bluey

This book could've been 300 odd pages of Frankie being witty and bantering and I would've loved it just the same. The plot is interesting, sure, and I think the mystery develops well and has a satisfying conclusion. That being said, this book wouldn't have stuck with me the way that it did if it was just a well-written, interesting mystery: our main characters are darling. Frankie and Bobby have an excellent dynamic, and though I wish they had stayed platonic friends I was even aww-ing along to their romance at the end. Frankie, especially, is quick-witted and funny and a total pleasure to read. I'm not saying the book is carried by her in its entirety... but she does do a lot of heavy lifting.

One of the books that made me cry in 2024. It's got a lot going for it: a deeply flawed, deeply likeable main character, really really interesting thoughts on martyrdom and *especially* how it relates to culture/heritage/history, is written very beautifully, and has some interesting conversations about being suicidal. I read this during a dark time in life, and while I wouldn't really recommend it, it certainly amplified a lot of emotions I was having/the writing was trying to produce and most definitely skewed my enjoyment of it towards the positive as it was talking about feelings I struggled to write about properly. So big props just for that, gift a copy to your depressed friends if you want to see them go through a lot. Like other reviewers, I found the ending lackluster and brought down the whole book with it, though Orkideh's story was very beautiful. Truthfully, when I finished it I thought it was one of those books that would stick with me for a long time.. but at the end of the month, I was very close to having to consult my notes app to remember I read it. Moreso a fault of my terrible memory. The reason I didn't have to is because of what I believe is the actual highlight of this book.

I read a lot of good books or at least books I liked in 2024. Out of all of them, my favorite (or at least top 3) character would have to be Zee. He is absolutely delightful, a wonderful side character that feels so... human, for lack of a better word. My favorite chapter (p. 217 in my copy, Brooklyn day 3) is my favorite because of him, and every scene he's in was, to me like how it was to Cyrus, a much needed wake-up call. Somewhere along the way I started relating to him more. Bless the Zees of the world.

timeless 10/10