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.

Question: Do you read contemporary YA?

I generally don’t anymore. I appreciate what contemporary YA does for teenage/early 20’s readers, but at 35 it’s hard to read about high school without shuddering and being really grateful I’m no longer in that stage of life. That said Kristin Dwyer is my exception. She writes about the awkwardness of being 18 to 20 years old. You’re not a kid anymore, but you also don’t really feel like an adult. Atlas is also struggling with the loss of her dad, and that kind of grief is overwhelming to everyone. I loved the way the relationships developed between everyone in Blue Group. It felt authentic because Maps, Books, King, Junior and Sugar start out not wanting to talk or trust each other, and its a slow slide into truth and acceptance. I spent a summer doing trail maintenance in Yellowstone, and my experience matched this kind of work and friendship. There was so much healing that Maps did in this book, and it felt like real healing. The messy kind that gets better, but only in waves. I never rolled my eyes at her behavior, because Maps would get just as annoyed with herself before I could. I cried at least 3 separate times in this book, and I don’t cry easy. This is a good one, and even if you don’t read YA, I’d recommend it. It’s a study of grief, and the way Dwyer writes it feels so real.

“𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚒𝚏 𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘.”

This was a lovely YA coming of age story that I think showcased well the results of grief and how not processing it can affect your emotions. For example, towards the end there is a reaction that I thought was kind of over dramatic—- but that’s exactly what grief does. Your emotions are a mess, and what you emit sometimes isn’t exactly logical. But the journey she goes on with her group—-all of whom address each other by a nickname instead of their real name (for example, she is “Maps” instead of Atlas)—- parallels to a journey she goes through mentally to work through her grief. This trail is one she should have done with her dad. But he’s gone, and that can never be now. Instead, she makes friends with her group, though it starts off rough, and gets a support group out of it, as well as a significant other for herself. As a group, they help her see beyond just whatever thoughts cloud her brain and broken heart.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the copy!

The Atlas of Us is a story full of emotion—grief, loneliness, helplessness, happiness, and love. It is a tale about finding the unlikely of friends, taking a risk, stepping into the unknown, and allowing yourself to fall headfirst in love.

Struggling after her father passed away, Atlas joins a community service program where individuals forego their names and past selves and start fresh on a journey across the hiking trails of the Sierra. Along the way, she finds herself among a group of misfits, all of whom make an impression on her, one particularly more than the rest.

I love stories that take place in nature. It provides such a great foundation for exponential growth and amazing character development, and this book had that and more. From the charming group dynamics to the sweet friendships and tension-filled romance, Dwyer again swept me off my feet and into a beautiful tale.

If you love a great story full of heart and want a good cry, definitely keep this read in mind!

4.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Heartrending and beautiful, The Atlas of Us was a journey of grief, acceptance, and belonging which broke my heart and put it back together.

Atlas’ father is dead.
And it’s all anyone knows about her anymore. She’s a ‘bad’ kid. She’s a troublemaker. She’s using her dad’s death as an excuse. All the things she hears all the time.
She and her mum come to an agreement - she will take part in her dad’s best friend’s summer programme hiking and rehabbing the trails in the Western Sierras, and when she comes home her mum won’t force her to say what’s next.
She goes into the programme angry and alone, but the blue team show her that, no matter who she is or what has happened to her, they love her for her, and there’s a life after her dad - however much it may hurt.

The Atlas of Us absolutely broke my heart in so many ways. Atlas’ grief, anger, and fear felt so real, and seeing her slowly realise her worth through her tragedy was really heartwarming.

The plot was fairly predictable, but the interactions and the characterisation more than made up for it. It also definitely made me want to hike the Western Sierras a bit!

Overall, if you need a therapeutic cry, The Atlas of Us is the book for you. It will break your heart and also restore your faith in the positive effect we can have on one another.

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!

4.5 Stars

The Atlas of Us is a character study seen through the lens of grief. When Atlas’ dad got sick, she lost her purpose, and after he died, she didn’t see the point of moving forward. Author Kristin Dwyer captures Atlas’ feelings in an almost visceral way. Her pain almost drips off the page, but so, too, do brief moments of joy and refuge.

Each of Dwyer’s characters are flawed and messy. They work through their “stuff” while working on the trail, and in the process become each other’s support system. They genuinely care, and that helps lighten the tone of the overall book.

The Atlas of Us is an emotional read that’s both brutal and beautiful in its honesty.

Sensitivity note: With characters ranging from 17-20, The Atlas of US definitely on the upper YA, new adult spectrum, and should be approached as such. Content includes sex (vague open door), language, drugs and alcohol use.

So many feelings. I felt a huge range of emotions while reading this book. It tugged on all my heartstrings. It really made me think about the way we process grief and how it’s different for everyone. How you might need to lean on others even when it’s the hardest thing to do. And the idea of “troubled” or “bad” kids and what that really means and if those labels should be given. Really well written. Highly recommend.

What a ride! Be prepared to cry—I certainly did, multiple times. Kristin Dwyer *gets* grief. Her ability to put into words what it feels like to lose someone you love…it’s pure poetry. The raw emotions will break you down.

I loved this story, and I read it in one sitting tonight. I fell in love with the character of Maps and actively rooted for her to find healing, in whatever way she could. I felt like I was on that trail with her, letting the cares of the world fade away as we put one foot in front of the other, hour after hour, day after day. There’s something about being in nature that is a balm to the wounded soul. I thank Ms. Dwyer for letting me tag along on the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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!

This was such a beautifully done representation of the stages of grief. Showing how people grieve in different ways but having the right people who understand you and what’s going on can help you break down the barriers and create strong friendships.
I was definitely not ready for this emotional ride but I enjoyed it very much!😭💜

Sometimes I am wary to pick up a book that I know will have an emotional impact on me. However, paradoxically such books always become my favorite. The Atlas of Us explores the depth of human emotion (in this case intense grief) and the resilience of human spirit. It is also about friendship, new beginnings and love. The main character is an 18 year old girl named Atlas (aka Maps) whose father recently died of cancer. Maps has the hardest time dealing with grief. She drops out of high school, has uncontrolled anger and sadness and overall becomes rudderless. She ends up in a program for troubled kids who set off on a month long hike in the Sierra mountains. There, on the trail her father dreamed of hiking again, Maps slowly learns her way back to herself and builds new relationships. I truly loved this book. It is raw, it made me cry, it also had a beautiful love story (both the love between parent and child and romantic love). Highly recommend. What a great way to kick off the reading year!

This book was beautiful and absolutely heart wrenching. And I expect nothing less from this author. I had the absolute joy of reading and obsessing over her first book, and I was so excited when I got the opportunity to read this one early on NetGalley,

Dwyer is consistent in her ability to merge the angst of being a teen and young adult, with grief. Her ability to poetically emphasize the pain and frustration of going through loss is unmatched, and I will autobuy her books every single time.

Atlas of Us is all about processing grief and finding yourself. It’s one part Happiness for Beginners and one part Dawson’s Creek. Every one of the characters we meet is a bit broken and on a journey to understand themselves and their relationships to others better, Atlas is processing her father’s death from page one and it’s heavy. But the beautiful way that her relationship with her father can still help her to grow and change, while also growing through her new relationships, is absolutely gorgeous.

And King, our swoony turtured MMC is great, He is caring and kind, he’s a leader and he see Atlas in such a beautiful light. He’s a character that will definitely stay will me.

Not to mention the side characters are also really intriguing, and her friendships with them give her a steady, solid ground for her to grow from.

Anyway, read this book and fall in love with this amazing characters. You will laugh and you will SOB but you’ll love it.

For those who need to know, there are a couple of open door scenes between Atlas and King. I didn’t have any problem skipping them.

Kristin Dwyer has outdone herself. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love.

When Atlas's dad dies, she finds a bucket list of the things he wanted to do before he died. One includes hiking a specific trail with her. So, she spends a month of the summer working on the trail, paired with King, Books, Junior, and Sugar. It becomes a place where it all means nothing, but it also means everything. She runs from her grief all the while it's waiting to pounce.

This novel has found family and colored popsicle debates and messy feelings and so much freaking love that it felt more than some story I read in a book. Kristin really captured grieving and healing in a beautiful way. Readers don't have to have dealt with the loss of a parent or loved parental figure to enjoy this book. It's a beautiful portrayal of finding your tribe, too. Kristin expertly balances the humor with the heaviness of grief and the uncertainty of a budding romance. There is a bit of on page intimacy, swearing, and underage drinking...but it's a realistic portrayal of young adults being young adults. It's messy. And beautiful.

Rating:
4/5 ⭐️s

This book is perfect for readers those who loved Far from the Tree and Wild Bird.

I have to be honest that when I first started reading I was unsure if I would really be able to connect with the characters. As a book progressed, I begin to truly fall in love with each of them and their individual stories. Dwyer did an amazing job of weaving each of their tales as I continued to learn about them as the book progressed.

A book with found family will capture my heart every single time and this one certainly did. Excited to have found another author to add to my automatic buy list!

Kristin Dwyer does such great contemporary young adult. Her writing is absolutely visceral and her characters feel so incredibly real.

Oh my God, I can't remember the last time a book made me cry this much! I was not emotionally prepared for THE ATLAS OF US. I don't know if anyone will be. My husband found me sobbing on the bed at 5 in the morning after sitting up all night reading this pretty much in one go.

Both SOME MISTAKES WERE MADE and THE ATLAS OF US seem like they're going to be simple stories at first glance, but Dwyer manages to peel back our emotions and expectations layer by layer until we feel like we're bleeding out on the floor covered in tears and snot. She is an EXCELLENT writer who gets to the heart of people and not only understands the gray areas of relationships and human interactions but can write about these subtle intricacies very vividly. We all know few things are ever really black and white, but not many writers can skirt around the gray area of emotions as well as Dwyer can.

Fair warning, THE ATLAS OF US is a book about grief and navigating the terrible aftermath of losing someone you love. This novel hit me like a wrench to the face because my dad also passed away at too young an age. It's the perfect sad girl book for such a tragedy. But it's also a beautiful story about friendship, anger, love, and trying to pick up life's pieces after the worst thing ever happens.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperTeen for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I can tell you that this is already a contender for my favorite books of 2024!

4.5 stars

"Everyone's messy, so. Be messy."

Wow, I FLEW through this.

Kristin Dwyer is a powerhouse storyteller and THE ATLAS OF US is evidence (again) that she can deliver a story with emotional heft in a captivating and conscious way.

The story follows troubled Atlas, who is forced into a month-long hiking trip after the death of her father. Only known as Maps to the strangers she's on the trails with, she navigates grief as the ghost of her Dad echoes throughout the forests and rivers. In tents and trails, she forms relationships with her nicknamed hiking companions, especially a serious but magnetic boy named King. The resulting journey that the author weaves a is profound story about loss, grief, and the way that we view ourselves. It's emotionally powerful and so beautifully written with rich and tender imagery that makes for a beautiful reading experience. I also think the book captures so well the phase of adolescence that Atlas is experiencing, as well as the emotions and thoughts of someone enduring loss.

Even with the deep emotion woven into every page of this book, it also manages to be clever and funny, with dialogue that's seamless and romance that's utterly swoonworthy. You can't help but root for these characters and empathize with their experiences. It's a world I didn't want to leave.

I also love that this book ends with the beginning, then circles around to that moment again, adding new depth as we go through its journey together. A really captivating structure and overall, just a really, really great book.

Read for:
-the color hierarchy of ice pops
-nature love
-nicknames
-mutual pining (and actual pines)
-looking at stars
-strangers who become friends who become family
-hurt/comfort
-boys in anime tees
-discussions about "Howl's Moving Castle"
-gas station food feasts
-HAND FLEXES (!!!)
-invisible string vibes
-"I stop asking my grief to make sense."
-sexy thunderstorms
-"I wish I could stop thinking about you."

Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE ATLAS OF US releases 1/9.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, publishing on 1/9/2024. It’s a perfect YA- full of hope, hurt, learning, longing. A great coming of age story filled with so many beautiful lines.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an e-ARC of this outstanding book!

This book burrowed into my heart and will be there for a long time. I think any reader, no matter their age, who has lost someone important in their life will relate to Maps and the journey her grief takes her on. There is so much to love in this story. Maps lost her father and is of course struggling with how to process such a profound loss and navigate life afterward. She is imperfect but her journey grieving the loss of her dad felt so real to me and mirrored much of what I experienced after losing my mom. For that I'd give the book 10 stars alone simply because I think it can help teen readers who have also faced significant loss, which is unfortunately a not small number of them.

This book is incredibly moving and sad, which might have felt like too much heaviness BUT that heaviness is accompanied by the BEST group of found family misfits all stuck together in the wilderness who support each other in the most heartwarming, funny, and beautiful way. I loved Books, Sugar, Junior, and King beyond measure and would go to battle for them.

I teach older high school students so this book is a perfect fit for my classroom library and I will be adding a copy! The characters do range in age from 17 to 20, so veering into that nebulous New Adult category, which might be something to note for teachers of younger teen readers.