If life were fair, Jam Gallahue would still be at home in New Jersey with her sweet British boyfriend, Reeve Maxfield. She’d be watching old comedy sketches with him. She’d be kissing him in the library stacks.
She certainly wouldn’t be at The Wooden Barn, a therapeutic boarding school in rural Vermont, living with a weird roommate, and signed up for an exclusive, mysterious class called Special Topics in English.
But life isn’t fair, and Reeve Maxfield is dead.
Until a journal-writing assignment leads Jam to Belzhar, where the untainted past is restored, and Jam can feel Reeve’s arms around her once again. But there are hidden truths on Jam’s path to reclaim her loss.
From New York Times bestselling author Meg Wolitzer comes a breathtaking and surprising story about first love, deep sorrow, and the power of acceptance.
Flo's Review
I have to be honest: I saw a copy of this book at some book event, available for me to take. But I read the book summary and didn't think I would be into it. So I left it. Fast forward to about a month or so ago when I learned that author Meg Wolitzer would be coming to my favorite bookstore Books & Books. I decided to give Belzhar a chance before meeting her. (Which actually didn't end up happening because I got a flat tire and missed the event! Boo. But at least I still read the book. :)
I can honestly say that I'm not quite sure how I feel about the book. I don't know how many stars to give it. 3.5 maybe? Right in the middle?
I liked it. The stories unfolded slowly and Meg definitely kept me invested until the end because I wanted to know everyone's story in Special Topics in English. I listened to this one on audiobook and the reader was good. But I didn't like the way Griffin did a complete 180 because of one single event. And Jam...if you've read the book and want to know my thoughts on her and why she brought down my rating of the book, I'll post it under Spoilers on Goodreads.
This book was outside of what I would usually read, so I am glad that I had an opportunity to do so.
