28220739Title: We Are Still Tornadoes

Author: Michael Kun and Susan Mullen

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Publication Date: November 2016

Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Contemporary

Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

 

 

 

 

Synopsis can be found here.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

 

Review:

Told from letters between best friends Cath and Scott, We Are Still Tornadoes allows the reader to travel back to the 1980s when people went to record stores, made mix tapes, and didn’t have texting capabilities. And it was magical.

There’s something very special about We Are Still Tornadoes. I’m not going to lie – I do not care for books written in letter form. Usually, I have a hard time connecting with the characters or don’t feel like I get enough description. Not with this one.

Cath and Scott, best friends in high school, are now separated through life. Cath has gone off to college and Scott has stayed home to work in his father’s clothing shop and figure things out. They communicate in letters, delivered back and forth, through their first year of being apart.

It’s so easy to fall into Scott’s voice, it’s so strong and funny. He’s the best friend you would have totally wanted in high school – loyal, supportive and honest. I like how open Cath and Scott are talking about all of the big life changes that they are each going through, how they share their love of music and give each other relationship advice (sometimes good and sometimes bad.) There are a lot of hilarious moments through the writing, and some bittersweet aching ones too.

Through the first year, there’s family drama on both sides, romance issues, roommate issues and a lot of talk about finding your place and growing up. I found Scott’s story to be particularly heartbreaking as he stayed in the hometown and how his friends treated him afterwards. I also enjoyed Cath’s observations about college life and how strange it felt to be in this new, gib place away from everyone she knew.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. It’s funny and heartwarming and sweet. I think the ending was great, though it did come a little fast. If you like contemporary fiction, with a little bit of a twist, you’ll enjoy this! I read it in two days.

Couldn’t put it down.

Didn’t want to.