Olivia Prior does not want to die. She has only just begun to live. (and I had only just begun to enjoy this book)


It was really slow to start, but once you get into it the going gets a bit easier. It also wrapped up okay but didn't do the circle back thing that I like for books to do, when they reference in the end something that was significant near the start, and gives you a kind of closing feeling by reminding you of the difference between what the character felt at the beginning and at the end. The middle section was the best in my opinion, but in general it was a bit disappointing. I didn’t have super high expectations for this book because people seemed to not like it too much, so I wasn’t super let down but still. Also, definitely on the younger side of YA, but I didn't mind that. I think because of it feeling younger, as well as being third person, you don’t get as connected to the character as you might in more new adult/older YA books. 
I think the book’s main flaw is that it didn't really have a focus/main theme. At first you think it's kind of a coming of age story maybe, where Olivia is finding her place (or lack thereof) in the world around her and deals with grief and that sort of thing, but by the end it's more about family and building a home? It was just kind of all over the place. Also, Olivia is kind of a Mary Sue character. She rarely messes up, and most of her problems are caused by her circumstances or other characters. It’s clearly not a character driven book, but it’s only somewhat more plot driven, and writing isn’t enough to carry a story. The book is also unfortunately kind of meh in every way, except concept and writing. I actually really liked the writing and it made me even more excited to read V. E. Schwab’s other books.