Kristy

What I loved: true story, quick read, hard to put down. It's a classic in Maine, read in local schools where the author used to come visit with the kids (he passed away in 2016). This book was made into a movie by Angel Studios in 2024.

Loved the concept. Wanted more: Marcellus, Tova, and Ethan Mack. Wanted less: Cameron. A little slow and predictable, yet endearing and sweet. A nice read.

Stayed up way too late to keep reading. Liked Jess, but fave character was Bo (the dog). There came a point when I did not believe Jess could have survived what the author made her survive, and the ending was way too abrupt. But kudos for drawing me into this exciting story. I am looking forward to the movie.

For those who need it: Trigger warning for this book due to unaddressed se...al child abuse. Also, maybe it's my ADHD brain, but I had the darnedest time following this writing style. It was confusing. I felt I had to constantly read in between the lines, guessing at what was being implied — and I was disturbed by what I did understand. I know many people see this as a beautiful narrative about finding your way forward after the loss of a loved one, and I can respect that. But it definitely was not for me.