***POSSIBLE
SPOILERS PRESENT WITHIN REVIEW***
I
knew that this one was going to be sad, but I so was not prepared for the level
of pain I felt when it was over. I loved Kate! She was funny and feisty.
Confident. Personable. Everyone’s friend. She made me smile with her
honestness. She made a statement. And, she will never be forgotten because she
made her mark on every person’s life that she touched. If you read this book,
you will definitely cry because Kate just weaves herself into your heart
without even trying.
Whether
she was called Kate, Katie, Bright Side or even Katherine she was a force to be
reckoned with. She stood for what’s right. For what’s your most personal
desire. What’s your biggest most important dream. Nothing stopped her, and when
you think she would be afraid, she faced it dead on. Ms. Holden created such an
impeccable character. She was never afraid to show her true self. This is just
not her story, though, it’s about two men who have come to love her (not a love
triangle per se). Both loving her in their own private and touching way. Both
needing to have had her in their lives for personal meaning. And, Kate needed
them too. Her life has been anything but easy. She has pretty much depended solely
on herself her whole life. So when she finds out that she has contracted
another bout of an all too life-stealing illness, she knows she must be brave
and not run.
From
the very beginning, and as I read each chapter, I could feel the emotion rising.
I basically couldn’t avoid the heartbreak building as Kate’s story is told. As
the author alternates POV’s from Kate to Keller and as they got to know each
other, I got a sense of hope that maybe this story wasn’t going to end badly. I
was totally off that mark. But, it was done, and the words that were written
were simply BEAUTIFUL!!! I did cry, in fact, I barely could read the last
chapter through my tears. It took me a while to calm down from the emotional
loss of such an intriguing and brave young heroine. She was captivating and
honest, and her story was raw and real. I can only hope that Ms. Holden tells
Gus’ story with as much compassion, humor, and bravery. Loved, loved, this book
but what a heartbreaking ending. One of my favorites so far this year...
“So,
why do you call Kate ‘Bright Side’?” Shelly asks.
He
looks at me and then back to her. Then back to me. And back to her. He points
at me. “Have you met the girl?”
Everyone
looks at me and their smiles are endearing. It makes me feel good.
Gus
continues. “She’s the poster child for positivity. She’s a freaking ray of
sunshine. She doesn’t just look on the bright side...she lives there.” – Kate (Thursday, November 24)
“Katie
didn’t just look on the bright side...she lived there. He was right. And that
made her the bravest person I’ve ever known. You are brave...” – Keller (Friday,
January 27)
“Do
epic.” – Kate (Sunday, January 22)
Review Written 6/4/15
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