Alone With You in the Ether

Product Information

Eloise Deane is a gamer, a loner who wears it proudly (even though she would rather not), and would rather get through her senior year without people getting in her way, but when she starts building deeper relationships with Austin & Marianne, it has her reflecting on the connections she has in her life wondering whether finding your people is something that, although takes risks (and vulnerability), can be rewarding in the end. As she goes to & from school, Marianne's house and finds herself bonding with Austin as they help her go through her musician-era memorabilia, as she breezes through a few fun months of forging new friendships - its still at times she wonders whether her avoidant nature will cause problems. I loved how despite Austin not always understanding her anxiety - he always made an effort to include her and get to know her, which leads to many new adventurous firsts for Eloise as she meets new people, even something as simple as getting tacos with a friend or being invited to a party - at times its a struggle for her to agree, but as she begins to developed complicated feelings for Austin, she also relishes in how effortless it is when she finds her place among new people! It’s the same with a character in a story. I start with a tiny shred of information about a character, then I write scenes, give her words, decide if those words feel right. Once I’ve found her language, the way she speaks, then I’m beginning to know her better. I throw action in her way so she has to respond, to behave, and then I learn even more. And all the while, I’m shaping and reshaping the character so that she becomes palpable. I always remember that there is no objective “truth” about any character. A person might have a mythology about him or herself that serves a certain emotional need. And characters are often revealed through other’s perspectives, and those perspectives are filtered through the emotions and desires of that other person. It’s complicated! For Regan and Aldo, life has been a matter of resigning themselves to the blueprints of inevitability—until the two meet. Could six conversations with a stranger be the variable that shakes up the entire simulation? To all the other reviewers of this book....did we...did we read the same thing? I've missed something major here. The prose is pretty but tangential, half the time it feels like it leaves off in the middle of a thought and while I'm mentally trying to fill in the blanks, I've lost all feeling for the story and characters. Its outer shell was pretty but otherwise it was empty on the inside. You really think community service”—I don’t bother hiding the derision in my voice—“will help my application stand out?” I stare at the handout so intently, I’m amazed it doesn’t burst into flames.

They had come halfway around the world to have “an experience.” And yet, there were moments when she felt more ephemeral than ever, when the gaudiness of this experience-hoarding made her all the more unsure of what it meant to be living. What I didn't love: entirely too much strong language for a YA book, and sometimes I don't love the I hate everyone but you. I hope Lou learns from her mistakes and starts reacting with more kindness towards others (mainly her family and siblings)...I just don't like when rudeness is justified.

Table of Contents

The way he said this made her feel dismissed. She wanted to correct him. She wanted to be able to change her mind, wanted him to change her mind. Although he seemed to have convictions, he had the same careless quality as Shelly, a confidence that allowed them both to ride along above the dismal concerns of everyone else. Why did she care so much? Her care felt like a disfigurement, something that made it necessary for people like Shelly and Toby to distance themselves from her. Her care felt like something that would drag down the progress of human development. It made her an awkward, embarrassing person who asked what book you were reading when all you wanted to do was go to the bathroom. She felt her face flush and she returned to her room. She changed into her nightclothes and got into bed and turned off the lamp, but she was too agitated to sleep. I also really liked Marianne! I didn’t expect to care this much about this old woman, but her dynamic with Eloise was also super enjoyable! I loved that they were so similar, but their dynamic ended up being kind of similar to Eloise and Austin’s: they pushed each other’s buttons, but always in a joking, friendly way. I also really liked seeing Marianne, Austin and Eloise hanging out all together. But, the absolute best character I think in this novel is Marianne. I think she delivers so much more depth to this piece. She’s funny and whip-smart and provides depth and insight not only to the protagonist, Eloise, but also to the reader. She also adds this fun 70s - Fleetwood Mac vibe to the whole book which is a whole other level of fun.

And then… it got worse. The writing became a little too self-indulgent. It took on that fake-deep/Jared Leto/tumblr circa 2014 tone. It started feeling pretentious.

BookBrowse Review

There's a true romcom energy to this book that I believe readers of Lynn Painter or any YA romance really would have a great time with (if you love YA romances, you need this book in your life). NOW I WANT A MOVIE ADAPTATION - this would be so cute as movie or tv show! ♡❀