That was probably the saddest book I’ve ever read and I’m just gonna cry myself to sleep now

Thanks to HCC Frenzy for an ARC to review! Find the full review at https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com

There’s a lot of death in this one and while Jamal’s best friend, Q, is brought back to life (albeit briefly), the book is largely about grief and working through it. So it’s gonna be heavy and you’re probably gonna cry.

The clearest message here is about love, the power and strength of love but also the importance of sharing with others how you feel. By the end of this book you’ll feel the need to run to your best friend and tell them you love them.

While there’s no escaping the sadness and heavy hits of this book, Reynolds provides some levity with humour throughout, as both Jamal and Q are aspiring comedians and we get flashbacks of their early internet videos.

The author also doesn’t leave us directionless in this grief. There’s a lot of emphasis on working through it and the importance of therapy, as well as a great cast of characters that are so supportive of each other. I don’t know if there’s been another book where I’ve liked the entire cast but this group know when others need support, when they need constructive criticism, and are always available to have the difficult conversations. At times it felt like a lot of “learning moments” but it’s so easy to love this family with how open they are in wanting the best for everyone.

One of my fave reads of the year by far. Just have a happy book ready for you when you finish.