Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: May 4th 2017
Buy The Book: Book Depository - A Great Read
Inspired by Mrs Dalloway and Judy Blume's Forever, Release is one day in the life of Adam Thorn, 17. It's a big day. Things go wrong. It's intense, and all the while, weirdness approaches...
Adam Thorn is having what will turn out to be the most unsettling, difficult day of his life, with relationships fracturing, a harrowing incident at work, and a showdown between this gay teen and his preacher father that changes everything. It's a day of confrontation, running, sex, love, heartbreak, and maybe, just maybe, hope. He won't come out of it unchanged. And all the while, lurking at the edges of the story, something extraordinary and unsettling is on a collision course.
My Thoughts:
From the moment this book was
announced, I was looking forward to it. A modern retelling of Mrs
Dalloway? With elements of Forever by Judy Blume? Sign me up. So it's
safe to say I was pathetically excited when the proof arrived at my
doorstep from the wonderful people at Walker Books. It was one of my
most anticipated reads of 2017, and it really didn't disappoint.
This story follows Adam over the course
of a day. Adam is a gay teenager who has grown up in a strictly
Christian household, a harsh reality that is true for many young
people. Adam's journey over the course of this one day is incredible.
Rooting for him to realise certain things, I felt a sense of pride
when he started to decide to take control of certain situations in
his life. This story sees him hit a breaking point after holding a
lot of emotions in for a long time, and the pay-off is perfect.
Adam is currently in a relationship
with Linus, but on the day the story is set, he is preparing to
attend the goodbye party of Enzo, a guy he used to think he was in a
relationship with, despite Enzo not wanting anyone to know about the
two of them. Whilst Adam loves Linus, he is still torn over Enzo and
the lack of conclusion from their relationship. Seeing Adam learn
about himself and his feelings over the course of the story made for
many brilliant moments. I was more than happy with the way things
were left by the end of it.
The friendship between Adam and his
best friend Angela was everything. So many of the stories I read
throw drama between friends to create tension, but even though
something threatens to shake up Adam and Angela's relationship, they
have nothing but mutual support and understanding for each other
instead. There's nothing I love more than reading about friends who
are there for one another no matter what happens.
The connections to Mrs Dalloway were
super clever, having the book start with Adam in a flower shop, and
having him prepare for a big party that evening. There was also the
story of Katherine van Leuwen, who was the Septimus of this story.
Her ghost has a story told between the chapters, and it adds an
interesting fantasy element to the story. Ness did a fantastic job of
doing a modern twist on a much loved classic tale. I'm thrilled that
one of my most anticipated reads of the year delivered in the best
way possible, and Adam is a character I certainly won't be forgetting
any time soon.
Royal Rating:
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