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Hello
A witty and thought-provoking YA love story set during the COVID-19 quarantine, written by two
NYT
bestselling authors, with shades of
Five Feet Apart
and
Anna and the French Kiss
.
Maxine and Jonah bump into each other in the canned goods aisle of the grocery store just as the state of California is going into lockdown, when everything changes completely. Could there be a worse time to meet? Max's part-time job at a supermarket is about to transform into a hellish gauntlet. Jonah's preexisting anxiety is about to become an epic daily struggle. As Max, Jonah, and their friends live together but apart through hijinks, humanity, and heartbreak, Hello (From Here) cuts across urgent matters much bigger than a teenage crush. Differences of class, privilege, mental health, and sacrifice are thrown into stark relief by the profound and personal stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. As thoughtful, probing, and informed as it is buoyant, romantic, and funny, Hello (From Here) looks at the first two months of the quarantine and adds falling hopelessly in love to the mess.
Maxine and Jonah bump into each other in the canned goods aisle of the grocery store just as the state of California is going into lockdown, when everything changes completely. Could there be a worse time to meet? Max's part-time job at a supermarket is about to transform into a hellish gauntlet. Jonah's preexisting anxiety is about to become an epic daily struggle. As Max, Jonah, and their friends live together but apart through hijinks, humanity, and heartbreak, Hello (From Here) cuts across urgent matters much bigger than a teenage crush. Differences of class, privilege, mental health, and sacrifice are thrown into stark relief by the profound and personal stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. As thoughtful, probing, and informed as it is buoyant, romantic, and funny, Hello (From Here) looks at the first two months of the quarantine and adds falling hopelessly in love to the mess.
352 pages
First published September 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
September 6, 2021
2.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Several other reviews have said this, and I agree: a book with many COVID- and non-COVID-related triggers set during the peak of shutdowns is a bit too much, too soon. It was sweet but unfortunately not a favorite :(
I'll start with things that I did enjoy:
1. The characters were relatively likable. The two MCs were not great, but some of the side characters really made up for it *cough cough Olivia*
2. The "step-parent replacing late parent" trope was done pretty well here, in my opinion. Kate (stepmother) and Jonah's (MC) relationship was truly wonderful to see develop and eventually find a happy place to settle.
3. The GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) rep was pretty great in this one. As someone with anxiety, I could understand Jonah's struggles during what was one of the most difficult parts of his life.
Things that I didn't enjoy:
1. The MCs (as stated before.) They were whiny, and I mean, they had some reason to be. 2020 was not a great year for anyone. However, it just got really frustrating by the end of the book.
2. The book is told from dual perspectives, and while I felt like it was an important aspect of the book to see both sides of the story, the dual perspectives added to the fact that this book is *heavily* inspired by Five Feet Apart, just set during COVID this time, instead of the two characters being chronically ill. The premise explains that this book has "shades of Five Feet Apart," but it felt much more than that to me.
3. The cheating trope in this book wasn't a huge part of the story, but it just really wasn't needed in this book. At all.
Overall, this book wasn't great. It had some redeemable qualities to overlook the hiccups, but too many things just didn't set well with me.
Again, thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Several other reviews have said this, and I agree: a book with many COVID- and non-COVID-related triggers set during the peak of shutdowns is a bit too much, too soon. It was sweet but unfortunately not a favorite :(
I'll start with things that I did enjoy:
1. The characters were relatively likable. The two MCs were not great, but some of the side characters really made up for it *cough cough Olivia*
2. The "step-parent replacing late parent" trope was done pretty well here, in my opinion. Kate (stepmother) and Jonah's (MC) relationship was truly wonderful to see develop and eventually find a happy place to settle.
3. The GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) rep was pretty great in this one. As someone with anxiety, I could understand Jonah's struggles during what was one of the most difficult parts of his life.
Things that I didn't enjoy:
1. The MCs (as stated before.) They were whiny, and I mean, they had some reason to be. 2020 was not a great year for anyone. However, it just got really frustrating by the end of the book.
2. The book is told from dual perspectives, and while I felt like it was an important aspect of the book to see both sides of the story, the dual perspectives added to the fact that this book is *heavily* inspired by Five Feet Apart, just set during COVID this time, instead of the two characters being chronically ill. The premise explains that this book has "shades of Five Feet Apart," but it felt much more than that to me.
3. The cheating trope in this book wasn't a huge part of the story, but it just really wasn't needed in this book. At all.
Overall, this book wasn't great. It had some redeemable qualities to overlook the hiccups, but too many things just didn't set well with me.
Again, thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2023
2.75 Stars Rounded Up
“Conventional wisdom suggests that, when the world finally does begin to fall apart, love will be the only thing left that really matters. Petty grievances will fall away. You won’t remember who called you Maxi Pad for the entirety of sixth grade (Logan Bennett) or how much money is in your bank account or the hours spent studying for that one calculus exam you almost failed. Instead, you will spend time with loved ones. Hold them close. Be present. Let them know that you care.”
California had just started it’s quarantine lockdown following the beginning of the CoVid Pandemic and Max and Jonah are both out shopping for supplies. Jonah is seeking toilet paper for his older sister who desperately needs it for her Crohn’s Disease. Max is working as a part time personal shopper and she seems to have the last bulks of toilet paper needed to fulfill her orders. Jonah will do anything to get his hands on a pack of TP including negotiating with the cute but prickly stranger, tempting her with the last of the Sparkling Water and Disinfectant Wipes as a trade. After going their respective ways Jonah, with some help from Olivia, hatches a plan to see Max again. He tracks her company down with some google digging and then requests an online grocery delivery. Cancelling and reordering until Max is his designated personal shopper.
What follows is a carefully cultivated friendship/love story between the two. Through the difficulties of not really being able to see each regularly (because of Olivia, Jonah’s sister being high risk and Max more susceptible with her public job) and when they do they must be masked up and 6 Feet apart. On top of the CoVid restrictions they have good old fashioned obstacles such as money and mental health issues. Jonah has the luck of living in a high income neighborhood but has challenges with depression and severe anxiety. Max is very self assured for the most part but money is not taken for granted in her tiny apartment with just her and her mom. Max is working to save for her college fund on top of trying to help her mom with their barely hanging on dry cleaning business.
Can Max and Jonah really last with all their social and economical issues as well as the pandemic working against them?
Hello (From Here) is a difficult love story that starts out at the beginning of the CoVid pandemic. And while presently our world is not as bad off as before life is still a bit different. This book brought back a lot of memories of the early days of the pandemic, some good but a lot bad. My youngest son in fact got CoVid twice. With all the vaccinations and everything. It was a very scary time.
I remember going to the grocery store and I couldn’t find any cleaning products or toilet paper (thank god I was a bit of a bulk buyer (aka hoarder 😁)). But before the toilet paper came back in stock my supply was dwindling extremely low and I started to get a little panicked, to the point that I was worried I would have to go hunting for leaves and such..lol. I can’t imagine trying to start a relationship during this time in our catastrophic world. That’s what made this so interesting to see how it might possibly work.
While this wasn’t a book I would consider fascinating, it was in fact very middle of the road. Pacing was ok. Nothing spectacular stuck out to me. Ok let me back that up. One thing, really animal, stuck out to me. Yes this is another book where a dog took center stage over the humans. I adored Chester the bow tie wearing dog! Jonah was too self wallowing and Max was fine, but that was the depths of my feelings..just fine. I don’t regret reading it though. There were bits of snarky banter that cracked me up. And of course with a book that is centered around CoVid there were some heavy parts. I don’t always mind heavy parts though. In fact before you even get to the first page there is a warning: Please be aware that this story touches on topics such as parental death, COVID-19, AIDS, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and racism.
Thank You Penguin Teen and NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
“Conventional wisdom suggests that, when the world finally does begin to fall apart, love will be the only thing left that really matters. Petty grievances will fall away. You won’t remember who called you Maxi Pad for the entirety of sixth grade (Logan Bennett) or how much money is in your bank account or the hours spent studying for that one calculus exam you almost failed. Instead, you will spend time with loved ones. Hold them close. Be present. Let them know that you care.”
California had just started it’s quarantine lockdown following the beginning of the CoVid Pandemic and Max and Jonah are both out shopping for supplies. Jonah is seeking toilet paper for his older sister who desperately needs it for her Crohn’s Disease. Max is working as a part time personal shopper and she seems to have the last bulks of toilet paper needed to fulfill her orders. Jonah will do anything to get his hands on a pack of TP including negotiating with the cute but prickly stranger, tempting her with the last of the Sparkling Water and Disinfectant Wipes as a trade. After going their respective ways Jonah, with some help from Olivia, hatches a plan to see Max again. He tracks her company down with some google digging and then requests an online grocery delivery. Cancelling and reordering until Max is his designated personal shopper.
What follows is a carefully cultivated friendship/love story between the two. Through the difficulties of not really being able to see each regularly (because of Olivia, Jonah’s sister being high risk and Max more susceptible with her public job) and when they do they must be masked up and 6 Feet apart. On top of the CoVid restrictions they have good old fashioned obstacles such as money and mental health issues. Jonah has the luck of living in a high income neighborhood but has challenges with depression and severe anxiety. Max is very self assured for the most part but money is not taken for granted in her tiny apartment with just her and her mom. Max is working to save for her college fund on top of trying to help her mom with their barely hanging on dry cleaning business.
Can Max and Jonah really last with all their social and economical issues as well as the pandemic working against them?
Hello (From Here) is a difficult love story that starts out at the beginning of the CoVid pandemic. And while presently our world is not as bad off as before life is still a bit different. This book brought back a lot of memories of the early days of the pandemic, some good but a lot bad. My youngest son in fact got CoVid twice. With all the vaccinations and everything. It was a very scary time.
I remember going to the grocery store and I couldn’t find any cleaning products or toilet paper (thank god I was a bit of a bulk buyer (aka hoarder 😁)). But before the toilet paper came back in stock my supply was dwindling extremely low and I started to get a little panicked, to the point that I was worried I would have to go hunting for leaves and such..lol. I can’t imagine trying to start a relationship during this time in our catastrophic world. That’s what made this so interesting to see how it might possibly work.
While this wasn’t a book I would consider fascinating, it was in fact very middle of the road. Pacing was ok. Nothing spectacular stuck out to me. Ok let me back that up. One thing, really animal, stuck out to me. Yes this is another book where a dog took center stage over the humans. I adored Chester the bow tie wearing dog! Jonah was too self wallowing and Max was fine, but that was the depths of my feelings..just fine. I don’t regret reading it though. There were bits of snarky banter that cracked me up. And of course with a book that is centered around CoVid there were some heavy parts. I don’t always mind heavy parts though. In fact before you even get to the first page there is a warning: Please be aware that this story touches on topics such as parental death, COVID-19, AIDS, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and racism.
Thank You Penguin Teen and NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 14, 2021
I really wanted to like this book because everyone's love life suffered a little bit throughout this pandemic. I know mine did. The fact of the matter is that this book was maybe written a little too soon and didn't get as much help as it needed. The plot didn't feel like it was baked all the way and the characters really weren't it for me. I grew to like Max even though I didn't have very positive feelings towards her in the beginning but my main problem I had was with Jonah. He was so creepy in the beginning and just proceeded to be creepy and obsessive over Max for so long but no one seemed to raise any red flags about it? Max didn't even think twice about it and ended up making jokes about it like it was a cute way they met. It was just really unsettling because we know they're young adults but don't seem to be aware of things like this. Not even Max's friends thought it was weird or thought to tell her that Jonah was giving off sketchy vibes and I know when it seems like the world is ending, you do some weird stuff but this was just too uncomfortable for my liking.
October 31, 2021
2.5 stars, this felt a little too soon and some parts were just, a lot for no reason
Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I have to admit, I started reading this book a while before I marked it on Goodreads. I am too lazy to go back and try to find the time, especially because it felt like such a chore to read through. There was so much going on, obviously because it's about covid, but also so much extra drama that felt unnecessary. It didn't leave me with a good taste in my mouth, but that was also probably it was a bit too soon for reading considering we are still going through the pandemic. With that being said, I feel that in the future if someone reads this outside the pandemic, they will find more interest in it. There were a lot of smaller and diverse details that I really enjoyed, but it didn't make up for the bad of it.
The plot followed two high school kids, "falling in love" over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, via text messages and zoom calls. There was some cool rep such as; Max lives in a low-income household and she works for herself and her mom. Jonah lives in a well-off household but he has a generalized anxiety disorder (which seemed pretty accurate from my friend's comments) and his mother has died. His sister Olivia has GI issues and is chronically ill, as well as either bi or lesbian, I don't believe it is ever explicitly stated. Max delivers to an old man who becomes a side character who is also LGBTQ and he was really fun.
Because of the amazing diversity of the characters, I think someone who is reading it outside of COVID will have a better time. I recommend checking the trigger warnings at the bottom of my review because there were absolutely tons. The COVID pandemic hasn't been very hard on me in terms of losing people I know, but there was still so much stress, and as my favorite teacher put it "I'm sure as teenagers you have a lot of unnoticed trauma from this ongoing pandemic that will be discovered." I agree, and reading about this was no happy story. I didn't leave with any feeling of hope or joy, maybe because we are still in the pandemic, or maybe the story. I am not completely sure.
Max was a character that I liked right from the start, I connected and related to her a lot in terms of the family situation and etc. She was really hard working and did her best to support herself and her mom. She took COVID very seriously and understood when she couldn't do something. In terms of some of the stuff that happens in her story, I am completely on her side in the matter. I preferred her over Jonah and I think I will stand by that.
Jonah was a character it took a while for me to love, he was annoying to me in the first part of the book and ended up being in the ending too. He obviously is going through a lot, he has a general anxiety disorder, and living through a pandemic is hard. But he was so ignorant of Max's financial situation, her feelings on some matters, and honestly anything she had going on. He thought she was always able to do things, that she always felt available, and that he was the most important thing in life. He did take steps to try to be a better person in that regard, but it always fell through.
Overall, this wasn't the worst and I did have joy at the diversity of the characters. But reading it during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, or rather writing it during that time too, was not the move. Jonah's character was really complicated and I didn't enjoy him to be completely honest. As well, I didn't feel a lot of romantic tension between the two characters and was left with a bad taste in my mouth. I hope someone reading it when the COVID pandemic will be over hopefully soon will find more joy in this story.
[TW: death of a friend, COVID-19 mentions and related deaths, panic and anxiety attacks, death of a family member, low-income problems, AIDs, panic attacks, cheating mentioned]
Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I have to admit, I started reading this book a while before I marked it on Goodreads. I am too lazy to go back and try to find the time, especially because it felt like such a chore to read through. There was so much going on, obviously because it's about covid, but also so much extra drama that felt unnecessary. It didn't leave me with a good taste in my mouth, but that was also probably it was a bit too soon for reading considering we are still going through the pandemic. With that being said, I feel that in the future if someone reads this outside the pandemic, they will find more interest in it. There were a lot of smaller and diverse details that I really enjoyed, but it didn't make up for the bad of it.
The plot followed two high school kids, "falling in love" over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, via text messages and zoom calls. There was some cool rep such as; Max lives in a low-income household and she works for herself and her mom. Jonah lives in a well-off household but he has a generalized anxiety disorder (which seemed pretty accurate from my friend's comments) and his mother has died. His sister Olivia has GI issues and is chronically ill, as well as either bi or lesbian, I don't believe it is ever explicitly stated. Max delivers to an old man who becomes a side character who is also LGBTQ and he was really fun.
Because of the amazing diversity of the characters, I think someone who is reading it outside of COVID will have a better time. I recommend checking the trigger warnings at the bottom of my review because there were absolutely tons. The COVID pandemic hasn't been very hard on me in terms of losing people I know, but there was still so much stress, and as my favorite teacher put it "I'm sure as teenagers you have a lot of unnoticed trauma from this ongoing pandemic that will be discovered." I agree, and reading about this was no happy story. I didn't leave with any feeling of hope or joy, maybe because we are still in the pandemic, or maybe the story. I am not completely sure.
Max was a character that I liked right from the start, I connected and related to her a lot in terms of the family situation and etc. She was really hard working and did her best to support herself and her mom. She took COVID very seriously and understood when she couldn't do something. In terms of some of the stuff that happens in her story, I am completely on her side in the matter. I preferred her over Jonah and I think I will stand by that.
Jonah was a character it took a while for me to love, he was annoying to me in the first part of the book and ended up being in the ending too. He obviously is going through a lot, he has a general anxiety disorder, and living through a pandemic is hard. But he was so ignorant of Max's financial situation, her feelings on some matters, and honestly anything she had going on. He thought she was always able to do things, that she always felt available, and that he was the most important thing in life. He did take steps to try to be a better person in that regard, but it always fell through.
Overall, this wasn't the worst and I did have joy at the diversity of the characters. But reading it during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, or rather writing it during that time too, was not the move. Jonah's character was really complicated and I didn't enjoy him to be completely honest. As well, I didn't feel a lot of romantic tension between the two characters and was left with a bad taste in my mouth. I hope someone reading it when the COVID pandemic will be over hopefully soon will find more joy in this story.
[TW: death of a friend, COVID-19 mentions and related deaths, panic and anxiety attacks, death of a family member, low-income problems, AIDs, panic attacks, cheating mentioned]
October 10, 2021
In this collaboration between YA authors Chandler Baker and Wesley King, two teens develop a connection as the world goes into COVID lockdown.
Jonah and Max have a fairly unique meet-cute: he tries to negotiate with her to get some toilet paper out of her shopping cart (she shops for people), since the grocery store is mobbed. And while she gets the upper hand in their negotiations, both are intrigued by the other, so Jonah does the (logical? stalkerish?) thing and tracks her down.
What ensues is a budding relationship of sorts, conducted mostly over FaceTime, and via calls and texts, along with some clandestine (and masked) meetings along the way. Both have been hurt before and both have their own issues—Jonah suffers from anxiety and is dealing with unresolved grief over his mother’s death, while Max worries about her workaholic mother and their financial status as everything shuts down for COVID.
When I read 56 Days earlier this month I wasn’t affected by its being set during COVID, but reading Hello (from here) definitely was a little soon for me. It very accurately depicted the anxieties of the early days of the pandemic, where no one knew how it could spread and there was so much worry about infecting those you loved with weaker immune systems.
Beyond that, though, I just didn’t love these characters. Their banter was cute but their behaviors at times (particularly Jonah’s) weren’t very redeeming. I enjoyed a subplot about one of Max’s customers and would’ve liked more of that.
I guess I’m not really ready to read a book set fully in the COVID pandemic!! Are you?
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Jonah and Max have a fairly unique meet-cute: he tries to negotiate with her to get some toilet paper out of her shopping cart (she shops for people), since the grocery store is mobbed. And while she gets the upper hand in their negotiations, both are intrigued by the other, so Jonah does the (logical? stalkerish?) thing and tracks her down.
What ensues is a budding relationship of sorts, conducted mostly over FaceTime, and via calls and texts, along with some clandestine (and masked) meetings along the way. Both have been hurt before and both have their own issues—Jonah suffers from anxiety and is dealing with unresolved grief over his mother’s death, while Max worries about her workaholic mother and their financial status as everything shuts down for COVID.
When I read 56 Days earlier this month I wasn’t affected by its being set during COVID, but reading Hello (from here) definitely was a little soon for me. It very accurately depicted the anxieties of the early days of the pandemic, where no one knew how it could spread and there was so much worry about infecting those you loved with weaker immune systems.
Beyond that, though, I just didn’t love these characters. Their banter was cute but their behaviors at times (particularly Jonah’s) weren’t very redeeming. I enjoyed a subplot about one of Max’s customers and would’ve liked more of that.
I guess I’m not really ready to read a book set fully in the COVID pandemic!! Are you?
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
August 21, 2021
3.5/5
I really wanted to like this book as it was just such an interesting premise, but unfortunately, I just think this book was written too soon. Everyone was affected by COVID in one way or another, and I want to say this upfront if COVID was especially hard for you, please please please be prepared for this book because, personally for me, even after reading the trigger warnings, this book was a lot to process and very triggering.
This book transports you right back into the beginning of the pandemic, March 2020, and starts with a "meet cute" in the grocery store. Max and Jonah meet in the grocery store and start up a virtual relationship. However, I was put off by how pushy and almost creepy Jonah was in pursuing Max, so I didn't love their relationship. Individually, I liked Max and Jonah as characters and thought they were written well in the different ways they both reacted to the pandemic. I particularly related to Jonah's anxiety and some of the cyclical thoughts he had sounded like they could have come right from my head.
I feel like where this book fell short was that it tried to tackle too much all at once. There were some really important and good themes and issues brought up in this book; however, it seemed like the authors didn't have the bandwidth to dive sufficiently into each one. I really wish we had gotten more about Arlo and Winter.
Additionally, apart from one character "hitting the whoa move" and some terrifying pop culture references, I would say Max, Jonah, and their friends actually felt like teenagers which is always a plus.
Overall, I am excited to read this book again in a couple of years when, hopefully, COVID is well and truly behind us.
age rating: 12+
tw: parental death, COVID-19, AIDs, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, panic attacks, vomiting
Thank you to penguin teen and netgalley for providing me with a digital arc of this book.
I really wanted to like this book as it was just such an interesting premise, but unfortunately, I just think this book was written too soon. Everyone was affected by COVID in one way or another, and I want to say this upfront if COVID was especially hard for you, please please please be prepared for this book because, personally for me, even after reading the trigger warnings, this book was a lot to process and very triggering.
This book transports you right back into the beginning of the pandemic, March 2020, and starts with a "meet cute" in the grocery store. Max and Jonah meet in the grocery store and start up a virtual relationship. However, I was put off by how pushy and almost creepy Jonah was in pursuing Max, so I didn't love their relationship. Individually, I liked Max and Jonah as characters and thought they were written well in the different ways they both reacted to the pandemic. I particularly related to Jonah's anxiety and some of the cyclical thoughts he had sounded like they could have come right from my head.
I feel like where this book fell short was that it tried to tackle too much all at once. There were some really important and good themes and issues brought up in this book; however, it seemed like the authors didn't have the bandwidth to dive sufficiently into each one. I really wish we had gotten more about Arlo and Winter.
Additionally, apart from one character "hitting the whoa move" and some terrifying pop culture references, I would say Max, Jonah, and their friends actually felt like teenagers which is always a plus.
Overall, I am excited to read this book again in a couple of years when, hopefully, COVID is well and truly behind us.
age rating: 12+
tw: parental death, COVID-19, AIDs, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, panic attacks, vomiting
Thank you to penguin teen and netgalley for providing me with a digital arc of this book.
September 12, 2021
OK, I will freely admit if I had read this book in another time I may have felt differently about it. I feel like it is too soon to write a story about a quarantine romance especially one with lots of heavy Covid related triggers. The pandemic is not over and I feel like it is too soon for a book like this. We are literally still being traumatized, it’s not time to dive into fictional heartache. That being said I did like the characters even if their meeting (and Jonah then tracking her down stalker style) was a little intense. I also liked the supporting characters (game nights for the win). Overall this book was a little heavy in the drama for my tastes. I understand relationships need some bumps, but I felt like the infidelity piece was not needed for this story and was more of a distraction. I loved Arlo and Winter’s side story despite shedding more than a couple of tears.
January 13, 2022
(TWs: death of mother, car crashes, covid-19, hospitalization, anxiety, panic attacks, funerals, death of friends.)
a lot cuter than expected but a lil bland
"The world's still hanging on. Love aint the last one standing. There are grievances and bad timing and all the things that came before."
Max and Jonah are our 17 y/o mcs. max is middle class, and works as a grocery shopper & deliverer. she lives with her mom, a struggling laundry mat owner. Jonah is rich. his dad is off on a business trip to Spain, and gets stuck do to the pandemic. his step-mom is not the best, and his sister has Crohns disease, so he has to be extra careful.
stress is always up whether its financial, mental, or physical. Jonah and Max see each other as a break in the madness, something new and exciting to focus on. but with the pandemic, there are limitations. they can't go on dates, enter each other's house, hold hands, or even be within 6ft. while relationships don't need physical touch, it definitely sucks when you can't hug the person you love.
max and Jonah go through many bumps that come with their different lives. Jonah gets sit and eat chips for weeks on end in lock down, and max has to work her butt off to keep the lights on. but also Jonah has anxiety and zooming one-on-one with his therapist isn't as great compared to in person. he struggling, she's struggling.
it gives us a glimpse of how elderly people are living, and how they're at greater risk and also can't see their loved ones. there's a lot of loss present, parents, mentors, friends.
I love love love the inclusion of boys with anxiety and mental illness! in ya there's a lot of books catered to girls about mental illness, but not boys. its one of those things society has said "no" to in the name of toxic masculinity. and some side characters that are jock-himbos but understand that Jonah is going through something hard. its nice to have that support.
my favorite thing: the banter. the banter is TO DIE FOR. its great! its spaced out well! not too much that you can tell its just for comic relief, but what a normal teen would say! there's a lot of texting, which is to be expected with the pandemic, and its not bad! it's pretty realistic when you consider each character. that's usually the thing that makes me cringe the hardest, but Baker handled it well.
it has a very open ending, which I think is perfect. even now, the pandemic isn't over, it never will be. we'll just figure out how to deal with it in day-to-day life, like with the flu. no one really knows where its headed, and with that what Max and Jonah would do. she ended it at the right time in their relationship for the readers to make up how it will go next.
a song i associate with this book: Things Are Different- Picture This
a lot cuter than expected but a lil bland
"The world's still hanging on. Love aint the last one standing. There are grievances and bad timing and all the things that came before."
Max and Jonah are our 17 y/o mcs. max is middle class, and works as a grocery shopper & deliverer. she lives with her mom, a struggling laundry mat owner. Jonah is rich. his dad is off on a business trip to Spain, and gets stuck do to the pandemic. his step-mom is not the best, and his sister has Crohns disease, so he has to be extra careful.
stress is always up whether its financial, mental, or physical. Jonah and Max see each other as a break in the madness, something new and exciting to focus on. but with the pandemic, there are limitations. they can't go on dates, enter each other's house, hold hands, or even be within 6ft. while relationships don't need physical touch, it definitely sucks when you can't hug the person you love.
max and Jonah go through many bumps that come with their different lives. Jonah gets sit and eat chips for weeks on end in lock down, and max has to work her butt off to keep the lights on. but also Jonah has anxiety and zooming one-on-one with his therapist isn't as great compared to in person. he struggling, she's struggling.
it gives us a glimpse of how elderly people are living, and how they're at greater risk and also can't see their loved ones. there's a lot of loss present, parents, mentors, friends.
I love love love the inclusion of boys with anxiety and mental illness! in ya there's a lot of books catered to girls about mental illness, but not boys. its one of those things society has said "no" to in the name of toxic masculinity. and some side characters that are jock-himbos but understand that Jonah is going through something hard. its nice to have that support.
my favorite thing: the banter. the banter is TO DIE FOR. its great! its spaced out well! not too much that you can tell its just for comic relief, but what a normal teen would say! there's a lot of texting, which is to be expected with the pandemic, and its not bad! it's pretty realistic when you consider each character. that's usually the thing that makes me cringe the hardest, but Baker handled it well.
it has a very open ending, which I think is perfect. even now, the pandemic isn't over, it never will be. we'll just figure out how to deal with it in day-to-day life, like with the flu. no one really knows where its headed, and with that what Max and Jonah would do. she ended it at the right time in their relationship for the readers to make up how it will go next.
a song i associate with this book: Things Are Different- Picture This
October 10, 2021
2.5 rounded up 🙄
Ugh!!!
I’m really frustrated with this book. I cannot stand Jonah and didn’t like him from the start. He’s a moron, he’s not careful, and acts like he’s entitled to things. When he asks out Max and she says no, he won’t stop. He’s insistent until he wears her down. Not a cute look. And he continues the pattern of pressuring her into things she’s uncomfortable with throughout the WHOLE BOOK. The relationship makes no sense. The dynamic is super off. Am I supposed to be invested in this?
All I cared about the whole time was Max being okay and Olivia staying safe. Max and Jonah are in completely different places in life. Max is doing anything she can to keep herself and her mom afloat. And Jonah is complaining about eating chips in his room at 3am because his affluent upbringing gives him nothing else to worry about. While Max is constantly aware of their differences, Jonah chooses to completely ignore everything and insist on living out his make believe romcom life. He needs a reality check.
If I weren’t so stubborn, I would have DNF’d at the boat incident. I was so mad. Unforgivable honestly.
No thanks!
Ugh!!!
I’m really frustrated with this book. I cannot stand Jonah and didn’t like him from the start. He’s a moron, he’s not careful, and acts like he’s entitled to things. When he asks out Max and she says no, he won’t stop. He’s insistent until he wears her down. Not a cute look. And he continues the pattern of pressuring her into things she’s uncomfortable with throughout the WHOLE BOOK. The relationship makes no sense. The dynamic is super off. Am I supposed to be invested in this?
All I cared about the whole time was Max being okay and Olivia staying safe. Max and Jonah are in completely different places in life. Max is doing anything she can to keep herself and her mom afloat. And Jonah is complaining about eating chips in his room at 3am because his affluent upbringing gives him nothing else to worry about. While Max is constantly aware of their differences, Jonah chooses to completely ignore everything and insist on living out his make believe romcom life. He needs a reality check.
If I weren’t so stubborn, I would have DNF’d at the boat incident. I was so mad. Unforgivable honestly.
No thanks!
September 15, 2021
The world has just shut down to the unimaginable: a virus.
COVID-19 is new and fresh, and the state of California is in lockdown as it tries to fight the disease.
Two of its residence, from very different sides of the city, bump into each-other at the grocery store and things change.
Now, they must figure out if it’s worth it, a relationship where you can never touch your loved one sounds hard enough- but also dealing with the chaos of the rest of the world just makes it tougher.
As many other reviews have stated: it’s so hard to read a book about COVID-19 while also still being in it. It’s like reading a history book, where you already know the ending and it effects how you think about the book as a whole.
It’s weird reading things that you went through, emotions that you dealt with, fears that you experienced and still do- the unknown of it all for the 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟 but the familiar of it all for the reader.
Is there a potential that this book will be used in a few years in English classes as a way to familiarize yourself with what people that lived during the COVID crisis went through? Absolutely.
That’s how realistic it is - how familiar it is and that’s hard.
All-in-all it’s a decent book. It deals with the struggles of a relationship admits a pandemic, the struggles of surviving the pandemic, mental health issues, death, and a lot of other difficult topics.
The characters were somewhat enjoyable but fell pretty flat. It almost feels as more of a plot based story than character driven, but without any real plot other than ‘remember how hard COVID is.’
But it’s still a good enough story that you’re just not uninterested enough to DNF it.
If you’re wanting to read something that you’re familiar with, the relates to the last year of chaos and hurt, then this is a great book to really detail that!
COVID-19 is new and fresh, and the state of California is in lockdown as it tries to fight the disease.
Two of its residence, from very different sides of the city, bump into each-other at the grocery store and things change.
Now, they must figure out if it’s worth it, a relationship where you can never touch your loved one sounds hard enough- but also dealing with the chaos of the rest of the world just makes it tougher.
As many other reviews have stated: it’s so hard to read a book about COVID-19 while also still being in it. It’s like reading a history book, where you already know the ending and it effects how you think about the book as a whole.
It’s weird reading things that you went through, emotions that you dealt with, fears that you experienced and still do- the unknown of it all for the 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟 but the familiar of it all for the reader.
Is there a potential that this book will be used in a few years in English classes as a way to familiarize yourself with what people that lived during the COVID crisis went through? Absolutely.
That’s how realistic it is - how familiar it is and that’s hard.
All-in-all it’s a decent book. It deals with the struggles of a relationship admits a pandemic, the struggles of surviving the pandemic, mental health issues, death, and a lot of other difficult topics.
The characters were somewhat enjoyable but fell pretty flat. It almost feels as more of a plot based story than character driven, but without any real plot other than ‘remember how hard COVID is.’
But it’s still a good enough story that you’re just not uninterested enough to DNF it.
If you’re wanting to read something that you’re familiar with, the relates to the last year of chaos and hurt, then this is a great book to really detail that!
August 25, 2021
Thank you so much Penguin Teen Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5
[tws: loss of a loved one, death from covid, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, talks of Covid]
If Covid was a hard time for you, like it was for me, please be prepared when reading this book. I was not prepared for it to cause me so much anxiety that I had to put it down multiple times. I didn't expect it to affect me so much when I first started reading it. So please if Covid was hard for you, be prepared.
pros:
I adored this book. It made me feel all the emotions right alongside the characters. This book is told in dual POVs. We alternate between Max and Jonah's POVs and they’re very different experiences with Covid-19.
Max is a lower class working every day as a teenager to support her and her mom while Jonah lives upper/upper-middle class. However, Jonah deals with severe anxiety and depression.
Both Max and Jonah are written extremely well in my opinion. They both have their faults and also have reason to be drawn to each other. Their romance doesn’t seem random or unnatural and everything mushes together well.
The pacing of the book was well done and everything Covid related was written quite accurately. so accurately it brought up some anxiety I have relating to Covid.
The depression and anxiety rep was relatable and accurate. It really made me feel for Jonah, especially since he had so much more privilege compared to Max. His descriptions of panic attacks were close to how I’ve experienced them and brought up a lot of emotions for me.
Overall this book is pretty good and if I wasn’t in a slump I would be able to read it in one sitting. also, I loved the ending
cons:
There aren’t many cons but I did have some concerns with POC representation. There wasn’t distinct POC rep in this book so if that's what you look for, it isn’t here. I think Carlos (Jonah's friend) could be POC but is written more racially ambiguous. However, there is LGBTQ+ rep with the secondary characters.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and really recommend it.
Pub Date: Sept 7th (go pre-order!!)
4.5/5
[tws: loss of a loved one, death from covid, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, talks of Covid]
If Covid was a hard time for you, like it was for me, please be prepared when reading this book. I was not prepared for it to cause me so much anxiety that I had to put it down multiple times. I didn't expect it to affect me so much when I first started reading it. So please if Covid was hard for you, be prepared.
pros:
I adored this book. It made me feel all the emotions right alongside the characters. This book is told in dual POVs. We alternate between Max and Jonah's POVs and they’re very different experiences with Covid-19.
Max is a lower class working every day as a teenager to support her and her mom while Jonah lives upper/upper-middle class. However, Jonah deals with severe anxiety and depression.
Both Max and Jonah are written extremely well in my opinion. They both have their faults and also have reason to be drawn to each other. Their romance doesn’t seem random or unnatural and everything mushes together well.
The pacing of the book was well done and everything Covid related was written quite accurately. so accurately it brought up some anxiety I have relating to Covid.
The depression and anxiety rep was relatable and accurate. It really made me feel for Jonah, especially since he had so much more privilege compared to Max. His descriptions of panic attacks were close to how I’ve experienced them and brought up a lot of emotions for me.
Overall this book is pretty good and if I wasn’t in a slump I would be able to read it in one sitting. also, I loved the ending
cons:
There aren’t many cons but I did have some concerns with POC representation. There wasn’t distinct POC rep in this book so if that's what you look for, it isn’t here. I think Carlos (Jonah's friend) could be POC but is written more racially ambiguous. However, there is LGBTQ+ rep with the secondary characters.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and really recommend it.
Pub Date: Sept 7th (go pre-order!!)
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 26, 2021Okay..... So I wanted to enjoy this book but I just don't want to see books about COVID.... at all... EVER! It's a terrible time in our lives and some people are still experiencing lockdowns and this could be super depressing for them to be in lockdown to RELIVE IT and I just can't. I didn't finish this book because I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt but I'm tired of COVID and there shouldn't be anything to romanticize it or make light of it because it's not a light topic at all. It was a mistake and the way it was handled worldwide is stupid and I just, I can't.
March 16, 2022
no. dnf’d this so fast
June 2, 2021
I received a copy of this book directly from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I tried so hard to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. At 18%, I gave up. It's not like the book was the worst thing I've ever read - it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The writing itself was clear and easy to read, and I suppose, humorous in a way. There was a lot of internal dialogue and talking to the reader that wasn't high on my list of favorite things - but I can see how it would appeal to younger readers. I loved the plot itself and how modern the story was - the incorporation of the pandemic was a familiar worldview that made me smile.
The major problem I had with the book was the main male lead, Jonah. He is the most limp-wristed male I've ever seen forced into a romance role. It's not just that Jonah is a nerdy guy with glasses (which he is, but that's fine)… it's not even that he suffers from anxiety, because, again, that's fine - but combine both of those things with his infatuation with a girl he's barely met, and his cringe-worthy attempts to insert himself into her life… ew. Just…. Ew. It's gross how he basically stalks this girl, contacts her through work just so he can see her again, and then continues to try and weasel himself into her life. It's not attractive.
Reading this story from Jonah's POV was like being forced to watch an incel attempt to attract a girl far out of his league. No thank you. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this one.
I tried so hard to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. At 18%, I gave up. It's not like the book was the worst thing I've ever read - it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The writing itself was clear and easy to read, and I suppose, humorous in a way. There was a lot of internal dialogue and talking to the reader that wasn't high on my list of favorite things - but I can see how it would appeal to younger readers. I loved the plot itself and how modern the story was - the incorporation of the pandemic was a familiar worldview that made me smile.
The major problem I had with the book was the main male lead, Jonah. He is the most limp-wristed male I've ever seen forced into a romance role. It's not just that Jonah is a nerdy guy with glasses (which he is, but that's fine)… it's not even that he suffers from anxiety, because, again, that's fine - but combine both of those things with his infatuation with a girl he's barely met, and his cringe-worthy attempts to insert himself into her life… ew. Just…. Ew. It's gross how he basically stalks this girl, contacts her through work just so he can see her again, and then continues to try and weasel himself into her life. It's not attractive.
Reading this story from Jonah's POV was like being forced to watch an incel attempt to attract a girl far out of his league. No thank you. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this one.
October 18, 2021
2 stars
hello (from here) was really just not for me. i’m stuck between rating this between one and two stars, but i try to save one star for books that were truly horrible and/or offensive. i don’t quite know what it was about this book—maybe the fact that it’s a book set during a pandemic i lived through (and am currently living through, but this is set during the 2020 part of the pandemic). maybe it’s a little too soon for a book like this, at least for me. also, max and jonah fucking sucked. i know they’re teenagers during a global pandemic, but come on. there was no need to make them so entirely unlikeable.
also... was i supposed to root for max and jonah to get together? because jonah was creepy. after their whole “meet cute,” jonah quite literally stalks max. tracks her down and finds her. and then when he asks her out and she says no, he keeps at it until he wears her down and she says yes. that’s not quite how consent works, but alright. it’s one thing for max and her friends to miss the red flags (because, once again, they’re teenagers), but it’s another entirely for it to be romanticized through the entire book.
anyway. i guess this book just wasn’t for me. on to the next one i suppose.
hello (from here) was really just not for me. i’m stuck between rating this between one and two stars, but i try to save one star for books that were truly horrible and/or offensive. i don’t quite know what it was about this book—maybe the fact that it’s a book set during a pandemic i lived through (and am currently living through, but this is set during the 2020 part of the pandemic). maybe it’s a little too soon for a book like this, at least for me. also, max and jonah fucking sucked. i know they’re teenagers during a global pandemic, but come on. there was no need to make them so entirely unlikeable.
also... was i supposed to root for max and jonah to get together? because jonah was creepy. after their whole “meet cute,” jonah quite literally stalks max. tracks her down and finds her. and then when he asks her out and she says no, he keeps at it until he wears her down and she says yes. that’s not quite how consent works, but alright. it’s one thing for max and her friends to miss the red flags (because, once again, they’re teenagers), but it’s another entirely for it to be romanticized through the entire book.
anyway. i guess this book just wasn’t for me. on to the next one i suppose.
Read
November 4, 2021Hello (From Here) (Dial Books, 2021) is new this fall from co-authors Chandler Baker and Wesley King, and it perfectly captures the COVID-19 pandemic’s early days. Max is a headstrong high school girl working as a personal grocery shopper and deliverer as she saves for college and to help make ends meet in the apartment she shares with her mom. Jonah is a funny, anxiety-ridden guy from a wealthy neighborhood who meets Max in a grocery store. Their first meeting is an argument about toilet paper hoarding, but Jonah is smitten.
So how exactly does one begin a romantic pursuit in a pandemic where social distancing is the norm, and people are expected to stay home? Texting is a big help, and both Max and Jonah have elevated text-messaging to a clever art form. As Hello (From Here) unfolds, Max and Jonah’s frequent text exchanges are entertaining for readers as the couple figures out ways to get together … safely.
Just when Hello (From Here) starts to settle into a satisfying rom-com, the seriousness of the pandemic intrudes in ways that are all too common. The relationship between Max and Jonah expands to include them dealing with the realities of an immunocompromised sibling, a parent stranded overseas, an elderly friend at risk of contracting the virus, and a family business threatened with financial disaster.
The extended dialogues between Max and Jonah will have young readers relating to how the pandemic is affecting their own lives. On the other hand, I wonder if this is just all too fresh and raw to allow sensitive readers to enjoy the book. Like most things involving young adult literature, it probably depends on the reader. Hello (From Here) is a warm, funny story that lets readers know they are not alone in how they are living through this strange time.
So how exactly does one begin a romantic pursuit in a pandemic where social distancing is the norm, and people are expected to stay home? Texting is a big help, and both Max and Jonah have elevated text-messaging to a clever art form. As Hello (From Here) unfolds, Max and Jonah’s frequent text exchanges are entertaining for readers as the couple figures out ways to get together … safely.
Just when Hello (From Here) starts to settle into a satisfying rom-com, the seriousness of the pandemic intrudes in ways that are all too common. The relationship between Max and Jonah expands to include them dealing with the realities of an immunocompromised sibling, a parent stranded overseas, an elderly friend at risk of contracting the virus, and a family business threatened with financial disaster.
The extended dialogues between Max and Jonah will have young readers relating to how the pandemic is affecting their own lives. On the other hand, I wonder if this is just all too fresh and raw to allow sensitive readers to enjoy the book. Like most things involving young adult literature, it probably depends on the reader. Hello (From Here) is a warm, funny story that lets readers know they are not alone in how they are living through this strange time.
January 19, 2022
"maybe it's not that if you work hard you always get ahead, it's just that if you don't give up, don't give in, then things still have the chance of working out some way or another. Maybe you just have to still be hanging around when luck shows up" ← my favorite quote from the book🤩
September 14, 2021
I normally don't read a synopsis before picking up a book. The cover of Hello (From Here) sold me, but it wasn't until I received the physical copy that I noticed the masks on the characters and realized that this a book set in the pandemic. I went in with zero expectations and I am so glad I decided to pick up this book.
The author does a wonderful job of providing content warning at the beginning of the book. I definitely feel this is something you need to see prior to deciding whether or not to read this book. Because the book takes place at the beginning of the shutdown in California, this story may be triggering for many, especially those hit hard by COVID or those who lost loved ones. However, I appreciate the care it took in depicting the early stages of the pandemic. It showed how hope can come out of despair.
I loved both main characters - Max and Jonah - and their meet cute in the supermarket while everyone around them was bustling around for toilet paper and Clorox wipes was so sweet. I felt like their insta-attraction is typical for teenage relationships and it worked for them. Their friendship (and then relationship) grew slowly as they navigated the fear of the pandemic, but also without normal intimacies of a new relationships, like holding hands. The plot kept me guessing and had many twists and turns in the end that kept me turning page after page.
The mental health rep in this book is done well. It accurately depicts not only living with anxiety and panic attacks in life, coupled with a blossoming pandemic, Hello (From Here) shows just how crippling life can sometimes seem. There were also themes of privilege and class discrepancy that brought to light just how differently people had to cope with life during the shutdown.
I absolutely adored the relationship between Max and her elderly customer. It was the sweetest ever and it gave me definite "The Holiday" vibes. I loved the added layer of his story and how it was interwoven into's Jonah's own personal tragedy.
Thanks to Penguin Teen for the advanced copy!
The author does a wonderful job of providing content warning at the beginning of the book. I definitely feel this is something you need to see prior to deciding whether or not to read this book. Because the book takes place at the beginning of the shutdown in California, this story may be triggering for many, especially those hit hard by COVID or those who lost loved ones. However, I appreciate the care it took in depicting the early stages of the pandemic. It showed how hope can come out of despair.
I loved both main characters - Max and Jonah - and their meet cute in the supermarket while everyone around them was bustling around for toilet paper and Clorox wipes was so sweet. I felt like their insta-attraction is typical for teenage relationships and it worked for them. Their friendship (and then relationship) grew slowly as they navigated the fear of the pandemic, but also without normal intimacies of a new relationships, like holding hands. The plot kept me guessing and had many twists and turns in the end that kept me turning page after page.
The mental health rep in this book is done well. It accurately depicts not only living with anxiety and panic attacks in life, coupled with a blossoming pandemic, Hello (From Here) shows just how crippling life can sometimes seem. There were also themes of privilege and class discrepancy that brought to light just how differently people had to cope with life during the shutdown.
I absolutely adored the relationship between Max and her elderly customer. It was the sweetest ever and it gave me definite "The Holiday" vibes. I loved the added layer of his story and how it was interwoven into's Jonah's own personal tragedy.
Thanks to Penguin Teen for the advanced copy!
November 30, 2021
4.5 / 5
This is not your typical YA meet cute, but then again last year wasn’t really a typical year for most teenagers.
While some of you may have no interest in a pandemic romance, I felt that Hello (From Here) hits the mark and then some.
Jonah and Max (short for Maxine) meet in a grocery store at the beginning of L.A.’s lockdown. Max is a personal shopper and Jonah is shopping for his sister, who is immunocompromised. What starts as some trading for goods, especially toilet paper and wipes, turns into Jonah and Max cyber-dating.
Several things make this more than just a cute romance set during a pandemic. First, Jonah and Max come from very different backgrounds and are struggling in their own ways. Max sees Jonah as wealthy and privileged, but Jonah is crippled by anxiety and guilt over his mother’s death. Max has to work to help her mother and her stay afloat, then add a possible deadly virus on top of all this and their budding, at-a-distance romance is on shaking ground.
A subplot runs throughout about one of Max’s clients, adding diversity and a little mystery to the story. Family issues, sickness, and heartache cause this to get a little emotional at times, but there is a bit of fun, and I think it's very relevant.
Thank you @PRHaudio for this gifted audiobook.
This is not your typical YA meet cute, but then again last year wasn’t really a typical year for most teenagers.
While some of you may have no interest in a pandemic romance, I felt that Hello (From Here) hits the mark and then some.
Jonah and Max (short for Maxine) meet in a grocery store at the beginning of L.A.’s lockdown. Max is a personal shopper and Jonah is shopping for his sister, who is immunocompromised. What starts as some trading for goods, especially toilet paper and wipes, turns into Jonah and Max cyber-dating.
Several things make this more than just a cute romance set during a pandemic. First, Jonah and Max come from very different backgrounds and are struggling in their own ways. Max sees Jonah as wealthy and privileged, but Jonah is crippled by anxiety and guilt over his mother’s death. Max has to work to help her mother and her stay afloat, then add a possible deadly virus on top of all this and their budding, at-a-distance romance is on shaking ground.
A subplot runs throughout about one of Max’s clients, adding diversity and a little mystery to the story. Family issues, sickness, and heartache cause this to get a little emotional at times, but there is a bit of fun, and I think it's very relevant.
Thank you @PRHaudio for this gifted audiobook.
September 16, 2021
I was really interested to read this book because I wanted a story that can make our reality a better place to live .. it was a nice try but needed more tweaking
So the story is about Max and Jonah, both of their lives stops (and their story begins) when the pandemic hits, they meet at a supermarket and they have a strange encounter .. after that fate ( in the shape of Jonah's sister) throws them together in this weird time and their relationship blossoms during all this
I know it's a vague summary but the story had nothing going for it except that .. all of it was focused around Jonah's complaining about his dead mother (not from Covid) and Max hating this situation .. I liked Max more than Jonah but toward the end I stopped caring about them at all .. and the ending didn't help .. it was really open in the air like the authors couldn't be bothered with a real ending .. I have to say this was a really missed opportunity and I will be looking more into books like this
So the story is about Max and Jonah, both of their lives stops (and their story begins) when the pandemic hits, they meet at a supermarket and they have a strange encounter .. after that fate ( in the shape of Jonah's sister) throws them together in this weird time and their relationship blossoms during all this
I know it's a vague summary but the story had nothing going for it except that .. all of it was focused around Jonah's complaining about his dead mother (not from Covid) and Max hating this situation .. I liked Max more than Jonah but toward the end I stopped caring about them at all .. and the ending didn't help .. it was really open in the air like the authors couldn't be bothered with a real ending .. I have to say this was a really missed opportunity and I will be looking more into books like this
November 13, 2021
Hello (From Here) tells the story of two teens during the pandemic.
I know some people are not ready for books about Covid-19, keep in mind it’s the main topic.
In this story we meet Max and Jonah who had the cutest meet cute moment.
We get to see just how awful the pandemic was for kids. I really loved seeing how different it was for everyone.
Max was a great character but I just didn’t love Jonah. He made it very difficult for me to enjoy the book. He felt like an entitled rich kid and I just didn’t enjoy that.
There was a lot of diversity which I thought was great. I just wish I had connected with the story more.
I also listened to the audiobook and I loved both narrators. Annie Q narrates Max’s chapters. Michael Crouch narrates Jonah’s chapters. The audiobook seemed quick even at 9 hours 35 mins long.
Thank you @prha for the complementary audiobook and @penguinteen for the eARC.
I know some people are not ready for books about Covid-19, keep in mind it’s the main topic.
In this story we meet Max and Jonah who had the cutest meet cute moment.
We get to see just how awful the pandemic was for kids. I really loved seeing how different it was for everyone.
Max was a great character but I just didn’t love Jonah. He made it very difficult for me to enjoy the book. He felt like an entitled rich kid and I just didn’t enjoy that.
There was a lot of diversity which I thought was great. I just wish I had connected with the story more.
I also listened to the audiobook and I loved both narrators. Annie Q narrates Max’s chapters. Michael Crouch narrates Jonah’s chapters. The audiobook seemed quick even at 9 hours 35 mins long.
Thank you @prha for the complementary audiobook and @penguinteen for the eARC.
August 13, 2021
*4.5 stars
thank you penguin teen for an arc of this book in exchange for my review.
this book is honestly everything i wanted. it taught so many important lessons about making the best of life in lockdown. and at many parts i laughed out loud, because of how relatable it was with my quarantine experience. and the characters were just so lovable and easy to relate to. this book, in my opinion, should be a classic in the future, because this perfectly shows what life is like during covid-19.
tw: parental death, anxiety, covid-19, panic disorder
thank you penguin teen for an arc of this book in exchange for my review.
this book is honestly everything i wanted. it taught so many important lessons about making the best of life in lockdown. and at many parts i laughed out loud, because of how relatable it was with my quarantine experience. and the characters were just so lovable and easy to relate to. this book, in my opinion, should be a classic in the future, because this perfectly shows what life is like during covid-19.
tw: parental death, anxiety, covid-19, panic disorder
January 23, 2022
"Hello (From Here)," was a pretty cute book. There was nothing super extraordinary about it, but I did enjoy it. It was a fun, quick read and had romantic elements.
Something I really liked about it was the fact that it felt real. The plot of this book revolves around COVID-19, following two teenagers as they fall in love online. There were some really sad moments, some really intense dramatic moments, and some really cute moments. I liked how realistic it felt, and how it didn't necessarily have a sad or happy ending.
My favourite quotes:
"Oh...so you're "that" guy?"
"If you work hard, you get ahead..."
"You have to treat your body like a temple..."
"I hate how I cant afford to do a lot for the people I care about..."
"If Max calls with updates, I want to make sure I'm there for her..."
"It's just, why am I running so hard if I'm not getting anywhere anyway..."
"When the voices in my head are loud, the ocean is louder. When my worries feel too big, the ocean is always bigger. When I meet the ocean with heartache, it gives me somewhere to drown it..."
Something I really liked about it was the fact that it felt real. The plot of this book revolves around COVID-19, following two teenagers as they fall in love online. There were some really sad moments, some really intense dramatic moments, and some really cute moments. I liked how realistic it felt, and how it didn't necessarily have a sad or happy ending.
My favourite quotes:
"Oh...so you're "that" guy?"
"If you work hard, you get ahead..."
"You have to treat your body like a temple..."
"I hate how I cant afford to do a lot for the people I care about..."
"If Max calls with updates, I want to make sure I'm there for her..."
"It's just, why am I running so hard if I'm not getting anywhere anyway..."
"When the voices in my head are loud, the ocean is louder. When my worries feel too big, the ocean is always bigger. When I meet the ocean with heartache, it gives me somewhere to drown it..."
September 14, 2021
Anyone who knows me knows that romance is just not my genre, however, this book really held my attention. I thought the authors did a fine job of depicting what the start of COVID and lockdown was like for two teens in terms of big and small struggles. Some reviewers were saying it’s just too soon for a book like this, but I completely disagree. These feelings are fresh and we are still processing it all. This is a book I know many of my students will appreciate.
January 11, 2022
This is a very pleasant young adult read. The novel takes place at the beginning of the whole Covid nightmare in 2020. It is humorous, poignant, and highly relatable. That said, the novel could be a trigger for anyone not yet ready to read about this period in time. Overall, a highly recommended read.
I won a copy of Hello(from Here) on Goodreads.
I won a copy of Hello(from Here) on Goodreads.
June 28, 2022
This was a pretty cute book with some heart-breaking moments. Jonah and Max have a meet cute at the beginning of the pandemic and their digital love story has its ups and downs. Arlo's story broke my heart, and I really felt for Jonah's struggles with his family and Max's struggles with her mom and making ends meet. I wish the author hadn't played with my feelings and left us with that ending. I wanted my glorious happily-ever-after; the last few chapters were anticlimactic for me.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 25, 2022DNF @ 43%. This has potential but the MCs were too annoying. I found Jonah to be a lil obsessive too.
June 28, 2021
I'm gonna review soon I swar 🤣
September 8, 2021
2.5-3⭐
So I orginally requested this months ago but never read it but I was in the mood for a romance and the cover is very cute.
I knew going in what the contents would be, This book has covid as the plot essentially and I think if maybe covid died or went away and then this came out I would've had different thoughts but I think this was definitely written way to early. I kinda felt my anxiety catching up. it's very difficult to enjoy something that enhances your anxiety.
I liked the writing though I thought it was very accessible and easy to read and I do reccomend this if you want a cute romance because the romance between the two protagonists is cute but it wasn't really the book for me.
So I orginally requested this months ago but never read it but I was in the mood for a romance and the cover is very cute.
I knew going in what the contents would be, This book has covid as the plot essentially and I think if maybe covid died or went away and then this came out I would've had different thoughts but I think this was definitely written way to early. I kinda felt my anxiety catching up. it's very difficult to enjoy something that enhances your anxiety.
I liked the writing though I thought it was very accessible and easy to read and I do reccomend this if you want a cute romance because the romance between the two protagonists is cute but it wasn't really the book for me.
December 21, 2021
I was waiting to find my first covid romance, and this finally showed up at the new section of my library. This was pretty good, and I really liked the main character Max. However, Jonah (the other main character) drew a lot of red flags and honestly annoyed me throughout the entire book.
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