Monday, January 14, 2019

Blog Tour: Our Year of Maybe by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Our Year of Maybe
Rachel Lynn Solomon
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Aspiring choreographer Sophie Orenstein would do anything for Peter Rosenthal-Porter, who’s been on the kidney transplant list as long as she’s known him. Peter, a gifted pianist, is everything to Sophie: best friend, musical collaborator, secret crush. When she learns she’s a match, donating a kidney is an easy, obvious choice. She can’t help wondering if after the transplant, he’ll love her back the way she’s always wanted.

But Peter’s life post-transplant isn’t what either of them expected. Though he once had feelings for Sophie too, he’s now drawn to Chase, the guitarist in a band that happens to be looking for a keyboardist. And while neglected parts of Sophie’s world are calling to her—dance opportunities, new friends, a sister and niece she barely knows—she longs for a now-distant Peter more than ever, growing increasingly bitter he doesn’t seem to feel the same connection.

Peter fears he’ll forever be indebted to her. Sophie isn’t sure who she is without him. Then one blurry, heartbreaking night twists their relationship into something neither of them recognizes, leading them to question their past, their future, and whether their friendship is even worth fighting for.
REVIEW

I jumped at the opportunity to read this book based on all the amazing things I had heard about Solomon's debut, You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone, and let me tell you, it was a great decision. This book was a painfully beautiful exploration of a friendship, and how quickly something so seemingly solid can deteriorate.

Sophie and Peter shared a friendship, which worked well in a bubble, but post-transplant, a lot of cracks begin to become more prominent, and I know I struggled with being both happy for and frustrated with Peter.

What could be more amazing, than to be given a chance to actually live? Peter had made peace with the idea that he would not have a long life. His world was pretty much his parents, his doctors, piano, and Sophie. He never really took the opportunity to figure out who he was or what he wanted out of life, and therefore, I was overjoyed that the transplant worked. Peter had the opportunity to go to school, make new friends, and explore his identity. He was rushing forward, but he wasn't taking Sophie with him, and that pained me.

I am going to tell you right now, there were tears, many tears. I think I cried during each and every one of Sophie's chapters. Sophie was the one I felt was being left behind. Even if I understood the why's, it still broke my heart, because I identified so hard with her. And unrequited love always, ALWAYS causes me heartache. Loving someone, who will never return those feelings is never easy, and Solomon did a fantastic job pulling me into Sophie's emotional wreckage.

The alternating point of view was a nice way to juxtapose the way Sophie and Peter were dealing with their changing dynamic and their new situation. Sophie was struggling with being left behind and not having her feelings reciprocated, while Peter grappled with wanting to explore his options, while feeling so indebted to Sophie. It was not easy for either of them, but I was glad that BOTH were having new and positive experiences.

A quick run-down of things I adored
  • Great family dynamics and present parents
  • Siblings
  • Mark the chinchilla
  • Music, music, music!
  • Dancing and the dance team
  • Books
  • The band, Tabby, Luna, Josh, Chase and his family - I loved them all
Overall: A wonderful story of love, family, friendship, and identity, which was messy and packed with emotion.

* ARC received in exchange for an honest review.


GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK LINKS

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY | B&N | IBOOKS | KOBO | INDIEBOUND

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Lynn Solomon lives, writes, and tap dances in Seattle, Washington. Once she helped set a Guinness World Record for the most natural redheads in one place. She's the author of You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone (out now from Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse), Our Year of Maybe (1/15/19), and Today Tonight Tomorrow (2020). A short story of hers will appear in the anthology It's a Whole Spiel (Penguin Random House/Knopf, fall 2019).




Do you dance or play an instrument?
Let us know in the comments!

34 comments:

  1. I really, really like the sound of this one. You know I've been reading less and less YA but boy, does this one appeal to me. Unrequited love is so painful and just reading about it makes my heart hurt. I feel for Peter, too, because is he now tied to Sophie for life out of a sense of duty/debt or does he not have the freedom to go live how he wants to live? I'm definitely checking my library for this one. Great review, Sam!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Both Solomon's books were complicated and messy and emotional. I really enjoyed them

      Delete
  2. This one sounds absolutely beautiful. It sounds realistic, which is not something I can always say about a contemporary. I'm not really in a cry-your-eyeballs-out-with-books mood lately, but I'm definitely keeping this one in mind for when I am. Fantastic review! ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I could have used a little less realism, because it broke my heart.

      Delete
  3. I loved her debut, so I'm really looking forward to reading this one. I'm so happy you gave her a try and loved it. Her books really do come across as realistic. Can't wait to read it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked this one a little more, but it probably had the same amount of heartbreak. My feels!

      Delete
  4. I do enjoy character driven stories and I've been meaning to try this author. This sounds like a gripping read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you read one of her books, make sure you have your tissues handy

      Delete
  5. Gimmeeeeeeee! I tried to get an egally but ...no luck. Because you had featured this one in a post like can't wait wednesday or something like that... All I have to do now is buy it! Sophie @bewarofthereader

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was as heartwrenching as I predicted. I definitely had a bunch of puddle moments.

      Delete
  6. OMG the blurb itself was more than I could handle! I can totally see why there would be lots of tears! It sounds painful to read... Painfully beautiful, no doubt, but still painful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was beautifully painful. I understood why things went the way they did, but it was still heartbreaking

      Delete
  7. The synopsis and your review both made me want to cry for Sophie. I will be keeping this book in mind for when I feel like I need an emotional read because I can tell this one will have me reaching for the tissues often. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My heart ached for her. Solomon is great at creating this really tough situations, but she navigates it so well.

      Delete
  8. Omigosh, this sounds amazing. I've been quietly excited for this one, and I keep forgetting how good it sounds. I'm so so pleased to see it was amazing as I thought it would be. Wonderful review, Sam, and I need to go get this book ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am all about the fluffy, so there were a lot of tough parts for me in this book, but Solomon doled out some happy, warm-fuzzy parts to soothe my pain.

      Delete
  9. Wow, this sounds so good, Sam! I am happy for Peter but sad for Sophie and that is just from reading your review. I will have to look for this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My emotions were often confused, because I was simultaneously happy and sad many times during this book.

      Delete
  10. Well this book sound utterly heartbreaking, I'm not gonna lie. I don't know if I can ever bring myself to read it because I hate unrequited love because it's always so heartbreaking yet totally understandable. Brilliant review because you have my dithering over whether the emotional impact of it will be worth the really good story and characters who sound brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hate all endings - romantic or non-romantic. Therefore, watching their friendship suffer was tough for me. Both Solomon's books had a HUGE emotional punch. The situations she created for these characters were really complex and she did an incredible job exploring the pros and cons of the situation too.

      Delete
  11. This one sounds like such a moving and emotional book. But I really like everything it seems to deal with when it comes to friendships, relationships and family. I think there is going to be a lot of change and shifting in this one. It sounds brilliant from your review and it sounds like one I need to read as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After two books, I am starting to think Solomon only does beautiful pain, but the journey is so good, I don't mind all the tears.

      Delete
  12. I high key want to enter the giveaway but that seems wrong so I will refrain 😂 I loved this so much too- and I am very disappointed in myself for not mentioning Mark, what is wrong with me!?!? But seriously, this was incredible, and I am so glad you loved it too! Unrequited love is the evilest of all the evils, if you ask me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark was the shiz, I had to give him a shout out. Still shocked how much I loved, but I think it's because there was a lot of happy, even if it wasn't the happy I necessarily wanted.

      Delete
  13. I don't play an instrument, but I do like to dance. Whether anyone enjoys watching me, well that's another story. lol
    sherry @ fundinmental

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If dancing makes you happy, dance. I love to sing, but I don't really do it well. Who cares, if it makes me happy.

      Delete
  14. Oh this sounds so wonderful! Things I Love like music and dancing and family dynamics! And someone named "Luna"?? And tears, many tears??? YES!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Luna was so cute too. Lots of love, even if there is a bunch of painful truths thrown in there.

      Delete
  15. There are so many YA books about organ transplants and many have not quite worked for me - glad you enjoyed this one so much!
    Jen Ryland Reviews

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The focus of this wasn't really on the organ transplant, but rather on the friendship, and how it changed once they were not living in their bubble. The feeling of debt played a role, but it didn't come up as much as one would expect.

      Delete
  16. Replies
    1. This book broke me in a good way. I hope you enjoy it.

      Delete
  17. Ohhh YEAH!!! I am soooo glad you loved this and this review is great! I can't wait to read this and glad that it is a bit messy. Life is a bit messy why shouldn't a book be that too? I can't wait! I am really glad I got this one.

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have decided that Solomon's niche is messy and difficult. I don't know how she comes up with the situations she writes about, but they are really complicated. Hope you enjoy it!

      Delete