3.5 stars
Beautiful cover with beautiful verses inside to suit.
I Heart You, You Haunt Me is a quick read but it covers an intense topic of the death. Like so many books that concern about death, the story is very sad yet it’s full of hope. Since this book is written in verse, it’s very short and you can finish this book in one sitting.
Ava killed her boyfriend. She didn’t exactly kill him, but she’s the one who dared him to jump off the ledge in the deadly day. Now Jackson is dead, and Ava spends her days wishing that she could go back and change the past.
People keep telling Ava that it’s not her fault. Jackson is the one who decided to jump. Ava didn’t push him off the ledge. But if it’s not her fault, why do every bone in her body shriek that she’s guilty? Ava can’t see other guy or even hang out with her friends anymore. Because it would mean betrayal. Betrayal, betrayal to Jackson.
When Jackson’s ghost comes to her… it’s only a proof. A proof that she’s supposed to spend her life with Jackson, forever. If Jackson comes to her even when he’s dead, it only means that Jackson demands Ava to spend her days with him forever, right? But what if Ava gets tired of having relationship with ghost who can’t talk? What if Jackson has another reason to meet Ava?
When I’m writing this review, I reread a few chapters in the end and it affects me even more. Ava loves Jackson, but she can’t live with a dead boyfriend haunting her every time she’s alone in the house. She’s torn between guilt and desire to move on. The moving on, the letting go... Ava is still on her way to achieve it, but she’s hopeful. The last few pages of this book are full of hope, and I think it’s the best way to end a sad story. A promise of better things to come in the future.
It was my fault.
I dared him. What was I thinking? I wasn’t thinking.
Don’t you see?
He did it for me.
Four cups of tea. Amazing! Love the book, it’s simply
awesome. I love the tea flavor! A strong
recommendation
This seems like a really interesting, touching novel. The cover is really quite gorgeous :) I'll definitely be checking this one out some time soon.
ReplyDelete-Jenni @ A Mad Girl with a Bookshelf
I Heart You, You Haunt Me is a sad read and I know some people who cried because of this book. If you ever read this book, I hope you'll enjoy it, Jenni! Thanks for visiting my blog! :)
DeleteThis was the first book I read in verse and I loved it. I think my favorite parts were when it would talk about how Jackson and Ava first met. I definitely agree about how the ending was perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review! (:
I like it that there are parts telling about Jackson and Ava's relationship, especially with the metaphors. They're so perfect together, I think that's what makes this book very sad. ♥ Yay, I know the ending is very pretty! :)
DeleteThanks, Tabitha! :)
Oh, boy. Sounds like the kind of book I'd be crying all over. Although if I was the main character, I'd really feel guilty. I don't know if I'd be able to live like that! And then Jackson comes back as a ghost? Well, that's interesting, if not more heartbreaking...
ReplyDeleteGreat review, I'll have to check this book out! :)
I think it is very interesting that I can't shout at the main character right away to move on, because unlike other book, I did kind of judge her in the beginning. It is as if I become an outsider in the story, and at first I felt like Ava was the guilty one. Throughout the story, I feel like I began to forgive her. It's really strange that a book can make me feel like that LOL.
DeleteThanks, Sophie! ♥
Wow, I've never heard of this book before but it sounds so AWESOME! I love the cover and the summary! Love the little excerpt in the bottom too!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review, Hilda! ♥ So glad you enjoyed it!
The cover is very pretty, I really like it! ♥ I think one of the main reasons I love this book is the color used in the cover LOL! x)
DeleteThank you so much, Celline! ♥
Oh my wow, Hilda. I've only read one book by Lisa Schroeder before and I was SO heartbroken and teary afterward that I can only imagine how breathtakingly amazing this book would be too! It sounds sweet and beautiful and touching. Reading books about characters who do something they live to regret is always hard, but they always makes me think as well and that sounds like the case with this book! :) (Dares can be dangerous!)
ReplyDeleteAmazingly beautiful review, Hilda! I haven't heard of this book before, but I'm definitely planning on checking it out now (with tissues)! A sweet contemporary book with a hint of ghosts? Yes please! ;) ♥
What I really grasp from this book is: dares are dangerous! I'm always more kind of truth girl I guess! x) I love characters that are broken at first, because I can really feel how much they grow up in the end! Reading that kind of books always give me hope too, that in the end, everything will be better! :)
DeleteThank you, Mimi! ♥ LOL I do think that you need kleenex when you read this book! ♥ I hope you're going to enjoy this book later! :)
This sounds a little bit like The Catastrophic History of You and Me (that's what it reminded me of, anyway), but slightly sadder, maybe. It's been a while since I'd read a novel in verse, and I do enjoy them occasionally... and besides, Lisa Schroeder seems to be the best at writing them at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI guess this is a read that requires a lot of tissues so I'll make sure to have some close when I pick it up. Wonderful review, Hilda!
To be frank, I prefer The Catastrophic History of You and Me. There are funny elements in the book, plus a swoonworthy ghost hero LOL. This book is much sadder and actually at first I questioned myself whether Jackson's ghost was only in Ava's mind. That would be even more depressing. :P
DeleteThank you, Maja! ♥ I didn't cry when I read it, but it's a really intense read indeed! :)
I have never actually read a book in verse from cover to cover (not that I can remember anyway!) but that quote at the end of your review is making me want to read more! Awesome review, Hilda. I'm glad you found this to be a worthwhile read. I actually have a copy of Chasing Brooklyn by this author and hope I can read that soon. :)
ReplyDeleteThen you really should read books from this author to introduce you to novel in verse, Sam! Novel in verse is a good escape when I get tired of reading long prose. Plus, it's a really quick read so you can finish it in one sitting! ♥ I haven't read Chasing Brooklyn yet but I heard amazing things about it! I hope you'll enjoy reading the book, Sam! :)
DeleteWooow I didn't know it was written in verses!! Looks like a nice story. I've read Love & Leftovers which was in verses, and it was ok. But really, I think I am more of a prose type :P :) Nice review, Hilda!! :) I've enjoy it! ;)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Love and Letfovers, I prefer my novel in-verse to be heartbreaking LOL. I think I'm more prose girl too. :P Novel in-verse left me wanting more most of the time! Only when the poetry mood strikes in I read novel in-verse. ;) Thank you, Nea! :)
DeleteI haven't heard of this book but it sounds lovely! It sort of reminds me of Cold Kiss, which had a similar theme of a dead boyfriend not moving on and feelings of guilt. I think grief and denial are tricky subjects and it seems like this author does it well.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I heard Cold Kiss, but it sounds worth a check out in Goodreads! Grief and denial is one of my most favorite subjects in books I guess since I can really feel the character's development. :)
DeleteLOvely review of what sounds like a sad & beautiful story, Hilda! I'm going to add it to my to-read list.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds such a sad and moving book. I'm starting to like books written in verse, because they're just so quick and easy to read, and sometimes, that's exactly what you need. I really love books that move you, and especially at the end, where they leave your heart aching, and it sounds like this book did that to you! Lovely review! This is definitely going on my TBR now. =)
ReplyDelete-Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life
This is such a great review Hilda, I've read Shroeder's The Day Before which was also quite a moving read and I've got Chasing Brooklyn on my kindle (which I've heard is quite heartbreaking too!) I think the way she writes her verse definitely makes it a more gut wrenching read, I can't wait to check this book out too! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read this book ever since I saw its cover. Thank you for the great review!
ReplyDeleteI'm following your blog.
Mariana - World of Tori Vega.
Oh, this sounds lovely. Great review. I've been dying to read Chasing Brooklyn, so I'm really going to have to prioritize here- not to mention my school work.
ReplyDeleteI'm now following you, again, great review.
www.dogearedandcoffeestained.blogspot.com
Ahh! the lines you included were absolutely wonderful! I loved the way you made the story sound intense but wonderful!
ReplyDeletei usually never read in verse books but i would love to try this story!
Absolutely fantastic review Hilda!
Oh my good golly, Hilda! This book sounds like an emotional roller coaster ride for me... one that would include at least 2 boxes of tissues! But your review convinced me to give it a go.. I really should stop turning books that are directly related to death and seem sad down. :P
ReplyDeleteAmazing review!! <3
xx
Riya
Lovely review Hilda! I haven't read this verse novel yet but I read Chasing Brooklyn. It's sort of the sequel to this one. Same world but focusing on different characters. Ava makes a few appearances and you'd be happy to see how's she's doing. Chasing Brooklyn is also a verse-novel and I HIGHLY recommend it! While it is a little sad, I don't think it's anything like this. There's a romance that can actually go somewhere, in it. Very swoon-worthy! I loved it!
ReplyDeleteLove and Leftovers is also a really good verse-novel. So dreamy! :)
Wonderful review! Definitely sounds like a book that would make me cry... especially if it's written in verse! Eek. Also, thank you for commenting on my blog and for following even though nothing's posted yet, hehe! Very kind :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this sounds like a really touching story. I love books that are written in verse, so I will definitely have to check this one out. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteSteph @ Stepping Out of the Page
This sounds like a really intense, emotional read. Thx for sharing and stopping by.
ReplyDeleteSweet review, sounds like a haunting story
ReplyDeleteNice and pleasing book cover.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the cover is BEAUTIFUL.<3 And so is your review! Ava just sounds... Beautiful. Why don't we just agree that everything about this book/review is beautiful? :P
ReplyDeleteNew follower via GFC! I love your blog, Hilda.<3
I don't usually read books in verse, but I do love the cover, and how you said that its sad but still full of hope.
ReplyDeleteThanks for review.
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog