Review: The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk

Summary

Autumn always knew exactly who she was—a talented artist and a loyal friend. Shay was defined by two things: her bond with her twin sister, Sasha, and her love of music. And Logan always turned to writing love songs when his love life was a little less than perfect.

But when tragedy strikes each of them, somehow music is no longer enough. Now Logan can’t stop watching vlogs of his dead ex-boyfriend. Shay is a music blogger struggling to keep it together. And Autumn sends messages that she knows can never be answered.

Despite the odds, one band’s music will reunite them and prove that after grief, beauty thrives in the people left behind.

Review

This book is heart wrenching. It’s emotional and it twists your insides. The book is powerful in its grief. It kind of tears at your insides. And it doesn’t stop from the very beginning. I love the way it incorporates other mediums at the beginning of every chapter. Woodfolk does a fabulous job painting each of the characters in different lights. I never lost track of who each of them was, the ways their grief is similar and different. Each one of them is unique.

They each come together slowly, tied together by strings and chords. This reminds me of a bit of History Is All You Left Me and The Astonishing Color of After. One of the things I loved was the way Woodfolk examined the need we have for closure – how can we get answers from our departed loved ones? We all have things we have left unsaid, things we said in anger, and this grieving process is both individual and universal. There are whispers int he wind of what should have been.

Something else I loved was that Autumn is an adopted Korean American. Woodfolk talks about her lack of representation in the media and Youtube videos. Another little touch for Autumn’s character was the way that the grief of being left echoes this unanswerable hole – this mourning – for the birth parents she will never know. So Autumn was entirely touching and so close to home for me.

I loved so many of the characters and they truly propel the story forward. We want to see what happens – how they come together – and if they get answers.

Make sure you check out The Beauty That Remains on Goodreads.

Discussion

What is the last book that surprised you?

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