Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for the ecopy

The Atlas of Us is heart wrenching and exceptionally well written. Atlas is created with such a realism and is so relatable,
I dare anyone to read this novel and not feel intense emotions.
Kristin Dwyer's writing style is so creative and takes us on an emotional rollercoaster, it is so immersive.

I adored The Atlas of Us. The characters and their close relationship to each other is so special and rare. I wanted to be friends with them so bad. This book made me cry so hard. I've lost people to cancer and I really feel like Kristin nailed the full range of emotions a person goes through when dealing with the battle and aftermath of such an ugly illness. I'll admit that it took me about the halfway point to start feeling emotionally connected to Maps but I think that's because her father's character was slowly being built as she went through her hike. Once I had a better idea of her relationship with her dad, I became emotionally invested in the story. The attraction and connection to King also had me hooked. His overall behavior and his secret cues with Books kept me curious about what his deal is. Overall, loved the book. Wish I could read it for the first time again.

This book completely wrenched out my heart. Gorgeous writing, an unusual premise, and a beautiful setting with unforgettable characters really make this book wonderful.

Atlas, young woman who is struggling with the death of her father, is hiking and rehabbing trails in the West Sierras as part of a community conservation program. She joins her father's best friend, takes on a nickname, and gets to know the others she'll spend four weeks in close proximity with. Her father left behind a list of things for them to do, and this is one thing Atlas feels that she can do for him, in the midst of her life falling apart around her. She hopes by the end of the four weeks she'll have something figured out about her future.

I am not a person who spends much time in nature, but after reading this book, I really wanted to. The descriptions in the book were just gorgeous, especially in the in-between moments. Atlas explains at one point in the novel that she never really paid attention to the danger of the water because everyone else did it for her. But now, we realize as readers, that she can no longer live in her safe past as she must keep walking towards her future. As a person who still feels like she's got some things to figure out, I really resonated with small moments like this. I would have felt so seen as a teenager if I had been able to read something as poetic and raw as this.

Every character has something to bring to the novel, and the characters were well-rounded and vulnerable. I really felt like I got to know them. I think this was a wonderful book that highlights so many things teens have to face, but maybe don't have a place to turn to or a character who just doesn't have herself together. This was a beautiful book, and I really think, an important one.

An absolutely beautifully written book, that made me quite emotional at times, I would definitely recommend, thankyou NetGalley for my arc copy

I ended up purchasing this book for the Young Adult collection, even though I only skimmed through it. It wasn't something I would enjoy, personally, but the teens who come to our library will most likely enjoy this storyline.

This book has lots of things I enjoy in a YA, coming-of-age, dealing with loss and a bit of wilderness adventure which works for me. I liked this story and the characters but they didn't wow me. I did enjoy the trek, the protagonist working through her grief but I didn't like the hiding of the death of her father, not that she didn't have the right, but it went on too long.

Overall an enjoyable story with a few issues.

I loved this book. I loved the grief, the emotional tidal wave I felt at times, and most of all: I loved how real Atlas seemed.

I cried, and I healed, and I cried again. My students don't read books that are as impactful as this was nearly often enough, and I would definitely recommend this to my students. I would absolutely warn them about the grieving and the loss of a parent, but the friendship dynamics we get to see with Atlas and the new gang she meets along the way is unforgettable.

I can see a lot of Atlas in my students. Feeling so many things all at once, but fighting desperately to not show any 'weakness' or emotion. It's honest, and raw, and gut-wrenching at times, especially if you've lost someone to cancer.

I'll absolutely be purchasing a hardcover copy of this!

💛💛💛💛💛 / 5

🌶️.5 / 5

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Review:
I don’t really know how to describe this book, other than saying it was beautiful. Beautifully written, but also a beautifully raw representation of grief and the inner turmoil of not feeling good enough. Kristin stripped each of her characters back to the bare bones of their being and managed to construct a story of grief, companionship and healing without properly revealing their backstories, not an easy feat. I cried, I laughed, I grieved and then I slowly started to heal along with Atlas.

I cannot recommend this book enough, it’s a fantastic book to bridge the transition between YA and NA by tackling important topics while also allowing the reader to take a breather and laugh through their tears (I will admit to doing this a lot). The last 10 chapter has me silently sobbing at every other page while smiling as I wiped away my tears. Honestly an emotional rollercoaster that I really want to read again.

Atlas was written so incredibly well, I think a lot of misunderstood and ignored teenagers and people will relate to her and her outlook on life. I adored that her found family allowed her to be herself and feel what she needs to feel with out invalidating her emotions or pressing her to share her grief. But also her journey and personal growth was superb, I was rooting for her the whole time while also wanting to tear my hair out, but I’m so happy she achieved what she needed to.

I could honestly talk about this book for hours, but it’s late and I stayed up LATE last night finishing this book so I’m tired and I’ve a new book to start! Please read this book, it’s incredibly powerful and a perfect way to embody your emotions.

At the core of the story, it is about a girl called Atlas (also known as Maps) who is grieving the loss of her father after watching him battle against cancer. Now feeling broken and alone, she begins to act out and eventually gets put onto a program to help her. This program basically puts troubled teens together where they have to go on a long hike to try to help them overcome the issues they are facing. On this hike, she ends up finding a family with other kids who are also struggling and in doing so, helps her heal a little. She also ends up meeting King who she begins to have feelings for.

I really enjoyed their romance and how it is explored throughout this story without it taking away from the grief Atlas was dealing with. I loved the balance between her dealing with her grief and whilst also her finding love which helps her heal in some ways but the grief is always there which is realistic. I also love the way that the story builds connections between the characters and the way they see each other as family is so wholesome.

This story moved me in so many ways and I think it sends out a real powerful message of family, love and dealing with grief.

Axie Oh was so not lying when she blurbed this book, picking up the broken pieces of your heart is exactly how this book feels.
I’m not a big cryer when it comes to books and films or really in general but I am someone that has lost a parent at a relatively “young” age or at least I still felt young and very cheated by my mothers death. It felt unfair and harrowing in a way that is so hard to come to terms with and to express but this book is so spot on with the experience of my own grief it had me sobbing on several occasions.

Simple lines such as this one about the burial of her fathers ashes resonated so deeply with me:

“Something about it just never felt like the goodbye I wanted for him. So now he sits inside cardboard and tape behind winter coats I never use”

My mum is still on my bookshelf behind a TBR that’s destined for dust, nothing seeming quite good enough or time never feeling quite right to do anything.

This book expresses expertly how letting go is painful and angry, how grief is loud and quiet all at the same time and Dwyer manages to mix such raw emotions of grief with a love story and amazing character growth. I’m actually in complete awe of this book and it will stay with me for a very long time.

Parts of this book were triggering for me as I lost my dad, and the grief Atlas/Maps goes through is told so open and honestly. I absolutely loved this book, though. Her found family in Books, Junior, and Sugar was so special and reading about all their endeavours whilst hiking the Western Sierra Trail. Maps with her tent skills and Sugar with her cooking, it was funny and believable. I loved the romance that was built up between Maps and King, and I felt like there was hope for Maps when she felt so lost and alone. The ending was spot on for me, especially the cemetery scene, I had all the feels!

Cried multiple times!! I loved how this book showed Atlas navigating through her grief in some of the most unconventional ways, and her abusive internal monologue made me extremely sad. I could see how so many of her relationships were strained by this. When she finally started talking and getting help her life began to change and while there will always be this giant whole that was her dad in her life I felt like by the end she was living for herself again. Plan to re read again this summer!!

Following the untimely loss of her father, Atlas joins a group of misfits on what promises to be a transformative hiking trip as part of a community service program. However, lies and withheld secrets jeopardize the group's budding camaraderie, in turn complicating Atlas’ growing attraction to her team leader.

Dwyer's portrayal of grief in this book is tender and heartfelt, offering a compassionate exploration of the difficulties and complex emotions tied to losing a loved one. As Atlas grapples with her grief, we are presented with a lost and confused teenage daughter at a crossroads in her life—an ideal setup for a compelling coming-of-age story.

The budding romance between Atlas and King is a natural and inevitable part of the narrative, although a deeper insight into King's character and backstory could have strengthened this element. The main conflict later in the story also unfortunately drifts a little too much into melodrama territory, but this is mostly forgivable considering the genre and age of the characters.

The Atlas of Us is a strong sophomore novel that highlights Kristin Dwyer as one to watch in the world of young adult literature. In the meantime, I'll definitely be picking up her first book whilst low-key hoping for a follow-up from Junior's POV... 👀

Many thanks to Harper360 YA for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

“I’m sharp rocks that haven’t been softened by time. I’m still fractured and exposed and I don’t know how to be water.”

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Atlas is not in a good place when we are introduced to her. She’s bitter with the world, a world that is moving on when she doesn’t want to, especially when it is without her father. I think she is a brilliant character. She doesn’t lose her identity when she becomes Maps, Atlas no longer. I had feared that she would change just because her name did but I’m glad this wasn’t the case. She really goes on a journey of self-discovery but also a journey on how to manage and understand her grief. It’s not a simple thing to recognise and accept but I do believe we get to see Atlas reach that point which is amazing. There is no overcoming grief - it’s always with us, just diminishes gradually over time until it’s no longer all consuming - and Atlas allows hers to go from consuming her to being by her side, a companion in life.

I wasn’t sure on what to expect in this book but the blurb intrigued me and I wanted to give it a go. And I am glad I did! The plot is very well paced, going to day to day seamlessly and making short time jumps whilst not being jarring. I found myself flying through this book gladly, feeling engaged the entire time which I love! The characters were interesting too. They were all in a situation together but all had their own approaches, influenced by their pasts. I really like how different they were but successfully worked as a team together on the trail. There was a lot of yearning in this story and I am here for it! The nice thing was, it didn’t overshadow the overall tone of the book or the focus on the most important thing - grief. The way grief is addressed is beautiful. I am in the very lucky position that I have not experienced grief to the extent Atlas has but seeing her journey here was very eye-opening and felt incredibly real. Dwyer balances the emotions perfectly, bringing a blend of positive and negative feelings to life whilst Atlas navigates this new position in her life. I think Dwyer has done a brilliant job with this story. The ending made me rather emotional too. I cannot think of a better way for Atlas’s story to end than how it did.

Overall, The Atlas of Us is a book that handles grief perfectly and had me sucked in from the start.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on 12th April. It is live now on Goodreads.

Ah! The emotions, the feelings! Ladies and Gentleman, ready the tissues! Tears guaranteed!
The Atlas of Us is a beautiful story that deals with topics of grief, depression, sadness. In very beautiful way it portrays the healing journey, dealing with heartbreaking past and embracing new beginning.

Atlas James - the main character of the story - is lost. Not only she experiences the loss of her dad but also feels lost in her life. She failed to graduate from high school, lost her job, her friends and doesn’t seem to have any purpose in life.
With her mum’s last effort to help her and her dad’s bucket list in hand she embarks on a journey to complete the hiking trail her dad never got the chance to.
During the journey she makes new friends. Friends that quickly become her new family, people that may understand her pain and struggles without the judgement.
Will the journey be cathartic? Will she be able to come back to her old life?

This was my first book by Kristin Dwyer and it won’t be the last. Her writing style is absolutely beautiful and it so easy to get lost in the story. It’s addictive and enticing and full of emotions. Characters felt very real and explorations of grief and loss meaningful. The found family trope was a true highlight of this book. Romance felt a little bit insta love but it grew on me and I loved all the tender and quiet moments between the characters.
Be careful, this story will touch your soul and squeeze your heart. You will cry, but you will be happy about it!
Quickly, add this book to your tbr! You won’t be disappointed!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Simran at Harper360Ya ; HarperCollins Children’s Books/HarperTeen for sending eARC my way! I had amazing time reading!

This book is one that will stick you. While providing an alternative view of what happens after high school, Atlas deal with the overwhelming grief of losing her dad at such an important time in life. Story was written to keep reader engaged while dealing with overarching big issues, sprinkled with fun dramatic aspects and falling in love. While the romance is a little one sided and not real deep on the love-interest's development, it is still a love story to be enjoyed.

I'm a huge fan of the author's debut Some Mistakes Were Made, and I was so very excited to read this one. And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! This novel is so poignant, heart-wrenching, and emotional that at times I had to put the book down and breathe a bit. My reader's heart went out to the main leads, and I was totally engrossed. I don't want to write too much because I feel this is a book that's better approached without prior knowledge-- it packs quite a punch to the gut that way. Highly recommend.

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.

This was an unexpected treasure. I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. From the beginning, I was a little skeptical because I was not sure if it was my thing but after about 5 chapters, I was engrossed and could not put this down. I read it in pretty much one sitting.

The characters were all so likeable and there is nothing more I love than found family. I cried a handful of times because of the friendships between the characters and the fall outs between the characters.

I can't describe how much I needed this book and I did not even realise it.

I rated this book 5 stars.

What an incredibly moving book. I knew absolutely nothing about camping/trail culture and was still able to follow along with the antics of Maps, King, and their crew. I sleuthed out some of the relationships prior to secrets being revealed but that didn't detract from the reward of the reveals.

Trigger warning: if you are particularly sensitive to stories involving cancer & death of a loved one and the ensuing grief, please be aware that this book includes those topics frequently.

I have a soft spot in my heart for chosen family stories, and this tale definitely incorporates that theme along with a compelling narrative about love and grief that I found completely heartrending and contemplative.

Thank you so much HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review!