Wake Paperback – November 28, 2012

I absolutely loved this book! Let me start with the negative because it deserves to end on a really high note. These things didn't bother me- and in some respects inhansed the experience, but I like to warn people ahead of time. There are some typo mistakes. There is also A LOT of moody back and forth between Willa and Jem. Please just be patient with them, it pays off in the end. If cursing really irks you, then this would be the time to overlook it. If talking about illness and suffering bothers you, this is not the book for you (almost every page has some type of reference to Jem's illness, although it doesn't seem forced. It's written in duel 1st person which means that you get Jem's perspective half the time, and he is constantly reminded of his illness. I think his focus on his disease (and Willa's focus on it for that matter) makes the book feel more authentic.) Also, there are many pages.Now to the GREAT stuff about this book. There may be a lot of pages, but it doesn't feel like it's a long story. It's a very natural read that keeps you turning pages and you don't realize that you've read 15 pages until you look at the book mark where you started and think, "damn, that was fast."This is an extremely intimate story, and definitely a character driven one at that. If I gave you the plot it would detract from the experience. Jem and Willa are very flawed and sometimes you want to throw the book across the room because they become so frustrating. BUT this is part of the character development that you really appreciate once you get to know them. They're easy to get attached to, you just have to remember that they are both dealing with forces that are now out of their control. Because of the intimacy of the story, I felt a deep connection with these characters who feel very real.Did I mention that this is an extremely intimate story? There were several moments with Jem when I had to stop reading and hug the book tightly to my chest because I was so upset for him. He just... the poor guy just really needs a hug- like really bad. You'll know when Jem needs a hug- it's heartbreaking. It's not heartbreaking in the pitiful sense, in that you feel sorry for him like an outsider looking in, it's more of a personal sense in which you feel like a very close friend and confidant.Of the supporting cast, Elise is my favorite (if there is reincarnation, I want to be her). The rest of the characters are fascinating in their own way. There are several friends to keep up with (and a few of them to hate), but I really think all of the Harpers shine brightest. You get to know and love them too. Also, Ava is... an interesting character. XDWhen all is said and done, this book gives you all the feels. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give it a chance. It will make you laugh out loud and ugly cry all at the same time. I love this story!!!

"Welcome to the wake."When I read that I got chills and had to know what this was about. I'm so glad I picked this book up, I only wish I would have read it slower because I'm still sad it's over. Abria Mattina had me on an emotional roller coaster while reading Wake. I was sad one moment, angry the next, and sometimes happy. I'm sure I'm leaving out a handful of other emotions but needless to say I was an overemotional mess reading this book but that's okay because it made me love this book. I can honestly say I had a feeling I'd like this book but after reading it I can say it's one of my all time favorite books. Before I got on I'd like to tackle something that might scare some readers off, this book is 727 pages and that's a lot of book. Sometimes with long books they feel like they drag on and it just gets annoying but I can assure you that Wake doesn't do that. It flys by and I even wished it was longer after finishing it because I miss Jem and Willa. The book is dual narrative throughout the entire book and I think there's one chapter/segment each for Elise (Jem's younger sister), Eric (Jem's older brother), and Frank (Willa's older brother). It seems like it could get confusing but it really doesn't. In a few chapters time overlapped so we could see how both Jem and Willa were feeling in that moment and I really liked that it was there with the right moments but not overdone throughout the book. Mentally sighing, oh the characters you guys. They were so perfectly imperfect. I want to know Jem and Willa and be their bff because I care so much about these characters. Is that weird? That's weird but whatever. SO MANY FEELS FOR THEM! Jem sucked me into his world and once I was there I didn't want to leave. Now when you think about a cancer book you probably think of death but this book was so much more. We get to watch Jem and Willa evolve and become new people together, we get to watch them hold each others hand (most of the time) and help each other out of the dark hole they both had fallen into, whether it was by choice or bad luck. Jem was awesome, he made me laugh in almost every single on of his chapters. I don't think I've ever laughed so much reading a book and I really loved that. Although the humor could be dark and twisted at times it worked. Jem was a really strong guy even if he didn't realize it and I was like a proud momma bear by the end of this book. Willa has been through so much more than she should have experienced. She's still a freaking teenager and I can bet most people twice her age haven't seen what she has yet she was so strong, even if she couldn't see it. I loved how Willa was so willing to accept Jem for who he was and help him through the side effects of his disease. I loved how this book didn't have insta love, they slowly peeled the walls down and showed each other who they were. Only after did they figure out the rest. All of the supporting characters are worth a mention because they were just as awesome as Jem and Willa. Elise, Eric, Frank, and Jem's parents were all so easy to love too. They all had their flaws but it all just worked so well together. Abria Mattina did such a phenomenal job tying their stories together.I'm almost positive my review doesn't do this book justice but after discovering what exactly the Wake is I highly suggest you go read this book as soon as possible. Wake was tragic, dark, and beautiful with enough humor to get you through it without going insane. Just be sure to have tissues close by because if you're anything like me you'll need them at some point.I also have an interview with the author on my blog if you want to check it out. (:[...]

Loved this book. Same sort of feel as The Sea of Tranquillity.To begin with a cliché this book was an emotional rollercoaster with highs and lows, laughter and tears however I loved every minute of it. Due to the length it took me two days to read however if I didn't have to work I would have forgone sleep to read it in one sitting.It follows two characters Jem and Willa who are both as messed up as each other for different reasons and the relationship that develops between them is so sweet and intense (good and bad) you can't help but fall in love with them and desperately root for their HEA.My favourite character was Jem, although I didn't always agree with his handling of situations is dealing with his situations best he can. His emotion outburst and reliance on Willa literally broke my heart and scenes where he felt his most down were wrote so well I couldn't help but cry.Supporting characters were great especially Elise (What a great sister!)I cannot recommend this book enough, it will stay with long after I have finished it and will definitely read it again soon

I stumbled upon Wake by accident, and I'm really glad I did. This is a story with depth, with characters that have problems, demons, and that aren't always all that likable. Wake is the story of Jem and Willa, two 18 year olds who have had to deal with the devastating effects of cancer at such a young age. This is a story focused on teenagers but it certainly doesn't feel like it was written for teenagers. It's raw, unapologetic and it doesn't try to cover up the personal and unpleasant side of cancer. It really holds nothing back. Saying that, there are happy moments, funny ones, and moments of incredibly touching tenderness. However, there are some problems that I felt the book had. They certainly don't diminish how wonderful a book Wake is, but they are annoying:Firstly, the music references are excessive. Yes, music is important to the main characters and their relationship, but it gets to a point when song titles and the name of bands become just words that mean nothing. It was especially irksome when the author tried to explain Willa's emotions simply by giving the name of a song and expected the reader to know exactly what was meant by it.Secondly, certain scenes and characters felt unnecessary. There was already a strong cast of secondary characters such as Jem's sister, Elise, and Willa's brother, Frank, so there really wasn't a need to include every friend Jem had ever made before being diagnosed with cancer. Then there were the overlapping scenes told from two points of views. I found myself quickly getting through these pages as they added very little to the plot.Thirdly, Wake is Willa and Jem's story, so why add extra points of views? Of course cancer affects family and friends, not just the person who has it, but it felt like the story had been snatched away from Jem and Willa at moments when their voices should have been heard.What Wake really needed was some more editing. That's it. Don't let the points above deter you from reading this book, because you won't regret it if you do. What I liked most about Wake was that it was a book about real love. As Willa tells her brother, `You don't know who people really are until you've seen them at their worst and weakest'. The two main characters see each other at their very lowest but they still, eventually, manage to accept one another. Wake is really about coming to terms with becoming a person you never thought you would be. It's about accepting mistakes and learning to hate ourselves less for making them. With a little bit more work, a tweak here and there, this could've been a fantastic book. As it is, Wake is a good book definitely worth your time. I will be recommending it to my friends and will look forward to reading any future work by this author.

Okay personally I think this book had been under reviewed. I love that Willa is strong willed and refuses to take ANY of Jem's attitude. And when talking about Jem I think I should say I love him! It's refreshing to read a book when the 'lovers' as it were keep there banter even once 'dos becomes uno' (bit o' Miranda) anyhow I would really suggest this read it's full of wit and interesting issues that really tug your heart strings, personally I was sat up at 2AM crying my eyes out.

Loved the story line but that's it... Unfortunately I don't like the characters and can't understand theyr decisions. And I just don't get it why Willa and jam are a couple. . . I mean they fight all the time about stupid things, they insult each other... There are no romantic sparks between them. And I have to say, I am from Austria, so my mother language is not english, BUT even I noticed that there are so many spelling and grammar mistakes it really annoyed me. With the story line this book could have been soooo good but it was a waste of money and time.....

A strong, utterly-gripping-your-heart story with quite original characters. Beware - only start when you're prepared to read all night through!(And if you're more of an audio type, try the audio book - you won't be disappointed! Read by the amazing Maria Hunter Welles, you'll soon find yourself completely and unescapably absorbed into Abria Mattina's little universe - and soon enough, you won't even want to come up anymore!)Eine ungeschönte, ehrliche und sehr direkte Story mit ungewöhnlichen, jeder auf seine Art absolut liebenswerten Charakteren, die unter die Haut gehen. Suchtfaktor!(sehr empfehlenswert auch das Hörbuch dazu - eindringlich erzählt von der genialen Maria Hunter Welles!)