This book has a simple yet amazing story. I like how the author wrote the story, it got me hooked in some way. I'd love to have my own copy soon

I tried to get into this one but I just couldn't. Not sure why. My tastes may have changed since 2016, but it just wasn't working for me. I did see a lot of great reviews so it is a case of...it's me, not you.

Ahhhh.... a YA set in the 1980s. I loved it! The letter format was so fun and new, and I just felt warm and happy while reading this. All the 80s music was a blast from the past, and I loved how prominent music was in the story. I just wish Cath had been nicer. She was kind of a punk to all her girl "friends". All in all, very fun and fluffy and cute.

Unfortunately this book has gone in my DNF pile. It just wasn't engaging me like it would have years ago when I first requested it. My reading tastes have changed a lot over the years as I've gotten older and unfortunately some of the books requested years ago have been affected by my reading tastes and the fact that a lot of books for younger audiences haven't been grasping my attention as of late. I thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this cute and sweet YA romance. I loved the letter format and loved that it was set during the years when I grew up, I could relate to it so much more that way.

We Are Still Tornadoes – Michael Kun and Susan Mullen

I wanted so desperately to like this one, and on the whole, I kind of did. The book was finished within a day so it was by no means terrible, it was just a little slow at times and awfully predictable.

It’s the summer of 1982, and for Scott and Cath, everything is about to change.

Growing up across the street from each other, Scott and Cath have been best friends for most of their lives. Now they’ve graduated high school, and Cath is off to college while Scott stays at home trying to get his band off the ground. Neither of them realized that their first year after high school would be so hard.

Fortunately, Scott and Cath still have each other, and it’s through their letters that they survive heartache, annoying roommates, family dramas, and the pressure of figuring out what to do with the rest of their lives. And through it all, they realize that the only person they’ve ever wanted to turn to is each other. But does that mean they should think about being more than friends? One thing is clear: Change is an inescapable part of growing up, and we share unbreakable bonds with the friends who help us navigate it.

Right from the onset, I knew what the ending of this book would be. That’s a little disappointing. I like suspense, twists and turns, unpredictability, but I didn’t have any of that with this book which made it a little dull to read. It wasn’t all bad though!

Scott and Cath are best mates, their bond is undeniable and is portrayed well throughout the series of letters that they send each other. Yep, this book is entirely letter format! Which I love by the way. It just feels so personal and intimate and ultimately highlights the fact this book was set in the 1980’s as who writes letters anymore these days? We live in a world of technology and the art of hand written letters is long forgotten by most. Scotts character is literally like the ideal boy, he isn’t afraid to show passion or emotion and I instantly felt drawn to him. I spent the entire book hoping/waiting for the moment that he would realise that he was madly in love with Cath so I was not disappointed. Cath on the other hand, was not as likeable. She seemed whiney and I don’t feel like she was overly nice to any of her female companions.

As a former University student myself, I feel it captures University (or American college) life well. The pressures of studies thrown in with the drunken antics, sports teams, financial issues and the pressures of living away from home. It really is a pretty accurate representation of what life is often like!

The book touches on some pretty heavy subject, affairs and loss being just two. Scott loses his dad, the letters after this are almost unbearably raw. As someone who also lost their father at a young age – I totally got this. I understood and recognised every. single. feeling. that Scott had said in his letters. It was hard to read at times but also a little encouraging to know that those feelings that I once had were justified and that I’m not the only person that will have ever have felt them.

I enjoyed the ease of reading this book but at times had to convince myself to keep going, it was just a little slow. A worthy three and a half stars.

★★★1/2

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Compared to the book I read before this, I have to say that the blurb that accompanies this book dramatically undersells it. Honestly, looking at it now I cannot imagine what inspired me to choose this from NetGalley, but I am certainly glad I did. I understand that this is a YA title, but for people like me who actually lived through the 80s, this is a fond trip down memory lane. I especially loved that the novel was written entirely in “letters” sent back and forth between the two protagonists; letters that have a date on top, and acknowledge things like crossing in the mail, instead of the to-the-minute time stamp of an ordinary email. Do YA readers even understand this? Ink, paper, stamps, envelopes, all of it? As someone who still has letters from her siblings, parents and friends sent during college, I hope that they at least have a sense of it. The letters here come in a range of sizes — from the dashed off note to the long, meandering, angsty questions that only a college student can ask.

I loved every cheesy detail of this book (especially the title origin), and it made me laugh, out loud, embarrassingly. The characters were clever and endearing, and even though the plot sometimes crossed the line of believability, it did not take away from my enjoyment. If you are a Rainbow Rowell fan (of any age), this book will have a place on your shelf. And if you aren’t (wait, really, you’re not?) try it anyway. Don’t read the blurb, just trust me.


For Goodreads:

Why I picked it — It was about the 80s, I had to read it. (wow, I don’t sound too picky, do I?)
Reminded me of… Rainbow Rowell’s books
For my full review — click here

We Are Still
Photo from Goodreads
General

We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun & Susan Mullen

Pages: 304 (Hardcover)

Published: by St. Martin's Griffin November 1st 2016

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance



Links: Goodreads/Amazon

Overall rating: 4/5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley, but that does not have a sway in my reviews. I am a human being with thoughts of her own, and I am not obligated to automatically give this book five stars.



The Review

This story told in epistolary form seemed to be a story of revelation. It is about the exchanges between two best friends, Scott and Cath, and the unveilings of abstract concepts such as love, hurt, grief, etc. told through breakups, family deaths, and divorce.

From start to finish, each letter uncovered or pieced together main plot points that would usually be told through scene. For example, instead of seeing the actual events unfold as Scott visits Cath in North Carolina, Cath writes something along the lines of "Why did you have to make out with my roommate and why did you have to start a fight with Walter?" As the reader, I may not see the physical elements involved with the particular moment, but the epistolary format is one that opened my imagination. I was able to visualize a rocker boy who wears jeans and t-shirts arguing with a pompous frat boy. Maybe my idea of Scott and Walter is different from how the authors visualize them, but the way they chose to write this story makes it seem as if they want the reader to take more from the situations and the emotions rather than the physicality of the characters.

The story isn't about race nor is it about gender. It is a story that delves into human emotions and anyone can be Scott and Cath. That is the true beauty of this novel. People will experience hurt and love. People will experience joy and sorrow, and We Are Still Tornadoes captures those feelings.

As a young adult and as a human being, I believe that this book was able to delve into human nature. It isn't profound like a Sylvia Plath novel, but it has a depth to it that people would connect to. And isn't that a reason why we read? To feel and to connect to something deeper than ourselves?

I loved EVERYTHING about this book. The epistolary format, the eighties setting, the characters and subplots, all of it. I wanted it to keep going forever.

We Are Still Tornadoes was just what I needed to read after a long week at work. I loved that it was set in the 80s and the additional soundtrack notes made me want to make a new Spotify playlist! I think any high schooler would enjoy this book, as it's a short sweet read that will give its readers hope about their lives and future!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I didn't really know what to expect and I hadn't (and still haven't) heard anything about the two authors. I like books like this that are technically historical fiction (since it's set in the late 80's or early 90's) but are still recent enough that the setting doesn't feel completely foreign--just a little different. I liked the two main characters quite a bit. I thought they were realistic and it was easy for me to empathize with them. I thought the form of the book (an exchange of letters) was also really fun and the authors did a great job of giving us the whole story within the letters. I think it would be really easy for the reader to feel like they're missing some information, but I didn't feel that way at all. On the other hand, I could see where the letters might not seem natural because they're over-explanatory or give too MUCH information for what someone would usually put in a letter, but I didn't feel that way about this book either. Overall, I just thought it was a good balance and I really enjoyed it.

I wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. It is an epistolary novel, told entirely through letters. I really like this format for books.

However, when I start finding things to do so I don’t have to read, then it is time to put the book aside. That is what happened with We Are Still Tornadoes.

First of all, this isn’t the type of book I would usually read. It is an 80s contemporary. I was so intrigued by the layout: letters exchanged by Cath and Scott. I did like that part. Long distance phone calls were terribly expensive and so letter made the most sense when Cath goes off to college and Scott stays in their hometown.

I liked how the letters really showed off the individual personalities of our two letter writers. I enjoyed that both characters were so different and yet they were such great friends. I guess you could say that it was realistic.

However, I didn’t finish this novel. I started getting bored and a bit confused. The bored part is most likely because this isn’t something that I would usually choose to read. I guess I lost interest.

The slightly confused part is because I sometimes felt like things were missing. Since the novel is just letters, we miss the times Scott and Cath talk on the phone or are together in person. We only see the letters which means that sometimes there will be confusion.

In all, this just wasn’t the book for me. I don’t think I was really the intended audience of this novel. I did enjoy parts of it, but not enough to get past 65%.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Cath and Scott are HS buddies who pen pal during Cathy's first year of college. Scott has opted out of college, staying in his hometown to work in his father's store. Through their letters you see a deep friendship in which they confide their struggles, insecurities, relationship ups and downs and painful losses.

Can a boy and a girl really have a deep platonic relationship? It's been a debate that I've listened and argued most of my adult life. I do believe it's possible, but even in this story, you can see how easily the lines are blurred. I loved the rawness of their letters, and how they are even able to argue and forgive with each other's verbal missteps.

I found this to be a quick, enjoyable read.

We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen is cute and charming. This entire story is written through letters. Reading through letters made the story a very fast read.

The reader is introduced to Cath. Cath is in her first year of college and is trying to cope with her parents splitting up. Her father left her mom after getting his secretary pregnant.

Then we meet Scott. Scott didn't apply for any colleges. He is working for his dad and is a song writer in a band. This is the first time that Cath and Scott have been away from each other.

I really liked getting to know these two characters through their letters. It is a fun and light-hearted read. I think the writing was good. I look forward to see what other projects these two will have together. I really enjoyed We Are Still Tornadoes.

A super sweet contemporary tale set in the 80s with a friendship to last decades. Two friends continue on their separate journeys without each other for the first time in their lives but catalogue and share each intricate detail with each other through letters, which to me, appears extremely intimate and romanctic!
A great story perfect for any reader wanting a story about a heartfelt friendship.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Scott and Cath grew up across the street from each other and have always been best friends. Now, in the fall of 1982, Cath is a freshman at Wake Forest, and Scott is working in his dad’s men’s clothing store. This book is told through the letters they write to each other over the course of the year.

I loved this book. It pretty much made me smile from beginning to end, except for the sad parts. The format of having the entire book be composed of letters worked really well. I wish I could actually have heard the songs Scott wrote for his band.

This was so very enjoyable. Told in letters, this is the story of a friendship of a boy and a girl who grew up across the street from one another and how they are handling their first year after high school. There are some genuinely funny bits in the letters. What I most adored about it was the time period. It's 1982, and this story is made all the more awesome in the fact that Cath and Scott just happen to care very much about what is happening in the music world. (Have you heard the new album by someone called Prince?)

Highly recommended for fans of Matthew Quick. Don't be put off by the sweet, colorful cover! The story has substance in the creamy center. This would probably be most appreciated by older teen readers and/or new adult readers due to some themes that only those of us who have moved past the high school years might relate to.