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If Birds Fly Back
by
Linny has been fascinated by disappearances, ever since her sister Grace ran away in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.
Sebastian can tell you how many galaxies there are, and knows how much plutonium weighs. But the one thing he can’t figure out is the identity of his birth father.
They’ve never met, but Linny and Sebastian have one thing in common: an ...more
Sebastian can tell you how many galaxies there are, and knows how much plutonium weighs. But the one thing he can’t figure out is the identity of his birth father.
They’ve never met, but Linny and Sebastian have one thing in common: an ...more
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Hardcover, 448 pages
Published
June 27th 2017
by HarperTeen
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Start your review of If Birds Fly Back

This was pretty entirely super cute! I did struggle a small squidge with feeling entirely invested in the story, but it featured a bunch of nerds and an adorakble friendship-turned-romance with plenty of fun dialogue -- SO I CAN GET BEHIND THIS. I also literally got behind it when I was reading and dropped it on my face. Thank you to all the universe, stars, and pebbles upon the shores that I read a paperback and didn't die or lose my eyes. Life can be kind.
It's dual narrated by Linny and ...more
It's dual narrated by Linny and ...more

Pre-reading review:
Tag line: “Love is what happens when you’re looking for something else.”
And because I’m feeling single AF these days (blaming The Kiss Quotient), I thought this could get me out of my funk.
Post-feelings:
Still feeling single as hell, but damn was that book imperfectly perfect. The author has poured her heart and soul into this book.
It's a story about two characters who are dealing with some kind of loss in their own way. Linny's sister disappeared without a trace. Sebastian ...more
Tag line: “Love is what happens when you’re looking for something else.”
And because I’m feeling single AF these days (blaming The Kiss Quotient), I thought this could get me out of my funk.
Post-feelings:
Still feeling single as hell, but damn was that book imperfectly perfect. The author has poured her heart and soul into this book.
It's a story about two characters who are dealing with some kind of loss in their own way. Linny's sister disappeared without a trace. Sebastian ...more

Aug 05, 2017
Dannii Elle
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romantic-recollections,
contemporary-cuteness
My full review can be found at United by Pop.
This story chronicled an adorable blossoming romance that made this the perfect read, for this time of year. Their growing attraction was obvious to the reader but I still enjoyed reading of their emerging emotions and tentative struggles to restrain them. Scenes of an absolute adorable nature followed their accepted summer romance and I now know that no more perfect date can exist if it doesn’t involve a ball pit and a horde of energised ...more
This story chronicled an adorable blossoming romance that made this the perfect read, for this time of year. Their growing attraction was obvious to the reader but I still enjoyed reading of their emerging emotions and tentative struggles to restrain them. Scenes of an absolute adorable nature followed their accepted summer romance and I now know that no more perfect date can exist if it doesn’t involve a ball pit and a horde of energised ...more

Maybe people fall together while they’re falling apart?
Okay, so this book was ASTONISHINGLY good. It’s addicting and super fun and stars a duo of unforgettable characters who start the summer romance to END all other summer romances.
Case in point: the ball-pit scene. I don’t think I’ve ever read a scene that was as swoony and perfect as that one. And then it just keeps getting better from there, with more incredible, cinematic and unforgettable scenes. This book really captures that that ...more
Okay, so this book was ASTONISHINGLY good. It’s addicting and super fun and stars a duo of unforgettable characters who start the summer romance to END all other summer romances.
Case in point: the ball-pit scene. I don’t think I’ve ever read a scene that was as swoony and perfect as that one. And then it just keeps getting better from there, with more incredible, cinematic and unforgettable scenes. This book really captures that that ...more

Jul 20, 2016
Anna Priemaza
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-i-desperately-adore,
reviewed
Holy bananas, this book was good. I loved every bit of it. The famous, elderly cult writer who shows up at the old folks' home where Linny volunteers, mysteriously reappearing after three years' disappearance. The gorgeous screenplay Linny writes to cope with the fact that her sister disappeared out the window one night and hasn't been heard from since. Linny's notebook entries about people in history who disappeared... and why they came back. The excerpts from A Brief Compendium of
...more

A copy was provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
I don’t consider myself a big fan of summer contemporaries simply because I live on an island where it's practically summer every single day. I always find them cliche and predictable, especially with the whole tourist aspect which I hate.
If Birds Fly Back is the complete and total opposite of what I just described. In this novel, we are presented with a mystery. Linny’s older sister, Grace has disappeared to ...more
I don’t consider myself a big fan of summer contemporaries simply because I live on an island where it's practically summer every single day. I always find them cliche and predictable, especially with the whole tourist aspect which I hate.
If Birds Fly Back is the complete and total opposite of what I just described. In this novel, we are presented with a mystery. Linny’s older sister, Grace has disappeared to ...more


"Let me tell you something about hands. They’re not one-size fits all like hotel slippers. Ours slot together with an audible chink. (At least I can hear it.)"
I had the privilege of reading an early copy of this work. It's funny and sweet, and the characters are memorable, engaging and endearing. It reminded me of what it was like to be young again and in love. Linny is smartly written, easy to identify with and to like. Sebastian is adorable and his voice is also authentic, written as a boy ...more

This book was SO. GOOD.
I adored Linny and Sebastian--they're both such unique, interesting, lovable-but-flawed characters and I want them to be my IRL friends.
And Alvaro! He was as much a magnetic pole for the reader as he was for the characters; I was so impressed by how Sorosiak was able to convey the kind of ineffable draw he had for people even though he didn't have a ton of screen time.
There's so much to love about this book: the quirky, unique personalities of everyone in it; the sweet ...more
I adored Linny and Sebastian--they're both such unique, interesting, lovable-but-flawed characters and I want them to be my IRL friends.
And Alvaro! He was as much a magnetic pole for the reader as he was for the characters; I was so impressed by how Sorosiak was able to convey the kind of ineffable draw he had for people even though he didn't have a ton of screen time.
There's so much to love about this book: the quirky, unique personalities of everyone in it; the sweet ...more

If I were going to teach a class on voice, this book would be my assigned reading. IF BIRDS FLY BACK is told from the dual POVs of Linny and Sebastian, a couple of teenagers reeling from the loss of two important people who have separately disappeared from their lives. There was so much about this book to admire: in particular, I found the structure of it to be so clever, interesting, and unique. Linny's scraps of facts on famous disappearances; Sebastian's quotations from A Brief Compendium of
...more

If Birds Fly Back was a lovely story of love, loss, family and self discovery. I warmed to both Linny and Sebastian as characters and Carlie Sorosiak’s writing style made for a perfect, easy summer read.

“Theoretically, everything should be explainable. But what if the explanation is that things are a gazillion times simpler than we think? That we don't need theorems to figure out our own lives?
What if it’s as simple as a boy loving his father? A girl loving a sister?
A boy loving a girl?”
If Birds Fly Back is a beautifully emotional story that resonates love, longing, and hope. This is a story about family and expectations and longing and grief. Linny is left reeling after the unexpected ...more

What a gorgeously written, absolute gem of a debut! Carlie Sorosiak deftly weaves themes of loss, abandonment and identity into one of the most captivating romances I've read. I adored Linny and Sebastian! The story's structure works brilliantly in the alternating POV of the two main characters but what elevates it to another level is the addition of the character's coping mechanisms: Linny's screenplay and excerpts from Sebastian's favorite physics text. Drafting the screenplay helps Linny get
...more

This book is absolutely, positively amazing. I am normally a slow reader but I could NOT put this down. While the amazingly sweet, true-to-life romance will definitely draw you in, there is so much more to discover and think about in this book. Alvaro's character is so perfectly written, the relationship between Linny and Grace is so painful and raw but so beautifully written that you just want to drown in it with Linny. The friendships are genuine and all the characters are people you would
...more

The idea of this book sounded so good, but the reality of it is so much more. IF BIRDS FLY BACK is lovely and heart-wrenching and hilarious and unique and beautiful, all at once. I couldn't help but fall in love with Linny and Sebastian, as well as the minor characters, like Alvaro and Linny's dad. Linny's and Sebastian's stories are compelling and their emotions feel real. Sorosiak hits every emotional beat perfectly. I cried and squealed and swooned in every place that I wanted to and in
...more

It's only been a few hours since I finished reading If Birds Fly Back, but I cannot stop thinking about it. This world and its characters felt so, so real—I loved seeing the world through the perspectives of Linny and Sebastian, and I absolutely adored Álvaro, the eccentric elderly man who brought them into each other's lives. The Miami beach setting was vibrant and distinctive, too; every time I picked the book up, I was easily and immediately transported to their world.
While I adored If Birds ...more
While I adored If Birds ...more

3.5 stars.
This review also appears on my blog, Reading with Jenna.
I received a review copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If Birds Fly Back is a summer contemporary about missing people and those who are left behind. The book follows Linny and Sebastian and is told from dual perspectives. Linny’s sister, Grace, ran away from their stifling home environment and Linny has been trying to understand what happened ever since. When she shows up to her volunteering job at a ...more
This review also appears on my blog, Reading with Jenna.
I received a review copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If Birds Fly Back is a summer contemporary about missing people and those who are left behind. The book follows Linny and Sebastian and is told from dual perspectives. Linny’s sister, Grace, ran away from their stifling home environment and Linny has been trying to understand what happened ever since. When she shows up to her volunteering job at a ...more

Everyone handles the loss of someone differently as well as reconnecting with someone you didn't know was still alive. Sometimes we pretend that a person is still there, that they have just run away or are vacation. But most importantly we always wonder if they would every fly back.
The books follows two characters. Linny, a girl intrigued by people who disappear for days, months and/or years at a time suddenly reappear, and Sebastian, who although is fascinated by space and the amount of ...more
The books follows two characters. Linny, a girl intrigued by people who disappear for days, months and/or years at a time suddenly reappear, and Sebastian, who although is fascinated by space and the amount of ...more

When it came time to read this book, I wasn't quite sure why I requested it in the first place.
I liked Linny and Sebastian well enough. I loved that she was into film and he was into physics. They're both dealing with some things and it's an elderly man that brings them together.
Plot wise it was just meh. There were some cute moments, but nothing really stood out. Nothing grabbed me. I'm struggling to write a review to explain anything and the fact that it took me 5 days to read it should ...more
I liked Linny and Sebastian well enough. I loved that she was into film and he was into physics. They're both dealing with some things and it's an elderly man that brings them together.
Plot wise it was just meh. There were some cute moments, but nothing really stood out. Nothing grabbed me. I'm struggling to write a review to explain anything and the fact that it took me 5 days to read it should ...more

Wait, I need to dry my tears. That was so beautiful!

I am not even sure where to start with this book. But, the gif above pretty much sums up what I looked like when I finished reading If Birds Fly Back. You know, where you are so happy and emotional, that you are simultaneously laughing and crying. That was totally me.
I immediately fell in love with the characters in this book. Both Linny and Sebastian were so cute and unique. Linny was an aspiring filmmaker, who was trying to come to terms with ...more

I am not even sure where to start with this book. But, the gif above pretty much sums up what I looked like when I finished reading If Birds Fly Back. You know, where you are so happy and emotional, that you are simultaneously laughing and crying. That was totally me.
I immediately fell in love with the characters in this book. Both Linny and Sebastian were so cute and unique. Linny was an aspiring filmmaker, who was trying to come to terms with ...more

"I tell you un secreto pequeno, nina. Only two things matter in life.
How we love and how much we love."
It's rare that I thoroughly enjoy a book as much as I did If Birds Fly Back. Smart, carefully crafted, and full of heart, this summer debut had me falling in love with Sorosiak's story and characters.
At times, this novel reminded me of Paper Towns and Wherever Nina Lies, two other books that revolve around the disappearance of a spirited young woman. Although there are clear similarities, ...more
How we love and how much we love."
It's rare that I thoroughly enjoy a book as much as I did If Birds Fly Back. Smart, carefully crafted, and full of heart, this summer debut had me falling in love with Sorosiak's story and characters.
At times, this novel reminded me of Paper Towns and Wherever Nina Lies, two other books that revolve around the disappearance of a spirited young woman. Although there are clear similarities, ...more

Jun 06, 2017
Kelly
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arcs-read,
5star-books,
favorites,
contemporary,
2017-reads,
2017-releases-read,
young-adult
If Birds Fly Back is a gorgeous debut from author Carlie Sorosiak. Filled with emotion and feeling, this book is a beautifully written story of love, loss and finding yourself. From the first few pages I knew this book was going to be special.
I loved the dual narrative of this book and thought it was so well written. I really got to know both of our main characters and felt invested in both of their stories. First up we meet Linny who is struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of her ...more
I loved the dual narrative of this book and thought it was so well written. I really got to know both of our main characters and felt invested in both of their stories. First up we meet Linny who is struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of her ...more

Mar 27, 2019
Cheska the Great is Not Okay
marked it as did-not-finish
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reviewed,
its-not-you-its-me
I read almost 150 pages and still nothing important has happened. It's not that it's completely boring but it is way, way slow considering it's supposed to be somewhat of a mystery.

If Birds Fly Back is a poignant debut. This book is refreshingly heartwarming. A little sad, a lot realistic, and something a bit magical.
Linny is obsessed with people who disappear and then reappear again. Her sister Grace left home one night and hasn't been seen since. Linny believes if she can study enough reappearances she might be able to bring Grace back somehow. So, when Linny spots Alvero Herera - missing, presumed dead for three years - at the nursing home where she volunteers, she ...more
Linny is obsessed with people who disappear and then reappear again. Her sister Grace left home one night and hasn't been seen since. Linny believes if she can study enough reappearances she might be able to bring Grace back somehow. So, when Linny spots Alvero Herera - missing, presumed dead for three years - at the nursing home where she volunteers, she ...more

This is actually a surprisingly good book! At first I thought it was going to be another mediocre YA romance, but the characters are adorable, the plot - in some ways - is pretty unique and it definitely had me hooked! It's a very cute, colourful love story that should be up there with the Jennifer Niven's and the John Green's!

Apr 19, 2017
Trisha
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
diversity-in-ya,
conflict,
dual-narrators,
family,
ya-literature,
grief-loss,
lgbt,
review,
friendship
Another well written story about a girl who comes out of her sister's light to find her own place. I like that Linnie isn't searching for love, and yet...
Some geeky moments, especially with Sebastian's passion for astrophysics.
Some geeky moments, especially with Sebastian's passion for astrophysics.

An unfortunate case of "crash and burn". I was enjoying it, if more on a superficial level than actually feeling a strong connection to the characters, but then about 3/4 of the way through I lost all patience with them. Talk about total derailment. :/
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Young Adult Conte...: #37 If Birds Fly Back by Carlie Sorosik | 1 | 6 | Sep 17, 2017 05:30PM |