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The Atlas of Us
Atlas James has lost her way.
In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.
Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.
In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.
Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 9, 2024
67 people are currently reading
10.3k people want to read
About the author
Kristin Dwyer
4 books735 followersKristin Dwyer grew up under the California sun and still prays every day for a cloudy sky. When she’s not writing books about people kissing, she and her spouse can be found encouraging their four mischief makers to get into trouble. Kristin is a part-time hair model and wants you to know she is full-time TSA PRECHECK, and one time a credible news outlet asked for her opinion on K-pop (it was the best day of her life). Please do not talk to her about your fandom, she will try to join.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 493 reviews
August 14, 2024
hmmm. while this isnt necessarily a bad book, i cant help but compare it to KDs debut novel (which i loved immensely) and see all of the ways in which this novel doesnt live up.
objectively, this has a good story. the characters are older, so i think this was trying to fall under the NA genre, but it is very much YA in feel and writing. which is fine. i think it does a good job at discussing grief, how to be a good friend, and choosing what to do with ones life. all of these are great topics for the YA audience and the story represents them well.
that being said, i never got attached to any of the characters and, therefore, never fully cared about any of them as a result. my investment in the characters was what made me to love ‘some mistakes were made’ so much, so its such a bummer that i didnt have the same experience this time around. i also didnt believe the romance between the two MCs. it felt like it was based on pretty much nothing, so that whole subplot didnt really work for me.
but overall, i do think that is a decent book; i just personally didnt find it as enjoyable as KDs previous novel.
↠ 3.5 stars
objectively, this has a good story. the characters are older, so i think this was trying to fall under the NA genre, but it is very much YA in feel and writing. which is fine. i think it does a good job at discussing grief, how to be a good friend, and choosing what to do with ones life. all of these are great topics for the YA audience and the story represents them well.
that being said, i never got attached to any of the characters and, therefore, never fully cared about any of them as a result. my investment in the characters was what made me to love ‘some mistakes were made’ so much, so its such a bummer that i didnt have the same experience this time around. i also didnt believe the romance between the two MCs. it felt like it was based on pretty much nothing, so that whole subplot didnt really work for me.
but overall, i do think that is a decent book; i just personally didnt find it as enjoyable as KDs previous novel.
↠ 3.5 stars
April 18, 2023
I wrote this book. Please disregard my narcissistic opinion.
Also- if this one makes you cry, I'm sorry. Again.
Also- if this one makes you cry, I'm sorry. Again.
July 25, 2023
"Atlas of Us" is a compelling exploration of grief, as it delves into themes of anger, sadness, depression, and the journey of finding oneself amidst emotional breakdown. It beautifully portrays the process of healing and reinventing oneself to embrace a new beginning, bidding farewell to the past.
Atlas James not only experiences the loss of her father to cancer but also feels lost in life. Failing to graduate from high school and losing her job at a floral shop, she becomes antisocial, depressed, and struggles with anger issues. Her mother is unsure how to help her.
In a last-ditch effort to find the rehabilitation she needs, Atlas joins a community service program aimed at rehabilitating trails in the Western Sierras. The program is led by her father's best friend, Joe. Holding her father's bucket list in her hands, she embarks on the journey to complete the trail he had intended to hike but never got the chance to.
The program enforces strict rules, including a no-name policy. Atlas chooses the nickname "Maps," symbolizing her desire to navigate her own path once the hiking concludes.
During the program, she meets her teammates, including Books, Junior, Sugar, and the enigmatic King, who awakens complex emotions within her. Atlas tells lies to build walls and conceal her secrets, presenting a false facade of the person she wishes to be. However, she soon realizes that these four individuals can understand her pain, and with their support, she can freely experience sadness, shed tears, and face her struggles without judgment. Perhaps they can see the true Atlas, a side of her that no one else has ever witnessed. What will happen to her once the trail ends? How can she return to her old life and learn to live without her dad? And most importantly, how will she say goodbye to King, who means more to her than just a friend, as he departs for Alaska?
Overall, "Atlas of Us" is a poignant and heart-wrenching novel that guarantees to evoke strong emotions. It is a meaningful exploration of grief with a promising and inspirational conclusion. Keep your tissues ready as you embark on this tear-jerking and beautiful journey.
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books/HarperTeen for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Atlas James not only experiences the loss of her father to cancer but also feels lost in life. Failing to graduate from high school and losing her job at a floral shop, she becomes antisocial, depressed, and struggles with anger issues. Her mother is unsure how to help her.
In a last-ditch effort to find the rehabilitation she needs, Atlas joins a community service program aimed at rehabilitating trails in the Western Sierras. The program is led by her father's best friend, Joe. Holding her father's bucket list in her hands, she embarks on the journey to complete the trail he had intended to hike but never got the chance to.
The program enforces strict rules, including a no-name policy. Atlas chooses the nickname "Maps," symbolizing her desire to navigate her own path once the hiking concludes.
During the program, she meets her teammates, including Books, Junior, Sugar, and the enigmatic King, who awakens complex emotions within her. Atlas tells lies to build walls and conceal her secrets, presenting a false facade of the person she wishes to be. However, she soon realizes that these four individuals can understand her pain, and with their support, she can freely experience sadness, shed tears, and face her struggles without judgment. Perhaps they can see the true Atlas, a side of her that no one else has ever witnessed. What will happen to her once the trail ends? How can she return to her old life and learn to live without her dad? And most importantly, how will she say goodbye to King, who means more to her than just a friend, as he departs for Alaska?
Overall, "Atlas of Us" is a poignant and heart-wrenching novel that guarantees to evoke strong emotions. It is a meaningful exploration of grief with a promising and inspirational conclusion. Keep your tissues ready as you embark on this tear-jerking and beautiful journey.
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books/HarperTeen for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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April 18, 2023
MAKE ME CRY KRISTIN, IT’S FINE
October 25, 2023
3.75
This was a tricky one for me to rate. I didn't expect it to be as heavy as it was, content-wise. The hike itself was very melancholic and had few happy moments. I sometimes wished we were following a different group on the trail because our group dynamic was sad and lacking vibrancy. This story is primarily about the grief of a teen who just lost her father to cancer; this is a vital element of the entire plot and gives reason to the melancholy. While I like the group of trail mates, I felt like the main romance was insta-love and lacked depth. The two characters fell so hard for each other, but there were little conversations of substance and I never grasped what it was that made them fall for each other besides physical attraction. This author writes very human characters and angst drips from the page - but it was hard to buy into with the missing relationship development I needed. I'll read more of her books in the future (and will still buy this for my own shelves), but I don't see it as a favorite or a re-read like Some Mistakes Were Made.
LGBTQ+ rep: m/m side character relationship
This was a tricky one for me to rate. I didn't expect it to be as heavy as it was, content-wise. The hike itself was very melancholic and had few happy moments. I sometimes wished we were following a different group on the trail because our group dynamic was sad and lacking vibrancy. This story is primarily about the grief of a teen who just lost her father to cancer; this is a vital element of the entire plot and gives reason to the melancholy. While I like the group of trail mates, I felt like the main romance was insta-love and lacked depth. The two characters fell so hard for each other, but there were little conversations of substance and I never grasped what it was that made them fall for each other besides physical attraction. This author writes very human characters and angst drips from the page - but it was hard to buy into with the missing relationship development I needed. I'll read more of her books in the future (and will still buy this for my own shelves), but I don't see it as a favorite or a re-read like Some Mistakes Were Made.
LGBTQ+ rep: m/m side character relationship
May 6, 2024
Really loved the vibe of this story! It's not a genre I normally read but the nature aspect let me read it. And I'm so overhelmed! I doesn't happen often that I cry when reading a book, but this one made me do it several times. The process of grieving is really described in an incredibly beautiful way, which describes the feeling impressively, especially in connection with nature, and grabs you emotionally. Surprisingly, reading it was also accompanied by a lot of laughter. It really is a special book in its entirety, which incorporates all facets of life and leaves you with a good feeling despite the heaviness. After a quick read to get into the book, I couldn't stop reading and read most of it in one day.
Therefore: 5.0🌟🌟🌟🌟
Therefore: 5.0🌟🌟🌟🌟
January 11, 2024
Gah, this book! After reading the author's debut (and wholly falling in love), I was quite excited to see what she had in store for us next. Readers, it is just as spectacular as Some Mistakes Were Made. Which frankly shocked me, because I loved that one a whole lot. Atlas and her story tugged at my heartstrings from the first page, she just felt so real. And in need of some good in her life, frankly. So when she ends up as part of a group of strangers rehabbing (and living on) the trails that her dad so loved, it's clear that this story is going to illicit some big emotions.
I loved the whole journey Atlas (or Maps, as she's known to her fellow trailmates) undertook. I equally loved the friends she made along the way. This was a group of people who had very little in common- didn't even know each other's names for goodness sake- but they all were so well developed, it was impossible not to root for them all. In addition, things can get pretty harrowing out in the middle of the woods. So while a lot of the story revolves around Atlas picking up the pieces of her broken heart and mind, there is that element of survival, too.
Bottom Line: I loved literally every last thing about this book. Kristin Dwyer has become an Auto-Buy Author™ for me, no question.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I loved the whole journey Atlas (or Maps, as she's known to her fellow trailmates) undertook. I equally loved the friends she made along the way. This was a group of people who had very little in common- didn't even know each other's names for goodness sake- but they all were so well developed, it was impossible not to root for them all. In addition, things can get pretty harrowing out in the middle of the woods. So while a lot of the story revolves around Atlas picking up the pieces of her broken heart and mind, there is that element of survival, too.
Bottom Line: I loved literally every last thing about this book. Kristin Dwyer has become an Auto-Buy Author™ for me, no question.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
March 10, 2024
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Insta Book Tours.
The Atlas of Us is one of the most beautifully written and heart-wrenching reads on so many levels.
We follow Atlas, who's not had an easy time of things. She becomes antisocial and spirals into depression and finds it hard to control her anger. She's lost her father to cancer, failed school, and lost her job, and her mum is at a loss as to what she can to do to help her.
Atlas signs up to join a group lead by her father's best friend, who rehabilitate trails in the Western Sierras. It's her last hope to sort herself out and do something to make her father proud in the process. One of his dreams was to hike the trail, so she's doing this for him, too, as he never got the chance to achieve it.
I loved the no-name policy on the hike and use of nicknames instead - such a fun idea. Atlas learns much about herself and her pain and finds release in this journey she takes, which is emotional, therapeutic, and raw along the way. Can she find acceptance and the healing she needs to go back to living a life away from the trail when it ends? You'll need to read it to find out!
I was expecting so much less than I received in this novel. I thought it would be a sweet story, and it was, but it was so much more and brought a few tears along the way. As a sufferer of depression I could really feel Atlas's pain and suffering. It was so real, and so was she throughout this story.
The Atlas of Us is one of the most beautifully written and heart-wrenching reads on so many levels.
We follow Atlas, who's not had an easy time of things. She becomes antisocial and spirals into depression and finds it hard to control her anger. She's lost her father to cancer, failed school, and lost her job, and her mum is at a loss as to what she can to do to help her.
Atlas signs up to join a group lead by her father's best friend, who rehabilitate trails in the Western Sierras. It's her last hope to sort herself out and do something to make her father proud in the process. One of his dreams was to hike the trail, so she's doing this for him, too, as he never got the chance to achieve it.
I loved the no-name policy on the hike and use of nicknames instead - such a fun idea. Atlas learns much about herself and her pain and finds release in this journey she takes, which is emotional, therapeutic, and raw along the way. Can she find acceptance and the healing she needs to go back to living a life away from the trail when it ends? You'll need to read it to find out!
I was expecting so much less than I received in this novel. I thought it would be a sweet story, and it was, but it was so much more and brought a few tears along the way. As a sufferer of depression I could really feel Atlas's pain and suffering. It was so real, and so was she throughout this story.
January 19, 2024
2024 reads: 11/250
2024 tbr: 8/120
disclaimer: i won an advanced copy of this from a giveaway hosted by the publisher. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: death of parent (cancer, prior to story), grief, underage drinking
this book follows a teenager attempting to find some direction in life following the death of her father. she’s working on rehabbing trails in the western sierras, something her father was passionate about. as she lets her trail mates in, she starts to think that they might know her more than anyone else.
books about grief immediately draw me in, so although this author was new to me, i figured there was a pretty good chance that i’d really enjoy this book. personally, i thought this was a great depiction of grief. so many different emotions are explored in atlas and they can mostly be tied back to her grief. she’s not 100% sad or 100% angry or 100% numb, instead there’s a blend of all these and more.
i recommend this book and i’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
2024 tbr: 8/120
disclaimer: i won an advanced copy of this from a giveaway hosted by the publisher. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings: death of parent (cancer, prior to story), grief, underage drinking
this book follows a teenager attempting to find some direction in life following the death of her father. she’s working on rehabbing trails in the western sierras, something her father was passionate about. as she lets her trail mates in, she starts to think that they might know her more than anyone else.
books about grief immediately draw me in, so although this author was new to me, i figured there was a pretty good chance that i’d really enjoy this book. personally, i thought this was a great depiction of grief. so many different emotions are explored in atlas and they can mostly be tied back to her grief. she’s not 100% sad or 100% angry or 100% numb, instead there’s a blend of all these and more.
i recommend this book and i’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
May 17, 2024
The Atlas of Us is a brilliant and meaningful depiction of grief. The writing evokes such emotion and draws you in. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the exploration. The actual plot is a delight to read, it made me think of Wild by Cheryl Strayed in that we follow a female protagonist on a journey of self discovery. The book feels intimate and wild all in one. I thought the romance element was nice and complemented the story by balancing out the rawness. I wish I had this book when I was younger to read and help me navigate through loss. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
December 21, 2023
3.5 stars. I’m always interested in reading stories about grief, which is a universal feeling that is experienced in a very personal way. Everyone experiences grief differently — that was the biggest thought in my mind when I was reading THE ATLAS OF US
Set against the backdrop of a few summer weeks spent with a small group of strangers working together to rehab mountain hiking trails, it was definitely compelling to read about Atlas working through her feelings about losing her dad. I liked reading about their trail experiences (and honestly would have liked more of that); I enjoyed getting to know the small group of people, though we really only get the barest sketches of who they are since we spend majority of the story with Atlas and in her head. And while it wasn’t always the easiest thing to read, sitting with Atlas in all her feelings felt really honest (and often frustrating, and definitely very much a teenage experience).
I didn’t necessarily end up loving this as much as Dwyer’s debut, but I did feel like it took me on a journey that felt intimate and raw. It did lean heavily on a very specific vibe, but I still got a little emotional by the end of it.
Set against the backdrop of a few summer weeks spent with a small group of strangers working together to rehab mountain hiking trails, it was definitely compelling to read about Atlas working through her feelings about losing her dad. I liked reading about their trail experiences (and honestly would have liked more of that); I enjoyed getting to know the small group of people, though we really only get the barest sketches of who they are since we spend majority of the story with Atlas and in her head. And while it wasn’t always the easiest thing to read, sitting with Atlas in all her feelings felt really honest (and often frustrating, and definitely very much a teenage experience).
I didn’t necessarily end up loving this as much as Dwyer’s debut, but I did feel like it took me on a journey that felt intimate and raw. It did lean heavily on a very specific vibe, but I still got a little emotional by the end of it.
July 22, 2023
So. Many. Emotions.
I wish I could explain how I feel better, because nothing I type is going to do this book justice. But alas, I shall try.
Dwyer has an incredible way with words, honestly, I think she’s made a deal with the devil to string such impactful words together. It’s so easy to immerse yourself into her words, the way she describes not only Atlas’s grief, but her surroundings, the main characters and their struggles. It’s so easy to become enthralled into her stories.
This book was incredible, blunt, extraordinary…I could go on. I don’t think I’ve ever been as emotionally invested in a story as I was with this one. I hurt with the characters, I felt their pain, their grief, their hope. It’s very rare that my emotions get the better of me when I read, but I found myself teary eyed on more than one occasion.
This story is one I will recommend over and over. Thank you @ and @ for sending me an eARC of The Atlas of Us. I can’t wait for everyone to have the chance to read this sensational story.
I wish I could explain how I feel better, because nothing I type is going to do this book justice. But alas, I shall try.
Dwyer has an incredible way with words, honestly, I think she’s made a deal with the devil to string such impactful words together. It’s so easy to immerse yourself into her words, the way she describes not only Atlas’s grief, but her surroundings, the main characters and their struggles. It’s so easy to become enthralled into her stories.
This book was incredible, blunt, extraordinary…I could go on. I don’t think I’ve ever been as emotionally invested in a story as I was with this one. I hurt with the characters, I felt their pain, their grief, their hope. It’s very rare that my emotions get the better of me when I read, but I found myself teary eyed on more than one occasion.
This story is one I will recommend over and over. Thank you @ and @ for sending me an eARC of The Atlas of Us. I can’t wait for everyone to have the chance to read this sensational story.
July 22, 2023
i cried at least a dozen times but this was such a beautiful story that deals with grief and navigating your way through it even during the messy times and finding a chosen family along the way.
February 11, 2024
Well written and memorable. The MC was relatable. I lost my dad 10 years ago, and the book was able to churn up some strong emotions I haven't felt in a while - that'show you know it'sa good book. Parts dragged out a bit longer than necessary, including the end. I like the cover but the colors are a tad dark. A solid 4 stars.
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February 22, 2024
Brb, uncontrollably sobbing. Kristin Dwyer knows exactly how to simultaneously break and warm my heart, and her writing is some of the best I’ve ever read. Everything about this story felt like it burrowed deep in my soul, even though i read the majority of it in a couple hours. Loved all the characters, loved the writing, loved the story, and loved the setting. 5/5 and I will read anything Kristin Dwyer writes, including her grocery list.
January 21, 2024
I didn't know what to expect of this one...when I read the blurb I thought it might be one of those easy chick lit romance books that I could read for light relief. I was wrong. But I loved being wrong this time. This book has depth. The characters are so well developed despite them only showing parts of themselves (you'll understand when you read). The Atlas of Us certainly has romance but it is so much more than that. It's a book that shows grief at its most raw and real from the eyes of a young person. It's a book that shows that although we want to be alone in our grief and anger at the world that took away someone we cherish, friendship heals and letting people see you for who you are is a risk worth taking if they are your people. Atlas, who renames herself as Maps on a hiking programme designed to help youths, has lost her dad and in doing so had lost herself. In spending a month in nature and grafting, she develops real friendships with the most unlikely of people. At first, scared to be herself, she hides who she is but slowly their bond strengthens and she learns that letting people in is not weakness.
The story is just beautiful. It's written so perfectly. And although it's classed as YA, I took so much from this book and this author. Thank you netgalley and harper360ya
The story is just beautiful. It's written so perfectly. And although it's classed as YA, I took so much from this book and this author. Thank you netgalley and harper360ya
August 12, 2024
Wow, Kristin really pulled no punches with this one.
There’s something about the way that Kristin Dwyer writes that makes me want to absolutely devour her books. It’s addictive, enticing, and layered in so many ways that I always seem incapable of putting it down.
This book felt deeply personal. I still have both of my parents, but I know a similar loss and I felt like I could see Dwyer’s heart beating on every page of this book. She has given us readers a small piece of herself and I am so grateful for this opportunity to really see Atlas and Kristin too.
This book is beautiful and I hope you’ll give it a chance to touch you. 🤍
I did take away a star bc I feel like things got a touch too mature for a YA novel. I don’t mind a touch of romance implying that things have went all the way, I just don’t think YA needs any sort of description of that nature. I like that door closed 😅 I also prefer her first book to this one and that’s why I’m coming back to this months later and moving it officially to 4 stars. (I previously had it at 4.5)
There’s something about the way that Kristin Dwyer writes that makes me want to absolutely devour her books. It’s addictive, enticing, and layered in so many ways that I always seem incapable of putting it down.
This book felt deeply personal. I still have both of my parents, but I know a similar loss and I felt like I could see Dwyer’s heart beating on every page of this book. She has given us readers a small piece of herself and I am so grateful for this opportunity to really see Atlas and Kristin too.
This book is beautiful and I hope you’ll give it a chance to touch you. 🤍
I did take away a star bc I feel like things got a touch too mature for a YA novel. I don’t mind a touch of romance implying that things have went all the way, I just don’t think YA needs any sort of description of that nature. I like that door closed 😅 I also prefer her first book to this one and that’s why I’m coming back to this months later and moving it officially to 4 stars. (I previously had it at 4.5)
July 16, 2023
The story's emotional tug and pull is so meticulously placed.
I've felt so seen. So so so seen.
Anyone who's ever felt they're not allowed to feel their feelings WILL wallow throughout the story, being healed from wounds you thought were closed hugged by lush forest and kissed by summer days.
Kristin's raw emotional detail into loss will leave you gut punched and reeling... But also healing and loving every moment of it.
🖤I wish I was one of Atlas's people.🖤
For now, I'm will pretend I am.
100000000000/5 stars.
I've felt so seen. So so so seen.
Anyone who's ever felt they're not allowed to feel their feelings WILL wallow throughout the story, being healed from wounds you thought were closed hugged by lush forest and kissed by summer days.
Kristin's raw emotional detail into loss will leave you gut punched and reeling... But also healing and loving every moment of it.
🖤I wish I was one of Atlas's people.🖤
For now, I'm will pretend I am.
100000000000/5 stars.
March 3, 2024
no.
I hated the characters, the romance, the protagonist Books and Sugar. But I sorta liked the pacing and the exploration of grief and some parts of the writing were pretty good.
What an indifferent read.
2 stars
I hated the characters, the romance, the protagonist Books and Sugar. But I sorta liked the pacing and the exploration of grief and some parts of the writing were pretty good.
What an indifferent read.
2 stars
April 17, 2024
Well shit *cries openly*
This is the kind of book that will help people heal. It was beautiful!
This is the kind of book that will help people heal. It was beautiful!
August 13, 2024
"At some point she stopped wearing makeup and started wearing the sun."
January 5, 2024
Thank you HarperTeen for the eARC.
A GOOD READ.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I really enjoyed this book. I do want to note this fits into the new adult category and not young adult. The characters are 18-20 and there are some vague open scenes.
Anyways
This was a messy journey in the best ways. Grief is nonlinear and gut punches you at the worst times and this showed a lot of that. I liked that Atlas had ups and downs and that in the end of the book she had found something new to hold on to and look forward to.
The romance grew on me but I do feel like it was missing something, like maybe a little more background King?? I don’t know, but I did like many of their quiet moments and the connection they were trying to forge. The found family was tangled and pushed and pulled all of the emotions. I loved the hiking and nature plot that allowed for the chance to just let go.
It was a really good book and one I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for something heavier.
Overall audience notes:
- NA Contemporary Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: 2 vague open door
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a Dad from cancer, grief/depression depiction, underage drinking
A GOOD READ.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
I really enjoyed this book. I do want to note this fits into the new adult category and not young adult. The characters are 18-20 and there are some vague open scenes.
Anyways
This was a messy journey in the best ways. Grief is nonlinear and gut punches you at the worst times and this showed a lot of that. I liked that Atlas had ups and downs and that in the end of the book she had found something new to hold on to and look forward to.
The romance grew on me but I do feel like it was missing something, like maybe a little more background King?? I don’t know, but I did like many of their quiet moments and the connection they were trying to forge. The found family was tangled and pushed and pulled all of the emotions. I loved the hiking and nature plot that allowed for the chance to just let go.
It was a really good book and one I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for something heavier.
Overall audience notes:
- NA Contemporary Romance
- Language: some strong
- Romance: 2 vague open door
- Violence: low
- Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a Dad from cancer, grief/depression depiction, underage drinking
January 5, 2024
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a book authored by Kristin Dwyer will make me cry. Thanks for that, Ms. Dwyer!
I am not an outdoorsy gal (I’m genuinely allergic to trees), so I wasn’t sure how much I was going to connect with The Atlas of Us.
I should never have doubted the power of Kristin Dwyer.
Her electric prose drew me in and would not let me go. I read The Atlas of Us in a little over 24 hours, which I haven’t done in months. Found family is one of my favorite tropes and it was executed brilliantly. It was beautiful to read as everyone slowly but surely let down their walls. The little details made this book even more lovable, like the hierarchy of popsicle flavors, quirky nicknames, and Atlas’ ongoing battle with tents. I can tell that this story is deeply personal to the author, so I am honored that I was chosen to review the ARC.
To be transparent, I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because there was a little too much underage drinking and too many spicy moments for my comfort level. Still, it was a meaningful read that I appreciated.
Thank you to Netgalley and @epicreads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am not an outdoorsy gal (I’m genuinely allergic to trees), so I wasn’t sure how much I was going to connect with The Atlas of Us.
I should never have doubted the power of Kristin Dwyer.
Her electric prose drew me in and would not let me go. I read The Atlas of Us in a little over 24 hours, which I haven’t done in months. Found family is one of my favorite tropes and it was executed brilliantly. It was beautiful to read as everyone slowly but surely let down their walls. The little details made this book even more lovable, like the hierarchy of popsicle flavors, quirky nicknames, and Atlas’ ongoing battle with tents. I can tell that this story is deeply personal to the author, so I am honored that I was chosen to review the ARC.
To be transparent, I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because there was a little too much underage drinking and too many spicy moments for my comfort level. Still, it was a meaningful read that I appreciated.
Thank you to Netgalley and @epicreads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 10, 2024
Kristin has done it again 🥹🥹🥹
what a fantastic, heart-wrenching way to start the new year
I was a little worried about KD's sophomore book but I shouldn't have doubted her.
Some Mistakes Were Made may have been more anxiety inducing and emotionally damaging but The Atlas of Us was also gut wrenching and beautiful with characters who are messy, relatable and feel real and they stay with you, and MAN, the way Kristin writes about grief and trauma, the way she reaches into your chest and pulls and twists... there's no one else like her.
Her books speak directly into my soul and I cannot wait for her next release. Whatever she writes, I'll read it.
what a fantastic, heart-wrenching way to start the new year
"As soon as the door shuts, I feel my brokenness ripped from me in bloody cuts that are pushed out in a sob. Grief is like that. It slowly stabs at you, burrowing itself inside, until eventually your body tries to get rid of it, and it ends up tearing through you. Destruction. That's all death does."
I was a little worried about KD's sophomore book but I shouldn't have doubted her.
Some Mistakes Were Made may have been more anxiety inducing and emotionally damaging but The Atlas of Us was also gut wrenching and beautiful with characters who are messy, relatable and feel real and they stay with you, and MAN, the way Kristin writes about grief and trauma, the way she reaches into your chest and pulls and twists... there's no one else like her.
Her books speak directly into my soul and I cannot wait for her next release. Whatever she writes, I'll read it.
February 28, 2024
I LOVED Kristin Dwyer’s debut, but this one did not hit home for me.
What I Loved:
• the friendship was lovely
• give me all the hiking books
• King is top notch swoony
• I loved that the characters felt their feelings big
Here’s what I didn’t like:
• The FMC was hard.
• I wish this book had not given a pass for bad behavior. Actions have consequence, no matter if our hearts are breaking.
I feel like the beauty of YA is the growth and I didn’t see enough from her. Teens make messy decisions. Everyone talks without thinking, pointing blame where it doesn’t belong. But the beauty in the story to me is the “I’m sorry”. The learning and doing better. But Atlas go a free pass with no accountability for her bad behavior.
What I Loved:
• the friendship was lovely
• give me all the hiking books
• King is top notch swoony
• I loved that the characters felt their feelings big
Here’s what I didn’t like:
• The FMC was hard.
• I wish this book had not given a pass for bad behavior. Actions have consequence, no matter if our hearts are breaking.
I feel like the beauty of YA is the growth and I didn’t see enough from her. Teens make messy decisions. Everyone talks without thinking, pointing blame where it doesn’t belong. But the beauty in the story to me is the “I’m sorry”. The learning and doing better. But Atlas go a free pass with no accountability for her bad behavior.
January 9, 2024
The Atlas of Us is one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read. As someone who has lost her father at a young age, Maps’ story resonated with me so much. Dwyer does an amazing job of putting the journey of grief into words that even if you haven’t experienced it, you will feel every emotion from Maps. I loved her story and I loved their found family and how they all came together. It’s such a beautiful story of grief, pain, finding yourself, being misunderstood, and love. I can’t recommend Kristin Dwyers books enough, they always leave me an emotional wreck. No one makes me cry the way she can!
January 16, 2024
This story is such a beautiful, heart-wrenching, emotional (currently crying as I type this) exploration of grief that hit so close to home for me. Grief looks different for everyone, and yet, Atlas and I are one and the same. This book is one that I am just plain thankful to have read and I am in awe of how insanely powerful and real Kristin’s depiction of grief is in this story.
November 30, 2023
What an emotional roller coaster in the best and most healing way possible. A book I wish I had in my high school years as I was navigating the world after losing a parent. Beautifully written and full of heart and emotion.
January 11, 2024
Of course this made me cry but I loved it 🥹🖤
February 3, 2025
This book had me sobbing at the end.
A beautiful exploration of grief and love and friendship.
Atlas has lost her way.
In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.
Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.
^from the publisher!
*spoilers*
I am IN LOVE with this book y’all. I yapped about it for three minutes here - but it truly is one of the most wonderful YA representations of friendship and found family I’ve come across recently. The growth and friendship that develops between these “bad” kids or “rough around the edges” kids made me cry. I LOVED the relationships between Books and Junior (so stinking cute!) and King and Atlas (so angsty!!). I also adored Sugar’s place in the group and how they all came together in the end. Books was Maps’ blanket (sobbed). The gravesite!!!! Amazing.
Fave quote:
“But it’s not these moments, the scheduled grieving days or holidays with empty chairs that hurt. It’s the unexpected moments. The ones that sneak up on you from seemingly nowhere. The ones you’re not prepared for. When you pick up your phone to call them because you want to tell them something, but then you remember they won’t answer. When you get a glimpse of them from the corner of your eye. Those moments are the ones with knives and teeth and
poison.”
Just read it. You won’t regret
A beautiful exploration of grief and love and friendship.
Atlas has lost her way.
In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.
Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.
^from the publisher!
*spoilers*
I am IN LOVE with this book y’all. I yapped about it for three minutes here - but it truly is one of the most wonderful YA representations of friendship and found family I’ve come across recently. The growth and friendship that develops between these “bad” kids or “rough around the edges” kids made me cry. I LOVED the relationships between Books and Junior (so stinking cute!) and King and Atlas (so angsty!!). I also adored Sugar’s place in the group and how they all came together in the end. Books was Maps’ blanket (sobbed). The gravesite!!!! Amazing.
Fave quote:
“But it’s not these moments, the scheduled grieving days or holidays with empty chairs that hurt. It’s the unexpected moments. The ones that sneak up on you from seemingly nowhere. The ones you’re not prepared for. When you pick up your phone to call them because you want to tell them something, but then you remember they won’t answer. When you get a glimpse of them from the corner of your eye. Those moments are the ones with knives and teeth and
poison.”
Just read it. You won’t regret
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