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The Homecoming
Forced to return to his estranged family, John discovers how hard it is to truly go home.
It's been a year since John lost his girlfriend, Leah, to suicide. Living with his uncle keeps his mind from the tragedy and his screwed up family-until he gets into trouble and a judge sends him back home. With a neglectful mother and abusive brother, John's homecoming is far from happy.
As he tries to navigate and repair the relationships he abandoned years ago, Emily, the girl next door, is the only bright spot. She's sweet and smart and makes him think his heart may finally be healing. But tragedy isn't far away, and John must soon face an impossible decision: save his family or save himself.
It's been a year since John lost his girlfriend, Leah, to suicide. Living with his uncle keeps his mind from the tragedy and his screwed up family-until he gets into trouble and a judge sends him back home. With a neglectful mother and abusive brother, John's homecoming is far from happy.
As he tries to navigate and repair the relationships he abandoned years ago, Emily, the girl next door, is the only bright spot. She's sweet and smart and makes him think his heart may finally be healing. But tragedy isn't far away, and John must soon face an impossible decision: save his family or save himself.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
About the author
Stacie Ramey
7 books189 followersI never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Was a clap from the sidelines kind of girl.
The first person to say they loved my writing was a boy in my 10th grade English class. (So I dated him).
I write every book with one person in mind. My reader.
Maybe this next book will be for you.
Hope so.
Was a clap from the sidelines kind of girl.
The first person to say they loved my writing was a boy in my 10th grade English class. (So I dated him).
I write every book with one person in mind. My reader.
Maybe this next book will be for you.
Hope so.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
October 31, 2016
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a boy whose brother had suffered a brain injury.
John was an okay character and it was clear that he was struggling with grief over his older brother’s accident, I wished that he would stop smoking pot though, especially when he had drug tests to pass.
The storyline in this was about John going back home to live with his mother, brother, and sister after living with his uncle for a time and getting in trouble with regards to smoking pot. We had a bit of a mystery going on over the exact events which lead to his brother’s accident, and why John felt so guilty about it, and some sessions with John’s therapist which let us know a bit more about him, and we also got a bit of a romance happening with the girl next door. I did feel like the storyline about John’s girlfriend committing suicide wasn’t as well developed as it could have been though, and the story was much more focused on John’s brother’s accident and the blame associated with it.
The ending to this was fairly happy, and I was satisfied with the way things turned out.
6.5 out of 10
“I want to argue with her – drinking helps me - but maybe we’re looking for different things. I just want peace, and she wants to make things right.”
This was a YA contemporary story about a boy whose brother had suffered a brain injury.
John was an okay character and it was clear that he was struggling with grief over his older brother’s accident, I wished that he would stop smoking pot though, especially when he had drug tests to pass.
The storyline in this was about John going back home to live with his mother, brother, and sister after living with his uncle for a time and getting in trouble with regards to smoking pot. We had a bit of a mystery going on over the exact events which lead to his brother’s accident, and why John felt so guilty about it, and some sessions with John’s therapist which let us know a bit more about him, and we also got a bit of a romance happening with the girl next door. I did feel like the storyline about John’s girlfriend committing suicide wasn’t as well developed as it could have been though, and the story was much more focused on John’s brother’s accident and the blame associated with it.
The ending to this was fairly happy, and I was satisfied with the way things turned out.
6.5 out of 10
November 22, 2016
Mrs. Ramey stopped by illbefinealonereads to talk about Writer's Block. Come see!
Every once in a while I get the pleasure of writing a review that I have to persuade myself to write. This is one of those reviews.
Actual rating: 3.5
I expected an emotional roller coaster with this book, which I didn't get. However, the writing style, as well as the voice the author gave to John, the narrator in this book were wonderful. As a character, John is easy to relate to, the whole story is crowded with relatable elements. But he overall impression it left on me wasn't as stellar as I expected it to be. It still is a great read, just maybe not for me, or not for me at this time and hour.
I'm putting this book on my 'to re-read' list. Maybe my impression will change later on.
Every once in a while I get the pleasure of writing a review that I have to persuade myself to write. This is one of those reviews.
Actual rating: 3.5
I expected an emotional roller coaster with this book, which I didn't get. However, the writing style, as well as the voice the author gave to John, the narrator in this book were wonderful. As a character, John is easy to relate to, the whole story is crowded with relatable elements. But he overall impression it left on me wasn't as stellar as I expected it to be. It still is a great read, just maybe not for me, or not for me at this time and hour.
I'm putting this book on my 'to re-read' list. Maybe my impression will change later on.
October 28, 2016
2.5 Stars
Overall:
I received an ARC of this through Netgalley, thanks to the author and the publisher for the opportunity!
I’m being pretty picky with the rating, as this just wasn’t quite at 3 star level… but it also wasn’t 2 star level. Overall, I enjoyed the story, I just had difficulties with how several details were handled. By then end, those details piled on each other and really impacted my overall enjoyment of this.
Pros:
I really loved John as a narrator! He had a very distinct voice, shaped believably by his surroundings. In particular, his discussions of his anger (and its personification as a “dragon”) were by far and away my favorite part of this book. He really felt like “teenage boy” without sacrificing depth.
This presented so many different dynamics and topics I feel aren’t usually talked about—namely the entire family impact when the oldest son is left mentally disabled. I honestly have not read anything similar to this, and definitely not something that allowed the handicapped sibling to be anything less than perfect. Ryan really felt like a real person and character outside of his disability.
I really enjoyed the focus this book had on communication. It focused on how harmful a lack-there-of can be, and how healing discussing things and working through them can also be. Both John’s therapist and probation officer were genuine without being overbearing.
Give me more protagonists that like architecture and math please!
Cons:
Emily was too perfect. I really didn’t like her.
This wrapped up a little too perfectly, a little too quickly.
As I mentioned before, everything piled up at the end. Usually this wouldn’t have been a problem, but it was quite confusing as a lot of details or emotions were thrown around very quickly.
I wish John’s parents had been expanded upon. All they really did were cry and argue, and they seemed like caricatures at certain points.
John had so many friends on the sports team, and I could tell none of them apart.
The whole plot with Pete felt very rushed and didn’t need to be added an already cluttered ending. It seemed like the author was trying to tie up every single loose end, and it just lost believability.
While I enjoyed John’s voice, there were several times his narration was very “on-the-nose.” He often would tell me how important and action was, or why he believed someone was saying something. I would have preferred to draw these conclusions myself.
There were several formatting issues in my copy of this, but I believe it due to the file format and not the actual story itself.
I kinda had a problem with how women were treated in this book, tbh. They were either really idolized and portrayed as perfect (like Emily or John’s little sister or Leah) or portrayed as very “weak” (John’s word not mine, about his mom.) I understand this was part of his character… but I really would have preferred to see more go against this black-n-white mentality.
I did not initially know this was a sequel, so I honestly have not read the first book. I was told it wasn’t really an issue, but I think it somewhat was. John’s relationship with Leah was never really revealed and several of those scenes had no impact on me. I think most of this backstory was discussed in the initial book.
In conclusion:
While I feel I have listed several cons, there wasn’t one thing in particular that made me dislike this book. It was simply a lot of little issues that piled together.
Overall:
I received an ARC of this through Netgalley, thanks to the author and the publisher for the opportunity!
I’m being pretty picky with the rating, as this just wasn’t quite at 3 star level… but it also wasn’t 2 star level. Overall, I enjoyed the story, I just had difficulties with how several details were handled. By then end, those details piled on each other and really impacted my overall enjoyment of this.
Pros:
I really loved John as a narrator! He had a very distinct voice, shaped believably by his surroundings. In particular, his discussions of his anger (and its personification as a “dragon”) were by far and away my favorite part of this book. He really felt like “teenage boy” without sacrificing depth.
This presented so many different dynamics and topics I feel aren’t usually talked about—namely the entire family impact when the oldest son is left mentally disabled. I honestly have not read anything similar to this, and definitely not something that allowed the handicapped sibling to be anything less than perfect. Ryan really felt like a real person and character outside of his disability.
I really enjoyed the focus this book had on communication. It focused on how harmful a lack-there-of can be, and how healing discussing things and working through them can also be. Both John’s therapist and probation officer were genuine without being overbearing.
Give me more protagonists that like architecture and math please!
Cons:
Emily was too perfect. I really didn’t like her.
This wrapped up a little too perfectly, a little too quickly.
As I mentioned before, everything piled up at the end. Usually this wouldn’t have been a problem, but it was quite confusing as a lot of details or emotions were thrown around very quickly.
I wish John’s parents had been expanded upon. All they really did were cry and argue, and they seemed like caricatures at certain points.
John had so many friends on the sports team, and I could tell none of them apart.
The whole plot with Pete felt very rushed and didn’t need to be added an already cluttered ending. It seemed like the author was trying to tie up every single loose end, and it just lost believability.
While I enjoyed John’s voice, there were several times his narration was very “on-the-nose.” He often would tell me how important and action was, or why he believed someone was saying something. I would have preferred to draw these conclusions myself.
There were several formatting issues in my copy of this, but I believe it due to the file format and not the actual story itself.
I kinda had a problem with how women were treated in this book, tbh. They were either really idolized and portrayed as perfect (like Emily or John’s little sister or Leah) or portrayed as very “weak” (John’s word not mine, about his mom.) I understand this was part of his character… but I really would have preferred to see more go against this black-n-white mentality.
I did not initially know this was a sequel, so I honestly have not read the first book. I was told it wasn’t really an issue, but I think it somewhat was. John’s relationship with Leah was never really revealed and several of those scenes had no impact on me. I think most of this backstory was discussed in the initial book.
In conclusion:
While I feel I have listed several cons, there wasn’t one thing in particular that made me dislike this book. It was simply a lot of little issues that piled together.
August 14, 2016
John caught in the horrors of the past and struggling with his feelings is after seven years coming back to his hometown, to his family, to his demons.
After reading the synopsis I thought that I will be not able to put this book down, because I expected strong emotional story. I got the opposite. Maybe it was me but I couldn't connect with John. Altough author is slowly revealing John's past in the book I didn't get why is he so angry with his brother? What kind of relationship did he with Leah? Why was his uncle so important for him? In my opinion the author didn't go deep enough.
What I liked was the writing style, John's relationship with his little sister and how precisely author described the way how young people deal with their problems.
Truthfully it wasn't bad book but it didn't suit me. I would recommend The Homecoming to those people who like books with emotions and development of people's state of mind.
***
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After reading the synopsis I thought that I will be not able to put this book down, because I expected strong emotional story. I got the opposite. Maybe it was me but I couldn't connect with John. Altough author is slowly revealing John's past in the book I didn't get why is he so angry with his brother? What kind of relationship did he with Leah? Why was his uncle so important for him? In my opinion the author didn't go deep enough.
What I liked was the writing style, John's relationship with his little sister and how precisely author described the way how young people deal with their problems.
Truthfully it wasn't bad book but it didn't suit me. I would recommend The Homecoming to those people who like books with emotions and development of people's state of mind.
***
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley
I'm really in to this cover - so simple but fantastic! This was a little hit and miss for me. I thought the writing was really great and the narration style was on point but I just wasn't that drawn to John or any of the other characters like I thought I would be. A credit to the author though as she did make me care about the relationship John shares with his sister.
I've read some other reviews on Goodreads and I can definitely see there are quite a few people who have really enjoyed this so I would say I am in the minority. Even though this wasn't my cup of tea, I did like Ramey's writing style so am going to be picking up The Sister Pact soon for a read.
I'm really in to this cover - so simple but fantastic! This was a little hit and miss for me. I thought the writing was really great and the narration style was on point but I just wasn't that drawn to John or any of the other characters like I thought I would be. A credit to the author though as she did make me care about the relationship John shares with his sister.
I've read some other reviews on Goodreads and I can definitely see there are quite a few people who have really enjoyed this so I would say I am in the minority. Even though this wasn't my cup of tea, I did like Ramey's writing style so am going to be picking up The Sister Pact soon for a read.
November 4, 2016
I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley!
3.5 stars — I really enjoyed reading this book, but I don't feel like giving it a full 4 stars just because I feel like it missed something, even though I can't figure out what.
The writing style is probably the best part of it. I usually prefer a 3rd person narrator, but reading from John's POV worked really well. The author managed to get the reader into the protagonist's head, into his feelings and his thoughts. The way his thinking was put on paper was really realistic and I could feel really connected to him. Unfortunately, there were a few repetitions of sentences here and there that eventually got my a little bored, but it wasn't a very big deal.
As for the other characters, unfortunately I couldn't feel the same connection with them. I wish the other characters were further developped. I really liked the family dynamics, but I think they could have been expressed better and developped more in depth. Also, I couldn't care about the relationship between John and Emily. I got interested in this book mostly for it, but at the end I didn't like Emily's character and I felt like their relationship was pushed into the background. It wasn't this great connection and it didn't get me feels, and it's probably the main reason why I didn't LOVE this book. It was just something I was expecting from the plot, but that I didn't find in the book. At the end, I read this book mainly for the family issues and the relationships between John, his parents and his siblings.
I don't feel like there's more to say about it. This is surely a nice book, just nothing too special or anything particularly original. A quick, fast-paced read, that interested me but that couldn't really give me emotions. Since I loved the writing style, though, I will probably check out other books by Stacie Ramey!
3.5 stars — I really enjoyed reading this book, but I don't feel like giving it a full 4 stars just because I feel like it missed something, even though I can't figure out what.
The writing style is probably the best part of it. I usually prefer a 3rd person narrator, but reading from John's POV worked really well. The author managed to get the reader into the protagonist's head, into his feelings and his thoughts. The way his thinking was put on paper was really realistic and I could feel really connected to him. Unfortunately, there were a few repetitions of sentences here and there that eventually got my a little bored, but it wasn't a very big deal.
As for the other characters, unfortunately I couldn't feel the same connection with them. I wish the other characters were further developped. I really liked the family dynamics, but I think they could have been expressed better and developped more in depth. Also, I couldn't care about the relationship between John and Emily. I got interested in this book mostly for it, but at the end I didn't like Emily's character and I felt like their relationship was pushed into the background. It wasn't this great connection and it didn't get me feels, and it's probably the main reason why I didn't LOVE this book. It was just something I was expecting from the plot, but that I didn't find in the book. At the end, I read this book mainly for the family issues and the relationships between John, his parents and his siblings.
I don't feel like there's more to say about it. This is surely a nice book, just nothing too special or anything particularly original. A quick, fast-paced read, that interested me but that couldn't really give me emotions. Since I loved the writing style, though, I will probably check out other books by Stacie Ramey!
July 13, 2016
"This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review”
I just love beautiful book covers ...
It's a well written story about being caught in the horrors of the past , being controlled by it . And trying to move forward, letting go of the memories.
I liked John's character, his mind is a bit messed up and he is struggling with his feelings. I felt like this story was addressing serious issues, so it's definitely not a light read, or a romantic one .
There was a bit of romance but the writer didn't focus on it , which i liked , both John and Emily have a lot going on in their lives .
I loved John's relationship with his sister , it was heartwarming.
This book could be seen as a standalone, the story is good and interesting on it's own .
I wish there was some kind of a plot , that's why i didn't give 5 stars ,but i enjoyed going along on John's journey nonetheless , the ending was also good and fitting with the story.
I would recommend it to people who enjoy stories about characters with bad pasts and serious struggles in their lives , and the possibility of overcoming them.
I just love beautiful book covers ...
It's a well written story about being caught in the horrors of the past , being controlled by it . And trying to move forward, letting go of the memories.
I liked John's character, his mind is a bit messed up and he is struggling with his feelings. I felt like this story was addressing serious issues, so it's definitely not a light read, or a romantic one .
There was a bit of romance but the writer didn't focus on it , which i liked , both John and Emily have a lot going on in their lives .
I loved John's relationship with his sister , it was heartwarming.
This book could be seen as a standalone, the story is good and interesting on it's own .
I wish there was some kind of a plot , that's why i didn't give 5 stars ,but i enjoyed going along on John's journey nonetheless , the ending was also good and fitting with the story.
I would recommend it to people who enjoy stories about characters with bad pasts and serious struggles in their lives , and the possibility of overcoming them.
August 20, 2016
Kindly received and ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
What can I say? I wasn't exactly attracted to this one, neither did I feel anything against it either. The story was nice and the characters were likeable too. But for some reason I felt as if the author just touched everything from the top and didn't exactly go deep into the characters and plot. It had a great depth but it wasn't dwelled in deep. The story was promising and the characters were nice but it would have been a great book if the author just made it a bit more deeper.
Maybe the first book explained everything better than this and it would have been better to read that before this.
Yeah one person I was pissed at was the mother. She was just way too much. She shouldn't have left Ryan and Livy alone at all. It made me mad. She was pretty stupid from the beginning before the accident itself. But then again everyone is not perfect.
Happy reading folks.
What can I say? I wasn't exactly attracted to this one, neither did I feel anything against it either. The story was nice and the characters were likeable too. But for some reason I felt as if the author just touched everything from the top and didn't exactly go deep into the characters and plot. It had a great depth but it wasn't dwelled in deep. The story was promising and the characters were nice but it would have been a great book if the author just made it a bit more deeper.
Maybe the first book explained everything better than this and it would have been better to read that before this.
Yeah one person I was pissed at was the mother. She was just way too much. She shouldn't have left Ryan and Livy alone at all. It made me mad. She was pretty stupid from the beginning before the accident itself. But then again everyone is not perfect.
Happy reading folks.
December 21, 2016
I was first introduced to Stacie Ramey with her book The Sister Pact. My thoughts on that book were – “At times, raw and painful, this book can help show why suicide isn’t a way out. It lingers and lives far beyond the individual. The family, friends and community are all affected in a deep way.” That rings very true in this book, a follow up of sorts (it can be read as a standalone, but I think reading The Sister Pact first would help ground you in the world) featuring Leah’s boyfriend John a year later. John has finally returned to his family home after living with relatives after his mother kicked him out. He returns broken and bitter and with his mother fixating on his older brother, a probation officer he hates and a shrink he tolerates. Add a feisty little sister, a cute girl next door and a brutal lacrosse regimen, and we witness John’s new normal.
The plot of The Homecoming has a lot packed into it. Domestic violence, substance abuse, lingering pain from suicide and more. The writing of Stacie Ramey is inundated with emotion and she can make you care for a character, even when they are being awful. The pacing was spot on and the world built was very real. As I said, the emotions are strong in this book and very palpable. The characters had some weak moments, but for the most part I really connected with them.
The Homecoming is a book about difficult things. It is, at times, not an easy read due to the subject matter, but I still enjoyed it as a whole. I like Stacie Ramey’s writing style and the emotion she is able to pack into a few words. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The plot of The Homecoming has a lot packed into it. Domestic violence, substance abuse, lingering pain from suicide and more. The writing of Stacie Ramey is inundated with emotion and she can make you care for a character, even when they are being awful. The pacing was spot on and the world built was very real. As I said, the emotions are strong in this book and very palpable. The characters had some weak moments, but for the most part I really connected with them.
The Homecoming is a book about difficult things. It is, at times, not an easy read due to the subject matter, but I still enjoyed it as a whole. I like Stacie Ramey’s writing style and the emotion she is able to pack into a few words. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 22, 2016
This book got enough feels that left me reeling with sadness, hope and love. Serious issues were tackled and portrayed by the characters, most of which tugged heavily at the readers’ hearts – physical and mental abuse, abandonment, suicide, family struggles, anger management issues, alcohol and drugs.. John, the male protagonist got a lot of angst and fury in his heart – he called it “beast” and “dragon” which he needed to reign in and control, otherwise, it would roar and crash and burn.
I had a hard time identifying to John and his issues. I thought I would never get to like him because he was so messed up, he pushed all the people away from him, always tethered to the bad memories that’s why he was having a hard time moving on, moving forward and coping up. I’d blamed it to the lack of parental guidance. But there was also those other people around him who had shown support and understanding in his situation, so I think John was lucky.
Overall, the book was good, it was heartfelt and dedicated, although the impact on me wasn’t full-force. The writing was great too, Stacie Ramey is a great storyteller. A good quick read and quite emotional journey.
I had a hard time identifying to John and his issues. I thought I would never get to like him because he was so messed up, he pushed all the people away from him, always tethered to the bad memories that’s why he was having a hard time moving on, moving forward and coping up. I’d blamed it to the lack of parental guidance. But there was also those other people around him who had shown support and understanding in his situation, so I think John was lucky.
Overall, the book was good, it was heartfelt and dedicated, although the impact on me wasn’t full-force. The writing was great too, Stacie Ramey is a great storyteller. A good quick read and quite emotional journey.
November 1, 2016
When I started reading, The Homecoming. It took me a really long time to get into it. Could've just been the timing and the overall theme of the story.
John has been living with his Uncle after being kicked out of the house. A lot has happened with this family. The tragic accident and the constant blame that John places on himself. He has a lot of anger as well. So coming home, the whole family dynamic is out of whack. I think that with everything John is dealing with, would be extremely hard as a teenager. I understood him. Also, with the next door neighbor in the picture.
This story wasn’t bad. It was good. But I didn’t connect with the characters, on a level that I love to. I wasn’t able really feel the emotions that were coming off the page.
That being said, I gave it Three Boundless Stars....Lissa
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John has been living with his Uncle after being kicked out of the house. A lot has happened with this family. The tragic accident and the constant blame that John places on himself. He has a lot of anger as well. So coming home, the whole family dynamic is out of whack. I think that with everything John is dealing with, would be extremely hard as a teenager. I understood him. Also, with the next door neighbor in the picture.
This story wasn’t bad. It was good. But I didn’t connect with the characters, on a level that I love to. I wasn’t able really feel the emotions that were coming off the page.
That being said, I gave it Three Boundless Stars....Lissa
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November 5, 2016
If you are wanting to read a book that is filled with some hard hitting topics you will be wanting to pick up The Homecoming. It has quite a few - suicide, abuse, family issues, drugs... Really, there is quite a bit. And that all being said...there are definitely some trigger warnings for The Homecoming!
The Homecoming is about John. And John is one really messed up teen. He has been sent back to live with his mom and his two siblings after messing up big time and getting arrested for drugs while living with his dad and uncle.
But the drugs and alcohol issues aren't all there is to John. First of all, he is haunted by the suicide of his girlfriend that happened a year before. Second, he has issues with his parents, especially his mom. And third, he has unresolved issues that sprung up around the accident that handicapped his older brother when he was around 7 or so years old. His brother, who now seems to be hitting and fighting back more and more - which is another thing that doesn't sit well with John.
As you can tell, John has a lot of issues.
Really, sometimes this book felt like it had too many issues for just one solo novel to contain and deal with adequately. And I don't think it necessarily did deal with them all fairly. The novel reads very quickly and I only felt like it just barely brushed upon a lot of the problems that John has. Almost as if it was trying to give him too many problems. Fewer problems with a more in depth approach of examining them and fully exploring them would have been better in my opinion. That, or making this a series and not so much of a stand alone story.
And I think that leads to my next issue. I never really felt an in depth connection to John or any character really. Everyone felt only surface deep. There were so many problems going on with so many different people and I wanted to be able to feel them with them, but I just couldn't. And then there were the side characters that didn't have much of a role at all...and they all felt the same.
And as for all the issues and problems John faced throughout this story, and he faced quite a few, I found myself having problems with his dependency of drugs and alcohol. Every time something go tough all he wanted to do was smoke and drink. It was all he could think of. However, never did anyone outside of him mention anything about his problem. Not his therapist, not his parents...NO ONE. To me it screamed addict, but for whatever reason this was never ever brought up. Almost as though it wasn't important. And that really bothered me.
But all this being said, it isn't a bad story and it is a very decent read. I enjoyed it well enough. And like I said earlier, it is actually a pretty quick read. I need to read The Sister Pact - the companion novel - to see how John is mentioned in that story and find out more about the suicide of his girlfriend.
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
The Homecoming is about John. And John is one really messed up teen. He has been sent back to live with his mom and his two siblings after messing up big time and getting arrested for drugs while living with his dad and uncle.
But the drugs and alcohol issues aren't all there is to John. First of all, he is haunted by the suicide of his girlfriend that happened a year before. Second, he has issues with his parents, especially his mom. And third, he has unresolved issues that sprung up around the accident that handicapped his older brother when he was around 7 or so years old. His brother, who now seems to be hitting and fighting back more and more - which is another thing that doesn't sit well with John.
As you can tell, John has a lot of issues.
Really, sometimes this book felt like it had too many issues for just one solo novel to contain and deal with adequately. And I don't think it necessarily did deal with them all fairly. The novel reads very quickly and I only felt like it just barely brushed upon a lot of the problems that John has. Almost as if it was trying to give him too many problems. Fewer problems with a more in depth approach of examining them and fully exploring them would have been better in my opinion. That, or making this a series and not so much of a stand alone story.
And I think that leads to my next issue. I never really felt an in depth connection to John or any character really. Everyone felt only surface deep. There were so many problems going on with so many different people and I wanted to be able to feel them with them, but I just couldn't. And then there were the side characters that didn't have much of a role at all...and they all felt the same.
And as for all the issues and problems John faced throughout this story, and he faced quite a few, I found myself having problems with his dependency of drugs and alcohol. Every time something go tough all he wanted to do was smoke and drink. It was all he could think of. However, never did anyone outside of him mention anything about his problem. Not his therapist, not his parents...NO ONE. To me it screamed addict, but for whatever reason this was never ever brought up. Almost as though it wasn't important. And that really bothered me.
But all this being said, it isn't a bad story and it is a very decent read. I enjoyed it well enough. And like I said earlier, it is actually a pretty quick read. I need to read The Sister Pact - the companion novel - to see how John is mentioned in that story and find out more about the suicide of his girlfriend.
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
November 29, 2016
**I was provided with an eArc by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**
When I read the premise of this book, I thought it sounded promising, like an emotional contemporary that we would surely enjoy reading together. Well, it was not and I simply didn’t understand why it wasn’t working for me! Right from the beginning here was a big disconnect with the main character John. I’ve read my fair share of angry teen voices, but he just constantly got mad at things and people for no apparent reason. There were many who genuinely tried to help him, or simply did their job, yet he always felt like a charity case and would lash out. Misunderstood teen or not, I have a real problem with people who refuse to accept help or just simple kindness for no other reason than to keep wallowing in their fortress of misery. It’s not a weakness, it’s nothing to be ashamed of! We all need help sometimes. And still, even after pushing away basically all the people in his life, he still kept inspiring loyalty in everyone he met. I just didn’t understand it!
In addition to that, John was a very unreliable narrator, but again, for no apparent reason. He stated something in one chapter, just to say something entirely contradictory a few pages later. It confused me so much that I still don’t know what exactly happened during one of the main key events of the entire story. He was prone to taking drugs and drinking alcohol, which weirdly was never really condemned in the book except when he had to take mandatory drug tests, but I don’t think those were the reasons behind his volatile narration. Also, the timeline didn’t really make sense to me. There were too many gaps and oversights.
I wish that some of the other characters could have made up for the lack of likability in John, but that wasn’t the case either. Emily, his love interest, was an odd mix of personalities that made it difficult to figure her out and relate to her. His parents were negligent and/or absent, sometimes for reasons but not always very good ones. Only his little sister was bearable, but lets face it, kids up to the age of ten are mostly cute.
I am afraid it all boils down to me being very sorry, but saying that it wasn’t for me. The pacing was off, the narration repetitive and at times boring. Maybe it would work better for other people, you can surely try if you think that it might, but it is not my recommendation.
When I read the premise of this book, I thought it sounded promising, like an emotional contemporary that we would surely enjoy reading together. Well, it was not and I simply didn’t understand why it wasn’t working for me! Right from the beginning here was a big disconnect with the main character John. I’ve read my fair share of angry teen voices, but he just constantly got mad at things and people for no apparent reason. There were many who genuinely tried to help him, or simply did their job, yet he always felt like a charity case and would lash out. Misunderstood teen or not, I have a real problem with people who refuse to accept help or just simple kindness for no other reason than to keep wallowing in their fortress of misery. It’s not a weakness, it’s nothing to be ashamed of! We all need help sometimes. And still, even after pushing away basically all the people in his life, he still kept inspiring loyalty in everyone he met. I just didn’t understand it!
In addition to that, John was a very unreliable narrator, but again, for no apparent reason. He stated something in one chapter, just to say something entirely contradictory a few pages later. It confused me so much that I still don’t know what exactly happened during one of the main key events of the entire story. He was prone to taking drugs and drinking alcohol, which weirdly was never really condemned in the book except when he had to take mandatory drug tests, but I don’t think those were the reasons behind his volatile narration. Also, the timeline didn’t really make sense to me. There were too many gaps and oversights.
I wish that some of the other characters could have made up for the lack of likability in John, but that wasn’t the case either. Emily, his love interest, was an odd mix of personalities that made it difficult to figure her out and relate to her. His parents were negligent and/or absent, sometimes for reasons but not always very good ones. Only his little sister was bearable, but lets face it, kids up to the age of ten are mostly cute.
I am afraid it all boils down to me being very sorry, but saying that it wasn’t for me. The pacing was off, the narration repetitive and at times boring. Maybe it would work better for other people, you can surely try if you think that it might, but it is not my recommendation.
July 9, 2016
"The Homecoming" tells the story of John who has returned home 7 years after his brother, Ryan's, tragic accident which left him permanently handicapped. John has gotten himself into trouble despite numerous adults trying to help him and his pushing them away. As one described it, John is picking up all these rocks of bad memories, mistakes, and problems, and they are dragging him down. He carries literal scars from his parents' fights and takes care of his sister, since his mother is too busy taking care of Ryan and his father is too busy being gone.
Enter Emily. His next door neighbor who has familial problems of her own (which are not really clarified). Their romance is a very small part of the book overall and felt like a bit of an afterthought. This is ok though, since John has more than enough else going on to keep the book full and moving. John is still reeling from his girlfriend's suicide and not really ready to let go or move on. He is stuck in the past. He uses drugs and alcohol to help escape.
Although his parents aren't the best, his mother is clearly trying, being an imperfect person herself. He has an incredible number of other adults who are on his side and helping him to grow/become the person he could be. He could have easily fallen through the cracks and gone to jail if he didn't have so many adults looking out for him. He's really a pretty lucky kid in that way (e.g. his probation officer putting off a drug test when he wouldn't pass or reporting him; the teacher he shoves not pressing charges; etc.).
The novel is written well and keeps the reader captivated in this tangled mess of memories and experiences. It's emotionally draining, giving the reader a glimpse into John's mind and feelings. Not your light, summer read. This is much heavier and deals with some very big issues (I.e. handicapped children, neglect/abuse, suicide, drugs/alcohol abuse) in a way that they are viewed by John, who has been affected by all of them.
I found out after reading that this is a companion, but I think it worked as a stand alone book. I don't think anything was missing/it was complete on its own. The ending was positive, but it's a strenuous journey.
Please note that I received this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Enter Emily. His next door neighbor who has familial problems of her own (which are not really clarified). Their romance is a very small part of the book overall and felt like a bit of an afterthought. This is ok though, since John has more than enough else going on to keep the book full and moving. John is still reeling from his girlfriend's suicide and not really ready to let go or move on. He is stuck in the past. He uses drugs and alcohol to help escape.
Although his parents aren't the best, his mother is clearly trying, being an imperfect person herself. He has an incredible number of other adults who are on his side and helping him to grow/become the person he could be. He could have easily fallen through the cracks and gone to jail if he didn't have so many adults looking out for him. He's really a pretty lucky kid in that way (e.g. his probation officer putting off a drug test when he wouldn't pass or reporting him; the teacher he shoves not pressing charges; etc.).
The novel is written well and keeps the reader captivated in this tangled mess of memories and experiences. It's emotionally draining, giving the reader a glimpse into John's mind and feelings. Not your light, summer read. This is much heavier and deals with some very big issues (I.e. handicapped children, neglect/abuse, suicide, drugs/alcohol abuse) in a way that they are viewed by John, who has been affected by all of them.
I found out after reading that this is a companion, but I think it worked as a stand alone book. I don't think anything was missing/it was complete on its own. The ending was positive, but it's a strenuous journey.
Please note that I received this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 12, 2016
John is angry. Angry at the accident that changed his brother. Angry at his mother who kicked him out. Angry at himself for not saving the one he loves. This anger inside of him has led him to make choices even he knows were a mistake. He had it good with his uncle. Now he gets to come home years later to a home and a place with only bad memories. At least he gets to play lacrosse, spend time with his little sister, Livy, who he loves so much, and the girl next door isn't too bad. The plan is to get in and get out. As soon as his parole is lifted he's out of there and on his way to California. Will he let people in or leave them behind?
The Homecoming is a companion book to The Sister Pact by the same author. John gives you glimpses of the past with him and Leah, his girlfriend who killed herself, so I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the other story.
Reasonably, John is very intense and furious at the world. Not only is he dealing with the pain of losing the person he loves, he has to go home to the madness he created. His mother and him have a rocky relationship so he has to contend with that as well as his brother Ryan. Ryan was in an accident and he has to be taken care of by his mother. He's very aggressive as well. It took me a while to read and see that it's not his fault. He has more of a handicap that I could have imagined. Reading the flashbacks of him and John is making me tear up already because you get to see who he was. Even though he was a bit mean to his younger brother, I still felt their connection. I wish he could have gotten better, but that was just not possible...
The girl next door, Emily, seems like the perfect person at first. I really like her good girl personality and her ability to be able to joke around John while simultaneously be there for him. She can be tough on him but he needs it. I didn't really get the full affect of her "trouble" in the past. I felt like there should have been more elaboration on that.
All in all, I enjoyed John's personality; I felt for him. I enjoyed the cast of characters, the family dynamic being reshaped, and most of all what the story was all about - forgiving others and yourself after a tragedy.
Get tissues for this one, I got tired of crying my eyes out and needed to watch and read something happy because it could get intense!
The Homecoming is a companion book to The Sister Pact by the same author. John gives you glimpses of the past with him and Leah, his girlfriend who killed herself, so I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the other story.
Reasonably, John is very intense and furious at the world. Not only is he dealing with the pain of losing the person he loves, he has to go home to the madness he created. His mother and him have a rocky relationship so he has to contend with that as well as his brother Ryan. Ryan was in an accident and he has to be taken care of by his mother. He's very aggressive as well. It took me a while to read and see that it's not his fault. He has more of a handicap that I could have imagined. Reading the flashbacks of him and John is making me tear up already because you get to see who he was. Even though he was a bit mean to his younger brother, I still felt their connection. I wish he could have gotten better, but that was just not possible...
The girl next door, Emily, seems like the perfect person at first. I really like her good girl personality and her ability to be able to joke around John while simultaneously be there for him. She can be tough on him but he needs it. I didn't really get the full affect of her "trouble" in the past. I felt like there should have been more elaboration on that.
All in all, I enjoyed John's personality; I felt for him. I enjoyed the cast of characters, the family dynamic being reshaped, and most of all what the story was all about - forgiving others and yourself after a tragedy.
Get tissues for this one, I got tired of crying my eyes out and needed to watch and read something happy because it could get intense!
November 28, 2016
I have to be honest, realistic stuff isn't my favorite. I prefer fantasy, it gets me out of my own head, out of worldly problems. BUT I love this book. This book caught my attention on NetGalley because the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I clicked on the book I loved the description.
This book is filled with so many different things. Romance, suspense, family, hurt/comfort. This book hits on a lot of real subjects. Car accidents, mental illness, family issues, suicide, depression, drug and alcohol. It's definitely not a book for the faint of heart.
One of my favorite things about this book is that even though it's a very deep emotional book, there's still happy moments. The author does a wonderful job of incorporating humor into this book. The characters are well developed, they all have backstories and a past that eat away at them. No one in the story is burden free.
The entire story line is amazing. The author only gives you bits and pieces of information at a time until the end when all is revealed. It makes you crave more because you want to know what happened. I like to call that Using the Past to Pull You Into the Future. You want to know what happened in the past but the narator isn't going to tell you right away. It's one of my favorite tactics used by authors, but it also frusterates me because you have to keep waiting to know what happens/happened.
This is definatly one of the best realistic novels I have ever read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book!
This book is filled with so many different things. Romance, suspense, family, hurt/comfort. This book hits on a lot of real subjects. Car accidents, mental illness, family issues, suicide, depression, drug and alcohol. It's definitely not a book for the faint of heart.
One of my favorite things about this book is that even though it's a very deep emotional book, there's still happy moments. The author does a wonderful job of incorporating humor into this book. The characters are well developed, they all have backstories and a past that eat away at them. No one in the story is burden free.
The entire story line is amazing. The author only gives you bits and pieces of information at a time until the end when all is revealed. It makes you crave more because you want to know what happened. I like to call that Using the Past to Pull You Into the Future. You want to know what happened in the past but the narator isn't going to tell you right away. It's one of my favorite tactics used by authors, but it also frusterates me because you have to keep waiting to know what happens/happened.
This is definatly one of the best realistic novels I have ever read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book!
November 1, 2016
ORIGINAL POST: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-r...
**A copy of this book was provided via NetGalley by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Everyone knows the feeling of coming home after a long time away or seeing people you haven't seen in a long time. Stacie Ramey wrote a great rendition The Homecoming of the struggles of coming home
and how they are magnified when there are complicated backgrounds and tense situations lining the reason for the return.
John is just a teenage boy trying to deal with adult sized problems, but keeping them at bay while he pretends all is okay is harder than it looks. Ramey gave us characters that struggle with issues just like we do as readers. It makes them more realistic, which in turn makes the book a better read. I loved how The Homecoming showed how even when you have a solid plan on how your life is going to go, life tends to throw a wrench in things to shake it up. In this case a cute, friendly neighbor with hidden secrets of her own, addiction, growing feelings and more. The Homecoming was a constant stream of intrigue and drama.
The Homecoming is a great fall read for anyone looking for a story that is going to drag you in, grip you, and hold you until the very end. I have never picked up a Stacey Ramie book before, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her next one. Five out of five stars!
**A copy of this book was provided via NetGalley by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Everyone knows the feeling of coming home after a long time away or seeing people you haven't seen in a long time. Stacie Ramey wrote a great rendition The Homecoming of the struggles of coming home
and how they are magnified when there are complicated backgrounds and tense situations lining the reason for the return.
John is just a teenage boy trying to deal with adult sized problems, but keeping them at bay while he pretends all is okay is harder than it looks. Ramey gave us characters that struggle with issues just like we do as readers. It makes them more realistic, which in turn makes the book a better read. I loved how The Homecoming showed how even when you have a solid plan on how your life is going to go, life tends to throw a wrench in things to shake it up. In this case a cute, friendly neighbor with hidden secrets of her own, addiction, growing feelings and more. The Homecoming was a constant stream of intrigue and drama.
The Homecoming is a great fall read for anyone looking for a story that is going to drag you in, grip you, and hold you until the very end. I have never picked up a Stacey Ramie book before, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her next one. Five out of five stars!
May 25, 2017
John’s had several hard years: his brother was in a horrific accident leaving him disabled and angry at his situation, John acts out and gets kicked out of the house, and most recently, John’s girlfriend, Leah, committed suicide. Now he is coming home to finish high school, after which he wants to leave and move to California.
John finds himself becoming increasingly angry at his situation and at people around him, and to remedy this, he uses alcohol and marijuana. Then, he meets the girl next door, Emily. And after a while, John realizes that he must do better, for himself, for Emily, and for his family.
I reviewed Stacey Ramey’s last book, The Sister Pact, and I really enjoyed it, so I knew I should grab this one when I had the chance. The Homecoming is an important novel that touches on several important issues: disabilities, anger issues, drug and alcohol abuse, family dynamics, suicide, and more. Ramey does a good job of taking on some serious issues facing teens, which I think is really important in YA books these days. Overall it’s an easy read with some heavy topics, but definitely worth picking up!
John finds himself becoming increasingly angry at his situation and at people around him, and to remedy this, he uses alcohol and marijuana. Then, he meets the girl next door, Emily. And after a while, John realizes that he must do better, for himself, for Emily, and for his family.
I reviewed Stacey Ramey’s last book, The Sister Pact, and I really enjoyed it, so I knew I should grab this one when I had the chance. The Homecoming is an important novel that touches on several important issues: disabilities, anger issues, drug and alcohol abuse, family dynamics, suicide, and more. Ramey does a good job of taking on some serious issues facing teens, which I think is really important in YA books these days. Overall it’s an easy read with some heavy topics, but definitely worth picking up!
September 7, 2016
Whew! There are plenty of struggles that John, our teenage protagonist must deal with upon returning to live with his family( suicide, drug addiction, divorced parents, new school, anger issues..). While I won't state that I could connect to all of these problems, I felt that John's voice was very distinctive and his pain very apparent. By the end of the book, I really felt that it was John's parents that REALLY needed time with counsellors. While it didn't "wow" me, this certainly wasn't a terrible book.
Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEbooks Fire for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEbooks Fire for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
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October 15, 2016Three Boundless Stars** Full review and rating will be up at Boundless Book Reviews
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June 16, 2017Stacie Ramey's The Homecoming follows John Strickland as he transitions into living with his mother again, after several years of living with both his father and his Uncle Dave. Trying to uphold probation for past bad behavior is difficult when he's still trying to get over the unexpected suicide of his girlfriend, Leah, which happened the year before (in Ramey's The Sister Pact), as well as adjusting to life under the same roof as his older brother Ryan, who is mentally and physically disabled due to an accident several years prior. While he is determined to finish senior year without forming any attachments to his new, but as far as he's concerned very temporary, home, he quickly befriends Emily and grows to have feelings for her. Together they face their various demons.
It's difficult for me to assign star ratings to Ramey's works. On the one hand, I care enough about the characters and the stories they tell that I finish her books, and usually rather quickly at that. I'm interested enough in the moving parts to stick around. However, especially with this book, I had a hard time sinking into the story and truly believing in John. His personality was scattered and difficult to understand, and his thoughts about the female characters alarmed me quite a bit (they were either perfect and angelic, like his younger sister or Emily, or they were "weak" and manipulative--his mother, girls at school who possess a one-sided interest in him). There were also several subplots that I felt were underdeveloped and unresolved. Like The Sister Pact, I did find Ramey's approach to psychology interesting--namely, that John personifies his anger management issues as a dragon that lives within him. However, I found myself wishing for a more objective, concrete view of the situations at hand, and an ending that didn't tie everything together quite as neatly. While I don't regret reading this book, it probably will be my last Ramey--at least for a while.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
It's difficult for me to assign star ratings to Ramey's works. On the one hand, I care enough about the characters and the stories they tell that I finish her books, and usually rather quickly at that. I'm interested enough in the moving parts to stick around. However, especially with this book, I had a hard time sinking into the story and truly believing in John. His personality was scattered and difficult to understand, and his thoughts about the female characters alarmed me quite a bit (they were either perfect and angelic, like his younger sister or Emily, or they were "weak" and manipulative--his mother, girls at school who possess a one-sided interest in him). There were also several subplots that I felt were underdeveloped and unresolved. Like The Sister Pact, I did find Ramey's approach to psychology interesting--namely, that John personifies his anger management issues as a dragon that lives within him. However, I found myself wishing for a more objective, concrete view of the situations at hand, and an ending that didn't tie everything together quite as neatly. While I don't regret reading this book, it probably will be my last Ramey--at least for a while.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 15, 2018
I liked this book a lot. I like how John returns back home and how happy Livvy is. I like Emily and how kind and loving she is. I feel bad for their mom and how she is not very nice to her family, and how she is always angry. I like how John begins to care about Emily and how he decides to stay there for good. I like how in the end John and Emily get together, and everything gets better for all of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2017
I really enjoyed John Strickland's story.
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October 2, 2017The Homecoming was a great book! It was a man vs. self conflict so it was good to see that he could overcome huge obstacles in his life.
May 26, 2017
This was so good.
1. There is a male MC
2. There was a tragic accident that left a family broken
3. The MC is a bad boy (but technically a sweetheart) that you wished you met in HS
4. The GROWTH that occurs in the novel is commendable
5. Pretty gosh darn relatable
1. There is a male MC
2. There was a tragic accident that left a family broken
3. The MC is a bad boy (but technically a sweetheart) that you wished you met in HS
4. The GROWTH that occurs in the novel is commendable
5. Pretty gosh darn relatable
November 5, 2016
**I received this book in a giveaway by Sourcebooks & Stacie Ramey**
I'm so excited I'm finally reading this & it's not even technically released until 11/1/16. I LOVE how this book is going into more detail with John & Leah's relationship beforehand, as well as the aftermath over a year later as to how John is still trying to come to terms with the fact of what Leah did. I also love that Allie was brought back a little bit too & how she's been since The Sister Pact. I love when authors do followup (companion) books so that you can get a little closure with how everyone is doing later on.
This was a book about alot of things from forgiveness, closure, love, heartbreak, loss, regrets, pain, anger, so on and so forth. John Strickland was first introduced in "The Sister Pact" who Allie had found out her sister Leah, who committed suicide, was secretly dating. At the end of The Sister Pact, John had told Allie he was going to Chicago to live with his uncle to try and figure out what he wanted in life. As it turns out there was a much bigger reason than just that as to why he left and ultimately it didn't work out leaving him with no other option than to return home against his will.
As I've said before, Stacie Ramey let's us go back through flashbacks and John's own words to get to understand how his and Leah's relationship was, as well as other things in John's life that made him who he was. John carries more guilt and anger and regret than any teenager should have to and also had to grow up alot faster than any kid should be forced to. I don't want to give too much away, but it's hard when I absolutely loved this book and how Stacie went about it.
John got himself into some trouble back in Chicago and part of his probation was to see his old therapist Steve who plays a big part in telling John that he needs to learn to not forget Leah, but learn to move on and forgive himself for things he had no control over. John meets a wonderful girl named Emily who also helps him see many positive aspects of his life while he's trying to not let himself fall for her only to get hurt like he did with Leah. I'll admit myself that at first I wasn't sure how I felt about Emily and in a way it felt like exactly as John put it that it felt like cheating on Leah, but Leah's gone and I loved that Allie was brought in to also get to meet Emily because it made it feel more acceptable with Allie getting to have her opinions as well.
Many things happen in this book, as many things happened in The Sister Pact and John's past. Anyone who has ever been through a hard time in their childhood or lost someone they love either physically or mentally or both will be able to truly appreciate this book, but regardless I think everyone will be able to relate to this book one way or another because so many things were covered in this book it's hard not to find a way to connect.
I truly loved this book and I'm so glad I not only had a chance to read this book early, but also that Stacie Ramey made a book following The Sister Pact to bring in full closure even though this could be read without reading the companion book, but to get the full effect of this book I would probably recommend reading The Sister Pact as well.
I'll be on the lookout for your next book in the future Stacie! =]
I'm so excited I'm finally reading this & it's not even technically released until 11/1/16. I LOVE how this book is going into more detail with John & Leah's relationship beforehand, as well as the aftermath over a year later as to how John is still trying to come to terms with the fact of what Leah did. I also love that Allie was brought back a little bit too & how she's been since The Sister Pact. I love when authors do followup (companion) books so that you can get a little closure with how everyone is doing later on.
This was a book about alot of things from forgiveness, closure, love, heartbreak, loss, regrets, pain, anger, so on and so forth. John Strickland was first introduced in "The Sister Pact" who Allie had found out her sister Leah, who committed suicide, was secretly dating. At the end of The Sister Pact, John had told Allie he was going to Chicago to live with his uncle to try and figure out what he wanted in life. As it turns out there was a much bigger reason than just that as to why he left and ultimately it didn't work out leaving him with no other option than to return home against his will.
As I've said before, Stacie Ramey let's us go back through flashbacks and John's own words to get to understand how his and Leah's relationship was, as well as other things in John's life that made him who he was. John carries more guilt and anger and regret than any teenager should have to and also had to grow up alot faster than any kid should be forced to. I don't want to give too much away, but it's hard when I absolutely loved this book and how Stacie went about it.
John got himself into some trouble back in Chicago and part of his probation was to see his old therapist Steve who plays a big part in telling John that he needs to learn to not forget Leah, but learn to move on and forgive himself for things he had no control over. John meets a wonderful girl named Emily who also helps him see many positive aspects of his life while he's trying to not let himself fall for her only to get hurt like he did with Leah. I'll admit myself that at first I wasn't sure how I felt about Emily and in a way it felt like exactly as John put it that it felt like cheating on Leah, but Leah's gone and I loved that Allie was brought in to also get to meet Emily because it made it feel more acceptable with Allie getting to have her opinions as well.
Many things happen in this book, as many things happened in The Sister Pact and John's past. Anyone who has ever been through a hard time in their childhood or lost someone they love either physically or mentally or both will be able to truly appreciate this book, but regardless I think everyone will be able to relate to this book one way or another because so many things were covered in this book it's hard not to find a way to connect.
I truly loved this book and I'm so glad I not only had a chance to read this book early, but also that Stacie Ramey made a book following The Sister Pact to bring in full closure even though this could be read without reading the companion book, but to get the full effect of this book I would probably recommend reading The Sister Pact as well.
I'll be on the lookout for your next book in the future Stacie! =]
July 3, 2020
My Rating: 4.5 stars!
"I'm here to finish probation. Live according to Mom's rules. Then get out and go away and never come back."
See reviews first on my blog
John is a troubled teenager that is being forced to live back with his mom, older brother and baby sister after having been kicked out several years earlier. This seems like it could be a good thing until you learn why John was kicked out and see what is really happening with his older brother who was in a horrible accident and how John's mom deals with it all. The only bright spot he can see with coming home is his little sister who is a ball of happy energy despite what she lives/deals with everyday.
"The thing is, John, education is power. And power means choices. I don't know how many choices you see for your future. Maybe you haven't even considered that you could have one."
With John back in school and playing a sport again he starts trying with a little encouragement from his counselors, probation officer, coach, teachers and parents he really starts changing for the better or at least thats how he makes it look. Behind the scenes though he's always at boiling point and constantly wants to use in order to forget what happened and what is going on now. With Emily's help (even though she has her own problems) he stops being so impulsive and starts realizing that certain things need to happen and be said or he can't become who he really wants to be.
Overall I really liked this story. Even though John's family had problems you could tell they still loved each other and cared for one another. They all had their own guilt for what happened on the day that changed their lives forever. Because of that and the anger they feel for one another because of how they treated each other after the accident they have a very messy family dynamic. But it was realistic and that made the story more enjoyable for me. Yeah John was given a lot of chances that most kids wouldn't have gotten, but he acknowledged that and after awhile started to take the opportunity's he was being given and used them.
I loved the ending and how they finally cleared some things up, and actually set down and talked for a change. Sure there is going to be more work ahead for all of them and certain things can't be undone, but it's time for all of them to live in the now and stop blaming themselves for something that they can't change.
"You can't keep people in this world. You can't change the past. You can't go back in time and make it so Ryan never got hit. You're only human. But you're a damned good human."
Ramey did such an amazing job with making you feel for all of the characters even when I was frustrated with them, I could still see why they were doing what they were.
This is a companion novel, but it isn't necessary to read the first one to understand this one.
"Maybe this is me actually moving on. Living my life. Because I can. Because I should."
"Five seconds of our life should not dictate the rest."
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
"I'm here to finish probation. Live according to Mom's rules. Then get out and go away and never come back."
See reviews first on my blog
John is a troubled teenager that is being forced to live back with his mom, older brother and baby sister after having been kicked out several years earlier. This seems like it could be a good thing until you learn why John was kicked out and see what is really happening with his older brother who was in a horrible accident and how John's mom deals with it all. The only bright spot he can see with coming home is his little sister who is a ball of happy energy despite what she lives/deals with everyday.
"The thing is, John, education is power. And power means choices. I don't know how many choices you see for your future. Maybe you haven't even considered that you could have one."
With John back in school and playing a sport again he starts trying with a little encouragement from his counselors, probation officer, coach, teachers and parents he really starts changing for the better or at least thats how he makes it look. Behind the scenes though he's always at boiling point and constantly wants to use in order to forget what happened and what is going on now. With Emily's help (even though she has her own problems) he stops being so impulsive and starts realizing that certain things need to happen and be said or he can't become who he really wants to be.
Overall I really liked this story. Even though John's family had problems you could tell they still loved each other and cared for one another. They all had their own guilt for what happened on the day that changed their lives forever. Because of that and the anger they feel for one another because of how they treated each other after the accident they have a very messy family dynamic. But it was realistic and that made the story more enjoyable for me. Yeah John was given a lot of chances that most kids wouldn't have gotten, but he acknowledged that and after awhile started to take the opportunity's he was being given and used them.
I loved the ending and how they finally cleared some things up, and actually set down and talked for a change. Sure there is going to be more work ahead for all of them and certain things can't be undone, but it's time for all of them to live in the now and stop blaming themselves for something that they can't change.
"You can't keep people in this world. You can't change the past. You can't go back in time and make it so Ryan never got hit. You're only human. But you're a damned good human."
Ramey did such an amazing job with making you feel for all of the characters even when I was frustrated with them, I could still see why they were doing what they were.
This is a companion novel, but it isn't necessary to read the first one to understand this one.
"Maybe this is me actually moving on. Living my life. Because I can. Because I should."
"Five seconds of our life should not dictate the rest."
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 17, 2016
The Homecoming was a detailed adventure through the downward spiral that often follows grief. It illustrates the vivid reality that "no, everything is not okay", and it does so in a way that makes it impossible to escape from. Death is horrible. Loosing someone you love is horrible. Despite all the well wishes and counseling you might receive, that hole they loved one now lost leaves in your chest is something nearly impossible to plug - so what happens when that hole threatens to consume you? The Homecoming focuses on what happens when that gap in your heart pulls you too far under to breathe, at least until you find something to keep yourself going again.
John is a trouble maker - obviously. Grief is no excuse for what he got himself into a certain things he did, but it does add a layer which creates the possibility of sympathy. I did sympathize with him, I really did. What he went through, what his entire family went through and is going through, is horrible. I don't blame John for his behavior, but I do not condone it, either. Having him as the narrator propelled this emotional roller coaster of a read in a way that only John could. It highlighted the desperate undertones this entire story drives itself on. Having John's voice be the one we, the readers, hear and rely on complicated the story in ways it desperately needed. It showed John's complexity, for one. As a character, he could easily have come off as whiny and "woe is me", but that isn't him at all. He has his moments, sure, but so do we all. The highlight of The Homecoming was easily John's relationship with Livy, his younger sister. He cares about her, he cared for her when their parents basically went off the deep end. He tries so hard to be the best brother he can be, to be the best example he can be for his younger sister. As an older sibling myself, I found this to be the most compelling part of the story. I would read this all over again just to relive that relationship.
The Homecoming, in my opinion, is very character driven. There isn't a lot of doing, rather, there is a lot of subtle development in the plot that comes about through various character driven interactions. John and Livy, John and Emily, John's mother and Ryan, etc. I think the fact that the book was reliant on character only helped it in the long run. It can often go both ways, but in the case of The Homecoming, the characters were a home run. Each and every one of them felt real, developed, and like they mattered. The characters were all pieces in a puzzle, each piece matched its jagged edges with another.
Overall, The Homecoming is a fantastic read that will take you on an emotional journey you could potentially have to mentally prepare yourself for. It isn't easy, especially if you have dealt with losing someone you love. The Homecoming effortlessly pulls you in and is quite ready to drown you beneath the weight of its amazing story. It might be hard, but it is well worth it in the end.
John is a trouble maker - obviously. Grief is no excuse for what he got himself into a certain things he did, but it does add a layer which creates the possibility of sympathy. I did sympathize with him, I really did. What he went through, what his entire family went through and is going through, is horrible. I don't blame John for his behavior, but I do not condone it, either. Having him as the narrator propelled this emotional roller coaster of a read in a way that only John could. It highlighted the desperate undertones this entire story drives itself on. Having John's voice be the one we, the readers, hear and rely on complicated the story in ways it desperately needed. It showed John's complexity, for one. As a character, he could easily have come off as whiny and "woe is me", but that isn't him at all. He has his moments, sure, but so do we all. The highlight of The Homecoming was easily John's relationship with Livy, his younger sister. He cares about her, he cared for her when their parents basically went off the deep end. He tries so hard to be the best brother he can be, to be the best example he can be for his younger sister. As an older sibling myself, I found this to be the most compelling part of the story. I would read this all over again just to relive that relationship.
The Homecoming, in my opinion, is very character driven. There isn't a lot of doing, rather, there is a lot of subtle development in the plot that comes about through various character driven interactions. John and Livy, John and Emily, John's mother and Ryan, etc. I think the fact that the book was reliant on character only helped it in the long run. It can often go both ways, but in the case of The Homecoming, the characters were a home run. Each and every one of them felt real, developed, and like they mattered. The characters were all pieces in a puzzle, each piece matched its jagged edges with another.
Overall, The Homecoming is a fantastic read that will take you on an emotional journey you could potentially have to mentally prepare yourself for. It isn't easy, especially if you have dealt with losing someone you love. The Homecoming effortlessly pulls you in and is quite ready to drown you beneath the weight of its amazing story. It might be hard, but it is well worth it in the end.
January 31, 2017
In real life, you get to know someone over time and few book characters are like that. The characters in THE HOMECOMING break that pattern. Amid you-are-there settings, conflict that has you holding your breath and hoping for the best, you get to know these characters in unexpected ways.
This is the second Stacie Ramey book I've read. Speaking as a high school teacher and mom of teens, I recommend her work. She shows us real kids who may wander, but eventually find the best they have to give to others and themselves.
This is the second Stacie Ramey book I've read. Speaking as a high school teacher and mom of teens, I recommend her work. She shows us real kids who may wander, but eventually find the best they have to give to others and themselves.
July 11, 2016
Thank you NETGALLEY for allowing me to preview this ARC, which in no way influenced my review.
GRADE: A-
ONE WORD: Powerful
Everybody had a story and that story might not be the one we've created based on rumor and judgment.
John is responsible for her girlfriend's suicide, his brother's traumatic brain injury and his parents' marital problems. At least that's the story he tells himself. Given the choice of juvie or moving back home with his mother, court ordered therapy, probation and random drug tests, he chooses the latter. He only needs to put in 9 months before he can leave everything behind and escape to California. He doesn't plan on falling for the girl next door, who just might need him as much as he needs her and the little sister who worships him having other plans.
THE HOMECOMING is a companion story to Stacie Ramey's THE SISTER PACT, though both are also stand alone novels. Read THE SISTER PACT first, about Allie struggling in the aftermath of her older sister Leah's suicide. In THE HOMECOMING, Leah's secret boyfriend and how he deals with her suicide, among other issues. The more subtle point of suicide casting a wide net of victims in its aftermath is also very important.
Ramey upped her game with her sophomore effort, THE HOMECOMING with more complex characters, crisper prose and more realistic dialogue. John had so many layers beneath the surface, some hidden from himself. All of the characters were unique, flawed and unexpected.
If I have any criticism, is that the support John received was so extraordinary, while not impossible, it was probably better than most would under similar circumstances.
THEMES: family, siblings, parents, drugs, alcohol, disability, juvenile justice, dating, suicide, depression
THE HOMECOMING is an outstanding story of redemption.
GRADE: A-
ONE WORD: Powerful
Everybody had a story and that story might not be the one we've created based on rumor and judgment.
John is responsible for her girlfriend's suicide, his brother's traumatic brain injury and his parents' marital problems. At least that's the story he tells himself. Given the choice of juvie or moving back home with his mother, court ordered therapy, probation and random drug tests, he chooses the latter. He only needs to put in 9 months before he can leave everything behind and escape to California. He doesn't plan on falling for the girl next door, who just might need him as much as he needs her and the little sister who worships him having other plans.
THE HOMECOMING is a companion story to Stacie Ramey's THE SISTER PACT, though both are also stand alone novels. Read THE SISTER PACT first, about Allie struggling in the aftermath of her older sister Leah's suicide. In THE HOMECOMING, Leah's secret boyfriend and how he deals with her suicide, among other issues. The more subtle point of suicide casting a wide net of victims in its aftermath is also very important.
Ramey upped her game with her sophomore effort, THE HOMECOMING with more complex characters, crisper prose and more realistic dialogue. John had so many layers beneath the surface, some hidden from himself. All of the characters were unique, flawed and unexpected.
If I have any criticism, is that the support John received was so extraordinary, while not impossible, it was probably better than most would under similar circumstances.
THEMES: family, siblings, parents, drugs, alcohol, disability, juvenile justice, dating, suicide, depression
THE HOMECOMING is an outstanding story of redemption.
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