Nick and June were here

Title: Nick and June were here
Author: Shalanda Stanley
Publisher:  Random House Children's
Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: February 12th

Pages: 304

Format: eARC via NetGalley
Preorder your copy here. 

















*I want to thank to Random House Children's and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't effect in any way on my opinion on book*

 Nick and June were here is an amazing contemporary book, filled with good quotes, it's a book with an amazing ending and it's certainly a book you will want to read.

Nick and June were best friends for years, until their relationship suddenly turned into something more. Now, June is coping with a new diagnosis of schizophrenia, a secret she asked Nick to keep for too long. Between managing her symptoms and her parents, June is just trying to keep it together. Nick is a reluctant car thief, supporting his aunt with the money and focusing on his art whenever he can.

But when June's condition sends her to the hospital and Nick's latest crime threatens to land him in prison, the two decide to run away. When the world is trying to tear them apart, can Nick and June find a way to stay together?

I had a really high expectations when I requested this book on Netgalley. I must say I wasn't disappointed, though I think that marketing this book as a book similiar to All the bright places will leave readers disappointed because this is not similiar to All the bright places at all. It has that aspect where they travel, but that's all.

"The world feels too big. Sometimes it feels so big you can't breathe." 

I loved this book, nonetheless. It was realistic and breathtaking. I loved the writing style. The book have a really nice pace and I did not feel bored at any moment while I was reading this book. I felt like I was reading someone's testimony and I really loved that. 

When it comes to characters, though,I can't say I loved any of them. I did like the story, a lot, especially that ending, but I couldn't connect with any of the characters and that's the only reason I gave this book a four star rating. 

I thought that Nick is too selfish. I know that he's been through a lot, but June is the girl who he is in love with and I couldn't understand why would he risk her mental health. They seemed kinda immature but I love that at the end Nick showed some courage and took the mater in his own hands.

When it comes to family, both were too much in my opinion. I couldn't understand Nick's mother. But I did love his father's character. 

Also, I love that we have PTSD in this book, even for a brief moment. I think that's an important topic and more books should have it.

I want talk too much about the story, because I think you need to discover all of it by yourself, but I love how the ending was so mature and realistic and how Nick redeemed himself at the ending. It's not something we see in a lot of ya books, so I was happy this one has it.

When it comes to June's schizophrenia, I think this book needed more of it. I really liked the represantion of schizophrenia in Made you up and Words on bathroom walls so I hoped for something similar here, but unfortunately it failed. That didn't ruin the experience for me, though.

"What does love mean to you? the little girl asked.

She didn't scare me anymore because I knew what love meant. 

"It'll always be you." I said.

He looked so sad, but there was a hint of a smile in the corner of his mouth."

Anyway, if you love a good contemporary read that deals with really important topics and you love a road novels, that I'm sure you'll devour this one!

Rating: 4 stars