Publisher: Hot Key Books
Publication Date: February 8th, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Add to Goodreads
Buy Links: Kinokuniya Malaysia
Source: Thank you Pansing Books for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Rating:
Blurbs
Lily wakes up one crisp Sunday morning on the side of the road. She has no idea how she got there. It is all very peaceful. and very beautiful. It is only when the police car, and then the ambulance arrive, and she sees her own body, that she realises that she is in fact... dead. But what is she supposed do now? Lily has no option but to follow her body and see her family – her parents and her twin brother start falling apart. And then her twin brother Ben gives her a once in a deathtime opportunity - to use his own body for a while. But will Lily give Ben his body back? She is beginning to have a rather good time...
A moving, startlingly funny yet achingly sad debut novel from a stunning new talent.
How should I begin? Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this book. Not that I hate nor I like the book either. It's kind of complicated. When I first read the blurb of Sunflowers in February, I am so anticipated to read and I can say I am pretty much excited to begin reading it. The topic is quite heavy as it consists of death, grieving, misery, love, and longing - all in one book.
Before that, let's appreciate how beautiful vibrant color (even though yellow is not my favourite color at all but this is exceptional!) of the book cover and that what pull me into wanting to read Sunflowers in February by Phyllida Shrimpton.
Anyway, let me briefly talk about what this book is all about. Lily Richardson has found herself lying beside her dead body and she is in disbelief of what has happened to her and she feels that she need to do something for the sake of her life of what happened to her and her family, her twin and her friends. She has been lingering around her family and her friends (not they really realize her presence) but one day, her twin brother give her an opportunity of once-in-a-deathtime and she takes it and live her life using her twin brother's body but she's struggling even though being able to have the chance again to live the life for a while.
The story has appeared from Lily's POV also from her parents' POV and another parents' POV and her twin brother's POV which it's kind of confusing sometimes when there are too multiple POV in one book. The story plot is easy to follow although the author's description is a bit too long that I felt like some of it just isn't necessary to be but I guess maybe the author wants us to able to understand the whole story.
However, apart from that, I find that Lily's character is quite annoying when she whines about everything and almost doing things she should not do when she's in her twin's body!! I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes when she did something childish, I would say. But it is understandable since she is in someone's body and it's complicated to try to be someone else when she's not. Get what I mean?
Although, I do not feel satisfied with the ending! It's like it should not end like that and suddenly everything is okay like nothing happened when there's something happen! Ahh..why? The book still gives me some impression. See this is the reason why I mention above that I am in between of loving this book or not -when I do though it gives me heartache from somewhere in the story.
Overall, it does grip my heart and put tears in my eyes toward the end of the book on how her twin brother bring Lily anywhere he goes and keeps his promise to complete her bucket list. the love between them is forever. Kudos to the author - Phyllida Shrimpton for writing a debut novel of family's love that is undeniable which has left me strong marks in my heart (and to other readers) on appreciating our life and our family always and forever. Let me know if you have read Sunflowers in February!
Sunflowers in February by Phyllida Shrimpton is a worth for you to try reading it!
0 comments