Publisher: Delacorte Press
Page Count: 304
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
*I was provided with an eARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!*
This is not a love story, or, at least, not a romantic love story.
I feel like that’s what the cover might suggest and what you could interpret the blurb to be, but it’s not. Maybe it is part of why I went into this book with a sort of wrong idea, but then, I learned a long time ago to never truly expect E. Lockhart’s books to be any specific way to begin with. I quite enjoyed her earlier chick-lit-esque work (for those of you who followed her career and are fans of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, you’ll get a fun little easter egg) but was truly the most enamored with We Were Liars, which was what I would consider more in the mystery genre. Now, Again Again, doesn’t really fit into either category and proves once again that E. Lockhart won’t be confined to any genre.
Again Again is partially written in verse and takes place in a multitude of universes, although mainly two. I think this approach could go over either way with the reader. Sometimes it felt repetitive in a tiresome way, other times it showed you how one moment can unfold in such vastly different ways that you yearn for a different outcome. It definitely takes time to get used to this unconventional style of storytelling, although I think the visual formatting helped get the point across. Still, I’m really torn on this matter myself, because I would be lying if I told you that the final universe wasn’t my favourite and I was so very relieved that it existed – imperfections and everything – whereas I really struggled with the others.
As far as the characters go, I found it a bit difficult to really fall for Adelaide. She was putting on this bubbly front of happiness, which didn’t reflect her inner sadness and turmoil at all, bordering on obsession in so many departments of her life. Her erratic behaviour made me dislike her sometimes, especially when she was impulsive and neurotic about boys that were only an escape, but not a solution. I understood why she acted the way she did.
Grieving for someone, even if it wasn’t the kind of grief related to death, and being burdened by constant worry will change you. It makes you act strange and impassive and everyone deals differently, but even though I got that on some level, it didn’t prevent me from getting frustrated with her sometimes. I appreciated the realness of her brokenness, while also resenting it. I am contradictory that way.
I did really like her creative side though! I would love to see some of the stuff she made in this book in real life!
However, as I said at the very beginning of this review, this is not a romantic love story, because all these boys (which were really only three) couldn’t have been more inconsequential, if I’m being completely honest. The most important relationship in this book, at least in my eyes, is the one between Adelaide and her brother Toby. Theirs is a love story of a different kind, because loving a family member can be just as hard and disappointing and necessary. Them finding their way back to each other was the only thing that really mattered to me.
Lastly, I just want to mention that I always love it when dogs are in the mix! I want to warn all of you that a dog gets punched in the face in this book (out of defense), but that they also seem to be able to talk to the main character in a way and that was surprising and quirky and I still don’t know what to make of it.
Fazit: 3.5/5 stars! Hit and miss in a lot of ways.
Do you want to read Again Again? Have you read previous books by E. Lockhart? Let’s talk!
Life and Other Disasters 
I love love love E Lockhart. I can’t wait to read this ❤
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Then I hope you’ll enjoy this one too!
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I just finished this one today. It was not my favorite from her. All the different types of writing from the norm, texts, bolded, prose…it was just too much in one book for me. I felt like it took away from a really important story. I’m glad you had a better experience than I did.
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From the comments, I feel like my review came across as more positive than I felt about it? Cause I really struggled, but also thought that others might not mind as much?
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That’s what I was thinking, too. That others might enjoy it more than me.
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I’ve seen 5-star-reviews on Goodreads, so SOMEONE must have really loved it haha
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They must have. LOL
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I really liked this review, I’m excited to put this book in my list – I absolutely loved We Were Liars!
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Was my review that positive? Cause We Were Liars was a whole other level and much better than this 🙈
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I really liked the way you’ve talked about the book. I am actually looking forward to reading something different from We Were Liars
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Well then, I hope you’ll enjoy it!
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I read We Were Liars and quite liked it. I need to read E. Lockhart’s other books! I really like the cover and premise of this one 🙂 Great review.
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As I said, I find both the cover and the premise a bit misleading, and it’s very different, once again, from her previous work. E. Lockhart continuously keeps changing. I found a lot of aspects of this book a little difficult and only really appreciated the final part in a way. But I also know people who loved it.
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Thank you for this great review, Kat ❤ I'm so curious about this book (as you know already) and I appreciate the fact that the author can always surprise us, too! I'm so curious about the storytelling and different universes, I feel like I might get confused like you did, though, so this makes me a bit nervous? and I get what you mean about Adelaide, there are some characters like that you can kind of understand, but are hard to root for? I never know how to feel with these kind of characters. I feel bad for not liking them, but also have a hard time really falling for them?
Anyway I'm ranting ahah, I'm very curious to see how I feel about that one sometime! 😀
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Thanks so much for checking it out, Marie!
I get why you’re a bit nervous and it will be hit or miss with you. I didn’t love all the parts, but I liked some of the messages. It’s tough.
As for feeling guilty for not liking a character even though you understand them – that’s peak me!! Especially when it’s the main character and you’re supposed to feel for them, but all I have in my heart is annoyance, it’s so mean haha and then I feel super bad ahaha
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Of course! ❤ and I get that ahah, I feel a bit terrible when I can't grow fond of the character either, but…. we can't help how we feel ahha 🙂
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