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Like We Belong
Jonah and Clove have been best friends since they were eight. Their unlikely qualities drew them to one another. Jonah, the mixed boy with red hair and freckles; Clove the timid southern belle who's struggling to cope with having vitiligo. The two of them match perfectly, understand each other clearly, and love each other relentlessly.
Clove and Jonah just want to come out of Senior year strong and college ready, but they find themselves unintentionally looped into the popular crowd at their new school. Their so-called friends have deep secrets and dark pasts that are constantly challenging Clove and Jonah's values and beliefs.
While juggling good grades, parent expectations, and all the things that come with being in a new city; Clove and Jonah find themselves wrapped up in the whirlwind of inner and outer struggles. If birds of a feather flock together, then Clove and Jonah have to decide what is best for them: staying true to themselves or conforming to fit in.
Clove and Jonah just want to come out of Senior year strong and college ready, but they find themselves unintentionally looped into the popular crowd at their new school. Their so-called friends have deep secrets and dark pasts that are constantly challenging Clove and Jonah's values and beliefs.
While juggling good grades, parent expectations, and all the things that come with being in a new city; Clove and Jonah find themselves wrapped up in the whirlwind of inner and outer struggles. If birds of a feather flock together, then Clove and Jonah have to decide what is best for them: staying true to themselves or conforming to fit in.
264 pages, Paperback
Published August 7, 2021
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 25, 2021
"With the look in his eyes and the exhilarating night we’ve had, I can tell he wants to say something. Three words, I see it in his eyes. We don’t say I love you often, because we said we know how we feel. It seemed excessive for us to say it all the time.”
Thank you so, so much to Netgalley for the arc!
I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s certainly very different from other YA contemporaries I’ve read despite the synopsis probably sounding the same. I was expecting a friends-to-lovers story but was more fascinated by the concept of Jonah and Clove already being in a relationship at the start of the book and navigating it. While they figure out the next step for them, they have to acknowledge their social circles and their public images as a PK and religious kid, physical differences within their groups, inner insecurities.
I respect that this book was very sex-positive and that all the characters were able to have conversations about the nuances involving their beliefs and personal experiences. I’m usually deterred by multiple POVs in books, however, it was really interesting to see how other characters perceived and thought about events. Everyone was very layered and had something to bring to the story. Even with the characters that I didn’t particularly like, I appreciated them in some way.
Also, a few fun things: Clove is a beautiful name. I loved the informal and “franglais” language(obvious French bias). I love that Clove as Jonah text in French and have their religious nuances about them (especially when it comes to them kissing). (And that they are very strong in their personal beliefs).
Thank you so, so much to Netgalley for the arc!
I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s certainly very different from other YA contemporaries I’ve read despite the synopsis probably sounding the same. I was expecting a friends-to-lovers story but was more fascinated by the concept of Jonah and Clove already being in a relationship at the start of the book and navigating it. While they figure out the next step for them, they have to acknowledge their social circles and their public images as a PK and religious kid, physical differences within their groups, inner insecurities.
I respect that this book was very sex-positive and that all the characters were able to have conversations about the nuances involving their beliefs and personal experiences. I’m usually deterred by multiple POVs in books, however, it was really interesting to see how other characters perceived and thought about events. Everyone was very layered and had something to bring to the story. Even with the characters that I didn’t particularly like, I appreciated them in some way.
Also, a few fun things: Clove is a beautiful name. I loved the informal and “franglais” language
January 23, 2022
The Love Together is a beautiful YA series. Book 3 is lovely. It continues with life in Las Vegas for JJ and Clove. They face challenges and peer pressure. They're even faced with what life will look like apart when both are offered opportunities. This story also involves teen issues that their peers faced. It was heartwarming the bond between the Daniels and the Jourdans. They operated like one big happy family.
This series would make a nice read for your YA reader perhaps book 3 for ages 16+.
This series would make a nice read for your YA reader perhaps book 3 for ages 16+.
January 28, 2022
This book was a fun journey through senior year in a high school between friends. The central theme seemed like it was about Clove and Jonah’s decision to wait for marriage before having sex and the chaos that their friends having sex around them is creating.
It didn’t feel stuffy or over-complicated. There was turmoil and some side stories that could have had their own book. All of them could actually.
I’d be interested in Terri’s story, in Maverick and Kady’s story.
You know this book kinda reminded me of the film Soul Food. All the intersecting lines. I read Like We Belong and could see all the characters playing out in my mind; I didn’t have any hiccups trying to figure anything out it all flowed together beautifully and seamlessly.
I loved the multiple viewpoints and didn’t feel cheated out of anyone’s perspective except maybe Kady. I would have loved more information on her backstory. Was it just Terri, did she always know that she liked girls or was bisexual or pansexual? Why did she want to hide it so much? But that leaves it open for another book as well.
This story also kind of read like the Netflix series Trinkets to me.
It didn’t feel stuffy or over-complicated. There was turmoil and some side stories that could have had their own book. All of them could actually.
I’d be interested in Terri’s story, in Maverick and Kady’s story.
You know this book kinda reminded me of the film Soul Food. All the intersecting lines. I read Like We Belong and could see all the characters playing out in my mind; I didn’t have any hiccups trying to figure anything out it all flowed together beautifully and seamlessly.
I loved the multiple viewpoints and didn’t feel cheated out of anyone’s perspective except maybe Kady. I would have loved more information on her backstory. Was it just Terri, did she always know that she liked girls or was bisexual or pansexual? Why did she want to hide it so much? But that leaves it open for another book as well.
This story also kind of read like the Netflix series Trinkets to me.
December 17, 2021
This is a really great look into teens lives and how different events affect them.
I liked Clove and Jonah the most. I liked how they worked through things together and supported each other.
I did like the look into a teen's life as a pastor's daughter. It affects her life in many many ways.
This is a good look into how trying to fit in but also be yourself can effect your life in high school.
These are great characters and it was nice to have multiple perspectives.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!
I liked Clove and Jonah the most. I liked how they worked through things together and supported each other.
I did like the look into a teen's life as a pastor's daughter. It affects her life in many many ways.
This is a good look into how trying to fit in but also be yourself can effect your life in high school.
These are great characters and it was nice to have multiple perspectives.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews