Jude and her twin brother Noah used to be close; nowadays they don’t even speak. Jude is morphing herself into “that girl” despite her art historian mother’s pleas and Noah just sits alone drawing and dreaming of the boy next door. Yet three years later, each is virtually unrecognisable. Their fear of revealing their secrets has pushed them so far apart that neither is willing to ask for or reveal the things that will set them free. It’s so hard to reveal any more as there are so many revelations that shape the novel, from beginning to end; I think these moments are best experienced without any prior hints and definitely no spoilers!
I got sucked into this book really quickly; it usually takes a few chapters to connect and become invested in the characters’ lives but I found myself drawn to Noah and Jude immediately. The novel alternates between 13 year old Noah and 16 year old Jude. They are both very unique and quirky narrators. As Noah is an artist, he often interjects his narrative with ideas for painting such as “(Self Portrait: Boy Rowing Madly Back Through Time)”. Jude is obsessed with her late Grandma’s book of superstitions so interjects her narrative with sayings such as “If a boy gives a girl an orange, her love for him will multiply”. This helped the novel feel more natural and honest because it reflects the inner workings of their mind.
Jandy Nelson perfectly captures all the complex emotions that these teenagers are experiencing: longing, regret and utter confusion. There were so many moments during reading that I audibly gasped and giggled, so many twists that made me want to punch the air! This was aided by the sheer likeability of both narrators; you end up completely falling into the rollercoaster of emotions that is this novel. Jandy Nelson is incredibly talented at creating characters that feel like family to the reader.
Overall, this book gives a really enjoyable reading experience and it is so easy to fall in love with the characters. The enjoyment of this book rests mainly on connecting with Noah and Jude, I have heard some say that they didn’t really like the characters but as far as I can tell, they are the distinct minority. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great YA book with superbly developed characters!
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