature of their interactions were quite similar, as was the almost constant swooning on their respective girl lead's parts. It was, in a word, repetitive. And Lucille is pretty much a minor secondary character in this one, despite being Eden's best friend. Their friendship, which was so intense in TRL, is now a fizzled out firework, and while I felt it was more in response to Eden's after-coma life, I still felt a bit betrayed that their friendship had to change too.
Overall, it is an emotional, thought-provoking book and a good read for contemporary lovers.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from HMH Books for Young Readers, via Netgalley.
March 23, 2017
* Received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much! This doesn’t affect the review in any way. My opinions are, as always, my own.*
4.5stars
When I started reading this book I didn't even know about This Raging Light. Only when I ended this, I saw that they are connected. The main character changes in this book, and I feel that there's only so little that we miss. That said, I don't think that it's needed to read the other book prior to this one.
I really liked this book and especially the theme. I read it all in one day, which is saying a lot since I still had work, but somehow I still managed, which surprised me!
This book starts in a way that made me a bit lost but it still managed to grip me pretty soon and I just wanted to know more and more of what was going on! I will try not to enter in much details but mainly, this book talks about during and after coma experiences.
Now, not everybody believes in the same things and certainly not everybody passed through it. I never lived anything remotely similar but I always found the theme really interesting and intriguing.
The story was made really believable, although it also talked about channeling, which is once again not something everybody believes. It might be difficult for some people to connect with the book, since a lot of the themes are very controversial. I did like that part tho, it makes it a bit more mysterious and I like to believe that is possible, although I'm a bit skeptical.
The characters were all very realistic and interesting, and after some pages I was already rooting for Eden and Joe. They are just so cute together! I really liked all the characters and all the support Eden got from them, after her accident, but that at the same time they wouldn't let her just act stupid with them. I liked that she was not treated like a vegetable. I also really enjoyed that the hospital environment was very helpful - it would be amazing if it was always like that in real life... And I obviously have to mention Jasmine in here, because I really liked her part in the book, it was simple but it was beautiful!
This book made me cry once in a while and I thought it was extremely adorable. It also had a slightly bittersweet aftertaste, which I was quite happy about. I do think it might not be a book for everybody but I definitely recommend it!
4.5stars
When I started reading this book I didn't even know about This Raging Light. Only when I ended this, I saw that they are connected. The main character changes in this book, and I feel that there's only so little that we miss. That said, I don't think that it's needed to read the other book prior to this one.
I really liked this book and especially the theme. I read it all in one day, which is saying a lot since I still had work, but somehow I still managed, which surprised me!
This book starts in a way that made me a bit lost but it still managed to grip me pretty soon and I just wanted to know more and more of what was going on! I will try not to enter in much details but mainly, this book talks about during and after coma experiences.
Now, not everybody believes in the same things and certainly not everybody passed through it. I never lived anything remotely similar but I always found the theme really interesting and intriguing.
The story was made really believable, although it also talked about channeling, which is once again not something everybody believes. It might be difficult for some people to connect with the book, since a lot of the themes are very controversial. I did like that part tho, it makes it a bit more mysterious and I like to believe that is possible, although I'm a bit skeptical.
The characters were all very realistic and interesting, and after some pages I was already rooting for Eden and Joe. They are just so cute together! I really liked all the characters and all the support Eden got from them, after her accident, but that at the same time they wouldn't let her just act stupid with them. I liked that she was not treated like a vegetable. I also really enjoyed that the hospital environment was very helpful - it would be amazing if it was always like that in real life... And I obviously have to mention Jasmine in here, because I really liked her part in the book, it was simple but it was beautiful!
This book made me cry once in a while and I thought it was extremely adorable. It also had a slightly bittersweet aftertaste, which I was quite happy about. I do think it might not be a book for everybody but I definitely recommend it!
March 28, 2017
This one was an enjoyable one, without a doubt. It has a very interesting premise, one that I was immediately drawn to. The author handled the subject in a great way, making it interesting and thought-provoking. There wasn't even a single moment of boredom and by the last page, I was fully satisfied. And looking forward to finding other books that deal with this subject.
Eden Jones before was a dancer. She was determined, she was focused, and sometimes may have come off as a snob. The Eden that came back, after a month in a coma, doesn't really know who she is anymore. She doesn't even feel like she is REALLY here, most of the time. One thing she does know is that she brought something back from In Between. And it has something to do with the girl in a coma down the hall from her. She is fascinated by the girl, making up stories about her life and who she is. She is also fascinated with the boy, the one who comes every day to bring flowers, always white, to the girl from In Between. After meeting the boy, Joe, and learning who Jaz really is, Eden is believes that she can get Jaz back, that she can still reach her, somehow, and wake her up.
Eden's journey back from the In Between is a lot more than just waking up, it is figuring out who she really is. Remembering what matters the most. And finding an impossible love along the way. Eden Jones after is a friend, a daughter, a sister, and she is a dancer. And she might have found her ever after in a wonderful, broken boy named Joe. All because of a girl named Jaz, whom she met In Between.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It isn't fast paced or full of action, but it is full of thought-provoking moments, and emotions that run the gamut. I loved watching Eden's struggle to rejoin the living, even though she felt drawn to that other place. Her relationship with Joe was intriguing from the onset, and I loved the progression of it. The addition of Jaz was an intriguing aspect of an already interesting story. My other favorite aspect of the story was the relationships between Eden and everyone in her life from before. The struggles they all faced, trying to find a new "happy medium" seemed very genuine. From beginning to end, I was intrigued with this story, and I am really glad that I was able to read and review it.
I look forward to reading more from this awesome writer, and here's hoping that all of her book covers to come are as amazing as this one!
Eden Jones before was a dancer. She was determined, she was focused, and sometimes may have come off as a snob. The Eden that came back, after a month in a coma, doesn't really know who she is anymore. She doesn't even feel like she is REALLY here, most of the time. One thing she does know is that she brought something back from In Between. And it has something to do with the girl in a coma down the hall from her. She is fascinated by the girl, making up stories about her life and who she is. She is also fascinated with the boy, the one who comes every day to bring flowers, always white, to the girl from In Between. After meeting the boy, Joe, and learning who Jaz really is, Eden is believes that she can get Jaz back, that she can still reach her, somehow, and wake her up.
Eden's journey back from the In Between is a lot more than just waking up, it is figuring out who she really is. Remembering what matters the most. And finding an impossible love along the way. Eden Jones after is a friend, a daughter, a sister, and she is a dancer. And she might have found her ever after in a wonderful, broken boy named Joe. All because of a girl named Jaz, whom she met In Between.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It isn't fast paced or full of action, but it is full of thought-provoking moments, and emotions that run the gamut. I loved watching Eden's struggle to rejoin the living, even though she felt drawn to that other place. Her relationship with Joe was intriguing from the onset, and I loved the progression of it. The addition of Jaz was an intriguing aspect of an already interesting story. My other favorite aspect of the story was the relationships between Eden and everyone in her life from before. The struggles they all faced, trying to find a new "happy medium" seemed very genuine. From beginning to end, I was intrigued with this story, and I am really glad that I was able to read and review it.
I look forward to reading more from this awesome writer, and here's hoping that all of her book covers to come are as amazing as this one!
August 7, 2017
I just finished this book in one sitting, and ohmygosh, I am feeling allll the emotions right now. I cannot put into words how beautiful, touching, inspiring and thought-provoking this book was for me. I bought it at a steal for just £2 in The Works, and didn't know that it was a companion novel to Laure's other novel, This Raging Light (which I definitely need to get my hands on now!). However, the book is completely fine to read as a stand-alone. Following the journey of Eden as she emerges from a coma, a beautiful story of love, loss, acceptance and new beginnings blooms from Laure's engaging, heartfelt prose. I was entranced the whole way through, desperate to turn each page of Eden, Joe and Jasmine's story. As I myself am going through a tough time at the moment with my anxiety, this book really was the perfect read for me to escape into and connect with Eden as she herself struggles in her day to day life as she transitions into post-coma life. I loved the concept of the other side being filled with love and happiness, and I really liked the structure of the book having little snippets from survivors of death (from what I'm assuming is a fictional book, but it really made the ending the more sweeter) and I also really liked the unique chapter titles doubling up as sentence starters — something simple but very quirky and refreshing! The pace and progression of the story was lovely, my only negative being that I wanted more, I felt like there definitely was room for some more closure at the ending. Overall, I would rate this book a 4.5/5 - I didn't cry whilst reading, but it really was such a touching, beautiful read that I know I'll return to again and again when I'm feeling down. ❤
October 28, 2017
I read This Raging Light a while back. The book took me several attempts to get into because the writing is unique and I had to be in the right frame of mind to read it. I think this was the same. I only bought it recently and picked it up a couple of times. It was this attempt on a Saturday when I didn't want to do a whole lot that this book clicked for me and the writing was just enchanting as in This Raging Light.
This book delves a little into magical realism and was insanely interesting. The story was so good because we are all intrigues by death so for someone to return from a coma and near death and the experiences then and after are interesting. It was not wholly unrealistic to think that a brush with death could change things.
Eden wasn't my favourite character in the first book. She could be mean and selfish and she still is in this one. But getting to see in her head and her thoughts made her so much easier to like. And I found myself instead getting frustrated with Lucille and Digby and their attitude to Eden (seeing a parallel here cos I was thinking the opposite in This Raging Light). All the characters act out of love. Even at my most frustrated I never hated any of the characters. This was definitely a book of growth, metamorphosis, and generally what happens when life continues.
I adored the writing. Laure once more demonstrated great skill in sucking me completely into a story. I stayed up late to finish this one and I'm glad I did. If feared I'd be disappointed by the companion novel to This Raging Light but this one met and exceeded expectations.
This book delves a little into magical realism and was insanely interesting. The story was so good because we are all intrigues by death so for someone to return from a coma and near death and the experiences then and after are interesting. It was not wholly unrealistic to think that a brush with death could change things.
Eden wasn't my favourite character in the first book. She could be mean and selfish and she still is in this one. But getting to see in her head and her thoughts made her so much easier to like. And I found myself instead getting frustrated with Lucille and Digby and their attitude to Eden (seeing a parallel here cos I was thinking the opposite in This Raging Light). All the characters act out of love. Even at my most frustrated I never hated any of the characters. This was definitely a book of growth, metamorphosis, and generally what happens when life continues.
I adored the writing. Laure once more demonstrated great skill in sucking me completely into a story. I stayed up late to finish this one and I'm glad I did. If feared I'd be disappointed by the companion novel to This Raging Light but this one met and exceeded expectations.
June 15, 2017
I'm gonna take the plunge and give this 5 stars!! This was really gorgeous. The more "lyrical" style of writing isn't always my cup of tea but it really suited the subject matter and the character. I loved the emotional, sort of fantastical, magical elements woven throughout. I loved how well the author was able to portray a character recovering from a bad accident, concussion and month-long coma. While not being in her situation, having dealt with chronic illness for a long time, there's a lot I can relate to regarding all of the emotional, mental, physical changes and struggles. I like that nothing was sugar coated. I like that she had moments (or long moments) of kind of going crazy, times where she ended up sleeping for days because it's what her body was asking for (until her mother woke her up after conferring with the doctor). I loved how Eden would say whatever came into her head, even if it seemed kind of flighty and disjointed. I love the idea of having a complete life altering experience and having to rebuild yourself and see what of your former self/life you even want anymore. And of course I loved the supernatural element - magical but believable, not far from the truth of what people experience. All thumbs way up.
June 11, 2018
Eden has been stuck in a coma since she fell and hit her head. Now she’s slowly waking up and learning how to live again, but that can be hard when what you used to know is now different and the things you experienced while in a coma no one understands. This was the companion, and concluding novel to This Raging Light and it was a really good conclusion to this story and these characters. The author chose to change the point of view, but the reader still gets the ending that is satisfying to the characters of the previous book. It was really well executed; the plot was well done and thought provoking, asking the tough questions about the afterlife and the in-between. This was definitely a fast-paced, paging-turning novel about a girl just trying to get her life back and Laure did a great job portraying just that. Her characters had their flaws, but it was those flaws that made them human and relatable. Even though the first book in this duology wasn’t the best, this book definitely makes up for it.
April 17, 2017
A companion novel to This Raging Light, we follow Eden after she wakes from a coma.
The story focuses on some mystical exploration of what happens after death. Eden remembers feeling like she was in another place. She sees black flowers, and has to learn to live her life again.
A romance of sorts develops with Joe, the best friend of the girl in the nearby room (who's also in a coma, and whom Eden is convinced she met before waking up).
This was reasonably interesting, but Eden still comes across as too keen to judge others/slightly lacking in self-awareness.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.
The story focuses on some mystical exploration of what happens after death. Eden remembers feeling like she was in another place. She sees black flowers, and has to learn to live her life again.
A romance of sorts develops with Joe, the best friend of the girl in the nearby room (who's also in a coma, and whom Eden is convinced she met before waking up).
This was reasonably interesting, but Eden still comes across as too keen to judge others/slightly lacking in self-awareness.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.
April 14, 2017
I was lucky enough to be able to read this book courtesy of netgalley.com and the publisher in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this engaging treatment of Eden, a teenager who has a near death experience following an accident which leaves her comatose for four weeks and when she wakes up finds herself in a much altered reality. I found the characterisation of Eden and Joe very sympathetic and the growth of their relationship totally believable. There is much to pull on your heartstrings here and I have no hesitation in recommending it with no reservations.
I really enjoyed this engaging treatment of Eden, a teenager who has a near death experience following an accident which leaves her comatose for four weeks and when she wakes up finds herself in a much altered reality. I found the characterisation of Eden and Joe very sympathetic and the growth of their relationship totally believable. There is much to pull on your heartstrings here and I have no hesitation in recommending it with no reservations.
April 12, 2017
Read this in three sittings over the course of today! Such a beautiful book -can stand alone as a compelling story about life, death and everything in between- but is likely more satisfying when read right after Laure's magnificent debut, This Raging Light. I highly recommend both books, as Laure has a beautiful way with words. I especially liked the chapter titles as well as the letters from people who had near-death experiences.
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