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“Strengths abound in Avery’s touching novel, and Sammie’s relationships, both friendly and romantic, are no exception…Fans of John Green’s work and Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places will be reaching for the tissue box at the book’s tear-inducing end.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)
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“Sammie’s narrative voice is sardonic, distinctive, wildly intelligent, and sometimes hilarious…Readers will feel her mind and heart shifting with the illness. Indelible.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“Avery brings an emotional honesty to Sammie’s narrative…Teens will be inspired by Avery’s heart-rending story about a special and intelligent young woman coping with a devastating disease—a story buoyed by the strong love of family flowing through Sammie’s narrative and by an exquisite love story in which Sammie experiences happiness with Coop.”
— VOYA (starred review)
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* "Sammie's voice is a bright, relatable, and uncompromising one...Strengths abound in Avery's touching novel, and Sammie's relationships, both friendly and romantic, are no exception...Fans of John Green's work and Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places will be reaching for the tissue box at the book's tear-inducing end.
— School Library Journal (starred review)
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* "Avery brings an emotional honesty to Sammie's narrative... Teens will be inspired by Avery's heart-rending story about a special and intelligent young woman coping with a devastating disease--a story buoyed by the strong love of family flowing through Sammie's narrative and by an exquisite love story...
— VOYA (starred review)
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Avery (A Million Miles Away, 2015) balances humor and devastating sadness perfectly. Sammie's voice is sympathetic but not pitiful as she relates her hopes for the future and thoughts on the past...a story of self discovery that's hard to put down.
— Booklist
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The characters feel like real people and the situations are very believable. Sammie wants everyone to treat her as a "normal" person rather than someone on death's doorstep. This one will be a winner with girls.
— School Library Connection
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Things you will probably experience while reading this wonderful book: gut-wrenching hope, ugly-crying, the joy of finding beautiful moments in the midst of difficult times. Enjoy.
— Adi Alsaid, author of Let's Get Lost and Never Always Sometimes
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Lara Avery's brilliant novel about a girl who learns that her life might be ending--just when it feels like it's finally getting started--will open your heart and very possibly break it. Fierce Sammie McCoy is an unforgettable heroine, and as soon as I closed this book, I started to miss her. I still do.
— Emily Raymond, co-author with James Patterson First Love
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In Sammie McCoy, Avery has created a character that completely vibrates with energy. And Sammie's so wicked smart, you almost believe she will overcome everything. But that's not what this book's about. At some point possibility ceases to matter and Avery shows us to love all we already have. Such a moving read.
— Geoff Herbach, author of Stupid Fast and Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders
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[A] heartfelt, funny and bittersweet new novel...a memorable read, indeed.
— BookPage