Beautiful, heartbreaking. The world seems to be against Juno and Legs, but they have each other (for a bit, anyway).

Duplicate review due to approval for eARC and audiobook.

You all know I loved a dark, raw coming-of-age story and that’s exactly what I got with 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗦 by Karl Geary. Taking place in the 1980’s in and around Dublin, this is the story of two friends who for the sake of survival align themselves at 12 years old. Living in the same housing project, Juno’s family is even poorer than most. For that, she’s shunned and picked on at school…both by other children and the Sisters and Father who are in charge. Because of his questionable sexuality, Legs is treated similarly. ⁣
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Drawn together, the two learn to deflect and protect each other in ways ranging from subtle to subversive to violent. The story gets dark, really dark as the odds are completely stacked against these two 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯. I don’t want to give away much more of this story, but I will say it follows the pair into their early 20’s, as alone and together they find ways to survive the harsh world they’ve been born into. ⁣
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I truly thought the storytelling here was brilliant. Juno especially was such a well-developed character I felt like I knew her and I definitely was moved by her. Legs, too, was a soul Geary made me care deeply for. I’ve seen comparisons to 𝘈 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 and I don’t fully agree with that one. I do think it has elements of 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 and it also reminded me a bit of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. No matter the comparisons, 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘴 is a book I highly recommend; just be in the right headspace for a serious book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣
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Thank you to @catapult for this finished copy of #JunoLovesLegs.

4 1/2 stars

Juno Loves Legs and I really loved this book. It's a gritty and heartbreaking read at times but then you finally work your way through the clouds and the bright and encouraging sun is shining again.

In a nutshell, this book is about true, undying friendship. Juno and Legs have just that. They love one another unconditionally and will literally do anything for the other person. They prove it over and over again by taking responsibility for things the other person did in school and then bearing the punishment for it. Then later in life, they rescue each other over and over again. There are no conditions attached to their relationship. They just are there for each other - no matter what.

What they both go through in their young lives is truly horrific but yet they come through it. And you know they aren't out of the woods yet because there are still so many things just waiting to still go wrong for them, but they try to find the bright side in order to keep the other person encouraged. So many people in their lives failed them, but they didn't fail each other. My heart would intermittently break and then in the next chapter, it would soar again. There was so much up and down with their lives. But overall, I think the big takeaway for me with this book was that no matter what, there is still good out there. Sometimes you just have to look for it - - but it's there. And sometimes, you need it to find you.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I adored the audiobook. The narration was the perfect way to enjoy this book with the Irish vernacular. I was able to sit back and just listen. I didn't have to work to imagine their voices because it was all right there for me. It was lovely. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for both the early copies of the ebook and audiobook. I voluntarily chose to review them and the opinions contained within are my own.

One of the most beautiful books I have read in a long time about the power of friendship and connection. This book was completely heartbreaking but also shows how people are more than they appear to be and that there is usually more than meets the eye and sometimes you just need that one or two people to believe and understand you. Truly tragic what happens to Legs but I hold out hope for Juno - but my heart will heart for a while after this read.

Bleak and gritty and horrible. I loved it so much.

I have no critiques. This one hurt my heart and it will stay with me for a while.

This one’s going right up there with Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo as one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking books I’ve ever read.

"Never ever mistake what is beautiful for beauty - I read that somewhere...”

Well, there's no mistaking this beauty of a book for anything other than a literary masterpiece.

Juno loves Legs is a love story between two friends who meet as young children and both so desperate for love they grab onto anv small crumb of affection shown to them because thev're just starving for that connection. Because of that you as a reader take them into your own heart early on and they stay there long after you've turned the last page.

Growing up in Ireland, both don't quite fit in anywhere, even amongst those who are supposed to love the most of all, and so find themselves drawn together and finding love in any way that presents itself to them and finally find someone who would do absolutely anything for the other and a bond stronger than any they've known before.

Karl Geary is an author that's new to me, but I'm going back to read his previous work and I'lI be first in line for whatever comes next. This was so beautiful and moving and the characters have stayed with me long after I'd finished it.