The inexplicable logic of my life:

The first day of senior year:

Everything is about to change. Until this moment, Sal has always been certain of his place with his adoptive gay father and their loving Mexican-American family. But now his own history unexpectedly haunts him, and life-altering events force him and his best friend, Samantha, to confront issues of faith, loss, and grief.

Suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and discovering that he no longer knows who he really is—but if Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he?

It was July 2016 when I read about a new book by Benjamin Alire Suanez. It was September 2016 when I finally remembered the title. October, November, December Alire was the only name I typed into Netgalley. It was February 2017 that my heart skipped a beat and my research actually showed me a book. THE BOOK. It was some days later when I got approved. It was several seconds later that I could breathe again. A sensation only the approval of a long wanted book could bring you. No more waiting. It was last night that I had to admit to myself that I don't like this book. It was half on hour ago that I shook my head and actually considered to stop reading it altogether.

As so many other readers I loved loved loved loved Aristoteles and Dante. It was my favorite book of the year. I still recommend it like crazy to every person who dares asking for a recommendation. If I only could have read one book this year, it would have been "The inexplicable logic of my life". My expectations were quite high, so maybe this review isn't really fair. Noone can expect him to write a book as good or even better than Ari & Dante.

That's why I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had so high expectations that this book could only let me down.

Here what I didn't liked:

Sam. I mean she is basically the main character. She's every second line. I couldn't stand her. Salvador tries to dress up her flaws as cute and quirky. He can tell himself this for as long as he wants. I still don't like her. She is mean, makes fun of him, makes light of serious situations, is demanding and mobbing. She has not one girl friend and calls everyone a bitch. He runs around being a brat. She 's invasive and pushy to no limit.

For a book that tries to be very openminded and diverse I found some phrases very strange. Things like "for a gay guy, my dad was pretty straight", "one thing about Sam was that she didn't throw like a girl", "and Fito's such a schizophrenic dork", “All three of us wouldn’t make one whole Mexican”, "and Sam was supposed to be a real mexican" just didn't felt fitting.

The book feels longer than it is, and gosh it's long. plotwise I'm afraid there isn't all too much going on. Yeah so Sal tries to figure out who he is. Several character die. He has a friend that needs help. The rest is just reflection and counting the days with his friends and family. At a point it just repetitive...

Knowing of the writers poetic past I didn't mind the use off overly dramatic prose. Noone talks like these people in real life. A person like Sal's Dad doesn't exist. In the beginning you follow the flow, you get into this dreamlike state, whishing for humans like Vicente. After 400 pages of his over the top speeches it's kinda over tho...

I still gonna carry it in my store, I still gonna recommend it to customers, and my friends surely gonna read it nomatter what I tell them. For me... this was sadly quite a disspointement.

*I received an Arc of this book from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*

In the time that I’ve been blogging I’ve never struggled with writing a review as much as I did with this one. I have so many mixed feelings where The Inexplicable Logic of My Life is concerned. On one hand, this book was really moving. The writing flowed in an incredible way but was so simplistic at the same time. Basically, it’s exactly what I expected from Benjamin Alire Sáenz after having loved Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. However, on the other hand, I was completely let down by several aspects. There were things about this book that I really didn’t like. Which is something I didn’t expect after how incredible Ari & Dante was. Let me explain.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life is a very character driven book. I wouldn’t go as far as to say there wasn’t any plot at all but rather that each character had a plot of their own. This book is the perfect example of a coming-of-age story. It’s family and friendship centered. It explores growing up, lives changes, grief, learning how to move on, discovering who you are, and different kinds of love. It also distinctly lacks romantic relationships in the three core characters. It had a lot of diversity. It had a beautiful message.

Pretty much it was almost exactly what I’ve been wanting to see from YA contemporary.

For the most part, we follow Sal as he navigates through his senior year of high school which is full of a lot of changes that have him questioning himself and wondering if who he thinks he is isn’t who he actually is. Sal is someone who doesn’t like change and finds himself a bit lost when faced with it. He’s also someone who is fiercely loyal to his friends and family, he loves them so much. I automatically adored him and couldn’t help but cry with him through most of the book.

Sam, another character we follow, is Sal’s best friend. I wouldn’t say that I didn’t like her but I also wouldn’t say that I completely loved her. She was a bit too nosey and pushy at times. I didn’t like the hatred she had for other girls and the fact that she called them bitches. I’ve talked to other bloggers recently about my dislike for girl hate in YA so you can imagine my disappointment when it was showcased in this book. I mean can we stop perpetuating the girl hate stereotype in YA already? That aside I adored her friendship with Sal and how much she cared for him. I also loved how much she grew by the end of the book.

Then there’s Fito, I loved him. Hands down he was probably my favorite. His life hasn’t been easy and yet he lives each day with the hope that he’ll have a better future. In fact, he’s doing everything he can to make it happen. I admired his resilience.

That brings me to the Sal, Sam, and Fito friendship trio. The way Benjamin Alire Sáenz crafted the friendship between the three of them was beautiful and moving. What I loved the most was how their friendship was based on unconditional love. Each character had their flaws and yet they loved each other despite those flaws. They were always there for each other no matter what.

And finally, Sal’s father Vicente. We need more parents in YA like him. He was just so caring, loving, and supportive. I love the close relationship he had with Sal and how they actually communicated. I’m overusing the word beautiful but seriously their relationship was beautiful.

Aside from those four, there are a plethora of other characters in this book from Sam’s mom to Sal’s Mima and all of the other family members. I won’t go into any detail about the rest because of spoilers. But, yeah, the friendship and family dynamics in this book were great.

Remember how I said it was almost exactly what I’ve been wanting to see in YA contemporary? The key word here being almost. Aside from the girl hate there were several other aspects that disappointed me.

There was problematic language that I felt should have been left out. A mental illness and an eating disorder are used in negative terms – “schizophrenic dork” and “emotional anorexic”. And then there were stereotypes used – “You know, for a gay guy, my dad was pretty straight.” Personality has nothing to do with someone’s sexuality. Can we stop stereotyping? There were several other incidents of language and stereotypes that shouldn’t have been used but those are the three that I highlighted in my notes.

Then there was something else that I didn’t like, in the beginning of the book Sam is nearly raped by her boyfriend but it’s never acknowledged for what it is. That whole subplot, if you can even call a few mentions out of a 400+ page novel a subplot, wasn’t handled well. In fact, the whole topic of sexual assault was kind of veiled or brushed under a rug for the most part. I can’t even coherently describe how angry this one scene in regards to it made me. Overall the way it was handled made it feel unimportant and as if it could have been left out and nothing about the story would have changed. Which given the seriousness and importance of such a topic I wasn’t happy about that.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life had so much potential. I found the characters relatable and was so wrapped up in their lives that I shed tears several times. There was this heartwarming message of learning to embrace life and all of its ups and downs. However, while I loved a lot there was also a lot that disappointed me. I’m still feeling very mixed over my rating and it could change in the future. Can I say with complete certainty that I recommend this book? No, I can’t. I say read at your own discretion if you do decide to give it a chance.

I finished the Inexplicable Logic of my Life last night at 1AM with tears streaming down my face. And they weren’t tears of sadness but warmth. This is undoubtedly a long book but it was necessary because like Sally I grew up along the way. These characters as silly as it sounds became my friends. I looked forward to my hour or two with Alejandro, Sam, Fito, Dad, Marcos and of course Mimi. Ugh my heart is still broken over Mimi. Every little detail allowed me to became part of their life and root them on and that is what Saenz excels at. His books are not only words but they’re life. Those day to day situations, when you’re scared, lost and need that extra hand. Saenz has made me a forever fan and with each book I devour I am always longing for more. This book will undoubtedly leave a special place in my heart for my new El Paso familia.

This book came into my life at the perfect moment, and because it did I will always have a place for it in my heart. There is too much to say without giving stuff away, BUT I will insert the spoiler free part here and I will give plenty of warning when the spoilers do come up! Don't worry I would never want to spoil you for this book! Anyways let me continue.

This novel has touched my soul so deeply that I know I will never forget it. This book helped me grow as a person and many tears were involved,( but also greatly appreciated.) This book just came into my life at the right moment, and for a long time I couldn't pick it up as it was too similar and emotional for me. Although I have not yet read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, I definitely plan on doing so soon, because the writing of this novel was beautiful and so moving, not to mention such well portrayed characters and an emotion filled plot.

WARNING PLEASE STOP HERE IF YOU WANT TO STAY SPOILER FREE THANKS

Mima is by far one of my favorite characters. As I began to read this novel I was immediately touched, but I actually stopped reading this book for a good portion of time as my family experienced things similar to Sally (can I call him that?). My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer, but luckily, with surgery, the tumor was removed and everything was ok, but later she developed a kidney issue that sent my entire family into a frantic mess. That was when I set the book down. However, when I was able to pick the book up again, I had a newfound connection for Sally and Mima's relationship, though tragically they did not get much time and luckily I hope to have plenty more and my grandma is on the road to recovery. Due to what has happened recently, this novel has touched my soul and I truly will never forget it. In addition, I cried more times with book than possibly any other book I have ever read, and that's saying something.

Now away from the sad and to the happier side of the novel! Sammy and Sally are the best of friends and have a level of connection that is definitely like having a close sibling. In fact, I considered them sibling from the moment they interacted in the novel. Their understanding for one another is so deep and truly beautiful as is with Fito! I loved Fito! Such a great guy and deserving of so much love! (ps: I wished to hug him many times while reading.)

In addition, some amazing things this novel includes are TWO absolutely intricate and lovely gay characters. They were both two strong, independent, and intelligent men and I'm so glad for more characters like Fito and Sal's dad. With that being said I really plan on reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I would really like to thank Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for making this read accessible to me! It was a journey and experience I will hold dearly forever.

Since this arc was not made available on kindle, I did not read it.

I have talked about this enough on the blog lately. The Inexplicable Logic of My Life is the perfect example of the importance of characters in a book, because here, in this particular story, the characters ARE the book, what makes it breathe and come alive, what makes is exist, simply. If you're looking for a plot-driven kind of book, action-paced and leaving you breathless, this is not it. If you're looking for some kind of explanation on what life is supposed to be like -aren't we all, this is not it either. This book is a story of a teenager's life, in the span of a few months – a year. It's about how quickly things change, how quickly life messes things up, break you and put you together again.

If there should be there a paragraph talking about the plot overall, the world-building and everything, well...I can't do it here because there is nothing resembling a plot here. It's solely a character-driven book, where we follow Salvador, a seventeen-years-old boy and his Mexican-American family's life. Don't get me wrong, there are things happening, just like in life, and events driving the book forward, but most of it all, it's about the characters and their growth....which, at times, made the book a bit long and dragging. It's more than 400 pages long and I felt myself a bit lost in this book more than once. A couple of chapters felt long, so that's my say about it, but otherwise, if I didn't enjoy the characters, well that book would have been unbearable, so I'm glad I did.

As you probably know now, the characters most definitely are the strong suit here. Just like in Saenz's Aristotle and Dante, they are painfully real and struggling with issues we can all relate with when we are teenagers: love, heartbreak, feeling left out, wonderment about college, the future, life in general, topped with all the massive confusion about who we are and who we are supposed to be, and the real us sometimes hiding inside of us, the fact that we don't always really know each other, or ourselves, at all. All of the characters are real and three-dimensional in this story, which I really appreciated. They didn't limit themselves to one quality, they did not have one flaw and they most definitely all brought something to the story, not as a prop for the main character development, but as themselves. Each had their own growth and I really appreciated that.
Another strong suit here were obviously the relationships, and the massive emphasis on friendship here. No romance, just friendship, with its complications, its beginnings and its ends, incomprehension and love, laughs and adventures. I really loved that. There was also a huge place for family in that story; because sometimes family isn't all just blood-related. I really loved Salvador's relationship with his dad, it was strong yet flawed, and it was very, very beautiful.

Life isn't perfect and I'm sad to say that this book wasn't either. There were things that could have easily been avoided but yet were there, bothering me as I read on, such as the endless mentions of sentences like “you're so gay” that were completely unnecessary to prove a point and really stereotypical. There is also a subplot that my friend Fadwa mentioned very rightly in her review that felt, as she said, poorly handed and kind of wrong. I'm not going to spoil anything in this review at all, but since nothing is perfect, these couple of things were my main concern here, and part of the reason why this isn't a perfect book.
However, Saenz's writing still still remains beautiful, poetic, and a pleasure to read.

If you enjoy character-driven stories, great characters and a great, realistic exploration of friendship and family relationships, then I'd recommend this book for sure.

You know when you request a book on Netgalley and you’re so sure you’ll be denied for it? Yeah… After reading and loving Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, I was pretty damn excited to be able to read an ARC of the new Benjamin Alire Sáenz book, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life.

The first thing that stood out for me on this book, were the chapters. This book consists of short (and some longer) scenes, and each of these scenes are basically chapters. They are each an important moment between the characters. And the titles describe what we’re about to read, like this:

I absolutely loved this formating and the way the story was told. I was reading this when I was also reading A Boy Like You and the chapter’s lenght couldn’t have been more different, eheh. I really really liked these short and very on point chapters. It made the book go super fast for me.

The second thing to note is that the writing is just magical. MAGICAL!!! I had loved Ari and Dante‘s writing, but I fell in love with the writing on this book.

This book is purely character driven, which are my favorite kind, to be honest, and it deals with love and family and friendship. And loss and how to deal with it. How to confront fears. The feeling of belonging somewhere or to someone. And what weights more, nature or nurture.

The story is mostly about Salvador and his two friends, Sam, who has been his best friend since he was little, and Fito. All of them go through some pretty heavy stuff during the book, and they’re all so different, it warmed my heart the depth of their love for one another. They also grow up so much during the book, and they support each other through it all.

I really liked the Sal, Sam and Fito and the relationships they shared. They each had their own personality and quirks, and they tried to make each other better.

Also, it should be noted that there’s no romance in this book, at least not with our 3 main characters, and that was a relief, because I truly thought that there would be, and it wouldn’t feel natural.

But I think that my favorite person in this book was Vicente, Sal’s adoptive dad and a father figure to all the teens. He was just such a great person, who tried to show the best ways to the kids, but never impose his view, and instead let them reach their own conclusions. He was also always there for all of them, and he had a special bond with each of them. I loved him!

I have to mention that I saw a few critiques to this book, mainly to the use of some expressions used, either ableists or heavy on the stereotypes. I saw them. But I have to say that they didn’t feel out of place to me, and I felt that there was a narrative in the story, with the growth of the characters, that pulled them away from such narrow minded views.

Well… I loved this book, I think I even liked it more than Ari and Dante. I loved the writing and the characters. I loved the story and the growth. I loved that it made me cry like a baby each time I read more than two sentences.

I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT, FROM MY EXPERIENCE READING.

But if you’re in doubt, maybe check out some other reviews and see how you feel about the problematic aspects that those reviews point out.

When I first heard about this book coming out I was so, so excited. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it; after all Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secret of the Universe is one of my all time favourite books. So, when the first few chapters of the book failed to give me what Ari and Dante had given me – a world that I got sucked into, characters I loved and cared about and an almost lyrical prose – I wasn’t just disappointed, but also frustrated as hell.

Everything is about to change. Until this moment, Sal has always been certain of his place with his adoptive gay father and their loving Mexican-American family. But now his own history unexpectedly haunts him, and life-altering events force him and his best friend, Samantha, to confront issues of faith, loss, and grief.

Suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and discovering that he no longer knows who he really is—but if Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he?

I have to give it to Sáenz; his work is the perfect example of art imitating life. What I’m trying to say is that his books never move towards a very particular and specific ending; they always follow life’s rhythms and paces, developing so naturally and effortlessly, in a way that not many authors can deliver.

For the most part I wasn’t sure I liked Sal. Sure, I cared for him but I didn’t really like him. The one I fell in love with was Sam; passionate, brilliant, fiery Sam, a girl I could relate to and love. Basically, I loved Sal’s family and friends more than I could ever love him; he was just not my cup of tea, but I can and did appreciate his devotion and his loyalty to Sam, to Fito and to his family.

What I really loved about this book is that there is no romantic subplot – not for Sal, at least. The story focuses solely on family and friends, and a book of the kind was missing from the YA genre. The things both Sal and Sam had to deal with were so important and so heavy, that a romance would have just taken something out of the story, making it – in my opinion – less important and valuable.

I said before that Sáenz’s books imitate life. I don’t know if that was a conscious decision or not, but his books don’t shy away from the problematic aspects of life either. Lines that are either slightly sexist or slightly homophobic appear numerous times in the book and , while they never get directly challenged, the depictions of the characters themselves challenge a lot of negative stereotypes. Sal is a teenage boy; of course his views aren’t always the best. At first I found myself perplexed; they put me off so much, I considered dropping this one. But once I realized that these things do make Sal more realistic – and not more likeable – I managed to sit back and enjoy it.

Overall, it was a book I fairly enjoyed, one with a steady rhythm, three-dimensional characters and a soul many YA books lack, a heart that beats and breaks – alongside yours.



**A digital ARC was provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review**

The only reason why I wouldn't recommend this to 5th graders is because of the language. I know parents would object. But the themes of friendship and family and overcoming hardship are all things I look for in a good novel. I think the author does a great job of capturing the dynamic between teenagers. The characters are flawed but show growth. And the other reason why I loved this book is because this is not a love story. While the teenagers have romantic relationships outside of their circle, that isn't the focus. That isn't what gets them through. It's their inner strength and their friends. We need more of that.

Sadly, the book was Archived before I could download it.

I love this story! The friendship between Sal and Samantha is so refreshing.They have been friends since they were 5 and truly care for each other, whatever hardships life throws their way. Sam says it best: "You. See. Me." Sal and Sam truly "see" each other and form an unbreakable bond. I also love that some of the adults in the novel are present, loving, and richly drawn. Too often in YA fiction, the adults are absent leaving readers wondering who is caring for these kids! Yes, this story includes absent and irresponsible adults, but Sal's adoptive family is warm and welcoming and real. This book is like a warm hug. Yes, I was brought to tears by certain events, but I knew that the relationships would help the characters push through the tough times. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a sweet "love" story~not a romance, but a story filled with characters who love and care for each other.

There's a lot that's celebratory and inspiring in Saenz's books. They are full of love and honesty, and while the characters go through many troubles and upheavals, they are surrounded by good people who love them.

But there are problems too. Issues that I miss are pointed out in other reviews, so if you are interested in looking at, and considering aspects of the book that have offended others, there are lots of 1 and 2 star reviews at Goodreads.

I want to focus on what's good about this book because there's plenty of that. Sal lives with Vicente, a gay man who was best friends with Sal's mother, was there at Sal's birth, and who agreed to look after him after Sal's mother dies. Theirs is a particularly effective and affecting relationship. Sal recognises that not everyone is lucky enough to have what he has--an open and trusting bond that grows even stronger over the course of this long and somewhat rambly book.

Both Sal's best friends Sam, and Fito both have mothers who neglect them, and no strong father influence in their lives. It's fitting that Saenz includes Sal's grandmother Mimo, because really most of the females lack any substance of positive representation. We can say they love their children 'in their own ways', but really that flatters them, and I am not sure they deserve even that. Sal is constantly wondering how two smart and resilient young people could have developed from such tough childhoods.

He wonders about that, because he is also focused on his own genetic makeup. He has started to get into fights, and spends a lot of his internal monologues wondering how much darkness he has, as part of his DNA, considering Vicente is not at all violent or rough. Nurture versus nature. It's a terrific exploration, and Sal's concluding thoughts are worthwhile and true.

The three teenagers suffer too much grief. If I have a quibble, it's that there is so much death in this book. But it gives them a chance to be there for each other, to gather their sadness and longings, and to look forward, to try to make the best of the good things they have. I am happy to say that Sal acknowledges when moments are happy, and doesn't dwell on the bad times. Instead he tries to have perspective and hope.

There's all sorts of diversity, inclusiveness, and great flawed characters, both adult and teenaged. It is a long book, with little plot, charting the days of Sal's final year of high school. The three friends grow and learn, and are ready to face their futures by the end. It's lovely.

Thank you to Clarion Books and Netgalley for approving this book. Out in the US earlier this week, and available in Australia in May.

Recommended to readers who enjoy their stories full of warmth and love. They must also accept that death is a natural and inevitable progression, and that some people's lives are harsher and more injustice than others. There's a lot of discussion about parental responsibility, and the meaning of friendship, and it's light on romance and melodrama.

This is a beautiful, well rounded book populated with delightful characters and stellar writing. The exploration of grief in the teen-aged characters is brilliantly executed and the importance of self is key to the main characters journey.

Recommend to all.

Also, that cover is stunning!

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life was a coming-of-age story about identity, grief, family, and friendship.

The biggest plus for me? NO ROMANCE! It's nearly impossible to find any young adult books without romance, and contemporary novels without romance are even rarer. The main character, Sal, has a female best friend named Samantha. In basically every other YA novel, each would likely go through a few bad relationships, then towards the end they'd gaze into each others' eyes and finally realize that what they really wanted had been right in front of them all along. So, it was beyond refreshing when the author made it blatantly obvious that Sal and Sam saw each other as siblings.

Another aspect I loved was how diverse it was! Sal was straight and white, but his adoptive father was both gay and of Mexican descent. Even though Sal was white, and was frequently reminded of this fact by bullies, he fully embraced his adoptive father's cultural background and didn't see himself as being any different from his extended family, with whom he had an extremely loving relationship.

I'm a huge fan of Saenz's writing style and the way he weaves a number of motifs throughout each of his books. In Aristotle and Dante, it was all about discovering various secrets of the universe (obviously), and in The Inexplicable Logic of My Life, one of the motifs is Sal trying to uncover how the world works. Another motif that I really loved was the idea of "meeting words." In the book Sal says words only exists in theory, but one day you may "meet" a certain word, you become acquainted with it, and it gains meaning.

However, while I did love most of the writing, I didn't love all of the slang. Granted I'm not a teenager anymore, so I'm probably not up to date with what kids these days are saying, but there were a lot of terms used that made this book feel dated. For instance, I don't think I've heard anyone use phrases like"the bomb" or "true that" since I was in high school...which was a while ago.

The plot was also much too melodramatic; it basically felt like I was reading a soap opera. There were a number of events that happened which should have been shocking and upsetting, but I was so desensitized that I kind of just shrugged and moved on.

Even though I had some issues with The Inexplicable Logic of My Life, I loved the characters and the relationships between them so much that I practically flew through the book. If you're a contemporary fan who likes books with incredible relationships and lots of drama, you're going to love this book!

I love this author, and look forward to reading the book when it comes out. I must confess I did not read much of the egalley. I find it annoying to have full-length novels come only in pdf format rather than something I can download to my kindle; it's just not at all satisfactory to read it on my laptop. But I sampled enough to know I will want to read this book when it is available. Not much of a review, I realize, but it's the truth.

*2.5 stars*

I liked it... I think? Or maybe it was just okay... I really don't know what I think after reading this one, so I'll just blurt out a bunch of thoughts as they pop into my head.

I, unlike the majority of my friends, haven't read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. While I gather that Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe had a romance element, this book really doesn't. It is truly a book about family and the evolution of families. It is all about platonic relationships and how those tight bonds of family and friends affect the main characters.

Another thing you should know about the book is that it's long, like almost 500 pages long. And, oddly enough, there isn't much... plot. There just isn't a lot that happens, page to page. The writing style is sort of repetitive and rambling, and while part of me recognized that the writing style wasn't really to my taste, the book moved surprisingly well. Considering the fact that there is a lot of repetition, I wasn't ever bored.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life brought up a lot of interesting topics for me to mull over. Nature vs nurture, what is means in terms of heritage to be a white boy adopted by a Mexican family, and how you can love and hate someone at the same time. This book is also pretty shockingly sad, with lots of tragedies in the story. It was hit after hit, at times, and I almost grew numb to it by the end.

Though the muddled plot, I found myself enjoying the characters quite a bit. Each of them were interesting in their own right, and I think that the author made each of them to be more than meets the eye. The relationship between each of the characters and the love that they had for one another really carried the story.

However, this book had some major issues that I can't pass over. For a book written by a POC who is openly gay, this book was sometimes shockingly offensive. I couldn't get over some of the wordage in the story, and it really made me pause and reconsider how I was viewing the whole book. Also, the flippant and diminished way a sexual assault was treated was really inexcusable.

Still not quite sure how to feel about this one. Happy, disappointed, relieved, offended, enlightened? You have to decide for yourself.

*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This is the first novel I read from Benjamin Alire Saenz and since I’ve heard amazing things about one of his other works, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, I was drawn to this book. My expectations were definitely high and I was somewhat disappointed.

The Good:

The friendship between Sal and Sam. The author did not try at any point to try to make their friendship develop into something more romantic. It shows how a boy and a girl can be friends without having it lead to a romantic relationship. I also really enjoyed that develops between Sal and Fito because here you have a straight and gay guy forming a friendship that does not lead into some unrequited love trope. This book is definitely more about friendships and it definitely appreciated in a genre which romance tends to be the centre of the plot.
Being Mexican-American, it is nice to see my culture be represented in a book. It’s definitely refreshing to see, especially in a YA novel because this is a rare occurrence.
The Bad:

The writing. It had its good moments and sometimes I felt Saenz was trying hard to seem deep. At times, it does get repetitive and it got kind of annoying.
The plot. This book did not really have a plot. The story felt like it was being dragged on for almost 500 pages. I definitely think it could have been a shorter book and it could have had a bigger impact.
I wanted more character development. Yes, life-altering events happen to these teenagers but I did not really think the characters could have been more complex.
Sal’s anger issues are never really addressed. You do know why he has this internal anger that sometimes leads to violent tendencies but there is not really an explanation as to why.
The easy dismissal of an attempted sexual assault. It came up for about maybe 50 pages and that was it. This event seemed very out of place and did not further the plot in any way whatsoever. So my questions is, what is the point of including this? This can definitely be triggering for someone.
There is also the usage of the word f****t that can be triggering for some people. Just something I think people should know before they read.
Overall, I liked the message of the book but as a whole, I can’t say I fell in love with it. It was just an ok book for me. I just feel there is something lacking in this book that prevents me from giving it a higher rating.

I recently read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and I was floored. I immediately scooped up The Inexplicable Logic of My Life when I saw it was available via NetGalley. I don't request many ARCS via NetGalley, but this was one I couldn't help salivating over.

What you should know:

Sáenz has a very lyrical prose. It's beautiful. I often find myself thinking when reading his work, "Did I ever have an author who wrote like this when I was young adult?" I sat and racked my brain for at least ten minutes, and no author came to mind. Well, Judy Blume, but that's a given. I think in more recent times, young people been inundated with a crop of fabulous storytellers and Sáenz is one of them.

Our tale begins with Salvador Silva, our protagonist, at age five. He's with his Mima (his grandmother), and there are yellow leaves. This is significant as it plays an important part in Salvador's tale.

Salvador takes us on a journey. We learn about his family and the relationship he has with his grandmother, his father Vicente, as well as his friends Samantha and Fito. We learn what the term "best friend" really means. We learn what it's like to have a father who loves his child unconditionally. Parents are supposed to, but this isn't always the case. Vicente is quite fantastic. I think I loved his character most. We learn what it's like to experience losses so profound you're not certain if recovering is even possible.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life is another home run for Sáenz. I loved this book so much, and I found it incredibly touching. 5 stars all the way.

The excerpt I read was interesting and I can't wait to purchase this book as soon as it is released, but the pdf edition could not be accessed on my computer and no download was available for my e-reader.