Far From You
Ratings13
Average rating3.5
Me during the first 95% of this book: Yeah this is good I guessMe during the last 5%: [sobbing, but make it queer]Anyway, this was pretty much your typical YA thriller. The writing was a little hit-or-miss at times but it was a mostly entertaining read. It went a little hard on the internalized homophobia and I kind of hated the deceased best friend because of how she treated the main character. Their relationship was way more toxic than it was cute. She was redeemed somewhat toward the end, but that didn't really undo all the time she spent treating people poorly? Feel free to pick this up if you're interested, but I'd keep expectations low.Blog Twitter Instagram Facebook
I have such mixed feelings about this book... There were many well done elements, as well as things I didn't like.
First of all, I LOVE that Sohpie clearly states she's bisexual. Books/tv shows/movies often go the ‘I don't like labels' route and I am glad it didn't happen here. It's ok to say the word!
That said, I really enjoyed both the personal part of the book with Sophie's relationship with Mina, her parents, etc and the mystery part of it. I will say I suspected who the killer was from early on, but that's because I've seen too much crime procedural shows and not because it's obvious, I'm sure.
I've been left with a ‘what if' sense about Sophie and Mina, though I guess that's what the author was going for and I find it great that it ends on a positive note.
Eh, this fell really flat for me. Nothing particularly bad about it, but nothing particularly good about it either.
Really enjoyed this one—and that ending! Review to come.
Okay. So firstly, I really like thrillers, and I also really like when the protagonist is part of a marginalized group, especially if it's one I can relate to like a character with chronic pain. And that's initially what drew me to this book—because trying to find YA with characters who deal with chronic pain? Not so easy.
What I liked: Sophie deals with disability (among other things), including chronic pain that causes her to limp, and she still kicks ass. Even better—there wasn't a miracle cure. Not for Sophie's injury, not for the chronic pain, and not for her addiction, or her trauma. Far From You does a really fantastic job not sugar-coating reality—it acknowledges that long after the book, Sophie will still have a limp, will still have to deal with a lot of trauma, and will always struggle with addiction. And for that alone, I'm giving Tess Sharpe a massive internet high-five.
As far as the actual plot goes, I really enjoyed this. The mystery surrounding Mina's death was fascinating, and I love books that keep you guessing, like this one. I had a few theories about who was at fault, but the twist got me—that said, I sort of felt like I mostly didn't guess because I'd pretty much forgotten some people existed. Maybe my fault. Maybe the book's fault. Eh. Not a big deal. Overall, Far From You is an exciting book that'll definitely keep you interested.
Finally, it was really great to see a YA protagonist who is explicitly bisexual, but whose sexuality isn't necessarily the main focus of the book (though coming out books are definitely important, too).
I really enjoyed this one, and I definitely recommend it to those looking for a fun, twisty YA Thriller.
Diversity note: Sophie, the protagonist, has a limp from chronic pain caused by a car accident years prior, struggles with drug addiction (opiate painkillers), and is explicitly bisexual. Mina, her best friend/sort of girlfriend was not out, but she was lesbian.
Just take all the stars, Far From You. I finished this book this morning, and I still can't stop thinking about it! Books with real LBGQT characters are few and far between. Books where that person is a main character, and you can honestly feel their pain through the words? Even fewer and farther between. I just want to hug this book. I want to buy a ton of copies and just pass them out to the masses. I really enjoyed this.
“But my heart isn't simple or straightforward. It's a complicated mess of wants and needs, boys and girls: soft, rough, and everything in between, an ever-shifting precipice from which to fall.”
That quote only highlights how well Sophie's bi-sexuality is handled in Far From You. This is a topic that is often misrepresented, but I can honestly say that I felt like Tess Sharpe handled it like a pro. Not only that, but she managed to weave in dealing with addiction, the power of friendship, what it's like to become reliant on someone, and feeling misunderstood. Every word had a purpose. Every piece of this book had something to say. Yet, it never became too much. It was never heavy handed. I found myself sitting right next to Sophie, and all I wanted to do was reach out and hold her hand.
Now, there is also a mystery here. One that, in my opinion, is perfectly meshed into the story. Contrary to what normally happens when I read mystery/thriller books, I didn't see the ending coming. That made me happy. It also made me really sad, but that was more because Sophie had already been through so much. I just wanted happiness for her. I know that some readers didn't like the mystery aspect. You might not. Still, I can't deny that I thought it made for a great addition to this book. It gave Tess Sharpe a great excuse to keep flashing back to Sophie and Mina's younger days, and it was a beautiful thing.
In case you couldn't already tell, I fell desperately in love with this book. When I start reading at night, and actually pass out trying to keep reading, I know that I've fallen hard. It was Sophie, it was Trev, it was Mina, all keeping me reading well into the night. Such a great cast of characters, in an equally amazing book.