Book Shelf: We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan

From two acclaimed authors comes an emotional story told in verse about friendship, love, and overcoming unbeatable odds.

Authors Brian Conaghan and Sarah Crossan have joined forces to tell the story of Nicu and Jess, two troubled teens whose paths cross in the unlikeliest of places.

Nicu has emigrated from Romania and is struggling to find his place in his new home. Meanwhile, Jess's home life is overshadowed by violence. When Nicu and Jess meet, what starts out as friendship grows into romance as the two bond over their painful pasts and hopeful futures. But will they be able to save each other, let alone themselves?

For fans of Una LaMarche’s Like No Other, this illuminating story told in dual points of view through vibrant verse will stay with readers long after they've turned the last page.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan is a riveting and emotionally rich tale of two mismatched teens who find solace in each other when their mistakes see them brought together unexpectedly.

When both Jess and Nico are caught stealing in two separate incidents, it is decided they will perform community service as punishment. For Jess, this means escaping her troubled home life for a few hours while she picks up trash, while for Nico, who has recently moved to England with his mum and dad it means he can pretend he’s not being forced to move back home and expected to marry a virtual stranger in only a few weeks’ time. Jess and Nicu couldn’t be more different, but as they bond, both teens find comfort in the other and soon Jess and Nicu can’t deny how happy the other makes them feel.

You know what, We Come Apart was a really emotional novel at times. There were moments when this book absolutely slayed me; especially when Nicu experienced the painful and unnecessary bullying he did and Jess’s home life continued to be filled with abuse. Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan do a really good job with We Come Apart and managed to captivate their reader throughout the course of the story really well.

On the whole, I don’t generally read novels told in verse, nor would I typically seek them out, but for Sarah Crossan I’ll make an exception considering I’ve never had anything but fantastic experiences when reading her books and quite enjoyed her previous novel, One, also told in verse. And We Come Apart follows in this fashion, proving to be a wonderful reading experience with all its emotion, authenticity and characterization.

Jess and Nicu had two very different and distinct voices. I don’t know what the writing process was between Crossan and Conaghan was; whether they wrote one character each or shared the two personalities between them, but whatever it was, the end result was really impressive. And really worked. Nicu’s fractured, but still delightful English was interesting to read and reflected Nicu’s struggles to fit in and become a part of an English society very effectively. I liked Jess enough, but goodness did I love Nico. Nico just made me want to scoop him up and protect him from the world as the story unfolded.

Delightfully sweet, but moving and emotional, We Come Apart is a quick read that will really make you feel. The ending was bittersweet but true and still leaves me pondering what might have been and what might be for these two teens I've come to love. Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan create a wonderful tale in We Come Apart and I definitely recommend!

　
Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia
Format: Paperback ARC
Australian RRP: $17.99
Release Date: March 2017
Purchase: Bookworld | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: An emotional and moving tale, definitely worth reading!