Kristin Dwyer has done it again!!! This achingly beautiful story of dealing with grief will speak to so many. The slow burn romance and friendships will leave you begging for more. Not to mention, the beautiful writing and the heart wrenching quotes sprinkled throughout this amazing book! I can’t wait to have a hard copy of this book to annotate and fill with tabs!

Kristin Dwyer can do no wrong. This book is perfection and her writing is *chefs kiss* Every word brings this whole story to life and you can see and feel everything vividly. I couldn’t read this book fast enough. In fact I am on my second reread of this glorious book. I highly, highly recommend this book to everyone!

This was a totally gorgeous, devastatingly spare, emotionally rich narrative. Each of the characters was so real and had such a satisfying arc, and the setting and premise were perfect. Dwyer keeps leveling up with each book, and I can't wait for the next.

Thank you to netgalley for this eARC!!

Well. Kristin Dwyer has done it again. The wordsmithing and magic she brings to her sentences, I am delighted to say, is just as punchy and beautiful as her debut

Found family. Grief. Processing life. Finding yourself. The story of this little crew of misfits just feels so real. They have such an array of emotions and try to paint themselves in a new light.

The story of why Maps is there takes awhile to unwind but it does so in such an interesting way that feels very organic to the parallel process of grieving.

As someone who loves and processes in the great outdoors the way that maps compares nature and walking to her internal processes and grieving really hit me.

I absolutely adored this book. If you are looking for a powerful but deeply readable book on loss, love, and popsicles. This is for you.

This book was absolutely PERFECT. A must read. A new all time favorite.

Our main character Atlas, recently lost her dad and is having a hard time finding her way. She ends up going on a month long hiking trek that was very important to her dad before he passed away. The best part of the hike is everyone uses nicknames and no one knows who you really are. On the hike, Atlas can be whoever she wants to be. She doesn't have to be a girl who lost her dad or a girl who doesn't know how to heal the hole in her soul. Can a month long trip in the wilderness with complete strangers be exactly what Atlas needs?

Y'all I never cry in books and The Atlas of Us had me absolutely sobbing. It was so raw, so beautifully written. I was so attached to every character. Dying to learn more, unravel their secrets. I am absolutely obsessed with this book and I think everyone NEEDS to read it. I will be thinking about this story for a long, long time.

This is a good look at grief through a teens eyes and how hard it can be to lose a parent and move on.
I liked the bond Maps was able to create with the people at camp. They were a new found family for her and helped her find herself again as she learned to move on into her new normal.
Definitely for older teens.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

It took me awhile to get into this novel but in the end I enjoyed it overall. The characters were very interesting

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ <b>THE ATLAS OF US</b> by Kristin Dwyer

<b>At a Glance:</b>

💕 Found Family
👧 Coming of Age
⛰️ Stunning Views
✏️ Poetic Prose
💔 Realistic Portrayal of Grief


It’s always hard to read a sophomore offering from an author whose debut you couldn’t stop talking about for an entire year. I have to say that I had extremely high hopes for this one, and guess what? She delivered.😍

<i>The Atlas of Us</i> is Kristin Dwyer’s second published novel due to be released in January 2024. I am so grateful to have gotten a chance to read this early thanks to Harper Teen and Netgalley. The review is my own.

“Atlas James finds herself in a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. She’s ripe with grief from the loss of her father and does whatever she can to block out anyone who tries to knock down the walls she’s built to protect herself, including creating lies about who she really is. As “Maps” (as she’s called on the trail where they don’t use real names) navigates this new normal, she finds that maybe, just maybe, she’s worthy of both true friendship and love.”

Dwyer has an exceptional way with words. Her plotting is expert-level and the way she pulls you into a story is unparalleled. I cared about these characters very quickly and felt for Atlas as she struggled to put the pieces of her life back together. I really didn’t think this story was going to break me the way that <i>Some Mistakes Were Made</i> did, and while it wasn’t the same experience by any means, this story snuck up on me and I did end up shedding a few tears near the end. It’s a beautiful story by an author who understands that many teens are emotionally complex with deep and raw feelings that deserve to be explored. No cookie-cutter, flat characters here. The found family is one of the best parts of the novel.

I’ll continue to auto-buy Dwyer’s work as she advances throughout her career and promote it to anyone who will listen. It’s obvious that she’s got a long road ahead of her crafting stories that I absolutely can’t wait to read.

This story is definitely for older teens. I’d say mature 9th grade and up. There is frequent use of the f-word and a little bit of romance that allows the reader to maybe peek in the door a little bit, but nothing crazy.

An excellent story by an amazing author. Congrats, Kristin Dwyer! You did it again. 💕

3.5

really took awhile to get into a groove with this one. i enjoyed the back half more than the front.

the characters were definitely the best part—the trail crew. they were a broken, motley crew who helped each other feel comfortable and whole again, which was sweet. each of them was fleshed out JUST enough that you felt like you knew what was up. i think the best work was done once they were OFF the trail and you could really see the impact they had on each other.

i really liked maps & king together, but kind of felt like i never got a great handle on king’s background.

the book really delves into grief/losing a parent and i felt like it was a decent handling of the subject.

#netgalley

A study in the anger that comes with grief. The way our lives stop when someone we love passes on.

Since her father's cancer diagnosis, Atlas' life has been on pause. Now that he's died, she doesn't know how to move on. She has the list of things he'd hoped to achieve before he died - one of which was hiking the Sierra Trail with her. The trail has been closed since a fire raged through it. Now Atlas has the opportunity to work with a program for troubled teens to help clear the trail and make it safe for campers. A program run by her dad's friend Joe, that her dad had been a part of.

Once you arrive at the camp, you're known only by a nickname. A blank slate. There, Atlas becomes Maps. Before she knows it, by lies of omission, Maps has become someone who's dad hasn't died. Who might still go to college and have a future. When she becomes friends with her trail group, the anonymity doesn't seem as nice as it used to. Can she say goodbye to the person she was on the trail, and the people she's shared it with?

It's always hard to have a follow up book. Especially when your debut was as poignant as Some Mistakes Were Made. While Kristin Dwyer's writing hasn't declined, I didn't find myself connecting with Atlas as much as I did with Ellis. Not that the portrayal of grief wasn't true. The power of feeling, and the lessons learned, are hard hitting as ever.

One thing Dwyer nailed once again was the friendships she can create. It was impossible not to wish you could have a group of friends like the one she created. She's also an expert at character growth - and the journey that allows for it. So far, she's still proving to be an author that I instantly want to read as soon as her new book has come out!

Thank you to the publishers through Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy!

As always Kristen Dwyer gives you all the feels.
The Atlas of Us is a journey not only for the characters but also for the reader. You’ll feel as if you’re on the camping trip with the characters. It may even inspire you to go on a hike/camping trip. There’s slow burn, will they won’t they, found family and remembering that it’s ok to not be ok.

The Atlas of Us took me on a rollercoaster of emotions! Atlas James might have lost her way, but she found an adventure of a lifetime while rehabbing trails as "Maps" in the Western Sierras, surrounded by her quirky team – Books, Sugar, Junior, and King. Talk about a trailblazing journey with a crew that's unforgettable!

This felt like a Taylor Swift song in the form of a novel! I devoured it in one sitting – it was like a compass guiding me through laughter, love, and life lessons. If you're looking for a captivating read that will leave you wanting to explore the wilderness and your heart, this is it! Five stars, without a doubt! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

PS: I made a book aesthetic reel for The Atlas of Us, and you can find it on both my Bookstagram and my Booktok!

I had so many feelings when reading this book. I thought it was an honest portrayal of grief, especially the grief of a teenager who has lost a parent to a cancer. All five characters were flawed and human, but likable. I loved the romance between Maps and King (especially their reunion) and the found family aspect.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Poignant and brimming with promise, Kristin Dwyer’s “The Atlas of Us” is a stirring novel that grapples with grief in the most powerful, and often unexpected, of ways.

While Dwyer tackles some heavy material here, she does so with sensitivity, and in a medium that still manages to immerse readers in the sort of beautiful escapism so many of us look for in a YA read. (The found friendships and budding romance play a big part in facilitating this.)

All in all, “The Atlas of Us” will impact you — and may even leave you changed for good.

*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for a review.*

I really liked this book. The story and characters were very interesting and likable but real. Thank you NetGalley for the arc

The Atlas of Us dives deep into grief, and I felt a strong connection to the story, especially having lost someone near and dear to my heart from cancer. I knew that I would cry by the end of the book, mainly because Kristin wrote it, and let's be honest, it wouldn't have been true Kristin fashion if you didn't shed some tears, but also because of cancer.

Another thing Kristin does well is create strong characters that share some of the best banter. Junior was my favorite, and I loved the friendship that blossomed between Maps, Sugar, Junior, King, and Books. Sometimes coming together as strangers can turn into lifelong relationships, and it was beautiful to see, especially because Atlas (Maps) needed that connection after losing her father.

The chemistry between Maps and King was the one thing I wished was more explored. While it wasn't exactly love at first sight, their relationship developed quickly without much buildup. It would have strengthened the plot for me, but overall, I enjoyed the book, and Kristin is an author I trust and will always recommend to others.

Thank you, NetGalley, Kristin Dwyer, and HarperCollins Children’s Books/Harper Teen, for providing an eARC of The Atlas of Us. This review is being left voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up

I’m not sure if I know how to review this book. I laughed. I cried. The ending was hard-earned. It was both very on brand for Kristin Dwyer and completely different from Some Mistakes Were Made. Overall, I really enjoyed it. And I do recommend it—there were just a few things I couldn’t look past.

First and foremost, I do want to mention that I’ve seen other reviews saying the organization in this book bears a striking resemblance to the troubled teen industry and paints it in a much-too-flattering light in light of many recent survivor stories circulating right now. I am not as familiar with the troubled teen industry as I should be, so I really recommend reading those reviews and listening to those voices. This story itself does not ever affiliate what happens in the book with the troubled teen industry in any way, and as such I am giving the author the benefit of the doubt. But the fact that it has similarities to it is enough for me to mention it in my review, both because I think it is something important to be mindful of, and to serve as a content warning for any readers who might be triggered by the similarities.

Now, to get into my thoughts on the story itself.

There was a lot I really loved about this book, but the thing that sticks out the most—and the reason I enjoyed this more than I enjoyed Some Mistakes Were Made—was the raw and poignant exploration of grief. This book didn’t romanticize it. It didn’t dance around it. It showed us the ugliest parts of grief. And it was beautifully, heart-wrenchingly written. If you have ever lost someone, if you have ever grappled with the anger of saying goodbye, this book is for you.

I also did really enjoy the found family aspect of the story. All of these characters were flawed and broken, and they weren’t always great to each other—but they gave each other a safe space to be real and vulnerable. They gave each other a safe space to be ugly and angry. They gave each other a safe space. Period. Lovers of the found family trope will really love this iteration of it.

I had few issues with the book. Joe’s character as a whole was a big one—he seemed unnecessarily rude, crass, and overall in the business of making really bad decisions when it came to kids. He was awful to Atlas at several points. And the whole way that his “camp” was shaped felt just so dangerous? Putting kids on trails and letting other kids oversee it??? It was just one big terrible idea and he almost never supervised and honestly, I think he would have been an asshole to these hurting kids if he had.

My other big issue was pacing. The eARC was only 242 pages long—but that still felt way too long. There were so many scenes, especially at the end, that seemed to drag on and on. I felt like the bulk of Atlas’s healing took place in big info dumps across the last 40 pages. I would have liked less Troubled Teen Industry Hard Work and Labor and Tough Love from an Asshole Who Is Barely Even around and more of Atlas and her mom. More of Atlas and her friends. More of Atlas’s growth. In the end I felt like the most important parts of the story were glossed over just to get to the romance. And as much as I loved King and Atlas—they had a lot of shit they needed to work through before the ending, and I needed to see more of it on the page.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I think a lot of the internal exploration of grief will really resonate with readers. It’s not a book without its imperfections. But I think that’s part of its charm—grief is messy, after all.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All views reflected are my own.

OKAY, Kristin. Just like her debut, The Atlas of Us did not disappoint in the emotion and dialogue department. Kristin has such a unique way of transporting her readers into her characters' minds and thoughts, so you're almost one with them by the end of the book.

As someone who personally lost her father at the age of eighteen, this novel really struck a chord with me and helped heal some old wounds that have been lingering for 15 years. Sometimes all the therapy in the world will never be the same as words on a page and a character that takes you on a healing journey with them.

I really loved the setting and the dynamics between all of the cast. So grateful I could read this ahead of it publishing so I can help hype it over the coming months.

A beautiful sophomore offering by Dwyer, that establishes her further as a voice to watch in young adult contemporary.

As with her debut, this book is heartbreaking, hopeful, and healing at once. It is a story about love and grief, about the complex connection between them, and the people who come alongside you and help you learn to love again after loss.

There is brokenness and banter, friendships that turn to found family, and the kind of forced proximity setting that amplifies all these aspects beautifully—while touching on the very real impacts of climate change in California.

Beautifully written, compelling and thought provoking, these characters will work their way into your heart until you are rooting for them to not just love each other, but themselves.

So. Many. Emotions.
I wish I could explain how I feel better, because nothing I type is going to do this book justice. But alas, I shall try.

Dwyer has an incredible way with words, honestly, I think she’s made a deal with the devil to string such impactful words together. It’s so easy to immerse yourself into her words, the way she describes not only Atlas’s grief, but her surroundings, the main characters and their struggles. It’s so easy to become enthralled into her stories.

This book was incredible, blunt, extraordinary…I could go on. I don’t think I’ve ever been as emotionally invested in a story as I was with this one. I hurt with the characters, I felt their pain, their grief, their hope. It’s very rare that my emotions get the better of me when I read, but I found myself teary eyed on more than one occasion.

This story is one I will recommend over and over. Thank you Harper Teen and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of The Atlas of Us. I can’t wait for everyone to have the chance to read this sensational story.