Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was one of my favorite authors in my teenage years, so I was very excited to have an opportunity to read the authors work again. Right off the bat, I could tell this plot was going to hurt so good and I will eat it up. As the authors writing usually is, the plot was extremely layered and complicated (emotion wise). The characters have grit, as well as the side characters, such as the relationships in the foster system. This is set up to break your heart if you're wanting that in a book. Notably there is drug use, and taboo relationships. I was a HUGE fan of the prose, even when writing about some honestly sickening situations. I found it interesting how covid made it into this book, which we are starting to see in more and more stories. This is something that I WANTED to binge, but because it was tough and gritty with dark topics intertwined I had to slow myself down in order to process all the survival instincts the characters were going through. I highlighted so many quotes and one liners. Highly recommend if you've ever been a fan of this authors work.

I really was excited to read this one. In school, I was was a huge Ellen Hopkins fan. So to see a new release as an adult was very nostalgic. She definitely has kept her appeal and talent!

The story of two twins who were separated in the foster system. Their life is told in poetry and how their past and the foster system changed their life.

Sync by Ellen Hopkins is a powerful and poignant young adult novel in verse that delves deep into the complexities of the foster care system through the eyes of twins, Storm and Lake. Hopkins’ ability to convey profound emotions with sparse yet impactful language is truly remarkable.

One particularly moving moment in the book is when Lake writes a letter to Storm, expressing her feelings of abandonment and longing for their reunion. This scene not only highlights the emotional bond between the twins but also underscores the harsh realities they face as they navigate the foster care system. Lake’s raw and heartfelt words resonate with readers, evoking a strong sense of empathy and understanding.

Throughout the novel, Hopkins skillfully explores themes of resilience, identity, and the search for belonging. The alternating perspectives of Storm and Lake provide a multifaceted view of their struggles and triumphs, making their journey both relatable and inspiring. The author’s nuanced portrayal of their experiences sheds light on the challenges faced by many young people in similar situations.

This is a beautifully crafted and thought-provoking novel that will leave a lasting impression on its readers. Ellen Hopkins has once again delivered a story that is not only compelling but also deeply human.

It's a good book but very long. While it did have great poetry that was not enough to redeem it from how long it was.

This story is told in poetry about two siblings torn apart by the foster system. Every poem felt like a punch to the gut. When Storm was telling his story, I was thinking about Lake and vice versa. Because of the poetry narrative, many of the descriptive details are left out, which means the focus is the emotion. It is heartbreaking and raw. Some trigger-earnings might be considered before you decide to read this. I am so glad I got the privilege of reading this.

I've read 1 other of Ellen Hopkins books, and I've always enjoyed that they can be quick reads, while also delving into huge/hard topics. They're gritty, potentially hard to relate to, but so very real for so many people.

I've never personally had to deal with foster care, but I was taken from my parents and lived with family. I have family that did do drugs, and it led to issues within our family unit, and trying to manage bills, a place to live, etc.

Sexual assault and rape are also heavy topics, and I think I really appreciated the mention of the hospital with Lake, and the forensic nurse. This part of the book was very relatable and so close to home. I've been a victim of SA, but also, I think I want to get certified as a forensic nurse and I think it would be beautiful to be able to help other women through that! This book was easy to read, kept my attention, and covered heavy topics, but was definitely worth my time. Made me want to go back and start the Crank series again!

I loved Hopkins’ Crank and was hoping Sync would pack the same emotional punch. While it was definitely a tragic story, I felt the novel told in verse would have been better told in prose. The verses here were sometimes more like sparse paragraphs and unfortunately what seemed missing to me was the feeling behind the words.

Storm and Lake have been dealt a tough hand and time and time again more difficulties find them. At times it gets bleak, but it ends on a note of hope which I liked.

I have adored this author ever since I picked up "Crank" at my local library when I was in middle school, and for a lack of a better word, I was hooked immediately. I love the way she writes, the "taboo" topics (that are extremely important TO write about), and just the raw emotion she pulls from me with everything she writes. So when I saw this on netgally and signed up for an ARC, never thinking I would get one, and then surprise surprise, I DID, I couldn't wait to dive in!

This is a story told from dual perspectives of twins Storm and Lake, who has never had an easy life. Their mom was too busy focusing on whatever drug and man held her attention at the time, and their grandma tried to live vicariously through her own daughter (and I mean in every way possible) while also being emotionally abusive. When Storm and Lake are forced into foster care, they desperately try to hold onto one another, and even though they never find anything permanent, they always have their bond and each other against the world. Until they are torn apart.

Now Storm is adjusting to high school, a cool but quiet foster dad, and a girlfriend who he absolutely loves. He's cautiously hopeful of this life, knowing nothing good happens to him for long, but he's finally found a good place in his life-- the only thing missing is his twin sister. And then tragedy strikes yet again.

Lake isn't as lucky as Storm. When she and her brother were torn apart, she was raised by a major religious (read: hypocritical) couple who didn't even try to love and understand the world and the people in it like the good book says. When certain events happen and Lake finds herself living on the streets, her life takes another turn for the worse. Can she pull herself out of the hell she's found herself in? Will she ever be reunited with her brother? Is there ever a happy ever after in store for them after all they have survived in such a short amount of time?

I really liked this book! It was heartbreaking and, as per usual, riddled with triggers. I found myself needing to take breaks, not so much because it was graphic, but because it was so *real.* I did feel more connected to Storm than Lake throughout the book, and I am so happy he ended up where he did. The ending happened very abruptly, and I know that's the point, but with how dang *sad* the last 20% of this book was, I just wish we had a little more closure.

For lovers of this author, this is definitely another wonderful book and I can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeves!

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions**

This book was so incredibly emotional and deep. I’m a long-time Ellen Hopkins fan and have read some of her other prose teen books, but I was a little nervous picking this one up. I’m no longer a teen and even moving away from the “young adult” category so I thought maybe her books wouldn’t affect me as much as before. Well I was wrong.

<i>Sync</i> follows a pair of twins who are in the foster system due to an alcoholic mother. They have both been through several foster families, but this is the first time they’ve been split up. And they both in their families, and through school have to find a way to handle the cards they’re dealt.

The first 40-60% has a good pace and the story is set up well. I honestly didn’t have any issues with it, just a general sense of dread worried for these teens. But after around the halfway point, I was almost non-stop crying. Ellen Hopkins does such a good job at creating believable situations without being over-the-top. And there was also such a range of side characters: from the worst of the worst to the best of the best, and everything in-between. There was just such a good balance of having people who were intentionally bad, and also people who were just doing a job, and also people who wanted to go above and beyond for humanity - and it made the whole story feel just that much more real.

The ending had me wishing for just 30-50 more pages as it was so good. But I also didn’t feel like the story ended too abruptly. The story had a closure but I also wanted it to keep going.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

This book features ALL of the trigger warnings. It's very on par for Ellen Hopkins, who never shies away from darkness and grit. Dual POVS with a LOT happening along the way. Engaging from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This is written in verse, so if you haven't read Ellen Hopkins before, be aware. It is beautifully done and heartbreaking. Trigger warnings for SA, homelessness, and violence.

This book is about twins Storm and Lake who were separated in the foster care system. Their lives have been far from easy. Still, they both long to reconnect with the other, and feel a strong bond despite the fact that they haven't seen each other in years. It is a tough read, but it is a good one. I read it in two sittings.

I loved this book and was enthralled with the writing. I loved the character study. Would read more from the author!

Ellen Hopkins is back with her raw stories that bring to light the lives of kids that are often not talked about. In Sync, we meet twins separated in the foster system who both face challenges that no child should have to face. The book was so tough to read at times, but like all of Hopkins’s books, it is done truthfully, respectfully, and beautifully.

Hard to read but I think that gut wrenching is this authors way. Similar to my last experience with a Hopkins book, this left an ache in my chest.

This was excellent! The characters are well written and interesting. The heavy themes are discussed in a respectful and powerful way. I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Ellen Hopkins, Penguin Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was such a great representation of how the foster system can be. My heart broke for Storm and Lake and never feeling like they belonged or were loved. I’m glad we got the ending that we did!

Sync is a book that is told in dual perspectives from Lake and her brother, storm. This book takes you through Lake's journey in a religious foster home and then as she is kicked out when her foster parent finds her in a compromising position with her girlfriend Parker. It also follows Storm as he is with a foster family who supports and loves him but due to an altercation as he protects his girlfriend, Storm ends up in juvenile detention and we watch his journey through there.

What I liked: I appreciate the writing style of this book and found that it made for a great audiobook. I really liked that the book goes back and forth between Lake and Storm, and we get to see what is happening in both of their lives. I also appreciated the way the author tackled some of the harder topics in this book and how certain things affect those around the person. This book covers sexual assault, suicide, addiction, family, loss, grief, homophobia, and more.

I also liked reading as Lake and Parker's relationship develops through the book and we get to see the challenges that they face because of their queerness. I also really enjoyed seeing Storm develop his relationship with his foster parents and how supportive they are of him. Through both Lake and Storm you see how their past impacts their relationships with others and how difficult it can be to trust others in their lives.

What left me wanting more: While I enjoyed the writing style of this book and liked having it go back and forth between the two perspectives, there was some things that I wasn't a fan of. The biggest thing about this book was the fact that anything that could go wrong did for both of our main characters. It seems that they had everything that happens to foster children happen to them and like they were just statistics. Now this book doesn't have to be happy and upbeat the whole time, but it would've been nice to feel that there was some hope for our main characters. While the depictions may be reality for foster children this book felt more like a display of a google search about negative stuff foster children face.

Final Verdict: Sync is a book that young adults will enjoy reading but may have to put down because of the heavy topics that are addressed throughout the book. Individuals who have enjoyed Ellen Hopkins other books will also enjoy reading this one as the writing style is similar.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Trigger warnings for rape, assault, and drug abuse.

In her signature poetry style of writing, Hopkins lays out the heartbreaking lives of twins Lake and Storm. Born to an addict, the twins find themselves thrust into foster care at a y0ung age. When one foster parent misunderstands their sibling relationship, the twins are separated and rehomed. The book jumps and back forth between Lake and Storm's POV, giving insight to their current battles with being teenagers in foster care while being separated from each other.

This book covers some really deep and traumatizing events. I couldn't tell you the number of times I gasped or teared up. What I love about this book is the fortitude both characters possess, and the handful of adults who step in to help. Books like this are important because they shine light on things not everyone experiences in life, such as drug abuse, growing up in foster care, or even the aftermath of an assault. Hard topics need to be discussed.

Sync is a book about foster care written by acclaimed author Ellen Hopkins, who has no personal experience with the foster care system. As a librarian but also a foster mom, I had a unique view of this book, and I was not impressed. The writing itself is well done, but the characters have so much trauma thrown at them, it is almost laughable. Every single female in the book gets raped, some of them on the page <spoiler> including the main character </spoiler> Yes, the statistics for teens in foster care are negative. Many of them end up in juvenile detention centers or homeless, but that is not the story of all of them. Making both of our protagonists go through every negative thing that could happen to a kid in foster care is just cruel. The story has a happy ending, but only in the last ten pages or so. Most of the narrative is depressing, watching two resilient kids who deserve better in life be abused, addicted, incarcerated, prostituted, and so on. Foster kids deserve better. They deserve hope, and this does not bring it. Even the ending stops before we can see the story come to a real resolution.