Julie Buxbaum
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
The New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next delivers a poignant and hopeful novel about resilience and reinvention, first love and lifelong friendship, the legacies of loss, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.REVIEW
Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.
Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.
Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.
Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers?
Wow! I forgot how amazing it is to read a Julie Buxbaum book. Once again, she gifted me with a story that touched my heart, and its mere mention brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.
I keep saying this, but 9/11 books are tough for me. That day left an indelible mark on me, and I will admit, that some of the tears I shed were the sad kind. The first chapter was so emotional, and the interviews with the 9/11 survivors were both touching and heartbreaking. But, why I value a book like this is because we now have a generation, who only know of the attack from their history books. Buxbaum managed to write a beautiful and moving story, which included romance and humor, and also helps remind us to never forget what happened that day.
Buxbaum built this story around two very likable teens, and both Abbi and Noah quickly endeared themselves to me. Although I was quite frustrated with a secret Abbi was keeping from her parents, I still wanted her to be able to enjoy her summer free of Baby Hope's legacy. At the same time, I really needed her to get some answers with respect to her little secret. It was beyond stressing me, because I cared for her so much.
My heart went out to Noah too. He was so cute and sweet and goofy in the best way. Watching that little spark ignite between him and Abbi filled me with joy. But, I also wanted Noah to get the answers he was seeking. He needed closure, and Buxbaum did a fantastic job giving it to him.
I know I am making this sound all emotional, but it was actually a really well balanced story. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I swooned, I even got a little bit mad. Buxbaum did a phenomenal job bringing me through the highs and the lows, and never, at any point, did she leave me hopeless.
I could wax poetic about this book forever, but instead, I will give you a few bullet points:
- Jack was an amazing best friend and I ❤️ him.
- Abbi's parents were fabulous and I loved what was running in the background between them.
- Grandmas - you know I adore them, and Abbi's was fantastic, even if her subplot was a bit heartbreaking.
- Some of my father's friends are currently suffering from 9/11 cough, so I appreciate Buxbaum raising a little awareness of that.
- Noah's comedic attempts were rather fun, and it's a little bit out of the norm hobby, which I liked.
- The subtle shoutouts to Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next delighted me.
* ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
GIVEAWAY
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BOOK LINKS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Week One:
5/1/2019- Dani Reviews Things- Review
5/2/2019- Lone Tree Reviews- Review
5/3/2019- Lifestyle Of Me- Review
Week Two:
5/6/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review
5/7/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review
5/8/2019- Ex Libris- Review
5/9/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
5/10/2019- Struck by Stories- Review
Week Three:
5/13/2019- Belle's Archive- Review
5/14/2019- BookHounds YA- Review
5/15/2019- Life of a Literary Nerd- Review
5/16/2019- Savings in Seconds- Review
5/17/2019- Resch Reads & Reviews- Review
Week Four:
5/20/2019- A Bookish Escape- Review
5/21/2019- Book-Keeping- Review
5/22/2019- Pacific Northwest Bookworm- Review
5/23/2019- The Book Dutchesses- Review
5/24/2019- Popthebutterfly Reads- Review
Week Five:
5/27/2019- Down the Rabbit Hole- Review
5/28/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review
5/29/2019- Two points of interest- Review
5/30/2019- We Live and Breathe Books- Review
5/31/2019- The Clever Reader- Review
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Let us know in the comments!
I'm on hold for this one and I can't wait! Even more so now seeing your love. Thanks for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it as much as I did!
DeleteThis is the first I'm coming across this one and it sounds so good! Books tackling 9/11 and related topics can be incredibly tricky, so it's great to see it was done well here! Looking forward to this one <3
ReplyDeleteI love Buxbaum, and am always keeping my eyes open for her new books. She is taking on the after of 9/11. How there are people still, or just starting, to feel the affects of the attacks, and it was done well.
DeleteThis isn't my usual type of read but I remember seeing the blurb for this a while ago and wanting to read it. Your review has just cemented that need!
ReplyDeleteBuxbaum just writes the most lovely books. Emotional and hopeful. I am always left with a full heart after reading one of her books.
DeleteI'm excited to read this one. Her writing is very powerful and this one sounds very tough, but very well-written. I'm so glad you liked it!
ReplyDeleteShe really does a great job with her books, and knows how to pack the emotional punch. The subplots were interesting to me too. I just loved the whole book.
DeleteI really need to read this!! It sounds soo good and powerful! Great review!
ReplyDelete~Kendra @ Kendra Loves Books
It was fantastic! I hope you get the opportunity to read it.
DeleteThis really sounds amazing. Thanks for putting this on my radar, wonderful review!!!
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to bring attention to great books!
DeleteWow, this sounds wonderful! I'm curious, the shout outs you mentioned of her other books, how did she did it?
ReplyDeleteand I've read one YA book that it's focus was the actual events. It featured a girl in the building while it happened. Reading it gave so much insight! The book is All We Have Left by Wendy Mills.
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
One of the characters says something like, "I didn't know what to say next", while they also play the tell me three things games, which was part of the plot for the book of the same name. I love looking for stuff like that in books. I just went to GR and that Mills books sounds really fantastic (it has great reviews too), and my eLibrary has it! I may have to work that into the TBR at some point. Thanks!
DeleteI loved this book too! Sounds like it touched you in a very personal way, and I'm happy that the book did the subject matter justice for you.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
With my proximity to NYC and my father having been an NYC firefighter for 25 years, it was so personal. I had family in the city that day, and the emotions come flooding back every time I think of it. I loved how Buxbaum explained why she wrote this book, and I appreciate that she still had a lot of emotions stemming from the event.
DeleteSounds like a great read. I totally want to fall in love with Jack! =)
ReplyDeleteI hope I win a finished copy. How cool! Thanks for the chance!
Mary
Every MC needs a fabulous friend, and Jack was that guy. I hope you get the chance to "meet" him.
DeleteOh gosh, I don’t know if I have read a book about 9/11. Such an emotional day. I still havent’ read her first book and I have a copy my kindle. Yikes! I added this one to the list.
ReplyDeleteTell Me Three Things was my gateway Buxbaum book. After that, I read her adult books, and I just loved them all. I hope you give one of her books a try.
DeleteWOW! This is one that I added on my TBR for some months now Sam and I am even more excited to read it now!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed you get to read and cry over it, and I hope you love it, if you do.
DeleteI've read a lot of great reviews for this one. It's a really difficult thing to write about and do well so I'm glad she handled it well.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
She is so good at this kind of story, and her approach is new and familiar at the same time.
DeleteI'm excited to read this one! I was in kindergarten during 9/11 so I'm part of the last ppl born who have a vague memory of it—it's actually one of my first memories that I have.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was in 1st grade, and she remembers stuff, but not to the level that I do. I felt the book was a great way to keep the event visible and remind people, that many are still suffering the effects of that attack.
DeleteI know some people don't like when authors use 9/11 as a plot point, but I don't mind it. It was a terrible day that affected so many and it just adds a sense of realism to books for me. I think this one would definitely make me cry, too!
ReplyDeleteHer approach was very interesting, and I didn't feel like she exploited the event for the drama. I like that she is showing how many are still affected by that day, and the different ways that it has and is affecting people.
DeleteI agree that this book was emotional! I loved all of the secondary characters. especially the parents, Jack, and Abbi's grandma. The 911 interviews were well done. Great Review Sam!
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
Buxbaum really handled this one so, so well. Like I said, perfection for me.
DeleteHonestly, this book has such an interesting concept to it! I love books that make me cry honestly! Solid review!
ReplyDeleteAlexandra @ The Bookish Fairy
www.thebookishfairy.com
You'll cry, but you will also laugh and smile and just feel. I loved every second of this book.
DeleteI remember seeing you haul in this book and thinking about what your thoughts would be about it. I didn't really think about the fact that there are generations now who never experienced that day, and it is good that they will have books like this to learn and remember.
ReplyDeleteEven my daughter, who is 24, only has her 6 year-old child's memory of the event. I do know it is included in history books, but that, to me, distances me from the event, and it's something that happened super close to where I live, while my mom and other family members were downtown that day.
DeleteGosh, I want to read this book!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do, because it was exquisite.
Delete