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A review by laural27
In Bloom by Matthew Crow
5.0
Before I begin this review I just have to let you know I’m listening to Whitney Houston’s greatest hits because this book has made me feel lots of different things and I need some good 80’s music to help me write this review. So, if there are accidental insertions of Whitney lyrics then I’m sorry.
I had never heard of this book until I did some fiddling around on Amazon looking for some good YA reads and this book kept popping up and because I like the name Matthew and because the cover looked pretty I clicked on it and then thought ‘I HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.’
In Bloom is such a romantic, anger inducing, happy, devastating, brilliant, funny book about cancer.
Now the first thing anyone is going to say is ‘WAIT, YOUNG ADULT FICTION AND CANCER, THAT’S THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.’ No, this book is not –that- book and nor is it in anyway a rip off or a pathetic attempt at copying the idea. Did I love this book more than The Fault In Our Stars? I think…I think I might have done. It is one of those books that now I’ve read it I need to get a copy to put on the top shelf of my bookcase which is reserved for the bestest books ever.
In Bloom is about Francis and his battle with Leukaemia. Whilst in the hospital during treatment he meets three other teenagers his age who are all going through the same fight and he becomes close with Amber, another patient who shows Francis how to (share my life, take me for what I aaaaaaam (sorry, Whitney happened)) who shows Francis how to embrace life and live every day as if it is your last. Francis has to deal with a weepy mother, a jokey brother (who was ace) and his grandmother who is slowly become intolerable to everything in the world; mainly people.
Ok, I’m going to use one of those semi-annoying phrases right now. ALL THE FEELS. This book was SO emotionally charged and I went from laughing on minute to grasping my chest and on the verge of ugly crying the next. This book was only 230 pages long but I honestly went (again, clichéd phrase) on an emotional rollercoaster without having the chance to stop for a break and gather myself together. You won’t put this book down after you’ve picked it up and, as I write this review, I am clutching it tightly to me, wondering if it would be so bad to incur a preposterous library fine just so I can keep it forever. Anyway, I digress…
Matthew, I think I love you. I don’t think I have felt such a genuine adoration for a character for a long time. I ‘love’ characters and find them brilliant but I wanted to lift Francis from the pages of this book and hold him tightly (WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GOOOOO?) and not let him go. Matthew has managed to create a cast of characters that although small, were perfectly formed. I had a constant need to find out what would happen to them next and this kept me turning the pages in rapid succession. The honesty of the characters was refreshing and I particularly loved a moment when Francis realised he was losing all of his body hair and the events that ensued had me giggling quite loudly, I even did an unattractive snort.
The fact Matthew could lace this plot with such comical and humorous moments yet still tell a story that included heartbreak was impressive and I think he managed to do this with such ease. I think I’m gushing now but whatever you do, make sure you read this book because as Matt Haig says on the front cover ‘It will improve your life.’
I am going to save my pennies and make sure I have a sparkly paperback copy of this book on my shelf in the near future to stroke.
Matthew Crow, I love you and I think you should write another book soon. That is all.
A beautifully told coming of age tale that will make you hug those you love that little bit tighter and remember to live life like every day is your last.
I had never heard of this book until I did some fiddling around on Amazon looking for some good YA reads and this book kept popping up and because I like the name Matthew and because the cover looked pretty I clicked on it and then thought ‘I HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.’
In Bloom is such a romantic, anger inducing, happy, devastating, brilliant, funny book about cancer.
Now the first thing anyone is going to say is ‘WAIT, YOUNG ADULT FICTION AND CANCER, THAT’S THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.’ No, this book is not –that- book and nor is it in anyway a rip off or a pathetic attempt at copying the idea. Did I love this book more than The Fault In Our Stars? I think…I think I might have done. It is one of those books that now I’ve read it I need to get a copy to put on the top shelf of my bookcase which is reserved for the bestest books ever.
In Bloom is about Francis and his battle with Leukaemia. Whilst in the hospital during treatment he meets three other teenagers his age who are all going through the same fight and he becomes close with Amber, another patient who shows Francis how to (share my life, take me for what I aaaaaaam (sorry, Whitney happened)) who shows Francis how to embrace life and live every day as if it is your last. Francis has to deal with a weepy mother, a jokey brother (who was ace) and his grandmother who is slowly become intolerable to everything in the world; mainly people.
Ok, I’m going to use one of those semi-annoying phrases right now. ALL THE FEELS. This book was SO emotionally charged and I went from laughing on minute to grasping my chest and on the verge of ugly crying the next. This book was only 230 pages long but I honestly went (again, clichéd phrase) on an emotional rollercoaster without having the chance to stop for a break and gather myself together. You won’t put this book down after you’ve picked it up and, as I write this review, I am clutching it tightly to me, wondering if it would be so bad to incur a preposterous library fine just so I can keep it forever. Anyway, I digress…
Matthew, I think I love you. I don’t think I have felt such a genuine adoration for a character for a long time. I ‘love’ characters and find them brilliant but I wanted to lift Francis from the pages of this book and hold him tightly (WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GOOOOO?) and not let him go. Matthew has managed to create a cast of characters that although small, were perfectly formed. I had a constant need to find out what would happen to them next and this kept me turning the pages in rapid succession. The honesty of the characters was refreshing and I particularly loved a moment when Francis realised he was losing all of his body hair and the events that ensued had me giggling quite loudly, I even did an unattractive snort.
The fact Matthew could lace this plot with such comical and humorous moments yet still tell a story that included heartbreak was impressive and I think he managed to do this with such ease. I think I’m gushing now but whatever you do, make sure you read this book because as Matt Haig says on the front cover ‘It will improve your life.’
I am going to save my pennies and make sure I have a sparkly paperback copy of this book on my shelf in the near future to stroke.
Matthew Crow, I love you and I think you should write another book soon. That is all.
A beautifully told coming of age tale that will make you hug those you love that little bit tighter and remember to live life like every day is your last.