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The Law of Inertia
When James’s boyfriend died by suicide, no one questioned what happened. A foster kid with a checkered past and a history of suicide attempts, Ash was just another number in a system that failed him. But to James, Ash was never just a number, and the facts around his death no longer stack up so neatly.
Now James has plenty of questions, and the one person who might have held the answers—Ash’s older brother, Elliot—has left town. And if anyone knows where he is, they aren’t talking. As James searches for Elliot and uncovers the tangle of lies and false alibis he left in his wake, he grows suspicious of what really happened on Ash’s last day.
After all, innocent people don't run.
Now James has plenty of questions, and the one person who might have held the answers—Ash’s older brother, Elliot—has left town. And if anyone knows where he is, they aren’t talking. As James searches for Elliot and uncovers the tangle of lies and false alibis he left in his wake, he grows suspicious of what really happened on Ash’s last day.
After all, innocent people don't run.
353 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2018
32 people are currently reading
5056 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Gonzales
11 books3,483 followersSophie Gonzales writes young adult queer contemporary fiction with memorable characters, biting wit and endless heart.
She is the author of THE LAW OF INERTIA, ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED and PERFECT ON PAPER. IF THIS GETS (co-written with Cale Dietrich) is forthcoming in Fall 2021 from Wednesday Books / Macmillan.
When she isn’t writing, Sophie can be found ice skating, performing in musical theatre, and practicing the piano. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia where she works as a psychologist.
She is represented by Jessica Mileo of Inkwell Management.
She is the author of THE LAW OF INERTIA, ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED and PERFECT ON PAPER. IF THIS GETS (co-written with Cale Dietrich) is forthcoming in Fall 2021 from Wednesday Books / Macmillan.
When she isn’t writing, Sophie can be found ice skating, performing in musical theatre, and practicing the piano. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia where she works as a psychologist.
She is represented by Jessica Mileo of Inkwell Management.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
November 1, 2018
4.5
This book....
You'll either love it or hate it,
You'll either get it or you won't.
I got it,I totally did and I loved it.What's better than reading something you cannot put down and can't wait to get back to?
I don't think I've read something in a long time with such trepidation.From the blurb the reader is well aware of what happens but I certainly wasn't prepared for the writing to be so special,so evocative.You know when you read something and the characters stay with you long after you've put it down? Even when I was still reading it,after each chapter I just sat and thought about these characters.
Read the blurb,there are triggers...this won't be for everyone but if you want a book to make you feel....so many damn emotions go on this journey.
I'm not going to go into the story at all.The only thing I want to say is don't be scared,this is a truly beautiful story.(if you want details pm me).
I'm not entirely sure but I think this is a debut novel by this Author....and I'm seriously impressed.
Favourite quotes,
-I could go on,I think I highlighted half the book
Highly Recommended.One of my favourite books this year.
See, the thing is, happiness is a whore. I’ve never met a more disloyal emotion in my life.(...)
This book....
You'll either love it or hate it,
You'll either get it or you won't.
I got it,I totally did and I loved it.What's better than reading something you cannot put down and can't wait to get back to?
I don't think I've read something in a long time with such trepidation.From the blurb the reader is well aware of what happens but I certainly wasn't prepared for the writing to be so special,so evocative.You know when you read something and the characters stay with you long after you've put it down? Even when I was still reading it,after each chapter I just sat and thought about these characters.
Read the blurb,there are triggers...this won't be for everyone but if you want a book to make you feel....so many damn emotions go on this journey.
I'm not going to go into the story at all.The only thing I want to say is don't be scared,this is a truly beautiful story.(if you want details pm me).
I'm not entirely sure but I think this is a debut novel by this Author....and I'm seriously impressed.
Favourite quotes,
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. Suddenly, I remembered him whispering those same words to me, alone in my bedroom a million years before.
“I wanna be where you are,” he said, brushing my cheek. “If you can’t be here, I don’t wanna be here either.”(...)
We were so twisted up in each other our whole lives, like different strands making up the same rope. And now it’s all unravelled and I can’t call myself a rope at all anymore. (...)
“For me, everything always ends up dark. When you come it’s like a little candle lights up,(...)
-I could go on,I think I highlighted half the book
Highly Recommended.One of my favourite books this year.
Read
October 10, 2023Hi everyone!
First up, can I just say how incredibly excited and thrilled I am to bring this book to the world! It’s quite a personal one for me, and ripped a good chunk out of my soul while I wrote it. So, now I’m sharing that fractured soul piece with you guys.
First off, I’m sure most of you can guess from the description that this book comes with a content warning for some heavy mental health and suicide discussions. If you know someone who seems to be acting differently lately, please be present. Let them know they have you, check if they need anything, and *notice* if they need anything. For someone struggling, sometimes just having someone take charge of the basic things they just can't handle right now can make all the difference in the world.
If you are struggling with mental health issues, please seek help. It’s not too late, you are wanted, and the world is a better place with you in it. I promise. If you need someone to speak to, you can contact:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
📞 800-273-TALK (8255)
📞 TTY: 800-799-4TTY (4889)
Secondly, one thing I feel strongly about is that we need more LGBTQIA+ books in publishing. Readers need to see themselves represented, and preferably with a plethora of books to choose from! The great news is that you (yes, you, yourself!) have the ability to influence this by contributing to demand. Buy these books, pre-order these books, ask your librarian to get these books in—the more demand, the more supply!
Another thing I want to note is that while I can speak to many things written in The Law of Inertia, there are also elements explored that are not ownvoices. Though I made every attempt to write this book with sensitivity and accuracy, I am not a guy, and so my take on the male perspective is, by nature, not going to give you the most authentic insight into the worldview of a teenage guy. Luckily, there are a tonne of books out there that are able to provide this, and I would strongly urge you to seek these out if you’re interested in LGBTQIA+ stories starring teenage guys. Let’s support these ownvoices books! Here's a small list of my personal favs to get you started:
Shaun David Hutchinson
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Adam Silvera
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Cale Dietrich
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Kosoko Jackson
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Angelo Surmelis
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
And if you want to support more ownvoices LGBTQIA+ books, please check out this list. You won’t regret it! : https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
First up, can I just say how incredibly excited and thrilled I am to bring this book to the world! It’s quite a personal one for me, and ripped a good chunk out of my soul while I wrote it. So, now I’m sharing that fractured soul piece with you guys.
First off, I’m sure most of you can guess from the description that this book comes with a content warning for some heavy mental health and suicide discussions. If you know someone who seems to be acting differently lately, please be present. Let them know they have you, check if they need anything, and *notice* if they need anything. For someone struggling, sometimes just having someone take charge of the basic things they just can't handle right now can make all the difference in the world.
If you are struggling with mental health issues, please seek help. It’s not too late, you are wanted, and the world is a better place with you in it. I promise. If you need someone to speak to, you can contact:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
📞 800-273-TALK (8255)
📞 TTY: 800-799-4TTY (4889)
Secondly, one thing I feel strongly about is that we need more LGBTQIA+ books in publishing. Readers need to see themselves represented, and preferably with a plethora of books to choose from! The great news is that you (yes, you, yourself!) have the ability to influence this by contributing to demand. Buy these books, pre-order these books, ask your librarian to get these books in—the more demand, the more supply!
Another thing I want to note is that while I can speak to many things written in The Law of Inertia, there are also elements explored that are not ownvoices. Though I made every attempt to write this book with sensitivity and accuracy, I am not a guy, and so my take on the male perspective is, by nature, not going to give you the most authentic insight into the worldview of a teenage guy. Luckily, there are a tonne of books out there that are able to provide this, and I would strongly urge you to seek these out if you’re interested in LGBTQIA+ stories starring teenage guys. Let’s support these ownvoices books! Here's a small list of my personal favs to get you started:
Shaun David Hutchinson
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Adam Silvera
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Cale Dietrich
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Kosoko Jackson
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Angelo Surmelis
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
And if you want to support more ownvoices LGBTQIA+ books, please check out this list. You won’t regret it! : https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
September 14, 2018
This book! This story! The best I've read this year. The writing is so beautiful it reminds me of the first time I read Wolfsong. It's lyrical, poetic and full of emotion.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
See, the thing is that happiness is a whore. I’ve never met a more disloyal emotion in my life. Nothing like misery, which proposes to you on the first date. Yet, like a mistress I swear off every time, all happiness has to do is peek its head around the corner, contrite and apologetic, and I give myself over to it completely. It’s transient and fleeting, and I know it won’t still be in my bed the next morning, but while I have it, it’s everything.The plot is a character driven mystery with LGBTQ YA romance.
If anyone could listen to my silence and hear the words I wanted to speak, it was himIt deals with some very heavy topics like depression and anxiety, suicide, sexual identity, self-harm, drug abuse and off-page child abuse. Most of the characters are teenagers, including the MCs. All of them are so well developed that I became emotionally invested very early on in the story.
The first two times I tried to die, I survived.***A huge thank you to Ms. S. Gonzales for writing this book.***
But I’ll tell you something only two people know.
When I did die, I wasn’t trying to at all.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
August 7, 2023
✰ 4.25 stars ✰
“I have a being, I just lack a reason. I live because of the law of inertia. An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
I never understood what it means for something to give you emotional whiplash until I read The Laws of Inertia. At the start of it, I had so many questions - so many thoughts going through my head that why Sophie Gonzales was writing in this certain style - why only these characters were being focused - why was I sensing such a detachment and anger and frustration from all of the multiple viewpoints. But, my patience was rewarded in a way that left me drained and exhausted - in the best possible way.
It is impossible to ever criticize why one would be contemplating suicide or have such depressing thoughts that they would feel so alone and lost. And Ashton Taylor, 'a walking self-fulfilling prophecy, a true product of general disdain' was one such character. Ashton's POV was dark and triggering - it is advised to proceed with caution, because Sophie Gonzales does not hide the loneliness and aloneness and comfort he relies on to get through the day. 🥺🥺
His abandonment issues, his loathing of his own self-worth, his inability to accept that he matters, just as he is - it is so very palpable. But, just as much as the darkness is prevalent, so is the light that attempts at all times - in all ways to get through his veneer - his best friend and boyfriend, James. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
“Who the hell is that terrified to talk to their dead brother’s best friend? Guys with something to hide, that’s who.”
James' POV stood out the most, for me, because to have the then and the now - the before and after after Ash's death was heart-breaking and questioning. Questioning because I could understand his anger against Ash's brother, Elliot - demanding him for answers, yet, I was conflicted, because at the same time that I thought he was being too insistent and curt in chasing after him for answers - I still wanted to know what was the truth. Why did he leave town right after Ash's funeral? Why was he avoiding him? And, at the same time, I felt his helplessness and wanting to show much he cared for Ash and wanted him to know how much he loved him, but was unable to get through to him. 🤍🤍
“The pull of logic is weak when compared to the persuasive power of hormones.”
There is such a yearning in the love between Ash and James - James, who has loved his best friend forever, but is always such an over-achiever in everything else that he does, doesn't know if he's doing enough to help him. And even if Ash comes across as apathetic to his feelings and uncaring, because he is so burdened by his own dark and twisted thoughts, there is in the innate sense of true love hidden in his heart - some people just have the difficulty of expressing it and showing it. 😢 But, for all the soft little moments of intimacy we did get of the two, my heart yearned for happiness for the two - that tender touches of affection - how James abandoned everything to reassure Ash that he was there for him. And then eventually, James' loss at his friend - that underlying grief was too visceral - too achingly real. 💔💔
“Words that, in hindsight, were probably all he wanted to hear all along. A validation.
“I need you.”
What I applaud above else is how masterfully Ms.Gonzales built the suspense with James' attempts to reach out to Elliot through a third party, Louise. Having an objective view was such a clever move, even if I didn't approve of it, at first. But, it was needed - it was needed because as the readers, we are that outsider POV - it heightened the tension for us - and made us a part of all three character's storylines. How she interconnected the storylines was just --- The ache was in my bones and in my heart - you don't know till you will read it, and if you are objective enough to not abandon the story - I can only advise this.
Do not read spoilers.
Go in completely blind.
I promise you, you will feel every bit of emotion and sadness that each of the characters felt - a numbness and a shock that I felt spread throughout my bones.
That was when I realized what a compelling beauty this was - even if their reactions hurt, their motives questionable, and the general feeling haunting and compelling - the beauty lay in Sophie Gonzales' writing. It was, in a word, exhilarating - an intense overwhelming feeling of pure unadulterated landmine of feels that swept over me as I neared the finish line.
She will give you characters that are real and flawed and human and alive - and that there truly can be a a reason for living. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 And, even with it's rocky start - because I didn't know what was the purpose behind it all - I thought she wrapped up the story in a beautiful manner that made it so worth the while. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
“I have a being, I just lack a reason. I live because of the law of inertia. An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
I never understood what it means for something to give you emotional whiplash until I read The Laws of Inertia. At the start of it, I had so many questions - so many thoughts going through my head that why Sophie Gonzales was writing in this certain style - why only these characters were being focused - why was I sensing such a detachment and anger and frustration from all of the multiple viewpoints. But, my patience was rewarded in a way that left me drained and exhausted - in the best possible way.
It is impossible to ever criticize why one would be contemplating suicide or have such depressing thoughts that they would feel so alone and lost. And Ashton Taylor, 'a walking self-fulfilling prophecy, a true product of general disdain' was one such character. Ashton's POV was dark and triggering - it is advised to proceed with caution, because Sophie Gonzales does not hide the loneliness and aloneness and comfort he relies on to get through the day. 🥺🥺
His abandonment issues, his loathing of his own self-worth, his inability to accept that he matters, just as he is - it is so very palpable. But, just as much as the darkness is prevalent, so is the light that attempts at all times - in all ways to get through his veneer - his best friend and boyfriend, James. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
“Who the hell is that terrified to talk to their dead brother’s best friend? Guys with something to hide, that’s who.”
James' POV stood out the most, for me, because to have the then and the now - the before and after after Ash's death was heart-breaking and questioning. Questioning because I could understand his anger against Ash's brother, Elliot - demanding him for answers, yet, I was conflicted, because at the same time that I thought he was being too insistent and curt in chasing after him for answers - I still wanted to know what was the truth. Why did he leave town right after Ash's funeral? Why was he avoiding him? And, at the same time, I felt his helplessness and wanting to show much he cared for Ash and wanted him to know how much he loved him, but was unable to get through to him. 🤍🤍
“The pull of logic is weak when compared to the persuasive power of hormones.”
There is such a yearning in the love between Ash and James - James, who has loved his best friend forever, but is always such an over-achiever in everything else that he does, doesn't know if he's doing enough to help him. And even if Ash comes across as apathetic to his feelings and uncaring, because he is so burdened by his own dark and twisted thoughts, there is in the innate sense of true love hidden in his heart - some people just have the difficulty of expressing it and showing it. 😢 But, for all the soft little moments of intimacy we did get of the two, my heart yearned for happiness for the two - that tender touches of affection - how James abandoned everything to reassure Ash that he was there for him. And then eventually, James' loss at his friend - that underlying grief was too visceral - too achingly real. 💔💔
“Words that, in hindsight, were probably all he wanted to hear all along. A validation.
“I need you.”
What I applaud above else is how masterfully Ms.Gonzales built the suspense with James' attempts to reach out to Elliot through a third party, Louise. Having an objective view was such a clever move, even if I didn't approve of it, at first. But, it was needed - it was needed because as the readers, we are that outsider POV - it heightened the tension for us - and made us a part of all three character's storylines. How she interconnected the storylines was just --- The ache was in my bones and in my heart - you don't know till you will read it, and if you are objective enough to not abandon the story - I can only advise this.
Do not read spoilers.
Go in completely blind.
I promise you, you will feel every bit of emotion and sadness that each of the characters felt - a numbness and a shock that I felt spread throughout my bones.
That was when I realized what a compelling beauty this was - even if their reactions hurt, their motives questionable, and the general feeling haunting and compelling - the beauty lay in Sophie Gonzales' writing. It was, in a word, exhilarating - an intense overwhelming feeling of pure unadulterated landmine of feels that swept over me as I neared the finish line.
She will give you characters that are real and flawed and human and alive - and that there truly can be a a reason for living. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 And, even with it's rocky start - because I didn't know what was the purpose behind it all - I thought she wrapped up the story in a beautiful manner that made it so worth the while. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
July 27, 2018
What happens when life jolts you off the tracks? What choices are you left with? Gonzales gives us Ash going through this very well, she is able to create his voice and that of the other people around him very well. Giving us the story from several perspectives, from several characters so that we see how life effects them the cause and effect.
Very very well done, definitely recommended.
Note: The setting is never really specified but after a lot of googling and piecing clues together I've come to the conclusion that the setting is Australia.
An arc gently provided by publisher/author via Netgalley in return for a review.
Very very well done, definitely recommended.
Motion Inertia - Snezana Bujosevic
Note: The setting is never really specified but after a lot of googling and piecing clues together I've come to the conclusion that the setting is Australia.
An arc gently provided by publisher/author via Netgalley in return for a review.
zzzzz-did-not-finish
December 7, 2018I'm gonna go with a not right now
"LGBT Gone Girl" so um. what does that mean?? and also, why does this cover rock so much more than the original
"LGBT Gone Girl" so um. what does that mean?? and also, why does this cover rock so much more than the original
November 25, 2018
4.5 stars
I really don't know how to review this book. Because even if I'll try to be very vague I can probably give too much away.
The best is to dive into the story knowing NOTHING.
It starts like ONE genre, and ends like ANOTHER.
It will break your heart and then it will heal it.
It will make you cry and then it will make you cry again, but different kind of tears.
Beautiful, emotional and...different. You can either LOVE it or HATE it.
I hope you will FEEL the same as I do.
**Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I really don't know how to review this book. Because even if I'll try to be very vague I can probably give too much away.
The best is to dive into the story knowing NOTHING.
It starts like ONE genre, and ends like ANOTHER.
It will break your heart and then it will heal it.
It will make you cry and then it will make you cry again, but different kind of tears.
Beautiful, emotional and...different. You can either LOVE it or HATE it.
I hope you will FEEL the same as I do.
**Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
July 4, 2018
”Happiness is a whore. I’ve never met a more disloyal emotion in my life. Nothing like misery, which proposes to you on the first date. Yet, like a mistress I swear off every time, all happiness has to do is peek its head around the corner, contrite and apologetic, and I give myself over to it completely. It’s transient and fleeting, and I know it won’t still be in my bed the next morning, but while I have it, it’s everything.”
Thank you so much to NG for providing an ARC of this!
To start with, THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT. I will add a TW for suicide, in case you couldn’t tell by the summary.
I can’t explain how much I loved Ash. It’s been a long time since I’ve related to a character like this: He’s shy, anxious, self-conscious, sometimes selfish, he makes terrible choices, he pushes people away, he’s flawed af, but he’s still so likable???
A large chunk of the story is told from Ash’s POV, and it gives us an unflinching look into the mind of someone with depression and anxiety, and there was times when I felt like the author had reached into my mind and put into words these vague feelings I’ve never been able to express. It’s soo confronting But it’s so so so real.
It’s like being engulfed in quicksand, and as much as I want to get out, I slowly sink deeper, towards an inevitable end. I want someone to pull me out, but I don’t know how they can. Their only reactions are to stand on dry land and watch me with concerned expressions, urging me to just walk like they are.
I’m not surprised this book nails some tricky topics. The author has said on twitter its ownvoices for MI (and bi too, I believe??).
Speaking of: Yay for bi rep! Even with representation coming in leaps and bounds over the last few years, it’s so rare to see the B of the LGBT represented, but this is on-the-page, spelled out representation here, ladies and gentleman. And it’s done so soo so well. It even addresses the elephant in the room..... the way the gay community can sometimes treat bisexuals as ‘other’, and not as valid, which I thought was a really important thing to address.
OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION, I had a *moment* when Ash was talking about coming out, and he decides he doesn’t want to formally come out, and that the people close to him will know he has a boyfriend and he doesn’t owe anyone else an explanation. Because wow. WOW. I just………..Ok, I know this won’t be everyone’s experience, let me get that out of the way now. I know not everyone has the luxury to not come out, and if that’s you, that is valid. Your experience is valid. But for me, personally, I never officially came out either. My friends and family sort of figured it out, and I knew that they knew, and we danced around pronouns for a bit, and I didn’t want to spell it out to the world. Until now, I’ve never seen this kind of coming out (or not-coming-out) experience represented on the page, and, guys, I FEEL SO DARN SEEN RIGHT NOW, I WAS IN TEARS.
So, yeah. That’s got a lot to do with why I’m all about this book.
The other good stuff is really hard to explain without spoilers, so I’m gonna put some things in a spoiler tag.
Also, I’ve talked mostly about Ash, but the supporting characters are really good as well. James is just so gorgeous and supportive and funny and YEESSS. But he’s not perfect either. He makes mistakes with how he handles Ash’s MI, and he doesn’t get let off the hook with it. I don’t mind characters doing problematic shit, as long as it’s discussed and addressed on the page. And there’s a lot of discussion about how love can’t magically cure mental illness, which is *soooo refreshing* to see in a YA book!!!!!
Louise is probably the funniest POV, and I looked forward to her scenes.Saras is kickass and tbh I wish we got more of her than we did.
This book is SO DARN GOOD. Read it. Get ready to fall in love with some of the most complex characters I’ve seen in a long time.
Thank you so much to NG for providing an ARC of this!
To start with, THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT. I will add a TW for suicide, in case you couldn’t tell by the summary.
I can’t explain how much I loved Ash. It’s been a long time since I’ve related to a character like this: He’s shy, anxious, self-conscious, sometimes selfish, he makes terrible choices, he pushes people away, he’s flawed af, but he’s still so likable???
A large chunk of the story is told from Ash’s POV, and it gives us an unflinching look into the mind of someone with depression and anxiety, and there was times when I felt like the author had reached into my mind and put into words these vague feelings I’ve never been able to express. It’s soo confronting But it’s so so so real.
It’s like being engulfed in quicksand, and as much as I want to get out, I slowly sink deeper, towards an inevitable end. I want someone to pull me out, but I don’t know how they can. Their only reactions are to stand on dry land and watch me with concerned expressions, urging me to just walk like they are.
I’m not surprised this book nails some tricky topics. The author has said on twitter its ownvoices for MI (and bi too, I believe??).
Speaking of: Yay for bi rep! Even with representation coming in leaps and bounds over the last few years, it’s so rare to see the B of the LGBT represented, but this is on-the-page, spelled out representation here, ladies and gentleman. And it’s done so soo so well. It even addresses the elephant in the room..... the way the gay community can sometimes treat bisexuals as ‘other’, and not as valid, which I thought was a really important thing to address.
OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION, I had a *moment* when Ash was talking about coming out, and he decides he doesn’t want to formally come out, and that the people close to him will know he has a boyfriend and he doesn’t owe anyone else an explanation. Because wow. WOW. I just………..Ok, I know this won’t be everyone’s experience, let me get that out of the way now. I know not everyone has the luxury to not come out, and if that’s you, that is valid. Your experience is valid. But for me, personally, I never officially came out either. My friends and family sort of figured it out, and I knew that they knew, and we danced around pronouns for a bit, and I didn’t want to spell it out to the world. Until now, I’ve never seen this kind of coming out (or not-coming-out) experience represented on the page, and, guys, I FEEL SO DARN SEEN RIGHT NOW, I WAS IN TEARS.
So, yeah. That’s got a lot to do with why I’m all about this book.
The other good stuff is really hard to explain without spoilers, so I’m gonna put some things in a spoiler tag.
Also, I’ve talked mostly about Ash, but the supporting characters are really good as well. James is just so gorgeous and supportive and funny and YEESSS. But he’s not perfect either. He makes mistakes with how he handles Ash’s MI, and he doesn’t get let off the hook with it. I don’t mind characters doing problematic shit, as long as it’s discussed and addressed on the page. And there’s a lot of discussion about how love can’t magically cure mental illness, which is *soooo refreshing* to see in a YA book!!!!!
Louise is probably the funniest POV, and I looked forward to her scenes.Saras is kickass and tbh I wish we got more of her than we did.
This book is SO DARN GOOD. Read it. Get ready to fall in love with some of the most complex characters I’ve seen in a long time.
March 15, 2022
i loved everything about this and I’m going to be thinking about it forever and it’s. just an instant fave for me. one of the best books i’ve read this year for sure.
//
content warnings: suicide, attempted suicide, depression and anxiety, drug overdose, alcoholism, disordered eating, self-harm (cutting), parental neglect and abuse, biphobia
so by the cw above, this is not a light read. by the same author as only mostly devastated and perfect on paper, the law of inertia is not the rom-com sophie gonzales has made herself known for.
however, it did not stop me from loving it the same way i have loved her other books.
because holy heck. i loved this one.
told in multiple points of view and in two timelines, the law of inertia is the story of ash. in one timeline, the story of him falling in love with his best friend while simultaneously falling deeper into his depression that leads to him jumping off a bridge. in the other, it is about how james is trying to figure out what really happened the night his boyfriend died, and how ash's brother might be involved.
i don't know if i've ever read a book that has used the dual timeline so expertly. i love stories told out of order, i love watching both halves unravel into a full story. i love that they drive my desire to reread books after i get all the pieces at the end. and the choices made with who told what part of the story for each timeline was absolutely perfect. it created the perfect element of mystery that drove me to finish this book in a little more than 24 hours—and also lie awake at night thinking about this book when i stopped in the middle to sleep.
and (in case you didn't know) i love stories about grief. i'm a total masochist. i love reading sad books. and i love seeing the sadness coming. this book tells me on the cover that it hinges on a character's suicide, so i got to have a bit of heartache with every page i read about him alive. there's something visceral about reading a character's pain. you're merely an observer into a fictional life. you cannot help. you can only watch.
this is so so tremendously different from omd and pop but oh does it showcase the range. this feels like something almost akin to adam silvera and shaun david hutchinson's books.
but like sophie’s other books, this book features a bisexual character and addresses the biphobia that exists within the queer community. and also featured a filipino character which was the most pleasant surprise for me.
i will genuinely be thinking about this book for a long time.
//
“i don’t think you can ever know someone’s full story. even if you know them well. unless they tell you.”
content warnings: suicide, attempted suicide, depression and anxiety, drug overdose, alcoholism, disordered eating, self-harm (cutting), parental neglect and abuse, biphobia
so by the cw above, this is not a light read. by the same author as only mostly devastated and perfect on paper, the law of inertia is not the rom-com sophie gonzales has made herself known for.
however, it did not stop me from loving it the same way i have loved her other books.
because holy heck. i loved this one.
told in multiple points of view and in two timelines, the law of inertia is the story of ash. in one timeline, the story of him falling in love with his best friend while simultaneously falling deeper into his depression that leads to him jumping off a bridge. in the other, it is about how james is trying to figure out what really happened the night his boyfriend died, and how ash's brother might be involved.
i don't know if i've ever read a book that has used the dual timeline so expertly. i love stories told out of order, i love watching both halves unravel into a full story. i love that they drive my desire to reread books after i get all the pieces at the end. and the choices made with who told what part of the story for each timeline was absolutely perfect. it created the perfect element of mystery that drove me to finish this book in a little more than 24 hours—and also lie awake at night thinking about this book when i stopped in the middle to sleep.
and (in case you didn't know) i love stories about grief. i'm a total masochist. i love reading sad books. and i love seeing the sadness coming. this book tells me on the cover that it hinges on a character's suicide, so i got to have a bit of heartache with every page i read about him alive. there's something visceral about reading a character's pain. you're merely an observer into a fictional life. you cannot help. you can only watch.
this is so so tremendously different from omd and pop but oh does it showcase the range. this feels like something almost akin to adam silvera and shaun david hutchinson's books.
but like sophie’s other books, this book features a bisexual character and addresses the biphobia that exists within the queer community. and also featured a filipino character which was the most pleasant surprise for me.
i will genuinely be thinking about this book for a long time.
April 10, 2022
“raison d ’être. it means “reason for being.” …i have a being, i just lack a reason. i live because of the law of inertia. an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
files under: books i first read during my non-committed reader years and left it as that, but upon reread realized that i have subconsciously carried it around with me since then and i hope to carry it with me for the rest of my life.
sophie gonzales is well known for her romcoms, and rightfully so (only mostly devastated lives in my heart). but i took a slightly different route: my first gonzales book was the law of inertia. and in hindsight, it’s very on brand - of course its queer, of course it has themes of grief.
told using dual timelines, the law of inertia follows ash as he falls deeper in love with his best friend james, while his mental health worsens which leads to him jumping off a bridge. the second timeline follows james, as he tries to unravel the tangles of lies surrounding his boyfriend’s death. something doesn’t add up, and maybe ash’s brother has something to do with it.
so this is not my first inertia rodeo. but i never fully realised how much it left an imprint on me until i reread it last month. dual timelines are my favorite - the way both ends of the rope unravel and you know how it ends and yet can only watch on as a helpless observer. the way it still manages to sweep you off your feet, get your heart racing from the mystery, makes you ache for them.
it’s so interesting to look back at books read years ago. did slightly younger cel know that sophie gonzales was going to become a favorite author? did she know that ash and james would stay with her long after she’s put the book down? how often she’d think of them? also why did she keep reading these sad books was she ok!
but i guess at this point it should come as no surprise how heavy books are the ones i end up carrying the longest. i know i’ve always cared very much for books with good mental health discussions even if they can be hard to stomach at times, how much i love to see characters lose themselves and finding the self they thought they never see again. the sweet euphoria of seeing the word “bisexual” on paper.
but it still surprises me from time to time. and i’m so very happy when they do.
cw: suicide (attempted), self-harm, depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse, disordered eating, parental neglect, biphobia.
September 16, 2017
I was fortunate and privileged to read this book during it's developmental stages. I'll be first in line to purchase my print copy next year, given my fond memories of Sophie's ability to make me both laugh and cry, skillfully weaving a mystery through a love story. Cannot wait to reread and provide a more comprehensive review!
August 8, 2018
i couldn't get into this at all. the plot was glacially slow and i was bored the entire way, even through the denouement, and i have no idea how i managed it instead of DNFing. the main plot twist of what happened to ash seemed very contrived, as though the author was trying to make the most original or surprising twist they could think of, at the expense of credibility.
November 24, 2018
A Gem!!
Amazingly good written story. Impressive, hurtful, with depth and deep deep emotions.
“Foresight never had been my forte.”
A story about Ash a boy who had a hard hard time in life. At fourteen already tried to end his life. After that his life is getting more awkward because everybody around him can’t seem to deal with that. Except his best friend James... and Ash’s older brother Elliot.
Ash and Elliot want to leave their uninterested foster parents and Elliot will take care of Ash when they have their own home. Life decides to play it different.
When he and James get more and more involved, his head and life around him is getting worse and worse.
There are deep hurtful thoughts and they felt so awful real I cried out loud.
High praise for Bea and Louise...
The story is told from more than one point of view. It goes back and forth in time.
Beautiful, written story that felt so awful real. It touched me deeply and couldn’t sleep because of it. When I finally get some sleep the first thing when I woke up was finishing this journey... of Ash, Elliot and James...
This beautiful story gave me goosebumps thick thick goosebumps all over my body.
Highly recommended!!
Kindly received an arc from the publisher (through NetGalley)
Amazingly good written story. Impressive, hurtful, with depth and deep deep emotions.
“Foresight never had been my forte.”
A story about Ash a boy who had a hard hard time in life. At fourteen already tried to end his life. After that his life is getting more awkward because everybody around him can’t seem to deal with that. Except his best friend James... and Ash’s older brother Elliot.
Ash and Elliot want to leave their uninterested foster parents and Elliot will take care of Ash when they have their own home. Life decides to play it different.
When he and James get more and more involved, his head and life around him is getting worse and worse.
There are deep hurtful thoughts and they felt so awful real I cried out loud.
High praise for Bea and Louise...
The story is told from more than one point of view. It goes back and forth in time.
Beautiful, written story that felt so awful real. It touched me deeply and couldn’t sleep because of it. When I finally get some sleep the first thing when I woke up was finishing this journey... of Ash, Elliot and James...
This beautiful story gave me goosebumps thick thick goosebumps all over my body.
Highly recommended!!
Kindly received an arc from the publisher (through NetGalley)
August 7, 2018
"I live because of the law of inertia. An object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force."
Ugh. This book.
This book made me feel so many emotions: anger, sadness, love and so much pain.
First of all, the writing was so beautiful! I'm really surprised that this is the author's first book.
It deals with some very heavy topics like depression, suicide, sexual identity and self-harm. I have to admit that if I'd known it would be about these topics, I wouldn't have read it because it left me really emotionally drained.
It starts after Ash's suicide, His boyfriend James suspects that something else happened that day and is trying to track Ash's missing brother to find out what it was.
My favorite character was James, he was the such an amazing boyfriend to Ash. He was really loving and caring. His chapters and his search for the truth following Ash's death were the most interesting for me to read.
I also really like Ash, but his parts were really hard for me to read. He was dealing with a lot of heavy stuff. To read about his struggle with depression and self-harm was so heartbreaking. I felt like I needed big dose of sunshine after reading about him.
"If I were to reflect on my life, I would say it’s like being engulfed in quicksand, and as much as I want to get out, I slowly sink deeper, towards an inevitable end. I want someone to pull me out, but I don’t know how they can. Their only reactions are to stand on dry land and watch me with concerned expressions, urging me to just walk like they are.".
This book is classified as a mystery, and I saw some people describe it as similar to Gone girl (My favorite thriller ever). But the mystery part wasn't really big, it was a more character driven book.
But...I had two major problems that really bothered me. Louis' character felt really flat and boring to me. She was there only to move the plot.
The big twist really pissed me off. It made me change my mind about some characters. I won't say more, because of spoilers, but I was so mad that I considered giving this book a low rating.
But I couldn't ignore the fact that it's been a while since a book made me feel so emotionally connected and invested in it. I stayed up until 5 AM to read it, which is rare for me because I like sleeping.
So that's why I decided on 4 stars.
"See, the thing is that happiness is a whore. I’ve never met a more disloyal emotion in my life."
An arc gently provided by publisher/author via Netgalley in return for a review
Ugh. This book.
This book made me feel so many emotions: anger, sadness, love and so much pain.
First of all, the writing was so beautiful! I'm really surprised that this is the author's first book.
It deals with some very heavy topics like depression, suicide, sexual identity and self-harm. I have to admit that if I'd known it would be about these topics, I wouldn't have read it because it left me really emotionally drained.
It starts after Ash's suicide, His boyfriend James suspects that something else happened that day and is trying to track Ash's missing brother to find out what it was.
My favorite character was James, he was the such an amazing boyfriend to Ash. He was really loving and caring. His chapters and his search for the truth following Ash's death were the most interesting for me to read.
I also really like Ash, but his parts were really hard for me to read. He was dealing with a lot of heavy stuff. To read about his struggle with depression and self-harm was so heartbreaking. I felt like I needed big dose of sunshine after reading about him.
"If I were to reflect on my life, I would say it’s like being engulfed in quicksand, and as much as I want to get out, I slowly sink deeper, towards an inevitable end. I want someone to pull me out, but I don’t know how they can. Their only reactions are to stand on dry land and watch me with concerned expressions, urging me to just walk like they are.".
This book is classified as a mystery, and I saw some people describe it as similar to Gone girl (My favorite thriller ever). But the mystery part wasn't really big, it was a more character driven book.
But...I had two major problems that really bothered me. Louis' character felt really flat and boring to me. She was there only to move the plot.
The big twist really pissed me off. It made me change my mind about some characters. I won't say more, because of spoilers, but I was so mad that I considered giving this book a low rating.
But I couldn't ignore the fact that it's been a while since a book made me feel so emotionally connected and invested in it. I stayed up until 5 AM to read it, which is rare for me because I like sleeping.
So that's why I decided on 4 stars.
"See, the thing is that happiness is a whore. I’ve never met a more disloyal emotion in my life."
An arc gently provided by publisher/author via Netgalley in return for a review
July 3, 2018
WOW this book was SO GOOD!! First thanks to NG for the ARC!! This is the story of two brothers, Ash and Elliot, two brother in foster care because of a really awful family life. Elliot is the older of the two and spends a lot of his time drinking and partying. Ash is 16 and in HS, trying to get good grades and move on. Ash's best friends James is his rock. James is also gay. Ash has had girlfriends in the past but now finds himself attracted to James. They are SO adorable together and Ash really needs James because he has anxiety and cuts himself too, and James is the only one who knows about it. Ash is kind of falling into a hole and can't get out. Elliot wants to get guardianship of Ash and move out of the foster home but his drug problem is getting worse and he is jeopardizing the whole situation. Also Elliot finds out that Ash and James are together as boyfriends and leaves with no explanation. Ash sees no way out after Elliot disappears and he has a fight with James, and he kills himself leaving James to deal with the fallout and also completely alone, because Elliot disappeared. James spend his time during the year following Elliot's death, trying to locate Elliot to find out what really happened to Ash before he died--and Louise sees his online post and answers which is in the present day. This book is SO emotional. IT is written from the points of view of Ash and James both in the present and the past, and Elliot in present along with Louise, Elliot's current best friend. I loved Ash and James relationship. They obviously love each other so much and James is so supportive and caring. Ash is so confused and needs James so much. I don't want to ruin the ending but I LOVED it. I had my suspicions all along what was going on but I wasn't 100% sure until the very end. Definitely do not miss this book if you love a great story with amazing characters and a little mystery. WELL worth your time!! I will definitely look for more from this author!!!
October 19, 2017
I had the privilege of reading LoI before it was picked by a publisher but goddamn THIS BOOK!!!! Go ahead and add this to your list of book that'll break your heart and rebuild it again. You won't regret it! :)
January 1, 2022
FLOORED. I’m floored, truly. Sophie Gonzales is just on another level.
After reading Only Mostly Devastated and Perfect on Paper last year and loving them, I knew that I wanted this to be my first read of 2022. Fantastic decision by me, because I adored this book. It is very different from those two, a lot grittier and less cutesy fun stuff, but it still has the same heart.
Where do I even start with this? The romance, I guess? Impeccable, stunning, etc. etc. It was so tender and RAW that from James and Ash’s very first interaction I was immersed entirely in both of them as characters and their relationship together.
Ash’s entire web of complicated and messy relationships with those around him just really tugged at my heartstrings, and shaped him and his emotions in such a devastating way that brought tears to my eyes more than once over the course of the novel. It was not easy reading what he was going through mentally, or his self-harm.
James, too. His grief was heavy. I could FEEL it in the writing. His struggles with school and stress were relatable in a lot of ways. Basically, this book hurt me lots!!
The small-town vibes in this were immaculate as well. Something about the writing style just captured that essence so perfectly.
I loved this book a lot and cannot believe how underrated it is. If you enjoyed K. Ancrum’s “The Wicker King”, I think you’ll find a lot of value in this story too.
Couldn’t think of a better book to kick off the 2022 reading year!
After reading Only Mostly Devastated and Perfect on Paper last year and loving them, I knew that I wanted this to be my first read of 2022. Fantastic decision by me, because I adored this book. It is very different from those two, a lot grittier and less cutesy fun stuff, but it still has the same heart.
Where do I even start with this? The romance, I guess? Impeccable, stunning, etc. etc. It was so tender and RAW that from James and Ash’s very first interaction I was immersed entirely in both of them as characters and their relationship together.
Ash’s entire web of complicated and messy relationships with those around him just really tugged at my heartstrings, and shaped him and his emotions in such a devastating way that brought tears to my eyes more than once over the course of the novel. It was not easy reading what he was going through mentally, or his self-harm.
James, too. His grief was heavy. I could FEEL it in the writing. His struggles with school and stress were relatable in a lot of ways. Basically, this book hurt me lots!!
The small-town vibes in this were immaculate as well. Something about the writing style just captured that essence so perfectly.
I loved this book a lot and cannot believe how underrated it is. If you enjoyed K. Ancrum’s “The Wicker King”, I think you’ll find a lot of value in this story too.
Couldn’t think of a better book to kick off the 2022 reading year!
July 17, 2018
This romance is suitable for young adults. It contains sensitive and moving perspectives of young gay and bi friendships, as well as issues of substance abuse, mental illness, and suicidal ideation..
In the multi-ethnic melting pot of modern Australia, two small town brothers struggle with the terrible parenting situation in which they landed after their mother's death. While wearing out their welcome at one foster placement after another, Ash must also come to terms with his unusual sexual attraction to his best friend forever.
The mystery of 'Who are Ash and Elliot Taylor?' is finally solved by learning self-acceptance and life balance.
Though there are sexual situations, they are never explicit. I have nothing but praise for this story.
In the multi-ethnic melting pot of modern Australia, two small town brothers struggle with the terrible parenting situation in which they landed after their mother's death. While wearing out their welcome at one foster placement after another, Ash must also come to terms with his unusual sexual attraction to his best friend forever.
The mystery of 'Who are Ash and Elliot Taylor?' is finally solved by learning self-acceptance and life balance.
Though there are sexual situations, they are never explicit. I have nothing but praise for this story.
August 31, 2018
I cannot wait for The Law of Inertia to break my heart and then put back together. I know this is going to be EPIC.
October 8, 2018
***Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.***
TW/CW: mental illness, suicide, drug and alcohol addiction
This was an emotional read, chocked full of the hard truths of mental illness.
"If only I could be unconscious constantly, I felt life might be bearable."
It was interesting to read different perspectives of Ash and his actions, including from Ash himself. I began guess the twist a bit before it was revealed, but I wouldn't say that took away from the story at all.
Ash was written so well as a lost boy, recovering from a suicide attempt while continuing to deal with the depression that led him on this path.
"I can't remember the last time I went for a week without thinking about dying."
His conveyed thoughts were easy to identify with as someone who also suffers from depression.
"I have to try so, so hard at every single little thing I do. I get out of bed, and I feel like I've run a marathon."
While I felt Ash was a great character, I had issues with his brother, Elliot, and the adults in his life. Elliot has his own demons, and it seemed like no one--maybe aside from Ash who was not in any position to take care of anyone, in my opinion--wanted to help him. And the adults--the foster parents and one teacher, in particular--seemed to recognize that Ash needed help but didn't act.
I also had issues with the way Ash dealt with his mental illness. Without giving too much away, I don't agree that his method was a cure-all.
In short, great mental illness rep and interesting twist, but lacking in responsible authority figures.
TW/CW: mental illness, suicide, drug and alcohol addiction
This was an emotional read, chocked full of the hard truths of mental illness.
"If only I could be unconscious constantly, I felt life might be bearable."
It was interesting to read different perspectives of Ash and his actions, including from Ash himself. I began guess the twist a bit before it was revealed, but I wouldn't say that took away from the story at all.
Ash was written so well as a lost boy, recovering from a suicide attempt while continuing to deal with the depression that led him on this path.
"I can't remember the last time I went for a week without thinking about dying."
His conveyed thoughts were easy to identify with as someone who also suffers from depression.
"I have to try so, so hard at every single little thing I do. I get out of bed, and I feel like I've run a marathon."
While I felt Ash was a great character, I had issues with his brother, Elliot, and the adults in his life. Elliot has his own demons, and it seemed like no one--maybe aside from Ash who was not in any position to take care of anyone, in my opinion--wanted to help him. And the adults--the foster parents and one teacher, in particular--seemed to recognize that Ash needed help but didn't act.
I also had issues with the way Ash dealt with his mental illness. Without giving too much away, I don't agree that his method was a cure-all.
In short, great mental illness rep and interesting twist, but lacking in responsible authority figures.
August 6, 2018
I want to thank Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for this partnership.
I was immediately attracted by the cover, we see James in a station.
We find James who does not agree on this story of the suicide of his boyfriend: an adopted child who has had ups and downs in his life. James is going to ask about Ash, and the only person who can answer him is Ash's big brother who's gone. The more he goes in his answers the more he will discover funny things about what happened during Ash's last day.
A moving, captivating story filled with suspense and twists. I loved the context of the story James who is trying to find out if Ash really committed suicide?
Look forward to reading another book by this author.
I was immediately attracted by the cover, we see James in a station.
We find James who does not agree on this story of the suicide of his boyfriend: an adopted child who has had ups and downs in his life. James is going to ask about Ash, and the only person who can answer him is Ash's big brother who's gone. The more he goes in his answers the more he will discover funny things about what happened during Ash's last day.
A moving, captivating story filled with suspense and twists. I loved the context of the story James who is trying to find out if Ash really committed suicide?
Look forward to reading another book by this author.
July 10, 2018
This book was really good. Slow at first but it really picked up! It was full of suspense and the characters were easy to fal in love with. If your looking for your next read pick this one up!
October 26, 2019
*Thank you to netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*
I can’t say why I’m so frustrated and disappointed with this book, believe me I’ve been trying to write this review the past two weeks, I just am.
I think I feel betrayed. The blurb suggests a compelling -yet heartbreaking- mystery, while James tries to figure out what really happened to his boyfriend. We get all the heartache, two other POVs, and none of the compelling mystery.
In addition to James, the law of inertia is also told from the POV of Ash; James’s boyfriend, covering the events before his death and Louise; Elliott’s best-friend, covering the events after Ash’s death. As much as I did like Louise her POV was so pointless. She doesn’t grow at all throughout the book and it mainly covers her friendship with Elliott and her curiosity at what he’s hiding. Why didn’t Elliott himself just have a POV???
I did like the format going from past to present, that’s always been a story type I love in books. However, Ash’s POV was difficult to read. I didn’t like how toxic James and his relationship seemed. Yes they have cute moments but generally, they’re really shitty to each other. Ash seemed to have the most chapters and with no character development the book seemed to drag.
I’m not even going to discuss the twist I seen coming from 40% or ending that made me feel cheated.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book. I wanted to care for the characters but I couldn’t, the plot was slow and the climaxed ending was... well it happened
I can’t say why I’m so frustrated and disappointed with this book, believe me I’ve been trying to write this review the past two weeks, I just am.
I think I feel betrayed. The blurb suggests a compelling -yet heartbreaking- mystery, while James tries to figure out what really happened to his boyfriend. We get all the heartache, two other POVs, and none of the compelling mystery.
In addition to James, the law of inertia is also told from the POV of Ash; James’s boyfriend, covering the events before his death and Louise; Elliott’s best-friend, covering the events after Ash’s death. As much as I did like Louise her POV was so pointless. She doesn’t grow at all throughout the book and it mainly covers her friendship with Elliott and her curiosity at what he’s hiding. Why didn’t Elliott himself just have a POV???
I did like the format going from past to present, that’s always been a story type I love in books. However, Ash’s POV was difficult to read. I didn’t like how toxic James and his relationship seemed. Yes they have cute moments but generally, they’re really shitty to each other. Ash seemed to have the most chapters and with no character development the book seemed to drag.
I’m not even going to discuss the twist I seen coming from 40% or ending that made me feel cheated.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book. I wanted to care for the characters but I couldn’t, the plot was slow and the climaxed ending was... well it happened
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2021
I have FINALLY read Sophie's debut. And she has once again made me sob. Like any other Sophie Gonzales book, I was sucked into the story. Ash is one of the most relatable characters I've ever found. A big part of his teenage life feels like an echo. Sophie does that. She writes these relatable characters and she makes you care about them and their fates. I semi guessed the plot twist surprisingly early on and squealed every time I figured out another hint. So many times, I had to fight myself flipping to the end to see if I was right. The Law of Inertia isn't a light or fluffy book by any means. It tackles mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide. I usually put trigger warnings under a spoiler tag to give people the option to read them but these things are incredibly integral to the plot. While this book is sad, it's also about the love of family and friends. My only complaints is that I wish there was a sequel, an audiobook for my reread, and that I wish I had read it sooner. If it wasn't confirmed before, Sophie is an autobuy author and I will happily consume everything she writes while thanking her for the tears.
October 9, 2018
Trigger Warning: Anxiety, depression, suicide, graphic scenes of self-harm, child, alcohol and drug abuse.
Books about topics such as these are triggering and tricky sensitive. I love it when books like these are educating rather than damaging. And I fear that The Law of Inertia can be a bit damaging. PLEASE. PLEASE. TREAD WITH CAUTION. OR LEAVE.
I warned you, please. If you’re uncomfortable with such topics. Go.
Last warning. Go.
It was introduced in a big picture, getting the reader’s hold and full attention. The mystery was right off the bat given to us, for us to grow antsy and anticipate in the chapters to come.
The style of the story-telling was in the narration of three-point of views in past and present manner. Sounds complicate right? No, it wasn’t. I liked the technique and how effective it was in the earlier stage of the book. It was all going great, the pace, the narration, all is smooth sailing.
I was even surprised by the diversity featured here. James, a half-Filipino queer character. It’s really great. I felt seen, as a Filipino. Not only that there are other two, a Hispanic character, Louise and given the mention of Saras garment at one time she is from a different race I presume.
Ash’s character was written in such accuracies, I did suffer from anxiety too, to a fault that I would go from hanging with friends in the mall to leaving immediately. And I have no guts how to face them the next day; how should I explain myself, am I even worthy of their time?
I can relate, I feel represented in that ground.
Our character, Ash suffers from anxiety and depression, had attempted suicide and had been pursuing that high of relief, he cuts himself. His closest family was his older brother Eliot whom they live together with their foster parents. With these factors present and to top things off with the happenings in their foster home, Ash must have felt trapped helpless, he committed suicide.
But James felt something is off. Something isn’t right and his older brother Eliot have been avoiding and hiding away from him.
And that’ s the mystery that will let you grip longer with it.
However, things started to drift mid-way,
I notice no further development with Louise. She’s one of the eyes we get to see through, yet it was the middle of the book and I hadn’t learned any further character trait from her character, other than those from the introduction stage of the book. She exists, used and was disposed of later in the end as a convenience to someone?
Elliot, Saras, other characters that just exist here.
As James went on the hunt for the answers his been trying to look for, he did.
With these elements aforementioned above, those themes, all of it. I felt that it was used in a contrived manner at the expense of having a sturdy case~of build up in the plot turned into a twist?
No.
I feel bad how this one went.
See full review here.
July 24, 2018
TRIGGER WARNINGS: suicide, self-harm, child abuse, drug abuse
Special thanks to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and others on my blog SleepySamReads!
I don't ever rate books 1 star. Especially if I have finished the entire thing. To me, that at least warrants 2 stars. The Law of Inertia is the first book I have read in a long time that really just left me feeling quite disturbed. Sometimes when a book does this it's a good thing, but not in this case.
I'm going to be as vague as possible so I don't spoil anything for those of you who would like to read it. Because of this, it might not make a ton of sense as to why I did not like it. I'll try my best though.
I believe books about suicide and self-harm can be educating to people. I don't expect every book to have a happy ending. That being said, I also don't want these type of books to be damaging, and I fear that this one can be.
I liked Ash well enough in the beginning. He has suffered with depression and suicidal ideation for the majority of his life and that's something I can really relate to. I also relate to him being queer. I also liked James a lot. He's an incredibly caring boyfriend and I loved how much he did for Ash. I think the lengths James went to to discover what happened to Ash the night he committed suicide really speaks to how much James loved him.
I did not like Elliot or Louise very much. Elliot seemed like he wanted to do the best for his brother, he's still just a teenager. As someone who was a teenager not very long ago I remember vividly not trusting anyone else and wanting to believe I could do everything. But that isn't always how it really is and that was the case with Elliot. He wanted to provide a good life for Ash, but he was also just a teenager who wanted to party. He also had a drug problem, which was handled very poorly in this book.
Louise was just a boring character. She didn't really have much a story line outside of Elliot and I found myself skimming her chapters.
I HATED the ending. It was what ultimately drove me to rate this so low. It was supposed to be a shocking twist, but I saw it coming and desperately hoped I was wrong. I'm not going to say what happened, but I will say that it perpetuates the idea that mentally ill people shouldn't be held accountable for their actions and I strongly disagree with that. Mentally ill people can be toxic.
The only positive thing I have to say about this book is that it was racially diverse. James is half Filipino and Louise is Hispanic. I really appreciated that.
Overall, I really disliked this book. Anyone who has read this or who is okay with spoilers is welcome to contact me and I can discuss more in depth why I did not like this book.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and others on my blog SleepySamReads!
I don't ever rate books 1 star. Especially if I have finished the entire thing. To me, that at least warrants 2 stars. The Law of Inertia is the first book I have read in a long time that really just left me feeling quite disturbed. Sometimes when a book does this it's a good thing, but not in this case.
I'm going to be as vague as possible so I don't spoil anything for those of you who would like to read it. Because of this, it might not make a ton of sense as to why I did not like it. I'll try my best though.
I believe books about suicide and self-harm can be educating to people. I don't expect every book to have a happy ending. That being said, I also don't want these type of books to be damaging, and I fear that this one can be.
I liked Ash well enough in the beginning. He has suffered with depression and suicidal ideation for the majority of his life and that's something I can really relate to. I also relate to him being queer. I also liked James a lot. He's an incredibly caring boyfriend and I loved how much he did for Ash. I think the lengths James went to to discover what happened to Ash the night he committed suicide really speaks to how much James loved him.
I did not like Elliot or Louise very much. Elliot seemed like he wanted to do the best for his brother, he's still just a teenager. As someone who was a teenager not very long ago I remember vividly not trusting anyone else and wanting to believe I could do everything. But that isn't always how it really is and that was the case with Elliot. He wanted to provide a good life for Ash, but he was also just a teenager who wanted to party. He also had a drug problem, which was handled very poorly in this book.
Louise was just a boring character. She didn't really have much a story line outside of Elliot and I found myself skimming her chapters.
I HATED the ending. It was what ultimately drove me to rate this so low. It was supposed to be a shocking twist, but I saw it coming and desperately hoped I was wrong. I'm not going to say what happened, but I will say that it perpetuates the idea that mentally ill people shouldn't be held accountable for their actions and I strongly disagree with that. Mentally ill people can be toxic.
The only positive thing I have to say about this book is that it was racially diverse. James is half Filipino and Louise is Hispanic. I really appreciated that.
Overall, I really disliked this book. Anyone who has read this or who is okay with spoilers is welcome to contact me and I can discuss more in depth why I did not like this book.
January 5, 2022
I needed to go to sleep early last night, but instead I stayed up way too late crying over this book. Then when I finally did sleep, I dreamt about this book. And when I woke up, the only thing I wanted to do was finish this book. It was a heavy journey and I can still feel the weight of it, even with the hopeful ending fresh in my brain.
I was so impressed by the way the author told this story - the viewpoints she chose, the timelines she followed, the incredible way thoughts and reactions were described. At times it felt like poetry. Other times it was brutal honesty. The entire time I felt like I was being pulled along with these characters and I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to go where they were headed. Curiosity propelled me, but Ashton made me feel things and they didn't always feel good. It was scary how quietly he suffered. Being in his head, experiencing the way he felt as he fought to stay afloat, hearing his subtle cries for help and watching as his mind turned against him - god, it was so visceral and heartbreaking. And poor James tried so hard to understand and be everything Ashton needed. I wanted to hug them both and make them pancakes and ask them about their day and tell them over and over that everything would be okay. That they wouldn't be teenagers forever.
The blurb called this book mysterious and suspenseful and, while it definitely contained those elements, I didn't think it was anything other than a love story. It was beautifully written and firmly placed Sophie Gonzales into my "I'm in the mood for YA" grab bag of authors.
I was so impressed by the way the author told this story - the viewpoints she chose, the timelines she followed, the incredible way thoughts and reactions were described. At times it felt like poetry. Other times it was brutal honesty. The entire time I felt like I was being pulled along with these characters and I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to go where they were headed. Curiosity propelled me, but Ashton made me feel things and they didn't always feel good. It was scary how quietly he suffered. Being in his head, experiencing the way he felt as he fought to stay afloat, hearing his subtle cries for help and watching as his mind turned against him - god, it was so visceral and heartbreaking. And poor James tried so hard to understand and be everything Ashton needed. I wanted to hug them both and make them pancakes and ask them about their day and tell them over and over that everything would be okay. That they wouldn't be teenagers forever.
The blurb called this book mysterious and suspenseful and, while it definitely contained those elements, I didn't think it was anything other than a love story. It was beautifully written and firmly placed Sophie Gonzales into my "I'm in the mood for YA" grab bag of authors.
October 8, 2018
TW/CW: mental illness, suicide, drug and alcohol addiction
This was an emotional read, chocked full of the hard truths of mental illness.
"If only I could be unconscious constantly, I felt life might be bearable."
It was interesting to read different perspectives of Ash and his actions, including from Ash himself. I began guess the twist a bit before it was revealed, but I wouldn't say that took away from the story at all.
Ash was written so well as a lost boy, recovering from a suicide attempt while continuing to deal with the depression that led him on this path.
"I can't remember the last time I went for a week without thinking about dying."
His conveyed thoughts were easy to identify with as someone who also suffers from depression.
"I have to try so, so hard at every single little thing I do. I get out of bed, and I feel like I've run a marathon."
While I felt Ash was a great character, I had issues with his brother, Elliot, and the adults in his life. Elliot has his own demons, and it seemed like no one--maybe aside from Ash who was not in any position to take care of anyone, in my opinion--wanted to help him. And the adults--the foster parents and one teacher, in particular--seemed to recognize that Ash needed help but didn't act.
I also had issues with the way Ash dealt with his mental illness. Without giving too much away, I don't agree that his method was a cure-all.
In short, great mental illness rep and interesting twist, but lacking in responsible authority figures.
This was an emotional read, chocked full of the hard truths of mental illness.
"If only I could be unconscious constantly, I felt life might be bearable."
It was interesting to read different perspectives of Ash and his actions, including from Ash himself. I began guess the twist a bit before it was revealed, but I wouldn't say that took away from the story at all.
Ash was written so well as a lost boy, recovering from a suicide attempt while continuing to deal with the depression that led him on this path.
"I can't remember the last time I went for a week without thinking about dying."
His conveyed thoughts were easy to identify with as someone who also suffers from depression.
"I have to try so, so hard at every single little thing I do. I get out of bed, and I feel like I've run a marathon."
While I felt Ash was a great character, I had issues with his brother, Elliot, and the adults in his life. Elliot has his own demons, and it seemed like no one--maybe aside from Ash who was not in any position to take care of anyone, in my opinion--wanted to help him. And the adults--the foster parents and one teacher, in particular--seemed to recognize that Ash needed help but didn't act.
I also had issues with the way Ash dealt with his mental illness. Without giving too much away, I don't agree that his method was a cure-all.
In short, great mental illness rep and interesting twist, but lacking in responsible authority figures.
October 8, 2018
FTC DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amberjack Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.5 Stars
**Trigger Warning: Self-harm**
This book would be good for fans of The Girl on the Train and The Women in Cabin 10 who also enjoy YA books.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it had an amazingly realistic depiction of mental illness, depression, and anxiety, and the thoughts that people with these conditions have, as well as the grief someone feels when they experience a sudden death of a loved one. On the other hand, the rest of the characters, besides Ash and James were quite one-dimensional, it was a very slow start, and the romance element was completely unnecessary.
At about a quarter in I probably would have DNF'd had this not been an ARC, but I persisted and it did get better, at about a third in it got very interesting. So don't give up too early. This book had descriptions of cutting, and this too was realistic.
Unfourantely James didn't become a 3-dimensional character until about 70% thru, which in my opinion was too late into the book, I would have liked to have seen more from his character in the before timeline. It took me till almost three-quarters of the book to see the big plot twist coming, which is great as I usually see them coming very early.
3.5 Stars
**Trigger Warning: Self-harm**
This book would be good for fans of The Girl on the Train and The Women in Cabin 10 who also enjoy YA books.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it had an amazingly realistic depiction of mental illness, depression, and anxiety, and the thoughts that people with these conditions have, as well as the grief someone feels when they experience a sudden death of a loved one. On the other hand, the rest of the characters, besides Ash and James were quite one-dimensional, it was a very slow start, and the romance element was completely unnecessary.
At about a quarter in I probably would have DNF'd had this not been an ARC, but I persisted and it did get better, at about a third in it got very interesting. So don't give up too early. This book had descriptions of cutting, and this too was realistic.
Unfourantely James didn't become a 3-dimensional character until about 70% thru, which in my opinion was too late into the book, I would have liked to have seen more from his character in the before timeline. It took me till almost three-quarters of the book to see the big plot twist coming, which is great as I usually see them coming very early.
October 5, 2019
*Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.”
Well this was the biggest let down.
Review coming soon.
Well this was the biggest let down.
Review coming soon.
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