Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith

Synopsis (via Goodreads): For fans of Love, Simon and Eleanor and Park, a romantic and sweet novel about a transgender boy who falls in love for the first time—and how first love changes us all—from New York Times bestselling author Amber Smith.

Chris and Maia aren’t off to a great start.

A near-fatal car accident first brings them together, and their next encounters don’t fare much better. Chris’s good intentions backfire. Maia’s temper gets the best of her.

But they’re neighbors, at least for the summer, and despite their best efforts, they just can’t seem to stay away from each other.

The path forward isn’t easy. Chris has come out as transgender, but he’s still processing a frightening assault he survived the year before. Maia is grieving the loss of her older sister and trying to find her place in the world without her. Falling in love was the last thing on either of their minds.


But would it be so bad if it happened anyway?
"If you've always been defined, not as a full-fledged person, but solely as another person's polar opposite, and that person no longer exists, do you also cease to exist?"
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I thought Something Like Gravity would have some scientific elements regarding space and the stars, but those references were few and far between. Chris enjoys looking through his telescope, and it's a passion he wants to pursue in the future, but it isn't a main focus of the story. He'll share facts with Maia, and those were interesting (especially about the binary stars), but I wish there had been more. 

Amber Smith has written a beautiful story about self-discovery. Chris is finally figuring out and committing to who he is, and Maia is learning how to exist without her sister. It took tragic circumstances for both of them to start really living, and we see how they use each other to overcome their sadness and fear. They didn't immediately click from the start, because Maia is a very angry person, but it felt like a realistic portrayal of feelings and emotions. She was hurting and she lashed out, and Chris was endlessly kind and patient. 

I know I've said this before, but I dislike it when the main conflict is based on a lie. Maia lies to Chris at the very beginning of their friendship, and then it snowballs out of control. She didn't need to lie, and she had plenty of opportunities to tell him the truth. Honestly, I thought she would have come clean long before everything blew up in her face. Chris's reaction was understandable at first, but then he took it too far. He let his pain and anger cloud his judgement, and he was unnecessarily cruel and unforgiving. What Maia lied about really had nothing to do with her relationship with Chris, but he took it very personally, and it altered both of their lives in a big way.

Additionally, I think this book could have been a little shorter. It lagged in some places and I never felt compelled to pick it back up. The pacing is incredibly slow, and there's very little action, but I know some of you enjoy books that focus more on character development (which there is a lot of). However, if some of the story had been condensed, I think it would have made for a quicker and more enjoyable read.

The ending was both satisfying and disappointing. 

I believe Something Like Gravity tells a story that needs to be told. I think it's a book a lot of people will be able to relate to, and not just because one of the characters is transgender. Although, I do think it's awesome that they are getting more representation in YA books. Something Like Gravity is about falling in love, and learning how to love yourself. It's also about knowing when to let go, and when to hold on. 

16 comments:

  1. I hate stories based on lies. Not a good way to start a book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The story wasn't based on a lie, it just contained one that inevitably altered the story. This book was about two individuals, not their relationship. Yes, their friendship/romance does play a role in the story, but it was so much more than that. They're struggling with who they are as people, and not who they are as a couple.

      Delete
  2. Slow pacing can be so hard, especially when it doesn't really add to the story at all. I'm not sure this one will be for me but then again, if I'm prepared for the pacing maybe. Great honest review!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like some of the content could have been cut and still achieved the same result. The story is very flowy and wordy, which isn't always a bad thing, but I felt bogged down by the details.

      Delete
  3. I can’t believe I missed this on NetGalley! But books with pacing issues tend to bother me and I don’t love the whole “relationship based on a lit” thing so maybe it’s better to try to grab this one from the library.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Their relationship wasn't based on a lie, but the main conflict was. Chris and Maia kept running into each other until they eventually struck up a friendship. Everything was okay in their relationship, and Maia lied about herself without realizing why. She stuck to that lie, danced around the lie, and eventually the lie was discovered. They had a pretty solid relationship/friendship, and the lie had absolutely nothing to do with Chris, and everything to do with what Maia was struggling with.

      I would suggest reading a copy from the library first and then buying it if you like it!

      Delete
  4. This book is popping up around the blogosphere with some interesting reviews. I don't think it's my kind of story but I enjoyed reading your take on it. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I think I would have preferred this one on audio, since I tend to do well with slower books when I listen to them. :)

      Delete
  5. I like how the two MCs help each other through their sorrows and fears. I love when books are about more than the romance. But I would have a problem with the lies and overreaction. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lindsi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I would have liked this one more if they'd just remained friends. The romance was necessary for Chris to accept himself, and understand that he could be loved despite being transgender, because he was worried about putting himself out there. However, I think Maia accepting him without being romantically involved would have been equally effective. I can see why the author wrote it that way, but it made the lie and overreaction even more cringey.

      Delete
  6. Like you, I’m not a fan when conflict is based on a lie (or even a misunderstanding). I know it’s real life and it happens, but I just don’t enjoy reading about it. (I tend to want to smack the characters around. LOL) That being said, I listened to the audiobook of Smith’s The Way I Used to Be a couple years ago and it was amazing. That alone makes me want to give this one a try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I know it happens in real life, but when one honest conversation can solve the entire conflict, it makes me crazy. I want to shake the characters and say, "Spit it out already!" Maia was so, so close to telling Chris what she lied about on multiple occasions, but never owned up to her mistake. It was very frustrating to read about. I do think this one would work better as an audiobook! I typically enjoy slower paced books more when I listen to them. I hope you like it!

      Delete
  7. I've just started reading this book now. It makes me sad to hear that a lie causes the main conflict---I agree that I tend to get frustrated with that. It actually might help that I know that going in, though. So I guess I'm glad I read this!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, there's literally nothing else that impacts their relationship. It's that one character lied and the other character found out about it. It wasn't even a lie that was relevant to their relationship. They were just mad about the lie in general, which is why I didn't understand the overreaction. It felt exaggerated for the story. I hope you enjoy it, Nicole! <3

      Delete
  8. The cover makes me think of Emergency Contact a little!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're totally right! I can definitely see it. :)

      Delete

Click the "Notify me" box if you want to be notified when someone responds!

“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless