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No Perfect Places
From lauded author Steven Salvatore comes a YA about twins whose incarcerated father dies and leaves behind a life-changing secret.
When their father was imprisoned for embezzlement, twins Alex and Olly Brucke lost everything except their strong bond with each other. But after their dad dies unexpectedly, the twins start to fracture. Alex is spiraling, skipping classes to get drunk or high. Olly is struggling with a secret his dad ordered him to keep: they have a secret half-brother, Tyler.
So when Tyler shows up in their lakeside town for the summer, hoping to get to know his siblings, Olly hides the truth from Alex. But as Alex and Tyler start to form a friendship, the lies become harder to juggle. If they can’t confront their father’s past and fix their relationship, Olly and Alex each risk losing two siblings forever.
A thought-provoking novel about grief, family secrets, and figuring out how to belong against the odds.
When their father was imprisoned for embezzlement, twins Alex and Olly Brucke lost everything except their strong bond with each other. But after their dad dies unexpectedly, the twins start to fracture. Alex is spiraling, skipping classes to get drunk or high. Olly is struggling with a secret his dad ordered him to keep: they have a secret half-brother, Tyler.
So when Tyler shows up in their lakeside town for the summer, hoping to get to know his siblings, Olly hides the truth from Alex. But as Alex and Tyler start to form a friendship, the lies become harder to juggle. If they can’t confront their father’s past and fix their relationship, Olly and Alex each risk losing two siblings forever.
A thought-provoking novel about grief, family secrets, and figuring out how to belong against the odds.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2023
16 people are currently reading
3832 people want to read
About the author
Steven Salvatore
5 books563 followersSteven Salvatore is a critically acclaimed author, book coach, and chaos agent whose obsessions include Star Wars, Mariah Carey, boating in the Adirondacks, his loud Italian family, exploring Italy, being Italian (Siciliano, not Italian-American!), and having and dissecting his existential crises (not in that order). As a studied, accomplished composition professor with experience running college writing programs, he’s currently an academic advisor at Manhattanville University, where he also teaches. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. He lives somewhere with his amazing husband Chris.
Steven is represented by Jess Regel at Helm Literary. His books include the critical darling AND THEY LIVED..., CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY, NO PERFECT PLACES, and his adult romance debut THE BOYFRIEND SUBSCRIPTION
Steven is represented by Jess Regel at Helm Literary. His books include the critical darling AND THEY LIVED..., CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY, NO PERFECT PLACES, and his adult romance debut THE BOYFRIEND SUBSCRIPTION
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 8, 2023
✰ 4.25 stars ✰
“Don’t open doors you can’t close, kid.”
A painful portrayal of how strongly the death of an incarcerated parent can hurt a family, a candid portrayal of two siblings learning to cope with that grief in the ways they find best, and a heart-breaking reveal that could either destroy their relationship or bring them back to each other, No Perfect Place is a book that touches your heart with characters that are flawed, but so very much relatable in how they act with the difficult situations they find themselves in.
“I think the worst part is never knowing what could have been, you know? Where do you go from here once someone you thought should be here, isn’t?”
It's not easy being a secret-keeper - I probably know that better than anyone; and so does, Oliver. Keeping a secret from a twin for the sake of a father - it's something any child should never have to do. Olly was so very conflicted - burdened by so much, overwhelmed with guilt for hiding the truth from his sister, and still feeling that he was in the wrong for spending time with Tyler - time that he could share with his sister, as well. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 I sympathized with him a lot more than I thought I would - that ache to just scream and let it out all out - not angry at the world, but what's been left behind - the pieces you have to pick up after someone's gone. 😞😞
I'm glad, at least, he had a supportive rock alongside him; this story's focus was not the romance, but Khal was a balm against the storms he had to hurdle off. Tenderly sweet and utterly affectionate, those blissful escapes of happiness were very much appreciated against the many hurdles he found himself immersed in. And maybe knowing that he had someone at his side to be a shoulder to lean on, is what Alex desperately wanted to have - in whatever form she could find. 😔
“It hurts how you never wanna hear me.” Olly’s soft words disintegrate in the air.
I want to tell him I love him, because I do and I’m hurting him, but I can’t be who he thinks I am, so it feels cruel and empty.”
It hurt to see the close bond between twins become as fractured as it did. At times, I think how much Alexa sunk herself even further into drugs and her controlling relationship with Hunter was a bit too much. Her actions may have been drastic to some, but that is an unnerving thought and yet, accurate portrayal of how one can go down the wild path to let go off their pain. 😢😢 And when I saw how Steven Salvatore handled that situation - for the way he chose to make her - not so much as wake up and have in epiphany about her behavior - but to see the drastic and lasting results of that destructive downfall.
It was a traumatic touch, for sure, but still a life-changing and a eye-opening and rude awakening. It's not always necessary for us to express our emotions in the way everyone else - we are human - we sometimes make questionable choices to overcome the pain and hurt, we can never get answers to. 💔💔 And for that, I think Alex's story was important to portray the way it was.
“Don’t, I’m sorry.” But it’s too late.
He walks off.
I want Tyler to stay, but I don’t know how to let him in.”
Tyler deserved his own POV chapters - I wanted to know what he was thinking when he saw Alex for the first time, what he felt when he came and knew he couldn't say who he was. 🥺🥺 How he felt for so much, I can't even begin to imagine what it must have felt like knowing that his father and half-siblings are out there and he could not even reach out to them. The precious ways he tried to help them in the present, to be the older brother that he could have been all this time - he was a main character in his own right.
“My philosophy professor said two things last semester that stuck with me: Nothing is a coincidence, and Are we worth more than the sum of our mistakes?”
I had to stop and think about this - personal reasons aside, it was so aptly worded, because it highlighted all three siblings' relationships in one fell sweep. Each of them are connected together by one man, but it it was that one man's secret that has cost them so much time lost and so many mistakes made in the process. 😟 Can they justify their actions to prove that they have more to show than what they have done? Is all forgiven and forgotten for the sake of knowing that they are worth it? That they can leave the 'prisons in their mind, once and for all?
When someone dies, they take their secrets with them and all the answers to the questions left unsaid. All we can do hope is that those left behind can find a way to move on from it. And even though, there is no happily ever after ending for these three, it is enough of a hopeful ending that they will find a way to move on — together. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
“Don’t open doors you can’t close, kid.”
A painful portrayal of how strongly the death of an incarcerated parent can hurt a family, a candid portrayal of two siblings learning to cope with that grief in the ways they find best, and a heart-breaking reveal that could either destroy their relationship or bring them back to each other, No Perfect Place is a book that touches your heart with characters that are flawed, but so very much relatable in how they act with the difficult situations they find themselves in.
“I think the worst part is never knowing what could have been, you know? Where do you go from here once someone you thought should be here, isn’t?”
It's not easy being a secret-keeper - I probably know that better than anyone; and so does, Oliver. Keeping a secret from a twin for the sake of a father - it's something any child should never have to do. Olly was so very conflicted - burdened by so much, overwhelmed with guilt for hiding the truth from his sister, and still feeling that he was in the wrong for spending time with Tyler - time that he could share with his sister, as well. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 I sympathized with him a lot more than I thought I would - that ache to just scream and let it out all out - not angry at the world, but what's been left behind - the pieces you have to pick up after someone's gone. 😞😞
I'm glad, at least, he had a supportive rock alongside him; this story's focus was not the romance, but Khal was a balm against the storms he had to hurdle off. Tenderly sweet and utterly affectionate, those blissful escapes of happiness were very much appreciated against the many hurdles he found himself immersed in. And maybe knowing that he had someone at his side to be a shoulder to lean on, is what Alex desperately wanted to have - in whatever form she could find. 😔
“It hurts how you never wanna hear me.” Olly’s soft words disintegrate in the air.
I want to tell him I love him, because I do and I’m hurting him, but I can’t be who he thinks I am, so it feels cruel and empty.”
It hurt to see the close bond between twins become as fractured as it did. At times, I think how much Alexa sunk herself even further into drugs and her controlling relationship with Hunter was a bit too much. Her actions may have been drastic to some, but that is an unnerving thought and yet, accurate portrayal of how one can go down the wild path to let go off their pain. 😢😢 And when I saw how Steven Salvatore handled that situation - for the way he chose to make her - not so much as wake up and have in epiphany about her behavior - but to see the drastic and lasting results of that destructive downfall.
It was a traumatic touch, for sure, but still a life-changing and a eye-opening and rude awakening. It's not always necessary for us to express our emotions in the way everyone else - we are human - we sometimes make questionable choices to overcome the pain and hurt, we can never get answers to. 💔💔 And for that, I think Alex's story was important to portray the way it was.
“Don’t, I’m sorry.” But it’s too late.
He walks off.
I want Tyler to stay, but I don’t know how to let him in.”
Tyler deserved his own POV chapters - I wanted to know what he was thinking when he saw Alex for the first time, what he felt when he came and knew he couldn't say who he was. 🥺🥺 How he felt for so much, I can't even begin to imagine what it must have felt like knowing that his father and half-siblings are out there and he could not even reach out to them. The precious ways he tried to help them in the present, to be the older brother that he could have been all this time - he was a main character in his own right.
“My philosophy professor said two things last semester that stuck with me: Nothing is a coincidence, and Are we worth more than the sum of our mistakes?”
I had to stop and think about this - personal reasons aside, it was so aptly worded, because it highlighted all three siblings' relationships in one fell sweep. Each of them are connected together by one man, but it it was that one man's secret that has cost them so much time lost and so many mistakes made in the process. 😟 Can they justify their actions to prove that they have more to show than what they have done? Is all forgiven and forgotten for the sake of knowing that they are worth it? That they can leave the 'prisons in their mind, once and for all?
When someone dies, they take their secrets with them and all the answers to the questions left unsaid. All we can do hope is that those left behind can find a way to move on from it. And even though, there is no happily ever after ending for these three, it is enough of a hopeful ending that they will find a way to move on — together. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
September 28, 2023
”We all make mistakes. What we do next matters the most.”
No Perfect Places is a beautiful story about grief, family, love, loss, and fears, for fans of Mason Deaver’s The Ghosts We Keep.
”The worst part of having a parent in the system is we somehow get stuck in a prison of our minds.”
Grief. How do you deal with it? Alex does everything to escape feeling since her dad got imprisoned and then died, and has become a ghost. Olly goes on with his life while rage is smoldering inside his body, and he lives with immense guilt. For hiding his dad’s secret.
”What other people say about you is a reflection on them. It’s what you know about yourself that really matters.”
I was prepared for a hard-hitting story. No Perfect Places was even one of my most anticipated 2023 reads, and I already had tissues at hand before I started reading. And then … nothing. I liked the story, I liked the twins, and I liked Ollie’s email conversation with Tyler. But I felt … nothing. Until Tyler squeezed himself into the twins’ lives. Slowly I dared to open my heart to these three siblings and let their feelings be mine. Steven Salvatore’s writing is, again, beautiful and thought provoking. I highlighted so many quotes, statements about life and fixing things with family and friends.
When someone is alive, there are infinite opportunities to fix what broke. But once they’re gone, so is their potential to make things right.
I wanted to hug Alex so many times and scream at her to stop doing drugs and constantly going back to Hunter. I wanted to shake Olly to finally show his feelings instead of bottling them all up inside and only seeing the parts he could catch through his camera. And Tyler, sweet, caring Tyler. How I longed to read his POV, too, to know how he actually felt about finding his siblings but never meeting his real dad.
”Bones may break, but they mend stronger if you treat them properly. I think that applies to family too.”
Please be aware that No Perfect Places is not a romance. It’s a tense and sometimes dark story about love, loss, family and friendship, and in the end, about forgiveness. The last pages of the book wrecked me in every possible way.
”I might never truly escape my fears. But I can recognize them and not let them shadow my life.”
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No Perfect Places is a beautiful story about grief, family, love, loss, and fears, for fans of Mason Deaver’s The Ghosts We Keep.
”The worst part of having a parent in the system is we somehow get stuck in a prison of our minds.”
Grief. How do you deal with it? Alex does everything to escape feeling since her dad got imprisoned and then died, and has become a ghost. Olly goes on with his life while rage is smoldering inside his body, and he lives with immense guilt. For hiding his dad’s secret.
”What other people say about you is a reflection on them. It’s what you know about yourself that really matters.”
I was prepared for a hard-hitting story. No Perfect Places was even one of my most anticipated 2023 reads, and I already had tissues at hand before I started reading. And then … nothing. I liked the story, I liked the twins, and I liked Ollie’s email conversation with Tyler. But I felt … nothing. Until Tyler squeezed himself into the twins’ lives. Slowly I dared to open my heart to these three siblings and let their feelings be mine. Steven Salvatore’s writing is, again, beautiful and thought provoking. I highlighted so many quotes, statements about life and fixing things with family and friends.
When someone is alive, there are infinite opportunities to fix what broke. But once they’re gone, so is their potential to make things right.
I wanted to hug Alex so many times and scream at her to stop doing drugs and constantly going back to Hunter. I wanted to shake Olly to finally show his feelings instead of bottling them all up inside and only seeing the parts he could catch through his camera. And Tyler, sweet, caring Tyler. How I longed to read his POV, too, to know how he actually felt about finding his siblings but never meeting his real dad.
”Bones may break, but they mend stronger if you treat them properly. I think that applies to family too.”
Please be aware that No Perfect Places is not a romance. It’s a tense and sometimes dark story about love, loss, family and friendship, and in the end, about forgiveness. The last pages of the book wrecked me in every possible way.
”I might never truly escape my fears. But I can recognize them and not let them shadow my life.”
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April 3, 2023
i’m a mess and this book is a mess and its also my HOME! The location of this book is so personal to me and its so beautiful to me, i loved every bit of it
May 24, 2023
Trigger Warnings: prison, marijuana, cursing, death of a parent, heart attack, underage drinking, grief, wake/funeral, drugs, homophobia, violence, past car accident, overdose, dead body, coming out, manipulative/controlling relationship, emotional abuse, sex
Representation: Twins, Gay, Nonbinary, they/them pronouns, Lesbian, Drag
No Perfect Places is a young adult contemporary about twins Alex and Olly Brucke who lost everything except their strong bond with each other when their father was imprisoned for embezzlement. After their dad dies unexpectedly, the twins start to fracture. Alex is spiraling, skipping classes to get drunk or high. Olly is struggling with a secret his dad ordered him to keep: they have a secret half-brother, Tyler.
So when Tyler shows up in their lakeside town for the summer, hoping to get to know his siblings, Olly hides the truth from Alex. But as Alex and Tyler start to form a friendship, the lies become harder to juggle. If they can’t confront their father’s past and fix their relationship, Olly and Alex each risk losing two siblings forever.
The ARC was provided by the publisher as part of the Colored Pages Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review.
This is a heavy story. The topics are very contemporary and the writing style is hard to read so often. The book as a whole is sad but there is so much growth by the end. The ending is not happy but definitely fills you with hope for these characters. The characters are so flawed and grieving. Their pain is very real and relatable. While I never had a parent in prison, I think many of us can relate to parents who don’t meet our expectations. Be warned, this isn’t a romance. There is love and various relationships, but they are not the point of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this book despite the lack of HEA.
Representation: Twins, Gay, Nonbinary, they/them pronouns, Lesbian, Drag
No Perfect Places is a young adult contemporary about twins Alex and Olly Brucke who lost everything except their strong bond with each other when their father was imprisoned for embezzlement. After their dad dies unexpectedly, the twins start to fracture. Alex is spiraling, skipping classes to get drunk or high. Olly is struggling with a secret his dad ordered him to keep: they have a secret half-brother, Tyler.
So when Tyler shows up in their lakeside town for the summer, hoping to get to know his siblings, Olly hides the truth from Alex. But as Alex and Tyler start to form a friendship, the lies become harder to juggle. If they can’t confront their father’s past and fix their relationship, Olly and Alex each risk losing two siblings forever.
The ARC was provided by the publisher as part of the Colored Pages Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review.
This is a heavy story. The topics are very contemporary and the writing style is hard to read so often. The book as a whole is sad but there is so much growth by the end. The ending is not happy but definitely fills you with hope for these characters. The characters are so flawed and grieving. Their pain is very real and relatable. While I never had a parent in prison, I think many of us can relate to parents who don’t meet our expectations. Be warned, this isn’t a romance. There is love and various relationships, but they are not the point of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this book despite the lack of HEA.
July 24, 2023
This might be in my top 10 of the year (currently book 56 of 2023 for me). It had me crying at 3:00 AM on a Saturday night – it was emotionally raw, heavy, and candid. But it was also filled with hope, levity, and second chances.
I loved both Olly and Alex. But I was also repeatedly frustrated with Olly and Alex. And you know that’s when an author has done their job – when you form a bond with the characters and want the best for them. And when you get upset when they self-sabotage their lives.
Olly – I loved him for doing his best with what little he had. He was a great brother who had a huge heart, and he was filled with good intentions. But I was so frustrated with him for trying so hard to control the narrative around him. In doing so, I was mad at him for repeatedly hurting Tyler by keeping him a secret, and for his selective honesty. I wish he’d have taken a step back and realized that Alex didn’t need to be protected – just supported.
Alex – I loved her for her emotional depth and her strength. For eventually letting people back in. For being able to overcome her past. But I was so frustrated with her for running from her support. I was somewhat mad with her for how mad she was at Olly for keeping Tyler a secret, despite him trying multiple times to tell her. I was frustrated every time she went back to Hunter.
Don’t even get me started on how much I loved Tyler – a true golden retriever of a human. He was a wonderful character (and plot device) who brought so much sunshine to the story.
When all was said and done, I realized how important it was that I was frustrated with both Olly and Alex because we learned a lot from their mistakes. Seeing their character arcs was so satisfying, and I loved the ending that we got.
Olly and Alex are twins, but their POV’s were written so distinctly. Dual POV can be exhausting sometimes. This book, however, wouldn’t have had the depth it had if it would have been told from just one person’s perspective. [ Oh, how I would’ve loved getting a chapter from Tyler’s POV. ]
I loved that Steven Salvatore wasn’t afraid to dive into difficult topics. The broken justice system, adolescent behavioral issues, grief, addiction, abusive relationships, to name a few. These are all such important things that need to be talked about, and the book did so well handling them.
The title being a reference to one of my favorite songs of all time? That’s just a bonus on top of all the other amazing things that this book brought with it. I read And They Lived… earlier this year and gave it a solid 4 stars. No Perfect Places is an enormous 5-star rating from me. Absolutely incredible.
[ "All of the things we're taking, because we are young and we're ashamed. / All of our heroes fading, now I can't stand to be alone. / All the nights spent off our faces, trying to find these perfect places. / What the fuck are perfect places, anyway?" - Lorde ]
I loved both Olly and Alex. But I was also repeatedly frustrated with Olly and Alex. And you know that’s when an author has done their job – when you form a bond with the characters and want the best for them. And when you get upset when they self-sabotage their lives.
Olly – I loved him for doing his best with what little he had. He was a great brother who had a huge heart, and he was filled with good intentions. But I was so frustrated with him for trying so hard to control the narrative around him. In doing so, I was mad at him for repeatedly hurting Tyler by keeping him a secret, and for his selective honesty. I wish he’d have taken a step back and realized that Alex didn’t need to be protected – just supported.
Alex – I loved her for her emotional depth and her strength. For eventually letting people back in. For being able to overcome her past. But I was so frustrated with her for running from her support. I was somewhat mad with her for how mad she was at Olly for keeping Tyler a secret, despite him trying multiple times to tell her. I was frustrated every time she went back to Hunter.
Don’t even get me started on how much I loved Tyler – a true golden retriever of a human. He was a wonderful character (and plot device) who brought so much sunshine to the story.
When all was said and done, I realized how important it was that I was frustrated with both Olly and Alex because we learned a lot from their mistakes. Seeing their character arcs was so satisfying, and I loved the ending that we got.
Olly and Alex are twins, but their POV’s were written so distinctly. Dual POV can be exhausting sometimes. This book, however, wouldn’t have had the depth it had if it would have been told from just one person’s perspective. [ Oh, how I would’ve loved getting a chapter from Tyler’s POV. ]
I loved that Steven Salvatore wasn’t afraid to dive into difficult topics. The broken justice system, adolescent behavioral issues, grief, addiction, abusive relationships, to name a few. These are all such important things that need to be talked about, and the book did so well handling them.
The title being a reference to one of my favorite songs of all time? That’s just a bonus on top of all the other amazing things that this book brought with it. I read And They Lived… earlier this year and gave it a solid 4 stars. No Perfect Places is an enormous 5-star rating from me. Absolutely incredible.
[ "All of the things we're taking, because we are young and we're ashamed. / All of our heroes fading, now I can't stand to be alone. / All the nights spent off our faces, trying to find these perfect places. / What the fuck are perfect places, anyway?" - Lorde ]
September 3, 2023
When the mood hits, I love a melancholical summer read, and this one was really good. It's full of complex situations, messy characters, and bad choices, which made for a very emotional, intriguing read. I think this would be great as a miniseries, in the vein of The Summer I Turned Pretty but a little darker.
May 21, 2023
There aren’t enough words to describe how much I loved this book. The content is HEAVY, but there is so much heart.
It was very interesting watching Olly navigate trying to do the right thing while grappling with the immense secret of a half-brother his twin doesn’t know about and trying not to be like his father. The way they discover how they’ve been effected by their father’s influence though they rebuke it time and time again was really intense. Also I’ve never seen Star Wars but the references felt perfect and really made me want to watch 😂 also Olly and Khal 5ever plzzzz
Watching as Alex spirals and consistently finds herself in a cycle of self-destruction following her father’s death was frustrating and devastating but also incredibly visceral. I could feel her screaming from within herself but also stamping out her own voice in an attempt to run away from confronting her pain and also the reality of who her father was versus the image she has in her mind.
Then there’s Tyler, the most sweet precious Angel of love 🥹 this boy has been through so much and has been rejected and neglected so deeply but is so attune to his own feelings and wise beyond his years. The way he’s so selfless in so many ways is abundantly clear and he tries so hard to connect with his long-lost siblings but is still being kept in the shadows and allowing it to happen. Seeing him hurting but also be such a genuine rock to his siblings is simply impeccable.
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury YA and Steven Salvatore for this ARC, I love this book so much and am so grateful for this beautiful and personal story.
It was very interesting watching Olly navigate trying to do the right thing while grappling with the immense secret of a half-brother his twin doesn’t know about and trying not to be like his father. The way they discover how they’ve been effected by their father’s influence though they rebuke it time and time again was really intense. Also I’ve never seen Star Wars but the references felt perfect and really made me want to watch 😂 also Olly and Khal 5ever plzzzz
Watching as Alex spirals and consistently finds herself in a cycle of self-destruction following her father’s death was frustrating and devastating but also incredibly visceral. I could feel her screaming from within herself but also stamping out her own voice in an attempt to run away from confronting her pain and also the reality of who her father was versus the image she has in her mind.
Then there’s Tyler, the most sweet precious Angel of love 🥹 this boy has been through so much and has been rejected and neglected so deeply but is so attune to his own feelings and wise beyond his years. The way he’s so selfless in so many ways is abundantly clear and he tries so hard to connect with his long-lost siblings but is still being kept in the shadows and allowing it to happen. Seeing him hurting but also be such a genuine rock to his siblings is simply impeccable.
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury YA and Steven Salvatore for this ARC, I love this book so much and am so grateful for this beautiful and personal story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2023
4,5*
Großartiges Jugendbuch über Trauer und Familie. Steven Salvatore schafft es einfach immer, schwierige Themen gut aufzuarbeiten.
CW: toxische Beziehung, sexuelle Übergriffe, Drogen/Überdosis, Gaslighting, Tod/Trauer
Großartiges Jugendbuch über Trauer und Familie. Steven Salvatore schafft es einfach immer, schwierige Themen gut aufzuarbeiten.
CW: toxische Beziehung, sexuelle Übergriffe, Drogen/Überdosis, Gaslighting, Tod/Trauer
June 4, 2023
I’m glad I didn’t know how sad this book was because I would have avoided it but it was a really beautiful and well written story.
February 9, 2023
Another new book by Salvatore and another five star read. They're three for three with this reader! Twins Alex and Olly lost a lot when their father went to prison. Their mom works all the time at three jobs and most of their friends abandoned them. But they're keeping to together. At least, until their dad dies. Suddenly Alex is spiraling and Olly doesn't know how to help her. Add in the complication of a half brother they knew nothing about and it's a recipe for disaster. Can they pull themselves out of this mess before one or all of them self destruct?
This was a hard read, but a good one. I loved how flawed the characters were, but also how they grew as the book progressed. Definitely recommend.
However, I hope there's some serious editing before this goes to print. There were at least two continuity errors I saw, including one on the very last page. It took me out of the book for those moments, so I hope they're corrected.
This was a hard read, but a good one. I loved how flawed the characters were, but also how they grew as the book progressed. Definitely recommend.
However, I hope there's some serious editing before this goes to print. There were at least two continuity errors I saw, including one on the very last page. It took me out of the book for those moments, so I hope they're corrected.
August 13, 2021
We stan a new Steven Salvatore book.
June 23, 2023
Since I loved Steven Salvatore's first two novels, I was eager to read No Perfect Places as soon as I possibly could. While Steven's first two books are more LGBTQ+ focused, this one is more about family. Of course, one of the main characters is gay though. The other is a teenage girl and Steven did a great job with her voice.
I am constantly impressed with Steven's writing talent. This story was definitely absorbing and even heartbreaking at times. I can't even imagine what Olly and Alex were going through with their father in prison and then his death, but I could easily sympathize with them both. Some parts were a bit intense, but it was also balanced out by some sweet and fun moments. Families can definitely be complex and this story showed all of that without holding back. The dialogue was genuine and I liked the supporting characters a lot too (except for one, which is obvious from the beginning). The descriptions brought everything to life right in front of me without taking away from the narrative. I also enjoyed the mentions of Archie comics, given that I grew up reading them and am now obsessed with Riverdale.
My only concern is that this wasn't proofread more before going to final print. I noticed a lot of tiny errors that probably could have been avoided. (I'm glad to help with this next time...)
In terms of mature content, there are some triggers that I will share below. There are sexual references but you don't see too much detail for any sex scenes. I feel the story is too heavy for my youngest to handle at this time, but I'd be okay with her reading it when she's in high school.
Overall, really well done and I can't wait for more books by Steven Salvatore! Definitely a go-to YA author for me.
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TW: attempted sexual assault, substance abuse, physical violence
I am constantly impressed with Steven's writing talent. This story was definitely absorbing and even heartbreaking at times. I can't even imagine what Olly and Alex were going through with their father in prison and then his death, but I could easily sympathize with them both. Some parts were a bit intense, but it was also balanced out by some sweet and fun moments. Families can definitely be complex and this story showed all of that without holding back. The dialogue was genuine and I liked the supporting characters a lot too (except for one, which is obvious from the beginning). The descriptions brought everything to life right in front of me without taking away from the narrative. I also enjoyed the mentions of Archie comics, given that I grew up reading them and am now obsessed with Riverdale.
My only concern is that this wasn't proofread more before going to final print. I noticed a lot of tiny errors that probably could have been avoided. (I'm glad to help with this next time...)
In terms of mature content, there are some triggers that I will share below. There are sexual references but you don't see too much detail for any sex scenes. I feel the story is too heavy for my youngest to handle at this time, but I'd be okay with her reading it when she's in high school.
Overall, really well done and I can't wait for more books by Steven Salvatore! Definitely a go-to YA author for me.
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TW: attempted sexual assault, substance abuse, physical violence
May 29, 2023
3.5*
Seven percent of US children will have an incarcerated parent at some point in their childhood. Seven percent. Yet I can only think of a handful of books that cover the topic. So to say it’s woefully underrepresented would be an understatement. There were two aspects specifically that I really loved that the author included. The first is that he went into detail about how there are lots of people, especially folks of color, who are imprisoned unjustly. But he also was very clear that the main characters’ particular father was a criminal who deserved to be serving time in some way. Not that the prison system was good, mind you, he also did a great job pointing out the problems there, but just that the father in this case was full stop guilty.
The other aspect I loved was how differently siblings can handle the same situation. I certainly was able to relate to this part, where one sibling was heartbroken and couldn’t understand the other’s perceived lack of concern about their father. It felt very honest and very realistic.
The story itself was good for the most part. At some points in the middle it did feel a little slow, and the lie of omission trope was strong in this one. I did understand it, and it made sense to the characters and story, but it still frustrated me a bit.
I loved the huge focus on family, but also on growing as an individual. The siblings had to make some pretty big decisions for themselves, and had to do so no matter how it affected the other.
Bottom Line: A very necessary and well thought out story about a topic that impacts a lot more kids than you’d realize.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Seven percent of US children will have an incarcerated parent at some point in their childhood. Seven percent. Yet I can only think of a handful of books that cover the topic. So to say it’s woefully underrepresented would be an understatement. There were two aspects specifically that I really loved that the author included. The first is that he went into detail about how there are lots of people, especially folks of color, who are imprisoned unjustly. But he also was very clear that the main characters’ particular father was a criminal who deserved to be serving time in some way. Not that the prison system was good, mind you, he also did a great job pointing out the problems there, but just that the father in this case was full stop guilty.
The other aspect I loved was how differently siblings can handle the same situation. I certainly was able to relate to this part, where one sibling was heartbroken and couldn’t understand the other’s perceived lack of concern about their father. It felt very honest and very realistic.
The story itself was good for the most part. At some points in the middle it did feel a little slow, and the lie of omission trope was strong in this one. I did understand it, and it made sense to the characters and story, but it still frustrated me a bit.
I loved the huge focus on family, but also on growing as an individual. The siblings had to make some pretty big decisions for themselves, and had to do so no matter how it affected the other.
Bottom Line: A very necessary and well thought out story about a topic that impacts a lot more kids than you’d realize.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
August 5, 2024
brutally real— this needs more attention
February 12, 2024
[9.25 stars ⭐️.] omg this was so good. like really really..amazing.
July 1, 2023
holy shit. i have no words. this was perfect in every possible, conceivable way.
10 stars. fave book of the year.
10 stars. fave book of the year.
June 25, 2023
(2.5 ⭐️s)
I have so many thoughts about this book.
To start with some of the things I wish had been a bit different, it felt a bit like there was too much going on. We met too many characters, and while I do value that they all had their own things going on, it made the story feel cluttered. I feel like the story could have benefited by being about 60 pages shorter, and cutting out a handful of the minor characters.
Another part of the book that made me scratch my head was how imperative the setting felt to the story. It felt like I couldn’t turn the page without being reminded of where we were, and while that all certainly had its place in demonstrating not only Alex and Olly’s origin, but also Tyler’s foreign-ness, it felt a bit like overkill. Lake George felt like it was a main character in the story, which again seemed to only convolute things.
Speaking to the writing specifically, there were parts where it felt too cliched, or almost too reliant on references. Each chapter ended with some dramatic, cliffhanger of a line, and while that definitely can have a place in literature/media, this story felt too low stakes for it. Regarding the references, I feel that while in some places they were funny or reflective, other times they felt unnecessary or too personal to a certain demographic. Obviously anyone is so welcome to write however and for whoever they choose, so the last thing I am trying to do is argue that you need to make stories available to everyone. However, the constant references felt like the story-specific metaphors and big moments were relying too heavily on out of world content, and it also served to date the book as a whole.
Regarding the twins and their personal baggage and reactions to everything, it all felt a bit confusing to me. Grief is messy, and it is confusing, and it does not walk in a straight line. However, it felt like Alex went from 0 to 100 to 0 to 100 and so on so many times. It was either that she was 100% completely fine, or she was at the lowest of lows. I never felt like we got that middle stage. There were many references to Olly only looking at things like a movie, where as a reader, I never got that impression. While yes, they did always have their camera to film, they still felt very down to earth and could acknowledge and process emotions. It wasn’t as though they were hiding behind a lens.
My final issue was specifically surrounding the death of Becca. I had previously praised the book for having these well thought out and complicated minor characters, but she was the only exception. When she died, it served only to act as a plot device for Alex’s character, and that made me feel icky.
There were, however, a lot of great parts too!!
I loved how no character was perfect. Every single person in the story had baggage, made mistakes, and had to seek forgiveness. It made the story so rich to know that everyone was just a human.
There were a lot of really touching moments, especially between all of the siblings. They each went on their own separate journey, which they had to take, before they could understand how to exist with one another. By the end, they all said a lot of big things about their relationship with one another, and how their actions affected each other. It was lovely to watch play out, especially after having been fulfilled watching them go on their journeys.
Not to mention, I was fortunate enough to meet the author at a book event, and they were so kind and funny. Overall, it may not have been the book for me, but it definitely is and will be for someone else.
I have so many thoughts about this book.
To start with some of the things I wish had been a bit different, it felt a bit like there was too much going on. We met too many characters, and while I do value that they all had their own things going on, it made the story feel cluttered. I feel like the story could have benefited by being about 60 pages shorter, and cutting out a handful of the minor characters.
Another part of the book that made me scratch my head was how imperative the setting felt to the story. It felt like I couldn’t turn the page without being reminded of where we were, and while that all certainly had its place in demonstrating not only Alex and Olly’s origin, but also Tyler’s foreign-ness, it felt a bit like overkill. Lake George felt like it was a main character in the story, which again seemed to only convolute things.
Speaking to the writing specifically, there were parts where it felt too cliched, or almost too reliant on references. Each chapter ended with some dramatic, cliffhanger of a line, and while that definitely can have a place in literature/media, this story felt too low stakes for it. Regarding the references, I feel that while in some places they were funny or reflective, other times they felt unnecessary or too personal to a certain demographic. Obviously anyone is so welcome to write however and for whoever they choose, so the last thing I am trying to do is argue that you need to make stories available to everyone. However, the constant references felt like the story-specific metaphors and big moments were relying too heavily on out of world content, and it also served to date the book as a whole.
Regarding the twins and their personal baggage and reactions to everything, it all felt a bit confusing to me. Grief is messy, and it is confusing, and it does not walk in a straight line. However, it felt like Alex went from 0 to 100 to 0 to 100 and so on so many times. It was either that she was 100% completely fine, or she was at the lowest of lows. I never felt like we got that middle stage. There were many references to Olly only looking at things like a movie, where as a reader, I never got that impression. While yes, they did always have their camera to film, they still felt very down to earth and could acknowledge and process emotions. It wasn’t as though they were hiding behind a lens.
My final issue was specifically surrounding the death of Becca. I had previously praised the book for having these well thought out and complicated minor characters, but she was the only exception. When she died, it served only to act as a plot device for Alex’s character, and that made me feel icky.
There were, however, a lot of great parts too!!
I loved how no character was perfect. Every single person in the story had baggage, made mistakes, and had to seek forgiveness. It made the story so rich to know that everyone was just a human.
There were a lot of really touching moments, especially between all of the siblings. They each went on their own separate journey, which they had to take, before they could understand how to exist with one another. By the end, they all said a lot of big things about their relationship with one another, and how their actions affected each other. It was lovely to watch play out, especially after having been fulfilled watching them go on their journeys.
Not to mention, I was fortunate enough to meet the author at a book event, and they were so kind and funny. Overall, it may not have been the book for me, but it definitely is and will be for someone else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2024
I really like the author’s work, and I really liked this story. It just got really bleak for a long time in the middle. But it did finish out in a positive way. Great writing by the author. I was really invested in the story
November 13, 2022
After And They Lived . . . I knew I was going to read anything Salvatore wrote, and No Perfect Places did not steer me wrong.
I love a flawed character and Steven went and gave me a whole book full of them. Filled with raw emotion, a whole lot of denial and even more avoidance techniques, my heart broke for this family just trying to grieve and process everything that came their way.
One of my favorite aspects of YA is reading about younger characters figuring out who they are and how they fit into the lives they live and this story did such a heartbreakingly excellent job of showcasing that. While I may not be able to relate to a lot of what the Brucke twins went through, feeling so alone and like no one could ever possibly understand the amount of grief you're feeling? That was something I understood immediately.
To me, No Perfect Places is a story of accepting that we are not our parents. That even if they do horrible things, ruin us to what feels like we're beyond repair, we can heal from it and don't have to be them. We can be take the time to be messy and find out who we want to be. It's a story of family, self, and grief. I loved it.
I love a flawed character and Steven went and gave me a whole book full of them. Filled with raw emotion, a whole lot of denial and even more avoidance techniques, my heart broke for this family just trying to grieve and process everything that came their way.
One of my favorite aspects of YA is reading about younger characters figuring out who they are and how they fit into the lives they live and this story did such a heartbreakingly excellent job of showcasing that. While I may not be able to relate to a lot of what the Brucke twins went through, feeling so alone and like no one could ever possibly understand the amount of grief you're feeling? That was something I understood immediately.
To me, No Perfect Places is a story of accepting that we are not our parents. That even if they do horrible things, ruin us to what feels like we're beyond repair, we can heal from it and don't have to be them. We can be take the time to be messy and find out who we want to be. It's a story of family, self, and grief. I loved it.
May 31, 2023
I think this is my favorite book of Steven Salvatore's so far. I've loved them all but this one just really hit hard.
I think my favorite part of this book is that it isn't a coming out story and it doesn't revolve around one of the main characters' queerness. Now don't get me wrong because coming out stories and queer-centric stories absolutely are important and have a special place in my heart and need to be read and written, but I also love to see stories where queer people are just going through life and dealing with challenges.
No Perfect Places is about Alex and Olly who are twins and struggling with the incarceration of their father. Olly learns that they have a brother named Tyler but his dad doesn't want him to tell his sister Alex. This leads to a lot of secrets and grief and communal disappointment. When tragedy strikes Olly, Alex, and Tyler have to figure out whether or not there's a future for the three of them as siblings.
This book is on the heavier side and deals with a lot of serious and complex topics including but not limited to domestic abuse within relationships, the incarceration of a parent, the death of a parent, drug and alcohol abuse, homophobia and suicidal ideation.
So while this book doesn't center on queer related issues, it is still incredibly queer. We've got a queer main character and multiple queer secondary characters. There are some discussions about being closeted and how to be safe in public as a queer person.
At its core though, I believe this book to be about forgiveness. Forgiveness of others and of ourselves. It's about learning to allow both yourself and those around you the grace to exist without being perfect and to allow space for reconnection and growth. It isn't always possible, but it can be within reach if we allow. Alex and Olly must learn to forgive their father, Alex has to grapple with Olly and Tyler keeping such a huge secret, Tyler discovers whether or not he can make space for two siblings, and Olly needs to give himself the grace never allotted him.
I think my favorite part of this book is that it isn't a coming out story and it doesn't revolve around one of the main characters' queerness. Now don't get me wrong because coming out stories and queer-centric stories absolutely are important and have a special place in my heart and need to be read and written, but I also love to see stories where queer people are just going through life and dealing with challenges.
No Perfect Places is about Alex and Olly who are twins and struggling with the incarceration of their father. Olly learns that they have a brother named Tyler but his dad doesn't want him to tell his sister Alex. This leads to a lot of secrets and grief and communal disappointment. When tragedy strikes Olly, Alex, and Tyler have to figure out whether or not there's a future for the three of them as siblings.
This book is on the heavier side and deals with a lot of serious and complex topics including but not limited to domestic abuse within relationships, the incarceration of a parent, the death of a parent, drug and alcohol abuse, homophobia and suicidal ideation.
So while this book doesn't center on queer related issues, it is still incredibly queer. We've got a queer main character and multiple queer secondary characters. There are some discussions about being closeted and how to be safe in public as a queer person.
At its core though, I believe this book to be about forgiveness. Forgiveness of others and of ourselves. It's about learning to allow both yourself and those around you the grace to exist without being perfect and to allow space for reconnection and growth. It isn't always possible, but it can be within reach if we allow. Alex and Olly must learn to forgive their father, Alex has to grapple with Olly and Tyler keeping such a huge secret, Tyler discovers whether or not he can make space for two siblings, and Olly needs to give himself the grace never allotted him.
July 21, 2023
A gritty and intimate look at a broken family trying to heal, and take back the childhood that was taken from them.
The dual narrative offers an interesting character profile, as the reader is introduced to the raw and painful details of how each twin percieves themself, and how they percieve each other. The two narratives don't always line up, providing a nuanced view of each character, and presenting both the way they feel and the way they make others feel. This element makes the book stand out from other dual narrative books I have read.
The love Alex and Ollie have for each other is obvious in the first few chapters, but as they become engulfed by their struggles and drift apart, that love becomes subdued. In Alex's case especially, she ignores her love for Ollie, but it can be felt in the narrative.
The personal narrative gave a unique and nuanced view of each character's psyche as they overcame their personal struggles.
The dual narrative offers an interesting character profile, as the reader is introduced to the raw and painful details of how each twin percieves themself, and how they percieve each other. The two narratives don't always line up, providing a nuanced view of each character, and presenting both the way they feel and the way they make others feel. This element makes the book stand out from other dual narrative books I have read.
The love Alex and Ollie have for each other is obvious in the first few chapters, but as they become engulfed by their struggles and drift apart, that love becomes subdued. In Alex's case especially, she ignores her love for Ollie, but it can be felt in the narrative.
The personal narrative gave a unique and nuanced view of each character's psyche as they overcame their personal struggles.
May 12, 2023
No Perfect Places follows twins Alex and Olly Brucke whose father was incarcerated for embezzlement. As a result of this Alex and Olly became closer. However, when their father unexpectedly dies everything changes. Alex starts spiraling and Olly has a secret that his dad asked him to keep, they have a half-brother named Tyler. Tyler and Olly become close. When Tyler shows up in their lakeside town for the summer Olly realizes that he has to tell Alex about him. Each of the siblings is forced to confront the past in order to move forward. Or they will risk losing each other forever.
If you know me you know that I am a huge fan of Steven Salvator's books. If you have not read any books by them please do yourself a favor and read them. I have never been let down by their books. This was such a good story. Warning though it will make you cry ( but their books always make me cry). Everything about this story was so moving. This book I think was a little more serious than their other books. But had such an important message. I can not wait to reread this one. I highly suggest.
If you know me you know that I am a huge fan of Steven Salvator's books. If you have not read any books by them please do yourself a favor and read them. I have never been let down by their books. This was such a good story. Warning though it will make you cry ( but their books always make me cry). Everything about this story was so moving. This book I think was a little more serious than their other books. But had such an important message. I can not wait to reread this one. I highly suggest.
June 26, 2023
I truly love Steven's work. He creates such realistic characters in every story. This book felt different than his other two books. I could feel anger, sadness, grief, fear, and so many other emotions emitting from his words. The entire story as a whole is a raw, heartbreaking tale of three siblings trying to navigate through the stages of their own grief after losing their father and in the wake of that, each other. The two narrating siblings are flawed and imperfect. They are frustrating and annoying, but these are not negative or bad things because they are hurting. They don't know how to process their sadness and anger, so at times, they can make bad decisions or blame others for their heartache because they are too scared to face the real reason for their grief. Some may look at this story as an angsty teen drama, but I don't. I see it as a masterclass in how teens might process their feelings when they don't truly don't understand where those feelings come from or what those feelings mean. Steven is a phenomenal author, and I plan to read everything he writes. I highly recommend this book!
June 2, 2023
As a child my father was in and out of the prison system. So reading this story and relating with Alex and Olly really did something for me. Painting the picture of how sometimes you want to numb yourself from the pain and or feelings of not having that parent there. Everything that Alex was going through I felt needed to be told because we don’t always think about what different people experience when they all go thru similar things. I highly recommend this read and if I could I would rate it 10 stars.
July 16, 2023
So good! I loved both Alex and Ollie's povs and the emotional journeys they went on.
July 22, 2023
I really enjoyed the characters of this book. And the ending was really touching. A bit too clichè for me at some points and was a bit frustrated through the middle, but I liked how so many important topics are touched on throughout.
May 21, 2023
Thank you NetGalley, Bloomsbury and Steven for providing me with an ARC of No Perfect Places for review.
This is a solid read. So many of the LGBTQIA+ NetGalley books I get approved for are YA Trope filled Queer RomCom's. For some reason I went into this story with similar expectations but that not what this book is at ALL. This is like a gritty coming of age story but with a Queer MC and Queer supporting characters.
No Perfect Places is a beautiful story dealing with so many heavy topics - death, intergenerational incarceration, over representation of POC within the criminal justice system, family violence, substance abuse and the fact that in reality our parents are people too.
I loved Olly and Khal's relationship. I loved the two of them. I loved that both of them carried trauma but they were able to support the other. To care for each other through pain and not contribute to it. Clearly we mainly see the growth of Olly as one of our MC's but it isn't about being Queer. It is important to remember that Queer kids have to deal with the same life shit as Hetro kids on top of dealing with the shit that Hetro kids and adults place on them.
Now Alex, this was a journey. As a lawyer in Family Violence/AOD/Homelessness, I just wanted to help her soooooo much. I HATE, HATE, HATE that this continues to be prolific throughout our society and particularly continues to exist in teenage relationships. Too much of Alex's story is attributed to shitty men. Shitty cis straight white dudes. God. I enjoyed how Alex's path came together in the end. I appreciate that her giving spirit found a community.
TL;DR - Gritty coming of age story for Twins with a strange dynamic and not a Queer Love story.
This is a solid read. So many of the LGBTQIA+ NetGalley books I get approved for are YA Trope filled Queer RomCom's. For some reason I went into this story with similar expectations but that not what this book is at ALL. This is like a gritty coming of age story but with a Queer MC and Queer supporting characters.
No Perfect Places is a beautiful story dealing with so many heavy topics - death, intergenerational incarceration, over representation of POC within the criminal justice system, family violence, substance abuse and the fact that in reality our parents are people too.
I loved Olly and Khal's relationship. I loved the two of them. I loved that both of them carried trauma but they were able to support the other. To care for each other through pain and not contribute to it. Clearly we mainly see the growth of Olly as one of our MC's but it isn't about being Queer. It is important to remember that Queer kids have to deal with the same life shit as Hetro kids on top of dealing with the shit that Hetro kids and adults place on them.
Now Alex, this was a journey. As a lawyer in Family Violence/AOD/Homelessness, I just wanted to help her soooooo much. I HATE, HATE, HATE that this continues to be prolific throughout our society and particularly continues to exist in teenage relationships. Too much of Alex's story is attributed to shitty men. Shitty cis straight white dudes. God. I enjoyed how Alex's path came together in the end. I appreciate that her giving spirit found a community.
TL;DR - Gritty coming of age story for Twins with a strange dynamic and not a Queer Love story.
December 7, 2022
Full review to come but whew, say goodbye to your emotional stability after this gem 🥰
July 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It delves into deep family pain although I wish we had more scenes from before the dad was in prison to encapsulate a better understanding of the sudden upheaval.
June 1, 2023
Okay, so you know how there are just certain authors whose books just hit you deep? Steven Salvatore is one of those authors for me. I have loved all of their books so far, and I’m both delighted and unsurprised to say the same of NO PERFECT PLACES.
The relationship between siblings absolutely melted my heart. The wildly different experiences and feelings they each had for their father made perfect sense from each character’s perspective. Alex’s destructive grief was heartbreaking. As was the wreckage from Olly’s protective need to try to control everything.
And let’s not skip the romantic relationships because this, again, is something Salvatore does SO WELL. Olly and Khal have this great balance in their relationship. It’s not that things are perfect. It’s not even that they have their whole relationship figured out. They are always on the same side, though. I loved that. Alex has a whole rollercoaster-on-fire of romance, and while it hurt to read some of those scenes, I felt like they were so well done. As Alex begins to process her grief and process her feelings about herself, she begins to see the relationship in a different light. The change felt organic and had me cheering for her so hard.
I also want to say that the romantic storylines never stole the show. They were absolutely subplots, and they stayed in their lanes, so I felt like the story struck a great balance there.
Another thing (yes, more!) that Steven Salvatore does brilliantly well is how they present art within a story. In AND THEY LIVED, they told us the story of Chase’s college animation project.
In NO PERFECT PLACES, we get Olly’s journey of creating a short film to submit to a contest. The movie scene descriptions are great, and I loved how the final product echoed the themes of the larger story.
All in all, such a great book. I loved it so much. It’s the story of three siblings and their journey through a very particular kind of grief, and the community they build which helps them heal.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.
The relationship between siblings absolutely melted my heart. The wildly different experiences and feelings they each had for their father made perfect sense from each character’s perspective. Alex’s destructive grief was heartbreaking. As was the wreckage from Olly’s protective need to try to control everything.
And let’s not skip the romantic relationships because this, again, is something Salvatore does SO WELL. Olly and Khal have this great balance in their relationship. It’s not that things are perfect. It’s not even that they have their whole relationship figured out. They are always on the same side, though. I loved that. Alex has a whole rollercoaster-on-fire of romance, and while it hurt to read some of those scenes, I felt like they were so well done. As Alex begins to process her grief and process her feelings about herself, she begins to see the relationship in a different light. The change felt organic and had me cheering for her so hard.
I also want to say that the romantic storylines never stole the show. They were absolutely subplots, and they stayed in their lanes, so I felt like the story struck a great balance there.
Another thing (yes, more!) that Steven Salvatore does brilliantly well is how they present art within a story. In AND THEY LIVED, they told us the story of Chase’s college animation project.
In NO PERFECT PLACES, we get Olly’s journey of creating a short film to submit to a contest. The movie scene descriptions are great, and I loved how the final product echoed the themes of the larger story.
All in all, such a great book. I loved it so much. It’s the story of three siblings and their journey through a very particular kind of grief, and the community they build which helps them heal.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.
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