Trigger warnings for: plane crash, death, self harm, suicidal thoughts, suicide, etc.
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THE SKY ABOVE US by Natalie Lund is a story told in 6 different point of views with alternating timeless: before the plane crash, and after.
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I really enjoyed my time reading. I was quickly hooked by this story! I needed answers— I needed to know why the boys were in that plane.
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This book was not what I was expecting!There’s an element of reincarnation in this story, which is something I haven’t really read about. Though I thought it was interesting, I’m still left with some questions.
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It is heavy with grief and pain and blame.. my heart hurt for every one of these characters.
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4/5 stars, THE SKY ABOVE US is available now!
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Thank you to @penguinteen and @netgalley for sending me an eARC to review!

The Sky Above Us is like a cross between a CW-teen thriller and Lost. Maybe I've been watching too much TV, but I felt like I knew what was going to happen to the teens as it was happening. I did like the dynamic between the friends and found that interesting. Even when I guessed what was coming I still found the thriller aspects enjoyable and there was a good twist that made the climax totally surprising.

**there may be some vague spoilers in this review

I have extremely mixed feelings about this book. I think it’s incredibly well written and although the pacing is slow, it’s split into multiple POVs and timelines so it at least doesn’t feel stagnant. There’s a plane crash right off the coast after a beach party, and three girls are left to deal with the aftermath of the deaths of the three boys closest to them. There’s a bit of mystery surrounding the crash. Was it a joyride gone wrong, or was it purposeful? Also one of the boys who died was a twin and his twin feels that he’s still alive.

The Sky Above Us explores themes of grief, depression, suicide, dealing with the pressures of high school life, reincarnation, family dynamics, passive bullying, and honestly I don’t know if every topic was handled extremely well. I’m also not a professional of any kind, so I don’t know if I can make that sort of judgement call. I just know that in many instances I felt uncomfortable with what I was reading, but take that as a personal thing.

What I will say is that if you’re looking for a sad and deeply emotional book that’s ultimately about teenagers dealing with loss of all kind. A book that explores them dealing with the periods prior and the period after their losses, then you should pick up The Sky Above Us.

TW: suicide, depression, passive bullying, alcoholism.

The Sky Above Us is a YA novel that follows a group of teenagers before and after a horrific tragedy. The day after their senior beach party, Janie, Cass, and Izzy wake up on the beach to see a small airplane crash into the ocean. On board the plane are Janie's best friend, Nate, Cass's newly-ex-boyfriend, Shane, and Izzy's twin brother, Israel. The story that follows progresses both forward in time and in flashbacks as we try to figure out exactly what happened, and whether this was an accident, a joy ride gone wrong, or a suicide, and why these young men with so much life ahead of them would do something like this.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book.. I expected it to be a bit of a mystery type of novel, but I didn't expect it to delve into all the topics it ended up going into and I was really pleased with it. It was so good, well written, has a great cast of characters, and best of all, it doesn't take the turns you think it will. Aside from solving the mystery of what happened to the boys and why, it dives deep into some really interesting topics and explores themes like reincarnation, grief, and spirituality, and I absolutely devoured it. I wasn't expecting to be as emotional a read as it was, and I loved that.

It unravels in two timelines and six POVs, and while that sounds like a lot, Natalie Lund executes it beautifully. A story this complex could have fallen apart in the hands of a lesser author, but she really used it incredibly well to her benefit to give us information a little bit at a time until the timelines intertwine and we find out the truth, while successfully telling a heartbreaking story and looking at the way tragedy can tear people apart--or bring them together. I would definitely, definitely recommend this book.

𝙏𝙒: Death/suicide/depression

𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙉𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡: a depressing books about the highs and lows of high school and just how far those bad times can drive people to.

𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒: Teens are enjoying a senior bonfire when they awake to the sound of plane soaring above them and crashing into the ocean. In the plane, were the three most important people to Izzy, Cass, and Janie. Now they must try and figure out what happened to the plane’s passages, all while dealing with their own grief and sorrow.

Though this book is labeled as a thriller, I truly do not think it is one. It is simply a book about pain and trying to understand those that leave us behind.
Though I think it is incredibly important for teens to read about mental health, I personally was not a fan with the way the author wrote about it.
There is a lot I can say about it, but I do not want to spoil anything.

Along with that, I wasn’t a huge fan of the way the characters were to Janie (a teen that’s slightly different). They were rude, made fun of her, and made it obvious that the only reason they were around her was to benefit themselves and they was just never took note of throughout the entire book. It just struck me as a bit dehumanizing towards one character who just wanted a few friends, but if that’s what the author was trying to convey, then they did it well.

Overall, I was not a fan of this book. But, if you like sorrow, grief, and an attempt to unveil the mystery of why people do what they do- then you may enjoy this book

((Thank you to Netgalley and penguin teen for an ARC in exchange of an honest review

𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟒.𝟓 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬⁣
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This book was really good y’all! I honestly didn’t think I was going to enjoy this once I really got what it was truly about (reincarnation) but it was really captivating!⁣
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Here’s the rundown.⁣
Israel, Shane and Nate ending up stealing a plane in the early morning hours coming off a big school party. The plane crashed into the ocean and there were no survivors. Now Izzy, Cass and Janie among other loved ones are trying to figure out if this was a prank gone wrong or was it on purpose. No one even realized they knew how to fly.⁣
But Israel’s twin Izzy knows her brother is not really dead even if she did see the bodies for herself she has a twin sense and she would know if he was gone. So she and her friends start an investigation that leads them into what the boys psyches were like weeks prior to the crash. They found out things like Israel believed he was reincarnated and was a middle age husband and father in a past life and was trying to make the nightmares of his death stop. Nate who injured his knee felt like he was nothing without the possibility of soccer. And Shane felt like his hidden reading disability disqualified him from college. ⁣
And Isabel is convinced the boys souls are now inhabited in dolphins.⁣
This story is told in 6 POV’s, which included the boys themselves, from past to present. You would think it would get confusing (and I confuse easily friends!!) but it was quite easy to follow. And it had me hooked!!⁣
The characters were pretty well developed to me, in particular I loved Izzy’s fierce take no shit attitude. They all came alive and I felt for all of their situations and stories. ⁣
The plot itself is very interesting even though I’m not a believer in reincarnation myself I was still engulfed. ⁣
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The only complaint I have is the ending and that is why I knocked down half a star. I felt like it was not wrapped up all that well. I think it’s supposed to leave you with your own interpretation of things but it just didn’t completely flow for me.⁣
Otherwise phenomenal, interesting story! I’m now set on checking out Natalie Lund’s previous book and looking forward to her release next year. ⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲⁣

This book was no bueno. Its advertised as being a "psychological thriller" but there was no thriller about this. Its a mystery that gets revealed in the beginning of the book and the rest of the book accomplishing nothing. I enjoyued the characters but did not understand why it was revealed right at the beginning and then we just followed the events that we knew would happen. It was weird.

This was such a heartfelt and interesting read. I hadn't realized that there are people who feel that they remember things from a past life and found this to be such an interesting concept. I loved the way this one wrapped up as well!

n achingly beautiful story of heartbreak and loss.

When three teen girls witness a plane crash on a beach after a party, it shatters their lives. Not only do they know the victims, but it’s the people who are most important to them. Izzy lost her twin, Israel. Cass lost her ex-boyfriend, Shane. And Janie lost her best friend Nate, who’d only hang out with her when no one from school could see.

Israel had been interested in past lives, but when Izzy swears their souls have moved into three dolphins, her friends think she's losing it. The other girls agree to help her find out why the tragedy occurred to help her cope. Each one is searching for a sense of meaning. What led three teen boys to steal a plane and take it for a spin? The answer to that question will test the three girls’ friendship.

These characters are vivid, unique and feel like real people. The book alternates between past and present, giving you glimpses into each teen's heart. I especially enjoyed Janie gaining confidence and becoming an even larger part of the friend group as the time went on.

I would describe this book as an emotional thriller. You needed to know the answers to "why" just as much as the girls did, so it kept me turning pages. I read this in one sitting.

Even though this book dealt with some tough topics - depression, suicide - I loved the note of hope. The bittersweet ending will leave you with tears in your eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the advance review copy of this book.

First of all, I want to thank Penguinteen for sending me this book for review through Netgalley!

I think my favorite part of this book would have to be the characters. I loved getting to know each character individually because of the multiple POV's, and getting to see the different perspectives on their situation that they are in. I also loved getting to see the past as well as keep up with the present. It took me a little while to get used to the jumping back and forth, but after a few chapters, my brain got the hang of it.

This book tells a special story about grief, friendship, mental illness, and Lund did a fantastic job of writing it all. I highly recommend checking this book out! It was one heck of a ride!

Final Rating: 4/5 stars

thank you to penguinteen and netgallery for the arc!

this was a beautiful story of loss and grief, but i fail to see how it was a “psychological thriller” and i also had a glaring problem with it.

janie was an autistically coded character, and i felt very uncomfortable with the way the author handled her. she was basically only in the story for other characters to benefit off of her and use her (all while being too “embarrassed” to admit they were friends with her in public. nice, right!). the characters would call her “weird” and say they were “uncomfortable” around her. They would convince her into giving them free stuff, drive them around, etc. it’s not a message that i, an autistic person, enjoyed to see.

another thing is, going from thinking an autistic person is “weird” and “strange” to becoming friends with them as “character development” is overdone, stereotypical, and downright harmful.

TW: suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm, alcohol usage, loss, grief

The Sky Above Us is described as a psychological thriller, but it is so much more than that. This story is told from 6 points of view, as well as alternating timelines. First come Izzy, Cass, and Janie, three girls who witness a plane crash during their senior year beach party. They quickly discover that aboard the plane were Izzy’s twin brother Israel, Cass’s ex-boyfriend Shane, and Janie’s best friend Nate. What follows is a simultaneously captivating and heartbreaking tale of personal search, unanswered questions, and living on in the absence of those we have lost.

The narrative seems to unfold in two directions, creating a sense of mystery while also revealing bits of the characters’ lives which make them really come to life. Not only do we see the aftermath of the crash from the perspective of the three girls left behind, but we also see the inner turmoil of the three boys in the days leading up to the crash. The reader is constantly wondering why the boys were on the plane, what Izzy thinks she’ll find by digging into her brother’s past, why Cass and Shane broke up, what happened between Janie and Nate the night before the crash, and much more. This story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I finished it in just a few hours because I could not stop reading.

The characters are also wonderfully three-dimensional. Six perspectives in multiple timelines is quite a lot to handle, but Natalie Lund weaves the threads of the story together seamlessly. Though the first few chapters were difficult as I had not yet grasped the many characters, by the time the action picks up I was completely hooked. Each of the characters has realistic struggles and feelings, and seeing them interact with each other was fascinating. I especially loved the underlying theme of past lives and rebirth and how it connected to the ending.

However, I did feel that the ending could have been tied together a bit better. While I am okay with it being somewhat left up to the imagination of the reader in the way it was, I did feel that it was teetering in an uncomfortable position of not quite being realistic and not quite being supernatural. I think had it chosen one side or the other while still being left open, it would have been fine, but this made it seem slightly incomplete with too many loose ends.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this read. It made me feel for the characters and kept my interest throughout, while also leaving me with many thoughts about the nature of life and grief and other such things. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a short, enthralling read.

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but it was a pleasant surprise to realize that the book was set in Galveston, TX, a beach I have frequented in my childhood!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me a digital ARC of The Sky Above Us!

TW: suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm, alcohol usage

Wow. WOW. Okay, I am so glad I finally got around to this. This book deals with grief in such a fascinating way.

The Sky Above Us follows three girls: Izzy, Cass, and Janie, all who have some relation to three boys who wrecked in a plane accident one night: Shane, Israel, and Nate. The story follows accounts from the boys before the accident leading up to it and the girls and how they deal with the aftermath of the accident. The Sky Above Us brings the concept of other lives, or reincarnation into play, which I found really intriguing.

I love the writing. It’s simple, yet conveys so much good detail in a straight-to-the-point manner. I also love how Spanish was used! I’m a Spanish student, so I always love putting my Spanish knowledge to the test and seeing if I can understand what is being said.

The pacing was great. I had absolutely no issues. It moved fairly quickly, so nothing dragged and the plot was always being developed, or new pieces of information were being revealed. The pacing kept me hooked all the way through.

I highly recommend that you pick up The Sky Above Us to experience a story of anguish and grief. I mean it really will break you. Trust me.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin who provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

The sky above us is about 3 girls - izzy, Cass and Janie who are trying to find answers about a plane crash since izzys twin brothers and cass ex was on that plane.

I couldn't put this down as I was trying to piece this puzzle along with the girls and also deal with grief and loss like they were.

It was a page turner and one I recommend

Some of the most realistic and heart-clenching characters I've read in a while. I'll be the first to admit this story is not what I was expecting, but it was a beautiful read. I enjoyed getting to see bits of different characters' worlds and why they pick certain paths and choices, but a big issue I had was that it felt like there was constantly so much going on. Even then, I found myself enjoying the writing and the depth of each character, but not an easy read.

Loss. Grief.

It’s never easy losing a loved one. The pain that comes from the emptiness you feel, is very hard to bear. Three deaths. No answers.

I was not expecting such a heavy story. I didn’t feel like this story was a thriller. A lot happens within each person’s life and we get a peek into what each person is dealing with. The choices they make/made and how they affected everyone around them. Mental illness is mentioned and I liked that. Too many shy away from that topic but it is a real thing affecting many people every day. While I enjoyed the story, I felt like there was too much going on. Too many characters. I didn’t connect with many of them.

This is a good YA story and while I expected a thriller, I got a different kind of story and I enjoyed it. This is my first Natalie Lund book and I enjoyed her writing. I will look for more works by her. I give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

I was really excited to read this book as mysteries are one of my favorite genres, however, I was slightly disappointed by this book. I enjoyed the way that it was set up in the fact that it went back and forth between the past and the present. This allowed me to be able to connect with all of the characters involved, but the end of the book just seemed anti-climatic. It's not because we know how the book ends from the very beginning, but it's because we go on this huge journey throughout the book to try and understand what exactly happened, and it just felt like there were too many loose ends. Also, the characters felt slightly underdeveloped, and there was just too much going on in the story at some points. This book was definitely interesting, but it wasn't as amazing as it could have been.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Having multiple perspectives was extremely interesting and hooked me very early on. The beginning of the novel was slightly slow, and could have been paced a little faster to get the story going. I thoroughly enjoyed the reoccurring time jumps throughout the novel. Overall an excellent read.

Wow I was not ready for the direction this book took.

The Sky Above Us is about three girls, Izzy, Cass, and Janie trying to find answers about a plane crash. The three boys in the aircraft were Izzy’s twin brother, Cass’ ex boyfriend, and Janie’s best friend. The book jumps back and forth between the past and the present as well as between the six characters’ point of views. It took me a while to get use to the time jump, but after a couple chapters I was hooked.

This book was glued to my hand as I desperately wanted to know why the boys were on the plane and why it crashed. I enjoyed all the characters and learning about their individual struggle and how their lives intertwined. Natalie Lund did an excellent job of writing about grief, friendship, and mental illness. I was also pleasantly surprised by the weaving of reincarnation into the story. I enjoyed reading this book.