5 REASONS TO READ | We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen


Title: We Are Still Tornadoes
Author: Michael Kun and Susan Mullen
Pages: 304 pages
Release Date: November 1st, 2016
Source: Finished copy from St. Martin's Press
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5/5 stars
Growing up across the street from each other, Scott and Cath have been best friends their entire lives. Cath would help Scott with his English homework, he would make her mix tapes (it's the 80's after all), and any fight they had would be forgotten over TV and cookies. But now they've graduated high school and Cath is off to college while Scott is at home pursuing his musical dreams.

During their first year apart, Scott and Cath's letters help them understand heartache, annoying roommates, family drama and the pressure to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives. And through it all, they realize that the only person they want to turn to is each other. But does that mean they should be more than friends? The only thing that's clear is that change is an inescapable part of growing up. And the friends who help us navigate it share an unshakable bond.

This funny yet deeply moving book--set to an awesome 80's soundtrack--captures all the beautiful confusion and emotional intensity we find on the verge of adulthood...and first love.

Buy the book!
**I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
A screenshot of the book's current Goodreads synopsis
When I first received an ARC from Blogboundcon, I thought nothing of it. After seeing many of my online friends praise it, I finally decided to give it a whirl. I've learned that with books, it's hard to tell whether you'll like it or not until you've actually read it. And that was exactly the case with this book!

Scott and Cath have been best friends for as long as they can remember. So when Cath leaves for college and Scott is left behind, they have no choice but to stay connected through writing letters to each other. Written in letter format, this book discovers loss, hardship and friendship through the use of very little dialogue. It is a heartfelt and charming story set in the 1980's about two friends that realize their feelings for each other through their time apart.

  • UNIQUE READING FORMAT | I've talked about how daunting I find the 'letter format' in books to be. I was so scared going into this one that I wasn't going to like it because of the format. The letter format tends to leave a lot of stuff out like traditional dialogue and the inner monologues of the characters. You can't hear them think, you can only guess what they're thinking by what they say in their letters. However, I thought the authors brilliantly approached this concept and were able to capture the reactions of the character's through their letters. It also flowed really well, which was surprising because it felt like time was flying by so fast. Long story short, I was thoroughly impressed. 
  • NOSTALGIA NOSTALGIA | For a story that takes place in the 80's, I was definitely expecting a sweet, old feeling to the book with many references to the decade; this book delivered. Prince, Michael Jackson and Peter Gabriel are just a few references among the long list that are featured in this book. 
  • EMPHASIS ON MUSIC + SONG LYRICS | This book holds music in high regard. Music is emphasized as a bond between these two characters. The main character, himself, is a songwriter and musician. My favorite parts of the book were the scattered song lyrics in many of Scott's letters. I think it was very different and a huge accomplishment by the authors for writing such smashin' lyrics. 
  • THE CUTEST ROMANCE EVER | We're all familiar with the trope of 'two best friends falling in love'. It's like been there, done that! However, I thought this blossoming romance between these two best friends was not awkward at all and quite endearing. 
  • A BOOK THAT DOESN'T HIDE THE CRINGIEST MOMENTS IN LIFE | This isn't just a story of two best friends falling in love. It's a story of friendship, hardship and especially loss. This book delivers both the best and worst days of these character's lives, the ones people don't often like to talk about. 

Be a Tornado. Read this book! 


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2 comments

  1. I absolutely cannot wait to read this book because it sounds so amazing and the COVER IS SO GORGEOUS!

    xx Anisha (https://sprinkledpages.blogspot.com.au/)

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  2. Ohhh how I need this book in my life. I love books set in the eighties, being an eighties child and all, but there was something less complex about the decade that really appeals to me. I'm a massive fan of friends to lovers type storylines too. I enjoy letter or email type formatting for contemporaries, I find the dialogue is usually much more open and honest between characters and allows readers a greater insight into what they're feeling. So much yes for this book! Have already added it to my Goodreads even before I finished reading your review. Absolutely brilliant, I'm sold!<3 <3

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