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Title: 5/5 Something about the title of this book has a poetic touch. It's short, simple, and sweet. I personally love how it flows together, to give the reader's an idea of what the book is about.
Cover: 4/5 Though, the cover is simplistic, it works well with the book. I love the choice of font and the colors chosen specifically. Everything is dark as the book suggests, with a tinge of white, which can be taken symbolically depending how you view it. The cover also manages to tie in themes from the book as it adds onto the aesthetic vibes, which I think is gorgeous.
Blurb: 5/5 Immediately, the blurb sets a suspenseful, yet hopeful tone. But the very last line "Because sometimes.... to rise, one must fall" is what hooked me for good. I'm a sucker for full-circle symbolism and connections, where everything ties together. The way she manages to weave in metaphors and similes also appeal to the blurb, furthering the poetic touch I had already gotten from everything else. Very well-done.
Plot: 4/5 The plot doesn't just revolve around romance but social dynamics that are dealt with in reality, such as, toxic relationships, mental health, abuse, suicide, etc. What I loved most about it was, it wasn't romanticized but laid out for readers to understand the negative and positive impacts that can come from these things. There are times where the plot could feel like it was dragging or becoming repetitive. But that's because the characters are carrying so much baggage, their relationship took time to build, from strangers, to friends, to lovers. I think that's another reason why I loved this plot so much.
Pacing: 5/5 I enjoyed every second of the pacing in this story. The pace moves at an evened out speed, not too fast, but not too slow either. Though, sometimes it did get slower. It gives us time to get to know the characters, their situation, and their background. Sometimes, I didn't even realize I was reading through the chapters so fast, because they're so detailed, everything feels real. It felt like watching a movie.
Character Development: 5/5 In the beginning, we're introduced to two incredibly flawed teens, running from their past. But nothing is sugar coated. What is given to us, is two raw characters, Ryan Falls and Crystal Monroe. And both of their developments amazed me. What I particularly loved about Ryan's character is, in the beginning, we get an interesting persona from someone who's dealing with a lot of negative mental weight on their mind. He is bubbly, charming, goofy, and all the above on the outside. Using this persona, he tries to help Crystal (who is the complete opposite of him) find a way to be comfortable in her skin again. Eventually, it works to an extent. She begins to find her way back to the girl she was before. But that's where the development takes place. As Crystal begins to change throughout the book, she tries to help Ryan go through a change too. Because though he appears to be this sorted-out figure, there is more complexity to his character. Yet he spends so much time focusing on Crystal, he allows his own demons to consume him, which eventually causes issues. They end up playing a major role in each other's character development.
Overall Comments: I loved this book and I'd recommend it to anyone, who's looking for a healthy depiction of mental health when it comes to relationships. Or if you're looking for flawed characters you can relate to, especially Ryan Falls; one of the best male leads I've ever read. It may be triggering to some, so I'd be careful before reading, but overall the book is absolutely amazing.
Loutka
Team Of Dreams
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