Book Review: Together, Apart by Various Authors
Together, Apart
Authors: Erin A. Craig, Auriane Desombre, Erin Hahn, Bill Konigsberg, Rachael Lippincott, Brittney Morris, Sajni Patel, Natasha Preston, Jennifer Yen
Published by: Delacorte Press on October 20th, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Young Adult // Contemporary Romance
Trigger Warnings: mentions of Covid-19
**I bought this book with my own money for impartial review on my blog. This in no way alters my review.**
A collection of original contemporary love stories set during life in lockdown by some of today’s most popular YA authors.
Erin Craig “delivers” on a story about a new girl in town and the cute pizza delivery boy, Auriane Desombre captures our hearts with teens communicating through window signs, and Bill Konigsberg takes us along on daily walks with every step bringing us closer to love. There’s flirting and romance from Rachael Lippincott, a tale of a determined girl with a mask-making business from Erin Hahn, and a music-inspired love connection from Sajni Patel. Brittney Morris turns enemies to lovers with the help of a balcony herb garden, Jennifer Yen writes an unconventional romance that starts outside a hospital, and Natasha Preston’s teens discover each other–and their love story–in a storybook oak tree.
Romantic, realistic, sweet and uplifting, TOGETHER, APART is a collection of finding love in unexpected places during an unprecedented time . . . each with the one thing we all want: a guaranteed happy ending.
The first book that I picked up in 2021 had to be great, that I knew for certain. So after a bit of late December purchasing, I came across Together, Apart and immediately fell in love with the premise. Although I knew that it centered around the COVID pandemic, I haven’t read a book with lots of little stories in one book for such a long time, so I was dubious going in! But that clearly didn’t last very long, because YEP. I fell in love with this book, ten times over.
I don’t think that I’ve ever had my emotions flown so all over the place than when I was reading Together, Apart. Despite the stories being swoon-worthy and oh-so-magnetic, I just wanted each one to last forever. And there wasn’t a single story that I didn’t love. I do have a few favourites (of course) but I would ten-times over purchase a full-length book of each story that was woven in the novel. Each time that one of the stories would reach peak-cuteness, it ended and I was like OH NO, PLEASE CONTINUE! So, that was my first and most prominent clue that I pretty much would be rating this book very highly.
Erin’s story had me FLOORED. I adored Millie and Luka the most. Auriane had me flipping pages fast for the sweetest romance. Bill’s story involved dogs, and as an animal lover, I was sold, including on the romance that clutched at my heartstrings. Erin Hahn’s story just so happened to be one of my favourites, I was glued to the pages in those last moments for Gray and Jude. Sajni’s story had me enthralled from the get-go with the lost-shoe and guitar boy. Brittney’s story with a touch of plant-lover vibes was one of my favourites (of course, there was a cat and a dog in the novel, so it’s no surprise.) Jennifer’s part was one of my top-three for sure, I was hanging by a thread and partially feeling hungry with the mentions of food. Natasha’s story was golden – like, come on, they hang out in a tree, have that spark. I was in love. Rachael’s part was equally as sweet, filled with heart-clutching moments, leaving me not wanting it to end.
Overall, Together, Apart is easily one of the strongest, beautifully-written, honest and painfully-sweet YA novels I’ve read in such a long time. Even though most of the stories in the book involved a very distanced approach to love, centering around the COVID pandemic, there was still such a connection between the love interests, and THAT takes skill and sheer talent. I would highly recommend this book to literally anyone. This book, these characters, these authors, have my heart. Five stars for each and every one!
Have you read Together, Apart?
What did you think of the stories?
Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs!
happy reading!
