Ada is on the annual family trip to Hawaii after she's broken up with her cheating ex. She's fighting with her perfect older sister, discovers her mom is having an affair, and everything is a mess. I liked the family aspect of the book and was entertained by Ada's love life and family drama. It was a quick read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I, unfortunately, did not get a chance to read this novel. I was very interested in reading it for my state book award committee, but it was not nominated before 2020 was over. My time had to be focused on other things.

This book was pretty forgettable, if I'm being honest. I've read and loved a few things from Cynthia Hand before so I hoped that this one had the potential to be a new favorite, but I feel like the story really just kind of meandered and didn't catch my attention the way I was hoping it would. I didn't hate this, but it isn't one that is going to stick with me. Womp.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of With You All the Way by Cynthia Hand.

Ada's boyfriend cheated, her sister is no help, her father is naive, and her mother is emotionally absent. Ada is struggling, but will a trip to Hawaii with her family make things better or worse?

Okay, before I smash this book, I need to acknowledge that Cynthia Hand is a very prolific and well reviewed author who has written books that I have enjoyed.

That being said, this was SO DUUUUUMB. It definitely fell in the category of stories that would have been solved with one good conversation. Or in Ada's case, maybe shut up for two seconds and listen. And also, stop being dumb.

It's a book basically centered around sex, people that are getting it, not getting it, want it, and aren't sure. Also, infidelity and relationships that are a mess. I have no problem reading about all of these things, but this was such a spinning wheels of an overturned car crash, that just, no.

This was a fast paced story that really focuses on family relationships. Set in gorgeous Hawaii, Ada is trying to manage her feelings about her parents relationship, her sister and her feelings about missing out on not having a relationship. I think there is something in here that every teen can connect with.

Ada, the 16 year old protagonist, is on a quest to lose her virginity. Only problem is she just broke up with her boyfriend because he found another girl who was willing to "put out" when she was not ready for sex. Now she and her family are on their annual family vacation in Hawaii. Her sister cautions her about making sure she loses her virginity for the right reasons; but, Ada misinterprets her sisters cautioning as a criticism on her lack of maturity.
This book was full of fun and drama; It is a silly spin on a serious topic. The author did a great job crafting an age-appropriate, sex-positive book that centers around consent!

With You All the Way

I was given a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I don’t know what I was expecting from this book but I got full of heart and just as much drama.

I really enjoyed the way this author wrote about relationships in this novel. We got to look into romantic and family relationships from multiple points of view.
The sister relationships were extremely well portrayed. I loved reading through the stage of idolizing a sibling but learning through healthy communication that nobody is as perfect as they seem and it’s completely normal to be jealous of each other.

I also loved watching our main character develop through the events of the book. It’s amazing to see how quickly certain experiences and the right people can push you down a path towards self-confidence.

Definitely a recommend from me to other YA readers!

This is a poignant story of sisters who are best friends...until they’re not. Ada confides in Afton about everything, including whether she should sleep with her boyfriend. But when Ada learns a family secret she is determined to keep it from Afton, even if it means the misunderstanding could cause an irreparable rift. It all comes to a head when the family heads to Hawaii for their annual trip to a doctor conference and Pop chooses not to come. As always, Cynthia Hand, as always, writes a compelling story that explores romantic and family relationships with equal gravity and sisters that you wish were your own. And yes, Abby is worth the price of admission. I can’t stop saying “Oh my dog.”

This book is based in a familiar trope - travel as a device for addressing personal issues, following the discovery that the boyfriend is cheating. This set up makes the protagonist behave irrationally and selfishly, making her fairly unlikable. The older sister is selfish and jumps to wild conclusions. The younger sister vacillates between standard little kid and and wise beyond her years, insightful in a way that a five year old cannot manage. This makes her less of a character and more of a plot device. The plot is too scattered to carry these character failings.

Cynthia hand is one of my favorite authors but this book was just okay for me. Not terrible but not her best.

A super fast and enjoyable read! I haven't read Cynthia Hand's other books so I was excited to start with this one.

Ada is excited to lose her virginity to Leo, but finds out she isn't the only girl in his life. Her family then leaves for a Hawaiian vacation, and Ada discovers her Mom with another man. This coming of age story tackles family relationships, growing up, and more!

There was LOTS of drama in this book. Kind of felt like reality TV. What I loved most was the focus on family. I also loved the setting. During these COVID times, reading about beautiful Hawaii really fed my soul.

I've loved everything I've read from Cynthia Hand (which is everything besides her Unearthly trilogy), so this was a disappointment for me. Maybe books about virginity just don't really appeal to me anymore as a 26-year-old, but while Hand's writing was still engaging and solid, this book didn't work for me. Even the sisterly relationships that would normally help pull me through didn't really work for me. I'm sad.

With You All The Way grabbed me from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down. The day before Ada is suppose to leave on a family vacation to Hawaii she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her. But, her life turns into an even bigger mess when in Hawaii Ada catches her mom having an affair. I really enjoyed this story I thought it was well written.

I don't think I read any books as a teenager where sex wasn't a Big Deal. The experience captured in With You All the Way feels more authentic to how many teens think about the concept of sex: that, sure, it's a big thing, and maybe sometimes they feel ready to have it, and maybe sometimes they don't. It's so important for teens to read a book where a character goes back and forth on whether or not she's ready, and when she does feel ready? Great! It's not a bad thing. And when she doesn't feel ready? Also not a bad thing! This is definitely a worthwhile book to give teens.

I really enjoyed this novel about how complicated relationships can be—from familial to romantic to platonic. It has a great setting and wonderful family dynamics.

Ada feels she is ready to have sex with her boyfriend, Leo, but backs out at the last minute. Leo is understanding, but when Ada decides again that she does actually want to go through with it, she plans to surprise him by showing up at his swim meet. Leo was surprised, but Ada was more surprised when she found Leo inviting another girl to his house since his mother would be away for the weekend. Heartbroken and angry, Ada leaves with her family for a vacation to Hawaii. In Hawaii, things are no less settled or clear: she is fighting with her older sister, she thinks she catches her mom having an affair, and is still feeling like she needs to have sex for the first time to get it over with and get on with her life.

I was nervous about this book at first, because it opened with Ada and Leo at his house alone and she was preparing to lie to her parents so she could stay the night with him. There were so many things 'off,' I felt like shrieking: "No, stop! You will regret this!" Thankfully, Ada came to that conclusion herself. I liked that Leo was respectful of her decision and stopped when she asked him to without guilting her. I also appreciated that the message that having sex for the first time is a very personal decision regarding when and who, and that things should stop at any point if either person wants that. This book also very gently discusses the difficulty of relationships and regrets, and very lightly skirts the issue of 'consent under the influence."

Current and modern coming of age story that would be a good addition to YA collections.

In this book, Ada deals with issues with both her friends and family. She's discovered her boyfriend is cheating on her, and she's fighting with her older sister Afton. Right as all this drama starts, she leaves for a vacation in Hawaii with her mom and sisters. While there, she sees some shocking behavior and also decides to lose her virginity. It's a quick reading dealing with family issues (sibling relationships, divorce, affiairs) as well as teenage drama (love, friendship, etc.). Ultimately, Ada learns the value of being open and honest and the value of being true to herself.

I've loved several of Cynthia Hand's other books. However, I was disappointed by this book. At the beginning, I was frustrated with Ada. Her focus on sex seemed over the top, and the author didn't explain her lack of friends. It also seemed as if the other characters (especially the sisters Afton and Abby) weren't developed until later in the book. Yet, the relationships with her siblings were central to Ada's development and growth. About 75% of the way through, the plot really picked up, and I was finally invested in the story!

I just finished reading With You All the Way by Cynthia Hand. This is an advanced readers copy that I received via NetGalley. In this story, Ada and her family will have to find a way to come together and enjoy their Hawaii vacation. It is a sweet YA story about first heartbreak and learning how to deal with all of the drama life can bring.

Cynthia Hand has become one of my favorite YA authors. She’s engaging and writes about topics that teens truly need to explore. I loved the setting of this one and the family dynamics. I will definitely recommend this one to my students!