REVIEW: The Beauty that Remains by Ashley Woodfolk

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Publisher: Delacorte Press

ISBN: 1524715875

Format: Hardback, E-Book, Audio-Book

Release Date: 6th March 2018


Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo,
B&N, Book Depository

Website, Twitter, Instagram,


Rating: 7/10


Synopsis:

Autumn always knew exactly who she was—a talented artist and a loyal friend. Shay was defined by two things: her bond with her twin sister, Sasha, and her love of music. And Logan always turned to writing love songs when his love life was a little less than perfect.

But when tragedy strikes each of them, somehow music is no longer enough. Now Logan can’t stop watching vlogs of his dead ex-boyfriend. Shay is a music blogger struggling to keep it together. And Autumn sends messages that she knows can never be answered.

Despite the odds, one band's music will reunite them and prove that after grief, beauty thrives in the people left behind.

Review:

**Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me this book in return for my honest review**

(Trigger Warning: this book has themes of depression, anxiety, panic attacks and suicide)

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. The story centres around 3 diverse characters that are all going through a personal loss. Autumn has lost her best friend, Tavia, in an accident. Shay lost her twin sister, Sasha, after her battle with leukemia and Logan loses his ex-boyfriend and first love to an overdose. 

It can be hard to write about grief but Ashley Woodfolk did a wonderful job. You feel the deep connection between the main characters and those they have lost. There is deep emotions spread throughout the novels and you truly feel for all the characters and worry about them. Woodfolk explores what it means to lose a twin and what it's like to feel like you could have prevented the death of an ex or a best friend. 

Everyone experiences grief differently and each character in the book finds their own way to try and cope every day. It reminds you to hold those you love close and share your love with those around you while you can.

I really loved how the perspectives changed each chapter and I couldn't decide which of the characters I wanted to know the ending for first. Each of their stories intertwines for a wonderful ending that left me wanting more. I would have loved there to have been more interactions between the 3 main characters but I enjoyed the story nevertheless. 

Those who are fans of The Fault in our Stars and other heart-sobbing books will love The Beauty that Remains.