Resurrecting Sunshine

by Lisa A. Koosis

At seventeen, Adam Rhodes is famous, living on his own, and in a downward spiral since he lost the girl he loved. Marybeth―stage name Sunshine―was his best friend from the days they were foster kids; then she was his girlfriend and his band mate. But since her accidental death, he's been drinking to deal with the memories. Until one day, an unexpected visitor, Dr. Elloran, presents Adam with a proposition that just might save him from himself. Using breakthrough cloning and memory-implantation techniques, Dr. Elloran and the scientists at Project Orpheus want to resurrect Marybeth, and they need Adam to "donate" intimate memories of his life with her. The memory retrieval process forces Adam to relive his life with Marybeth and the devastating path that brought them both to fame. Along the way, he must confront not only the circumstances of her death but also his growing relationship with the mysterious Genevieve, daughter of Project Orpheus's founder. As the process sweeps Adam and Marybeth ever closer to reliving the tragedy that destroyed them, Adam must decide how far he'll go to save her.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Book Club, Fiction, Relationships

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2016

About the author

LISA A. KOOSIS is an award-winning short story writer, whose work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Family Circle, The Poughkeepsie Journal, and the Hugo-nominated Abyss & Apex. Lisa is a member of the SCBWI, an ambassador for National Novel Writing Month, and an active member of her local writing community. Her debut YA sci-fi novel, Resurrecting Sunshine, was released by Albert Whitman & Co in October 2016.

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company and NetGalley.)

“Sunshine is dead. So tell me. How are you going to ‘give her back’?”

This was a sci-fi story about cloning a dead rock-star.

Adam was an okay character, and I liked that he was so torn over whether cloning Sunshine was a good idea. I also liked the way that he stood up for what he believed, even when it got him in trouble.

The storyline in this was about Adam being asked to re-enact some memories as part of the process of building up the cloned Sunshine’s memories. We got to see quite a lot of these memories, and we got a bit of romance as well, but I didn’t find the story all that gripping, and it really did struggle to hold my interest.

The ending to this was okay, and I did appreciate the whole ‘clones wanting to be their own person’ thing.



5 out of 10

[Lee Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official comments:
Thrilling, inventive and heartbreaking all at once, Koosis’ stunning debut about love and loss – and the lengths we will go to for second chances – is impossible to put down and even harder to stop thinking about. I loved this book, and I guarantee you will too.

Unofficial comments:
Ahhhhhhhhhhh this book is amazing and totally ripped my heart out!!

[Atomic Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam is heartbroken and has been trying to drink himself into oblivion for the past year because he can't live with the memories of Marybeth. She was his best friend, girlfriend, and bandmate before she drowned. But to the rest of the world, Marybeth was Sunshine, a famous singer who met a tragic end. So Adam finds himself truly shocked when Dr. Elloran tells him about the Orpheus Proect and how Sunshine can be cloned and resurrected with the help of the memories locked in his brain. With his help, they can rebuild Sunshine's consciousness and give her a second chance at fame. As Adam travels to an exotic island to start the process, he's overwhelmed with the memories of Marybeth and the person she was before Sunshine and he wonders if this new clone will be the same girl he longs for so badly.

So far, this book has been one of the most pleasant surprises from the ARCs that I received at BEA. I'd never heard of it before and almost didn't pick it up and bring it home with me, but I'm SO glad that I did. I loved this book from start to finish. I also really appreciated the writing style, especially the structure of how you got the flashbacks of Adam's memories and his history with Marybeth. I especially couldn't get enough of Gina, a teenage girl living at the Orpheus Project's medical center that befriends Adam. She was the perfect balance in the book to making sure that you didn't get too stuck on Adam's mourning and worries as the story moved forward.

I can't necessarily call this book a physiological thriller in the traditional sense, because it's not that kind of thriller, but I flew through reading this book because I didn't want to put it down. The questions that this books asks in the subtext and makes you think about are so great. If you clone a person and give them all the same memories, will they be the same? Is it better to keep the dead dead or to bring them back to life? This is a book that once you finish it, it sticks with you and I highly recommend that you mark your calendars for when you can pick up a copy and see for yourself.

Resurrecting Sunshine is currently scheduled for release in September 2016.

Rating: 5 out of 5

**Special thanks to Albert Whitman & Company Publishing. I received a free ARC of this book at BookExpo America 2016 and chose to write an honest review.**

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story had exciting parts and an enjoyable layer of mystery. I predicted the major twists which was kind of disapointing but I liked that I was never sure if I could trust the scientist or if the cloning was really going to work. However I recently read a fast pace cloning story written by an indie author and I think this book just didnt live up to it. I know I shouldnt compare books but I cant help it sometimes.

This is more of a character driven story and for the most part I felt indifferent towards the characters. I did enjoy Gens character more than Adams but Im not a big fan of character driven stories in general. A captivating plot needs to be present to keep me interested. The writing had a magical way of pulling me into the story considering I got bored with all the memories and the plot moving so slowly.

In my opinion the writing and the intrigue was the best part but waiting to meet Sunshine really dragged. It was difficult to care about a character I hadnt met. The ending wasnt that satisfying and I wonder if I should have dnf it at 65 percent like I wanted to. I really appreciated Adams struggle to recover from his addiction to alcohol and his difficult childhood. I related to him in that sense and his struggle felt reaslitic.

If you're looking for a cloning story thats character driven then give this book a try, but if you're like me and want something more focused on a fast pace plot try Transference by Overby. They both have their pros and cons, it really depends on what kind of reader you are.

*Reveived Copy From Netgalley in Exchange For an Honest Review*

[RP · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep, dark, book that surprises and ultimately delights. Because so much of this book is about grief, it's not easy, but it rewards the reader who is brave enough to confront what we all must confront at some point in our lives. Luckily, Resurrecting Sunshine teaches a lesson about why grief is necessary. A YA novel that asks big questions. I like questions. Especially ones that do not have clear answers. No one in this book is easily pinned down. To me, that is what makes a good novel: complex characters and situations. We can never know anyone completely. I'm always happy to see this reflected in fiction. By the end, I was very moved.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company for sending me a copy!

The writing style of book reminded me so much of I'll Give You the Sun, but kinda like a milder version of it? And if you know me, you'll know that I love love LOVED IGYTS. Which was why I was stuck between rating this book 4.7 stars and 5 stars (I rated IGYTS 5/5 stars). But, in the end, I decided on 5/5 stars because it was truly an enjoyable read.

Another thing I liked about this book is the pace at which the plot unraveled. It got me hooked from the very beginning and never slowed down. I'd say it was an engaging read. The idea of the story contributed much to the appeal of the book as well. The whole concept of cloning humans as well as recreating their memories really intrigued me, and was part of the reason I was so hooked by the book.

I especially loved the debates that crop up throughout the story, like whether a dead person should be resurrected or the part about having a choice about how you live your life, that you have a choice to either throw your life away or survive through the odds. Those topics really opened up my mind and got me thinking about my opinions on them.

Plus, I really liked how the ending played out!

Overall, an interesting, engaging read with great writing style!

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)

Actual rating - 2.5

This wasn't awful, but it wasn't a book that I can say that I really enjoyed. It just really struggled to keep my interest, so I spent the majority of it feeling quite bored. It dragged in areas because of it, unfortunately.

Overall, Not a very enjoyable read for me.

[Valeria Navarro (Valeriia.Navarr) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow
Simply wow

[Heather Moser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 - 3 stars. 😕

[Kris Mauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed Resurrecting Sunshine. It was a captivating story that deals with grief in a beautiful way.

"And what about you, Adam Rhodes, orphan, lost your bandmates, lost the love of your life? You're still standing, aren't you? You chose to survive."

Adam awakes from a dream/nightmare about his girlfriend, who passed away almost a year ago. It's clear that Adam is still grieving as he immediately reaches for alcohol to numb his pain.. And that's pretty much all we know about Adam as the story begins.

A doctor from Project Orpheus shows up to tell him that they are planning to bring Sunshine back, AKA Marybeth who was Adam's girlfriend that passed away. They need help with some of her memories, and that's where Adam comes into play.. After being completely thrown off guard and angry, he eventually agrees to this craziness. He heads off to this secret location as he clings to hope that he'll finally be able to right his wrongs.

As Adam gets situated at Project Orpheus there are a few more characters introduced into the story. I enjoyed all of them and what they brought to the story. My favorite is Gen who is an intelligent and brave young girl. She helps Adam in a way that represented true friendship, and I loved that she brought forth a new layer to him. Even with the addition of Gen, I still felt like all I knew about Adam was his grief. . . But maybe that was the point?

We learn more about Adam and Marybeth as Adam relives his memories. I truly felt for him as he continues to question if he's doing the right thing. As a reader, we can see all the problems behind Adam's decisions, but the writing was great in that way because it was like when will he realize them himself? That's what made this story intriguing.

There are so many twists/revelations as the story continues! Some people might find them predictable, but I was actually surprised by the majority of them. The cloning process was interesting, and it was explored to its full potential for this certain story to be told. This is more of a story about grief and moving on than it is sci-fi. I think Lisa A. Koosis did a wonderful job at balancing out the two to tell a great story.

By the end, I understood these characters in a way I never thought I would.. Even Marybeth. The writing became a bit confusing when it came to the memories, but it wasn't a downfall. I loved the idea behind this book, the way Adam needed to go through this process as a way of dealing with his grief and understanding of Marybeth's death. He does somewhat get answers to questions most people won't ever be able to get answers to in our own reality, but the way Koosis made me (a reader) feel was as if it was okay not to always have a certain answer.

The ending was unexpected. This book had a rough beginning but in the end I really enjoyed it. The theme of this book is what made me enjoy it. Finding that you can't just run away from your pain. You must choose to look, heal, and survive. Choose your own life and only yours.


* Quotes listed above are subject to change.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much love for this book, and for so many reasons. First off, I’ve always been drawn to stories that take science fiction constructs and apply them to the here-and-now. In the case of Resurrecting Sunshine, Koosis uses the concept of cloning to explore big questions, like, just because we can play god and bring someone back from the dead, should we? Or, how do we decide who gets a do-over, and what happens if the clone deviates from the original? Important questions, which collectively shed light on what it means to be human.

Second, I have such appreciation for the inventive story structure. The plot is determined in large part by the memories grieving, rock-guitarist Adam chooses to share about the love-of-his-life Marybeth, known to the world as the singer Sunshine. Sometimes he recalls moments from their earliest days, as two angry foster kids pitted against the world. Other times, Adam dwells on the birth of the band that became their family, and later the source of so much sadness. And sometimes, it’s a recollection from the days just before Sunshine’s end. But every memory that Adam doles out is a clue, each serving to peel back the mystery shrouding Marybeth/Sunshine’s tragic death.

Another thing Koosis does so well is people her tale with real, flesh and blood characters, especially Gen, the caring, sensitive daughter of the Project Orpheus’ founder, a girl with secrets almost as deep as Adam’s and Marybeth’s, and of course, Adam. It’s not always easy being in his head, but given the suffering and turmoil he’s experienced, his anger and bitterness are understandable and appropriate when every day he’s being forced to relive a history and a relationship that was usually more bitter than sweet.

Finally, I have to give a shout out to the writing. Gorgeous, gorgeous prose. From this gem, right at the beginning: “We step out onto the beach. Dark, flat-bottomed clouds hang low over us, and fat raindrops crater the sand. There’s no one here but us and the gulls, which tip their heads back and screech, cries that sound like laughter” to this, at the midpoint, “I imagine the memories they’re retrieving travelling along the wires, no longer bits and bytes, ones and zeros, but a yellow (black?) liquid that bubbles through a moonshiner’s still.” For me, it doesn’t get better than that.

Resurrecting Sunshine is a deeply moving story of love and loss, guilt and grief, sacrifice and, possibly, if you’re lucky, second chances. It’s a story that will mess with your head and your heart in the best of all possible ways.

[Lobsang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Amazing!

I love stories that stay with you way after you finish the last page. Stories that transcend the pages and keeps you thinking about it. this is one of those!

In Resurrecting Sunshine, there is Adam, a boy whose life had spiraled down since he lost the girl he loved; and there’s a promise from the mysterious Dr. Elloran: they can bring her back. But should they? Will Sunshine (or Marybeth for Adam) will be the same?

The premise is fascinating, and the novel didn’t disappoint me. It is so beautifully written that many times I was just wowed by the prose; it took me right into each scene and kept me wondering what will happen next. It has some really good twists, and the last chapters were just a roller-coaster that kept me on the edge of my seat!!!

[Kimberly Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resurrecting Sunshine is my favorite type of books--it's a story that makes you think. And it lingers with you long after you've closed the cover. On it's surface, Adam may seem like he's caught in the middle of a debate about the ethics of cloning (interesting in and of itself) but the questions raised by Koosis are much more complicated than that. As we follow the story of Sunshine's life and death, we being to ask ourselves about second chances, forgiveness, acceptance and love. And as it always happens with the most thought provoking books--the answers will often surprise you. Can't wait to see what Koosis writes next. I'm a fan.

[Wendopolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resurrecting Sunshine is a solid debut from an excellent writer. The characters are well-drawn and Adam's anguish is clearly felt. The majority of the book deals with Adam's guilt and sorrow at the loss of Sunshine, and the ethics of cloning. At first Adam's desperate for the technology to work, to have his Marybeth again, but his mind begins to change as the full ramifications of bringing her back become clear. As much as I wanted to see the Marybeth that Adam knew, I was satisfied with how it ended, which is a feat not all authors accomplish.

I would definitely recommend this.

[Shreya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I'd never liked sci-fi resurrection stories, so the plot didn't really agree with me. I did like the character development though, and I enjoyed watching Adam grapple with life and the meaning of death as he helped to bring Marybeth/Sunshine back.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully crafted & one of the most moving and thought provoking YA novels I've read in a long while.

[Julia Combes · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75… Very neat concept for the book. It is YA so there is not as much meat behind the technique used for the resurrecting science. Some of the characters didn’t stay true to their values especially nearing the end. The language used to describe was plain and I was bored at times. Touches heavily about memories, love and grief.

[T Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resurrecting Sunshine is a riveting book, that keeps you guessing what the outcome will be in a high stakes story of loss of what we hold most dear and how we might survive it. I read it on vacation and it was the perfect mixture of entertaining fantasy (secretive science projects on a gorgeous hidden island), characters I came to understand and care about, and a mystery that keeps unfolding. I don't want to give too much away as the continual surprises are part of the pleasure of the book. But it starts with a broken young rock star who has lost the love of his life. He gets a chance to get her back, but at what price? The answer ended up making me think a lot about the true nature of our very essence. Are we made of our memories, our genetics, or something more soulful?

[Faith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (Thanks!)

Overall, I wasn't completely impressed with this novel. I think there was something missing from it that I needed for me to like Resurrecting Sunshine more.

Resurrecting Sunshine is about Adam and Marybeth. Marybeth became the famous singer, Sunshine, after her friends died. However, Marybeth drowns and leaves her boyfriend, Adam, grieving. In the present, Adam is told by a scientist that Project Orpheus is making a clone of Sunshine and Adam is asked to help. But as he goes through the memories of Sunshine and meets a girl, he starts to heal and question the ethics of cloning.

The things I liked about this book were how fast paced it was and the character of Genevieve. I flew through chapters pretty quickly because for some reason, the chapters could be like 2 pages long. The plot itself could also be really fast paced at points, making this book a pretty easy read. I liked Genevieve because of all the questions that she raised throughout the book. I kind wish she was the narrator of the story.

I know on the first page, there was one word or phrase that popped out at me when I first read it. I was so excited to be reading a book with such great imagery, but this wonderful wordiness wasn't something that was continued throughout this book and that totally annoyed me. Sure, every once and a while, I'd notice some great imagery, but then I wouldn't get anymore for another 70 pages.

I think the main thing that made me not like this book was a lack of connection to the main character. I really don't know much about Adam besides the fact that he loved Marybeth and he was a foster kid too. I would have liked to know more about him and that might have led me to not only like him but also maybe then I'd know why exactly he falls for the love interest in this book.

I wasn't totally in love with the plot either. Basically this book follows Adam as he relives his memories with Marybeth. Because I wasn't a fan of Adam, it wasn't my favourite thing to read about these memories he was having for pages on end.

Overall, you might like this book if you are into books about grief. This book has a bit of a sci-fi twist with the clones and memory aspect as well, but the focus is mainly grief.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this E-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

“… we’ve gone past grief, past sadness, into a place of greyness, nothingness, limbo. A place where we don’t even have each other.”

This book was time consuming and worth every single second that I spent reading it. It takes up the themes of loss, of loneliness, creates a world where the impossible is made possible. Its set in the future where cloning and memory-implantation techniques exist. The protagonist is a guitarist (Adam) who is grief stricken after losing the person he loved most (Sunshine, Bandmate) and is given a chance to change it all. The possibility of bringing a dead person back to life and the consequences of it are the issues that this book deals with.

The plot is engaging and inventive. After a couple of chapters it was impossible to put it down because it was so vivid, the entire experience. One of the reasons why i could not just stop was because of the details and how they were revealed. There aren’t any introductions, or banners stating what is happening and what has happened. The story unfolds beautifully in its own mysterious way. That kept me concentrated because I had to keep looking for these details which came in as casually as a conversation with your best friend (just my way of looking at it). It has its fair share of nail biting incidents which sometimes will make you want to skip a few pages to just get to the part you've been anticipating for so long. Its not predictable which I really enjoyed. Cloning and other technologies that have been used in this novel also give one a fair idea of where the world is heading hence it was a dystopian-SF in its own ridiculous-yet-makes-sense way.

Its a gripping story of love, loss and friendship. Even though Adam’s aim was to bring back his lover, the book is not all about romance, rather its tragic. What ‘saving’ really is, is the question here and that has been beautifully answered by Adam who saves Marybeth in an unconventional yet beautiful manner.

I would recommend this to all YA lovers and anyone who is looking for a book with a deeper meaning.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Just the premise of the book fascinated me. Everyone loves a good depression and cloning story. No? Just me. Ha, well this was a unique vision that enticed me from the get go. Adam and Marybeth were foster kids, who suffered a lot. Suffered so much, in fact, that Marybeth turned into Sunshine and started getting up on stage and vocalizing her suffering to other people, so deeply that she became a rockstar over night.

The world, and Adam, were devastated when she lost her life under somewhat mysterious circumstances in the ocean. Adam hasn't been able to handle anything since then, living under a constant haze of alcohol in Sunshine's estate. When she died, he died.

Suddenly, he has the chance to change everything. A corporation wants to resurrect Sunshine, his Marybeth. He's not sure what their reasoning is and he doesn't care. He can have her back. But as the story develops and he begins to understand more of what it means, to realize that she won't ever really be the girl he lost, and he falls for Genevieve, he isn't sure he wants to go through with this. Isn't sure that it's his choice to make, to force Marybeth back into life to become the person so filled with grief and sorrow that she gifted it back to the world.

The writing was superb and believable and the story just mysterious enough to keep you turning the page.

[Margot Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resurrecting Sunshine is a quietly devastating book that explores the potential consequences of human cloning through the story of one boy who wants to bring back his lost love. It reminded me of a Charlie Kaufman movie in its character-driven approach to speculative concepts, and that's a very positive comparison for me!

The world is grieving Sunshine, a rock star who struck a universal chord, but band member Adam is grieving Marybeth, the girl he grew up with and tried to protect. She transformed herself into an icon, but her demons remained. When Adam is given a chance to help "resurrect" Sunshine via cloning, he agrees — but he and the entrepreneur funding the process are at cross-purposes, as both will eventually discover in a wrenching finale.

I loved the isolated island setting and the mournful, increasingly ominous mood that developed as Adam relived his memories of Marybeth and bonded with a lab tech named Gen. I felt as if Marybeth were haunting him — which I guess she is, at least metaphorically, and which certainly adds ethical complications to the process of "resurrecting" her. You could call this a thoughtful SF tale, or a very different kind of ghost story — either way, you won't forget it.

I received an ARC of this book and was not compensated for my review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resurrecting Sunshine is a wonderful book about not only grief and loss (and cloning), but about memory, existence, and what makes us who we are. It goes beyond the question of "Can we really bring back the people we've lost?" to tackle the even harder question of "Should we?"

Koosis creates a very real and complex character in Adam -- damaged, struggling with alcohol addiction, and somewhat prickly at times ... but also thoughtful, grief-stricken, and wanting to do the right thing by Marybeth, aka Sunshine.

The storyline is full of twists and surprises, and will keep you guessing to the very end.

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this from netgalley for review.

Resurrecting Sunshine is a book about a boy named Adam who was a famous musician as a teenager, but lost the love of his life, Marybeth/Sunshine. He is a wreck and does nothing but drink until a doctor shows up at his door saying that she can change his life. Does he want Sunshine back?

Adam is flown to an island to undergo all kinds of simulations for memory. The doctors were able to clone Marybeth with her DNA, but they need his memories to help. During this time Adam meets the daughter of the man in charge. Gen quickly becomes a friend to him and he finds himself actually enjoying life a bit more. She makes things better while he has to relive some of the worst moments of his life. Adam has to remember exactly what happened to Marybeth and why she became Sunshine and a shell of the person she was when he fell in love with her. Adam must look past his own feeling and figure out if it's fair to bring someone back when they weren't happy with their life before. Can he let her go or should he bring her back and hope that they can continue on the way things were before?

This was a great book with a unique story. I found it hard to put down.

[Kathy MacMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunner of a story has largely flown under the radar, which is inconceivable to me. With its ethics-stretching premise and compelling plot, this book is ideal for bookclubs and classroom discussions: it’s a page-turner that keeps you engaged from the start, it’s got an ending that readers are sure to have strong opinions about, and it’s even in paperback, making multiple copies affordable. Get on this, teachers and librarians! Adam is a flawed, emotional mess, his voice keeping the science stuff firmly grounded in the effect it has on real people’s lives, and he is at once admirable and pitiable in his quest to do right by those he loves. This book kept me up late several nights in a row because I *had* to find out what happened next. With its big questions about who deserves a second chance, who actually gets one, and what do with the chances we’re given, RESURRECTING SUNSHINE will engage your mind and heart in equal measure.

[Myra Akram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a slow read for me at first but once I got the grasp of the concept I had to finish this one in one sitting. The name of the novel "Resurrecting Sunshine " was way more literal than of any other book I have ever read. This book is about heartbreaks, hope, love, friendship, second chances and so so many emotions that we can't comprehend. Adam had a perfect chance to bring his love back to life, to give his love a second or maybe the first chance that was taken away from him. But at the same the questions that plague his mind are the right one which any sane person would ask. The decision to choose between right and wrong is always a tough one.

But that plot twist in the middle. I was like " woah, let's take a break for second. let me soak this up "

This book for me was a solid five stars

[Hart Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marybeth's death undid Adam. He has fallen into a bottle and avoiding the world. Until a woman shows up with an unheard of offer--Marybeth, known to the world as Sunshine, spent time in a coma and many of her memories were downloaded. Cloning technology has advanced and with Adam's help to fill in the blank, they believe they can brings Sunshine back.

That is the premise, and the idea of cloning technology and what makes a person who they are is explored at the most personal level. The themes explored are important and were approached thoughtfully and were so integral to the story that it was natural. Overall Koosis's storytelling was beautiful. I look forward to her future works.

[CeeMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book with an unusual and interesting premise. The writing was nice and flowed easily. This was a book that sucks you in for sure. I enjoyed it. I don't necessarily like how some things go in the story but it was an enjoyable and easy read that I think will appeal to lovers of YA.

I received this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

[Holly Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written you'll be sorry when it ends.

[Vanellope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 2.5

I don't know. The concept was really intriguing and it's not that it wasn't pulled off well, but I think I found the characters hard to connect to. Adam's character felt flat to me-- there wasn't much to him besides loving Marybeth. And Gen was cool but the romance between her and Adam felt like it was there because What Would A Book Be Without A Love Interest *eye roll* more than actual chemistry between them. Their relationship would have been 1000000 times more compelling as just friends, and it made me sad to see it forced like that.

(Insert rant about how this inability to portray a girl and a guy as just friends is a Whole Issue in literature, particularly in YA, that is not just limited to this book. Honestly, I'm tired. Sigh.)

ALSO UGH I CANT GET OVER HOW THEY DIDN'T GET THIS KID A THERAPIST!!!! GOD. AWARD-WINNING NEUROSCIENTISTS MY BUTT. GET A GRIP. UGH. They really forcing this kid to a) "get over" his alcoholism with absolutely no support or guidance while also b) relieving his most traumatic memories involving all the people he lost and just???? not check in on him, ever??? God. I'm so angry. I can't even. And then they thought they could bring back a girl who literally died by suicide????? ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO TAKE CARE OF HER AFTERWARDS OR DO YOU JUST NOT CARE????

UGHHHHHH God I feel like mental health in general was Not dealt well at all even though this book really needed that addressed. Like two of the most important characters struggle with depression and addiction and I feel like those shouldn't be treated as just factors to drive the plot forward, but that's how it felt to me. And that's without even touching on how they talked about suicide as a choice, sometimes bordering on implying it's a selfish one, which was all barely challenged if at all. GIVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THE WEIGHT THEY DESERVE GOSH DARN IT. I'm not being super coherent right now but this bothered me so much throughout the whole book. God.

Also oh my god this is not important but why was 50% of the book just the main character having Wack dreams. Like the first three times its fine but after the seventh nightmare you really wonder what they add to the story.

I was gonna round up the rating but writing this I've realized there's more I disliked than liked. The writing was kinda clunky at times, the twists were pretty predictable, and the plot could get slow. I guess the concept was cool and the ending was resolved well, but that's about it.