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This book is terrible! I totally don‘t understand all of the accolades. I thought the writing was clunky and simplistic. The story was really contrived didn‘t really make any sense. Reading the reviews made it sound like it would all come together in the end, but the end was just stupid. Skip this one.

This book is not one I would have picked out normally, but I was tickled that it was set in Arkansas (my home state). It was a good read, with two very different stories unfolding simultaneously during one Arkansas summer. Part mystery and part coming of age, I think it captured the spirit of the state well and I definitely liked the author‘s style of writing. #vhsreads #viloniareads #locallit #arkansas

“Maybe she was going crazy too, but it was a less offensive and in-your-face crazy...” p. 104

“I can‘t seem to be a pessimist long enough to overlook the possibility of things being overwhelmingly good.” p. 5 #vhsreads #viloniareads #arkansas

I met John Corey Whaley and bought this book purely because I thought he had a fun personality. I ended up being completely surprised: this is my favorite YA novel that I‘ve read this year. The writing is gorgeous and the storyline is creative. The mystery element keeps you hooked without using cheap plot twists. Honestly, this story is hard to describe, but it really spoke to me. I‘m going to be recommending this to everyone I know!

Well, #takethelongwayhome makes me think of another song Take a Backroad by Rodney Atkins - it‘s a line in the Atkins song.

I started listening to country music in vet school, and ever since I got my license, over 20 years ago, I‘ve taken backroads and the long way home all over the South. Nothing like a good drive to clear your head!

Pics from the Atkins video. Tagged book is one of my fav rural Southern reads. #anglophileapril

Enjoyed this YA novel very much. I REALLY appreciate that there was no love triangle of any sort and though there were some outlandish pieces of the plot, I loved the way they tied together.

What a beautiful book! The writing was wonderful and the characters drew me in and kept me there... Loved it. ❤️🤓
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is how we read in the morning. 😂🤓 #lapdog #amreading

It's just that kind of afternoon.... #sleepybaby #layaroundandread 🤓

I struggle with anxiety. Is it odd to say that when I sit to read for a while, I calm down? Just started this one - my son's girlfriend recommended it - so far I really like it. 🤓 #readingistherapy #lovebooks #booksaremycalm

I constantly recommend this book especially to people who don't love YA. It's YA that reads as adult fiction. Whaley has never missed with a book! The dual POV narrators rarely work, but the transition is seamless in this book. #recommendsday

#17booklove Day 11: Set in a Beloved Location. I haven't read this one yet, but when I found out that it takes place in Arkansas, I had to have! I was born in Arkansas, but moved away when I was 7. I love to go visit because it's so different from Arizona, and it's a place I'd love to live again one day. Fun fact corner: I'm from Bill Clinton's hometown, Hot Springs!

Today's recommendation - Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley. Funny, heartbreaking, and real, I adore this book.

loved it

"Where Things Come Back is a great novel. It is charming as well as thought-provoking. Throughout the book, Whaley develops a powerful intensity that will creep up on you. It is a deeply impactful read. I highly recommend it to everyone looking for something different to read."

"Life, he says, doesn‘t have to be so bad all the time. We don‘t have to be anxious about everything. We can just be. We can get up, anticipate that the day will probably have a few good moments and a few bad ones, and then just deal with it. Take it all in and deal as best we can."

Excellent read 👌 highly recommend for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction but with a sprinkle of existentialism.

5🌟 The research that went into this book is so impressive, especially for YA. It's a young adult book that I readily recommend to adults. The plot is perfectly paced, and the characters very realistic. The concept is original as well. Long live the Lazarus woodpecker!