I just want to dive right into the praising and say how impressed I am by how well this book accomplishes something really difficult: Our Year of Maybe features a protagonist with a chronic medical condition, but totally keeps that from being the central plot of the book. I know some will argue that it is a central part because without the illness, Peter’s indebted feelings towards Sophie wouldn’t exist. I get that, but I still argue that even then, the book isn’t about a kidney disorder or a transplant. Those things are mentioned, but this is not a sickness story. In fact, if a friend came up to me and said: “gee, Bib, what’s this book about?” I wouldn’t even mention Peter’s illness. My one sentence summary would be: a pair of teenagers who have spent much of their lives enmeshed with each other have to figure out whether their relationship can survive each one’s search for independence.

And damn did this book deliver on showing that struggle. I have almost never read teenagers who were written so well. Peter and Sophie were neither giggly, shallow, vapid vapors, nor were they the too smart for their own good, pretentious creatures that are so beloved these says (although Peter might be borderline). They’re real. They are immature and selfish while also shockingly insightful and complex. They are exasperating and exhilarating, frustrating and inspiring. Sophie, to me, feels particularly real because teenage girls are so susceptible to defining themselves by their relationship to another person, whether that person is a significant other or best friend. I loved watching Sophie grow.

I’m not going to lie: Peter’s bisexuality was my favorite thing about him. I hate saying things like that because ideally sexuality is a meh type issue, but bisexuality is so often treated like the invisible step sister in young adult writing. A friend and I were talking about it recently and in all of fiction, we could only think of Callie from Grey’s Anatomy and Jack Harkness from Torchwood/Doctor Who we’re the only bi fictional characters we could think of (I know there are many more—like Leah—-but in that moment, that’s all we could come up with). To me, when there is such a huge absence, seeing more representation gives me all the feels. I won’t bore you with my “why representation matters” spiel, but it does.


All in all, read this. I can honestly say that I loved it. 5/5

https://bibwithblog.blogspot.com/2018/12/our-year-of-reading-this-review-of.html?m=1

THIS. BOOK.

Do you ever read something that's just so cozy and wonderful that you want to snuggle with it and hold it close to you always?

That's this book.

Contemporary is a difficult genre. It has to be realistic but not too realistic. No one wants to read an entire book about a lazy teenager who sits at home and binges Netflix all day.

In Our Year of Maybe, Solomon was able to create a very realistic and natural teenage experience. I felt like I really knew Sophie and Peter.

After Sophie gives Peter a kidney their relationship changes DRASTICALLY. Post-transplant life isn't what either of them expected, and I loved watching them grow and change as they navigated this new world.

Honestly though, I couldn't stand Sophie at first. Her world revolved around Peter, which makes sense, she's in love with, he's her best friend, he's sick, he needs her. But after awhile, the whiny, clingy-ness of it all started to get to me. This girl wants to go to community college just so she can wait until he graduates and they can go to school together. NO DON'T DO THAT. LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE GIRL.

But as Sophie explored her dancer/choreographer world more, her relationship with her younger sister, and her own future she finally grew on me. I was rooting so hard for her to find the love and happiness that she deserved.

And then there's Peter. Sweet little sick Peter. Peter is unintentionally spoiled and selfish, something he's never really noticed before because he's been so sheltered. He's also bisexual and hasn't really told anyone other than his parents. Enter the cute Chase though and his crappy band, and Peter also starts to learn and grow as a person.

His relationship with Chase is honestly one of the cutest relationships I've ever seen. I loved them together, I loved the way they could discuss things like their religious views or life heartaches and be able to understand and be sympathetic, without stepping on each other's toes.

And here's the biggest thing I loved about this book. It's views of sex.

Both Peter and Sophie have masturbation scenes. Sophie uses a vibrator she keeps in a drawer, and Peter goes solo. These scenes were organic and part of the story, and I absolutely loved the straightforwardness of it all.

Then there's Sophie's sister, Tabby, and her teen pregnancy. There's open and honest talk about what happened, the struggles with being a teen mom but also the good parts. And she talks about how safe her and BF are now when it comes to brith control and protection.

AND during a sex scene with some of the characters (no spoilers with who, it's two people that's all you have to know) it's awkward and weird at first. There's condom usage and unpleasantness at the beginning.

These scenes gave me life. I love realistic sex scenes and masturbation in books. These things are normal and healthy, but there's still such an odd stigma surrounding them.

I could go on, but this review is getting kind of long. If you're a fan of contemporary, Jewish MC's, or realistic queer rep, than this is the book for you!

This book is made to hit you in the feels and keep you emotional through the whole journey. The author does a fantastic job representing cultures and people that aren't prominent in books and I need more. I need more women who aren't afraid to please themselves, boys who fall for boys and girls, and most importantly I need more Jewish representation. It is all here in this wonderful book and anyone who needs a trip down emotion lane should pick it up!

This is a really good book. Never have I ever read such an agonizing story where I'm simultaneously rooting for and against the main characters. This is everything I wished "How to Say Goodbye in Robot" could be. The characters have heart, the story has density, and the high school setting kept making me nostalgic. If you're looking for a YA story that deals with toxic relationships and unhealthy co-dependencies with heart-wrenching honesty, then this is the book for you. However if you're looking for a clean book with little to no sex scenes, this is NOT the book for you. Seriously, guys, there's so much sex. 😂

The beginning is a little slow, but power through it because the meat of this novel is excellent.

I received a copy from net-galley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

Okay. It’s currently 4am as I’m writing this review and there’s a few tears on my cheeks, and I need to say how much I loved this story. Sophie and Peter as characters were so compelling and honestly, this book took a route I wasn’t expecting and that was such a pleasant surprise. I want nothing more than to give Rachel a hug and tell her thank you for writing this book. Please, when this releases next year make me so happy by picking up Our Year of Maybe!

This was so amazing and I am in awe of Rachel's writing. Just like her brilliant debut, You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone, the characters here feel incredibly vivid, and their relationships are complex and nuanced and somehow relatable even if you've never been in a similar situation. It really nails the difficulties of balancing new and old relationships and of untangling who you are as a person from who you are with others perfectly. I also loved Sophie's relationship with her sister, the fact it has a bi male MC in Peter (and that the relationship drama is nothing to do with his being bi), and Mark the chinchilla. One of the best books I've read this year.

*Spoiler free* 4.5 stars

I'm kinda floored that I was able to finish this one. And not because it was bad! I didn't know how I would handle reading a book I knew was going to make me emoitonal and that I knew was going to be sad. Those books and I just don't have a great relationship haha. But I did finish it!

And wow, did I love it. I went into this one not really expecting anything, maybe expecting to enjoy it a little bit, but I did not expect to come out holding as much love as I do. Rachel is a freaking goddess with words. I don't know how more people aren't talking about this? How did her first book fly so under the radar? Why aren't more people gushing about her books everywhere? These are the questions I need answers too! I feel like she can make mundane things so interesting! I don't usually like books like this and I loved this one. AHHH, the writing was just so good!

I was expecting this book to take a deeper look into characters and life than it did. It made up for it other parts though. I was also expecting more complexity in the story and the emotional journey Peter and Sophie went through. Though it wasn't there, the story carried it so well that I don't even really mind. I know this book was supposed to be a morally gray contemporary and I think it completely hit the mark.

The relationship between Peter and Sophie is definitely complicated. I'm not quite sure how to even explain it. The situations were just the situations and they both tried to do what they thought was best for them. And sometimes it didn't work out. And sometimes it created a mess. But I loved how they were both willing to work on things that they knew they needed to work on. Everyone in this book was very aware that they had flaws and things they could better about themselves. I loved seeing that. I loved seeing the acceptance of flaws and knowing you can get better and grow and learn.

I also got really attached to the side characters! That doesn't happen very often with me, but I loved their relationships and what they added to the story. I would love a spinoff from any one of them! I think there's a lot story there. Maybe even a prequel? Honestly, I'd read anything haha.

I liked how this gave me a look at relationships in a different way than I'm used to seeing. I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but I really did! And I'm going to keep more of an open mind about this in the future!

I don't give my heart away to heartbreaking books very much. But I now willingly put my heart in Rachel's hands. She can do whatever she wants to it. I trust her to write books that I love and will break my heart but will put it back together again. I so want to read her first book now and I'm hoping I can get it soon!

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

Hi there. If you are reading this then it means you're on the Goodreads page for this book, or scrolling through Amazon/Barnes and Noble/whatever it may be. You may be wondering if you should buy this book, for yourself or for someone else. If it's any good. If it's really the five star read that I claim it to be.

Let me put you at ease. <b>Yes, this book is everything that you want it to be and more.</b> A tale woven between two perspectives--childhood best friends--one in need of a kidney and one with a desire to be the donor. OUR YEAR OF MAYBE explores both of these characters, jumping into their heads and showing us how messy friendship can be when more than just secret kisses and terribly written songs are shared. These two literally shared an organ.

If you want a better summary, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1657056354?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">the author highlights</a> some of the best parts of her book in convenient bullet format. Think soft boys who play the piano and shy girls who shine onstage. And pet chinchillas.

In my own words, this book contains so many topics and diverse elements that my eyes were hearts even reading the synopsis. Peter is not only the sweetest, most sensitive boy, but he identifies as bisexual and is half-Jewish who wants to grow more of a connection to his religion. Sophie is dyslexic and a dancer, with a teenage younger sister who was pregnant at 15 and lives at home with her baby. Sophie is also Jewish, but has a hard time feeling close to that part of her life.

I've had this book on my wishlist since I cried over and screamed my love for Solomon's debut
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30339479-you-ll-miss-me-when-i-m-gone">YOU'LL MISS ME WHEN I'M GONE.</a>, and when the publisher approved me for an arc I literally sat down and read the whole thing right there in one sitting. I had the most amazing reading experience. My roommate wasn't home so I was free to scream and cheer aloud all I pleased, and for the second half of the book all I did was sob. Literally. And it's winter so it was extra gross and dry.

Then naturally, I chronicled my experience <a href="https://twitter.com/sydneys_books/status/1068019498412781568">on Twitter</a>, as most readers do. (And the author replied!!! And it was lowkey the most famous I've ever felt!!). Please do check out that review to read my intense, first impression thoughts, as I'm coherently writing this review almost a week later with some emotional stability. Also there are pictures of me crying in it, so that's always fun.

Peter is the center of a love triangle within the book, but never once is there cheating within and there is always discussion on consent and the other's feelings. This book is also sex positive! And takes place over the course of a year, with some characters turning 18. There is a mixed race character too! Just so much diversity and the Jewish rep is #ownvoices! I love how much this book explores topics not usually discussed in YA enough.

If a book were to capture the feelings of falling in love for the first time and the feelings of being unrequitedly in love, this book masters BOTH. I felt butterflies and anticipation as I were a character within the story myself. I had so many emotions bottled up that I had to react openly for fear of exploding, and the ending was so perfect that it made me want to jump out of a plane with a giant banner reading "READ THIS BOOK." (Seriously tempted.) And while it was cute and romantic, the family tension was SO REAL and heartfelt and made me cry so much. I was pleasantly surprised about Sophie's family dynamic and honestly was living for it more than I expected to.

If you're wondering who I ship Peter with, I think I prefer him with <spoiler>Chase,</spoiler> though I find both relationships to have their strengths and weaknesses. OUR YEAR OF MAYBE (and everything Rachel Lynn Solomon writes, really) portrays the most natural and healthy relationships I've ever read. The slow burn and growth of the individual characters is masterful.

OUR YEAR OF MAYBE comes out January 15th, 2019. If it's before that date, then I expect you to go preorder this book and then sit by your mailbox until it arrives. If it's past then, please request it at your library! Gift it for a #bookishwish! Spread the love around in any way you can! Underrated books need all the help they can get to be in the hands of a reader who needs it, and I think of it as my personal responsibility to do so (and now it's yours too).

<u><b>This book is so special. Don't let that go unnoticed.</b></u>

<i>Thank you to Netgalley, Rachel, and Simon Pulse for sending me an arc to review. All of my opinions are my own, and also a tad overdramatic.</i>

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I didn't even add this book to my "currently-reading" because the moment I was approved for the ARC I sat down and read the entire book in one sitting and honestly I'm not feeling emotionally stable enough to write this review without crying so I'll be back.
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UPDATE: I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC I GOT AN ARC I GOT
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I NEED AN ARC I NEED AN ARC I NEED AN ARC I NEED AN ARC I NEED AN ARC I NEED AN ARC I NEED

As usual, another fantastic story from Rachel Lynn Solomon. She's a genius at constructing lovable characters you truly care for, and breaking your heart bit by bit.

Plot

The plot was really interesting. I've never read a book where there is such a big medical donation happening between friends and it enjoyed reading about the after effects of something like that. I never imagined the emotions (and the physical trauma) that comes with something like this so I liked seeing it through both of the characters POV. This is a one of a kind book in the overall plot but I did have some issues with this book. 

I hate when sex is used as a plot device. It's unnecessary and can really ruin a reading experience for me. I felt that way with this book...I almost put it down because I didn't want the story to go that way but in the end it redeemed itself. 

I did like how this wasn't just about romance...it had diversity (that was natural and not forced to be seen) and it had family relationship building as well. It did have the romance factor in it as well but it was incredibly intense on Sophie's part and was something really hard to read. In the end, I'm happy about the relationships that formed.

Characters

I thought the character development in this book was amazing. In the beginning, Peter and Sophie only have each other because of Peter's kidney disease but once he starts going to regular high school, he makes other friends and things change. 

I thought even the supporting characters were wonderfully written and I loved them too. They had a connection with the main characters and had a place in this book and the plot.

Sophie was awful in the beginning. She was incredibly attached to Peter and her dream of them being together that she just ignored everyone else around her. I was frustrated with her logic that because she gave Peter her kidney, he's going to be in love with her and they will live happily ever after. But, near the end of the book I she finally realized she's been living her life for someone else and she can't do that anymore. I really admired her stepping up and realizing that she was in a co-dependent relationship with her best friend. 

Peter went through a similar journey but he got to experience everything for the very first time. He wanted to expand his horizons and do things he was never allowed to do before. He knew that his time was still limited but that wasn't going to stop him. I really liked him and connected with him. He was trying to figure out who he was apart from Sophie and his parents. I think it was really wonderful adding the beginning of his religious journey for readers to see as well because at this age most kids don't know their religious path. In the end he realized that he was so used to being coddled and getting whatever he wanted and he needed to change that and find his own way in life. 

I really appreciated how flawed the characters were and how they eventually found their way. Although some plot points weren't to my liking, I did still enjoy this book and read it in a single day.

A compelling, emotional story about two complex characters in an impossible situation. This novel has such a powerful premise, and it definitely delivers. Dual narrators Sophie and Peter are both realistic, fully developed characters, and I was equally invested in both of their journeys, which was an especially powerful reading experience because what I wanted for one was at odds with what I wanted for the other. I love how deeply the book delves into both the tenderness and the unhealthy dynamics of a very close friendship. A really thought-provoking and engaging read!

** I received a free ARC of Our Year of Maybe in exchange for an honest review**
To be posted on my blog: mollyfennig.com/our-year-of-maybe-review

Wow. This book was incredible. I couldn't stop reading it, but unlike other books, there weren't sections to skim over to get to the good parts-- the story was tight with dialogue and action but not so much it was overwhelming.

The characters were strong and well-rounded, unique but not perfect (in the best way). Their actions were understandable and motivated and their feelings felt real without being smothering. Even the minor characters, like the parents, felt alive in the few scenes they got and were clearly separate entities rather than just One of The Parents.  The writing itself was strong, the dialogue genuine, and the plot realistic without being cliche. 

I loved that this book took on a lot of topics that are not always covered in YA literature, but treated them as Things That Happen rather than Big Deals. For one, the main characters are Jewish (as opposed to the classic Christian protagonist) but are apologetically struggling to figure out how (and if) that defines them, as well as what role they want religion to take in their lives. (And, unlike some stories, there is no clear answer, or a right or wrong decision). Furthermore, the main male protagonist, Peter, is bi but the book is not a Coming Out Book where his sexuality Defines Who He Is, just as sexuality does not define one in real life. He doesn't know everything about being bi, or queer culture, nor does he need to be a PhD level expert in both by the books end in order to justify his place in the queer community. 

The idea of recovery from illness (and the struggles as well as opportunities it brings) is a topic that is not explored as much as the idea of Fighting Illness and Being Cured. Indeed, we often focus on survival, when often surviving can be the beginning of a larger challenge-- living, especially when the way you view yourself (and your life) has changed immensely.  Indeed, surviving does not guarantee an easy road ahead, something Our Year of Maybe emphasizes. Relationships change, for better or worse, and one must figure out how they fit into the world and how they want the world to fit them. 

All in all, this is a great book- both as a writer and a reader. It is a great story, created through great prose and writing, that tackles tough issues in the way they were meant to be tackled. Anyone looking for an example of how to write a great YA book, or anyone looking to read one should pick up Our Year of Maybe. 



**Spoiler**

In terms of the end, I both loved it and wished it was different. I know it is the right ending for this book. Peter and Sophie shouldn't be together-- because their relationship wasn't as healthy as they initially thought it was (and literature shouldn't condone such things, just because its Romantic or Poetic- in this THANK YOU RACHEL, the book world needs more stories like this), because relationships don't work out just because you've been through a lot together or love each other or whatnot, and because you can't be in a great relationship until you know who you are on your own.  Also, while bi characters (and people) can be in heterosexual relationships without denying that part of them, they can also be in same-sex relationships and have a happy ending. 

For these reasons I'm glad it ended the way it did. 

But, of course, I would have liked it to have worked out, especially because I hate that she gave him everything- her time, her kidney, etc-- and he gives her basically nothing in return. This is especially true since it seems to be a common theme in our society-- women giving everything just to get some semblance of attention/love/respect in return. Having said that, though, I think Rachel does a great job in making sure the book does not condone this behavior and showing that it doesn't end well to go about love in this way.

I was given a digital arc of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!

Our Year of Maybe focuses on Sophie and Peter who have been best friends since they were kids. Peter needs a kidney transplant and Sophie is a match. Sophie, who has been in love with Peter for the past few years, thinks this is the perfect opportunity to bring them closer.

Meanwhile, after the transplant, Peter starts to adjust to life again. He goes back to school, makes new friends, and meets Chase. Peter identifies as bisexual, so this is not a coming out novel; however, he is confused about his feelings toward Sophie, but definitely feels drawn to Chase. What follows is just A Lot.

Having read Rachel Lynn Solomon's previous book, I was so excited to read the arc for Our Year of Maybe! I was not disappointed. The writing style is fantastic and keeps the reader engaged from page one. If you want some drama and some pretty darn good lgbtq rep, definitely read this when it comes out!