Julia Hoban (1)

I think this had a great message for kids about cutting and warning signs, etc. However, the ending was crap. We don't need anymore stories out there that promote teen sex-it's like all these books nowadays are saying that when teens have sex, all their problems disappear! Really? We don't need to encourage teen sex AT ALL! I really felt like the ending was saying that sleeping with the boy of her dreams made Willow start healing. I mean, I really could have done without all that. And it's show more sad; it didn't need that at all to be powerful. Take out that and it's amazing. I just feel like it might be sending the wrong message to confused and hurting teens. show less

With her debut novel, Julia Hoban blows away readers with a gripping story full of emotion, truth, and what could be real life experiences. Willow blames herself for the accident that happened months ago, and expresses and releases the guilt she feels through cutting herself.

Willow is written in 3rd person, and at first it distracted me from the book. But after a few chapters, it made the story so much more raw and emotional and definately suited the book. It made the writing almost show more detached, and Willow is dealing with so many emotions and so detached herself.

The first page Guy walked into the story, you could feel the romance that would happen between Guy and Willow. The journey and build up to that romance was so sweet, open, and honest. Guy was such a well-rounded character. The fact he cares about Willow and what she's doing to herself, all the while taking action to help her was great. I can relate to some of his emotions he felt towards Willow in regards to her cutting herself, as one of my best friends took up the same escape. I don't think a lot of people realize the seriousness of the issue. As a narrator, Willow was interesting. Hearing her story and emotions she feels toward everything was really enlightening. Julia Hoban nails what I'd assume the emotions that would be going through a sixteen year old's head in that situation.

The end was so sweet. It's not exactly what readers are thinking will happen. This was a book I was addicted to, especially needing to know how it would end.

While Willow deals with such a intense plot, it's not depressing. It's full of hope that Guy expresses towards Willow and helping her through that point in her life. I cannot wait to see what Julia Hoban comes up with next. show less

17 year old Willow is a cutter, a bad day at school, the look on her brother's face, the absence of her parents, her razor blade masks one pain with another. Seven months after surviving the car crash that kills her parents, Willow is bowed down with guilt - for killing them and for burdening her brother with the responsibility of looking after her. Then she meets Guy and is scared and confused when she starts to have feelings for him. The tragedy of the story is that neither Willow, nor her show more brother David, can bring themselves to talk to each other about their grief and loss. The depictions of self-harm are shocking and chilling, the level of self-loathing is appalling and Willow's misinterpretation of people's reactions to her are infuriating. But the love story is touching and gentle with some beautiful, naturalistic dialogue that brings the characters to life. An understanding depiction of a self-harmer and her motivations with some strong language, though given the subject, this is scarcely relevant. show less

Holy freaking (insert swear word here)!!

The Good: Be prepared for some serious fan-girl gushing! Also, this review in no way justifies how much I loved this book.

For a debut author, Julia has blown all the other authors, regardless if it's their first or not, WAY out of the water! Once I started Willow, I could not put it down. It's like Green Eggs and Ham. I read Willow when I sat on a stool, I read Willow lounging by the pool, I read Willow here and there, I read Willow FREAKING show more EVERYWHERE.

Secondly, the cutting. Holy crap, I never expected it to be so haunting! As much as I am against cutting, I could see where Willow was coming from. It was a hard subject to write about, but Julia Hoban does it with such grace and elegance. She doesn't sugar-coat the issue, I think that was one of the reasons why Willow is so fresh in my mind. She gave us the truth and the way that she portrayed Willow's cutting, made me absolutely entranced in the story. Near the end, she tells about the first time she cut. And I swear, I gasped and got goosebumps.

The way Willow grieved was real. Fortunately for me, I have never lost a parent but, Willow had such a sense of reality about her. Sometimes, you want to smack her in the head and shout, "Why do you do this to yourself?!" but that urge is quickly smothered because Willow is just so darn likable!

The last sentence... wow. Yay for possibilities!

The Bad: I really cannot think of anything wrong with this book!

However, I do have a little complaint. I did not like Guy that much. I know I'll probably get shot for that, but he was just too perfect! It seemed that he no faults, whatsoever! Don't get me wrong, I ABSOLUTELY ADORE him! I just wished he had some faults like... he wore socks with his sandals or something. I think that would've made him more appealing and so much more human. Not to mention, Willow and him would be a slight more equal. I still love him, I just wish he wasn't so damn perfect!

Another complaint of mine is the ending. It was a good one... after I read a couple times. It sort of made me go, "Was that really it?" the first time.

Overall: Willow is a remarkable book that is moving and will leave an imprint on you for a long time. Honestly, Willow is one of the best books I've read all year. If you have not bought Willow, may the Gods of Literature guilt you into buying it!

Grade: A show less